He broke their eye contact and stepped forward, so she was halfway behind him. What happened? Did she do something wrong? She whirled to face forward and tensed as a man wearing a red top hat loomed over her.
Norrix took another step and the man on stilts backed up with a broad grin on his face. He reached into an inside pocket of his red and yellow striped jacket to extract a blue flower and extend it to her. When she tried to take it, the flower turned into a butterfly and flew away.
Myth laughed as the stilt-walker tipped his top hat to her and took exaggerated steps away, balancing on one leg as he lifted the other over people’s heads.
“Are you all right? He didn’t mean to frighten you. He thinks he’s cuter than he is.”
“Yes. I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me.” In that moment, she knew Norrix would always protect her. Stand between her and anything that frightened her.
Norrix let go of her hand. She panicked for a second, but he touched the small of her back and directed her in front of him. Even through her cape and dress, heat spread all up and down her spine and made her stomach do little flips. What was happening to her?
The crowd wasn’t frightening when Norrix guided her through it. His big body made a path as people parted before them, and he did it without shoving anyone. He was so... gentle.
The aromas of food made her hungry. She held her book tighter to her body and hoped Norrix couldn’t hear her stomach growling over the noise around them. But he must have. He nudged her to the side of the walkway into a circle of long wooden tables with attached benches surrounded by carts and stands selling food.
Norrix slid his hand to her waist as he moved to her side and leaned down close to her ear. “What would you like?”
His low voice made her chest flush and spread to her face. Glad he couldn’t see, she darted her gaze around. All these things were new. What were they even called? Would he think she was stupid?
“If you like, I can surprise you.”
“Yes. Please surprise me.” She sat in the seat he escorted her to at one of the tables and watched as he went from vendor to vendor, collecting plates and bowls. As she waited, she opened her storybook on the table and removed the pencil from its spine.
She’d learned to read, but writing seemed more complicated. Instead, she drew a grinning man on stilts wearing a top hat and striped coat holding out a flower. As she thought about him, colors flowed into her illustration, adding so much realism she would swear the man winked.
Norrix placed two trays piled high with food on the table, and she stared. “What is all this?”
He pointed at each. “Pizza. Corn dog. Funnel cake. Taco. Nachos. Deep fried Oreos. Baked potato with bacon and cheese. Cotton candy. I’m pretty sure it’s all bad for you. That means it should all taste good.”
She laughed. “I can’t eat so much. You have to have some, too.”
Norrix just smiled. “I’ve already eaten. Whatever you don’t finish, the clean-up crew will devour.” He tilted his head to the left and right. “Don’t look at them directly. They’re shy and think they’re hiding, but there are brownies, trow, kobolds, dokkaebi, clurichauns, and duendes, all waiting for their chance to steal treats. In Ashana, it’s tradition to order too much and leave something for them. That’s what they take in exchange for helping to clean up. So don’t worry about not being able to finish all this. You’ll be one of their favorite people with this feast. It never hurts to get yourself on their good side.”
“Which is which?”
“Clurichauns are usually red-heads in suits. Duendes are elf-like and lack thumbs. Dokkaebi resemble small trolls, but they can shape shift. Brownies are usually male, have lanky bodies and long noses. The trow can pass for wizened humans. Kobolds are trickier — they are usually invisible, but can become anything from an animal, to a human, to a candle.”
She kept her eyes low to the ground and tried to see without looking. There did seem to be an awful lot of unattended children, and if she didn’t look hard enough, there was a shimmer to their forms. “I think I could spend a lifetime here and not learn everything.”
“There is always something new here.”
Myth nodded and returned her attention to the banquet on the table. “Clio said Ashana is always connecting to new worlds.” She closed her book and tasted all the different foods. With so much it was easy to leave most of it, feeling full long before she’d had more than a couple bites of everything. When they rose, she kept her head turned and eyes down, elated when the table swarmed with children and everything disappeared in a flash.
As they walked past the games, a fluffy stuffed animal prize caught her eye. A little monkey holding a yellow banana. Her breath caught in her throat.
Norrix stopped to talk with the man in charge of the game, and accepted several small balls, which he tossed at cups of water. They all landed in the same small pool and the bearded man handed the cup to Norrix. A small goldfish swam in circles.
“Which prize would you like?”
Myth pointed to the monkey and the man handed it to her.
She paused for a moment and he was stepping to her side to buy what she was looking at. How much money was all this? A lot? What did that mean? “I can't accept so many things.”
“Please, let me. It makes me happy to do these things for you.”
How did he know her so well? Like he could tell what she was thinking. What made her feel so many things she’d never felt before? Anytime she felt nervous or scared, he protected or distracted her. When she was curious, he explained things. “Are you a mind reader?”
He laughed. “No. I can’t imagine another mind mixed up with mine.”
Overhead red, green, blue, orange and yellow glows carried performers to trapezes and high wires. As they tumbled and soared through the air, Fable came to mind. She would love to see this. The thought sent Myth’s spirits plummeting to her toes. Of course, Norrix saw.
“We don’t have to stay here if this isn’t to your liking. It was the shortest way to get where we need to go.”
The words to tell him about Fable sat on the tip of her tongue but wouldn’t cross her lips. Could she trust him? The men in Aztlan always used her and Fable against one another. Norrix felt safe, but he was a stranger, and her judgement, especially with all these new emotions, was questionable. “I... Um, was just thinking about someone I know at home.”
“If you need to contact them, you can use my phone. It’s connected to the network here, so it will work.”
Tears welled in her eyes. It was so easy for everyone to keep in touch with their friends and family. Everyone except her. “Thank you, but a phone won’t work.”
“Well, there are a lot of ways to contact someone in Ashana. Have you tried the communications center?”
“No. Clio asked me if I had technology to register, but I don’t, so how can that help?”
“We’ll make a detour. Come with me. You can put in a person-to-person contact there. No phone needed.”
Norrix led her away from the lobby into a corridor lined with doors. She read the signs as they passed. Manager. Payroll. Catering. Legal. He pushed open a door that read Communications.
Inside, the cavernous room was a hive of activity. People talked on old-fashioned phones and typed on computers. One person wore headphones and tapped on a dial. A telegraph? She’d read about all this in the encyclopedias. Several pools of water lined a wall to the left, and a couple of mermaids sat on the edge of one as they chatted. Mermaids!
Messenger birds stood on perches at the back. Glass doors opened onto a patio where horses, chariots, and a golden boat awaited their drivers. A variety of shapes and sizes of mirrors filled the wall on the right. A few people held hands with a turbaned woman across a table. Typewriter with keys pressed by unseen fingers and blank pieces of paper lay in a neat row on a long table — some of them being written on by pens writing by themselves.
In spite of all the different conversations, Myth couldn’t
hear anything.
“Ashana is attached to many worlds, some not as advanced technology wise as the one we’re from. Others use different means. Everyone can contact their home worlds from here. I’m sure we can find a way to get in touch with whoever you need to.”
“Why is it so quiet?”
“Privacy. The room is warded so once you enter you can only hear whoever you’re talking to.”
With another one of his gentle touches at the small of her back, Norrix guided her to where a man with long, dark hair leaned in a chair with his feet on the desk. The bronze-toned skin of his long, oval face was painted with blue lines from his eyebrows straight to his hairline. More blue curves arced from his nose to his chin, and spiraled across his cheekbones. He wore a thunderous expression and shook a tablet in his hands that he tossed onto the desk when he saw them, and beamed a bright smile. “Norrix, my friend. Welcome, welcome.”
“Hello, Raki. I’m surprised to see you here.”
“Retirement is boring. I need something to do.” He dropped his feet to the floor and unfolded his tall body from the chair. “You don’t by chance need to send a message from the heavens, do you? An unexplained bright ray of sunshine? A cloud in a particular shape?” He snapped his fingers. “It usually takes a bit more notice, but I think I can wrangle a comet. Maybe even a shooting star or two.”
“You can do that?” Myth tried not to gape.
Raki straightened to his full, towering height and pressed a hand to his heart. “Am I not a sky god?” His voice thundered through the room. No one else heard him.
Was he? She’d never heard of him, but wanted to know his story.
When she didn’t recognize him, his shoulders slumped. “Youngsters today. No reverence for the old timers.” He smacked the desk. “Who am I kidding? My kids never had any respect. Started pushing me and Papa apart and demanding,” — He held up two fingers on each hand and bent them twice — “personal space from the moment they were born. The ingrates.”
“My friend needs to contact someone directly, so a grand gesture isn’t going to have the personal touch she needs.”
Raki collapsed into his chair, making it creak. “Oh, well. Nowadays it’s mostly special affects, anyway. We do everything here and open a window in the other worlds to let humans see the hocus pocus. What line of communication do you need to open?”
Norrix’s hand on her back pressed her forward. Myth swallowed and took a step. “I’ve never done this before. What are the options?”
Raki inclined his head toward the turbaned woman. “If the other party has passed on, there are seances.”
“No! Not... not that.” Myth would feel it in her heart if Fable wasn’t with her anymore. Wouldn’t she? Her mother had disappeared so long ago, but Myth hadn’t felt her die. She was just gone one day.
“One of the skeletons could take an omen for you.”
“Is there a way to just see if someone is all right?”
“The scrying pool will work for that.” Raki jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “There’s one free, but I don’t know much about that sort of thing. Ask the mermaids to tell you how to use it.”
Ask the mermaids? She was going to talk to mermaids!
Norrix escorted her to the edge of the desk and stopped. “I’ll wait for you here.”
The mermaids smiled as Myth approached. Her fingers itched to draw them in her book. One had a dark blue tail with matching scales that formed a V shape from her hips, where she turned human, all the way to her shoulders. Her hair flowed to her waist in three hues of dark blue. Her companion had shades of purple. They had the same aqua-colored eyes with starfish-shaped pupils.
“Hi! Welcome.” The purple mermaid splashed her tail. “Have a seat. Used a scrying pool before?”
Myth shook her head and sat, tucking her legs under her. “How does it work?”
The blue mermaid trailed her fingertips across the surface. “These are easy. Just imagine who you want to see in your mind. The magic does the rest.”
Could that be all there was to it? Myth peered into the scrying pool. The surface remained still for so long she worried it wasn’t going to work. She poured all her love and desperation into her gaze as she willed the water to do something. A ripple spread from the center, followed by several more. When the final one reached the edge of the pool and left the surface smooth again, her daughter was there.
Fable wore a green dress with red panels and sat at a table with Tizoc, a book open in front of them while he read to her. She was safe and happy. Fable smiled up at the boy. Tears of relief slid down Myth’s cheeks.
Iqiohr used to be like that. It was harder to remember the boy he’d been, but at one time Myth thought he loved her. Although nothing between them felt like what she experienced around Norrix.
Part of her was glad Fable was safe with Tizoc, but this was the same way everything had started with her and Iqiohr. Was Iqiohr, or worse, not-Iqiohr, planning to make Myth disappear, like her mother had? The previous Scorpion Mage had forced Myth to be completely reliant on Iqiohr for everything, from clothes, to water, to human contact.
She reached for the image, but drew her hand away in case it broke the connection.
“It’s all right. You can touch the water.” The purple mermaid leaned back on her elbows. “Sometimes that strengthens the connection.”
When she did, Fable’s head snapped up. Nantli?
Yes, tlazotli amoxtli. It’s me. Are you all right?
Yes. Tizoc and his mom are nice. He doesn’t let the mean men hurt me, and they gave me a pretty dress and food. Where are you? I was scared when you disappeared. I tried to be good, but I cried.
You are always good. I cried too. I didn’t know Iqiohr was sending me so far away. I’m in a place called Ashana. You would like it here. There are a lot of stories, and I met a woman with blue skin.
Blue! Will you show me?
Myth sent an image of Clio holding up her mug of ambrosia, plus the lobby with its ocean and circus themes, the pub when Gyges had put on the show, and the magical room she hoped would become their safe haven.
Will you take me with you next time? Fable’s tone turned wistful with an underlying hopelessness, like she knew it would never happen but had to ask, anyway.
Yes. Myth promised. No matter what, she would get Fable out of Aztlan, and the easiest way to do that was via Ashana. She’d turn the key in the middle of that awful white marble palace and bring it crashing down on everyone’s heads if she had to. Next time I come here, you'll be with me.
When will you come back?
Tomorrow. One more sleep. Will you be brave until then?
I’ll try. Tizoc said he will bring more stories. I miss you, Nantli.
I miss you too, tlazotli amoxtli.
Myth gathered her book and stuffed animal and rose to her feet, heart lighter as she made her way back to Norrix at the desk.
“You look happy. Everything’s okay?”
“Yes. Thank you for bringing me here.”
He held out his hand again. “Do you like animals?”
She shuddered as she slid her fingers into his and let him lead her toward the lobby. The only animals, if they could be called that, she knew were the ahuizotls, and they were far from friendly. But there were stories of animals people kept as pets, and she’d loved a jaguar before Iqiohr had killed the cat. “I think it depends on the animal.”
Norrix laughed. “Fair enough. Will you trust me?”
Myth nodded. “I do.”
Norrix guided her to a door behind the counter and into a small room. “This part may feel a bit like a roller coaster, but it’ll be quick.”
Roller coaster? She read about those, but that didn’t tell her what it felt like to be on one.
The lights went out, and the floor lurched under her feet. Myth pressed her hands to her full stomach and willed herself not to be sick. The light returned, and the door opened into an enormous space filled with doors of all shapes and sizes
.
An... animal bounded toward them. Horns jutted from his head. Golden scales gleamed on a thick, serpentine body. A long tail lashed and wings unfurled as the beast skidded to a stop across the tile floor.
She pressed back into Norrix’s front. He didn’t budge. “It’s all right. Mush won’t hurt you.”
“Is Mush... a dragon?” She’d read about those in the encyclopedia, but seeing one in person... Myth stood stock still as the dragon snuffled her. When he pulled back, she raised one hand and touched a fingertip to Mush’s golden nose. His smooth, warm skin slid under her palm as the dragon, unsatisfied with that tentative touch, pushed his head against her.
Norrix caught her as she stumbled. “Sorry about that. He was spoiled yesterday. Apparently, now he thinks everyone is supposed to bring him candy. He likes harder scratches. Like this.” He placed both hands on the dragon’s head and dug into the scales behind his ears.
As Myth copied the motions, Mush made a purring sound and let his legs slide straight out so his belly lay on the floor.
“He’s so cute! What is his story?”
“His full name is Mushkhushshu, and he’s got a taste for treasures. The god Tishpak rode on his back when he defended his cities and wielded storms in the sky. Together they fought Labbu, a sea monster so big his tail swept stars from the sky that caused the world to flood when they crashed to the earth.”
Mush thumped his tail in agreement as Norrix continued. “They were unstoppable until Marduk, King of the Mesopotamian pantheon, defeated Tishpak and locked Mush away to guard the treasury. I met Mush when I started working for Nabu, Marduk’s son. A friend and I stole Mush and set him free. He helped me with my job for a while, and now he spends a lot of time here, thinking all this belongs to him.”
“Do you think he would let me draw him in my book?”
Mush jumped up, planted three paws wide while he held a fore-paw up, stretched his neck and lifted his chin. His long trail curled around his feet.
Norrix laughed. “She can see you. No need to show off, you goofball.”
Myth's Legend: Norrix Page 13
