Chapter Four – The Green Man of Hillcrest
Jessie awoke from her state of unconsciousness with pain shooting through her body. A pair of hands was firmly settled on her broken leg. A deep, calming voiced shushed her remarks of pain. Jessie had been rolled onto her back and, as she noticed, had been moved to a small camp.
"Where am I?" Jessie asked. The strange man before her simply smiled and continued to do whatever it was he was doing. Jessie tried to take in his appearance, but all she could focus on was his green, wood-like arms and his beard. "Who are you?"
"Rest now" The green man said. Charmed by his soothing voice, Jessie's head rolled to the side as she fell into a deep sleep.
Jareth watched as the knights took care of Aftiel. The horse had food and water attached to his saddle. He barely allowed the other knights to touch him. He was still hysterical from the night before.
His crystals were starting to fail him. When he tried to find Jessie, they would only show him a tree stump or a log, but were essentially not being useful. Thoughts of dismay circled his head. How he could have lost his favorite knight was inspiration for his brain to become very anxious.
"Captain!" Jareth bellowed. It only took minutes for an armor-encrusted goblin to appear. "I want a small group to form a search party. You are to go along the outer wall that faced the desert."
"Who are we searching for?" The captain asked.
"Her" Jareth said tossing a crystal towards the captain. The guard caught it and it turned into a photograph. "If you cannot find her, then try to find out what happened to her."
"She went to the desert?" The captain asked with a slight tremor in his voice.
"I believe she did" Jareth replied.
"The djinn" The captain said. "Your majesty, the djinn must have gotten her."
"Quiet!" Jareth snapped. "I believe she is still alive. Now GO FIND HER!"
The goblin scampered out of the throne room faster then Jareth could recall a goblin ever moving.
Jareth left his throne and went over to the balcony that sat across from his throne. He hadn't even bothered to change into real clothes. He was wrapped in his robe and pajamas. The sun was shining brightly down on the Labyrinth. Jareth's shoulders slumped at the thought of the desert. It would be unbearable for any creature and it would be deadly for Jessie.
Jareth tried conjuring up another searching crystal. The results were the same, only there were two logs now. He narrowed his eyes and watched as one of the logs stood straight up.
"Dryads?" Jareth questioned. He angrily threw the crystal from his balcony and turned into an owl, choosing the form of a Great Horned Owl.
The new squires had been divided into four groups of eight and one group of nine, since Squire Marcus Ghivae joined them. Sir Pheon'a Ch'a was drilling a group of eight as they ran through an obstacle course.
"C'mon my little squires!" Pheon'a called to them. "Pick up the pace or I'll start taking ears and feet!" Pheon'a watched as a Great Horned Owl swooped down to the ground beside her. The owl transformed into the king. A few of the passing squires slowed their pace with wide eyes. "Keep running, squire!" Pheon'a turned to the king and bowed. "Welcome, your majesty."
Jareth produced a crystal and handed it over to her. "What do you make of that?"
Pheon'a looked into the crystal and only saw two logs. She watched, expecting to see something else. One of the logs, though, grew a branch. It just simply appeared.
"I know who this is" Pheon'a replied. "I ran into him a very long time ago." She handed the crystal over to Jareth. "He is the green man of Hillcrest."
"Why have I not heard of him?" Jareth asked.
"You stay in your castle, sire" Pheon'a said. Jareth's eyes were wild. "My apologies, but that is the only reason I can think of."
"Have you heard about Aftiel, Jessie's stallion?" Jareth asked.
"No" Pheon'a replied. "What happened?"
"I found him hysterical last night" Jareth said. "He was at the North gate of the Labyrinth. I sent him to The Court and a few knights took care of him. Jessie was nowhere to be found."
"She went out to the desert for her vacation?" Pheon'a asked incredulously.
"No. Her horse just ended up there" Jareth said. "Look, the point is, she is lost. Aftiel was carrying her food and water. And, even if she did go through the desert, she is still alive. Otherwise my crystals would be black."
"I can take a team out to Hillcrest" Pheon'a said.
"Will this green man hurt her?" Jareth asked. He was looking into the crystal at the two logs.
"I don't believe so" Pheon'a replied. "He's usually peaceful. He might become overly attached though."
"Overly attached?" Jareth asked.
"He's a bit demented" Pheon'a said. She sighed and flicked her bright red hair from her face. "He means well, but he's like a child. He can carry around a dead animal like a doll and still believe that it's alive."
"Go find her" Jareth replied. "Take these squires. Get her away from the green man."
"I can't just leave now" Pheon'a said. "I will try to leave as soon as I can though, as long as you do me a favor."
"Which is?" Jareth asked.
"Watch these guys" Pheon'a replied. "If you want me to leave, then I need to go make some arrangements."
"What are you having them do today?" Jareth asked.
"Endurance, strength, and agility tests" Pheon'a said. She looked out at the squires as they ran their last lap around the obstacle course. There was a flash of light to her left. Jareth had changed into his usual attire of boots, tights, vest, a poet's shirt, and his armored jacket.
"I can handle this" Jareth replied. Pheon'a smiled and gave a loud whistle. Everyone stopped and formed into a single line before them.
"Young squires, I would like to introduce you to his royal highness, King Jareth" Pheon'a said. "I have some business I need to attend to. The king has been gracious enough to step in as your instructor." Pheon'a stepped back and bowed to the king. "Good luck, your majesty."
Pheon'a bounced off towards the Council Hall. Jareth turned towards the eight squires. They looked expectantly at the king.
"Have you been to the forest course?" Jareth asked. Heads shook 'no'. "Well then, let's gets moving."
By early evening, Jessie was able to move her hands to her face. The green man was moving, carrying her as if she weighed nothing. When she felt her face blisters and cracked skin under her fingers she cringed.
"I could not stop that from happening" The large green man said in a deep, earthy voice.
"I need something to eat" Jessie said. "Do my legs work?"
"I think they might" The green man replied. "Would you like an apple?"
"No thanks" Jessie said. "If my legs work, then put me down." The green man set her down. "Thanks."
"Where are my things?" Jessie asked looking down at herself. The green man smiled.
"I am carrying them" He replied.
"I need my sword" Jessie said. "This is a dangerous forest. I'd feel better with it."
The green man pulled the sword out of a bag that was barely noticeable on his back. Jessie strapped it on and took off into the woods. The green man called after her, but Jessie ignored him. A rabbit quickly hopped by. The scent of fresh blood, the pounding of the heart, it sent Jessie into a fit of bestial hunger. Jessie took her sword out and went to stab the animal, but an invisible barrier came between her sword and the rabbit.
A loud bellow came from the green man. Jessie turned around and found the tree-skinned man only inches from her. He reached out and picked her up.
"You must be punished for this" The green man said angrily. Jessie tried twisting out of his grip.
"I'm part Ama'sovai" Jessie growled. "I need blood."
"The Ama'sovai were almost completely wiped out" The green man said. "I saw the massacre. Thus, you are lying."
"Why would I lie about something like that?" Jessie screamed. "Put me down." The green man just trudged through the forest. "Put me down right now!"
"Quiet" The green man said.
"I am Sir Jessie Cardemus, General" Jessie said. "Put. Me. Down."
The green man stopped and looked her over. "I have not seen any indication that you are a knight, much less a general. In fact, you have the ears of Mann."
"I told you" Jessie said. "I am only part Ama'sovai." With one hand, Jessie reached out and pulled hard on the green man's beard until his face was near hers. "I appreciate your help, but I cannot give you much of anything in return. If you want my dagger, then take it." Jessie tightened her grip on his beard until he made a face. "Let me go and take three steps back, green man."
The green man growled and dropped her. He took three steps back and stood in a very defensive stance. Jessie stood up and bared her fangs. She stepped back so she was near a large oak tree. She picked up a handful of acorns all the while keeping an eye on the green man.
"What are you doing with those?" The green man asked.
"This" Jessie replied. "Glandis invenire propinqua urbis."
The acorns spun around and quickly shot off all together in one direction. Racing to keep up with them, Jessie jumped and dodged logs and branches. Behind her, the green man seemed to be raging. Jessie pushed herself until she saw the town of Hillcrest. The acorns, having reached their destination, stopped moving and fell to the ground. Jessie moved to pick them up while catching her breath.
Jessie moved into the shadow of the building and watched as the green man stopped at the tree line. He threw her stuff into a puddle of mud and disappeared into the forest.
"Bastard" Jessie whispered. She reclaimed her things and immediately put her scarf and hat on. She walked around Hillcrest until she found an inn.
A brass bell rang when she opened the door. Two men were by the fireplace smoking, the innkeeper was at the front desk, and a dwarf woman carried a basket of laundry.
"Can I help you, traveler?" The innkeeper asked.
"I need a room" Jessie said. She took out a small leather pouch. "How much?"
"Four silver pieces a night" The innkeeper replied. Jessie looked through her pouch. She had about ten gold pieces and hordes of copper pieces, but no silver. She took out a gold piece. "This will pay for five nights."
"Good. I'll stay five nights then" Jessie said. The innkeeper handed her a heavy key to room five. "Thanks. Do not disturb me."