Magic in the Key of Joy (A Wylde & Cray Adventure) UIC2022

Chapter 10: Let's Go Cray Zieh

The Grand Chamber of the Council of Elders is misnamed. It isn't a chamber surrounded by other rooms: offices, storage facilities, meeting rooms. All those are in a very modest complex which is hidden from view inside a forest of magically maintained redwoods. Yes, redwoods – Magical creatures tend to be smaller in stature than their distant, mundane relatives on the Sapien plane. Redwoods are an extreme case of what Wylde calls 'overcompensation' by the Council. After he explains, I can't help but roar with laughter. The ferrcats chitter, and tell Baelena, who applauds.

The Chamber is an entire building. The oldest, largest and plainest building you're likely ever to see. Construction began one week after the Sundering was successfully performed. Large, in order to inspire feelings of inadequacy in anyone entering. And plain as the stone from which it was hewn.

The entire building throbs with magical energy, which made me wonder if Wylde would be uncomfortable. The audience chamber would expand or contract, depending upon the number of people who entered through its doors. That alone ranks as one of the most difficult spells ever created, ranking right up there with the Sundering. The far end of the chamber is, naturally, where the Council sits. Two rows of four stone chairs on either side of a single chair in the very center.

Nine people sit on the Council, with one of the nine being chosen once every 500 years to act as Chairperson. The chairperson only votes if there is a tie. Unlike what would be a temporary position for a mortal, Council members are forever. Yes - it's been the same nine elves since time immemorial. Elves born before the Sundering trust them implicitly, outnumbering the elves born after the Sundering, who find them out-of-touch with 'modern times.' In that regard, we're a microcosm of Sapien society.

As we begin the climb up the Grecian Temple style stairs, I nod at some acquaintances. It's only by chance that I notice several undercover security agents among them. I have excellent vision, and an encyclopedic memory for scars. It's only the Demonic Defense Troops (the DDTs) who don't magic away their scars. It's rare that a Sluagh gets close enough to leave a scar (much less a body) so that having one is an almost Sapien sign of ferocity.

An old friend from the Relocation Department runs up behind me, and says, "Excuse me, Cray. Could I have a word?"

"What's up, Taproot? This is Wylde," I motion Emerald-Eyes over.

"Nice to meet you," he says gracefully.

"The pleasure is mine, young Sapien." Taproot lowers his voice to a whisper. "You both should leave. NOW!"

"That's enough," says Cracker-of-Skulls, who picks up the elf and literally tosses him to a waiting DDT, that quickly vanishes into the crowds now climbing the stairs. I grab Wylde's hand and we sprint to catch up to Baelena. "What was that all about?" I ask her.

She glances at me and places her fore and index fingers together over her mouth and shakes her head. She also glances to her left and right. I watch as Wylde notices our sudden escorts, scattered alongside us. He leans into my ear and says, "If I were Han Solo, I'd say 'I've got a bad feeling about this,' but I'm not worried."

"Why," says Baelena, "because you're carrying a light saber? Great movie, by the way. Second most popular movie in Sidhe-town." She winks at Wylde, who startles the DDTs that I can spot with his laughter. Then I remember that these days, along with music, laughter is only heard from elf children.

"No, because I'm with Cray. And together, we can take on anything."

(He's probably right, observes Sunny.)

(He's 100% right, corrects Luna. They've got us, remember.)

"Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around..." he sings, then hums.

"What are you...doing?" I ask, because I'm feeling a tingling all over.

"It felt right. If it works, then I'm learning."

We finally make it into the Chamber, and this time the DDTs are right behind us, leading us up to the front row. There are about 1,500 elves, dwarves, gnomes, trolls, banshees, dryads, naiads, fairies, pixies, unicorns, centaurs and other assorted species in the audience. The Council appears simultaneously, already seated. Selrach Windar, Chairperson, waves his hands, and the chamber is flooded with light. The stone doors have closed.

"Silence! I suppose most of you are here out of curiosity about our special guest, the Sapien named Wylde Thingh. Mr. Thingh, please stand."

Wylde does, take a florid bow, and gives an endearing, albeit somewhat goofy, grin. He begins to speak when Selrach stops him, saying, "Speak when spoken to, Sapien. You are our guest, but not our equal, in spite of the unusual feats you have been attributed with. Homo Elfos and Homo Magia, dark times are upon us. The Sluagh are breaking through the Sapien plane, growing stronger and attacking us in turn. Centuries ago, Cray Zieh came to me with nightmare news of a Sapien capable of destroying the Sundering, putting an end to everything. Today he has, like the good citizen he is, brought us this Sapien, whom we shall imprison and hold captive until his death.

"Cray?" says Wylde, looking at me as if he doesn't recognize me. I reach out to get him to safety, but the DDTs send me flying. They surround Wylde, and one of the Council spells the skin on his lips to grow together, so he is unable to sing.

"Lies!" I finally cry out. "All lies! What is this treachery, Windar?"

Baelena is incandescent, burning any agent who comes within 4 feet of her. The audience is too stunned, or afraid to move. Sunny and Luna have gone to Wylde's aid, and slip in-between the agents, spinning like tight rings, throwing them off. Wylde's eyes are ablaze, and his foot stomps out a rhythm on the stone floor. Muffled at first, the spell breaks as he sings at full volume, "I've got the music IN ME, I've got the music IN ME!"

The sheer power of the anger in his voice knocks everyone in the chamber off their feet. He turns his tear-filled eyes to me, crying, "You lying bastard! THIS is why I'm still single! DAMN YOU! Damn all of you." The stomps begin, in a different beat.

"Marat we're poor, and the poor stay poor; Marat don't make us wait any more..."

A red circle, glowing liquidly, appears in the floor.

"We want our rights, and we don't care how..."

A familiar demon arm rises from its center, beckoning. Sunny and Luna wrap themselves under Baelena's shoulders and dive into the red circle with her.

"We want our revolution...NOW!"

I watch in horror as Wylde jumps into the demonic circle after them. Twenty DDTs jump after, only to pile upon themselves as they crash into the stone floor. Wylde is gone over to the Sluagh, thinking I've betrayed him. Baelena followed him - why? And why did Selrach Windar openly lie? What the heck is going on?