Glory Alley and the Star Riders (The Glory Alley Series)

by C. Deanna Verhoff

  Glory sat up with a start.

  Bone, Needle and White Feather stood around the bed.

  “This looks familiar,” Glory said, recalling the first time they woke her up at home. Never in a million years would she have guessed that someday she would wake up on the green side of the Elboni.

  “Where’s Clash?”

  “If ye mean the boy,” Needle said, “He’s asleep in another room.”

  “Can I see him, please?”

  “No.”

  A wallop of thunder made her jump.

  “As the magic fades, the storms grow more violent,” said Bone. “If the Elboni’s not returned to the Queen’s Mesa, the inter-dimensionality it shares with North Star Cathedral will be severed. Our world will stop turning, and everyone will die.”

  “If you don’t grant me my wish, my family will be destroyed, and my father will die.”

  “What’s a handful of Tullahns worth compared to millions of Wybbils?” Bone asked.

  “Why does it have to be either Wybb or my family?” Glory asked. “If you’d agree to give me a wish, we could save both.”

  “Quit saying that word,” Bone reminded.

  “What did I say?” This time, Glory hadn’t realized she even said it.

  “I give up,” said Bone.

  “Tell me,” Glory said. “What I saw in the Bamboozle—was it real?”

  “As real as fear itself,” Bone said.

  “Don’t give me this vague crap!” Glory yelled in frustration. “My family is in serious trouble, but nobody cares!”

  Needle said. “It’s out of our hands. Only someone with pure intentions, in the good graces of the Elboni, can get what she asks for. And there’s even more to it than that.”

  “How do you know I’m not in the good graces of the Elboni if you don’t even try to give me a wish?”

  “Not only are ye a Tullahn, a liar, and a Stone Napper—ye be a destroyer of worlds as well. Need I say more?”

  “I-I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be that way. It’s just...” memories of George reaching for her, crying her name, filtered through her mind in slow motion. If she didn’t save her family, little George might be lost forever.

  “I don’t want Wybb to suffer. It’s just that I don’t know what else to do.”

  “Return the Elboni,” Needle said.

  “I’ll lose my family.”

  “We’ll lose our world.”

  “My family is my world.”

  “It be pointless to reason with this one,” Bone said.

  “Aye,” White Feather said with contempt and threw an extra napkin at her. “Now wipe your filthy chin. Lady Gost is waiting.”

  Chapter 25

  They entered the cathedral with the same bowing walls and the long arched windows. Huge waves rolled over the Sea of Serenity. Lightning flashed inside of dark clouds. The golden pedestal reserved for the sacred Elboni remained empty.

  Lady Gost stood with the Book of Laws held against her chest. A circle of guards faced outward around her.

  “Come,” Lady Gost beckoned.

  The guards opened, allowing the star riders to approach with Glory between them. The emissaries bowed low, while Glory only bowed her eyes, stealing a glance or two at the tiny woman in the white gown who looked at Glory with displeasure brimming in her dark eyes.

  “Foolish Rock Collector,” she said. “In passing the Bamboozle’s test, you have failed to give us what is ours, and failed to keep what is yours. By law, the life that once belonged to you now belongs to me. But you are so very young; I’m in a quandary about what to do.”

  Glory’s heart pounded. There was a wisdom about Lady Gost that made her want to do whatever she asked. Remembering what happened behind the last door of the Bamboozle, however, gave her pause to consider. If that was what waited at home, she’d rather not come home at all.

  “How did you escape the Bamboozle?” Lady Gost asked.

  “On the whifferdil,” she blurted out.

  Lady Gost turned to the emissaries, raising an incredulous eyebrow.

  “The Rock Collector be lying,” the three Wybbils said. “We didn’t help her out, nor did the pilot, we swear it.”

  “I flew it myself,” Glory said proudly. “Flying it was easy, but landing was a real crock.”

  White Feather gasped.

  Lady Gost tossed her head back, shielding her eyes in the crook of her arm as if Glory’s words were stinging bees.

  “Liar!” cried Bone.

  Needle shook his head, looking disappointed.

  “Impossible.” Lady Gost’s eyes narrowed into slits. “A Tullahn, by her very nature, resides outside such graces of the Elboni. So, one more time I ask ye, where is the stone?”

  Glory looked down at her blurry reflection in the shiny floor, mumbling, “I’m not gonna tell you.”

  Lady Gost raised the book high over her head. “Great Elboni, what shall I do?” Lightning streaked from cloud to cloud. Thunder rolled, shaking the cathedral.

  The Guardian of Sacred Things titled her head back with a jerk. Her eyes glowed with white light. Lips moved as if in prayer. The glow faded and she spoke again.

  “The Bamboozle brought to life the things you fear the most. Since that experience didn’t open your eyes, perhaps you need to be shown what you ought to fear the most.”

  The star riders wrung their hats nervously between their fingers, making Glory feel weak in the knees. She had no idea what the lady was talking about, but it sounded bad in the scariest of ways. Her knees slightly buckled, so she leaned on the nearest Wybbil for support. Glory closed her eyes, wanting to block out everything that was happening.

  “I am sending you to Where Elboni Is Not, a place better known as the Wein.” Gasps steamed across the cathedral. “Perhaps you will be more cooperative after seeing the fate of thieves, liars, and those with murder in their hearts.” Glory opened one eye. Lady Gost was pointing to the floor with a stiff arm. “To the Wein with her.”

  Things were moving too fast. She needed the star riders to take her back to Tullah so she could bind them. This Wein place wasn’t part of the plan.

  “Isn’t there another way?” Needle asked, wringing his hat.

  “I did not write the Book of Laws, I interpret it,” she said sternly. “The situation seems bleak indeed. Mercy has been extended, but it’s up to the Tullahn to take it.”

  Lady Gost looked at Glory.

  "I take no pleasure in ordering your death, but better one of thee than all of we.” Then she turned to the emissaries. “As the appointed Guardian of Sacred Things, I decree upon return from the Wein she will be turned over to the extractors. Unless, of course, she confesses the whereabouts of the Great Elboni.”

  Glory turned to Needle, voice came out shaky and hoarse. “You wouldn’t let them do that to me—would you?”

  “Obedience requires it,” Needle said.

  “In order to access your memories,” Lady Gost explained. “You will be placed in an extraction pool until your mind and body are emptied. Your essence will separate from tissue to go onto live with the Weinling forever. All that will be left of ye here on Wybb will be dry bones and a crusted hide.”

  Glory gripped Needle's hand.

  "Please, don’t suck me dry. I don’t want to be a crusted hide. And whatever my essence is I want it to stay right where it belongs. And I sure don’t want to live with a Weinling, whatever that is. Tell me it’ll be okay, star rider. Tell me not to be afraid.”

  “’Tis right to be afraid.” Needle patted her hand. "I’d rather face a hundred Hoogulas than a single Weinling."

  Glory pulled her hand away. “Not helpful.” Her breaths came in rapid succession.

  “Please, Your Ladyship,” Needle pleaded. “Find another way.”

  “As the Guardian of Sacred Things, I have taken an oath not to usurp the authority of the Law."

  "She's not a bad sort.”

  "No? Her crimes are numerous. First, she stole the Elboni. She ha
s repeatedly demonstrated a blatant disregard for the truth, placing her own selfish wants ahead of everything and everybody. The indifference she has shown toward the fate of the millions on Wybb is criminal. This one’s hands are soiled. If seeing the Wein does not stir her to repentance, then nothing will.

  “I am the Guardian Of Sacred Things and I have spoken.”

  “In submission,” the star riders said, bowing in unison. “We obey.”

  White Feather got to work. He went down on one knee, took the white feather from his cap, and drew a rectangle on the floor.

  A rectangle be for death, Glory remembered with a shiver.

  “Issatti!” said White Feather.

  Darkness mixed with gray fog began to swirl inside the rectangle and a howling sound escaped from it. Lady Gost stepped back a pace, apparently to stare down at the void from a safer distance.

  Glory bolted for the nearest exit, but the guards blocked her way. They dragged her kicking and screaming to Bone, who took her arm in his iron grip.

  She peered into the hole in the floor, horridly mesmerized by a twirling topsy-turvy tornado that had formed below the floor. Lady Gost’s hand went to her white hair to stop it from whipping in the wind.

  “Tell me,” Lady Gost shouted over the tempest. “Where is the Elboni?!”

  The words stuck to the tip of Glory’s tongue, she was about to tell her everything.

  “Halt,” Lady Gost said, gliding over to her, face so close to she caught a whiff of apple blossom perfume. She brought her face to Glory’s, whispering, “If ye turn over the Elboni, ye may go home with my blessing.”

  Glory took a deep breath. “It’s...it’s...” She wanted nothing more than to please her, but the words were glued in place.

  The fierce wind continued to swirl from the hole, sucking in the flowers and vases that decorated the cathedral. Horrid sounds echoed from the void. Home sounded like heaven about now, but she couldn’t let go of the dream of a better life.

  “It’s where?” Lady Gost encouraged.

  “I’m sorry.” Glory turned her face away from the beautiful lady. “I can’t tell you.”

  The words came out against her better judgment. This wasn’t a game. It was life and death. She wanted to kick herself for being so darn stubborn. By the look on Lady Gost’s face, apparently so did she.

  “Go ye sons of Wybb,” Lady Gost said with a somber frown. “Show the Rock Collector what awaits liars, thieves and murderers. May the Elboni’s magic guide and protect you.”

  Chapter 26

  Bone and White Feather each took an arm and dragged her toward the funnel spinning beneath the floor. Needle followed behind, advising her not to look. If only she could close her ears because the most frightful part was the sound of the wind, like a haunted freight train rolling down the tracks. Bone and White Feather’s grips tightened. They jumped into the vortex forcing her along with them. A hot whirlwind tossed her body around like a cat in clothes dryer.

  They began to fall.

  Glory screamed.

  Bone screamed.

  White Feather yelled, “Crimeny!”

  Oompf! Her body slammed on to something solid. Breath knocked out of lungs, wheezing now, she opened one eye to see the tail end of a tornado disappear upward into a sky the color of blood. As the star riders lay on their backs gasping for breath, Glory took inventory of her limbs—nothing broken. She rolled to feet and had a look around. There was no grass, no trees and no sign of life except a maddening moan rising up from the very stones. What strange and eerie place is this? Black cliffs, jutting every which way as if carved by a madman, filled the horizon. The worst part, however, was the stench.

  “Ew!” Glory’s fingers went to her nose and pinched. “This place smells like rotten cabbage, cow patties, and dirty socks all rolled into one!”

  Suddenly there was a crackling sound from below her feet. Thousands of spindly white lines wriggled free.

  “Maggots!” They squiggled over her feet. “Yow!” Despite her frantic stomping, they burrowed through shoes, socks and up her legs. Sizzling holes formed wherever the maggots’ slime touched her shoes. Pinpoints of pain burned skin as the maggots tried to burrow. She stumbled to the ground screaming. More maggots wriggled toward her.

  “Raise the Nightburner!” said White Feather.

  Needle fumbled for the silver spike in his hat and cried out, “Nonru!”

  A circle of white light enveloped the four travelers. Glory watched with relief as the wormy things withered into dry ash before doing more damage. She smacked at her arms and legs, feeling like they were still crawling with worms.

  “Get them off me!” she jumped up and down and spun in a circle to try see if more were on her back.

  “Calm down,” Bone said. “They’re gone and ye be fine.”

  Glory turned to Needle. “Your light killed them?”

  Needle said, “No, they were already dead.”

  “Huh?”

  The Wybbils ignored her and dusted themselves off.

  “That was most unusual,” Bone said rubbing his lip in thought.

  “Aye,” said Bone, glancing nervously about. “Normally, the maggots go after the dead and nothing more. Must be her tainted Tullahn blood they smell.”

  Needle touched Glory’s forehead, then pressed two fingers against her neck. “Aye, ye be alive. For the time being, anyway.”

  Glory pushed the Wybbil’s hand away. “Of course I’m alive. Where are we, anyway?”

  “Ye have a bad habit of not listening.” White Feather said. “We be Where Elboni is Not, the W-E-I-N for short.”

  “So, the Elboni doesn’t touch this dimension?”

  Bone nodded.

  “Wait a second,” White Feather shook his head. “The Elboni be everywhere. Even here.”

  “That be crazy talk?” Bone argued. “If it be here, why call this place Where Elboni Is Not?”

  “Because people like ye don’t know any better,” White Feather retorted.

  “How rude of ye to say so.”

  “My apologies,” said White Feather. “I shall explain. Residents of this place hate the splendor of the Elboni. Its greatness contrasts painfully against their wretchedness. To endure its presence would only add to their misery. So the Elboni remains out of sight here.”

  “Why would anyone hate a rock as beautiful as the Elboni?” Glory wanted to know.

  “Enough questions,” said Needle, pushing Glory along. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “This would be the perfect setting for a scary movie. Or a nightmare,” Glory said trying to control her mounting fear by acting nonchalant. “What side of the Elboni is this world on?”

  “The Wein be not a world, but a state of existence,” said White Feather.

  “I beg to differ,” said Bone.

  “Not again?” Needle rolled his eyes and came between the other two Wybbils. “Let’s be done with this trip as soon possible.”

  Needle took Glory’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. But it was no comfort. Needle’s hand was shaking almost as much as her own.

  Glory’s puppy pajamas were soaked with sweat beneath her coat. She fanned her coat tails trying to stir up a breeze. As they walked along the moaning grew louder. “What’s that sound?” Glory asked, not wanting to go further. It reminded her of the sound Dad made after Mom died, a cry of despair and mourning, but like thousands of people doing it all at once.

  They moved along over a flat bed of black rock until coming to a cliff. Below the ridge stretched an ocean of glowing orange lava. Glory felt dizzy looking at molten rock lapping the shore below. Broken pieces of stones lay at her feet. In this insane place, at least there was something familiar and comforting. She knelt down on one knee to take a stone for her collection. Needle slapped it out of her hand.

  “Take nothing from this world, Rock Collector.”

  “Why not?”

  “Trust me on this.”

  Glory grumbled and watched the ora
nge sea stretch out over endless nothingness. Black shapes moved beneath the surface. She could almost swear that large fish were swimming in the fiery sea.

  “Where are we now?”

  “The Weinling’s feeding ground,” Bone said.

  Despite the heat, ice water traveled her veins. The pressure in the air suddenly increased, causing her ears to hurt. At the same time gravity pulled with such intensity, she thought her bones might crack.

  “Hard to breath,” she said holding her chest.

  The Wybbils gave her a sidelong glance, apparently not suffering the same affliction.

  Glory became aware of an invisible presence hovering near. Dark, oppressive—a deep knowing, sure and dreadful—filled her mind: As a spider sense the smallest vibration along his web, the Weinling knows I’m here. She took a step back and wanted to run, but the Wybbils held her fast.

  Portions of the sea bubbled and hissed. Gazing over the boiling ooze, she said weakly. “How can anything live in there?”

  “Perhaps live is the wrong word,” Bone corrected. “Most of the creatures in the Wein are disembodied—at least for now. These be the essences of those who in their last breath, chose evil over goodness. Their mortal carcasses remain on the worlds where they fell, while their essences slipped here, into the Wein, where their true twisted and brutish natures be revealed. Watch.”

  Glory tried to listen, but a mournful melody invaded her mind. What are you doing here, Tullahn? A voice, charming and frightening at the same time, sang: Why have you gone through so much trouble for your brothers and sisters who do nothing but torment you? Why do you risk your life for the father who beats you?

  “Do you hear that—that m-music?” Glory’s voice quivered.

  “There’s no music here, Crazy Tullahn,” Bone said and pointed toward the sky.

  An endless number of windows floated in space as far as the eye could see. The horizon looked like a city made of skyscrapers full of windows, except there was no mortar, steel or brick. Just windows hanging in empty space. “Wicked.” Glory marveled, yet she felt more afraid than she had the entire journey.Some windows opened like trap doors, revealing rectangles of light where shadows of people danced. Or were they thrashing and clawing? Like dry autumn leaves falling from the branches of thousands of trees, creatures of all shapes and sizes fell out of windows toward the fires below.