Mitheil's Sister

By Andrew Walker

Mitheil, his sister and his grandfather return to Earth to visit the friends they made two years ago. The young boy also made an enemy then, and his sister is kidnapped in an effort for that enemy to exact revenge. In short order, a new adventure is afoot, this time to rescue Mitheil's lost sibling!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Walker
• Release date: Sep 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310519581

Andrew Walker

Andrew Walker is the director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. He lives in Texas.

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Mitheil

By Andrew Walker

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Andrew Walker

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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****

For my brothers, who love me as siblings should

****

Prologue: Maximillian’s Plan

Vivian limped through the maze of corridors deep beneath the castle belonging to her late master. Her pale skin glowed with sweat as she moved along. Her way was lit by sputtering torches. She carried her burden—a tightly bundled black cloth which occasionally dripped blood—as if her life depended on it.

The woman's leg was broken. She was certain of it now, but there was nothing to be done for it. Her master had fallen, stepped on by a dragon as black as the robes she carried. Vivian was not conscious when it happened, but she just knew the little boy and his female friend who caused her a great deal of trouble had something to do with it. The black bundle she carried was the flattened remains of her former master.

At long last, she stood before a section of wall which seemed like any other in the castle, but she knew it was different. Black chunks of stone placed together like puzzle pieces formed the sides of the hallway. Magic, she knew, held them together.

The situation is dire, Vivian said, remembering the words her master once gave her to speak. I shall forget the room once I leave, or forfeit my life, however my master, the eminent Lord Maximillian, commands.

Vivian shifted her weight slightly and winced in pain. Much to her relief, the wall before her faded away, revealing a large room which appeared to be an empty laboratory. There were several black metal tables, suitable for holding an assortment of experiments, placed at regular intervals in the rectangular chamber. The smooth, slate gray stone walls were lined with empty shelves.

The girl limped into the room, wincing with every step now. She noticed the room was dust free, and was grateful for the magic which kept it and the rest of the castle clean. Before Lord Maximillian employed her, allergies sometimes caused her problems, and sneezing right now could be disastrous.

Vivian moved painfully to the right side of the room, where a body-shaped sarcophagus stood upright with its back to the wall. Balancing the cloth on one arm, she opened the stone-and-metal box. With the most loving care she could manage, she set the blood-soaked robe in the bottom of the sarcophagus and then carefully closed it.

The pale woman stood upright and cried out in pain, stumbling backwards into a nearby table. It took every ounce of willpower she had to keep from collapsing. Vivian focused her thoughts and performed the steps of a mental exercise her master gave her nearly a year ago, and slowly the pain abated. Standing as straight as she could, Vivian faced the sarcophagus and spoke the magic words he taught her.

In life, Lord Maximillian was a wizard above wizards. His power forged a castle, brought down a city, and lay waste to a lake. May that power now be returned to him, that he might speak, act, and be the powerful force of magic he once was.

The sarcophagus shook, taking on an evil green glow. Vivian watched in pained anticipation, then tried to fall to her knees in reverence. The attempt failed; she fell flat on her face instead. She lay panting for a moment, trying to will away as much of the pain as she could.

Vivian.

The woman recognized the voice of her late master, but his manner of speech had an odd, distant quality to it.

Yes, Master?

You have done exceedingly well. While all others in my employ have now fled my castle, you remain.

A part of Vivian's mind puzzled over the strange way her master spoke. You...you were fallen, Master. I followed your instructions as best I could.

There was a long pause, and for a moment Vivan feared her master had fallen again due to some error on her part. She lifted her head with difficulty and shook a lock of black hair away from her face. The sarcophagus no longer glowed, and she gave out a pained cry.

Your leg must be healed if you are to be of use to me.

Master! You did not speak and I feared you were dead still!

There was an echo of laughter which seemed to come from all around. Silly Vivian, have you not figured it out yet? I am dead, but death is hardly my end.

Master? Vivian asked, confused.

Worry not, I shall explain the details in time. For now, I shall heal your leg as best I can, then we shall see to business.

There was a loud crack, and Vivian screamed. Pain wracked her body, focused on her right leg. She rolled over, howling as she grabbed her leg. Slowly, the pain subsided, and she sobbed as she massaged her wounded limb.

Your leg is healed. Stand up.

Still sobbing, Vivian stood, using the nearest table to pull herself up. She leaned on the counter for a moment, mentally probing for more pain. Deciding her right leg hurt no worse than any other part, she stood up straight. The limb was still a little sore, but it was obvious the break had been healed.

Vivian turned to face the sarcophagus. Thank you, Master. I am healed and forever in your debt.

My healing is not perfect; you shall likely have a limp for the rest of your life. However, your mobility should only be slightly impaired by this.

It suddenly occurred to Vivian her master's voice was not audible. Everything she heard from him, including his laughter, was inside her head. Master is thinking at me, and I am hearing him! she thought with some surprise.

What do you require? Vivian asked with a slight tremble in her voice.

My revenge on Lord Maer was cut short, and the curse I struck him with has been forestalled. The day will come when that is finished, but my current condition will not allow it. To regain my strength I will need sacrifices.

I will kill hundreds in your name, Master!

Lord Maximillian's laughter audibly echoed around the chamber. That is not exactly what I require, but your spirit is commendable. No, I require specific deaths to occur, some of which must occur at specific times. My rebirth as an undead lord will start with the death of a unicorn. The unicorn must be deceived somehow, then slaughtered, and then its horn collected.

Vivian nodded. That will be difficult, but I shall see it done. I shall send Merivus—

Merivus is no longer in my employ, Vivian.

The girl furrowed her eyebrows in puzzlement. He is not?

No. Upon my death, a loud gong sounded in my castle, signaling my demise. It would only be heard by those in my employ.

Vivian nodded. I remember you telling me of this, my lord. You said all would have the choice of waiting for your return, or leaving to find other employment.

That is correct. And you are the only one who chose to stay.

I was unconscious, Lord Maximillian. I did not hear the bell.

Yet you knew the circumstance when you awoke. You knew the choice was upon you. Instead of fleeing, or even finding healing draught for your leg, you chose to follow the instructions I gave you when I took you into my service over a year ago.

I could have done nothing less, Vivian said humbly, lowering her head.

Lord Maximillian's ghost, spirit within the sarcophagus, smiled. Vivian could not see it, but she felt an odd warmth coming from the sarcophagus which felt like a smile.

Your loyalty and humility does you credit. I understand your moment of weakness prior to my demise was caused by a powerful magic; I shall see it does not happen again.

Vivian was defiant. I would not allow it a second time! she cried.

The magic the girl used was strong, and you would succumb to it again under current conditions. However, I have stronger magic to counter it so you are not charmed again.

What of the girl? Is she to die?

She and the boy brought about my demise. They, as well as their friends, are all going to die before my revenge is complete.

Vivian grinned. I hope I have a hand in that, Master. She...caused me to fail you.

As did the boy, albeit in a different fashion. You shall have your chance. In fact, there is a thing you are to set in motion so that you might have the opportunity you desire.

What must I do? Vivian humbly asked.

It will take two years to come to fruition, but time is meaningless to me now. You must travel to Binda'Maer. There you will make contact with one who has served me before...

Vivian listened to her master's plan carefully. She questioned several parts of it for clarity, and when he finished she repeated the entire thing back to him to make certain she had it all correct. When Vivian finished and Maximillian acknowledged her understanding, she bowed deeply and then left the chamber. She spoke the simple command word to make the wall reappear and headed for the upper part of the castle. She was anxious to prepare for the journey which lay ahead.

****

Chapter 1: Tale Telling

As they neared his grandparents’ home, the grin on Mitheil’s face slowly widened. Given that he seemed to nearly be grinning from ear to ear in the first place, it hardly seemed possible. He sat in the driver’s seat of his family’s fancy carriage, next to his father. He had driven the carriage before, but never for as long as he had on this journey, and never for the last leg of their annual trip to his grandparents’ house for SpringFest.

Now that the boy was twelve, his father declared it was time for him to take over some of these duties. His sister, Drena, was a fine driver. However, she preferred to ride, and their father never argued her choice.

Tanyer, Mitheil’s gray-haired grandfather, stood in the doorway of his home with a smile which easily matched the young boy’s. His face beamed with pride as Mitheil brought the horses pulling the carriage to a gentle stop.

Grandpa! Mitheil cried as he leapt down from his seat. The boy stood over four and a half feet tall with tousled brown hair which couldn’t decide which way it should go. His brown eyes sparkled as he ran.

Mitheil, the old man replied in greeting, adding a grunt as he lifted the boy into the air. The boy had picked up several inches of height and more than a few pounds in the last year. The older man was in good shape, and his face betrayed no strain in the effort to lift him.

It’s so good to see you!

And you, my boy, and you! My, but you’ve gotten big! Tanyer gently set his grandson down and then greeted the rest of his family with hugs.

Wash up for dinner! came a cry from within the house.

We’d better get in! Tanyer exclaimed.

Grandma doesn’t wait for anybody! Mitheil agreed as he and his family headed into the house.

*

Mitheil swallowed down the last bite of his second serving and looked brightly at his grandfather. Will you tell us a story? he asked.

Mitheil, how many times— his mother started to scold, but, as always, her father interrupted.

It’s okay, Linny. However, I don’t think I will be telling a tale tonight.

A shocked silence filled the room for a long moment before Mitheil asked with a long face, Why not, Grandpa?

Because, my dear boy, it is time you started telling tales yourself. It’s been two years since you had your first adventure, and I think it’s high time you started passing on the story.

Mitheil’s eyebrows went up in surprise. Me? But…you were there, Grandpa!

Not for all of it, Grandson. In fact, we were in two separate places most of the time.

The boy shook his head and said, But everybody’s already heard—

Doesn’t matter. Now, are you going to tell the story, or are we going without a tale tonight?

Not having a story told would, in Mitheil’s eyes, amount to a significant crime. It went against a long-running tradition, after all. Of course, that same tradition suggested his grandfather should be the one telling stories, but it was more important somebody told a tale than specifically who told it.

All right, Mitheil said. It began two years ago, at this very table, when Grandpa, who I called Gampa at the time, told a story about the Red Merloin. In the story, Grandpa told about a blue book he found that let him go to many interesting places. However, I only really heard the part about a sword he got from the book once. Later, when everybody was asleep, I snuck up to the attic, found the book, and made it work…

Mitheil told of how the book became a door which led to a place with many doors. One of those doors led to a strange world of amazing metal carriages which moved around without horses. He met a kind young woman there, Renee, who gave him a place to rest and then later gave him food to eat. Unbeknownst to him, his grandfather and sister came looking for him. They passed the place where he slept, no more aware of him than he was of them.

The boy showed Renee the place with all the doors, but then found he could not get them back to the strange world she came from. Desperately trying to find a way out, Mitheil led his new friend into yet another world, different from both his own and the girl’s.

Back on Renee’s world, Mitheil’s grandfather and sister met a faerie, Jenny, and a dragon, Yarice. They made a promise to the faerie to help one of her kind out of a terrible predicament: Her death gem—the gem faeries become when they die—was a famous one called the Hope diamond, and it had been put into a museum. This guaranteed her children would never be born. (Faerie children are born from faeries’ death gems when their one-syllable name is called out within hearing range of the gem, something which could not happen for the diamond in its protective case.) The rescue got messed up, and Drena ended up in a prison for young girls.

Meanwhile, Mitheil and Renee found their way into a castle, where Mitheil agreed to try and take on the challenge a gold dragon had given all comers decades before. He took a magical backpack filled with the castle’s treasure and headed for civilization with Renee on a flying carpet. They escaped dragons, dragon ghosts, and a thief in the process.

The pair learned of a riddle the gold dragon left behind, and set out to solve it while they also tried to find the pieces of a magic book which they hoped could get them back to Renee’s world. Mitheil, finding himself a little infatuated with his companion, bought her a magic pipe which would later save their lives.

Drena made a new friend in prison, Terry. The two, along with the other girls in the same area of the prison, freed the faerie children from the Hope diamond. In exchange for this, the thousands of freed faeries transported all of the girls far away from the prison.

The last child freed from the Hope diamond was the original faerie, Hope. This should not have been possible, but she broke faerie law to save her life, and thus became part of her own death gem. Hope led the two girls into a lost pyramid in Egypt, which she said was the home of Black Betty, a dragon.

The dragon was actually Brackal Bettina, a fierce drake bent on escaping the pyramid she had been imprisoned in millennia ago. Mitheil and Drena's grandfather, aided by the Grand Faerie of Earth and a good dragon, found their way to the pyramid, and searched for the lost girls.

Renee and Mitheil met a were-leopard—a girl who could be a leopard, a girl or something halfway in between—who helped them solve the riddle and led them to the home of an evil wizard, Lord Maximillian. They narrowly escaped death at the hands of Maximillian’s servant, Vivian, and found their way to the lowest level of the castle where a mystery button sat high on a wall.

The were-leopard, Katherine, was the one who pushed the button, as none of the others could reach it. To their surprise, it seemed to make the chamber twice as large as before. In the other half of the room there was a huge black dragon, as well as Mitheil's sister and her friend, Terry.

Several fights then took place. The first was between Lord Maximillian and the black dragon. The dragon won, thanks to Mitheil learning a secret which removed the magic Maximillian used to protect himself against Brackal. The black dragon then fought Yarice. This fight mostly took place at the gold dragon's castle which now belonged to Mitheil. While that fight happened, Hope fought with Jenny.

In the end, Hope and the black dragon lost their fights. Everyone returned to their homes, with Mitheil promising Renee he would visit her again in a couple of years.

*

Mitheil let out a sigh of relief as he finished his tale. I didn't know telling a story was so much work! he cried.

His family laughed, his grandfather a little louder than the rest. But now you've told your tale, and done a fine job, I believe, Mitheil’s grandfather complimented. You've left a minor detail out, though," he added.

Mitheil raised a curious eyebrow. What's that, Grandpa?

"When, exactly, do you plan to visit Renee again? It has been a couple of years now, you know."

The boy's eyes went wide. Do you mean we should go there soon? It was obvious to everyone Mitheil meant now when he said soon.

Tanyer chuckled. Well, not tonight, of course. It is too late for that. But in the morning, for certain.

Mitheil let out a cry of joy. His parents seemed less than enthused, but they knew it was coming. Tanyer sent them a letter a couple months earlier telling of his plan to do this, and Linny knew better than to try and argue against her father's will.

Drena smiled at the thought. She had made a good friend in Terry, and hoped to see her again, as well. Plus, she felt it would be nice to visit Earth without worrying about having an adventure or trying to find her brother. The whole world seemed weird but interesting, and she did not have the chance to explore it properly during her adventure two years ago. In the back of her mind, the thought of seeing the sometimes-handsome Yarice was also nice.

Linny soon declared it bedtime, and the family said their goodnights as they all made their way towards the second floor of the house, where the bedrooms were located. Mitheil stayed awake for a long time, thoughts of his return to Earth refusing to let his eyes easily close. When they finally did, he dreamed of Renee.

*

Renee looked at Monica, whose attention was focused on the door to her coffee-and-pastry shop. Focused might not be the right word, as Renee's employee seemed anything but attentive.

Why don't you go home, Monica? Renee suggested.

The girl's focus came back, and she looked at her boss. Are you sure? I could stay—

"Go. You won't be able to pour water right as long as you're thinking about him like that."

Sorry, Renee, I just—

Renee smiled. I understand. Well, partly, anyway. I have been in love before, but I've never been proposed to. Now go, and be on time tomorrow.

I will, Monica replied with a smile, pulling her apron off. She hung it on a hook by the shop's front door and then left.

Renee watched her go, and her gaze went to the park across the street. For a moment, her mind drifted, thinking of the boy she met there two months ago, and the strange adventure they shared.

She turned and looked at the wall behind her. The wall had a number of shelves whose contents were mostly ingredients for making a variety of caffeine-rich drinks. Sitting between two bottles of such things was a small box, a gift from the boy. It held a pipe which, ironically, cured her smoking habit.

The bell on the door to the shop rang, bringing Renee's attention back to the present. She turned around to see a dark-haired girl entering the shop. She wore a black T-shirt with a rock band's name on it, and she looked vaguely familiar.

Renee? the girl asked as she approached the counter.

That’s would be me. Do I know you? You look familiar...

Holy moley, I found the place!

Renee's eyes went wide. Are you Drena's friend, Terry?

That's me! I've been looking for your place practically since...well, since that whole strange adventure ended.

Looks like you found it!

The girls chuckled. Have a seat and tell me your poison; it's on the house.

Coffee, black, strongest you've got. Terry replied.

Renee poured a tall cup of coffee and brought it to the table Terry chose. So, what's happened to you? she asked. I've heard all sorts of news reports about some of your former prison buddies.

Terry shook her head. It's the strangest thing. All of us have reformed, or something, and none of us have done another second of jail time. Somehow, the courts have forgiven us all, and we've all been doing good things with our time.

Faerie magic. Who would've thunk it?

"Tell me about it. I...helped the people I hurt, the ones that got me put in jail when Drena found me. Did all sorts of things for them. Then I started to find my way here, doing all sorts of good deeds on the way. I can't explain it, I just had to do it!"

"It's