Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:35:53 EDT
From: BertMcK@aol.com
Subject: Crystal Throne/Riders of Tuatha 22

RIDERS OF TUATHA
by Bert McKenzie
Copyright 2010

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to any real
person alive or dead is coincidental and unintentional.

CHAPTER XXII

     Dave took charge of the situation and quickly had everything under
control. The police were called and Alex and Jennifer had to testify.  When
everything was pieced together, the police put out an APB on a Latvian
named Akuta working with several unknown accomplices.  The official story
was that Dr. Blanc was somehow connected with Tony Bianchi, noted
underworld character.  Bianchi and Blanc both were murdered by this Latvian
and his group.  The motive was apparently gang related.  Bianchi must have
double crossed him somehow and Blanc was just a victim because he was
dealing with the wrong people.  Actually the missing gang did everyone a
great service by eliminating a notorious crime lord, not to mention
breaking up the Satanic cult that had been operating in the area.  The
D.A. was sure he could tie in several other murders and disappearances to
the black magic cult, in addition to Jennifer's friend Troy.

     The sun was finally coming up as Alex, Jennifer and Dave were leaving
the police station.  "You guys want a ride somewhere?" Dave asked,
indicating his Toyota.  A friend had driven it over.

     "Thanks," Alex replied.  "My car is at her place.  North Promenade."
They climbed in and the scientist pulled out into the early morning
traffic.

     "What will happen to your institute?" Alex asked as they headed east.

     "We had a lot of government funding.  I'm sure there's going to be
quite a few boards of inquiry before we're through.  But I imagine in the
long run, I'm out of a job," Dave replied.  "I guess I can always go back
to teaching."

     "Sorry," Alex muttered.

     "Look, we all know things didn't even remotely happen the way the
police think.  I know those people weren't Eastern Europeans, whatever they
were.  How about helping me out?"

     "You know about as much as I do," Alex said.  "They were magic or
something.  All I know is, the unicorns were real animals.  And Akuta was a
real . . ." His voice trailed off.

     "A real what?" Dave pursued.

     "I don't know," Alex admitted.  "But I think I'm going to miss him."

     "We thought they were aliens; that they must have come from somewhere
else in the galaxy," Dave confessed.  "But I'm not so sure anymore.  They
weren't human, but they didn't seem to act like a superior race capable of
space travel."

     "They are superior," Jennifer said.  It was her first statement since
leaving the police station.  "They're kind and considerate, and polite.
I've never met any such wonderful people before."

     "Considerate, polite people don't take over research facilities and
murder the director," the driver said as he turned the car onto Promenade.

     "But it's okay for scientists to kidnap innocent people and foreign
royalty and then put them to sleep like animals at the city pound?" she
said angrily, tears glistening on her eyelashes.

     "Touche," Dave replied.  "I guess I deserved that.  But we didn't even
know if he was intelligent.  And just remember, I wanted to save his life,
not kill him.  That was Blanc's idea.  You know, I always thought that guy
would turn out to be a mad scientist."

     "This is it." Alex indicated the house.

     Dave pulled up and stopped, letting his passengers out.  "I just wish
I knew where they went," the scientist said.

     "They went home," Jennifer replied.  Dave nodded, then pulled away
from the curb and headed off in the early morning light.

                               * * *

     Scott felt a brief moment of dizziness, then saw that they had
returned to Tuatha.  The homing crystal had done its job, taking Akuta home
and pulling the rest of them along with him because of their physical
connection.  Scott was still holding Robin, Akuta holding one of the king's
hands, and Firebrand was leaning over them, his muzzle pressed against
Akuta.  They had arrived in the main hall of the white tower.

     "Fetch a healer, quickly!" Akuta shouted to the surprised onlookers
who were in the hall at the time of their appearance.

     Helping Scott to place Robin on the stone floor, Akuta then grabbed
his silver dagger from his belt and quickly wiped the human blood from it.
He reached down and made a deep slice on Robin's arm, approximately where
the needle had given the injection.  "Now stand back," he said as he stood
and tugged at Scott.

     "No," Scott argued, but Akuta pulled him away from the body of his
lover, holding him firmly.

     Firebrand stepped close and dropped his head.  He placed the tip of
his horn to the cut that Akuta had made.  The bright blue blood had begun
to well up at the wound, and as Firebrand's golden shaft touched it, the
blood seemed to bubble and fizz.  The bright blue color of the blood seemed
to fade, and the life giving fluid almost appeared to turn into molten
silver.  It shined with an inner light.  As Scott watched, the glow seemed
to travel up Robin's arm and slowly spread across his chest.  Gradually his
entire body seemed to become transfused with the inner radiance.

     "What's happening to him?" Scott asked.

     "It's the magic of purification," Akuta said.  "A unicorn's horn has
the power to purify poison.  If the magic works as I had hoped, the poison
that the evil man gave him will be eliminated by Firebrand.  I have seen
the unicorns do this to a pool of tainted water, or a polluted stream.  I
only hope his body's internal river may work the same way."

     "It shall not," a voice nearby said.  They turned to see a tall woman
in long white robes.  She was the healer that had been called.  "The river
of life is not the same as a pool of water.  A unicorn may have powers to
clean a tainted stream, but these could not work inside a man."  At this
point, Firebrand raised his head and stamped his feet, making angry snorts.
"I mean no offense, forest lord," the woman said to the beast.  "We all
have our limitations."

     "Yours is the extent of your knowledge," Akuta said.  "Look."  Robin's
body was emitting a silver white glow that seemed to exude the image of
vitality.  The light slowly faded, and the slash on his arm, that had
appeared molten white now turned back to the normal color of Tuathan blood.
The wound dripped bright blue.  "Heal that before he bleeds to death,"
Akuta said angrily.  The woman quickly dropped to her knees, touched her
fingers to her temples, then to her shoulders, then reached out to the
king's arm.  As she placed her palm over the wound, the bleeding ceased.

     "Scott Quartermain," Robin mumbled softly as he tried to move.

     "I am here, my lord," Scott said, dropping to his lover's side.

     "Stand not there like dead stone," Akuta ordered as he turned to the
people gathered nearby.  "Help carry the king to his chambers."  The crowd
quickly moved to assist, but Scott lifted his lover in his arms and headed
for the main stairs.

     "I apologize for my abrasiveness, my lady," Akuta said as he helped
the healer to her feet.

     "I understand your feeling," she told him with a smile.  "But I think
you should know, bringing him to our land was what cured him, not the
unicorn.  However, he is still not out of danger.  He may live, and then
again, he may not."  She turned and headed up the stairs to check on her
patient.

     Firebrand swished his tail and made a derisive sound.  "I agree with
you," Akuta laughed.

                              * * *

     "Are you sure you don't mind?" Alex asked as he brought some suitcases
into her foyer.  "I know we've never quite hit it off."

     "You need a place to stay, and I've got the space," Jennifer replied.
"Besides, I think you've changed since you came back from California."

     "Well, I'd say we've both changed," Alex answered her.  "And it'll
only be till I find a job and can get my own apartment."

     Two days had passed since their adventure had ended.  Alex had
returned to Frank's place, where he had been staying, but Frank decided he
wanted someone else in his guest room.  So Alex was summarily dumped out on
the street.  Actually, he was just as happy.  His friend had only taken
Alex in when moving back from California, so Frank could get him in bed.
Alex had enough of that on the coast and was apparently playing too hard to
get for Frank's taste.

     He felt good about being with Jennifer.  She needed a friend during
this difficult time.  Her livelihood had been destroyed and it would take
time to get the insurance settlement.  They were balking because of the
obvious arson to the business.  Jennifer was rapidly running out of money
and wasn't sure how she was going to make ends meet in the coming month.
Alex felt important to finally be a shoulder to cry on and a source of
emotional support.

     They were sitting in the dining room, finishing dinner when Alex
finally mentioned their absent friends.  "Do you think we'll ever see them
again?" he asked her.  He couldn't get the picture of Akuta out of his
mind.

     "I doubt it," she replied.  "After what just happened, why should they
ever want to come back here."  Jennifer was feeling much the same as Alex.
She kept thinking about Caseldra.  She had never been attracted to a woman
before, but she couldn't get the fairy girl off of her mind.

     Alex helped her clear the dishes, and they watched TV for a while.
After a time they both decided to go up to bed.  It was a restless night
filled with nightmares and moving shadows.  Then sometime in the early
morning hours Alex had an extremely pleasant and erotic dream.  He was
lying in bed when he felt a presence in the room.  He sat up to see Akuta
standing at the foot of the bed.  "What are you doing here?" Alex asked in
surprise.

     "Was I not invited?" the fairy asked.  "You said that if we survived
our adventure I should again try coupling with a male, and you were the
volunteer.  Remember you not saying this?"

     "I remember," Alex replied.

     "Then will you not be my teacher?" Akuta asked him.  Alex realized the
fairy was not wearing the battle clothing he had last seen him in.
Instead, his tall, well muscled body was covered by a short, white tunic
with golden trim.  "What shall I first, my lord," he asked.

     "Well, for starters you could get naked and climb in bed," Alex
replied.  The fairy slowly pulled his tunic off over his head, revealing a
perfectly formed body.  He looked like a statue by Botticelli come to life.
As he dropped his garment to the floor, he stepped around the side of the
bed, an erection growing.  The dream continued with slow, passionate love
making that seemed to last for hours.

     Meanwhile, Jennifer was experiencing erotic dreams of her own.  In her
dream she awoke to find the little fairy girl holding her.  As she relaxed
in the strong arms, she felt safe and secure.  Caseldra caressed her hair
and kissed her gently on the eyelids.  Their lips slowly blended into a
kiss that awoke unknown passion in Jennifer's body.  She traced her kisses
down the small girl's neck and across he firm breasts.  She continued to
move down to the fairy's stomach, and further until she was poised between
the Tuathan's legs.  Caseldra opened herself to the human and arched her
back as she felt the exquisite pleasure of Jennifer's presence.

     Morning finally arrived, and Jennifer awoke feeling much better than
she had in some time.  She slipped on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, and
then went downstairs to fix breakfast.  While the coffee was still brewing,
Alex came into the room.  "You sure sound happy," he said with a smile.
Only then did she realize she had been singing.

     "Alex, I had the strangest dream last night," she admitted.  "Only,
you know, it was really nice."

     He laughed softly.  "It must have been what we had for supper because
I had one too.  Only mine was more like a . . . well, a wet dream."

     "Yeah?" she said.  "Well who did you dream about?"

     "Akuta," he said.  "And you?"

     "Caseldra," she admitted. "I never thought I'd like that sort of
thing, but it was really . . ."  She didn't get to finish her sentence.
The shocked look on Alex's face stopped her.  He was looking at the back
door.  Turning quickly, she beheld their dream partners standing in the
open doorway.  "Oh my God!" she said.  Then "Ow!"  Alex had pinched her on
the rump.  "What did you do that for?" she asked.

     "I wanted to make sure you aren't still dreaming," he answered.

     "I'm not," she replied.

     "Me either," he told her.  "And I have a feeling last night was . . ."

     Akuta crossed the room to him, embracing him.  "Thank you for showing
me the pleasure," the tall blond said.  "I now understand what it is to be
a reversal.  I no longer fear my inner self."

     "We brought you a gift, my lady," Caseldra said.  "Scott told me you
would need it."  She placed a small wooden box on the table and opened the
hinged lid.  The inside sparkled and danced as the light reflected off of
the cut and polished gem stones that filled the little chest.

     "This must be worth a fortune," Alex said as he reached into the chest
and let the cold, hard stones run through his fingers.

     "It is the least we can do to repay all your assistance," Akuta said.
"Now we must go or we shall be late for the royal ceremony.  Would you care
to come with us?"

     "To your world?" Alex asked.  "No prob!  I wouldn't miss this for
anything!"

     They left the kitchen and crossed the yard to the carriage house.
Inside the building stood two silver horned unicorns.  The four quickly
mounted and the magical beasts walked to the dark tunnel that again
appeared at the back of the little building.  Passing through the tunnel
they re-entered Tuatha in the same ravine where Jennifer had been before.
Once more the animals charged down the canyon, and up the almost vertical
end.  At the plateau they found Firebrand standing tall, waiting to greet
them.  In a short time the four were entering Esbereth through the mountain
gate.

     The palace was decorated with white banners.  The people seemed
strangely quiet considering the decorations.  "We have arrived in time,"
Caseldra observed as they dismounted.

     "What's going on?" Alex asked, looking around and taking in all the
sights.

     "Come," Akuta said as he led them toward the worship grounds.  "It is
the ritual of passage.  Scott said it is similar to your state funerals."

     "The people seem sad, but why the bright colors?" Alex questioned as
he looked at the throngs all heading in the same direction.

     "We are saddened because of our loss," Akuta explained.  "And yet we
realize the selfishness of this emotion.  The dead have passed to a fuller
life than this and shall one day rejoin us in another birth."  They had
arrived at the worship grounds and joined the mass of people.  On the stone
altar at the end of the sanctuary lay the body covered with dried flash
weed.  The people all knelt to pay homage to their dead as they began the
song that Jennifer and Alex had heard before on the night when the army
disappeared.

     Jennifer felt Caseldra's hand on her shoulder and turned to see Scott
enter the sanctuary from a small door at the side.  He carried a lit torch
in his hand, and appeared quite sad.  He slowly walked to the dias and
climbed the few steps to approach the altar.  Placing the torch in a
bracket, he knelt and performed the gestures of prayer, then again stood
and picked up the torch.  "May you return again soon to those who love
you," Scott said and then reached out to touch the flame to the body.  The
flash weed burst into a bright yellow fire that burned intensely for a few
minutes.  The white heat in the center of the woven covering quickly and
completely dissolved the body.  The flames then died down and finally faded
out, leaving only charred embers and ashes behind.

     The crowd quickly dispersed leaving the priests to clean the altar.
Scott came down to where his friends waited for him.  "It was well done, my
lord," Akuta said as he approached.

     Jennifer stepped forward and hugged her old friend.  "Oh Scott, I'm so
very sorry for you," she said as she embraced him.

     "Thank you," Scott replied.  "He was a good friend at first.  But the
last few weeks were pretty bad.  It's been hard on us all."

     Jennifer pulled back and scrutinized her friend.  Scott didn't seem to
be showing any emotion.  "It's okay," she said.  "You can let it out.  I
know you loved him."

     "Loved him?" Scott repeated.  "No, I don't think I ever really loved
him.  I know he sure didn't care for me in the recent past."

     "Scott, how can you say that?" she demanded.  "Robin loved you very
much."

     "Well sure, but Thomas never cared for me," he replied.

     "Who's Thomas and what's he got to do with anything?" Alex asked.

     "He was Robin's teacher, almost a father to him.  And you just
attended his funeral," Scott replied.  "He died of something akin to
Alzheimer's while we were gone."

     The two humans began to laugh.  "We thought it was Robin's funeral,"
Jennifer said.  "Where is he? What happened to him?"

     "Robin's still too weak to move around much, so as his mate and
consort it became my duty to light the fire," Scott explained.  "Come on.
I'll take you to him.  He's very anxious to see you.  He wants to make you
honorary Tuathans for all your help."

     "We have a few other things to discuss too," Alex said.  "For one
thing, this place could use a nice gay bar.  It looks like 'reversals'
aren't as rare in this world as everybody thought."  Akuta and Alex, and
Jennifer and Caseldra all linked arms and headed off toward the white
tower.  The old priest looked up from his task at the altar and shook his
head.  He felt certain that more tradition breaking was on the way.

                                    END

Author's note: Many of these characters will return in The Power of the
Dark Lord.