Felezenonjaascinstory

mber of eyes watching him as he wove the spells he needed. Happily everything worked as it was supposed to do. Jaascin knew he would awake if anything threatened him. It was a habit he acquired early in life. He lived with danger most of his life.

As he woke, rose, dressed and undid the spell for the ring of scorcerer’s fire and the spell over the horses, an Elf appeared out of the forest. Jaascin knew he was being watched, so he was not surprised. Jaascin could see the entrance to the forest from which the Elf stepped. He momentarily remembered only Elves were supposed to see that. He pushed that thought aside. He concentrated on the Elf who had appeared. Here might be his opportunity, if this Elf was friendly, as he appeared to be.

“Our Prince has need of a man who is both a man of magic and a healer to rouse his daughter from a spell caused by the bite of a serpent,” the Elf said. Jaascin found, to his surprise, he could understand the Elven language. He thought for a moment. He wracked his carrying Jaascin’s baggage were ordinary horses, although of a very fine breed.

They traveled through the forest for three days. Thankfully, the places they stopped at night had food, actually very good food. Jaascin admired the beauty of this forest and compared it to the land in which he had been traveling. The leaves of the trees were of varied color and very beautiful. There were also many beautiful birds with wonderful songs. The trees were straight and very tall. They put a canopy that should have shut out all light but there seemed to be a soft light that dispelled the shadows. Of course, Elven eyes were reputed to be very keen. Jaascin noted that in spite of the soft light, he could see everything very clearly. He wondered if this would confuse the eyes of humans and cause them to become lost. The road they were traveling on seemed very smooth. It seemed as if they were traveling on a carpet. The horses hoofs seemed to make no noise. That also could be confusing to humans coming into the forest. However there were noises in the forest. The chirps and twittering of birds were everywhere and made a lovely chorus. Flowers seemed to be blooming everywhere and wafting their perfume to the travelers. The breezes were gentle and wonderfully perfumed. It was a very pleasant land, especially after the land he had been traveling. Traveling in this forest could be very peaceful, but Jaascin was busy concentrating on the problem of the Princess illness.

As they traveled, they discussed this problem affecting the Princess. He racked his brain to try to see if he could bring up something that might help. Jaascin’s hopes rose. He was recalling something that sounded very similar. At least he was in the forest and he believed traveling somewhat northward.

Along the way, another group of Elves joined them. They were very elegantly attired. They were the elite guards of the Prince. Apparently this Prince was an important person. Jaascin felt a momentary twinge of apprehension. It might go ill for him if he wasn’t able to do anything or caused a greater problem. He pushed that thought aside. Jaascin was hoping he would be able to pull something out of his memory. He was trying very hard to do just that.

On the morning of the fourth day, they came to a wide clearing within which was a beautiful airy city. Jaascin heard about these cities but had never been in one. The city just seemed to float although the houses were obviously solidly built but with many windows. The city seemed to shine. There were trees and flowers everywhere and the city was exceptionally clean. Jaascin looked around carefully as the Elves led him through the wide streets to a palatial dwelling. It seemed to be built of gleaming marble. It was set in the midst of a beautiful garden. There was a wall and a gateway, but no gates. He tried to memorize what he saw. He never knew when he would need knowledge such as this. He still wasn’t sure he could do anything to help this Princess.

They dismounted in front of the palace and were joined by several people, obviously highborn Elves. There was a short consultation. These Elves looked Jaascin over very closely. He didn’t look like a mage or a healer. After a few minutes of serious discussion, they seemed to come to a decision. They led him into the dwelling through many corridors and up into a chamber where the young woman lay. Jaascin momentarily wondered what they would do with his horses and his baggage, but he dismissed it from his mind. He needed to concentrate on the problem at hand.

As he entered the room he saw a beautiful Elven woman sitting beside the bed obviously in deep sorrow. She looked up momentarily as Jaascin entered the room, then turned again to the figure lying in the bed. A tall elf, obviously the Prince, was standing at the foot of the bed. He turned and looked at Jaascin with an inquiring look. Jaascin noticed it was a somewhat friendly look, for which he was thankful.

“My men tell me you are a man of magic and you also understand the Elven language. They say you are apparently attuned to the magic of the forest.” It was said as a statement of fact. He went on, “My daughter has been this way since she was bitten by a reptile. She had wandered just outside of our forest. I am told the reptile was hanging from a tree that grew just outside of our forest. Our healers have tried everything they know but have not found a cure. We would be deeply in your debt if you could help her.” He said that with a certain amount of hope as he looked intently at Jaascin. He did note that Jaascin had the bearing of a noble.

Jaascin listened as he looked at the young woman. It looked like she was paralyzed. He thought he remembered seeing this in the past. He desperately searched his mind trying to pull up information he now thought might be there. He needed to know what the reptile looked like. It might give him the clue he needed to bring that complete recollection from the depths of his knowledge. He wanted to hear a description of what had happened from those who witnessed it.

“I will need to talk to whoever was with your daughter when she was bitten. I need a description of the reptile,” Jaascin told the Prince. He was beginning to think, the information he needed, was there in the depths of his mind. It was painful even to him to see such a beautiful young woman in such a state. He was concentrating on finding a solution to this problem. Everything else he had driven from his mind. He knew nothing was threatening him at the moment. He looked at the woman intently. He seemed to be very close to recalling something. A little more information might jog his memory and bring it to the fore.

The Prince gave some orders and three persons immediately left the room. A short time later, two Elven maidens and two Elven men came into the room.

“These are four of the persons who were with my daughter when she was bitten,” the Prince told him. He did not say it as if blaming them for what had happened. Jaascin also noted that they did not look fearful as if being blamed for the Princess’s problem.

Jaascin asked them several questions listening carefully to their answers. They told how they saw the reptile swing down from the branch of the tree and strike the princess. They described what it looked like and its size. It apparently swung back up into the tree and disappeared before they could kill it. It happened so fast, they were temporarily stunned. Jaascin nodded slightly as they talked. He was beginning to remember a similar situation. It sounded like the same type of reptile. A mystic had cured a woman as Jaascin looked on. Jaascin asked a number of questions of that mystic. He always tried to learn everything he could in situations like this. Jaascin was sure he had acquired what was used at that time. That was his habit. He thought it would come in handy sometime. There was a silence in the room as if waiting for Jaascin to speak.

After some moments of deep thought, Jaascin turned to the Prince. “I must get some things that are in the bags on my horse.”

The elf standing beside the Prince answered, “Your possessions have been brought to a room in the palace. It is just down the corridor from here. I will show you.”

Jaascin was momentarily surprised. He hadn’t even considered the possibility they would bring his things into the palace. They were apparently assuming that he would stay. Or perhaps they were making sure he would stay. Jaascin wasn’t sure which at the time. It was not something he would worry about. He found worrying did no good. He had been in this type of situation many times before. He had always found a way out. At the moment, he could detect nothing that was threatening to him.

But then, Jaascin suddenly reacted with a look of great apprehension. He had two swords and a set of five daggers in his bags. All, had spells on them, that could mean death to anyone else, trying to handle them. It would be disastrous if some Elf was killed by accidentally handling them. That would not bode well for Jaascin’s chances of getting through the forest. They had been gifts from some very powerful mystics and sorcerers. He had not been wearing the swords and daggers. He had not wanted to look like a swordsman.

The Elf that had spoken, noticing the look, hastened to add, “I made sure that nothing was touched. I could feel the energy emanating from something within those bags.” Evidently this Elf had interpreted his apprehensive look in the right way. If he could feel the energy, he must be an Elven Mage. He did not have the dress of a mage, that is why Jaascin had not recognized him as such.

Jaascin smiled a relieved smile and thanked the Elf. “I do not want anyone harmed by inadvertently touching some of those things. It is dangerous if anyone touches some things in my bags, besides me.” The Prince looked questioningly at him, but said nothing for the moment.

Jaascin followed the elf to a room that had been readied for him. He was concentrating so hard on this problem he didn’t notice what kind of room it was. He immediately opened the bags and after some thought, extracted certain things. Placing them in a small bag, he indicated he was ready to return to the Princess.

As he came back into the room, he noticed a stone topped table was now in the room. He placed his bag upon it. He brought out a small dish, a set of long needles and two packets and a bottle containing a liquid. He shook some powder into two small vessels. He asked for the juice of a particular berry he knew grew in these forests. He was sure they would have it available. Jaascin looked around for some tall thin vessels he would need. His eyes lit on some slim, vase like vessels that looked like jeweled glass.

“Do you have some vessels like those that are about half as tall and half as big around?”

Without a word several people left the room, returning in a few moments with several vessels of this type. Jaascin took two of the smallest ones. By this time another elf appeared with a large container of the juice of the berry.

Jaascin began the incantation to call up the sorcerer’s fire. This he caused to burn in the dish he had first brought out. He was purposely making more of this than was necessary, to make it look more mysterious and important. He took a glove of dragon’s hide from his bag. Putting it on, he took the first vessel and ran it through the flame as he sang an ancient spell weaving song. He sang the spell weaving song for effect. He could have simply said the words. Actually, he could have just thought the words. He repeated that with the second vessel. Everyone in the room was looking on in fascination. No one spoke.

Although Jaascin was playing to this audience, he seemed entirely oblivious of them. He seemed to be concentrating on what he was doing. Actually, Jaascin noted everything that was going on in this room and exactly where everyone was. Jaascin filled the two vessels about half full with the juice. He took up one of the vessels and floated it above the flame. He poured the powder, from the root of the Cassian flower, into the vessel. The mixture seemed to give off a vapor that remained just over the vessel. He put that vessel upon the stone table. It seemed to stand without support a little above the table. He took the second vessel and floated that above the flame. Into this he poured some Seassoan liquid from the bottle he took out of the bag. This seemed to send off brilliant sparks of different colors. He took that vessel and put it on the table. With the gloved hand, he picked up two long needles and began to run them through the flame. He then dipped them into the second container.

With this done, Jaascin turned to the father and mother of the girl. “I must prick the arms of your daughter at her shoulder. Then I will apply some of the potion of the two vessels to her arms. This will then be absorbed into her body to fight the evil that is causing her paralysis.”

The two Elves slowly nodded in understanding. Taking this for agreement, Jaascin took the first needle and approached the young woman on one side. The garment covering this arm was removed and the woman moved so Jaascin could easily prick the arm with the needle. Everyone was watching him intently. He quickly did this a number of times. He took the first vessel and dropped some of the potion from it onto her arm where the needle had entered. The potion seemed to be absorbed into her arm. He did the same to the other arm, using the other needle and the second vessel.

He returned the vessels to the stone table and the needles he placed upon a blue silken cloth on the table. He took a light, many-colored, metallic like cloth from the bag and floated it over the whole table letting it drape down around the edges of the table. It covered everything on the table but obviously was not touching anything on the memory for something that might serve. Something from his knowledge of healing. He could get into the land of the Elves if he said he could help. At least he could get a few good meals for he and his horses. He did not want to lie, but he was desperate. He hated to lie because it was always possible to be caught. He was not sure how the Elves would react. Besides, he might have the knowledge hidden somewhere in the recesses of his mind. He thought for a moment, then he decided it was worth a try.

“I would need to see the girl and learn of the type of reptile. I may be able to help,” Jaascin told the Elf. He tried to not make that sound too positive. He knew he didn’t have to in this case. The Elves sounded desperate for help. He would at least be taken into the forest to where ever the girl was lying. Possibly far enough so he would be allowed to travel to the northern boundary of the forest. He had no idea how extensive this Elven forest was. If he could help in any way, he might get permission to travel north through their land.

“Then come with me,” said the Elf. Jaascin walked toward him leading his horses. It looked like an ordinary, if unusually beautiful forest, to him.

As they entered the forest, several more elves appeared riding beautiful Elven steeds. Jaascin thought they were the most magnificent horses he had ever seen. All the Elves were armed with the Elven sword, daggers and the long Elven bows. They looked at him curiously. They must have noticed Jaascin was not bothered by the magic energy of the Elven forest and he understood and could speak their language. That he should have become disoriented by the magic of the Elven forest, did not occur to Jaascin at this time. He was concentrating on the problem at hand.

A horse was offered to Jaascin, to ride. As soon as he was mounted they set off at a fast pace. Jaascin remembered hearing these horses could go for a full day at a fast pace without stopping. However, the horses

table. He intoned an ancient Eastern incantation slowly moving his arms over the cloth. The cloth seemed to become rigid, forming a protective covering. Jaascin was consciously making a big production of this. He was doing this to impress the people in the room and make them think he was very learned in the arts of healing and of wizardry. He was fervently hoping that he was doing everything right.

Jaascin turned to the young woman. He examined both arms. They glowed where he had applied the potions. Then the glow faded. Jaascin smiled. It was as he remembered.

He turned to the mother and in a solemn voice said, “Now we must wait. By tonight, she should seem to begin to relax. It may take several weeks or more for a complete recovery. Some trusted person should stay with her at all times. She may whimper. That is natural. If she cries out in pain loudly, call me immediately. When she is able to open her eyes, for the first two days we must keep a light piece of material over them to protect them from anything getting into her eyes. At first she will not be able to blink them fast enough to protect them. Now I must be alone and rest for a few hours. Then I will again look in on her.”

He made it sound like he was putting forth every effort and calling up all his knowledge in hopes he could affect a cure. He made it sound like it was draining his strength. He thought he was right in this, but he wasn’t absolutely sure. He wondered what would happen, if he was wrong. He dismissed this thought from his mind. It would be best, if he acted as if he was positive he was right.

Jaascin was escorted back to his room. It was a nice, large airy room, obviously meant for very important guests, he now noticed. A bath had been prepared for him and several Elven maidens were there to bathe him. He took note of the fact that they were all very beautiful young maidens. Apparently they had perfumed the water, because it had almost a sensuous fragrance. He was surprised, but tried not to show this. He had heard of this happening in some of the palaces in the lands he had visited. It was something done only for very important people. It had never happened to him before. He willingly placed himself in their hands. He was tired and could use a bath. The bath was a luxury he had not experienced for quite some time. He had never experienced one quite like this. It was like a scene out of a play, but one about a royal personage. These young women would be very tempting if they continued to serve him in this way.

After they had bathed and dried him they disappeared. They appeared surprised at the scars he had on his body. Some were of fairly recent origin. However, they said nothing. A new suit of clothes had been laid out for him.

He took out one of the books he had brought and threw himself on the bed. It was the finest bed he had ever laid upon. He had heard about the fineness of Elven cloth. This was light like silk but soft like velvet. The colors seem to be constantly changing, but were soft and restful. This could be enjoyable, if he was right and he had the cure. He really was hoping he was right and not just because it would bode well for him. Jaascin found he really did want to cure this young woman.

He began to read. He wanted to refresh his memory of the things he had learned. He wanted to refine the way he did the incantations that called up those spells. He knew the Elf, that had shown him his room and made sure he had the things he needed, was a mage or sorcerer. Jaascin wished to have him on his side. He knew then, if the young woman recovered, he could easily get the few things he needed as well as the permission to cross the land of the Elves.

Jaascin read for an hour and then slept for another hour. It felt wonderful to be able to sleep in a fine bed. It felt wonderful to feel safe enough to sleep deeply. But he was still too wary to sleep too long. Then he got up, dressed in the clothes that were left for him. They fit perfectly. They were very fine clothes. Jaascin was aware they were the clothes an Elven noble would wear. He really was being treated as an important noble would be treated.

Jaascin returned to the room where the young woman was lying. The mage was waiting there for him. Jaascin nodded his head in greeting and then went to check on the condition of the young woman. Jaascin noticed she had relaxed somewhat. She let out a low whimper. That was another hopeful sign. Before she had not made a sound. Jaascin was beginning to remember more of what had happened when the mystic treated the woman.

The Elf said, “It seems to be working?”

Jaascin nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, there are some good signs that the potions are beginning to work. But I must continue to look in on her until I am sure. I want to be sure nothing happens to her that may harm her.” Jaascin smiled as he turned to the Elf. “I do not say that because it might bode ill for me if something like that should happen to her. I have been in much greater danger than this many times before.”

The Elf smiled. “I did not think that is what you meant. If you feared that, you would not have come.” Then he added, “The Prince and Princess have invited you to dine with them tonight.”

Jaascin looked very surprised. He figured he would be well fed, but he did not expect an invitation to dine with the Prince and his wife. The elves were making sure he knew they greatly appreciated his efforts to cure the princess.

He quickly but graciously said, “I would be greatly honored to be able to dine with them.” He decided it was in his best interests to act humble at this time, by appearing surprised at being treated so royally. This humble mien served him well in the past.

The Elf smiled at Jaascin’s surprise and his very gracious acceptance. “The Prince feels you are a very learned scholar as well as a worker of spells. I have a feeling you have far greater knowledge and power than even you recognize.”

Jaascin looked very thoughtful but did not reply. He would not confirm or deny that he might have great knowledge and power. It had never occurred to him to consider how great his knowledge and his power might be. He had merely used what power and knowledge he found necessary at the moment. So far it had proved sufficient. He saw no reason to wonder about that.

He turned to the young woman again. “I will stay with her for a while to observe. Then I will await the announcement of dinner.”

“I will send someone for you,” the Elf said. Then he left the room.

Jaascin sat thoughtfully watching the young woman. She whimpered again and her rigidity seemed to relax a little more. He thought back over what he remembered of the occasion when he had seen this happen. It called up other things he had learned from this mystic and healer. Perhaps there were other things he would remember that could be of value to him in this situation. He sat there deep in thought for quite a while. He wanted to be sure he remembered everything about this problem. To be sure he was doing everything exactly right. If it was as he hoped, he might easily get what he needed for his trip to the north country that was his destination. He would only ask for the minimum, knowing he would be given much more. He knew what he was doing was very important to the Prince and Princess. They would be very generous, he was sure. Jaascin had played this game before.

The Elven woman sitting beside the bed watched him in wonder. She had never seen a man like this. He seemed to be so quietly confident, not at all like their healers, who seemed so unsure. She marveled at what she had seen him do. She especially marveled at the fact that her beloved Princess was slowly relaxing. She was becoming hopeful this strange man really had the cure for this malady.

Pretty soon Jaascin got up, checked the young woman again, smiled at the Elven woman and returned to his room. He took up the book again and read for a little while longer. He had just put the book away when there was a knock on the door.

Jaascin said, “Come in.” He remembered to speak the Elven tongue, which to his surprise had come back to him. He remembered now he had learned it when he was young, but he had not spoken it for years. He also remembered that at that time it had been surprisingly easy to learn. He had stumbled into an Elven forest not realizing what it was. An Elven mage had taken him in. Because he was young he had not attached any importance to the fact he thought the Elven forest was just a beautiful forest and the Elven language just a little strange, but understandable. He had forgotten all about that experience until now.

The door opened and a very attractive young Elven woman entered. “I am the princess’s friend and companion. I have come to take you to the hall where you will have dinner with the Prince and Princess.”