by Brindi Quinn
“No.” Amano shook her head. “I can read you, Songstress Rosh. That is not true to what you believe. You do not wish to sacrifice your beloved. You do not wish to follow through. And you have long been struggling with the concept that the land is not meant to be separate. You feel it is your duty to maintain your role, but it is not. There is a way. I know there is a way for the land to be returned to normal without bloodshed. If you wish to find a way beyond this, you must find the second treasure of Sredna.”
At her words, the hair on my arms stood. There was another way? For the land to be returned to normal without destroying the coast? But . . . was the land supposed to be that way? Or what?! I didn’t know, so I decided to ask something simpler. Something that my mind could handle. I let my eyes drift to the captive moon still low and full in the sky and said,
“The second treasure?”
The elder turned her head to follow my gaze. “Ah. You are already seeking another way, are you not? You intend to free your moon. I bid you this: Do not falter. Continue your journey to plead with the moon, for it is a creature wise far beyond me. I would not be so foolish as to believe otherwise. However, if your moon is unable to help you, the second treasure is where your hope lies.”
“What is the second treasure?” asked Nyte. His back was still to her.
“You do not know? Have the secrets of our people really been that far lost?” Amano was forlorn at the thought. Nonetheless, she said, “The treasures of Sredna are: Number one: the scale. Number three: the hammer. Number four: the pendant. Number five: the whistle. And number two: the star.”
“The star?” said Darch.
“Yes, that is-” Amano started to say something, but she was cut off by a laugh. And then another. And then a third. All of these came from Ardette, who’d taken to cupping his mouth, shaking his head, and letting out exhausted-sounding guffaws.
“Ardette?” I carefully approached him. “What are you doing?”
“Ha! You . . . you . . . uh. Of course. Of COURSE it would be something like that! Un . . . be . . . live . . . able.”
It was hard to understand him through those obnoxious, heaving laughs that were more like sobs than cries of amusement.
“Speak, Daem!” ordered Nyte. “Your behavior is unacceptable in the presence of the dead!”
Ardette shook his head in unimpressed disbelief. “Unbelievable. I know, Darch! I know where the star is.”
“You do?” cried Scardo, dropping his bow and hurrying to Ardette’s side. “Well, where? Where is it?!”
Still shaking his head, Ardette messed up his hair. “It is currently in the possession of a wandering Daem.”
“A wandering . . . ?” I started to ask, but then I realized. “Sowpa?”
If my conclusion was true, Ardette’s reaction made perfect sense.
Ardette nodded. “I’m sorry. The irony’s just . . . My soul really is cursed, isn’t it, Hennowel?”
“It is not cursed. Although, I would agree that you have been given quite a run. Now, is there more that you wish to ask? It is hard for me to remain in this plane. Surely you understand, Darch.”
Darch nodded. “Of course! In that case, I’ll hurry up! Now, what was I going to ask? . . . Oh! Right! So, we’re assuming that Célesteen is the realm of the angels. So . . . is it?”
Amano responded, “It is.”
Darch gave me a thumbs-up before turning his attention back to Amano. “And is there a way for a Sape to use the portal?”
“I fear that such a thing is impossible.”
Again, Darch turned to me, this time with his face wrinkled in disappointment. It was the answer we’d been dreading.
“Is there, then, a way to get them out of here?” I asked, desperate. “There are Feirgh just beyond the wall, and if they go on their own, there’s no way they’ll make it through.”
“It is true – our secrets really have been lost to you.” She was again speaking to Nyte with that forlornness. Then to Darch she said, “There is a way. The scale has been fractured. I can feel that much, but there is power remaining. It was once used as a teleportation device, was it not? If a powerful enough Elf enchants it, you may be able to restore some of its lost power and use it for one final teleport.”
“Won’t the scale be destroyed?” I asked. “For good?”
“Yes.” Amano smiled. “However, it will be a delightful event, indeed. It will free me to paradise, for it is my last binding to the earth.” She reached out a faded hand toward Ardette. “You might need to make it to paradise, after all, ancient one. Forgive me. I have called you such again out of habit. How strange your state of being is.”
Her eyes remained on Ardette. He didn’t say anything.
“Is that the difference between the souls in there,” – I gestured to what had since been confirmed as ‘paradise’ – “and the ones in here? The souls in the beyond are still tied to the earth?”
“Yes, theirs are the souls of paradise. Ours are the souls in limbo. Connection to the physical realm keeps us from moving on. Many of those contained here are tied to a living person. However, sometimes it is an object that holds us. Such is my case. I was that scale’s protector. It was my sole purpose for a very long time, and I will not rest until it perishes along with me.”
“Even as its protector, you would wish us to destroy it?” asked Nyte.
Amano nodded. “There is no place for it in this world any longer.” Then she looked to Darch. “May I return now, holder of the scale? It is growing ever more difficult for me to remain amongst you. I am sorry that I was unable to answer everything. I can see you have much more to ask of me.”
“No,” said Darch. “You’ve been a great help! Thank you!”
“Yes,” I said. “Thank you, Elder. I hope your peace comes soon.”
“As do I. I look forward to meeting you again, ancient one. And you as well, descendant. Do not falter. I bid you luck, Songstress Rosh and protectors.”
With that, Elder Hennowel Amano began her ascent. She drifted up the same way she’d come, breaking through the invisible barrier and rejoining the other feet.
We stood there in the aftermath, and we were silent. Mostly. Darch had broken the trend by humming happily. “Wow! That really worked!” he said.
My head was spinning. At least we had a way for the others now, but everything was even more uncertain than before. We had to track down that treasure, and we were about to enter the realm of the angels when I didn’t even know what was right and what was wrong anymore. Anymore? That was a joke. The truth was, I’d never known what was right and what was wrong. And I wasn’t even going to begin to try to understand Ardette.
The Daem, or whatever he was, was staring at the moon, looking oddly grave.
I remembered a time when it’d only been one secret plaguing him. How was it that there were so many more buried so deep? Would he ever tell me? Would he ever let me fully understand him? Would we ever work out the kinks that were ‘us’? No. I was sure we wouldn’t.
~
“Alrigh’, so when we get back, we’re gonna try ta track down yer brother? How’re we supposed ta find him?”
“Ask around Farrowel. You’ll be free of Elf and Heart, so you won’t exactly need to hide any longer. Also, with most of Druelca disbanded, the threat won’t be so imminent. Use the squirrel to call the bird. It’s all but abandoned us, but who knows, maybe he’ll be some assistance to you. I’m sure you’ll manage something.”
“And after we find him?” continued Grotts.
“Wait for us at the place I marked on your map. Again, send the bird if it’s willing, but we plan to find a way back one way or another.”
Scardo, who was pacing, threw up his hands in frustration. “There are too many holes in this plan! Too many unknown variables! Grotts, are you really okay with leaving the Pure Heart?!”
“What choice do we got? Yer such a worrywart.”
Scardo was too preoccupied with worrying to take offense. “I do n
ot like this one bit.”
“Scardo.” I put my hands on the front of his tuxedo and held onto its lapels to calm him down. “It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.”
“Yeah,” said Darch. “Do you really think that either of these guys would let her die?”
Scardo awkwardly let his hands hover around me before finally placing them on the sides of my arms and squeezing. I guess it sort of counted as a parting hug.
“I will do as you wish, Miss Heart,” he said. “But in exchange, you must refrain from doing anything risky while we are apart.” But he knew that I couldn’t make that promise, so he didn’t wait for me to answer. He let go of my arms, bowed his head, and –
“Uhh-uh-uhuuu.”
– with heavy reluctance, loaded the wind buggy, filing in next to Trib.
Grotts stepped forward next and wrapped me up in a giant bear hug. “Alrigh’ Aura, now I know ya’ll be fine, but just please be careful.”
“Now who’s the worrywart?” I teased.
“I know. Sad but true, eh?”
“Grotts, you be careful too. And take care of Kantú.”
“Ya know I will.”
I grinned knowingly. “I do know. Take care of yourself, too, though. Okay? And thanks. For everything. I’m gonna miss you . . . Grottsard.”
“Hey, now! Ya ain’t allowed ta use my birthin’ name. I don’t care if yer the Heart o’ baked fish!” He squeezed me tighter. “I’m gonna miss ya too.”
He’d always been such a comforting force. Loyal. Safe. I was going to miss him. And Scardo, too. Worrying up a storm and always reeling us in. But he was good. And honorable. I’d miss them both. And then there was –
“Waaaah! Aura! Don’t leave me! I can’t! I won’t! You’re gonna disappear!” Kantú ran at me with tackling intent, arms open and mouth wide.
She nearly succeeded in the tackle, but I’d rooted myself in preparation. I held my ground and caught her.
“It’ll be all right. Shh. Shh.” I wrapped my arms around her trembling back. “I promise, Kantú. We were separated before, remember? And you found me again. You’re my best friend, so there’s no way I’d disappear on you. I promise, okay? I promise, so don’t cry.”
But that was pointless. We were both crying.
“Awww. Geez, Kantoo. It’ll be alrigh’. Don’ be sad.”
But I swear I saw at least one tear slide down the gruff man’s cheek.
The others were understanding, and they let Kantú and I hold our embrace for as long as we needed. It was hard to let go of her. For so long, she’d been by my side. For so long, she’d been like a sister. A true sister. The way sisters were supposed to be.
It was hard, but at long last, I whispered in my batty squirrel’s ear, “Oh, Kantú, how I cherish you. You’ll be all right. You’ve got Grotts, and you’ve got to stay with him no matter what. He’s your most important person now, right?”
Sniffling, she nodded.
“Sorry, I think I got some tears on your tail,” I said.
“It- it’s okay. If they’re your tears, I’ll treasure them! Waaaaah!” That only set her off again.
I wiped my eyes with my sleeve. Then I wiped hers too. I peeked over her shoulder at Grotts and gave him a nod.
“Come on, Kantoo.” He pulled her shoulders away and tenderly planted a sloppy kiss on her forehead.
Together, they climbed the wind buggy’s ladder.
“Well, it was great meeting all of you good-lookers! I hope you don’t die!” Trib saluted us.
“Thanks Trib,” I said. “You were a great help. Really, we couldn’t have done it without you!”
“Yes, lovely Trib. Do hunt me down sometime, won’t you?” Ardette licked at the corner of his mouth.
“Nope! Still not interested!”
“Heh.”
Scardo peered over the edge of the buggy. “Nyte, are you quite ready to cast your enchantment?”
“Yes, I believe that I am.” He took in a breath.
“WAIT!” Rend put up a hand to stop him. Then, almost sheepishly, she lowered her voice and looked down. “Cousin, are you certain? We have yet to perfect your enchantments.”
“Rend,” I mumbled, pulling on her arm. “Don’t say that in front of Scardo! He’s close enough to the edge as it is!”
“Unhand me!” She tore her arm away.
Luckily, Scardo hadn’t heard her comment, but he could still see that we were talking about him. “What?! What are you-?”
“Nothing, much,” called Ardette. “Just that should he happen to fail, you could end up in the middle of the great ocean!”
“Oh!” Trib threw out a fist. “I sure hope so!”
Letting out another sick whimper, Scardo slumped so low that we could no longer see him from our ground position.
“Okay, Nytie,” sang Darch. “Give it all you’ve got!”
The scale was on the glassy ground before Nyte. Just a small fleck of white in the middle of the blackness. It was hard to imagine that something so small could offer salvation to them. At least I hoped it could.
Nyte took in another preparatory breath and stretched out his hands low at his sides. He formed them into shaking open fists. There was some sort of unseen energy there, coursing through him.
I want some too.
I snuffed out the thought as quickly as it had come.
From there, his arms began to tremble like they were under the strain of a great weight. The enchantment was starting to take form. Nyte’s back flexed, and his breathing pattern quickened out of concentration of his spirit. In and out, short puffs of air traveled through his nose. It was almost ready.
Head bowed, the most powerful Elf curled forward in an anticipation of power.
Then, like a flame, two red glows came into being atop his palms. The started small, but the more he curled forward, the brighter and larger they grew. Several seconds passed by, and his whole body started to shake. His hair fell over his eyes, hiding whatever expression he bore. I waited. We all did.
At last, he thrust his body out of the curl in a burst of ancient power and sent the two balls flying into one red blast that was brighter than any I’d seen him cast. It belted for the tiny scale, making contact in a loud shattering sound.
“Uh!” I let out a soft gasp because for a moment, I thought that the scale had broken, but as the glow of red died, I saw that that it was still intact. Only now, it was branded. It wasn’t branded with crescents, though, like the enchanted treasure number three. It was instead marked by one red, pulsing feather.
It was just like my necklace. Just like my tattoo.
The enchantment was finished. Nyte bent forward, putting his hands on his knees, and panted. “It is done.”
Rend picked the now-enchanted scale fragment off of the ground and flinched upon contact. She was, for the first time, experiencing the burden of the scale’s perceptiveness. Wasting no time to be rid of the thing, she ran for the buggy, lifting from the ground at the last moment and landing light-footedly on the edge of the boat.
“Here! Take it!” she barked at Scardo.
The hunched man extended a hand and accepted the responsibility.
“It is done,” called Nyte. His voice was steady, for he was quickly recovering. I guess being the most powerful Elf had an advantage or two. “Now you must simply think of the place that you wish to go.”
Grotts patted his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. “An’ that would be . . . ?”
Ardette shrugged. “Start in Farrowel . . . somewhere.”
“Can you not be more specific than that?!” spat Rend, jumping down.
“Oh? An expert on locating people, are you? How wonderful. Hear that, everyone? Rend’s got a better grasp on the situation than any of us, apparently. Oh, I know! Why don’t you try pinpointing his exact location then, dearest Rend?”
She let out a scoffing huff and stormed passed him, making certain to ram her shoulder into his as she brushed by. Ardette flickered to shadow, though, a
nd sent her stumbling forward.
“AAARGH!” She turned for a vicious counterattack, but Nyte sprang forward to put a stop to it.
Trib ignored them. “Yo-ho, then! Take care!”
“Bye!” Darch was leaping up and down and running along the side of the buggy like an eager pet.
“Take care!” I called. “I love you guys!”
“Please work. Please work. P-p-please work!” Scardo winced. “FARROWEL!”
And just like that, they were gone. Trib, Scardo, Grotts, Kantú, and the entire buggy were gone.
I stared at the place where the buggy had been, sort of amazed that it had actually done what we’d hoped it would do.
“I wouldn’t be so relieved, my cherry pit. For all we know, they’re stranded out in the middle of the mist.”
No, they couldn’t be stranded. Nyte had put everything into that enchantment. I was sure they were fine. . . . At least, that’s what I told myself so that I wouldn’t be plagued with worry.
“Thanks for that, Ardette.” I gave him a glare that wasn’t meant to be playful.
“Well then,” said Darch, either too dense to notice or ignoring it completely. “Onward? To the realm of the angels?”
Ardette pursed his lips. “Joy. Angels. My favorite.”
Chapter 11: The Realm
“Who’s first?” asked Darch eagerly. He was leaning over the edge of the well marked ‘Célesteen’ like I’d done before. Only this time, there was no Scardo to fret over our safety.
“I will go,” offered Nyte.
“Eee.” I clenched my teeth.
I didn’t want him to go. I didn’t want any of them to go. We didn’t know what would happen down there. We didn’t know if it would even work.
“Miss Havoc, are you not our fearless leader?” Nyte grinned. “You are not backing out now, are you?”
“Psh! NO. I just . . .” I let out a loud exhale. “It’s going to be hard to watch you go. Can’t I go down with you?”
