by Unknown
Nona jumped to the ready and waited for Meghan by the door.
“It’s so hideous!” Nona heard Meghan’s thoughts betray. “Can she actually talk with that thing?”
“Is it so hard to believe that Pajak can talk?” Meghan heard Nona reply.
Meghan smiled at her loyal Catawitch.
“No, I guess not. But even on your worst day, I’d take you a thousand times over, versus Pajak!”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Nona said, stepping out of the candle room and into Juliska’s room.
“See you later,” Meghan said, as she passed Juliska, exiting as well.
Juliska nodded, but was too engrossed in her conversation with Pajak to speak aloud. As she exited, Meghan heard high-pitched squeaking and chirping, and then heard Juliska reply.
“Oh, really, did he? How very interesting, my pet. Very good job,” she spoke.
“Apparently they cannot hear each others’ thoughts, like we can,” Meghan noted, adding,
“I wonder how one learns to speak spider?”
For some reason Nona found Meghan’s comment funny and laughed in a raucous, cat-like manner. The more Meghan thought about it, it was a little funny, thinking of someone learning to speak spider.
It felt good to laugh. It also helped that spotty beams of sun were sneaking through the clouds and warming the meadow. Overall, the mood seemed more cheerful than it had in the previous days.
“You know, Nona, it might actually come in handy to speak spider,” Meghan then said unexpectedly.
“How so?”
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“It is not the first time Pajak has disappeared for hours, only to come back and have something it wants to discuss with Juliska.”
“And it’s obviously a conversation she wants to have in private,” Nona added, understanding Meghan’s concern at once. “Maybe I’ll have to add keeping an eye on Pajak to my list of duties…” her thoughts wandered off as she caught the whiff of a rodent nearby.
“See you after lunch,” Meghan whispered, as Nona vaulted in the opposite direction.
Meghan made a point to pass by Billie’s, so she could see if Colin wanted to join her. Her visit proved timely, as Billie stepped out just as she was about to enter. Colin followed behind her. Billie looks a bit pale, she noted.
“Ah, the sister,” Billie spoke.
Her voice lacked the usual passion and fervor.
“How are you finding yourself, Meghan Jacoby?”
“Oh, um, fine I guess.”
Billie nodded and then sauntered off toward the cantina.
“What’s up with Billie?” Meghan asked Colin.
“We’re a little worried about her. We think she knows someone in the missing caravan.
We think she’s really worried.”
Meghan could not help but notice Colin’s use of the word ‘we’ and to her surprise, she felt a twinge of jealousy. We always used to be the term associated with her and Colin. Now, it appeared, Catrina had replaced her in that role.
Colin checked that the coast was clear and then held the door open for Catrina. Though she could not see her, Meghan was sure to whisper hello.
“She says hi back,” Colin smiled.
“Heading to eat, you want to join me?” asked Meghan.
“We were heading there, too!”
Upon arrival, they glanced for Jae, but their luck did not hold, as he did not appear to be eating lunch just then. They located the jutting rocks at the edge of the meadow, so they could eat with less of a chance of someone overhearing.
People were quieter than normal, and the main topic of conversation stemmed around the hunting party. They were still missing.
During lunch, the cloud cover returned, cooling the air. Soon, patches of fog lined the meadow and the edge of the woods surrounding it. This turn in the weather matched the turn of the mood, as more people arrived to eat, and the conversations turned to hushed whispers that only those close by could hear.
It was clear that most everyone felt sure that something sinister had befallen the hunting party. This, combined with the already missing caravan, left little hope that something terrible would not befall them all.
As people arrived to get food, they ignored acquaintances they might normally speak to, and avoided sitting with anyone they did not consider close friends or family. Those already eating watched the new arrivals with paranoid glances. Many of those glances made their 45
way to Meghan. It seemed as though every time she lifted her head to look at something, someone’s eyes were darting away, pretending they had not been staring.
“Kind of losing my appetite,” Meghan said after a bit. She had eaten about half of her food.
“This place is starting to give me the creeps.”
“Catrina agrees,” Colin replied softly. “And for that matter, so do I.”
“Here, take the rest of my food. I can’t finish.” Meghan wrapped her half-eaten meat pie in a napkin and handed it to him.
Colin put it in his pocket to eat later.
“I think I’m doing the opposite of what you need right now, Colin. Drawing way too much attention our way.”
“Yeah, what’s with all the staring?” he asked.
He turned, to where Meghan assumed Catrina was sitting, and then nodded understandingly.
“They are waiting for you to have some kind of vision, aren’t they?” he said, answering his own question.
“I guess,” Meghan replied. “You know, someday, I would really enjoy just a few hours when I’m not being stared at!” She folded her arms and set her chin in resigned acceptance.
As the crowd continued to grow, space became tight, and people started sitting closer together and inevitably, talking. Heated conversations began sprouting throughout the cantina, table by table. To the twins, the noise helped lift the dreariness of the clouds and fog, as well as sidetrack them from their worries.
Suddenly, a scream echoed through the meadow, silencing all debates. No one spoke, but most stood and searched for the source of the scream.
It came from a little girl.
She pointed toward the woods with a look of terror on her face.
And then, everyone froze.
There was movement at the edge of the meadow.
The twins’ first thoughts strayed to the Scratchers. This could not be them, though, as they would have attacked from the air.
“Don’t let go,” Colin whispered to Catrina, not wanting to lose her if they had to make a sudden escape. She took a firm hold of his sweater and held her breath in nervous anticipation, just the same as everyone else.
Branches broke under approaching footsteps.
Trees and shrubs rustled as someone, or something, walked through them.
Balaton came running to the front of the group, with belts slung over their shoulders, ready for a battle, if it came to it.
Meghan and Colin repeatedly thought they saw movement, but each time their eyes caught something, it disappeared just as quickly.
Jae popped in alongside Meghan, glaring menacingly across the edge of the meadow.
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The crowd gasped in unison as shadows emerged from the trees, taking the form of people.
And yet, they seemed to disappear and blend in with their background. Soon, they had surrounded the entire meadow.
A firm voice spoke.
“We do not mean to cause alarm. We come only to speak to your leader, regarding an urgent matter.”
Meghan and Colin were surprised when Garner Sadorus stepped forward, rather than Juliska Blackwell.
“Show yourselves if you mean no ill will!” he demanded. Garner once again wore his boisterous overcoat.
The leader of the group stepped out of the shadows and into the meadow.
The Svoda gasped in unison.
“Stripers!” someone nearby said.
At first glance, they appeared human, but upon closer inspection, the twins noticed stripes of what appeared to b
e lizard-like skin, running down their arms and necks. It seemed odd that in the chilly air, they wore only minimal clothing.
“Are they…human?” asked Colin.
Jae leaned in, whispering to the twins.
“Do you remember in the retelling festival, that there was a boat lost at sea during the battle, and all were assumed dead?”
They nodded yes.
“Well, the story doesn’t add that many years later, it was discovered they had survived.”
“Survived? That’s good, isn’t it?” asked Meghan.
“Yes, and kind of no,” said Jae, while shrugging.
“Why don’t they look like you then?” asked Colin.
“Short version: A long time ago they befriended a group of animal magicians known as chameleons, and in return, they were given some of their magic. It changed them. Made them more than human.”
Colin breathed out fast, not able to hide his shock.
The leader approached Garner, but he spoke as if talking to everyone in the meadow.
“We have come because we are hunting something. Something evil. Something that must be destroyed!”
The Svoda remained paralyzed and could only stare at the Stripers in awe and fear.
“What is it you hunt?” asked Garner.
The leader of the Stripers glanced around the meadow, as if seeking out this terrible evil, amongst the Svoda.
“I see you have nearly cleaned up the devastation that was cast upon this place.” At this moment, Juliska Blackwell appeared and took over from Garner. He took a few steps back, remaining close.
“What do you know of it?” demanded Juliska.
“And you would be?” the leader asked.
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Juliska did not reply immediately. Her face studied the Stripers closely. After a tense minute, she finally broke her silence.
“I am Juliska Nandalia Blackwell, Queen of the Svoda Gypsies. And you would be?” A sinister smile spread over the Striper’s face.
“I am KarNavan. And most pleased to make the acquaintance of a Queen.” He then bowed his head, as if paying her respect, but something about his actions hinted that his respect was artificial.
“Again, I ask you. What do you know of the condition of this meadow?” KarNavan’s face wrestled to keep its smile.
“We came across this meadow, in its current state, a full evening before you arrived.” Jae stomped his foot onto the ground.
“They know we’ve been here, the entire time.”
“They’ve must have been spying,” Meghan said.
It appeared as though many Svoda were under the same belief, as their fearful stares now turned to angry glares.
“And you saw no one?” questioned Juliska.
“Not one single living person,” KarNavan replied. “Just belongings and smoldering fires.” He paused. “If I have concluded correctly, there are people missing? And these people are your kin?”
“You are correct in that assumption,” Juliska replied.
The angry glares of the Svoda now dissolved into bitter disappointment, as once again, the search for their loved ones seemed to be at another dead end.
“I am sorry that I cannot assist you with all of your missing kin. Perhaps I can bring you some good news…” He snapped his fingers and out of the woods trudged the missing hunting party.
Cries of relief spread and friends and family raced forward to welcome home their missing loved ones.
“We got lost,” said one of the hunters. “Our magic gave out and we just couldn’t find the way back to the meadow. We walked around lost, for days, until the Stripers found us.” The leader of the party whispered to Garner as he passed by him.
“We told them nothing, except who we are and that we were hunting.” Garner nodded that he understood.
“Thank you for returning our hunting party. We feared the worst,” Juliska told the Stripers.
“With that appreciation in mind, shall we get to the point of your visit? You know better than I that your reputation is not built upon trust and kindness.” KarNavan’s menacing smile returned.
“We realize our reputation precedes us, our work is sometimes cutthroat in nature,” his eyes narrowed in shrewd pleasure. “But we ask for peace, for now we fight a common enemy! We were once brothers. Let us be brothers once again.”
“You wish us to make peace?” Juliska’s voice mocked. “You pursue treasure at the bequest of the highest bidder, and as you say, your cutthroat methods are well known.” 48
“I wonder,” whispered Jae, “if they only kept the hunters alive to more easily enter our camp?”
Meghan and Colin gulped, their throats feeling dry and hard.
“So this is what you mean by ‘yes, and kinda no,’” said Colin. “Good that they survived, but bad, because they turned into maniacal treasure hunters?” Jae’s reply was a low snarl.
Speaking of non-human behavior. Both twins had thought it at the same time and caught each other’s eye. Catrina even recognized that the sound that came from Jae was not normal.
To further their surprise, Viancourt member Tanzea Chase suddenly wobbled up beside Jae, touching his arm. She shot him a look the twins did not comprehend. Jae nodded to her, clearly understanding.
KarNavan stole back the twins’ attention as he jumped up onto a rock, so to better see everyone in the meadow.
“The enemy we seek is one of you!”
The crowd gasped, aghast at the charge.
“What is the meaning of this?” Garner shouted.
Juliska raised her hand to calm him. She then turned back to KarNavan.
“I ask the same question. What is the meaning of this charge?”
“The enemy we seek is not only an enemy to us, but to all that live in the magical and non-magical world,” he began. “A child. A child that will one day become a Projector!” The crowd had no response but silence, as they were overcome with disbelief.
“This is not possible. Projectors died out long ago,” insisted Juliska.
“What I believe you mean to say is, were killed off long ago. Regardless of this point, I unfortunately speak the truth. We have been tracking the magic of this child Projector for the last few months. We were finally able to track the location. It brought us here.” Panic ensued.
The Svoda began looking around at each child, wondering which unlucky soul it could be.
It seemed the Stripers had no idea.
“Maybe the child caused this devastation!” a voice shouted.
“Yes! It’s not one of ours! It must’ve been from the other group!” someone added.
“Calm yourselves!” Juliska forcefully told her people, before they could say more. “While I believe that the existence of a Projector is not possible,” she continued, aiming her words at the Stripers, “I must ask, what are your plans? Once you find this child?” KarNavan cast his gaze over the people. He avoided the Banon’s question.
“We will leave you now, to think about what we have told you. We will return.” The Stripers then walked out of the meadow, melting into the woods.
“How do we know they actually left, since they can blend in?” asked Meghan, shakily.
“We don’t,” answered Jae, darkly.
The group waited, fervently, for their Banon to speak. Once she felt it safe to do so, she made only a quick statement.
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“I will take the information we’ve just heard under council of the Viancourt. Balaton, keep your perimeters under constant surveillance.”
The Balaton scurried to keep guard of the meadow’s borders.
“Garner, bring me the leader of the hunting party. I wish to speak with him. Darius, Tanzea, please wait for me in my tent.”
Garner dashed away to locate the leader of the hunting party, while Darius and Tanzea worked their way across the meadow to Juliska’s tent.
“As for everyone else, at this time nothing has changed. Attend to your duties! Until we can either prove or deny this Projec
tor claim, we must be vigilant. Keep your eyes and ears open!”
Juliska then nodded toward Meghan, beckoning her.
“Gotta run!” Meghan said.
The crowd dispersed slowly, eyeing each other more so now than ever before. Especially the children. Some had looks of despair. Some, anger and bewilderment.
Irving Mochrie shouted for Jae to follow him. He did so, begrudgingly.
Colin had hoped he would have a few minutes alone with Jae, so he could ask him what he knew about Projectors, as Colin knew nothing.
When Colin, and the invisible Catrina, arrived at Billie’s tent, he was surprised to see her home, sitting in the front room.
“What terrible times to be alive,” she said. Her voice sounded hollow.
Colin sat down across from her, knowing that Catrina would sit on the ground and listen.
“What exactly is a Projector?” asked Colin.
“A poor, helpless creature with no choice but to accept its terrible fate,” she answered.
Colin had expected bad, but the way Billie spoke, it was as if there was simply no hope.
“Projectors were thought to have died out long ago,” she continued, her energy returning.
“To be more correct, as the Striper said, were killed off long ago.”
“Why?” asked Colin.
“Projectors, as children, are much like any other child. However, as they age, they change.
They will become evil. They cannot stop it! Even if as a child they were a saint, their fate is sealed!”
Billie stood up now, invigorated by her story.
“Once a Projector reaches maturity, at age seventeen, their magic turns on them like an infectious disease.”
“What happens exactly? Do they turn seventeen and just start killing people?” Colin asked.
“I am afraid it is rather more complex than just killin’. A Projector’s magic has no boundaries. No limitations. It is more magic than any human can control. It can fulfill any whim in the blink of an eye. An entire village could be wiped out of existence. An entire landscape completely changed. A Projector will destroy everything they love, touch or even think about, without the most careful control. Control that’s just not possible for a human mind. This… this is why they are searched out and killed without mercy.”
