When I returned to the house, Cormac was eating a sandwich. He looked uncomfortable sitting, while his Queen (my Mom) was on her feet.
Mom and Brenda were both looking at me anxiously. No doubt, they were waiting for me to give them some kind of indication of what I had decided.
"I need to sleep on this," I told them.
There was little doubt that both of them guessed what that meant. Mom had only found out today that I had been visiting dreamtime but she would quickly see that a visit to Charles made sense.
The remainder of the evening was strained to say the least and it was a relief to get out of the house when it was time to give Brenda a ride home. She kept as close to me in the truck as she could without upsetting my driving.
"You're going to visit dreamtime again tonight, aren't you?" she asked.
"Yep. I think I need to get Charles to answer some of these questions before I can decide what to do."
"Will you still try to call for me?"
"Of course! I promised that I would give you one day in each of my visits and nothing that's happened has changed that."
"Sean, I've been thinking that maybe we're ready to, you know, take the next step."
At the end of what had been a truly remarkable day, my hormones went into overdrive at what I thought Brenda was hinting at. Was she really suggesting what I think she was? My normal response in these situations was to keep my mouth shut lest I say the wrong thing and that's what I did now.
"Do you think we're ready, Sean?"
I gulped. Why was Brenda forcing me to take this decision? She had always been the one who set the pace in our relationship and I was content to let her. It seemed to work for both of us, so why change it now?
"I think that's a decision that you have to make. You're the one who has set the pace and it's been working for us up 'til now. I'm always happy with whatever you choose to share with me and if you feel now is the time to share 'everything' then that's what we'll do."
Brenda grew quiet and for some reason I got the sense that my answer had disappointed her.
Sometimes girls just didn't make allowances for the fact that guys have a different mind-set to the one they have. What was it they were calling it at school? Yep, 'emotional intelligence', that was it. If you asked me, that was a stupid phrase.
A teacher had tried to explain the difference between the boys and girls in class:
"Ask a girl what her favourite scent is and she'll tell you Chanel or Givenchy.
"Ask a boy what his favourite scent is and he's likely to say the smell of bacon frying."
That may sound stupid, but it kind of illustrates the different levels that boys and girls work on.
I think Brenda had been expecting me to recognise the whole emotional side to us taking the ultimate step in the sexual part of our relationship. It was a massive thing for her, for us both. But my response hadn't shown that I understood that.
Whatever she was feeling, she'd recovered by the time we reached her house. We shared a loving kiss in her driveway, and she hugged me tightly before getting out of the truck and heading through her front door.
I spent just enough time with Mom and Cormac when I got back home to be polite and then escaped to my room as soon as possible.
Lying down on my bed, I closed my eyes and searched inside myself for my link to 'the Road'. Very quickly I was found myself flying above the silvery ribbon again and a series of squawks told me that my friends the eagles had come to welcome my return.
Charles looked positively nervous standing outside Gwendolin's cabin and it was clear that he knew something had changed. Perhaps some of my thoughts had leaked enough for him to get a glimpse of Cormac's visit, or that I knew something about my father?
"It is good to have you back, youngling," he said as I landed in front of him.
I waved to Aquilaire and his friends and they squawked an acknowledgement as they swooped off.
"Yes, I have returned to dreamtime to talk and perhaps to complete my studies. There is still a lot we have to do, isn't there?"
My response was designed to let Charles know from the outset that I expected things to be different on this visit. I expected him to show some reaction to my words, but he didn't and instead asked a question of his own.
"I sense a great deal of anger inside you, Sean. What is the cause of that?"
Charles' question gave me the perfect opening I was looking for.
"Each time I have visited dreamtime you have exercised a tight control over what I have been allowed to learn. From today, that has got to stop. I now know that I am a Prince, but there are other things that I need to know before I can decide whether I will return to Gael in 'real' time."
Shock registered on Charles' face and he gave himself a shake to try to snap out of it.
"It seems there is another story to tell here, Sean. I think Gwendolin should hear this too. Why don't we join her inside? You can tell us what's happened since you were last here with us?"
I recounted the gist of what had happened that day in the 'other-world'. I told them about the envoy, about Mom confirming that I was a Prince, and telling me about the bargain she had struck with my father.
"I hope you can both see why I would be upset that my father hasn't bothered to try to contact me for nearly seventeen years? Perhaps that will help explain why I am now unsure about returning to Gael?"
"But if you do not return to Gael there could be terrible consequences! You have to return, there is no decision for you to take. There is no other option. You have to return to Gael!"
"Why?"
My simple question seemed to really upset him. He stared at me as if I had somehow lost my mind.
"Well, if you emerge in the 'other-world'..."
He faltered as he realised that he hadn't explained anything about this to me.
"But our kind have a responsibility..."
Again he faltered as he grasped the fact that I didn't have the knowledge of 'our kind' that would perhaps influence a decision about whether I had to return to Gael or not.
"I can see that you're finally getting it, Charles. From what little you have told me so far, I know of nothing that stops me from simply deciding not to return to Gael. Now, perhaps you would like to enlighten me as to why it is so important?"
I could see that I had made my point. Charles was on his feet, pacing and wringing his hands together like I had seen him do before when he was highly agitated. At last he came to a decision.
"Very well, Sean. You would have to be told eventually anyway and now is as good a time as any."
He turned to Grandma.
"I am sorry, Gwendolin, but you know that you cannot stay for this."
She nodded and then before my very eyes, she disappeared!
"WHAT! Where did she go? What's happened to Grandma?" I managed to choke out.
"She is only ever here at my invitation and what we are about to discuss is knowledge that is forbidden to her," said Charles.
"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to explain that."
Charles sighed as if preparing himself for a long and tiresome ordeal. He settled down on the pile of furs opposite me and began his explanation.
"There are three different kinds of people on Gael, Sean.
"First there are men of royal blood, people like you and me. You have asked a number of times what I mean when I refer to 'our kind', well what I meant was: men of royal blood.
"Then there is a second group: women of royal blood. Your Mother and Gwendolin fall into that category.
"Then there are the common folk. They account for the vast majority of the people in Gael."
Charles' explanation had only been running for a few minutes and already I was having a problem with it. The idea that people could find themselves in a position of power and privilege simply through an accident of birth was contrary to the 'American way'. That wasn't what the land of opportunity was all about at all, and it didn't sit well with what I'd learned at Central.
However, I was about to learn that life on Gael wasn't that simple, and that my values were going to need a little adjustment. Charles continued.
"The first group, the men of royal blood, are the only ones who can link directly to the power stored in the Road. The power allows us great strength, speed and endurance. This ability to draw on the Road is hereditary and it reaches its full capacity when a royal male 'emerges'.
"Each of us is also blessed with a high degree of skill in one regard or another. That is different from person to person. For me it was skill with the sword. For my son, it was an ability to tell when a man was lying.
"You seem you have been more highly blessed than others. You have an affinity with nature that extends to you being able to communicate with certain creatures. You are also able to use the power of 'the Road' to fly outside of dreamtime. That has never been known before. The power has only ever allowed physical strength to royals in the past."
I interrupted Charles again to inform him that I could also control the power so that I could use it as a weapon by firing it in blasts at a target. Surprisingly, he wasn't as pleased for me as I thought he would be.
"Are you serious, Sean?"
"Would you like me to demonstrate?" I asked.
"No, I believe you, but this should not be possible. There are supposed to be strict limits on what 'our kind' can do and that is certainly well beyond those limits. I'll explain why later, but for now I would caution you to keep these abilities a secret from all others.
"Let me continue. Those men of the royal blood are the rulers. If one of the royal lines should fail, then the kingdom of that family has to pass to one of the men in another royal family. That is one reason why it is important that you return to Gael. You are your father's only son, so if you refuse to accept your responsibilities, Axon will pass to one of the other families when your father dies.
"Those of royal blood may be the rulers, but Gael is a magical world and every king needs to have a consort or partner who is a wizard. Without a wizard they cannot rule! It is impossible! That's where the second group comes in.
"Women of royal blood are also blessed. They are normally born as wizards. Occasionally, if their magical talent is not strong enough, they take up religion, but normally they will be strong in magic and they will 'emerge' as wizards.
"Wizards are also aware of the power of the Road. They cannot link directly to it, but they can draw on it to help them perform their magic. It is the wizards who can make things fly, or who can summon power from 'the Road' to fire bursts of energy."
"If that is the case then why aren't the wizards the ones in control? Why do they need the royals?" I asked.
"Good question, youngling! The answer is quite simple. The people don't trust the wizards. It really is as simple as that. They believe that anybody who can do magic cannot be completely natural, so they don't trust them. The people would never follow the wizards, so they can never be rulers. They need the royals to do that job."
"Well, why do the people trust the royals, they link to the Road?"
"Yes, but the royals have never divulged what they can do, they have never let on to the commoners that they have a link to the power, so the people merely think they are naturally strong.
"Why do the royals need the wizards? Surely they could just do without magic?"
"Ah, another good question, youngling! It would be possible for a royal to rule without a wizard. Such a kingdom would be extremely open to magical attack however, and wouldn't last long.
"That's not the main reason why the royals need the wizards though. The main reason is that the royals need to breed with a wizard if they are to produce another royal. They have tried to mate with the common people, but the children of such a union cannot link to 'the Road' at all.
"So, it is a perfect union. The strength and power of a royal to lead the people and a wizard to provide royal heirs and to control magic. No one group is able to prevail without the other. They are truly dependent upon each other. A natural case of 'checks and balances'."
"And what's in it for the common people?" I asked.
"The royals look after them of course."
Charles' response was quite indignant, as if my question was a stupid one. As far as he was concerned the need for the royals was obvious. Of course, the fact that he was a 'royal', might mean that he was a little biased here.
"But how do they look after them?"
"They lead them, they make decisions for them, they sit in judgement when there are disputes, and they levy taxes so that services can be provided for the benefit of all.
I still didn't think that the majority were getting a good deal out of these arrangements, but I decided to leave that for now and try to get answers to some of the other things that had been bothering me. Charles seemed to have opened up and I was determined to take full advantage.
"All right, I think I understand how 'government' works. Why is everybody so worried about technology?"
Charles shook his head, almost as if he thought the question was in bad taste or he wished it hadn't been asked.
"Science and magic don't mix. If science was allowed then the power of the wizards would fail and the royals would no longer be able to father royal children. The families would soon die out and there would be chaos in Gael."
That answer was stunning for what it revealed of the self-interest at work here. Charles had just admitted that the royal families were conspiring together to stop technological advances in Gael.
"So let me get this right, you have consciously traded off the ability to develop technology for the ability to have children that can link to the Road?"
"Your youth leads you to see things too simplistically, youngling. I would say that we have traded the ability to have a stable way of life. We have traded the ability to retain strong rulers who can lead the people effectively and fairly."
"But technology could make life so much better for the common people. What about hospitals? What about motor cars?"
Charles' face showed his growing anger at the line of argument I was following.
"Technology is not the great panacea that you think it is, Sean. It makes people lazy. It makes people very ill. Look at the cancers that have developed in the 'other-world' from use of microwaves and mobile phones. Technology is a poor substitute for magic, a poor imitation."
I decided that it was unlikely we were going to have a level-headed discussion about this. Charles' passion for the way of life he knew was hot and currently it was boiling over. Perhaps it was time to move on to other things before his anger stopped him from giving me the answers that I was so desperately looking for.
"If the royals are the ones who can link to the Road for physical strength and the wizards are the ones that can summon up magic by using the Road, how is it that I appear able to do both?"
Charles' anger seemed to drain away and instead a pained look appeared on his face.
"Occasionally an individual can demonstrate the abilities of both royal and wizard. It is very rare. Indeed, has only ever happened twice in the history of Gael. In the past, it has only ever happened to a wizard, to a female.
"The phenomenon is known as a 'cross-over', the wizard's ability has crossed-over into the ability of a royal."
"What happened on these two occasions?" I asked.
"Both times the wizards concerned were banished from Gael. Having individuals with both abilities would destroy the delicate balance we need."
"So I'm a cross-over? If I am then this conversation is surely pointless. If I return to Gael and it is discovered that I'm a cross-over, I will be banished. That will mean my father will still not have an heir and Axon will go to the Scanians."
"Then you must see to it that no one suspects that you have these abilities, Sean. I've just told you that there have only been two crossovers and both were wizards. I believe that what you have is something different. Perhaps it has something to do with the special gift that each of the royals get? What I'm saying is that you are not necessarily a cross-over, but you should certainly keep your abilities to yourself."
That sounded very much like Charles was urging me to be dishonest. His attempt to try to explain away my abilities had been weak, as was his claim that cross-overs could only be wizards. This would all take some serious consideration later.
"Why wasn't Grandma able to stay and take part in this discussion and what happened to her?" I asked.
"Only royals have dreamtime, Sean. Wizards do not. There are certain things about being a royal that we never share with anyone who isn't a royal themselves. Gwendolin couldn't be allowed to hear all of what we have just discussed.
"Gwendolin was only here because the council appointed her as your religious teacher. I can make her appear or disappear in your dreamtime as I like."
His answer raised another question and as I was on a roll, I asked it.
"What is this council that you've just mentioned?"
My teacher frowned and I guessed that he hadn't meant to mention the council. It was too late now and he proceeded to explain.
"The council is what rules over dreamtime. It is made up of all the dead royals and it has the power to decide who will be the ones to act as the teacher and mentor for each young royal as they near their time of coming of age. I was chosen to prepare you before you emerge."
He had given me the perfect opening to ask my last question for the moment.
"What happens when I 'emerge'?"
"There will be a great feast planned and as many of the royal families as possible will attend to be witnesses to the emergence. Sometimes there is more than one young royal emerging on the same day.
"No commoners are allowed to witness the emergence for obvious reasons.
"At the allotted time you will 'emerge' and demonstrate that you are truly a royal by directly linking to the power of the Road. At the moment that happens there is normally a massive surge of magical energy.
"No one knows why the magical energy appears as it does. One theory is that, as a new royal is added to the numbers, so the magical energy increases at the same time to keep royal and wizard in balance.
"Your emergence will be a truly wonderful thing. You will enjoy it, trust me. Nothing you have experienced so far will come close to what you feel at that moment.
"One of my concerns is what would happen if you 'emerge' in the 'other-world'. Without wizards around you to control the magical energy it could be a disaster."
Charles' description of the council sounded a little hollow to me and I suspected he had played down its importance. His description of what 'emerging' entailed certainly allayed some of my fears and that was one less thing to worry about.
The explanation had indeed answered some of the questions that I had been puzzling over in trying to decide whether to return to Gael or not. As I was coming to expect with Charles (and Gael!) the answers had raised more questions however. The questions were more ones of principle and morals it seemed and I would have to think about them carefully before I would be able to decide how to proceed.
For the remainder of my visit I threw myself into my studies. I felt sure that Charles had passed on the vast majority of the secrets he had kept hidden for so long. All that remained was for me to do as well in studying history, language, geography, creatures etc as I could. My weapons and combat training weren't neglected either.
As the visit was drawing to its end I was nearly sixteen years old in dreamtime. I thought that there was little more that Charles could teach me (how wrong I was) and I had made a point of leaving Brenda's visit to near the end of my time here.
Now was the time to reward myself for all my hard work by pulling Brenda into dreamtime. I had planned a lazy day, with a few surprises for my girl mixed in. I decided to call her while inside Grandma's cabin so that none of the villagers would see her arriving.
Once again I focused on my birthstone and quickly identified Brenda's sleeping thoughts. I gave her a gentle mental nudge so that she wouldn't be taken by surprise when she made the transition to Gael.
"Brenda, it's time to join me in dreamtime, are you ready?"
"Of course I'm ready. Hurry up!"
I stretched my arms out and used the summoning words.
"Afflubh! Afflubh!
Brenda appeared on the pile of furs in front of me and I moved over quickly to lie down and share a hug.
"It's really good to see you."
Brenda laughed.
"But you only dropped me off outside the house about half an hour ago, how could you be missing me so badly?"
"You forget the way time works in dreamtime, I've been here for almost two years without seeing you," I replied by way of explanation.
"Oh. It does take some getting used to, doesn't it?"
"Yep. But never mind, I only have one more visit to make I think. After that it will be a life in the 'other-world' or a life in 'real' time in Gael."
Brenda studied my face closely.
"So you still haven't made up your mind what to do?" she asked.
"Not completely. I've decided that I'll make the visit my father has asked me to make before my birthday. I'd like to meet him before making my final decision about whether I should return to Gael or not."
"Uh, Sean? I think you made a mistake there. You said 'I'll make the visit' when surely what you meant to say was 'we'll make the visit'?"
Yep, you just had to love that girl! Once again she was leaving me in no doubt about her commitment and that she felt we belonged together. I gave her the best kiss I could muster as a reward and that naturally led to other things. We didn't explore what she had suggested in terms of taking the next step - we both agreed that dreamtime wasn't the right place for that.
Edited By TeNderLoin