The story continues...

There is a passage through the northern sea, rare and hard to find that takes you across boundaries that cannot be seen but are felt. There are no maps that can guide you but that which is marked upon your soul. Heroes and fools alike may find their way to cross such borders and are taken into a kingdom filled with great and wondrous magic. These stray fellows, these sailors, whose fortune leads them to new lands unknowingly may find themselves in lands were reason and logic are not the rulers and even more rare is the fellow that finds his way back. Yet back they have come, filled with such tales of mystery and magic, else I would not be telling you this tale tonight. The sea is there is clear as glass and water as sharp and cold. This Crystalline Sea holds many secrets both above and below. It is said that at certain times a man can catch glimpses of entire cities below it’s depths full of a strange and beautiful human like race. So tempting is the vision to a lost and hungry man, alone on the sea that many have died trying to swim down to its gates.

This tale is not of those wondrous places below the water but in the land that the sea takes you too. For if you are lucky enough to survive the hazards, the temptations and the tests that lay in the path you may reach that shoreline. Far north in this cold and lonely place stands the maiden in her crystal cage. Three keys are needed to set her free and three tasks are needed to obtain the keys. Many have tried and all have failed for this is a tale whose ending has not yet been told.

In a kingdom of great wealth, a King and his Queen had fortune to spare. Their son was strong, brave and handsome. Their daughter was winsome, beautiful and charming. All was as it should be and there was great happiness. The Prince was of an age to seek adventure, embarking on a quest to fulfill his own fortunes and fame in his own power and the Princess would make a fine match that would bring even more wealth and prosperity to the kingdom. Plans were made and the King and Queen were well satisfied and content.

But plans go array and children have plans and dreams of their own. The Prince was not much of a fighter, not did he have a particularly adventuresome heart. He was rather fond of his comforts and good food, but most of all, he loved his books. He would have gladly given up all the princely duties and lessons to pursue the truth behind the histories, philosophies and mysteries of the kingdom. What he longed for was the quiet life spent among the scholars at the various universities. His request to study beside the gentle monks and scholars, bewildered the King who saw in his son only what he wanted to see and would not be swayed away from his expectations of the Prince. The Prince loved the King and Queen, and being of a malleable spirit, desiring to please them, he reluctantly set aside his dreams and began the journey forth to fulfill the King’s.

The Princess, however, wanted nothing more then to travel among the lands, meet different and exciting people and have grand adventures. She thought little of marriage and was reluctant to become someone’s bride in an arrangement that had little to do with love and more to do with politics.

Her request to set forth on her own was meet with anger by the King and immediately denied. “Princesses do not go off traveling unless it is to their betrothed lands and only with a proper escort. Princesses do not go adventuring. It simply is not done. You will stay here and you will marry a prince as agreed upon.”

“I do not agree.” The Princess retorted for although she loved the King and Queen dearly, she was of a more stubborn nature then her brother the Prince. “I shall marry none who does not please me, and I say this now, none shall.”

The King fell into a lamentable fury and had her taken to her room where she would stay until she saw reason. He set a guard to ensure that she did not run away. It is difficult to say at this point who was at fault for both were set on their course and neither would compromise or budge. Tales were set out of her plight and princes rode forth by the dozens to rescue the maiden from her folly and her father.

“I shall stay put.” She would tell each one. “Only of my own accord shall I leave.”

The stories grew and spread across the land of this un-woe able princess and the promise of the kingdom to the man who could teach her to love. Princes and lords came from far away hoping to win a princess and a fortune.

Seeing the number of suitors their argument had wrought, the King seized his advantage, holding court after court, party after party, forcing her to attend, hoping that there was at least one man who would make her bend. The Princess held fast but each time she ventured out she grew more frightened. She had become less a maiden to be loved and more a prize to be won and conquered at any cost. It was only a mater of time, she feared, before the tale turned dark.

“Hello Katy”

Her body froze in recognition of that voice with her mind rejected the information as impossible.

“Would you care to join me for a hot meal and conversation?”

She slowly turned around and spotted Teren leaning against the wall of the tavern, a slight smile playing across his lips. Teren, whose story bleed into her life with his melodious rich tones that could make ice blush and butter feel bland if he so desired. All these years and while she had grown up, he looked exactly the same. She moved towards him reluctantly and gladly, her curiosity awakened.

“How did you know I was here?” She asked more harshly then she intended. After all was is not his fault that she was out here, cold, always verging on hunger and in search of a ghost?

“I didn’t. I had hoped that you would find your way here, but nothing is certain when a tale is spinning itself around you.” His eyes looked far away for a moment before they re-focused on the girl before him. “I am pleased to see you. I see that you have questions for me. I find answering questions to be an exceedingly more enjoyable endeavor when they are taken in conjunction with hot food and cool drinks, especially after a long day’s travel. Are you sure you won’t join me?” A slight pleading quality crept into his voice as he softly added. “I could help you if you let me.”

Katy paused for a moment, quickly realizing how little she knew of the path before her and how this bard, however exotic, was familiar enough. “Provided you buy.” She answered with a rueful smile of her own.

Relief flashed across Teren’s face as he opened the door with a grand flourish and bowed deeply as she passed through. Where the inn of her childhood was warm and welcoming, this tavern was dressed in a utilitarian nature. Lighting was dim and the simple wooden chairs and tables stood empty, as business was slow. Katy knew from experience that would change as the men and women finished up their work and those without families, sought the company of others to keep the loneliness at bay. She watched as Teren crossed the room with an air of familiarity to the sole waitress tending to the small fire and spoke to her with brief but friendly whispers. Katy felt strange as the slightly older woman flashed a smile, glancing at her with a knowing look before disappearing into the back kitchen area. “If my reputation was not in tatters before…” Katy’s thought drifted off as Teren returned to her side and escorted her to a table beside the fire.

Teren stared thoughtfully in the flames as if listening to a far off story while Katy tried to gather her thoughts. The silence as they sat grew until at last Katy spoke plaintively “You must think me a fool.”

Teren looked startled at her words and replied earnestly. “I doubt that very much.”
Before he could continue, the waitress appeared with bowls of hearty soup, a loaf of bread and two mugs of watery ale.

“Anything else luv?” She asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

“No, thank you Em.” Teren answered.

“Right then, I’ll be in back if you need me.” She giggled with a slow wink at Katy. Katy could feel the blush grow on her cheek that had little to do with the warmth of the fire.

“It is your fault, you know.” Katy grumbled in irritation and embarrassment.

“Mine?” Teren answered allowing the barest hint of amusement to creep into his voice.

“Yes, yours.” Katy continued tartly. “You and your stories and the dreams and this unsettled feeling I should be doing something but I don’t know what and here I am is a remote village and nothing makes sense.” Katy shook her head as if to clear out her thoughts and took a breath. She continued more slowly, “I don’t know why I am chasing fairytales but I just could not shake this feeling of truth that resonated within me when you told me about your maiden trapped in crystal. It is like a puzzle that I am on the verge of solving, that only I can solve. How is that for ego?” Katy gave a self-depreciating laugh. “Now I have you laughing at me!”

“Never.” Teren replied with understanding in his eyes.

Something in his voice encouraged Katy to ask the question that she was afraid he would answer. “Is it true, your story? Is there really a princess lost in a cage far north? She needs to be freed, doesn’t she? And I can do it. I know I can. It sounds so crazy. I sound crazy but I think I am the only one who can.” It was, she thought a strange kind of relief to finally speak aloud her feelings even as she dreaded the mockery she half expected to receive from him.

“I do not think you are crazy” he replied softly but firmly as he caught her eyes with his. “There is more to this world the most people are willing to acknowledge. But for those few dreamers willing to look beyond the veil of this reality, endless and amazing wonders await. I believe you Katy and I believe in you. But let me ask you this, are you willing to let go of all that you were taught as the end of reality and the beginning of dreams. Are you willing to step inside the fairytale and become the story instead of the listener? Only then will the answer to your questions of truth be found.”

Katy stared at him, not fully understanding. “Beyond? I…I don’t understand. You speak in riddles, as if magic and spells are real. The are simply embellishments to amuse and entertain.” She answered with a growing sense of uncertainty. “Right? Yet…”

“Yet the dreams whisper and tease away at your sense of reality. The truth of my tale is lost if you strip away the magic.” Teren sighed. “I wonder sometimes at the growing trend to be dismissive of our dreams and of magic.”

“Should I just accept all things blindly then?” Katy replied with a touch of pique.

“Of course not.” Teren replied mildly. “You search for answers but are you wonder if you are even asking the right questions? You feel your quest is foolish but continue anyway. Oh Katy, there was more magic in moment you started on your journey then in the casting of any spell.”

She flushed before blurting, “Magic. I don’t…I mean you speak of spells and enchantments as if you believe they are real. Have you…are you magic?” Katy looked at him as a dawning realization came to her. “How is it that you look exactly the same? It has been ten years Teren and you have not aged. How is that possible?”

His blue eyes sparkled. “Haven’t I? I admit the years are a difficult thing for me to add up but I accept your compliment, my gracious lady!” He laughed lightly, the sound warm with a secret joy. “I am a well traveled man as is the nature of my profession. Several of the places I have had the fortune to visit are not easily accessible to most travelers and not found on any map. I do not mean to speak in riddles but it is difficult for words to fully describe what can only be experienced. These places of magic – yes, real magic, change a person and leave a kind of mark upon them. Perhaps what you see is that mark upon me.”

Katy pondered for a moment as Teren took a drink of ale. “If what you say is true,” she ventured slowly, “then I need to travel to one of these places. Is that what you are telling me?” She sighed with a slight shake of her head.

“You need to follow the story.” He replied. “I am sorry, I do not mean to speak in riddles.” He added catching the irritation in her face.

“And how do I do that, find these places you call beyond? Can you tell me? Can you help me?”

“I would do more then just tell you if you choose. I have knowledge and experience with the kind of places you seek and would assist you with that knowledge. I would like to travel with you if you would have my company.”

“You want to come with me?” Katy asked with a measure of surprise. “Why? Not that I would say no to any help offered but isn’t the whole point of quests to go alone or something like that? At least in the stories I am familiar with. Would we be breaking some unwritten questing rule or such that would doom us from failure from the start?”

Teren laughed heartily. “I think it would be safe to say you would be allowed a guide or two. Besides, you will still be doing the bulk of the hero work, I’ll just be along for moral support!”

He laughed again before growing serious. “Yet you asked me why and that is a fair question that deserves a fair answer. I am a bard, we tell the stories, making sure that the deeds of others are not lost. Sometimes the stories are part of our own adventures, sometimes they belong to others but every story longs for completion. This tale has been without an ending for too long and I wish to see it, help it to its conclusion if I can. This is a rare opportunity even for a well-traveled bard. I have no illusions; this quest of freeing a princess is not mine but yours. I am not the hero here, only a companion.”

“That is it. You only want to tell the story? Nothing more?”

“Is that not enough, especially for a bard seeking to become master of his craft? We are said to be quite arrogant, you know” Teren smirked. “I won’t lie to you Katy. I have my own selfish reasons for wanting to join you. I seek…” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I seek, not a princess but something else. Someone else. Only time will tell if I have success.” He looked into her brown eyes. “The choice, however, is yours. What say you?”

Katy took measure of his words, an undercurrent of meaning that she could not quite grasp. “I may be a fool but not so foolish to accept help that is so freely given.” A sudden impish smile crossed her face. “I would be glad of your company but if I ever see you sitting there with a knowing look while I struggle with some puzzle, I will feed you to the…to the goblins.”

Teren laughed and offered his hand. “Agreed.” He spoke as the two shook hands and shook in friendship.