Heritage- Legends of Shadear

by Elina Vale

  Not only was Eavan gone, but Shea discovered that Boa and Merrilon had also fled during her frenzied teleportation around the kingdom. She screamed out her frustration, releasing all of the magic inside her until she was drained, and the world became the normal gray version of itself. She slumped down to her knees and pressed her forehead on the floor.

  She was alone. Everyone was gone.

  Summerhaze.

  Shea looked around the room, finding her dead body in a pool of blood.

  She leaned down and stroked her hair. “You fought your last battle against me. You were brave, I give you that. But where has it got you?”

  ...Humans... They are so weak...

  “Be quiet, already,” Shea whispered. The voice felt like needles on her brain.

  She was tired. Exhausted of the magic, exhausted of all the fighting. But how could she sleep when in a blink of an eye, she had lost everyone? No one to share a bed with her. How had that happened?

  ...You are weak... Let me help you...

  “Never. I command the Star,” Shea mumbled.

  Doria.

  She had to find Doria and scout for Shri. Doria would help her make up a plan to get Shri to the tower. She had to find Shri before she finds that artifact. If Shea could find her, she could use the Star to bend Shri to her will.

  ...Our will...

  “Shut up!” Shea stumbled up, pressing her hands on her ears. “I’m done with you. LEAVE!”

  She pushed against the stone’s magic with her will. The Star responded to her attack burning in her chest. Shea screamed but kept pushing against the stone.

  “I rule the Star!”

  The pressure vanished and the stone released the power.

  With a sob, Shea collapsed on the floor.

  Doria. The only one who is loyal to me.

  CHAPTER 29

  TERON ORDERED THE OTHERS into the ship’s cabin. Old Sambran nearly declined, saying this was his boat, but Teron had insisted. First of all, if he was able to summon a mermaid with his swimmer’s rock, he didn’t want her to be scared away. Second, he didn’t want the mermaid to snatch the men he was traveling with. Third... he didn’t want them to see if he failed.

  He placed the rock around his neck. The sea was still churning, but the storm had ended. Removing his boots and jacket made him shiver in the cold air, but he tied a rope to his waist to prevent himself from being swept away by the currents and prepared to go in.

  As he descended the ladder, doubts filled his mind. Burning borag’s breath! I hope the creature will hear me.

  The water was freezing. Biting his teeth together, Teron forced himself in. Slowly, he climbed further below the surface, and soon, he was submerged to his neck. Hanging onto the ladder, he made sure the swimmer’s rock was under water, and then closed his eyes. He had no idea how the relic should be used to summon a mermaid, but he had to try.

  Opening himself to his magic, he drew from his fountain. Clutching the rock with his other hand, he sent out a call. Being an air-talent senatai not only allowed him to scout people, but also send psychic messages, which moved in waves. He didn't know if it worked in the sea, but currents moved through the water as surely as they moved through the air, so he had to try. The call consisted of two images: one of himself and one of him talking to Neneia.

  Nothing happened.

  The water was extremely cold. He couldn't stay submerged for much longer. He sent the call once again.

  Still nothing. What would he do if it didn't work?

  He had no choice but to get out of the water. Disappointed, he climbed up the ladder. He trembled when the wind flapped his wet clothes, and, grabbing his boots and jacket, he went inside.

  After he had changed his clothes, he brought Eavan on deck. His attempts hadn’t worked, and now he had no idea how to find Shri or the Thunder Islands. Eavan stood near the door, staring dully forward.

  Gazing at the ocean, Teron whispered, “Eavan, how can we do this without you? We can’t manage on our own.”

  She didn’t react. When a person was ripped, all the elements were used. If he wanted to reverse the spell, he needed to find a senatai from each element. But the trick was, according to his studies, that the senatai needed to give a piece of themselves to the one being cured. Teron could give up the element of air, but where he found the senatai who possessed the remaining elements? And did he dare to try it on Eavan?

  As the clouds disappeared, the sun glimmered on the surface of the sea. Teron sulked, staring at the sea, when something caught his eye. Underwater, a dark figure approached the boat. Its shadow reflected against the surface, and he was sure that it wasn’t a fish.

  It was a mermaid.

  She circled the boat a couple of times and then stopped in front of Teron. A head, covered with light orange hair, broke the surface. Next, came the pointy ears and the almond-shaped eyes of apple-green. Seaweed clung to her hair.

  She swam closer, observing Teron. Then, she stopped, tilting her head like she was listening. Her gaze drifted somewhere behind Teron, and the second she saw Eavan she took a sharp breath.

  Teron reached for her. "No, wait..."

  The mermaid pulled a hand over her mouth, backing away.

  Teron quickly moved to the ladder and knelt down. “No, don’t go!” He gestured pleadingly with his hands.

  The creature kept looking at Eavan, clearly frightened.

  She’s seen this before, Teron realized. A ghost. A non-human. Maybe she would know how to cure one.

  “Do you know how to help her?” Teron said. “She’s very important!”

  The mermaid looked at him with her unnaturally huge eyes. They were mesmerizing, and even with the swimmer’s rock, Teron could feel the pull. He was tempted to toss all his worries aside and take the creature’s hand. They could swim together into the dark depths of the sea, twirl around one and other and kiss until...

  He shook the dizziness away.

  The mermaid had a sly smile on her face.

  “Come on, don’t do that,” Teron said. “I’m asking for help!”

  The creature tilted her head and revealed a smile of sharp teeth.

  Teron pointed at Eavan. “Do you know how I can help her?”

  The creature shook her head.

  Disappointment washed over Teron. “I should have known... Look, do you know the way to the Thunder Islands? Where the Mairas live?”

  The mermaid frowned and stared at Eavan for a while, then swam closer. She lifted her hand from the water and placed it on Teron’s forehead. It was the first time Teron had ever been touched by a mermaid. He stared into her wild eyes, and he started when an image flashed into his mind. The creature was showing him something. He wanted to cry out of pure joy but tried to focus on what he was seeing.

  In the image, he saw the sea whirling past as he swam together with the mermaid. He was seeing her memories. A school of yellow fish passed them, then a whale, huge but harmless. A group of mermaids circled it like a tornado. Teron could see them now, dozens of them, hundreds, swimming around the gentle giant of the sea. He traveled through the cool water, alongside the mermaids, enjoying the speed and the rush of excitement, before finally breaking the surface. It was blindingly bright above the water. The air felt cold and painful on his lungs.

  Like a beacon glimmering in the water, a set of beautiful islands emerged from the fog, bathed in the sunlight. Mountains rose high on the largest island, surrounded by dense forest. A city like a pearl emerged from behind the shoreline’s rocks.

  The Thunder Islands!

  The image was broken and Teron stumbled backward.

  He would never have believed that he could share the memories of a mermaid like this. He lifted his gaze from the boards and met the creature’s eyes. She had climbed on the deck and was laying close to the ladder, her tail swinging lazily in the air. Teron stumbled to his knees and sat on his heels. He ran his hand through his hair and exhaled.

  “Thank you for showing me that.
I saw the island. But I still don’t know which way to go. Can you guide us there?”

  The mermaid looked at Teron for a while, and a slow, wicked smile emerged on its lips. Of course I can. But what’s in it for me?

  Teron’s heart nearly stopped. The mermaid jumped off the deck, landing in the water with a splash. Teron rushed to look, still bemused. The surface of the water broke again, and the creature reemerged. She tilted her head and splashed water over Teron.

  Stop gawking, human.

  Teron didn’t bother wiping the water away from his face. He couldn’t believe what was happening. “You can talk to me? Inside my head? How is that possible? It’s... I don’t... How?” He couldn’t help but let out a laugh. This was what he had been dreaming about for months, and now, he could talk with them. “This is amazing!”

  The creature smiled. You don’t need to use your voice with me. I will take you to the Thunder Islands... but it’s not a nice place. The mermaid’s face darkened. They hurt us. They are not good humans.

  Teron tried to communicate in the same way, thinking the words instead of saying them. Did they hurt you?

  It clearly worked, since the mermaid nodded. Yes... We are monsters to them. We have taken too many of their kind underwater. But you should know that my sisters are not like me. They will do bad things to you if they catch you.

  Teron was mesmerized by the words echoing inside his head. They were haunting. It was like hearing human speak, but the tone was wild and untamed. Whenever the creature spoke, he could feel the words, see them drifting by.

  I know, Teron said.

  She lowered her eyes and fiddled with a strand of her hair. It’s strange... I feel like I should take you into the water with me. I can smell the blood running inside you, but then I look into your blue eyes, blue like the sky, and I don’t want to kill you.

  Why do you kill us in the first place?

  She returned his stare. To us, you are prey. Savage, thoughtless creatures who have soiled the seas with your refuse and hunted us since the dawn of time. But in you, I see intelligence. Kindness.

  Teron took a small step back. The duality in the creature was perplexing. Half human, half beast, yet he was finding sympathy within her as surely as she was finding it within him. Calming himself, he gathered his bravery. He stretched his hand over the railing, his palm open, and invited the creature to touch it. She reached for him with her own hand. It was cold and sleek, like soft porcelain.

  Thank you, Teron said. I trust in you.

  The creature looked at their joined hands, nodded, and lifted her eyes again to Teron’s. Trust. I think I know the meaning. I trust in you too, male human.

  Teron squeezed her hand slightly. Can you show us the way to the Thunder Islands? Will you lead us?

  Why do you wish to go there? You will only be hurt.

  Someone important is being kept there, he answered. A friend.

  Friend... she repeated.

  Trusted companion. A sister.

  Sister, she repeated. Pod-mate. A wry smile split her lips. So, humans CAN love.

  Yes.

  She nodded. Tell the man with the hair on his face to travel where the sun rises for two days. I will be swimming near if you get lost.

  She let go of Teron’s hand and backed away.

  Wait! What’s your name

  The creature swam closer, reached up, and put her hand on Teron’s forehead. Images of sun sparkling on the water came to his mind.

  Teron smiled. Beautiful. I will call you Glimmer. It describes the way the sun sparkles on the water.

  The mermaid showed her pointy teeth with a grin, waved her hand in the air, and then vanished undersurface. Soon, it was like she had never even been there. Teron wiped a tear from his eye before he turned to find his companions.

  Several days went by, and the small fishing boat traveled steadily onward. Sambran avoided the most gruesome storms, along with pods of bloodthirsty lionwhales, and managed to circle the rocks emerging from the mist.

  The day was ending. Sunbeams flickered on the water, creating lovely shades of sparkling ripples. The air was crisp and chilly, as they were quite far to the north and autumn had arrived. Wrapping his jacket tighter around himself, Teron couldn’t help but worry. Food was running low. They had teleported onto Sambran’s ship without any warning, and the old man had been forced to help them. All they could do was rely on the beautiful beast, Glimmer, who swam nearby as she them... somewhere. Teron had seen the image of the island in the creature’s mind. He was sure it was the right place. But this could be a fool's errand. Would Shri even be there?

  He glanced at Javid, who had been pouting the whole trip. Javid was hiding something, and Teron could see the torment in his eyes. Something had happened to him in the Spike, and clearly it had affected him. Teron tried to ask about the events of the Gate Run, as Shri refused to explain it, but Javid didn’t speak about it either.

  And Eavan...

  What if Teron was wrong? What if, once ripped, a person was beyond being saved? The thing Eavan had become never slept, never ate. It could walk and obey orders, but it never said a word. If Teron commanded, Eavan would jump into the water and sink. If he didn’t cure Eavan, could he do what he knew she would want him to do? He could hear her soft and sturdy voice inside his mind. She would say she wanted to be killed, that Teron should never let her remain a weapon for someone to use. A non-human; not alive, not dead. But to kill Eavan Firestone...

  The grandness of his situation weighed on his shoulders. Slumping his head, Teron fought against tears of desperation. He had to take the Pendant of Absent to Shri. He had seen Shea Ziragh: those malicious eyes, that snake-like skin, and the power she possessed. Would she kill the strong and enslave the weak? Would she lose control and destroy the very land on which they lived? If Teron had a chance to help, how could he not try? But he was, after all, only a noble boy who was given everything he ever wanted. Now, he was far from the safety of his father’s mansion. How could he, of all people, fix anything?

  A soft, sad, laugh escaped from his lips. His father would never approve of this quest. But Teron wasn’t hungry for his acceptance. Not anymore. Slipping his hand into his pocket, he withdrew a small blue feather. Shri had given it to him when she had found it on Sambran’s boat. He stroked it gently with his fingers. Meeting Shri, helping these people with their cause, had given his life direction. He finally had the chance to do something, to have an impact on the world.

  Teron lifted his head. A sudden mist had emerged from the north. As it covered the boat, the ocean became oddly silent.

  Javid stood up, and Old Sambran lifted his head from the net he was repairing.

  A tiny splash alerted Teron to look over the railing. Glimmer’s head emerged from underwater.

  There are many rocks in your path.

  Her voice echoed in Teron’s mind. He could see the rocks, feel the danger the mermaid connected to them. Can you help us?

  Glimmer nodded. Yes. Follow me. I will take you to the end of the mist, but then I must go away. It is forbidden to swim near the Thunder Islands.

  Glimmer swam out in front of them, her head popping to the surface every now and then. Sambran tossed a rope to the creature, while Javid and Teron stood on either side of the boat with oars in case they came too close to the rocks. Everyone was quiet. They traveled through the narrow gaps between the rocks, some of which were almost entirely under the surface and could only be seen when the boat was on top of them. Without Glimmer, they wouldn’t have stood a chance.

  They sailed through the mist for a while.

  “This is unnatural,” Sambran murmured.

  Teron and Javid exchanged a look. Sambran was correct. If the Mairas had their own senatai, they had magic. They might even have some kind of magic the other senatai didn’t know about.

  Gradually, the mist ended, and their goal came into view. Three islands, three mountains. The highest peak reached into the clouds, rising out of thick, green
forest. Flocks of birds flew above. A proud city sprawled along the coast of the largest island, seven majestic ships were anchored on its shore.

  “Lighthaven,” Sambran whispered, taking off his hat and holding it against his chest. His wrinkled, weather-beaten face looked stunned. “I never in my life thought I’d see it. My grandmother used to tell me stories.”

  “What stories?” Javid asked.

  “A gleaming white city of wealth and prosperity, surrounded by magic.”

  “That can’t be a rogue city,” Javid murmured, nodding toward the shore. “They are nothing but pirates.”

  “They weren’t always pirates,” Sambran said, “or so the stories say. The Mairas had a noble meaning of some kind, but it was lost to history. Thank you, boys, for makin’ me come here. Never thought I’d live to see the day.”

  Teron descended the first few rungs of the ladder and faced Glimmer. This is where we part.

  She swam closer and reached up, placing her hand on Teron’s cheek and looking into his eyes. I am your friend, Teron. If you need me again, I will help.

  Thank you. If I need you, I will call for you.

  We will meet again. One day. Good luck and be careful. The Mairas are not like you.

  Thank you for everything, Glimmer. I am your friend too.

  Glimmer reached higher and planted a small kiss on Teron’s cheek. Then, she dove underwater.

  Sighing, Teron looked up to meet the frightened faces of Javid and Sambran. “What?”

  “You do know that monster could kill you in a second?” Javid said.

  “She could,” Teron said. “She wouldn’t.”

  “IT. It is a creature, not a human.”

  Teron faced the curly-haired young man. He was getting tired of Javid’s gloominess and know-it-all attitude. “Shut up. You know nothing about the mermaids. I’m the one who got us here, and without Glimmer, we’d be dead. Now, give me the pendant! You’ve been allowed to wear it, but I have instructions to give it to Shri!”

  Javid scowled at him, his jaw tight, but he removed the pendant and placed it in Teron’s hand. “Shri had better be on this island. If you’ve lied...”