Chapter 2-end

This ends Chapter 2. Most of the characters for the Act are introduced, at least in name or connection, and the setting should be fully defined sufficient for moving the action forward.

The Caplan’s go for a ride in the truck, from their home, to Truckee, around to Susanville, and back down 395.

Describe?

Up the Kingsbury grade, north on the east coast of Tahoe, around to Kings Beach, and north to Truckee.  Then up to Susanville, and down 395, through Reno and Carson, to home.

Dinner happened, and a new ranger showed up from somewhere else in the structure.  Probably had been up in the tower, Caspian figured.  After dinner, two of the rangers left in the vehicle that had brought Caspian here.  They did not return before the Judge finally showed up in his vehicle.

The time had not been a waste.  Caspian had remembered about clocks, and how time was reckoned.  He had remembered most of his language training in the native tongue.  And had received a communication from Cyrril that he was fine, and had Caspian’s staff nearby.

Judge Alistair Kevan, dressed in a three-piece suit and wingtips, stomped into the room from outside, in quite a huff.  Built heavy, he stood a head shorter than the average man.  Barely contained power accented his every action.  And he looked a bit more than slightly annoyed, spotting Caspian faster than he did the desk.

“I’m Alistair Kevan, here for him.”  He jerked his thumb over his shoulder at Caspian, who had stood up, and picked up his cloak and robe.

The ranger looked up from her book, over her glasses.  “Right.”  She put her foot off the desk and reached for her keys.  “Let me get his stuff.”

She opened the closet, pulled Caspian’s things out, and dropped them on the counter.  The other ranger just sat and watched, over his newspaper.

Alistair turned, pinning Caspian to the wall with a glance.  He then spoke in Caspian’s native language.  “Next time, give me some warning.  Fortunately for you, my schedule was easy today.”

He turned back to the ranger, and signed the release.  “Thank you.  Was he any trouble?”

“’Been quiet since calling you.  Have a good drive, and take the second mile easy.  The deer are near the road about this time.”

Alistair just turned and walked back out, leaving Caspian to pick up his stuff and follow.

Outside a large, low slung coach sat, lights on, motor running.  It was longer, and more massive, than some of the vehicles the rangers had parked nearby.  Alistair just climbed into the driver’s side, leaving Caspian to figure the door handle.  Shortly, Caspian was in the passenger seat, with his stuff piled on his lap.

They rolled out, Alistair expertly guiding the coach back onto the dirt road.  Caspian had paid attention to the operation of the vehicle this morning.  He noticed that Alistair seemed to drive with a total disregard for the conditions around him.

They drove out of the valley, and stopped.  Alistair turned on the internal lights, and turned to Caspian.  He spoke in English, evidently through speaking in their native tongue.  “Where’s that dragon of yours?”

Caspian called out to Cyrril’s mind.  The little beast was coming, but had been close by the station, and left behind.

“Cyrril is behind us.  He should catch up shortly.”  Caspian responded in his native language.

Caspian took the moment to put his stuff in the back seat, and to admire the interior of the coach.  The leather showed a fair amount of use, and good aging.  The wood trim had been well polished, if it was real.  The little shield with two sprigs of leaves wreathing either side was a symbol that Caspian vaguely remembered signified a fine quality vehicle.

“Quit using that language.  You need to get used to English again.”  Alistair unlatched his seatbelt, climbed out, and went around back to lean against the back of the car and wait in the cool mountain air.

Caspian followed, closing the door behind him.

Alistair Kevan had been living on this planet for most of the last thirty years.  He immigrated after attending school, married a local wife, and left Tywacomb behind.  His wife knew all about his history, and had even been to Tywacomb a time or two.  Now they sponsored ‘students’, and helped ‘tourists.’  As such, he had very little patience with trouble makers.  She was just as impatient with idiocy as her husband.  That he was a judge in a busy city was both advantageous, and threatening.

Caspian had worked with them years before, when he had come for a few years of schooling.  He had made some definite impressions then that had evidently not worn off.

“What brings you a sixth of the way across the galaxy, Caspian?”

“Elves, worked up about a prophecy.”

“Which one?”  Alistair had been a historian’s apprentice growing up.  He knew of most of the major happenings for several hundred years’ back.  Obscure prophecies were light reading to him.  For elves to get worked up was more of an oddity.

“The signs of the Chaos Bringer.”

Had he been drinking, Alistair would have choked and spit his drink all over.  “What!?!”

“The Sky Elves, of (name), believe that one of their clan is the line head of the fifth generation half-elf’s.  And that she immigrated here over a century ago.  Now I need to find the latest in that family.  I had a half-day lead on some guys from Krogg, until this morning.  Now, I don’t know where they are.  It looked like a warrior and a thief would be coming.”

“Great.  More strangeness that might have to pass before my court.  Everybody is after the same people I presume?”

“Yes.”  Caspian wanted to tell more, but felt too tired to deal with how Alistair would react.

For his part, Alistair could tell that Caspian was not yet recovered from his interstellar jaunt.  And might not even be awake for most of the trip home.

They just sat quietly, watching the stars, or the land.  A slight breeze played among the scrub.  Shortly Caspian alerted, and stood up.  He held his arm up.

“Here.”  He spoke in his native language.

In seconds Cyrril came flying up, and slapped the staff into Caspian’s outstretched hand.  The little dragon folded its wings and held on as the staff stopped, then crawled down to Caspian’s shoulder as the arm was lowered.

Alistair stood up, and walked back around and got behind the wheel.  Caspian carefully put the staff across the rear seat, and got in.  Cyrril bounced off the front seat back and into the rear seat as Caspian closed the door, and put his seat belt on.  Little more was said as they traveled.

The Caplan's get home, have dinner, and clean it up.  They then read from the Bible as a family, and talk about it.  They also pull out all the guns that were used the day before and clean them.

Also Diana and Alex get their things ready for school the next day.