by Logan Byrne
“You’re in a coma,” she said, smiling.
“What? How? I wasn’t even hurt, I was just tired,” I said.
“Well, I suppose it isn’t so much a coma as it is a cocoon. You’re being protected,” she said.
“How is that protecting me? Will I wake up soon?” I asked.
“Quite soon, actually. When you entered the state you were in to ward off the duskhowlers, you consumed much more of the mark than you are trained to control, especially so soon after your encounter with the harpies in Africa. This is your body’s way, or the mark’s way, of protecting your spirit and rejuvenating you,” she said.
“But that doesn’t explain why all of this is different. The haze is gone, and I knew your name! I didn’t know it before, did I?” I asked, starting to seriously question myself.
“You weren’t able to completely connect to us until you realized the full power of the mark. When you did those two feats, it triggered a mitochondrial response inside you that sort of opened the floodgates. With that, you were able to see us more clearly and gain a better grasp of the mark. It flipped the switch for you. All of us experienced it the first time we entered it,” Kaia said, smiling.
I looked around again, feeling the calm breeze brush against my face, before a pixie flew by me, carrying a flower. “A pixie,” I said, watching her fly off.
“Oh, yes, I work with them extensively. They’re such great workers, and friends, if you get to know them. They help keep the gardens tame, and in exchange I take care of them. They love to see the gardens flourish,” she said.
“But isn’t this not really, you know, real? Couldn’t you make the gardens amazing at will?” I asked.
“Nothing ever comes in life, or after life, without a little work, Lexa. I could will for three hundred foot lilies to appear, but I don’t. I enjoy taking pleasure in the simplicity and hard work of raising a single lily to maturity. If you want to bear the mark and be successful with it, like most of us before you, you need to learn patience. Patience and timing will be the key,” Kaia said, looking at the bell.
“What is it?” I asked, as her eyes locked on it.
“It looks like it’s time for you to leave, young one,” she said, turning back to me. “You are free to come back at any time, but right now your time is up.”
“Wait, I want to talk more. What if I have more questions I need answered? The crystal wand! What do you know about it?” I asked hurriedly.
“Trust your instincts, and trust in the mark,” she said, her voice fading as she started to disappear. The bell tolled four times before the gardens melted away.
“I don’t know what to tell you, she’s just not waking up. She’s been like this for three days,” Britta said.
“W—what?” I mumbled as I opened my crusty eyes to see Britta, Charlie, Blake, and Faus standing over me.
“She’s up!” Charlie shouted at the top of his lungs, before looking embarrassed and apologizing to the other patients.
“Lexa, are you okay?” Blake asked, kneeling at my side. He grabbed my hand, kissing it, before putting it to his forehead. “We were so worried.”
“I was in a cocoon,” I said as confidently as I could.
“Come again?” Britta asked, looking like she was about to have Paola come check my head.
“I talked with one of them, a past mark-bearer. Her name is Kaia, and I saw her in a meditation session a while ago. We talked, and when I asked what happened to me she said the mark put me in a cocoon so that it could protect me as I built up energy again,” I said.
“Interesting. So the past mark-bearers are inside you,” Faus said. “That shakes the very foundation of life and death itself.”
“What do you mean?” Charlie asked.
“Well, if past mark-bearers somehow live inside Lexa, or maybe she can just visit a spiritual plane that they reside on, it makes you wonder if all of us have that same ability locked down deep inside us. Is it possible to contact loved ones who have passed? The possibilities are amazing,” Faus said, readjusting his glasses.
“All I know is that I feel great now. I haven’t felt this amazing in a long time,” I said, looking down at my hands, before gripping them into fists and biting my lower lip. “Let’s get to Greenland.”
I hopped out of bed, my bare feet planted firmly on the canvas floor, before Blake grabbed me. “Whoa there, you should take it easy. Greenland isn’t going anywhere. We don’t have to rush.”
“Why wait around, though? We know the wand is there, and the sooner we get it, the sooner the attacks on the camp stop. That was the second one since we started here, right? What’s to stop them from finding this place, too?” I asked.
“I just want to be smart about this. I want to make sure you’re at full health before we rush off to an icy landscape that we all know is wildly unforgiving,” Blake said.
“Paola!” Britta yelled, catching her attention.
“What’s going on? You’re up,” she said, walking over and grabbing a stethoscope.
“Yes, check me out and tell them I’m fine,” I said. The metal end of the stethoscope was cold, but I breathed calmly in and out, letting Paola shine lights in my eyes and even in my ears, as she checked me all over.
“She seems to be in full health and spirits. I’d say she’s fine to do whatever she pleases. I’d still suggest taking things a little slower, just to make sure there aren’t any underlying conditions, but other than that, you’re discharged,” Paola said, smiling, before walking to the patient next to me.
“You see? I’m fine, now let’s go pack,” I said, marching out of the tent with the four of them following right behind me.
“Okay, this is good. So we’re leaving today?” Britta asked. “I have to make sure I can get everything packed in time.”
“Why not tomorrow? Give me one more night of warmth before you thrust me into the cold,” Charlie said. “Remember, I’m a jungle cat, not a snow leopard.”
“You’re sure about this?” Blake asked.
“I’m sure. Trust me, if I’m sure of anything, it’s this,” I said.
I was doing what Kaia said, trusting my gut and my instincts. Ever since I heard about Greenland, it had stuck with me. I just knew the wand was there, and no matter how hard the journey to find it turned out to be, I was going to see it through. I couldn’t listen to anybody who wanted me to slow down or try to stop me. They could either come with me or stay behind, but I wouldn’t let them stand in my way.
“It will take me a little bit to get my equipment together. It’s already noon,” Faus said. “I vote we leave first thing in the morning, just after sunrise. We can eat a hearty breakfast and teleport out.”
“I agree,” Charlie said.
“Same here,” Britta said.
“Okay,” I said, turning around. “I’ll agree to the morning, but that’s it. No more delays after that. Promise?” I asked.
“Promise,” the four of them said, as I gave in a little and relented, even though I wanted to leave right away.
“Lexa, you’re up,” Rosie said, walking up to us with an older woman. “This is my mother, Janine.”
“It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you so much for what you’ve done for my family and for this camp. I will never be able to repay you,” she said, hugging me, with tears strolling down her cheeks.
“Thank you, Janine. I appreciate your kind words, but there’s nothing you have to do to repay me other than just live your life. You’re free to be with your daughter, and to do whatever it is you want to,” I said, smiling.
“You were right, Rosie, she is the sweetest young woman,” Janine said, her hands to her mouth.
“Where are you guys headed off to? You look serious,” Rosie said.
“We’re going to Greenland tomorrow. We’re going on another hunt,” I said.
“The wand? That guy in the antiquities shop got to you, huh? Can’t say that I blame you, he did have some interesting evidence,” Rosie said.
/> “Why don’t you come along?” Faus blurted out. We looked back at him as he blushed a little, realizing that he’d done something he likely had never done before.
“I would love to, but I have a lot of work to do here. Now that they have me on duty, I’m busy all the time, but I love it. Getting to work here is amazing,” Rosie said.
“I’d love to go over your code with you tonight, if you’d like. I mean, that is, if you have time,” Faus said.
“Go Faus,” Charlie whispered, nudging him a little. Faus pushed him back, already looking embarrassed.
“I would like that,” Rosie said, her eyes softening as she flashed a small smile.
“You two have fun tonight, but not too much fun,” I said, ribbing them a little.
“Oh, what? I mean, yes, we’ll have a great time looking over the code!” Faus said, panicking. “We have to go, though, it was nice speaking to you. I’ll see you tonight!”
Faus grabbed me, pulling me along. The other guys ran up laughing as we scurried out of sight. “What did I just do?” Faus moaned.
“I think you just got yourself a date,” Blake said, punching him softly on the shoulder. “Good going.”
“A date? I can’t do dates, I’m me. Oh boy,” Faus said.
“Relax, she likes you,” I said.
“She does?” he asked, quickly perking up.
“She told me as much, especially after you shifted during that battle. She thought you looked, as she said it, beautiful,” I said, smiling.
“Aw, Faus, you’re going to have yourself a girlfriend!” Britta said, clapping.
“I think I need to lie down,” Faus said, before walking off, shuffling his feet. I could see him talking to himself and gesturing as he moved away.
“What a guy,” Charlie said, his arms crossed.
•••
I jolted out of bed the next morning at the crack of dawn as the sun started to break in through the front flaps of my tent. It was the day, the day the hunt for the crystal wand would finally begin, and I was ready. I must’ve showered faster than I ever had before, scrubbing my hair with shampoo so quickly it was close to catching fire, before wrapping myself up in as many layers as possible to combat the cold.
It was winter, and Greenland wasn’t going to be an easy adventure. The camp supplied us with coats, gloves, and all the other essential equipment, but even with the five of us and packs full of gear, it still was going to be difficult, to say the least.
From what I understood, this town, Ilulissat, sat along the coast, surrounded by deathly cold water that would suck the air straight out of our lungs should we fall in. Not only that, but outside, it was pure nothing. The only civilization we might see would be the wildlife that called the place home, but even the animals likely wouldn’t be out in the winter weather. Ice cliffs loomed above the town, giant sheets of ice and snow that packed together to form a veritable glacial canyon. It was going to be a very physical mission, if nothing else.
I walked out of my tent, meeting up with the others as they clipped on their gear, pulling on hats and gloves, as the five of us checked to make sure we were all set.
“Faus, you have everything you need?” Blake asked.
“Indeed, I do. Do we all have food and our thermoses?” Faus asked.
“Yup, I got my food delivery earlier. I’ll be eating well, all things considered. How long is this trip?” Charlie asked, looking at me.
“As long as it takes. It’s not like any of us have anything better to do, so we might as well take our time and make sure we canvass the area to the best of our ability. I figure we can start in town, I heard they have a small magical community there of at least a few people,” I said, pulling out my wand.
“Ready?” Britta asked, grabbing hers. I nodded, and we all huddled together, before Britta and I raised our wands, focusing on our location, picturing the town in our minds, and we were all sucked up in a vacuum and sent north to Greenland.
We popped out just outside the town, where we could see the picturesque huts painted an array of bright colors shining brightly, like friendly beacons in a sea of white. “They really like their colors, don’t they?” Charlie asked.
“Probably the only good way they get color, considering how white it is around here,” Blake said.
“I’m already cold,” Faus complained.
“Well, we better get into town before we all freeze, then,” I said, starting to trudge along. The snow must’ve been around a foot high, soft powder, as if it had recently fallen. We could’ve used magic to blow it away, or even to melt a path, but it wasn’t worth the risk. I knew there were some magical creatures here, since the intelligence team in the camp told me as much, but I knew not everybody here knew about magic or would react well if a lady started melting a bunch of snow with a wooden stick.
We walked for fifteen minutes, the townspeople staring at us as we walked by, as I was sure we screamed tourists. I nodded, trying to look as friendly as possible, before walking up to a red house with a thick dark wooden door. I tapped on it three times, the way I was told, before the door creaked open, a single eye looking at me from the dark interior. “Yes?” the woman asked, her voice shrewd.
“We were sent by those who wish to seek justice,” I said, using the code word the intelligence team had told me. The door opened all the way, the woman hurriedly waving us in, as we all piled into the small cottage. “What is your name?”
“I’ve been called many things before, but you may call me Hanna. I received word of your impending arrival. It’s not often we get visitors of your caliber here in our small town,” she said, hobbling towards the kitchen. “I still haven’t learned why you’re here.”
“We’re searching for something, maybe you know of it,” I said.
“The crystal wand, I presume. Legend says it lies in the icy mountains just outside town,” she said, before bringing over a wooden tray with a teapot and cups.
“Have you ever searched for it?” I asked.
“Oh, honey, I am not a witch, no, and I would never do something that foolish even if I were one,” she said.
“Why not?” Britta asked.
“I know I would not be the chosen one. Besides, legend talks about the golems that protect the wand, vanquishing any poor soul who dares to try to take it,” she said.
“What if one is chosen, though? Would it still be a problem then?” I asked.
“Oh no, they would still attack,” she said, as she poured cups of tea for us.
“So we’re in for a fight no matter what,” Charlie said.
“How would the golems know your worthiness without a battle, my dear? You must prove to them that you are worthy enough to wield a wand crafted by the great wizard Merlin himself,” she said, sitting back.
A fire crackled behind her, the howling wind outside slapping her brass doorknocker against the thick wood. “If you aren’t a witch, do you mind me asking what you are?”
She brushed back her hair, revealing elvish ears, though she didn’t really scream elf to me when I walked in. I’d dealt with a lot of them, both forest and otherwise, and I thought I knew enough about them to spot one a mile away. “What type of elf are you?” I asked.
“My mother was a mortal, but my father was a forest elf, though his father was mortal, so really the whole elvish thing doesn’t run that deeply in my blood, but just enough to make me part of the magical realm. I came up here to escape it all thirty years ago. I meant to come for a summer, just to get away and reconnect with my elvish roots, practicing herbal remedies, but I fell in love,” she said, looking fondly upon her cup of tea.
“With a man?” Charlie asked.
“No, you dolt, with the lifestyle. As if I’d waste my time with some stupid man,” she said, shaking her head, as Charlie looked embarrassed. I giggled a little, wondering if she had it right. No, it wasn’t right for me—I cared about Blake too much, even if he did get on my nerves sometimes.
“How big is the magic
al community here?” I asked.
“Well, the town has around forty-five hundred people in it, give or take a few. I would say us magical folk only make up about thirty of that on a good day. We are few and far between, though, most of us being old folks who came here for something else. A few were born here, or at least in Greenland,” Hanna said.
“When’s the last time you were in the magical realm?” Britta asked.
“Depends what part you’re talking about, dear. I don’t do much for the cities, but I go to the openness of the realm whenever I get the chance, though that isn’t often in my older age. Instead I stay here, happy as can be, as life passes me by,” she said.
“Is there anything we need to know before we embark on this mission?” I asked.
“Anything you should know, huh?” she asked, before putting her hand up to her chin. She looked deep in thought, her eyebrows rising as if she thought of something, before she shook her head and erased the idea from her mind. “Be wary of the polar bears. They pack a wallop.”
“There are polar bears up here?” Charlie asked, in terror.
“Of course, we’re hundreds of miles north of the Arctic. What’d ya expect?” she asked, laughing a little.
“You know, I used to be a happy guy. I was safe, secure, didn’t have a care in the world,” Charlie said, getting up and pacing around the room.
“Have you heard any talk about the general location of the wand from any legends you might have heard in the past?” Faus asked, with his notebook and pen out.
“No, not really. The only real way to go is east from here, so I would just try going out there. I don’t think anybody has any real idea where it is, but it sure isn’t going to be close to town, now is it? If it were, then it would be claimed already,” she said.
“How do you know it hasn’t been found already?” Faus asked.
“Guess I never thought of that,” she said, her eyes wide. Then she shrugged, saying, “Oh well, what can you do?”
“We should get going while it’s still morning, or at least morning enough,” Blake said, rubbing his hands on his thighs as he stood up.
“Thank you for your hospitality and for speaking with us. It’s been a pleasure,” I said, smiling, before walking over and giving her a hug.
