“Don’t you Mother me! You’re expendable if you cannot make wise decisions. We won’t allow you to compromise this council’s goals.”
“Agreed,” Zeus confirmed. “You will leave now and return to Harvestom. Appear to no one until after I’ve approached Gabriel.”
Hebe bowed. “Yes, Father.” She vanished.
Zeus turned and placed his hand on Odin’s shoulder. “From now on, our communication won’t be lacking. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
Before another word could be said, Zeus vanished.
As Odin looked at the empty space, he smirked. “Don’t forget to transform.”
CHAPTER 19
A Skittish Serwin
The Priestess of Harvestom’s Palace
Late Bailem
FELLOW SOUL ... AFTER GAGE AND GALLRUM ARRIVED with the priestess’ body on the Merchant Island of Harvestom, they had to wait for the dock foreman to check off the manifest before they could leave the island. But as soon as the graphite marked the page, the goswigs met with one of the priestess’ groundskeepers who had been sent to wait for them. They touched the side of Fosalia’s casket, teleported to her palace and then appeared in the foyer. With school not scheduled to begin for another 12 Peaks, the palace was empty, except for the caretakers that lived there throughout the season.
Gage pointed to a long table that sat beneath a window in the priestess’ bedroom chamber and spoke to six other halfling men who were responsible for keeping the grounds outside the palace. “Place the priestess’ casket over there,” he ordered. The badger opened the door to her changing room and looked up at the rows of gowns. “My friend and I will see to it that her body is prepared for her Passing Ceremony.”
The goswig turned from the array of dresses and focused on the halfling who appeared to be the leader of the group. “You may also want to summon the other teachers.”
“He’s right,” Gallrum added. “They can help spread the word of the priestess’ demise. Her ceremony should be held before her corpse starts to smell. We can’t have a stinky body, or it’ll ruin the ceremony. We no longer have a constant source of ice at our disposal to keep her from rotting.”
The badger shot the serwin a look to show his distaste for the callousness of his words. “Must you always...?”
Gallrum shrugged his scale covered shoulders. “What did I say?”
The badger just rolled his eyes and refocused on the head halfling. “Perhaps you should get going. Her ceremony will be held at tomorrow’s Peak.”
With the variety of beings that came to the school to train, the presence of the goswigs did not feel out of place, and their orders were accepted without question. But before the halflings left the room, they chose to pay their respects to the priestess.
As the head groundskeeper approached the casket, a piercing ball of light emerged through another window that existed above the priestess’ bed and filled the room with light. The orb hovered in place, almost as if it was sizing up the room. After a fair series of moments, it chose to travel across the room toward the casket.
Everyone took a step back from the table as the orb drew near.
Gallrum reached down with his claw and tugged at the collar of Gage’s robe. “What is it?” he queried.
The badger growled and struck the serwin with his cane. “How should I know?”
The serwin frowned. “You don’t have to be so mean about it.”
“Hush!” the badger snarled.
As the group continued to follow the orb, it was not long before it stopped above the priestess’ casket. Another fair series of moments passed while the orb did nothing but hover above the casket.
Gallrum once again reached out and tugged at Gage’s collar. “Poke it. Make it do something.”
The badger whirled around and poked Gallrum in the stomach. “Perhaps I’ll send it after you.”
Gallrum would have responded, but a laughing sound erupted from the orb as if the being had understood their words.
Again, Gage smacked his cane against Gallrum’s tail. “See what you’ve done? You’ve made us look foolish to that ... that ... that thing.”
The serwin shrugged again. “What did I say?”
Gage would have struck the serwin yet again, but the orb began to lower toward the casket. As soon as the sphere’s form touched the wood, the lid liquefied and allowed the orb to pass through it.
When the last bit of the sphere disappeared, Gallrum blurted, “What’s it doing?”
The leader of the halflings was the one to respond. His voice was uneasy and his eyes were filled with concern as he stared at the glow that had found a way to escape through the cracks between the planks. “It’s a spirit. I have no desire to meddle with a spirit.” He turned to the other halflings. “You can stay if you’d like, but I’m leaving.” He ran toward the door.
“Why leave now?” Gallrum called after him. “If it’s a spirit, it hasn’t harmed us.”
“Not yet!” the halfling argued as he barreled through the door and turned the corner.
Another of the halflings with long hair and big eyes began to backpedal. “He’s right. Spirits can’t be trusted. You can’t be sure if it’s a peaceful being or not, and I don’t care to find out the answer.” The remaining four halflings turned and rushed out of the room with him.
Once the priestess’ chamber door slammed shut, Gage called out. “Go ahead ... leave, you half-wits! It’s in your nature anyway!”
“Yeah, leave!” Gallrum reinforced. “It’s in your nature!”
After staring at the door for a few moments, both goswigs turned to face the casket. Nothing was happening, and the glow that was escaping between the cracks faded. Gallrum started to reach down to tug on the badger’s robe again, but on this occasion, the badger swatted the serwin’s claw with the head of his cane before he could. “Just wait, and stop talking!”
Another long period of moments passed, and still nothing happened.
When the quiet became too much to bear, Gallrum flew over to the casket and placed his ear against it. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and a look of concentration appeared on his face. “I don’t hear anything,” he whispered.
“Well, how could you?” the badger snarled. “You don’t shut up.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Just listen.”
As the serwin placed his ear back against the casket, another long series of moments passed. The serwin was about to pull his head back when all of a sudden a sound erupted from inside.
THUMP, THUMP—was the sound the wood made as the priestess’ fist bashed against the side of the casket not far from where the serwin’s ear had been placed. The sound frightened Gallrum and caused the serwin to flee.
Gage’s eyes widened as the serwin’s wings fluttered at a remarkable pace. Gallrum passed over the edge of the priestess’ bed, and as he did, his scales caught the corner of Fosalia’s blanket. The serwin dragged the bedding through the corridors, out of the palace, and he did not stop flying until he was on the back side of the wall that surrounded the perimeter of the grounds.
Moments later, the nails that had been used to hold the lid on the casket slid out as if they were being removed by an unseen force. The metallic sound they made as each struck the floor caused Gage to cringe.
When Fosalia pushed the lid open, the badger took a few steps back and waited for what was to come next. He wanted to flee, but his curiosity would not allow it. Eventually, the priestess sat up and smiled. “Hello, Gage. Did you miss me?”
The badger’s relief was exhaled over a long series of moments as he stared at Fosalia. “How?”
“The Source has chosen to restore my life’s source. The dragon still has plans for me. We should rejoice.”
The goswig did not respond.
Sensing the badger’s anxiety, Fosalia smiled. “It’s me. Gage ... you don’t need to fear my return. Where’s your friend?”
Gage tentatively lifted a claw an
d pointed toward the door. “He ran.”
“I bet he did. He has always been a bit skittish.” When the priestess stopped chuckling, she climbed out of the casket and jumped to the floor. “We should find him. Let’s hope he’s happier to see me than you are.”
“No one said I’m unhappy,” the badger defended. “I’m just shocked. I expected to prepare a ceremony for your passing, not a celebration of your return. It’s a bit unnerving to watch an expired being crawl out of their casket without warning. I can’t tell you how many beings have suffered after the news of your passing reached their ears. The beings of Hydroth still suffer.”
“But did joy return to Clandestiny’s heart when Medolas opened his eyes?” the priestess queried. “Was my sacrifice enough to restore peace to her heart?”
The badger sighed. “It was.”
“That’s good, is it not?”
“It is good ... and bad. It is good only because Clandestiny now has Medolas, but even that may change. The people of Hydroth are afraid.”
“Why? They should be rejoicing.”
The badger shook his head. “Your sacrifice failed to account for the bigger truth of their situation. The Isorians know that gashtions lay eggs. They know that somewhere beneath the ice these eggs exist. Clandestiny has even said that she cannot remember where the eggs might be. Clandestiny is afraid to assume the form of the gashtion to search for them, because she fears she may not be able to return to Medolas if she does.”
“What of the Tear?” Fosalia was quick to question. “Who has it?”
“After you passed, Gablysin put the Tear around his neck. He has decided to shoulder the burden of its responsibility. But Gablysin believes he won’t be able to defend the city against the gashtion’s offspring once the eggs hatch. He knows he has not endured the training that’s required to control the Tear. It will only be a matter of moments before Clandestiny is once again forced to roar to scare off a young gashtion, and some Peak, her roar won’t be enough. She may yet be lost to Medolas when that Peak arrives.”
“What about Gesper?” the priestess questioned. “I thought Shiver would order the Isorians to relocate.”
“The vast majority of Isorians have refused to relocate. It appears they would rather tempt fate than leave everything they know behind.”
A look of sadness appeared on Fosalia’s face. “Then I have accomplished nothing. If Clandestiny loses Medolas yet again, her loss would break my heart.”
“Then fix it,” the badger urged. “Return to Hydroth and teach the ruby eyed man how to control the Tear. He’s stronger than Clandestiny, and he’d be able to defend the city. Two roars are far better than one. He may never need to transform.”
Fosalia turned to face the casket and looked out the window toward the clouds. The sky was dark, and a chill filled the air. It would not be long before the white rain of winter would return to shower her palace.
Gage could see the distress on the priestess’ face. “What’s bothering you? You can fix this. You should be happy.”
“I cannot,” Fosalia responded. “I can’t leave the palace.”
“Why? There’s no law against it.”
“I wish it were that simple. There’s a higher law that I must conform to.”
The fur between the badger’s eyes dropped. “I know of no such law.”
“Oh, Gage, I wish I could speak of it, but I cannot. Perhaps you could bring Gablysin to me.”
Fosalia rushed across the room and walked through the door of her changing room. A moment later, she returned with a red cape that was covered with an array of glitter.
“It’s a bit feminine, but we can use it to protect him during his journey. I will place a spell on it, just as you did with the Frigid Commander when he came to take me to Hydroth.”
The badger looked at the glitter on the cape. “I don’t think he’ll agree to wear that. Perhaps a different cape, or even a cloak that would fit Gablysin’s stature.”
Fosalia lifted the cape in front of her. A moment later, she smiled. “Too bad. The glitter would’ve complemented the color of his skin. I’ll have a new cape made, and I’ll create a scroll of teleportation that has the power to take you between worlds. I’ll finish his training here in the palace before the eggs hatch.”
“That should work,” the badger responded. “If only you had a thousand of these capes.”
“Why? You only need one.”
The badger shook his head. “Only one if you wish to miss the union.”
“What union?”
“Medolas and Clandestiny are to unite right away. Clandestiny feels that if she’s to lose Medolas again, she doesn’t want to suffer the loss without knowing him. Their love is strong and has been for more than 300 seasons. Both Isorians wish to consummate their relationship in case the Peak comes that she is forced to transform.”
A look of distress appeared on Fosalia’s face. “I cannot miss their union, nor can I expect 1,000 Isorians to make the journey to my palace. That would be unthinkable and an unfair request. I didn’t restore Medolas’ life’s source only to miss an event as grand.”
Fosalia walked across the room and took a seat on the bed. A few moments passed before she realized her blanket was missing.
“Gallrum has it,” the badger answered before the question was even uttered.
Rather than try to understand why, the priestess’ mind began to churn. A long series of moments passed before she stood from the bed and walked into the changing closet. It’s only a union ceremony. How long could it take? she thought as she shuffled through her gowns. The council is busy with other matters. I could drop in for the ceremony and then rush right back to my palace. Neither Odin, Zeus or my mother would even know.
When Fosalia finally exited the closet, she was holding two gowns. One was green with silver lace, and the other was yellow with black lace. “Which do you prefer, Gage? I can’t attend a union without looking my best.”
The badger grinned. “I’d wear yellow.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll teleport to Hydroth for the ceremony and return to Harvestom with the ruby eyed man upon its completion.”
“Your plan sounds wonderful, Priestess. Perhaps I should teleport ahead and ask the Isorians to prepare the ceremony. They intend to have it near the bridge you created over the chasm. Though the water has begun to freeze and the chasm has narrowed considerably, it is still a poignant spot to speak their vows.”
“That would be a wonderful place to hold the ceremony. The battlefield symbolizes so much. Please tell them the ceremony needs to be short. I cannot be gone from my palace for an extended series of moments. There’s much riding on my return.”
Gage bowed. “I’ll leave as soon as you’ve created the scroll. The Isorians will rejoice upon hearing the news of your continued existence.”
The World of Hell
The Next Morning
X Marks George’s location
The mountains on Hell felt as if they shot up into the atmosphere and never stopped. George had seen many mountains since his arrival on the worlds governed by the Crystal Moon, but the thought of these mountains being on a world the gods had renamed Hell, somehow, made the peaks seem more imposing. To his right, the shoreline stretched to the north and to the south, and across the sea, the warlock had left Kroger on the old Merchant Island.
Celestria had dropped them off, and it had been easy to see that the island had been picked clean of its cargo. But George did not bring this to the ogre’s attention. Instead, he gave Kroger a task. The ogre was to gather what was left of the crates that remained scattered across the island and use them to make a wall that surrounded the entrance to the dock foreman’s old office.
While the ogre was busy, George and Maldwin used the wood from a bunch of piled up wagons to create a raft. Now that they were across the channel, he looked back toward the island and smirked. He did not need Kroger to build a wall. He had only assigned the task to keep the ogre busy while he search
ed for Kepler. He wanted the big guy to feel important. The last thing the ogre had said before he had left the island was, “George friend to Kroger. Kroger build big wall for George. Wall no break when Kroger done.”
George smiled as he thought of the ogre’s childlike speech. He was glad that he had been able to rectify a wrong that he had made. No one deserved to be turned to stone, especially a being with a heart as kind as Kroger’s.
Celestria had been nice enough to point them in the right direction. She had told George that Kepler was hunting the shoreline and was currently stalking a creature called an grendle-imp. She had said the imp was fleeing north in his direction, and it would only be a matter of moments before their paths would cross.
As the Peak of Bailem approached, Maldwin stuck his head out of George’s backpack. The rodent’s nose twitched wildly as he spoke. “Anair asay, Kepler!”
George quickly dove behind a rock. “I know, buddy,” he replied. “I can see him, too.” After taking a deep breath, the warlock poked his head above the rock.
Maldwin lowered as much of his body as he could into the pack without losing sight of the jaguar. With his eyes barely peeking over George’s shoulder, he whispered, “Fosay ya molyano.”
The warlock nodded. “I hope this doesn’t end up sucking garesh. He knows we’re here.”
“Besoya na fumar ay.”
Though George did not fully understand what the rat said, he knew enough to know Maldwin was scared for their lives. Not far down the shoreline, Kepler was standing with his paws in the water. The demon-jaguar’s eyes were glowing burgundy-red, and they were staring in their direction.
“Here goes nothing,” the warlock said as he stood to move into the open. “Hey, Kep!” he shouted. “I know you must be looking for me!”
Kepler dropped into a defensive position and growled as Maldwin disappeared from sight.
Northern Grayham
The Wilderness West of Hydroth
The Next Morning
With the sun shining bright and the temperature at a brisk 18 below zero, the Isorians whom Medolas and Clandestiny invited to their union ceremony had gathered on the east side of the bridge the priestess had created across the chasm.
The Tear of Gramal Page 60
