The Learning of Melton Way

Along the base of the high country, whilst horses grazed on healthy grass, and grains full-ripe, where wild and mystic Evermore grew in life more numerous and length of days to be past counting, here now, and beneath such masts of branches great to steady even upper winds, and house such creatures born of them three warriors sat, and stood, with thoughts of battles past, with determined eyes, and stature now set yet to greet, as battles greet, and wage--their hearty eyes more secret as to inner things--passioned now they gazed, yonder, to furrow sights not far, yet meet to a distance, as enemies would, to hold apart themselves; yet nigh to tempt, their rage to build, and under stars mocking, restraint prevailed: but behind them, from events before stood taller still those reaching spires, left to themselves, beyond such storms as this...hidden, guarded now, from any thought, or foe to enter: but, together now, under bough and leaf and star, with a peace temporary the three observed thither arms, and mail by campfires lit: they sighed, and thinking for to halt awhile in tenderness and earnest hope--so they sang of hope--such hope, to await with truth evanescent, till Truth of Hope inspire . . .

“There, again! Did you feel it?” Melton did, and raised from the ground where he sat with Caylee against the massive trunk.

“Yes. It is from below the surface of the land.” Caylee now was on her feet beside him, clinging to his waist. With one hand and arm she pointed to the ground in front of them. “They are building a tunnel?” She sought his eyes . . .

“Can they do that? Under the river and Shell?”

“Yes,” Heimm answered for him. “With this many they could do it.”

Melton turned to the King’s Wizard who met his eyes . . .

“It would take months, perhaps years all in all. Would it not, Wizard Heimm?” The wizard shrugged, knelt down pulling casually at the grass there, said: “The Shell digs itself some thirty feet down. It was the immediate of things the King thought when he first saw it. He ordered a pit dug to discover the base.” Heimm stood again, looking back to the hundreds of fires within the rebel camp. “I fear they be not so idle as we, Milady.”

“Aye, while we tarry here the King’s life gains the more danger.” Caylee, now sounding her thoughts with a princess’ tone asked; “Do we have such time for gaping?”

“Better than here if we wish to think about it,” Melton more was thinking aloud than to the two with him. Caylee frowned lowering her voice: “Speak to us, Conjurer...not to the air.” Melton disappeared.