Chapter 8: Idis in the Road
Night fell quickly as the squadron tromped through the Fiery Forest towards the Labyrinth walls. As the shadows deepened, the sounds of the forest seemed to grow fiercer. The chirping birds turned to cawing crows. The patter of squirrels turned into the stalking steps of unseen predators.
"Jareth, have you ever thought of setting up lamp posts along here?" Robin asked, breaking the troops' silence. Jareth gave a low chuckle and shook his head.
"Robin, that is the most ridiculous thing I've heard" Jareth replied.
"You could at least widen the road a little bit" Robin complained. He looked around at the road, which was turning into an indistinguishable color of grayish-brown in the night light. "This road is barely wide enough for four riders."
"Shhh" Jessie hissed. She held up her hand and the group came to an immediate halt.
"What is it?" Jareth asked moving his horse a few steps forward.
"I'm not sure" Jessie said softly. She squinted and looked into the blue and black shadows before her. Raising her voice she called, "Hello!"
A figure in a dark robe slowly made its way towards the group in a disjointed manner. It stayed close to the trees.
"Halt!" Jessie said loudly. The figure faded until the trees and the road behind it could be seen right through it, then it became opaque once again. "A ghost?"
"No" Jareth said. He leaned forward and whispered "It is an Idis. Show it much respect. Call its name."
"Idis" Jessie said. The figure stopped and seemed to look at them, only its entire face was covered by the overly large hood. A feminine hand emerged from the large sleeves with the palm facing the group of riders. Jessie's hand crept onto the hilt of her sword as she watched the Idis start to glow with a white-blue light.
The Idis let out a shrill scream. Most of the squires covered their ears. The hood on the robe blew back from the Idis's head from an invisible wind. Long blood-red hair flew around the pale face.
"King!" Idis moaned. The Idis's voice echoed more then it should have. "Betrayal comes at waning."
"Betrayal? By whom?" Jareth asked moving his horse forward.
"Modsognir dwarves" Idis moaned. Her figure had started to rise off of the ground. Her hair still whipped around her head as if she was caught in a wind tunnel.
"Modsognir?" Jareth repeated. "Thank you for the warning, Idis."
"You are welcome, King" Idis moaned. She grew brighter and again she let out a shrill scream. The whole troop had to look away as she grew as bright as the sun. The light and her screams suddenly stopped. The troop looked up to see the figure fading into the shadows of the forest.
"Sire?" Jessie asked.
"We need to get back and warn the others" Jareth said. "Waning, as Idis put it, should happen in no more then a week."
"Right" Jessie said. Jessie stretched in her saddle and looked over her shoulders. "Ride fast young squires. Stay on the road." Jessie turned to face forward and let out a cry to spur on her horse. "Yee-Aahhh!"
The troop took off at an alarming rate, heading straight for the Goblin City.
The Labyrinth loomed ahead of the racing troop like a silent giant. The riders raced on, passing several creatures on the way, until they reached the Goblin City. They raced through the city, sounding their horns to clear the way. The citizens of the Goblin City rushed to get out of their way.
"Take them to Somai Field!" Jessie yelled to Jareth. Jareth nodded and signaled for the others to follow him. Jessie broke away from the group and raced for the Council Hall.
Jessie was off her horse and was running inside before the horse came to a full stop. She raced inside, pushing past other knights and squires who were in her way. She raced up the stairs and up to the bell tower. Usually it would be a lesser knight or a squire who would be sent to sound the alarm, but not this time.
Jessie pushed the heavy doors to the tower stairs open and ran up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, Jessie picked up the heavy iron club and swung at the heavy bell. The bell was large enough and loud enough that the reverberations could be felt in her bones. She swung again and again until she was sure that everyone had heard it.
She dropped the iron club and made her way out of the bell tower so she could meet up with the others at Somai Field.
Somai Field was filled with knights and squires. The bell at the Council Hall was magical and when it sounded all of the knights and squires heard it. It was one of the first things that was taught to squires, as well as a simple spell to transport to Somai Field, which was where all of the knights and squires were required to group for announcements.
"Attention!" Jareth called out. He was still atop his horse and was facing the knights and squires. "I have just received some very distressing news. Modsognir will be attacking soon. We have until the waning moon to prepare for the arrival of the Dwarves."
A murmur spread through the knights and squires. They were hushed when the king clapped his hands.
"Attend to your usual duties until you are instructed otherwise by your commanding knights. I require a meeting with all elder knights immediately" Jareth said. "We will meet at the Council Hall in five minutes. You are all dismissed."
The group dispersed as quickly as they had arrived. Robin rode up to Jareth as he was leaving the field.
"Shall I wait for you here, Your Majesty?" Robin asked.
"No. Instruct the goblins at my castle to wait on you" Jareth said. "I'll be there shortly."
"Yes, sire" Robin said.
The King's Room in the Council Hall was only to be used by the king and the elder knights. It had a throne and a U-shaped table that faced the throne. Jareth sat at the throne and the elder knights each took their seats.
"We have a crisis about to happen, my knights" Jareth said from the throne.
"Why would Modsognir attack us, Your Majesty?" Alexa bluntly asked. Alexa looked as if she had awoken and dressed in a hurry. She wore loose pants, a loose shirt, boots, her weapons, and leather gauntlets. "Why now?"
"Sir Alexa!" Jareth growled. "Sit down! Your lack of courtesy is not becoming!" Jareth took a deep breath. "King Koenraad of Modsognir and I have been arguing over trade routes. To say the least, I have dealt with him for a long time and we have never seen eye to eye. He insists on getting a fee for every tradesman who passes through his land to get to mine."
"Why hasn't there been a diplomat sent to him?" Sir Zill asked. Jessie scowled, but remained silent.
"I have tried to send a diplomat" Jareth said.
"Tried? What do you mean tried?" Sir Hugo asked. Hugo had his large hat off of his head and was trying to comb out his thick wiry black hair. His pointed faery ears twitched.
"My diplomat became caught up in dire business and the group I sent in her place has not been heard from" Jareth replied. "I have sent others in the past, but they always end up dead."
"Why are they taking action? Why now?" Sir Aulus asked.
"Perhaps they saw the festival as a distraction to us" Sir Don Carlos said. His elven features were perfect like they always were, except for the small crease between his eyes.
"But that festival gave us more warriors" Sir Aulus replied.
"But, they are in need of training" Jareth said. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and let his hand fall to the arm of the chair. "Prepare for war. You have seven days until the waning moon. At that time we will be on guard 26-hours a day."
"Will your troops be ready?" Sir Pheon'a Ch'a asked.
"I will have them train extra hard" Jareth replied. Jareth stood up. "We will meet every night at eight o'clock. I want to know your progression. I want to know weaknesses. I want to know everything that happens. I will contact everyone I can to see if we can get back-up. Does anyone have anything to add?" Silence hung in the room like smoke. "Fine. You're all dismissed. Prepare for war."