Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Lilly meets the Gamray

The sound of soft singing awoke Lilly early on her first day in the Kort. As she woke up she realised it wasn’t exactly singing but a kind of chanting, very sweet and melodious. Lilly got out of bed and felt quite disorientated, she remembered that she was supposed to have met Morii last night for supper, but obviously slept right through; I must have been very tired she thought.

Lilly made her way over to the balcony and looked down, there walking slowly across the lawns was a small procession of people all dressed in long purple robes and chanting as they went. The one at the front, she thought it might be a man but it was hard to tell, was carrying a silver ball shaped object in one hand and a golden one in the other. All of the people looked quite old and they all had long white hair tied at the back of their necks.

Lilly watched until the procession had disappeared from view and then had a good look at what else was around. The gardens were excellent from this view point and she could see three of the round tents set among the trees to one side. White birds were walking about on the grass, they looked a bit like doves, but weren’t. There were storb bushes of course and hundreds of brightly coloured flowers with unusual butterflies and dragonflies flitting around them. Pots of what looked like herbs lined the borders and, she realised there was Pel, lying lazily in the morning sun wiping his whiskers. He reminded her of Ponty her cat at home.

Lilly went back inside and saw the tasty she’d left on the table the night before; she picked it up and nibbled on it as she wandered out of her sleeping room and into the washroom.

Wow, she thought, what an amazing place this was. The bath was more like a small pool and was again sunken into the floor with a pump tap at one end. Everywhere was covered in something that looked like mother of pearl; it glistened from the light pouring in through the little round windows placed high on the walls.

There was another dragon head fountain in here, set into the wall and trickling gently, an almost proper toilet was set in an alcove to one side and a dressing area beyond that. Small chests were adorned with jars and pots, brushes and combs just as the cabin bathroom had been, but this was all much more sophisticated.

Lilly went out into the entrance room and over to the clothing room. She looked through some of the things and picked out a turquoise coloured dress and trousers and some shoes. She went to have a bath and get herself ready for the day.

Lilly was almost finished doing her hair when there was a light knock on the outer door. ‘Come in’ she called, guessing it would be Morii.

‘Morii came into the dayroom smiling at Lilly. ‘Ye do seem better for a good rest’ he said, ‘I saw ye were deep resting last eve and did not awake ye. Is all to yer liking Lilly, ye have all ye need?’

‘Thank you Morii, I have everything I could ever want. I am sorry about last night, I must have been far more tired than I realised but I feel fine this morning, what are we doing today?’ asked Lilly.

Morii replied, ‘First ye will have mornfood, then we go to meet with the old Gamray and my parents King Litan and Queen Lewold. Then we ride into Bell-da-Hallan so that all the folk do see ye. I believe at eventide there be a jolly time for ye with much merriness’.

They left Lilly’s rooms and started off down the long corridor, Lilly noticed that they seemed to be heading in towards the centre of the Kort. They went down a huge staircase and along another hallway before turning into an open courtyard or quadrangle with fountains and trees. Balconies overlooked the space on the upper levels with stone arches on the ground level. It was cool and quiet and Lilly could see the amazing arcing rainbows through the opening overhead.

There was a table set with an array of fruits and juice and bread and tasties.

Lilly did feel hungry now and needed no encouragement to sit down and eat.

After a few minutes Gleryn appeared smiling away and carrying a tray. ‘Goodmorn Lord Morii and goodmorn Lady Lilly, I be glad to welcome ye to Kort and have come here to see if ye needs anything special in the way of eats?’ Gleryn said.

‘Thank you Gleryn, that’s very kind of you, but I am happy to try just about anything’. Lilly told her, adding ‘everything I have tasted so far has been delicious’.

Gleryn beamed, ‘Ye be real Hah-rold, that be true Lady Lilly of the Nor-Folk. Ye be most charmly as Lord Morii said ye would be. Now can I get ye something more?’

‘Oh no thanks Gleryn, I’m quite full now’, Lilly smiled back.

Morii took Lilly out of the courtyard by yet another route. On the way Lilly asked him how she should behave in front of the Gamray. Morii replied, ‘Ye just be yerself Lilly’.

They went around the side of the Kort and then across a wide open lawn. Pel came rushing up as they walked. ‘illy, Pel ike illy’, he said as he scampered along beside them.

‘I like you too Pel’ Lilly told him, ‘you have to be a good Squib now and behave yourself, no jumping about, you just stay quietly beside me, understand Pel?’  ‘Pel unstand illy’ said Pel, his golden eyes big and round and he went and walked quietly behind Lilly.

They were approaching a set of tents or yurts, a large one in the centre and two smaller ones either side. Morii headed for the centre one and lifted the door flap aside for Lilly to go in.

Once inside the tent Lilly could see it was sectioned off with wide gauzy curtains that she couldn’t quite see through. Morii straightened his jacket and brushed his fingers through his hair, ‘ye be ready Lady Lilly?’ he asked. Lilly nodded.

Morii went first through the material screen and motioned for Lilly to follow. Several people stood in front of them, the ones with the purple robes thought Lilly, from the garden earlier. They moved apart as soon as they saw Lilly and made a low bow as she passed them.

At the far side of the tent was a daybed with draped material all around it. On the bed was the oldest man Lilly had ever seen. He had an exceptionally large head and a small face, with kind and serene eyes. There seemed to be a pale blue light surrounding him and a faint sound of sweet voices singing, though as far as Lilly could tell no one here was singing.

Lilly went and kneeled in front of him as Morii said, ‘The Lady Lilly of the Nor-Folk, crosser from the Inner Wuld, my Lord Gamray’.

The Gamray raised his old and gnarled hand and one of the purple clad men came over with a low stool covered in golden cloth.

He put the stool down and motioned for Lilly to sit on it.

Slowly and quietly all the purple clad people filed out, along with Morii and Pel.

Lilly gazed around as they went and then looked back at the Gamray who hadn’t spoken a word.

Suddenly Lilly felt her head explode with a rainbow of colours and the sound of beautiful chanting. It stopped after a few moments and she could then hear the Gamray’s mind talking to her own.

Welcome Lilly of the Nor-Folk, kin of the Hah-rold of Norsonia and saviour of the Rune Stones, he said in Lilly’s head. Ye do me a great honour in our meeting, though I have had moments when I thought I should not last to see ye. Our time together is short and I must tell ye all while I can.

Lilly nodded and waited.

Give me yer hands child so as I may feel yer reality, the Gamray told her. Lilly put her hands out toward him and he took them gently. At that moment Lilly felt a surge of power rush down her arms and fill her whole being. Memories of a man who had lived for hundreds of years appeared in her head…pictures whizzed past the inside of her closed eyelids. Joyous celebrations, a coronation, a vast hall; with arches like the rib bones of a dinosaur stretching high and disappearing into blackness with a thousand people all packed in watching a ceremony going on in front of them. A baby being lifted up high for the people to see and placed into something that looked like a brown paper bag. Singing, oh the sweetest singing, rung in Lilly’s ears and yet more pictures. Storms over deserts, rainbows dancing above water…swirling images of Tarken rampaging across green fields; setting light to woodlands as they went. It went on and on this series of images flashing through her mind,

Lilly felt dizzy with the amount of information she was picking up from the old Gamray.

As suddenly as it had begun it stopped.

Lilly actually rocked back on her seat as if some strong force had let go of her.

She looked with awe at the Gamray who was smiling serenely at her. My child he said to Lilly’s mind, ye have strong powers and ye now have secrets that will help ye and the young Gamray in the struggle to come. I know ye feel a sense of foreboding… I see that in ye. Ye are right to feel it, this whole land is at yer mercy, and only yerself and young Leekan can stop the Tarken and keep the Rune stones safe.

Go from here and keep the Rune stones by ye, they will add to yer powers ye already have. Only return the stones to Leekan when ye are sure the time be right. Ye have but three turns of my Son to do yer work here and we are grateful for that.

I know I have not life enough to see ye again Lilly…No don’t ye be sad for my sake, I am old as the mountains that surround Norsonia and I gladly go to Valhalla for I am weary. The young Gamray do need one more turn of my Son before he be ready and until that time Lilly, I ask ye to put yer mind to keeping the raining ring in place. Ye know now what to do.

Lilly found it quite extraordinary, but yes she did know what to do…Gamray had put all of his learning into her head and she could feel the raining ring all around her, could monitor every inch of that defence wall and know where to add a bit or take a little away.

The Gamray was thinking to her again, the Rune stones be there in that box Lilly, he lifted a feeble hand and waved to a small carved wooden box at the side of his bed, and ye will find a key around my neck. Ye must remember that water be the answer to life and the answer to yer problem. Ye will enlist the help of many and show the scholar knights yer tricks and traps for fighting the Tarken. Be on yer guard Lilly, King Trock be wily and will know soon enough of my passing.

Gamray closed his eyes and Lilly stroked his huge old head gently. After a couple of silent moments Gamray opened his eyes and spoke out loud…‘I see my longboat…I go to Valhalla’.

Lilly sat there for a moment and realised that the old Gamray had died and passed on to what he called Valhalla. Tears welled up in her eyes, for though she had not known him long, she had shared his lifetime in her head and now Lilly felt desolate, for all that gentleness, power and love was gone from the Gamray for ever.

She heard the curtain being drawn aside and turned round to see the purple clad ones coming back in. They formed a semi-circle around her and the Gamray and knelt with their heads bowed to the floor, most were weeping.

Lilly stood up as Morii came in and she said quietly, ‘I have to take the key from the Gamray now, if I am able’.

The head attendant rose and bowed to Lilly. ‘I am Sardor, aide of the Gamray and yer humble servant Lady Lilly of the Nor-Folk, allow me to assist ye’. With that he bent over the Gamray and unfastened a tiny golden key on a golden chain, he turned to Lilly and put it about her neck.

‘My Lord Morii,’ he said turning to Morii, ‘would ye assist the Lady Lilly with the sacred Rune box?’

Morii picked up the small wooden box and bowed to Sardor. Lilly thanked Sardor, bent and kissed the old Gamray’s head and she and Morii left the Gamray’s tent.

The soft and sweet chanting began as soon as they got outside and Lilly, with tears in her eyes turned to Morii who put an arm about her shoulders. ‘I am sorry ye feel so upset Lilly, but please, ye must know that Gamray’s gone to a peaceful place’ said Morii softly.

‘I know…he told me he could see his longboat coming…he spoke out loud to me Morii’ Lilly replied.

‘The Gamray have never spoke out loud afore!’ said an astonished Morii. Lilly nodded, ‘I know…I felt it, I knew from his thoughts to me that it was the first time he had ever spoken, he was so gentle and he gave me all of his life, his memories. Do you understand Morii?’

‘Yay, I think so Lilly’ Morii replied. ‘Come, let us go and meet with my mother and father and sit with them a while’.

He led Lilly into a walled garden full of white flowering trees with a large and beautiful turquoise stone fountain at its centre, four dirrand stone benches were placed around it and sitting on one of them was a tall and elegant fair haired woman, Queen Lewold.

She was dressed in a similar style as Lilly, but all in white and had her hair plaited and coiled up on either side of her head. There was a small white opal on a thin gold band around her head, she was very beautiful.

Morii put the box on one of the benches and went to kiss his mother. ‘Tis sad news mother’ Morii said to her, ‘the Gamray have gone to Valhalla’.

Queen Lewold took a sharp intake of breath, ‘Oh Morii that is sad news, but I do hope the Gamray is in a peaceful place and has his rest’.

She turned to Lilly, ‘Welcome Lady Lilly. Did ye meet with the Gamray before he passed?’ she asked hopefully.

Lilly did not know if she should, but decided to do a small curtsey as this lady was a real Queen. ‘I am pleased to meet with you Queen Lewold’, she said, ‘I did meet with Gamray and was with him as he died.’

‘Did he give ye all ye need to know Lilly?’ asked Queen Lewold.

Lilly nodded and replied, ‘He did my Lady, he gave me his life in my head and the Rune stones to keep until Leekan is ready for them’.

‘Ah…that be good and proper. Did the Gamray tell ye how long until Leekan be ready?’ Queen Lewold asked.

‘He did, my Lady, he said one more turn of his Son’ Lilly told her.

‘Well, that is most fortunate. Until then Lilly, ye have the Gamray’s power in keeping.’ Queen Lewold said searching deeply into Lilly’s eyes.

‘Come child and kiss me’ she said holding out her arms to Lilly.

Lilly went to Morii’s mother and gave her a hug and a kiss.

Queen Lewold turned to her son, ‘Morii will ye now take the Lady Lilly to meet with yer father the King and yer brother Leekan. Yer father is with Leekan at this moment and he will start to make arrangements for the ceremony of taking, once ye have told him the news’.

‘I be honoured to do yer bidding mother’ Morii said, and kissed his mothers cheek. Morii picked up the box, took Lilly’s hand and led her out of the garden.

‘Your mother seems very kind Morii’, Lilly said as they walked towards another group of three yurts.

‘Yay she be a most loved Queen and perfect mother to my way of thinking, that be true’ said Morii.

‘Who are the people in purple robes?’ Lilly asked.

‘They be attendants of the Gamray, to fetch and carry for him and attend to his needs, Sardor be the oldest and he do train the youngers in the ways that Gamray say be best. All the scholar knights do have lessons from him.

Now the aides will attend to Leekan. His old helper, Gurta will go back to Kort. Ye will meet her as she be with Leekan all the day and eve.’ Morii explained.

‘Is there anything I should know about your brother?’ Lilly asked Morii.

Morii thought for a moment and said, ‘he be ten years, but small, as he do put all his growing into his mind power. He do not quite have his sight, but that be coming and he do not have his ears as he have no need of them yet’.

Lilly thought this sounded quite extraordinary but said nothing.

They entered the middle yurt of the three and a cheery old lady stood up to greet them. ‘Good morn Lord Morii, is it yer father ye be wanting, he be mind playing with yer brother Lord Leekan’ said Gurta.

‘Yay Gurta, but I need to see ye all, I have bad news.’ Morii said seriously.

Gurta threw her hands up and said, ‘No sir…not the Gamray, tell me it isn’t he’.

Morii just nodded and went through to the inner part of the yurt followed by Lilly, leaving the weeping Gurta by the doorway.

In the inner room of the yurt stood a tall fair-haired man who looked like an older version of Morii and floating about four feet in the air sat a young child on a golden cushion. He looked like a toddler but with an extra large head. His eyes were closed like a newborn kitten; he had no hair and only a little fold of skin where his ears would eventually be. Lilly could not help but stare at the strange child for a moment or two.

King Litan came toward the rather startled Lilly and held out his hand. ‘Lady Lilly how glad I am to meet ye, Morii has told me so much of ye and yer bravery, I am only sorry we meet at such a sorrowful time. Young Leekan did feel the passing of the old Gamray and did look so sorrowed’

Lilly nodded her head, ‘I am pleased that I met with the Gamray in time your majesty’ she replied.

King Litan brought a seat over for Lilly and asked her if she would like some time with Leekan alone.

‘That would be good’ said Lilly, ‘I have much information to share with Leekan, as the Gamray has instructed me. Thank you’.

Morii told Lilly he would wait outside with Gurta and then he and his father left.

Lilly sat down and Leekan floated down beside her, she held her hand out to Leekan’s chubby little one and Leekan took it.

Hello Lilly, he thought at her, I am Leekan, Gamray of Norsonia. I feel ye are a wise and brave Lady of the Hah-rold and ye be ready to help Norsonia at this needful time.

Lilly thought back, yay Leekan; I have the old Gamray’s life in my mind and his instructions for ye.

They spent a good long time holding hands and Lilly shared what knowledge she had been given with the young Gamray. She asked him to join the power of his mind to hers, so that they might protect Norsonia together until the next turn of Gamray’s son.

Leekan told her that he was grateful for her help and that they would always be able to mind reach each other, wherever Lilly may be in Norsonia.

He then asked Lilly to look after his brother Morii and his mother and father. Lilly said she would do her best.

They said their goodbyes for the moment and as Leekan floated up to the tent roof, Lilly went to find Morii.

Morii was comforting Gurta as best he could and looked rather relieved to see Lilly. Lilly shared her condolences with Gurta and she and Morii left Gurta to attend to Leekan and returned to the Kort.

As they walked along Lilly happened to glance upwards to the top of the Kort. She blinked, did one of the gargoyles just move? Lilly kept looking and yes, she was certain. The gargoyles were dragons with wings, but only one set of legs. ‘Morii those gargoyles up there…they’re not real creatures are they?’ Lilly whispered to Morii.

Morii glanced up, ‘I know not of gargols?’ queried Morii, ‘those be Wyverns, lazy creatures they be. They just like to sit and do nothing all of the day. Sometimes they do come down and eat the grass, but mostly they do sit on the Kort roof and do nothing’.

‘Amazing’, said Lilly staring at the creatures, they weren’t very big and were a kind of slate grey-green colour. ‘Can you talk to them?’ she asked Morii. ‘Aye, if ye can get near to them, though that be no problem for ye Lilly, ye can mind talk them’, he said helpfully.

They had reached the inner courtyard where they had eaten earlier and Morii pulled out a chair for Lilly. Lilly sat down. ‘Are we still going into Bell-da-Hallan at noon?’ she asked.

‘Yay, we can keep ye a secret no longer Lilly, and soon the bell will sound to tell the people of Gamray’s passing, tis better to let the people see ye before they know of that’. Morii said.

‘It’s a pity that we have to let anyone know, how things are at the moment,’ Lilly said quietly and almost to herself.

‘Yay, that be true, but the Kort workers will soon put the word out, if they haven’t already. Tonight will be a jolly time even though the Gamray have passed, the people will rejoice at yer arrival and the coming of the new Gamray and mourn the passing of the old Gamray all at the same time…tis the way in Norsonia.’

‘I’ll go and smarten myself up then,’ said Lilly, ‘I think you may have to show me the way back to my rooms though’ she added smiling at Morii.

Morii got up and did his little bow. Pel appeared at that moment too and scampered over to Lilly, he stared up at her, his big golden eyes sad. ‘Are you sad about the Gamray too?’ Lilly asked Pel. ‘Pel sad illy’ he answered.

They all went into the Kort and upstairs. This time there were several Kort workers hurrying to and fro, carrying tables, chairs and baskets of bread and tasties.

‘They be getting prepared for the feasting tonight,’ Morii explained, ‘here ye be Lilly, now don’t ye forget yer whistle to summon Srix, when ye are ready ye can knock on my door’.

‘Thanks Morii…for everything.’ Lilly gave Morii’s hand a squeeze and went into her rooms with Pel.

‘Here you are Pel, choose wherever you like to have a sleep, while I go and get ready to meet the people of Bell-da-Hallan,’ Lilly told Pel. Pel went off to explore.

Lilly went into her bathroom and had a wash, checked her hair and then went back to the clothing room. What do you wear to meet a whole city of people she thought? She eventually found a really nice set of clothes in a pale green silk with dragonfly embroidery around the bottom of the dress panels. She finished it off with a dark green sash around her waist and also found a thin silver band with a green stone set into it that fitted her head exactly, so she put that on as well.

She went into the day room and checked on Pel, he looked up from the sofa, sleepily, ‘illy ook uverly’ he said and lay down and closed his eyes.

‘Thank you Pel,’ replied Lilly as she went to get her silver whistle and knock for Morii.

Morii told Lilly that she looked ‘true Hah-rold’ as they went down to the courtyard garden to summon Srix and Storr.

A little while later they were mounted on the ‘one horns’ and started to walk them gently around to the front gates of the Kort. There they were joined by King Litan and Queen Lewold and several other Kort officials, all looking beautifully dressed. Morii had on a dark red jacket with a high collar and matching trousers with black riding boots, Lilly thought he looked very handsome and for the first time realized that her new friend was really a prince, from a royal family.

The gates opened and a multitude of people all started to cheer and wave flags high above their heads.

Srix said, ‘Is my Lady Lilly quite prepared for the masses?’ and pawed the ground a little.

‘I do hope so Srix, I shall just wave as I did the day we met’, Lilly told him. ‘Here we go then’ said Srix as he walked forward to join the procession.

‘Lady Lilly, smile on us.’ ‘Lady Lilly saviour of the Runes.’ ‘Lilly the saviour keep us from harm.’  These were some of the cries of the people as Lilly passed by, waving and smiling at the crowds.

 As they walked along the stone road at a steady pace the bell telling of the passing of old Gamray started to sound, a slow steady one note chime. People around them started to quieten down a little and many were crying, although they still managed to wave for Lilly.

A little later they came to the city centre. People were hanging out of windows and sitting on the balcony railings of the buildings to get a better look at Lilly.

At the far end of the square was the huge dirrand stone building with a large balcony on the first floor. As they reached it, they dismounted and Morii took Lilly’s hand to lead her up the curving steps and into the building.

‘This be the town gathering place’, Morii explained, ‘The people will expect ye to say a word or two from the balcony and get the jolly time started’. ‘Really…what do I say?’ said an embarrassed Lilly.

‘Ye must thank all the peoples and the creatures of speech of Norsonia for their blessings on ye and then say, Let the jolly time begin’ said Morii.

‘I’ll try to remember that’ said Lilly rather nervously, thinking to herself that if anyone had told her last week that she would be doing any of these things she would have laughed and thought quite probably that they were mad!

The inside of the hall was dark and quiet, Lilly could see that they were in an inner hallway with stairs leading up to the first floor on either side of them. On the walls were beautiful paintings of scenes of Norsonian life and many carvings of different creatures were set into the banisters of the stairs. The stairs opened up onto another hallway, with light flooding in from four pairs of balcony doors. They all walked to the middle pair and stepped out onto the balcony. King Litan raised his arms and there was immediate silence.

 ‘Good noon people of Norsonia. We have heard today the sad news of the old Gamray’s passing… but we must remember that he goes to Valhalla and peace and that he will live forever in harmony amongst the Gods.’

The crowd made sighing noises and Lilly could hear that a few noses were blown.

‘We then welcome our new Gamray, the Lord Leekan, whose ceremony of making we will enjoy at the next turn of Gamray’s Son’.

The crowd cheered and applauded.

‘Lastly and most thankfully, this jolly time is to celebrate our joy at the visit of Lady Lilly of the Nor-Folk, crosser from the Inner Wuld and Saviour of the Rune stones of Norsonia. She alone has met with the Gamray before his passing and has his life within her. People of Norsonia…I give ye…The Lady Lilly of the Nor-Folk’.

King Litan stood aside and began clapping as did all the others on the balcony, Morii was grinning madly and cheering. Lilly took a couple of steps forward and up onto the little platform in front of the crowds.

Lilly felt so small, standing on this huge balcony in front of hundreds of people, all looking in her direction. They cheered and clapped and cheered some more, Lilly had to raise her hands to try to stop them, eventually they quieted, until there was silence, not a sound was to be heard.

‘People and creatures of speech of Norsonia’, began Lilly, ‘I can not begin to tell you how amazing it is to be here and to see everyone out and ready to enjoy themselves. Although this is a sad day I thank you for your blessings and promise I will do whatever I can to keep you and your lands safe and to guard your Rune stones. Now…let the jolly time begin.’ Lilly stood and smiled as an enormous cheer went up from the hundreds of people standing before her. Morii came to her side, took her hand and said, ‘well done Lady Lilly, I knew ye had the way with ye to please the people.’ Lilly smiled at Morii and sighed with relief. Still holding onto Morii, Lilly followed him back down the stairs and outside where they went off to see everyone having a jolly time.

Out in the square, tables were placed in long rows and laid with food of all types. There were people wandering around giving out glasses of Storbvin for the grown ups and Storb juice for the youngers. There were jugglers, fire eaters and acrobats, singers and dancers. There was a group of people all dressed in black, with their faces blacked out too. They had bright ribbons on their hats and jackets and small bells sewn onto their trousers and boots, they were, Lilly realised the same as the Mummers in her world and would no doubt act out a play at some point. There were games of racing and skittles on one of the greens and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.

Lilly wandered around with Morii, chatting here and there to people as they asked her questions, mostly about her plans and did she enjoy being here in Norsonia, that type of thing. Lilly answered as best she could and as evening drew in she and Morii decided to go back up to the balcony and watch the proceedings from there.

Morii put chairs out and they sat and watched the merrymaking as the sky got darker and darker. Suddenly a huge cheer went up from the crowd and Lilly stood up to see where they were pointing. Way off in the distance, up on the mountains, Lilly could see a bright burning light, then another and another. One after the other lights were showing in sequence, ringing the top of the Mountains.

Morii gave her shoulders a hug and said, ‘there be the beacons of light that ye saw on top of the mountains, do ye remember?’  Lilly couldn’t take her eyes off the scene, she guessed by now there must be fifty separate beacons alight and still they were appearing.

Every time a new beacon flared the crowd cheered, it was truly spectacular.

Lilly was watching now as the people started to light coloured paper lanterns, which they hung on trees or on hook ended poles all around the city until everywhere was bathed in a rainbow of soft lights. A band started up somewhere close by and lots of the folk went off to dance.

‘What a party’ Lilly said turning to Morii who was leaning on the balcony watching the proceedings.  ‘Aye, that be true Lilly, and I did tell ye that ye would see what the beacons be for…and now ye have seen’.

Lilly nodded and gazed around trying to take in the whole experience.  Something caught her attention way over to the south of Bell-da-Hallan. She stared at the strange glow for a moment or two. ‘Hey Morii!’ Lilly said suddenly standing up, ‘what’s that huge fire in the distance? It doesn’t look like the others’.

Morii strained to see and said, ‘It’s not a beacon…IT’S A FIRE!! Come Lilly…we must ring the warning bell’.

Morii rushed down the steps of the city gathering place, pushing people aside, with Lilly dashing along at his heels.

‘Blow ye whistle Lilly’, Morii yelled as he pulled his whistle out of his pocket and blew. Lilly did the same and in a few moments Srix and Storr were beside them. ‘Lord Morii, Lady Lilly is there trouble?’ Srix looked concerned. They mounted the ‘one horns’ as Morii yelled, ‘To the bell tower Srix, Storr, there be fire up in the mountains to the south…we have to warn folk in case Tarken be attacking…all haste I beg ye’.

They galloped off into the dark and back towards the Kort.

As they arrived, two of the Kort workers came rushing out. ‘What ever be the matter Lord Morii?’ one of them shouted.

Morii yelled, ‘ring out the warning bell, there be fire in the south…go man ring for yer life’.

Morii leapt off Storr and helped Lilly down. They ran into the Kort and up the stairs into Lilly’s room. Lilly told Morii to wait for a moment when he started to speak, ‘I need to tell Leekan’, she said and closed her eyes concentrating on Leekan.

Morii went over to the Rune box and picked it up to examine it. ‘Morii’, Lilly said, ‘come, we’ll fly and see what’s going on, Leekans going to help us do it’.

Morii left the box and came over to where Lilly was standing; she took his hands telling him to close his eyes and try to empty his mind. Morii did as she asked and in the next moment they were flying up and out of the balcony.

Morii opened his eyes and saw with amazement that they were already flying over the city, the bell was tolling out its warning and gradually others were taking up the warning, ringing hand bells and telling each other the news of fire somewhere.

Lilly thought at Morii… it’s something on fire near the passage through the mountains isn’t it Morii?  Morii thought back… Yay, I think it be the cabin!