The Protector of Esparia (The Annals of Esparia Book 1) (2 page)

*  *  *

The morning sun streamed through the bedroom window.  Jessica sat up and rubbed her face.  She shuddered.  The dreams from the night before came flooding back.  Surely they were brought on by the grisly surgery she had helped with at the veterinarian’s office, she reasoned.  Yes, that made sense. 

Hopping out of bed, she ran to the window.  The morning sky was a rich shade of blue sprinkled with high wispy clouds.  She slid the glass pane open.  A warm breeze blew in, bringing with it the smell of lavender from the flower bed below.

Pulling on a creamy yellow robe, she noticed her mother’s picture frame on the floor beside the dresser, photo side down.  “Sneakers!” she scolded.  Gently she turned it over, hoping that the glass was not broken.  Haesom’s face stared up at her.  She froze.  The resemblance between this dreamed up friend and her mom was uncanny.  She blinked several times.  As she did, Haesom’s image faded and her mother’s came into focus.  With a shaking hand, she put the frame back on the dresser, then hurried from the room.

Jessica bounded down the stairs.  In the kitchen she found her dad seated in his usual place at the glass table.  Clean-shaven and dressed in a brown suit with matching tie, he appeared completely immersed in the morning paper, the Spokane Spokesman-Review.  Knowing the sound of her feet on the tile floor would bring him out of his inner world, she threw her weight into each step.  A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth and his gray eyes lit up.

“Good morning, Dad.”  She kissed him on the cheek, her long, red hair sweeping across the top of his head.

“Good morning, Jess.  It’s a big day today.”

“Yeah, I can’t believe it’s here.  After twelve looong years, I’m actually graduating.”  She reached for a sack of bagels on the counter.

“I thought you’d sleep in today; after that late night surgery.”

“No, I’m supposed to meet Melissa and run in an hour.  I also had a pretty disturbing dream last night so it’s definitely time to get up.”

“Really?”  John lowered his paper.  “How disturbing?”

“Well, I’ve told you about that family I dream about periodically; the one where the dad looks a lot like mom.”

He nodded.  “The Saylon’s. The relatives on your mom’s side that your subconscious dreamed up.”

“Yeah....well…they died last night.  Murdered, or assassinated.  There were bodies all over and blood and guts…it was awful.”

She tore off a piece of blueberry bagel and popped it into her mouth. 

“Dreams are funny things, Jess.  Maybe that surgery affected you more than you thought.”

“That’s what I figured.”  She considered telling him about the mist dream and seeing Haesom’s face in her mom’s photo, but decided against it.  He would only worry.  Turning back to the counter, she grabbed a small glass from the cupboard above.  “Now remember, graduation begins at five.  I have to go early, so you,” she shook the glass at him for emphasis, “need to be home by four for pictures.”

“Yes, yes.”  He turned back to the paper.

With the glass in one hand and bagel in the other, she sat down beside him.  “Well, I took a few precautions.  I talked to your secretary yesterday.” 

He looked up. “You did what?”

“Let’s face it.  Punctuality isn’t your strong point.  She promised to keep the major headaches off your desk until tomorrow.  All you have going today are some interviews or something.”

Sighing, he refolded the paper.  “Okay, I get the message.”  Leaning over, he kissed Jessica on her forehead.  He gave his tie one last straightening, then clipped on his I.D. tag.
Dr. John Ernshaw, MD; Director Medical Services
.

Jessica observed her father tenderly.  “You know, Dad, you really are in great shape for a guy your age.  If you’d let your hair grow out a little…no one would ever guess you were almost fifty.”

“Almost fifty!” he rolled his eyes.  “Don’t make me old before my time!  Forty-seven isn’t fifty…and what about my hair?  I happen to like my military cut.”  His slight staccato laugh made Jessica grin. 

“You’ve been out two years, Colonel, live a little.”

“I’ll think about it.”  He pulled his car keys from his pant’s pocket, gave her a wink and walked out the side door.

Jessica bolted after him.  “’Thinking about it’ always means ‘no’”, she hollered from the doorstep.  “Just be on time tonight.”

“Always, Jess.  Always.”

After finishing her breakfast, Jessica cleared the table and tidied up the kitchen.  While she was wiping off the table, the side door opened and a sweet-faced woman in her late sixties walked in.  Here stood the reason the kitchen, as well as the rest of the house, preserved its good order.  The owner of Barts Professional Cleaners had just come to pay a visit.

Sophia Bartlowski reminded Jessica of a Christmas picture she had seen of Mrs. Claus, short and pleasantly plump.  She removed a worn straw hat from her snowy white head, then placed it, along with a bulging purse, on the granite counter top.   

With a warm smile on her face, Sophia turned to her young friend and chirped with a slight polish accent, “Good morning, Jessie dear.”  She slid one arm around the girl’s waist and gave her an affectionate squeeze.  “Is your father gone already?  He works such long hours.”

“Yeah, he’s gone and I warned him to come home early.”  Jessica rinsed the dishcloth under the tap and placed it on the counter.  “How come you’re here and not one of you maids?  It’s not cleaning day it it?”

“I wanted to see you myself.  Tonight’s the big night.  We’ll all be there.  Rachel’s been counting the days.  My granddaughter’s very excited about being your roommate this fall.”

“What would I do without Rach?  You have no idea how I’m looking forward to the ‘U’.”

Sophia smiled, a twinkle of mischief in her brown eyes.  “Since you’ll be off on your own, how about a cooking lesson this morning?”

“Oooh, no.”  Jessica gave a hearty laugh.  “So that’s why your’re here.  Good try, Sophia, but you know how that stovetop hates me.  So does the blender, the mixer, and the oven, but I think the microwave and I get along okay.”

“I had to try.  I promised your Grandma Gaylee I’d make an effort to teach you more than just noodle soup.”

“But I like noodle soup.”

Sophia chuckled.  “I think while I’m here I’ll tackle that front room closet for you.  It’s quiet at home today and I need a project.”

“Well, okay.  But be careful.  The closet isn’t a priority.”

“Yes, I know, but my home’s in good order and your closet’s been bothering me since Christmas.”

A soft meow caught Jessica’s attention.  Sneakers sat patiently by the kitchen door.  “No, you can’t bring me a mouse today.  You know I hate those things, but thanks anyway.”  She opened the door and the big tomcat bounded outside.

The sound of Sophia humming an old polish tune drifted into the kitchen.  It was a happy sound that made Jessica smile.  She glanced at the calendar next to the kitchen phone.  The gladness faded when she read the current date.  Ten years ago on Saturday.  One trip to the grocery store and their lives changed forever.  Maybe that was why she had dreamed of death.  “Oh, Mom, I miss you so much,” she whispered.  Now she had only her father and her grandmother left.  Thank goodness for Sophia and family.  She left the kitchen and walked down the hall toward the stairs. 

At the end of the hall, in the front entryway, Sophia was busily cleaning out the coat closet.  Jessica paused.  “What’s Jacob doing today?” she asked.

“Hubby’s off to a small remodeling job.”  Sophia frowned at a stray glove in her hand. 

“I’m glad he’s better.”

“So am I.  I don’t know what we would have done without your father.”  She smiled at finding the glove’s mate.  “He never sent us a bill.  I can never do enough to repay him for his kindness.”

Jessica smiled.  “That's exactly how we feel about you.  I feel spoiled with your maid service keeping the house so clean.  And wow! From what Grandma says, I could be speaking Polish right now.”

“Escaping without Gaylee would have been like leaving my sister.  I’ve decided to have a big party in August, to celebrate our fortieth year here in the United States.”

“I love parties.  If you need help planning, just let me know.”  The grandfather clock next to the closet chimed.  “Oh, no!  Is it eight already?!”  Jessica glanced at the timepiece. 

“School?”

“No, my run!  Melissa and Clarice are going to kill me if I'm late again.”

“Like father, like daughter.”

Plans

Jessica plodded up the driveway and shuffled through the kitchen door.  8 am was late for a run, but her friends wanted to sleep late and everyone forgot how hot June mornings could get.  After two hours in the morning heat, she was dog-tired.  She went straight to the sink, turned on the cold water, and leaned under the faucet to take a drink.  She felt her muscles screaming for a cool shower and then fifteen minutes of relaxation in the built-in sauna downstairs.  Strains of Elvis Presley came from the stereo system in the living room.

“I’m back,” she called as she headed for the basement stairs.

Sophia poked her head into the hall.  “Hello dear.  I’ve just finished the closet.  Did you have a nice run?” 

“Yeah, I did and now it’s sauna time.”

Sophia frowned.  “You be careful.  You know I don’t trust that hot box.  Someone’s going to get hurt in there.”

Once downstairs, Jessica flipped on the heat to the dry sauna before slipping into the bathroom next to it.  Shower finished and towel in place, she filled a plastic pitcher with water.  Balancing the pitcher while clutching the towel, she glanced at the sauna thermometer before entering.  It read one hundred sixteen. 

The initial blast of dry heat eradicated the lingering muscle tension that the shower failed to relieve.  She poured a little water from the pitcher onto the hot stones, then sat on the two-man bench opposite the heating unit to watch the water droplets dance and sizzle across the rocks before exploding in bursts of steam energy.  After sprinkling on more water, she stretched out and lazily gazed at the mist curling up to the ceiling.  The first few wisps vaporized into the warm air.  However, within a few moments the wisps condensed into puffs, then the puffs swelled, like marshmallows roasting over warm coals.  Amazed, she stood up and reached out to touch the small clouds.  A tiny spark flashed from her finger tip.  The clouds exploded.  Hundreds of pea sized balls shot around the room.  They doubled in size then doubled again and again.  A billowy fog quickly filled the closet sized room.  No longer moist, it swirled thicker and thicker around her.  Within moments it obscured the cedar walls. 

In the thickening mist all external light faded, but her body glowed, emanating enough light to see a few feet in each direction.  “Unbelievable!” she muttered. 
But last night was just a dream!
 

A low vibration, directly behind her, filtered through the haze.  Turning, she felt for the sauna bench and walls, but they were no longer there.  She took a few steps.  There was nothing to hinder her movement, so she hurried toward the sound.  Two men were speaking.  Like the night before, she felt an overwhelming urgency to listen to the conversation.  . 

“Larone, I’ve got it!  It’s all so simple now.” A man boomed in a baritone that was obviously unaccustomed to whispering.

“You have finished the calculations already?”  Jessica immediately recognized Larone’s deep and resonating voice.

“Yep, I have,” came the thundering reply.  “Alderic’s manuscript had the missin’ part, the persite factor.  I’ve wasted fifty years goin’ over ‘n over Tiard’s incantations, not knowin’ that white persite was the other Transmirian key.  Alderic’s writings fit like a puzzle with Tiard’s.  I needed both together.  Blue sends ya off and white brings ya back.  Did ya know these guys were brothers?”

“No.”  There was a gentle laugh.  “How appropriate, that two brothers unravel their work.  There is so much more here, now that we understand their dual writing…but that is for another day.  Tell me what you have learned.” 

“Normally spirals are tiny; poppin’ up from time to time.  They’re pressure outlets for the Transmirian Sea.  For instance, when ya lay somethin’ down and it just disappears…No one took it, it isn’t misplaced, it’s just gone…into thin air.  Well, a right turning spiral opened up and sucked the thing in, transforming it into an energy signature floating on the astral plane.  That much we knew from Alderic’s manuscript.  The new information is from Tiard.  He writes about left turning spirals.  They open up, reanimating the energy, and spit things out, no harm done.  Green persite makes the spiral bigger, lots bigger. And a map, enchanted with the right coordinates, gives the spiral a course to follow to where ever we want it to go.  You figured that one out, but this confirms it.  So, blue persite forces a right handed spiral spin, and white persite forces it left.  The right transports one way and the left spin brings ya back.”  He chuckled, a low rumble that made Jessica smile.  “We just got to keep our persite colors straight.”

“When you explain it like that, it certainly does seem simple, but Anton, do not minimize your part.  Deciphering the writing code was brilliant, and then perfecting the transport system…well, as you said; it has all taken fifty years.”

“Yeah.  I’ve pulverized more logs of wood than I’ll admit to in testin’ this out.”

“But everything works now, right?”  Concern crept into Larone’s tone.

“Yep.  The first rabbit I used came back safe and sound, so Varnack volunteered to go next.”

“Varnack!  You kept that a secret.”

“It was a quick trip, but he came back in one piece.  Um…he was unconscious for a day or so, but I’ve   adjusted the amount of persite so’s the tidal pull won’t be as strong.”  Here Anton paused.  “That persite is powerful stuff, ’specially the white.  I remember the last time we did this.  We just about killed everyone.”

“As I recall, we had little time.  The Demarian army crashed in moments after we left.  Sending them off-world saved their lives.” 

“Yeah, too bad I didn’t understand the persite better.  I could’ve sent them somewhere closer.”

“All ended well, Anton…As well as could have been hoped for.  Your incantation controlled the persite long enough to create a spiral, while Graesion bought just enough time to test it.  What you did was incredible, opening a Transmirian spiral and holding the portal long enough to transport two people through it.” 

“Well, I… Never…I…Graesion.”  Anton cleared his throat, “I’ve thought of him a lot.  He was as fine a man as I ever did meet.  Too bad we couldn’t have sent his boy through too.  He’d still be alive.”  He cleared his throat again, much harder this time.

“Haesom chose to stay, fully understanding the dangers.  He was an outstanding Protector, giving the people security and hope, and rebuilding the country after Segal’s defeat.  He will be revered as one of the finest Protectors Esparia has ever known.”  Jessica was stunned.  Haesom had been someone she’d dreamed up, a subconscious response to her mother’s death.  These men spoke of him as a real person.  But wasn’t this also a dream?

“That doogeroot!  Segal!” Anton choked out the name.  Jessica jumped.  “Segal began all this with his lustin’ for power ‘n his self-appointed godhood.”

“Yes, and now the son is more malignant than the father.  Daenon’s strength grows daily.”  Jessica felt a cold lump in her stomach.  She shivered, but not from cold.  “As the news of Protector Haesom’s death spreads, the people will start to lose heart.  They will rally to us for a time, but without a true heir of the Saylon family to lead them, they may lose their resolution.”  Larone sounded grim.

“I agree we need a true heir.  A power vacuum right now would be disaster, but,” Anton faltered, “but have ya considered how the family’s goin’ to feel?  I’d be killin’mad if someone took my kid.”

“Of
course
I have!  Do you
not
think I have gone over this a hundred times trying to find another way?  Another solution?  I’ve weighed the heartache of a few against the welfare of a nation.  I feel sick inside, yet I know, nothing doubting, that this is what we must do.”

“I’m sorry, Larone.  Yeah,” he sighed heavily, “this is the only option, I just wish there was some way of giving a warning.”

“Yes.  It would be nice to lay all the facts out in the open.  And, I will still do that.  No one will be forced to take on the role of High Protector, but the invitation, with all of its ramifications, must be made in person.”

Anton’s voice was softer now, “I’ll begin working on a return trip, just in case the answer is no. But for now, I’ve set up the trigger mechanism so’s it activates when someone with the right life force touches it.  Since I didn’t have an exact sample, I set it to any variation of my own.  Just family can set it off.  We don’t need any accidental day-trippers showin’ up here.”

“Well done.”

“I haven’t been totally unsuccessful in fifty years of tinkerin’.”  Talking about his project rekindled the enthusiasm in his voice.  “I’ve been workin’ on the fine details, like the size of the spiral.  Don’t need to fill a whole room.  So where do you want the key turned?”

“Someplace away from Daenon’s spies.  Ramadine is not safe.  I cannot explain it, but something is not right here. We need time to better secure the city.” 

Jessica stood transfixed.  This was too crazy.  She
must
be hallucinating.  Graesion.  Did she recognize that name?  She wished she could remember.

There was silence.  Were the men still there?  She took a tentative step forward, her body so tense, that when Larone finally spoke again she jumped half a foot.

“I think the Southern Greenwood, close to Ider Hoffle would be the best location.  How long will it take you to go there?”

“Hmmm.  Several days to Greenwood, but if I turn a half spiral, I can get there t’day.  There’s a meadow south of Ider Hoffle where lots of soft moss grows.  Enchant me a map and I’ll have everythin’ in place by midnight.”

“Half spiral!  You really have been tinkering.”

“A weaker spiral goes short distances.  Once ya get used to it, it’s kinda fun.  Do ya want me to stay ‘n wait?  Someone should be there.” 

“Agreed, but not you.  We do not know when the spiral will be activated.  It could be several days and, given the current state of national affairs, your presence here is mandatory.  No arguments.  Take Varnack with you.  He is quite capable of taking care of himself, and other than you, he is the only one I trust as guide and guardian.  He can wait as long as necessary.  Besides, my dear baby brother,” Larone added with a low chuckle, “the sight of you could frighten anyone back into that black portal.”

“Jessica…Jessica dear.”  Sophia’s voice came from worlds away.  Instantly, the mist stopped swirling and a blast of warm air hit Jessica full in the face.  She closed her eyes against the onslaught.  When she opened them a moment later, she found herself standing in the small home sauna.

“Jessica, are you still down there?  Are you alright?”  Sophia called from halfway down the basement stairs.

“Yes, I’m here,” Jessica called back.  She fumbled to open the sauna door.  “I’m fine.”  No she was not fine.  She was losing her mind!

“I’ve been calling you.  Why didn’t you answer?  Do you need some help?”

“No, I’m fine…really.  I was day dreaming…I didn’t hear you call.”  Standing just outside the sauna, Jessica took some deep breaths.

“
Are you sure?  Do you have that thing turned up too high?”

“No.  I…I was just off in a fog.” 

“Well, all right.”  Sophia sounded unconvinced.  “You’re wanted on the telephone.” 

When Jessica turned the sauna off, Sophia’s light footsteps receded back up the stairs.  She swiped the perspiration from her face then reached for the telephone on the wall opposite the sauna.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Reddica, it’s Mark.”

She paused before responding.  She hated that nickname and he knew it, but she was too rattled to argue with the friendly tease.

“What’s up?” 

“I decided to have a party after graduation tonight, my house around nine.  What do ya say?”

She was annoyed.  This was so typical of Mark, always last minute.  In the eleven years they had been friends, she never knew him to plan ahead.  “Maybe.  I’ll have to work it out with my family, but…yeah…I think so.”

“Heads up…I’ve invited Thomas Banks.  He’s off on a huge summer vacation tomorrow, but I convinced him he couldn’t miss my party ‘cause you’d be there.”

“Whatever.  Fine.”

“Cool.  See ya later.”

Jessica had butterflies.  She had kept it to herself, but Thomas Banks was someone she had been attracted to for years, though from a distance.  She had her group and he had his, and except for her buddy Mark, who was friends with everyone under the sun, the two groups seldom interacted. 

For a full minute after hanging up the phone, she leaned against the wall.  She had a headache.  Was she losing her mind?  She groaned.  Maybe she should call Grandma.  Grandma always had answers.  But then it hit her.  “I don’t have a thing to wear!”

* * *

Jessica glared at her open closet and the frustration mounted while the minutes ticked by.  The normally neat row of clothing was now a jumble of skewed hangers and dangling garments.  She had already been through everything twice, and a third pillaging would be needed before a final decision could be reached.  Glancing at the thoroughly ransacked chest-of-drawers, she knew Sophia would cringe if she saw the room, but she just had to find something to wear
.
  She couldn’t concentrate.