Tran appeared at my side.
“Here, you may want this.” He held out my dagger.
I checked my belt. The sheath was empty.
“Grool has the unfortunate habit of collecting artifacts. It doesn’t seem to matter where he finds them or who he finds them belonging to.” Tran smiled.
“Thanks.” I slid the dagger back in its sheath.
“Interesting item. If I may, how did it come into your possession?”
“I found it. In a creek.”
Tran’s pale blue eyes studied my face, but his mind was somewhere else.
“Do you know what it says?” I asked.
Tran looked at the blade. “I believe you must discover that for yourself.”
Grool walked by and his eyes flashed to my dagger, grumbling and scowling all the way.
Everyone said their goodbyes; the Del Contes thanked Tran repeatedly for his hospitality.
“Oh, and, Cicero,” Tran said. “Follow the rounded symbol of your compass. That should be the most direct.” He winked.
Cicero nodded. “Thank you, Master Tran.”
Grool led them out the door, but Tran stopped me before I could follow. When I turned around, his expression was earnest.
“Do not fear your future, child. The fire in you burns strong, but is too volatile. I know you desire answers, but it isn’t time for them yet. Be patient with the Del Contes. They are doing everything they can to help you. Trust them.”
I sighed. “I’m not sure I can.”
Tran placed his hand on my shoulder. “You should not cast judgments on what you do not understand. There is a responsibility that comes with knowledge, and, in your case, it is not a responsibility that I would be anxious for. There are great evils in this world—greater than you can begin to imagine—that would do anything to attain that knowledge. So we must do everything in our power to protect it, even if it means not telling you. But when the time comes, which is not far, I’ve no doubt that you will be more than able to manage it. ”
And with that, he and his entire house disappeared.
Tran was right. Cicero followed the rounded symbol on his compass, and it took us all of one day to reach our destination. Much faster than we had anticipated. But that last day was never ending.
What would I say to Dad? Where would I even start? It felt like ages since we had sat in our Subaru, arguing about my future—the future he wouldn’t disclose to me then. I had been adamant about moving forward. Would I have been as desperate for change if I’d known this was going to happen?
Tran’s words had imprinted themselves on my brain. There is a responsibility that comes with knowledge. What was this supposed responsibility? As much as I wanted to trust this family I’d known all my life, time only proved that I couldn’t rely on them.
Alex rode in silence, bringing up the rear of our procession. His withdrawing continued. Not even my ability to sense his emotions could penetrate the barrier he was building. It was like the time before he left—shrinking back into himself, his face a mask of emotion. It hurt all over again.
I couldn’t ask him about it. I tried to convince myself that my fear of confrontation had nothing to do with this Vera girl who managed to weave her way into every fleeting thought and feeling I had. But my mind kept returning to her, along with the realization that he hadn’t denied anything. As far as I knew, he could be dating her. And, although I didn’t quite understand why, it was the deciding factor that made it difficult for me to say anything to him.
The sunlight became softer, the shadows became longer, and Cicero stopped.
The trees here were grand—the grandest I’d seen—verdant and buzzing with life, covered in thick layers of bright green moss. The earth was dark with moisture, soft and pliable as I stood upon it. Soft chirps and melodies rang high in the trees, vines swaying in the light breeze. The air here was rich and aromatic. Just through the trees I caught a glimmer. Water. We’d reached Lake Amadis.
And for all its grandeur—for all its magic—a difficult truth began to set in.
I was off Calyx before anyone said a word. “He’s not here.” My voice was flat.
Cicero exchanged a look with his wife.
“No. Not yet.” Cicero’s voice was too calm for my liking.
The others dismounted. The air was cool, and the breeze rustled through the trees, announcing its arrival even before it brushed over my skin. Cicero and Alex went to hunt for our dinner, and Sonya sat, mending arrows beside the fire she had made.
“Can I check to see if Stefan’s written?” I asked.
Sonya didn’t look up. “He hasn’t.”
“How do you know? Have you checked?”
“I will. Once Cicero returns.”
I watched her, attaching silver and green feathers to the end of an arrow, and my frustration surged. Her pack was right beside her, the pack that contained the book.
Later, once they fell asleep, I would read it myself and plan my course of action.
Be patient with them. You know they are just trying to keep you safe.
No. I was done being patient.
Sonya and I sat in silence: her preoccupied with arrows, me simmering in frustrations. He was supposed to be here. We were running behind. And he should’ve been waiting.
I could take Cicero’s maps or his compass—which direction should I go first? But I’d feel guilty if I left them without the means to return. Best leave Cicero’s compass to him—after all, I couldn’t even read it. After about an hour of silent planning, I decided I needed to move and clear my head. “Mind if I walk along the lake for a bit?”
She looked up and smiled, but it failed to touch her eyes. “Not at all.”
I started to walk away when she spoke again. “Oh, and take your time. We’ll have dinner ready when you return.”
“So you can discuss things without me,” I mumbled and kept walking.
I meandered through the dense foliage; brilliant blue glistened ahead. The breeze whispered through the trees, and the melodic chiming sounded again. This time it was right overheard. Craning my neck to focus, I peered up into the green. Thick vines cascaded from above, but there was something mixed in with them. Smaller vines shaded a silvery blue. Clusters of them hung amidst the green like tinsel in the forest, and as the breeze blew through them, they clanged against one another, filling the air with harmonious melodies. Natural chimes.
I took a step forward when something squeaked at my feet.
I glanced down at a cluster of white mushrooms with large black spots. The biggest one stood directly at my feet, its umbrella tilted back as if it had eyes and was looking up at me.
Just as I was thinking I’d imagined the squeaky sound, it moved.
It scrambled off into the bushes with a trail of smaller mushrooms following right behind, all of them squeaking angrily along the way.
I sighed. Once I found my dad, I would ask him to take me far away from here—preferably somewhere without plants.
When I emerged from the tree cover, my breath caught. A crystal clear blue lake filled the crevice between mountains still covered in winter’s snow. Bright orange and yellow flowers rimmed the perimeter, filling spaces where trees weren’t, their vivid shades just as rich on the water’s reflective surface. The lake rippled gently in the soft breeze beneath a sky streaked with shades of bright orange and blazing pink. The moss covered ground tried to dip its fingers into the water, disappearing just beneath the surface.
I took off my boots, pushed up my leathers and stepped in the water. It was cold to the touch, but refreshing. It had been days since I’d had a bath. I braved a glimpse of myself in my reflection. My eyes were sunken, my long hair a tangled mess and there were dark streaks of dirt on my cheeks. I really did look like a refugee. No wonder I’d frightened the mushrooms away.
I scooped up handfuls of water, wiping them over my face. The thought crossed my mind to just get it over with and take a bath, but the cool breeze deterred me. I
didn’t want to air dry in this cold evening air. Plus, seeing how the water here was so clear and pure, it didn’t seem right tainting it with my filth.
The perimeter curved until I stood at a small inlet, a single large boulder standing in the center of it. I stopped walking and gazed at the pristine lake. The water rolled gently, lapping at the base of the boulder. The breeze lifted strands of my hair into my face, and for a moment I closed my eyes, allowing my senses to drink in the nature around them. The sound of the water licking at the shore, the cool air tickling my skin, its fresh scent filling my lungs. My mind shut down. All my frustration, all my anxiety, all my planning, all of my doubts—they were lost in the tranquility of my surroundings. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to be alone.
Over the course of the past week, I’d been forced to deal with everything under constant surveillance. Soon I would have Cicero’s map in my hands, and Calyx, my devoted traveling companion. After tonight, I’d be alone, like I was right now.
But when I opened my eyes, I realized I wasn’t alone.
Something shimmered on the lake’s surface, off to my left. At first I thought it was a reflection, but when I noticed the glimmer was localized, I wasn’t so sure.
The shimmer moved.
Swirls of water twisted and bubbled, flowing swiftly across the surface of the water, straight for the boulder. It paused, swirling and bubbling in place, and then continued forward—a small, localized current of water—moving straight for the rock.
Curious, I took a step forward and the movement ceased.
For a few minutes, the water was still, the evening quiet.
The bubbling returned, but more violently this time. The water churned and swirled, and then it rushed towards me.
I took a quick step backwards and froze. A narrow column of water rose from the lake’s surface. Water fell away, leaving behind a girl. Her skin was ivory, her hair long and golden as it floated around her face like she was still underwater. Her slender, elegant frame was covered in a shimmering gown seemingly made of water. Two exotic blue eyes stared at me as she raised one of her delicate fingers to her full red lips. Then she pointed beyond me.
My eyes followed the direction of her finger. There, spread out on a rock, was a familiar white shirt, brown pants, a pair of leather boots, and a sheathed sword. Alex’s clothes.
When I turned back around, her large red lips pulled up into a smile, and she disappeared back into the water.
I couldn’t believe it. This woman, magical creature—whatever she was—was spying on Alex, and she expected me to stand by and let her.
I wasn’t sure what to do. Should I let him know? My pride said to leave him be. He obviously wasn’t dressed and I didn’t need him thinking I was spying on him.
Except, if I was bathing, and someone had been spying on me, I would want to be told—immediately.
My mind was made up.
I took one step back in the water. “Alex.”
The bubbling surged and the girl appeared before me. This time, her face was livid. She glided forward, arms extended as if to embrace me, but just as I braced for contact, her shape disappeared, transforming into water—water that washed over my entire body.
The surface of the lake stilled, and I was left drenched, freezing, and overwhelmed with Alex’s amusement.
Heat licked up my neck and face as I glanced up. Alex’s head was poking out from the side of the boulder, his dark hair matted to his head, part of his bare chest exposed. And I felt ridiculous.
His brow was arched and he had a smirk on his face. “I never knew you for a spy.”
Don’t think of him naked….don’t think of him naked….
My cheeks burned. “I thought you were hunting.”
“I was.”
His amusement rolled over me in waves.
This was what I got for being nice.
“Do you normally bathe with your clothes on?” he asked.
My blood ran hot as he eyed me up and down. I scowled. “Do you normally bathe with an audience?”
He looked satisfied. “So you were spying on me.”
“No…I….she…” I stammered, pointing at the water as his smirk stretched slowly into a smile. “You’re impossible.”
He stared at me with that stupid grin on his face as I glared back at him, starting to freeze. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold in my body heat and my composure—any ounce of pride I had left.
“Aren’t you cold?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, then why are you just standing there with that look on your face?”
He raised a brow. “You do realize my clothes are behind you.”
My entire body felt like it was burning from the inside out.
“Well, are you going to turn around or not?” Alex asked.
Flustered, I spun around and shut my eyes tight. Alex chuckled as he moved through the water. Why in the world did I feel so embarrassed? I wasn’t the one naked.
I felt him walk behind me and listened for his soft steps as he moved to his clothes.
“I wasn’t spying on you.”
He didn’t respond. It sounded like he was pulling on his boots.
“Really,” I continued. “There was this girl, only she came out of the water and she wasn’t like any girl I’ve ever seen…”
“That was Amadis.”
“That thing has a name?”
“She—” I heard him tug on his other boot “—protects this lake.”
I was appalled. “Wait, you knew she was watching you take a bath?”
“Daria, honestly, I didn’t see her. Besides, I don’t exactly have any other options, now do I? Unlike you, I like going to bed dry.”
I couldn’t see, my fingers and toes were going numb, and I was now standing in a puddle of my own precipitation. It seemed to be taking Alex a bit longer than necessary. I wouldn’t put it past him, in our current situation, to make getting dressed a drawn out affair.
My irritation surged. “What are you doing? Ironing your shirt?”
Nothing.
“Have I ever mentioned how adorable you are when you’re angry?”
I opened my eyes. He was standing before me fully clothed, his dark hair dripping around his face. His green eyes were bright with amusement, and that arrogant smirk was still on his face.
I’d had it.
I yanked up my boots and marched past him, back towards camp.
He chuckled, bounding after me.
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” I said over my shoulder.
“You wouldn’t.”
He caught up and walked beside me. I could feel him watching me, but he said nothing else.
When we returned to camp, Cicero and Sonya were seated beside the blazing fire with a kettle right beside it. They eyed us as we approached, glancing from Alex to me with a startling amount of apprehension.
“Should I even ask?” Cicero looked at Alex.
Alex plopped down on a log. “Daria made a new friend today.” He smiled at me.
I rolled my eyes and sat beside the fire, trying to warm my fingers and toes.
Cicero grinned. “Ah, you met Amadis.”
“Yes, I met Amadis.” I motioned to my drenched clothing.
Sonya got to her feet and walked over to me. “I’m sorry, I forgot to warn you. Amadis doesn’t like other females—definitely not attractive ones—and especially not when men are present. She’s…insecure.”
Alex snickered and began eating his dinner. I had the sudden urge to walk over and hit him.
“Here.” Sonya handed me a bowl of steaming broth before I could act. “This should help.”
“Thanks.” I took the bowl from her hands, letting the contents warm my insides.
I didn’t speak the remainder of dinner. Everyone must have sensed my mood, because no one tried to make me. Once I was done eating, I crawled under my blankets and shut my eyes. This night I would wait until they were all sleeping
. Then I would take matters into my own hands.
****
The darkness was impenetrable.
The air was stale, cold. Everywhere I turned, I could see nothing but pure, thick black.
A wall of light cut through the night. My eyes fought to make sense of it. To adjust to the white, or adjust to the dark. Either made it impossible to adjust completely.
A large shadow filled the bright column. It was the silhouette of a man, veiled by a thick cloak. He took a single step forward and something creaked shut behind him.
The darkness returned but for a single candle spilling its glow into the empty square room. There was a man, hunched in one corner. Shackles bound his hands and feet and his head was covered with a black sack.
“You are a fool,” hissed the cloaked man, his voice seething with hatred.
It was a voice that rang familiarity in my ears. It was the voice from the portal. The dark rider.
The cloaked figure took another step towards the man and that malevolent voice continued. “I warned you what happen if you failed to cooperate. I had hoped you would see reason.”
The prisoner tensed. I could taste his fear, his agony.
“I’ll ask once more,” continued the sharp tone. “Where is it?”
Silence.
In one swift movement, the veiled man yanked the prisoner up by his collar, holding him inches above the ground. The prisoner struggled to keep his head lifted so that air could reach his lungs, legs and arms thrashing as he tried to relieve the pressure at his neck.
Beneath the hood of the cloaked man, white eyes burned. “Know this. I will find it, and when I do, I will give no pardon to its bearer. Remember, this is your doing.”
With a flick of a wrist, the prisoner was slammed against the wall and sunk back to the ground.
“Curse you…Tiernan,” the prisoner said in a barely discernable voice.
Tiernan reached deep into the folds of his cloak and pulled out a translucent cord. It wriggled and writhed in his hands, its hisses and shrieks revolting. Tiernan held it before his white eyes, watching the object struggle in his grip.
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