He was beginning to understand how much he had missed over the past two years. Being in his hyperbolic coma took the wind from beneath his wings. He had only been awake for a few months, and life was moving fast. He barely had time to watch TV, especially the news. Get reacquainted with some sense of reality outside of this protective boarding school he's attending.
He knew that he couldn't just drop more truth bombs on Anvard. There was too much information in the pot already. He didn't want him knowing all the backstage knowledge about the wide spread corruption. Transferring minds from one lone boy to a withered old freak. His dad embarking on a mission to reforge fate. He couldn't see the silver lining in this dark cloud, so he felt the logical thing to do was press forward. Follow his instincts, which were pulling him far north.
His only fear was that Walker was somehow involved with the Draconian Chancellor. He didn't want to find that out, but if he is then he definitely has his uncle. And he left ample enough clues in his dreams and waking state to lead him right to him.
"We still have to go," Corinth said sternly.
"What about this passage? What about the Seeds of Deceit? He's leading you right to him!"
"I know that. So, we shouldn’t keep him waiting," Corinth sounded strong, but Anvard liked him weak. At least weaker than a headstrong daredevil walking into a trap that neither of them quite understood.
The devices being executed against them were much too intricately woven into Corinth’s daily routine for them to comprehend the full extent of it all with just a stolen glance from the Fate Forgery. Yet, blinder than ever now that the sun has retreated from the sky, both boys trudged on into the darkness surrounding the mystique of Corinth’s young life.
<*>
Under the cover of a dark night, they slowly crept out of the back gate to Olympia. They entered the Diamond Atrium quietly. Corinth thought it would be faster if they took Oeste skywalk over to Concordia Nova dorm. Then the Nordeste skywalk over to Delphi dorm building. The Northern Coaster was less than a mile up behind the building. Those mechanized air walkways moved faster than they could by foot through the entire Atrium, better yet the whole way to the coaster station. But Anvard thought the chances of running into his sisters was too high if passing through the dorms. He said they had a sixth sense for seeking him out, no matter how far he tried to get away from them. But not tonight, if he could help it. He didn't want to run into any authority figures either. They’d be no help in getting where they wanted to go so late.
There were few to no people around. Everyone had withdrawn themselves back to the dorms. Preparing for the next day. Though there’s no curfew, they didn't want to be stopped by the ministrants or extended staff. Where they were headed wasn't something anyone would approve of. At any hour of the day.
The map Emma provided wasn't exactly helpful just yet. Anvard already knew where the Northern Coaster was. It wasn't exactly a mystery. People used it to get to the mountains and valleys that enclosed the North Lake. That's why it was built. To cross the Central Lake, then over the smaller mountain ranges. Flying high over the North Lake, and into the valleys between the higher mountains even farther north. Somewhere back there, Anvard believed the temple still stood. His first trip out there made him a believer of that as a boy.
They silently walked through the atrium as all the silver pixie dust shimmered under the stars. The reinforced stones looked sturdy enough to last for millennia. They’ve endured one millennium already, so it was highly likely they’d stand for another. They reached the center where Sena. Hendrix’s house stood. All the lights were out, and all the curtains were drawn. Corinth figured he'd have a chance encounter with her that would put an end to his plan before it even began. But no such thing occurred, and they continued passing without incident.
They exited the last of the grounds that Corinth considered a part of Hendrix's home, back into open fields of grass that surrounded them. If not for the walks up above, it would take forever for the students to get from their dorms to the classrooms in Olympia. They passed under tree after tree. Watching the sparkling magik of the silver pixie dust that has preserved them centuries passed their lifespan.
"A lot of people prefer the gold pixie dust, but I like the silver a lot more." Anvard hated awkward silences. He started playing eye-spy with their topic choices, because he couldn't come up with anything original to say.
Corinth was in thought. His delayed response was less than useful in spurring the conversation along. "Yeah, they're both kind of cool," he said no more about the dust than that. "Are you sure you know where we're going?"
"Yeah, we have to get out to the fields beyond Delphi dorm." Anvard pointed into the dark distance ahead, and the marble pillars on the grounds instantly lit up, revealing everything that they couldn't see before. It scared Corinth at first. "This far out they're motion censored at night," Anvard pulled him in close to the side of his massive body for comfort, and Corinth pushed out.
"Why'd they put the coaster so far out?"
Anvard ignored Corinth’s reluctance to be close to him. "Well, why the heck would they want to build it all the way across the tops of these tall standing school buildings? They could just start it as far north as possible without separating it from school grounds." Anvard looked around, dubiously seeking a sign. While he was speaking, he felt something strange compelling him to look back and survey the fields.
"Why couldn't we have taken the chariots over there?" Corinth complained.
That snapped Anvard back from peering into the darkness behind them. The censors they set off near the school were beginning to go out. Because of that, he figured they weren't being followed, so he brushed off the weird sensation.
"You're just as lazy as Emma complains, aren't you?" Anvard caught up with Corinth. Puckishly poking fun at him to see if he would finally let down his guard. "Your parents must have done everything for you. You're obviously an only child."
"I'm not lazy," Corinth said quickly, "but my mom always said I was special. So, I take that pretty seriously." A big grin crept across both boys’ faces, but Anvard ruined it with a simple question.
"Why don't you talk about your mother ever? That's the first time you’ve mentioned her. At least to me." Anvard unintentionally struck a nerve.
Corinth clammed up. He didn't like thinking about what happened to his mom. He knew his dad was stalling about it too. Just before he left for Eterna, he told him that they could visit her sometime when he came back. But he could tell when his dad was lying. He had the same tone as when he said that Corinth wouldn't have to stay in Hyperborean. He didn't have to read his mind to know what those upward inflections in his monotone voice meant.
"Is she alive?" Anvard pushed too far.
"Why would you ask a question like that?!" Corinth turned around quickly, with his version of rage curling into every seldom occurring crease on his youthful looking face. It was always a lot less intimidating than he wanted it to be. But he just didn't have it in him to naturally lash out at people. "Of course she's alive! Why wouldn't she be?" The truth was, Corinth had no idea. But his -hopes were even higher than his father’s were.
Andy threw he's hands up like a burglar caught red handed. "I was just curious, is all. I want to get to know you better, but you keep pushing me away every time I think we're getting closer. I don't know what to do with you sometimes."
"Did you ever think that maybe it's you?" Anvard had to think. He couldn't even process that as a possibility. He was doing everything right, in his opinion, to let Corinth know he cared about him. "Maybe, it's your approach. You come on fast and strong. I'm not even a teenager yet. You're at that point, I guess, but I'm certainly not!" Corinth wasn't really angry, but his tone soared anyhow. He just wanted Anvard to understand that patience is a virtue well received in his eyes.
Anvard hated hearing that. He thought it was the perfect night for them to get closer. They were under a full moon with thousands of visible stars staring down on t
hem from above. The pixie dust shined in the background, and they finally ditched those annoying sisters of his. How could it be any better?
But the reality was that it was the worst time to make a move. Corinth was fixated on a dream he couldn't understand. A desire he couldn’t control. And not a desire concerning Andy. His desire was much more elusive than the emotionally vexed jock standing before him. He was on his way into a possible trap that could deliver him right back into the hands of Sebastian Wilcox. The last thing on his mind was Anvard's problematic feelings.
"I'm sorry," Anvard conceded. "I know I'm pushy. I'll just leave you alone." He walked forward. Passing Corinth with a gloomy cloud looming menacingly over his bolt-shaped head.
"But that's not what I want," Corinth huffed. Andy turned around with a pinch of hope in his heart. "I just want you to be a little less about progress, and a little more about priority. We have to find something that's been lost since the beginning of recorded history. And the only thing to guide us is this useless looking map. And really, I'm not sure it's going to be any help." He unfolded the plain beige parchment and held it up. The hologram images of the school sprung to life in an instant. "It stops revealing things in the middle of the Northern Coaster ride. After that, it just drops off to the waters of North Lake."
"Well, really what did you expect? If that thing told you where the temple was than Sen. Bernard would be one of the most famous men in all the Worlds for the credit of its discovery."
"Yeah, that's true," Corinth said while manipulating the images with his fingers. He at least thought that the map could guide them through the mountains beyond the lakes, but it didn't seem to stretch that far. It just seemed to want to go downward, into the North Lake.
Crack!
Anvard, taking several steps, leapt in front of Corinth. "What are you doing?" Corinth demanded to know why he was acting so suspiciously. "Why do you need that?"
He noticed Anvard slowly reaching inside his pocket and pulling out his standard gold pixie llave. "Don't say another word. Just stay behind me," Anvard told him, without looking back. He surveyed the area, just waiting for another sign.
Crack!
Another small branch on the ground was split into two near a tree to their right. Corinth hadn’t heard anything to begin with, but Anvard was on high alert. Like a lightning strike, Anvard threw his llave forward as hard as he could and it suddenly stopped midair. Standing still there for no more than half a second, it started rotating clockwise, pulling itself closer to his chest.
Aimed directly at the tree, from Corinth's perspective, Anvard shouted out loudly. "Perturbo!" An instant flash of white light darted out of his llave’s rotation and bounced off what looked to be the tree, but didn’t leave any mark on the old dirt hugger. It ricocheted off a mysteriously veiled surface, flying right back at them. Anvard ducked while pulling Corinth to the ground with him. The flash slammed into the ground just to their backs and dissipated without affect.
"Why'd you do that?" Corinth punched Anvard in the shoulder.
"Just look! Instead of complaining so much." Anvard pointed at his true target, and then realized he indeed made a mistake. A small mistake, by his account.
Hanging out beneath the large tree was a staggered Lindle. "I'm sorry for interrupting you guys—again," his voice went in and out,hanging on a whimper. He tried moving, but more so, he just goofily stumbled about. Finally, in an effort to stabilize himself, he allowed his bruised body to fall backward, pressing up against the tree trunk for support. "You know, I wasn't trying to bother you. I was just passing by. No big whoop!" He flagged his hand toward them and slumped over. "Whoa! I’ll feel this tomorrow morning. And probably the morning after that too." They rushed to his side. Well, Corinth rushed. Anvard made his way over on his own timetable.
"Are you okay?" Corinth quickly knelt beside Lindle’s stretched out body.
Lindle tried to speak coherently, but it didn't quite work out. "Yeah, yes. I'm's so pretty good now. Better!" he said, though he was starting to feel worse. "Just winded. Let the wind take me a little more there."
"Okay, I guess," Corinth didn't know how to respond to that. He looked up to an arriving and unsympathetic Anvard. "Why'd you do that if you knew it was him?"
"I didn't," Andy admitted. "I heard something creeping, so I reacted. It was just reflex, really." He looked sincere, but his tone was totally cavalier.
"Yeah, he be right! This one!" Lindle seemed like he was trying to help make Andy's case. He pointed up to him. Anvard looked like a giant hovering over them both on the ground underneath the large tree. He tried to touch his leg, but Anvard stepped back. "I'm just glad I had an aura up with that invisible stuff spell."
"Invisible?" Corinth questioned.
Anvard quickly blurted out an explanation. "It's just low light reception. It's really a reflection spell. You aren't actually invisible. Really powerful wielders can see right through that crap." He shrugged it off, as if it was to be ignored. "That's old magik anyway, just parlor tricks."
They both looked back to Lindle. His dark curly hair looked fried. His brown skin had dirt and dust all over it. That Perturbo could have driven him mad for an excessive amount of time. Lindle was right to express how lucky he was that he had a force field up, in addition to trying to stealthily maneuver around them unnoticed. He started to come too.
"Sorry, bud." Anvard gave him a hand getting to his feet. "I 'probably' wouldn't have done that if I'd known it was you." Andy smiled.
"Probably," Corinth echoed.
Anvard frowned now. "Well ... I was. Uh, just joking really."
Corinth didn’t believe him one bit, but Lindle chose to. "I'm sorry I was snooping—again. But I overheard so much of your conversations that I felt like I could really help you guys, if you let me, of course."
"What do you mean -‘conversations?'" Anvard reasonably questioned. "You've already been following us, and we saw you leave before. So, what other conversation could you have heard besides back in the Refectory?" Anvard moved closer aggressively. Lindle knew exactly what he was hitting on, but Corinth was still in the dark.
"I was in the library too!" Lindle yelped out. "That's why I went to the Refectory. I beat you there in hopes that Corinth would strike up a chat when he saw me there. I'm sorry, I just..."
"Wait!" Corinth jumped into the debate. "How much did you overhear at the library?"
"Ah, just about ... everything," Lindle confessed with a mixed look of hope and terror in his Arcan brown eyes. "After the girls left, that is."
Anvard knocked him to the ground without notice. Ever since the things he went through in Imperativo, he hated gossipers and eavesdroppers with a passion. He had him pinned down with his right forearm across his throat. Right up against Lindle’s face, Anvard’s words seethed through his teeth. "I don't know if you're in on some kind of conspiracy, or just plain stupid. But I know that I'll take you out if you breathe so much as a word about Corinth to another soul. And I'm not talking figuratively here. I will kill you." If not a bit overzealous, he feverishly defended Corinth’s anonymity.
He never raised his voice. That's what scared Corinth most about what Anvard just said. If he'd raised his voice, he may have appeared more upset or nervous rather than anything else. But he knew exactly what he was saying, and he meant every word. Corinth pulled on Anvard's white uniform shirt, trying to get his attention. But Anvard still looked a frightened to death Lindle—dead in the eyes.
"You understand, don't you?" Anvard wasn't kidding around. Lindle couldn't speak. There was a lump in his throat too stiff to dislodge. All he did was nod as a tear fell down from his right eye. Rolling down his cheek, and onto the side of Anvard's elbow. He had him pinned with half his face shushed against the dirt and grass underneath the tree. His fist still dug into his throat, and the rest of his arm ran overtop the right side of his face. Ironic, he wanted a response, yet he held his victim in such a way that it was next to impossible to speak. Still fitting
though, in the sense that Anvard required -a finite finish to Lindle’s investigative monitoring of their whereabouts.
"Now go back to your dorm!" Anvard barked in a commanding tone. They all got up from the ground, dusted themselves off. He didn't bother to help Lindle up this time. "Go back. Peacefully and quietly." He stuck his finger out, letting him know he meant business. Anvard's pink eyes shined against the twinkling light of the pixie dust. His very deep and dark tan skin sweaty from the commotion.
Lindle steadied himself on his feet and started to speak, but Anvard waved him on. So, he instead picked up the backpack he'd lost when Anvard's spell hit his aura. He started walking away with several tears welling in his eyes. He couldn't help himself but wipe vigorously. Lindle also couldn’t help but turn back toward them.
Original Souls (A World Apart #1) Page 40
