The Unicorn Quest

by J. A. Armitage

  Opal reached across and grabbed a fresh slice and slathered butter from the tray on the table onto her plate.

  The others followed suit. I waited and took a piece of my own. It was delicious. I didn’t doubt it would be otherwise.

  “I suppose if I had to waste hours waiting for you fools to get ready, at least your mother's cooking somewhat makes up for it,” Opal said between mouthfuls.

  “So," Kaida said, ignoring Opal’s rudeness as she always did, "where do we go first?” She looked to River.

  He set his half-eaten slice of bread down on the table and brushed his hands together to get rid of the crumbs. “The south kingdom has a colony of dragons, according to several travelers from there whom I've met over the years. Perhaps that would be a good place to start.”

  Kaida shook her head “It wasn’t a dragon that took Jet.”

  Opal made a tutting sound and narrowed her eyes. “I thought you didn’t see who took him? How can you be so sure it wasn’t a dragon?”

  “I know dragons and I know your brother. Dragons don’t take people for no reason, and they have no need of a key. The lives of unicorns do not interest dragons.”

  Opal shrugged. “You had part of the first key,” Opal reminded her.

  “I’m not just a dragon. I’m a shifter. The dragons River speaks of are pure dragons. No one would be foolish enough to ask them to protect a key. They’d be eaten before they got the first word out. If Jet was taken by a dragon, which I doubt, he’d be dead already.”

  I squirmed at her choice of words. Not that speaking of Jet’s death seemed to bother her. Probably because she knew in her heart, as we all did, that he was still alive. Or at least, he hadn’t been eaten by a wayward dragon.

  River rubbed his fresh-shaven chin. “If it wasn’t dragons, what else could it be? Does anyone else know of any flying creatures?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. Having never left Anchor before our last adventure, my knowledge of creatures beyond its borders was woefully slim.

  “Fairies, griffins, pixies, sylphs...” Opal began, counting them on her fingers.

  River held up his hand to stop her. “Fairies and pixies are too small to carry off a human.”

  Next to him, both Blu and Ivy huffed in unison.

  “Sorry guys, but you couldn’t haul a fully grown man.”

  As if rising to the challenge, the pixies dropped the slice of bread they were sharing and flew up to River, each settling on a different shoulder. They grabbed a handful of his shirt and began to heave upward. River rolled his eyes and continued talking. “Griffins are the same as the dragons in that they won’t care about a key. That leaves the Sylphs.”

  Opal shook her head vehemently. “The sylphs are on our side. They are sworn to protect Diamond. I assume they swore to protect the other unicorns too.”

  “Well, that leaves us with birds and insects,” River said, swatting Blu from his right shoulder. She tumbled away before righting herself and going back to the slice of bread she’d left on the table.

  “Actually, there is one other...” Kaida began. I turned my eyes to her. “I’ve heard talk of a race of flying people in the West Kingdom.”

  “Angels?” I asked, my only input into the conversation.

  Opal shot me down straight away. “Angels are a myth. They don’t exist.”

  “These creatures are no angels from what I’ve heard. They are human-like and they have wings, but they do not like people. They think humans are beneath them. I’ve never heard of one kidnapping a person before, but they are known to do whatever is in their own best interests. I doubt they’d be interested in a unicorn key, but they might be interested in the gold a unicorn key could bring.”

  “So someone could have paid them to kidnap Jet?”

  “I don’t know,” Kaida said, shaking her head, “But unless we can think of anything better, it’s a place to start.”

  I glanced around the table, waiting for Opal to tell Kaida that it was a stupid idea, but she looked deep in thought and kept silent.

  “Ok,” said River, clapping his hands and making Ivy fall from his shoulder where she was still trying to prove she could lift him. “Unless anyone knows of another community of winged creatures who live within easy flying distance of the dragons, I say we go to the West Kingdom and check them out.”

  After a moment of looking at each other all around the table, Opal snapped her fingers. “Then, it is settled. We head west, and hope we've made the right choice.”

  “I have a map of the West Kingdom,” River said, pulling a tube from his backpack and extracting a bunch of worn maps.

  Opal eyed them warily. “How old?”

  “They were old when my father got them, and he gave them to me when I was a child.”

  Opal looked like she desperately wanted to speak her mind, but River jumped in before she was able. “Why does it matter how old they are? Do new mountains rise up, or something?”

  Opal pursed her lips, making River laugh. “They are old, and I admit, the older they are, the less useful maps become. The names of towns change, and so do the names people use for mountains, forests, rivers—”

  “But it’s all we have, right?” Kaida said, sitting forward and looking at the map that River had unrolled.

  “It’s all we have now. We might find a mapmaker along the way, and then we can upgrade.”

  “So how do we get to the West Kingdom? How far west is it?” Opal asked, looking at River.

  “It's a couple days’ walk. We're in the northwest province of the East Kingdom here,” he said, pointing to the edge of the map where the name Anchor was written in tiny script. “So, the West Kingdom is relatively easy to get to. At least, to the border.”

  Kaida ran her finger along the map.

  “That’s the edge of the West Kingdom,” River said, looking at where Kaida was pointing. “I know how to get there without a map. We’ll use this map once we do.”

  “So, how do we get there?” Kaida questioned. “I could fly west, but I don’t know the borders between human kingdoms.”

  “That's why I'm your guide.” River picked up the map and rolled it back up, stuffing it back in the tube. He put a cork stopper in the end and hung the tube across his back. “I've made the trip to the border a number of times. It’s a relatively easy path through a valley.”

  Opal brought her hand down with a thump, shaking the table and bouncing Blu and Ivy up into the air. “Can we leave now?”

  River gave her a sly grin and stood. “Let’s go! I know an inn about fifteen miles from here where we can spend the night tonight. I’ll aim to get us there by nightfall.”

  “Sound’s good,” Opal said, stalking past River.

  I hurried after them, catching up outside the Anchor and Ales.

  “Of course, inns cost coins,” River said, shifting a furtive glance at Opal. “Who will be funding our journey to rescue Jet?”

  Opal openly glared at him. “I do get tired of being the only one of you vagabonds to have a few coins to spare in saving the world. Fine, whatever, I'll pay for it. But don't go asking me for a daily fee, like last time. Got it?”

  “Jet is my friend, too. I don’t want payment to help save him. I just know we’ll need money if we hope to find him.”

  Opal rolled her eyes. “I’ve got it, now come on, losers.” She stalked off down the street, not looking back.

  “She's such a joy to travel with,” Kaida sighed.

  “And she’s going the wrong way,” River said with a grin. “West is that way.”

  “Opal?” he shouted, and when she turned, he continued. “West is that way.” He pointed to the opposite direction that she had been going. When she walked past him, he could barely conceal the smirk on his face.

  By midday, the morning clouds had dispersed, leaving the sun to beat down mercilessly. The road dust had left a film in my mouth and forcing myself not to squander the water I carried had become a minute-by-minute struggle.

  River d
rifted back, letting the others pull ahead until he walked at my side. I grunted, acknowledging him, but my throat was too dry to want to talk much. Even putting one foot in front of the other had become something of an effort of willpower.

  Sweat dripped from his nose and chin, but he handed me his water all the same.

  “Drink.”

  I took the bottle from his hands and gratefully chugged the warm liquid. Before I finished the bottle, I handed it back. He pulled a bandana from his pocket and doused it in what was left of the water, before handing it to me. I wrapped it around my head, suddenly feeling a lot better.

  The low rolling hills soon gave way to a range of mountains that rose majestically in the distance. Snow covered the peaks even though it was early summer. I squinted against the sun, trying to figure out how we would find a way through.

  “Why are you leading us to the tallest peaks in the world?” Opal huffed. “Shouldn't we go around them?”

  River laughed, a full belly laugh, and coughed to catch his breath. “Ho, the tallest in the world? Hardly. That’s the Pikes Peak range. There's a game trail that leads into a valley, and another at the valley's far end. It shortens our journey considerably.”

  Opal didn’t seem satisfied. “I don’t think so. Those mountains look impassable. I’m pretty sure we can get to the West Kingdom if we just keep to this road.”

  “Yes, we can, but it will take us days. The mountains are full of ogres. They keep to the main roads because that’s where the travelers are. Ogres attack humans for food. It’s both safer and quicker taking the route I planned.”

  Opal let out a sigh and nodded. “Okay. We follow you. I've no wish to meet an ogre.”

  “Nor I. But I know the trails, and I know the ways of ogres. We'll be fine. And if I'm wrong, well then, I'll hold them off while you three run,"

  I raised my eyebrows, but he laughed.

  “I’ll make sure we stay clear of the ogres,” he said, once again, setting the pace.

  We left the road not much further on and started on the trail that River had told us was a shortcut. The trail began as an easy trek across fields of wildflowers but very quickly inclined up as we reached the base of the mountains. I kept up and kept quiet, trusting that River knew what he was doing. Opal, on the other hand, kept up a running monologue of complaints and questions until the trail veered through a hidden crevasse.

  The descent was shorter than the ascent and led to a small, green valley nestled between two of the towering Pikes Peak Mountains. At the center of the valley was a large lake fed by a number of streams. From my elevated vantage, I saw a large river flowing out of the lake. I followed it with my eyes through a cliff-sided canyon that it had carved through the mountains over thousands of millennia. A canyon that from this distance, didn’t seem like it was possible to pass through.

  We descended into the valley, following game trails I couldn't see—but which River swore were there—and then up the valley's far side. As we approached a sheer, rough, rock wall, River stopped. It wasn't until he'd spent a minute pacing back and forth in front of it that I felt a tickle of concern in the back of my mind. As his searching became more obviously frantic, Opal muttered what I had been thinking.

  “He's lost the trail. Damnit…”"

  “Give him another minute,” I whispered, though I didn't think another minute would make any difference.

  Opal stomped over to River and stood directly in his path. With a hard gaze, she looked into his eyes. “You led us here, and now you've lost the trail. Say I'm wrong.”

  River put his hands on his hips and looked down at the ground, breaking eye contact. “I don't get it. There was a mountain pass here, I swear.”

  Opal's face twisted, her face flushing red. “You moron. You just heard some fantasy story from your father, and you gambled our lives—Jet's life—on some drunken tale you overheard one night.”

  River looked defeated. We’d walked such a long way that heading back to the road would add hours to our journey. Hours that Jet might not have.

  Kaida walked over and put her hand on Opal's shoulder. “How about if I take a quick spin up there and see if I can find something from the air?”

  Opal pursed her lips, but she nodded. “Fine. That sounds like a good idea.”

  Kaida stepped away from us, undressing quickly behind a large rock, and in seconds had assumed her dragon form. I felt my breath catch at the sight, as it always did. With two mighty beats of her long, muscular wings, Kaida was up and away, streaking toward the clouds. Soon, she was a tiny dot.

  There was nothing for us to do but wait, so I found a spot of dry grass and sat. Opal sat beside me as River walked up and down the path, trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong. Opal’s face remained sour, so it was a great relief when Kaida finally flew back.

  She shifted back into human form, staggered, but caught herself. “Okay. I scouted all around, trying to find a pass. I hate to say it, but I think it was buried beneath a landslide.”

  Opal interrupted, “So we aren't getting through the mountains this way. That's what you're saying?”

  Kaida nodded, shoulders slumping.

  River let out a sound like a growl, and he slammed one fist into his other palm. “That's impossible. This pass was here only four years ago, the last time I was here. These mountains are hard, solid stone. How could so much cliff face sheer away from the mountain?" His eyes burned with frustration.

  I slid my arm around his waist and squeezed lightly. “It's not like you could've known. And it doesn't really matter what happened here. Only that we can't get through.”

  Opal glared at River, but then spun on Kaida. “The pass must exit these mountains somewhere. Can you just carry us there?”

  Kaida took a moment before she replied. “No. I'm not strong enough to carry all of you across. In fact, shifting back into my Dragon form so soon would drain my magic to the point where I might not even be able to carry one of you so far. The pass was miles long, judging from what I saw."

  River pulled away from me and faced Opal. “I'm so sorry. I should have scouted ahead, but I didn't. I just didn't want to leave everyone alone, not with so many ogres running around this valley.”

  Opal said, “I haven't seen any signs of ogres. Maybe they are gone, too.”

  Kaida said, “Does it matter? We need to backtrack, and then go around the mountains.”

  Opal spun to face her. “No! Jet is relying on us. I don't know what I will do if anything happens to him. We can't afford the delay. You're stronger than you think you are, Kaida. Can you try to carry us out?”

  “No. I’m not strong enough. I might get one of you over. That’s all.”

  River jumped in to help Kaida, before Opal could lay into her. “It’s not safe. I don’t want to separate. You might not have seen any ogres, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.”

  I could see Opal’s tension growing. If she didn’t let off some steam, she was going to have to shift into her unicorn form. Either that or we were all in for an ear-bashing.

  “We have little daylight left,” River said. “Not enough to do anything today. The Inn I mentioned is in a small village along the pass. Or at least, it used to be. I guess not anymore. Let's make camp and we can talk about ideas tonight so we can head out first thing in the morning.” He headed back down the path we’d just come on.

  “Where are you going?” Opal called after him.

  Over his shoulder, he replied, “I know of a cave the ogres either haven't found or don't use for some reason. I've camped there before.” His pace didn't slow.

  I shrugged and followed after him, with Kaida right behind me. Opal was the last to follow, and one glance back at her told me she was in no mood to talk about it. I sighed and just kept walking.

  Chapter 11

  I awoke the next day to a strong, rhythmic chopping sound in the distance. When I opened my eyes, I had to blink a few times to clear them enough to see that the sun was just coming up. G
roggy, I struggled to sit up and looked around the cave where we had spent the night. It was hardly the inn River had promised us, but it was dry and ogre-free, which was as much as I could have hoped for.

  The morning sun had risen above the peaks, just barely, and outside, I made out Opal attempting to start a fire. She was alone, and when I looked about me, it seemed I was the only one not to have left the cave. Pulling myself up, I stretched then headed out to her.

  “Where's Kaida?”

  Opal's head whipped toward me in surprise then visibly relaxed when she saw it was me. “She's flying around, trying to find another pass out of here to the other side. Probably a waste of time, just like this wild goose chase River brought us on.”

  I stifled a yawn. Obviously, Opal was still simmering. I considered my next words carefully.

  Opal spoke first, however. “River’s gone. Didn't say anything, just left. I don't blame him for running, I always knew he would.”

  I shook my head. There was no way River ran out, leaving us behind. If he was gone, it was because someone had taken him. The thought of ogres struck me…

  “He’ll be back,” I said, more for my benefit than hers.

  She just shrugged.

  I looked around to take in my surroundings. The sun had set by the time we reached the cave the night before, but now I could see the lay of the land. From the cave mouth, the terrain fell away surprisingly gently, down to the valley floor. Down there and a little bit to my right, I saw a copse of trees I hadn't seen on the way in. And although it was hard to tell with the way sound bounced off the valley walls, I was fairly certain the chopping sound that had awoken me was coming from those trees.

  I walked down the hillside, carefully choosing my path. I reached the tree line and paused, wondering if ogres lived in there. I took a deep breath, then continued on, moving from tree to tree, listening at each one before moving to the next. Cautiously, I made my way deeper into the woods, moving generally toward where I thought the chopping sound was coming from.