The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus)

by H. B. Bolton

  “I am afraid we are not yet safe,” Sigurd explained. “Those giants will continue to hunt for us. And there are more giants in the caves. They will keep searching, and by morning, these lands will be swarming with them.”

  “We better head out,” Evan announced.

  “I would consider it an honor if you would allow me to accompany you on your quest,” Sigurd offered.

  “Sigurd, thanks for helping us, but we can’t expect you to drop what you’re doing, capturing dragons and all. Besides, you could end up dying,” said Evan. “This is a very dangerous quest.”

  “I realize what is at risk. Claire explained everything to me. From what I understand, if you fail, everyone will be affected,” said Sigurd, packing up his remaining gear.

  “But—” began Evan.

  “I insist,” Sigurd interrupted, without looking up.

  “There’s not enough room on our boat.”

  “That is not a problem. We can take my boat. It is just a few miles away.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to take your boat. I like our boat.”

  “I have little doubt your boat is fine, but my ship is already stocked with all of the supplies we will need.”

  “With stuff like those barking-dog treats? No thank you. Besides, we have supplies, and if we need something we can just make it.”

  “What about food and fresh water? Do you have those things too? Besides, you do not even have shoes to wear,” said Sigurd. Evan reached for his rumbling stomach and looked down at his bare feet.

  “I am hungry. And I did have sneakers, but that giant took them!”

  “A giant took your shoes?” Claire asked. “Why? It’s not like they’d fit a giant’s foot.”

  “I think he wanted them as a trophy or something,” said Evan.

  “How weird,” said Claire.

  “Evan, you need to trust me. My ship will serve us better. And I assure you, I am not here to take over. You can still be Captain Evan,” Sigurd added with a little smile.

  Evan glared over at Claire. “You told him to call me Captain Evan?”

  “Get over it,” Claire said and approached Sigurd. “Thanks for helping us. I’m not sure how we can ever repay you.”

  “Beautiful heroine, your bright smile is all the payment I need,” said Sigurd, brushing his fingertip along her cheek.

  “Dude, that’s my sister. Do you mind?” declared Evan.

  “What, Evan…uh,” stammered Claire. “Sigurd, don’t listen to him.”

  “Whatever,” said Evan, rolling his eyes.

  “What about the dragon, Bergkonge?” Claire asked Sigurd, as if trying to change the subject.

  Sigurd contemplated something before saying, “This might sound crazy, but as soon as we are far enough away, I need for you and Evan to reopen the cave.”

  “But that will set him free!” she said, eyes wide.

  Sigurd grinned somewhat fiendishly. “Bergkonge could end up distracting a few giants for us.”

  With a deep gulp of air, Evan lifted the group up into the sky. The long night had finally come to an end, and the morning sun rose in the east. They sped toward Sigurd’s boat, and Claire looked down at the cave. From a distance, she broke apart the wall of dirt and stones. Quickly, Evan swiped away the fallen rubble with his powers. It didn’t take long for Bergkonge to emerge, fire surging from his open mouth. He stalked around, sniffing the ground.

  Bergkonge’s massive wings thrust down. Leaves and dirt spun like a cyclone around the dragon. He leapt a few yards above ground, rushed toward the edge of the cliff, and soared toward the tower. Evan cringed as he imagined the giants’ surprise at running into Bergkonge.

  Chapter Fourteen

  STUCK WITH BULL SHARKS

  SIGURD’S SHIP CAME INTO VIEW, and Evan couldn’t help but marvel. It was larger than Evan’s glass ship, with a mightier mast and a fiercer dragon carved on its bow.

  “How are you able to sail this ship all by yourself?” Evan asked, scowling.

  “It was given to me by the gods. It is made from enchanted wood and sails itself,” Sigurd said nonchalantly.

  “Why did the gods give you an enchanted ship?”

  “They wanted to show me their gratitude for capturing so many pesky dragons. Besides, they realized the mightier my ship, the easier it would be to do my job.”

  As soon as their feet touched the deck, Sigurd rushed to the helm, and Dunkle followed. Evan sighed, realizing his days as “captain” were officially over.

  “Evan, we could use your help,” Sigurd yelled the length of the ship, and Evan hurried to join them.

  “Claire told me how you raced your boat through the rocks,” said Sigurd. “After we chart our new course, do you think you could quicken our pace to Hlesey?”

  “I suppose so,” Evan responded. “Remind me again; what exactly is Hlesey?”

  “It is an island that rests above the Undersea Hall of Aegir and Ran,” said Sigurd.

  “Don’t you think Aegir will have guards protecting the entrance?” said Evan. “If he’s determined to use the Serpent’s Ring to unlock Jormundgand, then he’s going to try to keep us away.”

  “Good point,” said Sigurd, rubbing his hand over his chin. “We will just have to figure out another way through. For now, steer us in that direction. I will be back after Dunkle and I review the map.”

  “I’ll help,” said Claire, rushing toward Sigurd.

  Evan looked at Barfel and sighed, “I guess it’s just you and me.”

  “Quite right!” declared Barfel, leaping up onto a wooden platform. He placed his hand over his eyes and scanned the horizon. “Up the mast I go! Better to see! Better to see!”

  He climbed gracefully up the pole, much like a monkey. Evan was left alone to man the ship. He wished he had his pirate hat to complete the effect. It had been left behind, on his glass Viking ship. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. Why should they have to use Sigurd’s ship, anyway? What’s wrong with their ship? Besides, his hat was woven from thread off his favorite baseball cap. He wanted it back.

  All of a sudden, something flew toward him. It was his pirate hat! It spun through the air, whizzing in his direction, before landing right on his head.

  “Did I do that?” Evan wondered. But it didn’t really matter; he had gotten what he wanted.

  Water splattered against the bow, and the boat rocked. Evan focused, pushing against the strong current. He lifted the ship a little and was able to speed forward. Staring straight, he aimed cautiously and carefully toward Hlesey. This time, he wouldn’t overshoot his destination.

  Sigurd stepped out of the cabin, Claire and Dunkle close at his heels. He turned toward the bow and his hair was tussled by the wind.

  “Blondielocks,” mumbled Evan. For the first time, he knew what Sigurd and Claire had in common. He imagined they would spend their time together staring at themselves in a mirror, while brushing their hair.

  “This ship has never before seen this speed,” Sigurd announced and peered over the side. “We are not touching the water. How do you manage this?” Sigurd shook his head as he approached, his hair still flowing with the breeze. After reaching Evan, he rested his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “You are tired and need to rest. I can see it in your eyes.”

  Evan continued to stare ahead, concentrating. “I can’t rest. If I do, the sea will push us back.”

  “You did not sleep last night and are going to exhaust yourself. It is crucial you have strength and mental clarity when you meet with Aegir,” said Sigurd.

  Evan agreed. He returned the ship to water and released his hold. But just as he did, waves shaped like giant hands reached up and grabbed the vessel.

  “Aegir must have set the ocean against us. I am afraid I did not take that into consideration. I am sorry for allowing this to happen,” said Sigurd.

  “This isn’t your fault. There has to be something we can do,” said Claire, determination hot in her voice. “What about the locket
? Look, it’s already glowing; we can use it.”

  Evan and Sigurd rushed to her side. Claire opened the locket and all three stared in. Colorful beams came into view. “I haven’t asked anything yet,” whispered Claire.

  “It wants to show us something,” said Sigurd, his arm dropping casually to her waist.

  Evan tried to pay attention to the locket, but felt irritated at Sigurd’s blatant display. After all, this guy just met Claire, and she was his sister. She was annoying and a big royal pain most of the time, but in a small way, Evan felt protective. Who was this Sigurd, anyway? He probably had a million other girlfriends, and Claire was going to be hurt. And Evan would be left having to listen to his sister’s endless wailing and crying. He was certain it would get annoying, fast.

  “That’s us!” exclaimed Claire, forcing Evan’s attention back to the locket.

  Sure enough, on deck stood Evan, Claire, Sigurd, Dunkle, and Barfel, they could be seen from overhead. Colorful sharks gathered and knocked into the ship. The view shifted, and Evan was yanked underwater by a large net. He fought, pulling against golden ropes.

  “It is Ran’s net,” said Sigurd, still staring at the oval mirror. “She must have her sights set on capturing Evan. She enjoys using her golden net to catch sailors. She then takes them to the Undersea Hall, forcing them to admire and worship her forever.”

  The scene shifted again. There was a sudden flash of violet.

  “The net’s empty! Evan’s gone! Where did he go?” yelled Claire, shaking the golden locket, but she was disrupted by tremendous pounding against the boat’s underside.

  Water tightened its hold on the ship. It was hit again and again, with more thumping and banging. Wood split and water spurted through.

  “Aegir’s trying to sink us!” shrilled Dunkle, circling madly around the deck.

  “Not today,” said Evan, trying to sound calm.

  Sharks rammed the boat. Its sides splintered and shattered. Claire waved her hands over the shredded wood and sealed it back together.

  “The boat’s breaking apart! I’m not sure I can hold it together for long!” screamed Claire, frantically mending the boards.

  The sharks multiplied, and Evan tried to mentally push them away. To his surprise he was able to slow their movements. That was until they became still, frozen in place. Not even a tail swished. As Evan focused below, he neglected the other side of the ship. And wham! another shark struck from the opposite direction. Evan was tossed overboard, right into the midst of several immobile sharks!

  With all of his strength, he tried to rise out of the water. But something strange happened. The water changed and molded to his body. He tried to kick, but his legs were caught in the gelatinous substance. The only part of his body still above the surface was his head.

  “Evan, we’ll get you,” shouted Claire, peering over the ship’s side.

  “You can’t come in this water! It’s like jelly. You won’t be able to get back out,” yelled Evan.

  “I will throw you a rope,” hollered Sigurd, swinging a lariat. He released its looped end toward Evan, who wasn’t able to even squirm.

  “It’s no use! I can’t move my arms!” cried out Evan.

  “Then I will come down,” said Sigurd, edging over the side.

  “No, you need to protect the ship,” declared Evan.

  “The sharks are as stuck as you are. The water surrounding us has turned to glue,” said Claire.

  Close to Evan, jelly-water oozed together, forming into a rounded shape. A face molded into the clear mass, and a man with a long beard and wavy hair surfaced. Life came to his eyes, and he spoke in a waterlogged voice, “I know what you are after, and you cannot have it.”

  “Are you Aegir?” Evan asked to the talking ball of water.

  “I am Aegir, god and protector of the sea. You must return home, and no harm will come to you. If you decide foolishly to stay, I might not be so generous.”

  “If I return home, I will drown along with the rest of the planet,” said Evan. “The way I see it, I have no other choice. But you do. You don’t have to drown everyone on land. We can work out something, can’t we?”

  “The decision has been made. It is only a short matter of time before the Serpent’s Ring unlocks Jormundgand.”

  “Then my decision has been made too. I’m going to stop you, no matter what it takes.”

  “So be it. You have chosen poorly, boy.” Aegir dissolved back into the sea.

  Evan looked up and noticed Claire’s eyes had widened. “Evan, look behind you!”

  A golden net emerged and landed over Evan’s head. Just as the divining locket predicted, he was dragged under. He tugged, but the woven fiber didn’t relent. It pulled him down, deeper and deeper into the ocean.

  “At least my sister’s safe,” said Evan, letting out his reserve of air. He felt his chest collapse, forcing him to inhale. Surprisingly, he could breathe in the jelly-water. He wasn’t going to drown.

  Down, down, down he went. Up above, frozen sharks and the intact ship remained still. The water’s surface became a pale haze, far away. Before long, Evan was surrounded by darkness, but fluorescent lights appeared as pinpoints deep in the abyss. Evan was certain that was where he was going. It was probably the Undersea Hall of Aegir and Ran.

  Evan was doomed; he was certain of it. When, all of a sudden, Evan and the net began to spin in circles. Around and around, until the net fell open and sunk toward the ocean floor. He was released, but the water was still too thick for him to swim. He tried a climbing motion, but his arms and legs were trapped. A large tail swished by, and a mass of violet hair swooped across his face.

  Chapter Fifteen

  WAY OF THE MERMAID

  WITH ONE ARM CIRCLING EVAN’S chest, she sped through the water. He could feel the movement of her body, as she guided them toward pinpoints of fluorescent light. It was over for Evan. He knew he was in the clutches of Ran. Pretty soon, Aegir would serve Evan as a snack to the sea serpent, Jormundgand.

  They raced at an incredible speed, tearing through water—right for the tiny lights. But to Evan’s surprise, she shifted direction and the colorful lights disappeared. Although Evan wanted to see where he was being taken, he squeezed his eyes shut. He could still feel her delicate fingers and long hair as it billowed around, whipping his back.

  The water began to change. It felt cooler, like it had thinned. It felt like seawater was supposed to. The jellywater fell away from his body, leaving only a little around his face. At least for the time being, he could breathe. But as it melted, Evan began to worry.

  Their pace slowed, and his eyes reopened. They were heading toward a large dome. Evan probably wouldn’t have realized it was there, if it hadn’t been for his image being reflected on its surface. The reflection showed his captor was not a woman, nor a goddess. She was a mermaid! She was the most incredible looking creature he had ever seen. Jewels were embedded along her tail in intricate designs and continued to trace along her body like a dress. Her purple hair shimmered and sparkled, and Evan was breathless—literally, breathless.

  As they approached the dome, their reflections continued to enlarge. Surely, she would stop before slamming into it. But she didn’t; she flicked her tail and propelled faster! To his amazement, they slid through the dome with relative ease. Millions of tiny bubbles popped along his skin, tingling. One bubble attached itself to Evan’s mouth and extended down his throat. He could breathe normally again.

  “I’m definitely not in Michigan anymore,” he said to himself as they entered the dome full of thick goo and natural seawater. Evan could only kind of walk and felt a little silly moving along like Frankenstein’s monster.

  Up ahead, an underwater city glistened. Merpeople and tropical fish moved around buildings molded from glass. Each colorful structure stemmed from the ground, blending together—yellow, green, purple, red, and every other color imaginable. It was like staring at rainbow popsicles, twisting around as they tapered up to a poin
t.

  “What is this Michigan? Is it another realm?” an enchanting voice flowed toward Evan.

  Evan turned his head toward his mermaid captor. She too wore a bubble over her mouth and down to her throat. She was staring into his eyes, studying him.

  “Michigan is nothing like this place. Much more normal,” he said.

  “This is normal,” she said, gliding her arm through the water as she motioned toward the city.

  “For you, maybe, but this is far from normal for me. My name is Evan.”

  “I know who you are, Evan Jones,” she said, and as she spoke, each word sounded like music.

  “I suppose you’re going to take me to Aegir.”

  “Why would I do that? It would not have made sense to go through the trouble of rescuing you from Ran’s net if that were my intention.”

  “I don’t understand. You rescued me? You’re one of the good guys?”

  “Dear boy, Aegir is not a ‘bad guy.’ He believes what he is doing is best for all creatures of the sea. Unfortunately, he has lost his sympathy for the beings that dwell on land,” said the mermaid with wisdom beyond her years. Evan guessed her age at sixteen, tops.

  “First of all, I’m not a boy,” Evan corrected. “And, I have to disagree about Aegir. Come on, anyone willing to flood the entire planet has to be evil.”

  “He is coming from a different perspective, an ancient perspective. Remember, he is very old and has seen many evils occur on land.”

  “So, he thinks he should kill everybody and start over?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, that guy’s nuts. And you seem to understand him pretty well. How can I be so sure you aren’t working for him and this isn’t some sort of trap?”

  “The merpeople have been friends with Aegir for thousands of years. It is only recently our paths have split. Although we too are upset with mankind for polluting our homes, we do not believe washing the planet is the answer. We believe in the innovation and creativity of land people to correct their own mistakes.”