by Sanders, Dan
“And then there are the lost artefacts of Harmony. And Eostra’s Egg. Emily must find and deliver–”
“Not on my own, I hope,” Emily blurted.
“No no, not on your own. The question is who are the beings? If the Artefacts of Harmony representing the elements must be found, then the beings should represent the Elemental nations. But who?” Sabina looked at Aldrick for support.
“I don’t know,” Aldrick said. “Magas?”
Magas stroked his beard. “I do not know all the members who make up the six, but I think some choices are known to us now and others will unfold as you achieve more of what is required by the prophecy. Emily is clearly the first member of the circle.”
Magas nodded at Emily, who also nodded reverently.
“Only an Agramond could wield the power of the air element,” he continued, looking at Lupi.
Lupi’s eyes bulged. “Wait a minute. I count more than six here. What about Noogie? She is a bird. Anyway, I was just saying I must go. I have work in—”
Magas raised his hand. “Lupita Bothan, daughter of Aria and Borieal, you are the second member of the Six. The monks of Manoa must have known of your destiny when they tasked you with carrying the ancient prophecy.”
“How can you make such a connection?” Sabina asked.
Magas smiled and said, “Sabina, you asked how I knew about gifts being offered tonight. A messenger nearly twenty years ago told me of a blessed event, an event of gift giving to a new power that would reach its zenith on the full cycle of the twin moons of Tas and Lar. The messenger was a monk from Manoa.”
“Hang on,” Emily said. “You said a new power. What is the power?”
Lupi said, “Not what, Emily, who. You are that power.”
Lupi buzzed over to Emily and took her paws in her delicate hands and said, “I didn’t tell you everything when you found me, but the monk who gave me the prophecy also said something else to me, which I wanted to forget.”
“How come you didn’t tell us before, Lupita?” Sabina asked.
“Settle down tall, white and brainy,” Lupi said. “It was meant for me. The first part you know:
”’Child of Air, Child of Sorrow, this gift holds more than all the riches of Alendi. Treasure it: the one with the mark will call forth its treasure. Let the seer-stone be the key. If you save a life, you save its Twin.’
“But then the old man said something I have wondered about since then. It went something like this:
“’The forgiveness you seek can only be found in the service of others. Only then can you find the happiness your heart desires.’”
Everybody stared at Lupi. She lowered her head and buzzed into the shadows. She said quietly, “I will follow you Emily, and perhaps my life may find peace.”
Magas’ deep voice interrupted the silence. “The third member of the Circle, as gifted by the Faoir at the Gala dinner, is Kato, of the Tiger Clan.”
“I thought your kind was extinct?” Lupi said.
The tigress swung her head to face Lupi. She flew behind Magas for protection. Everybody laughed.
Kato said, “It has been thought so for a long time. I am the last of the Tiger Clan, young Agramond.”
Emily’s heart felt for the tiger.
Kato purred deeply. Rupurt slid closer to Emily and Noogie nestled into Daimon’s neck.
Magas continued, “The fourth member is–”
Just then the door swung open and the robes of Prince Bevan flurried in the faces of the startled onlookers. The Prince’s old nanny, Ketty, was close behind. He had trouble adjusting one of the gold buttons that attached his cape to his polished stone breastplate. She fixed it for him, poured him a drink in a silver goblet, handed it to him and stepped into the shadows. He drank deeply then wiped his mouth.
“Who summons the presence of the Prince?” he said. “I must rest and prepare for the victory of the Errenor Cup.”
Everybody stood in disbelief. The Prince cast his blue gaze around the room. A smile cut across his face when he saw Lupi. His smile broadened when his eyes rested on Sabina, whose nose remained firmly planted in a grey covered book.
“It is I who asked you to join us, Prince Bevan,” Magas said. “There are grave matters before us. We were just talking about you.”
The Prince checked his smile. “Forgive me, Melder Whiteoak, but you sound like my father. My heart is not one that salutes the grave. It’s adventure that serves my palate.”
No one smiled.
“Cheer up,” the Prince cajoled. “Did somebody rejoin with Mother Nature?”
“Bevan is right, let’s cheer up,” Lupi said. “It has been a splendid evening.”
Magas rested his hands around his staff and looked at each of them in turn. His gaze lingered on Emily.
“There are times when you will be thrust into situations that ask more than you are prepared for, and in some cases more than you are able to bear. You are all, but for Kato, young, but from unremarkable beginnings can come remarkable lives. I ask each of you to bear a burden for which you are unprepared, for which you need to seek that hidden wellspring where greatness rests. The path to that discovery will be fraught with pain; for some in facing yourself, others your past; and others your future.”
Only the steamy panting of the Fire-Tigress could be heard.
“Take heart, for before me is the Circle of Six, as prophesied by the seers of Wellwyn. I am not sure who the remaining members are but I’m convinced they are in this room. In the last, you will come together as one to defeat the darkness of Gorgos, to save the Twin Worlds from his deathly hand and usher a new generation of renewal and hope.”
They exchanged glances, wondering about the remaining two members.
Bevan stepped forward. “Melder Whiteoak, you are venerated in our land, but I don’t understand. What is the circle, and what has that to do with me?”
Aldrick answered him. “The Circle is a group of beings foretold by the prophecy you now hold. You will collect the Artefacts of Harmony and fulfil the quest, so on and so forth…”
“What am I to do with all this nonsense?” Bevan said.
“As the holder of the Reven Blade you represent the Earth Lore,” Magas said calmly.
Emily thought Magas was almost enjoying this. She looked across at Sabina and saw her hidden smirk at the Prince’s discomfort.
“This is gifted with my crown at birth,” the Prince said indignantly, “not with some witches’ incantation.”
“So you believe, my young prince, so you believe,” said Sabina.
The Prince glared at Sabina and said, “I am not young and I don’t like being insulted.”
“Oh, close that cavern you call a mouth,” Lupi said. “There’s no use fighting. You must accept your fate, as I have.”
“You are not I, Lupita. And don’t use our past to become too familiar.”
Lupi hovered near the Prince’s head, raised her hands and created a small ball of swirling air, ready to hurl at him. Just then Kato roared, shaking the walls of the chamber. Everybody ducked and Lupi quickly shoved her hands behind her back.
“Magas, I have studies at Hawkmoth Academy; tell him Uncle,” Sabina pleaded with Aldrick.
“I have a kingdom to prepare for,” said the Prince.
Kato watched impassively, her tail swishing across the floor.
Daimon lifted his CBlade from its hilt and said, “Have you not heard what is happening to your world? Yes, your world, not mine. I can’t even connect with your land, but don’t stop trying, for only then do I fail. All of you are more equipped than I, and yet you run with fear in your bellies. Look what we have accomplished together already.” He exhaled and continued more sombrely, “I think I know what the prophecy means, Sabina. We are the Circle of Six and only together can we succeed; not four, not five, but six. By the gods, we must have courage and honour.”
“But what about us?” Noogie said with her wing sweeping to Rupurt.
Emily hopped fo
rward, “You have been my best friend since we were hatchlings. It would be an honour if you would see my quest through to the end. I look forward to our lives together after this quest is complete.” She turned to Rupurt. “You taught me how to be my new self. You have become my most loyal carer and friend. I hope our lives are bound by more than a title bestowed by others.”
Rupurt beamed. “It would be my honour to serve you, Emily of Eostra.”
Emily suddenly felt the prophecy urgently singing that danger was present. Her ears twitched and she looked around the room. She wanted to tell Magas of the urgent call of the prophecy, but the Melder’s deep voice said soothingly, “Well, I think it is settled. You have seven days to retrieve the Artefacts of Harmony and return them to Havendel. Since time is against us, you will all leave when the sun farewells this night.”
“What about Aldrick?” Sabina asked.
“I have asked Aldrick to be your guide through the Treebith-Nod, for that is your first destination,” Magas said.
“Treebith, Springton Forest?” Bevan said. “They take no part in our daily affairs.”
“These are not daily affairs,” Sabina scoffed. “The Treebith will know the whereabouts of the Artefacts of Harmony. That silly Grael game you play is a representation of the early hunters seeking the Artefacts of Harmony after they were stolen.”
Bevan turned to storm out of the room, only to be face to face with the giant tigress, her smiling fangs, broad head and furry cheeks just above his nose. He spun deftly on his heel and walked back into the room. Emily and Rupurt chuckled. The Prince waved everybody to continue.
“As I was saying,” Magas said. “Emily, with the help of the Circle, must secure the assistance of the Treebith.”
“The King will never agree to my leaving on some quest foretold by those old seers,” the Prince said, glancing at Kato.
“Leave the King to me,” Magas said. “I am sure given recent events that the Grael competition will be deferred for a season.”
“You must be mad,” Bevan yelled. “This is my father’s chance to mend bonds with those from other realms. He will not agree.”
Magas smiled and said, “Perhaps you are correct, and perhaps you are not.”
“You can consider it an adventure,” Lupi said.
“There is one last task before we break for rest,” Magas said. “Aldrick, please pass me the sack from Harli.”
Emily had forgotten the sack the leader of the Adros Rabbits had gifted to her. Aldrick had carried it in his pack since Adros.
Magas gently withdrew a handful of small amulets that tinkled in his fingers. He called Lupi forward and said, “This is the Mark of Emily. All who wear the mark do so as a symbol of allegiance to her cause and the cause of Eostra.”
Magas lifted a necklace over Lupi’s neck. The small amulet was in the shape of a seated rabbit, with a tiny purple crystal egg embedded near its hind quarter. As it touched her neck the amulet glowed momentarily. Everybody’s mouth dropped open.
“Please come forward to receive your mark, Bevan,” Magas said firmly but gently.
“But…” Bevan said.
Magas waved him over before placing the amulet over his head. Reverent faces watched on as he accepted the gift of allegiance. Everybody realised fighting Magas, the great Melder of Eostra, would be futile.
One by one Emily’s friends bowed and saluted her by pressing a palm across their chest and placing it on her chest. She was overcome with the support of these brave people. Her wings gently buzzing, Lupi laid her arm across Bevan’s shoulder. Sabina looped her arm through Aldrick’s and rested her head on his shoulder. Bevan watched Sabina and Aldrick arm in arm. He signalled to Lupi for an explanation of their bond. Lupi shrugged.
Noogie landed on Emily’s shoulder and tapped her beak on Emily’s ear. “We can do this together, like we always have.”
Emily nuzzled her snout into Noogie. She felt they had become a loose family of sorts, hoping they could endure the difficult times ahead.
Kato’s hulking sleek form sat in the shadows. Emily hopped over to her and said, “Forgive me Kato, but welcome to the Circle of Six.”
Emily felt her fiery breath when the tiger lowered her head to speak. “We have a task before us and I am honoured to play my part.”
Emily loved Kato’s deep honeyed tones. She looked around for answers when she reaslied the necklance would not fit around Kato’s neck.
Kato said, “Perhaps Rupurt would be so good to carry this for me.”
Rupurt beamed and they all laughed.
Just then the door burst open with a brightly dressed courtier puffing, “Master Whiteoak, Nadia Peramon, Princess of the Vodnik, has been murdered.” Seeing the others in the room the courtier whispered so only Magas and Aldrick could hear. “Her body is charred. The King spoke of fire and the dark art of deharmonisation. He demands your presence and that of the Prince at once, sir.”
Magas winced at the news. He banged his staff into the floor and faced the group. “Bevan, follow me. The time has come to face the King. The rest of you prepare to leave within the hour. I fear our time here is spent.”
Aldrick grabbed Magas’ arm and said, “Before you go, we need to speak. Had an interesting chat with an old friend.”
Magas nodded and they swept from the room.
Emily’s heart raced as her destiny was once again in the hands of others. She hopped nervously through the tunnels back to her room. The prophecy had tried to warn her that the murder of Princess Nadia was taking place. When would she start listening to her own mind and the land, and take charge? She might have been a bird but now she was leading the Circle of Six. Besides, she had the lives of others to think about, and she needed their friendship to fulfil her destiny and get back home.
Chapter 25
TreeBith-Nod
Springton Forest,
Annwyn
Along the rising shores of the Ibendari nation the zombied travellers trudged most of the morning, endeavouring to put last night’s shock behind them. The sun was blue and hot and the grass a faded yellow. Emily’s skin prickled under her fur. Just when she thought they would never rest, Aldrick called them to a halt.
The edge of the plateau ended abruptly and a roaring waterfall crashed into the river below. Rising mist covered the straggling friends and yellow-cupped flowers bobbed as Noogie settled onto one of the slim branches. Kato drank warily from the stream and then lay under the shade of a tree, propped up on her elbows. Lupi flew in circles through the mist squealing in delight. Daimon dropped his pack onto the grassy bank and collapsed to his knees in exhaustion. Spray from the waterfall cast a wet haze and a small rainbow in the sky. Rupurt and Emily sat on their haunches waving their paws and tried to shove the thick mist into their snouts.
“This is it. The Orena River, longest in Annwyn,” Sabina said. With her hands on her thin hips she sucked in the spectacular sight below. “I’ve never been this far south.”
“It cuts right through Springton Forest,” Aldrick said.
They looked at Aldrick in surprise.
“Are you suggesting we travel on the river, Master Icelander?” Rupurt said.
“I thought it was obvious. There are no horses, and to go on foot will take us time we don’t have.”
“Clouds alive,” Lupi said. “In case you haven’t noticed, Iceblock, there are no boats, and we are up here and the river is down there. I can fly but you others?”
“I have a plan.” Aldrick smirked.
“Exactly what?” Daimon asked.
“By leaf boat of course,” Sabina said, playfully kicking Damion as she stood over him, “C’mon, I’ll show you.”
“I’ll be fine right here. I need to sleep for a day or two.”
“If I must make this journey at my age, so do you, you little…” Aldrick said half seriously, throwing an armful of fruits he had picked onto Daimon’s resting belly.
Sabina disappeared into the bushes. “Through here. Hurry up,” Em
ily said over her shoulder.
Reluctantly, the others collected their belongings and trundled after Sabina. It wasn’t long before they came upon a stream that Emily calculated must connect directly to the waterfall ahead. Sabina and Aldrick ripped tangled vines and ferns at the water’s edge, and pulled out a huge leaf in the shape of a row boat.
“We are meant to travel in that thing?” Daimon said, alarmed.
“It’s the only way to get there in time,” Aldrick said.
“I’m with Daimon,“ Emily said. “It looks so flimsy. There is nothing to control it.”
Sabina threw her pack into the boat. “I’m going, so get in now or stay behind.”
Reluctantly Emily allowed Sabina and Aldrick to lift her into the boat. Emily was surprised at how large it was, with plenty of room for the entire party.
After they had embarked they turned and saw Kato leaning over the grassy edge, contemplating her dilemma. “I don’t like water. I am a fire being.”
“You can do it, Kato,” Emily encouraged.
With a low growl Kato lifted her head and said, “I know the way to the Treebith. We will meet in the forest.”
The giant Fire-Tiger vanished into the scrub and down the dense ridge.
Emily looked at Aldrick and Sabina. Aldrick said, “She can move with the speed of fire. She will probably beat us there. Anyway, off we go, so on and so forth.”
“I’ll see you at the bottom, maybe.” Lupi laughed and disappeared into the mist.
Daimon pushed them away from the bank with his CBlade. The boat drifted with the stream, rocking in rhythm with the current. Emily felt it pick up speed as it rushed toward the falls.
“This is the good part,” Sabina said, noticing Emily’s worry. “The boat is controlled by the people and their fusion with the land. This fusion taps into the specific leaf and water energy lattices, releasing them in controlled polar channels; in this case causing dispersion between the leaf and water molecules, pushing them apart.”
“What Emily means, everybody,” Aldrick yelled over the rushing falls, “is that it is our mind that unlocks the energy that powers the boat.” Aldrick’s round cheeks glowed red with excitement. “Sabina, what have I told you about making things more complicated than they need to be?”
