by C. S. Moore
Cole didn’t say anything, he just held her small hand like he would never let go of it again, like if he held it tightly enough she’d become a part of him. In that moment she wanted to be, she wanted to wrap her arms around his shoulders and melt into him, but their moment and the ringing in her ears were interrupted.
“Ah, young love. Nothing can keep it down, not even almost being blown to bits… apparently,” Shiphra said in a musical voice. She stood gazing at them with her large, kind eyes. Her Uleery was perched on her shoulder, gazing at them with the same intensity.
“Sorry,” Amanda said, hoping Shiphra hadn’t seen the many things flashing through her mind while in Cole’s arms.
“No worries, child. I remember being young, no not really…” She barked out a hearty laugh and with a wave of her hand the smoke and dirt cleared away, revealing a deep crater gouged into the earth. The soil had been stained black, as if an oil well had been dug there.
“All that’s left of Elijah,” Shiphra said in a sigh. “I tried to channel his energy back into the earth, but I guess it didn’t want him. Ha!” She laughed again. “Well I’m not leaving this place looking the way it does. It takes more energy to build than to destroy, so why don’t you come over here and help me.”
Amanda joined her immediately, unsure of what she wanted her to do. “Um… What are we building?” she asked.
“A fast-food joint. I could use a burger about now.” Amanda looked at her in surprise. “We aren’t in the business of construction, my dear. We are simply letting our energy into the Earth, allowing the plants to heal themselves and grow. It’s not polite to burn down a mile of forest and run,” Shiphra said with a smile as she picked up her hand. “Now just lend your energy to the earth, let it flow out of your feet into the soil, just like you gave me the energy I needed,” she said closing her eyes.
Amanda shut hers too and tried to drain her energy out through the soles of her shoes. She was surprised to feel the eagerness in the ground’s acceptance of what she had to give. Her knees buckled underneath her, but she stayed on her feet.
“There, that should do it,” Shiphra said. “There is so much life in that soil it would take all of your energy if you let it.”
No kidding, Amanda thought, feeling weak. She opened her eyes, and her jaw fell open. The burnt, destroyed clearing was green and beautiful. Even the enormous crater was covered in luscious red peony blossoms, hiding the black mark Elijah had left. Oriental Cyprus saplings happily stretched toward the sun, and small shoots of bamboo grew out of the cracks created by the shifting ground.
“Well, we should get out of here. Your friend Madgie still needs some medical attention. The rest of the Guard, and maybe even the rest of the Ancients, will likely be here shortly,” Shiphra said as she turned.
“Madgie! Oh my,” Amanda exclaimed before spinning to Cole. “Where is she?”
“Don’t worry. I stashed her in a thicket. She’s hidden and perfectly safe,” Cole assured.
On their way out, they stopped and got Madgie from her hiding place. A flood of relief hit her. She felt guilty for not immediately wondering where she was when the boys showed up without her, but with all that was happening at the time, she tried not to feel too bad. Shiphra told her Madgie’s body just needed some time to rest and lots of fluids to make more blood. Amanda had expected Shiphra to wave her hand and make Madgie conscious, but there were some things even an Ancient couldn’t do.
“Are you ready to see your new home?” Shiphra asked her.
“Who cares if she’s ready? I’m hungry; let’s go already!”
Armaan interjected.
Amanda would have been annoyed at him but couldn’t bring herself to be while he cradled Madgie so sweetly in his arms. “Before we do anything, can I please ask you just one question?” Amanda asked.
“Ask away. I’m sure you’ll be doing nothing but asking questions for the rest of your life, if you’re smart,” Shiphra said, turning toward her.
“Can you help me find Kaedin’s Scar?” she asked, hoping Shiphra knew who Kaedin was. Shiphra didn’t wait long to answer, but to Amanda it felt like a lifetime.
“Yes.”
Frey stood at the edge of a crater, bubbling with rage. He screamed and sent a dark orb ripping through a Guard member’s chest. The skinny boy of fourteen toppled over. Frey’s eyes took in the other members of the Guard, challenging them to say something.
None did.
They’re scared, and more than usual. He’d been angrier since his brother had gone missing. He tried to play it off as nothing, but Armaan, clever and careful as he was, couldn’t completely hide his distaste for the Ancients or the Guard. He knew if his brother was gone it was because he had wanted to run off and join his old friend Cole and the rest of the dissenters.
He looked back into the pit and jumped in. Kicking the flowers aside, he uncovered the black tar that was the remains of Elijah.
Did my brother help them do this? he wondered, full of embarrassment. The Ancients wouldn’t look too happily at the brother of a dissenter.
He took a knee, trying to compose himself, and studied the dark earth. He reached down and slowly ran the tips of his fingers across the thick tar. He turned his blackened fingertips toward him, inspecting the strange sticky matter. It was then that he noticed it. He froze in place, gazing at his hand before movement at the lip of the hole caught his eye.
“Everything okay, boss?” Chet asked nervously.
Frey smiled and picked a large vibrant peony. The rich crimson of the flower reflected off his exposed teeth, staining them an eerie red. He brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply. “Oh, everything is more than okay,” Frey said triumphantly. He stood up, letting the flower fall from his palm, which bore a strange but familiar mark.
