Chapter 12
The next day, Evandalyn woke up a bit fatigued and ill. "I just did more than usual over the past few days and need to rest." She tried to soothe Lauren's mind. "How about letting Edmond, Demeatral, and your unicorn team take you to Indus? You can meet the unicorn matriarch and the rest of the unicorns under her control, and you could get a tour of the entire civilization. I know the pegasuses won't go with you, Zenith being with child, but the alicorn could join you as well. Go and enjoy your weekend."
"Are you sure?" Lauren asked. "I could stay and help you get better."
"The only thing that will help me get better right now is rest and solitude. Please, go and learn more about the realm. Learn more so you can be a great Keeper and I can go to the Heavenly realm and get the treatment I need."
With that Lauren relented and left Evandalyn to rest. She found Edmon, Demeatral and the rest packed and waiting for her in the yard of the seventh spire. "So, we are off on your first excursion of the lands of imagination then? Demeatral asked.
"Yes. I guess we are." Lauren replied.
"This is going to be great!" Davis said joyously. "Do you want to ride now or walk for a while? I have to learn your preferences, but I want you to know I am here for you. I hope I am not making you uncomfortable by asking."
His exuberance was intoxicating, and she didn't want to break his spirit. "Yes, I will ride now and walk later. This is weird for me because I know you are a human as well, but I will get used to it." Davis changed into his unicorn form and Lauren mounted his broad back. Everyone else also transformed, Edmond rode Sam, and Demeatral rode Chris.
"Are you comfortable?" Davis asked Lauren in her head, startling her.
"Um, yes." She replied. "I can hear you in my head."
"Yes. You should be able to hear Sam and Chris also. Actually, once you get a hang of your powers, you should be able to talk to anyone on your team or guard. It is one of the things that helps us protect you."
"That could be handy." Lauren giggled.
"We will also be able to sense where each other is and any danger around you."
"It's good to know I will be so protected," Lauren said.
They rode on communicating mentally and learning things that would make them a better team. Davis learned that Lauren had never ridden side-saddle and that she felt that his fur was smoother than horses or alicorn, which made it harder to hold on to. He created a stride-saddle and a bridle so she would have reins to hold on to.
With Lauren feeling a bit more comfortable, Davis moved from a trot to gallop followed by the entire group. Lauren loved the new speed and leaned into him to block the wind. She gave him control and did not pull at the bit. Davis appreciated the trust that showed. Sooner than he wanted, they were on the outskirts of the Indus Civilization. Davis stopped on top of a hill overlooking the valley that held the town of his birth and his mother, the matriarch of this wonderful place.
"It's beautiful!" Lauren exclaimed. Rolling hills abound as far as the eye could see. Flowers bloomed in abundance and big full oak trees dotted the fields. Children ran chasing ponies, while couples sat with each other courting and cuddling. "There are so many people here."
"No. No people here." Sam stated. "Everyone here is a unicorn. It's the Pegasus and Alicorns that are lacking." All of a sudden, a massive group of children turned in unison and began to run toward them. Edmon got off Sam and Sam moved away from them. "Don't worry. This happens every time I come home." Then he was tackled by the entire mass of children. It was hilarious to watch, and Lauren could feel the love. They laughed and watched Sam greet his children and his nieces and nephews for a few moments before moving further into the kingdom. Byron stayed with Sam and was also greeted by his siblings and the group followed once Sam disentangled himself.
As Lauren and her team entered the courtyard of the manor home, they were greeted by footmen and a butler. Lauren and Demeatral dismounted, and everyone turned back into their human forms. "Good day, my Lady, I see you have chosen your steed. How good of you to honor his mother by coming to see her."
His mother! Lauren tried to hold things together and not look shocked at the revelation. "Yes. Well, he did very well in the competition and earned his position." She wondered why Davis didn't mention that the Matriarch was his mother.
"Come, My Mistress will greet you in the living room. Upon entering the home Lauren gasped. It was magnificent. They were welcomed into a soaring space crowned with a sparkling chandelier, warm wood floors, and a bouquet of blooms scenting the room. 15-foot ceilings were framed by twin staircases that curved to the second floor. The coat closet that set off to one side was actually a room. The butler led them into a room that could have been set in the Victorian Renaissance. Ornate Furniture that was richly upholstered sat next to heavily detailed paintings and plush pillows were everywhere. Gold filigree and antiques were nestled in nooks and crannies. It could have been said to be too much, but not quite. The tones of the furnishings brought in a sense of calm and smoothness over the abundance of decor.
Lauren sat where she was directed and scanned the contents of the room. There was a good bit to look at, each piece a beauty on its own. She was not made to wait long for the Mistress of the house. The Matriarch glided down the stairs and entered the door walking straight to the chair Lauren assumed to be her "normal" seat. "Hello. My name is Laventavia. I am the Matriarch here. It is nice to meet you."
Laventavia was so ethereally gorgeous that Lauren could see why she had so many husbands. "It's wonderful to meet you. My name is Lauren, and I am the student of the Keeper."
"Yes. I am glad Evandalyn finally found someone that could live up to her standards. Your mother didn't. She wouldn't read a book unless it was needed for her studies." Leventavia observed.
"You knew my mother?" Lauren asked. "I didn't get to know her. She died when I was very young. I was raised by my grandmother, and she died three years ago."
"I'm sorry, dear. I am not being very kind, bringing up thoughts that are so morose. Yes. I knew of your mother and grandmother. Evandalyn always felt that the next Keeper had to come from your family because of what happened. The one time she tried to dispel that belief was a tragedy. Anyway, I am glad you are here."
Lauren was given so many tidbits of information that she could have questions, she struggled not to ask them. She smiled and changed the subject. She knew she would have to ask Evandalyn her question when she got back to the castle.
"We are proud to announce that Davis won the race." Davis stepped forward and gave his mother a hug.
"My beautiful boy. Congratulations. I knew you could do it. And what of the rest? Will I be getting my men back now?"
"Grant has gone back to the academy, Charles back to his church and Patrick back to Galdiland. Sam and Chris are my standby steeds, Jon, Peter, and Tom round out my guard. Frank, Byron, and Guy have been given the choice to stay on as second string and to continue training with us."
"Sam, darling, it is wonderful to see you. I hope everything is going well with your mother and your brood. When will you come to visit me again? You do make wonderful children."
"My Lady, I am always at your disposal. The children are doing well. They miss their mother from time to time." Sam replied.
"You see, Lauren, male unicorns raise the children. I have seven husbands, Sam is my third, and I can't possibly be everywhere, so they each have homes around my estate and I spend time with each of them from time to time. I guess it's because there are so few females."
"I understand," Lauren replied. She knew it was a way to sustain the species.
"Well, now, I don't know Peter, Jon, or Tom. Let them step forward so I can meet them." Leventavia commanded. After shuffling around the room, the three in question moved to the front of the group. "Peter, you look like you might be Liza's boy." Peter looked at her wide-eyed because he didn't know who his mother was. She clicked her fingers to call for a servant. "Send for Liza from the Boudoir Club." The servant quickly took off running. "Jon, you are from the heavenly realm. You should have come here to get permission to be here before you went to the castle. No matter, you are here now. We will have to talk about his time here before your group goes back to the castle, Lauren."
"That's fine," Lauren replied.
"Now. Tom, who are you? You have me stomped."
"Tom is from the human realm. He was allowed here by a former Keeper three hundred years ago." Lauren stated.
"Three hundred years? Well, you should know my grandmother."
Tom stepped further forward and said, "I have known a few unicorns over the years but not carnally. I am a free unicorn, or at least that is what the Keeper called me. I am unmated."
Leventavia sparked up with delight. The shimmer of her hair brightened, and she stated, "We definitely need to talk." She took his arm and pulled him to sit next to her.
He didn't resist. "It would be my pleasure to converse with you." The look he gave her told Lauren that he may become Leventavia's next husband. It's a wonder they had never met before.
The spell broke for a moment and Leventavia said, "I am glad my son will be your steed. I hope you will feel free to explore the civilization and stay a few days. Oh. It's nice to see you here Levi. I thought it would take a miracle to get you here."
"It is nice to see you, Lady Laventavia. I am here at the Keeper's request."
"So, no mating for you yet?"
"Not at this time," Levi said. Laventavia had been trying to get Levi to mate with one of her daughters for years but he always refused.
"It's such a shame." She sighed. "I must speak with you and Jon before you leave, Lauren. Oh, and Peter, we will see if Liza is your mother and right about that situation. Um, I would like to borrow Tom for a while, if you don't mind." Laventavia said.
"That's fine. Jon and I will be here tomorrow, and Tom can stay and talk with you if he wishes."
"Wonderful." With that, Lauren and her entourage exited to go explore.
Back out on the hills, they sat down and ate a hearty meal. The children played and marveled at the uniqueness of the insects or the picturesque animals in the clouds. It was so peaceful and relaxing. Lauren mentally became more determined to keep this world safe. She fell asleep under a great oak tree knowing she was safe in the company of her group.
Dreams. Dreams are supposed to be quiet and serene. Her dreams were not anymore. She dreamed of a white-haired lady chasing unicorns in the field. When she caught one, she shrunk it down and put it in her pocket. Once the lady had caught all of the unicorns, she carried them to a room she didn't know and emptied her pockets. She added them to the other unicorns that were trapped. The woman laughed and went out to catch and trap more unicorns. Lauren was given a wide view of the building where the room was and saw a chapel with a golden dome. She awakened feeling sad for the unicorns. When the group was finally taken to their rooms for the night, she was uneasy and confused.