When the friends had put their faith in Glyndwr's 'message in a bottle' plan to find help from his fellow Meanders they had no idea how long they would have to wait for the help, if any was to come, to arrive.
They didn't have to wait long at all.
In fact, they had just started to eat their breakfast the morning after the spectacular lightning storm when a stranger wandered into their camp, with about fifty or so other men walked a few metres behind him. All looking a combination of slightly apprehensive and slightly curious.
The groups of friends stood up and walked to meet them, Jo and Aradia at the front along with Glyndwr, Guillaume and the rest of the 'Strangers' stood behind them.
" Good Morning," The stranger said politely with a distinct lack of any specific emotion either in his voice or face.
" Morning," Jo replied, looking the stranger up and down for a moment. " Can we help you…?"
It was then the stranger smiled. A broad, purely happy smile that lit up his entire face and made his eyes sparkle wildly.
" I think you'll find it is we who can help you…" He took a step towards Jo and took her hand. " Jerest's the name, helping maidens in distress is the game!" He winked before quickly kissing her hand. A kiss made even quicker by the slightly threatening look he received from Guillaume.
" Jerest of the Eastern plains?" Glyndwr's voice rang with recognition.
" The one and only, and you must be Glyndwr of the Northern lakes…" Jerest all but laughed, " I think you'll find we're cousins…on our mother's side," He added to the others with another boyish wink.
The two Meanders laughed and embraced each other and began to talk to each other in their native language.
" We got your note…" Jerest explained once Glyndwr and he had finished their brief but very exciting sounding conversation in Euskaran, although they had spoken a little too quickly for Jo or any of the others to pick up anything of importance. " Sent it on it's way again, but as we were the nearest we thought we'd better come and see what all the fuss was about…" He turned his gaze towards Jo and the others. " So these are our saviours are they…? The infamous 'Strangers' eh?"
" I don't know about 'saviours'," Jo couldn't help but smile back, " But we'll do our best…"
He was as tall as Glyndwr and just as slim but his hair was the colour pale summer sunshine, lighter than Jenny's and Bertrande's, and looked as though it had never seen a comb in it's life. A thought that made Jo smile as she remembered having had the same thought about Mithras when they had first met. Mithras who was now close by and, she hoped, not too different than he had been when she had last seen him. Jerest's eyes were a light, twinkling blue with the same intelligent spark as they had all seen so many times in Glyndwr's and there was a smile on his lips that somehow looked as though it probably had never left them.
" I'm sure that you will, it's a pleasure to meet you all…" He bowed slightly but gracefully and definitely in a manner over the top for a Swamp.
" Pleased to meet you," Jo grinned. " I think you probably know who we all are…so I'll spare you the boredom of fourteen or so unnecessary introductions!"
" I thank you," His head bowed slightly again, " And you're right, I do know of you at least…but I hope to now be able to have the opportunity of knowing you all at last."
" Well you certainly got here fast," Mark laughed as he shook hands with the Meander.
" When did you leave your homes…?" Lina asked. " You must have walked some distance to find us."
" Well, we did walk all night but I've walked further in the past," Jerest replied with no hint of pride, he was simply stating a fact. " Besides, it was only just up the river…but you'll know, you must have walked through some of our lands on your way here. We're to the south east of what was Aesina…"
" What still is Aesina," Aradia said quietly but firmly.
" Yes, of course your highness," Jerest apologised sincerely. " I apologise, I had not intended to offend you, it's just we've all grown with the evil of Obsequious hanging over us for so long…we had all but forgotten the goodness that still existed in some places…that has now returned to us at last."
Aradia smiled warmly and kissed the Meander's cheek. Jo couldn't help but chuckle to herself, how much the Princess had grown on their journey. There had been a time, not so long ago, she would have snubbed the poor young man and not let him forget about it for quite some time.
" Have you lived there all your life…? The Eastern plains I mean…" Lucy asked, offering their newest acquaintance some water.
" Not yet…" came the half serious reply, accompanied by twinkling eyes and the smallest of smiles. " But I would like to!"
And so the friends had found their first allies. The group of friends that had travelled through the Swamplands introduced themselves to the Meanders and chatted, swapping stories of their adventures so far and then they all sat down together to eat breakfast.
Later that morning Jenny noticed Jo was sat against one of the dead trees near the edge of their camp, completely absorbed in thought.
" Everything ok…?" Jenny asked as she walked up to her friend, trying not to sound overly concerned even though she was worried that Jo's nightmares and lack of sleep may be starting to catch up with her.
" Yeah…" Jo groaned standing up and leaning back against the tree. " Was just thinking about Mithras," Jo smiled, nodding her head towards the black castle whilst running her fingers along the chain around her neck. " And that I have only three of his tiger's eye beads left…" She paused for a moment, looking around at the mass of new people in their camp, which was no longer little. The Meanders had brought with them their own tents and had pitched them around the ones Jo and the others had found in Aesina. " And thinking maybe it's time I gave another couple away."
" To who though? You can't possibly give one to everyone that arrived today…" Jenny grinned.
" I know," sighed Jo, " But I still think I should give one to Jerest, he is their leader after all and, I dunno, I just feel he should have one. A feeling I get…like I had when we met Glyndwr, something tells me he's going to be with us for longer than this journey takes…does that make any sense…?" Jo turned to her friend, her green eyes searching the blue ones before her for some kind of assurance.
" No it doesn't, but this is you we're talking about here…so yes, in a way, it makes perfect sense!" Jenny laughed as Jo's face broke into a happy smile and she headed over to where Jerest had set up his tent and was sat with all of his attention focused on a book.
" Hope I'm not interrupting…" Jo smiled gently as Jerest put down his book and looked up at her.
" Not at all, here," He pulled his pack over to where he was sat, " Take a pew…"
" Thanks," Jo sighed, sitting down next to him.
The pair sat in silence for a few minutes, both just looking out over the tents and people before them.
" Thank you for coming…" Jo eventually said, " I know it can't have been an easy decision to make, to come and here and potentially risk your lives for people you've never met…but I do appreciate it more than I could ever say."
" It's an honour, believe me," Jerest assured her with another of his uplifting smiles. " But we're not doing anything special, we're just doing what you're doing…" That knowing sparkle became more noticeable in his eyes. " You're risking your lives for entire countries of people you've never been to or had even heard of until you arrived here. We're just glad to be able to finally stand up for our people, our families…" His eyes drifted over to Glyndwr for a second before looking back at Jo. " Our friends. Plus, we're joining a noble cause, a legendary group of people we've been hearing about all our lives. We're going to be famous, if nothing else!" He winked. " When you think about it, it's not really that tough a choice to make!" Jerest laughed gently as Jo rolled her eyes.
" When you put it like that…I guess not," she agreed.
" So, how can I help you…I have a feeling there was more to your coming over here than a simple thank you…" Jerest's face became slightly more serious, but his smile somehow never wavered for an instant.
" You Meanders definitely have some kind of gift of foresight…" Jo thought aloud. " But you're right…I came to give you something…" Jo reached into her pocket to pull out one of her remaining tiger's eye beads strung onto a thread from her cloak. " I want you to have this, on behalf of your people…" Jerest tentatively took in his hands. " It will protect you…"
" Magic beads…Then you really are a witch, aren't you?" He said, whetting his lips slightly.
" So they tell me," Jo sighed, " These beads were a gift from a friend, a friend who is currently trapped in there…" Jo glowered at the castle. " He helped me find the magic within myself I didn't know was there…and I've given one to every person that has travelled with us, and I should dearly love to give one to every single one of your people who has come to help us…but as I only have a few left, I can only give one to you…"
" And I thank you…" Jerest said quietly as he carefully tied the cord around his neck. " I thank you most sincerely…I had not expected such a kind gift, I shall look after it…"
" No problem," Jo grinned. " But the plan is for the bead to look after you though…!"
The pair of them laughed and hugged before Jo turned to seek out another recipient of one of her beads.
She soon found him.
Stretched out beneath a tree, basking in the occasional sunlight when it broke through the clouds was Billabong. He was laid out on his back, completely still and to all intents and purposes, he seemed to be asleep. Only the twitching back and forth of the end of his tail gave any indication that this was not the case. Jo hadn't gotten closer then eight or nine feet when he quickly rolled on to his stomach and was up on his feet in a flash. Eyes alert and muscles tensed ready to pounce on whatever danger was approaching. He visibly sagged to see that no such threat existed at that moment.
" Sorry…It's just me," Jo grinned, running her hand over his head and down his back when she reached him. He sat down and held his head up for her to tickle under his chin, which she did. " That better…?" Jo asked. Billabong looked up at her with his large golden eyes and promptly flopped onto his back, obviously wanting similar treatment for his stomach. Jo rolled her eyes before crouching down next to him and obliging his unspoken request. Within moments he was purring loudly and Jo didn't doubt that if she didn't stop soon, he really would be asleep.
" Well before you drift off again," Jo stopped scratching his belly, making him open his formerly closed eyes and look up at her expectantly. " I have something to give you…no it's not food…" She giggled as the regit jumped up and began snuffling all over her with his big pink nose. " Sorry to disappoint you again…it's just…you've watched out for us for so long, I thought I was about time you had someone, or something, watching out for you too…" Jo explained as she pulled out another bead on a longer length of cord and gently tied it around Billabong's throat. He sat still, almost as if he understood the importance of what she was doing. " Tiger's eye for a giant tiger…I mean, Regit," Jo corrected herself when Billabong shot her a confused look.
She gave him another scratch behind his ear, drawing a loud moan of appreciation from him before heading back into the camp.
Later that afternoon Jo was in her tent, she had been looking for some of the maps and plans she had brought with her from Vaniria, plans Mithras had made of the inside of the Black Castle based on all the myths, legends and rumours he had managed to lay his hands on. She wanted to go over them with Guillaume, Glyndwr, Jerest, Lina and the others to see if they could figure a way in that might spare them the arduous task of trying to get through the thousands of soldiers between them and the castle gates.
But she had gotten a little sidetracked. Jo looked down at the ring now on the third finger of her left-hand, as she had been doing for the last twenty minutes or so. There was something so very reassuring about it, and yet it was an odd kind of reassurance. Like the kind of feeling you used to get when someone made you a promise. It wasn't set in stone, it wasn't for certain but something about knowing she had promised to marry Guillaume once this was all over, and he had promised to marry her, made the idea of them all getting through everything together, and in one piece, that little bit more possible. But someone rushing into her tent interrupted Jo's thoughts.
" Jo…I think you should come down to the bridge…" Mark tapped her on the shoulder lightly, his face tight with a combination of panic and, Jo thought, anger.
" Why…what is it…?" Jo stood up quickly.
" It's Aitor…he wants to speak with you…"
" Oh…" Jo sat back down, a look of disgust on her face. " If that's all it is then you can just go and tell that son of a bi-"
" He's got someone with him," Mark added quietly. Jo frowned as she glanced up into Mark's own troubled face.
" Wh-who?" Jo swallowed, suddenly aware that her throat had gotten very dry. " Who has he got with him…?" Mark tried to answer but no sound came out. " Mark?" Jo's voice was firmer as she rose to her feet once more, touching his arm gently.
" You must promise me you won't overreact…" Mark finally managed.
" Mark, you're starting to scare me now," Jo's face was growing paler.
" Well it's…it's…" Mark's green eyes looked worriedly into hers for a moment. " It's Mithras…but don't…!" Mark started but it was too late, Jo had already bolted past him. "…Don't do anything stupid!" He finished, grumbling to himself as he ran after her.
Jo squeezed through the cluster of people who had gathered near to the riverbank and bridge. Eventually she could see the bridge and what lay on the other side. Dedra stood on the far side of the bridge. Behind him were four guards; two stood with their hands on their swords, the other two were holding someone between them. Although it looked as if they were all that was holding the person up, who was almost on their knees. The friends couldn't see his face but they knew it was Mithras and he didn't look good. Jo hurried forward to the start of the bridge where the rest of the group stood, pale and silent, all with expressions of anger on their faces. Jo stood alongside them, her hands balling up into fists by her sides, and glared out over the bridge at Dedra. Mark arrived a few moments after her, looking equally angry but with obvious concern shining in his eyes.
" Jo…" He said quietly, looking down at her, noting the angry expression, fists and that she was now shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She looked like a fighter, psyching herself up before a fight. " Jo, you mustn't do anything stupid…" Before Jo could answer Dedra started to walk out onto the bridge, alone. His guards staying behind him on the far side. Jo glanced up into Mark's face.
" I won't," She said grimly as she took a step out onto the bridge. Guillaume caught her arm and pulled her close to him.
" Jo you can't go out there alone," He frowned, all anger on his face now replaced with fear.
" I'll be fine, he only wants to talk with me…" She smiled, taking his hand and kissing its palm. " Plus I won't really be alone…" She kissed the ring on her finger and then smiled again before turning back to the bridge. She walked out slowly, her eyes never moving from Dedra, although his head was bowed so she could not see his eyes. He stopped just before halfway, as did she. For a moment or two they just stood like that, Dedra's gaze fixed on the wooden planks of the bridge, Jo eyes glaring at his head. And then he slowly looked up and his pale turquoise eyes looked into hers. There was silence in the air, a nervous silence. Rosie and Jenny exchanged worried glances, as did the others. Jo and Dedra stared at each other, neither one speaking or moving. And then, suddenly, Jo moved. In two quick strides she had covered the distance between them and she raised her hand and hit him. Her slap sounded like a gun crack in the silence. His face turned to the side with the force of the blow. 'Retribution or not, I needed to do that, Phillipe' Jo thought. He worked his jaw a few times, wincing slightly, before turning back to look down at her.
" It's nice to see you too," He said grimly while Jo merely glared back up at him. He raised one of his eyebrows. " What…no hello?" He smirked and then feigned a hurt expression. " Oh you're not still upset about that business in the woods are you…?"
" Shut up," Jo spat through gritted teeth, trying desperately not to cry.
" Look, I am genuinely sorry but…that wasn't my fault…how was I to know he'd go and follow you like that…" Dedra's face became gentler as did his voice, but it did nothing to change Jo's expression, which was growing darker and darker. " But it was hardly a surprise…Alvejan told you this would be someone's last journey…plus he was getting on a bit…" By her sides, Jo's hands were forming into fists once again. " Of course it will have been upsetting but come on, it can't have been that much of a shock that he popped his clogs…" Jo couldn't listen to any more, she quickly swung her fist once again but this time Dedra blocked her blow, catching hold of her wrist and span her around, pulling her against him with her back against his front, his other arm wrapping around her waist pinning her other arm to her side. " Temper temper," He said firmly as he held her. " Now then…we are in a bit of trouble aren't we…" She struggled harder but his hold merely increased. " That wasn't very clever was it?"
" Let go…" Jo said, squirming to break free, still trying to hold back the angry tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. He held her tighter and brought his face next to hers, his eyes flashing to the bank where a furious Guillaume was being restrained by Mark and Martin. He sighed,
" And what if I don't want to…" Dedra rubbed her cheek with his, trying to keep his mind on the fact that he was sent here to do a job and ignore the fact that all he wanted right now was for her to hold him like she had done in Aesina.
" Whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone," Jo had murmured as she had held him in her arms. " You're one of us now…"
Dedra would have given anything to have her hug him like that again.
However, Jo it seemed wanted nothing of the sort. She kicked back with her heel and struck him in the shin. He groaned and bent over slightly, but he didn't release his grip. " You bitch…!" He cursed, his eyes watering.
" I think you mean witch!" Jo said angrily trying to wrench herself away from him once more. Straightening up he brought his face close to hers once again.
" Enough fun and games for now…" He said, quickly allowing his lips to brush her skin before spinning her back out and away from him. Jo scrubbed at her face as if his brief kiss had burned her skin. " I have a job to do…" Jo looked at him with narrowed eyes.
" Whatever it is, I'm not interested…" Jo spat before turning sharply on her heel and starting to march back over the bridge when Dedra's voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
" It's Mithras."
Slowly Jo turned back, head slightly tilted to one side in the manner of someone who knows they're about to be given a choice that really, they have no choice about.
" What about him…?"
" Obsequious will free him, hand him over to you here and now…"
" For what…?" Jo demanded, her eyes flitting over the still figure of Mithras on the far side of the river. " What does he want…? If it's the Crystals then he's more stupid than I gave him credit for! Mithras would never want me to give up the crystals for…"
" It's not the crystals…" Dedra's voice almost purred as he cut her off, surprise evident on her face. " He wants nothing more than a simple exchange…Mithras…for you…"