Whisper and Rise

by Jamie Day

  The Secret of Stone Meadow

  The floor snapped and cracked under my knees. I covered my face as bits of glass cascaded from my hair.

  Oscar groaned and rolled to his side. Glass poured down his back into a pile. “My goodness,” he said, his eyes searching as he shook his head. “What a disaster.”

  “Are you all right?” Darian asked, wincing as he plucked bloodied glass from his hands.

  “No,” he answered. “No.”

  “Come on out, stranger,” called one of the men from outside. “We’re not done with you yet.”

  Darian helped me up. “Are you able to walk?” he asked.

  I nodded. “You can’t fight them again. What do you want to do?”

  A crowd of people gathered near the doorway behind the men who had shattered the glass. They glared and pointed, as if we were the enemy.

  “I—I don’t want trouble,” said Oscar, his voice trembling.

  “Neither do we, sir. But it looks like a lot of trouble has found us.” Darian pointed at the case where the emerald sat protected. “We’ve only come for the stone.”

  “Take it, then. Take it and go,” said the little man. “Leave before my shop is completely destroyed.” He fumbled with his key and opened the case. Thrusting the emerald into Darian’s palm, he took a fleeting glance past us and then ran to safety behind a door at the back of the store.

  “He’s hard of hearing, that one is,” growled one of the attackers. He stepped into the store, crunching glass under his boots as he approached.

  “Can you get to your horse?” whispered Darian.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Instead of answering me, Darian rushed at the man in the doorway, knocking him to the dirt with his shoulder. “Run, Rhiannon! Run.”

  I dashed out the door, forced myself past the crowd, and fled toward the mountain. When I reached the store, I turned back to see how Darian had faired. He had escaped the crowd, but the men were chasing after him.

  I ran around to the corral and let my horse free. “Come on,” I told Maeia, leaping onto her back with all the skill I possessed. Back on the road, Darian was caught in another scuffle. I led Maeia toward him, hoping to chase the men away or to somehow free him and allow him passage with us.

  Darian looked up at me, took a blow to his jaw, and pointed. “Go, Rhiannon. Get out of here.”

  I circled Maeia, refusing to leave. I didn’t want to leave my friend.

  “Go!”

  Reluctantly, I dug my heels into Maeia’s ribs. She took off so quickly I had to cling to her neck. I had forgotten; Maeia was a fast runner. She climbed and ran, weaving between shadow and sunlight over the mountain toward home. Sooner than I wanted, she slowed to a trot. She was tired and I was too weak to prod her anymore.

  The cuts on my hands stung, my body ached, and my stomach longed for food. My lips had cracked and my tongue felt like it was covered with tiny bits of sand. When we reached the meadow at the top of the ridge, the sun was far in the west.

  That’s when my imagination betrayed me.

  I was too late. I had to be. The day had been long. If the men from last night wanted trouble, all they had to do was cross the horse meadow. By now my family had faced the fate I feared and Darian was suffering an unknown doom. I had wasted the day. If I had the strength to cry, I might have. Instead, I pressed my head against Maeia’s neck and listened to her breathing.

  “Tell me, friend,” I whispered. My voice cracked from dryness. “Where do you want to go?”

  I don’t know what I expected to happen, but the voice in my head was my own. What if the men waited and intended to do something at night? My heart pounded fresh fear into my chest. I lifted my face and stared at the sun. Night was close, but I could make it home soon.

  “Go,” I said to Maeia. “Let’s go home.”

  We raced down the mountain; faster than I thought was possible. Dust flew everywhere, and branches broke against my shoulders as we passed. Maeia darted, dashed, and carried me to the village of my birth. She wanted to stop. I could feel her struggling, but I urged her on.

  “Keep going,” I commanded. “We’ll rest at the bottom.”

  We didn’t make it far before Maeia stopped running. She had done well. Dusk hadn’t come yet, and we were near the outer homes of Aisling. We would make it home before dark.

  “Nice work, girl,” I told her, rubbing her neck. I scratched behind her ear to thank her more. “You did wonderful.”

  I leaned on her mane and closed my eyes to rest for a moment. Her heartbeat was rapid, but soothing, like a lullaby. Hungry and thirsty, I was dreaming about the Bauer well when his voice woke me.

  “How was the mountain ride?” Cael’s voice chilled me unnaturally.

  When I looked up, seven men stood in the road, blocking us. Maeia stopped.

  “What do you want?” I asked. The men were a rough lot, many armed with spears, a few with short swords. I knew what they wanted—me.

  Cael walked toward me and grinned under a filthy beard. When had he grown a beard? “Where’s the bandit?” he asked.

  When I glanced back up the mountain, Cael motioned to the men. Two of them nodded and ran past me, wielding steel in their hands.

  “Darian’s not up there,” I told them, enjoying a brief moment of satisfaction.

  “Darian?” Cael chuckled in a low voice. “Have you found comfort with that man?”

  “Don’t say that.” I spit my words at him. “You’re mocking my memory.”

  Cael drew his sword from his scabbard. “You’re mocking my brother. Where is the bandit?”

  I shrank from the harshness of his tone, but refused to tell him the truth. “I don’t know. He left.”

  “That’s not something you’ll be doing.” Cael stepped toward me.

  “Go!” I kicked Maeia in the ribs and pulled her mane hard to the left.

  She obeyed and darted toward the trees. As we leapt into the cover of branches, spears followed us, striking the wood. One tore my sleeve but missed my arm. Maeia twisted and turned while I ducked low behind her neck. Still, the branches stung as they whipped my face and cut my shoulders. The men yelled and chased us, but stopped to retrieve their spent weapons. We quickly left them with their curses and plenty of distance between us.

  My heart didn’t stop pounding. “Good girl,” I cried as I led Maeia through the trees and eventually toward the main road through Aisling.

  My fears had been confirmed; Cael was a part of this. When did I become his enemy? I tried searching for answers but my mind wouldn’t think past getting to my family. I wished I had some help. I wanted to tell someone what was happening, but the road was empty.

  The village felt abandoned and distant. No one walked the streets. There were no children playing. No dogs. No chickens. Not even the call of a distant bird announced that everything in Aisling would be okay. I sensed that it wouldn’t. Arriving back in Aisling was nothing like I had expected.

  Dry tears dappled my cheek as Maeia carried me. Charred black stumps of trees that still smelt of death reminded me of the horror of the day of Solstice. Since there was no sound, my mind haunted me with the memories of cries and screams in the smoky air. My own voice had been a part of that terror. I wiped my face and shifted. The silence was unnerving and Maeia’s steps echoed off the trail. I leaned my head low to listen to her breath. I needed the sound of something living.

  “Are your memories unkind, child?” David Dunn’s voice struck me like ice across my face.

  I clung to Maeia’s neck and opened my eyes. Standing in the road, directly in front of me, Cameron, David Dunn, and his son, Michael blocked the way. Cameron was armed with an arrow in his bow; its red feathers spoke of death. Michael held a short sword. David Dunn held his arms wide, as if to welcome me to a hug.

  “I’m tired,” I said, trying to sound indifferent. My voice shook and broke, betraying my intentions.

  “Of course you are.” David Dunn walked toward m
e, his open arms reaching.

  “Stop.” I whispered to Maeia. I collected a breath of courage and spoke to the men. “Don’t come closer,” I told them. “I intend to go home.”

  I never hated laughter more.

  “You don’t have a home anymore,” said Cameron, aiming his arrow to the ground as he continued his mocking laugh.

  I kicked Maeia in the ribs, harder than I should have, but enough to jolt her into a running. “Go!” I yelled, but it sounded like no, which was a fitting word for the moment.

  We dashed toward the men and I kicked Cameron in the face as I passed him. Michael waved the blade of his sword as we approached, forcing us left.

  “Back into the trees,” I whispered into Maeia’s ear, though it was obvious where we were headed.

  She chose the closest path.

  I thought I heard the arrow, but it struck me before I could react. Pain flashed with an explosion of light behind my eyes. At the same time, I heard the faint thump of the arrow sinking into a tree. My scream pierced the night as something wet trickled down my side. The arrow must have only grazed me, but my ribs burned like I’d been struck a mortal blow. Maeia continued running.

  Around a corner, past more trees—I wanted trees—and into the forest. I knew this forest. We were on the trail to Evermore. The burning in my side continued, and the blood reached my legs.

  “No, don’t go in there.” I pulled Maeia’s mane before she could enter the clearing.

  I saw the mounds and their markers. Long stems and yellow flowers rose from them, except for a few mounds of freshly turned soil.

  We turned right where tree branches assaulted my face and arms. This wasn’t a trail, but Maeia kept running. Behind me, I could hear men’s voices fading away. Still, arrows carry far. I reached down and touched my side. My hand came back bloody. I wiped it on Maeia’s neck as I clung again for support.

  We arrived at Stone Meadow. A man was running across the grass, straight toward the stones. He looked back at me, seemed to falter, and then kept running. I yelled when I saw his face.

  “Darian!”

  We caught up to him fast. I tried running at his side, but he moved away from us, seemingly intent to continue running toward the towering stones at the center of the meadow. I spun Maeia around and, when we were near enough, I leapt from her back, grabbed him, and let him hit the ground first.

  “What are you doing?” he yelled as we rolled against one of the outer stones.

  My side screamed with pain. I lay in the grass for a moment and then struggled to stand.

  Darian brushed himself off. “Are you crazy?”

  I grabbed Darian and hugged him. “You told me to leave. I didn’t want to, but I did. I thought you were lost. I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “I’m okay,” said Darian, panting. “What happened to you?” He wiped blood from his cheek.

  I released my hold and stared at him. “Darian, I’m here. Climb onto Maeia. Come with us.”

  He hung his head and took a deep breath before answering. “I can’t go with you,” he said. “I’m sorry. It’s time to go home.” He pulled me to him and held me close. He was warm, so warm.

  “Men are chasing me,” I told him. “We can’t stay here.”

  Darian released me and stepped around the stone toward the center of the circle. “No, we can’t stay.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  “You’re strong, Rhiannon. You’ll escape them.” Darian took another deep breath. “Get on your horse and ride. Leave me here.”

  “I don’t want to leave you again. I want you to come with me.”

  Darian pulled the emerald from his pocket. Its mysterious golden lines glowed and pulsated, as if to expand and tighten. The light pulled me close and stole my breath. This was no ordinary crystal. The green flashed against Darian’s face, giving him new color, new life. I stared with amazement.

  “Magic?”

  “This is my way home.” Darian’s voice quivered. “You’re beautiful, Rhiannon, as beautiful as a sunset. If circumstances were different, I’d come with you. But I can’t, not now. I’ve been trapped here for so long, away from my parents, from my brothers. Every day, I’ve missed them. Now I have a chance to see them again.” Darian pulled me close and held me again. His heart was racing. “I want more than this. I want to spend days and nights together with you.”

  “I want that too.”

  Darian squeezed me again and then let me go. He walked to the Season Stone, turning back to reveal the smile that reminded me why I had trusted him in the first place. “I know you are worried about your family. I’m sure they are worried about you, too. Ride to them. Escape this madness.”

  “Will I ever see you again?”

  “I’ll return as soon as I can,” he answered. “To see you.” Then he stepped through the hole and disappeared.

  Cael Bauer

  The tall pillars seemed to spin and mock me while I sank to my knees, staring at the darkening clouds above them. Nothing in my memories had prepared me for this. Stone Meadow was sacred; created a thousand years ago to welcome the sun, the moon and the stars.

  I stumbled to my feet and ran to the Season Stone. “Darian?” Scraping my fingers on its rough surface, I checked my senses.

  He was gone.

  “Darian?” My breath fell as I collapsed on the grass.

  I knelt and stretched toward the stone again, this time searching the air with my fingers. Perhaps this was a living thing. Maybe Darian dwelt inside. I felt the shaking of my hands and the pulse in my fingers, but not the magic I hoped to reach; the magic that left me empty and took my only hope of redemption away.

  I wasn’t allowed long to linger. Cameron’s voice reached the meadow before he arrived. I called to Maeia and climbed onto her back when she met me. Then we dashed from the stones toward the safety of the trees, away from the man and his arrows. When we reached the main road, I didn’t stop. I kept pushing Maeia toward the trail to my parent’s home. The home of ashes. The only protection that remained. The men had seen me in Aisling. They knew I was alone. I needed help; I needed my parents.

  My return to Aisling had been a frantic upheaval of memory. Arriving home added to the swirl of confusion and regret. It didn’t feel like home, nor did it look the same. The gate was gone—only a barren gap between the waist-high stones announced the entrance. Dead trees stood with their limbs dripping to the ground, their leaves melted from heat. The oak I remember climbing as a child was no more. A charred mass of black soil, stones, and a few fresh blades of grass were all that remained of the comfort I had once known.

  “Father?” I dismounted Maeia and led her toward the barn. When I reached the door, it swung open to reveal Michael. “Father!” I jumped back and gripped Maeia’s mane.

  “Rhiannon, come in.”

  Father’s voice welcomed me, but all I saw was Michael’s face smirking in the open doorway.

  “Father, I need you.” I leapt onto Maeia’s back, preparing to flee again, my father burst through the doors.

  “Rhiannon, what’s wrong?” Father shoved Michael back inside. “What’s happened to you?”

  “Father, I need to speak to you.” I ignored his shocked expression as he stared. I knew I was in bad condition.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Was he mocking me? “Father, please?” My voice shook as I nudged Maeia backwards.

  “Rhiannon, come inside.” He didn’t ask.

  He might have said more, but I couldn’t hear it. My heart leapt into my throat and pounded its worry into me. It was all I could hear. The beating, the warning, something was terrible and my own father wouldn’t listen. I closed my eyes to fight back tears and climbed from Maeia’s back.

  “Yes, sir,” I answered. There was no place left to run.

  Father ducked back inside the barn. “Ethan, come care for Maeia. She needs food and a brush.”

  My brother arrived at the doorway and grinned when he saw me. He scrambl
ed from under Father’s arms and rushed to Maeia. “I’ll take her,” he told me. “I’m glad you found her.”

  I smiled back. It was comforting to see Ethan in good health. A tiny spark of hope flickered inside as he took Maeia away from me. Perhaps everything would be okay.

  The spark died as I entered the barn. Like everything, it looked different. Most of the hay was gone, replaced by chairs and blankets dotting half the space. Mother stood at a table made of split logs, chopping something. I hadn’t expected her to do anything different.

  “Rhiannon, it’s wonderful to see you. I’m glad that you’re safe.” I hadn’t expected to see Colin there, but his voice reminded me of what had once been pleasant in Aisling—something that I missed. “Michael told us you might arrive.”

  The boy seemed to be ignoring me. He had darted across the barn, and was now washing a pot for my mother. He didn’t look or turn when Colin mentioned him.

  “I need to speak to you,” I whispered to Father. “It’s urgent.”

  “Of course,” he bellowed, opening his arms wide to welcome me. “We welcome your tales of adventure.”

  This time, Michael turned.

  I pulled my father’s arm and leaned close to him. “I must speak to you alone,” I said, whispering as forcefully as I dared—the eyes in the barn watched me. “Please?”

  Father’s smile faded. “Michael, help my wife with anything she needs. Do a poor job and you can forget about seeing Leila later.”

  Leila. Terror, like ice, froze my senses. Where was my sister? I shot frantic glances around the barn, past my father. “Father, where’s Leila? What’s happened to her?” I grabbed his arm. “Tell me she’s all right.”

  “Let’s go outside.”

  I feared what was coming. I wiped my palms on my dress, but it only made them darker, and the sweat returned as quickly. I couldn’t breathe. My throat felt on fire and my eyes burned—perhaps the smoke lingering on everything was making me teary. I gasped for air and stumbled outside.