Druid's Future

Chapter 8

Allysia took careful aim, and let the arrow fly. It struck it's mate on
the end and split it right down the shaft. This seemed to always soothe
her anger and frustration. However, today was different. Nothing seemed
to work. Everything seemed to crumbling down around her. Two months ago
her husband betrayed her. They had only been married for a short time.
How could she had been so naive? She should have known something like
this would happen. Her cousin's husband Dohne tried to warn her but she
would not listen. When the divorce papers came in the mail, Allysia was
crushed. Then shortly after that, while cleaning out some boxes, she
found some old newspapers and read a familiar story. How a couple got
married in Reno, the groom fitting Barry's description. The bride
several days later was found at the bottom of a deep canyon. The husband
was wanted for questioning. He had disappeared along with her wealth
that she had transferred over to him just a few days before their
marriage. The newspaper clipping was dated just a few months before
Allysia and Barry got married. 
She thought back to when they were first married and when she learned
that he had been married before. He said his first wife died from
mysterious circumstances that could not be explained. Her body was also
found at the bottom of a canyon. When Allysia confronted Barry about it,
he was evasive. Allysia believed it was because of some inner pain about
the woman's death. Then they moved to New York. Barry said he received a
job offer, but that wasn't the real reason. Allysia learned that he was

a compulsive gamber and what he wanted was to be closer to the casinos
of Atlantic City. Then strange men started coming over to the house to
talk to Barry, men that frightened Allysia. Barry tried to reassure her
but Allysia didn't believe him. She tried to stop him from gambling but
they fought constantly. What mony Allysia had Barry took by force or by
stealing it from her own purse. Then he started threatening her to stay
out of his way. She began to fear for her own safety. If that wasn't bad
enough Barry started seeing other women and even flaunted the fact by
coming home with one and making love to her right in the living room. He
even went as far as to make a film and when out of one his moods he
forced Allysia to watch it while he proceeded to make love with her. It
was cruel and malicious. Allysia could not understand why Barry was
doing this to her. It wasn't until four months ago, as she shot another
arrow into the target that she finally figured it out. Within days after
the will had been read, Barry's behavior had changed. He became cold
towards her. When they move to New York, it was as if Barry could get
away with anything he wanted by way of cruelty. All because of that
will. Barry had lied. He was waiting for a chance to get his hands on
the money that her father had left to her, but something went wrong.
There had been that clause. A clause that was unusual and strange. It
stated that she could not have the full extent of her father's fortune
until she reached her 960th season. What did that mean? The girl was
only 23 or so Barry thought

Allysia smiled to herself and took aim again. How little he really
understood her. When she tried to explain it to him in such a way that
he would understand, he still thought she was cheating him. Then one
night, all hell broke loose. Barry came in the bedroom one night and
demanded that the fortune that Allysia inherited be turned over to him
because they were married. Saying something about community property.
Then he saw the weapon. It was no ordinary weapon. It was a bow, a part
of her that Barry never could understand. They argued about it, but
something frightening happened and this time it was Barry who was
afraid. For a while he did his best to be friendly with her. But then
back in July, one morning she found his note. And now just recently, the
final papers came. Allysia stared at the target and realized she had
shot her last arrow. A weariness came over her and she decided to go
home. Allysia walked to the end of the range and proceeded to pull her
arrows from the target. Barry's voice came flooding back as she recalled
their argument over her choice of weapons. 

"This is the 20th century, not King Arthur's day," he said. "If you want
a weapon to protect yourself, you carry something a little more
advanced." 
He would then pull out the gun that he carried from time to time. Guns
frightened Allysia. They felt cruel and impersonal. They didn't feel
real to her. The bow had always been her trusted friend and always would
be.  Alllysia recalled the reason why she bought the bow and hugged it
close to her body. The many nights that Barry would come home drunk;
sometimes alone but not always. One night he showed her the gun. He
threateded to use it, even pointed it at her and pulled the trigger. She
was lucky. The chamber was empty. A few nights later, Allysia bought her
bow and received a license to carry it. She didn't remember much after
that; only that the weeks that went by at least were civil. 
Allysia paid the manager of the range and proceeded to the door when she
got this forboding feeling that something was wrong. Every muscle in her
body was telling her to beware, even when she left the range and got on
the bus, the feeling had not subsided. She glanced around but there was
only those people staring at her because of the bow. Why then did she
feel that she was in grave danger? Allysia did her best to shake off the
feeling. As she got closert to the subway station she tried to stay with
the crowd as they left the bus and headed for the platform. Even though
she had her bow, she had the feeling that it wouldn't do much good
against whatever was watching or following her. As she got near the
gates a figure dressed in white emerged from the shadows blocking her
path. Allysia tried to go around him but each time he moved in front of
her and would not let her pass. 

"Let me through," she was beginning to get angry.  Just then a second
figure in white arrived cutting her off. Both refused to move. Allysia
was about to decide that it would better to catch a bus down to the next
station when two more came behind. Now she was surrounded and pangs of
anxiety were ebbing to the surface. What did these people want from her?
They did not speak a word as they reached toward her. Allysia tried to
duck under but they were too fast. One of them grabbed the quiver at her
side and pulled her back, causing the strap to break as he flung the
quiver aside. Without the arrows her bow wasn't much use even at that
close range. Within the crowded station, Allysia wouldn't dare use it
for fear of hitting someone else. Slowly they forced her into a corner.
Allysia tried to keep them at bay swinging her bow like a bat. She tried
to shout for help but no one payed any attention. They had seen too many
violent crimes before. Fear kept them from acting or aiding. Fear of
getting hurt themselves. Then without a warning, one of the figures
lunges at her from the side and grabbed her, forcing her to stumble back
against the wall. She tried to cry out again but while two of them held
her, one forcibly covered her mouth with a strong smelling cloth that
was causing her to black out. She tried to fight to stay conscious but
everything became hazy. As she lost consciousness, she saw one of the
men take her bow and break it in half leaving it on the ground useless.
Then she remembered no more. 

*****


Jim and Nelson stood transfixed as if turned to stone. Whatever it was,
it was alive. It looked human and yet it was over six feet tall. The
figure rose from the crystaline case and swung his long legs to the
floor. Just then a great dizziness over came him and he staggered.  Jim
and Nelson rushed forward to support the man. The stranger mumbled
something in an unintellible language that was strange and unknown. They
helped the stranger to a chair so he could rest. Nelson ran to the Great
Hall, grabbed up a cup and a bottle of wine. There wasn't much else to
drink and this was the quickest thing he could find. Nelson poured some
in the cup and handed it to the mysterious stranger that came from the
box. The man drank deeply of the wine as if it was water and held his
cup for more which Nelson filled with a look of bemusement. After the
dizziness passed and all seemed to be well, the mysterious stranger
spoke. 

<I thank ye fir the wyn, mi lord.> The two men stared at the stranger
unsure as to what the giant had said. The language was old but not
unfamiliar to one <I be Scorpan, a Druid of great power. To whom do I
speak?> 

Again, blank faces stared back not knowing how to react to the man's
strange pronunciation of a language that was familiar and yet unknown.
Then a flicker of understanding was reached by Jim. 

"From what I can tell," said Jim to Nelson, "he is speaking a mixture of
Old English and Galic if I'm not mistaken. Some of the words are barely
familiar. You remember I studied older languages not too long ago. I
think he said his name was Scorpan." 

The stranger nodded his head in agreement and puzzlement hearing his
name spoken strangely. The stranger leaned back in the chair. He did
indeed arrive in a different time but what time was that? Would this
time be able to aid him? Their language was unfamiliar to him as his was
to them. How was he going to communicate with these people? It seemed it
was going to be more difficult than he realized. Scorpan should have
realized that language was also one of the many things that would
change. Just how much was only the beginning. Scorpan looked at his
hosts faces and his own face must have revealed the hopelessness that he
felt. He hung his head in thought trying to find a solution but no
answer came to him. His thoughts right now were a jumble due to the
dizzyness. Suddenly he heard a noise behind the chair. Jim had gotten up
and started going through one of the crates containing his books. It
didn't take too long since the box that Jim was looking in wasn't one of
the packing crates with straw. Just then Jim pulled out a worn paper
back. It was the language book that Jim had used for his class. In there
the book made comparisons and showed how english changed over the
centuries. There was even a crude dictionary in the back of the book.
Though it wasn't complete, Jim hoped it would aid them in communicating
with the stranger. Jim brought the book back to where Scorpan and Nelson
sat. Both had puzzled looks on their faces which were easier to read
than the language. Jim handed Scorpan the book and with a gester
indicated to him to turn to the back. Scorpan did what he perceived was
the right thing. There in three neat rows, were words some familiar to
all three of the men. One column though specifically drew Scorpan's
attention. Scorpan looked into the face of the man that handed him the
book and suddenly froze. He had not gotten a good look before but now,
it didn't seem possible. 

Suddenly the man croutched down and pointed to the columns of words. The
man did not seem to have noticed or be aware that Scorpan was intensely
staring at him. It could be that Scorpan's hood prevented the man from
noticing. Suddenly the spell was broken when Scorpan realized the man
was trying to ask him where he came from. Scorpan wasn't sure how to
answer the question because he didn't know where he was without a frame
of referrence. For all he knew, he may no longer be in his native
England, though the language may have changed, the accent the young men
had was stranger still. Instead, Scorpan flipped to another portion of
the book and pointed to another word. Jim read the equivalent and got a
sheet of paper from the desk drawer. He wrote what Scorpan asked and
showed it to him. Scorpan leaned back and gave a long whistle of
disbelief. What he saw written on that slip of paper astounded him. Jim
had written down a date that Scorpan had asked for in that one word, and
Jim wrote 1999. Scorpan had been asleep for 1300 years. Scorpan scanned
the columns searching for another word to answer the next one word
question and found the answer. 

"You know Jim," said Nelson as he stood. "This is really going to be
tedious." 
"Do you know of any other way?" Jim asked looking up at his friend. 
"How about a language tape?" 
"Very funny. Besides, I don't think he'd understand just yet. Give him
some time. Maybe by listening to us he'd pick up some of the language on
his own. From what I can remember and from what he just pointed out to
me Druids are suppose to be fast learners." 
"Druid?" Nelson reacted with a question but did not seem surprised which
even surprised himself. "Do you really believe he's a druid?" 
"I don't know," said Jim unconvinced. "If he is than I'm Arthur's
grandson; which I am. So who knows." 

Scopan's ears pirked up to the name of Arthur and he got another look at
the man who gave him the book. Again something in the young man's face
nagged at his memory. He knew it would come to him sooner or later.
Right now the main thing was to be able to communicate with them.
Scorpan turned back to the book.   Nelson stared down at the stranger.
Something deep within him told him that this man was what he said or
pointed out what he was; a Druid of great power; and yet he could not
help wandering why he was here. Another thing also worried Nelson. 
Somehow he knew the man wasn't lying and yet something was nagging at
the back of his mind that something was going to happen to them that
would change their lives. Nelson shook off the feeling as he realized
that Jim had stood up and was staring at him. 

"You all right?" Jim asked with concern in his voice. 
"Sure," said Nelson. "I guess I'm just a little tired." 
"Well, our friend here seems to be taking an interest. Maybe if he can
study this for a while, we can teach him our language well enough for
him to understand." 
"Jim," Nelson's voice went down to a whisper. "I think we have more of a
problem than you realize. It's obvious he came from that box but how do
we know if he's not some practical joker? And if he isn't, where did he
come from? Did he come from the past? And if he did, how can we make him
understand about our world? It's pretty clear that he had to come from
somewhere. Besides, have you gotten a good look at his face?" 
"No," Jim seemed a little annoyed. "What's eaten you? We'll find out
soon enough. I know it's going to take some time to try communicating
with him. All we have is that book. He can read, maybe we can at least
get him started on that list. In a few days maybe we can ..." 

Just then the phone rang and Scorpan looked up with a sudden jolt and
quickly stood with lightning reflexes. The dagger at his belt was drawn
to whatever danger lerked behind the noise. Quickly he went to the door
barring the other men's way. Jim stopped Scorpan and with a gester tried
to tell him that there was no danger. Nelson managed to squeeze by them
and ran to answer the phone. The look in Nelson's eyes were enough for
Jim to realize that maybe his friend was right. It was going to be a
challenge to try to make this man from the past understand. Scorpan was
also having trouble. That ring that he heard was strange to him. What
was even stranger was that his sensitive hearing was picking up voices
from the device that the man called Nelson was holding up to his ear.
Curiosity was replacing the anxiety and fear that once gripped him.
Thinking, Scorpan knew he would have to try to learn their language and
their customs if he was to survive. Even his manner of dress would have
to change, seeing what the men wore. Scorpan turned away from the Great
Hall and resheathed his dagger glad that the danger for the moment was
passed thankful that it was only a false alarm. He reached down and
picked up the book he had dropped and again started thumbing through it.
This was the key to communication; and yet he could not get the nagging
feeling that there might be another way. When the man called Nelson
brushed up against him, he felt something there that he hadn't felt for
a long time. Right now, though, he felt that it was best that he keep it
to himself. Scorpan. It was vital that communication was established. If
he could only learn their language he would soon be able to communicate
his concerns for the safety of their world. 

Scorpan walked over to the crystal case and placed his hands on it's
surface. 'I am now committed,' he thought. 'I can never go back to my
own time. It is better this way. I am needed here. The sooner I learn,
the sooner I can try to help. I just hope I'm not too late.' 

Scorpan walked over to the chair and sat down. Deep in concentration, he
began to study the three columns of words. It was true that it was only
a particle list but he knew there was another way that he could learn,
and it would be far faster. The list would at least give him a reference
point from which to start. However, being the type of being that he was,
he would have to do what he needed to do in private. For the time being,
he could at least write his single worded requests down using the list.
One request he did need was paper and something to write with. And this
he tried to indicate with gesters. Jim understood and pulled out some
paper and a pencil from the desk. He started to hand it over to the
stranger when he got up from the chair and came over to the desk
himself.  Scorpan sat at the desk and started to read the lists, again.
Jim could see that the man wanted to study what he had. Jim at first
wanted to aid him but Scorpan shook his head and indicated he would
rather be alone. After the two men left, Scorpan went back over to the
case and pulled out his traveling bag. Within was the small crystal that
he placed in there. He pulled out and proceeded to concentrate within
it's depts. After a few minutes, he raised his head. It was still here
and intacted. However, he had better not risk going to it while the two
men were awake. It would be best that he wait until later when the men
were asleep so he wouldn't be disturbed. In the mean time, he had the
opportunity to at least look through the book that the one called Jim
had handed to him. 

Scorpan stopped for a minute and thought about the man that he saw
called Jim. It was just like looking into a mirror. The only difference
was that Jim was clean shaven. Scorpan ran his hands over his face. A
beard had grown over his chin where there usually was none. He didn't
think he could have grown one because of his parentage, at least for
half of it. It surprised him though that the young man named Jim didn't
notice.  However, the one called Nelson did. There was also something
else that was quite disturbing about the two men.  Scorpan was positive
that Nelson was part elf in some fashion after having brushed up against
him in the doorway.  But Jim reminded him of someone else that he could
not put his finger on.  Someone, though he may have seen, but did not
really know. They looked like twins and yet something told him that they
should have known each other. The young man named Jim had also mentioned
Arthur.  It would come to him as surely as if he knew his own name.
Right now he had other things to worry about. Then the memory came and
Scorpan nearly blanched from the shock. If it was true then he really
was in luck. The Crystal didn't lie. .This put a whole new light on
dealing with the Dark One,' he thought. But it would have to be done
with care and caution. But first he must find out if it was true. And if
it was, then the time to act would reveal itself

End of Chapter 8