Pendragon Rising

There was a soft knock at the door, then a click, and the door swung slowly open. “Hun are you awake? It’s time to get up.” Both Red and David were caught like deer in the headlights. Neither moved but just stared at Angie. She was wearing military style cargo pants, tucked into boots that rose almost to her knees, and covered with black steel plates. She wore a simple white t-shirt underneath a heavy black leather Jacket, with shiny plates over the forearms. At her right side, clearly visible, was a black 1911 model pistol in a black holster, attached to her belt. On the other side was a foot long bowie knife, with a stag handle and a shiny leather sheath. Hanging off her back, to top off her strange outfit, was a steel pot style biker’s half helmet. She looked at Red and David. “Come to say goodbye boys?” “Yes Ms. Morehouse.” David was staring unflinching. “Are you travelling to your new place on bikes?” David’s eyes were wide. “Nope.” She smiled. “Boys say your goodbyes, hug, and kiss, do whatever it is you are going to do, but then you have to go. We are on a tight schedule.” She tapped her wristwatch. “And how did you find out we were moving?” She shot Jason an angered glance. “Look Mom. I am gonna disappear, the least I could do is say goodbye to my friends.” “Well boys, not a word to anyone.” She headed out of the room, turned her head back over her shoulder and added. “Five minutes before I start tossing boys out on their butts manually. Always nicer to leave on your feet.” She was already hallway down the hall humming a tune to herself. Jason walked his friends out to the front door. As they passed the living room Red looked over. Mr. Abberton was sitting in the living room, in a high back chair, sipping something from a coffee cup. He nodded as they passed, and Red cast him a casual wave. On the way out the three said their last goodbyes, shook hands again, and fought off the urges to hug. As Red and David stepped off the stoop, Jason whispered to them. “The window is open.” Red gave him a knowing nod, then turned to David, clapped him on the shoulder and the two walked off alone. As they walked away into the coming dawn, Jason wondered if he would ever see the two of them again. “Mom. What are you going to do with the house?” “Not sure. It belongs to Lord Mierlien. Always has.” She looked into the living room at Mierlien. “Do you have a plan for the house?” “That I do. Don’t worry about it, all to a good cause.” He stood up and Jason could now see that he was wearing a strange looking dark blue full length robe, with silver threads forming swirling patterns on the chest. He waved a hand dismissively. “My house as well. Long story. Lawyers and such.” He walked to the corner, picked up a long staff with large gems inset into the shaft and head, and walked out of the living room. “Where is your luggage?” Jason hauled three suitcases and two boxes out into the living room. In turn, Angie hauled out four suitcases as well. They looked at the amount amassed in front of them, then looked at each other. “Seventeen years and this is what it has come to.” Angie shrugged. “Well to be fair all I really wanted was some clothes, they are so much more comfortable than the things you can get at home.” She slapped the 1911 pistol at her waist. “And this is a prize I won’t part with.” She paused, and then added, pointing to the fourth suitcase. “Well that one isn’t clothes, its ammo.” Then pointing to the third one. “My husband’s swords are in that one of course, as is a nice blade I found once when shopping, a large caliber pistol, a nice rifle, and a shotgun that could be useful. But mostly it’s clothes.” She thought for a moment.”Yeah, I would say mostly clothes.” She patted her lower back “Oh and my little hand cannon. Can’t leave home without that.” She looked at Mierlien who was staring at her incredulously. “That’s it…no more firearms.” She thought for a moment again, and then added. “Yeah, that’s definitely all of that.” Mierlien gathered the suitcases and boxes into a large pile, with Jason’s precious boxes of books on the bottom. From inside the robe he pulled a black satin cloth, which he unfolded again and again, until it was large enough to cover the luggage, and drape down the sides. Like a magician performing a silly trick, he tapped the top three times, and the cloth collapsed to the floor, with all of the luggage underneath disappearing. Jason stared in awe, and then reached to lift the cloth. There was nothing underneath, but the air underneath was ice cold. He lifted the cloth and looked at Mierlien with a silly grin on his face. “Cool.” Jason was holding the cloth like it was extremely fragile, pinching it between two fingers and holding it at an arm’s length. “Yes very cool. Now let’s get moving.” He looked at Jason. “Fold it up and put it in your pocket.” Mierlien walked to the door and peeked out. “How far do we have to go?” “A very long way I am afraid, but for now just the backyard. I could make the gate right here, but it is so hard to cast here that I need extra power.” He smiled. “Even the great Mierlien has his limits. Once we are inside, not a word.” He looked at Jason. “I am going to explain a little so that you can survive this trip.” “OK.” “Once inside you will be crossing the bridge between this world and the next.”