by Blair Drake
“And according to the map, this is where we should find the cave that hides the golden stone.”
Rylan nodded.
Willow drew closer. “May I see?”
Jasper stepped back a little to give her more room. She moved into the gap he created and stared down at the book. “This is still some distance away and much of the terrain looks steep and rough. We have to move quickly if we want to reach the cave in time.”
Jasper regarded her steadily. “Yes.”
Rylan closed the book with a thump and returned it to his knapsack. “Don’t worry. We’ll make it. We haven’t come this far to fail now. Right, Jasper?”
Rylan stared up at him, his expression full of confidence. Jasper felt the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. The healer was counting on him to make it before the next full moon, which wasn’t very far off. Only the night before, Jasper had contemplated its large golden glow and realized their time was fast running out.
Filled with a sudden sense of urgency, he packed up his gear and started heading up the hill, leaving the others to follow.
Jasper stood on top of the rise and took a moment to catch his breath. Willow and Rylan were still some way behind him. Rylan’s steps were becoming increasingly slow and both Jasper and Willow had shortened their stride to keep pace with him. A part of Jasper chafed at the delay, but he also realized Rylan couldn’t walk any faster. Jasper certainly didn’t want to put the old man under more stress. Another heart attack might just kill him. After coming all this way and going through so much, Jasper refused to allow that to happen.
He turned to survey the landscape and the vast plains far below. According to the map, they needed to traverse the grasslands before entering the forest to begin the final leg of their journey. At least the terrain up ahead was flat. Once they made it down the side of the hill, it would be far easier going. At least, that’s what he hoped.
“How much further?” Rylan gasped, finally clearing the top.
“You’re doing well, old man,” Jasper replied, avoiding the question. There was no point in telling Rylan they still had a good two days’ walk to go. Besides, he was sure the healer already knew that. He was sick and ailing, but his mind was as sharp as ever.
“Is that the way we’re headed?” The question came from Willow. She pointed to the vast plains below them.
Jasper nodded. “Yes. At least it will be easier going there.”
She acknowledged his comment with a nod. “It looks so far away. Do we have to cross to the other side?”
“Yes. According to Rylan’s map, the cave is buried in the forest.” Jasper pointed in front of him. “See that tree line in the distance?”
“Yes.”
He turned to face her, his gaze steady on hers. “That’s where we’re headed.”
Rylan remained silent. Staring out into the distance, his expression troubled. Jasper wondered if the healer was questioning his ability to make it that far.
“You’re doing well, Rylan,” he repeated quietly. “You’re tougher than you know. The way hasn’t been easy, and yet you’re here. Not much longer, now. Stay strong.”
Rylan turned his gaze on Jasper. Tears shimmered in the old man’s eyes. “I don’t want to be a burden, Jasper. I’m holding ye back.”
“Nonsense!” Jasper admonished. “I need to rest as much as anyone. Besides, this is your quest as much as mine. Without you, it doesn’t make sense. Our futures were predestined, remember? You were the one who told me that. You and I are joined together in this until the very end.”
Rylan gave a small, sad smile and patted Jasper on the back. “Ye are a good boy, Jasper. Yer father must be very proud of ye.”
Jasper thought about Roger Walker, the man who worked so hard to provide for his family. To do that, he spent long hours away from home. His mother was also dedicated to her job. Jasper understood his parents showed love through their work efforts and what they could provide for their son, but it would have been nice to have more time with his parents at home. To play ball together, catch a movie, go to a game. Jasper would happily have given up his private school education if it meant his parents didn’t have to work so hard to cover the cost of his tuition and could be home more often. He wished he’d found the courage to tell them that.
Now he was in his final weeks of school, and soon he’d go off to college. The days when he might have spent all his free time at home were gone and with it any chance of really getting to know his parents. The short time he spent with Rylan showed him how important it was to spend quality time together, and he was made very aware of how much he missed not having that kind of closeness with his parents.
Jasper came to a halt. He threw his arm across Rylan’s shoulders and pulled him in for a hug. Jasper was surprised and alarmed at how frail the man felt. Releasing his hold, he set him gently away.
“It’s the curse,” Rylan quietly confided, noticing the expression on Jasper’s face. “The longer it has me under its power, the sooner I face my death. I’m aging at a faster and faster pace. I feel it in my bones. I’m tired and sore and aching. Even when I sleep, I don’t get any rest. The darkness is closing in, Jasper. It’s going to catch me, and then I’ll die. We’re not going to make it. We’ve come this far and we’re not going to make it…”
Jasper grabbed Rylan’s shirtfront. “No! Don’t speak like that! I refuse to listen to your words of defeat. We will make it! I’ll find that damn stone and this curse will be broken. Do you understand?”
In his frustration, he shook Rylan hard. Willow stepped forward in alarm.
“Leave him alone,” she rebuked him quietly.
Jasper swallowed an oath. “I’m just trying to get him to dig deep and believe in this mission of ours. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t even be here! None of this would be happening! Somehow, he managed to bring me here, and I’m not leaving until I accomplish my goal. I’m going to free him from King Defyron’s spell, as the history books will show, but I need him to believe in me. I need him to stay strong.”
Rylan pulled out of Jasper’s hold and sat down with a heavy sigh. “All right, Jasper. Ye have made yer point. Leave Willow alone. She’s only worried about me, like any good daughter should be. And I love her for it.”
He gave her a tremulous smile, and she immediately fell to her knees by his side. Taking his gnarled hand in hers, she held it up to her cheek. “Oh, Papa! I love you, too! And I hate seeing ye so down. Listen to Jasper. He knows what he’s doing. He’s going to make this happen! I know he will! And then ye will be young again, and we can live our lives the way we should have before King Defyron interfered.”
Rylan merely patted her shoulder and remained silent, as if any further words were beyond what he could manage. Jasper blew out his breath on a frustrated sigh and walked away.
Drawing in a deep breath, he allowed his anger to dissipate. There was no point getting mad at Rylan. The healer was only stating the facts. Jasper was well aware of the man’s failing health, and as far as they’d come, they still had a long way to go.
But he refused to give up now—not when they were so close. He was confident he could complete the mission. Hadn’t he been sent there to bring an end to the curse? It was written in the Book of Griffin, foretold by seers unknown. It wasn’t up to him to change the course of history. All he could do was play his part and see the thing was done.
“He’s fading fast,” Willow said quietly, coming up beside Jasper.
“Yes, but we need to get to the forest. We need to find that cave. I know I can break the spell if I’m given half a chance, and Rylan will then return to the way he should be.”
She gazed at him, her tawny eyes troubled. “What if he doesn’t make it?”
Jasper stared back at her, sheer stubbornness and determination stiffening his spine. “He will.”
“But—”
Jasper put his finger to her lips. The action reminded them of the kiss they’d shared the previous night. He c
ould see by the bright flare of emotion illuminating her eyes that she also remembered.
“Do you trust me?” he asked softly.
She stared at him and nodded. “Yes.”
“Then believe me when I tell you your father’s going to make it.”
Her gaze remained locked on his. Finally, she nodded. “Okay.”
Jasper took her hand in his and squeezed it, satisfied. “Let’s get our things together and keep moving. We need to cover as much ground as possible before dark. Let’s hope we make it off this hill. It will be rough sleeping, otherwise.”
She chuckled, and the sound of it lightened Jasper’s heart. They would do this. Together, they’d defeat the King. It couldn’t be any other way.
It was many hours later that the three of them limped into a clearing sparsely populated by baobab trees. Rylan had remained quiet during the final hours of light. Willow set about finding something for them to eat among the tall grass and came back with two fat hares. Jasper used Rylan’s flint and pyrite to make a fire. When the kindling he’d gathered ignited, and a tiny flame curled in the air, he was filled with satisfaction.
Later, they curled up by the fire, drowsy from the long day. Rylan’s gentle snores told them the healer had succumbed to sleep. Willow curled up next to Jasper, and he held her close to his side. She felt so good in his arms—like she was meant to be there. If she was born in his time, they’d already be a couple, of that he had no doubt.
But life was complicated. He’d traveled through a portal to another place and time. She belonged in a century and a land foreign to him, as much as his world was foreign to her. And yet, he wanted to be with her. It was as simple and complex as that.
He had no answers, no inkling of what to do. All he knew was he didn’t want to lose her. Pressing a kiss against her hair, he sighed quietly at the thought of what lay ahead of them and finally settled down to get some rest.
Chapter 16
The sound of a horse snorting brought Jasper awake with a start. The sound was so normal, so much a sound from his world, for a moment he forgot where he was. The dawn was just breaking, and it took his eyes a moment to adjust to the dim light, but when they did, he sat up with a start.
Three white horses stood patiently on the other side of the fire. It had died down through the night, and only a handful of coals were still alight. The smoke drifted lazily up into the air, picked up by a gentle breeze. He stared at the horses and wondered if they were figments of his imagination. And then one of them snorted again and this time, pawed at the ground. It was like the animal had grown impatient, demanding some kind of response.
Jasper rubbed at his eyes with his fists and blinked away the sleep. The horses remained where they were, eyeing him with abject curiosity. Slowly, he came to his feet, convinced they were real. He walked up to the one of them, the one that seemed to look right into his soul.
Reaching out, he rubbed his hand slowly up and down the horse’s head. Its nostrils flared wide as it registered his scent. Over and over, he patted the horse until it nuzzled him, looking for treats.
“Sorry, old fella. You’re out of luck.” Jasper chuckled.
The other two horses crowded around, both seeking attention. Jasper patted them on the head and shoulder, admiring their muscled legs. Once again, he wondered where they came from. They were tame enough to handle and looked well fed. Their coats were clean and snowy white, unstained by the red earth on which they stood.
They’d appeared out of nowhere, like they’d fallen from the sky. Are they bewitched? Is that the answer? Is magic involved once again? Of course it was.
He shook his head ruefully at the direction of his thoughts. A few weeks earlier, he’d have laughed like crazy for giving such ideas a home. Now, after spending time on Ardhi, he believed in lots of things, including magic. It was strange but also somehow encouraging his thought processes had changed...matured.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”
Jasper turned at the sound of Rylan’s voice. The old man struggled to his feet. Though he looked better than the night before, it was obvious his strength was failing. He hobbled over to Jasper, his steps slower than usual, and patted one of the horses on the nose.
“I don’t know where they came from. They were here when I woke,” Jasper explained.
Rylan chuckled and shook his head. “It’s just as I said, boy. Our future is predestined. Do ye remember that picture I showed ye so long ago? The one that looked like ye?”
“Yes.”
“What was the boy doing?”
“He was in the middle of a fierce battle. There were weird creatures flying all over the place. Some were lying dead and wounded…” Jasper shuddered at the memory.
“What were ye riding?” Rylan asked, his voice low and direct.
Memories crashed into Jasper’s mind and his eyes widened. “A white horse.”
Rylan nodded in satisfaction and looked meaningfully in the direction of the beasts. “Yes, a white horse.”
All of a sudden, Jasper was filled with fear. He clutched at Rylan’s shirtfront. “What does it mean?”
Rylan regarded him somberly. “It means the battle is near.”
Jasper’s heart skipped a beat and then took off at a wild gallop. “Surely you’re not suggesting the scene depicted in the Book of Griffin is real?”
“Of course it’s real,” Rylan replied. “I told ye, our lives are predestined. Someone else chartered our course. It’s up to us to ride the waves as best we can.”
“But…but that scene depicted an awful battle. Death and destruction were everywhere.”
Rylan nodded sagely. “Yes. But don’t forget where ye were in the thick of it.”
Panic tightened Jasper’s nerves. “But what about you? And Willow? Where were you in that scene?”
Rylan shrugged and looked resigned. “That I cannot say.”
Jasper shook his head, his panic increasing. “What do you mean, you can’t say? You just said our lives are predestined. You must know what happens to you and Willow in that battle!”
Once again, Rylan shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t, boy. And that’s the truth.”
Jasper stared at him in bewilderment. “But if I’m in that battle, you must be, too. And so must Willow. We’re all here, right now, along with the horses. You told me King Defyron would find out about my arrival and do everything he could to stop me from achieving my goal. He’s behind this battle, isn’t he?”
Rylan held his gaze, his expression grim. “That be my guess.”
Jasper accepted his comment with a brief nod. “You say the battle is drawing near. I need to know what happens to you and Willow. I need to know you’re going to be okay.”
Rylan looked at him with resignation. Sadness glinted in his eyes. “I wish it was that easy, Jasper. Yes, our lives are predestined, but we don’t know the ins and outs of every turn. I’m guessing ye are right when ye say Willow and I will be caught up in this battle, but I don’t know which ones of us will survive.”
“No! That can’t be right! I forbid it! I won’t let either of you die!”
“They’re very brave and noble words, boy, but the truth is we’re all powerless to decide. The battle will happen and death will occur. Whoever survives is not for us to say.”
“But that’s not fair!” Jasper cried.
“Who said anything about fairness? Life isn’t fair, boy. I thought ye would have worked that out by now.”
Jasper turned away, anxious and sick at heart. If Rylan were right, the battle was imminent, and it was clear from the drawings it would be a harsh and terrible fight. What would he do if Rylan was killed? Or Willow, the love of his life? He couldn’t go on.
Should he forget about his quest and let the golden stone stay where it was? But then he’d be stuck in this time warp forever, disconnected from all else he held dear. It was an impossible situation, and the very thought of what lay ahead filled him with terror and dread and fear
.
As if sensing his turmoil, the horses grew restless, snorting and pawing at the ground. Rylan came up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Jasper tensed.
“Don’t fret about it, boy,” the old man said gently. “What will be, will be. Ye have done all I could have asked of ye, and I’m so proud of the man ye have become. The battle will be fought and won. Who makes it to the other side, we’re yet to see. But know this: Ye have done all ye could to break this spell. If we don’t make it to the cave, it wasn’t meant to be.”
Jasper wanted to rail against the defeat in Rylan’s tone, but he knew the man was just being practical. No one knew the outcome of the battle ahead. Jasper just had to accept what Rylan said: What would be, would be.
A few moments later, Willow stirred. When she caught sight of the three horses, her eyes grew wide. She jumped to her feet and hurried over to them, looking from one to the other then back to Jasper and her father.
“Horses? How amazing! They’re all so tame! Where did they come from?”
Jasper shrugged and left Rylan to offer the explanations. He was relieved when Rylan made no mention of the upcoming battle. With the outcome so uncertain, it was best Willow didn’t know. After a quick breakfast of leftover hare, they packed up and hit the road. Rylan found some thick vines, and Willow fashioned them into bridles and reins. They shouldered their backpacks and climbed on bareback, ready for whatever lay ahead.
Though Jasper had never ridden without a saddle, he quickly became accustomed to the sway of the horse. The going was much faster, and it wasn’t long before the tree line they headed for was in direct sight. Willow turned to him with a smile.
“These horses were sent from the gods, I’m sure. We’re going to make that cave with time to spare! Ye are going to find that stone and break the spell. Papa’s going to be free of the curse once and for all!”
Jasper wished he could join in her excitement. The knot of dread forming in his belly at the reminder of the battle morphed into an icy lump. It weighed him down, consumed his thoughts, and had him jumping at every sound. Willow threw him a curious glance, and he forced himself to smile.
