RECOVERY

OUT OF OPTIONS

Pavalon got tired of the wait and watching Raven lying down motionless was very distressing. He lost it, got up and walked into the room where the man who teleported them into the house went. When he did not see the man, he rushed out and checked on raven before he walked to where the women were tied up and threatened him rather than ask, “Where is he?” “You piece of dirt. I’ll kill you the first chance I get.” Tsan told him with all the scorn she could muster. Pavalon calmed down a little. “Why? I don’t even know you.” He told her. “You led the raid on our village and burned it to the ground.” She retorted. “I see,” Pavalon remarked. Memories came flooding back and he got more confused. He was still processing the whole thing in his head when, out of nowhere, a beautiful lady appeared in the house. His amazement and complete shock was not the lady but the fact that Dexagon, the king of Zorak, was standing by her side having appeared with her.

The two men looked at themselves in anger even though it was hard to imagine why or what right the king had to be angry. After all, it was one of his soldiers that shot and killed his beloved Grey and, by extension, he was right to blame her death on the king. Pavalon pushed the chair in front of him with a lot of violence and made for the king, who stood prepared for the fight. It is rightly said that good friends make the worst of enemies. Dexagon looked into the eyes of the former captain of his palace guards as the lady tried to calm him having blocked his advancement towards the king. It was as if the lady knew what was going to happen for she had requested and took the king’s sword.

“Whatever it is with the two of you, you had better settle it now because your lives depend on it.” The lady told them. “I would die ten times over before I settle with him.” Pavalon blurted out. Still visibly ready to break away from the lady and engage the king. He continued. “And who are you? Where is the man that brought my friend and I here? He seemed like he could help my friend.” Pavalon said in intense annoyance, and pointed at the table where Raven was lying. The king looked and saw a body on a table but did not see the face. Anyways, he judged it to be the fellow that had tried to attack him together with his former captain.

Right before their eyes, the lady was transformed into the man that had brought Raven and Pavalon into the house and the sight answered Pavalon’s questions. “Would you please stop doing that?” The king demanded. The sound of his voice was very annoying to Pavalon. “Just one more time.” The man said and before their eyes yet again, he was transformed into an old woman, but she still had her strength intact. The whole episode was getting Pavalon more confused and angrier as it unfolded. There was his friend whom he couldn’t tell whether was still alive or not. Two young women tied up who have just reminded him of something he had tried hard to forget, a magical creature of whatever he… she… was that was changing her form as she willed and, above all, the man he so wanted dead more than anything in the entire world, was standing not more than ten feets away from him.

In amazement, the king asked, “Are you…” “Yes, I am Kora. The high priestess. And your gateway to the outer realm.” She interrupted Dexagon as he started to speak. “So you just decide to show off by transforming into different people?” “There are so many things that even you are not aware of Dex.” She told him. “First of all, I don’t enjoy my name being shortened and secondly, how did you get to know my name?” She chuckled. “That’s your name isn’t it?” “You had better…” “Stop! Stop! Just stop. Okay. Can you help my friend or not?” Pavalon interrupted the king and would have enjoyed it very much had the circumstances been different. “It’s amazing, don’t you think? Of how you call him your friend yet know so little about him.” Kora told Pavalon “Can you help him or not?” Pavalon remained firm while repeating himself. If he only knew who it was that he was yelling at. “He is not in need of any help.” By then, they had moved to the table where Raven was lying. “Get over yourself woman. Obviously he is.” Pavalon retorted. “No he is not.” “This clearly has been a waste of time. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you.” He said and began lifting Raven from the table to leave.

“And how do you propose to leave if I may ask?” Kora pointed out to him. It was then that Pavalon realised he had not seen even a single door or window in the entire building, irrespective of the fact that it was well ventilated. He gently placed Raven back on the table. “You should take it easy with her. I think she is trying to help.” Dexagon offered and Pavalon exploded once more. “This is all your fault.” “I know you hate me for what happened but I don’t see how you, having ended up in the isle of bones with an injured friend is my fault.” The king defended himself. “We were fleeing from the bounty hunters you sent after us.” Pavalon shouted and walked close to him looking intently into his eyes. The king did the same. He was clearly not remorseful for anything. And it drove Pavalon insane the more.

“I didn’t send any bounty hunters after you or your friend.” He said without blinking. “You placed a bounty on our heads didn’t you?” Pavalon said and pointed at Raven as he did. “No I did not.” The king said again in defense. “I’d stop lying if I were you.” Pavalon moved closer as did the king. “I don’t have anything to lie about. Much less to you.” “That’s enough.” The high priestess had to step in and keep them from each other. They were this close to throwing punches at themselves. “Hey old lady, we are still here.” Rips called out to them from where they were tied up. “Shut it”, the priestess commanded. As I was saying, the young man over there is not in need of any help.” This time, Pavalon was calm. “How do you mean?” “If he was an ordinary fellow, the lighting would have killed him. But he is not. And that is the only reason he is still alive.” She told them. “So can you revive him?” Dexagon asked her and Pavalon looked at him with disgust. “You idiots are very slow to understand. What I have been trying to say is that the young man’s consciousness was altered as a result of the lightening and he has been transported to the outer realm.”

“Excuse me… The what?” Pavalon asked in utter confusion, but got no reply. “But I thought…” “Yes. Yes. As did I. But obviously we were wrong.” The high priestess interrupted Dexagon. It was known to all who knew that only the three sisters had the magic to transport someone to the outer realm. But as it is also known, the isle of bones is a place of mystery.

She continued. “His magic is unlike anything I have ever seen”. “Are you saying that Raven is a sorcerer and right now is in some magical realm?” Pavalon asked her. “Precisely.” She answered him. He turned around and took a close look at Raven. “So how do we get him out of there?” Pavalon asked again. “There is no getting him out. You have to go in and bring him out.” She said while looking at both of them.

“What!” Pavalon exclaimed with arms extended. “If he won’t, well I don’t mind.” Dexagon said to the priestess. “Do you think I do not know why you came here?” the priestess challenged him then turned to Pavalon. “Would you put your friend’s life in his hands?” The response was swift. “No. Never. I wouldn’t do that” He looked at Dexagon while he said it. “So it would seem all of you would be going then.” “All of us?” Dexagon asked with a puzzled expression. “Yes. All of you, Kora answered and pointed at Rips and her sister. “Why would they be coming with us?” The king asked again. “Patience, you would find out there.”

Kora then gave them a litany of instructions and called them together, having released the sisters whom she had caught trying to sneak into her house. Raven’s rare magic allowed his body to remain in the real world while, at the same time, he was in the outer realm. “Close your eyes.” She told them and began to pronounce some magical words. When she was finished, they heard her voice once more. It said “You may open them.” When they did, their jaws dropped almost as if they had practiced it.