I turned to a glazed window to my right where I had just seen my wavering image. It was gone. Wildflower had given me invisibility, which was pretty incredible. Then again the lights on the saber might indicate it used light as a major power and invisibility was a matter of refracting/rearranging light as any Harry Potter fan can tell you. At least that's how I always thought the cloak worked. I lifted my shirt and pulled out the Wildflower. The green etching was glowing. Okay--green invisibility or light twisting.
I stepped out into the flow of traffic and turned back. Footsteps in the sand. It was light twisted then, not for real invisibility. I started back down through the people, very carefully avoiding anyone bumping into me. I looked up to the fortress and then towards the tree branches, masking Andre and Debbie. Which way to go? At last I decided to head out of the market place towards the tree and the assumed freedom beyond.
Near the edge of the market, some boys ran straight into me, racing past. The last was passing me with a homemade doll clutched in one of his hands. A young girl beside one of the market stalls burst into tears, screaming to bring back her baby. Without thought, I reached out and brought the young offender back, removed the doll, and handed it back to the upset girl. She leaned forward and hugged me about my legs, her returned baby tucked safely away. Obviously the green button had gone off and I was no longer invisible. I looked down and, through the thin silk shirt, streaming out of the sabbard was the full color range of Wildflower. Wow, was that what it did, when it restored the fulcrum between good and evil? Debbie had said that it was large and small things that caused disruption in the teeter totter of life in this world. So even something as small as righting a conflict between children was of importance to Wildflower.
The rainbow lit the young girl's face and she immediately backed away. She couldn't be but four or five. She turned and raced to her mother manning the stall and tugged on her dress, pointing my way. The mother was bartering, silently, but when she looked up and saw me standing there with rainbow lights streaming out. The woman stood slowly and nodded her head downwards, the young girl repeated the action, then the buyer at the stall turned and saw me and did the same. I spun around wanting to disappear into the crowd but the young boys had come back and were standing in my way, their heads bowed but eyes on the lights.
The one who had taken the doll spoke in hushed tones, "I am sorry, Wildflower. I should not have taken the doll. I will not do so again." Then he tipped his head upwards, eyes huge in his small face, "May we see the Wildflower? Please Master Gardner, may we see it? My father says that he saw it once when he was a boy, but the Imperor took it and locked it within the fortress where no one could see it. My father says it is ours, not the Imperor's and it is our right to have the Master Gardner live among us, not locked with it in the fortress. Please may we see it?"
Another boy spoke louder, his voice shaking in fear, covering his eyes. "No, do not show us, the Imperor says we will die if we look at it."
The young thief pushed at his friend, "No it will not. It is a lie the Imperor has said to make us afraid. Wildflower will not hurt us, neither will the Master Garder." the tow headed kid looked to me with a fearful expression, looking for confirmation.
Beyond our small circle the news had spread, several had approached, but beyond I saw a crowd of the soldiers, no longer magically cloaked, pushing their way through the crowd. Wildflower whispered, "Show me to the people." I didn't question the words but pulled out Wildflower and held it over my head. The rainbow colors blasted outwards into and over the people and stretched as high in the air as I could see. Overall, a pretty nifty special effect. The crowd started crying out, applauding, some bowing down. Those unfortunate to be near the soldiers however were tossed like leaves in the wind as they closed on my position.
Over the confusion and noise came a louder voice and the thundering of horse's hooves. People scattered willingly out of the way and Debbie on a giant horse bore down on my position. She carried the reins of another horse, equally as tall. She pulled her horse back onto its haunches, stopping both beasts dramatically before me. The young boys scrambled to get out of the way and I stuffed Wildflower back into the scabbard.
"Get on the horse, you fool!" Debbie screamed. I glanced back at the soldiers, now within a few feet. I grabbed the saddle, stuck my foot in the stirrup, as Debbie turned and raced the horses back out of the market place into the surrounding forest. Only one problem, I hadn't managed to get my other foot over the horse to get into the saddle. It wasn't as easy as it looks in the movies. So I rather dangled and hung on for dear life beside it as we raced. The people filled the gap behind us, holding up the soldiers. I could see a contingency of mounted soldiers pouring out of the fortess main gates, but we had a huge lead on them.
That's when Cloud who Farts, showed up.
Okay, maybe some housekeeping notes: Green - light twisting, invisibility being one power. White - awesome flashlight that can see past magical disquises. Rainbow - mission accomplished.
Finally I thought that the saber could also be a lyre or small harp, again only one octave---as Debbie had asked, "Is that what it looks like to you?" of Joey. Just a note incase we find a place to insert it later.
How about a place to ask clarifying questions, in case they come up.