John William and the Bandits of Basswood

Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows

Cover art By Nicole Cardiff

Copyright 2013

Smashwords Edition

The Day Everything Changed

John William ran frantically down the long curved road to his house. In the spring

of 1918; World War One was in its final stages. German Fokkers and British Camels

circled the clouds above like mosquitoes. He covered his head as bullets buzzed around

him.

An airplane engulfed in flames spiraled out of the sky and disappeared behind the

trees. Bang! A loud crash shook the ground. Dark smoke wafted into the air near his

house. “Oh no…,” he gasped, sprinting so fast his lungs throbbed through his chest.

He turned down the driveway to find his worst fears were true. Fire and smoke

bellowed out the windows of his house. Airplane pieces and splintered wood protruded

from the top where the roof once was. The intense heat scorched his face. Boom! An

explosion shattered the house and propelled John William backwards. Fragments flew

everywhere.

He curled up in a ball screaming from the pain of his wrenched and torn heart. His

parents were home hiding from the chaos. Nothing could have survived the explosion. He

felt empty; the two people he loved most in the world were gone.

The shouting of German solders making their approach silenced him. He

stumbled to his feet and ran into the forest on the edge of his house. Through the trees

John William saw two German pilots surveying the area. The airplane that crashed into

his house was a German Fokker. One walked to the edge of the thick fern and hovered

over John William. The pilot stared into the forest. “Hallo!” he shouted. John William bit

his lip, praying the cough building in his throat would stay where is was.

“Lass uns gehen!” The other pilot shouted and waved his arm signaling for them

to leave. They appeared to be searching for signs of life; but except for John William, no

one remained.

John William lay flat on his back with his eyes fixed on the sky. Tears rolled

down his face. He had no idea what to do. He was eleven years old and suddenly left with

no home and no parents. A car rolled up the driveway. John William squirmed over to the

fern and peered through the leaves.

His uncle stepped out of the car and stood with his hand over his mouth. “John!

Katherine! John William!” His voice trembled as he walked around the shattered house.

John William hunkered behind the fern watching his uncle fall apart.

He was overwhelmed and heart broken; but he had a decision to make. He could

go with his uncle, or somehow make his own way. He could not bring himself to go to

him. Something in his gut told him to make his own way. He prepared to turn and run.

Snap! A twig broke under the pressure of his knee.

“Who’s there?” His uncle walked over to the fern. He looked down and saw John

William’s reddish brown curls poking through. “John William? What are you doing?”

“Hi, Uncle, I was just….” John William stood up and gazed at his feet.

His uncle wiped tears and ash from his face. “It doesn’t matter. Thank god you’re

alive!” He carefully pulled John William out of the leaves. “Are you okay?”

“I wasn’t home.” John William’s eyes welled up again. “I should have been

home.” He buried his face into his uncle’s chest.

“It’s going to be okay, young man. You’ll stay with me.” He gave John William a

firm hug and led him to the car. As they pulled away from the house his heart sank. Life

as he knew it was over. He wondered if he would ever feel again.

Chapter One

Nearly a year came and went. John William was an empty shell merely going

through the motions of life. His uncle tried every day to pull him out of it. “I got you

something today.” He pushed a brown leather pack with a padded shoulder strap across

the dinner table. John William barely looked up from his plate. His uncle cleared his

throat. “Happy Birthday, young man; twelve — that’s a big age.”

“Thanks….” John William muttered while pushing steamed carrots and potatoes

around with his fork. “I’m sorry; I suppose I’m not feeling well. I think I need to lie

down; may I be excused?”

“Of course....” His uncle leaned back in his chair with a defeated look on his face.

John William peeled himself off the seat and dragged his feet to his room. He plopped

down on his bed and stared at the ceiling just as he did every other night; not wanting to

think because thinking always resulted in heartache. He grew tired of crying all the time.

His bedroom door squeaked open. “Can I come in?” asked his uncle, poking his

head inside. John William nodded. His uncle sat next to him and looked around. Pictures

of old ruins and maps lined the walls. A set of dirty old digging tools covered his dresser.

“I love what you have done with your room.” He smirked and rubbed the tension out of

his neck. John William replied with a half smile.

“John William, I don’t pretend to know what you are feeling. I miss your parents,

too… very much. It is awful that his has happened. There are days when I still can’t

believe it.” He paused and let out a deep sigh. “I know for certain that your dad, my

brother would want you to carry on with life. He would want you to do your best and live

with purpose because that is precisely what he did; and he did it for you. It would break

his heart to see you wasting away.”

A tear slid down John William’s cheek and his deep blue eyes were red and puffy,

yet again. His uncle placed the pack he bought him for his birthday on the bed next to

him. “Good night, John William.” He stood up and his shoes clacked as he walked out of

the room.

John William stared at the pack for a while before finally deciding to open it.

Inside were beautiful new tools for digging and drawing maps. The handles had his

initials, J.W.D engraved on them. At the very bottom was an old compass with a note

attached….

John William,

I know there is nothing I can do to bring your parents back; but I feel it is my

responsibility to bring your smile back. Today is your birthday; please don’t waste

another minute of your life feeling empty. Get out there and live, explore, do what you

love. It is time to embark on a new adventure. I hope these tools help. I attached the letter

to this compass because it was your fathers. I found it at the house after the accident. Use

it well and keep your parents in your heart. Happy Birthday, young man.

Yours,

Uncle Christopher

John William opened the compass. It still had ash on it; aside from that it was in

fine working condition. He sunk his head into the pillow thinking about his uncle’s

words. A restless energy surged through his body; something he had not felt in a long

time.

He tossed and turned all night making a tangled mess of his blankets. When the

first ray from the sun poked through his curtains he leaped out of bed and threw on his

clothes. He stuffed his tools and compass in his pack and draped it over his shoulders. His

bedroom door swung open and out he flew like a tornado blowing through the house.

“Well this certainly is a welcome change.” His uncle paced around the kitchen

tossing eggs in a skillet.

“No time to eat, Uncle!” He ran over and squeezed his uncle around the waist.

“Why? Where are you going?”

“I thought I might do some exploring.” John William grinned.

“That’s a splendid idea. Make sure you’re home for dinner,” said his uncle in a

stern tone. John William gave him an acknowledging nod and stuffed a piece of toast in

his mouth while racing out the front door.

Chapter Two

Once clearing the rose garden in his uncle’s perfectly manicured yard, John

William ran deep into the forest until he was breathless and alone. He stood in a thicket

of trees feeling small. A cool breeze blew through his curls leaving goose bumps on the

back of his neck. “This was a bad idea,” he whispered. Something extraordinary caught

his eye.

A bundle of lights twinkled and danced in midair. As he approached, they spiraled

away at a pace slow enough for him to follow. He pushed through ferns and tree branches

tying not to lose sight of them. They twirled around and then disappeared under a rock.

“No, don’t go.” John William dropped to his knees and lifted the rock. Nestled in

the dirt was a mysterious key. The few remaining twinkling lights landed on the key and

vanished. He pulled the key out of the dirt. It looked like wood but felt heavy and cool;

like some sort of medal. The key chimed a beautiful melody in his hands.

John William gazed at his find in disbelief as it sparkled in the sunlight. The

bushes next to him wrestled and the chiming intensified. A frog leaped out of the bush

landing gracefully on his hind legs. John William gasped and dropped the key in a panic.

He knelt next to the frog chuckling nervously. “Careful, little guy; you nearly scared me

out of my shoes!”

“Scared out of your shoes? That’s just plain ridiculous!” said the frog, spitting all

over john William’s shirt. “Well, I suppose I’m here for you.” The pudgy green creature

looked John William up and down with his hands fisted on his hips. “Pick up the key,

boy! Let’s get to the passageway.” He abruptly hopped in the other direction wiggling

ferns out of his path. Without saying a word John William snagged the key and followed.

A talking frog far exceeded his expectations for discovery in one day.

They arrived at a peculiar dead tree with an extra thick trunk. The key chimed and

sparkled again. “It’s time,” said the frog. The melody grew louder. As soon as the sun

came in contact with the key a beam reflected off of it and hit the tree trunk. The key

almost slipped through his hands again. “Be careful!” The frog hissed. In an instant the

tree came to life, sprouting vibrant emerald leaves on every branch. The sunbeam created

a slit in the trunk. “The key — hurry!” The frog pointed to the slit.

John William squinted one eye and shoved the key into the tree. The entire base

of the trunk dissolved into the tiny specks of twinkling lights he saw earlier. His mouth

dropped open. “Close your mouth, boy!” shouted the frog. “This is it! Are you ready to

change your destiny?” He gave John William a wink then leaped into the tree and

disappeared.

“This feels like a dream.” John William gazed at the tree. “There is nothing left

for me here; so what have I got to lose?” He took a deep breath and then back peddled to

get a running start. “Good bye, mom and dad. I love you.” He glanced at the sky; a beam

from the sun shot down and warmed his face. The vibrant energy of the lights drew him

in. With an anxious heart and uncertain mind, John William ran as fast as he could and

dove in to the tree head first.

Chapter Three

John William shot through the tree and hit the ground with a tumble. “What is this

place?” he groaned, feeling his head for lumps. A dense forest of trees poked his thin

frame and scratched his cheeks.

“Welcome to Azra’s Pith, boy. We are standing in the heart of Copious Forest;

one of the most magnificent gems of the realm. You won’t find grander trees, richer soil,

or purer river water anywhere else… in my humble opinion,” the frog uttered in a smug

tone. “What is your name?”

“John William….”

“John William, my name is Ferdinand. The first thing you should know is that I

am a hopper. The word frog will fall on deaf ears,” Ferdinand declared.

John William rubbed the haze out of his eyes. “This is all so unbelievable. I must

be dreaming.”

“Well, believe it, John William. You were chosen to enter the realm. That is why

you found the key,” said Ferdinand.

“Me, chosen… why?” John William pulled sharp twigs and leaves from his hair.

“Not sure. I suppose that remains to be seen. I must take you to see King

Paraclete.” He stretched his long gangly limbs and let his pudgy belly jiggle.

“Um, no thanks; I want to do some exploring first if you don’t mind.” John

William crouched down to tie his laces and prepared to do some hiking.

“What — of all the…! Of course I mind!” Ferdinand’s bulgy eyes looked like

they might pop off of his head. “All newcomers to the realm must sit before the king!

You are no exception!”

“The king will have to wait; I make my own way from now on,” said John

William. “It was nice to meet you, Ferdinand. Thank you for getting me here.” He started

walking in a random direction.

Ferdinand stood with his broad mouth gaped open. “Oh, really! Fine — you won’t

last a day; I guarantee it, young man!” The hopper stormed off in a huff. John William

wandered through Copious forest for a while looking for something amazing like some

old ruins; or, if he was really lucky, something magical.

His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth; lathering even the tiniest drop of spit

was impossible. He had not eaten since the toast early that morning. His stomach

reminded him with a hollow growl. The sound of rushing water lured him down to the

river.

He plopped down on the river’s edge and plunged his aching feet into the water.

The strong current nearly carried him right off his seat. He cupped his hands and gathered

a fist full of fresh, cold water to poor into his mouth.

John William sat back against a tree trunk and took in his surroundings. The sun

was setting, marking the end to a very long day. He filled his lungs with crisp forest air.

A vibrant red bird made a landing near the river a short distance away. It playfully dipped

its feathers in the water. John William froze, trying his best not to scare it away. The bird

suddenly morphed into a girl with a cloak the same vibrant red as her feathers and long

flowing hair to match.

John William looked on in disbelief. She cautiously looked around then headed

away from the river. He fumbled around with his shoes without bothering to tie them and

staggered after her. “Wait!” he shouted.

She looked back with startled, bright green eyes then scurried off. John William

chased after her. “Please, I won’t hurt you! I’m lost… I don’t know where to go!” He

propped his hands on his knobby knees and gasped for air. Her gentle hand brushed his

shoulder.

“Are you okay?” she asked, shifting her wild red hair out of her eyes.

“Y-y-yes, I’m okay; um… I’m new here.” He painfully bumbled over his words.

“What ― I mean, what are you? Are you a bird?” he asked. She giggled through her

fingers. John William’s eyes lit up. “I’m John William….” A silly grin spread across his

face.

“Celeste….” she smiled back. Distant shouting and banging echoed off the trees.

“What is that?” John William panicked.

“I’m not sure. It’s coming from Still River Town; let’s go see!” Her eyes sparkled

with excitement. She grabbed his arm and they both scurried through the trees toward a

small town. It hugged a turn in the river where large rocks obstructed the current making

a pocket tranquil of water. They huddled behind some trees and peaked into the town’s

front gate. Inside were creatures that looked like giant raccoons. Big, bushy tails stuck

out of their colorful garments as they strutted around the town wielding blades. One of

them peered through the gates. John William sunk down as low as he could. The bandit

had fierce, beady eyes with a thick, black stripe of fur across his face like a thief’s mask.

“Bandits…!” she whispered.

“Are you kidding?” John William asked, still feeling like he was in a wild dream.

“What should we do?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe we can try to help.” She glanced at John William with

raised eye brows. “What do you think?”

“Gotcha!” A group of bandits rushed in, tackling the two of them to the ground

and laughing as if they were playing a game. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

The bandit shouted. “Look boys, we found ourselves a genuine princess and a wart to go

with her!” John William tried to fight and squirm his way out but the bandit’s grip was

too tight. “I’ll take this heavy bag for you, lad.” The bandit yanked John William’s bag

from his shoulder and then tied his hands together.

“Give that Back!” he shouted.

“Quiet, boy….” The bandit pressed his foot on John William’s cheek, squishing

his face into the ground as he rummaged through his bag. “Ooh, here is my score for the

day.” He grabbed the compass out and slid it in his pocket. “Thank you kindly, wart!”

The bandit shot him a gentleman’s wink and tipped his hat, keeping his boot comfortably

on his face. John William’s heart sank.

“Get your filthy hands off of me!” Celeste shrieked.

“Screaming won’t do you any good, my lady… I’m afraid you’re just too valuable

for us to let go. It’s not every day we get the pleasure of snagging a princess.” The

bandits laughed boisterously and celebrated their capture.

Chapter Four

“Don’t worry, we won’t hurt ya any!” One of the raccoons grunted and gathered

them up. “You’ll fetch us a pretty price, precious.” He brushed his jeweled ring covered

fingers through Celeste’s hair. “Throw them on the scamper fowl!”

They were both blindfolded and dropped on the back of a guinea fowl the size of

a horse. “Ayah!” The bandit slapped the scamper fowl’s backside. It let out a squeal and

darted off. They jolted and rattled around on the giant fowl’s back. If John William had

any food in his stomach it might have come up.

The fowl plowed through tree branches and bushes for miles. Finally, the misery

ended and John William was pulled off the saddle. Night time brought a drop in

temperature. John William’s fingers were numb from the chill. He heard water hitting a

shoreline and bandits cursing at each other. “We must be back at the river.” He tilted his

head at an attempt to listen.

“The river stretches for miles; we could be anywhere,” said Celeste. “My dad is

going to kill me.” The two of them were shoved up a creaky, wooden ramp and then

guided down a row of narrow steps.

The odor of musty wood and stale rum stung John William’s nose. He could see

the glare of a swinging lantern through his blindfold. The cabin they were in started

moving and a bandit came thundering down the steps. “Okay, let’s get those blindfolds

off.” The bandit ripped the blindfolds taking clumps of hair with them.

“Ouch!” John William barked. Directly across from him was a sack resting

awkwardly on a table with the words, Captain Vic’s Supper scribbled across the front.

The sack wiggled and twitched. “Did you see that?” John William stared intensely at the

sack. It split down the middle and a bulgy eyeball poked out, followed by ten long fingers

and a pair of lips tensed to an angry pucker. “Ferdinand? Is that you?”

“You better believe it’s me! I have a few choice words for you, young man!” The

hopper vigorously waved his pointing finger about.

“Boy, am I glad to see you!” John William blurted, pretending not to hear the

agitation in his tone.

“Oh? I thought you were going to make your own way!” Ferdinand sneered in a

sarcastic tone. “This is a fine mess you got us in, boy! Huh! Unbelievable, you’re in

Azra’s pith for mere hours and you manage to get the princess captured by bandits. Not

just any bandits, I might add; the Basswood Bandits — the worst of the worst!”

Ferdinand paused only to roll his eyes. “We’ll be down the river and out of sight forever

before anyone notices we’re gone.”

“Wait a minute….” John William interrupted. “What are you doing here anyway?

Were you following me?” He narrowed his eyes at the hopper.

“Well, of course I was! Did you think I was going to just set you free on the

realm? Rules are rules; you must stand before the king! I had a feeling something like this

would happen… young whippersnapper, thinks he knows it all!” Ferdinand shimmied out

of the hole of the sack, preparing to yell some more.

“Quiet!” Celeste shouted, startling both of them in to silence. “Thank you.” She

smiled.

Ferdinand did not stay quiet for long. “Celeste, your dad is going to banish me for

this; I just know it!”

“Oh, no he won’t; I will just tell him the truth… that it was all my fault,” she said

calmly.

John William sat quietly piecing everything together in his mind. “So, the bandits

were right… you’re a princess?”

Celeste nodded reluctantly. “I can certainly handle myself, though. I don’t need to

be protected.”

“Fantastic, a fine impression I’ve made on the king… and I haven’t even met him

yet,” John William mumbled under his breath.

Celeste stiffened her posture. “Here is the plan; one of you needs to help me free

myself from this tie before the hatch opens again. I will take on my bird form and fly out

of here. They won’t even know what happened. Once I tell my dad, the guards will come

to save you.” Her tongue hovered over her upper lip as she concentrated and strained to

free her hands.

Ferdinand frowned. “That’s your plan, is it? Marvelous! You are just going to

flutter off in the dark of night? You don’t even know how far away from Verhonia you

are… Nonsense! You’re not doing it!”

The boat jolted suddenly throwing the three of them off their seats. Celeste’s eyes

lit up. She anxiously waved her hands around. “I did it!” she shrieked.

The drunken slur of a bandit sounded off from the other side of the hatch. “I don’t

want any foolery in there!” The hatch shifted and wiggled.

“Don’t worry,” Celeste whispered and smiled at John William. Within seconds

she was a beautiful red robin flying around the cabin. The hatch swung open and out she

flew nearly hitting the bandit in the face.

“Oh, great…,” Ferdinand grumbled.

The bandit swung his arm. “What the…! How did a bird get in here? Hey, you

lazy lumps! Catch that bird; let’s boil it for dinner!” He laughed belligerently, nearly

falling into the cabin. John William and Ferdinand exchanged nervous glances.

The bandit poked his head in and glanced around. “Hey! Where’s the girl?” He

stumbled inside, knocking ship tools and other small objects around with his tail. John

William and Ferdinand remained quiet.

He stood over John William swaying with his hands on his hips. “Well, where is

the princess, wart? Did you help her escape?”

John William cleared his throat. “I, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Is that so?” The bandit pulled a knife from his belt with a taunting smile.

“She escaped!” Ferdinand blurted. “We tried to stop her; but she refused to listen.

She went out the hatch and jumped overboard.”

“Impossible….” The bandit rubbed his fingers over his oily fur. “Wait a minute…

who are you?”

“Um, I believe I am Captain Vic’s supper.” The hopper stuck out his pudgy belly

to look more appetizing.

“It’s true! I heard the splash, myself!” said John William hastily, trying to take the

focus off of Ferdinand. The bandit examined their faces.

“Plunk… it sounded just like that!” said Ferdinand with an anxious laugh.

“Plunk…?” The bandit replied with a confused look on his soggy, rum soaked

face.

“Yes, yes, that’s right… plunk.” Ferdinand’s voice squeaked.

The bandit stormed out of the cabin. “The princess escaped! Get up, you twits!”

He ran around the boat banging his blade on an iron pot making as much of a racket as

one drunk bandit possibly could. The other bandits stirred.

Ferdinand shook his head with terror in his eyes. “We’re in for it now, boy….”

Chapter Five

“Stand up!” A bandit marched down the steps into the cabin. “You two are

coming with me!” He dragged both of them up to the top.

“Just stay quiet; let me handle this,” Ferdinand whispered. John William nodded.

He was too frightened to speak. The deck crawled with river pirates and bandits with

soured, drunken scowls on their faces.

“Push them overboard! We have no use for them, now!” The bandits cheered as

John William and Ferdinand were pushed onto a thick plank of wood sticking out over

the side of the boat.

“Wait!” One of the river pirates stepped forward with his chest out. “That boy is

the princess’s friend. He could be worth something, Victor!” he bellowed with an extra

deep voice. He certainly looked tough enough; with a chiseled face, broad frame, and big

muscles. Even his slicked back, pony-tailed hair looked strong to john William. He began

to feel a glimmer of hope.

“Nonsense! He is of no use to us.” The stout, vicious looking badger pressed a

blade into John William’s back. “Move, boy!” He let out a malicious laugh and glared at

Ferdinand. “I love to cook hoppers. They make a tasty stew.” He moved the blade over to

Ferdinand’s plump belly and twisted his whiskers between his fingers. “Be careful you

don’t want to fall into this blade; it would make a terrible mess.”

John William inched forward, watching the rushing water beneath him.

“This is the princess’s betrothed! They are to be married when they are old

enough!” Ferdinand blurted. He shut his eyes tightly, expecting to be prepped for a

rotund river pirate’s stew at any moment. When nothing happened he gave John William

a nudge.

John William stared at the hopper with his mouth gaped open. “Yes, yes, she is

my, um…,” he stuttered. Ferdinand rolled his eyes.

“Look at him! He’s just a pup! I’ll bet he’s never even tickled a dame’s fancy.”

The deck erupted with laughter.

“You see? He will fetch us a fine price; almost as much as the princess, herself!”

insisted the river pirate. He bumped Victor off to the side and pulled them off the plank.

“You better be right; or you’ll be the one on this plank… and you can be certain it

will be my blade in your back,” Victor sneered, exposing his jagged fangs. “Careful with

that defiant tone of yours; it has been a while since I have broken a man’s spirit! I’m

about due for a river rat body part; something special… perhaps an insubordinate tongue

for my collection.” Victor squeezed the pirate’s jaw, leaving an imprint of his long, dirty

claws on his face. “I’m not interested in feeding stowaways or ungrateful scrubs.”

“Well then, don’t feed them!” One of the bandits shouted.

“Put them to work! They can have my job!” A river pirate sat back with his feet

up and played a festive melody on his mandolin. The rest of the ship danced in

celebration and sloshed their mugs of rum together.

“What a group of goofs,” Ferdinand mumbled under his breath and rolled his

eyes.

Before they knew it they were back in the cabin. The hatch popped opened again.

It was the river pirate who spoke up and saved them from walking the plank. “I thought

you might hungry.” The pirate laid plates of slop on a crate. He pulled a blade out and

looked at John William. “Stand up and turn around.”

“Pardon?” John William muttered, swallowing the lump in his throat.

“You heard me, stand up!” He waved his blade around with a twinkle in his eye.

John William reluctantly stood up and put his back to the brawny pirate. “Be still;

don’t even blink.” He lifted his blade… swoosh! It slid right through the rope that binded

John William’s hands.

“Fantastic technique!” Ferdinand cheered.

“Thank you!” John William beamed.

“Grab a plate and eat while you can,” said the pirate.

“Do you remember me, old friend?” he asked, squeezing Ferdinand’s hand.

The hopper squinted his bulgy eyes and studied the pirate’s face. “Sebastian…?”

“Yes! It has been years!” The pirate nodded eagerly.

“Just look at you! You’re a strapping lad now! The time goes too fast…,” said the

old hopper softly. John William huddled on the seat and shoveled slop into his mouth

with his fingers. He winced with every bite; but was too hungry to skip another meal.

“This is John William; he was chosen just this morning. He is new to the realm… and

rather hungry.” John William felt a sharp pinch and saw Ferdinand glaring at him with

displeasure. He gave an acknowledging nod with a full mouth and slop dripping from his

chin.

Sebastian let out a hearty laugh. “He must be hungry; that stuff is terrible!”

“What are you doing here; gallivanting around as a river rat… associating with

this riffraff? How did this happen? I thought I taught you better.” Ferdinand huffed.

“Oh, you have it all wrong! These are good guys. Some of us have families to

take care of. There is just one bad seed… Victor. He used to be one of the Basswood

Bandits; he is mean as they come. The others are terrified of him. Before he came along

we used to trade and transport up and down the river. Sure, we were a little rowdy; but

we certainly never hurt anyone. He took over and started doing business with the

bandits… he’s giving us river men a bad name!”

“He doesn’t seem to like hoppers much, unless they are on the end of his dinner

fork,” said Ferdinand.

“You need a mutiny!” John William blurted.

“Shh! Don’t say that too loud on this ship, boy; especially with these bandits on

board. Some of them can hear a pin drop from miles away,” Sebastian muttered.

Ferdinand sighed. “So, what will become of us? Are we headed to our inevitable

doom?”

Sebastian lowered his head to whisper. “We are headed to Basswood. A request

for ransom will be sent from there. If the bandits don’t hear back; it could mean trouble

for you. I think you need to come up with an escape plan, old friend. They won’t keep

you more than a few days in Basswood. I will help in any way I can.”

“That is unfortunate, no one has ever escaped the Basswood Bandits and lived to

tell about it.” Ferdinand grumbled.

John William felt a pit in his stomach. “This is my fault; I’m sorry, Ferdinand.”

He glanced around the cabin. A group of barrels caught his eye. “Wait a minute! What

if…?” He studied a particularly large barrel towering over the others.

“What? What is it, boy?” said Ferdinand.

“Is that empty?” John William pointed anxiously at the barrel. Sebastian jumped

up and ran over to it. He opened the lid and nodded with a smile.

“Brilliant, John William! That’s some quick thinking.” Ferdinand’s bulgy eyes

gleamed.

“Sebastian! Are you in there?” The hatch shifted. Sebastian put his index finger

over his mouth. They all froze and stared desperately at the hatch. After a long minute the

shifting hatch subsided to the clomping of bandit’s boots tramping off. John William let

out a deep sigh of relief.

“We dock tomorrow; I will come to check on you just before dawn! I must get up

there. Stay silent and they will leave you alone,” he whispered.

“Thank you, we are in your debt.” Ferdinand looked at him sincerely.

“You have to survive this first, old friend.” Sebastian smiled, and then snuck out

of the cabin.

John William gazed at the hatch. “I wonder how Celeste is doing….”

* * * *

In the forest a red robin perched on a branch resting her tired wings. A young

raven flew in and landed next to her shaking the branch. She fluttered to the ground and

quickly transformed. “Roman, you frightened me half to death!” she shrieked with a

swing of her red cloak.

The raven flew off the branch and barely hit the ground before transforming to a

boy, no older than thirteen. He was draped in a midnight black cloak to match his hair

and smoldering dark eyes. “Sorry, I’ve been following you for a while. You are tough to

keep up with. What are you doing in this part of the forest at such a late hour? Something

hungry for sweet little birds will grab you up.” He snagged a lock of her hair and held it

to his nose.

“Stop that!” she snapped and pulled her hair away.

“Sorry, you smell like flowers. I can’t help it.” He smiled playfully.

Celeste sighed and rolled her eyes. “I was captured by the Basswood Bandits. I

managed to escape; but Ferdinand and John William are still on the ship.”

“Who is John William?” asked Roman in a possessive tone.

“He is a boy who just came through the passageway. Do you want to help me

rescue them?” Celeste suggested with a mischievous smile.

Roman put his arm around her. “No, I have a better idea; let them figure it out on

their own and I will help you get home so your dad does not ground you for the rest of

your life.”

“I like my idea better,” She wiggled free and started skipping toward the river.

“My dad is already going to ground me; I might as well make the best of my short-lived

freedom. Besides, we are Empyreans, Roman. We are supposed to help others when they

need it. ”

“You forget, you are only part Empyrean; and the other part is going to have my

feathers if he finds out about all of this!” Roman groaned and chased after her. “Well,

you’re not doing it alone! Wait for me! You are positively impossible… it’s what I love

about you.” The young Empyreans wandered through the dark forest to take on the most

ruthless bandits in that part of the realm with no real plan in mind.

Chapter Six

The hours burned away in the cabin of the ship. John William and Ferdinand

listened to the stirring above. It was slowing down as the motley crew on deck passed out

one by one. “This is a fine mess, isn’t it, boy? Believe it or not, the realm actually is a

lovely place to be. I only hope you will be able to see it for yourself,” said Ferdinand.

“This has been a great adventure. What ever happens… I’m not afraid.” John

William gave Ferdinand a half smile. “I know it sounds strange… but this is the happiest

I’ve felt since my parents died.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s okay; I mean, they’ve been gone for a year.” A heaviness filled John

William’s chest. He took a deep breath to clear it out.

“Well, the good news is that in you are in Azra’s Pith with me. I will always

remind you just where your parents are all the time… with you, right here.” Ferdinand

placed his hand over his heart.

“Thanks,” John William replied. “So, do I really have to marry the princess?”

They both giggled through their hands.

“You should be so lucky!” Ferdinand snickered. The boat jerked around and then

came to a full stop. Some of the crew wrestled about.

“Sounds like we’re docking….” John William perked up. “Are we ready to hop in

that barrel?”

“I suppose it’s about that time.” Ferdinand stood up and stretched his limbs. “I’ve

had to escape sticky situations like these before. So, in a way you are quite fortunate as

far as captures go. Once we get out of this I will share some of my wisdom and

experience with you.”

“Oh, okay, I’m looking forward to it.” John William chuckled. He climbed in the

barrel and helped the hopper in. Minutes later Sebastian crept down the stairs. He secured

the lid on the barrel so it would not pop off and scraped a black spot on it to represent

poison.

He tapped on the lid with his index finger. “We are in Basswood. No one will

come near this barrel because I marked it as Victor’s poison. Stay quiet! I will pop the lid

for you when it is safe to come out. It might be a while. No matter what you hear don’t

open this lid; unless the barrel gets tossed in the river.”

They heard Sebastian thump up the steps. “They’ve escaped!

“What? Those sly weasels! I knew I should have cooked that fat hopper when I

had the chance! They couldn’t have gone far; search every corner of Basswood! Come

on, you useless, good for nothing, warts ― make it quick!” Victor roared.

The pounding of boots on the deck and bandits shouting went on for hours while

the two captures were squished together in the dark. They actually dozed off in the barrel.

John William was startled out of his sleep when the lid popped off.

“Okay, you two… hurry!” Sebastian helped John William’s stiff body out of the

barrel. “The Bandits are in town. Victor is drunk as a skunk and passed out in the dingy

behind the ship. This is your best chance!”

“Thank you, Sebastian; I will not forget this!” John William shook Sebastian’s

hand.

“These poor limbs have been gathered in a knot for hours. I can barely move!”

Ferdinand whined.

“Let’s go!” John William grabbed the old hopper and tip-toed out of the cabin. He

was surprised to see that an entire day had passed. The moon was at a mere sliver. Only

the river pirates remained on deck, snoozing and hugging their bottles of rum. The old

wood of the ship creaked with each step.

Once John William hit the ramp he scurried down then fell to his knees on the dirt

below. “Thank you, thank you; I never thought I would see the ground again.” He

scooped up a pile of dirt and let it trickle through his fingers.

Ferdinand stood across from a small boat behind the ship with a scheming look on

his face. Victor was sprawled out snoring like a beast with bags of coins dangling off of

his belt. “Just look at him, drooling all over his repulsive face.” The hopper examined the

thick rope fastened to the small boat from the ship. “Pigs like him need to be cut loose,

wouldn’t you agree, John William?” he whispered, and then quietly stepped over to the

small boat.

“What are you doing?” John William shrieked. “Are you Crazy?”

“Shhh! Quiet, boy!” The hopper sifted through Victor’s coat. Fat rolls and fur

bulged out of his booze-soaked undershirt. Victor rolled over with a raspy grunt and

exposed his left hand clutching his blade. Ferdinand’s eyes lit up. “Yes!” With his lips

tensed for focus, Ferdinand slowly lifted each finger from the blade’s handle.

“Bring me that fat hopper.” Victor mumbled incoherently and let out a gust of hot

steamy breath wilting Ferdinand’s face.

John William covered his eyes. “This is bad… very, very bad.”

The blade wiggled loose. “Got it!” Ferdinand squeaked. “Help me, John

William!” The blade was as big as Ferdinand. John William stumbled over to the boat

and grabbed the blade. “Excellent ― now, cut that rope!”

“What? I can’t do that!” John William gently laid it down in the dirt.

“Fine, I will do it….” Ferdinand grabbed the blade and dragged it over to the

water’s edge.

“Give me that.” John William yanked the blade out of Ferdinand’s hand. He

pressed it against the rope and slid it back and forth.

“That will teach you to eat hoppers!” Ferdinand leaped and giggled with

excitement as the rope splintered.

“Come on, rope; please hurry….” John William pleaded. Snap! The rope gave

way and the current swept the boat down the river with Victor snoring inside.

The glow of a lantern hung over the side of the ship. “Who’s there?” One of the

pirates shouted. John William panicked and tossed the blade in the river. The duo dashed

into the forest on the outskirts of Basswood to get out of sight.

Chapter Seven

John William and Ferdinand hid in the shadows of the outskirts of Basswood

listening to the bandits tear up the town. The aroma of warm comfort food wafted over

causing their stomachs to rumble and roar. “I don’t care how many bandits are in that

town, I’m so hungry I would risk certain death to have a good meal.” Ferdinand joked.

John William noticed a bandit boozed up and passed out against a building. “I

think I have a crazy idea.” He snuck over to the bandit and gave him a nudge with his toe.

The bandit giggled and went back to his slumberous murmuring.

“That is some rum they are all drinking.” Ferdinand’s gangly arms quivered as he

pulled off his boots. John William slipped his coat off. The bandit’s hat reeked of sweat

and old rum. John William’s eyes watered as he wiggled it on his head. Ferdinand

jumped in the coat pocket.

“Head that way.” He poked his arm out of the pocket and pointed toward the

rowdy inn a short distance away. “You need to change your walk; try staggering and

limping at the same time.” Ferdinand whispered.

“Like this?” John William stumbled and swayed. The oversized boots made his

new walking style come naturally.

“Perfect, you make a splendid bandit.” The hopper joked and gave his pocket a

tug.

A sign with The Garbage Pail carved into it dangled precariously by a rusty chain

link in front of the entrance. A bandit crashed through the window and hit the ground

rolling; then got up and stumbled back in.

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” John William peered into the gap of his

pocket.

“Relax, John William; we’ll be fine… just blend in; and keep your head down.

We don’t need anyone recognizing your boyish face.” Ferdinand was lying comfortably

in the lining.

“Oh, okay; blend ― great advice.” He lightly stepped up to the entrance and

peaked through the swinging doors. The room fell silent. All eyes were on John William

and the hopper in his pocket. “What are you all looking at?” He groaned and stumbled in.

The room went back their bandit business.

“Excellent, they bought it!” Ferdinand popped his bulgy eyes out of the pocket to

look around. “There is a table in the corner.” John William wiggled through the drunken

crowd to a table stuffed in the corner. It had a half eaten bowl of stew and an empty mug.

He slid into the seat and divvied up the remaining stew, pouring half into the empty mug.

“No time for table manners.” Ferdinand used his long fingers to scrape the stew

into his mouth.

A large group of bandits piled into the table behind them. “It was those lazy

pirate’s fault! They let them get away. We should demand payment from them.” The

bandit stabbed his blade into the table.

“How far could a fat hopper and a weak little boy get in these woods? We will

find them in a jiff! Then we will be back to our rum in no time with our pockets full of

coins!” The bandits cheered and slammed their mugs together. John William held the

mug to his face and let the stew slither into his mouth. Once every drop of stew was gone

he jammed Ferdinand in his pocket and tip-toed away from the table.

“Hey! Who ate my stew?” A bandit with dried bits stuck to his fur snarled and

gnashed his fangs together. He looked around the crowd for suspects and then hurled the

bowl across the room. Doink! The bowl bounced off the head of another bandit with a

prickly disposition. Everyone looked on with anticipation. “Did you eat my stew, Big-

Bones?” The raccoon grumbled.

Big-Bones responded with a low angry growl. The stitching in his shirt stretched

to the breaking point as he tightened his fists. The rest of the room gasped. The two

bandits charged each other prompting the room into a drunken brawl.

“Now would be a good time to get out of here, John William,” Ferdinand yelled

through the chaos. John William scurried toward the exit dodging flying chairs, tables

and even bandits light enough to toss. In a table just off to the side sat a possum wearing

an eye patch and tattered coat with miscellaneous items pouring out of the pockets. He

seemed to be completely oblivious of the tussle going on around him. A familiar leather

pack with a padded shoulder strap hung from his chair. “My bag!” John William made a

hard turn toward the table.

“What are you doing, boy? We were so close to the door!” Ferdinand cowered

deep into the pocket.

“That is my bag; I’m not leaving without it!” John William approached the table

and stared the possum down.

“Who’s there?” The possum squinted through his good eye. He put his paw out,

grabbing at the air.

“Over here….” John William waved his arm awkwardly.

“Oh! There you are! Are you here to try your luck?” The possum slid three mugs

around on the table.

“What? No, that bag hanging on your chair is mine. I want it back.” John William

replied.

“Sorry, finders, keepers… I won it fair and square. You can wager for it if you

want,” said the possum, raising his eye patch. “What have you got?”

“Um, I have this pet hopper.” John William pulled Ferdinand out of his pocket.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa; wait just one minute; I am no one’s pet!”

“Ooh, he’s feisty; I like him! Okay, all you have to do is guess which mug the

nuts are under.” He lifted the mugs to show the nuts then quickly swirled them around

with his hands. “They call me Hawkeye; how about you, fella?”

“Um…J-Jammer, yah… Jammer,” he replied, dizzy from watching the swirling

mugs. “That one….” He pointed to the mug in the middle. The possum lifted the mug

exposing the nuts underneath.

“Nope! Sorry, Jam-Jam; nothing there,” Hawkeye declared, sitting back with

satisfied look on his face.

“Yes there was! I saw the nuts!” John William shouted.

“I saw nothing!”

“Oh, this is nonsense….” Ferdinand jumped out of John William’s pocket and

yanked the bag off the seat while they argued. “Jammer, let’s go!”

“Yes, okay! Thanks, Hawkeye….” John William perked up and followed

Ferdinand out the door with his bag stuffed in his coat.

“Hey! I want my hopper pet!” Hawkeye stood up and tapped his cane out the door

behind them. “Come back here!”

“Keep walking, possums have terrible eye sight. We will lose him easily,” said

Ferdinand.

“Hawkeye!” A bandit with a deep, raspy voice marched over to the possum

clutching a matted feather. “You told me this empyrean feather would give me magical

powers! Now I’m going to have to beat you with my fist!”

Hawkeye placed his hands over his heart and closed his exposed eye. “It’s

happening!” He fell flat on his back and threw his legs in the air. “I’m moving toward the

light!” His paw twitched. He opened one eye, glanced around, and then quickly shut it

again. “Good bye, Azra’s Pith.” He let out one last pitiful groan.

“Pathetic display…,” Ferdinand muttered. “There is no way anyone would believe

that… not even a big, oafish bandit.”

The bandit nudged the possum with his boot, and with a defeated shrug of his

shoulders sauntered into The Garbage Pail to join the scuffle.

“I guess you were wrong!” John William giggled.

“My being wrong rarely ever happens; remember that. Now, come on, Jammer;

let’s get you to the king! By the way, don’t think you’re off the hook for trying to wager

me as your pet.” The old hopper frowned. They made their way to the town’s gates to

finish their escape.

Chapter Eight

“Now what?” asked John William as they approached the edge of town.

“We have to get out the woods around Basswood in a hurry,” said Ferdinand. On

the other side of the gates was a trough with a row of giant scamper fowls tied to it. “And

there is our escape….” He leaped over to the trough and unfastened one of the fowls.

“This one has the most comfortable looking saddle. You’ll need it. Scamper fowls are

quick; but terribly ungraceful.”

John William rolled his eyes remembering the ride that brought him to the ship.

“Okay, if we must.” He peeled the bandit’s coat off, slid out if his boots, and tossed the

hat into the trees.

“What are you doing? Keep that stinky old coat on. It could help our chances if

they spot us. Besides, I need a warm place to sit.” Ferdinand climbed in the pocket and

made himself comfortable.

The scamper fowl wrestled and squawked. “Whoa, boy…..” John William gently

pet his silky black and blue feathers along his neck, putting him at ease. “These guys

aren’t so bad.” He climbed on the saddle and braced himself. “Yahh!” They darted into

the woods.

The Scamper foul’s speed took John William’s breath away. “Keep your head

down. A tree branch will end this ride instantly!” Ferdinand Shouted. They traveled for

several hours until the scamper foul skidded into a calm part of the river. He plopped

down and dipped his beak in the water. Ferdinand climbed out of John William’s coat

pocket and scratched his belly. “I suppose this is a good place to rest for a while.”

It was the middle of the night. The river’s current carried the glow of the moon.

John William sat in the dirt and watched the water dance against the rocks. “My father

would have loved this place. He was a great explorer; just like me. Riding giant birds and

being chased by bandits… he would probably never want to leave!” John William studied

his reflection in the water. A tear fell from his cheek, making a light ripple. “I was late

getting home the day they died. I was supposed to be home for supper; which means I

was supposed to be in the house when the plane crashed into it.”

“But you weren’t. Don’t you get it? You have a purpose; that’s why you are here.

Life has more for you to do. Hold on to your trousers, John William; I have a feeling you

are just getting started.”

“Thank you, Ferdinand… for bringing me here.” A warm smile spread brightened

John William’s face.

“You’re most welcome; but I can hardly take any credit. The easiest way to

explain it is to say that the élan chooses. The élan is the life and energy of Azra’s Pith. I

am simply the messenger.” Ferdinand rummaged through the scamper fowl’s saddle.

“Look at this; a gift from the bandits! Who would’ve thought?” He pulled some bread out

of the side pocket. “Not exactly fresh; but it’ll do.”

His teeth jarred against the crust like he was chomping on a rock. The scamper

fowl stretched his long neck over John William’s shoulder and nibbled tiny pieces of it

out of his hands. “Here you go; you earned it.” John William brushed his feathers. “I

wonder if he has a name.”

“I doubt it. He was probably roaming free one minute and had a saddle slapped on

his back the next. They aren’t the brightest creatures,” said Ferdinand while spitting

chunks of stale bread into the river.

“That’s not very nice, Ferdinand. I think he looks like a Bernard. That’s it!

Bernard it is,” John William declared. The scamper fowl cooed and chirped. “See ― he

likes it! When we get far enough away from Basswood I think we should set Bernard

free.”

“Excellent idea,” Ferdinand replied. The trees around them rustled. “Shhh….”

Ferdinand shoved his index finger against his mouth. John William frantically glanced

around.

“I can’t believe we found you!” Celeste exploded through the trees with a big

smile.

John William leaped to his feet. “You’re alive! What a relief; Ferdinand had me

convinced you would flap your wings right into the river.”

“No, I told you, I can take care of myself.” She rested her fisted hands on her

hips.

“Nonsense! Did you bring help? Where are the guards?” Ferdinand asked in a

snit. Roman tramped through the brush with his hood draped over his head. Ferdinand

took a startled tumble backward. “That is your help? You nearly stopped my ticker!”

“This is Roman,” said Celeste, sweeping his hood off his head. “He’s… helping.”

Roman gave an acknowledging nod.

“Oh great! Two empyrean youngsters; we’re saved!” Ferdinand sneered with a

roll of his eyes.

John William cleared his throat. “It’s nice to meet you, Roman. I’m John

William.”

Roman offered a half smile. “I’m here to make sure Celeste gets home safely.” He

stood protectively close to Celeste.

“How did you escape the bandits?” She asked, sitting down next to John William.

Ferdinand giggled. “We convinced them that you were betrothed to John

William.”

“Are you kidding?” Celeste’s cheeks turned as red as her hair.

“We had no choice; they were forcing us to walk the plank!” John William

covered his face in embarrassment. “We also hid in a barrel for an entire day and snuck

off the ship when the river rats were passed out, drunk.”

“You see, we did not even have to come here. I could have just taken you home,”

said Roman in a jealous tone.

“Don’t worry; I’m sure there is a rule or something about humans and birds not

getting married.” John William smirked at Roman.

“Don’t be so thick, boy. She is not a bird; she is an Empyrean Wizard; and her

father is human; so obviously there is no rule,” said Ferdinand in a stern tone.

Celeste sighed and rolled her eyes. “We better keep moving. The bandits will be

looking for you.”

“That is the best idea yet,” John William tightened the scamper fowl’s saddle.

“Are you ready, Bernard?”

“That’s a ridiculous name for a scamper fowl.” Roman scoffed.

“Roman is a silly name!” John William snapped back. Roman threw his hood

back over his head with a scowl.

“Okay, boys; lets be nice.” Ferdinand leaped into his self assigned travel

compartment… the stinky, worn pocket of the bandit’s coat. The squawking of scamper

fowls echoed off the trees in the distance. Bernard chirped and fidgeted restlessly. “Let’s

get a move on!” Ferdinand demanded.

Chapter Nine

John William straddled the saddle with his legs. “Yahh!” Bernard took off faster

than ever; the wind rushed through John William’s hair.

Celeste instantly morphed into her bird form and flapped over John William’s

shoulder. “Wait!” Roman pleaded. He sprouted his raven wings and flew after them. The

scamper fowl bolted passed trees creating a flurry of sticks and leaves.

The shouting bandits grew louder. “They are gaining on us!” John William

glanced over his shoulder and saw Copious Forest all jumbled together.

“Impossible! We are traveling way too fast!” Ferdinand shouted. With a sudden

crash, the two parties collided. Scamper fowls, and bandits flew everywhere. John

William hit the ground hard. The trees spun around him. When things finally came in to

focus he saw a bandit knocked out cold with his tongue hanging out over his whiskers. A

gold compass hung from his belt.

“My compass!” John William lunged for the bandit’s belt and yanked on the

chain attached to the compass. The other bandits slowly began to regain their wits.

“Stand up, John William ― hurry!” Ferdinand tugged on John William’s leg. The

bandit moaned.

“Hey! It’s the boy! Get him!”

Bernard pulled John William to his feet by his trousers. “I want my compass

back!”

“Get on that saddle this instant!” Ferdinand commanded.

John William leaped on the saddle. The bandit clutched the tail of his coat and

prepared to give it a good yank. “You aren’t going anywhere, wart.”

Celeste fluttered and flapped in the bandits face causing him to release his grip.

Bernard took off in a blaze. “After them!” The bandits climbed on their scamper fowls

and the chase was on. They were closing in quickly. “Faster, you feathered tub of guts!”

The bandit slapped the scamper fowl with his reigns.

“What should we do?” John William clutched to Bernard for dear life.

“I don’t have an answer for you; just hope Bernard can hold up his pace. Be

prepared to fight,” said Ferdinand.

John William had a terrible feeling that this was the end. He has been scared since

the bandits captured him; but this was the first time he felt hopeless. Bernard would tire

out and the bandits were certain to catch them. They were severely out numbered both in

men and muscle.

Bernard blew through the gates of a bustling riverfront town, stopping at the very

end of the pier where a big ship was tied. “Oh no ― it’s the river rats!” John William

gasped. They found themselves in the worst possible scenario; sandwiched between

angry bandits and river pirates. Their only options were to fight or plunge in to the ice

cold river.

“Prepare yourself, John William. Let’s not make it easy on them!” Ferdinand

leaped out of the coat pocket and stood boldly with his belly sticking out. The bandits

charged down the pier.

John William climbed off Bernard and gritted his teeth. “Do your worst!” he

shouted with his chin up proudly.

Celeste flew directly at the first bandit’s face. He swatted at her, lost his balance,

and tumbled into the river. “Way to go Celeste!” John William and Ferdinand Cheered.

Their celebration was short lived. The rest of the bandits rode up in a thunderous herd

and leaped off their scamper fowls.

John William could not help but close one eye. A loud roar came from the ship.

The river pirates stormed down the ship’s ramp with Sebastian front and center. They

stormed passed John William and rushed at the bandits with there blades held high. John

William and Ferdinand exchanged puzzled glances. “What is going on?”

“Don’t just stand there, kid! Grab a sword and help out!” Sebastian shouted.

John William ran up the ramp and frantically looked around for something to give

him a fighting chance. “I don’t know how to use a sword,” he whispered at Ferdinand.

“Just wing it, boy!” Ferdinand replied.

“I’ll do my best,” John William sifted through some tools wedged up against the

side of the cabin. “I’m pretty good with a shovel.” He wiggled a dirty old shovel out of

the pile and ran down the ramp.

Whap! With a wild swing of the shovel a bandit flew into the river. John William

looked at Ferdinand with huge, stunned eyes. “I can’t believe that worked!

“Look out, John William!” Ferdinand Shrieked. A bandit lunged for him with his

furry raccoon claws pointed directly at his throat. John William closed his eyes and

swung with everything he had. Whap! He heard a splash and peered over the railing.

Two water logged bandits flailed their arms about and blurted obscenities in the river.

John William and Ferdinand jumped up and down with excitement.

“Well done, John William!” Ferdinand stood on the rail with his fist in the air.

“Serves you right, good-for nothing, flee ridden, smelly thieves!” A bandit reached out

and snagged the hopper.

“I’ve got you now, fat hopper.” He stuffed him under his arm and snarled at John

William. Ferdinand wiggled and squirmed exposing the compass dangling from his belt.

John William shot him an angry glare. “I’m not afraid of you! Let the hopper go,

you giant fluff ball!” Celeste fluttered in and fiddled with the chain until the compass

came loose and dropped to the floor. The bandit swatted Celeste hard enough to knock

her feathers loose. Roman landed square on his head and began pecking relentlessly.

“Ouch! You little pest!” The bandit released his grip of Ferdinand and shielded

his head. John William swung the shovel with everything he had. The bandit hit the wood

planked floor and bounced to the pier’s edge. John William and Ferdinand gave him a

good shove causing him to roll over the side.

The scuffle continued with a frenzied clang of blades and men roaring. The

number of bandits was slowly whittling down. It was not long before the pier was

surrounded by defeated bandits splashing in the river. The remaining bandits retreated,

heading back into the trees around the river town. The pirates danced and cheered in

celebration.

“Celeste!” John William gasped. She lay on the floor next to the compass. His

heart sank. “I’m so sorry this happened.” He gently touched her feathers. Roman flew in

and landed next to her swiftly transforming. He threw his black cloak over his shoulder

and pushed John William aside. “I knew this was a bad idea,” he sneered.

Celeste began to fluff her feathers. Within seconds she was a beautiful, fiery red-

head again with a flowing red cloak and bright green eyes. She rapped her arms around

John William and kissed him on the cheek.

“You got my compass; thank you... it means a lot to me.” John William blushed.

Roman’s face turned beet red with jealousy. He stood up and stormed off the pier with

out saying a word. “Roman ― wait!” John William chased after him. “Thank you for

helping us. It was a brave thing you did. Can we start over?” He held out his hand as a

peace offering.

Roman turned around and stared him down with his dark eyes. “I did it for

Celeste; not you. Remember this ― I won’t make your time here easy. You are better off

leaving Azra’s Pith for good. You don’t belong here.” He transformed back into a raven

and flew into the trees.

“It is highly unnatural for an Empyrean to behave in such a way. He is a bit on the

eccentric side.” Ferdinand shook is head. “The river pirates are going to take us up the

river as close to Verhonia as they can before the guards turn them away.”

“They are? Why?” John William asked in a suspicious tone.

“Not quite sure; I’m assuming Sebastian had something to do with it.” Ferdinand

replied. “We should hurry before they change there minds.”

“Hey, kid! Let’s go… ship’s leaving with or without you. Your bird is already

onboard!” Sebastian yelled from the ship’s deck. The other pirates laughed and carried on

as Bernard scuttled up and down the ship in a frantic fit.

John William raced up the ramp and Bernard came right over. “It’s okay, boy.”

He whispered in a calming tone.

“I suspect you may have a difficult time letting him go.” Ferdinand muttered.

John William felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.

“It’s the strangest thing… after you guys went missing; Victor and his dingy were

nowhere to be found. We have a theory that somehow, he drifted down the river with his

riches in that silly little boat of his,” said Sebastian with a clever wink.

“Oh?” Ferdinand cleared his throat. “That is strange, indeed. Who is in charge

now?”

“You’re looking at him. The men took a vote.” Sebastian held his thumbs to his

chest and grinned proudly.

“Good man…,” said Ferdinand.

Sebastian turned and bellowed out orders. “Okay, men! Let’s get these brave

warriors up the river before their bird soils our decks!” The crew worked together, joking

and singing. In a matter of minutes the pier that proved John William’s courage against

the ruthless Bandits of Basswood was a speck in the distance.

Chapter Ten

The ship swayed over the current of the river. John William fed Bernard bits of

seed and grain while gazing at Celeste’s long hair flowing in the wind. She glanced over

her shoulder with a big smile. “This has been the most amazing adventure I’ve ever had,”

she declared.

“Me too!” John William replied, strolling over to join her. They both leaned over

the rail and watched the water splash off the ship. He took his compass out of his pocket

and clutched it tightly. “You are crazy, you know that?” He laughed and shook his head.

“You are also very, very brave. Is it because of the other part of you? You know… the

bird part?”

“Maybe; I’ve been told that being Empyrean gives me the ability to use the élan

to make magic. Sometimes I get a feeling inside that I can do anything. My mom tells me

that is my inner voice; and that I should not ignore it. My father wishes my inner voice

would quiet down a bit.” Celeste giggled and rolled her eyes. “That is obviously very

special to you,” she said looking at the compass.

“Yes, it was my fathers. It is all I have left to remember him by.” John William

held it up to examine the details. It popped open with a subtle squeak. The arrows

swiveled around before resting comfortably on north. “Still works pretty well.”

Celeste nodded. “Would he be happy about you being here?”

“Yes, I believe both my parents would.” John William replied with a smile.

“Well, you have not met my father yet; but I know he will love you. You have a

home in Verhonia… if you want one.” Celeste blushed.

“That would be nice; all though Roman has made it crystal clear that he does want

me here.” John William smirked. “What is his problem?”

“Don’t worry about him; he’s harmless. He has convinced himself that one day

we will be married. I’m not sure if it’s because he wants to be the next king, or if he is

really sweet on me. If it was up to him there would be no eligible boys my age in the

realm… except for him, of course.” She gave John William a nudge with her elbow. “The

joke is on him, though. I don’t plan on marrying anyone! I’m just going to have one

adventure after another until I’m too old to fly.” She held her arms out and closed her

eyes as the wind ruffled her cloak.

“That sounds like a good plan,” said John William. “Maybe I can join you on

some of them.”

Celeste leaned in close to John William’s face. “I have secret plan,” she

whispered. “I want to see the ruins of Copia.”

“That sounds fantastic!” John William blurted with excitement.

Celeste put her index fingers to her lips “Shhh! If anyone found out, I would be

forbidden from doing any exploring ― ever! They are sacred. They’ve been seen by so

few they are practically a myth.” She cautiously pulled something out of her cloak with a

sly grin. “I found this last time I was in Copious Forest.” She opened her hands exposing

a medallion with strange symbols on it. As the sun’s rays bounced off the surface it

chimed a beautiful melody.

“May I?” asked John William. Celeste placed the medallion in the palm of his

hand. It was the same texture and weight as magic key he used to go through the

passageway. His eyes twinkled with excitement. “This is very special.”

“We are at the gates of the Verhonian Canal, ladies, and gents!” Sebastian

shouted. The ship drifted up to the massive gates. The view took John William’s breath

away. Up the canal was a grand kingdom hugging the base of the mountains.

“Is that Verhonia?” He pointed in disbelief.

Celeste nodded while snatching the medallion and swiftly hiding it in her cloak.

“The Princess has returned!” shouted a watchman at the gate. “Open the gates!” A dozen

burly guards on both sides of the canal heaved a thick sturdy rope and the gates slowly

creaked open.

“A pirate ship sailing down the Verhonian Canal… this is a first,” said Ferdinand.

“Well, my boy; it has been quite an adventure. Are you ready to meet the king?”

“Yes, I think so.” John William replied reluctantly.

“Good, because I can see him standing on the dock from here….” Ferdinand

pointed to a large group of men gathered on a dock in the distance. John William tensed

up. The butterflies stirred in his stomach. “What if he blames me for the bandits?”

“I don’t believe the king has ever beheaded anyone. Of course, there is a first time

for everything.” Ferdinand smirked. “Rest easy, the king knows his daughter well

enough. The first thing he will do is smother her with hugs... the second will be to ground

her for the rest of her young life.”

As they pulled up to the dock, a very tall man with a stern disposition stuck out

from the rest of the welcoming committee. He stood with his arms folded across his chest

and a scowl on his face.

John William’s butterflies went from stirring to doing back flips. He was tempted

to stay on the ship and become a river rat. The ramp slid over the side and hit the deck

like a ton of bricks. “This is it, boy; there’s no turning back now.” Ferdinand whispered

and nudged him toward the ramp.

Chapter Eleven

John William stepped toward the ramp as if he was walking to his inevitable

doom. Bernard bolted passed everyone, clumsily skipping down the ramp. He rammed

the king and nearly knocked him into the water; and then chased a guard off the dock

squawking in a frantic fit. “Celeste! That better not be yours!” The king shouted angrily.

John William could feel himself sinking into his clothes. He glanced over at

Celeste. She looked completely terrified.

She took a deep breath and strutted down the ramp. “Father, I am so happy to see

you!”

The king rapped his arms around her and gave her a tight hug. “You won’t feel

that way tomorrow when you are confined to the grounds.” He brushed her hair out of her

face. “You have no idea what you have done to my heart these last few days. You and

your mother are absolutely hopeless. One of you are certain to worry me into an early

grave… mark my words!”

“I’m sorry, father.” Celeste gave him another hug. “Oh, you must meet John

William!” She waved her arm at John William who was still cowering on the ship. He

bashfully waved his hand in the air.

“Go on, John William; what are you waiting for?” Ferdinand shoved John

William down the ramp. “Your Highness, this is our latest visitor to the realm.” John

William bowed awkwardly.

“We all escaped the bandits together!” Celeste squeezed John William’s hand.

“Bandits…?” asked the king while glaring at Ferdinand.

“Yes, the Bandits of Basswood!” she blurted. “Oh, it was an amazing adventure,

father….”

Ferdinand squirmed. “Yes, it’s true; we did get into a bit of trouble. Thankfully,

John William is a very brave lad.”

“You are all lucky to have escaped with your lives,” said the king. Bernard ran

back up the dock and nuzzled into John William’s cheek. “This is your bird?”

“Yes, sir… I mean, Your Highness.” John William muttered.

The king kept a stern, serious expression for as long as he could. Suddenly, he

burst into loud boisterous laughter. “He nearly tossed me right into the canal.”

“He didn’t mean to; he is just nervous,” said John William.

“Oh, not to worry, John William; I find him quite refreshing.” The king placed his

hand on John William’s back guiding toward the palace. Let’s get you settled in.” John

William smiled and let out a huge sigh of relief.

Verhonia was a magnificent fortress. Archers marched along the top of the lofty

stone walls surrounding the entire city. Trumpeters roared as the king entered the grand

doors to the palace. It all felt like a fairy tale to John William.

After a delicious meal and tour of the palace, John William retired to his new

room and pushed a soft, comfy bench next to the window. He pulled out his map drawing

tools and recorded his first grand adventure… starting with a remarkable tree.

“Can I come in?” Celeste asked softly from the doorway.

“Please do.” John William slid over to make room.

“What are you making?”

“Maps… I want to get everything down before I forget the details.” John William

replied.

“Well, if you need to remember; return to that spot to get a refresher; or, you can

always just ask me. I know everything about this side of the realm.” She grinned proudly.

“So, what about our next adventure…?”

John William glanced up from his maps to see her clutching the medallion. “Yes,

that one will be the best yet!” John William shot her a smile and squeezed her hands

softly. “Promise me you will wait until I return.”

Celeste’s smile faded. “Return? What do you mean? Where are you going?”

“I have to get back to my uncle. I’ve been selfish; I’m sure I broke his heart. I

want to thank him for helping me. He needs to know that I found my smile.”

“You’re coming back soon though, right?”

“Yes, this is my home now,” John William replied and gazed at Celeste.

The next morning Ferdinand was up and outside the palace waiting to join John

William for his travels back to the passageway. “I can’t believe we are leaving again

when we’ve only just arrived. You realize that I only got one decent meal. I am giving

you fair warning, young man. Hunger makes old hoppers like me very cranky.”

John William laughed. “You? Cranky? Impossible!” He tightened Bernard’s

saddle and climbed on. “I even washed your favorite seat… see?” John William pulled

his coat pocket open.

“Well, that will win you a few points, I suppose.” Ferdinand climbed in the

pocket and got comfortable.

“Wait! You weren’t going to leave without saying good bye, were you?” Celeste

bolted through the palace doors.

“It’s not good bye, Celeste. I will return very soon. We have a quest to take…

remember?” John William said with a sly smile.

Celeste smiled back. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Quest…? Oh, dear; what are you two planning now?” Ferdinand grumbled.

“What ever it is; leave me out of it!”

“Yahh!” John William shouted. Bernard was off and out of the city walls leaving

a trail of dust in his wake.

* * * *

Celeste ran to the city walls and watched John William until he disappeared from

view. She pulled the medallion out and held it up to the sun. It chimed and sparkled with

anticipation. “Hurry back, John William... Copia awaits."

Please return for book two… “John William and the Quest for Copia”.

Other Books by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows