(William)

William was thrilled! They had finally arrived in Scar. He inhaled slowly and the scents of blooming flowers and leafy plants tickled his nose. Everything around him was new and exciting. The air felt balmy, and the weather was perfect.

I can’t believe that I’m in a cavern, he thought as he urged his horse forward.

He had explored the caves south of Pike. They were dark, dank, and dreary. It was strange that he had come to one of the coldest places in the Nature Kingdom, only to leave winter behind.

Looking at the lush vegetation around him, he exclaimed, “So, this is what summer feels like.”

Lisa took a deep breath and smiled. “The microclimate of Scar is wonderful. Hot springs flow throughout the city. They regulate the temperature year around. Many decades ago, there was a competition between the Magic Association and the Construction Guild to create a better climate control for the city. The Construction Guild came up with the best solution. They created a maze of waterways and ventilation shafts throughout Scar. A single design for temperature control and transportation.”

“The Construction Guild is still bragging about that one,” Rob stated. “Some people like to live on the accomplishments of others.”

“That’s so true.” Lisa nodded. “Guilders have been boasting about the ventilation system since before I was born, and they’ll be boasting about it long after I’m gone.”

“When I was a kid, my favorite pastime was sneaking into the ventilation shafts and exploring,” Rob reminisced.

“Oh dear.” Lisa looked at William. “Don’t get any ideas. Don’t go exploring the ventilation shafts unaccompanied. Young apprentices get lost in there all the time. After all, those tunnels are a labyrinth.”

“Who? Me?” William placed a hand on his chest.

Ugh, she knows me too well.

“That didn’t even cross my mind,” he added aloud.

“Mm-hmm.” His aunt narrowed her eyes.

“I’m sure we can find you a proper guide,” Rob interjected.

The Lord Commander led them to a large domed cavern.

“Boys, this is the Convergence Hub,” Lisa explained. “This intersection is the main junction leading to all parts of Scar.”

William looked around. Each tunnel was identified by a sign with golden lettering.

Rob turned his mount into the largest tunnel that was marked as the Main City and Garden of Dreams.

William’s attention was drawn toward a tunnel marked as the Cavern of Lost Souls.

“This way!” Rob raised his voice to be heard over the din of the crowd. William glanced one more time at the tunnel leading to the Cavern of Lost Souls and put it on his mental list of places to visit.

Like all the other tunnels, the path to the main city was lined with marble and lit by sunstones. Still, the road here was much wider and large alcoves were scattered along the route.

Each alcove looked like the exhibition hall near Lord Harvin’s palace. William saw plenty of frescos, sarcophagi, and sculptures. Artifacts were strewn at the base of the statues. Copper urns overflowed with golden coins and rare gems. The statues were even adorned with fancy jewelry.

William frowned. The lifelike appearance of the sculptures was creepy. And those eyes... It was like they were watching him.

Did that statue just blink? The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he shivered.

“What’s going on with all of those creepy statues?” he finally asked.

“It’s the eyes,” his aunt explained. “The enchantment mimics the real thing. It feels like they’re watching you, doesn’t it? Only the wealthiest Scarans can afford to commission a statue, and have it placed here after they have departed into the beyond. The ashes from the ceremonial pyre are used in the creation of each sculpture.”

“Ew!” William grimaced. “Soooo, I see a lot of gold and gems here, but I don’t see any guards. How do you stop people from stealing?”

“Consequences,” Rob uttered a single word.

“What do you mean by that?” William tilted his head.

“Over the centuries thieves have attempted to loot the valuable artifacts and treasures,” Rob replied. “The shrines are well protected by magic. The last attempt occurred a few years back. That quickhand was an idiot. He tried to steal from the memorial of Lady Sage. What a big mistake. Her ancestral line dates to the origin of Scar and her family has ties to the Sprites. Her shrine is very well protected. I’ll show you what happened to that fool. The shrine of Lady Sage is still ahead of us.”

They chatted until Rob pulled his horse into one of the alcoves. “Here is the memorial of Lady Sage.” He dismounted and beckoned William over. “Take a look at the large golden coin next to her feet.”

William jumped down and cautiously moved toward the statue.

“If you look closely, you’ll see a petrified face etched onto the coin. That’s the robber’s face.”

William’s eyes widened and he jammed his hands in his pockets. “What if a kid sees something shiny and grabs it by accident?”

“Oh, we’ve got counter measures if needed,” Rob replied. “We plan to leave this miscreant imprisoned within the coin for another year. That’s the best way to deter future attempts.”

“Why would anyone take such a risk?” Ivan asked.

“Well, some believe that her amaranthine necklace bestows immortality. The prospect of eternal life has tempted even the clever into embarking on a fool’s errand.”

“Pfft, obviously the necklace didn’t work… cause she’s dead.” William grinned.

“William, it’s not proper to make jokes about the departed,” Lisa chided him.

“Yes, Aunt Lisa,” William muttered.

I bet Rose would have laughed, he thought.

“Well, now you know why people are reluctant to steal from the dead.” Rob vaulted onto his horse.

With so many things to look at and discuss, the time passed quickly.

William heard the laughter of children and the shouts of merchants hawking their wares as they exited the tunnel. Wagons, carts, kiosks, and buggies were everywhere. People shopped for goods as they navigated through the busy streets.

To his right, William saw a variety of stalls piled with wild game and fish. Trappers with their hunting bears could be seen haggling with the merchants. To the left, children played stickball. Seeing the familiar game that he and Ivan had played in Pike brought a smile to his face.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

A group of soldiers passed by and saluted the Lord Commander by placing a fist over their chest.

A messenger ran toward them and waved to get their attention. She approached Rob Stone and handed him a missive. He quickly scanned the parchment and his expression hardened. He rolled up the scroll and placed it inside his saddle bag.

“Lady Waterlily, rooms have been prepared for you and the boys at the Crossroads Tavern. It was great to see you again, but I must take my leave for now. Ivan and William, I look forward to seeing you again.” Rob smiled at the boys and waved at Lisa, before riding away.

“I can take your mounts from here,” the messenger offered.

“Excellent,” Lisa replied. “Thank you, young lady.”

“There you go.” William passed the reins of his horse.

“Ahh, the bustle of the big city.” Lisa stretched out her hands and smiled. “Someone is always running off somewhere. It’s as busy as a beehive!”

“Isn’t the Garden of Dreams located up those stairs?” Ivan asked.

“Indeed, it is,” Lisa replied.

“Let’s go check it out.” William beckoned them and dashed across the busy street.

They navigated through the crowd and reached a vast granite staircase. The steps had short risers and deep treads that led them gradually up the slope. To the right, a line of tall stone columns supported a wide, elevated trough.

“The columns are part of an extensive aqueduct system,” his aunt explained. “Some of the water channels above us are used for transportation. Others are part of the temperature control, irrigation, and water supply. Boats, barges, and barrels are routinely seen traversing these waterways.”

“Scraps, Aunt Lisa, this is amazing. We’ve got to take a boat ride on the aqueducts.” William gave Aunt Lisa his best pleading look, his eyes big and his hands pressed together.

“Absolutely.”

“Yes!” William pumped his fist.

When they reached the top of the staircase, they found themselves at the edge of a vast arboretum. William knew that this was the famous Garden of Dreams. Ornately carved columns could be seen throughout.

“Hey William, did you know that these columns are made of naturally occurring stalagmites and stalactites?” asked Ivan.

“Really?”

“Yeah, each one of them was sculpted by a different master craftsman a long time ago.”

“Wow, they’re massive!” William gawked. “I wonder how long it took to shape them. Last month, I spent hours whittling a simple wooden soldier. I wish I could carve like that.”

“Come on boys, the boat landing is right over there.” Lisa pointed ahead. “These boats go to most places in the city. The waterways can be used to quickly traverse many sections of the arboretum. The Garden of Dreams is so immense that it takes days to fully explore it.”

As he followed his aunt, William scanned the different flower beds around them. There was a vivid display of brilliantly colored flowers. He cocked his head. It looked as though some of the flower petals were flying around. He rubbed his eyes and squinted.

Scraps… Is this magic? he thought. It’s so pretty.

He scrambled over a rock and ran down the cobblestone path. He slowed and crouched down to get a closer look. His face brightened. The flying petals were actually bugs floating and flapping around.

What are those things?

“Oh, I love flutters,” Lisa said wistfully, startling William, who had not heard her approach.

“William, give me your hand,” she said while rummaging through her bag. His aunt pulled out a tiny vial and put a drop of amber liquid on his palm. “This is ginger-lily nectar, and the flutters love it.” One of the delicate bugs landed softly on his hand and began sipping on the nectar.

William was ecstatic!

For the next few hours, they navigated through the Garden of Dreams and marveled at the different plants and wildlife. They reached the next boat landing and took a surge-ferry to West Main Street. The ferry could accommodate only six people and the pilot. It was designed for speed and maneuverability.

Slow pokes, William thought as they raced past the other vessels.

They quickly reached their destination.

West Main Street was in the heart of the commerce district. Specialized goods, restaurants, inns, and a variety of other stores lined the street. Above each door hung a colorful wooden sign, identifying the type of business. William found that some of the shop owners had a quirky sense of humor. He chuckled at some of the more peculiar signs.

MAGIC POTIONS - You never looked so good!

DEADLY POISONS - Tired of pests or loved ones? A Limited Liability Shop. No sampling allowed.

SHIELDS AND ARMOR - In our armor, there is no bad karma!

THE BLOODY AXE AND SWORD - Selling slightly used weapons. Cleaning is extra.

The shops and houses around West Main Street were painted in a wide variety of colors. People mingled and relaxed on the long wooden balconies that protruded from the buildings. Some of them sipped tea, others played games with tiles and marbles, and others gossiped. The enchanted sky above, the Garden of Dreams, and the social atmosphere made it easy to forget that everything William saw and heard was inside a massive cavern. The extended rooftops, wooden shutters, and the occasional outstretched fishing nets added to the illusion of normal city life.

They walked up to a bright red building with white trim. The colorful sign announced that they had arrived at the Crossroads Tavern. William looked up and saw a busboy, about the same age as he was, cleaning one of the tables on the mezzanine.

His attention was yanked toward the kitchen. A hireling emerged carrying a platter piled up with delicious goodies. His mouth watered as the smell of freshly baked bread and bacon beckoned him.

A short, middle-aged woman popped out of the kitchen. She wore her auburn hair up in a loose bun. She had friendly blue eyes and dimpled cheeks.

“Aha,” she exclaimed while wiping her hands on her apron. “You must be Lord Tinbury’s guests.” She beamed at them. “I’ve been expecting you. Welcome to the Crossroads Tavern. My name is Gina Goldlocks and I’m the proprietor of this fine establishment.”

“Hello, Gina.” Lisa extended her hand, and the woman shook it vigorously.

“It’s nice to meet you,” the proprietor gushed. “Your rooms are ready.”

“Thank you,” Lisa said.

“Oh, my pleasure, my pleasure,” she responded amiably. “So, where are you folks from?”

“We’re southerners,” replied Lisa.

“Ha!” Gina snorted. “We never get any northerners up here.” She chuckled. “This is as far north as it gets.” She put her hands on her hips. “His Lordship told me that you used to teach at Tinbury, eh? There are a lot of fine folks up at that school. You should know that we get plenty of teachers and students coming here for my delicious meals throughout the week. Once you’ve tasted my cooking, you’ll be a customer for life.”

“I can’t wait to try it, it smells delicious.”

Gina grinned. “Well, once you’ve settled in, head to the mezzanine for dinner.”

“We’ll take you up on the offer tomorrow. We’ve got other plans for tonight.”

“Very well, very well,” Gina replied. “You’ll not be disappointed with our dishes. Even the castle chefs use some of my recipes.” She lifted her chin and nodded her head.

They were given keys and directions to their rooms. William and Ivan’s living quarters were located on the fourth floor.

“Hey boys, we’re short on some essentials,” Lisa told them. “I’m going to do a quick shop while you settle in. I’ll see you in a bit.” She shifted and flew away.

William followed his brother up the staircase. Ivan stopped midway between the second and third floors. William saw him scrutinizing the pulley dumbwaiter. A counterweight was moving down, while the dumbwaiter rose along a set of rails.

“Do you see that hoist cable?” Ivan pointed above the rising pulley. “That’s connected to a gear gadget.”

“What’s that?”

“Gear gadgets are mechanical devices, under the rune crafting tree of enchanting. They’re the main reason why the Evergreen Realm is the wealthiest. Honestly, I’m surprised to see one of those in this tavern. They’re typically used by the wealthy to power their ships, carts, lifts, and anything else that they could automate.”

“Well, that’s nippy, but once I learn how to fly, I won’t have to worry about transportation.”

Ivan did not respond. He appeared spellbound by the mechanical design of the dumbwaiter. “Come on, let’s move,” William urged him. “You’ll have plenty of time to check it out later. I want to see where we’re going to stay.”

“Very well,” Ivan relented. A few minutes later they entered their room. It was a spacious chamber with a separate bedroom and a big balcony. A fire crackled in the fireplace and a pot of tea waited for them on the table. William’s eyes widened when he saw a plate of butter cookies and he raced over to grab one of them.

About an hour later, there was a knock on the door. “It’s me!” William heard his aunt’s muffled voice.

“Come on in,” William yelled. “It’s not locked.”

The door swung open, and Lisa entered. “Oh, this is such a cozy room.”

“I know, right,” William agreed. “Check this out!” He hustled to the hearthstone brazier in the middle of the room and lifted the capstone. “See, it even has an onyx stone to warm the place up.”

“Actually, those are primarily used to heat bath water,” his aunt explained. “See those tongs.” She pointed under the brazier. “You can use them to pick up the onyx and drop it in the bath.”

“Wow, that’s fantastic!” William grinned. “I love taking hot baths.”

His aunt scanned the room and nodded in approval. “I just wanted to make sure that you boys are settled in. I’m about to leave so I can take care of a few more errands.”

“Aunt Lisa, can you teach me a flying shift?” William asked. “I want to learn how to break wind.”

Lisa shook her head. “For Cea’Nia’s sake, William. What am I going to do with you and your tooting jokes?”

William felt quite pleased. A fart joke was a treasure.

“Now, don’t forget that we’re invited to dinner at the castle tonight,” Lisa reminded them. “If I don’t make it back in time, I’ll have someone come by and escort you.” She looked at William and added, “Don’t wander off.” She turned to Ivan. “Do you need anything before I leave?”

“We’re good Aunt Lisa. I’ll make sure that William is dressed in his finest and I’ll remind him to brush his teeth and hair.”

“Good lad.” Lisa smiled. She walked out to the balcony, shifted, and flew away.

William spent the next few hours lounging on the balcony, snacking, and observing the flurry of activities around the tavern. He chatted with Ivan about the different places that they wanted to see in the city.

As evening approached, they watched the enchanted sky slowly dim as it transitioned from sunlight to moonlight.