by Nick McNeil
The ring started to heat until it reached a burning temperature, and Bertly could practically feel the ring melding into his flesh—branding him for life for a second time. He yelped and ran toward the cave entrance. He hopped onto the ice floor and stuck his hand against the ground.
“Bertly, what’s going on?” Polly asked. There was a slight hint of urgency to her voice as she and the group quickly followed Bertly out of the cave and gathered around him. A puddle formed around Bertly’s hand. The ring was burning through and melting the ice.
“It’s getting tighter,” Bertly yelled. He clenched his teeth as tight as he could. He did his best to keep a dull face—he did not want the others to know how much pain he was in. Bertly exhaled and fell onto his side. “It stopped.” He sighed. Bertly held his hand up to examine his burnt finger, and his eyes grew wide and round at what he saw—the white band was gone. Left behind was a burn mark on his finger in the shape of a ring.
Devdan crouched next to Bertly. “Let me take a look, sir. Us elves are quite good with healing magic.”
“It’s gone,” Bertly said.
“What do you mean gone, sir?”
Bertly raised his hand toward Roderick. “I mean it’s no longer on my finger, Roderick,” he fumed.
“Bertly!” Polly ferociously screamed. Bertly flinched at the sudden loudness of her voice.
Roderick slapped his hands onto his face. “Sweet Cordelia,” he cried.
“What?” Bertly shouted. “Are you two trying to give me a heart attack?”
Devdan looked Bertly in the eyes and stood up cautiously.
“What is it?” Bertly asked.
Devdan took a step back. Bertly’s heart started racing.
Dev pointed to the ground. “Take a look in the ice, sir.”
Bertly peered into the reflection of the ice. His heart pounded through his chest; his stomach filled with butterflies. Bertly ran his hand across his hair-covered cheeks, noticing his defined jaw. He felt his protruding Adam’s apple along his neck where the scruff stopped growing. He looked down—his body was thicker. He had not gained any fat, but he had another layer of mass surrounding him. Bertly stood up, and he felt even taller, not by much, but he now stood comfortably taller than Devdan.
“Sir, you look at least twenty, not sixteen,” Roderick cried.
Bertly clenched his jaw. “Great work, investigator.” His heart was racing and his body shook.
“I didn’t mean it like that, sir. You look…stronger, uh, wiser.” Roderick’s mouth snapped shut.
“It suits you, sir,” Devdan added.
Bertly looked at his reflection in the ice and ran his hand down along his jaw. He stood and examined his physique. His cloth top and bottoms still fit; however, he would not have minded a size larger—it would probably be more comfortable, he thought.
Polly walked up to Bertly, her eyes round and her mouth open. She placed her hands on Bertly’s arms and ran them up to his shoulders. She ran her fingers across his beard. “I…I don’t know what…” Polly looked Bertly intensely in the eyes, almost as though she were looking for something.
Bertly gave a half grin. “I guess when the legend said the ring adds a few years, it meant quite literally.”
XIV
The group sat aboard Clia, ready for departure. Roderick’s back was soaked from slipping on the ice on their way back from the Eternal Cave. Bertly tried to sit comfortably aboard Clia, but he could not find a comfortable position. His pants were too tight, and when he sat, they became wedged in areas he preferred to remain untouched. He also felt a tightness from his top across his back whenever he leaned forward. His boots were the only clothing article that still fit the same.
“Is everyone ready?” Bertly asked.
Roderick’s arms were gripped around Polly’s waist, with his eyes glued shut. “Ready, sir.” He quivered as he spoke.
“Likewise,” Devdan announced.
Bertly whistled and Clia launched into the sky like a firework. In moments, she broke above the barrier of the misty forest and was en route to Stonebank. Straight ahead were jagged, ghost-white mountains. The sky-piercing highlands stretched across the entire horizon. The sun broke above the peaks, where the pine trees breached the powdery snow that covered the entire landscape, bringing life to all of Noskar.
“It’s beautiful,” Devdan said. “I was always taught in school that Noskar was empty and barren. But…it’s absolutely stunning.”
Roderick studied the horizon and looked down toward the landscape. “Me too,” he said. “We were always told it had no life.” Roderick sniffled. “But snow…snow is the most heavenly thing I have ever seen. It looks like Cordelia herself wrapped a soft blanket around the land.”
“Just wait until we get to Stonebank,” Polly said, her voice gratingly cheerful as always.
Devdan and Roderick sat in silence until Clia neared the mountains. Roderick had finally loosened his grip around Polly. Bertly had never seen him so fixated.
Clia extended her wings, slowing her pace and gently gliding through the air. “Sir, I have a question,” Roderick jabbered.
“I am in a good mood,” Bertly rejoiced. “I will humor your question.”
“Why hasn’t Clia batted an eye toward your new…look?” Roderick questioned.
“That is actually a good question, my apprentice.” Bertly smiled. “I asked Alestar the same thing after he burned off his hair and eyebrows in the lab by accident once. He told me a gryphon doesn’t recognize someone by their appearance. They detect their humans based off smell and body language.”
“Intriguing, sir. So, if I lost my head, Clia would still recognize me?”
“Yes, that is correct.” Bertly glanced back at Roderick and gave him a cynical smile. “But maybe we should test it just to be sure.”
Roderick’s eyes went wide.
“Oh, stop it, Bertly.” Polly nudged Bertly in the back. Roderick tightened his grip back around Polly.
Bertly pointed. “Straight for that split in the mountains, Clia,” he shouted. As the group approached the mountains, a cascade of snow came tumbling down the mountainside. As the snow fell, it slid over a triangular-shaped edge in the side of the mountain, sending more snow flying in opposite directions.
Polly closed her eyes and pointed her nose in the air. “Ah, the sound of an avalanche.” Clia flew through the triangular opening and exited into a valley surrounded by 360 degrees of mountain. At the bottom of the valley was wide-open land with beautiful green grass. The sun shined brighter and the air smelled clean, as though a thunderstorm had just passed through.
Bertly heard the melody of drizzle birds dancing through the air. “We’re home,” he sang. Bertly felt the Stonebank air flowing through his hair, and peered down. “Sweet Cordelia,” he blurted.
Polly leaned over the side of Clia in order to look at the same spot on the ground that had Bertly so unwound. “Heavenly day,” she cried. “What has happened here?”
Devdan’s eyebrows rose nearly to the top of his forehead. “It’s magnificent.”
“Is this the capital city?” Roderick asked as he gazed over the valley. “I’ve never seen a city this large before.”
“I don’t think so. If I am not mistaken, Noskar doesn’t have a capital,” Devdan clarified.
“What’s happened to our home?” Bertly whistled for Clia to descend. “Who are all these people?”
“I’m not sure, but I am quite curious to find out.” Polly’s shocked face quickly turned into a smile. “This is almost exciting.” She giggled. “Why didn’t Stonebank look like this when we were growing up?”
“Ma’am, I am a bit confused. You seem not to recognize your own home,” Roderick chimed in.
“The last time we were home, Roderick, there were no more than two hundred residents,” Polly replied.
“You’re kidding,” Roderick said.
Devdan shook his head. “I find that hard
to believe…incredible.”
What used to be a quaint village of no more than fifty rooftops now housed more cottages than Bertly could attempt to count. Around the entire border of the city, new homes were being constructed. Bertly’s old house, which used to be at the edge of town, was now in the middle due to all the homes that had been newly built around it. The expansion of the city spread out in every direction. Luxurious homes lined the sides of the mountains, and in the center of town were several multistoried buildings that appeared to be extravagant shops and saloons. Thousands of humans lined the streets in such a way that it reminded Bertly of the hallways at the Academy.
Clia landed gracefully on the soft as silk Noskar grass. The group hopped off the gryphon and gathered around Bertly.
“Where do you suppose we should hide Clia?” Polly asked.
Bertly undid his bun and let his hair down. “There’s no need,” he said. “We didn’t anticipate this many folks to be here, so I am assuming Clia has caught the eye of many. We may as well head into town and find my father.”
Shortly after heading toward the city, in the background Bertly heard playful screams of children. “Right on cue.”
Two barefoot children darted out of the crowded city and across the soft grass toward Bertly and the group. “Mommy, look! It’s a gryphon, it’s a gryphon!” A few dozen paces behind the children was a middle-aged woman, whom Bertly presumed to be their mother. Not far behind her were countless other curious citizens.
When the children approached, Clia scurried to hide behind Bertly, who wasn’t even wide enough to cover half her face. “You will have to forgive my little ones,” the mature woman yelped. “During their bedtime stories, I always told them gryphons left Noskar centuries ago.” She spoke of her children, but her eyes never left Clia. “But here one is, more beautiful and glorious than I could have imagined.” For the first time in several minutes, the woman glanced toward the group and away from Clia. “How did you come across such a creature? I couldn’t imagine the lengths—”
The woman stopped talking and looked intensely at Bertly. “Red…” She peered at Polly. “Eyes.” The woman’s skin turned white. “Red eyes,” she screamed. “Red eyes!” Over and over she cried as loud as she could. Other people started shouting along with her. The whole town came to a screeching halt in order to give their full attention to Bertly and Polly. The town was absolutely motionless.
“Are we about to be mobbed, sir?” Roderick whimpered.
Bertly put his arm out, pushing the group behind him. “I wouldn’t rule that out, my apprentice. Something odd is happening here.” The mob was so silent a needle drop could be heard from across town. Bertly put down his arm and puffed out his chest while a smile radiated across his face. “Roderick, do you remember the conversation we had with Willie?”
Roderick cocked his head. “Of course, sir. But what does—” Roderick’s jaw dropped. “Sweet Cordelia.”
Bertly stepped forward. He reached inside his cloak and pulled out Cordelia’s warblade. He squeezed the dragon-carved grip and held it above his head. “I have returned!” he cried. The mammoth-ice blade shot out of the handle. The crowd erupted into an enormous celebration. Applause and cheering filled the entire city.
“What in Cordelia’s name is that?” Polly shouted.
Bertly winked. “Her warblade.” Roderick and Devdan stood with their eyes wide open, Roderick was biting down on his bottom lip, and all were admiring the majesty of the warblade.
“When did you get that!” Polly questioned.
Bertly choked on his own spit. “Oh, um, from Alestar.” Polly didn’t appear convinced for a second.
The noise of the crowd saved Bertly as their cries became too loud to ignore. They started to recite something, but Bertly couldn’t make out the words. He listened closely; the human’s voices began to synchronize. The town’s roars became clear as day. “Winter Wizard!” they chanted.
“The Winter Wizard?” Roderick rubbed his chin. “I have never heard of this wizard before.”
“Neither have I,” Polly said.
Bertly looked back at them, popped his collar, and winked. “Me neither.” He had an enormous smile plastered across his face.
Bertly noticed movement at the back of the crowd, and the roaring of the people soon faded. The people of Noskar parted quickly to yield to a visitor who was fast approaching Bertly and the others. At least two dozen fully armed soldiers marched out. The soldiers came to a halt, then formed into two orderly lines and faced each other. Both lines of soldiers stepped back, creating a pathway.
Emerging from between the soldiers was a wide-framed man, a head taller than the average man. Despite his beer belly, he had defined biceps that were bigger than a normal man’s thigh. The sides of his head were shaved, but the top ran long. Gray hairs were sprinkled throughout his mane and beard. His tattoo-sleeved right arm held a large war hammer.
The man walked out past the guards and stood between them and Bertly. He tossed the war hammer over his shoulder. “So, the Winter Wizard has returned home.”
Bertly crossed his arms and curled his lip. “You’ve grown old…and fat.”
Both men locked eyes and stared intently. The whole town had gathered to observe the occasion, and they all stood silently with their attention fixated on the confrontation. Neither man blinked as they walked toward each other until their noses were less than a foot apart. Bertly stood slightly taller; however, he was completely overshadowed in size. Simultaneously, Bertly and the man broke eye contact and burst into laughter. They dropped their weapons and wrapped their arms around each other.
“I’ve missed you, son,” Edfrid whispered. “Stonebank hasn’t been the same without you.” The men picked their weapons back up off the ground.
Bertly shook his head and gave a lopsided smile. “Stonebank doesn’t seem the same at all.”
Edfrid chuckled. “Aye, that is true. I have a lot to catch you up on.” Edfrid’s attention suddenly turned to the whole of his son and he examined Bertly very closely. “Son, you look like you’ve aged over ten years. What have they been feedin’ you over there?”
Bertly laughed. “It seems I have a lot to catch you up on, as well.”
“Hello, Edfrid,” Polly interrupted.
Edfrid peered his head around Bertly to look at where Polly stood waving her hand with a luminous smile across her face. “Polly,” Edfrid exclaimed. “I almost didn’t recognize you, you’ve matured so much. Your hair has gotten even lighter.”
Bertly turned and faced his friends. As he turned, Clia quickly scurried—likely fearing she’d been exposed—and attempted next to hide behind Polly. Bertly pointed. “This is my apprentice, Roderick.”
Roderick stood with his neck tilted back, giving an awkward wave.
“And this is Polly’s apprentice, Devdan,” Bertly announced, nearly mumbling Devdan’s name.
Devdan stepped forward. “You can call me Dev, sir. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“It is great to meet all of you.” Edfrid flung his hammer from his side and dangled it in the air. A guard rushed over and grabbed the hammer from Edfrid. “And who is your feathery friend?”
“This big baby is Clia. She gets a little shy around new people.” Bertly surveyed the city. “We didn’t anticipate such a crowd.”
Edfrid nodded. “Well, then, let’s get her somewhere a little more private.” He clapped his hands. “You must all be tired from your long journey. Come, follow me. I will try to get you up to pace on our way to the castle.”
“The castle?” Bertly shouted.
Edfrid laughed. “I know, quite the change.” The guards parted the busy streets and kept the walkways clear for Edfrid, Bertly, and the others. Clia followed them from above. Bertly looked around the city and noticed pairs of guards scattered throughout.
“Do all cities in Noskar have royal guards?” Roderick asked. “Despite our large army, we don’t have any in E
plium.”
Polly rolled her eyes—a gesture Bertly had, until that moment, thought was reserved specifically for him, but now it seemed that Roderick, too, could cause Polly to lose her perfect composure, and that thought made Bertly feel rather content. “It’s because humans don’t behave themselves as well as elves,” Polly said.
“The young lady is right,” Edfrid said. “With Stonebank as the unofficial capital of Noskar, we now have too many people to watch over. We need the extra help to keep things in order.”
Together, Bertly and Polly squealed, “The capital?”
“Aye, once you and Polly were accepted into the Academy, word spread like wildfire across Noskar of our two red-eyed humans. Before we knew it, people were flooding into Stonebank by the dozens, eventually the hundreds.”
“Why, sir?” Polly asked. “I love Stonebank, but we don’t have much to offer.”
Edfrid nodded. “Aye, but everyone wanted to live in the same city as the children of Cordelia. The folk of Noskar don’t just believe you were random chance; they all believe you were given to us by Cordelia herself.”
Bertly’s stomach churned as he noticed Devdan wink at Polly. That elf was so ridiculously charming that it repulsed him. What was even worse was that the charm wasn’t an act or a ploy—no, Devdan was charming.
“I always knew you were special, ma’am,” Devdan said.
Bertly fought the urge to childishly feign vomiting while Polly did her best to hold back a smile, but her rosy cheeks gave away that she was rather swayed by the suave elf.
As Bertly paced through the streets, every set of eyes examined him. He had somehow gone from being unnoticeable to being a spectacle for them to behold—all within a few years. It was also possible that the ring had something to do with it. He almost felt like a stranger in his hometown.
“But why would everyone want to live here?” Bertly asked. “What quality of life were they seeking? I understand why people are drawn in now.” Bertly looked around at the countless storefronts, saloons, and homes. “But at the time—when Polly and I left—we were just a small village.”
