The travelways were different all together. I imagine it’s a lot like a bug sucked up a vacuum. It feels like sliding through a tunnel where there’s nothing to see but a darkness so complete I worry I’ll never see light again. Just when I think I’m on the verge of panic, I’m spit out on the other side.
The momentum of the travelway sent me stumbling across a leaf strewn clearing.
“Whew,” Jae said, his voice sounding rougher, like the deep cracking of a thick branch. “It feels good to get out of that fleshy lump.”
Jae’s clothes were discarded on the forest floor and he stood in his bark-skinned Ashling form. Not only had he ran from the fighting, leaving Seanna and me behind, his first thought wasn’t for our safety. No, it was getting out of his human shape.
I’m not a woodsy type person. Besides general shape and size, every tree looks pretty much like the next. Still, as I looked around, I knew where we were immediately. Not so much by sight, but by a strange sense. “The Mother Tree.”
“What?” Seanna asked.
“We’re close.”
“We are, but—”
“Can I see her?”
“I don’t think an outsider should be granted such things.” Jae had managed to screw his face into a very human-like expression of shocked scandal.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “We go way back.”
“Gaige, really,” Seanna said. “It is forbidden for outsiders to go into the presence of the Mother Tree. I took you and Aoife there that one time out of desperation.”
“So, saving her was just another way you used me?” I asked.
“That’s not fair,” she complained.
“You really don’t want to get into an argument about what’s fair or not. What’s right and wrong. Trust me, that’s one you’ll lose.”
“As Seanna has said, it is highly forbidden to—”
“Shut up.”
“Wh—what?”
“I said shut up before I shove my size eleven so far up your—”
“Gaige!”
I turned to Seanna.
“Fine, we’ll go see Mother Tree,” she said.
“But—” Jae started.
“Only for a few minutes,” Seanna said. “We must hurry.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “Time is short and all that crap. Let’s go.”
We were closer to the Mother Tree than I had thought. We navigated the forest for only about ten minutes before pushing through a ring of bushes and came face to, er, trunk with her. The Mother Tree. The very tree that had given life to the forest Seanna’s clan called home. Even though it was dark when I was here before, I recognized her straight away. She should have been indistinguishable from every other tree in the forest, but she stood out—at least to me. It’s not that she glowed with a visible light or anything. It’s more like she gave off an aura that I could feel deep down in my bones like a pleasant vibration.
Gatekeeper. It is with great pleasure to have you back in my company.
The Mother Tree didn’t have a mouth—she’s a tree. When she spoke, her voice came from within my head as a mild-toned woman’s voice. I wondered if she used a woman’s voice for our benefit. Did she give herself the “mother” moniker or was that her Ashlings’ doing?
“It’s good to see you, too,” I said.
Jae let out a faint hiss. He was no doubt having difficulties with the way I addressed her so casually.
I glanced at the area where she had shed one of her limbs. “You’re looking good.”
Light laughed rang in my head like a tiny bell.
Indeed? I have felt much lighter since I discarded that wholly unnecessary limb.
I laughed, but it quickly faded. “I’m happy for you.”
Something troubles you.
It was a statement, not a question. I didn’t know if she could hear my thoughts and talking out loud was redundant, so I spoke the words just in case. If she was in my head, I wasn’t sure I was happy with it, but if she was, she never gave any indication.
“It’s just that you’re mistaken,” I said. “I’m not the Gatekeeper anymore.”
Aren’t you?
“No. My gateway is gone and I don’t have my abilities anymore.”
Are you sure that means you are no longer the Gatekeeper?
I spread my arms and looked up into her branches. I didn’t know exactly where to look when talking to a thing with no face. “No gateway for me to keep. Seems pretty cut and dried.”
Cut and dried?
“A human expression meaning obvious,” Seanna said.
Ah. It may not be as cut and dried as you may think, Gatekeeper.
“Seems that way to me,” I said.
You humans suffer from the same shortsighted vision as my Ashlings. You see no further than what’s in front of you. If you could look past yourself, I’m sure you’d come to a much different conclusion, Gatekeeper.
“Yeah, well,” I said, “it’s just Gaige now.”
“Don’t be rude, Gaige,” Seanna said.
“I’m not.”
I’m afraid that is not a request I can fulfill, Gatekeeper.
“Why not?” I asked.
Gaige is the name you were given, but it is not who you are.
“Then who am I?”
The Gatekeeper.
“I’m not. Not anymore.”
How are you so sure?
“Like I said, the gateway is gone. My powers are gone. They’re not coming back.”
How do you know this?
“Uh, I was told.”
By whom?
“Mr. Minor,” I said. “He was my mother’s trainer.”
Ah. And this Mr. Minor knows all about Gatekeepers?
“Well, I assume so. He trains them.”
And he has been a Gatekeeper before?
“No. I don’t think so.”
Is it not possible to know about the gateways and their keepers without knowing all the inner workings of them?
“Well, yeah, I guess. But, I don’t know what you’re getting at.”
Maybe before you give up your calling in life you should consult with those who know the gateways on a deeper level than this Mr. Minor.
“Okay.” I shrugged a shoulder. “I have no idea who that would be.”
The Gatekeepers are the ones who hold the keys to unlocking the gateways, but the responsibility of guarding them often falls on others.
That rocked me back a bit. It seemed like the whole Gatekeeper thing was bigger than I thought. When Seanna had first brought me here, I was made to believe I was pretty much alone in the whole thing. Then I found out my mom had been the Gatekeeper before me and she had Mr. Minor to help her. When he finally revealed his role in teaching her, it was too late to do the same for me.
“Are you saying he could get his abilities back?” Seanna asked.
The impossible is often possible if one only does not give up hope.
“So, I could get my powers back?” I pushed. I didn’t really care about the Gatekeeper keys thing, but the telekinesis would be helpful in trying to find Aoife.
All is not lost.
Frustration crept into my bones. That really wasn’t helpful at all.
“So, who do I talk to?” I asked. “Who are these guardians?”
Not all gateways have guardians. It is often not a pleasant life, but yours did.
“Wait. The Jo-Shar?” The image of Elder Narit with the mechanical dragon behind her rushed into my head. I hadn’t thought about it for a while. It was one of the many things I had compartmentalized after Aoife drew the Getharey through the gateway. Just another source of pain I selfishly pushed out of my life.
Yes. They may be able to help you, though I know not where they are. They were scattered when their village was attacked. I cannot see them.
My heart thudded in my chest. Could I really get my abilities back? Did I really want them? Could I face the Jo-Shar after I was the cause of their village being attacked?
My head spun and I couldn’t think straight.
Peace, Gatekeeper.
A warm wash of calm fell on me. My mind cleared a bit.
“Thanks,” I said.
She laughed.
If I am to be so bold, I would suggest you travel to the spot of the Jo-Shar’s former village and seek them out. Seanna will help you.
I felt the Ashling stir beside me, but she remained quiet.
I have called my clan’s Tree Father and Tree Mother here. They will outfit you for the journey into the mountains. Once you have spoken to them, I believe I can still give you access to the travelway you took back to your gateway once you are properly prepared.
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Excuse me Mother,” Seanna said. The Ashling switched to her language and spoke for a few moments.
I obviously couldn’t understand what she said, but her delicate brows were drawing together and up in worry. She nodded as if the Mother Tree replied, but there was no voice in my head. I thought I might have heard a slight rustle of leaves in the tree overhead, but there was no breeze. I couldn’t be sure if I imagined it or not.
“Your pronunciation with that human tongue is absolutely horrid,” Jae said.
Seanna ignored him and lowered her gaze, deep in thought.
“What?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, but the Mother Tree answered.
My Ashling worries about me. My phrasing tipped her off.
“To what?”
“Magic,” Seanna said. “We Ashlings are a people steeped in it. We thrive on what Alisundi provides. As you now know, magic is waning here. The travelways are powered by it, so if operating them is getting more difficult that would mean magic is disappearing completely, and…” Her voice trailed off.
Jae said something in Ashling. He reached into a satchel made of leaves, vines, and bark and pulled out several carved pieces of wood.
No, child. Keep your trinkets. I’m not on my deathbed.
“But magic is your life essence,” Seanna said.
Do not worry about me just yet.
“If magic is failing, are the travelways safe to travel?” I asked. “And we just came through one!”
I would not send you or my Ashlings through one if I weren’t confident in your safety.
I nodded and took a step back to give the Ashlings space to converse with their Mother Tree. I drew in a breath and let it out in a long nearly inaudible hiss. The last time I had been here, it was with Aoife. It was here that she really figured out how to project her emotions. This place was a direct connection to her disappearing. Would she have figured out how to control those Getharey if she hadn’t done it here first? Would she be gone if they hadn’t come here?
Peace, Gatekeeper.
I flinched at the sudden voice in my head. I glanced at the Mother Tree. Seanna and Jae talked to her in their language but she seemed to be able to split her attention between us.
I cannot read your mind, so I do not know what troubles you so. I can, however, sense troubles run great and deep within you. I do know that feeling such things will not allow you to accomplish that which you must.
“I’m fine,” I lied in a low whisper. “I’m just anxious to find Aoife and know she’s okay.”
She was quiet for a while. I began to wonder if the conversation was concluded and she had turned her full attention to the Ashlings. I shifted my backpack and looked around, itching to get moving.
She is well.
Her sudden voice in my head startled a “huh” out of me.
Seanna and Jae glanced my way but went back to the conversation with the Mother Tree.
Your companion is faring well. She is alive and does not appear to be in any distress.
“How do you know?” I asked quietly.
I can sense her through the contact with the earth.
“Where is she? Can you talk to her—let her know I’m here?”
I am afraid not. I can only converse with those within this area. As to her location, she is many risings of the sun from here toward the direction you would know as East.
I turned a circle, having no idea which direction was east. “But she’s okay?”
For the moment, though I know not her situation.
“I have to hurry, then. Can you tell Seanna to take me there?”
Of course, my Ashlings will guide you, but do not rush or you may find yourself in trouble and unable to help her.
“I have to help her.”
And you will, but I suggest you first speak with the Jo-Shar. They may be able to help and give you guidance. Using the travelways will not take too much time from your journey and the benefits may outweigh that sacrificed time.
I didn’t care about guidance or help. I wanted to go find her now. Every moment I waited was a moment her life was in danger on this planet. I didn’t have any time to spare. I had to find her.
But something in the back of my head warned me against my usual headlong rush into dire situations. It sounded suspiciously like Aoife’s voice. My new subconscious voice of reason. How would getting myself killed help? She had survived this long, I was sure she could hold out an extra day or two. She was the strongest person I knew.
I nodded. “Okay. I’ll go see the Jo-Shar first.”
A wise choice you will not regret. My Tree Father and Tree Mother approach. Listen to them well. Go in peace, Gatekeeper.
I turned to see two trees walking through the forest toward us. Just over their heads, peeking through the foliage, a snow-capped mountain peak caught my eye. I recognized it as the one I had turned to stare up at plenty of times as we walked away from it the last time I was on Alisundi.
Somewhere up there were the scattered remains of the Jo-Shar and...what? Was my gateway closed forever? Was it just dormant until another Gatekeeper came along? I doubted I’d ever find out. I didn’t want anything to do with being a Gatekeeper. I only saw the advantage of having my telekinesis and that was it. I had Seanna’s stick to signal the other Gatekeeper to open his gate and that was all I needed.
“Hey Seanna, which way is east?” I asked over my shoulder.
She pointed the opposite direction of the mountain. I forced down a rush of anxiety. The Jo-Shar village was in the exact opposite direction I needed to go and, on top of that, I was pretty sure...
“Isn’t that the direction to Delicia?”
She said something in Ashling to the Mother Tree and walked over to me. “Yes, why?”
“Aoife is that way.”
“How do you know?”
“The Tree Mother told me. She said she reached out through the ground or something and felt her that way.”
A frown creased Seanna’s delicate brows. “She shouldn’t overextend herself like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“As I said, magic here is waning. It’s the lifeblood that fuels Tree Mother. She shouldn’t be wasting it like that.”
“Finding Aoife is wasting it?”
“You know what I mean.”
“No. I really don’t. Why don’t you explain to me how helping find my friend is wasting anything?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but her parents walked up interrupting her.
“Gatekeeper!” her father called out as they neared. “It is good to see you again.”
“Dario,” I said in greeting, surprising myself by remembering his name.
His wife stepped beside him.
“Kystyna,” I said.
She silently inclined her head.
Seanna’s parents were their clan leaders. From the outside, it seemed like they could be considered king and queen, but Seanna insisted they were not. The Ashlings governed themselves through committees and votes. Dario and Kystyna were there just to give guidance and also to come to a final decision when one proves to be too elusive for the committees.
“May we talk to you...alone?” Dario asked.
They didn’t even glance in Seanna
’s direction, but she stepped away after a quick unhappy look in my direction.
“Yeah, of course,” I said.
I was surprised when Kystyna spoke. It was usually her husband who did all the talking.
“We wanted to formally apologize to you for our involvement the last time you visited Alisundi,” she said. “While it was our intention to persuade you to help, our daughter stepped outside of our instructions when she lured you here through deception. I fear she felt it was the only way to accomplish that goal.
“We’d also like to thank you for your willingness to save our Tree Mother in spite of what you had gone through. We are saddened that it took her admonishment to open our eyes to just how wrong we were. We are very sorry and thankful at the same time.” She bowed at the waist, her rope like hair slide from her bark covered shoulders.
Dario did the same, though he bent a little less than her.
“What’s done is done,” I said. “If you can help me find Aoife, we can call it square.”
Dario’s fuzzy, caterpillar-like eyebrows drew together. “Square?”
“Even.”
The quizzical look remained.
“Eye for an eye?”
Kystyna reached to touch beside her eye.
“Never mind,” I muttered. “I’d really like to go find the Jo-Shar. I don’t want to waste any more time.”
“Of course,” Dario said. He curled his long, thin fingers in a beckoning motion. “The travelway is this way.”
He handed me a leaf pouch full of berries and twigs. I politely stuffed it into my backpack. I remembered the food on Alisundi and had dutifully packed a large amount of jerky, trail mix, and even a couple cans of beans.
Dario then handed me a coat made of leather and trimmed in fur. He smiled proudly when I looked at it.
“We traded for it with a human that passed near our forest. After your last visit, we knew we were woefully unprepared for your kind.”
I took it and nodded gratefully. I hadn’t planned on going back up into the snow-capped mountains, so I had only packed a light hoodie. A warm coat would be much appreciated up there where snot froze before it had a chance to run out the nose.
The Gatekeeper Trilogy Page 62
