Of Liars and Thieves

by Gabriela Lavarello

  “The one with fire within her soul has unparalleled power,” the fairies began to speak again. “The flame within will either become a key that unlocks the salvation of this realm, or it will be our downfall. One key may not live without the other, though it may at times seem as if one holds more power over the rest. Each key will play their part in the game, but not until they are reunited with their locks. If this is not done by the end of the second summer, the realm will be bathed in darkness, and the tyrant of death shall reign once more.”

  The stars swelled, and with a loud pop, they blinked out of sight. If it wasn’t for the awed and frightened expressions of his companions, Tedric would have thought he had imagined them being there at all. The four Sythril opened their eyes, and as if they could no longer see the companions, they turned their backs and began to walk in the direction from which they had come and were soon swallowed into the misty thicket of trees.

  “Well, that was an odd experience,” Lorian said, his voice thick with forced amusement.

  Tedric nodded in agreement, his mind whirling. He turned to find Aeden’s face deathly pale, though her expression was unreadable.

  “What is it?” Krete asked gently, apparently noticing her strange behavior at the same moment as Tedric.

  The question seemed to shake Aeden out of her reverie, and she blinked multiple times as if to beat away a memory.

  “It’s nothing,” she replied quickly. “We should go.”

  No one answered as she set off, and they began to walk closely behind. The Sythrils’ words whirled and knotted in Tedric’s mind as he walked, the prophecy sounding more like a riddle than a prediction. There were no keys involved in their quest, unless they had been speaking of figurative keys. He shook his head, unsure what they meant about the key with fire in their heart. None of it made sense. He looked up to find Lorian directly in front of him, and he lengthened his stride to walk beside the thief.

  “So, halfbreed, is it?” Tedric asked.

  Lorian glanced at Finriel’s back and then down at the forest floor. “It’s a long story.”

  “We have time,” Tedric replied, and Lorian shook his head, eyes still on the grassy ground.

  “I’ve had quite enough stories and predictions for today.”

  “Lorian—”

  A growl rumbled in the distance, cutting Tedric off. The growl echoed through the trees, setting off a few brightly colored birds that flew from the branches overhead. The companions stilled and Finriel turned to face the direction of the sound. Tedric drew his sword in a flash, and Aeden’s hand went down to the hilt of her own thin blade.

  “Finriel, check the map,” Tedric ordered, and Finriel stiffened. “Now,” he barked, feeling no sense of fear of the witch as Lorian did.

  Finriel paused for a second longer, but another distant growl set Nora’s hackles on edge, and the mogwa hissed in the direction from which the sound came. Finriel glanced down at Nora and clenched her jaw, scrambling to retrieve the map from her cloak before she unrolled it.

  Moments passed in agonizing silence, and Tedric felt as if he may crawl out of his skin when Finriel’s eyes went wide and she quickly rolled up the map.

  “It’s coming.”

  9

  Finriel

  Finriel had been partly lying when she said that the chimera was near. It was near, if her companions thought of a league as near. She simply needed silence, and for Tedric to finally keep his mouth shut for more than a few minutes. He and Lorian were both proving to keep her nerves hanging by nothing more than a thread, and she was growing tired of it.

  She remained at the lead of the group, Nora close by her side as they wound their way through endless thick pines. The map was held firmly in her grip, and she was intent on acting as if she was reading it until they reached the chimera as long as it guaranteed a long moment alone. She needed some time to think about everything that had happened in such a short time, with Lorian, their new companions, and now the prophecy all crowding inside of her mind.

  Finriel was smart enough to know that the Sythril were not to be trusted, yet the words they spoke echoed through her thoughts nonetheless. Blood is coming. She fought away a tremor. She simply knew that the words within the prophecy needed to be understood.

  Someone cleared their throat from beside Finriel and she jumped, looking down slightly to find Krete smiling up at her. She fought back a glare and forced herself to smile, or at least quirk the corners of her mouth upward as best as she could manage.

  “Has your spell remained strong?” Krete asked, tilting his head toward the map in her hands.

  Finriel glanced down, and her stomach dropped to find that two of the beasts had disappeared. She forced her smile to grow wider, and she looked back to Krete with a nod before rolling up the map and tucking it away before he could see.

  “Magic reliability can begin to fade with older maps. I’m surprised that old thing hasn’t dropped a few of the beasts off its surface yet.”

  The map had dropped beasts off its surface, but she was not about to tell him. She also was not going to admit that Krete’s nugget of information made her feel slightly better about the maps faultiness.

  “You have quite impressive magic, it’s more than I’ve seen a witch contain in nearly twenty years,” Krete continued, and Finriel tensed.

  “I know nothing other than healing and performing a few party tricks,” Finriel replied coolly, but Krete shook his head.

  “I wouldn’t count what you did with that map as a party trick,” he replied.

  Finriel clenched her fists, forcing down the rising heat in her abdomen. “If I had any sort of magic that proved otherwise, I would be dead or at the Witch Isles.”

  Krete shrugged. “Of course. I have to admit that my travels to Keadora have lessened greatly, so I am not aware of the powers you witches are allowed to perform.”

  “It likely hasn’t changed since the last time you stepped foot in my kingdom,” Finriel said, the anger in her middle rearing its head a bit higher.

  Krete seemed to sense her tension and took a step away from her, lengthening the distance between them. Silence filled the air once more, and Finriel glanced around the forest. The landscape was beginning to change, shorter trees with bark the shade of parchment now interspersed with the pines. Their leaves were beginning to change from pale green to the color of the sun, and relief swept through her soul at the slight change of scenery.

  Finriel reached into her cloak, certain that they had walked nearly to the location where she had seen the chimera. Before her fingers could graze the map, a strangled growl emanated through the air. Finriel stiffened and stopped, Krete and the other companions coming to a halt behind her. The strangled growl came once more, this time much closer than it had been the first time. A high-pitched whine made the hairs on Finriel’s arms and neck rise, and she quickly gathered her magic in preparation for the chimera’s approach. An almost reptilian guttural sound echoed through the trees, and Finriel cursed under her breath.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thunderous footsteps shook the ground under their feet, and Finriel felt a cold bead of sweat trickle down her back. She let a small current of magic flow to her fingertips and she withdrew her dagger, noting a few specks of dried shapeshifter blood still encrusting the blade.

  “It’s almost upon us, I can sense it,” Aeden warned, and drew her blade in one fluid movement.

  Movement to Finriel’s left made her turn her head, and she blinked in surprise to find a small bow in Krete’s hands, as well as a quiver of blue feathered arrows strapped to his back. She didn’t have any time to consider how he might have been able to shrink or make the weapon magically disappear, but the gnome noticed her stare and gave her a curt nod. She turned her attention back to the oncoming beast and tried to ignore the tremble in her legs.

  “Do you have your page?” Finriel asked Lorian through gritted teeth as another loud series of thumps shook
the trees around them.

  “It’s ready,” he answered promptly, and Finriel snuck a glance to find the yellowing parchment held tightly in his left hand.

  She nodded and her mouth dried as what sounded like a chorus of both high- and low-pitched cries rang through her ears. The trees before them split and crashed to the ground, revealing the chimera as it stalked over the fallen branches and came to stand before them.

  It was unlike any creature Finriel had ever seen. It was at least ten times her size and ungodly in sight, the heads of two different kinds of beasts protruding from the body of an enormous lion. The center head was about the size of Nora and indeed a lion. The lion head opened its mouth, revealing large pointed teeth dripping with saliva. Its hot stinking breath blanketed over them as it scrutinized the five companions and Nora with hungry yellow eyes. Though it wasn’t this head that made Finriel struggle to keep herself from turning in the opposite direction and running for her life. It was the two dragon heads on either side of the lion head that swung their long necks and snapped enormous sharp-toothed jaws at them.

  The dragon head on the left side was dark green, the other a vibrant blood red. Large scales glinted in the soft light and their monstrous jaws ground and gnashed in anticipation. A long green spiked tail waved back and forth from the end of the lion’s body, crashing into the bushes behind. A loud whine gargled out of the red dragon’s mouth and the chimera started forward, headed straight for Lorian.

  The thief stumbled back a few paces, looking around wildly for any kind of weapon he could use against the beast, but all he had was a meager dagger at his side and the piece of parchment that would somehow swallow the chimera inside of it. Tedric and Aeden ran forward, slashing and stabbing at the thickly furred legs that were about the size of Tedric himself. However it was as if their weapons were nothing more than blunt toys against the beast’s skin. The green head of the chimera whirled around and growled at the two, and the entire body turned with it.

  “Krete, take aim under one of its front legs!” Aeden yelled as she quickly dodged and rolled out of the way of a giant clawed paw.

  Tedric skillfully sidestepped out of the way and spun so that he was underneath the chimera’s stomach. He thrust his sword upwards with all of his strength. The razor sharp blade barely punctured the beast’s flesh, yet was still deep enough for the chimera to feel it. The beast let out three pained screeches and one of its hind legs kicked under itself. The world went into slow motion, and Finriel watched as the talon pierced straight through Tedric’s shoulder. The loud crack of bones snapping reverberated through her ears and she watched as Tedric grunted and was sent flying several feet into the air. He did not move when he hit the ground.

  “We need to get it into that page!” Aeden yelled over the chimera’s yowls and screeches.

  Krete aimed and shot an arrow toward the chimera’s lower chest, and the arrow struck true to its target. The chimera yowled again and Finriel cursed as she leaped back, narrowly avoiding the green dragon head as it twisted and writhed in pain. She closed her eyes and flung a protective shield around Tedric’s heaped form, praying that it would suffice to keep him from being trampled by the enormous monster they faced. Krete knocked another arrow into his bow and Finriel took in a deep breath, knowing what she needed to do. She closed her eyes and prodded at the hot anger in her stomach, willing for it to come to attention. Another roar made Finriel fling her eyes open, and without another thought, she flicked her fingers toward the arrowhead. Flame engulfed it and Krete cursed in bewilderment, staggering backwards as bright flame licked toward him.

  “Just shoot the damn thing!” Finriel yelled, and Krete brought his attention to the chimera and released the flaming arrow.

  His aim was messy this time, but the arrow still glanced across the chimera’s side, sending sparks skittering across its pelt. The chimera roared and turned toward Krete, all three heads locked directly upon him. Finriel yelled and made herself run toward the small man. She may have only met him yesterday, and he might have already proved to get on her last nerve, but Finriel was not going to let him die if she could help it.

  “Stop!”

  Finriel’s stomach did a somersault as Lorian brushed against her and came to block Krete from the chimera, page outstretched in his trembling hand. The chimera seemed to notice Lorian’s approach, and to Finriel’s surprise, it stopped screeching all at once. All three heads focused their attention on him and it walked over slowly.

  The chimera stopped barely two feet away from Lorian, and Finriel found herself fighting the worry that crawled through her stomach. She bashed the feeling aside, inwardly cursing her weakness. Lorian remained deathly still as the three heads examined him with their large yellow eyes, blinking and sniffing him all over his body. Confusion swathed over Finriel’s frantic heartbeats as she watched the odd scene fold out.

  The lion’s eyes softened and it lowered its head, gently rubbing against Lorian’s chest. He was sent stumbling back with the sheer force of it. The lion head stretched forward and rubbed against him once more, this time more gently than before. Krete darted out from behind the thief, coming to stand slightly behind Finriel. He inclined his head in acknowledgment, though his expression made it clear that she would have to explain herself once this was over.

  Finriel stalked forward and let flames dance across her fingertips, throwing caution to the wind. She glanced at Aeden, who was inching toward Tedric’s limp form, her eyes flicking between the chimera and Finriel’s flame-engulfed hands with mingled horror. The two dragon heads spotted her movement and they growled threateningly, snapping her attention back to the beast. The chimera stepped in front of Lorian, as if to hide him from her sight, and all three heads bared their teeth menacingly.

  “Stop,” Lorian called from behind the chimera.

  The heads stopped growling immediately and the chimera turned reluctantly to face him once more. To Finriel’s shock, Lorian tentatively outstretched his free hand and placed it upon the lion’s broad nose. The lion’s eyes narrowed, but not out of anger, and Lorian began to stroke it softly. Three pairs of yellow eyes closed, and the chimera began to purr. At least, as close to a purr as a three-headed beast could get. The noise was guttural and reptilian, ricocheting and clashing with the sounds of the lion’s feline purr.

  “It likes you,” Krete said in wonder, his eyes wide as he watched the chimera lean into Lorian’s touch.

  Finriel let the fire surrounding her hand extinguish in a puff of smoke and she shook her head in amazement. A surprised bark of laughter broke from Lorian as he looked at the admiring creature.

  “Put it back in the page while you still can,” Aeden called from a distance.

  Finriel found her kneeling next to Tedric’s still form, and the worry slowly ebbed back into her stomach. Aeden’s fair face was lined with concern as she looked back down at their companion, lifting a piece of torn leather from his shoulder. She gasped and looked back up at Lorian.

  “Do it, now.”

  “But—” Lorian glanced at Aeden, his expression uncertain.

  Finriel blinked in disbelief for what felt like the hundredth time. He liked the beast. Aeden shot him a warning glare and pointed her hand at the page he had tucked into his belt.

  “Just show the chimera the parchment and make it come into contact with it.”

  Lorian stalled for a few moments, apparently considering his options. The chimera continued to purr, all three heads gazing down at him happily. The green dragon flicked its eyes toward Krete and Finriel, who stood slightly behind Lorian, as if warning them to stay away.

  Lorian reached down and withdrew the page with a grunt of resignation. The chimera whined in protest when it spotted the page, as if in recognition. The beast took a step back and shook all three heads, as if saying that it did not want to return to the depths of the parchment.

  “Please, I need you back in this page,” Lorian said softly to the chimera.

  It shook its heads
again, but took a reluctant step forward. Lorian gazed at the creature tenderly as he outstretched his hand, holding the page. A growl escaped both dragon mouths, and Finriel watched as Lorian tensed his muscles but stood firm.

  “I need you to go back inside.”

  The chimera appeared to understand, and after a few moments, it bowed all three heads. The green dragon reached its nose out and Lorian kept his hand steady as the creature’s nose brushed tentatively against the page. The red dragon head reached around and nuzzled Lorian softly on the shoulder before swiveling toward his outstretched hand. The green dragon stretched forward again, and the chimera’s body began to glow as it pressed its nose firmly against the page. The chimera’s body began to shrink rapidly as it sucked into the parchment. Lorian stepped one foot back to brace himself as the chimera’s body shrank and shot into the page with a loud pop. And just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.

  Finriel let out a breath she was not aware she had been holding and trotted over to Tedric. She glanced up as Lorian turned the page and looked at it, no doubt stunned at what had just happened. She could just make out a grotesquely beautiful image of the enormous beast that had been standing before them only moments ago, now etched onto the parchment with black charcoal. The three heads were arched and fierce as their black eyes stared up at the thief. A pang shot through her chest as Lorian exhaled slowly, rolled up the page, and silently tucked it back into his cloak.

  He didn’t speak as he turned and met Finriel’s gaze, his face drawn and pale. She held his stare for a short moment and nodded in silent affirmation before turning back to Tedric and Aeden. She knelt down and cursed, partly from the state of Tedric’s mangled form, but also from the pull she felt to check if Lorian was all right. But she would not. She could not.

  “It seems to me that you’re quite capable of much more than healing and party tricks,” Krete said, and Finriel met his storm grey gaze.