“Those are powered by gemstone technology.” Uxa perused the colloidal silver ampule package Fynn had brought back and then handed it to Paley.
Paley tucked the ampules into her newly arrived backpack. Her eyes darted around the room while she held khaki cargo pants in her hands.
“As of right now, the demon illness is contained to Providence Island,” Uxa said. “However, it could still spread. All of you were required to take colloidal silver as a precaution. You were given a dose at breakfast.”
Van recalled the shimming water in the pitchers and had an a-ha moment.
“You can take additional doses while on your journey if needed,” Fynn said.
“What symptoms should we be on the lookout for?” Brux asked.
“Good question,” Uxa said. “Changes in behavior—aggression, anger, depression. Fever, lack of appetite— ”
“Crazy eyes,” Van added, flashing back to Maren’s crazed look as she attacked Van.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
“I’ve got experience with it.” Van shrugged. “Just sayin’.” Her cheeks flared.
“Where can I change?” Paley held up a white ribbed tank.
Fynn raised his index finger for Paley to wait a minute. “Speaking of change,” he said, “I think we need to change the team leader from Van to Brux.” He held up his palms as if to ward off the expected verbal attack. “Wait. Hear me out. It should be a male to make it easier to move about in patriarchal Balish occupied territories.”
“It has to be Brux, he’s the only male going.” Pernilla glared at Paley. “Now that someone took out two of our teammates.”
Van clenched her lips. Anger surged inside her, along with rejection and betrayal. First the Twin Gemstones, now this. She felt unappreciated and alone. But when the team took a vote, Van raised her hand in agreement.
With Brux in charge, he would be responsible for Paley and Pernilla. With him carrying the Twin Gemstone, he and Paley couldn’t be separated while in the Living World. That would give Van time to sneak away and focus on her side projects like finding a counter-curse and checking on Ferox. No worries about Daisy, with Brux leading the team, she knew finding his sister would be on the agenda.
“It’s settled then,” Uxa said. “Van will be in charge of the team’s direction using the Coin. Brux will be the official team leader.”
Fynn pointed Paley to the restroom down the hall where she could change.
Uxa handed Van a hand-stitched coin-sized cloth pouch. “Use it well.”
“I will,” Van said as she tucked the Coin of Creation into one of the many pockets in her cargo pants.
Paley returned, dressed and ready to go.
The team’s departure time had arrived.
As Van climbed the stairway to the portal, she realized the team hadn’t been given a name this year. She wondered if this was a bad omen, and hoped Wiglaf would make another appearance on this journey, to provide them with luck and comfort. She rubbed her palm against her chest to stop that annoying warmness that happened when she thought about her bunfy. She didn’t need Wiglaf. The little critter would be nothing but an emotional distraction, another worry.
Everyone appeared solemn, bracing for the anticipated challenges waiting for them on the other side of the portal. When they reached the dais, it seemed the perfect time to take a moment to remember last year’s teammates that didn’t survive the journey.
Van warded off a chill as they also said a prayer for the three injured people, two who never even got a chance to start the mission. She couldn’t help but feel this was another bad sign and essentially her fault for not keeping a better watch on Paley. She redoubled her commitment to finding a cure for the Anchoress curse so she could stop her rotten luck.
The portal borders hummed with life. The black disc swirled with shimmers of silver.
Van watched as Brux and Paley held the gemstones in their palms to tune them and then leaped into the blackness, followed by Pernilla. She wondered which of them wouldn’t make it back this year, including herself.
She was unsure if she had the skills to pull off another victory.
What were her chances?
Slim.
Chapter 14
Van, Paley, Brux, and Pernilla made it through the portal and safely landed on the platform at Lodestar Station in Salus Valde, Living World.
Van noticed the huge clock hanging above one of the large archways. Four hands with different phases of the moon adorned its face. Under the clock, the engraved stone sign read Lodestar Village. She felt like she had come home.
“Wow,” Pernilla muttered.
Van smiled at Pernilla’s reaction. It was similar to the first time Van had seen Lodestar Station. She had to keep in mind that everything would be new to Pernilla.
Last time Van and Paley had walked through the station, it was deserted. Today, there was a good number of Grigori and what looked like the well-dressed citizens of Salus Valde. They casually sat on the white stone benches, leaned against the Corinthian columns, or milled about while waiting for their transport time.
Some had their eyes glued to their MT’s, some watched the glassy gemstone screen hung on the wall that broadcasted news bulletins and advertisements. Some had their nose in a newspaper called Daily Acts. None of them paid any attention to the four teens bustling toward the high-arched exit under the colossal clock.
“All the news feeds are owned and controlled by the Balish,” Brux said.
“Really?” Pernilla raised her brow, rubbernecking every which way.
“There are ways to communicate around it,” Brux said.
“How can they control the news?” Paley asked.
“Yeah.” Van peered at Brux. “Manik’s law protects Salus Valde from Balish rule.”
“We’re protected from invasion by the Balish and to have our own belief system,” Brux said. “But Lodians still have to abide by Balish law.”
Van harrumphed and muttered, “They have to control the story. Sounds familiar.” They hastily exited Lodestar Station and entered into Lodestar Village.
Pernilla gawked at the fairytale cottages, the elaborate fountains, and the spectacular greenery of the quaint village. She paused and squinted at the majestic mountain towering in the distance.
Van kept walking as she answered Pernilla’s unspoken question. “Mt. Altithronia.”
“I know that. I’m well studied on the Living World,” Pernilla said in a way that exposed her true feelings—she felt uncomfortable being the only person on the team with no experience.
“Since when?” Van asked.
“Since last night,” Pernilla snapped.
Van had no time for Pernilla’s insecurities. They had a mission to accomplish and only twenty-nine more days to do it.
“Come on,” Van said as she directed them off the cobblestone streets and into the woods outside the village.
“Is this the same path we took last summer?” Paley hustled to keep pace.
“Did you use the Coin?” Brux asked Van.
“Not yet.”
Brux stopped short.
Van tried to keep walking, but he dashed over and grabbed her by the elbow.
Pernilla halted.
Paley took a few more steps before she stopped. Her eyes turned to Van and Brux, a confused look clouded her face.
“Then how do you know what direction we need to go in?” Brux asked Van through clenched teeth.
“I’m taking us to the trunk-a-vators.” Van wasn’t prepared to defend her decision. As the Anchoress, she had things to do. The team was Brux’s problem.
“Without checking with us first?” Pernilla’s knuckles turned white from gripping her backpack’s shoulder strap. “And what’s a trunk-a-vator? It sounds stupid.”
“I’m team leader,” Brux said. “Don’t you think I should be involved in that decision?”
“Listen.” Van poked him in the chest. “You do what you want. I’m
going this way.”
Van tried to pull away, but Brux continued to grip her elbow.
“If I’m not searching for Daisy, then you’re not doing any personal stuff either,” he said in a low voice.
“You mean Daisy’s body.”
Brux looked both pale from grief and flushed from anger. “You believe she’s dead?” He released his grip, his hand fell to his side.
Van hesitated. She didn’t want to give him hope. But she also couldn’t lie to him.
“I don’t,” Van said, drained of anger after seeing the devastated look on Brux’s face. “Screw death. Daisy’s alive.” She resumed walking. “And don’t try to tell me you weren’t going to sneak away and go search for her.”
“I wasn’t!” Brux called from behind as he hurried to catch up with Van.
He appeared next to her. “I take my responsibilities as your protector seriously. You should too.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“You’re acting like a spoiled child,” Pernilla said from behind.
“Oh, no, you didn’t go there,” Paley said, breathing heavily from keeping pace with the team.
Pernilla continued, unfazed. “Spoiled. Little. Baby.”
“You’re the spoiled one.” Van kept her focus on the path ahead. “Whining so much Uxa had to put you on the team to shut you up.”
Pernilla stopped, shrugged off her backpack, and threw it on the ground.
“Come on.” She raised her fists. “Uxa’s not here. There’s no Grigori to interfere. Let’s go.”
Van sighed. It was going to be a long mission.
She twisted around and faced Pernilla. She needed to address the issue since Brux, despite being team captain, would have no idea how to handle this situation.
“I’m not going to fight you Pernilla.” Van didn’t want to injure her own teammate, especially not in the first hour of their journey. They were already down by two, thanks to Paley.
“Why? Chicken?” Pernilla made clucking noises.
“You know what?” She didn’t need this grief. “Bite me.”
Van had other, more important things to worry about. Like how to find the seal, mend it, and get back to Lodestar before the Quasher ripped her to shreds. But, no matter how hard she tried, her feelings kept bobbing to the surface. Her lack of control over her emotional stability made her uneasy. And her teammates left her feeling drained.
She had to get away from them, at least for a bit.
Van dashed deeper into the woods. Leaves swished against the exposed skin of her hands and face as she searched for the nearest trunk-a-vator. An occasional twig snapped back, slapping her bare skin. She noticed running was more difficult this year, harder on her body because of the weight she had gained. Her hips and lower back already ached.
Van ran for so long, she had to slow down to catch her breath. Her ankle gave out. She stumbled and then fell face-first into a muddy puddle.
She lifted her head from the muck and spit out dirty water.
Van laid there for a moment, sprawled on her stomach, exhausted and defeated. She listened to see if her teammates had followed.
All she heard were forest sounds—chirps of birds and rustling of leaves in the wind. She slowly raised up from the puddle. As she wiped her face, she began to weep.
Covered in mud, she staggered over to a rock and sat down. Tears streamed from her eyes, making pathways along her mud-stained cheeks. Her backpack dug into her shoulders, so she shrugged out of it. She unzipped the pack and rummaged around until she found an orange-date nutbar. She unwrapped it as if she were starving and shoved it into her mouth.
She chewed and sobbed, coughing occasionally.
The stillness of the woods echoed back at Van, making her feel alone. She could choke to death on the bar, and no one would ever find her. Her body would lay there and rot, a mushy mess soaking back into the earth from where it came. And no one would care.
“Mlllrwp!”
Startled, Van stopped her weeping.
At her feet, she saw a fluffy, glowy-white critter staring up at her with large, soulful eyes.
“Hi, Wiglaf,” Van said to her only friend.
He stretched his long ears as high as they could go. “Rrpt weep ef.”
Although happy to see her bunfy, Van didn’t respond. Instead, she stared into the trees.
Wiglaf hopped onto the rock and rubbed his cat-like head against her thigh.
“Rrrpt. Rrrpt. Erp.”
“You’re paws are muddy.”
“Wrrpt.” He raised his whiskered nose and blinked at Van.
His adorableness won her over. “Okay, okay.” She couldn’t resist scratching him behind the ears. “You’re a funny little thing, aren’t you?” Wiglaf always brought Van out of her funk.
Van felt re-charged and ready to get moving. If the team didn’t care enough to find her, then she would have to take it upon herself to find them.
Pfft. So much for Brux’s dedication to being her protector.
She stood and glanced at her surroundings. All the trees looked the same. She had no idea where she was or which way to go.
For a second she panicked, then remembered she had the Coin. The time seemed right to use it.
As she reached into her pocket for the pouch, voices emanated through the trees. Twigs snapped under feet trampling closer.
“Van!” Paley’s voice echoed through the trees.
The brush parted, and Brux appeared. “There you are.”
Pernilla and Paley followed.
“I figured you guys wanted to go your own way,” Van said.
“I would never leave you, Van.” Brux pulled a tissue out of his pants pocket and cleaned her muddy face.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Paley said.
Brux stared into Van’s eyes, and said in a husky voice, “Don’t run off like that again.”
Van’s heart whirled.
“Or if you do, then hide better,” Pernilla muttered.
Van swatted away Brux’s help. “I’m fine.” She grabbed the tissue from Brux. “I can do it.” She finished wiping her own face.
“Wiglaf!” Paley screeched. She plunked her butt on the rock and scratched the bunfy behind his ears, then his whiskery cheeks, and then his belly. “Look at your little muddy paws. Aw. You’re so cute.”
Due to his frequent appearances over this past year, Wiglaf had grown used to Paley’s over-the-top affection. He basked in her attention.
Pernilla gazed at Wiglaf.
Van could tell she longed to touch him. “Don’t even think about it.”
Brux clapped his hands. “Let’s get back to task. Van if you think the TAV makes sense, then that’s what we’ll do.”
A rush of uncertainty filled Van. She hadn’t consulted the Coin before making the decision to use the TAVs. Now, she questioned herself. She didn’t even know if their connections to the west were working.
“Will someone please tell me what the heck’s a trunk-a-vator?” Pernilla asked.
“It’s an elevator in a tree,” Paley said. “Except it doesn’t go up and down, it goes from tree to tree. Well, only to other magically connected trees in a network. Am I making sense?”
Wiglaf broke free from Paley’s grip. He turned to face the group, chirruped, and then hopped into the woods, to the east.
Van’s head cleared. She smiled. “We follow Wiglaf.”
They rushed to catch up with the bunfy and followed him until he stopped in front of an enormous tree.
“Looks like a TAV,” Van said, staring at its bulky knots.
“Let’s see if it’s working.” Brux placed his hand on the biggest knot and pushed. A panel slid open, exposing a circular compartment large enough for all of them.
Wiglaf dashed inside.
“Whoa.” Paley gaped. “Jorie’s magic from last year must still be powering the TAVs.”
“Wait. You want me to go in there?” Pernilla took a step back. “What exactly is this?”
“TAVs are magically imprinted trees,” Brux said as he entered the compartment.
He held his hand over the door, the same way as terrigens held the door to an elevator in the Earth World. The gesture struck Van as funny, and she giggled.
The team ignored her.
Brux continued. “King Nequus had one of their government-sanctioned wizards block the magic in the network, making the TAVs inoperable. Jorie, our team leader last year, used magic to get them to work.”
“They’re still working?” Pernilla asked, looking unsure about trusting this new contraption.
“They’re powered by the Universal Energy Grid, an energy source that comes from nature, not Jorie’s magic,” Van said as she entered the TAV with Paley. “All she did was re-connect some of the TAV’s to the grid.”
Pernilla hesitated.
“Get moving, Pernilla the Brave,” Van said with attitude.
Pernilla snorted and stepped into the TAV.
The door slid closed, and an embedded flat panel screen lit up, displaying a map of the landscape. Van pointed to the only lit area on the panel map. “This TAV will only let us go north, to Altithronia.”
Brux squinted at the map. “There are even fewer routes now.”
“Maybe Jorie’s magic is wearing off,” Paley said.
“I thought it wasn’t dependent on Jorie’s magic,” Pernilla said, sounding stressed.
“The Balish probably discovered that some of them were working and shut them down again,” Van said.
Brux pushed the tree icon on the screen. “Here we go.”
Pernilla clasped the grab rail and braced for a wild ride.
Van snickered, having done the same thing the first time she rode in a TAV. But unlike last time, Van suffered no anxiety from being inside the enclosed space. For that, Van was grateful.
The TAV hummed and vibrated. Then came to a smooth, uneventful stop.
Excited to see Altithronia again, Van eagerly stepped from the TAV onto an expansive grassy area that seemed to float in the sky. She stood on a natural elevation of the earth’s surface, perhaps a small mountain, since they were in a mountain range. High enough so that when she walked to the edge, the tops of giant pine trees reached up from the valley below and still were beneath her. Lush forestation and rolling hills spread for miles in every direction. In the distance, purple-pink leaves of weepy trees fluttered in the gentle breeze, creating a spectacular landscape. Altithronia remained as beautiful as ever.
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