The Box Omnibus #1 (The Box, The Journal, The Sword)

by Gaudet, Christina G.

  I whistle for Farah who ran off to chase a squirrel and head in the one direction I know there’s civilization. Although it’s been a while, I’m sure I still know the way to Al’s village. Hopefully no one will remember the last time I was there with Lou and Al when they made a huge scene. It’ll be hard to find help if I’m already thought of as a troublemaker. And I definitely need help. Otherwise, how will I find out how to get to the city on Gran’s map?

  When I start to see signs of life, I dig out some dust I keep special for Farah and blow it over her. As long as she doesn’t start rolling around in the mud or jump into a lake, everyone should see her as a big, black, one headed, perfectly normal dog. Even in this world chimeras are rarely seen, and the ones that are usually have a wizard controlling them. I definitely don’t want people associating me with wizards.

  The moment I enter the main street of the village I realize the disguise isn’t enough. Everyone stops what they’re doing and stares at us. None of them appear any too friendly either. I’m sure the spell on Farah is working, so is it me they’re upset by? I guess they remember me after all.

  I have no interest in looking for Al unless I have to, which leaves only one other person in the village who probably won’t treat me like a freak. I only hope Rose is working at the same place she was the first time I was here.

  It’s not hard to find her merchant tent since it’s the only one in the entire village made with bright colors of reds and yellows and greens. It hurts to look at it for too long, but I guess it does the job of catching your eye. A kid dodges past me and runs into the tent. An instant after he disappears behind the door flap, a young woman pokes her curly red hair out and glances around. Her eyes widen into huge green lamps the second she sees me.

  “Sin.” She says my name quietly at first, as though afraid I’ll disappear if she speaks too loud. When I smile and wave at her, she immediately responds by picking up her skirt and rushing to my side. The boy watches me from the entrance as though he’s trying to stay out of my line of sight, but still keep an eye on me. Instead of giving me a hug as I’d expected from her expression, she reaches over and punches my arm. “Where have you been? You leave and then nothing. No word. No letter. You had us all worried sick. Where’s Aldric?”

  When she looks behind me and doesn’t find what she’s searching for, the worry returns to her face causing creases that shouldn’t exist on someone so young.

  “You’d know more than me about Al,” I say while rubbing the tender area where she’d punched. She has a surprisingly decent jab for someone so small. “I’m fine by the way. Thanks for asking.”

  “How would I know anything?” Rose’s expression is about one step away from tears, and I have the feeling these wouldn’t be the first she’s shed over the guy already. “The last time I saw any of you was when your sister woke and had the argument with Aldric in front of the entire village. Tell me he’s all right.”

  She grabs my wrist and I take a step back, trying to separate myself from her desperation.

  “Last I heard he was back in this world.” I try to pull my hand loose, but she only tightens her grip as though touching me somehow brings her closer to him. “Lou said he’d come up with an idea for his sister after he killed Stewart. Figured he’d need to be here to do whatever he planned, since, you know, she’s here and all.”

  Rose takes a step back and rubs her face with both hands as though she needs to absorb the information through her skin.

  “He’s alive.” She doesn’t seem to be able to believe it, and she’s definitely not talking to me anymore.

  Still, I can’t help but answer. “Yup. Well, as far as I know. Haven’t seen him in a while. Who knows what trouble he’s gotten into without me there to save his ass?”

  “And your sister?” I doubt the expression of worry she gives is for Lou’s sake. “He didn’t...”

  “Take her magic?” I give her a reassuring smile. “Nope. After they dealt with Stewart, he took off. Neither of us has seen him since.”

  “Then where is he? Why didn’t he come back? He didn’t take the time to let us know what happened. That’s not like him. No, there has to be something wrong. I can feel it.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you,” I say. “I’m just letting you know what Lou told me.”

  “You didn’t talk to him yourself?” The worry creases the space between Rose’s eyebrows.

  I shrug. This is taking more time than I’d like. I want directions and to be on my way, not talking about my sister’s crush. “We were separated. He was gone before I made it back upstairs to them.” Rose’s stress over Al has become almost a tangible thing and it has turned the atmosphere in the small tent tense and uncomfortable. Time to leave. “Look, I’m sorry I don’t know more, but he’s not why I’m here. I need your help.”

  For the first time since I’ve arrived, she takes a proper look at me and my outfit. Her eyebrows crinkle together and for a minute I expect her to turn into Mom and start lecturing me about dressing like a tramp, though I don’t know why she would. After all, these are Gran’s clothes. How bad could they be?

  Her lips push together and she once again grabs my arm, this time to drag me toward the tent. “We’ll talk inside.”

  Chapter Three

  The moment we’re inside the tent, Rose steps away and waves her hand in front of me. “Are you insane?”

  I notice the boy’s now making a poor attempt to hide from me behind a long wooden table used to cut cloth. His wide eyes never leave me, even when I make a face and stick my tongue out at him.

  “Don’t know. Never been tested.” I have the feeling not much makes Rose laugh, but she seems particularly unamused by my joke. I sigh and force myself to mimic her serious expression. “Why? What have I done?”

  “Your clothes,” she says. “What are you thinking?”

  My hand goes to the bandoleer strapped across my chest. Even though I’ve only worn it for half an hour or so, I’ve already fallen in love with it. The extra pockets are so handy and it feels so comfy.

  “Is it on wrong? Should it be on the other shoulder? I’ve never worn anything like this before.”

  “You’re wearing the colors...” she backs up a step, “No. The entire outfit of a sorceress. Do you have any idea what you’re saying when you wear those clothes?”

  “I’m hot?”

  Her expression remains tense even though I’m sure she must agree with my statement. It’s impossible to deny how good I look right now.

  Rose puts her hands on her hips. “You’re telling everyone you’re ready to fight, and you have the magic to take on anything.”

  “Oh, so that’s why everyone was avoiding me.” I consider it for a moment. “I can definitely make this work for me.”

  She shakes her head. “Continue wearing those clothes and someone will kill you. Maybe a wizard, but more likely some normal person who happens to be loyal to them. They have people everywhere.”

  “Please.” I roll my eyes. “I’m not worried about a few villagers. I’ve dealt with worse. Besides, this is Gran’s outfit. I’m wearing it to honor her. No way am I taking it off.”

  Rose’s lips narrow into a thin line as she glares at me. I can practically see her mind shifting through all of the arguments she could use against me, but it doesn’t matter which she chooses, I’m not changing. She seems to sense as much because she doesn’t say anything more. Instead, she turns and riffles through a rack of clothing before choosing a dark green, almost black, cloak.

  “At least put this on. It’s not perfect, but it might help.

  Although a part of me wants to refuse and proudly show off my Gran’s clothes, a much smarter part knows she’s right. It’s safer to be less noticeable. Besides, if I want any information from her, I need to work with her.

  I take the thick cloth and fling it over my shoulders. “Fine. But I need more from you than a cloak. I need information.”

  I shove the material on the table asid
e and place my journal in the space. When I open the page to the map, I notice it’s the same city I’d last seen, but with one major difference. The dragon is gone. Too bad. I wanted to see it again. All I can say is, it better be at the castle when I arrive or else this whole trip is a bust.

  Well, unless I find the bag for Lou, I guess.

  “I’m headed here,” I say. “Problem is, I have no idea where here is.”

  Rose stares at the image for a minute without any change in her expression. Not sure why, but I’d hoped for something more from her. Maybe an “oh...,” or “that’s interesting.” Even mild disinterest would have been better than a blank face.

  “Why?” she asks after way too long.

  If it was anyone else asking, I’d make something up. After all, my sister’s situation is none of their business and the less people who know about it, the better. But this is Rose. She’s the one who opened the second bag and brought Lou back after Stewart’s attack. She deserves an answer.

  “Gran left the map for me. It shows where the rest of Lou’s bags of magic are. Like the one you opened for us before, remember?” Her face doesn’t reveal any of her thoughts. “Anyway, one of them is at this location. All I need to know is the best way to get there.”

  She remains still for a long time. I’m about to poke her to see if she’s somehow become trapped in a petrifying spell when she blurts out, “Do you have any idea where this is?”

  I drop my half raised hand. “I wouldn’t be asking for directions if I did.”

  “This is the University.”

  She lets her words hang in the air, full of meaning I don’t understand. I wait, hoping she’ll elaborate, but she doesn’t.

  “I hear you,” I say. “I’m all for life experience over furthering your education, especially at the cost these days.”

  “The University,” she says. “The.”

  It takes me another second, but finally I clue in. “As in where Al went? The school where you learn how to be an asshole?”

  She frowns as though she disapproves of my description, but she also doesn’t correct me. “So, you see, the bag can’t be there. Because if it is, the wizards already have it and absorbed the magic long ago.”

  I take another peek at the book, examining the dark polished stone walls of the castle. Okay, so it looks ominous with its pointy towers, and, even without the dragon there’s still something dangerous about the place. Even the clouds shifting over the rest of the city bypass the castle as though they too try to avoid the area.

  Still, the map is from Gran. And if she put the bag there, there must be a safe way for me to get it back.

  “All I want to know is the best way to go there,” I say. “If you don’t want to help, that’s fine. I’ll find someone else.”

  The creases around her eyes deepen as she spends a moment thinking. If she’s trying to come up with a way to convince me not to go, I’m not having any of it. In fact, she can save her breath.

  “Fine.” I slam the journal shut and stuff it under my arm. “Forget I was ever here.”

  As I turn toward the exit, I feel her hand grab my arm. I’m about to shake her off since I’m not interested in hearing a lecture about how foolish I’m being, but she surprises me.

  “I’m going with you.”

  “I...” have no idea what to say. “No?”

  She flips through the rack of clothes again, this time pulling out a sky blue cloak for herself. It looks as though it was made for her outfit. Between the dark blue bodice and the off white of her dress, she gives the impression of being a maiden from some fantasy movie. I cringe at the thought, knowing they’re always the first to tire and start whining and generally make jerks of themselves. It would be like travelling with Lou all over again.

  “Bad idea,” I say. “You said it yourself. It’s dangerous. You could get killed.”

  “Without me, you will get killed.” She attaches the cloak to her shoulders with two simple steel brooches in the shapes of flowers. “Besides, I can’t stay here. Not since I now know Aldric is out there somewhere. If he’s not with Lou,” she cringes as she says her name. I don’t blame her. “Then the University is the most logical place to check.”

  This is not looking good. I recognize her determination as I’ve had the same look many times. I’ve never been good at convincing someone out of a bad idea. Into one is more my style. Still, I have to try.

  “Maybe he doesn’t want you to find him.” I know, I know. Low. But I need to do something. “Maybe there’s a reason why he never came back here after what happened with Stewart. Have you ever thought Al simply doesn’t like you?”

  She swallows once, and for a minute I think I have her. There’s no way she has the confidence to come with me now.

  But then she lifts her chin in defiance and I know I’m screwed.

  “If that’s so, then he’ll have to tell it to my face.” She walks past me toward the exit. “I’m going to find him.”

  “Are you really leaving?” The boy surprises me by speaking for the first time since I’ve arrived. Guess he’s not a mute after all. “What about Ma? And Lilly and everyone?”

  Perfect! He’s on my side. “You can’t leave your family without letting them know you’re going,” I say.

  Maybe if she goes to talk to them first, they’ll have better luck at convincing her to stay.

  “Briar.” She crouches down to his level and puts a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, but this is something I have to do. Please. Don’t tell the others. Let them know I’m okay, but don’t tell them where I’m going. I don’t want them coming after me. It’s too dangerous for any of them.”

  “Can I come too?” He grabs her skirt as though clinging on to her will make it impossible for her to say no.

  She smiles and stands. “Who would watch over the tent? I need you to take care of everything here while I’m gone. Think you can?”

  It’s clear to me he’d rather come with us, but I guess Rose is more convincing than I am since he nods a couple of times. A single tear runs down his cheek which he quickly wipes away.

  “Be good.” Rose kisses his forehead and rubs his head.

  She doesn’t nod or give me any sign she’s ready to go before straightening up, smoothing out her skirt and then taking off out of the tent and away from the village.

  I have to scramble to tie my journal back onto my hip and whistle for Farah in order to catch up with her. There goes my dream of a pleasant little adventure on my own.

  Chapter Four

  Rose is a faster walker than I expect. Especially for the first bit as we leave the village. I practically have to run to keep up with her, though once the village is no longer in view, she settles into a more comfortable pace for the both of us.

  “Is this a whim trip for you?” I ask after she confidently leads us to the left path when the road splits into two. “Or have you been planning it for a while?”

  “I’ve been planning to travel to the University most of my life.” She doesn’t sound sad like I’d expect, but instead as though she’s simply telling me facts. “The day they came and took Aldric, I thought about going after him. At first I wanted to join him. I’d have done anything to leave the village, but as I grew up I began hearing the truth of what happens to the boys who were trained. How they changed. Eventually I started making plans to rescue him.”

  “What stopped you?”

  She takes a minute to answer. “Fear. Mostly. And my family. I couldn’t bring myself to leave them.”

  I’ve been trying to figure out ways to leave my family since I was fourteen so I can’t understand why she’d have chosen to stay with hers. The fear makes sense, especially since she has no magic to defend herself.

  “I take it you know the way.” Obvious from the way she’s navigated the roads so far. “What else do you know? Do we have to pass through any labyrinths? Maybe fight a few goblins or a bridge troll?”

  She smiles and I think I almost managed to get
a chuckle out of her. “You sound much too interested in having those things happen. Luckily we’re in a densely populated area of the world. Most magical creatures have either been tamed or forced into hiding.” Her smile fades as she eyes the pastures around us. “We really only need to watch out for other people.”

  “Wizards.” After everything with Stewart and Borin, I completely understand her nervousness. My stomach clenches every time I think about how little effect my magic had on them.

  “Maybe,” she says, “but mostly they leave normal people alone unless we’re doing something particularly troublesome. I’m more concerned about bandits or other hooligans who might see two lone women as an easy target.”

  The idea of the same threats from my world existing in this one seems wrong somehow. Isn’t everything supposed to be bigger here somehow?

  “But this world is full of magic.” Do I need to remind her? If I lived here, I would never stop thinking about it. “Shouldn’t everyone be worried about that instead of attacking each other on the roads?”

  She shrugs. “The number of people with a connection to magic is relatively low. Those with it tend to live in their own heads, fighting their own battles while the rest of us continue on.”

  It’s not right. Is everyone blind? How could they not all want to control at least a tiny bit of magic to make their lives better? What a waste.

  We walk in silence for a while. “Is there at least a faster way?” I ask. “We’ll never arrive at this pace.”

  “Trust me,” she says.

  I wait a second, expecting her to say more. When she doesn’t, I ask, “Not going to give me a hint?” Nothing. “Is it giant birds? Are we going to ride giant talking birds?”

  Farah growls and spits a few sparks in my direction, telling me what she thinks of the idea. I swing my foot, but she easily dodges out of the way. This only makes her more excited as she starts prancing around. She dips down while growling at me and then takes off at an alarming speed.