Looking back up at Zeftx, she saw him staring out the window into the trees. His eyes lit up and he mouthed the word ‘look’. She followed his gaze out the window where she spotted a tiny boy carrying a bow and arrow who appeared to be seven or eight years old. To Lara he looked just like a young Robin Hood. She smiled. After the little boy had passed she looked back at Zeftx.
“That was a cupid,” he told her. “They search the forest for hermits to strike with those charmed arrows. Each one looks like a small boy or girl but they are really hundreds of years old.”
“That’s amazing!” Lara exclaimed, her eyes dazzling. This forest seemed full of magical creatures she’d only dreamed of. There were gypsies and cupids…as well as gargoyles. She shuddered remembering the gargoyles from the night before. Lara couldn’t imagine anything else in her entire lifetime that could compare to the experience.
Zeftx noticed her shuddering and offered more tea to help her relax. She shook her head in refusal. He hesitated before taking her empty mug to wash at the sink. Lara stayed seated in her chair and went back to looking out the window.
Just a few feet away from the wall she could see Jade’s oven surrounded by stones as big as books. The oven itself was beige in color, very natural and neutral looking, smoothly shaped into a dome-like figure. The face of the structure had a square opening carved out of it so that a fire could be lit and contained inside making up a very basic and effective oven for cooking or baking.
Lara’s attention was diverted by the glinting of the sun as it bounced off the wings of two tiny beings flying past. Fairies, Lara thought in awe. They fluttered their shimmering dragonfly shaped wings and whizzed around in playful circles with one chasing the other. Lara watched them in fascination, they looked just like sparkling miniature people with brilliantly conspicuous orange hair and bold freckles specked all over their tiny faces. Lara immediately thought of her friend Eli who had been a carrot top his whole life. The resemblance was impossible to ignore.
She didn’t realize that they had seen her too until both came flying up to the window and landed neatly on the windowsill. They were so amazing to look at, the female fairy was dressed in what looked like little flower petals looped together and sewn in place using the veins from a blade of grass. It made such a pretty little dress that Lara blushed after staring at her so long. The fairy girl didn’t seem to mind at all. She twirled agilely on the edge of the sill without slipping, displaying her dress to Lara proudly.
The male fairy was bare-chested but his trousers looked like they were made out of green flower buds stitched together in much the same way. On both of their feet were wooly white stockings that came as high as mid-calf. The image of dandelion seeds being blown through the air attached to fluffy white stems flitted across Lara’s mind and suddenly she wished she could ask if they had used them to make their leggings. As hard as she looked Lara just couldn’t tell for sure.
Completely unafraid they pressed their faces against the glass and looked back at her. When Lara smiled they did too and waved their arms in big enthusiastic arcs. Lara giggled and waved back slowly. They seemed satisfied with the short interlude and took off, lunging into the air and flying out of sight. Lara watched them go, still staring out the window into the world of Emmitaenu as she silently mused over everything she was learning.
CHAPTER 6
After washing up, Jade chose to wear another of her long airy black skirts, this time with a silken black blouse instead of a cotton white one like she wore the day before. She still wore the many silver necklaces which were enhanced by her dark attire.
Her favorite necklace was a silver pentagram that she kept on at all times. It had been a gift from Tide, making it her most treasured accessory. For at least a pinch of color, Jade buckled on a myriad of decorative belts. Lastly she slipped on a multitude of gangly silver bracelets over her skinny wrists and clipped two large hoops to her earlobes before rejoining the others in the kitchen.
As soon as she entered, Lara jumped up from the table with a nervous expression on her face.
“Jade! Can we go find my home now?” Lara’s anxiety had skyrocketed after thinking about Zeftx’s story and she ambushed Jade the minute she returned to the room.
“I need to get back soon, my parents aren’t supposed to return from their anniversary trip till Monday but I don’t want to take any chances...What day is it?” The thought of Zeftx never seeing his parents again had overcome her with new fears and doubts of ever seeing hers either.
Jade tried not to frown but couldn’t stop herself. She couldn’t blame Lara for wanting to go home but it had been so very long since she last had company. In truth, it had been seven long, solitary years. By the immortals, forty-two suddenly felt so old! In that time, her hair had been marred by stress and turned streaks of silver throughout its long inky black tresses.
Of course she had Zeftx who was like a son to her and she would never regret her choice. Jade wouldn’t trade anything for the time they’d lived just the two of them together in their little hut, not even for a key to the immortal kingdom itself!
She just missed her old life now and again. It wasn’t natural for a gypsy to settle in one place for so long, living with so few. She could admit to herself that she missed the traveling, grouping up in new bands everywhere she went, and being surrounded by dozens of interesting people all the time. And the dancing with bon fires as big as wagons! She thought with fondness. Sighing, Jade put away her memories. She put them away easily because she could also admit to herself and anyone else that she had enjoyed so much in her new life as well. Jade stopped frowning.
“My dear, it’s Saturday,” she answered at last, “Zeftx, darling, is going to help us find the place where we met just as soon as we’re all ready. If we can find that spot, perhaps you will recognize which way to go from there.” Jade had meant to sound hopeful but Lara just frowned and looked down at her hands in her lap. She looked utterly miserable. Jade turned to Zeftx with her brows raised high in question. He gave her a quick shrug to say he didn’t understand any better than she did. Stepping closer to Lara, he gently placed one hand on her shoulder.
“Are you ready?” He asked when she looked back up at him, meeting his eyes with her own guilt ridden pair.
“Yes, thank you. I didn’t mean to disrespect your hospitality or anything,” she replied in a quiet voice.
“Oh Leprechauns’ follies, you’ve done no such thing,” Jade interjected. “Now dearies, if we’re all ready, I say we set out and find our treasure, X, I believe, marks the spot!” Lara laughed at that and Jade gave her a big grin topped off with an exaggerated wink.
Jade was glad to see Lara back to smiling with all that worry wiped off her face. Before walking out the door Jade surprised Lara by handing her a red cloak with gold ribbon trim and embroidered golden moons and stars. Lara just looked at it, the colors were so rich and vibrant, and the fabric was soft but not too heavy. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s good to wear when you’re in the forest for very long,” Jade suggested with a smile. She pulled on an equally beautiful solid black cloak made out of velvet. Zeftx’s cloak fell to his ankles and was made of brown leather. He tied it at the neck and all you could see underneath were his brown leather boots. Then he put all his weight and strength into opening the front door for Jade and Lara instead of breezing right through the wall as he would usually do.
Lara was able to relax a bit more the moment they stepped outside. It was exceptionally bright out and there was still dew on the ground. It was Saturday morning and they were off to an early start; so she felt she could breathe easy for a while. Lara followed Jade and Zeftx as they took off at a brisk pace along the dirt path.
While the two of them compared theories on where they should start looking first, Lara went on examining the cloak she wore and wondered if Jade had made it herself. While she was looking down at her sleeve, checking out the pretty gold thread that made up the moons and stars Lara bumped
into Zeftx’s back by accident. He spun around so fast that her heart leapt into her throat and she reacted belatedly by taking a step in reverse. He gave her an apologetic smile and she had a hard time swallowing her heart, because now all of a sudden it wanted to stay up there.
For a second he just stood there smiling and looking at her with such open eyes. Again she was overwhelmed by how handsome he was. Jade was still walking and talking, she didn’t realize they’d stopped. Zeftx blinked once or twice before his lavender swirling eyes turned a midnight blue then neutral grey and he turned back around. Lara didn’t have time to smile back; apparently she was still too occupied with eating her heart out. She gulped.
CHAPTER 7
Zeftx went back to batting around ideas with Jade while Lara continued to allow herself to be distracted. Everywhere she looked there was something new and exciting to check out. Sunlight filtering through the tall trees danced on the path where they walked. All sorts of birds were chirping and singing in the canopy of trees up above. Colorful lizards, frogs, and spiders held still on high alert whenever Lara walked too near. She didn’t want to touch or harm them, but she was delightfully amazed by the natural designs and rich variety of colors they came in.
A gentle breeze whipped by blowing moist jungle air in her face. They were starting to get deeper into the bigger and wilder part of the forest. Lara glanced before her and behind her, feeling as though she stood on the threshold between cultivated woodland and jungle mayhem. Still Jade and Zeftx walked on.
Lara saw something out of the corner of her eye and again her curiosity was piqued. Stepping off the path, she walked a few yards into the trees, chasing floating specks of glitter moving wherever the sun’s rays moved. They weren’t fairies. She had already seen those and these were nothing like those. I bet its magic, Lara thought giddily. She was already convinced she had it right and she wanted to get a better peek!
Jade stopped on the path with a puzzled look engraved on her face. Zeftx stopped and turned to look at her.
“Is this the spot, or are we lost?” He asked. Jade glanced around and hummed an uncertain tune to herself. She seemed nervous, and this made him nervous, tempting him to dematerialize and hide in the nearest tree just as he had done to come through the wall of their hut. Then he realized Jade’s problem, Lara was no longer with them.
As Jade and Zeftx stood motionless with uncertainty, Lara was practically running, dancing, and singing with delight as the magic enveloped, cajoled, and directed where it wanted to go. She ducked under low branches, hopped over fallen trees, and tugged her cloak away from grabby thorns. She twirled her way past the last line of trees leading her into a wide open clearing. In this place there wasn’t a tree or bush to block the sun as it sparkled and reached down to kiss her with its warm rays of light.
Lara didn’t know where she had drifted off to and she assumed Jade and Zeftx didn’t know either since neither one of them had followed her off the path. She knew that should worry her, but right now she was feeling so elated that nothing could bother her. Nothing could steal her enthusiasm. Besides, she had all day. As if compelled to, Lara threw her arms out and spun in circles with her eyes turned up toward the sky watching the golden flecks of magic swirling with her in the sunlight.
A stranger from the nearby village of Opal was collecting supplies from the forest. It wasn’t his duty as coven guardian to collect the wild ingredients but it was his errand as son of the high priestess to do what she asked, so he couldn’t refuse. There was one benefit to being his mother’s task monkey; always knowing what to expect at circles before anyone else.
His mother would be weaving a circle tonight. Last month they had the circle for Samhain-the witches new year- and still another month lay ahead before they would celebrate the Yule holiday and to wait that long between was unthinkable. Tonight would be the last waxing moon before the November full moon. His mother was preparing a prosperity ritual to go with it.
The village still suffered a diminished population from the war with the demons, and even after six years of peace they were still recovering from the losses. Eight of twelve witches; mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who had fought from their village had died, but each year the surviving elders became more and more hopeful for renewed growth and prosperity.
It wasn’t an unreasonable hope. In the last three years they’d had three new members initiated compared to the four previous years that they’d had none. He and Fartharc Succio went through the initiation rites together breaking that depressing streak three years ago. The year after that the daughter of the village tailors, Tres Dohis, initiated.
The year after next Fartharc’s younger sister, Fantasia Succio, would take her turn. She was only twelve now but when she turned fourteen she’d be old enough to complete the rites. It was true the circle was growing, but they still had a long way to go.
Because it was such a nice day, not too humid and not too clammy for a tropical forest in mid-winter, he searched at a leisurely pace. Hunting supplies for a prosperity ritual wasn’t very exciting work. He would need fruits that are sweet and things that are green. He looked around, flashing a lopsided smile. He was in the middle of Emmitaenu…what wasn’t green?
As much as he didn’t mind the task, he was feeling underutilized and it frustrated him. He was the heir to the coven after all and it was his third year in practice. By the age of seventeen, surely he should be doing something more challenging, something to prove himself to the village elders. He swatted in frustration at a flimsy branch that hung close to the ground. He could feel it magically standing still with his hands to himself with every step he took or didn’t take but the physical touch helped him vent.
Closing his eyes experimentally, he walked a few yards using only a magic map he had constructed in his mind, he didn’t run into a single thing. Stopping in front of a flourishing honey suckle plant ready to check ‘sweet’ off his collection list, he was suddenly struck with a new sensation. There was a strange presence close by.
Quickly he masked himself with a spell by drawing runes in the air using his index fingers. Once he felt sufficiently hidden, he considered the presence he was feeling a little more closely. It felt strong, enchanting, and very uncommon. Maybe there is an immortal in the woods or an angel, he mused. No, that’s not it.
Something felt strangely unique and he found himself drawn by it. It felt playful, vivid, magical, beckoning. It was summoning every living creature to it, himself included. There was joy and happiness, there was celebration and life. It was tempting him to come closer.
He’d never felt anything so strongly before. Anything this strong could be dangerous and it irritated him to realize he had so little control over his desire to go to it. Cautiously he moved forward. This was one thing he couldn’t resist seeing with his own eyes.
CHAPTER 8
With all the stealth of an expert tracker, he snuck up on the source of this summons. In a round natural clearing he found a maiden playfully spinning in the wide open space. She glowed under the sun’s love, rays of light bouncing off her fine mahogany hair, tinting it a burgundy red, like wine. He stopped and stared, drinking in the sight.
She wore a bold red cloak decorated with gold and it danced around her ankles as she continued to spin. She had her arms stretched out wide, her eyes skyward, and a smile on her face that made his heart stutter. She was unmistakably the fairest maiden he’d ever seen.
Definitely a trick, he tried to tell himself. What is she? He wondered. Enchantress, no! Temptress, no! He couldn’t figure it out. She giggled with delight and he became too distracted to guess anymore.
“You came and you saw,” he whispered to himself, “now leave and be satisfied.” Instead of walking away, he walked forward outside the circumference of his masking spell, feeling completely mesmerized. She reversed her spinning and started turning counter-clockwise without slowing down.
She completely failed to notice him now standing in the open with her. Car
efully he moved closer one cautious step at a time and was able to see her tilting dizzily till she leaned too much to one side. Already predicting her fall, he leapt forward just in time.
“Whoa!” Lara exclaimed in a voice breathless from nearly falling. “Zeftx, thank y—hold the phone,” She interrupted herself flatly. I don’t think that’s him, she thought when looking up into the face of the stranger who had caught her and was at this moment holding her snuggly. She felt woozy. Lara closed her eyes and shook her head gently. When she opened them again, the stranger was still the same, avidly watching her through his exotic chocolate brown eyes. She stared back.
He had medium length surfer style hair feathering dark silky brown strands around his head. Most of it was tucked back behind both ears but sections fell forward out of check as he peered down at her. This guy was half way between her height and Zeftx’s and Zeftx stood about a foot above Lara’s modest height. His skin tone was a sun bronzed olive tan. She inhaled deeply and found his earthy scent intoxicating. Quickly she pulled away. Is everyone in this realm beautiful? Lara couldn’t stop herself from wondering.
Her nerves prickled as she stood tip-toe on the verge of running away. Stupidly, Lara realized she was waiting for her mysterious companion to say something. Peering at him with unveiled curiosity, she became utterly enthralled as the floating specks of glittering gold dust collected around him. Every time he inhaled, a handful of floating specks would disappear between his lips and into his mouth.
She stared where they had gone and noticed he had a strong mouth that was very angular and flat. Then he exhaled and all the golden magic dust would burst out in a rejuvenated frenzy and spiral away from him in every direction. She watched utterly fascinated but it was strange how he didn’t seem to notice it at all.
Lara looked questioningly back up into his eyes. There she found herself recaptured by his mystery. His eyes seemed to be reaching out with as much curiosity as she felt, yet at the same time they seemed to be guarded as though he needed to protect himself. She sensed a shield around him, almost like he was reaching out to her with both hands while wearing full chain mail armor.
Discovery the Forest of Emmitaenu Page 3
