The Graylands

“Where are we headed to next?” Tinkletoes asks.

“The Graylands. Castle Glas. The Lady Gray lives there along with her...ogres.” Pirate says. He makes a face when he says the word, “ogre.” It has already been a trying day and ogres can be unpleasant beasts. “This is the last stop before the sword reappears on the Lady of the Lake’s doorstep.”

“Storming a castle, that’s my kind of mission.” Tinkletoes says. “Let’s go.”

Pirate looks at Tinkletoes, “Lady Gray is one of the Lady of the Lake’s oldest and dearest friends. If we storm the castle the alarms will go off, ogres will fill the halls and the grounds. Excalibur will be snatched back into the Lady of the Lake’s waiting hands with great efficiency.”

“So you have to go to the castle, speak to Lady Gray, and hope that she hasn’t heard of you?” Monitor Man asks.

“Aye.”

“Since the two are so close, she’s probably heard of you.” Monitor Man continues.

“Aye.”

“If this sword is so special, she ain’t likely to hand it over to you.” Tinkletoes says. “She ain’t likely to hand it over to anyone.”

Monitor Man nods in agreement.

“You’d be surprised Mates. You’d be surprised who Excalibur has been loaned to over the centuries.” Pirate says. “Although, I do agree that Lady Gray is not likely to hand it over to me.”

“It would take a lot of charm to win her favor after what’s happened.” Monitor Man agrees.

Tinkletoes and Pirate look at each other. The two look at him.

“Could you say that again Mate?”

“It would take a lot of charm to win her favor after what happened?”

“Something you got heaps of.” Tinkletoes says, looking at Monitor Man.

“So does Pirate.” Monitor Man counters.

“Yours is so much better Mate.”

“She’ll see right through it.” The actor counters.

Pirate and Tinkletoes stand up.

“Let’s talk about on this on the way.” Tinkletoes says.

“We are limited for time.” Pirate agrees.

The actor looks at the two and grins, “Okay. I’m sure that I can convince you that I’m right about this.”

Dylan looks at The Lady With The Long Golden Hair and smiles. Furnatche jumps into her arms narrowly missing the plate that Ray is holding out to her. She pets Furnatche for a moment. Dylan reaches up and takes the baby dragon from her so that she can accept the plate. The Lady With The Long Golden Hair steps away from the window, out of sight of Gordon’s curious eye. “Do you gentlemen accept your temporary stations?” She asks. All three nod solemnly. “We will discuss everything in more detail after I have seen Writer Lady back to Faerie.” She turns and guides Writer Lady into High Command closing the door behind them. “There are a few things that I must tell you about Pirate before you leave.”

Monitor Man shakes his head, “I’m human. I have no magic. She’ll see right through this.”He emphasizes during their long trek to the castle from the main road. The last few hours have consisted of Monitor Man pointing out how their plan won’t work and Pirate and Tinkletoes discussing how Castle Glas and it’s grounds are laid out.

Pirate points to a building toward the back wall. “According to the Lady of the Lake’s description, the ogres’ main quarters are there. There should be no trouble avoiding it, ogres are quite fragrant.”

“Some how, I get the feeling that they just aren’t listening.” Monitor Man mutters.

A bright and cheerful TP appears in front of the actor. “Of course they aren’t, Silly Human. They are on a mission.” The faerie sings. “But, someone is coming who will.”

“Who? Who is coming?”

“Wait and see. Keep an eye on the road or great injury waits for thee.” The faerie warns and disappears.

Tinkletoes says, “We lost one.” The self-proclaimed mercenary stops, he turns around to find Monitor Man talking to no one. “We’re planning a mission here. Get your butt up here.”

The actor catches up to the group.

Tinkletoes studies Monitor Man. “You sick?  You’re lookin’ a little peaked soldier.”

Pirate takes a look in assessment and finds nothing. “What do you find wrong?” He asks Tinkletoes.

“He looks gray.”

“As do you.” Pirate says. “We are in the Graylands. Have you not noticed that everything is void of color? Void and desolate?”

“He’s right.” Monitor Man agrees. The actor looks at patch of wildflowers nearby. “Everything is gray, even the buttercups.”

“Aye. That is Lady Gray’s magic and why these are called the Graylands. It is a ruse. Something to make these lands so unattractive that no living creature would think to take it for themselves. Monitor Man, being human, has been absorbed into her spell.”

Tinkletoes studies his own graying skin. “It seems I’m under the spell now too.”

Monitor Man looks at Tinkletoes, “Except for your eyes. Their color has not changed.”

“I wonder why.” Tinkletoes says.

“You are not entirely human sir.” Pirate says.

“What?” The self-proclaimed mercenary asks.

Pirate looks at Monitor Man and grins. He looks back at Tinkletoes. “Your Faerie is showing.”

“What about you? You’re both.”

“I am also under the spell but every part of me that has been touched by magic retains its color."

Pirate’s boots, hands, the scarf he wears around his head, and the moonstone earring all retain their color. The moonstone periodically glows, stimulated by the magic that surrounds it.

“Why is my closet door glowing?” Writer Lady asks.

“It is a door to Faerie. It should take you directly to Pirate, Monitor Man, and Tinkletoes.”

“When did you do that?”

“Just now. It only takes a moment, my sister.”

“Oh.”

“I need you to sit down with me.” The Lady With The Long Golden Hair says as she lowers Writer Lady to a seat on a bench next to her. “There is something that you must know about Pirate before you leave.” She says as she hands Writer Lady her plate. “You should eat something.”

“The first time that I encountered Pirate he was in my front yard cleaning up. He worked all day without a word. He would look at the house, grumble occasionally, and continue working. He did not knock on my door or introduce himself he just worked. When I tried to introduce myself, he told me that he already knew who I was, grumbled his name, and continued working. He returned the next day. I saw to it that meals were prepared for him, that he stayed hydrated, and had ample opportunities for breaks. I wondered what brought him to me, what would cause a pirate to stray so far from the sea...he did not offer any explanation. I started taking my meals with him and tried asking what I might do for him in return. He would grow angry even sullen if I pressed. 

 One night, he came to the door. He started speaking before he had entered the house completely. Pirate shared his most personal stories with me including the story of his affair with the Lady of the Lake. His falling in love with her but being unable to stay. Most importantly, how walking away so abruptly and without explanation had haunted him every moment since. He asked to be put to punishment. I told him that it looked like he had more than adequately punished himself but I would think about it and give him an appropriate punishment the next day. He returned at first light, ready for whatever was coming. As he was a pirate without a ship and I was a lady without a champion I sentenced him to stay here until he had learned his lesson.”

  Writer Lady, having stopped eating a while ago, listens closely.

“I constructed his punishment carefully. I have given him duties but they are specific duties.  I watch and listen. When the sea calls to him, I send him to her. When he is better, I call him back. He has proven himself many times over. Pirate needs to see that he can love and care for someone and still have the freedom and adventure that a pirate craves. He can be with his ship, the sea, all that he loves, without turning his back on those that he holds dear. It is my gift to him. In order for Pirate to have this he must be successful in Faerie. My sister it is time. It is time for Pirate’s punishment to be over. Whether he likes it or not.”