The Cypher Wheel

by Alison Pensy

  They scrambled up the creature's scaly body and seated themselves just behind its neck. Thankfully, it didn't take exception to having passengers on board.

  The erchyll raced down the field and took to the air. It wasn't the most comfortable mode of transportation. Faedra envisioned some bruising after their journey ended. The creature was a lot bonier than Aesti, but right at that moment she wasn't complaining. She looked down to see Arawn and his guards burst from the trees just a few seconds too late.

  Arawn shot several fireballs at them but the erchyll, which had been trained by the very same person, had no trouble dodging the fiery missiles. It was as if it could sense the tyrant sorcerer's every move. A few more seconds of hanging on for dear life and they were soaring above the trees on their way to rendezvous with the others.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  The erchyll flew them along the tree line. Faedra, having no idea where the cave was from her vantage point, could only send the creature in the right direction. She was hoping the others would show themselves as she and Alyssa got closer to the trail that led to the cave. Although, they didn't know the erchyll had come to their rescue, and she assumed they would hide, thinking it was one of Arawn's spies. How was she going to see where they were waiting for her if they were hidden in the trees?

  “So, when did you become so pally with one of Arawn's pets?” Faedra asked Alyssa, who had her arms wrapped around the Custodian's waist as they flew high above the tree tops.

  “I don't really know. This must be the one that let me pet him once. All the others just wanted to eat me whenever I walked past them, but there was one of them that would just look at me with a kind of sadness in its eyes. It mirrored the sadness I felt, so I walked up to it once and petted it on the head. It must be this one.”

  “Well, whatever you did, thanks. You probably just saved our lives back there.”

  “What are you going to do about Allora?” Alyssa asked.

  Faedra sighed a big, heavy, weight-of-the-world-on-your-shoulders kind of sigh. “I have absolutely no idea,” she admitted. “I'm hoping that Todmus might know a thing or two about switching them back. He's turned out to be a bit of a dark horse, that one.”

  “You should have seen him in the castle, he was amazing. He threw something at Arawn and it froze him on the spot. Saved my life, he did.”

  “By the looks of his cottage, he's been working on getting his family back for quite some time,” Faedra said. “Now I just need to think of a way for him to get his realm back.”

  “We should be fairly close by now,” Alyssa said, pulling Faedra from her thoughts.

  Faedra scanned the meadow's edge along the tree line. It was as she'd thought. There was no sign of the others; they were probably hiding in the trees thinking the erchyll was a spy. She had an idea. There were four people down there; four very strong energies with all kinds of emotions being shared between them. Could her ‘energy sensor’ pick them out from this high? She closed her eyes and concentrated, allowing that part of her brain to send out tendrils to touch the area she thought they may be in. After a moment, she sighed and opened her eyes. They were either too high up or her friends weren't close by.

  “Take us lower,” Faedra commanded the erchyll without thinking for a second that it wouldn't understand her. It was something she had become quite accustomed to in her adventures. Unless otherwise informed, she just assumed all otherworldly creatures could understand her.

  She was not misguided in this instance, either. The erchyll went into a graceful dive and flew closer to the ground, flying alongside the forest. She and Alyssa scanned the wall of trees but could see no one with the naked eye.

  “Can you fly us around again?” she asked their ride. The erchyll responded immediately, banking around before straightening up alongside the forest.

  Faedra closed her eyes again, sending her sensor tendrils into the woods. She felt Faen first. It was like a zap to her heart. His anxiety for her safety was overwhelming.

  “Stop!” Faedra shouted.

  The erchyll adjusted the angle of his wings until they were like a vertical sail, effectively slamming on the brakes. Faedra and Alyssa lurched with the movement. The creature hit the ground, talons outstretched in front of him. Its talons tore up the turf as it used them to slow it down, throwing Faedra and Alyssa forward with such a force that they nearly went shooting over its neck. Faedra grabbed hold of the scaly skin around its neck and was able to stop them from tumbling off the creature.

  “Wow,” Faedra said as she had righted herself on the erchyll's back. “He's pretty responsive.”

  Alyssa gave her an incredulous look.

  “Faedra?” The question came from the trees. It was Faen.

  Faedra lifted her leg over the creature's neck and slid down its scaly skin, landing on the ground beside it. Riding the erchyll had not been conducive to keeping her knickers in place, and she tried to do a subtle adjustment of her underwear but failed miserably. There would be bruising of that, she was sure.

  Alyssa slid off the creature's back. Faedra noticed she did the same hasty adjustment.

  The four friends cautiously stepped out from the cover of the trees.

  Faedra's smile lit up her face as Faen raced towards her. He scooped her up and twirled her around. “Thank Kernunnos, you are safe,” Faen said. When he had placed her back on the ground again, he looked up at the erchyll. “Do I even want to know?”

  “Meet Alyssa's new friend,” Faedra replied. “Hey, Alyssa. I guess you're going to have to name him now. He seems fairly attached to you.” Faedra chuckled as the erchyll nudged the young Lightbender under the arm, asking to be petted.

  Alyssa obliged and put her hands either side of its bony head. “Hmm, what are we going to call you?” she whispered to it. The creature took a step forward and rested its head against her chest.

  “Aw, I think he likes you,” Faedra said with a giggle.

  Etyran walked over to Alyssa, exhibiting only a slight limp now. His accelerated healing was doing its job. He put a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to face him. “Todmus told me what you did for me back at the castle,” he said, pushing a golden lock of hair back from her face. “Thank you.”

  Alyssa smiled.

  “We should get under cover,” Faen directed, looking up at the sky. “What about that thing?” he asked Alyssa. “Do you think it will follow us into the forest so it cannot be seen?”

  Alyssa contemplated the question. “There's only one way to find out.” She turned to ask the creature, but something else grabbed her attention, causing her to look down at her hand.

  Etyran had laced his fingers through hers. The feel of him there sent tingles up her arm. She looked up at the strapping man and smiled. It felt right, him being beside her. It felt good. To the other side of her stood the erchyll. She placed her other hand on its neck. “What about you?” she asked. “Are you coming with us?”

  The group stepped towards the forest. Alyssa's new ‘friend’ stayed by her side, squeezing his hulking body between the trees.

  “I guess that answers your question,” Etyran said.

  The six friends wandered in relative silence along most of the trail that led back to the cave. Aesti was up at the front of the group. The erchyll had fallen in at the back behind Alyssa and Etyran. Every now and then, Aesti would crane his neck around, flatten his ears back and make evil faces at the erchyll.

  “Doesn't look like those two are going to get along any time soon,” Faedra commented on the winged horse's behavior.

  Faen smiled at her comment. “Looks like we're getting close to the cave,” he said. “I hope Todmus can figure out a way to swap Allora and Vivianna back.”

  “Me, too.”

  ***

  Faedra was relieved to see Skylar and Jocelyn playing on the floor in front of Vivianna when they walked into the cave. Vivianna looked up as the group entered. Her face a mask of politeness, until she saw who was walking in behind Faedra and F
aen.

  A split second look of surprise superseded the one of malice that took over in an instant.

  “Skylar. Come to Mama,” Vivianna spoke softly to the child.

  Skylar looked up at her mother. “But, Mama, Jocelyn and I have nearly finished this game,” the little girl protested.

  “Do as I say,” Vivianna's tone was firmer this time.

  “Aw, Mama,” Skylar said, as she pushed herself up from the floor reluctantly and walked towards her mother's open arms.

  Jocelyn looked up from their game and frowned. She noticed the other woman's attention was fixed on the entrance to the cave and turned her gaze to follow. Jocelyn's eyes widened as she saw her friends. Walking in with them were Todmus, Vivianna, who was actually Allora, and Alyssa.

  Several of the other ovates who were mingling in the communal area of their hideout also looked up when noticing the new arrivals to the cave.

  Then all hell broke loose.

  “Daddy!” Skylar cried out when she noticed her father among the group entering the cave.

  Vivianna tightened her grip on the squirming child as she tried to run to her father.

  Skylar looked up at her mother's strained expression and wrinkled her brows. “Mama, it's Daddy! Look!” She squirmed even more, trying to get out from Vivianna's grip so she could run to greet her long lost father.

  “I'm well aware of who it is, you little brat,” Vivianna spat. Her demeanor changing by the second.

  “Let Skylar go, Vivianna,” Faedra demanded. “The game’s up. We know all about your little plan with Arawn.

  Vivianna replied with a sleek raise of an eyebrow.

  “Mama?” Skylar whimpered. “You're hurting me.”

  “Allora broke from the group, her hand to her mouth. “Please. Don't hurt my baby,” she implored.

  “Don't come any closer,” Vivianna said, standing up and drawing Skylar nearer to her.

  Everyone in the group stopped in their tracks.

  “You, too,” Vivianna gestured with her head to Jocelyn. “You go and join them. Slowly now. Don't make any sudden moves. I wouldn't want my hand to accidentally tighten around such a fragile neck.”

  Jocelyn eased herself up off the floor and looked at the now terrified Skylar caught in a vice like grip around the throat. She stepped backwards towards her group of friends, keeping her eyes on the little girl all the time. “It will be all right Skylar. We will not let anyone hurt you.”

  “It's no use, Vivianna,” Faedra said. “You've got nowhere to go. There's only one way in and out of this place, and we have that covered.”

  “You really think Arawn would send me in here without an escape route?” Vivianna's voice was silky smooth as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a vial.

  “I said, let the girl go,” Faedra repeated, summoning two purple sparking orbs.

  Vivianna sneered. “You really think you have enough control to use those without hurting the kid?”

  Faedra chewed on her bottom lip. No, she wasn't sure she did have the control. She wasn't sure of anything anymore, and she couldn't risk hurting Skylar just to get to her half-sister. She knew full well there would be no point in Vivianna hurting the girl. At the moment, she was her only bargaining chip and she wasn't about to ruin her only bargaining chip. Faedra could sense it without a doubt. As much as she hated the thought, Skylar would be safe enough until Vivianna and Arawn no longer needed her, and they'd need her to get to Todmus. She let her orbs fizzle out.

  “Didn't think so,” Vivianna sneered. “Arawn just wants the dwarf. You know where to find us.” She smashed the vial on the floor and disappeared behind a cloud of white smoke.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  The group surged forward to the spot that Vivianna and Skylar had just occupied. Faedra ran her hands through the smoky air then slumped onto the seat that Vivianna had been using, letting her head hang with disappointment.

  Jocelyn was trying to comfort a distraught Allora on the opposite bench, even though Faedra could sense the young fairy's emotions were confused. Once again, it was a battle between knowing it wasn't Vivianna but seeing Vivianna's body.

  Faen sat down next to his charge on the bench. He put his arm around her shoulders “She did it again, Faen. She's always one step ahead of us.”

  Todmus walked over and stood in front of his two friends, his hands fisted and resting on his hips. Faen and Faedra looked up at him.

  “I'm sorry, Todmus,” Faedra said. “I couldn't risk it, I may have hurt Skylar. I'd never forgive myself if I did.”

  Todmus gave her a doleful smile. “This is not your battle, miss. This day has been coming for a long time.”

  “Got any plans?” Faedra asked.

  Todmus sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “My plan was to enter the castle, paralyze Arawn long enough for me to free my wife and child, and escape back to Azran. We all know how that worked out.”

  “Is there anything we can do to help?” Carina asked. The ovate had joined them after hearing the commotion going on in the cave.

  Faedra shrugged her shoulders, feeling totally helpless.

  “What are we going to do?” Allora sobbed in Jocelyn's arms. “If Todmus goes to the castle, Arawn will surely kill him. If he doesn't go, I dread to think what he will do to Skylar.” She put her head in her hands, overwrought with emotion. So much so, Faedra was having a hard time breathing around it.

  Todmus turned to stand in front of his wife. He took her tear-soaked face in his hands. “I will get our daughter back, my love. Of that, you have my promise.”

  Faedra studied the face across from her. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her nose was bright red, but it was her red-rimmed eyes full of anguish that were the saddest things to see. In that moment, Faedra no longer saw Vivianna, but the gentle soul that lay within her half-sister's body. A beautiful, generous and kindhearted spirit. She sensed that's what Todmus saw now, too. The love and concern for his wife flowed with every beat of his heart. He leaned forward and kissed her. A soft, loving kiss.

  Faedra leaned her head on Faen's shoulder and released a pent up breath as Allora's anguish evaporated into her husband's kiss.

  With love, all things are possible, she thought. It's just that right now, some things seemed more possible than others. “How on earth are we going to get into the castle and get Skylar out?” Faedra mused, not realizing she was speaking her thoughts out loud. “Arawn will be waiting for us, so we've lost the element of surprise there.”

  Everyone turned to look at her.

  “Maybe not,” Alyssa piped up. Her energy changing to excitement. “We could use Todmus's secret passageway.”

  “You have a secret passageway?” Faedra asked, straightening up. “Why didn't you say so?”

  “Had a secret passageway. It's not my castle anymore,” Todmus replied.

  “Well, we'll just have to see about that, won't we?” Faedra quipped.

  “No,” Todmus said, looking at the group with a grave expression. “I will not have any of you risk your life for me.”

  Faedra raised her eyebrows and shot him an incredulous look. Faen coughed; not very subtly either. Alyssa, Etyran, and Jocelyn all crossed their arms over their chests in one smooth, synchronized motion, nailing him with a gaze full of attitude.

  “I think that gives you an answer to that statement,” Faedra said. “So, does Arawn know about this secret passageway?”

  “No, he doesn't,” Alyssa butted in just as Todmus took a breath to answer. “That's how we escaped earlier on. He was just on the other side of the wall and didn't even know we were right there just a few feet from him. It was so cool.”

  Faedra smiled at the young Lightbender's enthusiasm.

  “So, Todmus. Tell us more about this secret passageway,” Faedra said.

  ***

  “Do we have much further to go, Todmus?” Faedra asked, trying to sound as unruffled as possible. She didn't want the others to know she was holding onto her poise by the
skin of her teeth. Even with all the powers she possessed, not one of them was able to dispel her fear of the dark. She was having a hard job believing that at this point, but right now, being cramped in a tiny dark tunnel with six other people, her insides felt like a powder keg waiting to blow.

  “It is just up ahead, miss. Not much further,” Todmus answered.

  All around her were intense feelings of anxiety, fear, excitement and maybe even a little hope. Then from nowhere came a sensation that did not ring true to their situation. One of self-satisfied cockiness. Faedra looked around at her friends, their faces illuminated by the flickering glow of the torches carried by Todmus up front, and Etyran at the back. Everyone's expression matched the emotions swirling in the stifling air within the tunnel.

  “Here we are,” Todmus said as he came to a halt.

  Faedra felt the sensation of arrogant self-importance grow with every heartbeat.

  “Something's wrong,” she mumbled, trying to make sense of the energy pummeling at her.

  Todmus rested his hand on the brick that would open the secret entrance to the kitchen. Faedra grabbed it, which earned her a questioning look from her little friend and anxious glances from the rest of the group.

  “Miss?” Todmus said.

  Faedra raised a finger to her lips, silencing everyone. “Something is very wrong,” she whispered, her eyes darting about the tunnel as if she could see something no one else could. She turned to Etyran who was standing at the back of the group. “Etyran, back up. We need to get out of here.”

  Everyone turned. Etyran did an about-face to lead the group back out of the tunnel. He only got a few paces.

  “Err, Faedra, we have a bit of a problem back here.”

  Light spilled into the tunnel as the wall behind them opened, its grating noise sent shivers down Faedra's spine. The group turned back towards the light.

  “Leaving so soon?” a malevolent voice asked. “But the party's only just getting started. You must stay. I insist.” Arawn bent down in front of the opening, looking like a giant in his full-size stature.