Excerpt: The UnderLand Saga

Warmth encased Agarea from all sides. He blinked in the splendor of brightness around him and found no words. He couldn't see--not exactly--because of the brightness, but for the first time, he could actually sense light.

Real light. Sun-light?

A dark shadow moved in front of his vision, wiped something from his cheeks. He opened his mouth instinctively, and what came out was:

"What happened...to me......?"

It hit him like a shock when he realized his tongue was moving. He couldn't feel it move, but he knew there was a tongue there now..., something like a tongue.... But what could it be, if he could not feel it?

"Are you listening? Is anyone? Where am I, where is The Lord?"

A soft voice replied next to him. "You mean my Lord Neptune, don't you?" the feminine twitter asked. "He is at attendance upon the ambassadors of Brobdin."

"Brobdin?" Agarea shot up violently in the covers of his pallet. "They're here? What are they doing here? Why did they come? Who could be here?"

"There are two," the maiden replied, "one black, and the other white and orchid-spotted...." Agarea felt a gossamer-soft hand touch his temple and gently stroke it. "The black one is scarred......; do you know of one like that?"

"I do not," Agarea confessed. "May I ask his name? Is he a noble? And what of the white one, with orchid skin and spots?"

"His eyes are blue," she answered.

Agarea didn't know what to think of this. Brobdinagian slaves, the white-caps, they had red eyes...eyes that could not properly process above, he heard. Was this why he saw nothing of shapes yet?

"No, that isn't why, my friend," a silken voice whispered in the nobles' affected tone. "Oh, Agarea. My friend. My dear, dear comrade-in-arms..., how I have missed you...."

"...Who are you......?" Agarea asked, soft and desperate.

The voice answered, "It is I, my friend......, Muscarius Arboretus......."