The Phoenix Grail

by Helen Savore

  She traced lines along the crinkles and folds of the stone, looking for a pattern. “Well, I don’t know what's beneath. If you don’t know where he was buried, why not here? It's as good as anywhere else?”

  “The Phoenix is never buried,” Moralynn said. “The ashes of one beget the next.” Moralynn dropped to the ground by the stones. She touched them, putting her ear to stone and earth. “I will sense if there is anything about. Blood shall call to blood.”

  Moralynn examined the earth. Alexandrea caught Adhomai approaching a tree. His chest barely rose as he closed his eyes.

  He spoke to it in a peculiar rhythm.

  “Hear my voice. I am your sibling, tell me your tales.”

  He repeated this, growing louder and louder, until it took on a dissonant melody and his voice sang through the forest. As the echo of his voice resounded, he spoke again, in a higher voice, creating a harmony with himself.

  Alexandrea’s mind filled with a vision.

  She saw the clearing again, and beyond. The stones were curious. Cairns piled in no pattern whatsoever. Mostly she observed trees. Proud oaks, beeches, even some pine in places, especially beside the moor. The visions became smaller but more detailed, focusing on a small area at a time.

  She spotted the golden tree and sensed its pain. Instinctively she tried to reach out and ease it, but she stopped herself short. She saw a spring, encased within worked stone. Dull and still water lurked within. The stones—they were located throughout the forest. She saw through the trees, covered in moss and entwined by ivy, friends with the ferns, but she found the stones.

  Gradually she came out of her trance and stared at Adhomai. The way he echoed back his senses was helpful if a touch unnerving.

  She trembled as she spoke. “Moralynn, have you found anything?”

  “No. Many people have visited, but I cannot catch a whiff of anything fantastic in origin.”

  “There is a lake in that direction,” Adhomai said and pointed. “It may recall more.”

  Moralynn followed his finger. Her voice was flat when she spoke. “Let us go.”

  When they arrived at the waterfront, Alexandrea almost whistled at its picturesque beauty, but she did not wish to ruin the quiet. They were lucky, no one was about then, at least near the shore. The grass was preparing for winter slumber, though the coniferous trees provided a lot of green around the lake edges, interspersed with a mixture of colorful and bare branches. All echoed in the water below, shifting with a subtle ripple.

  If you ignored the stone manor, you could imagine this land might have been the same centuries before, water cleanliness aside. She wished she could continue to stare, but Moralynn put them back through the same paces.

  Moralynn dove in, better able to handle the water breathing while Adhomai communed with the habitat again. Alexandrea tried to relax and not fight the echo from Adhomai’s visions. After many moments they both came out of his trance to Moralynn towering above them.

  “I have found something.”

  “Would you like to know what we’ve learned?” Alexandrea spoke with a hint of rebuke.

  “I heard the trees speak as well, you have nothing of consequence. Come!” She motioned towards the water. “Gather air.”

  Once assured Alexandrea had a large enough bubble, they all dove into the water. Moralynn shot off, leaving Alexandrea in a swirl of disturbed currents. The speed wasn’t the only thing that felt uncomfortable. While she knew she could clean herself quickly, she still had not planned for an underwater foray today.

  They arrived at a strange-looking fissure.

  Moralynn pointed down, but Alexandrea shook her head. They both continued like this, motioning for too many moments. Moralynn grabbed Alexandrea’s air bubble and forcibly threw her into the fissure. The bubble ran against the sharp rocks and burst. Water poured in, forcing her through the rest of the way.

  “Heyyyyyaahhhhhwhat?!” Alexandrea screeched, not just for her entrance, but at the strange sights.

  Wherever they were was reminiscent of an indoor pool facility, except grander. It was tiled all over, and the air was heavy with humidity. On closer inspection, it was obviously so much more.

  The tiles weren’t tiles. They gave off a strange shine in the murky light. The edges met, but there was no uniformity in shape, more a similarity, the squiggle edges looking more like puzzle pieces.

  A yelp interrupted her thoughts. She spun and saw Adhomai crumpled on the floor.

  He caught her eye. “That passage is not pleasant.” He turned and tilted his gaze to Moralynn. “You handled it well, Phoenix Sparked.”

  Moralynn’s eyes and hands searched the wall. “Should I have not?” she said, without giving either of them a glance.

  “Some help would be appreciated.” Adhomai stood and walked to Moralynn.

  She sighed and looked him over. “It is a scratch. One such as you should be able to ignore something that small.”

  Adhomai bowed. “As you say, my Lady.”

  Alexandrea ignored them and focused on the tiles again. They were iridescent, like the insides of abalone. The mosaic covered everything except the water of the pools. Rims surrounded the pools that were oddly spaced throughout on both the ceiling and floor. They were also the only sources of light. Alexandrea could not guess how large this place was; blurs of light trailed off into the distance.

  “Moralynn, where are we?”

  “I think,” she said, her eyes darting around, “we are in a between place, like the Earth Marrow.”

  Adhomai knocked on the rim of a floor pool. “Yes, how could I miss the resemblance? It is positively blistering in here.”

  “Similar, but different. A secret lost, or something grown anew? I wonder,” Alexandrea said as she ran a hand along the hole they’d fallen through. “Amazing consistency. I think it is somewhat organic, not entirely mineral. A complement to Shaping, perhaps?”

  Moralynn stared at the wall. “I have seen nothing of the like before. It is an amalgam; many things brought together in this intriguing form.”

  “Who could have done this?” Alexandrea whispered.

  A low, gravelly voice spoke out. “My name is Viviane.”

  Alexandrea, Moralynn, and Adhomai spun around. A fish demon, covered in molted blue-black scales, stared back with inky black eyes. Hundreds of tiny fins twitched and played along much of her form.

  “Your ancestors called me the Lady of the Lake. You are intruding on my domain.”

  Moralynn ducked, bowing low to this most awesome myrial. She tapped the floor, making the puddled water bounce.

  Alexandrea joined her a moment later.

  “Elf!” Viviane’s arm shot forward with a draped flipper that resembled a cloak, quivering in her obvious anger.

  Moralynn rose to intercept her.

  “No, my Lady Viviane, I mean you no disrespect. This elf is our ally. An ally to Earth, and the humans.” Moralynn was not sure if that would help. She did not think to find Viviane here, or anywhere. She did not know why a fae would upset her, but if only Adhomai was upsetting her, then perhaps she believed humans harmless. Which they essentially were.

  Viviane’s small fins settled, thought the tentacles atop her head continued to gyrate. Even in the watery half-gloom, they winked. Interwoven lines of metallic wire and strands of gems, not just turquoise, covered her hair tentacles. She put her dark eyes on Moralynn.

  “He did not pay proper respect as you did,” she said. “Why does he not speak for himself?”

  Adhomai dropped to a knee and bowed low. “I am in awe of your presence and in wonder of this place.” He lifted his head and his neck tensed. “I am old, but you are still a legend to me. I did not think to find you. I am sorry.”

  Viviane strode to him and bent, taking his face in her hand. “How do I know you will not share what you have seen and will see with those who were your past allies?” She tilted his head higher. “You have the look of one of Oberon’s favored, and I will not condone his intr
usion in my domain.”

  “I promise, my lady, no harm will come to you from Oberon’s hand.”

  Her head tentacles stopped twitching and she let go of his face. “I accept that you will not take action, for now.” She walked a few paces to face Moralynn. As she did, Alexandrea rose. The three explorers now again faced this most interesting fae. “Why interrupt my solitude?”

  Moralynn held herself straight, high and firm. She could not show fear to this fae of old. Respect, yes. Fear no. It would only bring her rejection. Viviane was already ancient during the Golden Age of Arthur, while Moralynn was only a shadow of her former self. A time when Adhomai, too, was much different.

  “We seek the Grail Plate.”

  “It is not here.”

  No one offered another word, and everyone stood still. If it were not for the gentle lapping of water among the pools, there would have been no sound at all.

  “Is that truly all?” Moralynn asked. “You were once the ally of my predecessor, Merlin.”

  Viviane’s membranes nictitated in approximation of a blink. “We had similar goals at that time. His time is past. Why do you seek the Grail Plate here?”

  Alexandrea took a step forward. “We do not know where it is. We were merely exploring.”

  Moralynn’s chest swelled with pride, seeing her protégé speak with this awesome being, even if haltingly.

  She continued. “We are looking in the ancient places. Brocéliande is one of the places associated with Merlin.”

  “Also the location of one of my wells. I am not entirely ignorant of the Earth’s myths, including my own.” She shook her fins, tentacles and flippers flailing in the air. “You thought to find the Grail in a grave?” She took a step away. “I wish you luck, for you shall need it. Please, do not burden my doorstep again.”

  Adhomai grumbled, “Is that how she speaks to—”

  Alexandrea cut him off. “Be quiet, Adhomai.”

  “We were allies once,” Moralynn spoke, pitching her voice against the strangely tiled surface. “Why will you not help us now?”

  Viviane turned, her fins all draping downward, covering her in a dark cape. “I allied with Merlin to help Arthur. Not the Phoenix, not the Druids, and not you. I see in your words that you have no desire for Arthur to return, Phoenix Sparked. Thus, we are not allies.”

  “Arthur is dead,” Moralynn spoke slowly. She did not like Viviane throwing old pains back into her face. He would not return, so should she do nothing because her mortal king was dead? Moralynn dared not look at Adhomai. She hoped he would follow her lead and stay quiet about any forgotten prophecies. “There is nothing more for us to do.”

  “Then you do not trust the words of your predecessor? Why should I honor our past alliance if you do not honor his memory?” She lifted her arms and twirled, her fins following until she was a writhing mass of scintillating scales.

  “When the tamed waters break free,

  When the proud mountains are brought low,

  When the broken makes itself whole,

  When the bright sword reaps,

  And the dark sword weeps,

  When in regalia rejoined,

  Arthur shall return and save humankind.”

  Moralynn wiped a tear from her eye. “You are not so isolated as you claim if you know these things.”

  “It has been over a thousand years. All things can be learned within that time.” She closed her eyes and pointed upward. “Go, now. You will not find that answer here. That is enough.”

  Moralynn, Alexandrea, and Adhomai no longer protested and made preparations to leave. Once Alexandrea and Adhomai had crested the water, Moralynn reached out to Viviane. “This will not be the last time I see you.”

  Viviane bowed a moment, and her tentacles trailed over Moralynn’s face.

  She had faced many strange things, but now she had to force herself not to flinch. The brush of the occasional rough foci was pleasant in comparison.

  Viviane rose. “Do not bring your quest here, and I will not bar your passage.” She gathered her fins around herself and dashed away.

  23

  Jamie sped down the field, dribbling the ball close between his legs, looking for an opening.

  “Rhys!” he yelled, trying to get his attention, but a defensive man swooped onto him. This was getting nowhere fast. He could only move so much while protecting the ball, and he was too far away from the goal.

  Another opponent came to him and made a play for the ball.

  Jamie gyrated, twisting and turning, keeping an outward foot in between his opponent and the ball.

  A cleat struck his leg and hit the fading injury. Jamie grimaced, but held firm. He guessed his opponent expected that leg to give way, so it was time to use it.

  Jamie pushed off and bounded away. Luckily people had gotten open, so he cleared the ball.

  He shook himself to ease some of the nerves and ache out of his system. As he caught up to Bobby, he noticed a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. So Alexandrea had made it.

  Jamie was reluctant to admit he missed her at the start of the game. They had been talking since the incident at the pub last week, albeit over the phone. It was a busy week for both of them, but they made time. It felt right. He wanted her in his life.

  Reaching the crowd near the net, he jumped out in front of an opponent, waving to the boys he was open.

  The little checkered ball rose in the air and he rushed forward to meet it. Jamie caught it on his chest and it fell straight down. Jamie lined up the shot with his good leg, striking the ball a bit underneath and sending it to the upper left corner of the goal. It sailed past the goalie’s jumping grasp.

  Jamie yelled and pumped his arms in celebration. No more reckless jumps and falls. He exchanged a few high fives with the other Mountain Miners as they set up to resume play. He jogged backwards to check out the sidelines.

  Alexandrea was still there and gave him a wave as he caught her eye. He grinned, but before he completed his turn, she winked. He glanced around quickly to see if it was for someone else.

  Who else could it be for?

  When he first met Adam, after deciding he wasn’t a threat to her, he thought maybe they were more than research partners. But she put him in his place, cool as ever. He’d clearly misunderstood.

  “Okay, let’s go, boys!” Rhys yelled as they got in position for the kick off. “Two’s good, but we’re better.”

  All too soon the ball was in play again as the Mountain Miners swept through the Reserves. Jamie had a few other moments of fun, even twisted right past a defensive man to tap it in place for Rhys to wail it over the line. He definitely was aching at the end, but it was a good hurt.

  Alexandrea cornered Jamie as downed water after the game. “Not bad for the big debut.”

  “No, not at all. I would even go as far to say that was pretty good.”

  “Rhys sounds pleased,” she said, looking back towards Jamie’s friends.

  “Yeah,” Jamie said as he dried his hair with a towel. “He wasn’t too happy to lose me so soon after joining the team. I was only just becoming productive.”

  Drea raised a brow. “I highly doubt that.”

  Jamie crossed his arms. “Teams don’t form overnight. The smallest thing can change them.” He stuck a thumb to his chest. “And I’m not that small.”

  Drea smiled. “Jamie, you haven’t changed a bit.”

  Jamie wasn’t sure what to make of that. Was it a good thing or a bad thing? He didn’t want to step over a line if he was misreading her hints. “Well, you know, sometimes people don’t change.”

  She looked at him so candidly it startled him. “But sometimes they do.”

  They both stood in silence.

  “Yeah.” Jamie coughed. Folk were dispersing, but it didn’t feel right to pull away. There was almost something physical between them in the air. “I’m gonna go talk to the guys, see if we’re doing anything post game. Do you want to join in?” He smiled and
offered his hand. “We'll make an athlete out of you yet, Drea. Or at the very least, a fan.”

  She took his hand and tugged. “I thought maybe we could spend a little time together before you run off.” She smiled and blinked at him. “Maybe over there?” She draped an arm over his shoulder to point behind him. “Don’t those trees look nice?”

  He looked back and at her again. There was nothing interesting about the forest line, at least to Jamie. But then Drea certainly knew more about nature than he did. Or maybe the proximity distracted him.

  “We’re at this field most the time, I’m sure we could check out those trees another time,” he said, feeling a bit odd. This could not be right. She would never be this forward, especially when he wanted it now.

  Her fingers curled to stroke his neck. “I’m not sure I can wait till next game.”

  Jamie clamped his mouth shut and closed his eyes. What was she doing to him? He breathed and tried to count to ten to give her a chance to stop.

  He didn’t make it past four. Jamie opened his eyes and took the hand that wasn’t in her grasp and placed it on her opposite shoulder. “Drea… do you really want this?”

  She beamed at him and nodded. “Come on!” She let go and ran away. “Catch me if you can!”

  This was happening.

  He looked around to find someone to tell them he’d be, well, what? Late, at least. Finally, he caught Rhys’s eye and waved towards the woods, pointed to his wrist, and shrugged. That taken care of, he loped after Drea. She’d been on his mind for weeks, now that he cared to admit it. Luckily the game hadn’t taken all of his energy.

  They both dashed, pushing aside branches and dancing round mounds, juts, and exposed roots until Drea stopped in a clearing.

  Jamie nodded. This seemed like a good spot. As he approached, Drea rushed to him, grabbed his head, and brought it down to her.

  “Wait,” he meant to say, still surprised at her boldness.

  Instead all he managed was a long groan. Their lips locked, and their first kiss was electric. Drea’s wordy tongue did crazy things to his.