by Dan Cash
When they reached the other side of the iron gates, townspeople were standing along both sides of the cobbled road, waving and cheering to their Clemaris, old and new, as they passed. Max and Joz waved gracefully, smiling back at their people.
Max had a sudden realisation that this must be similar to what Light on the Landing experience on a daily basis as they are herded around in cars, always surrounded by adoring fans. The thought made Max feel important and grateful and, well, famous.
He was a star and everyone had come to see him. It was his time to shine.
Further down the road they cantered, past hundreds of people (fans?), wooden houses, tiny shops and alchemists, blacksmiths and carpenters. All boarded up, closed for good.
Eventually, when both of Max’s wrists were tired from waving, Joz’s horse stopped. The entourage behind him followed suit.
Max strained to peer around those in front of him to see why they had been brought to a standstill. All that he could see was a giant, grey rock, perhaps twelve feet tall, looming over the town’s empty square. It reminded him of the Stone Circle.
A guard assisted Joz off his winged stallion and handed him his mahogany stick, giving Luc and Max their cue to swing their legs over their Lumati and land firmly on the ground. The pair met Joz in front of the stone, one either side of the elderly king, and the three joined hands.
Joz spoke, his voice somehow booming through the air, his words reaching everyone’s ears.
“Here stands Joz Domen, Clemari of Naegis.”
“Here stands Luc Domen, Witness to the Changing of Hands.”
“And here stands Max Myers, Rightful Clemari of Naegis and the Last Naegean.”
The stone casting a shadow over the three men began to glow as Joz continued the rehearsed ritual.
“We stand before you, The Fallen Star, on the dawn of a new Naegis. I, Joz Domen, have come to the end of my rule. I hereby offer my duties, powers, and title to my rightful heir, Max Myers.”
“I, Max Myers, accept the duties, powers, and title offered to me by Joz Domen.”
The stone glowed brighter and greener, causing all three men to squint. Words that Max did not understand appeared on the stone.
Joz released his hands from the others’ and stepped forward. He placed his left hand below the Naegean text, as if he was signing a contract. The old man stepped back, the light shifting from green to purple, shining brighter and illuminating the town square.
Max stepped forward next and placed his right hand next to Joz’s handprint. Purple changed to a deep red, the glow stretching further up into the clear evening’s sky.
Luc approached the rock and placed both his hands over the two existing hand prints.
The stone suddenly burst with every colour, light exploding through the skies and forming the biggest, brightest rainbow Max had ever seen.
Joz, Luc and Max reformed their line and looked up at the magnificent spectrum of every colour. One blow of a horn bellowed throughout the town and echoed through the East of Naegis. Everyone would now know that the times had changed. Max Myers, the humble teenager from Hurburt, was the New Clemari and Joz was to live his last days a free man.
The crowd burst into deafening applause, cheers and whoops filling the New Clemari’s ears. The stone ceased to glow but the rainbow remained radiant in the air. This time, Joz and Luc followed Max back to their convoy.
“Well, that went rather well I thought!” Joz chirped cheerfully in Max’s ear.
“Yes, I think so!” Max sang in reply. “But next time I think I’ll bring some sunglasses,” Max joked.
“Now for the good bit, I’m blind and starving!” Luc added.
“Same,” Max laughed, but as he sat on his Lumatus and looked over the people stood beneath him he had a horrible realisation: everybody looked gaunt, weak and unhealthy. These people really were starving.
Stomach-churning hunger rapidly transformed into heart-wrenching guilt. He did not notice that no children stood beneath him.
***
“Ladies and gentlemen, I greet you today in this hall as your Clemari. I have been in your magnificent land for only one day, but already I have fallen in love: In love with the skies and the clouds, in love with the grass and the trees, in love with the people, the animals, and the insects. I am infatuated, people of Naegis, with the wonders of our land.
Joz Domen, your Clemari for three centuries, is a wonderful man. He is the reason I am here. He is the reason I live. I express my infinite gratitude and admiration for the Old Clemari, and I hope that we can continue to work together and bring the magic back to Naegis.
I thank each and every one of you for being here. I thank you, and everyone whom you represent. Today, we all are one. There exists no hierarchy while you are within these walls. Clemari is my title, but my name is Max. Do not stand when I stand, do not bow when I look your way, and please, please, do not laugh at my jokes unless you find them truly funny – I am still haggling with a jester in an attempt to buy some decent jokes.
I leave you with these few words: We are all equal, even if we are odd.
To Naegis!”
***
Max was sitting on a grand, golden throne at the centre of a long horizontal table at the head of the hall. Luc and Joz were either side of him, with some familiar and some not-so-familiar faces filling the rest of the seats.
Hundreds of people had come from all over Eastern Naegis to join the New Clemari for his feast. During the event, each guest approached Max to offer him words of wisdom, shower him with gifts, and display their affection. Luc’s job was to tell Max who each of these people were.
Dessert was being served and so far Max had met wizards and witches, alchemists and professors, animen and manimals, elders and youngers, drifters and travellers. He had been given gifts that promised magic, wisdom and glee – all wrapped and invisible.
Luc had known everyone’s names, their parents’ names, and the town from which they had travelled.
Max’s head was already feeling clouded from the array of ales and fruity cyders that he had been encouraged to taste. Luc’s eyes struggled to focus and Joz had begun to snore.
The townsfolk who were at the far end of the hall were singing odes that Max had never heard before. Some of the higher people, those nearer to the Clemari’s table, shot disapproving looks in their direction, while others had joined in with their singing. Max thought it was wonderful.
The atmosphere was joyous and Max was grinning, the vision of unity through all of Naegis strong in his mind.
A warm hand on his shoulder shook Max away from his daydream.
“Clemari, are you enjoying your feast?” Giorgie asked.
“I am, but I wish people would stop calling me that,” said Max.
“You do not like your new title?”
“I like my name better,” he replied, not nastily.
“As you want, Max.”
Max smiled up at his councillor. Her accent was almost as mesmerising as her deep blue eyes.
“Giorgie, I’m bored of sitting here. Will you dance with me?” asked Max, getting to his feet.
“But your dessert is coming, and people are still waiting to see you,” she replied, glancing at a small queue of people that was forming.
“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Max resigned.
Luc looked at Max and shrugged, “Clemari, this is all for you. You may as well enjoy it.”
“Oh Luc, just call me Max will you!”
“I will, and I shall see you a little bit later,” his friend replied.
“Don’t you want to come with us?” asked Max. “I know you’re dying to bust a move”
“You didn’t ask.”
“I’m asking now.”
Luc smiled and stood to join Giorgie and Max, who quickly motioned to the rest of the hall to stay seated. Giorgie smiled at him and Max beamed back, thinking about the way Sofia first smiled at him in the History classroom and the way she bit her lip playf
ully. He missed her more with each passing second.
“So, where do you wish to dance?” asked Giorgie.
But Max did not give an answer; he had stopped listening. His eyes were fixed on the grand hall’s doors that had been thrown open, and then on the girl who stood on the threshold.
She was clutching her chest, struggling to breathe. Four guards hurried towards the gatecrasher.
“STOP!” Max yelled, bringing his security and the rest of the hall to a sudden halt. “I know her.”
Max strode down from his table towards the breathless girl, his robe sweeping behind him.
“Anne-Alicia?”
“Oh, Max, I’m so sorry,” she replied through exasperated sobs.
“What’s happened?” asked Max, positively dreading the reply.
“It’s Matthew. They... He...” Anne-Alicia struggled, unable to say the words that would make it all real.
“No... Anne-Alicia, no, tell me he’s not...”
“He’s d-dead, Max. I’m so sorry.”
Max could feel the emotion rising through his body. He could feel the anger and the frustration, the devastation and the guilt. His friend was dead and somehow, undeniably, it was his fault.
He clenched his teeth, forced his eyes shut and managed to catch the tears in his throat; he had to hide his emotion at least until he was alone. Max turned to face his guards and guests.
“The feast is over. Everyone, go home. Guards, I will not be interrogating our new guest tonight. Search the grounds, search the castle. Make sure everyone inside is safe and that everyone gets home safely. Giorgie, take care of Anne-Alicia. Find her a room where she can rest. Request that Dorot Aponaria brings her some medicine to help her sleep undisturbed. Luc, come with me.”
There were mumbles of “Yes, Clemari.” around him while everyone did as they were bid by their new leader.
Max did not know why he had asked Luc to join him or how he had managed to hold himself together in the hall. He entered his room, sat on the edge of his bed and allowed himself to cry. Luc stood awkwardly in the doorway, unsure of what to say or do. He allowed his Clemari to cry for a few minutes before speaking.
“Clemari?”
“What, Luc?”
“Sofia... she’s alive.”
Max’s head shot up to face Luc, his face fixed with a confused expression.
“I’ve seen her,” Luc confessed. “I’ve seen them all, well except -”
“How?” Max interrupted.
“I wasn’t meant to see, and my father would kill me if he knew, but I followed him this morning while you were sleeping. He went into a room and there were many screens on the walls. I know not what they show exactly, but it was as if your friends were staring straight into cameras. Well, Sofia, Russell, and Lornea at least. I did not see Freddie, Matthew or Anne-Alicia. There were other screens, but many were blank.” Luc explained.
“And were there any other people? Any other faces?”
“There were some more boys, or men. I did not recognise them. And there was another screen...” Luc hesitated, unsure if he should continue.
“What did it show, Luc?” demanded Max.
“It showed you.”
“Me?” He asked.
“Yes. I found it most peculiar.”
Max sprung to his feet, scanning his room for a camera, but neither he nor Luc could see anything that could be projecting an image of his face. All Max knew was that Joz was secretly watching him and his friends.
The Old Clemari knew where everyone was. He could have saved Matthew’s life. He had lied to Max… and that simply could not continue while Max was king.
Freddie
Light on the Landing had saved Max’s life. That’s all Freddie was told when he asked the members of the band about the Pipton gig and, he had resolved, that was all he wanted to know.
He had enjoyed the company of Haze, Jayke, Jimmie, Naithain and Zaak for just one day and he had felt more positive in those twenty-four hours than he had in the past fortnight.
But each short burst of optimism was followed by a pang of guilt and sadness. He was unsure if his grandparents were still alive but he did not hold much hope at all. When he came to think of it, which he struggled not to, he did not know if any of his family of friends were alive and the very thought that any of them could be in danger made his stomach spin.
But Light on the Landing had saved him from his own danger and had so far proved to be very successful in distracting him from the sea of worry in which he was drowning.
It was clear that Jimmie was the leader of the pack. He was not necessarily bossy, but he was by far the loudest and the other four seemed to hang on to his every word. The eldest of the band and a gentle reminder that age is but a number that challenges defiance.
Jayke was the most responsible one, trying and failing to get his bandmates to focus on their upcoming show that would kick off the Terexian leg of the tour. He was more of an introvert than the others, keeping to himself and laughing at jokes rather than cracking them.
Zaak was the quietest of Light on the Landing. He spent a lot of his time talking to Jayke, and spent more hours on his ScribblePad than any of the others. Zaak had welcomed Freddie to their circle of trust within his first hour on the tour bus, as he informed him that he had a girlfriend of four months in Zinthyar.
He had been advised to keep his relationship a secret in “the best interests of the band” but his resentment showed through the twitches in his eyes. Freddie doubted that he’d be prepared keep up the act for much longer.
Naithain was everywhere. He joined in every conversation on the bus for a minute or two, flitting between his bandmates and members of the crew. He would pick up and play a guitar for a few minutes, then his interest would shift to his ScribblePad, and then he would interrupt the conversation happening around him with a funny remark or a boisterous burst of laughter.
Haze was still a mystery to Freddie. He seemed friendly and kind, always smiling with an air of calm about him. At times he would stand up and walk aimlessly up and down the bus, before resuming his previous position on a couch. He would stare out of a window as though he was expecting to see something, and then Jimmie would address him, bringing him back into the conversation and reality.
When the bus stopped at their destination after a few hours of travelling, Haze was the first to step outside with Jimmie just behind him. Freddie walked out into the cold evening’s air, the setting sun leaving a red mist to linger over the horizon.
Naithain skipped excitedly towards the huge building ahead, excited to be playing inside in just a couple of hours. When the six boys and the band’s entourage were inside the venue, the band members headed off to their individual dressing rooms.
Haze explained how the boys like to spend an hour or so alone, winding down and getting ready for the night ahead, often calling family and friends on their ScribblePads for a quick catch-up, before regrouping in make-up, getting each other hyped, and generally causing chaos for the whole team.
Zaak cherished this alone time, as he could use his ScribblePad to call his girlfriend whom he barely saw. It was a shame, as he so often told the boys, that ScribblePads did not come with a front-facing camera as then they would be able to see each other’s faces as well as hearing their voices.
“Ah, okay,” Freddie said. “Well, I’ll just have a wander ‘round and have some time with my thoughts.”
Although he did not really want to be left alone with his thoughts, when every time he did stop to think he felt like crying or punching a wall.
“Are you sure, man? You’re welcome to come chill with me in my dressing room,” replied Haze.
“Nah, I don’t want to intrude or anything. Don’t worry about it.”
“Freddie, don’t be an idiot – come with me and we’ll have a chat or something. You must have a lot on your mind and it’d do you good to get it off your chest,” said Haze with a sense of finality.
There was only
one chair in the small dressing room, but Haze took up his position sat on the floor with his back against the wall.
“So, what happened in Terexe?”
After Freddie had explained everything in one breathless rant, from leaving Pipton to fleeing his grandparents’ burning house, Haze blew air into his cheeks and exhaled heavily.
“Whoa man, that is intense. I’m sorry to hear about your grandparents. Do you think they could still be…? I mean, are they…”
“I doubt it. I keep hoping and wishing that they are alive but I just can’t see how they could be,” sighed Freddie. He had refused to cry during his monologue to Haze; he would not start now.
“Well keep hoping, I’ll try to see if there’s a way we can find out.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“And listen, stay with us for as long as you need. We’ll keep you hidden and safe… We’ll say you’re one of our cousins to, you know, keep the press and fans and everyone else from asking questions.”
Freddie appreciated Haze’s offer, but there was no way he could land that sort of responsibility on the band.
“No, you don’t have to do that. I’ll only stay another day or two. I can’t interrupt your whole lives when you’re so busy.”
“Don’t be an idiot. You’re staying with us and that’s final. I’ve already run it past Jimmie and he thinks it’s a good idea and Graham listens to Jimmie, mainly because he doesn’t have a choice, so it’s all sorted, really.”
“Thank you, Haze. I really do appreciate it.”
“I know. Now, I have two outfits to choose from tonight and both of them make me look like a teenage wannabe popstar, so let me try them on and you can tell me which I look most stupid in.”
“Why don’t you just wear something you like?” asked Freddie.
“Wait, what? Who said I didn’t like them?”
Both boys laughed as Haze began to prepare for the evening’s concert.
