Dare to Believe: Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle (Series Bundle Andy Smithson Bk 4, 5 & 6): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!
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Hannah and Alden nodded.
“Responsibility, diligence, and dignity are the keys to success in life.” Father’s philosophy jogged through Andy’s mind. You couldn’t have any of them if you just sought pleasure, which means you couldn’t be truly successful, Andy reasoned.
“Well done,” his inneru encouraged.
The princess stood only a few feet from the three objects, considering.
“But what about the table?” Hannah queried.
“I believe it represents humility and sacrifice. While it is not the obvious choice, it may well be the one that leads to the brightest future.”
“How so?” Alden interjected.
“When you are humble and sacrifice yourself for the sake of others, my personal experience is that innumerable rewards appear that are more satisfying than pleasure or power. However, with sacrifice comes great pain—sometimes physical, sometimes emotional.” The healer gave a half smile and fell silent.
“You think she gets all that?” Hannah asked.
Hans considered for a moment before responding, “Her parents made plain these three paths to their children. I would overhear them from time to time. Though Yara was young, she would have learned.”
“At first I couldn’t believe how simple her test seemed, but after listening to you, I can see it’s not easy,” Andy shared. “I would have chosen the throne.”
“I would have chosen comfort,” Alden added.
“Yeah, me too,” Hannah echoed.
“What would you have picked, Hans?” Andy questioned.
The healer slowly shook his head, staring at the floor. “I’d like to say I would have chosen sacrifice, but I don’t know if I have that much courage.”
Andy felt his stomach roll as Hannah brought a hand to her chest. Alden swallowed hard and glanced between his companions.
Yara now stood staring at the wood table. At length, Andy saw her back straighten as she took a deep breath. She nodded once, then took an unhurried step forward. Five steps brought her within reach of the wooden platform. She climbed atop and lay down, closing her eyes. The throne, chaise, and spotlights disappeared.
Footlights illuminated a path to the wooden table from where they watched, and Hans stepped forward. Andy thought he saw more tears on the healer’s face.
What’s gonna happen to her?
The four descended the steps and silently approached. As they stepped into the circle of light, a dozen unlit torches appeared, surrounding them. Hans made his way around the table and the others positioned themselves equidistant around the princess.
Once in position, Andy saw Hans glance below the table. His shoulders sagged and he closed his eyes as more tears fell to his tunic.
At length, he stooped and pulled out a unicorn horn.
“Yara,” he whispered and handed it her.
The healer stooped again, this time bringing up a pitcher.
Jada and Naria’s tale of the funeral pyre from which the phoenix emerged now filled Andy’s thoughts. Judging by the size of Alden and Hannah’s eyes, they also were remembering the story.
Air, water, earth, and fire—the elements to make something eternal!
“Andy, I think you’re supposed to light the torches with your blade,” Hans requested weakly as he poured the contents of the pitcher around and over the princess.
Andy glanced between his companions. Hannah covered her eyes. Alden held his cheek in his hand.
Andy extracted his sword from the makeshift holster and the blade extended. His hands trembled as he approached the first torch.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Aray
Lifting the tip of Methuselah’s blade near the first wick, a flame emerged. Andy walked unenthusiastically toward the second lamp and repeated the movements. He exhaled, trying to calm himself.
After lighting the eleventh lamp, he paused and scanned his companions’ faces. All wore wrinkled brows. Tears continued dripping down Hans’s face. Yara remained prone with her eyes closed. The unicorn horn she held rose and fell evenly, unhurried, to her rhythmic breathing.
I couldn’t do it.
Hans bowed his head as Andy reached the last torch, lifted the blade, and lit the final wick. As if on cue, Andy felt the ground begin to shake and he heard rumblings from above as dirt began sifting down from the ceiling. The four shot looks between each other.
“It’s going to cave in!” Andy cried.
Hans nodded, then reached to help Yara up. “Come!” he coaxed.
“But I thought…” Yara stammered, still clutching the horn.
“Come on!” Hannah yelled as part of the ceiling gave way.
The five bounded toward the raised platform. They were only two yards away when the large floating sphere that had illuminated the space burst and zigzagged like a balloon rapidly losing air. The smaller floating spheres began bumping into each other and clumping. The group skirted the stage as more chunks of dirt gave way from the ceiling.
“This way!” Andy yelled, leading the group by Methuselah’s light.
The undulating ground made it difficult to run, but within several minutes they plunged into the darkness that separated the place of testing from the tunnel. Andy hoped the rest of their company waited for them.
Andy barely realized when they had reached the earthen wall. So sudden was their arrival that the five of them nearly leveled Sergeant Hammond, who stood with his back toward their exit. Fides stood with his hands raised. Brilliant beams of light extended from each of his palms, bracing the quaking ceiling.
“Good! You’re back!” Sergeant Hammond exclaimed, thrusting Calum at Alden.
Terwit terwoo, oop-oop-oop, the bird scolded at the rough treatment.
“Sergeant Fulk, lead the way! I’ll bring up the rear. Move out!” Captain Baldric shouted.
Fulk bolted down the tunnel and everyone did their best to keep up. Fides ran in the middle of the pack, his arms still upraised and radiating energy. Loud scraping sounds filled the passage as the ground continued convulsing, and Andy felt like he was inside the sorting machine of one of his games back home. He barely stayed upright as he pitched and slammed into the side of the tunnel when the ground gave a particularly violent jolt. They had just turned left into the main passageway when the shaking suddenly stopped.
“Keep going! The ceiling’s going to collapse!” the captain commanded, breathless.
Yara, still clutching the unicorn horn, charged behind Sergeant Fulk, followed immediately by Hannah and then Alden. Andy chanced a backward glance at Hans. Sergeant Ranulf buoyed the healer with an arm around his back.
Andy spotted daylight streaming through a thick haze not far ahead. That’s got to be the exit!
Sergeant Fulk and Yara had stopped in the beam of light and stood staring up, their chests heaving. “How do we get out?” the princess panted as the company screeched to a halt.
Seconds later, everyone heard an ear-splitting bellow, “Nooo!”
“What was that?” Hannah queried.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t sound happy,” Alden assessed.
Everyone looked upward, but their concerns about frightening bellows were quickly overwhelmed as a melody of idyllic notes drew near.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo, Calum replied.
Andy looked up to see the silhouette of a large bird perching on the side of the well above them. “The phoenix!”
The bird dove through the opening, scattering the group as it came to stand next to Sergeant Terric. The sergeant drew back, eyes wide. The phoenix glanced about with deep-set black eyes that shone with unmistakable intelligence.
Whoa! Andy remembered Mom measuring him at four foot nine just days ago. This bird towered above him by nearly half a foot. It’s as tall as Madison!
The bird lifted its long slender beak and peered at the company until at last it seemed satisfied. Andy and the others heard a girl’s voice in their heads saying, “My name is Aray. Thank you for restoring the ring.”
“My name’s Andy.” He introduced everyone then asked, “What do you mean we restored the ring?”
“The shaking and rumbling you felt were the stones moving back into place and repairing themselves. My time of new birth has come. Because of what you did, I am now free to build a nest so I can be reborn. Had you failed, I would have perished, for I did not have the materials necessary to build a pyre.”
“Someone said you’re the princess who died and came back to life out of the fire,” Yara stammered.
The phoenix tittered before responding. “That’s right.”
A second outraged exclamation filtered through the hole.
“That would be Abaddon. He’s none too happy the ring has been restored,” Aray explained.
Andy looked the bird up and down and noticed gray pinfeathers peeking out from beneath patchy, tattered plumage. Several pinions wafted to the floor. It’s in bad shape. Knowing he needed a phoenix feather for the next ingredient, Andy thought, The clue didn’t say what condition the feather has to be in. He stooped down and retrieved a stray plume and added it to Methuselah’s holster.
“Now then, you all need to find safety and I have a nest to build,” echoed in everyone’s minds. “These tunnels are not safe, for your adversary prowls about. With the ring’s power restored, the mound near the center will conceal and protect you. I will deliver you two at a time if you’ll just grab hold of my tail.”
“Really? Are you sure?” Alden questioned, his brow furrowed.
The phoenix let loose another giggle, adding, “Of course.”
“Ranulf and Hammond, you go first and scout it out,” Captain Baldric commanded. “Andy, you and Yara go next. I’ll come last.” No one dissented, so the first recruits stepped forward and grabbed hold. The phoenix leapt on her substantial taloned feet, and with one mighty and perfectly timed flap of her wings, she hauled the two soldiers through the hole.
Andy could not help laughing at the officers’ white knuckles and tightly squeezed eyes as they disappeared.
In no time Aray returned. “Prince. Princess,” the bird invited.
Yara stowed the unicorn horn with her sword, then she and Andy grabbed Aray’s tail tightly and the phoenix launched. The sudden acceleration tested Andy’s grip, but he managed to hold on. Emerging from the hole, the grassy field stretched before them. The bird increased altitude and Andy chanced a look around. Between his taut arms, he saw their long shadows sway on the ground below, then noticed the lintels now formed a perfect circle. He and Yara shared a grin.
Halfway to their destination, Andy spotted a flock of five zolt bearing down.
“Aray!” he beckoned.
“I see them. Don’t worry. You’ll be safe,” came the phoenix’s reassurance.
Her wings fully extended, the large bird swooped low on a collision course with the earthen mound in the center of the ring.
“Aray!” Yara shrieked.
Had Andy not had a similar experience atop Daisy last year, he too would have panicked. Instead, he smiled and overheard giggles as they burst through the mound.
“Ahh!” the princess screamed.
The phoenix quickly halted and gently set her passengers down.
“Wha—?” Yara faltered.
Andy could only chuckle.
“You knew!” Yara accused.
Grinning, Andy replied, “A friend of mine pulled the same trick on me a year ago.”
Sergeant Hammond drew a finger to his lips and pointed to the zolt that now prowled around the circumference of the mound.
Whoa! The mound looked nothing like Andy expected. He imagined they were caterpillars gazing out at the world from inside a giant, lidded glass jar.
The four grabbed their weapons and assumed ready positions. The phoenix strutted toward the side, climbed the six sunken steps that ringed the space, then ruffled her bedraggled plumage and let out a warbling squawk next to one of the enemy.
“Stop!” Yara hissed.
The zolt had no reaction except to gaze about stupidly. It took several strides up the mound as it continued its search. The four watched the soles of their enemy’s boots as it scaled the invisible barrier, then got more than they bargained for when it reached the apex under which they all stood.
“Really?” Yara cried, drawing a hand over her eyes and turning away from the sight.
“They can’t see or hear us! Excellent!” Andy yipped.
“Quite right,” came a higher-pitched voice in everyone’s head. “As long as you remain inside this mound, you’ll be safe.” Several minutes later the phoenix glanced about. “It seems our pursuers have given up.”
Andy caught the last glimpse of a beady-eyed head disappear down the twin of the well where the rest of the company waited.
Oh boy…
“I’ll go retrieve the others posthaste,” the phoenix announced, and with a flap of her mighty wings she soared out of the mound.
Hannah and Alden, with Calum perched on his shoulder, arrived next, followed by Hans and Fides. Sergeants Fulk and Terric suffered a bumpy landing thanks to their uneven weight distribution, but neither was seriously hurt.
As the company awaited Captain Baldric’s arrival, Alden meandered about the space, studying its structure. He stopped short next to Andy and pointed. “It’s gone!”
Andy followed his friend’s finger. “Awesome!” Andy rejoiced, rubbing his arm where the bellicose had whitened his skin a year before. He moved toward the invisible wall for more light. No trace of discoloration remained.
“Your face is fixed too!” Alden exclaimed.
“Wha—?” Sergeant Fulk scrutinized where the same beast had left its mark on him just days before.
“Mine’s gone too!” Sergeant Hammond announced, grinning.
“It must have happened when the ring was restored,” Yara surmised. “It’s the center of healing for Cromlech after all.” She lifted her chin high, drawing a chuckle from Hans.
Moments later Aray swooped in with Captain Baldric as another dozen zolt landed.
Alden charged the invisible barrier, put his thumbs in his ears, and stuck out his tongue. “Neener, neener!” he taunted the bird-warrior standing no more than a foot beyond.
“Would you stop,” Hannah admonished.
“What?” Alden retorted, turning back to the group with mischief in his eyes.
No sooner had he said it than Hannah drew her thumbs to her armpits, hunched forward, bent her knees, and began jerking her head back and forth. She took a stride forward, and Alden shot Andy a quizzical look. Conversations ceased as everyone stared. She ruffled her bent arms as if they were wings and took another step.
“Hannah?” Alden queried.
She did not respond but bobbed her head, taking another step. “Bwak. Bwak. Cluck. Cluck. Bwak,” she added. Hannah took several more strutting strides, then ruffled her bent arms again.
“What are you doing?” Alden pleaded. “Look, I’m sorry I teased that zolt.”
Everyone looked on helplessly.
A minute later Hans growled, “Yara?”
The blond-haired royal could no longer control the snicker that begged to be free. Yara covered her mouth with both hands and convulsed in laughter. “I’m—I’m sorry…”
The healer frowned at the princess. “This is why we have rules of ethics that all sommeils must abide by.”
Hannah stood with her hands on her hips, glaring.
“Look, I’m sorry,” the princess tried weakly. “When I saw Andy and the sergeants’ skin restored, I had to see if my powers had returned.”
“It seems they have,” Hannah harrumphed.
Yara glanced over to Andy. He suddenly felt his face warm while the corners of his mouth began to rise.
“Stay away from me and my friends,” Hannah snarled, then turned and walked away. Alden followed without a word.
From the
officers’ expressions it was clear they did not know what to make of it.
“Well, on that note, I have a nest to build,” Aray announced, defusing the tension. The phoenix took several strides toward the barrier and launched, soaring clear of the hideaway. Andy watched as she flew a dozen loops above and around the ring before disappearing into the dusky sky.
“Is anyone hungry?” Fides probed.
When several of the company answered affirmatively, the keeper waved his hands and made a fire appear in the center of the space. Stone benches quickly surrounded it. A few more hand movements produced a table to his right filled with tasty offerings.
“You’ve got to show us how you do that!” Andy exclaimed, receiving a chorus of chuckles from his friends.
After everyone had eaten their fill, a contented hush fell over the company as they gazed into the dancing flames.
“I have to ask,” Fides broke the quiet. “What happened during your testing? After waiting so many years for the fulfillment of the ancient text, you’ll understand my curiosity.” The keeper and the officers turned their gazes toward the five seekers and leaned in.
None of them offered a quick reply, only stared at the floor. At length, Hans broached, “It was one of the most painful experiences of my life.” He went on to detail each test, concluding, “We must have passed, for the ring has been restored.”
“I don’t understand why I didn’t have to die,” Yara murmured.
Hans could only shake his head.
“Perhaps I can help with that,” the keeper offered. “The ancient text said, ‘Aray the token.’ As princess of Cromlech, you are a direct descendant of the king whose daughter became the phoenix. As such, I believe you serve as a token. The original unicorn horn was present, as was Methuselah. When you found that pitcher of water, that completed the four elementals needed to create eternal life. As the blade lit the torches, it effectively reignited the funeral pyre. No life was required, for the sacrifice had already been made once for all time.”