by Jenny McKane
She took a deep breath. There was no one but herself. She must keep trying.
Clutching the amulet, she crept through the maze of corridors. Which way? It was all so confusing, and she had no way of knowing which direction. The witch could be anywhere; The Tower was high, and there were so many rooms within it.
She turned a handle and stepped into a room.
There was movement to her right. It was Aberfa, the creature that she had managed to talk around the night before. The creature that had been guarding her, and that she had promised to liberate.
It stared at her for a moment. And then, the witch suddenly walked into the room, her indigo gown trailing on the floor.
The witch stopped, staring at Avalon. Her eyes widened in surprise. Avalon knew it was true then. The witch had thought that she had killed her.
Avalon raised the amulet into the air. She took a deep breath.
The amulet started to glow again.
The witch laughed. “Is that the best that you can do?” she said. “You have survived, I see, but you are still deluded with your trinket in your hand. Haven’t you learned yet that it is useless against my power?”
Avalon could feel the amulet shaking in her hand. The witch was attempting to get rid of it, again. She gripped it harder.
“If the amulet has no power,” she called loudly, “then why do you try to take it from me…Ginevra.”
The witch gasped. Her already pale skin grew deathly white. Her eyes started to bulge from her head.
“Yes,” said Avalon, drawing closer, the amulet raised high, “I call you by your true name, Black Witch. I shout it to the sky! Ginevra!”
The witch started choking and fell on her knees. Avalon could see Aberfa, the creature, crouch down low, ready to pounce. The creature started to growl. Was it about to attack her?
Her heart was beating wildly, but she had no choice. Even if the creature killed her, she would still have defeated the Black Witch.
“Ginevra!” she screamed again.
Suddenly, the creature pounced. She could see it flying through the air.
It landed on the witch, clawing wildly. The witch screamed in agony.
And suddenly, another animal ran into the room. Avalon’s heart leapt with joy. It was Hansa! It was the wolf!
Hansa dived onto the witch, tearing at her. Avalon could not see the witch at all, with the animals upon her. They kept tearing and clawing until no sound remained.
Avalon trembled. Was she dead? Or was it another trick?
The animals slowly backed away from the figure on the ground. Avalon stared down at it. The witch looked like a mangled doll, and then before her very eyes, she started melting away into the cold stone floor until only the indigo gown remained.
“Well, I can see that I have arrived a bit late.”
Avalon gasped, turning around.
Skyresh stood there, staring at her. His sword was drawn and covered in blood. Was he real? Or was this just another vision?
“Avalon,” he breathed, his blue eyes shining. He took a step towards her.
She ran to him, embracing him so hard that his sword clattered to the floor. She buried her face into this neck, breathing deeply.
“I thought you were dead,” she whispered.
Skyresh pulled away slightly and gazed at her. “You should have known that I would never die without you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Avalon simply couldn’t believe that he was here, and that he was real. One part of her mind kept telling her that it was just another vision and any minute now he would start to fade and melt in her arms.
She gripped him tighter. No, he was real. She could feel the strong muscles of his arms through the fabric of his clothes. She could feel his breath, the rise and fall of his lungs. She put her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Yes, there was his heartbeat.
He was flesh and blood.
“Skyresh,” she whispered. “How are you here?”
He stroked her face gently. She felt that she might drown in the bright blue of his eyes.
“I will tell you everything,” he said. “But not now. There isn’t time. I have killed the guards to get in here, but we cannot stay. They will find out soon that The Tower has been breached and the Black Witch killed.” He took a deep breath. “They will be after us, and they will be merciless.”
Avalon nodded. “Yes, but the spell didn’t work, Skyresh. I haven’t liberated the animals. The witch was killed in a different way than what Mother Oda said. I haven’t fulfilled the whole mission.”
Skyresh sighed. “There is simply no way of knowing what to do to fulfil it then. We must get back to the Safe Zone and Mother Oda. She can advise us what to do.”
Avalon frowned, and then she turned around. In her excitement at seeing Skyresh, she had forgotten that Hansa was here. The wolf was sitting quietly, staring at her. Her paws and jaw were covered in the witch’s blood. To her left sat Aberfa, the creature who had attacked the Witch as well. Aberfa was staring at her, as well.
Avalon approached them. She threw her arms around the wolf, stroking her fur.
Thank you, my friend, she said. I thought that you were dead, as well. I cannot tell you how much it means to me that you are alive and with me again.
The wolf stared at her, her yellow eyes shining. My queen, said Hansa. I was imprisoned, but I heard your call, and I came to you.
Avalon gripped her tighter and felt a single tear squeeze out of her eye and run down her cheek.
Then she turned to Aberfa. The creature was still staring at her.
Thank you, Aberfa, she said, walking to the creature and placing her hand on her head. I know that this was hard for you. You have fought against the darkness, and you have done a great thing. I promised to liberate you, and I hope that you feel it was worth it.
Aberfa yelped. It was worth it, my queen. I pledge myself in your service. Wherever you go, I shall go. If you will have me.
Avalon’s eyes shimmered with tears. You are a part of us now. You are our ally, and we shall never desert you.
“Avalon,” said Skyresh gently, walking up to her. “I know that this is emotional, but we have to leave.”
Avalon nodded. “I know, Skyresh, but please, just let me look in the witch’s den quickly before we go. There might be something in there that will tell me what I need to do to liberate all the animals. We have come so far; I cannot leave without trying one last time.”
Skyresh frowned but nodded. “Quickly, then.”
Avalon turned around. “This way.”
They all followed her back down the labyrinth of corridors. Again, it was hard for her to remember which way to go, but eventually she found it.
The black candle in the center of the room was extinguished.
Avalon ran into it, scouring the bookshelves. Surely, there must be something? But there were so many books that she didn’t know which to look at first. Eventually, she grabbed a few and stuffed them into her bag.
“What are you doing?” said Skyresh. He was standing at the small window, staring out at the landscape.
“You are right,” said Avalon, taking a deep breath. “There is no time to go through all of them. I will take a few, and when we have time, I will go through them.”
My queen, said Aberfa, who was standing behind her. Take the book in the center of the table rather than the ones you have grabbed. It is her main spell book, the one that she would consult over all others.
Avalon nodded. Yes, you are right, Aberfa.
She took out the books she had stuffed in her bag and grabbed the one on the table. It was so large, it barely fit in her bag, but she managed it.
Skyresh turned to her. “Are we done? We need to go.”
Avalon took a deep breath. She wanted to stay and find the spell to liberate the animals, but she knew that they had no time. She just had to trust that the witch’s main spell book would tell her something.
“Let’s go,” she said.
<
br /> They traversed the maze of corridors again until they got out to the main staircase.
“Follow me,” said Skyresh. “I memorized the way in here.”
The Tower was so dark, despite the daylight. All the torches that hung on the walls were extinguished, and the air was cold. Avalon shivered, as they wound their way down the narrow, circular staircase. She suddenly couldn’t wait to get out of here. The atmosphere was so oppressive, still, even with the witch dead.
The witch is dead, she said to herself in wonder. We killed the witch!
Skyresh turned and walked into a small room. There was a door to the outside. He opened it, and bright sunlight streamed through. Avalon had to blink suddenly at the contrast.
She could see the ochre colored rocks spread out as far as the eye could see. The landscape of the Interior.
And then they were running, the animals bounding ahead. Avalon took a deep breath, letting fresh air fill her lungs. Even though only half of the mission had been completed, she suddenly felt so euphoric it was all that she could do to restrain herself from leaping into the air.
***
They kept running until they were a safe distance away. Hansa took the lead, telling them that she knew a place where they could rest for a while and plan what they were going to do next.
The wolf led them into a small cave, tucked away beneath some craggy rocks.
Avalon and Skyresh collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. The animals fell in exhaustion, too. Avalon stared at them in sympathy. They had just attacked and killed the witch, which must have taken an enormous amount of strength, and had then been sprinting for their lives. Everyone needed to rest.
After he had caught his breath, Skyresh turned to her. His bright blue eyes raked over her, fully taking her in.
“Avalon,” he whispered, stretching out his hand towards her. “I still cannot believe that I found you in time. That we have been reunited.”
Avalon took his hand. “I thought that you were a vision, Skyresh,” she said. “When I was battling the witch, you came to me. You were broken and dying. You told me to give up, that the effort was wasted.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “It almost broke my heart.”
Skyresh stared at her. “She was clever,” he said. “She knew that you were powerful, and she was trying everything to get you to give up. You must have known, in your heart, that I would never tell you to give up, even if I was dying.”
“Yes,” whispered Avalon. “That knowledge is what got me through it.”
He squeezed her hand, tighter. “You say that the spell Mother Oda gave you didn’t work,” he said. “How did you defeat the witch then?”
Avalon took a deep breath. “I spoke to the Goddess,” she said. “My mother came to me. She told me that I needed to find the witch’s true name. I wasn’t sure how to, but my little rabbit friend appeared and told me that I had heard the word in the witch’s chant.”
Skyresh smiled. “Your little rabbit friend?”
Avalon smiled, too. “Yes,” she said. “Her name is Mair. Aysus imprisoned me in her burrow, and Hansa came to save me. I let her and her friends live, and she didn’t forget it. She came to The Tower to help me.”
Skyresh shook his head in amazement. “I told you the animals were our natural allies,” he said. “Even when under the power of the dark army, they still remembered. What happened to your little rabbit friend?”
Avalon looked down. “I don’t know,” she said. “The witch defeated me, and I passed out. When I awoke, Mair was gone, but she had placed my amulet in my hand to give me power. She saved my life. I am sure that I would be dead, now, if she hadn’t done it.”
Skyresh gripped her hand, tighter. “She might be still alive. Do not grieve for her yet, Avalon.”
Avalon nodded. “Yes, she might be,” she whispered. “But tell me, Skyresh. What happened to you?”
Skyresh frowned. “Aysus led me to an eagle’s nest,” he said. “A great eagle held me prisoner within it.”
“How did you escape?”
Skyresh smiled. “I took its egg,” he said. “It was the only thing that I could think of to use against it. But then, the most amazing thing happened. The egg hatched while I was holding it. The newborn allied itself to me. It had allied itself to me while in the egg! It convinced its mother to help me.”
Avalon gasped. “That is truly amazing.”
“Yes,” said Skyresh. “The great eagle let me ride upon its back and took me to The Tower. If it hadn’t happened, I would still be traversing the desert to get to you. We would have missed each other.”
They were silent, for a moment, as they contemplated the strange twisting of fate and luck.
“It was our destiny,” Skyresh whispered, gazing at her. “We were meant to find each other again—despite all the dark magic determined to keep us apart.”
Avalon’s heart lurched. It was true. Everything had been against them, and yet…they had found each other.
And then, she gasped, as the image of Everard slid into her mind.
She had forgotten him in the excitement and frenzy of the battle with the witch and their escape from The Tower. Where was he?
“Skyresh,” she said, sitting up abruptly. “We have to find Everard!”
Skyresh frowned. “Everard?” he said doubtfully.
Avalon stared at him. Of course! He was still suffering the after effects of the spell Aysus had put on them all. He had forgotten all about Everard.
“Skyresh, close your eyes,” she said gently. “You know who Everard is. Aysus’s spell made you forget when he imprisoned him. I forgot him, too. Think.”
Skyresh closed his eyes, frowning. He was silent for a moment. Then he opened his eyes slowly.
“I remember him,” he said. “Your friend. He was travelling with us after he helped me liberate you in Agnoria.”
“Yes!” Avalon cried. “He is out there in the desert somewhere. We must find him.”
Skyresh sighed. “But, Avalon, how? He could be anywhere. The spell that Aysus cast over us was so strong. I don’t even remember at what point Everard was taken – where we were, or how to get back to there.”
Avalon’s heart plummeted. “I know,” she sighed. “I am the same. It is all so vague in my mind.”
Skyresh frowned. “And then there is Aysus,” he said. “He will be out there, still, looking for us.”
Avalon shook her head. “I didn’t tell you,” she said. “Aysus was the witch in disguise. We do not need to worry about him anymore.”
Skyresh breathed deeply. “That is something,” he said. “But it doesn’t change the fact that the Jarle will be aware by now of what has happened in The Tower. They will send forces to find us, and they will bring another powerful sorcerer to replace the witch. We have to get back to the Safe Zone as quick as we can.”
Avalon sighed, torn. She knew that what Skyresh said was right. They needed to speak to Mother Oda, so she could guide them as to what to do next. But how could she go to safety when Everard was still imprisoned in the Outer Limits somewhere? She couldn’t just desert him. He wouldn’t do it to her. She knew that.
“I cannot forsake him,” she said softly. “He gave up everything for me. I must find him.”
Skyresh sighed, shaking his head. He remembered, now, what Everard had been like. The fact that he wasn’t on their side – not really. That he had done all this out of love for Avalon, but that the conflict raged deep inside him. That Everard had been going to leave him to die underneath a pile of sand after the sandstorm. Should he tell Avalon that?
He gazed at her, assessing. No. She was loyal to Everard, and if she wished to find him, he could not stop her. If she managed to find him, she would find out herself that he was not loyal to the cause eventually. If he told her now, she wouldn’t believe him anyway. She would just assume that he was trying to dissuade her to get her to safety.
“You don’t have to come with me,” she said quickly. “You can make your way
back to Mother Oda. I understand that you have never liked him, and only tolerated him for my sake.”
Skyresh stared at her. “You must know by now that wherever you go, I go. I am not going to leave you to traverse the deserts alone, looking for him. We must stay together.” He took a deep breath. “I think that it is a mistake. The forces will be out. It will be dangerous, with no guarantee of ever finding him, but if you are determined, I will help you.”
Avalon reached over and kissed him gently on the forehead. He reached out, grabbing her face in his hands.
The moment stretched on between them. Avalon felt herself beginning to tremble. What was this connection that was so strong between them? She had felt it from the first moment she had seen him.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He didn’t answer. She could see that he was trembling also.
My queen.
Hansa was speaking to her. She gazed over at the wolf, who was lying on her side. Her yellow eyes were open, and she was staring at Avalon.
Avalon gazed deeply into the wolf’s eyes. What is it, Hansa?
If you wish to find your companion, the wolf said, I will help you. I can try to track him.
Aberfa had raised her head and was looking at them. I can track, too, my queen. If you have something of his that you can give me with his scent on it.
Avalon shuddered with emotion. Dear animals, she said. I do not know what I would do without you. Thank you so much.
She reached for her bag, staring inside. Yes. She had one of Everard’s head scarves within. She unraveled it and passed it to the animals.
Will that do?
They both put their noses on the scarf and breathed deeply.
Yes, said Hansa.
Skyresh was watching them. “We can’t leave now,” he said. “We have to regain our strength. Have something to eat and drink…and sleep for the night. We will head out at first light, Avalon.”
She opened her mouth to protest then closed it again. One part of her wanted to get going this instant, but she saw the truth in what Skyresh said. They were exhausted, as were the animals. They would be their own worst enemies if they tried to push themselves any further now.
