Lady Gray

“Where are we gonna find one of those?” Tinkletoes asks.

Everyone looks at Writer Lady.

“I have to have all of the answers now?”

“You did come all this way to take over.” Tinkletoes says. “You might as well.”

Writer Lady mutters and looks around. She sees two figures on horseback in the distance. As the figures come into sight, she recognizes who or rather what they are. Ogres.

“We could just wait to be captured.” Writer Lady says. She looks at Tinkletoes, “What are they doing here?”

Tinkletoes watches the ogres and says, “They look relaxed, they're riding at a leisurely pace." He squints. "I’m not sure they can see us." Tinkletoes looks at Writer Lady and says, "It’s probably just your standard patrol.”

“Why wouldn’t they see us? Haven’t you all been on this road for a while? Why didn’t they see you earlier in the day?”

“Ahh...” Pirate says. “That would be the magic. Ogres only see magic. Magic is the only real threat to Lady Gray or the Graylands. None of us have enough magic to be noticed.”

“We blend in?” Monitor Man asks.

“In your case, yes, literally and figuratively. After the ogres have gotten a look at us the others will see us as well.”

“The pretty boy blends into the woodwork.” Tinkletoes says with a grin. He looks at Monitor Man. “I bet you never expected to be invisible, did you?”

“If we’ve been invisible in The Graylands so far, then what changed?” Monitor Man asks.

Leitis nudges Pirate’s hand with her nose. He absentmindedly complies. “Most likely these two.”

Black Buck the Antelope agrees. “He’s right. Unicorns are highly magical. They have also become very rare in many parts of Faerie. A unicorn usually means one of two things: lost travelers or illness.”

“Lady Gray would want to know what we have brought to her lands.” Pirate says.

The two ogres approach. Everyone tenses up. The humans do at least.

“Greetings. I am Arnwolf of Castle Glas. How may we serve you?”

Everyone looks at each other. Well...the humans do.

The silver unicorn neighs.

“Siva, you have returned.” Arnwolf says looking at the silver unicorn. “Her Ladyship will be most pleased to see you.”

The silver unicorn, or Siva, neighs and scrapes at the ground with his hoof. He walks over to meet Arnwolf with Leitis in tow.

The ogre reaches out to greet Siva and then Leitis. “I see that you’ve found a friend. Lady Gray will be most pleased.”

Pirate leans over and whispers to Writer Lady, “I do believe that we may have found our “In”.”

Writer Lady nods.

The ogres once again address the visitors. “How may we serve you?”

Tinkletoes coughs but no one speaks. Tinkletoes takes a few steps and stands next to Monitor Man. The self-proclaimed mercenary nudges the actor with his shoulder.

“We would like an audience with Her Ladyship.” Monitor Man answers.

“Yes. Of course. Follow us.”

“How are things, really? Pirate asks Writer Lady as the group follows their escort.

“With the Lady With The Long Golden Hair?”

He nods.

“Fine. Tense but quiet. The giant is a little bit unusual. It’s so quiet. I have been wondering why we are working so hard to procure Excalibur. I don’t know if we'll need to use it.”

“You have not dealt with the Treimhse Ar Adoration before. Things tend to get ugly very quickly Milady. When a giant is around, a champion is in need of a much bigger stick.”

Dylan and Furnatche run to the picture window to see where all of the music is coming from. They see the parade led by the police cars, lights merrily flashing, coming towards the house. So does Gordon. A strange noise comes from him, growing into a rumble that rattles the ground. The giant rises to his full height. He roars, tightening all of his upper body muscles at the same time.

The parade of admirers keeps advancing.

“Duuuuude.” Ray says.

“He stole that move from the Hulk.” Carp says looking at Ray. “Do you think he knows?”

“It didn’t work.” Dylan observes. “Does it matter?”

Gordon begins thrashing around, attacking anything and everything within his reach. Within seconds, a hand is headed straight for the picture window.

“Oh sh….”

“Please make yourselves comfortable. Her ladyship will be with you shortly.”

Writer Lady, Pirate, Tinkletoes, Monitor Man, and Black Buck the Antelope have all been led to a sitting area at the far end of Castle Glas’ Great Hall. Everyone, except the antelope, sits down in elaborate handcrafted chairs made of dark woods and rich fabrics. They take in their surroundings, paying attention to the beautiful work that has been put into everything around them.

Tinkletoes looks around. “I wonder where she’s gonna be sittin’.”

“There is only one throne here.” Black Buck the Antelope points out.

“Look at it.” Tinkletoes says. “It’s all beat up and stuff. The wood looks scratched, the upholstery is torn up.” He looks at Writer Lady. “It kinda looks like some of your furniture.”

Writer Lady glares at Tinkletoes for a moment and says, “Maybe she has a cat.”

A pair of ogres enter the hall. Each take position on either side of the throne.

One of them says, “All rise for the Ancient One, Lady Gray, Keeper of Castle Glas, Protector of the Graylands, and Trusted Advisor to The Lady of the Lake.” Both ogres say. “Long Live The Cream.”

A smokey gray kitten with matching gray eyes enters the Great Hall along a wooden beam that runs just below the ceiling. She continues along several beams and follows a set of stairs to rest gracefully on the seat of her throne.

“Maybe she’s a cat.” Monitor Man says.

“That gives getting some pu.” Tinkletoes feels a slap on the back of his head before he has a chance to finish the word.

Writer Lady glares at him.

“It does.”

“Hello.” Lady Gray purrs. “Welcome to my home. How may I serve you?”

There is no answer.

“Does no one require help?” She asks.

Pirate stands up. “I do.”

Writer Lady reaches out and touches him on the arm. She nods and smiles at him. Pirate turns to Lady Gray and tells her absolutely everything.

“That is why I need Excalibur.” He finishes.

“I need you to do something for me before this can go any further. Do you see the window over there? Next to the square made of stone?”

“Yes.”

“I need you to stand by it. I need to look into your soul.”

“He’s a pirate. Pirates are bad.” Tinkletoes says. “What’s the point?”

“He’s right.” Pirate agrees. “There’s nothing good to be had.”

Lady Gray looks at Pirate. Pirate crosses the room and stands next to the stone square.

“I thought that you humans would be more enlightened by now. All is not black or white. Good or bad.”

Lady Gray crosses the hall and jumps on to the stone square that stands next to Pirate. She raises her head for a pet and nips at his hand when he obliges her request for attention. She does not draw blood but does break through the topmost layer of skin releasing the essence of the buccaneer’s soul. The smokey kitten inhales deeply, taking it in. “You are on a journey Pirate. A long journey. A journey for your soul. The further you travel, the less time you spend in darkness and more in light.” She looks at Pirate and studies his face. She licks at the wounded finger. “You are motivated by...love?” She says with surprise. “Not lust, nor romantic love but by kindness, caring. A true and selfless love. Your capacity for love is tremendous, Sir.”

“Let’s not share that bit of information shall we?” Pirate asks.

“Of course. If you prefer it.” She says. “Regardless, the dirt that you have so prided on coating your soul with only keeps the love closer. Just as the mud that is on your boots and the dust on your coat helps to keep the remnants of salt close to your skin, the sand between your toes as pure as the first beach you walked on the first time that you ventured across it. You are loved.” She says, looking at each of her other visitors in turn. “It is clear to me how loved you are and why.”

“You sure about that?” Tinkletoes asks. “A guy who doesn’t clean between his toes for that long...he’d be hard to get too close to.”

“I am sure Sir.” Lady Gray responds, with that look of irritation at interruption that cats are prone to give. “I will confer with Excalibur. We will let her decide if she wants to help you.”