by Jeff Gunzel
“It’s like watching a lion try to outthink his slower, weaker prey when he could just overwhelm it whenever he chooses.”
“If you don’t want to get hit...then don’t get hit, little bird.”
“Why did the bird not use his wings?”
“No weapon should ever touch you...”
“No weapon should ever touch you...”
“No weapon should ever touch you...”
The cryptic quotes bounced around in his head as he slashed and parried. With a golden shine, his eyes began to glow. The charred markings burnt into his upper body began to shimmer, energy crackling up and down his arms.
No weapon should ever touch you.
Time slowed, his own movements speeding up as the opposing monk seemed to be moving in water.
Why did the bird not use his wings?
The air around him changed, prickling his skin. He could feel more darts moving towards him, creeping along like leaves riding a river’s current. He turned, hands flashing open. Small glimmering holes swallowed up the darts in flight, then snapped shut. Those same holes flashed open in front of the opposing monk, emptying the streaking darts directly into his chest.
The world spun back into existence, time speeding back up as the monk tumbled backwards, clutching his chest in pain. A flaming blade streaked down towards him, stopping a mere inch from his neck. He glared up at Eric, feeling the heat near his face. Grimacing, trickles of blood ran between his fingers from the puncture wounds.
But his angry look soon melted away. He grinned, then began clapping his hands together. Others joined in, clapping and patting each other on the shoulder. Yammon stepped into view, slowly clapping his hands as well. “It seems our little bird has finally learned to fly.”
* * *
Eric stood near the edge of the mountain, gazing out across the lifeless terrain. Rock, sand, and the dried husks of withered bushes were most of what he saw. Still, on a clear day like today he was able to see the shoreline far off in the distance. Odd how there could be a body of water within reasonable distance, yet the climate here was still so dry. A result stemming from the mysterious magic seeping from the Mountain of Dreams, perhaps? Everything around it seemed dead for miles.
Straining his eyes, he could barely make out the white heads of breaking waves as they climbed up the sandy shoreline. To think, one of those waves had actually brought him and his friends to this land. It was hard to say whether or not that was a pleasant thought.
“Beautiful, is it not?” came a familiar voice from behind, a hand coming to rest on his shoulder.
“I suppose,” Eric admitted, folding his arms across his thick chest. “The top of this mountain has been my world for so long that I guess I forgot anything else existed. Everything out there looks so barren, yet peaceful at the same time. Strange how calming that feels to me.” He gazed off to the east, noticing a thick tree line. Another oddity, he thought. This surrounding “dead zone” seemed to have distinct boundaries. Beyond them, life flourished just as nature intended.
Yammon cleared his throat. “I’m...sorry I had to do that.”
“Enraging me on purpose in order to get the response you required?” Eric hinted, still gazing out across the dry scenery.
“Um...yes. Kang is rather good at that sort of thing. Even we don’t find him to be all that pleasant.” Eric sniffed, nodding his agreement. “I needed you to grasp the true nature of your abilities. Shifting yourself out of harm’s way is beneficial to you, and you alone.”
“But shifting the enemy’s weapons is indefensible,” Eric interrupted. “I’ve been focusing on myself when I should have been focusing on my surroundings. I understand now.”
“That is correct,” Yammon sighed, clasping his hands behind his back. “And the sooner you gain a full understanding of your capabilities, the better.” He stepped away and picked up a stone, studying it for a moment. “I want you to keep this from hitting you,” he said, suddenly throwing it without any warning.
Caught off guard, Eric took it right in the chest before he could react. “Ouch!” he protested, rubbing his chest. “I wasn’t ready.”
“Oh?” said Yammon, picking up another rock, studying it in similar fashion. “Do you suppose your enemy will ask if you’re ready or not?” Eric said nothing in reply. “Again,” he barked, throwing the rock. Eric got his hand up just in time. A yellow ring flashed open, swallowing the rock in mid-flight. “Good,” said Yammon, picking up two more stones. Eric braced, not comfortable with where all this was going.
Yammon hurled one stone, then watched it get swallowed up in mid-air. He threw the second one immediately. It met a similar fate as the first. “Good,” said Yammon, tapping his chin in thought. “Your reaction time is good. At least we don’t have to work on that.” It was true enough. Eric had grown very proficient at opening and closing these portals with minimal time needed. What took over an hour of complete concentration for most sorcerers, he could do instantly. “But anyone can show proficiency when facing the threat head-on. I need you to turn around.” He grinned, much to Eric’s dislike.
Eric did as he was told, shoulders tight with anticipation. “Now, I know what you’re already thinking,” said Yammon, pitching the rock up and down, catching it with one hand. “You can’t see the threat coming, so it’s not fair. As I recall, our earlier training methods were not fair either. In fact, I’m sure we can assemble a long list of things you think aren’t fair. However, saying something is not fair and claiming that it can’t be done are two very different things. I don’t want to hear any more about what’s not fair. We’re way past that now.”
He sent the rock hurtling towards Eric. It struck him square in the back, forcing him down to one knee. Yammon slapped a hand to his forehead. “We still have a long way to go,” he grumbled.
* * *
“Can you hear me?” came a far-away voice drifting through the blackness. “Don’t you dare leave us. You hear me, old man? Your work is not finished and neither is mine. I forbid you to take the easy way out.” Berkeni’s eyes fluttered open and he saw Jade leaning over him. He tried to sit up but fire shot through his midsection, nausea making his head spin. “No, don’t,” said Jade, gently pushing his shoulders back against the pillow. “Rest is the only thing that will help you now.”
He placed his hand on his own sweaty brow, eyes blinking as he tried to remember what happened. “Filista?” he said, attempting to sit up again.
“Dead,” she reassured him, a confident smile on her face. “You came within an eyelash of the same fate, old friend.” She mopped a damp rag across his forehead. “If we hadn’t found you when we did...”
“Bah! He was never in any danger. The old goat’s too stubborn to die,” came a voice from the doorway. Addel rushed up, nearly throwing herself on top of him. He winced at first, but after a moment was able to return the embrace. “But in case you try to leave me again,” she whispered in his ear, “know this. I’ll pull you back from the grave by your eyebrows. Don’t you ever scare me like that again.”
“I’m afraid the choice was made for me,” he said, glancing down at the white bandages wrapping his upper body. “No matter, I’m certainly glad to be back amongst the living.” He sighed loudly, eyes flickering towards Jade. “My dear, I’m afraid there is something you must—”
“She knows, Berkeni,” Addel said, cutting him off. “She knows everything.”
“Something you must see,” he finished, indicating it wasn’t exactly what Addel was thinking. “By now, you know all about your heritage; who your mother and father are and all the responsibilities that go with such bloodlines. Keeping that secret pained me every single day, but I swore to serve your mother and that’s exactly what I did.” He winced, working himself to the side of the bed. “And now I’m sworn to serve you.”
Ignoring their protests for him to lie back down, the old man rose up on unsteady legs. “Jade, you will not be able to move forward until you face your past.
You must follow me.” He limped towards the door and out into the hall. “Alone,” he added.
“Off with you, dear,” Addel said, motioning towards the door. “I mean, Your Highness,” she corrected herself, giving Jade a light push. It didn’t take long to catch up with the injured man hobbling along. Patently, Jade remained at his slow pace as they walked in silence.
“There is much I must do,” she said when the silence became unbearable. “Is there any way this can wait until morning?” When he replied with more silence, she took the hint and gave up any more attempts at postponing this. He led her down a flight of steps, then down a second flight. Moving painfully slow, they finally reached a large silver door with a lion head engraved on the front.
“Face my past you say?” she swallowed hard, watching as he retrieved a silver key from around his neck. Without a word, he jiggled the key into the lock. The door swung back with a creak, revealing a large dark room. Thick white candles melted down to almost nothing gave off the last of their sickly light.
“I will wait here,” said Berkeni, the first words he had said in some time. “In order to move forward and find peace in your heart, you must say goodbye to who you once were.”
Jade’s heart sank as she looked back into the dark room. Reluctantly, she entered, closing the door behind her. Ahead lay a glass case resting on an elaborate, dark lacquered wooden stand. Hand crafted with intricate designs, it formed the shape of six hands holding up the glass case. Even from here she could make out the body lying in the case, hands folded across her chest. With fiery red hair spilling down around her shoulders, even in death queen Ilirra still looked as lovely as ever.
Slowly, Jade approached the glass case as memories of this once vibrant woman flooded her thoughts. How could a woman with such fire and passion be gone? Until now, these were nothing but horrible stories, rumors spread by the enemy to unnerve the city of Taron. It wasn’t real. But seeing her lying there with her own eyes made it real. Berkeni was right. She needed to make peace with this reality, no matter how much it hurt.
“Your Highness,” she whispered, dropping down to one knee and dipping her head. After a time she got back up, placing her hands on top of the case. Ilirra was clad in her favorite blue silk dress with a pearl necklace strung around her neck. Gold bracelets climbed the length of each arm, matching beautifully with her gold rings. Someone had clearly taken great care in her makeup and dressing. Jade lay her head down across her own folded arms and closed her eyes. “Why?” she whispered, tears dripping onto her wrists. “Why did this have to happen to us? Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Mother?”
Her sobs grew heavy, shoulders jerking in fits. “Why?! We lost so much time. I wandered the world alone for years, not knowing if I even had a family. My entire life was dedicated to a single purpose, and I fulfilled that task. But this is how the gods repay us? It’s not right. I need you! I can’t do this alone!”
Berkeni could hear her wailing outside the door. He wanted nothing more than to rush back inside, to comfort her and tell her everything was going to be alright, but he resisted. She was queen now, and coddling her feelings would do her no good. Fair or not, she needed to face this demon alone. This was a door from the past that had to be closed by her hand if she were to take the next step. He wiped a tear from his cheek and stood fast, mouthing a silent “I’m sorry, my dear.”
Regaining a measure of composure, Jade pushed herself off the glass and stood upright. “They told me you sacrificed your life in order to save our people,” she said, wiping her eyes. “We all should wish to have such a noble end. I know I must seem like a greedy child, questioning why my mother was taken from me. But in truth...I’m afraid. I’m afraid I will never be able to live up to your legend. I’m afraid I won’t be half the leader you were. Why would anyone follow me?”
She paused, hands trembling on top of the case. She clenched them into fists to stop the shaking. “But that is all irrelevant now, isn’t it? It’s not like I have a choice anymore.” She glanced down, smoothing a hand across the glass. “I must honor your name and be the best that I can, and just maybe, one day you will be proud of what your daughter has done.”
She wiped her face again, standing tall with reddened eyes. “War is upon us. I tell you now in confidence, from daughter to mother, that I am terrified beyond words. The darkness is coming and I’m not sure what we can do to stop it.” She sighed, then managed a light smile, tracing the top of the case with her finger.
“I know you’re watching over me. I feel you in my heart, and together the two of us can accomplish anything. I can never replace the queen of Taron, but I can be someone different. I will make my own legend, and I shall do it in your name.” Jade kissed the glass, then turned back towards the door. “I love you, Mother,” she whispered, then exited the room.
Berkeni turned when she emerged. “Are you alright, dear? Is there anything you need?”
Jade smiled, dry tracks running down her cheeks. “I’m fine,” she said, touching his cheek. “Thank you, Berkeni.” With a nod, he smiled back. She truly seemed to be at peace. “There is something you must do for me.”
“By your command,” he replied with a subtle bow.
“You must send out riders. I must speak with representatives from, Athsmin, Dronin—”
“Dronin?” he interrupted, unable to hide his surprise. “I was unaware we were on civil terms with them.”
“Denark, Bryer, and all bordering cities your riders can safely reach,” she went on. “I want the port city of Candrin shut down, their men working around the clock building ships nonstop. Whatever petty squabbles we’ve had with the Dronin can be set aside for now. We are at war. If we do not work together, none of this will matter a year from now. I will sign and seal the documents tonight, and your riders will leave at first light. Am I clear on the matter?”
“Understood, my lady,” he said with a wince of pain.
“Relay my orders down the chain of command, then return to your bed. I don’t want to see you on your feet again for several days. You’re too important to let you die on me now,” she said with a wink. He watched her ascend back up the stairs, disappearing around the corner.
She marched through the halls, floors stained with blood, bodies lying about in contorted positions. Men were already beginning to collect them. Broken glass crunched under her feet as she walked.
“Jade,” said Shantis, running up to her from behind. “I mean, Your Highness,” she corrected, dropping down into an awkward bow.
“We are not dealing in formal titles today,” said Jade, guiding her to stand upright. “All I need today is a friend, nothing more.”
Shantis smiled, then reached down near her hip. “Whether or not you want me to addresss you by your title, meansss little. You are my queen.” She pulled up her hand, holding a jeweled crown. “But still, I presssent thisss to you asss your friend.” Speechless, Jade’s mouth swung open as Shantis placed it on her head. “I pried it from the dead handsss of a ssserpent. May it ssstay in your possession until the end of time.”
Jade reached up to touch it. It fit perfectly as if were made just for her. “Thank you,” she managed after several failed attempts to speak. Shantis kissed her on the cheek, then hurried off.
The shock of it all settling in, Jade wandered on, head high, eyes staring straight ahead. She marched until she found what she was looking for. Until now, she really hadn’t realized where she was going. Standing before her were two golden doors, ornately decorated with black and green grapevines. She pushed back one of the heavy doors, discovering that this room had changed quite a bit from how she remembered it.
Memories of seeing the queen for the first time flashed through her mind. It was here in this very room. She had been afraid, not knowing how to act around such greatness. Now, it all seemed like a dream.
She moved across the lush red and green carpet, eyeing the golden pillars with white at their base. The large banner of Taron’s flag was torn dow
n, and much of the artwork was destroyed. Still, the throne was perfectly intact. She sat down, back straight as a board, blank stare gazing off into the distance. Emotionless...
This was her reality now. This was her destiny... Numb, emotionless, she had no more tears left to cry.
Chapter 13
Body tense, Eric took a deep breath as he sidestepped around in a wide, sweeping circle. Instinctively, his hand moved towards his blindfold, fingers probing around the tight cloth. Sweat beaded on his forehead, dripping down the side of his face. The sun beat down on this muggy day, making the blindfold feel even more damp and stifling.
He turned suddenly, hand up and ready. The thrown rock zipped past the open portal that flashed open, catching him right in the ribs. Winded, he doubled over, clutching his chest just as a dart zipped into the back of his leg. He let out a curse, rolling over onto his back. His shout was more due to frustration than the actual pain in his leg.
“Hold,” said Yammon, approaching the fallen young man. He removed the blindfold and helped Eric to his feet, then dismissed the other monks with a wave of his hand. “I would not call that a triumphant first attempt. Far from it, in fact,” he said, gripping his shoulders. “Are you alright, lad?”
“I’m fine,” Eric lied, turning away in frustration. Sure, physically he was well enough, but the aggravation he felt from all these failed drills was really getting to him. “I’ve hit a wall. I’m just not sure how to improve from this point. I mean, I’m not focusing on any particular skill. It all just feels like a blind reach. Sometimes I get lucky and intercept one or two; the rest of the time my body pays the price.”
“You are making the exact same mistakes as before, only this time they are disguised as new mistakes,” said Yammon, flipping a rock and catching it. “Have you learned nothing? You continue to trust your eyes, even though they lie more often than not. If anything, you should be stronger without them.” He flipped the rock up once more and snatched it from the air. He rolled it around in his hand before holding it close to Eric’s face. “Can you see this stone?” he asked.
