THE HOUR
THE NEXT WAKING

The third waking was an extremely long one. The merrymaking was a social event of the kind never before been witnessed by any of the Gamhnurts. Astra Deins and his gang went about the Challenge Field shouting and singing and bullying everyone around. Wully and his brother left not wanting to remain where everybody was evidently enjoying while their friend was a social outcast.

“I cannot believe this…” Untholio’s voice trailed off as they made their way homeward. “The last thing I expected was this, to go home without Inckle Vilksumer,” he looked at his brother who was silently walking alongside him.

“I wonder where he has gone off to. Where do you reckon he went to?” Untholio continued talking, “Let us try and find him Wully and then maybe he will explain what he was trying to tell us earlier you know,” but Wully just maintained a stony cold silence merely walking along.

“Wully? Are you all right there?” his brother stopped walking and watched Wully carry on without so much as stopping to look back. He walked a few paces and halted abruptly saying, “I do not think we should waste any more of this waking with that nurt,” it was the first time he had referred to Inckle Vilksumer, his best friend as ‘that nurt’ and Untholio felt unsure if his brother had really meant Inckle or Astra Deins?

Catching up with Wully who had started walking again he said, “I agree so, let us find Inckle before he gets too far to reach and let him know we are still on his side, his friends.”

Wully rounded on him quite unexpectedly, “I am tired and not really up for a search so,” he scowled at his brother, “I am going home.” And with that he marched off leaving the other in a shocked silence.

This was the longest waking of Wully’s ageless life and even as he sat by a little fire in his three room home, warming himself for it had suddenly turned chilly, he thought of nothing but how Inckle had turned out to be a sad shame to himself and his friends, Wully the first in the list. He had not seen Tesma since he had returned from the field but guessed she must have gone to Inckle’s house with his mother. The poor girl he knew was in deep pain over the loss of the one she had for so long loved. He would have to do something about that he decided. After all he was her brother.

Untholio had hurtled himself into his low bed by the corner in the next room having eaten not a morsel of floherbs* despite his hunger. He had not talked to Wully since the exchange of words they had had on the way home. Trejeth had still not returned home and Untholio relived the moment when Inckle had been sentenced to his punishment. How Trejeth, who had been a friendly enough chap though not very well known by the friends, had tried to stand up for Inckle. Untholio felt ashamed; he had drawn back with Wully instead of stepping forth and … his thoughts were lost as he caught site of Wully moving stealthily by the fire.

“Any idea where mother keeps the floherbs?” Wully inquired catching site of his brother looking at him.

Untholio continued staring, then slowly sitting up said, “I miss our best friend Wully, I think it would nice if we could talk about it.” Wully had just located the few floherbs he was searching for on a shelf. They were wrapped in an earth cake* and he made like he was going to grab it.

Instead he strode over to the bed, sat on it’s edge, speaking in a quiet voice, “You must understand Untholio that Inckle Vilksumer will no longer be coming around here. He has forfeited his chance to be here and a part of our lives by losing that challenge,” he stood and began pacing. It was some time before he stopped but when he did, it was to the words...

“He surely did not mean to lose brother,” out of bed now his brother stood eyes staring in the distance. “How can you say he forfeited the -- ”

“Because that is what happened, he lost on purpose and if you just listen, listen to what I am saying and think back to the moment -- he almost had it, had nearly won -- I am right you know.” Wully had interrupted looking terribly angry. Grabbing his brother’s shoulders, he shook him like the wind shaking a frail tree bough, “Understand Untholio,” he murmured more because of the fear in the other’s eyes, “and accept the fact … I am sorry about it all, he was my friend too but it is now time to rethink who we call our friends.” Picking up the earth cake he headed to the next room leaving the pale faced Untholio with a look of horror and despair.

Shortly afterward, Tesma walked through the front door followed by their mother, both looking tired and shaken. Tesma said nothing to either one but something about her was different as Untholio lying in the corner noticed. He thought he sensed a change of heart in her like she had just made up her mind to forget this challenge ever happened. Or worse yet, he thought it was Inckle she had decided to erase from her mind. As he thought all this, sleep took him and for Untholio Redgate the third waking came to an end.

Trejeth had wandered around the field for a while feeling strangely worried. He thought he felt a sudden change in the otherwise still air. That was not normal in Wyoungthed. The seasons that visited the world at large never came to this land and the sun shone always and nature remained unchanged.

Now however, the nurts around him began to fold their arms in a self-embrace and several were huddled close for keeping warm. It only meant that they had felt it too, the still air was still no more and Trejeth found himself tugging at his sweater.

Walking toward a group standing by the high rock munching floherbs and talking, he joined in for a bit and the instant he looked around the tiny knot of faces, he knew, felt certain, something had indeed changed. He knew the nurts he was with and he could tell, the skin on the faces that now greeted him and the hands he now shook were ever so slightly kissed by the wind of time. He must have a wrinkle or two too he guessed and with a sudden dread looked all about the field. Everywhere his eyes set to rest, he saw it: the first gentle caress of aging. Could it be that—he shook his head to clear it, he was simply in need of some rest and decided to go home. In the next waking, he was sure this all would have been the trick of a tired mind.

Inckle had meanwhile walked quite a distance and had reached a small lake where floherbs surrounded the water’s edge. He sat and drank a handful of water. The air had cooled and despite the sun bright and flaming, he hugged himself and remained hunched eventually falling asleep.

His limbs felt detached from the rest of his body as he drifted in and out of dreams each bringing on a heavier blanket of sleep. Inckle saw important incidents that had happened to him during his life thus far in all the wakings. All what he saw brought a secret smile to his lips, the smile he always wore when everything was going the way he liked. Then, something changed and a deep furrow revealed itself on his forehead. He was suddenly back at the game challenge with Astra and everyone was cheering him on and then, he falls. Just lets go of the rock and stumbles… the next thing he should have dreamed was the ground he landed on after his stumble but he did not. Instead, he, Inckle Vilksumer was sprawled on a tile floor face up and exhausted. What was worse, there was a face with its eyes staring unblinkingly at him.

Stompsledge, the closest land inhabited by men was in turmoil. The oldest member of the Hegleok family lie near death, it was just a matter of time.

The illness had come to Gregieo Hegleok with age. A man of vast riches, wrote laws and saw to it that they were followed. A man of principals, every person knew of him and his family. Respected, loved and feared in that same order, the Hegleok family was every human’s humane court of justice. People from every corner of the world at large came to the family’s notice should anyone be treated unfair for reasons unjustified and the seven members came together and cleared the condemned one’s name. Gregieo often called his family ‘a council of the fair.’ The seven members lived in a house that appeared as though carved out of mountain rock. Within, home like but on the outside crude and gloomy.

Set near yet some way from the outskirts of Stompsledge, the house was in a chaotic state at the moment.

Gregieo’s four children and their mother were gathered in a room Gregieo used to hold meetings in when discussing important issues. Heavy doors locked out the rest of the world so no one absent within the four walls knew what was being discussed. The room had seen many such meetings where all five children and their parents were present. Today however the first born of the Hegleok family was not among those behind the heavy closed doors talking with her brothers and sister, she sat beside her father’s bedside watching him and softly singing to him. Edsoniea was Gregieo’s and Feolsa’s first and only child. Born out of the truest love she was kindness and passion, beauty and strength of will. Father’s first child was the image of her mother and his first true love and last. Sitting there, by his side, Edsoniea remembered the early memory of her mother and father with her just a little girl. What wonder days those were…

As each memory flooded the present moment, pain took her and she relived again the loss of the mother she loved and the shock of her father marrying much too soon… True, she herself was a little girl, needing a mother’s touch. Aliyha was kind to her stepdaughter but she never could or would love Edsoniea as her own. Of course then, there were the four whom Edsoniea adored but never quite won their affection or trust no matter what she did, not that they treated her rude but … A sudden movement snapped her attention back to the here and now.

“Edsoniea,” murmured her father turning his head ever so slightly to look at her. She raised herself to a standing position and leaned over so he could see she was right there, “Father, I am here. You must rest father dear,” she spoke as he made efforts to speak. “Rest and recover your strength --”

“Rest I will daughter dearest,” Gregieo mumbled reaching for her hand, “But only if I have your word that --” he broke off for a breath and was silent for a moment. Edsoniea had started to move toward an earthen jar of a medicinal herb jam. She had fed him little of it everyday since he had taken ill but the healing green* had had hardly any effect on the sick man. Removing a tiny lump of the jam with a wooden spoon bearing the symbol of the Hegleok family -- 7 TCF. She raised it to his lips.

Gregieo just held her hand and whispered, “I want your word that you will not let her win,” he looked paler than ever but went on breathlessly. “The Hour is out to destroy our family and the world of justice my daughter and soon there will not be any fairness left.” He breathed deep and in a last effort, “Let her not win after I am gone.” With that he loosened his grip and almost at once fell quiet, back. Gone.

The group gathered behind the heavy doors heard a muffled scream, paused, and a few seconds later wrapped up the discussion and left the room. Led by Aliyha, Dreke, Brestuev, Cineon, and Ermal headed up the stairs and across the hall to their father’s room. Aliyha listened for a moment outside the door and signaled her children to wait. A soft sobbing sound came from inside the door where doubtlessly Edsoniea cried stricken by grief. Throwing her long curly haired head back, the now head of family smiled sweetly and looking over her shoulder, told the four to do the same. As if they had been talking of something pleasant the stepmother burst into the room closely followed by the rest. A look of horror masked each face as they saw the sight of their father lying back – a man with no breath of life in him, his daughter whom he so dearly loved clutching a tiny spoon holding a green pulp like substance in one hand and weeping for the one man, her best friend, teacher and father, and her other hand holding his. The scene could not have been more painful. Each one felt the sadness and Ermal the youngest had taken a step forward to comfort his favorite sister but Cineon pulled him back while Aliyha’s voice sounded loud and cold in the moment of sorrow.

“So, I see you have done it finally. Rid us from that useless man.” She walked up to the bed, “Though that must sound like gratitude to you,” she paused to give her stepdaughter a chance to look up. When that did not happen, she cupped her hand around Edsoniea’s chin and gently raised her head so that their eyes met.

“Mother Aliyha …” Edsoniea's voice trailed like her tears.

“It is just a more polite way of saying,” looking over at her children, “You murdered him. M-U-R-D-E-R-E-R-E-R!” Aliyha spat.

The others stepped forward around their mother, all glaring at the murderer kneeling with tearful eyes looking from one face to another.

“Mother Aliyha … I did not kill father. I did not!” she stammered and started to stand up. Aliyha stared at the girl she had raised. How true indeed had been the words of the Wise One, what all had been told to her. A girl – the daughter of Gregieo’s first marriage would one day, lead her, the ‘stepmother’, to be the most powerful and richest in the world of man, and beast. And why not! She was after all the present Lady Hegleok in the eyes of the world. Edsoniea no longer had any rights as a member of this family, of course that was not entirely true but could she prove it? No matter! Aliyha decided she wanted to make use of the just acquired power to judge the figure before her. The other four were looking around the room. Their dear father’s belongings scrutinized by each one. No one among them cried but Edsoniea.

“It is for me to judge what you have or have not done,” Aliyha was talking her voice ringing out above the mummers of the others. “Say not a word. I know what you let me see when I walked in here…” the others stopped what they were doing. “You are to leave my house, that is the reward I have earned and the punishment I reward you for killing him. Be gone!” and with that she walked out. “Mother Aliyha!” called Edsoniea running after her but it was no use as her stepmother did not slow down and appeared to have flown down the stairs and out the front door. Slowly turning around she faced the open doorway, which was now a sight of glaring eyes and disapproving frowns from her father’s second family.

“Ooh what?” asked Cineon in mock concern, “You just got rewarded eldest one, why all those tears? You ought to be happy you are leaving,” she stared around at the others grinning, “Because if you were rewarded a stay here in my -- no – wait, our home… let me just say, my mother is very generous so be glad Edsoniea.” Cineon moved close to her sister and kissed her cheek, “Goodbye my father’s daughter but my sister not. Be gone before the twilight kisses the dawn.” And stepping back threw the figure standing in the doorway an ugly, menacing look, “Gone and before long forgotten!” With that she swept past, her long straight brown hair flying at her heels, all three brothers following. Brestuev and Dreke throwing Edsoniea equally ugly looks before jostling their way out. Ermal however just paused long enough to let his hand brush across hers and gave an apologetic nod, then followed the others. Once alone, she went to her father’s side, slowly sinking to her knees by the foot of the bed began weeping.

The Redgate home was silent as Untholio awoke from a restless sleep. He was hungry but did not feel like eating. Straightening up he pulled on an extra sweater and walked over to the back door gently pushing it open as a dull light greeted him. It was unnaturally cold for Wyoungthed this waking and where had the sun got to, he wondered. Stepping a bit further out into the yard, rubbing his hands, warming them and looking around. Something was bothering him, what? He looked around some more, mind filled with thoughts of all that had happened the previous waking and Inckle… And then, it hit him. None of the others were awake yet. That was strange considering that his mother, brother and sister were almost always up early and breakfasting in the open of the backyard. Where was everybody? Frowning, the youngest Redgate nurt headed back inside. Went over to where his mother slept on a low bed beside the front door. “Mother!” he bent over touching her shoulder but what he found he was looking at was a wrinkled face. Shocked, he staggered back mouth gaping, breathless, leaning on the door. The gray haired figure slowly opened her eyes.

“Untholio, son,” his mother tired to get up but strength failed and her wrinkled gray haired form fell back.

“What has happened to you?” regaining his breath he found himself bending over this old woman that somehow looked like his dear mother. How could it be? Gamhnurts were ageless yet… here he pulled back the covers all the way to the feet and stopped wondering. It was her.

“The enemy of man has begun its war against us child,” Kirestle spoke emotionally while Untholio tried to help her up. “I have grown too old and frail to move beyond this spot,” she held her son’s hand, “your brother and sister might need you more than I do. Go to them,” she stared in the direction of the fireplace where two crouching figures moved slightly, showing signs of waking. “Never should we have had a change of heart toward Inckle,” Kirestle murmured sadly before falling silent and staring off at a distant spot.

“What do you mean mother? What does all this have to do with Inckle?” Untholio questioned anybody who would listen trying to sound calm but failing miserably. He had been pacing back and forth muttering loudly while his now old mother stared off in a stupor which is why he spun around a look of horror and surprise when a soft voice answered him.

“Mother only means to say –” a pause and a gentle hand reached Untholio’s shoulder, “Oh look at her Untholio…” then tears ran down an aging face. Untholio touched Tesma’s hair, a rich white now. He began to say something but Tesma stopped him.

“Wyoungthed is now under the threat of time and you know like all nurts do about the troubles of men in lands beyond.” As she talked, she moved around bent slightly, growing older by the word. “I have not all answers brother beloved but I do know that Inckle Vilksumer, only he can drive away the coming of Wyoungthed, its folks, our fading away, from the living present… Inckle can and will or he together with those who hold him in their hearts, a friend like, will die trying.” Standing by a stone slab where a fire had blazed, its dying embers of the last fire giving a dim almost ghostly complexion to her face she sat back down beside a crumpled old rag it appeared. Gently touching it, her voice quivered, “If I am right, the entire world of men and creature and leaf are about to see change and a change for everybody’s end. Find him my brother.”

The rag moved so that Untholio realized it was his brother. The floherbs lay dry and wasted, strewn about his feet deprived of all earth cake. Wully was unrecognizable. His rich hair had fallen leaving his head nearly bald with the exception of a few snow-white strands. His face and body bore scars of time, a very long time. Untholio had no words, he bent down to listen closer to what his brother was saying, soft speech reached his ears.

“And when you do, say to him, say to Inckle, I know that he is the single best friend I have.”

“And the one I love … tell him for me, ‘I would fight alongside you for you are not just champion of game challenges but my life’s hero’.” Tesma’s eyes filled with tears.

Untholio just stood rooted. “All this is very fine and I can see its all true but how am I,” he jabbed a finger at his chest asking incredulously, “Going to find Inckle? Where would I look for him?” He walked to the front door and opened it wide, a blast of cold air greeted him as it shuffled through the warmth of the home. “It is a wide land we live in. Wild in places.” Untholio turned around so that now he was facing the interior, his back to the outside. “He could be almost anywhere, Inckle is a fast walker.” The words left a trail of their own in the cold air, a long moment passed. “I will find him whether within this land or beyond it where men live. I have to by the soil of Wyoungthed!”

And with that he hurried toward the corner of the room where in a little heap were several sacks made of worn out netted stockings. Choosing a rather large one, Untholio collected his belongings - mostly clothes and one or two blankets, packed and headed out. He did not leave however before saying a word to the others. To his mother who had stirred as he touched her arm, “Keep alive the fight is just beginning, you want to win.” He then turned to Tesma, and she embraced her brother,

“I go to bring the one you believe in.” Last of all he looked at the rag that was Wully, his eyes were sad yet his words uplifting, “I set out now to seek our hope, your brother will be back with your best friend.” And walking to the open door, he glanced back once more saying, “Live! Each of you live!” With that he walked away into dull daylight and cold wind closing the door behind him. His neighborhood was quiet. Several nurt homes stood closed which either meant that their occupants were still away at the field or too weak and old to awake and move about. Taking in the sight, he felt a shudder as he realized that even the earth upon which he stood appeared old and dry, cracking in places and floherbs that just the previous waking’s night had grown almost wild lining the path round each nurt home now were withered or dying in some spots on the ground. No youth. No food. Untholio started off not knowing where he was to go or if he was going t o find Inckle. Hunger struck a sad note deep in his belly but he ignored it.

He came round to the Qesdaleenda and stopped. Inckle’s home stood just there, front door closed. It looked empty but Untholio knew that his friend’s mother was sure to be there, inside, probably aging and weak or probably too sad to do much other than giving in to endless sleep. All this time he had been thinking of his feelings and his family. And of Wyoungthed and its future if Inckle Vilksumer was not found. He had been burdened with thoughts but that was not reason good enough to forget his friend’s mother.

“Inckle would not think too kindly of me if I find him and tell him I took not a moment to go and see his mother,” he muttered under his breath as he walked over to the front door. “I have to do this for myself not for Inckle’s approval – such a nice nurt lady she is.” A brief moment later, he knocked. There was not a stir or sound to be heard from within and after a few wild ideas Untholio let run through his mind, deciding at last that something had indeed happened to his friend’s mother, he felt tears well up in his eyes as he felt certain that Fiel Vilksumer had been conquered by the passing of time – a sudden movement of the door swinging inwards interrupted his thought and made Untholio start. There, in the dull light stood Trejeth and behind him Fiel looked over his shoulder. She had apparently been working at making earth cake as her hands were soiled as she waved him to come in. “Trejeth! I am leaving to find Inckle. The winds of age blow over our land and it has taken with it nearly all youth… The earth, the green, my family…” Untholio broke off as Fiel held him close as best she could without soiling the clothes on him and Trejeth embraced the both of them. It was a moment of sadden comfort where hope lay in friendship and love of the truest kind.

Fiel and Trejeth had talked of leaving and going in search of Inckle as Untholio found out when he saw two large netted stockings’ backs packed with clothing and floherbs wrapped in earth cake standing in the corner of the room near a stone slab where a big blaze put the cold dull breeze to shame. At least the dead wood off the trees is good use to make fire, thought Untholio, only to those who can build a fire anyway. Then he began too to ponder over the fate his family was facing, old and weak.

“I do not understand,” he said aloud interrupting Fiel’s floherb packing and made Trejeth sit up straighter from his hunched position where he stored away earth cakes wrapped floherbs inside the bags. Not realizing that he had their attention, he went on thinking, “I am a Redgate and an Earth Protector as well but I am not touched by age and time. Should not the Stone Lovers too suffer for their cheats in the game challenge last waking? I bet though that they are just having a fine time and all, still out on the field bet they are taking pleasure in the hammer … bet he is real pleased about winn-- ”

“Untholio!” said Trejeth snapping his friend’s inattentive grumbling, “Why not help me pack these and then we can get going. Come along, there is a little story I want to tell you that might give you an idea of all that is happening.” With that the two got busy packing earth cake wrapped floherbs handed over by Fiel, and Trejeth started his little tale with Fiel filling in here and there in the blanks. It was a tale neither knew to the fullest of detail but proved to be knowledgeable as well as entertaining all the same. This is what Untholio heard and learnt not long before the battle against time began.

“Wyoungthed of wakings before the Earth Protectors and Stone Lovers were ever dwelling in this land, before even we thought of calling each other names as we do, there lived here just earth and stones and greens,” began Trejeth piling earth cakes stuffed with the herb of youth. “And not forgetting Rieah,” added Fiel. Seeing the look on Untholio’s face, “Yes, Rieah was the Wise One who dwelt on this land in company of earth, stone and green.” Trejeth smiled, “Rieah, loved her surrounding and lived in peace with it. Hers was the thought to keep the land untouched by time and age.” The bags packed, the trio got ready to start off but the story telling did not end there.

“It was then that Rieah made a pact with ruler of lands where men dwell and are forever at the mercy of Time, evil and kind when she wants to be,” went on Trejeth as they stepped out to cold wind and failing sunlight. “The two were and still are bitter enemies. The promise was made that Time would let Rieah and her land live endless life but in return, Rieah had to never ever love a single green or stone and not ever touch the earth in a caress.”

“Does Rieah still live?” asked Untholio expectantly, “Let us find her and maybe she might help us…” he stopped facing them and looking around. Neither one of his companions answered his question so he began walking again with the other two falling in stride beside him. It was Fiel who took up telling next.

“It was the hardest thing that she did, and for a while she lived in a land unable to show it her love. It was love and friendship for the stone in this land and the green around and the earth under her feet that one waking made her fall in love with the guardian of rain and sun.” Fiel smiled at the look of marvel on Untholio’s face, it was the look as when a child for the first time sets sight on a rainbow.

“I knew not of this,” he confessed sheepishly.

“Not many do… It is only those few who can read the tale on leaves and earth. It takes wakings and a mind to know…” Fiel patted his shoulder.

“What happened then?” Untholio said eager to hear more and quite forgetting about Inckle and the present calamity.

“The greens tell us that the affair lasted long and was beautiful. The guardian was called upon one waking by the rain princess and the lord sun. Rieah was given a parting gift. From roots of every green on this land perfect beings came to life. They grew in the sun and rain and learnt from Rieah the way to behave but in her love for them, she let her promise fail to be kept and Time spoke of the pact, an end was near. Rieah now lives still but we are her body and soul, the gamhnurts are the gift she was given and whom she loved with all her heart. She dwells far as the Wise One in spirit of another form but we are her strength and her image among the stones and greens she best loved.” Trejeth fell silent as they left two other neighborhoods behind and moved on.

“To answer your question Untholio, Rieah lives but as two beings. We, her image and strength are slowly dying in this land but somewhere where none can be sure, Rieah breathes and awaits to be found by one of her own kin,” said Fiel with a sober voice.

The three had reached the part of Wyoungthed called as the Silent Cross lands which divided the Earth Protectors from the Stone Lovers neighborhoods.

All around them, they saw the sight of age. The ground under their feet appeared cracked, broken by the Time’s sudden lash of its whip upon the youthful soil of timelessness. The greenery was replaced with only a memory that it once kissed the surface of the cross lands. All root and herb and tree now were withered, some lying on the ground, some being blown on the cold wind.

“There used to grow some really nice Greenstick and a variety of wild Qesdaleenda here just last waking but now…” said Trejeth remembering the gone by waking like it was a very long time ago.

“Now,” said Fiel, mustering all the cheer she had heart for at that moment, “Now we must find Inckle so he can help in finding Rieah and fight the coming of the hour before it ends our existence. Come along you two, it will not hurt to have a little cheer about us.” With that she began moving in the direction of that part of the land where the Stone Lovers dwelled. Trejeth and Untholio were carrying three sacks between them while Fiel carried just her one with clothes. It took several steps catching up with her as the other two snapped out of their dream of floherbs and better wakings. By the time they were together, their three pairs of feet had crossed well beyond the borders of the Stone Lovers’ neighborhood and were now inside it. Though there was no visible fence or gate the neighborhood showed distinct features of the land about them. The earth homes, the stony ground in most places and scanty floherb growth about each house. Tentatively the nurts walked, avoiding stepping on stones as much as possible.

Untholio’s stocking clad feet were scratched and bleeding from stepping on stones at unawares by the time they had reached the first of the neighborhood clusters. The first earthen home in the first neighborhood cluster they came to was in a sorry state. The outer walls were cracked and bits were falling off. The door was of harden earth with stones but appeared to not be able to budge, hinges stiffened in the cold. Nothing could be seen from without inside through the tiny window whose panes were covered in grime. Somebody had to knock if they were to find out who lived there, which nurt family and whether they were still alive, able to be of use. Fiel’s and Trejeth’s plan was to gather as many gamhnurts as possible from all over Wyoungthed, no matter if they were Earth Protectors or Stone Lovers and together join in the search to find Inckle who in turn would lead them in search of Rieah. They would be Rieah’s strength in battle against time. Untholio’s coming along was not just coincidental. He too had set out to find Inckle Vilksumer, so he was not alone.

To begin to round the force, the three friends had to begin searching for nurts of courage among Stone Lovers and if they could find none brave among the lot, then the three friends would have to gone on with themselves and none other, find Inckle or become a myth in the history of time. Trejeth decided he’d go first, knock on the door of the earthen home they stood before.

“We come in time of need and in friendship. And we bear no grudge of the past,” began Trejeth referring of course to the differences between the two social groups, the last thing they needed was a riot from the Stone Lovers. A gentle touch and the entire door crumbled and there, in its place stood just a gaping opening. Silence. Then somewhere from the dark interior, a soft groan drifted on the wind. Momentarily stunned silent by the crumbling of the door, the trio now snapped into attention at the sound that met their ears and Fiel dashed forth into the gloom followed by her companions who at that instant had another bag to haul among themselves, Fiel having dropped hers on the threshold before running in.

“Hello? I heard you but where are you? It is dark in here, the light from the outside is poor…” said Fiel going further inside and away from the now open gap that was the door. Trejeth and Untholio dropped the baggage and started wandering about after Fiel stepping on mounds of earth and peering into the corners. Another groan and this time it sounded closer to where Trejeth’s step fell.

“Over here!” Trejeth beckoned Fiel and Untholio who weren't far away, he could dimly make out a shape before him. Cautiously he took a step forward. Soon the figure before them was a bit clearer and Trejeth bent and gently pulled the nurt up from a curled up position to a sitting one. Untholio and Fiel helped drag the sagging gamhnurt toward the only light source.

Wrinkled and completely helpless, a sign of how time had invaded his life.

“Can you see us my friend?” asked Fiel, bending down and holding the figure’s head in her lap. The other two rushed to where their bags were so as to bring the old nurt a bit of floherb, returning with an earth cake cut to a quarter they found the old gamhnurt mumbling.

“I am so cold and tired,” he was looking up at Fiel, “Who are you? Help me please, whoever you are, cold, tired I am…” The nurt mumbled.

Fiel tried as best she could to keep his hands and feet warm but was not doing so well. He kept drifting in and out of consciousness.

“Get a sweater and a blanket you,” Fiel told Trejeth as she caught sight of them coming back with an earth cake. To Untholio she said, “Powder a bit of that floherb, he’s got to have some, even thousands of blankets would be no use otherwise.”

Once covered and warm enough, fed a bit of herb, the nurt appeared more aware of what was happening around him.

Fiel spoke in a quiet voice, “My name is Fiel. What is your name?”

With a jerk the old nurt pulled his head away, off her lap, “You are an Earth Protector! All of you!” he made to stand but could not.

“We wish to talk and not fight. Will you at least not hear what we want to say?” Trejeth said calmly, gently holding him down.

“We come for help and to help. Wyoungthed needs all gamhnurts to be one or perish we will. Now my friend, what is your name?” Fiel had compassion in her voice.

“You are kind to a Stone Lover! I never dreamed it possible to be called ‘friend’ by an Earth Protector. I am Korehk Mungds no, wait, Mugnds, no wait, that is… funny, I cannot remember my full name. My old forgetful mind…”

Untholio patted his shoulder saying, “It really does not make a difference what your last name is. I am Untholio and this is Trejeth.” With that the three took turns telling Korehk what was happening in the land outside his front door. He listened and understood but what he had to say made them sad.

“I fear there is none here strong enough or wise enough to come together. I myself have many friends in this neighborhood and others this side of Wyoungthed and when I returned from the Challenge Field only last waking, those who came back with me looked not much better than I do.” H fell silent, tired.

Untholio wandered outside like a lost soul. Fiel and Trejeth exchanged a glance

“You came back here with only a few, what about the remaining of the Stone Lovers?” Fiel voiced her thought not really expecting an answer.

“You could go around and check every house this side of the land,” croaked Korehk “Do not take my word, I may after all lie to you and get us all gamhnurts wiped clean from life.” He was angry and let it show. Realizing what had happened, Fiel said she was sorry.

“I am terribly sorry I did not mean to imply that you were lying. I was just thinking. Actually, I was not doing that either. Here, have a bit more of the herb.” Fiel suggested in an effort to reconcile.

“Fiel Vilksumer has not mistrusted you and neither have I for that matter,” came Trejeth’s voice from where he had wandered to by the heap of mud that was the door while the other two were trying to settle the argument. “Fiel, I believe there is one other among us who is determined to find my friend, your son. Untholio has gone off to explore the neighborhood if not more.” He poked his head in and there was apprehension in his eyes. He felt worried not because one of the three had gone off alone but because he saw the expression on the old Stone Lover’s face.

“You must understand. Untholio does not take you for a liar,” Fiel spoke quietly seeing the frown on Korehk’s face. “It is a hard waking for all of us and he is overwhelmed by everything we have told him and he does believe in Inckle. He has nothing against you… He is just the kind that has to see facts for himself.”

So the three remained with all the floherbs and clothes and little talk while Untholio Redgate walked over stones and earth through that neighborhood and another and another to see with his own eyes what he had been told.

Inckle Vilksumer had reached the borders of his land. Eating out of whatever floherbs he found growing in wild. Clothes a mess he had let pass many wakings since he had set out. Resting in the wild had become frequent. Never once did he imagine the plight of the gamhnurts he left behind. He wished he had someone to talk to in all the wild land and missed his mother most of all. He thought of what Wully might be doing, perhaps making new friends. It made him sad when he thought of someone else taking his place. Head bent, he walked on.

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