This is the story of 3 remarkable girls who must embark on an epic journey to save their family and possibly the world.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The Girls of Ohmer Chapter 12 On with the show
The Girls of Ohmer Chapter 12
On with the show
Hilario ran. Ducking under limbs and darting between trees, he was like a wolf on the hunt. He loved the sound if the wind passing his ears, the closeness of the woods, and the way obstacles appeared quickly. He had a split second to decide to whether to jump, duck, or go around. Sometimes he went right through, jumping and curling up like a cannonball, blasting into shrubbery only to burst from the other side and hit the ground running.
In little time he returned to the point where he had seen the Black Wind soldiers. He stopped at this lookout to determine the best route to meet them on their way to the camp.
They were slow and awkward on their horses in this terrain. Hilario saw a point where the armored men would have to bottleneck onto the trail that the wagon had followed, this would be the best place to confront them.
He took off, running a straight line to that point. Going downhill he would get there long before them. At one point the hill became a cliff, about a 20 foot sheer drop. Hilario didn't miss a step as he launched himself off the edge, aiming for the top of a sapling. He grabbed the tree in mid flight, using it's springiness to slow his descent and angle him toward the ground. His feet touched the forest floor as light as a falling leaf. The tree snapped back up as Hilario released it and continued his beeline to the rendezvous with the soldiers.
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Inside the tent Tom was explaining what had to be done to put on an acceptable performance so that the soldiers would be convinced that they were in fact a traveling circus, rather than the fugitives they were looking for.
" Most importantly, you must act as if you believe it yourself. Have fun with it! And don't use your real names. Erika, you'll be Sparrow, Vay, you'll be hummingbird and Nina, we'll call you, vulture."
"Vulture!" Nina objected. " why not swan or robin, if we're using bird names!"
Tom persisted "Robin?! Don't be ridiculous Your part of the act requires a detestable name to work. Now put on these costumes while I make preparations outside."
Nina was surprised. " Costumes? Where did you get these?"
"I brought them, naturally. Why do you think I'd paint the wagon like a circus wagon if I had no circus costumes? That wouldn't be very convincing now would it?!" Tom exited the tent to get ready for the show.
Having been constructed to put on a hawkers show to sell tonic, the wagon was easily transformed into a stage for the circus that was to perform. The side of the wagon folded down, becoming a stage and revealing shelves that used to hold numerous bottles. Now they contained some banners, rope, torches and a couple of folding benches capable of seating eight.
Tom stretched the rope from one corner of the stage to a tree and from the other to the tent. This effectively gave the impression of a small arena. The two benches he placed side by side, planning to seat the highest ranking in the front and the others could stand behind.
Having made all of the preparations, Tom went into the back of the wagon to get dressed.
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Hilario stood in the center of the path waiting for the soldiers to arrive. He began thinking about what he might do as an acrobat so he decided to practice as he waited. He jumped up and landed in a handstand, then transferred his weight to his right hand and began using his left to toss rocks into the air. He was unsuccessfully trying to catch the rocks with his feet when the soldiers spotted him along the path. Being distracted by the approaching noise, Hilario was struck in the chin by a rock and toppled over.
The leader of the Soldiers was chuckling as they approached " So, you must be one of the performers who tried to evade us."
Hilario stood up, brushed himself off and bowed graciously "At your service mister. Only we did not try to evade you, we simply lost our way, in our hurry to find you we ended up here. Lucky for us you came along today!'
"The Name is Captain Nezbah, Pygmy!" The leader said with scorn.
"OK Captain Nezbah Pygmy That is a strange name," Hilario said "My name is Melchore of the Jungle, I am an acrobat! How are you today?"
The soldiers behind the captain stifled a chuckle as he raised a hand to silence them. "I am Captain Nezbah! You are the Pygmy!"
Hilario smiled up at Nezbah. "Oh, Yes I am from the people of the jungle, but I am not a Pygmy, They live in the lowlands. They are very short, that is how you can tell the difference mister"
Captain Nezbah Grew red in the face. "Captain Nezbah!" he yelled.
Hilario looked up at him and calmly whispered behind his hand "Hey mister, captain Nezbah is right here, you don't have to yell for him." then he looked at the soldiers behind Nezbah and made the motion of his finger twirling around his ear while nodding toward the Captain "too many nights in the wilderness, aye?"
In a rage Captain Nezbah drew his sword and threw it end over end at Hilario, who did a back flip into a handspring and landed on his feet just behind where the sword sunk into the ground.
"Olay!" Hilario said with a flourish. He pulled the sword out of the ground and handed it to the captain handle first saying. "Very good Captain Nezbah, But the show doesn't start for a little bit. Follow me and we will go to the campsite."
With that Hilario turned and started walking down the trail.
The Captain was speechless. He sheathed his sword and followed with a curse to wisecracking pygmies.
Hilario stayed on the trail, but he took his time, stopping often to ask questions in order to give Tom and the others as much time as possible to prepare the show for their esteemed guests.
Hilario stopped and turned around for the tenth time. "So You're saying that you don't hire soldiers who are too short? What do you do if you need someone to crawl into a small space?"
Captain Nezbah had reached the end of his patience. Looking over his shoulder he called to his archers. "If this imbecile stops one more time, turn him into a pincushion!"
Hilario turned and quickened his pace just a little. As it was, he had delayed the soldiers by at least an hour.
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Back in the camp Tom was painting Vays face as Erika looked on. "Ok little one" Tom said" Show me that dance. Vay started bouncing and spinning around. The costume was much too large for her but for a clown the effect was perfect. "That's great hummingbird!" Tom and Erika clapped along as Vay did her best to stay upright, although she did fall twice.
Erika modeled a red cape and a brown bowler hat. " How do I look Tom?" She spun around and tipped her hat.
"Just like an authentic caticorn wrangler" he said with a big smile "Now, you know what to do when I give you the signal, right?"
Erika smiled "Yup! Don't worry Tom, Sparrow is on the case" She smiled and cracked the little whip tom had fashioned out of a stick and a piece of string
Just then Nina came out of the tent. "Tom! Get over here!"
Tom stood up and walked toward her. " Is something wrong Ms. Vulture?" He said with a smile. "Perhaps the robe is too big? We could cinch it with a belt."
She was wearing a long black robe with a hood. Frayed feathers decorated the arms and shoulders. "It's not the robe." She whispered as he came closer. "It's what you have me wearing under under it!" She was trying not to blush.
"Don't let that concern you now" He said" Just go and start your meditation. You may need those wicked wiles in full effect before this is over."
"Is that what this get up is about!" She was getting angry about the whole situation." I'm supposed to parade around in next to nothing in front of those maniacs?"
Tom tried to reassure her. "Calm down Nina, I'm sure it won't come to that. Let's just say It's a contingency if The first plan fails."
"Well I'd feel better about this if I knew what the first plan was." Nina was grasping at straws, looking for reassurance.
"So would I." Tom turned and walked quickly away, not wanting to admit that he was winging it.
Nina stood staring at his back in disbelief, before ducking back in the tent to try to remember how to use her latent abilities in dark magic.
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When Captain Nezbah and his soldiers arrived, Tom greeted them wearing a purple suit and vest with a green bow tie. His top hat matched the ensemble being purple with a green band around it. "Welcome, welcome, to Wentworths amazing circus! Gentlemen, If you will kindly set up camp over there we will let you know when the show is ready to commence." Tom pointed to a clearing about 30 yards away.
Captain Nezbah released his troops with a gesture but stayed mounted where he was. "AHEM!" He looked down at Hilario, awaiting an introduction.
Hilario looked back. "You gotta bug in your throat?" he asked.
Tom realized what was expected and prompted Hilario. "Melchore, introduce our guest!"
Hilario caught on as if waking from a trance. " Oh, OOOOH. Mister Wentworth, This is Captain Nesbah of the Black Wind. Captain Nesbah," He gestured to Tom" The amazing Mr. Wentworth."
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Nina was in the tent, sitting cross legged on the ground, deep in meditation. She was searching for the memory of how to use dark power. She could recall nothing from the ages and lifetimes past. Evidently, whatever had her magic trapped behind that glass wall, had stifled the soul charm as well. In her subconscious she could see the power inside her, radiant like the sun. It was bright and warm and love and lovely. She longed to touch it, to embrace it, to control the flows of light and love as she had for years. she thought about the dark power she was searching for answers about. She wondered what It would look like. As she was contemplating this thought, she noticed a blur around the fringe of the light inside her. She reached out to it and instantly recoiled. It was cold and slick. like pond scum, or egg whites. It was alien to her and very unpleasant. Regardless, she knew she must try, try to learn what was hidden behind the light. She reached out again, steeling herself against the cold darkness. It was like slipping into a pool of icy sewage. The sensation made her feel dirty, filthy, no...Inhuman. Just as she was about to flee from this sickening experience, the voice of Serendipity rose up from the past. Just a mere whisper but Nina understood. "Embrace and control."
Nina dove into the darkness, embracing this aspect of the power. Her queasiness disappeared, replaced by a cold calculating assurance that she had power once more. Phenomenal power, untainted by useless ideals like love or morals. Pure and raw, power!
Nina recoiled from these thoughts. She would not let herself be lost in that blackness. She would not become the very evil she was fighting. Still, even after recoiling, some power lingered.
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Captain Nezbah was unconvinced that it was just a mistake that brought the circus performers to this obscure valley. He was about to order them taken into custody when he was distracted by a movement to his left. Suspecting an ambush, he reached for his sword.
As Nina stepped out of the tent, Nezbah froze. She was obscured by a dark hooded robe but none the less, there was something captivating about her. When she looked up he caught a gimpse of her golden eyes. Speaking as if in a trance, he asked "Who is that lovely creature?"
Tom, responded offhandedly "Oh that's just Ms. Vulture, the fortune teller"
"Ms. Vulture." The captain repeated, hanging on the words as if it was an ancient secret being revealed. "So she is unattached?" It wasn't so much a question as a proclamation. The wicked wiles were in full effect.
Tom avoided looking at her, knowing that all would be lost if he lost his train of thought Even so, time seemed to speed up.
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"Captain Nezbah, Soldiers of the Black Wind, We proudly present to you, Wentworths Amazing Circus!" Tom was standing on the stage in the glow of several torches as he opened the show.
Vay came running out from behind the wagon with a hoop in her hands. She immediately tripped and fell, planting her face in the dirt. Behind her came Popsicle being ridden by the squirrel dressed in a sheriffs vest, followed by Dog chasing and barking.
Vay sat up, bawling. Tears streaked trails through the dirt on her face. As she caught her breath she cried "NINA!"
Toms hopes sank as he saw the look of surprise and recognition on the Captains face. Nina came running to Vays aid, picking her up and holding her tight to comfort her. Things were going downhill fast as the Captain stood up and shouted "Seize them you idiots!"
Tom shouted above the pandemonium that was erupting. "Erika! Plan C, Now!"
Nina looked over at Tom thinking, "Plan C? How many plans did he make up?"
The next moment, all of the soldiers and Captain Nezbah himself collapsed to the ground unconscious Captain Nezbahs face was painted like a sad clown.
Nina looked around."What happened?"
Erika grinned as she held up a familiar shaped bottle and said "Toms Tranquil Tonic! That's what happened."
Nina looked at Tom quizzically as he explained "They'll be out for at least four hours but we must move fast."
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In the next Thirty minutes, They packed up the camp, released the black horses, made a bonfire of all the soldiers boots and saddles and stripped them of their weapons. Before an hour was up the wagon was leaving the valley and heading south to a gap between the mountains that would conceal their travels west.
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Captain Nezbah was dreaming about a sultry woman in a feathered robe, when he felt a chill. He awoke in a mist shrouded valley a fire smoldered nearby, smelling of burned flesh. He wondered where he was. Had there been a battle? He shivered. His cloak was gone, his boots, his sword and dagger even his socks were missing.
He looked around to see all of his soldiers sleeping soundly. Was there no guard posted? He screamed at them in a rage. "Get up you lazy good for nothing heathens I'll have your heads for this. As the soldiers awoke, their first expression was not of absolute fear as it should have been, but of mirth. The captain stood in front of his formation, wearing a sad clown face, and screaming at his soldiers for their lack of bearing!
The captain continued berating the soldiers when suddenly he felt an oppressive weight bearing down upon him. He smelled brimstone and death.
From behind him he heard the voice of a demon and he shuddered inside.
"Where are they" The demon asked in a supernatural voice that seemed to emanate from everywhere.
"I don't know!" The captain responded as he started to turn around. Before he completed the turn to face the demon, dark claws slashed forward. A severed head spun through the air, a sad clown face painted on it.
The valley echoed with the screams of Soldiers as the demon slaughtered them for their incompetence. He then streaked across the landscape following the wagon tracks. He would have his quarry. There would be no more mistakes!
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