One Way Ticket To Talenthar – Chapter 14

Chapter 14

With his newly acquired talent, Ludger could see the path through the forest, as easily as if it was a marked highway. He only had to close his eyes and concentrate on the destination he wanted to reach. The conjuration of the elders would enter his consciousness like a thousand voices urging him in the right direction. When he reopened his eyes the aura of the true path was highlighted against the background. He only had to follow this path.

Slightly before dusk, he decided to stop for the night. He chose a clearing that his second sight told him to be devoid of any potential problems. All the auras were friendly. While he was gathering some firewood for the night, Nathalia remained in the nominal protection of the truck.

The weather was cooler than in the city, but winter did not make itself felt because they were travelling toward the Desert of Death, where the cold season had no hold. Ludger was lost in deep conversation with Nathalia when a sudden noise, coming from the woods, startled them. Nathalia fell, trembling, into his arms, hugging him tightly. Her face showed fear.

Unaware of their presence, a long eared wild hare hopped slowly across the clearing. Closing his eyes Ludger probed the surrounding area with the help of the elders. He found no traces of any intruders. He closed his arms around Nathalia and patted her softly on the back.

“Come on.” He said. “As you can see there is nothing to fear.”

Nathalia blushed and pushed herself awkwardly out of his embrace. She turned away from him, her shoulders quivering from silent sobs. He lightly touched her and she recoiled from his hand. In a slow stern voice he said.

“Come on Nathalia. Nobody can penetrate the protection given to us by the conjuration of the elders. With their help I scanned the area and nothing out of the ordinary was revealed.”

He had slowly leaned toward her. He gently put his hands on her shoulders. With a gentle squeeze he continued.

“I am here to protect you. I will not let anything happen to you. You can count on this.”

Nathalia suddenly turned toward him. She hugged him tightly, resting her tear streaked cheek, on his chest. He let his arms gently encircle her, while he waited agonizingly long minutes for her sobbing to subside. As he caressed her head, she said in a small, strained voice, interrupted by gasps.

“Why are you here…? Humph…. Yesterday…,humph…, I spied on you… humph… while you were with Master Keldor… humph… I saw you cry….” She remained silent until her breathing became less laborious, then continued.

“You do not belong here. You were brought here against your will, leaving all of those you loved behind. They do not even know you ever existed.

Why, then, do you continue to help us when we are the one who kidnapped you without any chances of returning? If I were you, I would stay out of our fights, either in Elvanor or in the Mist of Dreams, where you would be out of reach of Magdar.”

As she paused, Ludger was about to say that she should do the same, but he thought better of it. She continued her monologue.

“Also, why, after being thrust in this mad situation, do you show no doubt, confusion or fear? This is not natural.”
Ludger thought about this for a long time, having no easy, logical answer. He gently kissed her forehead and after a long sigh, replied.

“Since I arrived unexpectedly into your world a short time ago, the rapid pace of events has prevented me to really rationalize my presence here. But I can tell you that I have never felt more comfortable than in this world. Which I am the first to be surprised of, considering the uncomfortable and deadly nature of our quest.

Also I feel at ease with this world’s inhabitants. A thing that I had always had problems with, back home. I have grown to love my companions, some of them more than others.” He gently squeezed her in his arms to emphasize his point. “As for fear and confusion, I have enough of them to outfit an army but…” He laughed softly. “… it would destroy my image as a hero if I would let them show.”

She hugged him tightly and said.

“Your secret is safe with me.”

Later Nathalia fell asleep in his arms, a hint of a smile enlightening her features.

*

Ludger awoke at first light, with Nathalia still sleeping soundly in his arms. His body felt stiff from the uncomfortable position he had slept in. His right arm, on which Nathalia was resting, was numb and lifeless.

He slowly disentangled himself from her embrace without disturbing her sleep. He went to answer nature’s calling and when he returned he stirred up the fire and added a few pieces of fresh wood. He removed his weapons and chainmail. Shivering in the cold morning air, he reluctantly started his morning exercise ritual.

He was in the middle of a complex series of katas when Nathalia finally awoke. She patiently sat by the fire, watching intently, until he finished. They ate a light breakfast taken from the supplies provided by Valnor. When they finished their tea, Ludger led the Princess in a short lesson, after which they broke camp.

By mid-morning they reached the edge of the enchanted forest. The blackened desert loomed ahead of them. Ludger consulted the map. While he was holding the small jade amulet in his hand, his concentration revealed a bluish glow over the horizon slightly west of their position. This was the blue aura of the Mist of Dreams. He also noticed a dark cloudy area roughly in their path to the Mist. He decided to investigate it, on their way home.

After an uneventful trek through a monotonous succession of burnt rounded hills, Ludger’s sword handle started to throb silently where it rested on his lap. He rolled to a stop and scanned the area around them. A little ahead to their left, beyond the crest of a low hill, the dark aura of black magic clouded a hidden valley.

He took a pair of powerful binoculars from the floor behind him. He studied the area, finding nothing out of the ordinary. He decided to have a closer look. He instructed Nathalia, who was to remain in the truck, in the operation of the silenced MAC 10.

He grabbed his G3 and after making sure it was loaded, proceeded on foot to the crest of the hill. After fifteen minutes of easy climbing, using all the available cover, he reached a position where he could observe while remaining hidden. He put the binoculars to his eyes. He spied on a group of forty to fifty trolls, goblins and ogres revelling around the broken carcass of a large shapeless animal.

Ludger guessed that they were a reconnaissance party assigned to the surveillance of the Mist. He noticed that no sentries were posted. He was glad that they were as inefficient as they were undisciplined. He retreated, unobserved, from the area. He returned to Nathalia’s side and when he drove off he made a wide detour avoiding the area entirely. They were at the edge of the Mist by late afternoon.

He stopped the truck with its front end just touching the thick vapours. He turned toward the Princess and said.
“As we go through the mist, it is easier if you clear your mind first. It helps in preventing any stray emotions interfering with the transition to this small enclave of my world.”

She acquiesced with a nod and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, Ludger drove in slowly. There was a strange tingling sensation as they passed through the mist and they were on the path to his house. Ludger was surprised that wherever he entered the mist from, he always ended up at the same place on the path. He took in the view. Nothing had changed since his last visit, even the shape of the clouds. He assumed that time stood still or flowed at a greatly reduced rate when he was absent.

As he reached the house, he riffled through the glove compartment. He found his remote control. He keyed off the alarm and opened the right hand garage door. He drove directly into it.

Nathalia was intrigued by the strange architecture of the house. After they unloaded the equipment, Ludger gave her a grand tour. He wanted to start the inventory of the supplies he needed and make sure of the readiness of his transportation. Nathalia wanted to learn more about his world.

He brought her to the media room. He taught her how to operate the video cassette recorder. When she had mastered the machine, he brought to her a wide array of books, magazines and tapes. He let her to her studies, as he went to work in the garage and the shops.

By early evening Ludger was done with his survey. He prepared a quick supper that he brought to Nathalia, who was still lost in her studies of his world. They both ate in silence. As they finished their meal, Nathalia broke the silence.

“You come from a strange world. The minority has a lot and clamours for more, while the majority is starving in abject misery. Also the minority, in its quest for more, is destroying the fragile environmental balance of your planet.”

“You are very astute in your observations. Often the individuals are fairly benign, but as a assemblage we can become very destructive. As one of our great philosophers once said: “Its not that the idea of our ancestors climbing down the trees was bad. I think that the bad idea was to have come out of the seas and climbed up the trees in the first place.”. Or something similar to that.”

Nathalia laughed softly and stretched languorously. She said with a smile.

“I feel very weary and would appreciate a bath.”

“I have something even better than a simple bath to propose and after, I am sure that a good back rub will vanquish that weariness.”

He led her up to his suite and filled the sunken Jacuzzi with hot water and scented oils. He told her to disrobe in the dressing room. She joined him in the bathroom wrapped in a thick terry cloth robe. He ushered her into the hot water and admired her lean muscular physique in the process. She squirmed when he turned on the powerful jets, but soon relaxed with a look of ecstasy on her face.

Ludger left her, relaxing in the tub. He came back dressed in a pair of comfortable sweat pants, after having taken a long shower. He handed her a snifter of armagnac. He returned to the kitchen, where he filled a container with very hot water. He heated a bottle of scented oils in the microwave oven. He plunged the plastic bottle in the water. He returned to the bathroom, where he left it on the vanity.

He fetched a folding massage table from a locker. He set it up under some heat lamps that were recessed in the ceiling. He turned the lamps on to warm up the table’s surface. Taking a large plush towel, he went to the tub’s side.

He held up the towel in front of him. He wrapped Nathalia in it when she emerged, soaking wet, from the tub. He vigorously rubbed her dry until she took a healthy red glow from head to toes. Her skin had the winter remnants of an even summer tan. He led her by the hand to the table. He informed her to lay, face down, on it. He said in a conversational tone.

“I wonder, how a proper Princess managed to get an all over tan, like you did?”

She blushed and replied in a coy voice.

“Maria and I, always sneak up to a secluded roof top garden at the palace, to take in the summer sun. We see no harm in it.”

“Neither do I. It is very nice.”

Her body turned a deeper shade of crimson. Ludger took the hot oil bottle from the water and dried it with the towel. He popped open the cap and poured a generous amount of the oil, between her shoulder blades. She cooed softly as her back arched. Ludger started to massage the scented oil into her soft flesh, at the base of her skull. He proceeded to her shoulders and arms, then to her upper back. He added some oil to the small of her back and kneaded the firm muscles of her buttocks, then her thighs and calves. After a long time he asked her to turn onto her back.

He had a long look at her flawless figure. He poured a little oil in the palms of his hands and rubbed them together. He started on her forehead. He moved down to her temples then under her chin and neck. He took one of her long arms. He started at the fingers and slowly made his way up to the shoulder. He repeated the process with the other arm. He poured some more oil onto the middle of her chest. He worked it into her sternum and ribs. He cupped her heaving breasts with his slick hands until her dark nipples jutted prominently. He rolled the twin engorged nubs between his fingers as she moaned deeply in her throat. It was getting more and more difficult for Ludger to concentrate on his work.

Nathalia gasped as he poured more hot oil in the rounded hollow of her navel. He massaged the unctuous salve into her firm abdomen, to the edge of her neatly trimmed mound. He placed one of her feet on his chest and kneaded her flesh from toes to upper thigh. As he finished the other leg, Ludger noticed that the young woman was breathing regularly. She was fast asleep.

He went to the bedroom and opened the bed. He carried her limp form effortlessly to the bed. He placed her between the crisp sheets. He tucked in the covers to her neck and kissed her on the forehead. He left the room quietly.
He went down to the media room. He put on some soft music while sighing deeply. He looked out the large bay window, seeing only the mist at the edge of the decking. An idea came to his mind. He rushed onto the deck and plunged his hand into the mist trying to make contact with the Guardian.

The cosmic consciousness, that was the Guardian, was with him instantly. The disembodied voice boomed into his mind.

“Welcome back Master Ludger.” It said mimicking Dregnar’s tones. “I have not heard from you in a long time. You should have sent me a postcard.”

“Stop being a smart aleck.” Ludger silently replied. “I need your help.”

“Having trouble with the young lady?”

“No…, I just want to know if you can turn the featurelessness of the Mist, into an image of the lake that was there before. It would be nice to look at something other than clouds of cotton.”

“Sure…, I’ll work on it right now. Anything else you need?”

“No that’s about it. I will talk to you in the morning.”

In front of Ludger the mist started to coalesced into geometric shapes. Soon the cloud was replaced by the view that had originally brought him to this place. The moonlit landscape stretched in front of him. The grey hills bordered the lake, island dotted its surface. Far bellow, Ludger could see the water lapping at the base of the cliff, on top of which his house stood proudly. The air was full of the smell of pine trees. Far away cried a lone loon. The illusion was perfect in every details.

He walked back inside and switched on the outside speakers. He poured himself a snifter full of armagnac and returned to the edge of the balcony. He sat on top of the railing facing the panorama, lost in thoughts. After a timeless interval, he heard the soft patter of bare feet on the wooden deck, behind him. Long arms circled his waist and a warm naked body pressed itself against his back. Nathalia gently nibbled at his ear and said in a sultry voice.

“I thank you very much for the massage. I have never felt so good and relaxed in my life. Are you always so hospitable with your guests?”

“No…, only with the special ones.”

“Have there been many special ones?”

“Since my divorce with Maggy, over a year ago, I have not met many women who enjoyed the isolation of this place…. It is very difficult for me to get close to someone. I am afraid of getting hurt.”

“Come on…, a big man like you should not be afraid of getting hurt,” She hugged him tightly. “Tell me, are you as good at getting a massage, as you are of giving them?”

“It depends. I received regular massages after my training sessions with Master Yakumi, but I don’t believe that is what you meant. Otherwise no…, because nobody ever offered.”

She pulled him off the railing and said.

“Come, its time that somebody does.”

Nathalia dragged him by the arm, up into the bathroom, where she had set up for the massage. She pulled down his sweat pants and pushed him faced down on the table. She poured some hot oil on his back, it felt wonderful. She started kneading his flesh, paying particular attention to the numerous bruised areas all over his body.

“It looks like you have been at war.” She said.

“I have…, I have.” He muttered softly.

Later, as she was finishing to massage his second leg, she looked unashamedly at his obvious arousal. She grabbed the almost empty bottle of oil and anointed his rigid organ with it. Ludger reluctantly stood up. He lifted her into his arms. For the second time that night, he carried her to the bed. He deposited her quivering body in the middle of it. He threw the sheets to the floor and laid down at her side.

They explored each others bodies with a passion that Ludger had never felt before. Every touch, every nibble was fraught with uncontrolled passion and excitement. They exchanged a long deep kiss and while he was looking deep into her green eyes, he mounted her. They made love with sensual urgency, as if there was no tomorrow, until they collapsed in each others embrace.

They awoke before dawn, ready to repeat the previous night’s performance. Nathalia pushed him on his back. She murmured while nibbling at his ear.

“Last night you were the one in control. Now it is my turn.”

She straddled his hips and rubbed her young firm body against his, while kissing him sensuously. When she noticed his arousal, she rode him until they both climaxed in a kaleidoscope of mind numbing passion. She laid panting on top of him, her body slick with a film of perspiration. Ludger hugged her until they both recovered their breath and their heartbeat settled to a more reasonable tempo. He kissed her and said.

“Your Exalted Highness, it is time for a shower, then I have some work to do.”

She raised to her knees, still straddling him, and said, coyly.

“You are sure that you do not want to do it again.”

“It’s not the desire that is lacking, but I am getting old and I need my rest.”

She did something with her hand that made him moan deeply. He pushed her off him. He said, laughing heartily, as he rolled off the bed.

“Oh no, you don’t. I don’t want to become a crippled man with all of his energy sucked out of him.”

He ran into the bathroom and turned on the water sprays in the shower. He adjusted their temperature. He stepped into the enclosure under the invigorating jets of water. Nathalia ran into the bathroom giggling. She joined him in the shower. She did with her hand what she had done before and, again, he moaned loudly. Ludger looked down and said with wonder in his voice.

“Your Highness, you must be a practising necromancer, you have just managed to raise the dead.”

He pushed her back against the tiles. He grabbed her muscular thighs and wrapped them around his hips. He mounted her with the harsh sprays of water beating on his back.

*

Later, after breakfast, Ludger explained his plan of action.

“I will travel through the Desert of Ice on a snowmobile. A machine designed to travel on snow and ice. Today I will tune the machine for the extreme conditions that I will encounter. I will pull my supplies, and extra fuel, on a lightweight sleigh.

I think that with arctic clothing, I will be able to reach the far end of the Valley of Perils without any problems. Come, I will show you.”

He showed Nathalia the sleek, yellow, tracked machine. Its powerful engine would permit him to travel quickly. As a bonus the heat of the engine would also keep him warm. The thick, down filled, arctic parka, pants and boots, combined with many layers of insulating clothes, should keep him comfortable. At night he would make camp in a small one person insulated tent, heated with a small stove using solid, canned fuel.

Ludger went into the armoury. He opened a secret compartment. He withdrew two small, heavy, nylon bags and a third lighter one. The two heavy bags were filled with one inch square by eight inches long sticks of military explosive. He took one of the paper wrapped sticks of dark green putty and showed it to Nathalia. He said.

“I have been collecting military hardware for many years. Not long ago one of my regular suppliers offered me these. It was highly illegal but, strangely enough, I was compelled to buy them. I felt like I would need them in the future. A couple of these sticks would be enough to reduce this house into tinder. I think that with two bags of the stuff I will be able to destroy the lock on the dam.”

Nathalia shrank away from the bags he was holding.

“Don’t worry.” he said. “They are only dangerous if a primary explosion, inside their mass, triggers them.”

“I do not care, be careful with this stuff. While you work, I will go back to study your world. By the way, do you have any women’s clothes in the house.”

Ludger replied with a laugh.

“No…, I don’t look very good in them…. But seriously, there is two large suitcases full of clothes and accessories, that a young and enterprising lady had delivered here, in expectation of a long weekend of romance that never happened. They are in the walk-in closet by the bedroom. I was about to return them to her when I was brought to this world.”

In a dry voice she replied.

“The poor girl never new what she missed.”

She turned around and left Ludger to his work. He stowed the explosives in a sturdy nylon pack. The content of the lighter bag was emptied on a wooden bench. He sorted through the wide array of detonators that it contained. He packed a bag with electric detonators, batteries, timers, a large spool of small gauge electrical wire, a continuity tester and assorted tools and supplies. He brought the two bags to the garage.

He would travel light. Only extra gasoline, the explosives, camping supplies, MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), water and climbing equipment would be packed on the sleigh. He worked all morning preparing the snowmobile. Around noontime, Nathalia brought him lunch. She was dressed in tight fitting jeans, an emerald coloured silk shirt and high heels. She turned around like a fashion model and asked.

“How do you like this?”

“The look suits you, it is elegant yet athletic.”

“Thank you, I am glad you approve.”

She left him, walking away with the assurance of a runway model. Ludger shook his head, grinning. She amazed him more and more. By mid-afternoon the snowmobile and the sleigh were loaded on a small trailer. After servicing his off-road truck he backed it out of the garage. He hitched the trailer to it. He loaded a powerful radio and a directional antenna in the other truck. Nathalia came out to see what he was doing. She said.

“Where are you going?”

“Only to the edge of the Mist. I will try to contact Chargoff and tell him that all is well. I am sure that Arexis will be glad to hear the news. Also, I want to confirm the day and time of the attack, just to be sure. You should remain here, I don’t want to expose you unnecessarily.”

As she climbed aboard, she said.

“I am very touched by your concerns, but I want to be the one who talks to Arexis. I have not yet given my allegiance to the new King.”

Ludger fetched his shotgun from the other truck. They drove into the mist.

*

Later that afternoon Ludger was preparing dinner. He was ready to leave, but did not want to camp in the Desert of Death. They would depart before dawn and try to reach their rendez-vous point that evening. The attack was to be launched on schedule. Arexis had a long talk with Nathalia while Ludger stood guard. She had spent the rest of the afternoon happily leafing through fashion magazines.

He was setting the table in the little used dining room. He usually preferred to eat in either the media room or the kitchen. He was preparing an elaborate meal composed of his favourite dishes. This could possibly be his last meal ever in a normal setting. The first course was Assetra caviar and Strassbourg paté, accompanied by a bottle of Bollinger R.D. 1973. A fish course composed of a terrine de saumon et de crevettes avec sauce aux trois moutardes would follow. It would be well complemented by a bottle of Louis Latour’s Corton-Charlemagne 1987. The entrée was noisettes d’agneau à la sauce au Porto et aux champignons sauvages accompanied by baby carrots and pommes de terre Sarladaise. For this hearty dish he had chosen a bottle of Chateau Latour 1970. Strawberries Romanoff and Capucino would be served as dessert.

Just thinking about the meal and of his companion for the evening made Ludger’s mouth water. He wondered where Nathalia had disappeared to. The table was finally set with pewter and delicate white and celadon bone china. Paper thin crystal glittered in the subdued light. To Ludger’s astonished stare, Nathalia made a regal entrance down the main stairway.
She was clothed in a short, low cut, backless, black cocktail dress, that was moulded to her perfect body. Her long legs were clad in sheer black stockings. Her feet bore black evening pumps. A single strand of pearls adorned he neck. Her face was lightly, but expertly, made up and her shiny hair was worn straight, draped over a naked shoulder. Her poise would have made her the perfect hostess at an elegant high society party or at a royal gathering.

Ludger bowed deeply and kissed her extended hand. He said in a hoarse voice.

“Milady, excuse my casual dress. I will return shortly attired appropriately.”

He rushed upstairs to the bedroom and changed rapidly into his tuxedo. After combing his hair and beard, he returned to her side. He opened the chilled champagne. They toasted the evening, that would remain in Ludger’s mind, as one of the best he had ever experienced.

*

They awoke before dawn, intertwined in each others arms. They silently prepared themselves for the trip, still basking in the afterglow of the previous evening. There was a certain surrealistic feel in the air during the preparations. Ludger felt that this could be the last time that he would see this enclave of his world. He was sad, but in a funny way he felt that it was time to break with his past.

They were quickly on their way to the rolling hills. Before crossing the Mist, Ludger had a last, tear eyed, look at his retreat. He hoped that he would be able to return some day.

While crossing the desert, he steered clear of the enemy’s outpost, by avoiding its telltale aura. After an uneventful journey through the plains, they reached the first, sparsely wooded, snow covered hills by sundown.

Under the harsh glare of the blazing halogen lights, they reached the assigned rendez-vous point. They were greeted warmly by their friends. Soon the group was happily chatting around the roaring fire.

Lynor had thoroughly scouted the area before their arrival. No traces of any enemy patrols were found. It was soon decided that Ludger would proceed through the snowy hills alone with the elf. On their way to the Plains of Perpetual Ice, Ludger would teach him how to drive the truck. The tall elf would return to Elvanor with the vehicle. In the morning the rest of his friends would get under way for the elven capital.

The conversation turned to tales of past exploits. Ludger was happily petting his dog under the watchful eye of Nathalia, who was sitting across the fire talking breathlessly with Maria. Later that night, Ludger retired to a lone tent with Nathalia, under the cheerful stare of a giggling Maria.

Early the next morning came a tearful separation. Ludger made Nathalia swear that she would remain in Elvanor under the watchful supervision of Balnor and Maria. Balnor promised him that he would not let anything happen to the Princess.

Ludger drove off into the bleak landscape. Lynor was a quick learner. By midday he was handling the small utility vehicle like a pro. The temperature was steadily dropping as they approached the plains. When the depth of snow made their progress hazardous, it was decided that Ludger would proceed alone, on the snowmobile. They made camp for the night. Under the glow of the ceiling light, they studied the map to pick the best course through the featureless plains. Ludger would have to drive deep into the icy desert to find a way past the western tip of the Howling Mountains. This part of the journey would be the most perilous, because of hidden fissures and several precarious snow bridges he would have to traverse.

The next morning Ludger struggled to put on the many layers of his arctic clothing. He kept his chainmail over his regular clothes, but removed his side holster containing his compensated .45 to gain flexibility. He would only keep his Glock that was neatly tucked away in the small of his back. He would strap his sword, his MAC 10 and the small handrifle, that he had built on a Remington XP-100 action, to the snowmobile.

When he exited the back of the truck he felt and looked like the Michelin man. He wore the hood from his chainmail under an insulated balaclava and face mask, to reduce the bulk under his fur rimmed hood. With the chainmail’s hood he would not need the protection of a crash helmet.

With the help of Lynor he unloaded the snowmobile and hitched the sleigh to it. He shook hands with the tall elf. After donning a pair of thick insulated mittens over his gloved hands. He pressed the started button. The powerful, two-stroke engine roared instantly to life. While the engine was warming up, Ludger walked around the machine, making sure everything was shipshape. He turned toward Lynor. The elf said in a solemn voice.

“I bid you farewell. We will meet again next week in front of the Gates of Doom…. May the Gods be willing.”

“Amen….”

Ludger pulled down a pair of thick goggles over his eyes. He straddled the idling machine, clipped the string attached to the kill switch to a ring on his suit and, without looking back, drove off into the deep snow.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

From 1990: One Way Ticket To Talenthar

The Sass