“Yes,” agreed the second guard, “all’s—Would you wake up?”
“What?” questioned the third soldier, who had been sleeping against the wall.
“You’re supposed to be watching the castle!”
“Oh, what’s the point? Nothing ever happens here at night.”
“He’s right,” agreed the first guard. “The last person I caught turned out the be the Prince, going to the larder for a midnight snack.”
“And that was three weeks ago.”
“Well, even so, it is our duty to protect the castle. We are members of the Strillstan Honor Guard!”
Strillsta, by the way, is a small kingdom in the Gillikin Country of Oz, just slightly west of Pumperdink. It is ruled by King Strill and Queen Sta; and the three guards, who were named Nalgris, Wulgo, and Triflar, were guarding the castle of these two Gillikin sovereigns.
“Every night, we do the same thing,” complained Triflar, fifteen minutes later. “We stand around waiting for something to happen, and nothing ever—“
“Wait a minute!” interrupted Nalgris. “What’s that?”
The two other guards looked in the direction indicated by Nalgris, and noticed that the grass in the castle courtyard was burning. After a few minutes of this, a fire sprang up from the ground, and a large humanoid, dressed in somewhat ragged white robes with flames sewn along the edges, and wearing a turban on his head, stepped out of the flames.
“Halt, stranger!” called Wulgo. “Who art thou?”
“I am Iblis, and I have just ascended from the Underworld,” replied the stranger, in a loud, booming voice.
“Iblis? Now where have I heard that name before?” questioned Nalgris. “Isn’t he some demon or something?”
“Well, I used to be the Master Djinni, and Ruler of the Fire Elementals, but I lost my position, and was forced to hold a variety of demeaning jobs. My name, once respected by all the world, has been associated with the likes of the Devil.”
“And why did you lose your kingship?” asked Triflar.
“Oh, let’s not get into that right now. The important thing is that I’ve completed my ten thousand years of service, and am now totally free!”
“The excited Djinni leapt into the air, and began flying around in circles, waving his flaming sword above his head. Fire flew from Iblis’ blade. The fire elemental then tossed his turban, and quickly caught it on the edge of his sword.
“But why did you come here, to our castle?” inquired Wulgo.
“I didn’t know where I was going to surface,” explained Iblis. “I just started ascending, and ended up here. Where am I, anyway?”
“This is Castle Strillsta, in the Gillikin Country of Oz,” replied Nalgris.
“Well, it’s not much compared to my old Fire Palace, but it’s nice for a mortal castle.”
“We’re not mortals,” stated Triflar. “The people of Oz live forever, due to Lurline’s enchantment.”
“Lurline? I think I’ve heard of her. Queen of the Fairies, isn’t she?”
“And Protectress of our great Land of Oz.”
“Come to think of it, I seem to remember hearing something about Queen Lurline enchanting some country, about seven or eight centuries ago.”
“That sounds about right. Of course, we weren’t around back then, but that’s what most of the books say.”
“So what are you going to do, now that you’re free, Iblis?” questioned Nalgris.
“I don’t know. It’s been so long since I could choose what to do. Ten thousand long years, in fact.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know what that feels like. I’ve only lived for 153 years. They haven’t been particularly long ones, either, except back when I was in high school. THAT seemed like it lasted forever.”
“I was once a prisoner for ten years,” announced Wulgo. “I was captured by goblins, and forced to work in their mines. I wasn’t freed until—“
“Until the Strillstan Army defeated the goblins. That’s why you joined the Strillstan Honor Guard. We know. We’ve heard that story a million times.”
“Well, I don’t really want to join an Honor Guard, or work in goblin mines,” stated Iblis. “Isn’t there anything fun to do in this Oz place?”
“Of course there is,” said Nalgris. “What do you want to do?”
“I think I’d like something to eat. I’ve been on a diet of sulfur and brimstone for the past century.”
“I’d recommend the Strillstan Inn, then. It’s at the corner of Fifth Street and Kings’ Highway.”
“Thank you. I believe I shall go there.”
It did not take Iblis long to find the inn, since it was just down the street from Castle Strillsta. The Djinni entered the building, and sat down at a counter, next to a black-haired woman. This woman, who was engaged in sipping apple cider, was quite pretty, but her face seemed expressionless. There was a certain unreal quality about her.
“Good evening, Madam,” said Iblis to the woman.
“What? Who are you?” asked the woman, as she turned to face the newcomer.
“I am Iblis, former Master Djinni. Who might you be?”
“My name is Lissella, and I’m from Murnalda.”
“I’m afraid I’m not familiar with Murnalda. Where might your home be located?”
“To the northwest of here, in the Plains of Pau. I came to Strillsta to visit a friend of mine, only to find that she’s out of town.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Are you going to order anything?” a man behind the counter snapped at Iblis.
“I’ll have a well-done steak with hot sauce, and a cup of hot herbal tea.”
“We don’t have any steak, Sir. The steak crop hasn’t been good recently. How about some chicken?”
“All right. I’ll have fried chicken, but make sure it’s cooked well, and don’t forget the hot sauce.”
The man entered a back room through a door behind the counter, and soon returned with a fried chicken, a cup of tea, and a bottle of catsup.
“We didn’t have any hot sauce, Sir,” stated the man. “I hope the catsup will do.”
“Well, I suppose it will have to,” said Iblis, rather grumpily. The Djinni then poured some catsup on the chicken, took a bite of his dinner, and shouted, “Too cold! Far too cold! This chicken is ridiculously undercooked!”
“I’ll reheat it for you, Sir.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll take care of it.”
Iblis stuck his sword into the chicken and muttered a few magic words. Soon, the chicken became quite black, and burst into flames. The Djinni removed the chicken from his sword, and accidentally dropped it on the floor.
“I’ll get that for you,” said the black-haired woman.
“No, don’t! It’s too hot for you.”
The Djinni’s words had no effect on the girl. She simply reached down, picked up the chicken, and handed it to Iblis, without any ill effect on her hands.
“How did you do that?” inquired Iblis.
“I don’t know,” replied Lissella. “I didn’t even consider the fire when I picked up the chicken, but now that I think about it, my fingers should have been burned.”
“Do you have some sort of magical powers?”
“Not that I know of. I do seem to recall accidentally walking into a gypsy campfire once, though, and that didn’t hurt me, either.”
“Well, let me try something.”
Iblis spun his sword around clockwise, and then pointed it at the woman. A tongue of flame shot at her, and hit her hair. The innkeeper screamed, but the flames did not have any impact on Lissella’s hair, and the woman did not experience any discomfort.
“How much do you know about your youth?” asked Iblis, as he turned his weapon counter-clockwise, making the flames disappear. “Who were your parents?”
“I never knew my parents, and I really don’t know anything at all before a few years ago,” was Lissella’s answer. “My first memory is of being found by traders on the edge of the Desert of Ho-Taro. They took me to Murnalda, where I discovered I had a great talent for music. I now play at the Murnalda Inn, as well as many other places in town, and occasionally for Queen Murnalda herself.”
“Well, Lissella, I think you were dreamed into existence.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you are the product of someone’s dream. That’s why fire cannot harm you. See, fire refuses to recognize dream people as real.”
“You mean I’m not real?” inquired Lissella, as she started to cry. “I’m just a dream? How can that be?”
“I don’t know for sure.”
“Well, if I am, who dreamed me?”
“I don’t know that, either. Maybe a seer or fortune teller would be able to help you. Innkeeper, do you know of any good fortune tellers in the area?”
“Well, there’s the Soothsayer in Follensby Forest,” was the innkeeper’s reply.
“And where is Follensby Forest?”
“To the east of here. You can either cross the mountains or take the highway through the swamp. I’ve heard from travellers that the swamp is a preferable way to go.”
“Why? What’s in the mountains?” asked Lissella, as she dried her tears on a purple handkerchief.
“Steep inclines, terrible monsters, and the like. Besides, the route through the swamp is much more direct. You can take the Kings’ Highway all the way to Pumperdink, and Follensby Forest is right near there.”
“I don’t think that inclines and monsters will hinder a Djinni,” said Iblis.
“What? Are you going to Follensby Forest with me?” asked the dream woman.
“I don’t see why not. I really don’t have anything else to do, and you might need my elemental powers.”
“I’d rather go through the swamp than the mountains, though.”
“The swamp it is, then. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”
Lissella already had a room for the night, and Iblis paid for one with gold that he happened to have in his pockets. In the morning, after Lissella had a doughnut and some orange juice, and the Djinni a scalding hot cup of black coffee, the two set out along the Kings’ Highway, which led right to Whytmire Swamp.
An hour later, the two came to Whytmire, a large, bubbling swamp containing alligators, snakes, and swamp grasses. The Kings’ Highway was elevated above the level of the marsh, apparently by some magical means, since no supports could be seen, but it was still muddy, and insects continually bit the travellers. Occasionally, Iblis would shoot a small fireball from his left index finger, which would keep the bugs away for a short time, but the journey was still rather unpleasant.
“We should have climbed the mountains,” stated the Ddjinni, as he produced his ninety-eighth fireball.
“Perhaps, but let’s not turn back now,” said Lissella.
About an hour later, Iblis began to hear voices. He told Lissella to listen, and the two were able to hear a conversation, which came from the north.
“How much longer is this swamp?” asked a female voice, which, while it had somewhat of a nagging tone to it, was somewhat musical, and reminded Iblis and Lissella of trees.
“I don’t know,” replied a man’s voice. “Don’t complain about it. This is nothing compared to the Great Grey Gillikin Swamp, not that you would know anything about that.”
“The Kapurtans told us to go around that swamp, but you didn’t take their advice.”
“You always want to take the easy way. I, on the other hand, am always ready for a challenge.”
“Whatever. I’m just not used to this much physical exertion before breakfast.”
“I promised myself I would reach Pumperdink by noon today, and I always keep my promises, and meet my goals.”
“Well, it might be easier if we had some mode of transportation, other than our feet.”
“True enough. Oh, a horse, a horse, my—-“
“Now, don’t say ‘my kingdom for a horse.’ You don’t have a kingdom anymore, and you know it.”
“I will soon, if we can get to Pump—-“
“Wait a minute,” interrupted the female. “I see some people ahead on the road.”
“What? I don’t see anyone.”
“Your eyesight isn’t as good as mine. Yes, there’s a man in robes and a turban, and a young woman with black hair.”
The two strangers soon came into plain view of Iblis and Lissella. The male voice belonged to a muscular man with long, dark brown hair, who wore yellow clothes that looked as if they might have been fancy at one point, and had a broad sword in a sheath. The other stranger was an Elven woman, who had her blonde hair tied back in two braids, carried a bow, and wore a quiver of arrows on her back.
“Hail, strangers!” called Iblis. “I am Iblis, and this is Lissella. Who are you, and what are you doing here in this wretched swamp?”
“I am Korstarn, former King of Sareldia,” replied the man.
“Sareldia?”
“It’s in the Winkie Country.”
“I’m Yilna,” said the Elf.
“And you’re on your way to Pumperdink?” inquired Lissella.
“Yes,” replied the former king. “Eight hundred years ago, my ancestor aided the King of Pumperdink. In return for this, the King of Pumperdink said that he, or his descendants, would do a favor for my kingdom, if it was ever needed, and it’s needed now. I need to regain my throne, which was stolen from me.”
“Your throne was stolen? I know what you’re going through. I lost my great dominions.”
“Now I remember where I’ve heard your name before!” exclaimed Yilna. “You’re the former Master of the Fire Elementals, but you were banished.”
“For ten thousand years, but the banishment has now ended. I am now accompanying Lissella on her quest for her creator.”
“Her creator? What do you mean?”
“I believe that Lissella is the product of someone’s dream.”
“There is something rather dreamlike about her,” declared Yilna, as she examined Lissella.
“So, how did you lose your kingdom, Korstarn?”
“A group of rebels had a mercenary wizard turn me into a rock.”
“I found him, and disenchanted him,” added the Elf, “although I often wish I hadn’t.”
“Oh, shut up. I didn’t ask you to come with me.”
“But you need my magical powers, and you know it! If it hadn’t been for me, you would have sunk in that quicksand, or been devoured by those Slocktorjahs.”
“Where are you bound?” inquired Korstarn, who was anxious to change the subject.
“Follensby Forest, I believe,” answered Iblis.
“Why, that’s right next to Pumperdink!” exclaimed Yilna. “We can travel together.”
“Why not? You couldn’t possibly be worse company than the Elf,” stated Korstarn.
The four walked along the road for some time, and shared their stories with each other. Korstarn told more about his home in Sareldia, and the rebellion against his rule. According to the rumors he had heard in nearby towns, it was said to have been led the mysterious Queen Kaynula, who was said to be a witch. The former king thought that there was an excellent chance that Kaynula was occupying his throne.
Lissella told how she had been found on the edge of the Ho-Taro Desert and taken to Murnalda. She also told how she had come to Strillsta and met Iblis, not forgetting to mention her odd resistance to fire.
The Elf related how she had been born in an Elven village in a southern Winkie forest. Her mother was the village healer, and had taught Yilna much about healing magic. When she had matured, Yilna decided to leave the village. She wandered to the castle of Gloma, the Good Witch who ruled the southern Winkie Country at the time. The Elf became the Court Healer, and Gloma taught Yilna some black magic, which was her own specialty. When news reached the court that a girl named Dorothy had destroyed two witches, Queen Gloma feared that Dorothy would come after her, and brought her most loyal subjects to live in the Black Forest. Yilna did not accompany Gloma to this dark forest, but instead travelled to the north. She had a variety of homes, and served many people. Eventually, the Elf discovered a rock, which her magical powers told her was an enchanted person. She broke the enchantment on Korstarn, and the two of them had begun their journey to Pumperdink.
Iblis told how he had arisen in Strillsta and, after the conversation with the guards, met Lissella in the inn. When questioned about his past, he talked about the magnificent Fire Palace, in which he had once lived. He also told about the variety of punishments to which he had been subjected. After his banishment, he had ruled a community of demons for a few millennia. These demons were such unpleasant subjects that Iblis appealed to the fairies for another position. He then held many jobs that were demeaning to the former Master of the Fire Elementals, including keeper of a volcano in the Fire Island area, heater for a sage in the depths of the Underworld, Angel of Death, janitor at the center of the Earth, and valet for a Magmanian nobleman. Just before his ascension, he had been a garbage incinerator. The Ddjinni did not go into much detail, however, and he absolutely refused to tell why he had been banished from the Fire Palace.
The four travellers soon reached the edge of Whytmire, and, after passing a few small marshes, in which marshmallows grew, came to the Kingdom of Pumperdink. They walked up to the Pumperdinkian castle’s entrance, where a page asked them what their business was at the palace.
“I am Korstarn, King of Sareldia,” announced that person. “I have come to ask your king for a favor.”
“Who are these people with you?” questioned the page.
“My travelling companions, Yilna, Lissella, and Iblis.”
“Very well. I shall announce you to King Pompus.”
The page returned a few minutes later, and ushered the visitors into the throne room. Here, King Pompus and Queen Pozy Pink sat on their great thrones. Their son Prince Pompadore and his wife Peg Amy, who held young Princess Pajonia, sat on smaller thrones. An elephant in a purple robe stood next to the throne, and other officials of the realm, many of whom wore white wigs, were scattered throughout the chamber.
“So you are the King of Sareldia?” Pompus asked Korstarn.
“Indeed I am, but I have lost my kingdom to a group of rebels. I would like your help in regaining it.”
“Why did you come to me?”
“Because you owe me a favor. Eight hundred years ago, the King of Sareldia did a favor for the King of Pumperdink, and the Pumperdinkian King agreed that he or his descendants would perform a favor in return.”
“Well, eight hundred years ago, this kingdom was ruled by my ancestor, King Pumpernickel. If your claim is correct, I would be glad to aid you in any way I can. Scriptus, would you look in the Royal Records, and determine if this king speaks truly?”
Scriptus, who was the Royal Record-Keeper of Pumperdink, rushed to the Record Room, and looked through several books. Eventually, he found the entry for which he was looking, and brought the book containing this entry to Quakes, the Prime Minister of the Realm. Quakes placed his reading glasses on his eyes, and read aloud, “The King of Sareldia hath performed a great service for mine kingdom. We are deeply indebted to him. If he or his descendants are ever in need of a favour, mine descendants or I shall grant this favour.”
“But has this favor already been granted?” inquired the purple-robed elephant.
“I can check the books,” announced Scriptus.
“Very well, Scriptus,” said King Pompus. “In the meantime, we shall be eating lunch. The King of Sareldia and his companions are welcome to attend this meal.”
The travellers accepted this invitation. The meal was ham, applesauce, and string beans, with chocolate Ozcream for dessert. The adventurers enjoyed the meal, although Iblis insisted upon burning the ham with his sword, and refused to eat the Ozcream. During the meal, the elephant, whose name was Kabumpo, told the assembled company about one of his recent adventures. The luncheon was about an hour long and, at its end, Scriptus rushed into the dining hall.
“My assistants and I have searched all applicable records, and have found no record of a favor ever being bestowed upon the King of Sareldia,” declared the Record-Keeper.
“You searched eight hundred years’ worth of records in an hour?” questioned Iblis, after consulting a clock.
“Well, I suppose we didn’t search quite as thoroughly as we could have. Why does it matter so much, anyway? Why don’t we just do this king a favor?”
“Because taking back Sareldia would probably call for a major military invasion,” stated Quakes. “My army is in excellent condition, but probably not prepared to take a kingdom. Since it seems that we owe the King of Sareldia a favor, however, I propose that we call a Council of War.”
Soon, the Royal Family, the chief military officials, Kabumpo, and the visitors had gathered around a table in the War Room. A map of Oz hung on the northern wall of this room, and statues of famous Pumperdinkian military figures, including Quakes himself, stood in various locations in the chamber.
“I hereby call this Council of War to order!” commanded Quakes. “We are met here to discuss a possible invasion of the Kingdom of Sareldia, in the Winkie Country.”
“An invasion?” questioned a soldier. “We haven’t invaded any kingdoms since—well, before I joined the army.”
“But we owe a favor to the King of Sareldia, who is presently in this room.”
“How hard will this invasion be?” inquired another soldier.
“I don’t know. King Korstarn, would you inform us as to what we will have to fight?”
“To tell the truth, I’m not really sure,” admitted Korstarn. “The rebels are, as far as I know, only a small band, but they might be assisted by Kaynula, who is said by some to be a witch. Also, they enlisted the aid of a mercenary wizard to enchant me, and they may get his help again.”
“Since so little information is known, I would advise sending a spy to Sareldia, to find out what is happening there now. Then, depending on the situation, we can decide whether to invade, negotiate, or, if need be, plead the case to Queen Ozma in the Emerald City. Would that be acceptable with King Pompus and King Korstarn?”
Both kings agreed to this plan, so Quakes tried to choose the spy who would travel to Sareldia. While the General was thinking, Iblis announced, “My powers as a Djinni might help in a mission such as this. I should like to accompany your spy. First, however, it is my duty to accompany Lissella to Follensby Forest, to consult the Soothsayer about a pressing manner.”
“Very well. The spy shall wait until you have returned from Follensby Forest.”
“And while you’re there, why don’t you ask the Soothsayer if he can advise us about the invasion?” suggested Prince Pompadore.
King Pompus told Iblis the way to Follensby Forest, and he and Lissella set out in that direction. When they came to the wood, they searched it for some time without finding any people, much less Soothsayers. Finally, in a quiet part of the forest, a voice began yelling, “Sooth! Sooth!”
“What was that?” asked Lissella.
“I don’t know,” replied Iblis, as he drew his sword.
“I’m a Soothsayer,” said a strange man, as he rushed out from behind a tree. “Sooth! Sooth!”
“Then you’re just who we’re looking for,” stated Iblis, as he returned his sword to its sheath.
“Do you have something to ask me?”
“Yes, I do,” answered Lissella. “I want to know if I am really the product of someone’s dream, as Iblis thinks, and, if I am, who dreamed me.”
“Well,” said the Soothsayer, after squinting at the woman, “you are the product of a dream.”
“But whose dream?”
“You shall soon find out. Your path lies to the west. Remain with this Djinni, and the answer you seek will be revealed to you.”
“You mean to go to Sareldia?”
“Sareldia? You’re going to Sareldia?”
“Well, I don’t know. Is that what you’re recommending?”
“Yes. By all means, go to Sareldia. They have the best pudding in all northwestern Oz. I’ve been there before, you know.”
“No, I didn’t know that. But can’t you just tell me who dreamed me right now?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t know that, and even if I did, it’s not like a Soothsayer to give straight answers. Farewell, and have a good time in Sareldia!”
“Wait!” shouted Iblis, as the Soothsayer turned around and prepared to run back into the woods. “We’d like to have some advice that would be helpful to King Korstarn in regaining the throne of Sareldia.”
“Advice? Well, you could search the secret passages under the city. There might be something useful there.”
“There might be something useful? That’s not a very confident prediction, Soothsayer.”
“Well, I’ve had less self-confidence since I told that poor knight that the path to his destiny lay in Mount Mavulta. It turned out that Mount Mavulta was a live volcano, and Sir Glannor was utterly destroyed.”
“Wait a minute. Did you say Sir Glannor?”
“Yes, but why does it matter?”
“When did he enter Mount Mavulta?”
“Oh, about five years ago.”
“Well, I once served a man named Sir Glannor, who is one of the prime nobles of Magmania. He told he that he had come to Magmania through an active volcano.”
“Then I was right!” exclaimed the Soothsayer, as he cheerfully leapt into the air, and ran away toward the west.
“Well, I guess I’m going to Sareldia with you, Iblis,” stated Lissella, as she and the Djinni began walking back to Pumperdink.
“I shall be gald to have your company,” said Iblis. “I wonder if Korstarn knows about those secret passages.”
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out soon.”
When Iblis and Lissella got back to Pumperdink and asked Korstarn about the the secret passages, he admitted that he had not heard of them. General Quakes had picked Pulnar, one of his finest spies, to accompany Iblis to Pumperdink. Yilna was also going, as she felt that her magical abilities could aid the party. Korstarn decided not to return to Sareldia at this time, since the rebels would certainly recognize him. Lissella announced that she was travelling with the Djinni, the Elf, and the spy, and no one objected to this.
“How are we going to get to Sareldia?” questioned Pulnar.
“Actually, I can transport all of us to Strillsta,” Iblis announced. “I used to have great powers of transportation, but they were weakened a good deal when I lost my throne. I can still transport myself and others to places I have visited within the past week, however.”
“That would be a good start, but Strillsta really isn’t that far along the way to Sareldia,” stated General Quakes, who was looking at the War Room’s map of Oz. “Now, Kings’ Highway goes through Strillsta, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does,” replied Lissella.
“Well, you can take that as far as Kimbaloo, and there, you can transfer to the Queen’s Highway. That road runs quite close to Sareldia. Pulnar, you have a map, correct?”
“Yes, General Quakes, Sir,” said the spy. “When should we begin our journey?”
“Why not right now?” suggested Iblis.
“Very well. Good luck, everyone. Iblis, you may begin the transportation now,” said Quakes.
The Djinni chanted some odd words, while twirling his sword in mystic patterns. When he had finished, the party disappeared from Pumperdink, and appeared in the courtyard of Castle Strillsta, just next to the grass that had been charred during the ascent of Iblis on the previous night. The group left the courtyard, and set out along the Kings’ Highway to the west. As the travellers passed the Strillstan Inn, Lissella noticed a woman walking down the street in the opposite direction, and rushed up to her.
“Lissella!” exclaimed the woman, who wore a pink dress, had curly brown hair and purple eyes, and was carrying a guitar in a case. “What are you doing here?”
“I came here to visit you.”
“Well, I just got into town, after a visit to Starborough. How long have you been here?”
“I got here two days ago. This morning, I went to Pumperdink with Iblis,” she said, as she pointed to the Djinni. “But we’ve returned. Everyone, this is my friend Varra, the most famous guitarist in the northwestern Gillikin Country. Varra, these are my new friends Iblis and Yilna, and this is Pulnar, from Pumperdink.”
“Pumperdink? What are you doing here in Strillsta?”
“We’re on an important mission, and are just passing through your town,” replied Pulnar.
“Well, would you like to come to my house, Lissella? Your friends can come with you if they want.”
“I’d like to, but I really have to get to the Winkie Country. It’s a strange story, and I’ll come back and tell you all about it when we’re done with this journey.”
“Won’t you just come in for some tea?”
“We really don’t have time, madam,” said Pulnar.
“Well, goodbye, then.”
The travellers continued along the Kings’ Highway, and had soon left Varra and Strillsta far behind. Just before nightfall, they had reached another town. According to Pulnar’s map, the town was called Zongrilt. There was an inn in the village, where the party spent the night, paying with money that General Quakes had given the spy.
When the travellers awakened, they showered and dressed (except for Iblis, who kept himself clean with magic), and then had some breakfast in the lobby. After breakfast, the party exited the inn, and continued its trek down Kings’ Highway. The road led by a great marble castle, where five noblemen were eating breakfast on a balcony. One of them wore a crown, and the adventurers correctly guessed that this man was the King of Zongrilt.
The noblemen were gathered to discuss a threat to the village. In southern Zongrilt, odd-looking beings had been appearing in people’s houses. These creatures were neon green in color, and they glowed in the dark. Their heads resembled those of alligators, their tails were long and whip-like, and they had wings. The beings were quite ravenous, often cleaning out cabinets and iceboxes. They were capable of firing laser beams from their eyes, and frequently did so. The origins of these pests were unknown, and one of the nobles suggested that they had come from another galaxy.
Iblis and his companions passed the castle, and continued their walk down Kings’ Highway, which led to the southwest. Soon, the party heard a gunshot, and noticed one of the creatures the nobles had been discussing flying out through a closed window of a house by the road, shattering the glass as it did so. A man with a hunting rifle ran out of the house, and shouted, “Those things are immune to bullets!”
“Well, I think I can stop it,” stated Iblis.
The Djinni pointed his sword at the creature and recited an incantation. This produced a great tongue of flame, which hit the being. Strangely enough, the creature was not harmed at all by the flames.
“Will anything get rid of these pests?” asked the man with the rifle, as the being began flying toward him.
“How many of them are there?” asked Yilna.
“Hundreds! They’re destroying our houses, and eating all of our food!”
“Well, maybe we could lure them out of the town.”
“How?”
“Well, back when I was young,” said Pulnar, “I heard a story about a piper, who used music to lure the rats out of town. The Pied Piper of Pumperdink, I believe it was called.”
“It was the Pied Piper of Silmaria where I come from, but I’m sure there are local variations,” added Yilna.
“I never heard it at all,” said Lissella, “but then, I’m not sure I even had a childhood.”
“But what kind of music would those strange things like?”
“Where are we going to get any kind of music at all, for that matter?” asked Pulnar.
“I have a guitar in the house,” declared the townsman, “but it belongs to my wife, who’s out shopping, and I can’t play it.”
“I can play the guitar,” announced Lissella. “Do you think I could use it?”
“As long as you bring it back when you’re done with it, I don’t think my wife will mind.”
While the man rushed into his house to get the guitar, Yilna asked, “Where are we going to lure the creatures to?”
“I have an idea,” replied Iblis, after a slight pause for thought. “Yilna, do you happen to know anything about interdimensional transportation?”
“Inter-what?”
“Interdimensional transportation. I want to try sending these creatures to another dimension.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can help you.”
“Actually, I can open a portal to another dimension. I just need you to keep it open. Do you think you can do that?”
“I believe I can. I have a spell to keep a door open, and it should work on a magic portal.”
Iblis used a complicated incantation, involving many hand, foot, and sword motions, to produce an odd light in the air. The Elf then closed her eyes and concentrated on keeping the magic portal open. Meanwhile, the townsman returned with the guitar, which he handed to Lissella. The woman began to play beautiful music, which caused many of the town’s residents to gather around her. The creatures, however, totally ignored the music.
“Now what?” insisted the spy.
“Maybe such horrid and outlandish creatures would prefer more horrid and outlandish music,” suggested Iblis.
“What do you mean?” inquired Lissella.
“Try this,” replied Iblis, as he pointed his sword at the guitar, and shouted a few magic words. The guitar changed a wooden instrument to a metal one, which was plugged into a giant amplifier. The Djinni then magically produced a music stand and sheet music, which, when Lissella began to play it on the electric guitar, sounded extremely loud and obnoxious, without any real tune to it. The music brought every neon green winged creature in Zongrilt to the area where the woman was playing. With help from some of the Djinni’s magic, the beings were all forced into the portal. Just after the last one entered, Yilna, who was exhausted from holding the magical gateway open for so long, collapsed onto the ground.
“Where did they go?” inquired a townsman.
“Into another dimension,” was the Djinni’s reply.
“And what was that dreadful discord you were producing?” asked a woman who stood near Lissella.
“It was written by a band called Zenga’s Electric Fence and Barbed Wire, who played at the Lava Pit Arena once. The reviewers said no one in this world could possibly like their music, so I figured beings who apparently were NOT from this world would love it. Anyway, I’d better change the guitar back.”
Iblis restored the instrument’s original form, and Lissella returned it to the townsman. Pulnar helped Yilna to her feet, and the Elf asked, “Did we succeed?”
“We did.”
“Thank you for driving off those obnoxious pests,” said the man who had supplied the guitar.
The other townspeople then began thanking the visitors. Soon, the five noblemen who had been seated on the balcony approached the travellers. The one with the crown questioned, “Are you the ones who got rid of those horrible creatures?”
“Yes,” answered the Djinni. “We drove them into another dimension. They probably won’t come back. At least, I hope they won’t, because that was difficult magic.”
“Well, thank you very much for your help. I, Zonnsor, King of Zongrilt, do hereby declare you to be Village Heroes.”
“Now, you wouldn’t happen to have any magic that will repair all the damage done by those things, would you?” inquired a tall, wigged nobleman. “All of that window-breaking and producing those odd lights really damaged our lovely village.”
“I don’t think I have enough power to help you with that,” was Yilna’s answer. “Besides, we really have to get to the Winkie Country soon.”
“Well, you’re welcome here in Zongrilt at any time,” declared King Zonnsor. “Farewell, heroes.”
The travellers left the town, and continued along the Kings’ Highway. The country to the west of Zongrilt was mountainous, but none of the mountains obstructed the path of the adventurers. Beyond the mountains were several minor villages and kingdoms, but the party did not encounter any more adventures that day, and by nightfall, they had reached a purple forest, where buttons grew on trees. This was the Buttonwood, where the small but wealthy Kingdom of Kimbaloo lies. Pulnar knocked at the door of the kingdom’s buttonwood castle, and General Whiffenpuff, the King’s bodyguard, and the closest man to a soldier in Kimbaloo, answered the door. The King and Queen of Kimbaloo, whose names were Kinda Jolly and Rosa Merry, welcomed the party to their castle, and gave them rooms in which to spend the night. On the following morning, they joined the rulers and their court at breakfast.
“So, what brings you to Kimbaloo?” inquired the King.
“It’s a secret mission, Your Majesty,” replied Pulnar, “but I can tell you that we’re from Pumperdink, and we’re headed toward the Winkie Country.”
“We’ve had visitors from Pumperdink before,” said Queen Rosa. “Do you know Kabumpo?”
“Oh, yes. The Elegant Elephant is a very important figure at the court of Pumperdink.”
“I remember Kabumpo,” said Hah Hoh, the Town Laugher. “Nice fellow, if a little big.”
“He came here to drop off Snip, one of our old Button Boys, after they had found the old King of Oz,” continued the queen.
“I see. Oh, by the way, this ham is really good. These hash browns, too. Give my compliments to the cook.”
“Yes, our cook is very good, even if she is invisible,” stated Hah Hoh.
“Invisible?”
“Yes, ours must be the only kingdom in Oz with an invisible cook,” declared Kinda Jolly proudly.
“Not the only one, Your Majesty,” objected Hah Hoh. “Everyone in Blankenburg is invisible, so it stands to reason that, if they have a cook there, he or she must be invisible.”
“But who cares about Blankenburg?” said Whiffenpuff. “Hardly anyone ever enters or leaves there.”
“True. You know, we wouldn’t have known about it ourselves if Snip hadn’t gone there,” announced the Queen. “He was pushed down the well to Blankenburg by Mombi, our former cook.”
“You mean Mombi, the Wicked Witch of the North?” asked Yilna.
“Yes, but we didn’t know she was a witch,” replied the king, “and she was a very good cook.”
“Anyway, Snip ended up in Blankenburg,” continued Rosa Merry, “and that’s where he found the long-lost King of Oz. Snip nows lives in the Emerald City with the former king, who decided to retire and become a tailor.”
“Well, I’d better pick some bouquets for the girls,” declared the Queen, as she finished her orange juice.
“And I’d better go with the boys to pick buttons,” added Kinda Jolly. “You may watch us, or just stay here, if you would like.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, but we really should continue our journey,” said Pulnar.
The visitors thanked the rulers for their hospitality, and then left the castle. Rosa Merry pointed out the Queen’s Highway, and the travellers followed this road. It ran to the southwest for a few miles, and led into the yellow Winkie Country. Along the road stood the pleasant yellow cottages of the Winkies. Soon, the highway turned toward the southeast. By early afternoon, the party had reached a thin branch of the road, which led to Sareldia. The travellers followed this branch to Korstarn’s domain, which was a fairly ordinary little Winkie kingdom, with a great stone castle standing among the yellow houses. The adventurers stood just outside the town, and, in quite voices, discussed what their next move should be.
“the Soothsayer said something about secret passages under the city,” said Lissella. “Maybe we should look for those.”
“Yes, but first I think we need to find as out who rules this place now, and gather as much information as we can about this usurper,” advised Pulnar. “Let’s split up and talk to the townspeople. When we’re done, we’ll meet back here.”
The party members did this, and half an hour later, they all met to discuss their findings. They had discovered that Kaynula was indeed the Queen of the city, and, while she was reported by some to be a witch, she was still a very popular ruler. Also, Pulnar had found that the castle was well-guarded. Yilna had used her magical powers to find a secret passage, which, she declared, led from the basement of an abandoned shop to the castle.
“First, we should ask the Queen if she’ll surrender peacefully,” declared Pulnar. “If she rejects, it might be necessary to call in the Royal Pumperdinkian Army.”
When the travellers approached the castle doors, they were told by the guards to go away. When Pulnar explained the purpose of the adventurers’ mission, one of the guards said, “Don’t waste your time. The Queen will never surrender. Now go away and leave us alone.”
Iblis suggested using magic to overcome the guards, but Pulnar insisted that the party should try talking to the Queen first, and decided that the travellers would use the secret passage to sneak into the castle. Therefore, Yilna led her companions to the abandoned shop. The door was locked, but Iblis was able to knock it down with his sword. The party descended a flight of stairs to the basement. Once there, Iblis, at Yilna’s direction, hit a section of the wall with his sword. The nearby section of the wall swung outward, revealing a long, dark tunnel. The Djinni used his sword to produce a light, and the travellers walked through the tunnel.
The tunnel made many turns, and, after the adventurers had been walking for some time, it branched into several different parts. The Elf led her companions along the proper passage, and the party soon reached a room, which was a hidden part of the castle cellar. The chamber was damp and full of cobwebs, but it contained a few wooden benches, and the tired travellers sat down on these benches, and planned their strategy.
“All right. I’ll go up and ask the Queen to surrender,” declared Pulnar.
“I’ll go with Pulnar, and, if there’s trouble, I’ll transport myself to Pumperdink, and bring the army here,” stated Iblis. “After all, if the Queen really is a witch, she might try to enchant you. And just to be on the safe side, I’d better make myself invisible.”
After the Djinni made himself invisible, he and Pulnar climbed a ladder, and opened a trapdoor in the ceiling. It turned out that this door led right into the Royal Bedroom, where Queen Kaynula was napping in a golden four-poster canopy bed. When she heard the trapdoor opening, she awoke, and leapt out of bed. The Queen turned out to be a tall woman, with brown hair and blue eyes, who was dressed in a yellow silk nightgown.
“What are you doing in my bedroom?” demanded the Queen.
“I have come to ask you to surrender,” replied Pulnar, as he closed the trapdoor.
“Surrender? To whom?”
“To Korstarn, the rightful King.”
“Korstarn?” laughed Kaynula. “First of all, I’m the rightful ruler of this kingdom. Also, I—Would your friend there please make himself visible? I don’t like talking with invisible people.”
The Djinni, who realized that staying invisible when the Queen knew of his presence would just be a waste of his power, quickly made himself visible. He then asked, “How can you be the rightful ruler of Sareldia? Are you Korstarn’s long-lost sister, or something like that?”
“Yes, I am. How did you guess?”
“I didn’t know Korstarn had a long-lost sister.”
“Wait a minute,” said Pulnar. “Even if you are Korstarn’s sister, wouldn’t he still be the heir to the throne?”
“Actually, Sareldia, like several other Winkie kingdoms, allows the oldest child, male or female, to inherit the throne,” explained Kaynula. “It’s a fairly old tradition here.”
“Well, Korstarn is still in Pumperdink. I’ll go get him, and see if he can verify your story,” said the Djinni.
Iblis transported himself to Pumperdink, and returned in a few minutes with Korstarn, as well as General Quakes, who had insisted on coming along. Korstarn asked Kaynula, “So, you claim to be my long-lost sister, do you?”
“I am your sister. Don’t you remember me?” inquired Kaynula.
“I did have an older sister, who would have inherited the throne, but her name was Karstelna, not Kaynula, and she disappeared when she was five years old.”
“My name really is Karstelna, but I like Kaynula better. It was the name given to me by the witches who adopted me. You see, when I was five, and you were three, I was captured by a group of outlaws, who wanted to ransom me to our parents for their kingdom. I was rescued by some witches, who raised me and taught me some magic. After our parents died and you inherited the throne, the same outlaws who had captured me conquered Sareldia, and I assumed they had destroyed you.”
“No, I was turned into a rock by a mercenary wizard.”
“Well, I didn’t know that. As soon as I learned that the rebels had taken over, I returned to Sareldia, and drove them out of the kingdom. It was not all that difficult, since they were afraid of me. They had heard stories about me, and thought I had more magical power than I actually do. The people of the kingdom, who had hated the outlaws, hailed me as a liberator, and I was given the throne without anyone even knowing that I was the rightful ruler.”
“How do I know this is true?”
“Well, you are related,” stated Iblis, who had been examining Korstarn and Kaynula during their conversation. “My powers as a Djinni tell me that.”
“Do the Sareldians like you?”
“Oh, yes, indeed. At first, they just obeyed me out of fear, but they later grew to like me, and I like to think I’ve been a good ruler.”
“Well, now I don’t know what to do. I came here intending to take back my kingdom, only find find that it’s ruled by someone who has more right to the throne than I do.”
“Why don’t you stay here as my Royal Advisor?” suggested Kaynula. “After all, you have had experience in ruling Sareldia, and could probably give me excellent advice.”
“I believe I’ll accept your offer. And I’ll also invite Yilna to stay here.”
“Who’s Yilna?”
“She’d the one who freed me from my enchantment, and she hasn’t had a permanent home in years. Where is Yilna, anyway?”
Iblis opened the trapdoor and called to his travelling companions to come up, which they did. As soon as Lissella entered the bedroom, Kaynula shouted, “Lissella!”
“How do you know my name?” asked Lissella.
“Because I created you! Back when I was living with the witches, I spent several years dreaming of a woman named Lissella, who had great musical talent, but I never knew if I succeeded. It looks like I did, though.”
“Then you’re my mother?”
“I suppose you could say that.”
Kaynula and Lissella embraced, and the Queen offered to let Lissella stay in Sareldia. Lissella refused, however, saying that she had a good home in Murnalda, but that she would visit her mother sometimes.
Korstarn introduced Kaynula to Yilna and Quakes, and gave her a proper introduction to Iblis and Pulnar. After these introductions were complete, Kaynula was about to make some important announcements to her subjects, when Korstarn reminded her that she was still wearing her nightgown. Therefore, Kaynula entered her dressing room, and dressed in her royal robes and golden crown. She and Korstarn then went out onto a balcony of the castle to announce the return of the former King, who was to be Royal Advisor, and to explain her past, and that she was the rightful ruler of Sareldia all along. A grand banquet was then held, at which Korstarn, Iblis, Lissella, and Yilna were the guests of honor. During the banquet, Yilna was invited to stay in Sareldia, and she readily accepted. Iblis was also given the opportunity to make his home in Kaynula’s castle, but he refused.
“This place is far too cold for my tastes,” declared the Djinni. “As soon as I’ve brought Pulnar back home, I’m going to look for a place with more heat, where a Fire Elemental like me would be truly comfortable.”
Iblis did just that. After returning General Quakes and the spy to Pumperdink and Lissella to Strillsta, he explored the Gillikin Country, eventually finding a town that was just the right temperature for him. Perhaps I shall tell you the entire story of the former Master Djinni’s new home someday.
As for Lissella, she paid her belated visit to Varra, whom she told about her experiences. Lissella was extremely pleased with the way the adventure had turned out. Not only had she met many new friends, but she had discovered her origins, and had come up with inspirations for several new songs.