by Mali Baker
‘Don’t you see, River?’ he said, almost shouting the words at her. ‘She’s alive,’ he cried, throwing his hands up to the sky. ‘Violet is alive!’
CHAPTER 16
It Runs in the Family
River began to hyperventilate.
‘Stop!’ she managed to gasp between breaths. Their dancing was making her dizzy. But neither of them heard her through their whooping and cheering. They looked as if they were doing some kind of tribal dance. The light was back around her and it seemed to be getting brighter the more No Name and Sedina danced.
‘STOP!’ River shouted at the top of her lungs, with all the breath she could muster. Her chest burned as if it was on fire. The butterflies in her stomach were back with a vengeance, currently turning her inside out.
Both No Name and Sedina did stop, a little taken aback. They stood staring at her, wide-eyed, wondering what on earth was wrong. Finally she gained the courage to ask the thing she was beginning to fear.
‘Have I gone…mad?’ she asked.
Sedina winced. She hated that word.
‘Quite the opposite,’ No Name said. ‘You are very sane, in fact.’
‘But you do need sleep,’ Sedina said. River couldn’t argue with that. ‘It’s been a big day for you.’ And with that she grabbed River by the arm and guided her to a corner in the house.
No Name followed them. ‘Sleep, my dear girl,’ he said, gently kissing the top of her forehead. River enjoyed the moment of affection from him.
‘Violet…’ River hesitated. ‘She isn’t alive. I’ve never met her. Ever.’
No Name smiled. ‘Well, let’s just say, being alive in your world and in ours are two different things! You see, River Baker, just like Violet, you are special.’ No Name placed one hand firmly on her shoulder as he spoke. ‘You have the gift, the ability to live in your world and visit ours, just like Violet. And something tells me that Violet brought you to us.’
‘River, like it or not, you are one of the family. You are one of us. You are a Warrior. It’s in your blood.’ Sedina beamed and fluttered her wings as she spoke, effortlessly hovering. ‘You’re a Warrior!’ Sedina was so excited she screeched the words, in such a high-pitched voice that even No Name twitched.
River pictured a Warrior in her mind, the kind she had seen in films her dad might watch. She looked down at her body and was pretty sure she wasn’t one of those.
‘I think you’ve got it wrong. I mean, I’m really just your average eleven-year-old girl.’
‘There is no such thing as average, River, and that certainly isn’t a word I would associate with you,’ No Name said proudly. ‘You are a Warrior Princess.’
‘But…’
‘Did you or did you not have the courage to enter your Great-Aunt Violet’s room?’
‘I suppose I did…’ she answered, a little unsure.
‘And did you or did you not have the faith to take your sister’s hand and walk with her into the sleeping garden?’
‘Well, I didn’t know what we – ’
‘Did you plant new seeds and believe they would grow?’ He looked her deep in the eyes.
‘How do you know about that?’ she quizzed. But No Name kept going.
‘Did you, River Baker, not take steps of bravery on to a path unknown, despite having absolutely no idea where it would lead you?’
River felt as though she were in a courtroom.
‘And, River, you trusted your instincts about Eleon despite what Kit thought. You trusted yourself.’
‘But I didn’t save her.’ River hung her head low, disappointed with herself.
Sedina gently placed her fingers under River’s chin and lifted it up so their eyes met. She looked more beautiful than ever. Her eyes were big and round, a vibrant blue, just like Eddie’s. Her skin glowed a pearly white and she radiated warmth.
‘River, you have all the virtues of a Warrior Princess. You will see Kit again, and all wrongs will be put right. You can help Eleon too, but you have to focus. Do you understand?’ River nodded; Sedina’s words were comforting. ‘You cannot let what has happened today distract you. It can’t hold you back.’
‘A valuable lesson,’ No Name said. ‘You cannot let your past define who you are. You may use it to learn from, and reflect upon it from time to time, as you did to put the pieces of the puzzle together tonight, but…’ He paused, and poked one finger firmly into River’s chest. ‘But it is not who you are. You are River Baker – Warrior Princess.’
I could get used to that title, River thought. She smiled, feeling the warmth of her glowing egg around her. She was getting used to it now; in fact she liked it being there.
‘River, you have a choice,’ No Name said. ‘We cannot force you to be anything you don’t want to be, but if you want to see Kit again we need to get back on the path tomorrow. Warrior or not, that is the only way to save Kit, do you understand?’
River nodded; she understood. Whether she liked it or not, she had a duty, to her sister and to her Great-Auntie Violet. She glanced over at the door. Who knew where it would lead her next? But she was ready to do whatever it took.
‘Now, sleep.’ No Name suspended her thoughts. ‘You need your strength.’ He walked towards the door and stood next to it. Like a guard at his post, he put his shield and sword into position.
Sedina knelt down on the floor and patted her knees. ‘Rest your head here,’ she said. River happily obliged, kneeling down right beside her and lowering herself on to Sedina’s lap.
‘I hope my grandparents aren’t too worried.’ River was suddenly aware that many hours had now passed since she and Kit had gone missing. She yawned and closed her eyes. As soon as her head rested on Sedina’s soft legs, she fell into a deep sleep.
No Name opened the door and took his place as the protector outside the front of Indigo House. A huge indigo light radiated around him, shielding him in the darkness. As he looked up into the dark night sky he thanked the stars for sending River to them. Little did she know just how important she was to the world of RALA.
CHAPTER 17
Happy Earth Day
‘Violet, what are you doing?’ Eddie fidgeted and fussed as Violet climbed him. ‘Watch where you put your foot, will you?’
‘Sorry,’ Violet shouted down at him, still continuing to climb upwards. ‘I just need it to be safe.’
‘What are you talking about? Need what to be safe?’ Eddie grumbled.
River stood by the window, watching Violet climb up Eddie. The garden didn’t look the same as it had when she last saw it. Everything seemed brighter. It was the perfect summer’s day and all the flowers had their colour.
‘Violet, you know you’re not supposed to be out here until the sun starts to go down. You’re ruining everything.’ Eddie seemed to be panicking. He was getting his branches in a twist. River could see the garden was decorated with ‘Happy Earth Day’ signs. Purple and gold balloons were floating, by themselves, in the sky above, and a table full of delicious treats was set in the middle of the grass. She stepped away from the window and walked around the table to the base of Eddie’s tree.
‘What are you doing up there?’ he demanded. ‘I’m private property, you know. You can’t just hop on and hop off whenever you want. I’m not like – oh, what’s that big red thingamagiggy you humans use?’
‘A bus,’ Violet said, as she began to scramble back down his branches.
‘Yes, that’s it – I’m not one of those. And, as I said, you are out here much too early.’
‘I know, Eddie, but I have NO CHOICE,’ Violet said, jumping down from the lower branches of his tree and landing directly in front of his trunk.
She was seriously pale. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. Eddie’s face changed when he saw her. He was deeply concerned. ‘Violet, what’s wrong?’ he said,
leaning his trunk towards her.
‘Whatever happens, Eddie, please keep that safe for me,’ she said, looking upwards. ‘Don’t tell anyone I came here today.’ She put her head in her hands and began to sob. Eddie wrapped a branch around her, hugging her tightly into his trunk.
River stood watching the scene. She was fascinated at the sight of this girl, her great-aunt. ‘Violet,’ she called out to her, but neither Violet nor Eddie turned to look at River. She began to walk over to them. A breeze blew through the garden, carrying with it the sound of voices River recognised. Sedina and No Name came walking around the corner. Eddie and Violet broke out of their embrace and Violet did her best to quickly wipe the tears from her face. She turned and bravely walked over to Sedina and No Name. Instantly they knew something was wrong. They all became engrossed in conversation, but River couldn’t hear what was being said. She stood staring up into the tree, desperately wanting to know what Violet had put up there.
‘Eddie,’ River whispered, but he didn’t respond. ‘Eddie, it’s me – River.’ But he was staring at Violet, his eyes starting to well up.
Sedina ran back in the direction she had come from. ‘Eleon… ELEON!’ she shouted, looking for him. River felt a wave of sickness force its way up from her stomach and into her throat. She knew what was about to happen.
No Name and Violet were coming back towards Eddie, and River could hear them now.
‘I have to go,’ Violet said. She leant into No Name and whispered something into his ear. She handed him an envelope and he looked at her as though she was his child. His eyes were glazed with tears but he would not allow himself to cry. He stood tall and the two of them were locked in a stare. The light that River had seen so often on this journey flowed from his heart to hers, but this light was a vibrant shade of indigo.
‘Violet,’ a voice called to her from the house.
‘Don’t open it, not until they arrive,’ she pleaded, reaching her hands to No Name’s chest. Holding back tears, she ran towards the window.
‘VIOLET, where are you?’ It was a woman, shouting. She sounded very impatient.
‘I’m coming, Mother,’ Violet shouted in response, but she didn’t take her eyes off No Name. She brought both hands together, entwining them, placing the backs of her hands together. River had never seen this done before.
‘RALA,’ she said. River watched as No Name did the same back to her.
‘VIIIIIOOOLEEET!’ Her mother was angry now. ‘We have to go.’
River’s heart was beating so fast. Go where? Violet ran into her special room through the big window. River followed her inside. The room was completely different. It was covered in Violet’s belongings. She had posters of butterflies all over the walls. Clothes were flung everywhere and an empty suitcase lay on the bed, open, ready to be filled. There were notepads and books scattered all over the floor. The only thing River recognised was the desk and the butterfly pen – it rested on the desk exactly as it had the day River entered the room.
Violet sat on the stool and grabbed the pen from its holder. She began writing frantically. River’s eyes were wide; she didn’t want to miss a thing. Violet looked just like Kit did when she held the pen. She was in a trance and couldn’t write quickly enough. Violet was mumbling but River couldn’t make out a single word. Someone was on the other side of the door, hammering at it, trying to get inside.
‘Open this door, NOW, Violet,’ her mother shouted. Violet ignored her and continued to write. The pen started to light up the room, just as it had done when Kit had used it. The light blinded River. She covered her eyes and felt herself forced on to the carpet, again. This time she resisted dropping so easily. She fought with all her might to see through the gaps in her hands but it was no good: the light was too strong. Eventually, she surrendered and fell to her knees. River heard a bang, as the door was forced open.
‘NNNOOOOOO,’ Violet screamed. It was gut-wrenching.
And then everything went quiet.
‘River,’ Sedina whispered gently.
‘Stop, don’t take her,’ River wailed, hysterically.
‘River, wake up.’ Sedina shook her. River’s clothes were soaked through, and beads of sweat were dripping from her forehead. Sedina pulled her up to a sitting position and River opened her eyes, crying.
‘I have to get back to the garden; I have to speak to Eddie.’ Her face was streaked with tears. Her eyes darted around the house, looking for a way out. She needed some fresh air.
‘OK, River, calm down,’ Sedina said, rocking her like a baby in her arms. ‘You just had a bad dream.’
River looked up at Sedina, forcing the rocking to stop. ‘That was no dream,’ she said.
Sedina saw something in River’s eyes that she hadn’t seen before. She could see that River was changing. She had stopped questioning. She was determined and ready to accept the road ahead. Despite the tears, she was stronger than ever.
‘I have to get back to Eddie,’ River said. ‘He has something we need, something Violet wanted me to find.’
She pulled away from Sedina and stood up. Sedina didn’t argue; she let River go, and sat there watching as she walked towards the door. River reached for the handle but then stopped herself, turning to look at Sedina. ‘Do you have anything else I can wear? I feel kinda yucky in these clothes.’
Sedina laughed, as though she had expected River to ask her this. ‘I have just the thing.’ She walked over to a set of drawers, opened one and pulled out a white garment. She handed the dress to River. ‘We always thought this dress would come in useful. We couldn’t figure out who it was for, but now it all makes sense.’
River took hold of the top of the garment and let it unfold from the tips of her fingers. It was the most beautiful white dress with gold lining, and gold stitching around the edges. The sleeves were purple and there was a matching purple belt that tied around the waist. River turned it around and on the back, in purple velvet, were the letters R.B. She traced her fingers along them and felt the smooth texture of the material. She had never seen such a stunning dress let alone one that had her initials on it! And underneath, stitched in italic gold lettering, were the words Warrior Princess of RALA.
Somehow, River felt as if she was home.
CHAPTER 18
Protect Yourself
River tore her clothes off as if she was unwrapping a Christmas present. Sedina took the dress and placed it over River’s head, slowly, as though she was honouring her with a medal.
‘There you go,’ she said, as she pulled the dress down, ironing out any wrinkles. ‘It fits you perfectly.’ Sedina tied the belt around River’s waist and then stepped back to look at her. Now River really did feel like a princess. She ran her hands down the sides of her brand new dress, enjoying the softness of its fabric. Something about her new outfit made her feel different. It fitted her like a glove and she fitted it; there was no doubt in her mind that this dress was made for her. By whom, she didn’t know, but there was no way the initials on the back were simply a coincidence. And, most of all, it suited her; she looked the part, and she embraced the feeling it gave her.
River stood in front of the picture and looked up at Violet. ‘I am going to tell your story, Violet. I believe in RALA and I believe in you,’ she whispered. And she turned on her heels and headed straight out of the door.
‘Ah, there you are,’ No Name said, relaxing out of his position as guard of the doorway. ‘You look fit for the job, River.’ As he acknowledged her outfit she smiled graciously and curtsied to him. He couldn’t help but smile at her new-found formality.
‘I’d like you to meet a few friends of mine,’ he said.
A few friends! That was an understatement. Looking past him, River was greeted by fifteen or so others, some rather strange-looking beings. All were as individual as No Name and Sedina in their appearance. They stared at her with inspecting eyes and
she felt a little overwhelmed, to say the least.
‘Hi, River, I’m Neith,’ a petite woman said. She came over to River and they shook hands. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you.’ She was the most normal-looking person, in River’s opinion, and had a very motherly nature about her. River instantly liked her.
‘This is a very close friend of mine,’ No Name said, gently touching Neith’s shoulder. ‘We have known each other for many years.’
River looked at the two of them, assessing their relationship. Neith gestured over to a young boy, a similar age to River. He glided over to them. ‘This is Maolan,’ she said. ‘He is my son.’ Neith looked at him proudly.
Maolan looked exactly as River imagined a Warrior to look. He was a little taller than his mother. He kept his head held high as he stared River directly in the eye. ‘Hi,’ he said, welcomingly.
‘Hi,’ she said, coyly. Suddenly she didn’t feel quite adequate next to him, despite her new attire.
‘Excuse us,’ River said, steering No Name to one side. ‘Listen,’ she said, ‘we need to go. Your friends or whoever they are seem very nice, but we don’t have time for a meet-and-greet right now!’
No Name raised his eyebrow at her.
‘I had a dream – well, I don’t know if it was a dream exactly, but…’ River lowered her voice so no one else could hear her. ‘I know there was truth in it. Either way, I have to get back to Eddie. I think he has what we need.’
‘Ahem,’ Neith interrupted. ‘If you don’t mind, River, I have a few things I’d like to teach you before you go.’
Maolan had followed his mother over and was standing next to her like a bodyguard. River noticed that his garments were made of the same white and gold fabric as hers and he had a purple belt around his waist too.
