The Fire Horse (Chapter Four)

Upon his return from the far-off city Operon, just before his graduation prince Randor had switched roles with Operons own prince as an exchange student to that city's capital the Opal Palace. As reward for his conduct as well as earned credit Randor was gifted by the King of Operon a special transport. To this day Malcome had a hard time believing the prince of Operon did not harbor a little jealousy towards Randor only because while his gift was an elaborate model of Eternos it did pale by comparison to Randors Lion sized Royal Carrier transport.

That was why when Randor gifted Malcome the golden key to the Lion Carrier his spirit was lifted twice as high. As Malcome entered into the inviting mouth of the golden lion he felt the empowerment for which the people of Operon must also have felt in celebrating the illuminating roar of their Sun God, Sol Lon.

Malcome was not unaccustomed to riding the Lion Carrier as he had ridden as well as driven the carrier on many occasions. This time Malcome was entrusted with the carrier at a time when Randors own father was questioning his competence. Despite Miro entrusting Malcome with aiding in the Ignitan prince's mission it was not done out of faith because there was still harbored ill will when prince Randor had gotten captured, it was done rather as a test of his effectiveness in the field. Indeed, Malcom's heart may have sunken if not for Randor extending his lifeline of trust representative by the golden keys granted to him.

Once Malcome seated himself on the chair on the upper deck of the Lion carrier he inserted the key into its slot which was below the steering wheel. Malcome then turned the golden key to start the internal engines of the carrier.

Malcome felt nothing atop the driver's seat which was above the closing lions head which was sealed by the pull of a lever on the consol. The hydraulics slowly lowered the lion's mouth until it completely clamped tight which expanded Malcome view atop the carrier. Malcome flicked a row of switches which increased the power of the carrier's engines. Malcome still felt nothing yet heard a deep guttural purring of the carrier's engines. Malcome let the engines build up to a mid-range point indicator on his dashboard until lowering them slightly before pulling another lever beside the one that controlled the lion's mouth in order to set the carrier into operation mode. At this point Malcome was controlling the driving of the carrier at the steering wheel, from all directions. In order to reverse the carrier Malcome had to pull back on the wheel as well simultaneously steer it in that direction by moving the wheel left to right.

Prince Randor was unable to give Malcome a final farewell as he was still in the courtroom presiding over the council of the elderly Ahktar along with his segregate son Endo. Though as Malcome peeled the carrier slowly from its parking space near the Royal stables he saw Drusilla the Handmaiden to Randor where she was pulling her black horse Clapper by its reigns. A young stable hand was bringing Malcom's own horse Stridor along by its reigns. The two horses would be used to ride into Frogtown after the carrier was concealed elsewhere nearby. Malcome agreed to take along Clapper upon repeatedly rejecting Drusilla's own offer to come along.

After halting the carrier Malcome opened the lions head for the horses to be let in.

"Stridor has his name plate on his stall while Clapper can be put into any of the other unreserved stalls.", Malcome said in a microphone on a stand which amplified his voice outside the carrier for Drusilla and the stable boy to hear.

Upon seeing the horses let in from atop the carrier Malcome turned on all of the cameras to get the visual of the horses being let into their respective stalls. Malcome noticed that Clapper was anxious while Stridor having ridden the carrier many times took it in stride.

A couple of blips automatically showed up on the radar screen.

Malcome called out on his microphone, "Tail-Blazer incoming!" It was the name of Rotars intimidating vehicle that Malcome was referring to. The other blips on the screen belonged to the Tail-Blazers escort which happened to be four Battle Chariots driven by Royal Guardsman. Malcome thought that he would not like the chances of all four of those miniature trakks against that lethal looking Tail-Blazer.

Then after the Tail-Blazer boarded the Lion Carrier two figures approached from the Royal Palace. It was Marlena Glenn from Earth along with Malektha the Royal Archeologist. The tandem had been researching a lot lately about an ancient sorcerer by the name of Keldor. They believed that Keldor had a connection to the conspiracy involving Marlenas fellow astronauts. Malcome really felt pity for Marlena's situation being trapped not only on a distant world away from everything that she had ever known but her untrustworthy shipmates who conspired against her. The poor thing. On the bright side Marlena possessed great resolve as she showed little sign of giving up in her search to find out the whereabouts of Duncan.

Malcome expressed his desire for Duncan to be found by both Malektha and Marlena," As I journey along the Sands of Time in search of prince Traces twin flame so do I wish a good journey to you both in discovering the whereabouts of Duncan."

The always forthright Malektha warned the dangers along Malcom's journey," You must be very careful my friend as you traverse the Sands of Time. You must never stop along your path when traveling the Sands of Time. Always keep moving forward in your trusted direction. The twisting of time itself occurs when one lapses too long in one place. You must always stay on course my friend."

"Well time is a wasting! You better get going before nightfall. You don't want to be traveling the Sands of Time at night, do you?", Drusilla also warns.

"No Drusilla time itself is opposite to that of Eternos in Sands of Time as it lies inside a chronal dome.", Malektha goes on to say," As night falls on Eternos City just the opposite happens in the Sands of Time."

"Which means exactly what?", Drusilla remarks

Marlena grabs Drusilla's shoulder before kindly saying to her, "I will explain it to you later." Then Marlena gives Malcome a warm hug whispering to him, "I promise you that we will find Duncan."

"I know that you will.", Malcome whispers back.

Then without any further delay the Igniton entourage is waved aboard the Lion Carrier by Marlena, Malektha, Drusilla as well as the stableboy. Then with a roar from its powerful engines the Lion Carrier heads out toward the front gates of Eternos towards its destination to the Vale of Frogs located at the southernmost tip of the Sands of Time.

As the Lion Carrier hurried along the sunbathed sands of time not far distant in Eternos the stars began to rise in the night sky.

The Ignitan diplomat Solas was eager for shut eye in his council chambers of the Royal Palace as his session in the throne room was successful, he was ready to retire. For the weeks leading up to the council for the Igniton search for Traces twin flame had deprived Solas of many hours of sleep.

For a while in his bed did Sola's sleep go undeterred until a small bird flew onto the ledge of his open window. The bird was no ordinary one as it had a sheen to it like a machine. The bird's beak, crest, feathers, feet and wings were all metal. From the window the bird opened its maw to make not a sound. Yet, the silent cry from the bird caused Solas to toss and turn in his bed as if disturbed by the unheard sound. The bird then kept its beak open for a sustained scream that only Solas could hear.

Solas murmured in his sleep, "They...travel...to the Vale...of...Frogs..."

The birds mouth stayed open emitting its silent transmission to Solas until the man convulsed in his bed violently, after that Solas lay as still as a corpse.

Only then did the bird finally close its beak to fly away in the night.

The Golden Lion Carrier steered along the shining shores of the Harmony Sea were still under the time trepidations influences of the Sands of Time was drawing nearer the Vale of Frogs. As Malcome drove along the coastline the only one beside him was Rotar who asked," Are you sure that you do not want me to follow you from afar in my Tail Blazer?"

"I am sure of it.", Malcome said as he observed the directional readings on his control. The coordinates in the onboard computer meant that the location of Frog Town was being alerted to on the radar screen.

"A-ha!", Malcome said upon seeing the view up ahead of green mossy hills along the coast. Malcome then slowly puled on the throttle of the carrier in order to slow it down until it was stopped in its tracks. "This looks like a most promising place to start our journey."

Malcome then punched in a visual on a series of small monitors lining the control panel dashboard. On a set of four screens were shown two different views shown around a rock face. Malcome zoomed in on the two screens views not blocked by the brown rockface.

"It is a water cove.", Rotar announced.

Malcome then zoomed in on just one monitor to the left of the last one where it showed some tall weed grass.

"That grass is an indication that the Marsh Lands where the Vale of Frogs dwell should be near. I want you to take over the controls in order to lead us just behind that rock face.", Malcome insisted.

"I have watched you long enough to understand how to drive this vehicle. What are you going to do while I proceed towards the rockface?", Rotar asked.

After Malcome flicked a yellow switch under the radar screen he pulled out a hidden compartment beside the steering wheel. Inside the hidden compartment were a number of small green communication devices. Malcome grabbed two of the green communicators before telling Rotar," The yellow button I flicked initially is a broadband that will allow us both to communicate back and forth.", Malcome then turned off the microphone on its base while winding a dial to have its needle face point straight up.

"I have just set the dial to allow for the bandwidth to be received that way we can communicate as needed. I also turned off the loudspeaker so it would not cause interference.", Malcome explained.

The rock face could now be seen looming ahead in the plexiglass mirror as Rotar drove the carrier towards it.

"I am going down to get Styx along with the young prince. When you have stationed the carrier just open the rampway under the lions face to let us out.", Malcome said before he exited the control room.

After his instructions were given Malcome dashed away from the control room. Malcome knocked on a closed door in the rear of the upper deck saying, "This is it rise and shine! Where heading off to Frogtown."

The door of the compartment slid open to reveal Styx who told Malcome," We are about ready, I am just helping the prince along as he did not get a good sleep along the way. The boy keeps having a terrible nightmare about him chasing a horse in the desert. If the lad stays in the dream to long, he gets night sweats. So, I usually wake him up so as he can calm himself down. I hope that the Dream Catchers in Frogtown can help the young man through his nightmare in order to discover the meaning of them."

"I came to this place once before a long time ago, I was chasing down a thief who had stolen something from a friend of mine. After losing the thief in a sandstorm I had gotten lost to where I was dehydrating from lack of water then I began to hallucinate due to the heat. Somehow, I wandered into Frogtown on my last legs where thanks to them I was nursed back to life. My mind was healed by these Frog shamans called Padwas who lived inside cities within clusters of white bubbles. My memories of the whole experience remain hazy to this day. The main thing that I remember is that the Frogmen do not tolerate violence with weapons nor do they trust military transport. They only took me in because I was in no condition to pose any kind of threat to them."

Styx then reached out to look at Malcom's bandaged right hand, "May I see your hand?", she said to no resistance from Malcome. As Styx traced her finger along the area where Malcome received the fracture she said to her amazement," Your hand is almost healed...though...I am reading something else it is a powerful transmission that your hand will lead you to undergo some wonderous transformation at some point in the future."

"You mean my hand will fully heal up.", Malcome jested.

Styx shook her head saying with a conviction, "No, something far more powerful yet wonderous seems likely to occur in your lifetime."

"Your serious, aren't you?", Malcome said as he reeled his right hand away from Styx who was becoming fixated on what she was forecasting.

"No, thank you I'll have my hand back now.", Malcome told Styx before adding," Whatever you're reading into my future it will have to wait. We have to get going."

Frantically, Styx agreeing with Malcom's assertion said abruptly," Very true, very true!" Then Styx closed the door on Malcome as she went back into the room to direct prince Trace until the door was opened with both ready to depart.

Once all three were on the bottom level of the carrier Malcome grabbed Stridor by his thick tan neck to tell him, "We are going for a walk! You ready to look around outside?", Malcome asked Strider who bared his teeth while neighing loudly.

As Styx pated Clapper the same could not be said as the horse was shacking with nervousness. The hydraulics sounded first which indicated that the mouth of the lion was about to open up. Malcome had to calm Stridor who was ready to burst out his stall!

Malcome then looked over to see Styx struggling to comfort Clapper, he yelled at her, "Get control of your horse! We have to get going."

"I am trying to get a rapport with the poor creature as she's frightened to death.", Styx said as she reached into her handbag.

Once the door was opened a harsh wind blew into the carrier! This only made Clapper more apprehensive about traveling outside of the carrier.

"Well hurry it up! We have to hurry!", Malcome insisted.

Styx remained calm as she looked into her bag, "Pet the horse, go on." She told the young prince who began petting Clapper.

Finally, Styx brought out some red beats in her hand to let Clapper smell. The smell of the beats made Clapper curious as to their taste as she opened her mouth wide to receive them. Without wasting time Styx shoveled the beats into Clapper's mouth.

After eating the beats Clapper seemed a bit calmer though wanted more to eat. In her current state Clapper was more cooperative to where Styx could finally get her out of the stall.

Malcome who was atop Stridor was now able to take the lead as Styx rode Clapper with Trace seated in front of her on the saddle. Malcome hurried Stridor down the ramp as Styx on Clapper was in pursuit.

On the view screen on the upper deck Rotar watched as the two riders rode off into the night atop their horses! The rampway leading into the carrier was then drawn back in as the lions head closed itself once again.

As the duo rode around the cove, the moonlight that hit the pool of water lighted the way. The further along the edge of the water the riders went in the sand the more wet it became. It did not take long for the two riders to enter fully into the cool marsh waters. The way was still lighted by the water along the marsh as the riders slushed along. There was much grass along the way with very tall cattails sprouting up.

The horses enjoyed the cool breeze as they trotted along the marshy waters.

The way forward was lit by moonlight with portions of shadow being shown behind tall grass.

In his mind Malcome knew that the only way to find Frogtown was for them to themselves be found out along the marsh fields. Malcome topped his horse for a moment to wave Styx over beside him. When Styx rode her horse Clapper over beside Malcom, she was handed over the other green communicator.

"This little gizmo is for us to keep in touch in case we get separated.", Malcome said before kicking the sides of his horse so that it continued along, before adding, " Though from this point onward always follow my lead."

"How did you hear about the Vale of Frogs dream work?", Malcome probed as they rode on with the Marsh waters inches below their leathery stirrups.

Styx answered from behind, "It was told to me by Varna the White Witch the one that replaced our Lord Tyr's old Warlock. Varna is quite beautiful I think that the young prince here was quite smitten by her." a small detail that Styx playfully adds as Trace tries to hide his face in his hands as she laughs at him.

"Do you know anything about Varna the White Witch?", Malcome plainly asks.

"Nothing at all, except that she was highly recommended.", Styx answered.

"Do you know whom recommended Varna into the coven?". Malcome then asked.

"I am not privy as I am not in the inner circle of the council of fire. Though she was recommended by someone outside of the coven.", Styx replied.

Malcome continued with his questioning, "Do you suspect that her nomination could be a part of a larger conspiracy?", then as a follow up Malcome asked, "Do you trust Solas?"

Styx blurted out, "There is always a conspiracy going on in Igniton, that is the main reason why Solas departed for Eternos. Why Solas even told me before he departed to Eternos City that if he could not change Igniton from within then he would do so from without. Solas is a good man and someone who helped me out of many close encounters."

"Do you trust Rotar?", Malcome then shockingly asked.

"What?", Styx blurted out in surprise

"It is an honest question.", Trace told Styx who became irate.

"Oh, do hush up the adults are talking.", Styx told the prince.

Malcome then asked, "Well, do you have an answer?"

"No... I do not...", Styx thoughts trailed off before she continued," You have to understand that even though Lord Tyr is the ruler he is often resented while all of Igniton rejoices in the hero worship of Rotar. The young prince here is even madly over the moons about him, so much so that I bought him a Rotar action figure for his last birthday."

Styx teased joyfully as the young prince blushed.

Then after a while of trotting through the marsh, Styx told Malcome," I believe that Rotar to be so popular to the people that Lord Tyr props him up as a shield. As to Rotar himself, his first loyalty is probably to Lord Tyr...", Styx then thought for a moment before continuing, "it would be unless one could prove to Rotar the dishonesty inherent in Lord Tyr though then again it would have to be at the expense of the state."

"Then Rotar does not see Lord Tyr as he truly is.", Malcome replies.

A Styx speculative adds, "Rotars true motives are hidden to himself, perhaps he is unable to strike Lord Tyr at his time."

"I believe that Rotar is on the side of good.", Trace puts forth

"Well, you may know something we adults do not. The youth have a way with that sort of thing.", Styx admits.

The march on through the relentless marsh is silent for a while until Styx asks, "Do you feel that we are being watched?"

"I always do but let's stop for a minute to sense our surroundings.", Malcome suggested as he halted his horse Stridor.

The night was still dim but there was a light peeking through what appeared to be fog creeping through the marsh.

"A cool morning fog is building before us.", Malcome observed.

"I can make the way clearer for us with my fire wand.", Styx suggested.

Malcome waved the way forward saying, "I don't think that will be necessary. Let us keep moving."

After the brief respite, the trio rode on further as the fog rose up around them.

"Stay close to me as we ride.", Malcome advised Styx who was right behind him. For the ever-increasing fog had finally enveloped all three riders. Though as they rode on it was Trace who shouted, "I see something bright up ahead!"

What Trace saw was the invitation of daybreak as the blanketed ball of yellow light rose up to invite a new day on this part of Eternia.

Malcome was the first to emerge out of the fog bank to see with squinted eyes the brightening landscape before him.

It was indeed an enormous valley surrounded by grass as well as colorful flowerbeds which lied in-between a great canyon. There was a sound of water flowing nearby as well which was not connected to the water of the marsh.

A kind of loud robotic croaking was heard by everyone as they rode towards more solid ground. The croaking got louder until the sound of water breaking revealed that the trio was surrounded by numerous giant frogs!

"What is that thing?", a frightened Trace asked as the towering green frogs looked down upon them with brightly flashing yellow eyes.

Then hopping out of the valley came forth several more of the green frogs who Malcome never recalled ever seeing upon his stay in the valley.

A voice spoke from one of the giant frogs ahead of them as Malcome easily recognized it as an audio transmit, the voice commanded, "Halt then identify yourselves!"

"I am Malcome, I hail from Eternia on the command of King Miro!", Malcome declared.

The giant frog then lowered its long legs in order to lower its scale down a few feet. Then a hatch opened up on top of the frogs back to reveal a rider within it!

Th other giant frogs lowered their bodies down as well in accordance with their lead driver. Who leapt out of his machine to land a few feet in the water before Malcome who now towered over him upon his horse.

"It's a frog man!", Trace shouted in amazement as he pointed to the anthropomorphic frog like humanoid before him.

"I am indeed a Frog Man", the dark green creature dressed in purple with a purple cap told Trace before introducing himself to the young prince, "I am Inspector Plodok,

"That name...I remember that name...you're the Padwa that helped me...", Malcome tried to remember back to another name but was finding it difficult," Lu...something..."

Plodok was happy to oblige saying, "You mean to say Lucida."

"That's right, Lucida the Dream Palace.", Malcome finally recalled.

"I am sorry that we had to phase out some of your more cognitive memories. You were an emergency case at the time. You were a soldier as well as possible threat to us. It was done as a safety measure. We do not erase memories we just hide them away in the subconscious mind for a time.", Plodok explained.

"Well then, we come in peace, I am Prince Trace of Igniton in the Mystic Mountains. This is my Handmaid Styx a Witch of the Coven of Fire...", Trace was saying before he was cut off from Styx," Now be quite prince Trace...not now."

"Please, I am so sorry...", Styx began to apologize for Trace so not to be rude nor breakdown the communications going on.

"Think nothing of it, the young prince is impetuous as are most his age.", Plodok said as he took out a rather long curved pipe from a pouch strung around his waist. The pipe had a hat which Plodok opened as he did steam came out then it was promptly smoked. When Plodok exhaled from smoking his pipe bubbles came out in instead of smoke.

"Please tell me why you have come?", Plodok asked, leaving it up in the air as to who would answer him.

Malcome deferred the question to Styx who was more knowledgeable on the subject as she answered," The young prince has been suffering from fever nightmares ever since the other half of his conciseness was stolen away from him. In the mystic world it is called a Twin Flame like a mirror self though not fully formed. If the interpretation of the dream can be solved, we maybe then can find prince Traces other self."

"Hmmm...Come with me.", Plodok told the trio as he led the troupe out of the marsh water.

Plodok then told Malcome along with Styx and Prince Trace," I will take Prince Trace to Pacwad better known as Frog Town to outsiders. It is short notice, but I will have Trace examined by our chief Padwa Gomot at Lucida."

Plodok then leapt into the hatch on top of his mobile frog as the other ones dispersed upon seeing everything was well.

Plodok ceiled himself inside of the cockpit of his machine where he communicated from inside," I am sorry to have started everyone with this machine for which we call a Ribit. We must take precautions as this is the threshold of our sanctuary. Now come follow me!"

Then as the rider inside of his four-legged Ribit turned to hop ahead the three riders followed the lead towards Pacwad!

However, unbeknownst to them high in the air above was the little red winged robotic bird that had violated a sleeping Solas the night before.