by DM Fike
“What’s going on, Jalamir?” Desert Rose demanded.
Jalamir fiddled with his spectacles. “I-I’m not sure.”
As if in answer, Bedwyr gave out a loud cry, hands jerking back in shock. He fell off the stool to the ground, gasping for air.
Kay kneeled down at the dryad’s side. “What happened?” he asked as Bedwyr blinked.
Bedwyr got back to his feet. “That is not a boy.”
Before he could explain himself, a strange electric sensation filled the room. Hairs on Avalon’s neck rose, a sizzling crack building in her gut. Kay must have felt it too because he raised one palm toward the still unconscious boy a split second before lightning cracked in front of them. Instead of blinding the room, Kay absorbed it with his hand, causing him to stumble backward against Colin’s bedside.
Everyone took a step backward as the blue-purple arcs of electricity formed around the boy like a Tesla coil. Nobody snorted himself awake, screeching as he tried to gather his bearings inside the chaotic room. The boy stirred, propping himself up on one hand, hair hiding his face. Desert Rose put herself at the forefront of the crowd, her sword drawn, ready to attack.
“State your name and intentions!” she yelled. “Or be struck down!”
A second lightning flash jolted the room, this one covering the boy in a bright light. In the harsh aftermath, the boy was no more, replaced instead by an elderly woman, her Aossi ears long and slender underneath a mop of curly white hair. She pulled the bedsheet over her torso in modesty, although bits of her sinewy thigh lay exposed. She shrank back from Desert Rose’s sword.
Kay recognized her first, trembling. “The Lightning Titan?”
CHAPTER 37
EVERYONE IN THE room had a different reaction. Sparks flew off the Lightning Titan as she stared around the room. Desert Rose took this as a threat, drawing her sword closer. Kay gaped like a fish, a few guttural sounds of uncertainty forming in his throat. Gonait knocked over a bowl of oil in her bid to skitter across the room. Isolde shot off questions to absolutely no one, mouth working faster than her brain. Bedwyr slowly rose to his feet, absorbing the scene. Jalamir plopped down on an empty stool, eyes glassy, clearly in shock. And behind it all was Nobody, cursing up a storm as he tried to figure out what was going on, Vimp squealing in his arms.
Desert Rose took a step forward toward the Lightning Titan. “What is your business here?”
Avalon stood still as a deer at first, reeling from the transformation. Desert Rose’s voice broke through her awe, and she moved forward, ostensibly to support Kay. Her movement caught the Lightning Titan’s attention, who jerked her head upward in recognition. In a lightning flash, she teleported herself in an ear-deafening crash across the room to stand beside Avalon, bedsheet clutched in front of her, barely keeping her body covered.
Desert Rose redirected her sword, but Avalon shooed her. “Lay off.”
The pale knight glared at her. “We don’t know if she’s friend or foe.”
“Friend,” Avalon shot back. “She saved us both in Jentry.”
“I don’t remember this,” the pale knight said.
Avalon’s face flushed. “That’s because you were too knocked out to notice.”
“And don’t forget everything else she’s done!” Isolde interjected, words spilling out of her in a torrent. “Saving us at Kryvalen’s Island and voting for sanctions at the Gathering and the fact that she’s Colin’s mother and Kay’s grandmother. I mean parent. Grandparent. Ancestor…”
Isolde would have continued to ramble if Desert Rose hadn’t cut her off. “We need to hear it from her.”
“She doesn’t speak, remember?” Avalon corrected. Then, turning gently to the frightened Lightning Titan, she said, “You’re protecting me, aren’t you? That’s always been your intent.”
The Lightning Titan nodded vigorously.
“You’re a Child of the Statue!” Isolde exclaimed. “The Titans have a connection to Gaea, like the Child. In the past, Titans have passed on vital knowledge to the Child, sometimes even becoming their teachers for a particular element.”
“That’s all really fascinating, Isolde,” Avalon said, “but the Lightning Titan is naked. Do we have any extra clothes?”
Bedwyr retrieved a spare tunic and leggings that the guards had brought earlier. The leggings were much too baggy to be of any use, but Avalon helped pull the tunic over the Lightning Titan and tightened it with a rope-like belt. During her dressing, Kay remained in a stupor, sitting in a little ball next to his comatose father, staring into nothing. Everyone else seemed to accept the situation. Gonait and Jalamir cleaned up the oily mess while Bedwyr returned a few stools back to their upright positions. Isolde kept her utterances to a minimum and under her breath. Desert Rose sheathed her sword. Nobody stopped screaming, deciding all must be well, and propped himself back up against the wall.
It was only when Jalamir led the Lightning Titan back to her bed that the old woman saw Colin’s stiff body. Her mouth opened in a silent scream and, with agility that did not match her age, she dashed over to his bedside. A sound between a grunt and a strain caught in her throat, worse than any wail, and tears streamed down her wrinkled face.
Avalon came softly beside her. “I’m sorry. Your son’s soul has been taken by the Child of the Statue.”
Kay snorted derisively, pulling himself up to his feet.
Avalon watched in disbelief as he crossed the room toward the split in the curtains. “You think this is funny?”
“I think you calling her a ‘mother’ is a joke,” he snapped before exiting.
Desert Rose gave Avalon a smug look before following her fellow knight out.
Avalon’s face reddened. She knew that Kay and his father had a complicated relationship with the Lightning Titan, but she stayed by the Lightning Titan’s side, attempting to console her. She tried general sympathy, physical comfort, and even murmuring facts, although it was unclear whether the Lightning Titan heard her at all. The others watched on in somber silence, save the muted whispers of Desert Rose and Kay talking behind the curtain, indicating they had not gone far.
Eventually the Lightning Titan’s tears dried up, but she refused to leave Colin’s side. Gonait pulled over a more comfortable chair for her to sit on as Jalamir announced he needed peace and quiet for his patients. He shooed Avalon, Bedwyr, Isolde, and a sleepy Nobody out of the stage area.
Kay and Desert Rose stood very close to each other on the opposite side of the room, speaking to each other in hushed tones. Avalon hated the surge of jealousy she felt at seeing them together, so she hung behind, letting Isolde bounce up to them and ask, “What do we do now?”
Desert Rose took a few steps back from Kay. “We rest. I’ll show you where.”
Instead of taking them to the Wind Tower, where Avalon had always stayed before, Desert Rose led them back out into the main hallway and approached a very large staircase leading up into the higher floors of the Earth Tower. “The castle is filled to the brim. As much as I don’t like it, the only room that’s left is the guest section of Lord Emerson’s own quarters.”
They climbed for several stories, Nobody complaining about his sore body at the rear of the pack. Avalon would have told him to stop whining if she hadn’t felt the same way. The exertion of the day finally caught up to her. She might collapse at any moment. She was grateful when Desert Rose finally pulled them onto one of the landings.
Before opening a set of imposing doors painted in Emerged Falls’s distinctive pale blue and green colors, Desert Rose said, “You will not steal anything. You will touch the bare minimum of objects inside these quarters. If I find you have misused anything inside”—she focused specifically on Nobody—“I will personally take it out of your hide. Do I make myself clear?”
Everyone nodded except Nobody, who said with a smile, “Icy cold clear!”
Desert Rose paused to give the gremlin one last withering glance before throwing the door open.
Shivan
t’s private guest quarters were luxurious. It split into two rooms, a front room with a marble fireplace with a pair of pale green and blue couches. A gold-trimmed table with toiletries gleamed below an ornate oval mirror. Desert Rose insisted they take off their shoes before stepping onto the white fur rug, even Isolde’s pristine boots. Nobody lingered near the doorway, fiddling with the laces of Avalon’s sneakers until Desert Rose told him to knock it off.
“Bedwyr and Nobody will sleep on the couches in the front room,” Desert Rose said. “Don’t get them more soiled than necessary.”
Bedwyr sat gingerly down on the green couch while Nobody plopped backward on the blue one. “Sure. Just the right amount of soiled.” He was snoring before a disgruntled Desert Rose could lead the rest of them into the bedroom.
The second room had a high tray ceiling with a swirling ribbon pattern etched in plaster. A beautiful white bedroom set with end tables, chest of drawers, wardrobe, and four poster bed with sheer canopy dominated the room. A second fireplace housed a set of five brightly colored figurines on the mantle, an Aossi representing each magical element. A daybed rested along the far wall. But the thing that caught Avalon’s breath was the large portrait of herself, dressed in a gorgeous emerald green dress, staring down at them opposite the bed. Her likeness was easily twice as large as her actual size.
“That’s Braellia,” Desert Rose said as she gawked. “Made well before we even knew you were a thing.”
Avalon looked away, embarrassed. “I knew that,” she lied.
Desert Rose pointed toward the fluffy king-sized bed. “Avalon and Isolde will sleep here, while Kay and I will take turns on this.” She pointed to the daybed.
Isolde raised her hands in protest. “I planned on doing more research in the library.”
Desert Rose would have none of it. “We all need to take this opportunity to rest. We don’t know how long we have until the next strike.”
Avalon sat on the bed, thankful to feel its softness underneath her. “What do you mean, take turns?”
“You think I trust those two?” She gestured to the front room with Bedwyr and Nobody. “I barely trust both of you as it is. I suggest you keep your behavior above board.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Avalon gave her a mock salute.
“Please, Avalon,” Kay said softly. “Desert Rose is merely trying to help.”
Avalon’s face flushed, but she said nothing.
“I’ll take the first watch,” the fairy told Desert Rose.
Desert Rose nodded. “I’m going to see if I can get all the statue pieces forged together into one chunk, then I’ll return. Wake me in a few hours.”
Kay shut the bedroom door after he and Desert Rose exited, thankfully cutting off Nobody’s snoring. Isolde and Avalon evenly split the bed. As Avalon huddled under the covers, her mind felt so full of conflicting emotions that she didn’t know if she could sleep. The bright afternoon sun didn’t help matters. Her overtaxed body, however, quickly overruled all fear and apprehension as she fell asleep.
CHAPTER 38
AVALON WOKE WITH a mild headache but, other than that, quite refreshed. Muted light entered through the room’s two white-framed windows, indicating the sun on the horizon. It must have been late evening. She sat up, surprised to find not only Isolde already out of bed, but Kay lying prone on the daybed. Belt removed, he had one hand draped over the side, hovering over his sword on the floor. His face was relaxed in sleep.
Although Avalon could hear muffled voices in the neighboring room, she couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed. Instead, she lay back down on the pillow, watching Kay’s chest rise and fall. It had been so long since either of them had experienced a peaceful moment. She wished it could last, that they could find something akin to a normal life after everything with Scawale came to a close.
And what would be normal after all this? Avalon wondered. She supposed she could go back to Earth, but what did she have there? A police warrant and two dead parents? Besides, she had her promise to Bedwyr. Despite everything he had done to her, she couldn’t fault him for trying to help the dryads. She would gladly do what she could to bring them back to life, to right at least some of the wrongs that had been made in the past.
Kay stirred in his sleep. A deep sadness clouded over her as she thought of him, a Covert K knight of Emerged Falls. Duty would not let him join her. If they managed to rouse the Guardians, Avalon could never stay here and let them decide her fate. And even if they were gone for good, Kay would want to help rebuild Emerged Falls. One way or the other, finishing up business with Scawale meant parting ways with him.
“Avalon,” a soft voice broke through her reverie, “is something the matter?”
Her pulse quickened as Kay’s gray eyes pierced her own. He must have woken up while she was lost in thought. “I’m fine.”
Kay threw his legs over the side of the daybed, his wings unraveling behind him. “I am glad I convinced Desert Rose to give you a full night’s rest. You deserved it.”
“Full night?” Avalon repeated. “Isn’t it evening?”
“It’s morning. You barely stirred for hours.”
That explained her lack of grogginess. “How about you? Did you get enough sleep?”
Kay readjusted his belt back over his tunic. “Aye, I did. And now we have a full discussion ahead regarding this crazy scheme.” He opened the door to the front room.
Everyone else was already awake. Bedwyr and Isolde sat on one couch, making small talk with each other. Someone had pushed aside the toiletries on the table to make room for two trays with food, which Nobody and Vimp eagerly devoured. Desert Rose leaned against a wall, watching both of them with contempt.
Isolde waved at Avalon. “Good morning.”
Nobody swallowed something large, wincing as it went down. “’Bout time you woke up. I was about to teleport out of here.”
“You would do no such thing,” Desert Rose warned. “Not without severe retribution.”
Nobody wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Only if you could catch me.”
Bedwyr gave Avalon a thorough glance from head-to-foot. “You look amazingly well, Avalon. How are your magic stores?”
Avalon focused in on herself. Pushing past the mostly annoying headache, she went through all the different sensations: sizzling lightning, swirling wind, crackling fire, stinging ice, heavy earth, aching light, and endless void. “All accounted for.”
Bedwyr nodded. “Make sure to eat too.”
As Kay took a spot on the second couch, Avalon selected a few choice fruit bits from Nobody and Vimp’s leftovers. As she sat down next to Kay, Desert Rose said, “Don’t get any juice on the cushions.”
Avalon nodded curtly, biting back any sarcastic comments for harmony’s sake.
Desert Rose took that as her cue to begin. “Now that we are all gathered here, we should discuss general strategy for the upcoming battle.”
An hour-long discussion ensued about how to deal with Scawale. Since they had no idea how to find her, they would have to wait until she came to Emerged Falls. Desert Rose and Kay discussed various ways of dealing with Scawale when she returned, likely with another set of five elemental dragons like before. They poured over how different Covert K knights and guards could stave off each type of dragon. With earth, wind, fire, ice, and even dark magic casters at their disposal, Kay and Desert Rose seemed confident that a mixture of physical and magical abilities would get the job done. It would simply take different abilities matched with the weaknesses of each elemental dragon, like a giant game of rock, paper, scissors. Even Bedwyr and Isolde got into the mix, discussing how the earth wielders could ground the lightning dragon or the wind dragon could fall prey to ice attacks.
As the debates got more detailed, Avalon realized they were missing a crucial element in their war chest. “What about lightning?”
“Marcus will be with us,” Desert Rose spoke slowly, as if explaining to a child, “so he will be unable to confront the dragons. We h
ave no other lightning wielders besides you two at our disposal.”
“Not the Lightning Titan?” Avalon asked.
Kay stiffened. “Nay.”
“Why not? I thought we wanted the Titans to fight with us?”
“Because she’s unstable,” he insisted.
“She’s saved us multiple times,” Avalon persisted to a glowering Kay. “She has experience with dragons on Kryvalen’s Island. It seems like a lost opportunity.”
“She abandoned my father as an infant,” Kay snapped. “How do you trust someone like that?”
The room went silent, save for Nobody’s giggling which Desert Rose cut off with a death gaze. Isolde finally said, “Changelings are solitary beings. They tend to keep to themselves.”
Kay set his jaw. “Tell that to my dad, who always yearned for a bit of his mother’s affection but never got it.”
“Wait a sec there,” Avalon said. “Colin told me at the Gathering Ball that the Lightning Titan saved him twice when his life was in peril. He didn’t have this animosity toward her.”
Kay slumped back down on the couch. “Maybe he didn’t, but I do. She always comes and goes as she pleases and has no ability to communicate her intentions.”
“Agreed,” Desert Rose backed up Kay. “She’s too much of an unknown factor. We cannot rely on her to work with us.”
Avalon did not press the issue. Not only would it not change their minds, her headache had intensified, and she didn’t feel like making it worse. Instead, she redirected some of her light magic up into her frontal lobes, which brought the pain back to a manageable level.
With the basics out of the way, the conversation outlined the specifics: their individual roles in confronting Scawale and binding Braellia back to the statue. Avalon gave a brief description of how the original Guardians had fired up their elemental magic together to create eternal flame like the one at Gaea’s temple. They assumed Kay, Desert Rose, and Isolde would have to do the same. Nobody would act as a defense against anything Scawale might throw at them. The end result of transferring Braellia back to the statue would hopefully release her soul from Kryvalen’s corruption and allow her to pass on peacefully.
