AN: I'm on a roll here: two chapters in one day! I'll just assume that someone out there is reading this… (insert crickets chirping here) Reviews are always appreciated; YES, I'M TALKING TO YOU!Oh well. ENJOY THE RIDE.
Chapter 5: Meetings
After I had helped the knight (I later learned his name was Penabel) into his armor, we began our journey to the enchanter's fortress.
Penabel was from Carthak; but I did not embark on this quest for his sake or, shamefully, for his captured love's. I undertook this quest to rescue Rogero if possible.
I wondered why the enchanter would want to capture Penabel's betrothed. She most certainly was not a warrior; the Carthakis were strictly against women fighting. I highly doubted that she would have started an argument with someone able to defeat accomplished knights without so much as a fight. Unable to come up with a satisfactory answer and unwilling to ask Penabel, I eventually gave up trying to understand the enchanter's reasons.
Penabel said very little as we trudged through the forest. It would have been faster to ride, but my companion had ridden his horse to death in an effort to get away from the feared enchanter. I did not want to burden Venture with two fully armed knights; therefore, we kept our slow pace. When Penabel at last spoke, he voiced a grudgingly respectful desire to "know the name and lineage of my noble companion." I answered courteously, revealing my name and family. When I requested the same consideration of him, he blatantly avoided telling me; and I decided to let the issue rest for the moment.
We camped the night at the edge of the forest; and in the morning, we entered the foothills of a small mountain range. Penabel was quieter than he had been the day before. We spent the morning struggling deep into the foothills, nearer the smaller mountains.
Sometime after midday, Penabel suggested that he should climb the nearest of the small mountains to get an idea of where we were. I agreed t his plan, and he scrambled up the mountain. He seemed to be working his way around the mountain as he climbed. Not wanting to lose my guide to Rogero, I quickly decided to follow Penabel. When I caught up to him, he was standing by the opening of a small cavern. He looked rather upset, and I asked him what was wrong.
"There—there was a woman—yes! A woman in the cavern. She had been kidnapped by an evil knight. She—she was trying to escape," Penabel explained.
"Wait here," I said. I skidded down the path t get a rope from my saddlebag. When I returned, I handed the end of the line to Penabel.
"Hold this, and I'll climb down. I would let you go, but I couldn't pull you back up."
I crawled into the opening and slowly let myself down the line. I hoped Penabel wouldn't lose his grip on the rope. Suddenly, I heard Penabel's voice.
"I hope you enjoy the fall!" he yelled and released the rope.
I fell nearly ten feet to the dirt floor of the cavern. The fall knocked the wind out of my lungs, and I lay gasping for several minutes. When I felt I could breathe again, I struggled uncertainly to my feet. The cavern I found myself in was huge. I was suddenly glad I had not fallen from the top of the rope.
My first worry was to find a way out of the cave. I knew I could not get out the way I had gotten in. I began to examine the inside of the cavern. I saw a door at one end of the cave. I quickly crossed to the door and opened it. In the next room sat an altar. As I approached the altar I heard a voice that was the sound of hounds in full cry with the hunters urging them on.
"My daughter," the voice said. "You have come in quest of your beloved. I tell you now, Daughter, you shall find him, and your heirs shall be the most renown knights in all the world. You are one of my chosen; you shall have my protection and guidance for so long as you shall have need of it, Bradamatè."
The voice drove me to my knees with the power it contained. I remained on my knees even after the voice stopped. When I realized what the voice had said, I knew this cavern must be devoted to the Great Mother Goddess. Her favor was unexpected but not unheard of or unappreciated. I resolved to always strive to be worthy of the Goddess's favor.
My reverie was broken when a white-clad woman entered from a hidden door in the wall of the chamber.
"Good day, Chosen of the Mother," the woman greeted me.
I was glad of my visor to hide my face, for I was blushing fiercely. I mumbled a greeting as I rose to my feet.
"I am Melissa," the woman continued. "The Great Mother sent me to help you. I know you seek Rogero. You will find the enchanter a hard foe to defeat; but if you heed my advice, you will prevail."
Melissa had been gifted with a vision from the Goddess two nights ago. She knew all about where Rogero was being held. She even knew who the nameless enchanter was. He was Atlantes, Rogero's foster father. He'd had a vision that Rogero would die if he continued fighting. Atlantes was trying to create a safe place to keep his son during the war. Melissa explained why the enchanter had kidnapped Penabel's beloved: he was trying to entice Rogero to stay voluntarily.
"Take this ring," Melissa said. "It will protect you from Atlantes' shield. He will expect it to blind you when he reveals it. Fall, as if you are blind. When he comes to bind you, you can easily overpower him."
"You make it sound so simple," I said. "There must be something more difficult to it."
"You are right," the priestess said. "Atlantes' fortress can only be reached by the hippogryph which he rides. The beast is fierce. Put this around his neck." She handed me a loop of chain. "This will make him manageable. Use the hippogryph to free those in the fortress. When everyone is free, release the hippogryph; he was not meant to be in captivity."
I'd thanked Melissa for her help and was turning to leave when she caught my arm. "Wouldn't you like to know where Atlantes' fortress is?"
I could hardly believe I had forgotten something so important. Melissa smiled good-naturedly and began to tell me the way to the fortress. When she had finished, the sun had nearly set. She invited me to rest at the shrine for the rest of the night. As I lay on the cot provided, I gained new hope. Tomorrow I would set out to rescue Rogero.