Chapter Twenty Five - Mutual Thoughts

Cynthia closed her eyes that evening. Warmth rushed through her body as she felt the joyful satisfaction of helping to save the life of the Princess of Elenaesia. She let her mind drift into sleep, something she needed quite a bit of. As she slept, she dreamed, but it was not any ordinary dream. She appeared to be floating amongst the clouds, but why?

“Come to me, come with me, let me show you of the world,” a soft symphonic voice came floating to her over the clouds.

She moved towards the voice, unaware of her movement, yet aware of it. She looked over the edge of the clouds and peered below. There a picture formed below. She saw a young man being bound up by someone who looked like General Binks. She saw a stone glowing, and the boy struggling. Then the scene swirled and blurred and spiralled away to have another one replace it.

There she saw another girl, her eyes glowing green, her arms outstretched. Then she seemed to fade, collapsing to the ground as the boy who had been struggling rushed to catch her. Tears streamed down his face, but Cynthia saw that the girl was dead. Then it swirled again.

Another image came into view, this one of a Ligon, flying overhead, the wings outstretched as it soared. Then the Ligon swooped downward, upon an army below, as if to attack it. Then that too faded away into nothingness.

“You have looked upon the future, or possible ones. You have seen knowledge and it is now in your hand to put it to use or to leave it behind. Use it well.”

Then all faded, the voice, the clouds, and the swirling images. It all faded into nothingness.

Cynthia awoke with a start, but no sign of her dream or vision remained. She lay her head back down on her pillows, and within a few minutes, was fast asleep again, dreaming happily about her home in Merisna.

The large man led Edmund up along the windy streets of Ge’irdae, and to the tall tower that stood in the middle. After a brief conference with the guards at the gate, he led Edmund into the tower and up several flights of stairs. After knocking at the door, they entered. A man turned to face them.

“Thank you Vladisk. You may go now, Vladisk.”
“You are welcome, my lord General Binks. Yes, my lord General Binks.”

Then with a bow, Vladisk turned and exited the room, after depositing the weapons and the stone on the table. A page came in and took the weapons, but left the stone. General Binks walked over and picked up the stone absentmindedly and turned it around in his hands.

“Come, young Edmund, let us take a walk. We are going to meet with the King Orlando, but we shall walk for part of the way. I, as you no doubt know by now, am General Binks Vizzini.”
“Binks,” remarked Edmund. “That is a strange name. Why were you named that? It reminds me of a jar for some odd reason. I can’t quite place my thought on that.”
“We will not discuss that,” General Binks snapped. “It is my name, and I find it better than Vizzini. Considering the fact that I know no one related to me named Binks, and I do not particularly relish being associated with my ancestor Vizzini, I find it a useful name.”
“That would make a good reason for having it. But who is this ancestor of yours that you regard with such distaste?”
“Many years ago, many many years ago, mind you,” said General Binks, “an ancestor of mine was involved in the business of starting wars. He lived down south, Silecea. But he was a stupid man, who thought himself quite intelligent. And that brought about his downfall when he was outthought. I do not believe in considering yourself more intelligent then you actually are. It is quite stupid, in my most humble opinion.”
“Yes, I quite agree,” said Edmund. “I do not think that someone should go boasting that they are more than what they actually are, it can lead to problems.”
“Indeed,” agreed Binks. “As was illustrated by the incident with my ancestor in Silecea. As you no doubt have noticed.”
“No doubt,” nodded Edmund.
“So, because of the quite unacceptable, do you not think it is unacceptable?”
“Oh, very much so. Very much so. It was quite unacceptable.”
“Ah, good, we agree then!” said Binks with a smile. “That is very good. So, because of this very unacceptable action, I have decided that it would be best not to associate myself with someone, even a relative, of such disreputable character.”
“And I admire you very much for that, General Binks. It is not often that one can find someone with enough courage to change his name so as not to be associated with those of lesser honour.”
“We are men of our word then, Edmund,” said General Binks. “You do understand now that I must take you to the King? Despite the fact I believe that we are such kindred spirits.”
“Oh, naturally. You must fulfil the higher calling. That is to be expected of course.”
“I am glad we see eye to eye on this rather unfortunate event. It is a pity, but, orders are orders, and they simply must be obeyed. If one is to fulfil the higher calling, and to fulfil our quest for truth, that is.”
“Quest for truth?” asked Edmund curiously.
“Yes, indeed, our quest for truth. You have come across the phrase before?”
“Actually, yes, I have. A, um, friend told it to me.”
“Aha, interesting. What do you think of this quest?”
“My friend who told me the phrase, they believe that the truth will come to us when we are ready for it, but not before then.”
“It seems to me that your friend and I agree on that. You should introduce me to this friend of yours, if of course, if all goes well with your meeting with King Orlando.”
“Perhaps that might work. If all goes well with the King of course.”
“Ah, then let us mount to our horses, we can travel quicker that way. What say you?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, General Binks.”

Mara soared in the sky, her wings spread out, the wind rushing past. Klicati, Jessica, Kathryn, and Yoran scanned below for any sign of Edmund or any other person walking or riding below. Finally, they saw a small speck below. Mara circled downwards, and they saw that it was indeed Edmund, and men in the uniform of army officers of the Seventeens.

“Look out!” cried the soldiers below.
“Duck!” others cried, as they all flew for cover.

General Binks jerked Edmund down beside him, and whispered to him about ferocious Ligons that pestered them and ate humans alive. Just then Mara snaked her head down and grabbed Edmund by the back of his hauberk. Jessica meanwhile had jumped down and grabbed his sword and shield. Running back, Yoran helped her back onto Mara, and Kathryn pulled Edmund onto the beautiful Ligon’s back.

“Why did you come after me?” asked Edmund breathlessly.
“Why would we leave you behind?” asked Jessica.

Kathryn and the others remained silent as Mara continued to fly towards Aiulindale. When the sun rose in the sky, and mid afternoon came upon them, Mara slowly circled downward to rest. They had had a busy evening and morning, and were all very tired. Kathryn walked off a little ways a way from the others and sat with her back to them. She felt like she had destroyed Edmund’s trust in her. She had told him she would not stop him, but she did not object to their going to rescue him.

“Kathryn?” she heard Edmund’s voice from behind her.

She nodded silently, staring off into the grass beyond, taking in the beauty of the world around her, yet felt somehow bitter over the rescue of Edmund.

“I do not mean to pry,” he said hesitantly, “but, if I may inquire, what is wrong?”
“I am sorry,” she said not turning around.
“Sorry for what?” he asked as he came to sit facing her.
“You said you had to go. I did not even try to stop them. I, I am sorry, Edmund. Will you please forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive, Lady Kathryn. Perhaps that future was not meant to happen. I do not know, I do not even know what it is I do not know.”
Kathryn frowned. “What is happening, Edmund? Something is going on, but I do not understand what it is.”
“I do not know either. Would that I knew . . .” Edmund broke off, and stared off at the trees beyond.