by M. L. Greye
“I’m afraid they might,” Avlin answered as she entered her room. “Otherwise, why the need for Drainers?”
“I hate Drainers,” Tiara muttered.
Drainers did exactly what their name said. Designed by the Velvitors, along with some help from the Kendren brothers, the Drainers were created to remove an Eve or Equilan’s strength just enough to stop them from using their gifts. It was a means of weakening them in battle.
“There’s something I must get.”
She blinked as her mother disappeared into the adjoining bathing room. “What is it?”
There was no reply. Tiara rushed around the corner. “Mamma?”
Avlin was on the cool, slate floor, clutching her Time ring in her fist. She remembered collapsing when her legs had suddenly given out. A sweat broke out across her forehead, brought on by the effort of keeping her eyes open, away from the approaching darkness. A face hovered above her, young and beautiful. The terror in the emerald green eyes seemed so out of place. Avlin frowned. The face was familiar. She wanted to ask the girl’s name, but she couldn’t find her voice. And the darkness was so close, ebbed on by the roaring in her ears. Her mind strained to focus.
“Mamma!” The scream held a hint of hysteria.
Her mind focused. Avlin gritted her teeth, fighting back the overwhelming darkness. She knew this was the work of the Drainers, but at a level far higher than anything she’d experienced. She searched for her voice. “Tiara,” she croaked.
“Oh, Mamma,” Tiara exclaimed, her hands brushing back Avlin’s hair. “Can you move?”
“No,” Avlin gasped in for air. She was struggling to stay awake. “They’re in the city now. They’re searching for the Equilan. You must leave.”
“Not without you,” Tiara said, shaking her head. “I won’t leave you to the mercy of the Kendrens.”
“They won’t find me alive,” Avlin answered softly. “The Drainers will kill me first.”
“No!” Tiara shook her head again.
The darkness was becoming unbearable to resist. Avlin pushed it away with what was left of her energy. She was dying. With a sigh, she forced her fingers open to reveal her ring. The emblem of the Equilan – the symbol of her training. “This is for you.”
“I thought you destroyed it.” Tiara slipped it onto her right hand.
“No, it’s all I have left,” she whispered. “I saved it for you.”
“Avlin Delqueda!”
Tiara whirled. Someone was pounding on the front door below. The man had used her mother’s maiden name – the name she had used as an Equilan. “Mamma, we need to go now.”
She turned back to her mother and gaped. Avlin was gone. Tiara felt the panic rise, finding it difficult to breath. Her mother was dead. When Equilan died, they were taken back to the realm of Time and buried there.
“Avlin Delqueda!”
It was time to go. Tiara leapt to her feet. The man below was a Kendren. Tiara glanced around the small bathing room, desperate for an idea on how to get out of her house without being seen.
And then the Screams began.
* * * * * *
The first noise Olinia heard was the soft patter of raindrops on stone. She was lying on her back beneath the pressure of a down comforter. Her mind felt oddly free. What happened to the thick, endless fog that had confined her? Also, why could she hear rain? The sound startled her. The walls of her room in Sivean should have never let such noise past their mass. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She was surprised at how much effort it took. Her eyelids were heavy, as if with disuse. When they finally did open, she was greeted with a canopy of thin, pale blue fabric. A soft breeze brushed through the canopy, causing it to ripple. It was filled with the scent of rain, over the muted smell of lavender.
Olinia pushed herself up, once again surprised by the effort it required. Then, reaching, she pulled back one of the curtains and slid off the bed. The room was not her own. It was open and bright, the walls and floor a soft shade of gray stone. Directly across from her were curtains like those around her bed, also fluttering in the breeze. She blinked, noticing she was in a knee-length white silk gown. It was an Eveon summer gown, her favorite. Was she in Evedon? Olinia’s heart nearly skipped a beat at the thought. Had Sadree and Denon taken her there while she was sleeping? She frowned slightly. Why hadn’t she woken when they’d moved her?
The curtains across from her were drawing her attention. If she were really in Evedon, then she would want to see it. As she neared what she thought was a window, she realized that behind the curtains were actually two open doors. To her credit though, the doors were more window than wood. She raised her hand and held back a curtain for her to pass through.
A light drizzle fell on her. She tipped her head back and allowed a few drops to hit her face. The sky was clouded, a perfect blend of light and dark shades of gray, except for where a few rays of sunshine managed to sneak into her room. Olinia grinned and breathed in deeply. The air was soothing and pleasant, filled with the moisture she had been missing in Sivean. This was the air of Evedon. Olinia could feel it.
She dropped her head and found herself on a large semi-circle balcony. Her room shared it with another to her left. Her vision found an extensive garden below the balcony, full of gravel pathways, flowers, plants, and trees. In the center of the garden stood a tall fountain. Its beauty caught Olinia’s breath in her throat. It was a willow tree, almost the size of a live one, its branches hanging low as water dripped from its leaves into the fountain’s base. The base appeared to be made from its roots, twisting and twining around the tree, creating a shallow round pool. Olinia stared at it. What had mesmerized her was that the entire fountain, base included, was pure crystal. It was truly the work of an Eveon craftsman.
Beyond the fountain was a grove of willows, far taller than any she had seen. Their tops nearly covered the roof of the building behind them. Olinia frowned as she suddenly realized she had no idea of where in Evedon she was. Also, where was her twin…and Will? Had the handsome young Ethon left?
* * * * * *
Will moved through Fuladrik’s small grove of willows easily. The path was a familiar one; he had taken it nearly every day during the past few months. It was the way to and from the Courts, where Will spent his mornings. He was now heading back to the room Fuladrik had given him. Today, he’d practiced hand-to-hand combat with Dallyn, Arynn’s cousin. Will ran a hand through his hair, and let his breath out in a rush. His days were beginning to feel monotonous.
Out of habit, he glanced up at his room’s balcony once he cleared the grove. He stopped mid-step. Olinia was standing at its rail, awake! He shook his head, as if to clear his vision. She couldn’t be awake yet. Fuladrik had said she would sleep for at least six months, as her body slowly rid itself of the Beltok’s poison. Olinia had been on the verge of death. Apparently, Beltok wounds were deadly and, should a victim survive, it was a difficult recovery. Only a Healer had ever been known to reverse the spread of a Beltok’s poison. Will remembered at how stunned he’d been when Zedgry had tried to explain the strength of the strange creature to him. The ugly beast was only found in forests, lived in treetops, and only came to the ground to feed, generally after rain. It didn’t need to eat much, so it rarely went out hunting; Zedgry had a theory that the rain reminded it to eat.
Will peered closely at the woman in white, still in disbelief. But there was no mistaking her. It was Olinia.
He headed for the outside stairs that led from Fuladrik’s garden to his room, quickening his pace slightly. When had she last spoken to him? He frowned. It seemed like ages ago. As he neared his balcony, he called out, “Olinia?”
She whirled, her eyes wide. “Will?”
“Hello, princess.”
A smile broke across her face. “You came to Evedon?”
His eyebrows lowered. He was surprised that she knew where she was, but only nodded. “I stayed.”
“What helped you decide?”
Will was
staring at the answer to that. He frowned. “You don’t remember the Beltok.”
“Beltok?” He watched her smile fade.
He nodded. “It attacked you back in Sivean.”
“And I lived?”
“Does that not happen very often?”
“No,” Olinia shook her head. “The poison should have paralyzed me. That’s how it can suck a victim’s blood.”
Like a vampire, Will mused. He already knew the Beltok’s way of life from Zedgry. A Beltok was more leech than snake, as he had first thought. “Zedge killed it before it was able to do much damage.”
“I should have bled to death.”
“We took you to Fuladrik.”
She blinked. “Who?”
“The Healer who we’ve been staying with,”
Olinia was silent for a moment, as if in preparation for asking a question she wasn’t sure she wanted answered. Finally, “How long has it been?”
“Almost four months.”
“What?” The word came out as if she was choking on it. She fell back a step, shaking her head. “I’ve been unconscious for four months?”
Will let out a short laugh. “It should have been six.”
“Six?”
“It takes a long time to clean out the blood of a Beltok’s victim, especially one so near death as you were.”
“I almost died.” She gaped.
“Fuladrik healed you. You’re fine now.”
She stared up at him. Then, her arms slid around his neck in an embrace. “Thank you, Will.”
He felt her heart beating against him. “I didn’t do much,” he said, rubbing her back with his hand.
“I see the princess has awoken.”
At the sound of Fuladrik’s voice, Olinia jumped. Will smiled out the side of his mouth as he released her. Fuladrik’s deep blue eyes sparkled. “I am happy to see you well again.”
She smiled. “I am forever in your debt.”
Fuladrik shook his head. “No debt is necessary, your highness.”
“Olinia,” Will leaned in, so his mouth was close to her ear, “I think Zedge would like to know you’re awake.”
She nodded. “Where is he?”
* * * * * *
During the months Olinia laid unconscious, Zedgry and Will had spent most of their time at the Courts, Willowvale’s arena for warfare. The Courts was where the training of local Eveon warriors took place. It was situated in a grove of willows, with a few gravel pathways from the village leading to it. The stone walls of the building reached toward the sky at the daunting height of nearly five stories, and the rounded glass roof added another twenty feet on top of that.
In the small village of Willowvale, the Courts was the tallest building for miles. Two doors stood at the middle of one of the long sides, forming the entrance, which also happened to face the path back to Fuladrik’s. A smaller door was placed at each of the shorter sides, while the back wall was one large window, looking out at the river that snaked through Willowvale.
The inside of the Courts was far more complex, but could be categorized into three parts: hand-to-hand combat, archery, and swordplay. The Courts contained two mats for practicing hand-to-hand combat in the middle portion, and seven targets for archery at the right side of the building. Then, to the left, stood the Rounds – five circular floors, meant for dueling.
In order to keep their hands and minds busy while Olinia slept, Fuladrik had sent Zedgry and Will to the Courts under Dallyn’s watchful eye. Dallyn was to offer any needed instruction. For Zedgry, who had been well schooled in the arts of warfare, no assistance was necessary. He used the Courts as a means of staying fit. Will, though, had never touched a real sword or bow in his life – the plastic ones he played with as a child didn’t count. He had to begin with the basics. Dallyn became his willing tutor.
As the months began to pass, Will’s progress was far greater than what Dallyn had anticipated. Will could handle a sword decently by the end of the first month, excellently by the end of the second, and perfectly by the end of the third. He’d mastered maneuvers in weeks that had taken others turns. Dallyn was quick to notice Will’s skill wasn’t simply practice related. When he fought, there was passion, a hidden drive. He’d bested some of the finest warriors Evedon had to offer. As Dallyn once commented, to say Will had talent with a blade would have been an understatement. What Dallyn didn’t know though, was the reason behind Will’s enthusiasm for swordplay.
When Will was dueling, his mind wasn’t dwelling on the gap his family had left in his life. Funny how that worked. Will had turned to warfare for relief. It was only in the midst of the clanging steel that he could wipe away their faces, setting him free for a few brief moments.
In his mind, he could still remember them perfectly. Ariel would have been almost twenty now. Madelyn sixteen, and Jason twelve. Jason would have grown up to look like a mix of Will and their father, David. Jason had Will’s dark blond hair and David’s clear blue eyes. He was a fireball of energy, always involved in some sort of activity. But his love had been ice hockey. Following in the steps of his older brother and father, Jason started his life on the ice as a Mite. Unlike Will though, Jason made the local double-A team, raising their parents’ hopes for future scholarships. Will had been a good defenseman and even became captain of his team in high school. But Jason was brilliant, having a state ranking of twenty-six. He was bound to have gone pro.
The next face belonged to Madelyn. She would’ve been the replica of their mother, Lisa. She had the black hair that never lightened, no matter how much sun she got, along with the pale skin that only burned. Tan was a color her skin could only dream about. Her young eyes were either a piercing blue or green, depending on her mood. There was no middle blend of colors, just blue or green. She was small for her age, barely making five foot two. Her slight build often gave strangers the impression that she was younger than she was. But Madelyn’s insight and patience was far beyond her years. She was reserved in nature, rarely offering her opinion unless pressed upon, but she wasn’t shy. She had no problem with speaking in public, talking to boys, or performing in the countless ballet recitals she’d participated in.
Then there had been Ariel. The thought of her in past tense made Will’s stomach tighten. She and Will were closest in age, and had been practically inseparable. Growing up, they did everything together. She would go to his hockey games, and he to her tennis matches. Unlike her younger sister, Ariel had always looked slightly older than her age. She had the tennis build – long legs, good arms, and height. She was five foot eight, just a couple inches shorter than Will. Also, because of tennis, her naturally fair skin maintained a year-round tan. Her wavy brown hair she had kept shoulder length and choppy, while her bright blue eyes always seemed to be laughing at Will’s more reserved nature. When it came time for college, she chose the community college for an associate degree. She planned on transferring to a university later on, once she decided what she really wanted to do. It had been Ariel who the paramedics had tried to save in the ambulance.
Will shook his head, eyes burning again. It was impossible to forget his family; no matter how hard he tried to bury them into the deepest part of his memory.
“That one was closer.”
Will jumped at the sound of her voice. Olinia laughed as he turned to her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He stared at her. “How long have you been there?”
“Not that long.” She stepped towards him. “You’re not bad with that thing.”
Will let out a short laugh. He was in the Courts, working on his archery. He’d been releasing arrows at one of the seven dummies, or targets, for the past hour, while his mind wandered. Unfortunately, he was not as accomplished with a bow as he was a sword. He’d been aiming for the heart on the last one, but had ended up at the lung. “Have you ever seen the way Eves shoot?” He asked.
She shook her head.
“They never miss their targets,” Will told her.
“Eves judge their skill by accuracy and speed.”
“Oh,” Olinia glanced back at the dummy, “I thought you did alright.”
“Thanks.” He watched as her eyes moved across the Courts.
“I thought archery was done outside.”
“So did I.” He shrugged. “Eves like to practice warfare indoors.”
Olinia nodded absently as she touched a rack of bows. Will smiled. “Would you like to try?”
She turned. “Try what?”
He moved alongside her, hanging up his bow, and selected one that would suit her. As he extended it for her to take, she shook her head. “Oh, no. I’ve never even held one before.”
“I’ll teach you.” He took her hand, pulling her closer to him. “It’s not that hard to learn, just to perfect.” He handed her the bow as he grabbed one of the provided guards for her forearm. “Here,” he slipped it onto her left arm, “now, hold it with your left hand and pull the string back with your right.” Will helped her get into the correct position, standing behind her.
“But weren’t you holding the bow with your right?” Olinia glanced over her shoulder at him.
“I’m left handed.”
“How’d you know I was right handed?”
“I didn’t,” he admitted, reaching over his shoulder to retrieve one of the arrows from his quiver. He then offered her the arrow and helped notch it. “Relax your shoulders.” She obeyed. “Now let it fly.” He stepped back as she released it. The arrow landed where the dummy’s mouth would be. Will chuckled as she lowered her bow. “Not bad for your first try.”
“Sure, if you want him to eat the arrow.”
Will laughed, a sound Olinia had never heard before. She gaped. At her expression, Will stopped. “What’s wrong?”
“Hey you two!”
