by D P Rowell
“Then what happened, Grandpa?” Julie asked, now standing on her feet.
“What did Oliver do?” Cameron said.
“Yeah, like, seriously Grandpa, you can’t end it there!” Tamara said.
Ace said nothing, because he couldn’t. His ability to speak had left him when he saw a tear roll down Grandpa’s cheek. Grandpa looked at Ace and smiled the biggest smile the boy had ever seen. Grandma Martha stood from the couch and held on to her husband, smiling at all the grandchildren before them.
“Then,” Grandpa said, “Oliver vanished.”
At this, the cabin shook and moaned. Pots and pans clanged together. The dark wood crackled. Winds like a hurricane rushed in and roared through the house like a dragon. They summoned the fire from the fireplace and surrounded Grandpa and Grandma in a fiery whirlwind, spiraling to the top of the cabin. With a flash of light, the fire drifted away, the wind stopped, and only the sound of chirping crickets in the rainforest crept through the pitch darkness it left behind. The cabin lay still, the air stagnant, spurring the urge to panic. But for a moment, none of them did panic. Ace stood next to his brother and cousins, staring and silently denying what lay in front of them. It was an emptiness. And it told a horrid truth none could bear to accept. Grandpa and Grandma had disappeared.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Letter
“Is everyone okay?” Cameron said. Ace hardly heard him over the ringing in his ears. The creeping darkness had him shivering. Where had Grandpa and Grandma gone? Were they dead? His body fell numb. He wasn’t ready to lead his family. Where was he even supposed to lead them to? And why would they even listen to him? Grandpa never said he’d leave them alone!
“Yeah, I’m alright,” said Tamara.
“Me too,” Julie said.
“Ace?” Cameron said, placing his hand on his younger brother’s back. “You good?”
Ace nodded as he trembled in his seat.
Julie stood and walked to where Grandpa and Grandma were. “What just happened? Where are Grandpa and Grandma?” Her voice shuddered. Ace could tell she was fighting back tears.
“I don’t know, Julie,” Cameron said.
“Well, what are we gonna do?” Tamara said, pacing the floor. “We’re stuck out in the suburbs of a big city in the middle of a country we’ve never been to before!”
“Everyone just calm down,” Cameron said as he stood from the couch. Ace compared his shakiness with Cameron’s statue-like demeanor. His leadership made Ace believe Grandpa had picked the wrong person for the job.
“What do you mean, calm down?” Julie said, her voice climbing with fear. “Grandpa and Grandma were just eaten by a fire! And Tamara is right, we have no idea where we are!” She burst into tears and stomped on the ground. Tamara walked to her little sister and held her in an embrace, tears creeping down her cheeks as well.
“I know, I know. Look, we will just have to go to the city and ask someone for help. I’m sure they have a phone or computer where we can reach our moms and dads,” Cameron said.
“That won’t work,” A familiar voice said. Everyone jumped back. Julie and Tamara yelped. They all backed away from the dark, shadowy figure in the doorway. Ace stood from the couch, realizing as the figure stepped forward, it was Rio. “There’s no service out here. The drakes have made sure of it. They don’t really care too much for other races, and keeping advanced technology away seems to keep others away as well,” Rio said.
“What are you doing here?” Julie said.
Cameron stepped in front of Ace, “Step back!”
The sight of Rio settled Ace’s jitters. Someone who could guide him had come along, making the task ahead seem more achievable. Maybe . . . Maybe this was why Grandpa introduced him to Rio. Did Grandpa know he would vanish? The boy finally found the sense to speak. He stepped aside from his brother’s protection.
“Guys settle down, you all have met Rio before. We know he’s a friend of Grandpa’s” Ace said.
Tamara grabbed Julie as Rio stepped further inside the cabin. The Peppercorns backed themselves against the wall, and Tamara protected her little sister.
“How do we know he’s not tricking us, Ace?” Tamara said.
“You’re just being paranoid,” Ace said.
“What would a Halder know about it? I’m not about to die because you’re naïve!” Julie yelled.
“I’ll tell you what a Halder would know about it!” Ace said, ready to tell her Grandpa had left him in charge. But before he continued giving Julie a piece of his mind, Rio placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. Ace turned, and Rio shook his head.
“The kid is right. Your grandfather and I were great friends,” Rio said. “And unfortunately for you all, you really don’t have much of a choice but to trust me.”
“What are you doing here?” Cameron said.
“I came, because your grandfather asked me to protect you all,” the drake said.
“Protect us from what? We were perfectly okay when we were at home in Eveland. If Grandpa hadn’t brought us out here we wouldn’t even need protection.” Tamara said. She attempted to sound angry, but Ace heard the shakiness in her voice.
“There’s an evil lurking in Yutara. The world is as unsafe as it’s ever been. Your parents and grandparents knew that,” Rio said. He stepped further in, Ace standing by his side. “It’s hard to explain why right now, but your lives are in danger, and your family is trying to protect you.”
“What do you mean? Are—are they ok—kay? Our parents?” Cameron asked. It was the first time Ace saw Cameron shaken. Even slightly. And it didn’t help his confidence. He too, was heartbroken and terrified over the thought of he and the Peppercorns’ parents in danger.
“I don’t know,” Rio said. All the grandchildren gasped. “The less you all know, the better. It’s safer that way. Right now, all of you need to gather what things you need for traveling. Only take what is necessary for survival. We will have to travel light.”
“Where are we g—going?” Julie said.
“Gathara. It’s the safest city in Yutara right now. Many allies and friends await us there,” Rio said. His nose flared a little and his tongue clacked a couple times at the end of his sentence.
“Gathara?” Tamara said. “You’re—you’re joking, right?”
Ace found himself taken aback by the statement as well. Gathara, like witches, was hardly spoken of in Eveland. Plenty of Evelanders believed the stories of the city were harmless children’s stories; fairy tales for entertainment. Others avoided speaking of it at all. The mention of the city made some uncomfortable, because the stories surrounding the city were so strange. Tales of an evil magic and . . . he caught his breath, eyes wide at the drake. Witch hunters, He thought. Gathara is real!
Rio stepped closer in, his eyes dark and telling. “Whatever you all think you know about Yutara, everything you thought was true; forget it. You just watched a fire swallow your grandfather whole, it should go without saying there’s a lot you don’t know about.”
Julie whimpered timidly. Tamara squeezed her tighter.
“Wait a minute,” Cameron said, “how did you know to show up here when Grandpa disappeared?”
Ace jerked his eyes to the drake. Cameron made a great point. Rio reached from behind his back and pulled out a piece of parchment. He opened it and read it out loud.
“Dear Rio Atarion,
I regret to inform you that my time has come to an end. My generation, I should say. This may not make sense to you, but my family will not be protected from the evils of Yutara any longer. They will find me soon. After me, they will undoubtedly look for my children and grandchildren. Their lives will be in grave danger then, and I’m entrusting you and the Indies to protect them. Keep an eye out, because we will be arriving in New Eathelyn as soon as we can. Shortly after our arrival, I’m afraid they will find and take me. You must bring my children to Gathara, where they will be safe. I would bring them myself, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t make it t
hat far before evil found me and took me. I look forward to seeing you soon, one last time, my dearest friend.
Sincerely,
Marty Halder”
At this, the children became speechless. For a moment, the howling wind creeping through the windows alone, disturbed the quiet.
“We can’t wait any longer here,” Rio said, “gather your things. We must leave now.” His firm tone told of his slipping patience.
The children scattered like mice. Grabbing everything they could. But, before Ace could head to his room and start packing, Rio pinched his shirt. Ace turned, and the drake handed the boy the letter, pointing to an area on the bottom of the paper.
“I didn’t read the entire thing aloud,” Rio whispered. Ace looked at his pointing finger.
P.S.
Keep my witch business hidden from the children. The less they know, the safer they are. However, I am entrusting one of my grandchildren to you for training. He has the heart of a warrior, and he will be a great leader in battles to come. When he is ready, he will take over your intermittent position as leader of the Indie Hunters. Thank you, Rio.
Ace looked to the drake, and a tear spilled out of the boy’s eye. Rio winked at him and patted him on the back.
“Keep it between us,” Rio whispered, “you will have more answers in Gathara.”
He nodded, and Rio shooed him off to gather his belongings. The boy scurried to his room to find Cameron packing his things. He looked around, being sure to grab only the essentials. No one spoke. He and Cameron left their rooms once they had enough, but once they left the door of their room, Ace fell behind and out of sight. He let Cameron rush to the living room and snuck back into the bedroom unseen. Frantically, he scuffled to his bedside and pushed the bed just far enough to get to the trap door underneath. He moved the junk he and his brother kept under the bed until he saw the handle for the trapdoor Grandpa had told him about.
“Ace, c’mon, we’re waiting for you!” Cameron yelled from the living room. Ace’s heart beat quickly.
“On my way!” the boy said. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pajamas and pulled the handle to the trap door. There sat the chest of golden edges. Inside, a stone of secrets now his to uncover. Ace remembered Grandpa’s words, “I’ve put the stone in a trap door under your side of the bed. When the time is right, take it with you. Until then, don’t so much as touch it.” Hard to imagine a more appropriate time than this. He reached in the hole burrowed in the hardwood floor, placed the watch in his pocket, and pulled the chest free. His uncertain future. His last gift from Grandpa. A Grandpa who disappeared; leaving the weight of world to rest on the shoulders of a twelve-year-old boy.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Nothing Like This
The peak of the mountain teased Ace until they arrived. He’d been awaiting a break from the draping humidity. But the altitude offered no such comfort. The wind blew harder, but it still carried a miserable stickiness. The Yutarian moon, full and yellow as a lemon, sat high in the sky. Midnight was near.
Cameron pulled their wolf mount to a halt, and Ace glanced behind, taking in his last view of New Eathelyn. Hiding in the valley between him the ocean, the muted rumble of the waterfalls rendered him still and quiet. This was the city he’d last see his grandparents. His stomach turned over.
“Goodbye Grandpa and Grandma,” Ace whispered to himself. “I’m gonna miss you.”
Ace turned at the warm touch of his older brother’s hand on his back.
“They loved us, Ace. They did what was best for us,” Cameron said.
Ace nodded wordlessly.
“I think we’ve made it far enough tonight,” Rio said.
“Aren’t we still in New Eathelyn?” Tamara asked.
“We’re almost out now, but yes. We’re just on the edge of the city,” Rio said. He hopped off his spotted bear mount and walked to the nearest tree to tie him off. Ace and Cameron climbed from their large wolf; the Peppercorns from theirs. Rio had some animals prepared for travel outside the cabin after Grandpa had disappeared. Ace found himself envious of Rio’s mount. Something about the bear with shiny teal fur and dark blue spots seemed to entrance him. He and Cameron’s wolf was neat too. It was friendly, and its being five times their size conveyed its ability to protect him. But its thick, dark gray fur just wasn’t as wondrous as the bear’s. Nor did it blend in as well with the environment.
Rio hitched his mount to a tree, and the grandchildren did the same. The trees in the mountains grew taller and wider than the trees below. Interwoven vines scattered under the giant trees like spaghetti noodles.
The drake walked to one of the pouches hanging off his bear’s saddle and threw a few sleeping bags to the kids. He pulled some fruit out and fed it to the animals. The children prepared their sleeping bags, spreading them out in a circle around each other.
Julie broke the silence, “All of this is your fault, Ace.”
“What?” Ace said. “How is this my fault?”
“Julie, that’s a terrible thing to say, this is nobody’s fault,” Cameron said.
Tamara chimed in, “How do you know that, Cameron? Grandpa has been treating Ace weirdly ever since we got here. How do we know what they were sneaking around about had nothing to do with this?”
Ace hawked in his throat. “So, what are you saying? You think I did something to make Grandpa and Grandma disappear and leave us stranded?”
“I don’t know what you did. But it’s just a little spooky that all this happened at once. That’s all I’m sayin’,” Tamara said.
Why didn’t Grandpa tell them I was going to lead them before he left? The stupid Peppercorns will never believe me.
“You’re being ridiculous, Tamara,” Cameron said.
Julie stomped her foot and put her hands on her hips, “She’s not! It’s true, Cameron!” The little girl walked violently towards Ace, pointing her finger until she poked him in the chest. “You stupid Halders could never deal with the fact that the Peppercorns have always been better,” she said with a continual jabbing of her finger, “Grandpa loved us more because we made him prouder! I’ll bet you’ve been itching to get back at him! Make him disappear, even! That would make all your problems go away, wouldn’t it?”
Ace grabbed his little cousin by the wrist, “You’re nothing but a spoiled, evil witch!”
“Don’t call her that!” Tamara said, now rushing to Ace.
“Ace calm down. Julie, apologize,” Cameron said. He ran to Ace and mistakenly tripped Tamara on her way to defend her little sister. She fell to the ground, face first in a pile of green leaves. “Oh, Tamara I’m sor—”
“Tamara!” Julie yelled. She slapped Ace’s arm until it stung, and he let go.
“It’s what you are!” Ace yelled. “And your sister is too!” Tamara stood to her feet with rage and pushed Ace to the ground. Cameron bolted over to Tamara. Before he could reach her, Rio leaped in the middle of the fight with his frog legs.
“Enough!” the drake roared. His wide voice shook the air like thunder, scaring off a few birds, and the grandchildren ceased. “Let go of each other, now!” And they did. They all stepped aside, the Peppercorns beside each other and the Halders beside each other. “Now is not the time to be blaming people! We have a long journey ahead of us, and all the bickering and fighting is going to make it much longer, and much less bearable! Now, make up your beds, and help me gather wood for a fire!”
The grandchildren quietly remained as they were a moment. Unnerved at the thought of walking on drake-temper eggshells.
“Now!” Rio commanded. They hastily dispersed throughout the forest. Obviously, Cameron and Ace went on the opposite side of the forest as Tamara and Julie.
“And don’t you dare go far. The forest in these mountains is hardly populated. All the wild animals live up here. And most of them are nocturnal,” Rio shouted.
Ace and Cameron continued through the forest standing beside the road. Ace heard not but the varying chirpings of the wi
ld forest insects borne of the groaning wind. Under the moonlight, the colors of the forest proved vibrant enough to pop through the shadows of night. The richest green-yellow he’d ever seen before, with a hint of teal splotched throughout.
“What’s with those stupid Peppercorns!” Ace said. Cameron gathered some branches he found on the ground.
Cameron sighed. “I don’t know, little bro.”
“I mean, what did we ever do to them? I can understand wanting to be ahead of us in competitions, or the chores we had on Grandpa’s ship, but accusing me of hurting Grandpa and Grandma? Who does that little brat thinks she is?” Ace said.
His blood boiled. He clenched his fist. He paced back and forth. At this point, he’d stopped helping his older brother gather wood. Just venting and flailing his arms in the air. Occasionally swiping viciously at the vines. He wanted to go back to his backpack, pull out the chest, and show everyone the Emerson Stone.
Look what Grandpa gave me and trusted me with! He picked me above all of you. Especially you Peppercorns!
But he stopped himself, realizing the stupidity of the last thought. The Peppercorns wouldn’t believe Grandpa gave the stone to him anyway. And Rio didn’t even know about the stone yet. Then, another thought occurred.
The map. Am I the possessor of the stone now that Grandpa is gone? Where is the map? What is the map? Did I miss it?
“You have every right to be upset, bro. I’m not happy either. She took it too far,” Cameron said. “I don’t know what made her say that. Julie acts worse than Tamara sometimes. It’s like ever since the day when she—”
“Please,” Ace said. “I’d really rather not talk about that right now. Or ever again.”
Cameron stared at Ace wordlessly with eyes hung low. When he spoke, it was somber and quiet, “Sorry, bro.”
