The easiest spell and I can't do it at all.
Ikovos and Jaden's earlier reactions all fit into place. I wasn't a magic user. I felt a tinge of sadness for a moment, but soon pushed it aside.
There are other things I can do. I'll just have to be better at them.
My head fell to the pillow.
Maybe tomorrow I'll start in combat training.
I fell asleep wondering if I'd wake up back in my bed at home, like the past two days had just been a dream . . . if I'd ever be able to go back to the way things were if it was.
*
I woke up and this time there was no one knocking at the door. As far as I could tell the room had been undisturbed through the night, so I tried to close my eyes and fall back asleep.
No luck.
I got up, got dressed, and tied my hair into a tight braid thingy. Destined to fall out due to a lack of hair-ties.
I went back into the main room and stood strumming my fingers together. What to do, what to do. . . .
Breakfast came to mind. Probably because I hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon. The only problem was breakfast was far away, most likely somewhere I wasn't supposed to go alone.
I strummed my fingers again and a picture of a steaming mug of coffee beside a hot muffin popped into my head.
Seconds later I was at the door, peering down the hall to make sure it was clear.
It was, so I tip-toed to my right towards what I remembered was the first doorway leading to the kitchen.
Everything was dead quiet. Outside it was bright, some time past dawn. I was choosing between two possible paths when suddenly I heard a door close ahead of me.
“I heard Demian got rid of another challenger,” said a voice down the hall.
“Yeah, big surprise,” came another. They were close. “The way he takes care of them, he'll wipe out the Meoden for us.”
I backed against the wall and pulled my hood over my head.
They walked into the room without seeing me, and continued talking to the other end, I was too nervous to notice what about. When they disappeared out of view I let out a huge sigh and popped into the next hallway.
Uh oh. . . .
Groups of boys were moving up and down through the halls. I just stood there, frozen, as they brushed by, my panicked face hidden under my hood. It took me a while to realize no one was even noticing me. This made me think of my sister.
She always used to tell me that people didn't pay half as much attention to me as I worried they did. Whenever I doubted her she would do something crazy to prove herself right. Like break out into song with dozens of people around . . . it never worked, everyone would notice her.
I smiled inwardly at the memory, still more than subtly aware that I was surrounded by people.
In actuality I guess they didn’t look too much different than me. Most were wearing robes. More than a couple at my same height. The ages seemed to range from about eight to twenty, with less on the higher end.
Taking a deep breath, I resumed walking down the hall, attempting to act casual until I found my way to the high-ceilinged, hundred cove, bed chamber. And on into the kitchen.
The large cafeteria was bustling with activity. The tables were dotted here and there with groups of boys. The middles of which held trays of pastries, fruit, and meat. I saw the coffeepot on top of the bar lined with people, no shot at a drink there.
I began to scan the crowd for a familiar face, when suddenly a tray was dropped into my hands. I looked up to see it had been given to me by a woman.
“Hi,” she said in a pleasant voice. “You must be Eve.”
She was beautiful. Curly, brunette, hair. Red-stained, though untreated, lips. Brown eyes. She wore a cloth-cut apron, with her hair pinned up in an elegant mess. All in all her appearance was quite awe-striking.
“Hello?” she repeated.
I blinked my eyes back into focus. “Yes, I’m Eve. Sorry.”
She smiled again.
“How do you know who I am?”
“ Well, my dear, it might get me in trouble . . . but I promise to tell you more if you take this tray to the bar for me and get yourself a nice cup of coffee.”
I nodded once and couldn't help but smile at her warmness.
“Good! These boys should empty out of here in no time.” She said and trotted off towards the stove.
I stood there for a few seconds, then shook my mind clear and headed for the counter.
After finding a seat off to the side I, waited for the room to clear. When it did I helped clean up a few things until finally I and the cooking lady were sitting with our muffins and coffee.
“I think you can take you hood down now,” she said as she sipped her drink.
I did as she suggested before clearing my throat. “Are you Sophie?”
She nodded. “I see we have some mutual friends. One of which informed me of your position.”
I couldn't think of anything to say, so I just smiled.
“You did a pretty good job this morning. I wouldn't mind the help if you wanted to stop by every once in a while.”
“I would love to,” I said excitedly, grateful to be included, though I did still have reservations about the only woman getting stuck with the cooking.
Her eyes sparkled. “Oh, and before you think otherwise I should let you know I chose to cook, it's my way of helping You see, I’m not much of a fighter and I haven't a speck of magic in me.”
Sounds familiar. I pictured myself in her position and my stomach dropped. Come on Evelyn. You’d be lucky to stay around that long.
“So where are you headed now?” asked Sophie.
I shrugged. “Well I'm supposed to meet Jaden at one o'clock . . . what time is it now?”
She swiveled her eyes to the top of her head. “I think it's just past nine.”
My muscles, which had been slowly tensing, now relaxed.
Three hours till one . . . not that I was scared or anything. My eyebrows raised in question against myself, then furrowed as I wondered if that was even possible.
“I suppose I don't have anything to do for a while,” I said. The thought came to mind that she might have been hinting for me to leave. “Why? Do I need to get out of here?”
She shook her head. “Oh no, my dear. I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind doing something for me.”
Ooh, like a quest? How exciting.
I nodded.
“It's nothing too interesting,” she paused. “There is a man that runs a small shop to the southwest of here. Not a very long ways off. I need you to go there and pick up an order for me.”
Sounds easy enough. “I can do that. What would you like me to pick up?”
“He should know what I need, just tell him Sophie sent you.” She stood up. “And don't worry about paying him. It’s already taken care of.”
I stood up as well. “How exactly do I get there?”
“I'll show you to a side door; from there you'll see a dirt path. Just follow it a ways and you should be there in no time.” She nodded with a smile then turned toward the kitchen.
I followed behind her.
Well it's not the grandest of quests . . . but it beats waiting around till the doomsday meeting.
It didn't take long for Sophie to lead me outside the large cabin towards a barely visible path. Before she went inside, she'd warned me to be careful to stay near the road. It sounded like something out of a scary story, only I wasn't stupid enough to go trotting off the path like people always did in those situations.
No. I kept to the path, humming as I walked. Soon my mind began to wander and eventually came to rest on Thoran.
The man had helped me, saved me actually, from those evil creatures in the other dimension. As soon as he had though, he’d seemed more upset at me then them.
I wonder what his life has been like. Leading this group. How did he start? When did he start?
I sighed. There was so much about so many people here I didn't
know.
Give it up Evelyn. You don't have to have everything figured out. Just . . . go with the flow.
I smiled.
Like that'll ever happen.
“What the?—”
All of a sudden I felt a prick on my wrist. When I looked down I saw a tiny puff ball of fur with two eyes. I tried to get a better look, but before I could it scurried up my arm and down into my shirt.
The source of the creatures anxious behavior was evident moments later, as a heavy broom came swinging towards me. I jumped back and spared a glance at my attacker.
It was an old man, somewhat gangly, a crisp silver beard falling down his face. He wore a rich blue and purple satin robe with a pointy 'wizards' hat resting on his head.
None of this matched the half-crouched stance and cockeyed face he now held. He raised the bulky broom in the air once again and I put up both hands in surrender.
“Hold it,” I said. “Just, just wait a minute.”
He froze and stared at me, wide-eyed.
I cleared my throat. “Look, I don't want any trouble. I'm just trying to find my way to a shop around here.”
For a moment he looked surprised, but soon returned to his condescending glare. “Doubtful.” He said plainly. I waited for him to say more, when I was about to give up he continued. “Very . . . doubtful.” He nosed his broom towards my shirt. “Why would you be aiding and abetting such an unscrupulous creature if you were just looking for a shop?”
I tried to interrupt, but he cut me off.
“Clearly . . . you are an evil Meodonic spy come to steal my powerful magics.”
I shook my head repeatedly. “But I'm not. I'm looking for a shopkeeper. Sophie sent me to—”
“Sophie?” He repeated incredulously. “Sophie is not in the habit of sending girls to pick up anything. It's boys, boys, boys, boys, always boys! You expect me to believe she's suddenly sending shady little girls?”
I searched my mind for an answer. “Umm . . . yes?”
He stared on hard with a disapproving face for a moment. Then, suddenly, it softened. “Oh. . . . Well, okay then.”
He threw the broom off into the trees and hobbled off into the direction he had appeared from.
I just stood there for a moment, slightly dumbfounded, then pulled my wits together and chased after the man.
“Excuse me,” I said, now following the man at his heels.
“Yes?” he continued, moving quickly away from the path.
“Right. You mentioned something about Sophie, and I was wondering if you knew where the shop is.”
He continued to look ahead. “Of course I know where it is. I own it after all.”
I was a little surprised by this, though, now that I thought about it, I really shouldn't be.
After all, he is an old man . . . in the middle of the woods. . . . How many of those could be running around?
I suddenly realized I had stopped moving and raced after the man once again. This time he led us over a bend where a smoking hut came into view, followed immediately by a potent wall of fragrance.
Standing on its own the building looked about as sprightly and eccentric as the old man. Dangling from all walls and ceiling were hundreds of different spices and herbs, vegetables, fruits, a bit of everything it seemed. Pots were piled in rows over a long line of fire. Each was producing its own distinct color and aroma. To the left I could see the familiar path meeting the front of the hut and to the right was a small, neatly kept, garden. Finally, and most curious of all, a small flock of pale blue and violet sheep grazed on the vibrant green grass next to the garden.
I took all this in with a gulp and watched as the man in the hat began pulling a variety of items from the walls and throwing them exuberantly into a pile. I stopped far enough away that I was sure nothing would be flying into my head and waited silently.
Maybe I was too hard on the old people back in Tiver . . . I had always thought they were strange but they didn't hold a candle to this guy.
Baa.
I turned around to follow the noise and caught site of the purple sheep again. I couldn't help but laugh.
“Oh, you think they're funny do you?”
I spun back around to the old man who had stopped his tossing.
“You just think everything here is a big joke? My life's work a laughing matter?”
Taking into the account my recent unsuccessful replies, I was a little afraid to answer.
I shook my head. “No, not at all. I think it's brilliant and . . . and wonderfully magical.”
Okay, Evelyn, that was just corny.
“Wonderfully magical?” he repeated then put his fingers to his chin in consideration. Finally a wide smile crossed his face. “Wonderfully magical . . . I like that. Tell me your name strange and possible evil girl.”
I was kinda starting to get used to this guy. “Eve, it's Eve.”
“Pfft,” he laughed. “Ridiculous. Your name shall be Evangeline and I . . .” he cleared his throat. “. . . am Adzamaruha. Meaning: lord of wisdom . . . only backwards.”
“Huh?”
He threw out a hand. “Do not interrupt! People I like may call me Adzama. You, Evangeline, have not yet earned this privilege.”
With that he flung one last item onto the pile, knelt down, loaded it into a small pack, and handed it to me. “Off with you now, Evangeline. I have a long search ahead of me and can no longer be bothered.”
At a complete loss for words I nodded slowly, turned around, and started down the path. After a few seconds curiosity got the better of me. I turned around.
“What is it you have to search for, umm . . . Adzamaruha?”
He yelled back through the trees. “A broom, someone seems to have stolen mine . . . most likely an evil Meoden spy.”
For a moment I thought I'd remind him that he flung it out into the trees when we'd first met. But instead I thought better of it, turned around, and just kept walking.
*
Clash! Metal banged against metal as a Meoden scout tried to block an incoming blow. He was no match for his attacker's strength and the glowing green blade forced the Meoden's sword down into its own throat.
“Thoran, behind you!” yelled Cornelius.
Without thinking, Thoran flipped his sword around him, slicing through the gut of two oncoming Meoden. Huffing loudly he looked at Cornelius. “You see why I need you with me?”
Cornelius’s brow furrowed. “Maybe, but I could think of a better time to argue this.”
At that he pointed to another Meoden soldier . . . this one wasn't alone. Following behind him was a heavy, four-legged, beast covered in the metallic skin native to the Meoden. Chains hung upon the animal like a cloak, linked at the top to two oversized horns. Its fiery eyes burned bright behind tufts of steam that rose out of the creatures nostrils.
Thoran threw his weapon to Cornelius. “You get the little one, and I'll get the big one.”
Cornelius caught the sword in one hand. “Next time we run into a campsite while scouting, let's stick to just that, scouting!” Almost robotically he held out his hand until it glowed with yellow wisps, then shot it out to his and Thoran's feet.
“Thank you,” sang Thoran, before charging off toward the great beast. Cornelius was already heading in the direction of the Meoden soldier.
The two men were quick, and their movements were marked with an obvious agility. Cornelius reached his target first. With a cry he parried two blows then flipped the sword hilt around in his hand, bashing the Meoden duly on the top of its head.
Thoran leapt unnaturally high into the air and landed shakily on the large creature's back. Next he closed his eyes and, within a split second, flames sprouted from his hand and up his arm. He jabbed fiercely with his fist at the top of the beast's head.
Cornelius, who was still parrying off the soldier’s attacks, quickly spun the sword around again, and knocked the Meoden unconscious.
Without exchanging words or even a look, Corneliu
s sent the sword flying into the air towards Thoran. The man caught it easily with his free hand.
By now the beast had built up speed, seemingly headed for a wall to brush Thoran off against. The moment Thoran caught the hilt of the sword though, he lifted his flaming arm off the creature's head and forced the sharp tip of the blade onto the same spot, down, and through the creature's skull.
Instantly the beast collapsed. The momentum kept him headed straight into a collision with the stone. Thoran jumped backwards before this, then flung his sword up and around to rest on his soldiers.
“What was that?” started Cornelius who was moving closer to Thoran. “You normally display a complex series of aerial acrobatics in such a situation . . . you're just jumping backwards now?”
Thoran waited for Cornelius to reach him then put a hand on his shoulder.
“My friend, there are some things I think I am ready to leave for the next generation.”
“Yes, well . . . I know of a couple that do a fine job of it already.”
Thoran half nodded in agreement, before they both turned to look at the dead beast.
After a moment a smirk crossed Thoran's face.
“Can you imagine what those two would had been like if that girl had stayed around?”
Cornelius’s face contorted, but before Thoran could notice a silky voice drifted from on top of the wall.
“Well, look what we have here.”
The two men turned up, all humor forgotten.
“Sylvanus.” Thoran uttered the name like a curse.
“Nice to see you too, Thoran. Cornelius.” He nodded to each in turn. “I'm going to have fun telling Demian about how I found you two standing over the corpses of an entire camp. And with a healthy young Kelkar as well.” He regarded the creature with a half-cocked frown, then began sauntering back and forth along the wall.
“You know bloody well we're within our rights to attack a camp this far out, Sylvanus. And unless you want a sword through your gut, I suggest you get across the boundaries as fast as your decrepit legs will allow.”
Sylvanus stopped his pacing and leaned his head towards Thoran. “Is that supposed to scare me? You wouldn't dare!”
Ember Page 6
