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It was quiet inside the castle; the place looked like it hadn’t seen activity for quite some time.  Since they’d already met one of the inhabitants, Kyra figured there had to be at least one or two more here.  Perhaps this was the last and only one, and they were the first people he’d seen in a very long time.
    
Kyra turned and looked at the being and saw the delight in its face and understood that it was impossible for this creature to think of causing harm, she could see it in its face, posture and appearance; there wasn’t a shred of evil nature in its body.
    
The being looked at them.
    
Good, now we are inside, I will take you to see our King.  He is very old and will die some time soon, so I urge you to treat him with respect and consideration.
    
We will be quiet and kind.  And what is your name? Kyra thought.
    
The creature was leading them toward a dark passageway that led to the inner building of the castle.  It looked down at Kyra in a graceful way. 
    
My name is Ketu, and our people are the Mesolans, a very old and ancient race, but you will learn all about us soon.  We have been waiting a long time for you Kyra, so please be patient.
    
She didn’t know what sex it was, but assumed he was male, since he had a deep and low voice, at least inside her head.
    
They entered the passageway which appeared dark from the outside, but once they passed through it, it was as if they’d passed through something within the doorway.  Kyra noticed that there was no door, but a protective layer that was opaque and kept dirt, wind and probably a lot of other things out, like cold, while keeping warmth and sweet smells inside.  A most ingenious idea, she thought, and wondered why Enchantus didn’t have a similar thing.
    
When they were inside, she discovered that the corridor was well lit, revealing great stone walls with a high ceiling some three times Kyra’s height, but an understandable height considering how tall the Mesolans were.  On each wall were large lavish paintings and tapestries, stretching almost to the ceiling, detailing scenes of the distant past of Aisis Lip.  The people depicted were Mesolans, looking very much like Ketu, but wearing different clothes.  Soft white robes that trailed down to the ground, and they were performing manual labor like tilling the soil, herding animals that didn’t look anything like cows or sheep, and rowing in a boat on a stretch of water.  While it could have been Lake Okobogee, Kyra could tell that with the way it stretched so far into the distant horizon, with no land encircling it, that it wasn’t; this was the shore to a great sea or possibly even an ocean.  Kyra was interested in this, having lived on the shore of her world’s largest ocean.  She wondered where this sea was, perhaps it wasn’t too far from here. 
    
Doci was also looking at the paintings, in awe at this detailed ancient world he’d only ever heard vague stories about.
    
They reached the end of the corridor and there was another one of those layers which Kyra was able to see in more detail.  It was a dark brown, and this one was quite transparent, and yet at the same time was visible to the naked eye.  As she passed through it, it felt like a warm flush passing over her, not hot, but comfortably warm.  She looked back after she’d passed through, expecting to see a hole in the shape of her body –like the “door walls” in Enchantus Palace to enter rooms – and there it was, very briefly, for about two seconds, and then it magically filled in, just to be reshaped again when Doci passed through.  He was just as amazed at the weird gelatinous layer as she was.
    
They passed into another room, this one a wide great hall, with a ceiling that reached even higher.  All the rooms were warm, contrary to what she’d read in history books, where castles were always cold, even freezing in winter.  Those layers must do a lot to control the heat, though she still didn’t know what exactly supplied the heat.  Then she saw.
    
In the very center of the great hall, was a large round fireplace, fully open.  In the high ceiling directly above it was a considerably large hole which would ordinarily have been letting all the hot air out to the outside world, but was, like all the doorways, blocked with one of those brown layers again, this one perfectly round and considerably larger.  There also seemed to be some sort of vacuuming or suction going on, for the smoke from the blazing fire was clearly being pulled up into the hole and vented out into the fresh air, and yet no heat was being lost, because of the brown layer.
    
As they got closer to the fireplace, Kyra felt its strong heat.  And then she tried a crazy idea and put her hands into the writhing, crackling flames.
    
“Kyra, what are you doing!” Doci cried.
    
But her hands didn’t burn.  She could feel that same intense heat, quite a lot hotter now that she had her hands in the flames, but still quite bearable.
    
Ketu looked at her.
    
I see you are much gifted as we all expected.  I was about to tell that this is a magic fire.  It has been burning for many many thousands of years, never withering or dying, but never getting any stronger either, much like us Mesolans.  Until now, Ketu thought and then looked at Doci.
    
I would like it if you did not use your voice to communicate, for our King is frail and does not like sound.  He is a fragile King, but nevertheless, he is King, Ketu thought.
    
They walked around the fireplace and now Kyra and Doci saw the throne in front of them.  It was almost exactly like the one they’d seen inside the rock outcropping, right down to its size, except that it was in much better condition.  The throne stood tall, the back reaching high.  It was made of a deep reddish wood, shiny and beautiful.  The armrests were flat, covered with a gray cloth hanging over the edges.  At the top of the throne was a small ledge where a crown rested.  The crown looked as if it had been polished just seconds ago, as the gold and encrusted jewels glinted in the firelight.  The throne was a sight to behold.  Then they saw the old withered Mesolan sitting there.  As they’d imagined, the man fit the throne exactly, as if the masterpiece of wood carving had been made just for him.  What was strange was that the King was at least two feet taller than the other Mesolans.  Kyra also noticed that he looked noticeably different from them, not just taller, but with a longer facial structure.
    
There were floral designs meticulously carved into the sides of the throne, while actual scenes were carved into the flat surface of the back, much like the paintings they’d already seen, showing the lives of the ancient Mesolans.
    
But the king was very old and dying; Kyra felt a deep sadness for him.  He held his head down, touching his chin, his arms and hands thankfully supported by the armrests.  Somehow he was keeping his back straight in a sitting position, while his legs hung lifeless and almost useless, his feet just touching the ground.  He reminded Kyra of the few times she’d seen the withered old pope in the Vatican on TV.  A man adored and worshiped by many, but a man who could no longer perform his duties as his title required.
    
As the trio reached the throne, there was no announcement; without any indication the King didn’t know they were there, and Kyra and Doci wondered if they should do anything.   
    
She looked at Ketu – he wasn’t doing anything - and then turned to the wizened old King.  She opened her mouth to speak, and then stopped herself, remembering.  She focused her mind, closing her eyes and mentally spoke . . .
    
I am honored that you should let us into your castle, Kyra thought.
    
Nothing happened.
    
She waited, and was about to send the same thought again, when she received something.  It was quiet, barely above a whisper, but because heard it mentally, in a great hall where no another sound was being made except the light crackling of the fire, she understood it perfectly.
    
Initially, I did not grant you full access to my castle.  As I recall, if my memory is not too ruptured and incomplete, you were attempting to tear off the drawbridge.  Were you not? the king thought.
    
Kyra couldn’t deny it, but she was too proud to admit it, so she just nodded, thinking that the old King with his lowered head wouldn’t be able to see her. 
    
Good, was the thought that came into her mind.
    
And now Kyra, the Chosen One, you are among us for the first time, and yet we have all known of this day for a long time, much as the Enchantans knew of your prophesied arrival, the King thought.
    
But how can you possibly know that . . . your highness? she thought. 

He couldn’t have known they were to come here.  Just an hour ago they hadn’t been able to figure out how they were going to get up the mountain, and if Kyra hadn’t decided to try out her magic, they probably would’ve continued on into Jolus the Malignant’s kingdom.
    
My name is Eadmund, and I was one supreme king of all the Echolans.  But alas, that time is now long passed.  And now we are in a new time, and along with it a new, approaching war against an old enemy.  And while we are all defenseless against him, we have you to save us.
    
Eadmund looked up and Kyra found herself looking in the eyes of a very old man, who looked to be about a hundred and twenty years old, but could well be older.  Yet his eyes were bright and blue with life, so bright there seemed to be living florescent animals within them.  There was no hate or anger in these bright eyes, only kindness and gentleness.
    
Kyra smiled at him and Eadmund offered a small smile back.
    
And you must be Doci, Eadmund said, giving Ketu a miniscule nod who turned and walked away.  Soon there was no one else in the room except the old man and the young boy and girl.
    
Doci just stared at Eadmund, the former great King, not offering any comments, just staring in a dumbfounded way. 
    
So how is it that you can know of my, no, our arrival here.  We may not have seen the castle and simply continued on to the lair of Jolus the Malignant.  As it was, it was hard enough to get up here.  I’m guessing you don’t get many guests, Kyra thought.
    
This brought another smile and a slight chuckle from Eadmund.
    
I will soon show you how it is that we, the few of us that remain, knew you would come.  As for this castle, well, you are perfectly right, we don’t get many visitors here.  The last I believe was Queen Anita, some thirty years ago, and she had a hard time getting up.  I remember her complaining, much as you are now, Eadmund thought.
    
Kyra blushed a little.  She quickly asked a question, wanting to change the subject.

I am familiar with the Mesolans, a race who coexisted with the Enchantans, but who are the Echolans, she thought.
    
As I have said: I was once the king of the Echolans.  This was in a time so long ago that I can barely remember it myself, and I know the rest of Aisis Lip has long forgotten it.  Yes, you may well have heard of the Mesolans, but perhaps nothing of the Echolans, Eadmund thought, now looking at Doci, our ancient race who actually came before both the Enchantans and Mesolans.  But I am the last standing testament, well, last old sitting testament that the Encholans, the one definitive race, that split into the Enchantans and the Mesolans, did at one time exist.  And, judging by Doci’s astounded stare, I can see that you are both having a hard time understanding this, which is expected.  I must admit that as great as she is, Queen Anita also found it very hard to believe I was telling the truth; in fact, she refuses to believe until this day.
    
So let us away now to the device that has granted me the knowledge of your prophesied arrival.  Perhaps when you see what it is, you may have a better ability to believe the story of my history that I will tell you in due course.
    
And then the very old King Eadmund – for if he was an Echolan, who had to be the oldest living being in Aisis Lip - shocked the two of them by standing without help.  He wasn’t too quick with it, but then he wasn’t too slow either.  For a man that had to be . . . Kyra still had no idea how old this man was, he was surprisingly dexterous.  As he walked to the end of the hall behind his throne.  They dutifully followed behind, struggling a little to keep up with his brisk pace.  Looks could certainly be deceiving, especially if you were the first race to grace this planet, if he was telling the truth.  Kyra did find it quite hard to swallow, even given her fantastic background; it paled in comparison to the statements that Eadmund had just made.  Professing to be the one race that spawned all others.  Kyra had taken an anthropology class, and knew that the supreme piece of evidence that anthropologists were always looking for was the first of a race, the initial being that gave rise to all others, the so called “Eve.” 

And then the man could be a complete liar and this was just another hurdle in her quest to find and kill Jolus the Malignant.  As a matter of fact, that seemed all too possible.  This castle and man, who may not even be called Eadmund, might have been built and placed here for the sole reason to prevent people from entering Jolus the Malignant’s kingdom, actually preventing the Chosen One specifically.  He did have magic after all, that was why she’d been trained.  But then Kyra also was well aware of how word of her arrival had quickly spread throughout Enchantus and into the hillsides like the plague.  So Jolus the Malignant had probably found out about her arrival shortly after that.  He may have even kept watch on her ever since, using his magical powers in some way.  Demto had disagreed with this idea, saying that the evil man did not have enough power for that, but Kyra wasn’t as easily convinced.  Demto had soon been surprised by Kyra’s power, as she had honed her forces.  So Jolus the Malignant may well be able to watch, he may even be watching her right now.  Yes, since he had sent his creature to kill her, and wasn’t it interesting that the castle had been spotted by them shortly after they’d killed the creature, and not before.  Yes, they may not have been looking in that direction, but Kyra thought how as they’d been approaching the castle in clear view, it was often been obscured by clouds being on top of the high mountain.  Kyra could recall being very distracted with the creature, and then once she’d killed it, with Doci who was seriously hurt, and she’d gone about healing him. 

It was quite conceivable that Jolus the Malignant had seen this with his magical powers in some way, and had then created the castle and the faux Encholan to distract them from their true course.  Maybe he was creating a new creature to fight her at this very moment. 

Or maybe this castle had existed for many thousands of years, and maybe Eadmund was really, really old and was the guard to the kingdom of Jolus the Malignant, a sentinel for the evil king, and was distracting Kyra now with magic.  Possibly even leading her to her very death, with Kyra none the wiser.

At the same time, he might be here to warn Kyra of something.  Or the castle and Eadmund might’ve been placed in this pivotal location for the sole reason that Jolus the Malignant was nearby trapped in his kingdom and after the Bloody War, Eadmund had been appointed to this post to keep watch over Jolus the Malignant and make sure he didn’t try to take control again and abuse his freedom.  But over the many thousands of years, weapons had become rusty and useless, and now Eadmund, as well as everyone else in Aisis Lip, had none or little powers to stop Jolus the Malignant.  Which was she was here.

This made the most sense to her, but she was not going to rule the other possibilities out completely.  So in the mean time, Kyra would just have to keep on her toes and on the lookout for anything suspicious that might lead them into a trap.  That was what she’d thought initially as they blindly walked into the castle with Ketu, and that had yet to be proved or disproved.  Anything was still possible.

She looked to Doci briefly, while Eadmund had taken the steady lead down a new passage.  She tried to focus her thoughts so that they were only sent to him in the barest of whispers.

Keep a watch out for anything unusual.  We still don’t know if everything is as they say it is, Kyra thought.

Doci made a slight nod to her and looked ahead to where Eadmund was leading them.

Kyra kept expecting to see another Mesolan either to be standing guard somewhere or to magically appear from a doorway to follow them. 

Then Eadmund stopped at one of the doorways which was different from any of the others.  There was no brown layer as Kyra and Doci had grown familiar to seeing; in this particular doorway there was a layer that was a shiny silver in color.  It indicated that there was something special and important in this room, more so than any other, restricting entry to only certain people.

Eadmund looked to them.

Please wait one moment, he thought.

Eadmund blew on the silver layer, which separated and formed a covering mist, then he lifted his hands and made circular motions with them, quickly drawing a single word within this mist with his finger.  The letters were foreign and unfamiliar to her, and she was unable to make anything out before the word sunk into the mist and was gone.  She discovered that what she could remember of the word was also gone from her memory, as if it had somehow been erased from her mind.  She wondered if Eadmund might be able to help her with her amnesia in some way.  Her memory had almost completely returned, except for any memory to do with her family, which she remembered nothing about.  Perhaps Eadmund would be able to help her remember what her mother and father looked like, and whether she had a brother or sister, and what all their names were.

Once the unknown word had sunk into obscurity, the silver layer transformed into a brown one, at which point Eadmund stepped aside and held out his hand.

What more perfect an opportunity to trap them inside there.  They would just walk into the room and then Eadmund would do the reverse of the spell he’d just done and they would be trapped in the room.

This moment was built on trust, and what Kyra’s intuition was telling her.  Her mind was yelling to grab Doci and run back the way they’d come, right out of the castle.  But she decided to let Doci decide; he was the Guide after all.

She stepped back slightly indicating that he should go first, and therefore decide what they should do.  He stepped forward, looking at the opaque brown layer, hesitated, then stepped inside, disappearing within.  Kyra followed and quickly turned around once inside.

They were much relieved when Eadmund stepped through with them, while the brown layer did not change into the impenetrable silver one.

Kyra turned back around to face the room.  The large bright blue globe in the corner caught her interest.  Kyra thought it was just a globe at first, for it sat in a cradle, and had white shapes on it which could have been land masses indicating the topography Aisis Lip. 

The king walked up to the globe and they followed him, so that they all crowded round it, the bright blue light reflecting off their faces.

At the moment this here, Eadmund thought, reaching out to the globe, but not actually touching it, is an actual world-teller, revealing to us a three-dimensional map of what the world of Aisis Lip is looks like.  We are here, Eadmund thought.

He pointed to a spot on a particularly large landmass, about an inch from the coast of a great shiny blue sea.  Enchantus is here, pointing to a point more in the center of the landmass, which seemed a great distance from where they currently were.  Kyra and Doci had traveled a long way.

But when I want it to be my future, reality and past teller, I give it the command, Eadmund thought.  He waved his over the globe and whispered a word that didn’t mean anything to them.  The globe cleared, and became spotlessly luminescent blue, almost blinding.

I knew you, Kyra, were coming to us, because it told me, Eadmund thought, as he waved his hand over it again.  Lines of writing came up out of the bright blue liquid inside the globe, one paragraph on Eadmund’s side, one paragraph in front of Doci, and one paragraph in front of Kyra.  She could tell that the writing in front of Eadmund was different to what was in front of her and Doci, because it was in a different language, but she had the feeling it was saying exactly the same thing.
The writing in front of her was clearly not English, but Aiso, nevertheless she could easily read it, just as she’d been easily speaking Aiso ever since she’d met Marie.

*

In a time of which is unknown, when the evil one has risen again to attempt the conquering of Aisis Lip, a girl by the name of Kyra will come to you after she has arrived from another world and met the Queen.  She will take a long journey, on which you will be the last step, before she enters the realm of the Evil One.  Teach her well and impart what you know and all that you think she will find useful.  The future of Aisis Lip is hazy even for me, so it will be up to the Chosen One to decide and act and react, which will result in Aisis lip’s continued existing as a friendly world of peace and happiness, or its takeover and subjugation by the Evil One for all eternity.

Kyra looked up at Eadmund.  Doci was still reading, while the aged King looked back at her.  He hadn’t needed to read the paragraph.  He had read it hundreds of times, just as Queen Anita had read the chapter in the Scriptures hundreds of times.

What this did change was that Eadmund was definitely on her side.  She could now rest at ease.

Doci looked up with a smile on his face, also realizing that they were in a castle with friends.

Good, that is settled then.  We will now go and eat dinner, as I am sure you have not had a decent cooked meal in some time, and are both probably quite tired and hungry.  Over dinner and then relaxation I will tell you my story and my history.  Then you will both sleep and rest.  Tomorrow, I will impart what I can to you on what you must do on your next and final step.  I will not be able to tell you whether you will succeed or fail, nevertheless, I did fight Jolus the Malignant, or the Evil One, as he is called here, during the Bloody War, so I am familiar with his accursed ways of battle.  Tomorrow I will also give you answers to questions that have been perturbing you ever since you arrived in Aisis Lip, and perhaps even before that, Eadmund thought.

Kyra was anxious to find out just what Eadmund had to tell her.  At the same time, she could feel the tiredness in her body and mind, and imagined that Doci probably felt much the same.  She would like a hot meal and some rest in a soft bed.  In fact, she wanted that more than anything right now, almost more than finding out about her forgotten family.

Now, let us go and eat, and a story I will tell you of which you may believe or you may not.  That is up to you.  But as soon as I am done, you will be able to receive you much deserved rest.

Eadmund headed to the doorway and passed through.  Kyra let Doci go through first, took a breath, looking back once at the bright blue globe that had now become a world-teller again, and passed through the brown layer and followed the others down the passageway.