by James Fuller
“Keeper’s balls! What is going on over there?” Maxwell barked, going over to investigate the problem, along with several others of the kitchen staff.
In a flash Meath was at the table, snatching one of the apples off the tray, exiting the kitchen, and was running down the hallways back to the garden, swaying in and out of servants as he went. He remembered his way by recognizing the different, colored drapes and pictures that hung on the walls. Soon, he was back out in the garden and he ran up to Ursa and the King.
“Oh my goodness, that was quick of you!” The King laughed, truly impressed by the young boy’s prowess. “Were you seen?” He asked, leaning in eagerly.
Meath shook his head proudly. “Nope, no one saw me in the kitchen.”
The king gave a heart-filled laugh and patted Meath on the back. “All right lad, now you got your gift - go and give it to her.”
Meath was pulled out of his thoughts again by the sound of movement behind the door, as if people had passed by. He stood from the bed and glanced out the small window - the day was mostly over and it would soon grow dark. He moved to the door, pressing his hand against the wood, half-expecting it to vanish at his touch, but it did not. He pressed his ear to the smooth wood and listened for any sounds that might prepare him for what was on the other side, but all appeared quiet now.
Meath’s hand fidgeted with the iron door latch as he set his nerve and went to pull it open, but before he could, the door swung open and crashed into him with enough force to send him off-balance and to the floor.
“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! I did not know you were standing by the door.” A female voice said apologetically. “Are you all right?”
Meath muttered a curse. “As good as any prisoner that was just hit with a door could be,” he snarled sarcastically, pushing the helping hand away and getting to his feet. “Who are you and what do you want?”
“My name is Tabitha - I was told to show you around Salvas,” she replied, her bright blue eyes dancing with a blend of intrigue and awkwardness.
“No, you were told to ensure I did not try and escape,” Meath countered.
Tabitha cracked a small smile. “Yes….that was said as well… but Meath, you are not a prisoner here, nor are we your enemy. I know how this must all look, but soon you will understand and it will all begin to make sense.”
“I keep getting told that, yet it does little to ease my mind, nor does it bring my friends back from the dead.”
“I am sorry, I…” she began, but knew she had no words to fix the situation.
“Save your words, they fall on deaf ears,” Meath muttered.
“Yes, well what would you like to do?” she asked nervously. “It will be dark soon - I could always come back tomorrow, if you would prefer.”
“I like the dark, it suits my mood,” Meath replied, doing his best to keep the tears and rage that threatened to escape at bay. “Is there anywhere peaceful - untouched - where I can think clearly and…” he swallowed hard, “…say my goodbyes?”
Tabitha nodded her head slowly, eyeing him compassionately. “I know a place for that, Meath; I will take you there.”
Meath followed her out of the room and into a large wooden and stone hallway. It had an intricate vine and jungle pattern carved from roof to floor down both sides. The many doors along the hallway were flush with the wall and its beautiful pattern did not seem to break at all. Even the small mirrors by every door seemed to work themselves into the pattern. Torches burned brightly in their brackets, yet no smoke drifted off of them - Meath knew they were being fueled by magic.
“Behind each of these doors are other rooms much like your own,” she said, seeing his eyes glance from door to door. “Other Gifted individuals are staying in them…wizards, druids and mages.”
Meath grunted. “How many of them are prisoners like me?”
Tabitha’s eyes returned forward as they continued down the hallways to a circular stair well. “None - they are all here by choice. Most were abandoned or shunned from their communities - we found them, or they found us. We are a tight family here.”
“I was abandoned as a baby,” Meath replied, the hard tone of his voice softening to an inner sadness.
“I know - you were lucky to be discovered by a wizard such as Ursa.”
“How do you know that?” Meath asked, his voice full of suspicion.
“When Daden and Kara left to find you, the only information they had was two names, yours and Ursa’s. They discovered much of you and your life while trying to find you.”
They reached the main level of the building, which opened up into a spacious forum room. Study tables and work benches filled most of the area and a raised podium stood erect in the center. Around the outskirts of the large room were several doorways, all with different unique symbols upon them. “This is the main floor, also known as “Thane’s Study”; it’s where most magical training happens. It is empty at the moment, but that is because almost everyone has retired to their beds for the night. Each room is warded for specific forms of magic; elemental, healing, wards, spells, potions and more. Once a certain level of experience is learned, further training continues in The Circle, at Ottis’s Grove,” She looked back to Meath and saw his unvarnished amazement. “Things, Meath, you will hopefully learn; things that you would never have had the chance to learn otherwise.”
They continued to the large double doors and exited into the open, grassy courtyard Meath had spied from his room window. He inhaled deeply, sucking in as much as he could of the freshest air he had ever tasted. His eyes quickly adjusted to the brighter light.
He soon realized all the colors around him were far more vivid than he had ever encountered before. The grass, the trees, the dirt, even the sky was more vibrant than he ever imagined those colors could be. Meath remembered Kara telling him Salvas was a magical place, but he never expected this.
“Beautiful is it not?” She asked, seeing his eyes light up in awe.
“How can it be that everything is so much more colorful and…” he inhaled again, “cleaner?”
Tabitha smiled at him. “Because it is, Meath. Salvas was created by magic - pure magic - so what you see around you is a reflection of that transparency. The air you breathe is untainted by smoke, filth and garbage. The grass, trees and plant life is so much more vibrant because it is not affected by those things and so… they are perfect.”
“Nothing is perfect,” Meath replied.
“Salvas is.”
Meath quickly retreated back to his gloom. “How long have I been here?”
“Nearly a fortnight now,” she replied as they continued through the grass, away from the small community. “You were out for a few days when you first arrived because of the drug Daden gave you to get you here, then… well you know the rest.”
Meath followed behind her - the light of the brilliant sun was slowly fading behind the mountains and beginning to paint the sky in an array of enchanting and mystical colors. He did not say another word, he had none. His friends were dead, the life he knew shattered and gone. Now he was held captive in this strange yet wondrous place. The better part of him wanted to unleash his fury and wrath upon these people and this place until he was killed, but Zada’s words repeated within his head. If he could get revenge on the man who was the cause of all this - the false prince - then maybe, just maybe, the pain would lessen and he could move on somehow, or maybe he would be killed and the pain would end. Right now nothing mattered - he was numb and on the edge of bursting at the seams. He needed to vent, to let go; to cry until he could cry no more, to say his goodbyes, to make his peace. Then, he would figure out what he was going to do about his current situation.
They hiked through a lightly wooded area for what seemed like hours before it began getting denser. Thicker trees, heavier shrubs and entangled vines surrounded them. Meath began to wonder how they would keep going, but before he could ask, Tabitha leaned down and placed both palms on the ground. Her hands began
to radiate with an aura of turquoise power and he could feel an energetic tingle within the air. She lifted her hands up and began to spread them wider and as she did, the vines, branches and plant life untangled and shifted, opening an easier path.
Meath followed her in and as he went the flora slowly sealed behind him. After several moments, they entered a small clearing with long grass - the dazzling light of the moon and stars shone through the canopy above them. Meath could feel the serenity and peace of this hidden haven instantly.
“This is the most peaceful, untouched place I know in Salvas, and only you and I know of it now,” Tabitha told him, gesturing around with her hands.
“I need to be alone for a while,” he told her.
“You are not going to try anything like running are you?” She asked, somewhat jovially, but it was betrayed by a hint of seriousness.
“I give you my word,” Meath assured her. “Beside, would it really do me any good?”
“No… I would find you.” She smiled. “How long do you need?
“I cannot tell you, I do not really know for sure what it is I need to do. I just need… time to do it.” He shrugged, not even sure what it was he was going to do.
Tabitha nodded. “I will give you all the time you need then. I will wait for you where we entered.” She handed him a small red rock. “Just hold it tightly and say my name when you are done and I will open the path for you, so you can get out.” She turned and walked back through the woods and disappeared.
Meath stood alone in the hidden clearing, his mind a jumble of broken thoughts and seething emotion. He began pacing through the long, sweet grass, his mind lost to the beauty of the place.
“Why?” He pleaded to some unknown listener. “Why did this have to happen? Why could I have not been able to save them?” His tone grew angry and his pacing quickened. “Why did they have to come for me? I can handle myself! They should have stayed in Dragon’s Cove, where it was safe. How could Zehava and Dahak been so foolish to allow danger to befall Nicolette!” He growled, his fists were clenched so tightly his nails cut into his palm.
No, he knew better than to believe his friends did not try to stop her. Nicolette had forced them to take her or she would have come in search of him on her own. The thought of that made his stomach twist. The dangers she would have faced - alone - for him. Tears stung at his eyes and he bitterly wiped them away. “Why! Why did you have to come for me?” He cried out. “We never could have been together anyway. We were foolish to think for even a moment that the fates would grant such a thing.” Anger flared through him again. “You got yourself killed for nothing! And now I am the one who must carry the burden of your recklessness!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.
Almost instantly, guilt swamped him and he fell to his knees, tears pouring freely now. “I am sorry! I am so sorry…” He cried to the silence of the haven, almost expecting a mournful reply. It almost felt like the tranquility of this place could feel his pain, as an eerie wind began rippling and wailing through the trees.
“I failed you… I failed everyone.” His emotions seeped from him like rain from the heavens as he poured out all his anger and sadness into mumbled, whimpered, nonsensical syllables.
With each emotion and thought revealed, the sky grew darker - the wind picked up and the sky began to cry fat drops of rain with him. Minutes turned to hours, passing by as he talked to the air and the loneliness around him. The wind tore at the branches all around him with such force that many snapped and flew across the opening, barely missing him.
Lost in his grief, the rain and wind did little to faze him as he howled bitter curses. His body began to tremble forcefully as the raw power of his rage and heritage swelled painfully within him. He screamed until his throat was raw, releasing the power and energy. A dark, crimson fire erupted from him, consuming everything in its fierce wake as it spread out around the opening, reaching into the tree line, and reducing everything to nothing more than smoldering white ash.
All went still and silent and he crumpled onto his back, gasping for air as his body convulsed from the immense discharge. He remained conscious; he focused on the agonizing pain and exhaustion, forcing himself to defy the darkness. He relished in the agony, using it to mask his anguish and despair, using the physical pain to help drown the emotional. He lay there, staring up at the opening to the sky and watched the clouds swirl and crackle with energy…
…Meath ran through Draco Castle’s grand garden, to where he had last observed the girl. She was still there, playing with her painted dolls. Meath took a step forward but quickly stopped, wondering what he was going to say. Suddenly, his mind was blank and his great plan of making a friend became flawed and awkward. He had never talked to anyone his own age before - he did not know what to say, how to act or what to do.
“Who are you?” A sweet voice asked him, drawing him from his confused thoughts.
Meath noticed the girl was now standing in front of him. “My…my… name is Meath,” he stammered out, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Meath. My name is Nicolette,” she replied with a big smile, her bright, golden-brown eyes glowing with excitement.
“I… I got this for you,” Meath mumbled out gracelessly, holding out the hand that gripped the candied apple.
Nicolette’s eyes lit up. “My favorite! How did you know?” She gasped with glee, taking it from him.
“Cause it is my favorite too,” Meath lied, not knowing what else to say.
“You wanna play with me?” Nicolette asked him and they both smiled and ran off to the pond…
“I am so sorry I could not save you,” Meath whispered to the heavens and they rumbled loudly in response to his plight.
*****
Tabitha’s eyes flew open when she heard the explosion and felt the intense wave of power that ruptured out from the trees, nearly knocking her from her feet.
“What was that?” She gasped, running to the tree line. “Meath! Are you okay?’ She cried, wondering if she should go in and find him, but deciding to wait a little longer, giving him his space like he had asked for.
She was more than worried for him. She had never seen or felt something like that before - the raw emotion behind it startled her. It was a dangerous thing for someone with the Gift to mix their emotions into their castings, and she truly hoped he was all right.
Tabitha waited several hours to feel Meath calling her with the stone, fighting the urge to run in and find him, knowing another surge of power might be released. Finally, she could take it no more and was about to go in when she felt him calling her name, using the stone she had given him. She waved her arms wide and again the trees and branches shifted to the side, opening up a straight path for Meath to walk down. Tabitha ran down the trail and found him slowly staggering towards her, barely able to keep his balance and barely aware of his surroundings.
“Are you all right?” She asked, putting her arm around him, to help steady him. “What happened? What was that explosion?” But before he could answer, he collapsed into her arms.
“I do not know how he did it! I am not even sure of what he did do,” Tabitha explained, pacing back and forth in front of Zada’s large pond. She had to carry Meath most of the way back to the village before she had found help; now Meath was back in his room, asleep from exhaustion. “He ate the food we brought him; there was enough of the mixture in there that he should not have been able to use his Gift for several days… at least,” Tabitha remarked, completely baffled. “It was like something I have never seen or even heard of, Zada! This is something truly amazing yet…extremely dangerous.”
Zada sat calmly listening to Tabitha, throwing small bits of bread into the pond, watching the large, colorful fish swim up to gobble them greedily. “Emotions can evoke or conquer the strongest of barriers,” Zada replied, stopping Tabitha’s pacing. “The news of his friends’ death is traumatic and emotionally powerful - it was possible for him to b
e able to call upon his Gift, even though we numbed it to the state that it would have been impossible for him to do so otherwise.”
“What are we going to do? If he can still use his Gift, then how can we stop him from harming anyone and doing as we need him to?” Tabitha asked, frustrated.
Zada sat pondering for a while. “There is always a way if need be… but I believe now that he thinks his friends are dead and he has nothing left out there, that he will come to accept his lot here. Besides, I doubt he even realizes what he really did. For now, let us keep a close eye on him, and you stay with him - he needs a friend, he needs someone to open up to. Make sure that someone is you, Tabitha.”
Tabitha inclined her head in reply.
Chapter 4
Astaroth waited - eyes closed - under the night sky, deep within the jungle, several miles from the Draco Castle. He fidgeted with the enchanted ring on his finger. It was a powerful tool; stolen before he had fled Salvas.
The ring was ancient, from a time when magic was still raw and pure. It allowed him to change into the form of others for long periods of time. All that the ring required was the blood of the person you wished to disguise yourself as.
The rainy season was beginning and nights were growing cooler. Already, the feeling of rain was thick in the air. The skies would open up and release their sodden load any day now. They had planned it well; the torrential rains of the jungle for the next few months would keep Draco’s armies mired in.
