Phoebe -- A Description (public view)

BACHMAN & BALDER

I would say that the strangest thing that ever happened to me was waking up on the lawn outside the castle of Bachman. I had been relaxing, having just gotten home from the tavern and singing, and then I remember nothing. And then there was nothing. When my eyes opened, I saw grass close to my eyes, scraping my cheek softly. And the strangest thing is that it was green.

It was simple to tell that I was no longer in Crystal Tears. My hand instinctively rose to my neck, holding the crystal tight within my fingers. Its cool edges against my palm was reassuring. And then, drawing strength from the crystal of my homeworld, I stood and surveyed my surroundings.

Everything was a riot of color. The sky blue, the grass green, and the stone of a huge castle, rising before me, was gray and crawling with green ivy. Flags flew from the rampart, their symbols unknown to me, again, bright with colors. The flags seemed most familiar to me, since in Crystal Tears, our dyes are brilliant and beautiful. But the natural color of every object in my world is either black or white, with some shades of gray and silver in between. Save our fabrics or paints, and my own ice blue eyes, I had never known the world could be fashioned of color.

Once I had recovered from the shock, I took a quick inventory, making certain that my bands were on my wrists, my sword upon my back, and my pack of things lying on the ground at my feet. That determined, I shouldered my pack and strode confidently towards the castle.

I thanked the Tree that they understood me! They didn't question my appearance, despite the fact that the skin of every person I saw ranged from a light brown to a warm peach in color, with warm, soft skin. At first, I hardly heard what the man who met me at the gate said to me, and he had to repeat himself before I answered. "What is your business?"

I dragged my attention back to him. "I am an entertainer. Does the court require one?"

He called for a guard to escort me to the steward, and shortly after we had agreed that I should sing and entertain after the evening meal. If my services were appreciated this evening, I should be then engaged until such time as my services were no longer wanted. It was the best I could expect, and in truth, I was surprised at how easily they accepted me.

I spent the rest of the evening exploring the castle. There were times when I encountered areas to which I was not allowed, and I obediently turned away. I did not wish to wear out my welcome so quickly. Still, there was more than enough to see in the public areas. Everywhere I looked there was decoration. Not so much that it completely overwhelmed the senses, but more than I found pleasant. And after a short while, the color began to wear on my eyes, giving me a slight headache. And I found myself more curious than ever about this strange world where I had appeared.

I had some time before dinner to wash and change, making myself presentable before I was to entertain. It also gave me time to think. Once before in my century of life, I had met an outlander. I knew that they existed, and Jordan had been proof with his warm skin and different attitude. And his disappearance. And now it seemed that I had somehow been transported to the outlands, for it could be stated for certain that I was no longer in Crystal Tears. Nor did I know how to return.

No one noticed when I arrived at dinner, despite the fact that my dark skin set me apart from all the others. The steward guided me to my own area, where I could set my small hand harp. While I ate, I surveyed the others in the hall, and chatted briefly with my few companions. They answered my curious questions, carefully leading without being obvious, and told me something of the world.

I learned that the area was called Bachman, and that the tanned, muscular man seated on a dais at the front of the room was King Balder. As I watched him, he smiled a lot and seemed a generally amiable person. Charming, too, and his smile seemed to bring out smiles in those around him. He treated his servants well, and I could find no fault in him as a ruler. As for the others in the room, most were human, standing taller and broader than myself, described as I mentioned earlier. There were others as well, some shorter than myself, stocky and well-muscled. These were the dwarves. Then there were the elves, lightly built and tiny as myself, but with slender pointed ears. My companions seemed to assume I was some strange sort of elf, and inquired as to my homeland. I gave them the name of the province in which I was born, which of course they did not recognize. They accepted me as a traveler, and let the subject be.

As the plates were taken away, I began to softly strum my harp. The room quieted, and when I glanced up, most eyes were looking over at me, many registering some surprise. I smiled to place them at ease, and in a low voice, began a ballad from home. As the room grew steadily more quiet, I increased my projection until my voice filled the room. When I finished, I was pleased by the response. I stood, "Greetings, fair citizens of Bachman." I turned to the dais and bowed slightly, "Sire." I turned away when he did not respond. "My name is Phoebe, and I have traveled here to entertain you evenings with stories, music and song. I would like to now tell you a story of the maiden Lenore." It was a story I had told often before, illustrating it with images created in the air before me of Lenore and her magical steed Firestorm. The images were simple, as I had created them before, but it was hard work to tell the story and prepare for magic at once. When I finished, I bowed again to applause, and settled myself in for refreshment and to relax.

As you may already realize, the steward was pleased, and I was settled into a room near the servants' quarters. Over the next few days, I became more comfortable, and learned more of Bachman. I still could not discover how I had come to arrive here, nor how to return home. But I did learn that the land was pleasant, the people happy, and King Balder seemed good. He was a strong ruler, but rather than wield absolute power, he kept a looser rein.

I had been there only a short while when one morning a knock on my door disturbed my rest. I opened it to find one of the guards standing there. "The king has requested a private audience with you."

I was surprised, and of course, curious. "One moment." I turned away, checking my appearance in the mirror, making certain I was presentable. Then I followed the guards to the king's private chambers.

When I walked in, the room was well populated with various people, but when he saw us, Balder announced, "I will speak privately with you," and motioned for the others to leave. In moments, the room was empty save ourselves, and the door closed.

"May I help you, sire?" I remained a respectful distance from him, bowing slightly as I asked my question.

He was standing, moving slightly as he spoke. "Yes." He paused a moment, while I waited, curious, but not so much that I would risk disrespect. I liked this king and did not wish to anger him. "Who are your parents?"

"My parents?" His question surprised me, and I answered without thinking about the response. "Lord and Lady Alwynne, of Elsemere."

"You are not from around here, are you?" he observed.

I smiled slightly, gesturing slightly to indicate my oddly colored hands. "No, rather not. But generally no one has noticed."

He smiled. "You stand out in a crowd. Your tricks are not just quick slight of hand. I think that we will be able to develop a good working relationship." He was pacing now, and he moved closer to me, towering over me. Balder is huge, especially in comparison to my own slight frame, standing perhaps twice my width in muscle and well more than a foot taller than myself. I backed up slightly so that I could continue to look him in the eye without my neck being strained. "I would like to offer you the position of court mage."

I had only managed to recover from my original shock of my arrival in Bachman over the last few days. This added a new shock. My power is from my home, and I had never considered using them in service to a king. "I don't believe I'm quite up to that caliber of power." I have never fooled myself over the level of power I wield over the magical forces. I do not have the will to study theory, so my magic is not as skilled as it could be, although my power seems well. But still, as I considered his offer, I realized I did not have a choice. I could either stay here, in Bachman, or return to Crystal Tears. And at this time, I did not have a way to return to my home. "Just out of curiosity, since you noticed I am different," I was speaking hesitantly.

"Would you like a drink?" he interrupted me. I shook my head, and he walked away from me to a sideboard, and poured himself a glass of what I assumed to be some form of alcohol.

I tried to continue with what I had been saying. "I was wondering if you knew how I could get home."

"Yes."

My eyes snapped to his on that word. "Could you show me?" I realized how ungracious that sounded, as if given the chance I would instantly leave. "Your hospitality has been quite gracious, but I never expected to be here."

"At some point in the future, but now is not an auspicious time." He seemed somewhat distracted, so I changed the direction of the conversation, inquiring what would be required as his mage. "Teach me some of what you know, for one," he began. My face fell, for I could not imagine teaching what I did not have the discipline to learn correctly myself. "Otherwise I am looking for a measure of protection."

"Does it involve killing without reason?" I risked being blunt, and asking questions without reservation. I have killed many men and some women during my life, but always with good reason. My view is that the punishment should fit the crime, and death is only suitable for murderers.

"Anyone who is to die will have good reason," he assured me, a slight edge to his voice. I had a glimpse of what Balder could be, "My saying so should be good enough reason, but a leader does not always lead by fear." Then he smiled again, an infectious, charming smile.

I had to smile back. "I like that in a person." And I do. During the time I worked with Balder, I grew to respect his ways of ruling. And appreciate them. I would not say I ever trusted him, but I did owe him my loyalty. And at the time, I also realized, "There isn't any reason for me to go home." I paused, fingering the crystal around my neck. "Except the Tree." I missed it, almost as if some link were not there, something I'd felt while in Crystal Tears that I could not sense in Bachman. Even while I had traveled throughout my home, I had always known that I could return to Devane. And now I could not.

I had piqued his interest. "What tree?"

I looked over at him in surprise. "The Tree of Life, which sheds the crystal tears." My eyes narrowed slightly. "Surely if you know where I am from, then you have heard of it."

"No, I don't," was his simple answer. I waited for more elaboration, but it was not to come.

"If you do not know where I am from, then how do you plan to take me home?" I would not appreciate a broken promise. Nor do I appreciate being used with promises dangled in front of me that were never meant.

He smiled again. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve." He seemed honest, and in that one respect, I trusted him enough to believe him. I pride myself on being able to read a person, and I would have known if he had lied.

And that was that for the conversation. In essence, I had accepted the position, and he escorted me from the room, bidding a servant to take me to my new room.

Over the next year, I decorated my room to be something of home, with furnishings all in black and white, with wildly colored tapestries on the wall. I also continued my life much as it had been in the first few days, entertaining with my tricks, and occasionally doing a deed at Balder's request. But I was rarely pressed into service. As for Balder, we did not become exactly great friends, but we were more than mere acquaintances. But his courting of another woman kept his attention more often.

Until the time he left me with two scrolls, telling me he might be in danger and that the scrolls could save our lives. Until the time I found myself in a strange new outland, called Amber.

Chapter Five, Arrival in Amber

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