Druid's Future

Chapter 9

Jim and Nelson left the library and headed for the buffet table in the
Great Hall. Both had gotten hungry after all the excitement. Both didn't
talk very much after that.
 
"Why don't we explore some more of the castle?" Nelson suggested.  Jim
didn't seem to here him at first but then he agreed and they set off. 

The castle was made up of several parts. In the middle ages, the main
part of the castle would have been known simply as the keep. It was
surround by a high wall with several court yards throughout it. The main
yard surrounding the keep would have been used by visiting guests and
those fleeing from enemies outside. Other smaller court yards were only
accessible through the keep itself. The castle was unique in it's style
of construction. Surprisingly enough, the castle resembled that of
Windsor.  That was a great surprise to all who discovered it.  The
castle, however, was unique and even considered one of the greatest
mysteries of all time. 

It was first discovered back in 1543. A monk was traveling to the nearby
cathedral and got lost within the wood. He recorded his find in his
private diary not thinking that the discovery would be of any importance
but to himself.  He had an interest in castles and aided others in the
design and building of some of the castles in the area.  However, when
he went back to find it, the castle was no longer there.  He was
positive that it did exist. It could have been that he took the wrong
road.  He did after all find it from getting lost and may had been
confused. The stories however, did not end there. Over two centuries
later, the castle was again discovered.  The artist was an American
looking for something to paint while visiting England. The castle would
later show up within one of his paintings as part of the background.
Though somewhat fragmented, one of the towers is plainly recognized. The
most recent discovery was only 50 years ago by developers surveying the
land.  The castle was registered but each time the historical society
tried to go out to the castle to explore it's contents, the castle
wasn't there. It would play tricks upon the people of the village as
well for generations until finally when Richard and Robert came on the
scene, the castle remained in view.  No explanation could be given. It
was as if the castle knew and was waiting for it's rightful owner to
return.  After that day the castle could be viewed by everyone. Those
that did see it wanted no part of it.  They did everything in their
power to be rid of it.  It was Jim who finally saved it by shippping it
to America.  Jim could not understand why the english people were not
proud of this particular castle.  It would have been the largest and the
oldest surviving structure.  How old was not certain. It had never been
aged. 

Jim showed Nelson all that he could find that wasn't packed into crates.
It was amazing that during the centuries the castle didn't experience
the usual looters and battle damage from wars. Maybe because it remained
hidden for so many centuries.  When Jim's uncle found it, everything
looked as if it was brand new accept for the layer of dust. Nothing had
rotted away like the way wood or cloth would usually do. It was as if
there had been a curse or spell placed there to protect everything
inside as well as the castle itself.  Jim could not explain it even to
his friend.  Nelson, however, seemed to understand.  What Jim did not
know was that Nelson could feel the magic that had been placed there and
some how he knew who had placed it but not for what reason.  Nelson
glanced back towards the Great Hall somewhere at the other end of the
long hall that they were in.  The man that was in the library knew. 
Someday he would be able to explain and yet he somehow knew that
explanation wasn't long in coming. All that was needed was the time to
learn to communicate or was there a way right now.  Just then Jim was
saying something to him that almost got lost within his own thoughts. 

"Nelson," Jim stated. "You seem preoccupied. Didn't you hear me? You're
the one that wanted to explore the castle." 

"I'm sorry, Jim," Nelson replied. "I guess I am a little preoccupied. I
can't help thinking about our guest. I've got this feeling that some how
he should be familiar.  In the physical sense, it's almost uncanny." 

"What are you talking about?" 

"Nothing, I guess,"  Nelson became silent, again, trying to listen to
what Jim was saying, but still caught up in his own thoughts.  Who was
this Scorpan?  Why was he here?  Where did he come from and how?  Those
questions would have to wait.  Nelson did his best to try to put those
questions to rest.  It was obvious that they weren't going to be
answered too soon. In fact it looked like they wouldn't get answers for
weeks while Scorpan was learning the ropes

Nelson had it easy.  Born over 80 years ago, he had seen a lot and had
experienced a great many things, explored the Alaskan wilderness, and
even helped in developing the pipeline.  Now he was a teacher and an
archeologist. Scorpan on the other hand was a stranger in a strange
land. Both out of time and place.  Could he get use to it here?  Nelson
thought about the discovery that Jim and he found. A man who has been
asleep for 1300 years was earth shattering news. It would break the
whole archeological society wide open.  And yet, Nelson could not let
himself think about those things. It wouldn't be right to subject a man
of his "years" through the publicity and the fame.  Scorpan struct
Nelson as a man who would rather not be noticed and yet, something about
him caused Nelson to become uneasy.  He had explored many parts of this
world searching for hidden treasures both for collectors and for museums
but nothing like this had ever come along.  Something told him that he
would be experiencing the adventure of his life, even maybe the one that
would end it.  But before that would happen, maybe this man held the key
as to who and what was Nelson Braddock. 

Jim at first was worried about his friend. He was so quiet, lost in his
own thoughts. Usually, he would be the one speculating as to what was
happening but this time he was silent.  Jim thought about the man in the
library as well. He certainly was a mystery for them. To find him in his
ancestral home of the Pendragon's was one thing, to find out that he was
over 1000 years old was another.  It boggled the mind.  Still, he also
had questions. Did he know King Arthur?  Was he all what the legend said
he was?  What happened to the sword Excaliber and could he claim it? 
Was all this true? It seemed after finding all the evidence before him,
Jim was still a little doubtful. His father was right, what would he do
if he proved his heritage? 'The present monarchy wasn't going to step
aside just for you,' he thought.  Yet, he could not deny the dragon
birthmark that both his grandmother and he possessed.  He could not help
wondering that the man in the library looked so familiar.  He only got a
glance at him; so busy he was at finding a way to communicate with him
that he never really looked closely at his face.  Suddenly Jim stopped. 
Who was he kidding.  For all he knew this guy was an actor hired by one
of his friends as a joke, a poor one at that.  Still, the manuscripts
translated by his uncle told of a druid.  Legends said it was Merlin.
There was no evidence to prove that Merlin existed but there certainly
was proof that Arthur did. At least he could count on that; or could
he? 

After wandering around in their own thoughts, they both found that they
had some how wandered back to the Great Hall. They both realized that
they again were hungry and maybe their guest was hungry, too. Jim picked
up a plate and piled on some various foods; slices of roast beef, a
large roll, some cheese, and some assorted fruit.  On top of that he
placed a slice of cake. He then pored some wine and took the plate into
the library while Nelson helped himself.   

Scorpan was bent over the book that Jim had given him intensely reading.
There were other books open on the desk as well that had not been there
before. Jim took a cursory glance at those and saw that the language
written in them was old. A couple of newer books that were part of Jim's
collection were also on the desk. One was his unabridged dictionary.
Then something else caught Jim's eye. It was a small round crystaline
ball. That really wasn't so unusual except that the ball was glowing.
Jim nearly dropped the plate of food that he was carrying. Just then
Scorpan raised his head to see Jim standing there with the food. A look
of pleasure came over his face and he indicated that Jim could place the
food on the desk. It was then that Jim got a good look at the stranger's
face. He nearly fainted from the shock. There was indeed a remarkable
likeness. They could very well have been twins except for the beard,
both having that dark chestnut brown hair and piercing blue eyes, the
angular shape of the face and that hawklike nose.  Scorpan though had
one feature that was distinctly different. For the time being, he kept
that hidden deep within his hood. In fact it did seem odd that he would
be wearing a cloak in such warm climate. Jim continued to stare at
Scorpan scrutinizing the face and trying to memorize every detail
through the shadows of Scorpan's hood.  As Jim tried the scrutinize the
face, the more the shadows deeped. Confusion started to set in and Jim
was slowly beginning to doubt what he had seen; and yet he could not get
the image out of his head   While Jim stared, Scorpan was begining to
get a little annoyed.  When he looked up again, Jim was still standing
there.  He gave him a look that was far more understood than Scorpan
realized.  Jim had seen that kind of look on his father when he didn't
want to be disturbed.  Scorpan's look of annoyance changed to surprise
at having been understood with just a look when he saw Jim creeping out
of the library to leave him in peace. Nelson had seen part of that
exchange. 

"Is he going to be in there all night?" Nelson asked. 

"I guess so," shrugged Jim somewhat distracted and trying to concentrate
on the subject. "He's really studying hard. We may get some results real
soon. He really is intended on finding a way to communicate with us." 

"Well," stated Nelson in the middle of a yawn. "That's a relief any way.
Maybe he'll say "good morning" tommorrow. I'm going to bed. I haven't
had much sleep the last few nights. Maybe you should do the same." 

"Maybe you're right," Jim said with a sigh. "It has been a long day. I'm
not going to worry about locking up right now. I can't believe how tired
I feel even though it's still early." 

"C'mon," Nelson waved starting to cross the Great Hall to a flight of
stairs. "I'll show you to your room. We thought you might like it so we
took the liberty of moving some of your clothes and furniture into it." 

"You seemed to have thought of everything." Was all Jim could reply as
he was lead out of the Great Hall. 

Scorpan watched them go from the partially opened door of the library;
satisfied that they were finally on their way to bed.  He would look in
on them later and in so doing would find out more about them.  He was
positive that these two were just some of the ones that he saw in the
Crystal in his own time.  Before he could find the others though, he
would have to try to convince these two that the danger was real and
that he would need their aid.  Even now he could sense the Dark One
working his evil.  What that Dark One was doing though, would require
the aid of the large Crystal in his workshop in the tower at the other
end of the castle.  Scorpan stretched out his senses and could feel the
men getting ready for bed.  In another half hour they would be asleep. 
Scorpan could help it along but he didn't really feel it was necessary. 
The one called Nelson would detect the intrusion and fight off the
effects. Better let them fall into natural sleep. At least that way they
would be more susceptable for his prope. 

Nelson worried Scorpan.  He somehow trained himself to use much of his
powers but not all. At least he believes those powers are natural for
him.  He doesn't quite understand what he is but he will soon learn. 'I
pray it won't be too much of a shock,' thought Scorpan with a smile. The
one called Jim was also going to be a problem.  Seeing him was a shock
for Scorpan, too. All ready he could sense some conflict developing
within him.  Hopefully this Jim will work it out in time.  Scorpan went
back to his reading and waited.  The minutes ticked by and soon the time
had come when he knew that he would not be disturbed let alone
disturbing those who slept.  Scorpan took his books and the rest of his
belongings and headed to the door.  Then he turned and whispered some
words and the black box faded.  Where it disappeared to only Scorpan
knew.  It did not matter to him if someone else knew like the foreman
that helped in the reconstruction.  Scorpan would see to it that his
memory would fade enough where he would not be able to find the precise
location.  This was only a safety factor.  In this time, many of the
everyday treasures of the past would be quite valuable. 

Scorpan walked through the halls and could see that much of the
furniture that was in the castle had been removed.  This at first did
not surprise him.  Through time, looters were not unheard of but then
Scorpan remembered the spell.  If anything, looters should not have
gotten in.  Then a fear started to form.  He would have to check on one
special table that had been placed in the dungeon under the Great Hall
for safe keeping.  It was the largest place besides the Great Hall that
would hold it.  He had been lucky to be able to repair it.  It only
broke in two pieces.  With the help of a carpentor and spells of binding
and protection, the table would continue to endure long after he was
gone. This alone would have been reason enough for the spell.  He'd
hoped it had not been taken like so many others.  Scorpan made his way
down the familiar corridors of his home, wishing his father were there
to see him now, wondering what he would say or think of him.  Scorpan
could not help in wondering if he was doing the right thing. 'I should
not be having doubts,' he thought. 'I know that this is the right thing.
Without my aid, the Dark One will succeed and all life that is good will
be corrupted to his evil, never to be free.' Scorpan turned a corner and
briefly looked back at the way he came. There's no turning back.
Quickly, he entered a door and vanished within.

End of Chapter 9