Chapter 14: Remembrance ----------------------- Scarecrow smiled. "And then what happened, daddy? Didn't somebody come after them? Did the robbers really get away with all that money?" A trace of sadness passed over his father's face. Scarecrow frowned inside. He didn't like it when his father got sad like that. The sadness soon passed, though, and a big smile broke out on his dad's face. "After that, the robbers settled down, found lovely women to marry, and lived happily ever after." Scarecrow smiled even wider. "You tell the bestest stories, daddy. When I grow up, I wanna be just like you." "Me too daddy!" Scarecrow's sister piped up. For an instant, Scarecrow thought he saw a flash of pain cross his dad's eyes. He wondered what for. "I hate to interrupt," said a voice from the doorway, "but you all need to go to sleep." "Do we hafta, mommy?" asked Scarecrow. "Can we have one more story?" "It's already way past your bedtime," his father said. "Now you get some sleep, and I'll see you in the morning." He gave scarecrow a quick kiss on the cheek. Then he blew out the candle on his way out the door. Scarecrow tried to get to sleep for a while but it was hard. He tossed and turned, but just couldn't get comfortable. After a while, he decided he just needed some water. As he left his room, Scarecrow thought he heard a noise downstairs. He decided to go have a look. As he went down the stairs, he saw his father going out the front door. He quickly ran outside, wondering what was going on. Scarecrow's dad was bundled up in travelling gear and had a large bag thrown over his shoulder. He was quickly walking away from the house. "Where are you going daddy?" asked Scarecrow. His father turned around slowly. A sad look covered was spread across his face, and this time it didn't go away. "I have to go away, dear. I... I'm sorry." "Why do you have to go?" "I wish I could explain it to you. I just have to go. You take good care of your mother for me, all right?" "Okay, but... I don't want you to go. Please stay, daddy." Scarecrow felt all sad inside. He thought he was going to cry. "I wish I could. I'm sorry." With that, Scarecrow's father turned and walked away. Scarecrow could feel the tears running down his cheek. "Don't leave! Come back, daddy! Come back!" ***************** Scarecrow tossed in his sleep. "Don't leave," he mumbled. "Come back, daddy. Come back." The man standing over Scarecrow frowned. With a damp cloth, he wiped some of the sweat off Scarecrow's forehead. "Will S... will Scarecrow be all right?" a man standing nearby asked. "I'm not sure, Your Majesty. He's got a nasty fever, but he should be able to break out of it soon." "Good. I have some other things to attend to now. Send him to me when he awakens." ***************** Scarecrow smiled as he crossed the hallway and entered into the small house that belonged to Canthra. She was Scarecrow's best friend. They did everything together. As he passed into the single room of the house, he noticed it was strangely dark. His eyes narrowed briefly as he looked from shadow to shadow, searching intently. In a flash, the room exploded with light. Scarecrow was blinded momentarily. When he finally was able to see again, Canthra was standing before him. To say that Canthra was an impressive sight would be an understatement. She stood fully twice as high as a man, had the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. Despite her strange form, she appeared infinitely regal and controlled as she stared down at Scarecrow with those icy blue eyes of hers. "Before you may pass into my domain," Canthra boomed, her voice filling the room, "you must answer me one riddle. If a rooster lays an egg on top of a roof, which direction will it roll off?" Scarecrow rolled his eyes. "Will you ever get a better riddle, Canthra? Everyone in the whole kingdom knows that one by know." "The riddles are mine to ask. Besides," she added with a wink, "that one's my favorite. Now... answer my riddle, or you must leave this place." Scarecrow sighed. "Roosters don't lay eggs. Are you happy now?" But apparently there was more ceremony yet to be done. Canthra raised one eyebrow, and in an aloof tone, replied, "You have answered...correctly." Then a grin broke out on her face. "So what'd you want to see me about?" "I'm finished with my studies for the day, so I was wondering whether or not you were busy with anything right now. Apparently, you're not, so let's go find something fun to do." Canthra shrugged. "Sounds good to me. How about we..." Canthra continued, but Scarecrow couldn't hear her. A voice was buzzing in his ears. *KILL HER,* it said. *KILL HER NOW. SHE WANTS TO KILL YOU. YOU MUST KILL HER FIRST.* Scarecrow looked down, appalled by the knife he had somehow slipped into his hand. What was he doing? Canthra was looking at him strangely. She was speaking, but Scarecrow didn't hear a word she said. *KILL KILL KILL KILL...* He looked down at the knife in his hand. In the back of his mind, another voice was calling out for him to stop. But it was too little, too late. Scarecrow snarled as the dagger sunk into Canthra's lion flesh. He stabbed again and again, raw fury giving him speed and energy. The only thing he knew was that he had to kill this one. When it was over, Canthra was lying on the floor, a mass of bloody cuts. Scarecrow looked down in confusion. What had he done? The knife dropped from his hand. Still in shock, Scarecrow noted dimly that he was covered in blood, only a small amount of it his own. He was backing slowly out of the room, still trying to comprehend what had happened. After a moment of thought, he realized one thing and one thing only. He had to leave. Quickly. Opening the door to the small house, Scarecrow ran as hard as he could. He didn't stop until he was at the entrance to the tunnels. Out of breath, exhausted, Scarecrow collapsed on the ground. As he was lying there, he looked out over the village. The Land of Summoned Monsters. It had been his home. Now, he had none. As he walked away, no tears ran down his cheeks. His cheeks had been dry since the day his mother had died.