Read Online The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality by Gahan Hanmer - Free Book Online
Authors: Gahan Hanmer
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were dressed similarly, with the right sides of our tunics padded with leather.
Whoever had designed all these clothes had done a good job. We were a very authentic-looking group. The men's tights were hand-loomed; the daggers had come from an armorer's forge, not a factory. Everything, even our hand-stitched leather baggage, had the unmistakable texture of handicraft. Everything, that is, except the pile of modern clothing that lay near the bonfire.
Albert picked up something from the pile, a blouse of Jenna's, and dropped it on the fire. It was made of a very light fabric and the fire consumed it in seconds. Then Jenna chose Émile's cashmere sweater and soon that was ashes. We all took turns as the pile grew smaller and smaller. It gave me a very odd feeling, as though we ourselves were getting smaller and smaller, and as if the Earth, the globe on which we were standing, was getting bigger and bigger.
The last article was a checkered scarf. Albert picked it up with two fingers and looked around the circle of faces. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, and I remember wanting to take the scarf away from Albert and hide it somewhere safe. I didn't want to see it burn.
Albert said softly, "Goodbye," and the scarf fluttered down into the flames. When it was gone, when the last shred had changed into unrecognizable ash, I started to feel very queer. The sunshine seemed unnaturally bright, and the colors around me were very stark. I looked around at the others, but they were all focused on Albert, who seemed unusually radiant. They all seemed so happy and relaxed, but I felt very agitated. I wanted to run, to get away. But from what, and to where?
Jenna said, "He's looking a little pale, Sire."
"Yes, I noticed," said Albert. "Well, that can happen, as all of us know." He spread his hands in a paternal gesture and looked around the group. There was a ripple of laughter. "Listen, Jack," Albert said, "we all know how you're feeling. You're a thousand miles and a thousand years from everything you've been accustomed to all your life. It's all gone. We just burned it all."
I was feeling very queasy. I looked into his face. Was he crazy? Were they all crazy? No, it was the same kindly face, the same riveting blue eyes. I felt like crying. What was wrong with me? I looked into the faces of the others, and the warmth and sympathy I saw there reassured me. Why was I acting like such a baby?
"Let's have something to eat, Émile. That's the best medicine."
"Yes, Sire."
"Now, Jack, you might be feeling quite disoriented for a few days or so, or you might snap out of this in five minutes. We just went back in time. We did! It doesn't require magic, or a time machine. It's very simple and we just did it. If you feel strange for a while, that's normal. All you can do now is breathe deeply, and let go. Just let go, Jack. Let go of all those useless things we never needed for our health and happiness and comfort and safety. Let go of the whole silly pointless poisonous modern era." With a wave of his hand, he dismissed it all. "And when you do let go, you'll be in for a very pleasant surprise, believe me!"
Émile set down two big baskets full of bread and meat and wines and cheeses and fruit. Then he passed around some square wooden plates and brass goblets, and we all fell to.
"Thanks, Albert," I said. "Sorry I . . ." But I had to stop because Jenna and Hélène were both clucking their tongues at me.
"Very bad manners to call his majesty by his first name, Jack," said Émile. "You must say my king or my liege or sire or your majesty. Any of those titles will do."
Hélène patted my shoulder. "You'll catch on. You can call all of us by our first names just like before, except for her ladyship," she said, indicating Jenna, who nodded and smiled. "You must call her my lady or your ladyship until her coronation. After that it's your majesty or my queen."
Down one side of my body I thought it was the most insane thing I'd ever
Whoever had designed all these clothes had done a good job. We were a very authentic-looking group. The men's tights were hand-loomed; the daggers had come from an armorer's forge, not a factory. Everything, even our hand-stitched leather baggage, had the unmistakable texture of handicraft. Everything, that is, except the pile of modern clothing that lay near the bonfire.
Albert picked up something from the pile, a blouse of Jenna's, and dropped it on the fire. It was made of a very light fabric and the fire consumed it in seconds. Then Jenna chose Émile's cashmere sweater and soon that was ashes. We all took turns as the pile grew smaller and smaller. It gave me a very odd feeling, as though we ourselves were getting smaller and smaller, and as if the Earth, the globe on which we were standing, was getting bigger and bigger.
The last article was a checkered scarf. Albert picked it up with two fingers and looked around the circle of faces. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, and I remember wanting to take the scarf away from Albert and hide it somewhere safe. I didn't want to see it burn.
Albert said softly, "Goodbye," and the scarf fluttered down into the flames. When it was gone, when the last shred had changed into unrecognizable ash, I started to feel very queer. The sunshine seemed unnaturally bright, and the colors around me were very stark. I looked around at the others, but they were all focused on Albert, who seemed unusually radiant. They all seemed so happy and relaxed, but I felt very agitated. I wanted to run, to get away. But from what, and to where?
Jenna said, "He's looking a little pale, Sire."
"Yes, I noticed," said Albert. "Well, that can happen, as all of us know." He spread his hands in a paternal gesture and looked around the group. There was a ripple of laughter. "Listen, Jack," Albert said, "we all know how you're feeling. You're a thousand miles and a thousand years from everything you've been accustomed to all your life. It's all gone. We just burned it all."
I was feeling very queasy. I looked into his face. Was he crazy? Were they all crazy? No, it was the same kindly face, the same riveting blue eyes. I felt like crying. What was wrong with me? I looked into the faces of the others, and the warmth and sympathy I saw there reassured me. Why was I acting like such a baby?
"Let's have something to eat, Émile. That's the best medicine."
"Yes, Sire."
"Now, Jack, you might be feeling quite disoriented for a few days or so, or you might snap out of this in five minutes. We just went back in time. We did! It doesn't require magic, or a time machine. It's very simple and we just did it. If you feel strange for a while, that's normal. All you can do now is breathe deeply, and let go. Just let go, Jack. Let go of all those useless things we never needed for our health and happiness and comfort and safety. Let go of the whole silly pointless poisonous modern era." With a wave of his hand, he dismissed it all. "And when you do let go, you'll be in for a very pleasant surprise, believe me!"
Émile set down two big baskets full of bread and meat and wines and cheeses and fruit. Then he passed around some square wooden plates and brass goblets, and we all fell to.
"Thanks, Albert," I said. "Sorry I . . ." But I had to stop because Jenna and Hélène were both clucking their tongues at me.
"Very bad manners to call his majesty by his first name, Jack," said Émile. "You must say my king or my liege or sire or your majesty. Any of those titles will do."
Hélène patted my shoulder. "You'll catch on. You can call all of us by our first names just like before, except for her ladyship," she said, indicating Jenna, who nodded and smiled. "You must call her my lady or your ladyship until her coronation. After that it's your majesty or my queen."
Down one side of my body I thought it was the most insane thing I'd ever
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