Chapter two
Castle Wyvern
same night
Goliath positioned his sleeping clan on the battlements.
"We've done you a great wrong, Goliath." The princess said gently.
"I know that no apology can be enough, Goliath. I wish there was something I could do." The Magus was truly sincere.
"What will you do now, Princess?" Goliath asked.
"I'll take my people to my uncle. It's no longer safe for us here."
"I have a request." Goliath said.
"You have but to name it."
"The eggs in the rookery will soon hatch. They will need guidance." Goliath replied slowly.
"Never fear. We will watch over them as if they were our own."
"Wait just one second." Jessondra said. "Why canna ye look after them?" Goliath turned sadly away. "Goliath, what are ye thinking?"
"There is something you can do for me, Magus." Goliath said softly. "Cast your spell one more time."
"Goliath no!" Jessondra ran into his arms. He held her tightly.
"Please, dinna leave me. Ye're all I've got."
"Jessondra, I must do this. I don't belong here. I belong with my clan."
"But..."
He pressed a finger to her lips, and gently kissed her cheek. "I will always be with you." Then turning to the princess. "Take care of her as well."
* * *
The Magus, Princess, and Tom gently packed the eggs into a horse-drawn cart. Jessondra watched the proceedings from the tower, beside Goliath's stone form. A stream of tears ran down her cheeks.
"I will never forget you." She said and kissed his stone face. Then she retreated back into the castle to look for her long-kept secret.
* * *
"How many are there?" Mary asked.
"I counted thirty-five, mother." Tom answered.
"Thirty-six." Jessondra corrected, carrying her own egg.
"Where did that one come from?" Katherine asked
"Tis mine." Jessondra replied. "Has been my secret for three years. I dinna want to leave it behind."
"I wonder how many of them will survive the journey to your uncle Kenneth's kingdom." Mary said thoughtfully.
"All of them, Mary. I'll see to that." Katherine stated.
"I will fight off any who would threaten these eggs!" Tom shouted, looking patriotic.
"Come here, Tom." Katherined said, drawing a dagger. "Kneel before me and swear. Do you solemnly swear, on your life and your honor, to protect these gargoyle eggs and the beings within them as long as you live?" She asked, touching his shoulder.
"I swear."
"Arise Tom, Guardian of the Eggs."
"Come then, Guardian." Mary chuckled. "Our journey is a long one."
Jessondra gave him a small hug.
The three adults climbed into the front of the cart, while Jessondra and Tom got in the back, guarding their precious cargo.
Jessondra looked longingly up to the battlements where her love stood, frozen eternally in stone sleep. For how do you raise a castle above the clouds?
"Good-bye, my love. I shall keep you in my heart, always."
* * *
New York 1994
Eyrie Building
"Mr. Xanatos, I am happy to report that I have found the girl from Castle Wyvern. Jessondra, I believe. It just so happens that she's in Manhattan as we speak."
"Excellent. Keep up the good work Owen."
"But there is one slight problem sir."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"She refuses any reference to her past." Owen stated
"Then we'll just have to persuade her, won't we? Where can I find her?"
* * *
Scotland 994 AD
King Kenneth's castle
King Kenneth slipped into the drying house. "I came as swiftly as caution would allow. What is it you wish of me?"
Constantine came forth from his hiding place. "Your throne." And with that, he ran his sword through the king.
Finnella fell to her knees crying.
Constantine picked up Kenneth's crown. "The king is dead." He boastingly donned it. "Long live the king." He said grinning maniacally.
* * *
Katherine's cousin entered through the doors to their chambers carrying Tom.
"Oh Tom!" Mary said taking her son.
"I found him out by the barn. There's no telling how much he saw."
"Jessondra, take him." Mary said handing Tom to the girl.
Jessondra took Tom to his room and laid him on the bed.
"Jess--" he started, opening his eyes.
"Shh. Rest Tom, we're in trouble now. King Kenneth is dead. We will have to escape."
* * *
Constantine lost no time establishing his authority. He imprisoned anyone not swearing fealty to him. He imprisoned Katharine as well.
"Oh, where can he be?" Mary asked, pacing.
The Magus and Chalvim entered. "I found him curled among the eggs, which are safe. No telling what horrors this boy has seen."
"This is madness." Katherine stated.
"Constantine has murdered my father, and seeks to imprison any who would question his claim to the throne. We must go now." Maol stated.
"Nay. I need time to move the eggs." Katherine protested.
"You're daft. And if you do not leave, you'll be dead! We're out of time, Katharine. My life is in danger. I cannot wait for you. He hunts me even now."
"I cannot go with you, cousin." Katherine said softly. "And I do not ask you to stay. Go on." She turned to the Magus. "You do not have to stay with me, either. Take Mary and her boy, and go."
"Never."
* * *
At the crowning ceremony the guards brought princess Katherine to his feet.
She glared at him. Then pressed her forehead to his hand and said "I swear my loyalty to the crown."
"And to your own crown, when you are my queen." He said taking her by the wrist. "The Princess and I shall wed on Michaelmas when I return from the inspection of my holdings."
At hearing this, Finnella ran from the ceremony hurt and angry.
"I will never submit to this outrage!" Katherine yelled.
"You have thirty-six very good reasons to obey me." Constantine said pointing his scepter to where the eggs lay.
Jessondra was about to lunge at him and tear his throat out, but the Magus grabbed her by the shoulders.
* * *
"You're not going to marry that murderer, are you?" Tom asked.
Jessondra sat infront of the fire hugging her knees.
"Never. But we need time to get the eggs to safety somehow."
The Magus spoke up. "I've been looking through the Grimorum. I think I have an idea."
Jessondra looked up at him.
***
A kitchen maid dumped some shards into a nearby wagon.
"Per usum meum adsumate signo tuto uto care." the Magus said reading the incantation from the Grimorum.
There before their eyes, the eggs turned to kitchen shards.
Tom got in the front seat of the wagon along with Jessondra.
"We'll take this down to the boathouse. The guards will think it's more old kitchen stuff to be dumped into the sea." He said and started off with their precious cargo once more.
"Per usum meum adsumate signo tuto uto care." The kitchen shards turned to eggs.
Katherine began unloading the "eggs" back into the stable.
"Taking the bones for a walk, my dear?" Constantine asked.
"Gargoyles eggs must be turned, my lord, or they'll crack too soon."
"I don't think I like gargoyle eggs." He sneered.
Tom and Jessondra approaced the Magus from behind. "All of the eggs are in the boats, your highness."
"We can get the eggs to safety, Tom, but not the Princess." The Magus said softly. "Constantine himself visits every hour on the hour."
"I could take care of that..." Jessondra sneered.
"We'll have none of that now...." The Magus scolded.
* * *
"Tomorrow morning I will be queen." Katherine balled up the wedding dress and threw it into the fire. "You must take the eggs and go without me. You know I'm right, Magus. If I go, Constantine will hunt me to the very ends of the earth."
"Then I will take you beyond them." The Magus said firmly, drawing everyone in the room's attention.
Jessondra opened her mouth to say something, but a knock on the door interupted her.
The Magus opened the door. In slipped Finella.
"Tom has told us that you had no foreknowledge of my uncle's death. You risk too much to help me." Katherine said.
"I do it more to hurt Constantine." Finella stated. "I'd arranged to meet him in the drying house at midnight, supposedly to beg for his favor. Heh, the irony was irresistible to him."
The Magus handed her two goblets. "Toast him with this cider. Put the stone in your mouth before you drink and the sleeping potion won't affect you. That will buy us a few hours time."
* * *
The Magus was in the front boat; Tom, Jessondra, and Mary in the second with half the eggs; and Katherine and Finnella in the third with the other half.
"Where are we going, Mama?" Tom asked.
"To Oberon's mystic island of Avalon. He'll never reach us there." The Magus replied.
"Are you sure you know the way?" Mary was skeptical
"With the right spell, Avalon can be reached from any body of water." The Magus pointed his finger in front of him, and chanted. "Vocate venti fortunate ex ripae Oberonis et hic navis flugem regate ad orae Avalonis."
A strange mist formed around them keeping them from seeing anything.
When it parted, they floated before the watery gates of Avalon, guarded by three identical women.
"Stand aside and let us pass." The magus said firmly.
"You know better than that, Magus." Phoebe replied.
"Oberon has named us guardians of his island." Selene added.
"No magics may enter here, save Avalon's own." Finished Luna.
"You cannot make us go back or the Princess could die! The eggs could die!" Tom shouted.
"You screech like barn owls."
"Meaningless chatter of meaningless lives."
The boats containg the eggs broke away from the lead skiff. Jessondra attempted to gain control of her skiff as Katherine attempted to do the same with hers.
"Magus, do something!" Katherine shouted.
"So owls you will be." A flash of green light shot towards the travelers.
The Magus held the Grimorum above his head and shouted. "Per usum meum dira te rectus volutare!"
The magic bounced back, changing the Three Weird Sisters into barn owls. The magus beat them of with the steering pole.
"Magus, you did it!" Katherine exclaimed.
"I cannot go with you to Avalon." The Magus sighed. "I cannot bring the Grimorum."
"Then leave it." Jessondra stated flatly.
"It is the source of my magic. Without it, I am..."
Katherine put her hand on his arm. "Still the Magus, and my friend."
"This book is as good as a map to Avalon. If Constantine or his sorcerers get a hold of it--"
"Leave the book with me, Magus. I will protect it with my life." Finella stated.
"I'll stay with Finella." Mary added. "When alone and running into trouble, two women can cause plenty of it."
"But I want to stay with you, mama." Tom argued.
Jessondra put an arm around him.
"Aw, Tom, you witnessed Constantine's evil, my boy. You'll not be safe in Scotland, nor anywhere, unless I keep the Grimorum safe from Constantine." Mary said gently.
"Besides, we need you, Guardian." Katherine added.
"You must protect the children." Jessondra smiled slightly.
Tom watched as his mother and Finella disappeared into the mist in the empty skiff. "Mama, I-I cannot see you."
"Godspeed, my angel." Came Mary's voice back.
The four that were left started to the mystical island of Avalon.
* * *
Jessondra sat on the edge of a cliff, holding a small gargoyle hatchling. She sighed as the moon rose over the water. The baby cooed and pulled at Jessondra's long tresses.
"Uh-uh." She said and removed her hair from the infants grasp. Most of the eggs had hatched. There were only about ten left. Among them was hers.
Oh how she missed her young warrior and her parents. She felt as if she didn't belong. Though almost six years had gone by. She didn't look a day older. Tom had passed her up a year and a half ago. She sighed again.
The hatchling began fussing. "All right, Angela. We'll go back and get something to eat." She shifted the baby to her shoulder and started off toward the castle.
* * *
"I've made a decision." Jessondra said as they sat to dine.
"And what's that?" Tom asked sitting beside her.
He had become quite handsome and they had become quite close.
"I've decided to leave Avalon."
"But Jessondra..." the princess cried.
"You aren't serious, are you?" asked the Magus.
"Ye can't leave." Tom said taking her hand. He looked into her eyes. "What about yer child?"
"We don't even know if it will hatch." She said, tears coming to her eyes. "A gargoyle and a human have ne'er successfully bred before. I'm just saying that I must go. I dinna belong here on Avalon."
"Where will you go?" asked the Magus.
"I'll go back to Wyvern, to find the gargoyles maybe, and hopefully my place in the world."
Castle Wyvern
same night
Goliath positioned his sleeping clan on the battlements.
"We've done you a great wrong, Goliath." The princess said gently.
"I know that no apology can be enough, Goliath. I wish there was something I could do." The Magus was truly sincere.
"What will you do now, Princess?" Goliath asked.
"I'll take my people to my uncle. It's no longer safe for us here."
"I have a request." Goliath said.
"You have but to name it."
"The eggs in the rookery will soon hatch. They will need guidance." Goliath replied slowly.
"Never fear. We will watch over them as if they were our own."
"Wait just one second." Jessondra said. "Why canna ye look after them?" Goliath turned sadly away. "Goliath, what are ye thinking?"
"There is something you can do for me, Magus." Goliath said softly. "Cast your spell one more time."
"Goliath no!" Jessondra ran into his arms. He held her tightly.
"Please, dinna leave me. Ye're all I've got."
"Jessondra, I must do this. I don't belong here. I belong with my clan."
"But..."
He pressed a finger to her lips, and gently kissed her cheek. "I will always be with you." Then turning to the princess. "Take care of her as well."
* * *
The Magus, Princess, and Tom gently packed the eggs into a horse-drawn cart. Jessondra watched the proceedings from the tower, beside Goliath's stone form. A stream of tears ran down her cheeks.
"I will never forget you." She said and kissed his stone face. Then she retreated back into the castle to look for her long-kept secret.
* * *
"How many are there?" Mary asked.
"I counted thirty-five, mother." Tom answered.
"Thirty-six." Jessondra corrected, carrying her own egg.
"Where did that one come from?" Katherine asked
"Tis mine." Jessondra replied. "Has been my secret for three years. I dinna want to leave it behind."
"I wonder how many of them will survive the journey to your uncle Kenneth's kingdom." Mary said thoughtfully.
"All of them, Mary. I'll see to that." Katherine stated.
"I will fight off any who would threaten these eggs!" Tom shouted, looking patriotic.
"Come here, Tom." Katherined said, drawing a dagger. "Kneel before me and swear. Do you solemnly swear, on your life and your honor, to protect these gargoyle eggs and the beings within them as long as you live?" She asked, touching his shoulder.
"I swear."
"Arise Tom, Guardian of the Eggs."
"Come then, Guardian." Mary chuckled. "Our journey is a long one."
Jessondra gave him a small hug.
The three adults climbed into the front of the cart, while Jessondra and Tom got in the back, guarding their precious cargo.
Jessondra looked longingly up to the battlements where her love stood, frozen eternally in stone sleep. For how do you raise a castle above the clouds?
"Good-bye, my love. I shall keep you in my heart, always."
* * *
New York 1994
Eyrie Building
"Mr. Xanatos, I am happy to report that I have found the girl from Castle Wyvern. Jessondra, I believe. It just so happens that she's in Manhattan as we speak."
"Excellent. Keep up the good work Owen."
"But there is one slight problem sir."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"She refuses any reference to her past." Owen stated
"Then we'll just have to persuade her, won't we? Where can I find her?"
* * *
Scotland 994 AD
King Kenneth's castle
King Kenneth slipped into the drying house. "I came as swiftly as caution would allow. What is it you wish of me?"
Constantine came forth from his hiding place. "Your throne." And with that, he ran his sword through the king.
Finnella fell to her knees crying.
Constantine picked up Kenneth's crown. "The king is dead." He boastingly donned it. "Long live the king." He said grinning maniacally.
* * *
Katherine's cousin entered through the doors to their chambers carrying Tom.
"Oh Tom!" Mary said taking her son.
"I found him out by the barn. There's no telling how much he saw."
"Jessondra, take him." Mary said handing Tom to the girl.
Jessondra took Tom to his room and laid him on the bed.
"Jess--" he started, opening his eyes.
"Shh. Rest Tom, we're in trouble now. King Kenneth is dead. We will have to escape."
* * *
Constantine lost no time establishing his authority. He imprisoned anyone not swearing fealty to him. He imprisoned Katharine as well.
"Oh, where can he be?" Mary asked, pacing.
The Magus and Chalvim entered. "I found him curled among the eggs, which are safe. No telling what horrors this boy has seen."
"This is madness." Katherine stated.
"Constantine has murdered my father, and seeks to imprison any who would question his claim to the throne. We must go now." Maol stated.
"Nay. I need time to move the eggs." Katherine protested.
"You're daft. And if you do not leave, you'll be dead! We're out of time, Katharine. My life is in danger. I cannot wait for you. He hunts me even now."
"I cannot go with you, cousin." Katherine said softly. "And I do not ask you to stay. Go on." She turned to the Magus. "You do not have to stay with me, either. Take Mary and her boy, and go."
"Never."
* * *
At the crowning ceremony the guards brought princess Katherine to his feet.
She glared at him. Then pressed her forehead to his hand and said "I swear my loyalty to the crown."
"And to your own crown, when you are my queen." He said taking her by the wrist. "The Princess and I shall wed on Michaelmas when I return from the inspection of my holdings."
At hearing this, Finnella ran from the ceremony hurt and angry.
"I will never submit to this outrage!" Katherine yelled.
"You have thirty-six very good reasons to obey me." Constantine said pointing his scepter to where the eggs lay.
Jessondra was about to lunge at him and tear his throat out, but the Magus grabbed her by the shoulders.
* * *
"You're not going to marry that murderer, are you?" Tom asked.
Jessondra sat infront of the fire hugging her knees.
"Never. But we need time to get the eggs to safety somehow."
The Magus spoke up. "I've been looking through the Grimorum. I think I have an idea."
Jessondra looked up at him.
***
A kitchen maid dumped some shards into a nearby wagon.
"Per usum meum adsumate signo tuto uto care." the Magus said reading the incantation from the Grimorum.
There before their eyes, the eggs turned to kitchen shards.
Tom got in the front seat of the wagon along with Jessondra.
"We'll take this down to the boathouse. The guards will think it's more old kitchen stuff to be dumped into the sea." He said and started off with their precious cargo once more.
"Per usum meum adsumate signo tuto uto care." The kitchen shards turned to eggs.
Katherine began unloading the "eggs" back into the stable.
"Taking the bones for a walk, my dear?" Constantine asked.
"Gargoyles eggs must be turned, my lord, or they'll crack too soon."
"I don't think I like gargoyle eggs." He sneered.
Tom and Jessondra approaced the Magus from behind. "All of the eggs are in the boats, your highness."
"We can get the eggs to safety, Tom, but not the Princess." The Magus said softly. "Constantine himself visits every hour on the hour."
"I could take care of that..." Jessondra sneered.
"We'll have none of that now...." The Magus scolded.
* * *
"Tomorrow morning I will be queen." Katherine balled up the wedding dress and threw it into the fire. "You must take the eggs and go without me. You know I'm right, Magus. If I go, Constantine will hunt me to the very ends of the earth."
"Then I will take you beyond them." The Magus said firmly, drawing everyone in the room's attention.
Jessondra opened her mouth to say something, but a knock on the door interupted her.
The Magus opened the door. In slipped Finella.
"Tom has told us that you had no foreknowledge of my uncle's death. You risk too much to help me." Katherine said.
"I do it more to hurt Constantine." Finella stated. "I'd arranged to meet him in the drying house at midnight, supposedly to beg for his favor. Heh, the irony was irresistible to him."
The Magus handed her two goblets. "Toast him with this cider. Put the stone in your mouth before you drink and the sleeping potion won't affect you. That will buy us a few hours time."
* * *
The Magus was in the front boat; Tom, Jessondra, and Mary in the second with half the eggs; and Katherine and Finnella in the third with the other half.
"Where are we going, Mama?" Tom asked.
"To Oberon's mystic island of Avalon. He'll never reach us there." The Magus replied.
"Are you sure you know the way?" Mary was skeptical
"With the right spell, Avalon can be reached from any body of water." The Magus pointed his finger in front of him, and chanted. "Vocate venti fortunate ex ripae Oberonis et hic navis flugem regate ad orae Avalonis."
A strange mist formed around them keeping them from seeing anything.
When it parted, they floated before the watery gates of Avalon, guarded by three identical women.
"Stand aside and let us pass." The magus said firmly.
"You know better than that, Magus." Phoebe replied.
"Oberon has named us guardians of his island." Selene added.
"No magics may enter here, save Avalon's own." Finished Luna.
"You cannot make us go back or the Princess could die! The eggs could die!" Tom shouted.
"You screech like barn owls."
"Meaningless chatter of meaningless lives."
The boats containg the eggs broke away from the lead skiff. Jessondra attempted to gain control of her skiff as Katherine attempted to do the same with hers.
"Magus, do something!" Katherine shouted.
"So owls you will be." A flash of green light shot towards the travelers.
The Magus held the Grimorum above his head and shouted. "Per usum meum dira te rectus volutare!"
The magic bounced back, changing the Three Weird Sisters into barn owls. The magus beat them of with the steering pole.
"Magus, you did it!" Katherine exclaimed.
"I cannot go with you to Avalon." The Magus sighed. "I cannot bring the Grimorum."
"Then leave it." Jessondra stated flatly.
"It is the source of my magic. Without it, I am..."
Katherine put her hand on his arm. "Still the Magus, and my friend."
"This book is as good as a map to Avalon. If Constantine or his sorcerers get a hold of it--"
"Leave the book with me, Magus. I will protect it with my life." Finella stated.
"I'll stay with Finella." Mary added. "When alone and running into trouble, two women can cause plenty of it."
"But I want to stay with you, mama." Tom argued.
Jessondra put an arm around him.
"Aw, Tom, you witnessed Constantine's evil, my boy. You'll not be safe in Scotland, nor anywhere, unless I keep the Grimorum safe from Constantine." Mary said gently.
"Besides, we need you, Guardian." Katherine added.
"You must protect the children." Jessondra smiled slightly.
Tom watched as his mother and Finella disappeared into the mist in the empty skiff. "Mama, I-I cannot see you."
"Godspeed, my angel." Came Mary's voice back.
The four that were left started to the mystical island of Avalon.
* * *
Jessondra sat on the edge of a cliff, holding a small gargoyle hatchling. She sighed as the moon rose over the water. The baby cooed and pulled at Jessondra's long tresses.
"Uh-uh." She said and removed her hair from the infants grasp. Most of the eggs had hatched. There were only about ten left. Among them was hers.
Oh how she missed her young warrior and her parents. She felt as if she didn't belong. Though almost six years had gone by. She didn't look a day older. Tom had passed her up a year and a half ago. She sighed again.
The hatchling began fussing. "All right, Angela. We'll go back and get something to eat." She shifted the baby to her shoulder and started off toward the castle.
* * *
"I've made a decision." Jessondra said as they sat to dine.
"And what's that?" Tom asked sitting beside her.
He had become quite handsome and they had become quite close.
"I've decided to leave Avalon."
"But Jessondra..." the princess cried.
"You aren't serious, are you?" asked the Magus.
"Ye can't leave." Tom said taking her hand. He looked into her eyes. "What about yer child?"
"We don't even know if it will hatch." She said, tears coming to her eyes. "A gargoyle and a human have ne'er successfully bred before. I'm just saying that I must go. I dinna belong here on Avalon."
"Where will you go?" asked the Magus.
"I'll go back to Wyvern, to find the gargoyles maybe, and hopefully my place in the world."