A grand staircase rose before me where once I would have faced the trials of the Cliffs of Logic in order to gain access to the City of the Winged Ones, high atop the Isle of the Sacred Mountain.  Relieved that my life was not held in the balance by my mental prowess, I began my ascent of the majestic stairs, pleased to see that the Winged Ones had become a bit more human-friendly since the quest of Prince—now King—Alexander through the Land of the Green Isles.

And while this reporter climbed (and climb I did! That’s one tall mountain), I prepared my list of questions for Lord Azure and Lady Ariel, rulers of the Island.  Finally reaching the top, the guards lowered their spears to ward me off from the door. Not exactly the reception I’d been expecting, but this reporter prepared some suave words to gain entrance.  I was also expected.

“What business brings you to the City of the Winged Ones, human?” asked one guard with clear disdain.

Presenting ye olde presse passe, I assured the guards that the Lord and Lady were expecting me today.  They exchanged a glance and asked me to prove my identity.

After several minutes of hard looking between the picture and myself upon my insistence, they huddled, discussed, shot me a few disgusted looks and finally answered.

“There’s a resemblance.  I suppose.  All you humans look alike to us.  We’ll take you to the Royal Hall.”

Affixing my belongings, I waited to see how this would work, thinking perhaps they would open the gates and lead me in, or maybe some variety of grand winged chariot would see me into the fabled city.  Once the two had roughly seized me under the arms, however, I realized I was going to be taking the back seat of this rough buggy ride, as it were.

Having heard of the skillful flight of which the Winged

The Artists' Boulevard

Ones take great pride in, I voiced my concerns about the bumpy escort, but only received a short answer about air currents at this time of year.  “The North Wind, and the South Wind, you see.  They are quite mischievous.”

story continued on page 12

       

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