Jareth left Jennifer to get freshened up. He went to his study where he could be alone; he conjured up a crystal, "Sir Didymus. Report please."
"Sire. I was not expecting you to contact me so soon. I have not learned exactly who is responsible but I was able to trace an errant magic spell back to where I think it came from."
"Yes. That will due for now. That spell nearly killed Jennifer. Where have you traced it too?"
"The unnamed lands sire."
"I might have guessed. Stay there. Continue on your mission. I want to know who sent that spell."
"Yes sire."
The little fox faded from the crystal. This was worse than he had originally thought. The unnamed lands are full of dangerous criminals and banished fae. It could be more than just a plot to take the throne. This may be revenge for something the old king had done.
"Crosps," Jareth bellowed for his captain.
Down the long halls past the stairway room, you could here the thundering of feet. Running down the corridors as fast as ones goblin feet could carry him, came the captain of the guard.
"Yes king?"
"I want double guard along the battlement. Any sign of magic spells or unannounced guest are to be reported by crystal," he threw the goblin a globe, "use this to contact me immediately so that I may handle the threat."
"Sire. You in danger?"
"No. I am not. The Princess Jennifer is. Tell no one who she is or that she is here. Understand?"
"Yes." He said saluting his king.
It would be a while before Jennifer was ready to come down. At least if she was like most women. Jareth needed to go see an old friend. Someone he knew would have an ear out for the unnamed.
He ran towards his own study window leaping out and changing to his owl form mid leap. He flew north towards the blue elm forest. A place most never went. It was full of old tree spirits and the few Dryads' that were left from above ground.
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The crystal burst like a soap bubble once the king had finished giving his orders. Didymus never like the unnamed lands much but he was able to traverse them without too much trouble. He had grown up here, his father having been banished long ago. His mother died after he had been born. When he had been old enough, he had been granted permission to leave the lands.
He fell into service to Jareth as a messenger but quickly proved he value as a spy. No one ever suspected him of anything but a simpleton. Now he had a greater mission. He would have to enlist help. Help the king may not approve of but help he would pursue anyways.
Didymus had to travel into the old swamps. Swamps that fed into the bog of stench many miles away in Jareth's kingdom. There on the border was the small cottage of Iain. An old crotchety dwarf banished for brawling with the high kings guards. If anyone knew what was going on in the unnamed lands Iain would. He had ears everywhere. Many came to him with secrets. Secrets they themselves couldn't keep but knew who they could trust. That's what Iain was now, the secret keeper.
He, like many other had their price for information. Didymus knew his weakness. It would not take long to reach Iain's cottage. Didymus did need to make a quick stop along the way at the edge of the elm forest.
Iain was outside spraying stray pixie fairies that were harassing his chickens, "Damn fairies. Quit bothering my chick'ns"
"Still have those pests around here? I thought by now they would have all gotten killed off by now."
"Didymus. I wasn't expecting your visit for months yet. What brings you here so early?"
"Iain. You know why," Didymus handed Iain a bundle of purple star fruit, "I assume this is still your usual price?"
"Yes. Blast them
dryads never letting me get near 'em anymore. So what do ya need to
know?"
"Heard anything about a plot against the high court or
any of the nobles?"
"I heard not long back about someone tryin to get revenge against a long gone line of the high court. Didn't pay much attention to it since that line had died out long time past. Ailean's line is long gone."
"No. It wasn't gone. Just gone from the underground. His daughter fled to the human world."
"I see. Then you might want to see out the Iron towers keeper. He was the one I heard speakin' 'bout it"
"Thank you Iain. I shall visit you again when I am able. Though it may take sometime to sort out this current problem."
"You do to much for Jareth. He doesn't treat you with respect."
"I owe him much Iain. My honor says I must serve my debt."
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AN: I know its short but I wanted to get an update out to you. I'm writing several things at once plus working on my novel. Between that and trying to pack for my upcoming move its hard to get free time to write.
Even harder is getting away from all the distractions. His highness is still being a pain. He's also not happy about bringing up Iain or the unnamed lands. Can anyone please explain to him about plot?? Seroiusly…
Anyways… REVIEW please… the more I get the more I write
