Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix (Records of the Ohanzee Book 2)

by Rachel R. Smith

  Einar folded his arms across his chest and nodded in agreement. “Prior to this mission, we had many reasons to be suspicious of Shae’s behavior. Based on everything you’ve told us, it does seem that she is a trustworthy ally, but this new information still needs to be carefully examined. Rushing to a conclusion could be a costly mistake.”

  “That makes sense,” Nerissa agreed, albeit reluctantly. Their overcautious approach was frustrating. She wanted to jump right in to plan their search for the remaining books, but she understood why they were apprehensive. None of the Chiefs had met or interacted with Shae and Desta directly. All they had to judge the situation by was the team’s report and the book. Raysel had known they would have doubts, which was why he had insisted on bringing back Shae’s book instead of a copy.

  Hania handed the crystal back to Raysel then tapped his fingers against his knees thoughtfully. “Would I be correct to assume that you have already thoroughly inspected both the book and crystal?”

  Raysel closed his fist around the stone. “Of course. We spent most of last night examining them in every way we could think of,” he answered.

  “I would expect no less,” Hania said. “We’ve established that the crystal hasn’t glowed for anyone else, at least that we know of. Has it ever failed to react when Nerissa touched it?”

  Before answering, Nerissa took the stone from Raysel, and the light sprang forth instantly. “It glows every time I touch it, and it doesn’t stop until I put it down,” Nerissa explained.

  “Are you doing anything to make it do so?” Haku questioned.

  “If I am, I’m not aware of it. I don’t even know if it is possible to intentionally use a single crystal to do something,” Nerissa said. Her eyes narrowed with confusion as she tried to figure out what Haku really was asking.

  Haku pointed to his throat. “I thought that it might work like your voice-altering necklace.”

  Nerissa’s hand unconsciously drifted toward her neck. “I see. We already considered that,” she said. “Every crystal device I have ever seen has been constructed from two or more stones twinned together. A device made from a single crystal would be unlike anything ever documented.”

  “I can’t think of any other possibilities for what could make it behave as it does. The only other conclusion seems to be that it genuinely is as the book describes,” Haku said.

  Einar scowled. “I dislike proving authenticity by the process of elimination.”

  “It is not the preferred method to determine reliability,” Hania agreed. “The content of the prophecy itself should also be taken into account.”

  “Of course,” Einar said. “Some sections clearly referred to events that have already taken place. But there were other details that no one outside of Darnal could possibly have known.”

  Nerissa opened the book and pointed to the last paragraph of the prophecy. “I am the one who ‘is no more.’ Only a handful of people know that I am alive—and all of them are here in Darnal. I am the one who ‘has become another,’ by hiding my true identity behind the guise of Caeneus. I am the ‘Reflection’ that appears ‘from the shadows.’ The idea to pretend to be Caeneus came from the dream I had where I saw my reflection dressed as a man. Once again, there are few people who know those things.

  “The prophecy also says that Casimer has set events into motion that will result in both Chiyo and Marise becoming nothing more than a memory. It says that I, ‘the One’, can alter the future.” Her voice shook with fervor as she spoke. “We can’t let either country become a memory. I need to take action to stop Casimer. The throne of Chiyo isn’t all that’s at stake now. Casimer has endangered all of Renatus. Even if I weren’t who the prophecy was intended for, I would still want to take any measure that I could to ensure the safety of my people.”

  Einar’s scowl deepened, and he sighed heavily. “I agree, there is no way anyone else could know those things. The description of you and your situation is uncannily accurate, especially for something apparently written hundreds of years ago. However, nothing written here says how to go about stopping Casimer. There’s no indication that any of the other five parts will tell you how to do so either.”

  Nerissa’s mouth opened then snapped shut. She didn’t have a counter argument. Einar was right. But why did the prophecy exist, if not to provide guidance on how to prevent the disaster Casimer would bring about?

  “That being said, we definitely should find these other five books,” Einar continued.

  “We can’t assume anything about what the rest of the prophecy may say, but it would be a squandered opportunity if we didn’t find out,” Haku concurred.

  Beside him, Hania’s head bobbed in agreement. “Raysel, send Jin to fetch two maps of Renatus and the letter of safe conduct for entry into Rhea. We need to plan our strategy. The most time-efficient method would be to send out multiple groups simultaneously. But, since the crystals are meant to identify Nerissa as the intended recipient, she will need to be present to retrieve them.”

  Nerissa let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. The last thing she wanted was to be left behind in Darnal while others searched for the books. If necessary, she would use her authority as the Heiress to get her way, but she preferred to use that strictly as a last resort. It came as a relief that Hania recognized that she needed to be actively involved.

  Einar frowned again. “I dislike the idea of Nerissa traveling all over Renatus—especially to Marise. We could send groups out to identify the books’ locations and bring back any that the owners are willing to part with. Surely, some of the current owners are unaware of their true value, just as Shae was,” he suggested.

  “No,” Haku said firmly. “The more groups we send out, the higher the probability of the Senka learning of our mission.”

  “There’s another problem,” Hania added. “While it is certainly rare to find books with crystals in their spines, I’m sure that these six are not the only ones in existence. Without Nerissa present, we could end up wasting time pursuing false leads.”

  Nerissa hadn’t even considered that possibility, but it was an excellent point. The people who recorded the prophecy intended for it to remain hidden. If embedding crystals in the spines was as uncommon in the past as it is today, then it would have called attention to the fact that the books were unique. So there must be other books decorated with crystals that were not at all related to the prophecy.

  Until now, she had been certain that Charis had one of the other books. But, the crystal had been missing when Charis showed the book to her on the day before the attack. Her heart sank as she realized it was possible that Charis’ book was not one of those they were looking for after all.

  Einar rubbed his face and growled in frustration. “A single group of travelers is the best option,” he grudgingly admitted.

  There was a soft click as Raysel opened the door and stepped back into the room carrying the items Hania had requested as well as a small box.

  “I suggest maintaining the same team we sent to Niamh,” Hania said, beckoning Raysel to hand them to him. He spread a map out on the floor in front of him, placing weights from the small box on the edges to hold the corners down.

  “I don’t see any reason to change,” Haku agreed. “It is a well-balanced team.”

  Einar still didn’t look happy, but he didn’t argue.

  Hania looked over the map while scratching his chin thoughtfully. “The areas with the highest populations are probably the most reasonable places to start.”

  “The books could be anywhere,” Einar argued. “The first one came from a tiny village in the middle of the country.”

  “Actually,” Nerissa said, “I have an idea of where one of the other books might be.”

  Three heads swiveled up from the map to look at her. “What do you mean?” Einar asked.

  “Charis showed me a book that was very similar to Shae’s,” Nerissa explained. “It is an heirloom passed down through her mother’s fam
ily.”

  “And was there a crystal with it?” Haku asked.

  Nerissa shook her head. “There was just an empty flap in the spine. But, when I asked her about it, Charis said she thought that there had once been a crystal there.”

  Haku scratched his short beard, his eyes narrowed in thought as he took in this new information. “How long ago was that?”

  Nerissa’s shoulders slumped, and she laughed mirthlessly. “The day before Casimer’s attack.”

  Raysel drew in a sharp breath as he realized the reason for Nerissa’s reaction. She may have held in her hands one of the keys to stopping Casimer before he even made his move. To have what you need at a time when you had no idea you even needed it was the bitterest of ironies. He reached over and squeezed Nerissa’s shoulder encouragingly.

  “There was no way to know that the book was anything but an interesting antique at the time,” she said, her voice thick with frustration and grief. “I don’t know what the next part of the prophecy says, but if there was even a hint of Casimer’s intentions to take over Chiyo, we may have been able to prevent…” Nerissa trailed off without finishing her thought.

  Hania’s expression was stoic. He gestured toward Shae’s book, which was now sitting on the floor in front of Nerissa. “The prophecy explicitly states that this book would be the first discovered. No matter how much we wish that events had transpired differently, it is clear that they happened as they were meant to.”

  Nerissa released a shaky sigh. “I know you’re right. You made a good point earlier too. Even though it is extremely rare for crystals to be embedded in books now, it may have been more common in the past. Charis’ book might not turn out to be one of the five that we are searching for.”

  “It is still the best lead we have right now. If it is one of the five, it may provide clues about the owner or location of the next book,” Hania replied. “We will begin by investigating Charis’ book in Niamh.”

  It was decided that the group would pose as merchants in the business of trading and selling antiques and collectables. Unlike many other types of businesses, dealers of collectables frequently traveled to expand their inventory. There would be nothing at all remarkable about an antiques merchant inquiring to buy old and unusual books. Funding for the venture would be provided by the reserves kept in the Treasury. The discussion moved on to outlining a proposed route. Hania noted the Ohanzee contacts in each city and village along the way so that the group could send updates on their progress.

  “Alden, the Governor of Rhea, has closed the borders. When you reach the mountain province, you will need this pass to gain entry,” Hania explained as he handed over the letter of safe conduct that Raysel had fetched earlier.

  Raysel accepted the letter, running his fingers over the seal. Four triangles, arranged along the edges of a square to form the shape of a diamond, were pressed into the red wax. He laid the letter on the floor in front of him as Hania began to speak again.

  “You all know about our informant from Rhea that I was close to for many years. He was Alden’s father, and he served as a reliable and meticulous ally in all ways, except one,” Hania said.

  Nerissa distinctly remembered the day Hania told her about his friend from Rhea. The story stood out in her mind because the man was knowledgeable about crystals and claimed that they could remember things. “In what way was he unreliable?” she asked.

  The lines below Hania’s chin deepened as he pressed his lips together. “He broke his promise to uphold the secrecy of our existence by telling his son about us.”

  Raysel’s eyes narrowed in understanding. “So, Alden knows who we are.”

  “Yes,” Hania affirmed. “If you do meet with him directly, I do not recommend attempting to hide the fact that you are Ohanzee. Casimer is as much our enemy as he is Alden’s. I believe that he will support us and our efforts to depose Casimer. At the very least, I do not want to alienate one of our precious few allies by attempting to deceive him.”

  “Alden is clever. He has probably marked this letter of conduct in some subtle way. Using it will likely tip him off to the fact that you are Ohanzee in the first place,” Einar added. He seemed both annoyed and pleased by Alden’s ingenuity.

  The discussion then turned from Alden to the other necessary documents and preparations to be made, and it was long after dark by the time the meeting finally ended. Nerissa trudged alongside Einar and Ildiko as they walked home along the cobblestone path. They were discussing what to eat for dinner, but Nerissa wasn’t paying attention. Dazed, she quietly watched the light from Einar’s and Ildiko’s glow lamps sway back and forth with each step. The group was to depart Darnal the morning after next. Tomorrow would be busy with preparations, but at this point, all Nerissa could think about was a warm meal and a good night’s rest.

  Chapter 7

  Harbinger of the Phoenix

  Sunlight peeked through a tiny gap in the otherwise tightly closed curtains of Nerissa’s bedroom window. The patch of light it formed was a glowing ribbon that crept stealthily, yet steadily, across the blankets of the bed, gradually changing from the pinkish-orange hue of sunrise to the golden yellow of midmorning as it moved. The ribbon slid relentlessly across the pillow, unnoticed as it brushed over the tips of Nerissa’s outstretched fingers. It crawled across the pillowcase, growing subtly brighter with each passing moment, but Nerissa’s slack-jawed slumber remained undisturbed until it stretched across her eyelids.

  Her eyes opened, then automatically slammed shut when she winced from the sudden brightness. Nerissa instinctively rolled away from the light, pulling the blankets up to her chin and snuggling muzzily back into the softness. Before she drifted away once more, gentle clattering and tinkling sounds reached her ears. Her eyes popped open again. Nerissa recognized those noises. Those were the sounds of Ildiko at work mixing herbs and preparing ointments.

  The blankets tumbled away as Nerissa bolted upright in bed. She leapt from the bed without hesitation and dashed to the kitchen, still in her nightclothes. Golden-brown hair stuck out in every possible direction, and her green eyes flashed with consternation.

  “Ildiko! It has to be well past midmorning!” Nerissa gasped. “Why didn’t you wake me at the usual time?”

  Ildiko smiled serenely. “You looked so tired last night that I thought it best to let you sleep in.”

  “There are so many preparations to be made today. There’s no time to sleep late!” Nerissa argued.

  “There aren’t many tasks that you can attend to personally today. Being well rested before setting out is also important,” Ildiko countered. Her eyes took on a mischievous gleam. “I also know that you are better suited to late nights than early mornings—even though you’ve made a point of rising first thing to train every day. This was the last chance you had to sleep in for the foreseeable future.”

  Nerissa ran her hands through her hair in a vain attempt to tame the unruly locks. Now that her initial alarm from oversleeping had begun to fade, she realized she did feel particularly well rested. “I feel a bit guilty, but I did sleep well. Thank you,” she said as she stretched and didn’t bother to hold back a yawn.

  Ildiko chuckled softly. “It was actually Einar’s suggestion, but I agreed with him wholeheartedly.”

  “Einar’s suggestion? Really?” Nerissa asked, surprised.

  “Your night-owlish tendencies were well known among those who served as guardians for your family. Those poor men could hardly keep up with your schedule!” This time, Ildiko’s chuckle turned into outright laughter at the memory. “Raysel, on the other hand, took to your schedule as naturally as a fish to water.” Her laughter suddenly dissolved into a coughing fit. Her mixing tools dropped with a clatter onto the countertop as Ildiko bent over and clutched her chest, wheezing with an audible rattle.

  “Einar!” Nerissa yelled out, thinking he was in another room. She rounded the counter and guided Ildiko back to an upright position. “Are you alright?”

  Ildiko
nodded weakly. She closed her eyes and focused on catching her breath. Nerissa fetched a chair from the kitchen table and pulled it to the counter so that Ildiko could sit down. She called out again for Einar.

  “He’s not here. He was called away early this morning,” Ildiko said faintly.

  Nerissa poured a glass of water and brought it back to Ildiko. “I see. What can I do to help you? Would you like me to send for him?”

  Ildiko waved a slender hand dismissively. Her face was pale, and her lips had a bluish tinge, but she managed a thin smile for Nerissa as she accepted the glass. “That isn’t necessary. I just need a moment to recover.”

  “If there is little I can do to help with the preparations, then you will at least let me help you here,” Nerissa said firmly.

  Ildiko leaned back and her gold and silver hair slipped over her shoulders. She closed her eyes again. “Very well. You won’t accept no for an answer anyway,” she said. Her voice already sounded stronger, but the usual melodic tone was missing. “Before you begin, you should change clothes,” Ildiko instructed.

  Nerissa had totally forgotten that she was still wearing her nightclothes. She hurried back to her room to change. After fastening the voice-changing necklace in place, she returned to the kitchen and assumed Ildiko’s usual spot at the counter.

  She looked at the array of tools, bottles, mixing bowls, and jars. With the exception of those items Ildiko had dropped, they were all neatly arranged on the counter. Fortunately, because she had been mixing a cream at the time, nothing had spilled. “What is left to do for this cream?” Nerissa asked.

  “It needs to be stirred more thoroughly and then transferred from the mixing bowl into a jar,” Ildiko answered.

  Nerissa picked up a spatula and began to mix the cream. Numerous jars and tincture bottles, filled with freshly-made medicines, covered one side of the table. Ildiko had clearly been hard at work since early this morning. “You’ve been busy,” Nerissa commented. “Did you make all of these for the journey?”