Peaceful Land: John and Ela, #2

By Jason D'ebre

Henry 111 was not the greatest of Kings but he brought a long period of relative peace to England, the son of King John, he survived being a child monarch not a mean feat in these times of warrior kings and great magnates and one of the grewatest was his relation Simon de Montfort from a great french dynasty who became Earl of Liecester and his attempts to unsettle Henry and bontrol his son Edward. John and Ela fight against evil to bring peace and stability to England.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jason D'ebre
• Release date: Sep 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781545117811

Book preview

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Peaceful Land

Escape

The sun beat down gently upon their shoulders it felt good to be alive hearing the birds in the forest, natures songs loud and happy, the warm breeze blowing around their bodies this felt so perfect in an English summer where better to be.

This couple the youth and a maid of about ten years old perhaps her boyfriend on the cusp of manhood dragging a sledge with their meagre possessions loaded upon it perhaps they were looking for work, his handsome features of one so young showed he would be a catch for any maiden as the girl smiled at him or target for a brief flirtation perhaps.

There was something strange about the girl almost on the verge of womanhood but a very knowing look upon her face as if she had seen much of life for one so young perhaps she was his wife to be and the way they smiled at each other showed they knew much about each other and there was love in their eyes.

They looked as if they were at peace with the world and each other life could be good, the future was theirs to be grasped with both hands now they are free.......

The cave had disappeared completely all light was extinguished as they felt evil all around and John realised he had been totally gullible and foolish in the extreme, demons and that sword with their intelligence that controlled it had completely deceived him and now their lives were at the mercy of the evil entities which now surrounded them something was pulling at him dragging him down and he knew his immortal soul and that of Ela was at risk to be damned for all eternity.

His eyes seemed to be getting used to the darkness or was that a light? No it could not be a light surely, but his eyes could not be creating an illusion that was definitely a glow a faint glow none the less but a glow it seemed to be miles away, miles and miles away at the end of a tunnel. 

They heard groaning all around them souls in agony and the darkness was draining their very beings from inside feeling the energy being sucked from deep in their body it would not be long before the pit drained their immortal souls.

There was definitely a light far away he was not imagining it, perhaps, just perhaps he could reach it. He moved forward as the darkness pulled at him holding him back from his desire, light I must have light that single thought stayed in the forefront of his mind as he pushed forward. Light, I can see light yes that is not imagination there is definitely light but so far away. Suddenly he remembered Ela’s words so many years ago it seemed. ‘What is the last thing you know not what you believe or what you see but what you know?’

I am in a cave and the far wall is only four steps away so the light cannot be miles away. He felt hands clawing at his body dragging him back as he struggled with every ounce of his being, but in his consciousness he knew they were in his mind not physically there as he forced his body through this mental maze.

He reached out as his hand grasped the hilt of his crystal sword, the sword that had been trying to warn him of the traitor that was in their midst true belief was in his hand and possibly salvation.

The demons sword that had seemed so compliant granting his every wish but in fact was just waiting it’s time for their guard to slip and now it had struck trapping them in its snare.

John felt the energy in his hand and he could see his fingers wrapped around the hilt, light emanating from the crystal within perhaps there was hope. He had walked away from the entrance to find the sword it had taken vast amounts of energy now he had to reverse his steps it was their only hope to find a way out.

Stretching out his legs four large steps each one an agony of pain and despair then his hand touched a damp stone wall.  Energy was draining from his being in vast quantities hands were dragging at his legs as he lunged forward with his sword driving deep into the stone then dragged it back. A beam of sunlight cut through the darkness hitting the demons sword souls screamed in agony and pulled back as a great roar of pain erupted from the pit and light filled the cave.

Energy poured into the sword and it started to glow as it tried to fight the sun but this was an uneven contest its very structure seemed to change no longer was it an empty darkness now just a dull metal entity and then disappeared completely as the pit sealed itself to keep out that vast source of light.

He picked up the crystal sword and carried it outside into the full glare of the sun to recharge in the life giving beams, then he collapsed on the floor of the cave he felt so weak he knew his power had been diminished by this experience and slept.

John, John wake up, please John I know you are alive our minds are still linked and you cannot hide in sleep for all time. Yes you did wrong such a stupid thing bringing the demon sword to the cave, but it is gone now and we are free of it, wake up you are making me angry.

I am sorry Ela so sorry, what has happened, my muscles, my body I am ordinary.

Not totally ordinary brother your mind is still powerful and I tried to puncture your skin but the knife would not enter, but physically you and I have returned to our normal ages the demons must have drained much of the magic from our beings.

He looked at his great crystal sword I will never be able to lift that in battle.

Hopefully we will never have to but now our need is to build a sledge, just like in the forest when we had to flee from danger with the lady of the forest. Its to drag our possessions on at least we are a bit bigger and the sword we had then was too big for us, remember how our brother Geoff held of that tusker with it when you killed the small boar, I wonder how Geoff is?

The last time they had seen their brother he was dressed in fine livery living in a Norman castle and training for the law with a chance of getting their fathers name. The three young bastards were cast out from their village after their mother had died and their father had disowned them. Now he had so much to look forward with his father’s name and the backing of a Norman baron.

I’d better get on and build that sledge time will not wait for us, we can buy a horse and cart at the nearest town we have the saddle bags full of French gold and the purse, it would be best if we didn’t throw gold coins around that would bring attention.

At least now we have our spells to protect us after the lady of the forest taught us so much and rebuilt my body.

We better test the spells and make sure they still work, we don’t know what else has been drained from us by the demons and we need to catch some game I am starving.

The sledge was built and they had packed up their belongings the crystals so full of energy and the sword their life saver. They could have been dragged into the pit of doom by now and tormented for all eternity, good was its own reward but evil preyed on the unwary no matter if they are good or bad.

The sack containing the entire amount of possessions for the future life there were some red crystals they had mined out from deep inside the cave, they felt so warming and full of love plus the heavy saddlebag of gold coins then they double checked to be sure their life saver the crystal sword was there.

The sword was secure in its scabbard in the frame he had made so long ago built into his leather jerkin but now he could not wear it and all his clothes had needed altering to fit. They were unpicking the stitches taking apart everything then cutting into smaller pieces but now the giant boots were worse than useless. John had used some of the leather from his trousers to enlarge Ela’s clothes. Then unpicked the stitches from the metal scabbards attached to his jerkin which now almost reached the floor on him, but eventually they had clothes to wear and shoes for their feet all the skills they had learnt were put to good use.

The road they walked was peaceful a canopy of trees gave them some shade from the powerful sun. This was a midsummer sun July or August, John wondered how long they had slept or how long they had been in the pit of darkness. Perhaps he should return to Elkeslay and see his apprentice Alf, this looked similar to the road heading that way at least it would be a starting point.

John made up his mind We will go to Elkeslay Ela I built a water mill there with my apprentice Alf, just want to make sure he and his family are settled his wife was presenting him with a baby when I left.

John was puzzled This is strange it’s the same road but somehow different.

What do you mean different if you travelled this way before how much could it change?

I  don’t know Ela perhaps I am imagining it we need to get you some clothes these look strange on you. I know what it is the trees have grown and not just one season these trees are very mature now.  See that pine tree it was about six inches across and now look at it, how could that happen?

Their mind link was as strong now as it had always been. The witch had cast a spell joining their minds together when they were children could we have been in that cave longer than we realised?

If we were dragged into the pit what seemed like a short period could have been years.

A silence settled over them as they considered what might have passed perhaps time is on a different plane inside that inferno. So what we thought as moment’s there, outside, time travelled at a faster rate. When I tried to pick up the sword it all seemed so slow.

The river was not far ahead and there was the church atop of the hill with the bell tower it was all complete and looked magnificent. His eyes turned and followed the river, there was the water mill he had built but no sign of Alf, their huts or the forge where had they all gone? John was a little bewildered, things had changed but why?

Crossing the bridge and climbing the road they were soon level with the church he glanced at the ornate hinges he had forged, not many people around all out working in the fields look Ela a blacksmith she reached out with her mind.

His name is not Alf but he knows of the name.

Good afternoon sir.

He turned and looked at these youngsters, he had seen worse.  The boy was well built and strongly muscled what do you want.

We wish to purchase a pony and cart sir.

Do you now he looked at them suspiciously and you have money?

Yes sir.

Go down that road over there at the fifth house, you can’t miss it, there is a yard with stables next to it, ask for Alf he is my father and deals with all our business.

Thank you sir they walked away in the direction indicated as the smiths hammer beat out a steady rhythm.

So, many years have passed, that smith, he must be at least forty so the pit has drained time and not just the spirit from my body.  Alf was a good businessman even as a lad there won’t be any bargains.

John had got used to looking down on everyone and his huge muscular body dominated all around and now he had to look up or at the least eye to eye, he knocked on the door yes.

The elderly man who answered looked at the youngsters measuring their worth. my sister and I wish to purchase a pony and cart and the smith said you dealt with business Alf.

Did he now come with me round the back, you have got money?

Yes Alf Ela was smiling she could tell John was not happy dealing with his former employee even though the man did not know it.

He picked up a pail of oats and the ponies came over to the fence got some nice ones here, this one I can let you have for a fair price and Ela laughed out loud but John had already noticed the slight lameness on the right quarter.

And a cart two wheeled, this one should suit.

John looked around heavily worked and a crack in the axle this wouldn’t last long. He turned to the old man so Alf you get lifted up out of the gutter onto a good four wheeled wagon and given a pie and ale and a future and now you sell lame ponies and wrecked carts is that how you repay good fortune?

The old man fell back in shock what do you mean, how do you know this his eyes were wide open I am not a cheat it’s a good horse and a good cart.

You had nothing Alf and it was all given to you by a giant and yes, you worked hard, how is Elise.

She is looking after the grandchildren, how do you know all this? His face showed shock where does this knowledge come from.

The moors pony over there and this cart here how much do you want for them?

Well they are very high quality John was smiling at him something so familiar but it couldn’t be eight silver pennies and they are yours.

That is a very fair price Alf I will make it ten with all the tack and a good set a shoes.

We need some clothes these have seen better days.

I have a friend who deals in odds and ends sure he has something which would be better than these rags.

You can sit down to our table and break bread with us this evening and sleep in the hay loft tonight my hand on it.

John.

And more shock racked his body.

The cart bounced along on the hard rutted road as they were both shaken about you confused Alf when you kept mentioning things from their past. The wedding rings that you made and how he dug out the water channel for the mill. He couldn’t work out how you knew all those things but they seemed more content when we left. Alf had become grasping and full of avarice as the years passed but that reminder of where he started from brought him back.

Yes everyone needs happiness in their lives, it’s good to have money and be comfortable but without happiness just grasping destroys the soul but at least he was smiling when we left.

Geoff isn’t close at hand certainly not at Castleton that I can tell.

And Olicia and Robert have passed on and we don’t have a link into anyone’s mind to find him.

No but when we are closer we might find some answers it is our only starting point remember they had some children.

True John, Alf was a young man of fourteen when you left it must be nearly Fifty years on so Geoff will be sixty if he is still alive.

What we need is a trade or somewhere secure to live. Things have changed now with you no longer being a giant and our ages reverted back to normal.

No point speculating on what might happen let us see what information we can get in Castleton we cannot be far from Worksop.

There should be some information available there Oh he grasped at his shoulder oh and doubled over as pain tore through his wrist.

John what is the matter she could feel his agony inside her own mind.

My wrist Ela where my hand was severed and my back exactly where I was branded when they caught me hunting, de Montfort, de Montfort is close.

But the lord of Castleton he is dead, Joe from the village the man at arms he killed him.

The head of the family from France is here he has a spell surrounding him so that he may gain revenge for his kinsman.

Oh, he is moving on, going to London.

But you did not have anything to do with killing his kinsman why does the spell affect you and not me I set the curse and spell to allow Joe to escape?

I don’t know he is with someone called Prince Edward he is King Henry’s son they are plotting for power, mischief is afoot they wish to take over the monarchy in Edwards name but in reality it is for de Montfort the power is for himself.

But that still does not answer the question why has the curse affected you and not me?

Did you have your guard in place to protect your mind or were you daydreaming as usual?

I was thinking of the wonderful times we had as I was developing remember how you used to ride on my back as I grew to be a giant.

John, have you learnt nothing we are always in danger and if you do not protect yourself they can kill you.

What if a demon rises up out of the pit and takes over your mind what then?

"Sorry Ela it’s just that with our