She screamed. “Aiden! Stop this right now! You’re not being funny!”
“Hey you! Get back in that seat or you’re going to be kicked out!” the ride operator yelled at him.
“I’m sorry Melissa, I have to go. Now.” He took a last look at her, reading the fear in her eyes. Then he jumped, flying through the air at a rapid speed. His feet hit the hard ground roughly, his knees buckling from the impact. Someone was cheering at him, but he knew Melissa would not be. Without looking back up at her, Aiden took off towards the trees, his legs moving as fast as they possibly could.
The forest was dense and dark. Leafy branches whipped him in the face. He felt scratches burning on his cheeks and nose. Taking out his cell, Aiden flipped it open so the light from the phone illuminated the space around him. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Now that he was in the full thick of the trees, he had to move slower. Roots struck up from the ground, threatening to trip him. As he grew closer, rays of light began to filter through the trees, making his phone unnecessary. He was close. Moving cautiously, Aiden pulled back a branch and looked through. No one stood where the light was. He had expected Diana again, but instead it was just a ball of light that floated magically in midair.
“What the –” he said under his breath. Stepping closer, he observed the ball carefully. He had no idea what it was made out of, or what it could do, but it made him nervous. Standing there, he began to weigh his options. He could just turn around and go back, but then he’d have to explain his strange behaviour to his friends. The thought made him cringe. He could also go back and just head home, avoiding everyone until Monday morning. Even that made him wince. Or he could touch the strange ball of light and see what happened. Closing his eyes, Aiden stepped closer, reaching out his hand hesitantly towards the white. He didn’t know if it would be hot, or if it would feel like anything at all. Then his hand touched the orb. A cold feeling spread rapidly up his arm, and the ground beneath his feet suddenly fell away. His breath whooshed out of him, leaving him gasping for air.
Then he was gone.
CHAPTER THREE
Something felt different this time. The air was colder, and smelled strongly of...fresh grass. Most of all, he was alone. A strong force sent him reeling to the ground, landing roughly on a patch of damp grass. The spinning sensation left him sick to his stomach. He cursed loudly, the impact causing a sharp pain in his tailbone. It took a few moments for his head to clear before he could finally take in his surroundings.
He was not at Diana’s. Everything seemed wrong. The mountains in the north were further away, more north-east than he remembered. It was almost impossible to see the sharp outlines of their grand peaks. The forest was east of him now, instead of west, and he couldn’t see the hills that separated central Eden from the desert. To the west was an immense open land, flat and covered in dark greens. As hard as Aiden looked, he could not see any homes or villages close by.
“Where am I?” he asked out loud to the empty night. Standing up, he brushed the grass and dirt off his pants and tried to take a better look at where he fell. It was definitely Eden. The two large moons were already in the sky, the stars shining brightly in their evening light. Even though it was night time, the light made it easy for him to see the scene around him. He forgot how bright it was even at night in Eden, and as he stood there it finally hit him – he was back!
Warmth spread through his entire body, regardless of the fact that he was technically lost and very much alone. Somehow it didn’t matter. He was back in Eden, and now he could find his friends and figure out what had happened since he left. He wondered just how long he had been gone in their time.
I have to figure out where I am, he thought. It was obvious that he wasn’t in central Eden anymore. Considering what he knew, he realized he must be in the West. Where he stood should be the fields of the Riders, where Wolf was originally from. Yes, he thought confidently, that was exactly where he had ended up. Why?
Now that he had pretty much figured out where he was, he needed to find another person. Clearly easier said than done, in view of the fact that he was the only one around. Aiden walked away from the forest, thinking it better to distance himself from the dense and consuming darkness that the trees provided. The last thing he needed was to find himself confronted by an animal without any weapons. Or one of Aziz’s beasts, he thought with a shudder. The field was open and left him vulnerable, but he didn’t think he had any other choice. He hadn’t got very far when the ground began to tremble under his feet. Aiden stopped and looked around. Something was coming. Crouching, he placed a hand on the wet grass and listened carefully. It was horses. A lot of them. Glancing hesitantly back at the forest, he started to weigh his options. Either he stayed there and waited for whoever was coming, or he could run back to the forest to observe them under the cover of the darkness. But he didn’t think fast enough. Before a decision was even made, a line of men on horses appeared several hundred feet from where Aiden stood. Under the bright light of the moons it was easy for them to see him crouched on the ground, vulnerable and unarmed. A group of Riders quickly advanced, the powerful hooves of their great horses drumming rhythmically against the dewy ground.
“Stay where you are!” a voice commanded. Like I was going anywhere, Aiden thought with a sigh. He stood up straight, keeping his head held high as the group formed a circle around him. The man who spoke dropped to the ground with a thud. He wore the same riding pants Aiden had seen the others wear, and just like Wolf, he wore no shirt. His bare chest was tanned from the sun and was covered with markings. Aiden took a quick look around and realized most of them had tattoos covering the majority of their bodies. The man was older than him, most likely in his mid-forties, and had long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. It was too dark to see the colour of his eyes, but the shape of his face and mouth made Aiden instantly think of Wolf. They must be related, Aiden thought. It was deathly quiet now. The only noise came from the horses’ harsh breaths. “Greetings,” the man said, as he came closer, his casual demeanour surprising Aiden into stunned silence. “My name is Hawk, I am the leader of this tribe.” Hawk. Aiden searched his memory and realized that he had been right, he was related to Wolf – in fact, Hawk was his father.
“You’re Wolf’s father?” Aiden asked, just to be certain. The older man smiled.
“Unfortunately,” he laughed, others chuckled around them. “The Shaman told us where to find you. We saw you land from the outskirts of our city,” he explained, pointing back in the direction they had come. Aiden followed his finger but did not see a city, or any indication of one for that matter. Confused, he looked back at Hawk, but the man did not seem to notice and continued on. “We are very honoured to have you here with us, Aiden of the King’s army.”
Another surprise. Aiden hadn’t expected them to know who he was. Everyone was looking at him strangely, but he quickly realized that they were not threatening looks by any means. For the first time since they had arrived, Aiden began to relax. Something told him he wasn’t in immediate danger. “Thank you,” he spoke for the first time. “However, I’m a little confused. Where is Diana?”
“Diana?” Hawk looked confused.
“The High King’s witch,” someone offered. A look of understanding appeared on Hawk’s face.
“But of course. She would have been the one to bring you here the first time. My apologies for the confusion, but she is not here. Diana rarely leaves her forest, and never comes here. Our Shaman brought you to us and is now waiting to receive you.” A Shaman? Aiden had no idea what Hawk was talking about. The horses were starting to dance with restlessness, and Aiden got the feeling that the Riders also wanted to return to their homes. “Will you ride with me?” Hawk asked, his face wore an easy and inviting smile. Aiden nodded hesitantly, and then followed the man over to a large black horse that looked at Aiden with mild disdain. He awkwardly climbed up behind the Chief. It felt strange to be on a horse again, and yet somewhat fa
miliar. They rode at full speed. Aiden could barely breathe as the wind hit him in the face. It only took them a few minutes before they slowed down at a spot not far from where he had first seen them.
“Welcome to Avalon,” Hawk said over his shoulder. Aiden looked around at the empty space before them.
“I don’t see anything,” he said loudly.
Hawk laughed, swinging his legs over and down onto the ground. “The mirror is still up, but soon you will see.” Aiden still didn’t understand, but lowered himself carefully off the massive horse. Hawk walked the horse slowly towards a small patch of trees. He tied him up, letting the animal eat the grass in peace.
Aiden stared thoughtfully at the horse, watching it eat the tall strands of grass leisurely while he tried to absorb what was happening to him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something shimmer, like water was suddenly sprouting from the earth. When he turned to look he almost fell down in surprise. Before him was a city, not as big as the Capital, and not surrounded by tall stone walls, but a city of small homes and picturesque gardens. Twisting rivers ran between the homes, stone bridges connecting one side to another. Curved, open roads ran in all directions – a much simpler design than the confusing twists and turns in the Capital. Each house was encompassed by rock walls, with tiny gates that led from the street. It was…beautiful. It felt open and welcoming. Aiden was used to the tall buildings at home and in the Capital, but here you could see all the land around the city regardless of where you stood.
“What do you think?” Hawk asked, watching his reaction closely.
“It’s wonderful,” he smiled. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Where is your palace?”
Hawk chuckled. “I might be the Chief here, but I am by no means a King. We do not think of ourselves in the way that the High King in the Capital, or Markus down in Nysa, the city of the South, do. Here I am their leader, but also their equal. I have a small house just like everyone else.”
“How come I couldn’t see Avalon before?”
“Ah, the age old question we Riders get asked the most,” he laughed. “The Shaman creates a mirror, so that no one can see it unless we allow them. It lets us live free of the oppressing walls of the Capital, or the deep waters of the south. Here we are free to be open to our land, without having to worry about attacks.”
There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but looking at Hawk, he realized he should choose wisely. “What is a Shaman?” he asked finally.
“A spiritual man. A magician – of sorts” Hawk answered, noncommittally. “He is more of a healer than anything else, but has deeper insight into things than a normal man does.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m afraid I was never very good at explaining things. Once you sit with him, you will have a better understanding.” Hawk seemed satisfied with his own answer. After pointing towards a clearing, Aiden followed the large man down a narrow path that wove towards the middle of the city. The homes on either side were all bright with burning candles. They crossed a bridge before coming to a stop in front of a home situated right beside the water. It was made of stone and grass like the others, and had a wall around it with a tiny white gate that Hawk opened for them. The path leading up to the door was made of large and small stones. It was uneven and a little difficult to walk on even in the moonlight. The gardens here were not nearly as elaborate as the other homes, but from the smell of it, Aiden guessed that a lot of the plants were herbs and not flowers. The arched wood door stood open already, a beam of light coming from inside.
Hawk stopped just before the door and turned to look at Aiden. “I will let you go in alone. I’m sure he will have a lot to say to you. My house is just across the path from here,” he pointed. “When you are done here you can come straight over. I have set up Wolf’s old room for you to sleep in.”
“Thank you,” Aiden said, gratefully. “Hawk,” he called out, just as the older man turned to leave. “Why am I here?”
“He’ll tell you,” Hawk motioned towards the Shaman’s house, and then turned to walk back through the small gate. Aiden faced the opened door, taking a deep breath before walking into the small home.
Inside smelled strongly of herbs and spices. It was tiny and damp, and reminded Aiden of Diana’s cottage in the forest. A fireplace sat on the wall to his left, as did a large wooden table with two benches flanking it. Beside the eating area was a tiny kitchen, where there was another fireplace. This one had a large pot dangling above it, boiling over just enough to sizzle on the hot coals below. To his right was what looked like a cozy reading area. A bookshelf covered one wall, stacked with ancient covers. Some of them so fragile, they looked as though they would reduce to dust if he picked them up. Massive pillows covered the floor. Further into the house was a dark hallway that Aiden couldn’t see down, but he assumed it led to bedrooms in the back. As he took in the place, he realized that no one was there.
“Hello?” he called out. A low shuffling sound came down the hall, and suddenly a man appeared in the light of the main room. He was shorter than Aiden, although he wondered if that was because the man was so old and hunched over. He wore plain grey robes, and had long white hair tied back just like Hawk’s. His nose was large, and a salt and pepper beard hung just below his collarbone. What made Aiden start was the fact that the man had no eyes. Where they should have been, were empty black sockets. He didn’t wear anything to hide the gaping holes.
“Welcome Aiden,” he said, in a surprisingly strong voice. “Please, sit down,” he gestured to the kitchen table. Aiden sat nervously on one of the benches as he watched the old man easily walk over to the boiling pot over the fire and lift it carefully. He poured the contents into a small pot. He was making tea, Aiden saw. A smile crept over Aiden’s face. It was just like when he had met Diana for the first time, and she had made him something to eat. He remembered thinking it was going to be something strange and exotic, because she was a witch, but instead she had made eggs and bacon. There was something about these magical people that made Aiden expect everything they did to be abnormal.
“Don’t worry, I don’t normally boil potions this late at night,” the Shaman chuckled, as if reading Aiden’s mind. “It is difficult to see properly in the dark.” Aiden looked questioningly at the blind man, before they both broke out into a soft laughter. “I understand if my blindness makes you uncomfortable, but you will get used to it.” He sat down across from Aiden, placing a tray with the teapot and two cups on the table. “I am the Shaman here in Avalon.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, sir,” replied Aiden.
“The pleasure is all mine. I have heard many things about you from the spirits, and looked forward to finally meeting you for myself. I am sure you have many questions, but first we shall have a cup of tea. My old mind doesn’t work that well without my evening tea.” Aiden took it upon himself to pour both of them a cup, then sat in silence as they sipped at the burning hot liquid. It didn’t seem to faze the old man. Aiden on the other hand, burned the top of his mouth and tongue. The Shaman let out a long, slow sigh of contentment as he placed the cup back onto the saucer. “Now,” he smiled. “Ask away.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“I don’t even know where to start,” Aiden confessed.
“Start with whatever comes to your mind first,” the old man suggested with a smile. He was sitting with ease across from Aiden. Aiden, on the other hand, felt tense and nervous. Everything was happening so quickly again. He still hadn’t managed to slow the pace of his pulse since he first landed.
“Ok,” he began slowly. “I guess, first off, I want to know what’s happened since I left? How long has it been here? Where are my friends? Why am I here again? Does anyone know that you brought me back? Am I – ”
“Whoa!” the Shaman held up his hands. “I see you have a lot of questions, and I can answer them all, just one at a time.” He took a slow sip of his tea, while Aiden sat patiently. “First, I’ll begin by telling you what has taken place s
ince you were last here. After the battle was won – by the King’s army of course – the men from the north quickly retreated back to the mountains. We watched from our border to make sure they returned home without inflicting any more damage. The High King and his army went back to the city and began preparing for the next fight. So far there has been nothing. The north took a heavy hit because of you, and it seems to be taking longer than we expected for them to recover.” The Shaman smiled gently at Aiden, his empty eyes making it hard for Aiden to read his emotions. “I don’t think anyone expected the quick defeat of Aziz’s creatures, least of all Aziz himself. You were quite the secret weapon.”
“Uh, thank you?”
A raspy chuckle escaped his mouth. “No need to be modest my boy. You brought about a victory that was not easy. I am relieved to see that no permanent damage was done to you. We heard about the poison arrow.” The memory flew back into Aiden’s mind. He winced at the thought of the fire that had filled his veins that day. It was the first and only time in his life that he had thought he would die. “The problem the north faces now is Aziz’s condition.”
“His condition?”
“Indeed. The creation of his demon army left him weak and clinging to life. Each creature held a part of him, linking them directly to their maker. Every time you killed one, you killed a small part of the sorcerer, which caused permanent damage. I have not seen him myself, but I have heard that he looks like a walking corpse. The truth is, I’m not sure he’ll ever be able to regain the power he has lost.” He looked thoughtful for a minute before continuing. “While he finds a way to repair the damage you caused, Brutus and Callum are working on building up their men again. This is also a problem. As those savages killed and burned many of the villages and villagers on their way to central Eden, there aren’t very many men left for them to recruit.”
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