Beneath a Desert Moon

by Mary Hamilton

  “You know a lot about portals and travel. Do you think there will be a way for us to travel back and forth between this world and Pangrove? I mean, if we can move around with portals here and the portals from the colored beams on our world, shouldn’t we be able to come back whenever we want?”

  Jarek chuckled. “That I can’t say. But it would be a good question to ask the gods when you see them again.”

  “Yeah, but Aristan said he wouldn’t be talking to me again.”

  “He told me the same thing, but you never can tell. Once we get over to the desert, he might be there.”

  Tovi turned to leave, speaking over his shoulder. “I’m gonna get something to eat.”

  ◆◆◆

  The party had gathered on the surface before dawn, in preparation for the trek to the old enclave, where the portals would be formed. Commander West and Mathias would be going. Brother Magnus, accompanied by Brothers Ratio and Martin, as well as his family and, of course, Ran will also make the trip. Most of all, though, Tovi would return to his friend, Klunk, Marzi, and Elle.

  Burns helped Jarek adjust his pack, and then he returned the favor. Since Tovi had been back, he’d noticed that the older Azyrean and the human woman had been inseparable. And Jarek was not returning to Pangrove. Then Tovi understood. Even at the young age of eleven—no, twelve—he’d had a birthday since arriving, although he didn’t know exactly when it happened—he still had an inkling about adult relationships.

  And then he noticed two others, off to themselves, adjusting their packs—much larger packs. CeCe and Ben had also spent a lot of time talking away from the others. Tovi joined them. “Are you going over to Crystal Sands with us?”

  The woman smiled. “No. We’re not. I have no role there and I am needed here. Ben and I decided to return to the site of my family’s old estate. Who knows, maybe we will rebuild. I don’t know what will ultimately become of Caravast. There is no king at present. The military is maintaining order but, sooner or later, a leader will be necessary. I have hopes that Commander Emmanuelle West will be that leader. But that is for her and others to decide. For now, Ben needs a parent and I need to go on with life. Beyond that, we will just take things one day at a time.”

  Tovi turned his attention to the boy. “I never really thanked you for helping us. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Ben stared for a moment, then nodded and lowered his head. “Thank you.” If the boy remembered what had happened in the passageway and crystal room, he never mentioned it.

  West’s voice broke into the quiet conversation. “Okay, everyone. It’s time. We need to be on the trail.” She walked over to stand in front of CeCe. “I will return, I hope, within a week. I wish you and Ben a safe journey.” She paused and gazed at the ground. “And I pray that what came between us has passed. This land will need strong people to rebuild. I know that I want to be a part of that. I hope you will be there as well.” She turned to the larger group. “Let’s be on our way.”

  Chapter 93: Crystal Sands

  The land fell silent and the sky darkened. It was as though the entire world stilled itself in anticipation. The opposing sides stared at each other across a distance of no more than twenty meters. But neither side moved.

  Lightning flashed in the sky. Thunder shook the desert air. The sun, high in the sky moments before, disappeared into darkness. When the light returned, the sight shook Marzi to her shoes. The enormous human army that had just emerged from the portal, stood with glazed empty eyes and slack bodies. Whatever spirit they may have had only seconds before had vanished. Before her lay an ocean of upright bodies, apparently breathing and technically alive, but devoid of any will. Whatever had been there was gone.

  After a moment’s delay, shouts went up from the rebel band, which the elven forces repeated. “Slay them! Destroy all of them! Now!”

  And suddenly fate stretched out before her. Marzi understood. Everything made perfect sense. This was her time. She screamed, “No!” and rushed to stand in front of the horde, turning to face her allies. “No. You will not slay them.” The human invaders remained slack and glassy eyed, not reacting to the unfolding conflict before them.

  The rebels, who had been closest to the invaders, stopped short. One of them, whose name Marzi did not know, challenged her. “Step aside, little one. We finish this now.”

  “There is nothing to finish. The war has ended.” She stepped forward toward the rebel, meeting his glare.

  “Nothing is finished. They have killed and plundered our lands in Ebon Hills and killed our families. They have come here with the same purpose. The time has come for them to answer for their crimes.”

  By this time, the elven forces had also closed the distance and stood directly behind the humans. From the look in their eyes, Marzi could tell that they also wanted blood.

  She pleaded, “They have no purpose. Look at them. There is nothing left.”

  “Then it won’t matter if we kill them.” The man shifted his sword from one hand to the other and then back again. “Move aside before they regain their senses.”

  Ellemareth stepped from the elven ranks. “Marzi, think this through. If their consciousness returns, they outnumber us. They will slaughter all of us plus the ogres. If things were reversed, do you believe they would spare us?”

  Marzi stood her ground. “That doesn’t matter. The war is over. Tovi has succeeded and Dredwyn has been banished. Of that I am sure. Without him, these beings pose no danger.”

  The rebels, as a group, moved closer, the leader stepping farther out in front. “One last warning, Miss. If you don’t step aside, we will come through you.”

  “No!” Marzi pulled the dagger from her belt and raised it high over her head. The emerald glow erupted into a brilliant white gleaming star. The ground shook. Marzi could feel the cloak heating up. She felt the shimmering waves of energy pouring forth. She took a deep breath. “If you would kill them, then you must kill me first.”

  Without warning, a figure appeared at her side. Marzi turned to see Kharla, club in hand, standing next to her.

  “I stand with Marzi. The killing has been enough. My papaw is gone. No more papaws will die today.”

  Elle, standing in front and slightly to the side of Marzi, smiled, nodded, and took her place at the Azyrean’s side as well. “She wears the Cloak of Truth. See how it gleams and shimmers. Her words are true. Her purpose is true. I stand with her as well.”

  The humans before her backed away, murmuring and shaking their heads.

  Saryn emerged from the elven army and turned to face his troops. “Please, all of you. We have had enough death. The war is won. Now is the time to bring peace, and Marzi is the peacemaker foretold of by Valyn. More deaths will accomplish nothing.”

  The opposition dissipated. The rebels regrouped around Ryshara and the fallen Virgil. The elves broke ranks, some rushing to see about the captain, others coming to the Azyrean’s side.

  Marzi felt light-headed. The world began to spin. She struggled to return her dagger to its sheath. She felt more than saw the cloak emit a brilliant flash of blinding light. And then the glow was gone. It was just a cloak again. Darkness closed in and she knew nothing.

  Chapter 94: Crystal Sands

  Even before the group returning from Ebon Hills had cleared the portal, Marzi could feel it. Tovi had changed. His eyes conveyed a mixture of sadness and fatigue, and she imagined him being eons beyond his actual years. He moved haltingly, as though unsure of himself. He seemed confused, his eyes wandering but never coming to rest. She bolted forward and embraced him, holding tightly. “You’re safe.” It was all she could think to say.

  He returned her embrace, but only for a moment. Pulling back, he nodded. “You too.” He surveyed the crowd as though looking for someone specific. “Is everybody else okay?”

  Marzi laughed with joy. “Yes. Everyone is fine.” She held his hand in hers. “You did great over there. We knew exactly when you did it, when you stuck that
dagger in the crystal. All the humans here just dropped their weapons and stood around.” She struggled to contain her excitement.

  “Is Klunk here?”

  Marzi turned to see the large ogre ambling over. “Tovi is back.” He ran the last few steps and lifted the young boy onto his shoulder. “And you are a hero. Awsie.”

  Kharla appeared out of the crowd and made her way to the reunion. She put her hand on Marzi’s shoulder. “And you, Marzi. You are my hero.”

  “I didn’t do anything. I mean, it was Tovi that destroyed the crystal and sent the demon back.”

  Kharla knelt, coming face-to-face with Marzi. “Never, ever think that you did nothing. Your courage saved us from becoming what we hate the most. We will know peace now because of what you did. You are my hero, Marzi. I will never forget you.”

  ◆◆◆

  With the excitement of the reunion over, Tovi went in search of Myhrren. He needed to talk, and the god was the only one he could think of at the moment.

  Everything was different. Tovi was, of course, happy to be back in Crystal Sands. The reunion with Marzi, Klunk, and Kharla had been good. Oh, and Klik had been overjoyed, chatting and fussing, leaping onto the Azyrean’s shoulder, just like old times. But things were not the same.

  “You look troubled, my friend.” Myhrren, with River by his side, motioned Tovi to sit. “I sense that there is much for us to discuss.”

  Tovi plopped down beside the old man. “I’m okay, I guess.” He couldn’t summon much enthusiasm, and he thought he knew what it was to be old, for he felt weary and aged beyond his years.

  “If I may speak freely, you have faced down what some would see as insurmountable dangers. And yet, I sense that you dread the future even more.”

  Tovi thought about the words. It was true, he did dread the future. He had never felt like this before. In fact, he didn’t even know what the future was. But one thing clawed at him, haunted him day and night. “Myhrren, I don’t want to go home.” He paused and searched the god’s face, hoping for some clue about what all of these feelings meant. “I want to stay in this world. Klunk and Kharla are my friends. I can’t just leave them. And maybe I could spend some time over at the elf place, too, you know, where Ellemareth lives.” And that was it, wasn’t it?

  A smile stole over the god’s face. “Ellemareth, the beautiful elf maiden?” He turned his head and stared out across the sands. “I have much to tell you, Tovi.” He pulled a small flask from his tunic pocket and offered it to the lad. “Have a drink of this. I think you’ve earned it.”

  Tovi took a swig, immediately recognizing the brandy. The flavor exploded in his mouth and warmed his throat as he swallowed it. He took one more drink and handed the bottle back. “That was good. Thanks.” He was feeling better already.

  “By now, you know that you and I are connected. And, likewise, you and River are linked in ways that perhaps you cannot know. But you feel it, nonetheless. What you may not realize, though, is that all living things are connected to one degree or another. Some of the relationships are strong and readily apparent, such as with Marzi or your parents. Others are subtler, as with the small snake that bit you back in the oasis.”

  Tovi recalled that bite. It had hurt and he had gotten sick. And then Myhrren talked to him for the first time. But what about the snake?

  “You are wondering, no doubt, about whether I put the snake there on purpose. I assure you that I did not. It was there of its own accord. I merely noticed it and nudged it in your direction. You and the snake did the rest. But here is the interesting part. That incident affected the snake as well. It now shares a stronger connection with you.” Myhrren chuckled before continuing, “It doesn’t think about it that way. Beasts… well, most beasts do not consider such things. But a connection to you remains. The snake goes its own way and lives out its life as it should. An interesting curiosity, though, is that this particular snake will never bite another person. The incident with you forever changed that part of its nature.”

  The Azyrean wondered what all of this had to do with him remaining on Kronos. “Can I stay here or not?”

  “Your connection with your parents, you felt it in your sleep. If I recall correctly, your mother came to you and reassured you.”

  “But that was just a dream.”

  “Was it? Tovi, your parents were strong for you in your time of trial. It is now time for you to be strong for them. Yes, you have friends here. And you think that your heart is here. But there are also those who love you back in Pangrove. You might feel grown up—you have indeed experienced more trials and events in this past year than most others do in a lifetime, but to your parents, you are still their boy—a mere child really. You have a responsibility to them and should give them their due.”

  “Does that mean I’ll never see Klunk or Kharla or… any of them again?”

  Myhrren burst out laughing. “Never? I discourage those kinds of words—always and never. It limits your thinking and your dreams.” The mirth disappeared from his face. “Your path takes you next to Pangrove, where there is still much for you to do. After that, who among us can say? If you are asking whether you will ever be able to visit Kronos again, I assure you that the portals will always behave as they have in the past. A blue moonbeam will, now and forever, create a portal that will deposit its traveler in Crystal Sands. And, as you probably know, a red one will take you to Ebon Hills and the green one to Menalor, the elf place, as you called it.”

  “So, I can just jump on a colored beam anytime?”

  “Can you? Yes. Should you? No. I trust you to know the difference and when it is time to return here. Let us leave it at that, shall we?”

  Conflict tore at the young boy’s heart. He understood that his parents missed him and worried about him. And he did want to see them again. But he knew that once gone, he would desperately miss Klunk and Kharla and…. He studied River, who sat beside Myhrren, his eyes following the conversation. “You never told me, really, is River a part of you?”

  “That is a difficult question to answer, Tovi. We are connected. I feel much of what he feels, and my thoughts are with him. But he is his own being. He has a spirit that belongs to him. We have been together through many ages and we are bound to one another. But I am not him and he is not me. I don’t own him any more than he owns me.”

  Tovi reached down and stroked the dog’s head. “And I’m going to miss you too.”

  A soft warmth flowed through the Azyrean’s heart. He knew as certainly as he had ever known anything in his life that River was speaking to him—love and loyalty. “What about Klik?”

  “What about him? If you are asking whether you and he are connected, well, think about it. Did you really think that a squirrel was so desperate for nuts, while living in a grove full of nut trees, that it would leap onto your shoulder and go anywhere with you?”

  “So, I am connected to Klik, too?”

  “All beings, Tovi. You are connected to all living things. As it turns out, your connection to your small furry friend is quite strong.”

  Sadness once again swept over the young boy. “It’ll be hard leaving him here.”

  “Then why leave him? I should think that he will enjoy Pangrove. There are lots of trees, and I assume that you have nuts there as well.”

  “Can I take him, really?” Tovi’s heart surged.

  Myhrren smiled. “Midday approaches and it’s getting hot. Let us find some food, drink, and shelter.”

  A few minutes later, the two found relief in one of the tents. And another question crossed Tovi’s mind. He had a lot of them it seemed. He withdrew his dagger and held it, blade up in front of his face. “It’s changed.” He twisted it, looking at the weapon from different angles. “Am I supposed to give it back to you now that I’m done with it?”

  Myhrren scooted closer and examined the object. “How do you know that you are done with it?”

  “Well, because Dredwyn is gone. And I don’t think I’m going to be gett
ing into knife fights back in Pangrove.” A part of Tovi still wanted to remain on this world.

  “The future will present itself when the time comes. Until then, the dagger does not belong to me. It sought you out. And unless it has told you differently, you are its keeper for now.”

  “It doesn’t glow anymore.”

  “And that is a good thing. It glowed when there was danger, a purpose for the weapon. For the present, it is telling you that peace lies ahead.”

  Chapter 95: Crystal Sands

  Tovi sat in the shade, his hands cupped in front of him holding Klik. The squirrel chattered incessantly, as though scolding the Azyrean. “I know, I know. But I couldn’t take you with me. Besides, you wouldn’t have liked it over there. It was colder and it rained some. And there was this castle and we were underground. Remember? You hate tunnels.”

  Klik continued the scolding, stopping only to consume the nuts that Tovi offered in penance.

  “He missed you.” Klunk sat beside the pool, Kharla by his side. “But I could feel you. I knew that you were safe and that you would come out the hero.”

  “I’m not a hero. I just did what they told me to do. And I couldn’t have done anything without the humans and the elf, Ran, helping me.” He grinned. “But it was kind of exciting, especially right there at the end.”

  “I was thinking about you. And you know what? I sang a song for you, but I know you couldn’t hear it. I’d sing it for you now, but I forgot it.” Klunk guffawed.

  “I think I did hear it. When I was down in the tunnel and I was afraid. Well, not really afraid, but a little concerned. I heard this song in my head. And it was just like your songs, and it was your voice. And you even said something about it was a good one. I heard it all.”