She could have answered, she had rested enough to send thoughts to his mind, but she didn’t. He sighed and leaned his head on the back of the chair, sagging into the straps that held him. She would forgive him. His plan had worked and that’s all that mattered. To the south, amid the clashing of steel and cries of death, he would soon emerge a hero. The humans would revere and worship him: the man who saved them from the dark ones. Then they would return Nix to her dragon body and hatch the egg themselves. Nix would do whatever they asked of her. All would be in place to lead the humans into an age of peace and prosperity. Finally, he would have the resources needed to research the vitane. After so long, the end of his banishment was near…maybe even within the lifetime of this new body.
Chapter 1
The Offering
Jasper's nose hovered above the dusty ground and he fought to silence his thoughts. Since before dawn, when he first knelt with thousands of other citizens of Gardone, he’d tried to ignore the voices in his head that claimed his life was a sham. He shook his head to silence them. His burning neck told him the sun was approaching its high point; he was running out of time.
To his right, his mother's nose also hovered close to the ground. He knew she was doing her duty and praying fervently. And he was sure his father, to his left, wasn’t struggling against evil thoughts, nor was any member of the massive congregation behind him. Or so he thought. He felt hopelessly alone in his anguish and confusion.
He didn’t pray because repeating the sacred words made him think of the nightmarish scream that stained the ceremony last year. He hadn’t slept for weeks afterwards and because they were forbidden to discuss it, he had never uttered a single word about how it distressed him. He’d thought about it almost every day, and now it rang through is mind over and over. But it was worse now, because now his mind replayed it in Kalina’s voice. It was her voice begging the Guide to let her stay. And this year, because he was in the front row, any screaming would be louder. He shook his head harder, but it didn’t help.
He lived a sheltered life. The city was clean and garnered with gardens. He’d grown up to the sounds of laughter, music, and pleasant tales. Stories of the great wars were haunting, but only like scary bedtime stories. They had ended years ago, before his time, and were just words to him. His entire life was a haven free of bloodshed, famine, and evil. There was nothing to fear, except his thoughts.
He was the new prince, a supposed example to others and here he was struggling…questioning the teachings of the Guide. It made him sick. The Guide had brought the dragon and saved them. He brought happiness to Gardone and everyone, including Jasper, loved and cherished him. But something was not right. He cracked open his right eye and through a slit of light obscured by his thick eyelashes, saw his mother's face.
Her forehead was pressed against the earth and her mouth moved in silent prayer, the same prayer he learned ten years ago at the first Offering he could remember. He gained courage. It was midday on the day of the Offering and his eye was open. The corners of his mouth tightened with determination and he raised his other eyelid.
Standing on the podium up and to his right, jewels sparkled from long hair that nestled around Kalina's shoulders like a black velvet cape. It parted on her forehead, revealing the dark hazel eyes that filled his dreams at night. She smiled nervously as she looked out over the marketplace, and for a moment his anguish disappeared. He longed to hold her one last time.
She scanned the crowd until she saw him. Her obvious surprise was pleasant rather than disapproving.
There is still time, his eyes pleaded. Run away with me.
With a slight tilt of her head and a firm gaze he had his answer. As she explained last night, she would always love him but this was her calling.
Movement to her left caused Jasper to drop his nose back to the ground as tears fell from his clenched eyelids. Now he prayed. He prayed the Guide hadn’t seen him. Not for his own sake, but for Kalina’s.
He peeked up and saw the Guide, dressed in his ritualistic purple robes and holding his gnarled staff, had turned away. Kalina was standing next to the Guide and they both had their backs to him, looking east at the Blue Mountains. Jasper lifted his head to see what they were watching.
Across the Great Lake dark clouds covered the mountain peak. He searched the horizon and saw something move through a patch of blue sky, then vanish back into the haze. His heart thumped.
The Guide shifted and Jasper ducked again. Watching was against the rules and something he normally never would have done, but he needed to see the great dragon, Nix. He needed to know Kalina was being taken to a good place.
He didn’t take his eyes off Kalina. It didn’t feel right to send her away. A shadow fell on her and she turned to face the Guide. Chills shot through his body. Her smile had been replaced by a morbid mask; tears had painted black streaks down her face, her mouth quivered, and she mouthed silent words to the Guide. He opened his mouth to call out to her but was interrupted by a deep whomp from Nix’s wings.
The Guide began a loud monotone chant and the multitude quickly joined. Kalina looked at Jasper, her eyes full of terror as her silky dress tugged at her body as Nix hovered above.
He flinched, ready to run to her, but she shook her head telling him not to move. The Guide held up his staff and Kalina’s eyes became lifeless and her hands fell limp to her side. Jasper watched in helpless horror. She was fulfilling her calling. She was going to serve Nix.
Her lips twitched, and with great effort she mouthed I love you, and then she stumbled. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed to the ground.
Wings thundered and churned and he looked up at the thing he had worshipped all his life: the beast which had so much compassion for Gardone that, thirty years ago, it saved them from the dark ones. The hair on his arms stood on end as he beheld a gruesome monster, unlike anything he had imagined. Its snout opened to reveal rows of white fangs, some the length of Jasper’s arm, and then it snapped shut with a crack and hiss. Swirls of dust whipped up around Kalina as the dragon descended, growling long and deep. The Guide stepped forward and lifted his staff, which exploded into a barrage of light and sparks. Nix reeled, her eyes locked on the staff which burned crimson, and her aggression seemed to weaken. She landed on the podium next to the flapping silk dress that hid Kalina’s motionless body.
Nix stared at the Guide with fiery eyes that matched the glow of the staff. The Guide pointed at Kalina, and in one sudden motion, Nix buried her talons into the pile of fabric and shot into the sky as Kalina dangled like a lifeless rabbit. Jasper’s chest squeezed, he couldn’t breathe. His mouth dropped open and he tried to yell but only managed a dry raspy croak that was buried by the chanting of the multitude. He tried to stand but a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him hard to the ground. He turned to see a harsh glare from his father and dropped his nose back to the dust.
He saw his hands quivering; this had to be a terrible dream. He looked up to see the Guide’s arms outstretched to the departing dragon, already just a spec in the sky. Jasper glanced at his father and was surprised to see his eyes also open. He was looking straight ahead, up to the podium at Jasper’s younger sister, Delorah. She was kneeling face down up on the platform and wore the same ornate gown that had adorned Kalina a year ago. Father turned and Jasper quickly dropped his head back to the ground.
Tears gushed as he condemned himself for rejecting his doubts. The end had come too fast. He had ignored the truth too long and now Kalina was gone forever. The chanting continued long enough to dry his eyes and bury his emotions. When the noise finally settled and the Guide called for everyone to stand, he obeyed with eyes glazed and blank. The joyful feelings he expected on this special day were instead an acid burning his soul.
“It is my honor,” the Guide’s voice boomed, “to give you Princess Delorah!”
He watched his sister walk across the podium and stand in Kalina's vacant spot. She smiled and the crowd cheered as she ra
ised her scepter and clapped it to the ground. Instantly, music filled the courtyard and doves fluttered from the castle windows. Explosions popped high in the sky as fireworks marked the beginning of the Festival.
He looked at Mother and she smiled at him through joyful tears.
“Jazzy,” she whispered and held out her arms.
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed, but he did not respond. For a moment, over her shoulder, he met Father’s eyes. The two stared somberly at each other until Mother released him and turned around to embrace Father, the new King of Gardone, who smiled and accepted her open arms. Anger seethed through Jasper at the thought of what King Len and Queen Tari would be doing in one year’s time. With his jaw clenched in a bitter frown, he took one last look at his sister. So innocent, she stood smiling and laughing next to the Guide. He shook his head slowly, but now it wasn’t to vanquish his thoughts. He shook his head in disgust. This was a farce. He turned and disappeared into the crowd. He would not participate in this year's Festival.
* * * For two nights Jasper stayed in the cave he and his closest friend, Endell, had turned into a hideout. From the mountainside above town, he watched the fires, heard the music, and wrestled with his pain. Thoughts of Kalina and his sister caused his stomach to knot and twist as he cried and cursed at Nix.
Tonight was the last night of the Festival and if he returned by morning, he wouldn’t be missed. Part of him wanted to leave Gardone altogether, which meant leaving Nix's protection. But he was ready for that and willing to take his chances with the dark ones. He just wasn’t ready to leave his family.
The full moon cast a blue light over the countryside and he thought of his work in the fields below. His whole life was about sacrificing to Nix. Everyone grew crops and raised cattle for the benevolent Nix, to buy her protection and thank her for saving them. But now he could see…she wasn’t at all compassionate. She was a monster.
“Jasper?”
He jumped at the unexpected voice and slipped deeper into the cave. He wanted no company, but more important, he couldn’t be caught away from the Festival. A stick broke and the clear sound of a footstep pushed him deeper into the shadows. A figure, smaller than a man but taller than a boy, appeared in the cave opening. Shadowed against the night-blue sky, it took Jasper a moment to recognize the white hair of his best friend.
“Are you in there?” Endell cupped his hands around his eyes and panned the cave.
“Yes.”
“Why aren’t you at the Festival?” Endell’s gaze passed right over Jasper.
“I needed to be alone,” Jasper said. An awkward silence followed.
“Are you alright?” Endell asked.
Jasper hadn't seen Endell since his family had moved into the castle two months before. He crawled forward. “I wish things hadn't changed,” he said, moving into the moonlight.
“What things?” Endell asked.
“Everything since Delorah was selected,” Jasper said.
“What are you talking about?”
Jasper almost didn’t answer, but this was Endell, his best friend. He was safe. “I wish I was home, back in my own house.”
“But you’re a prince now! How can you even say that! If the Guide heard you say something like that—”
“—Kalina is dead and my sister is going to die next year, Endell.”
Endell sat. “No she won’t…well, you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t know what you mean. I know she’s going to die. Nix will…” but he stopped. He had already said too much.
“Don’t say that, we can’t question these things...we aren’t meant to understand. Sometimes we just have to accept…but you know that. What happened to you?” Endell said.
“Nothing happened to me,” Jasper wrapped his arms around his knees and continued to mumble. “It's not right. I saw Nix! I saw what she did.”
“So, I’ve seen her, too.”
Jasper’s eyes widened. “But nobody is supposed to watch!”
“You just told me you did, and so do lots of people.”
Jasper was aghast, lots of people? Was he the only one that followed rules? Was he the only one bothered by this? “Then why don’t they say anything? How can anyone in their right mind see that and not know it’s wrong?”
“She’s in a better place now,” Endell said.
“She’s dead.”
“It was her calling,” Endell almost sounded compassionate.
“But they didn’t tell her that, she didn’t know she would die.” Jasper’s anger escaped in a harsh bitter tone directed at Endell.
“People know the truth, Jasper. She probably did too.”
“She didn’t and I didn’t. I believed everything they said. They taught us to be honest and I believed and followed the rules because I trusted them. And they LIED!” Jasper wiped a tear from his cheeks.
The boys sat in dark silence while the tension faded. Jasper hoped the silence wouldn't end.
“Things will work out, you’ll see. Come back to your family.”
Jasper didn’t respond.
Endell started to stand. “Let's go back to the castle.”
“You go, I'll be back tomorrow.”
Endell hesitated, turned, and then walked away. Jasper listened to the snapping branches and rustling leaves as his friend descended the mountain. When all was still, he crawled deeper into the cave, slipped under his blanket, and fell into an exhausted sleep.
* * * A tug on King Len’s coat tail interrupted his yawn and he looked down to see a young page boy.
“…sorry your highness, but that man over there says he has an important message for you.” The boy pointed.
Len rubbed his eyes and squinted as he focused on the opening across the large, crowded room. The final day of the Festival had been long and it was late. He almost told the boy to send the man away but then recognized the bald head. The sight of his old friend brought a wide grin, and he pushed through the crowds to the man waiting in the archway.
“Thamus!” He smiled and opened his arms to embrace his old friend but stopped when Thamus neither answered nor returned the smile. “What’s wrong?”
Thamus avoided Len’s eyes. “My son would like a word with you, your majesty,” he motioned through the open archway.
The formality concerned Len and he instantly blamed himself. He had been too busy to visit since moving into the castle. He looked down the hall to see curly, white hair and the familiar face of his son’s best friend. Most of his smile returned.
“Endell! Good to see you—”
“—He needs to tell you something.” Thamus was solemn.
Again, Len's smile faded.
He took Thamus by the arm and led him to a small room. “In there,” he said.
They walked inside, Len shut the door, and the three were alone.
Thamus looked at his son. “Tell him what you told me.”
Endell took a deep breath. He looked at his father and then at Len. “It’s not important, really, I just—”
“—Tell him what you told me,” interrupted Thamus.
After a short pause, Endell continued. “I'm worried about Jasper.”
Nobody spoke. Endell seemed to be waiting for Len to say something but Len remained silent, watching and waiting. He needed to know exactly what the boy knew, without leading the conversation.
“He’s up on the mountain. I was with him a while ago and he was talking about…” Endell fell quiet again.
“What was he saying?” Len asked, trying to soothe out more information but dreading the answer.
“He said that Kalina is dead and that next year Delorah will be killed—”
Len’s gut wrenched.
“—and that it's not right. He’s really upset. I didn't know what to say to him.”
Len stared at the floor.
“Len?” Thamus said. “We have to do something. Endell can take us to him.”
Len nodded, halfheartedly. “Perhaps if I
talk to him—”
“—But what about the laws?” Thamus asked.
The laws? Why would Thamus bring up the laws; was it a threat? They had fought side by side during the war and raised their boys together. Would Thamus report him if he tried to bend the rules for Jasper? Was he bitter? He certainly had reason…Len was tall, handsome, and muscular while Thamus was short, thin, and had bulging eyes. Len had a thick, full head of dark brown hair and Thamus had lost his years ago. And after the wars when they had both pursued Tari, Len was sure Thamus would completely sever their friendship. But he hadn’t. Although heartbroken, Thamus had accepted Len’s engagement without malice or resentment. And now Len was king, one more reason to despise. And the worst part was that he hadn’t spoken to Thamus in months. Yes, Thamus was probably hurt and bitter.
Now Len avoided Thamus’ eyes. The laws stated that anyone questioning the doctrine of the kingdom was to meet with the Guide, a formal and shameful event with potentially serious consequences. Children were generally immune, but as royalty, Jasper would be treated as a defiant adult. He didn’t want to do it, for many reasons, but as king it was critical he uphold the laws even when it involved his own son.
“I'll assemble a team.” Looking at Endell, he continued. “When they are ready, you will go with them.” To Thamus he said, “Both of you wait here. Thank you for coming to me with this. It’s good seeing you again.” Len briefly put his hand on Thamus’ shoulder and then left the room, shutting the door behind him.
In the hallway, Len leaned his forehead against the rock wall. He closed his eyes and gently pounded his head against the stone while mumbling, “Jasper, Jasper….”
“Len?”
He stood straight and tried to hide his despair as he greeted his wife.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
He couldn’t hide it from her. Tari’s tender brown eyes could see right through him. But he couldn’t tell her everything. She worried too much and if he could solve problems before involving her, life was easier. If only he had talked to Jasper sooner, this could have been avoided.
Mandala's Catalyst (Gardone Trilogy) Page 2
