The Maiden Medallions: Beastkeeper

by Edward Shawn

  The journey across the winter zone wasn’t as arduous as expected. The skies remained clear, the threat of falling snow nonexistent at the moment. It was still cold, but with the orb providing some much needed heat, it wasn’t as much of a bother.

  James looked forward to finishing up the training sessions. He wanted to return home to see his family and friends, even if only for a short while. Others may have expectations of him, but he had every intention of satisfying his own needs first. He didn’t let it be known but he worried about the others and what might have happened to them. The image of a woman pointing a gun at Falconer while he and Micah fled the campsite had yet to fade. Until he knew the fate of those left behind, he could never release the twinge of guilt overlaying everything he accomplished here.

  “You are quiet,” Olivia said. “What’s on your mind?”

  Her tone full of softness, James was captivated by the musical quality of her voice. They had just met, but Olivia gave an impression that she cared about him. “I’m just thinking about home.”

  “You miss it.”

  “Yeah, I do. I miss my family, my friends.” He paused momentarily. “I’m also worried about Falconer and my dog. We left them behind, and there was this woman...she had a gun.”

  “And you feel guilty for leaving them?”

  He stayed silent leaving the question hanging in the air. “Yes,” he finally said.

  “And what do you think you could have done had you stayed? Remember, you were the one she was after. To remain on Earth would have given her exactly what she wanted. I have met Shane Carter,” she continued, “the one you call Falconer. Do not underestimate him. He has power and skill she couldn’t hope to match. I am sure you worry needlessly. You need to focus on your own task, to master what you now possess.” She glanced over her shoulder at Micah. “He was right to bring you here. This woman was after your medallion. If she had succeeded in taking it from you, the forces gathered against us would have been impossible to overcome.”

  “But why?” he asked, noticing she counted herself as his ally. “There are other medallions than just mine. If we can find some of those...”

  “There are, but yours is special. Yours is more powerful than any of the others.”

  He hadn’t known this. Micah failed to mention that fact before. It was something he would never have considered, the medallions being of unequal stature. He swallowed, his throat drying out. If he felt pressure before, which he did, this new revelation didn’t help matters.

  They rode on in silence, Olivia continuing to lead the way toward the mountain range. James peeked over his shoulder at Micah. Ever since her decision to join them, he had become somewhat subdued. He didn’t understand the motivation behind Micah not telling him what he just learned about the medallion he carried. He would have thought this an important detail to know. Perhaps it was an oversight. Whatever the reason was, James was sure it was a valid one.

  Approaching the edge of a wooded terrain, Olivia led the party over a trail winding its way through the sprawl of dead trees. Snow coated the barren branches and was piled up against the trunks and even lodged in the grooves of the frozen bark. Gnarled and cracked roots lay exposed on the hardened ground, their ability to supply nutrients having ceased long ago. It was quiet, the snow crunching beneath the hooves the only sound of their passing through this lifeless forest. On occasion, a brisk wind whistled through the woods like the mournful wails of the dead in a land of perpetual ice.

  Her head swaying from side to side, Sheefa’s nostrils flared as she snorted and slowed her pace. Patting the horse, James looked over at Micah who had closed the gap between them.

  “We’re being stalked,” Micah said, riding beside them. “But I don’t believe we’re in any danger.”

  James continued to stroke Sheefa as the other horse began displaying similar signs of uneasiness. “What is it? What’s stalking us?”

  “Wolves,” Olivia said before Micah could respond. “But they won’t attack us grouped together as we are.”

  Glancing around at the desolate woods, James failed to see any sign of being followed. “Don’t worry, Sheefa, you’re not in any danger. We’ll protect you.”

  The tension left her body, the horse reassured by his words. Grasping the medallion inside his coat, James connected his mind to the horse Micah rode on. Immediately sensing the animal’s alarm, he sought to reassure him as well.

  Micah nodded at James. “Well done. He’s stopped trembling.”

  James felt his confidence growing with each use of the medallion. Just now, he was able to communicate with Micah’s horse with barely any effort.

  He peered around at the ashen trees but the wolves remained invisible. The end of the woods appeared ahead of them. Looking past the trees, James saw an ocean of ice and snow, the mountains looming in the background much closer than before. “Can you tell me anything about this part of my training?” James asked in order to forget the idea they were being hunted by wolves.

  “Of course,” Olivia said. “You will use your medallion to establish dominance over a beast–to bend its will so that you can command it. If you are able to do this, you will move on, but if you fail, then your training will be incomplete.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “Hasn’t Micah told you what is expected of you?”

  “He did but was kind of vague about it.”

  “I’m sure he would have told you everything you needed to know once we reached the mountain,” she offered.

  Leaving the trees behind, they started across the expanse of snow. To the left and to the right, the plains of ice appeared never-ending, a flat and unspoiled region of pure white. On the far side of the frozen field, the craggy base of the mountains waited for their arrival.

  Storm clouds gathered over the mountaintops, the brightness of the day already surrendering to the approaching storm. Nudging James, Olivia raised an arm and pointed towards the largest mountain in sight. “That is our destination. We call it Mount Pipinook. The location of your next trial is within.”

  James stared at the mountain peak. “I hope you don’t expect me to climb up there.”

  “That would be quite impossible for you,” Olivia said. “Many have died trying to do so. No, you will be entering a cave at its base. You will enter it, find the beast you are to tame, and then be judged.”

  James didn’t like the sound of that. Micah didn’t mention anything about being judged. “Judged? What does that mean?” Looking back at his mentor, he was again confronted by the fact Micah had left out an important detail. “And by who–is it you, or Micah?”

  “You’ll do fine. Do not be overly concerned by what I have said.”

  Micah brought his horse alongside them. “We won’t reach the mountain before the storm is upon us,” he said, peering at the clouds concealing the peaks.

  “That’s true. Do you want to turn back?” Olivia asked, not bothering to look his way.

  Micah glared at her. “There is no shelter that way either.”

  “Then it’s settled–we press on.” Olivia urged Sheefa to quicken her pace.

  The horses galloped across the icy tundra towards Mount Pipinook. As the first traces of snow descended from the sky, it took less than a minute before everything was obscured by heavy snowfall.

  James looked for Micah but couldn’t see the shaman through the severe whiteout. However, his orb still trailed Sheefa, the snowflakes venturing near it melting away faster than they fell.

  Through the wind howling over the icy fields, James heard a sound that chilled his soul. It was another howl, one quite different from the wind.

  Sheefa’s anxiety flowed out in waves. A second howl drifted through the air, much closer than the first. James tried locating the wolves through the hard driving snowfall but couldn’t see anything beyond the sheets of pouring white.

  Olivia encouraged Sheefa to run faster. The orb, having maneuvered itself in front of the galloping horse, lit the way forward to Mount Pipinook. Th
e haunting cries of the canine predators emanated from several directions at once leaving James even more confounded as to where they were. Most sounded a long way off, but some were much closer, though, he still couldn’t see them.

  Reaching the base of the mountain, Sheefa veered left, then charged down a crude slope ending near the edge of a wide river covered with ice floes.

  Searching upstream, James spotted a cave. “Is that where we’re going?”

  Before Olivia could answer, Sheefa whinnied loudly, reared up on her hind legs and sent her riders tumbling off into the snow. Leaving them there, she raced towards the cave entrance not far from the riverbank.

  James heard the menacing growls before locating the feral animals. Glancing at Olivia getting back to her feet, he followed her gaze to the top of the slope. Two wolves glared at them, their coats as white as the falling snow.

  Heads forward and slightly lowered, their parted jaws displayed sharp fangs and rending teeth. The wolves stood at the ready, their muscles taut as if at any moment they would hurl themselves down the slope and straight at James and Olivia. One of the pair raised its head to the darkened sky and unleashed a howl for all to hear.

  James stayed perfectly still as he stared into their yellow and black eyes, his fear a palpable stench he prayed they wouldn’t notice. Watching the wolves from her position, Olivia had also yet to move. As the wolves glared at them from the crest of the slope, a thought wandered through the young man’s mind. What happened to Micah?

  Slipping his hand under his coat, his eyes never straying from the menacing beasts, James took hold of the medallion. The power it contained gave them a fighting chance; he wasn’t sure if Olivia could deal with both on her own. With Micah missing, he would have to do what he could to help them survive.

  Launching themselves down the slope, the wolves leaped at James. Cleaving through the air towards the youth, one suddenly cried out in anguish before crashing heavily into the snow.

  Pulling out the medallion, James rubbed his thumb over the silver core and quickly sidestepped the remaining wolf. The medallion glowing with its familiar green light, he felt the power flowing through him, his skin tingling from a mixture of adrenalin and magic fueling his body.

  Regaining its footing on the slippery surface, the wolf spun around. Spittle flying from its mouth, it snarled in rage, then charged at the young man.

  But like he had done just seconds ago, James evaded the wolf’s attack, its jaws snapping through empty air. Fused with increased dexterity and speed, he found it easy to avoid the wolf. Rolling out of the way of its next lunge, he rose to his feet and saw the injured wolf, the one forced to the ground before it could engage in the attack. It lay bleeding in the snow, its chest heaving as it struggled to get air into its lungs, the crimson stain from the blade in its side spreading out over the whiteness.

  James looked at Olivia. Gripping the handle of a gold and silver dagger in each hand, she flung one at the wolf readying itself for a renewed assault. The gleaming dagger penetrated deep into its chest, a fresh rivulet of blood spilling onto the newly fallen snow. The White wolf now smeared with its own blood and howling its agony and rage at the world, took some unsteady steps forwards before collapsing to the ground.

  “Get to the cave!” Shifting her remaining dagger to her right hand, Olivia faced the slope.

  Retreating a few steps, James expected more wolves to come bounding over the slope in search of their kin. One of them had howled before they stormed down the hill. He was sure others heard it.

  “Hurry!” Olivia glared at him.

  James sprinted along the trail Sheefa left in the snow. Entering the mouth of the cave, he was greeted by the horse, her muzzle touching him gently as he watched Olivia and the orb floating beside her. Swiftly, the orb rose up to the top of the slope and hovered there. James waited for more wolves to appear and was ready to leave the cave to assist, but none came.

  The orb remained motionless, though it continued revolving in place, its yellow light a beacon in the gloom of the blizzard continuing to pound the mountain range.

  Looking at the medallion, James saw a squirrel displayed over the silver core. He recalled his speed and dexterity increasing during his first encounter with the black squirrels amongst the Trees of Nokomis. The medallion had absorbed the animal’s quickness, allowing him to pluck the delicious berries at a rapid pace. He considered himself fortunate the medallion had done so. He wouldn’t have been able to avoid the attacking wolf if it hadn’t. But he also doubted he would have been in any real danger if his luck had failed; Olivia seemed more than capable of keeping him alive.

  A shadow moved behind the orb. Stepping into the light, Micah smiled at the shining sphere, his mouth uttering words James was out of range to hear. Relieved to see his friend and mentor once again, James wasn’t surprised that he found them after becoming separated; all he needed to do was follow the orb’s light through the storm.

  Leading his horse down the slope, Olivia greeted him. After speaking briefly, she pointed at James lingering by the cave entrance.

  Micah made his way to the cave and the young man staring at him with questions blazing in his eyes. “Are you injured?” he asked before James could speak.

  “I’m fine. What happened to you?”

  Olivia entered the shelter of the cave. “Your horse has been wounded,” she said, approaching her companions. “Let me tend to it.”

  Micah handed the reins to her. “His injury is not too severe.”

  James eyed the gashes on the left hind leg of the horse. The injury looked painful but it was only a flesh wound and he was sure the animal would recover.

  “I know what you did...and I thank you,” Olivia said before leading the horse to the other side of the cave, Sheefa following close behind her.

  “What did you do?” James asked.

  “The wolf pack was gathering courage with the storm’s arrival. I gave them a target to focus their attention on.” Micah stared out of the cave at the wolves lying dead in the snow. “Most paid interest to me as I veered away from you, though I see not all.”

  “That wasn’t me,” James said, looking over at Olivia tending the horse’s wounds.

  Smiling, Micah placed a hand upon the slender shoulder of the youth standing before him. “I know that. I do not believe you carry daggers upon your person, especially those forged within the Fireglades. And even if you did and it somehow escaped my notice, I know you couldn’t throw them with the force and precision needed to bring those wolves to their end.”

  James looked down at his feet. “You’re right, I couldn’t.”

  “I did not mean it as an insult. You have your own talents, and here within this cave, you will discover more of them.”

  James spun around, gazing into the depths of the cavern. Somewhere within this cave, his next training session was set to begin.

  Micah joined Olivia as she finished covering the horse’s injuries with an aromatic balm. “You did well in protecting the boy, as I knew you would. It was the reason I could lead the wolves away while the two of you came here.”

  “A well played gamble, though you put a lot of faith in his ability to use the medallion. He could have been killed.”

  “Yet he lives. Wielding it is becoming as natural as breathing for him,” Micah said, observing the young man peering into the deeper darkness of the cavern.

  “Was this a test, then?” Olivia asked.

  “No, but it was an opportunity to gauge his reactions in the face of peril. Besides, I believed the risk was minimal. I knew you wouldn’t let him perish due to any oversight of mine.”

  Olivia’s eyes narrowed before she turned and gazed outside. With the horse looked after, she cleaned her hands, then exited the cave. Kneeling next to a dead wolf, she grasped her dagger and pulled it from the corpse.

  Reaching Micah’s side, James watched Olivia extract the daggers. “She saved my life.”

  “Perhaps she did, but I’m sure you c
ontributed to your survival.” Micah paused as he watched her clean the weapons off in the snow. “It was good that she joined us, after all. But she will have to remain behind from this point on.”

  “What? But why? I’m sure she could be of some help.”

  “I’m all you will need for this.”

  James couldn’t argue the point. A feeling of losing control over his life washed over him like a thunderous waterfall. “Will the wolves return?” he asked, voicing another of his concerns.

  Micah shook his head. “They will not. The pack has been diminished and is in need of a new leader now. If they do regroup, they will go in search of easier prey, which is not the three of us.”

  Although glad to hear the wolves wouldn’t return, James still had to deal with an element of danger supposedly residing within this cavern. “Micah, what am I supposed to be doing? Olivia said I would be judged on how well I do in taming whatever lives in here.” He paused, staring into the impenetrable blackness lining the rear of the cave. “Is it really necessary to do this?” he asked, his nervousness prevalent in his tone.

  “It is if you want to master the medallion you carry.”

  “Fine. Then let’s get this over with. It’s cold and I’m hungry and this day has already felt really long.”

  “It has, indeed.” Micah reached into the lining of his coat and pulled out what appeared to be giant raisins. “Here,” he said, handing the pieces of dried fruit over. “Eat these. It will clear your head and help you to focus, as well as fill your stomach.”

  James ate the fruit without question. He was famished and welcomed the opportunity to eat something before having to venture further into the cavern. It was also a chance to delay what was to come for a few moments longer. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone if asked, but he was apprehensive about what lay ahead. He wasn’t necessarily afraid of the animal he would be trying to tame; Micah would be by his side if things went awry. The fact he was being judged, that made him anxious because he didn’t want to let anyone down by being found unworthy of the medallion he owned.