Vlaire and the King's Sword

Chapter Four

Having glided down from the great tree, Wyllenötte, and passed over the foothills, Vlaire now traveled with Melody into a marsh. Moss grew from the trees, hanging down in long strands, and small fish swam in the wide and shallow creek. A flight of birds was startled out of their branches far away, the flock passing overhead. The little creature that Vlaire met on the mountain sat alert on her shoulder, turning its ears forwards.

"Melody, look!" Said Vlaire, pointing. Coming down the creek were schools of fish, hurrying as fast as they could.

"Maybe they're having a race!" Melody joked- but as they said this, they heard a crashing sound far up ahead. Stopping to listen, they could hear something coming close. The grass and shrubs began to shake, and then from behind a tree, out stepped-

A boy! He was dressed much like Vlaire was, though he wore a bandolier with multi-colored triangles that became a satchel on his back. His skin was a deep olive tone, and his hair shiny black- and he was soaking wet, from apparently having fallen in the creek. "Hello there!" He called, scratching his aquiline nose. He grinned and chuckled, his voltima having a vivid air of joy. "It's just clumsy ol' Urqo here. How are you doing, friends?"

Vlaire could not understand Urqo's language, but saw how friendly he was- and this made her excited. "Hi! I'm Vlaire, and this here is Melody- they watched over me as I slept."

Urqo, though he didn't know Vlaire's language, also saw her introduce Melody- who seemed familiar to him. "Oh! You know, you remind me of Wisdom. Are you related to them?"

"Wisdom?" Melody asked, enthusiastically. "Yes! I remember when we helped the King plant Wyllenötte. Were they your guardian?" As Melody talked with Urqo, it made Vlaire's heart swell to see how full and complete his attention was; there was a gentleness that sparkled deep within his stony black eyes.

"I've been looking for the King's cup," Said Urqo, looking from Melody to Vlaire. "I've been all over the kingdom and found a lot of cups, but not the King's. It's supposed to be in a tower, and I heard there was one near here." He held out his hand and Vlaire instinctively took it in hers, looking into his eyes. She began to see inside his memory, finding herself in a study lined with books and bookshelves and with a great map on the wall; the King was there, speaking to Urqo about his cup. Vlaire could feel Urqo's desire to find the cup, as well as his disappointment each time he thought he'd found the cup, but hadn't.

"Urqo... may I please come with you to find the King's cup?" Vlaire asked. Urqo felt touched by how sincere she seemed, and when Melody explained she wanted to help, he nodded.

"Yes! I was just headed this way," Said Urqo, pointing in the direction Vlaire and Melody had just come from.

Hesitating a moment, Vlaire suggested, "Maybe we could climb the trees to see if we can find the tower?" Pointing to the nearest tree, and up.

Not knowing her words, Urqo still understood Vlaire wanted to go into the trees, and grinned. "Sure! Follow me up, little bhéccos!" He said to the small creature on Vlaire's shoulder. It squeaked and followed him up, with Vlaire not far behind on the other trunk of the tree. The trunks and limbs of the marsh trees were easy to wrap around and get a hold of, and soon they all came up to the canopy. There were much fewer branches in the way, and in some places none; and so, they began to look around them.

Vlaire could see far around her. The air was clear, and the sun bright. She saw Urqo close by, with the bhéccos on his shoulder, shading its eyes. Melody was in a tree close by, facing in the other direction. Vlaire saw a tall shape on the horizon. At first she thought it was Wyllenötte, the great tree. But, squinting and looking as hard as she could, she didn't see any leaves or limbs. "Urqo!" Vlaire said excitedly, pointing towards the tall shape. It was only a moment before Urqo too could see it was a tower.