The Not-So-Great-Escape
âWhatâre ya DOING, kid??!â he yelled. âMOVE YER BUTT!!â Alhannah shoved me forward, just as the scouts crossed the dragonâs path.
When the Gem awakens to call a Hero, the world is ill prepared...and its fate is placed in the hands of a 17 year old boy, named Wendell.Â
Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may.Â
After all...I can't fix stupid.
Previously: Wendell meets the girl of his dreamsâŚand then defends her in a bar fight. When it doesnât go as planned, Wendell is rescued by a cute female gnome with pigtails.
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I donât believe most parents realize that nerds (a.k.a. their unprotected offspring) are hunted for sport in school. Tormented and tortured once responsible adults (those would be teachers in some situations) were out of earshot. There were shop teachers in my school who used to make bets on how long before I was knocked to the ground, or ran for help.
Seriously, itâs a thing.
I learned a valuable lesson as a nerd, being picked on by the more aggressive teens of the school. When youâre on the run, you donât have to be the fastest.
âŚjust faster than the last guy.
This, however, wasnât high school.
The popping noises resounded through my head as the bones of my jaw and neck realigned.
UNGH!
Each pop brought a sigh of relief. The pounding throb in my head subsided, and my vision finally came into focus. Dax hastily pulled me through the front door of the Roadkill Tavern, Alhannah, and the wizard close at our heels.
âWhy are we running?â I asked, pulling from Daxâs grip. I glanced back at the wizard, who wore a frantic expression. âWhatâs going on?â
âRight,â Chuck sighed, âmicrowave version.â He ushered me forward, guiding us between buildings. He looked left and right, over his shoulder and even up at the cave ceiling. âI brushed you aside to hide your identity from Istul,â he started rapidly. âIâm sorry, my boy. Truly. Thuleâs not here, but his henchmen are.â
I picked up my pace, following Chuck without having to be prompted.
âThose vallen soldiers â scouts, sitting in the tavern, saw what you just did â then left without a word. That doesnât bode well for us.â He flipped around suddenly and shook me by my shoulders. âEven though Iâm SO proud of what I saw back there!â He quickly looked me up and down. âAny open wounds, missing fingers or toes?â
âIâm goodâŚâ I started, trying to put the pieces together.
âYa got yerself noticed,â grumbled Dax. Peeking around a corner, he waved us forward.
ââŚand that means?â I asked.
âWere screwed.â Dax threw himself against a wall, each of us following his example. âIf weâre lucky,â he whispered, âwe can get out of here before they catch us and weâll deny it ever happened.â
âRight,â I sighed. We came here for clothes and some books â we got those â time to leave. I was good with that. Then it hit me. âWhat happened to the girl?â I said. "I didnât see her in all the commotion."
âSorry, son,â Chuck frowned, âshe ran as soon as her feet hit the floor.â
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
"She MISSED it?" I choked. "I nearly get KILLED, and she MISSED it!?"
A large, crinkly old hand slapped firmly over my mouth.
"SHH!" Chuck hissed.
Right. Of course not. THE most beautiful girl in the world had crossed my path, a girl shown to me in an actual dream, and I was willing to be mangled to protect her. Why would she see the sacrifice? What was I thinking? Even the smiley face rolled its eyes, giving a muted sigh. But that wasnât the most important question in my mind.
Who was she?
There had to be some way of finding out her name. To find out who she was.
Alhannah kept pace, guarding our backs. âQuestion,â she said, just a bit too loud.Â
Dax skidded to a halt, looking back in a near panic. âWhat?â
She jabbed a thumb in my direction. âWhoâs the kid?â
Kid? A china doll with sushi knives is calling me a kid? The smiley face laughed.
âIâm sorry, my dear,â said Chuck, ruffled. âAlhannah Luckyfeller, Wendell DipmierâŚWendell, Alhannah. Right, we good now? Come on!â
Dax stopped behind a wall as Sentry passed by. âHeâs the Gnolaum, âHannah.âÂ
She shook her head, red pig-tails bouncing like sheâd been slapped. âIâm sorry â run that by me again? Heâs the Gnolaum,âŚas inâŚ?â Looking me up and down, she stifled a laugh.Â
âSort of,â Chuck whispered.
âThatâs like kinda-pregnant. He isâŚor heâs not.â
âHe is,â replied Chuck and Dax simultaneously.
âYou two been sniffing book adhesive?â
The wizardâs brows rolled forward disapprovingly, and the gnome gulped.
âSorry,â she apologized. âYouâre serious?â
Dax looked at Alhannah and scowled. âDeadly.â
She took a few moments to look me up and down more closely, doing a double take when the smiley face winked at her. The whole thing made me a tad nervous. Her father knew who I was. Now both of my guardians had revealed something to this miniature girl. What was a âgnolaumâ?
On the other hand, no one actually knew who I wasâŚas in being the wrong guy for this job. As far as anyone was concerned, there was a glitch in their understanding of how to use the gem. I remained the chosen one, and we were all working together to figure out how to get me the powers to defeat evil. Since I wasnât raised here, it was natural for me to lack all understanding. Which was convenient, because, well,âŚI lacked all understanding. Iâd have to be taught, which gave me time to adjust to my deception.
Done with her inspection of me, her eyebrows crinkled. âWell, thatâs disappointing.â
I gasped and opened his mouth to retort, but was shoved into an alleyway. Another set of Sentry quickly jogged towards the Tavern â led by Lucian.
Chuck pulled off his hat and dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief. âThat man is just aching to find a reason to put our heads on the chopping block!â
The crowds were thickening the closer we got to the exit. Dax kept us in the shadows as much as possible, but weâd run out of buildings to hide behind. It was all open area from this point forward. The Exchange and its holding pens were all that stood between the partyâŚand freedom.
I fidgeted.
âWeâre gonna get caught, Chuck,â Dax whispered. âLet me port us out of here. We donât need the blasted key.â
âNo!â Chuck snapped. âYou have to be strong enough to get us to Humär. Time is of the essence, my boy.â He smiled reassuringly, âWeâre almost there. We can do this.â He winked at me and Alhannah. âReady?â
We nodded.
We waited for a large group to pass, then, slipping around the corner, blended in. We walked casually, with the patrons leaving the market. The chatter was loud and energetic. Women gabbed and compared fabrics and jewelry theyâd purchased. Chuck fell in behind their downtrodden and utterly broke male counterparts.Â
Dax stopped abruptly, nearly tripping us. âFairy-farts!â he whispered, pointing ahead.âThey know!â
Sure enough, standing on either side of the exit wall, two vallen scouts stood erect, watching the paths and the flow of patrons leaving the Black Market. Dax started shoving me and Chuck in the opposite direction when one of them took notice. Both giants pushed off the wall without a word, walking briskly towards us.
âMove it!â hissed Alhannah. Flipping the straps off her swords, she backed down the path, ready to fight.
âPlan B!â piped Chuck. With one swift motion, he hiked up the folds of his robe, pulling it to his kneesâŚand took off sprinting like a madman.
âWhat the..?!?â squeaked Dax, shoving me after him.
âTheyâre not running after us!â I huffed, looking over my shoulder.
Chuck made an abrupt left turn. âThatâs why!â he yelled, pointing ahead. Two more scouts appeared along a higher pathâŚand those were running! Patrons were shoved aside as they barreled towards us.
âWoOOOah!â I squawked, pouring on the speed. Within moments, Iâd pulled ahead, leaving Dax and Alhannah behind. âWhere are you going!?â I shouted after the wizard, who was trying hard not to trip on his robe.
âWorking on it,â Chuck called back, ââŚworking on it!â His sandals flapped loudly against the path as he hurdled a cart effortlessly like an olympian. He instantly smiled to himself. âThatâs a nice breezeâŚhave to do this more often!â
Through the market, we dashed and weaved. Dax and Alhannah played interference, knocking over displays and yanking down awnings to cover their tracks.
âLooks like weâll need to vanish for another six months,â she said with a giddy laugh.
Dax guffawed, knocking over an entire cart of baked goods. âI say we make it a year!â
Bolting through an alley, Chuck led us into what looked like the animal district. Hundreds of colorful birds in cages, and various small pets sat locked in cages, creating their own alleyways between them. Chuck and I slid behind a wall, out of view, to catch our breath. The old man Iâd had seen earlier with the yellow dragon was still there, now playing a flute, seated on a stool. Children sat, watching in awe as the beautiful beast swayed to the rhythm of the music. I dashed past them.
Dax and Alhannah slid around the corner, leaping over displays and knocking over several vendor carts. They charged down the street, the enemy in hot pursuit. Alhannah looked visually tired in her metal armor, and Dax had a firm grip on his shorts.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Theyâre going to get caught.
My heart pounding in fear.
A loud hiss arose above the music. The dragonâs head bobbed up and down to the movements of the vallen as they came into sight. When one roared, the lizard hissed, baring its teeth. The old man played on, ignoring the irritation of the chained beast.
I know you can hear me; I thought to myself.Â
The dragon stopped bobbing its head and looked directly at me. Upon eye contact, I stumbled backward, gaspingâŚsuffocating. My breathing became shallow, but I concentrated, looking for that connection Iâd felt earlier.
âIâm sorry I canât free you.â Again, the uncontrollable yearning to escape rose inside me. A longing to see the light of day, to feel the wind under the wings I didnât have. The urges were so powerful, I thought my heart might break.
âI need your help,â I said inside.
The round, emerald eyes stared right through me, unblinking.
âPlease,â I begged, âmy friends are in danger.â I let my worry and fear saturate those words. The dragonâs golden head tilted slightlyâŚand then nodded. I broke the connection as Alhannah stumbled and Dax had to knock over an armor rack to buy her time. He threw several shields at their pursuers. I pointed at the giants. âCan you stop them, even for a moment, to give us time?â
There was a long pauseâŚthen another nod.
âThank you.â I smiled silently. âIâll come back!â I turned and ran after the wizard, just as Dax caught up with me.
âWhatâre ya DOING, kid??!â he yelled. âMOVE YER BUTT!!â
Alhannah shoved me forward, just as the scouts crossed the dragonâs path.
Bearing her needle teeth, the lizard reared upon the shoulders of her master, spreading her mighty wings and producing an ear-piercing shriek.
Children, screaming, fled for their lives.
The giants fell back when her tail whipped forward and sliced through one of their cheeks from chin to ear.
The merchant cursed, forced to release the chain to free himself. He fled the street, wounds covering his torso.
Glimmering in the waning light of the cave, the dragon opened her mouthâŚand blew.
I saw the flash of green flame engulfed the scouts and set shop awnings ablaze as I rounded the corner. The smell of burning flesh quickly filled the cavern air, green light flaring over the rooftops.
âThank you!â I shouted in his mind, hoping the dragon would be able to hear me.
Chuck was immediately stalled, trying desperately to push through a sea of drunk gnomes. The crowd was chittering about gears, micro-processors and whether a barmaidâs girdle would make an effective hammock. They cheered as I ran up the path. Small hands patted me on arms and legs, congratulating me on a battle well fought against the reallybiguglyoneswithnastysharpteeth.
The wizard motioned frantically, finally resorting to tripping the little men with his staff to get them out of his way. Their tiny bodies rolled down and street, while others took odds on which ones would throw up first.
âCome on!â Chuck shouted above the cheering, âWeâre not clear yet!!â
A left, a right, another left, and they all skidded to a halt.
It was a dead end.
An alley with three doors.
Chuck quickly tried all three.
Locked.
âWhat are you DOING?!?â shouted Dax. âTheyâre right behind us!â
âYou and Alhannah cover the entrance,â he babbled, not looking back. âGive me just a second.â Then, yanking his hat from his head, Chuck plunged his arm in up to his shoulder.
Yanking out the leather bag he was carrying earlier, he tossed it at me. âDonât lose that,â he snapped. âSchoolwork.â
âHurry up!â warned Dax. âThe other two found their buddies.â His ears twitched. âI can hear patrons screamingâŚhere they come!â
There was a jingling noise in the hat, followed by a squeak and then shattering glass. Chuck pulled his arm out, shaking a soaked hand. He gazed inside, heartbroken. âAw, that snow globe was a collectorâs item.â
âCHUCK!â
âRight! Focus!!â Rummaging again, he pulled out an enormous set of keys. âAh-HAH!â he cried triumphantly. The ring was at least six inches in diameter, with dozens of odd-looking keys attached. Flipping his hat back onto his head, Chuck pointed to each of the doors methodically. âEeenie, meenie, minâŚâ
âCHUCK!!â screamed Dax.
âOh alRIGHT!!â he bellowed back. He looked at me, frustrated. âHeâs so impatient.â
âHeard that!â
Chuck mockingly imitated Dax in silence, selecting a door. âOf course you can hear meâŚyou have radar dishes for ears.â With deft precision, he flipped through the keys and tried each one in the door. On the seventh try, I heard a âclickâ.
Chuck shouted. âEverybody in!â
Without warning, two vallen slammed into the opening, both fighting to get at the prey first. Dax shoved Alhannah down the alley. Momentarily wedged, the scouts roared, swords clanging and scraping against the sides of the buildings.
Dax and Alhannah jumped through the door, yanking me with them, with Chuck bringing up the rear. The door slammed shut behind us.
I tumbled forward through darknessâŚand onto carpet, face first. A broom and mop fell forward, clunking me on the head with a double beat. Both Alhannah and Dax hopped over my prone body and landed lithely in front of me.
âGood moves, squirt,â grinned Dax, giving the gnome a high-five.
âThank-YOU,â she bowed in return. âI learned from the best.â
With a bang, a clatter and finally a âMahanâs Pink Panties!â, Chuck stumbled backwards, out of the closet, hat over his eyes.
âIâm hit!â he cried. âBlast those sniper wizards â Iâve been blinded!!â Tripping over my legs, Chuck landed on the carpet beside me. He pulled his hat up over his eyes and looked around.
âDid we make it?â he asked.
âHow? Where?âŚwhat?â I squinted, blinking incessantly.
The wizard shook his head, concerned. âPoor boy â must have hit your nogginâ too hard.â He leaned over and patted me tenderly on the head. âWeâll get that speech impediment looked at right away.â
I snorted in disbelief. Pictures lined the walls. A black grand piano sat in the bay window. Comfortable leather furniture filled the center of the room, facing the big screen TV. Weâd fallen into the bright light of Chuckâs living room. I could still smell hints of the meal Chuck had cooked before weâd left.
I stumbled up onto my feet. âBut how did weâŚ?â
Grabbing the door of the closet, I swung it wide open. The knob banged against the wall. Cleaning supplies, a coat rack, a few small boxes and several pairs of shoes, boots and sandals littered the floor. I stepped in and ran my hands over the surface of the interior walls. No portal, no open tunnel to the Black Market â nothing. It didnât make any sense.
âHow in the world did you do that?â I asked, bewildered. I reached down and helped Chuck struggle to his feet. The wizard tugged and yanked at his twisted robe. âWe didnât have a port key." I said. "You said we needed a key?â
Chuck grinned. âSome of us have a key or two of our own.â He held up the loop of keys and rattled them with a cheesy smirk. âGot mine, right here.â He frowned at me and slapped me on the shoulder. âOh, donât burn your last brain cell over it, son, itâs the simple mathematical calculations of the time-space continuum, angular displacement and whether you left the toaster plugged in and the percolator going at the same time." He bobbed his head to the side, glancing at the kitchen. "I wonder if thereâs any sausage left?â
âThe mathematicalâŚhuh?â My face contorted in utter confusion.
Chuck whistled and laughed out loud. âDidnât I tell you the Black Market would be exciting and educational!? WeeHAW!â He gave a youthful wiggle of his hips and then winked. âSO much fun! Good food, good clothes, cute cannibalistic chicks, fist fights with giantsâŚthen a narrow escape through the use of misdirection, blinding speed, and the proper application of rolling gnomes.â
âHey!â grunted Alhannah.
âPresent company excluded, of course, my dear.â He strutted across the floor, looking overly pleased with himself. âIâd say that was a successful trip!â
âAnd the help of a dragon,â I added.
Dax, Alhannah and the wizard all looked at him curiously.
âSorry?â asked Chuck.
âWe also had the help of a dragon to get away. You know â the one we stopped to look at when we first arrived? I talked to it.â
âYouâŚtalked to it?â repeated the wizard. His eyebrows crumpled together.
Why doesnât anyone listen? âYes, I talked to it,â then I reconsidered. âActually, I was thinking about it and it seemed to hear my thought. ItâŚresponded to what I said.â
Dax rolled his eyes. âSure it did,â he grunted.
Chuck and Alhannah seemed dumbfounded, while Dax plopped down into a recliner, completely uninterested.
âSo when I passed,â I continued, âI asked it to help Dax and Alhannah.â I grinned widely. I couldnât help myself. It was so cool, to talk with a dragon, AND I helped my companions from a terrible situation. I knew it had happened, even if no one believed me.
Chuck sat down on the arm of Daxâs chair. âWhat did you ask it to do?â The smile was gone.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âJustâŚtell me what you asked the creature to do, son.â
I hesitated. âIâŚasked it to stop the vallen so we could get away.â
âOh-ho-ho,â Dax scoffed. âNice one, genius.â
âDax!â snapped Chuck. Dax closed his mouth with a scowl. Alhannahâs cold features softened.
âI want to go back,â I continued, âAs soon as possible. It was so sad. It wants to be free, Chuck. It longed to be free. So I thought we could take it into the woods, or wherever its kind lives. Let it go into the wild.â My heart ached at the thought. âI know thatâs risky, but has to be better in the wild than in chains, right?â
âI donât think thatâs going to be possible, son.â
âSure it is," I said. "We just wait a few days and go back. Thuleâs men wonât wait that long, would they? You can use one of those key things and we can sneak in from the closet.â
Chuck shook his head. âThis has nothing to do with vallen or market security.â
âThen what?â I said. âI donât care how much she costs, Chuck. If I have it, Iâll pay for it. Then we can take her somewhere nice and set her free.â
Chuck watched me, waited for me to finish, then exhaled. âThe laws concerning livestock are absolute in the market.â
My gut wrenched. I slid down onto the end of the couch. âWhat does that mean? Are they going to hurt it?â
The wizard frowned. âIâm sorry. Beasts that harm any patron, even a vallen, are destroyed.â
âDestroyed!?â I stared back in horror. âAs in killing it?â I blinked numbly. âYouâre kidding, right?â
âIâm afraid not.â
The smiley turned a putrid green.
I killed it. I killed a beautiful, enchanting, real life dragonâŚâI killed her,â I whispered out loud. âWe can go back,â I said louder. âRight now. It wasnât her fault â I asked her to help! That has to make a difference, right?â I looked at each of them for support. âI can pay for damages. There has to be enough in this pouch to cover damages. Iâll pay more, whatever it takes. I can DO that!â
Only Chuck would look me in the face. âIâm sorry, son.â
The heavy realization of the truth hit me. Of meeting a real life dragon â an intelligent creature â and Iâd sentenced it to death. It was all I could do to not throw up.
"Way to go, Wendell," muttered Doubt. "You screwed upâŚagain."Â
I sunk down at the end of the sofa.
âYou got yerself another problem now, Chuck. Add the dragon killer over there.â
I flinched at the jeer.
âLeave the boy alone, monkey,â replied Chuck. âI got us back, safe and sound. All we have to do is sit back and wait for the Council.âÂ
I pulled my knees into my chest, wrapping my arms around them.
Dax nodded towards Alhannah. She sat quietly at the opposite end of the couch, picking at her nails with a dagger. âThen explain why ya brought back a gnomeâŚinto Sanctuary.â
âWhatâs wrong with me being here?â Alhannah asked.
Chuck waved a hand at her. âAlhannahâs not technically IN Sanctuary, now is she? Sheâs in my home." He looked at me and gave a polite nod. "Our home. No one can tell us who we can and cannot invite into our own home!â He sank down between me and the gnome, then reached over and squeezed Alhannahâs hand, reassuringly. âSo good to see you, by the way, my dear.â
Snatching the wide-brimmed hat from his head, Chuck flung it across the room. It sailed casually through the air, then hovered, like a feather suspended upon the windâŚand landed on a peg by the front door. âBesides, now that sheâs my employee, sheâs required to stay near the boy, wherever he goes.â
Both Alhannah and I sat forward. âExcuse me?â we said in stereo.
âWhat do ya mean, employee?â asked Dax.
âBodyguard, of course.â Chuck smirked as he collected his massive beard and pulled it up onto his lap. âWell, and trainer.â
I looked at Alhannah, confused. She looked as confused as I was.
âOh please,â Chuck huffed, looking between us. âAm I the only one thinking ahead?â Pointing to Alhannah, âYou obviously need a job or you wouldnât have been visiting your father. No, donât deny it â he normally comes to see you. Besides, you canât go back to the Market for a while after our little escapade, so why not make some coin? Do something important,â his gaze turned to me, âlike protecting these worldsâ interests.â
The gnome sat back, considering. âHow much coin?â
Chuck ignored her and focused on me. âYou need to start learning how to defend yourself, son. Thereâs no doubt about that. You gave an amazing display at the tavern, but think of what you could do with instruction. Hardcore training! Alhannah here is quite talented, despite her gentile countenance.â
Alhannah growled, âI am not gentile!?â
âGot that right,â snickered Dax.
I hunched forward, letting my elbows rest on my knees. Now Iâm going to be babysat by a red-headed porcelain dollâŚand sheâs going to do what? Teach me how to use pocket knives? But it wasnât true, and I knew it. Alhannah proved herself dangerous and fearless against the vallen in the tavern,âŚit just didnât sit well with me. As if on cue, Alhannah looked up at me and grinned, her two red piggy tails bouncing quite menacingly. She bobbed her eyebrows at me. I was going to be trained by a girl? How can this get any more embarrassing?
Chuck glared at the elf. âAnd you certainly donât want the job ANYway! Admit it, monkey!! You love and respect the boy as much as a boil on your butt.â
Dax opened his mouth to retort, but the wizard held his hand up for silence. âYou oversee the training, Iâll educate. Deal?â
Dax bit his lip, considering.
âThere!â the wizard clapped his hands together. âNow we have a concrete reason for showing up with a gnome. We have absolutely nothing to worry about.â And with that, Chuck kicked off his sandals and put his blindingly white feet up on the coffee table. He laced his hands behind his head, letting out a sigh of satisfaction.
A loud knock echoed at the front door.
The room erupted in hysterics. Dax dove behind the armchair. Alhannah flipped over the back of the sofa and Chuck flung himself forward, spinning his body behind the curtains of the bay window.
I was the only one who failed to react.
âRight,â I sighed, âIâll get it.â Crazy loons.
An Iskari boy in red robes stood on the steps, taking deep gulps of air, his cheeks flushed purple. He bowed deeply. âLord Wendell.â Handing me a small scroll of paper, the boy bowed again and immediately dashed away.
Leaves rolled across the cobblestone path leading to the picket fence, the chittering sands echoing above. Even here, on a moon, I could hear the familiar sound of crickets. I stood in the doorway, watching the page until he had vanished from view altogether.
Chuck slid up beside me. He looked sheepishly over my shoulder.
âWhat does it say?â
Untying the red ribbon, I unraveled the scroll and read.
A knot formed in the pit of my stomach.
âThe Council wants to see us within the hour.â
******
Theyâre going to ask me about the letter.
I couldnât help shuffling one foot in front of the other.
What am I going to say? Heckâwhat can I say?
The walk to Tamku felt slow and laborious, though the trek through the forest was peaceful enough. It was when we entered the valley that I started to panic. Each step closer to the Prime Gate brought pain, sadness, and my hesitation grew.
I wondered if this would ever become easier?
The market and the adjoining streets were still barren, merchants and families at home, probably getting ready for the day ahead of them. The great crystals, embedded in the waves surrounding the city, dimmed, simulating the rise of dawn â while the crystal-lined streets and lamp posts were close to â or had already gone out. A strong urge nagged at me to knock on Moiraâs door. Iâd not had a chance to say anythingâŚto give my condolences to Kylieneâs grandmother and little brother. I wasnât even sure it was a good idea. Then again, the last thing I wanted to do was cause more pain.
My feet shuffled along, following Chuckâs lead.
The park was, of course, empty. The trees fluttered in the light breeze, their white bark glowing under the purple and blue lights of the dimming crystal lamps. It may have been my imagination, but the trees almost lookedâŚsorrowful. Weighed down by the recent events, leaning inward, towards the center of the park.
Mourning.Â
Chuck and Dax remained silent when I stopped in front of the Prime Gate. The structure fascinated me and I drifted from them, wandering around the triangular structure nestled in the grass. The curved, black claws, growing up from the corners of the Gateâs platform, looked horribly out of place. Cold and lifeless â surrounded by the beauty of shade trees, flowers, shrubs and the lush grass. Iâd traveled by Daxâs teleportation, now by a Black Market Port Key, and through some odd closet magic using Chuckâs keys. I stared long and hard at the monolith structure. From what Iâd been hearing from those around me, it held the power to travel over long distances, but a gateway toâŚwhere? How did these things actually work?Â
Being the âheroâ meant Iâd have to travel. Back on Earth, Iâd always wanted to see the worldâŚand to travel. Not exactly the world I was expecting. I ran a finger over the stone of the ramp. How many of these would I get the opportunity to use? How many of these gates exist? Stepping through magical doorways toâŚ?
Ugh. âHeroââŚthat made me wince.
Never considered myself a liar. At least I donât try to lie. Maybe this was the reason the whole deception about being the hero felt so wrong. Not that anyone could do anything about it, right? What would they do, kick me off the planet? How would that help anybody?
I wanted to provide a measure of hope. Keeping this secret was the best way I could think of to do just that.
A soft exhale escaped my lips.
Daisies grew in thick patches along the base of the Prime Gate, sharing their light, fresh green scent â but it couldnât mask the feelings of what Iâd experienced. What this entire community had suffered.
The entire event still confused me. The elders had said Sanctuary was protected. So where did that monster come from? The portal had opened fromâŚwhat was it called?
Humär.
I kneeled down to touch the spot the High Council had used their combined powers. I twirled the grass around my index finger. The blades were tender and green. Not a mark to be found.
âYou havenât said a thing about the letter, son,â interrupted Chuck.
The question made me flinch. I hadnât even noticed the old man standing over me. Caught up in my questioning, his comment yanked me back from my thoughts. âIâm sorry, Chuck, what?â
âThe letter. You read it, didnât you?â
When I stood up, I avoided his direct gaze, brushing my hands together. "Yes, I did.â
âWell?â the wizard prodded. âWas there anything important? A hint, clueâŚsomething that can help us?â
I hesitated, rubbing the back of my neck. What could I say? Even though I liked Chuck â and I certainly didnât believe he was my enemy â heâd acted in a way that made me question him. How far I could confide in him? He told me he was here for me as high priority, but could I share everything?
âNotâŚreally," I said. "It was like I thought it would be â a letter from a father to his son â filled with apologies and some encouragement. Being taken to Earth, leaving this problem on my shoulders, stuff like that.â I had to be careful, I told myself. Playing the ignorant card gave me time to think things throughâŚto choose my words carefullyâŚbut I still had to give the impression that I was the last heroâs son. The only advantage I truly had was my refusal to accept what I was being told. As long as I drew that doubt about long enough, Iâd have time to learn the skills to do this job as best I could.
At least, that was my plan.
âŚfor now.
âThatâs it?â Chuck huffed . âNo insights? No diagrams or cheat-sheet manual of how to use Ithari?"
"Afraid not," I said.
"Pshhh â well, thatâs a bummer.â But the wizard kept staring at me, studying. His eyes dropped to the smiley face on my black t-shirt.Â
âYour shirt seems nervous, son.â
His words hit me like a child, caught with my hand in the cookie jar.Â
I said nothing.
The smiley, on the other hand, continued to bite its bottom lip.
Chuck continued to stare. âAnythingâŚyouâd like to share, perhaps?â
Wrapping my arms uncomfortably around my midsection, I shook my head.
âLetâs GO!â shouted Dax. âI ainât takinâ the blame if weâre late!â
Chuck gestured to the path. âAfter you.â
The white stone of the magnificent castle shimmered like diamonds in the crystal light sunrise. It was the water â the mists created by the waterfalls â on either side of the magnificent structure. The rumbling sound of the falling water grew as we approached, the cool moisture carried on a light breeze. It filled my nostrils with a clean scent, almost like walking outside early Saturday mornings in the neighborhood. That crisp scent of freshly watered lawns, a soft breeze dropping the temperature before the sun got to high in the sky. From a distance, the castle looked mystical, floating in the mist itself.
As we walked up the narrow, high arched bridge from the park, I could see the foundation jutting out of the water below. Wary of my vertigo, I paid careful attention not to get too close to the edge.
Dax jogged ahead impatiently, across the terrace and into the Keep. Chuck and I followed in silence. Only the sound of Daxâs flapping feet could be heard, echoing through the vacant corridors and halls. Everything was moving so fast, and I couldnât stop thinking about how Iâd paid little attention to my surroundings. I followed numbly behind the wizard as they mounted the steps and through the High Eldersâ office. Candles burned on the golden desk, casting shadows that drew my attention momentarily to the descending steps.
Steps that led to the Key.
The cold iron felt good to me as I gripped the railing and ascended the steps.Â
This is my life now. This is my choice.Â
I stopped short when we reached the top.Â
My feet suddenly developed minds of their own, refusing to go on.Â
What am I afraid of?Â
The hallway ahead felt too narrow.Â
Thereâs no reason to be afraid here.Â
But that wasnât true.
It was too dark.
Itâs about to start. The real step into this mantle Iâve been given by mistake. The mistake I canât fix, even though I wanted to.
I took several sharp breaths â but I couldnât get the nagging feeling to leave. Of all the places Iâd been in Sanctuary, the Bedurrim was the most intimidating.
Every detail of the chamberâs interior focused on whomever stood at its center. Aptly called âthe hot spotâ by Dax, even Chuck described the roomâs construction to be an intimidation tactic. Enormous sculptures of dragons, wrapping their tales around wood and stone overhead, digging claws into the framework. Their long necks hung down, each with piercing red eyes, focused on the unfortunate soul who stood before the High Council.Â
All the while, the real eyes of the Elders, hidden under hoods, judged you in silence.Â
Chuck noticed my hesitation and walked back.Â
Leaning on his staff, he gave me that calm, grandfatherly smile again, then nudged me with an elbow. âYouâre going to do just fine, Wendell.â
I nodded, then smiled to myself. âItâs nice to hear you say my name.â
The wizard tilted his head to the side. âPardon?â
âYou donât say my name often,â I clarified. âYou usually say âsonâ or âmy boyââŚbut itâs nice to hear my name spokenâŚcalmly.â I shrugged. âI know it sounds stupid, but every time Dax says my name, it sounds like a swear word.â
âHeard that,â snorted Dax from down the hall.
Chuck smirked and glanced briefly at the elf, who bit off one of his fingernails and spat it onto the floor. âItâs not the same, I realizeâŚbut it certainly helps a lonely old man from feeling worse. But if it makes you uncomfortable, IâŚâ
âIt doesnât,â I cut him off.
Chuck nodded. âRight then. Ready to do this?â
I took a deep breath and held it for as long as I could, then let it out silently when the double doors opened. The creak of wood, metal scraping against the stone frame and floor, grated against my nerves.Â
Probably another tool to mess with you, I told myself. Ignore it.Â
"Sure," chuckled Doubt, "Youâre going to do fine."
Shut up.
Heavy smoke from burning incense rolled into the hallway. Its sweet, woodsy scent curled around the three of us. My eyes watered. Following the wizardâs lead, I stumbled into the Bedurrim, trying to blink them clear.
Scattered in clusters, the Council was busily engaged in conversations and passionate debate. Black, white, and golden robes mixed in small groups. The ring of fire blazed in the alcove above their heads, illuminating the room with an ominous glow. Conversations quickly died down as I entered. The sudden hush put me on edge.Â
Only the High Elder met me with a smile.Â
âWe appreciate your presence, Lord Wendell.â His blue within blue eyes were bright and warm,âŚa considerable improvement from our last meeting. I attributed this sudden acceptance to my decision to stay and help as the new hero.
âJustâŚWendell,â I corrected.
âOf course.â Delnar bowed slightly, then pointed to the bench along the wall. âPlease, be seated,â he said, and then called out louder, âwe must be about our business.â Pulling his golden hood over his scalp, he took his place in the high-back chair at the center of the Council.
Each elder silently took their seat, one of fifteen chairs on a raised semi-circle platform. Five in black robes, five in white and the presiding three, which included the High Elder, were adorned in robes of gold. They sat with hoods drawn, eyes hidden in obscurity, masked by darkness. The faceless.
The smiley on Wendellâs shirt gulped nervously.
Sitting next to Chuck and Dax, I was relieved to see someone else was the focus of this meeting. Two seats among the Council remained unoccupied.
At the center of the Bedurrim lay the sleeping Elder Tiell. Dressed in his white robes, he rested on a wide cot, supported with pillows. His torso, head and hands were wrapped in clean bandages. I could see his chest rose and fell steadily.
He looked peaceful.Â
Standing over him was Elder Nurii. An older woman, dressed in black, she was the one who had suggested, at the previous meeting, that the Council perform a particular ritual. Her long, snow white hair was beautifully braided, accented with golden pearls, which looped down, across her collarbone, back up to the back of her head.
With a nod from the High Elder, she pulled her hood up over her braids and kneeled at the side of the cot. Moving meticulously, Nurii lit the contents of four small pots and placed them in each corner of Tiellâs resting place. Blue, green, white and red smoke pushed through the pinholes of the lids, like fountains of water under pressure trying to escape. Her black hood swayed as she whispered something only Tiell could hear.
Ascending the smoke slowed.
Within moments, the movement became almost imperceptible. The smoke looked more like four pillars of colored cotton.Â
Nuriiâs hands slowly traced odd symbols in the air, her fingers gracefully twirling and folding. She placed a symbol within each pillar. Her fingers pushed the fumes aside, creating clean trails within the smoke. As she did so, the symbols held their shape, hovering like obedient specters. As Nurii completed the forming of each symbol, it filled with a white light, as if poured into the smoke.Â
At the completion of the last symbol, the ring of fire above our heads abruptly died out.
Only the symbols granted any semblance of light.
The fear I had felt, the apprehension I struggled with in the hallway, had vanished. Mesmerized, I watched as the magic before me was performed. Each move of the Elderâs hands, every sway of her shoulders, or word which left her lips, held my attention.Â
Fingers over Tiellâs chest, Nurii threw her hands outward, through the air. The smooth, precise motion sent the smoke billowing across the room, until it crashed against the walls like ocean waves against a reef.
Small strands of smoke fell from the symbols, like pots bubbling over, dripping onto the sleeping Elder. The bubbles came to life, stretching as they wiggled along Tiellâs tunic and bandages. Like hyperactive worms trying to escape, they quickly vanished into the Iskariâs skin and robe.
Tiell didnât flinch or look to be in any form of discomfort. His chest continued to rise and fall steadily. None of the Elders moved or spoke for that matter. Even Chuck and Dax sat perfectly still, watching in silence.
I took it all as a hint and sat back against the wall, observant.
Head bowed, Nurii continued to chant, her pitch now rising, until a single pinpoint of blue light came into existence over Tiellâs brow. It was hardly noticeable at first until NurriâŚsang to it.Â
Beckoned to it.Â
Her voice was clear and soft, her tones mimicking the sounds of a rising sun on a clear spring morning.
At first, the blue light flickered. Then it pulsed, encouraged by the tones and attention given to it. Within moments, it began to growâŚa soft light, expanding into a halo from the center of Tiellâs forehead. With each passing moment, it grew brighter.
Hooking her finger through the ring, Elder Nurii delicately pulled it from its position, through the air, until it hovered over Tiellâs chest. Leaning forward, Nurii then drew a fifth symbol at the center of the halo, the motion of her fingers leaving a faint trail.Â
Satisfied, her thin lips puckeredâŚand she blew.
The halo quivered and stretched, causing a tiny ripple effect.
Rolling outward across the room, the halo expanded, passing through Nurii, plants, and chairs. It continued to spread, from ripple to wave, across the Bedurrim, leaving a thin, glowing sheet of light in its wake. It followed the same path as the smokeâŚuntil it collided with the circular walls of stone.Â
Wow!
Raising a hand, I tried to touch the rippling surface. My fingers passing through the light. I felt nothing.
Without warning, hundreds of thin strands of light shot outward from the symbol at the ringâs center. Like a silent fireworks show, they arched high into the airâŚand exploded. Each strand became dozens more, falling from the darkness above. As each strand hit the ring of light, objects appeared. Trees and mountains formed across the doorway, clouds rolled into existence between the rafters. Some strands fragmented into smaller trails of light â flickering about wildly â transforming into birds, a deer grazing, and two squirrels chasing one another across the lower limb of a tree. Even small ants and beetles lumbered over my head, carrying their treasures back to their homes.Â
I watched in awe as a bright light flared overhead. It stretched, then it dulled, moving slowly across the Bedurrim, finally settling in a fog. Within moments, the scene was complete. A forest valleyâŚand in the distance, a platform with three black claws arcing towards the center.
I leaned forward, squinting.
Was that a Prime Gate?
Though there were faded images of trees and other plant life in the way, from what I could tell, it looked identical to the one in Sanctuary.
Nurii placed her slim hand over Tiellâs chest and the other across his brow and hairline.
âTiell,â she addressed him in a calm, yet firm command, âshow us your experience at Tämä-Un.â
The sleeping Elder gasped, taking in a sharp, jagged breath. Instantly, the scene within the room changed.
Trees and mountains whipped around the Bedurrim. The sun rose and quickly arched overhead, taking its place in the sky, then reversing its trajectory. Objects spun about and animals flashed before our eyesâŚthe dayâs activities reversed in moments. Everything moved so fast I clamped his eyes shut, feeling motion sick. When I looked up again, the landscape had settled. The Prime Gate was no longer in view.Â
Instead, not more than a hundred feet from me, were five vallen. Armored warriors with chain and plate mail, dented and worn. Strange markings and symbols covered the metal and exposed skin of the creatures. The giants stood with their backs to me. I knew they werenât real, but my hands shook with fear. My curiosity was so strong, I almost reached out. They were in conversation, arguingâŚbut the scene was moving.
Shaking.Â
The perspective was higher than before.Â
It took me a moment to realize that everyone in the Bedurrim was looking through Tiellâs perspective. We were looking through the eldersâ eyes, standing on the platform of the Prime Gate itself! Thatâs why the platform had vanished from the scene.
The room exploded as a vallen roared and I nearly fell from my seat.Â
How could there be sound?!
The roar was answered by another and metal scraped against metal. Soldiers, drawing their weapons, ran towards the gate. Towards us! The room abruptly spun again as Tiell jumped from the platform, sprinting for the tree line.
I sat up straight, heart racing, my attention focused on the sound of the Elderâs panting. Occasionally, Tiell looked over his shoulder and we could see two of the giants in hot pursuit, barking at one another. Tiell dodged left and right, darting around the foliage while his pursuers barreled through the plant life, gaining ground. The sound of tree branches whipping past, the crunch of leaves and pine needles under foot resounded throughout the Bedurrim. A blue hand whipped into view and the point of view turned to look behind. A swift hand motion and roots exploded from the ground. They rose high, catching the closest pursuer unaware. The giant bellowed as he hit the ground, tripped by a plant.
The second beast jumped over the obstacle.Â
The panting grew louder, and I noticed some elders shifting in their seats.
My pulse quickened.
Run, TiellâŚRUN!Â
It was several moments before I remembered Tiell was laying right in front of me. I sighed. I knew how this turned out.
Okay, calm down, Wendell. This has a good ending.Â
Trees and shrubbery shot past in blurs.Â
There was nowhere to hide. He was going to get caught.
The movement halted.
Tiell dropped low behind a cluster of shrubs. Then, lower still, he peered under the small branches of a plant. The elder held his breath, and I did the same. Boots in the distance, pausing, then moving onâŚstomping through the trees.
I smiled.Â
Tiell was a quick oneâŚeven if he was wearing a dress.
Several minutes passed before Tiell got up from his prone position. He looked around cautiously. Keeping low and behind the trees, he slowly crept back towards the Prime Gate. I found himself mesmerized by the controlled breathing and rhythmic sound of each footfall.
Without warning, the enemyâs face whipped the perspective around and engulfed the entire chamber.
âAAAHH!â I cried out loud in panic, throwing my hands up to protect my face. I peaked out from behind my fingers to find everyone in the room staring right at him.
âSorry,â I mumbled, embarrassed. I gave Chuck a sideways glance and shrugged. âThis gives surround sound a whole new meaning.âÂ
Chuck snorted.
The vallenâs laughter was deep and grating. A gauntlet struck Tiell across the face and I ducked. The image shuddered and slid out of focus, but we could see the giant grinning widely. The Council watched as the long, broken canines poking out from its bottom jaw loomed closer. Sliding across the cracked and misshaped lips, a black tongue mingled with the saliva dripping from the corner of its mouth.
âFresh meat,â it hissed.
I dry heaved.
Small blue hands reached up, clawing at the face. A gauntlet wrapped around one of them and Tiell cried out. There was a violent shudder throughout the room. I glanced at the cot and was surprised to see Tiell twisting in the pillows. With each blow, his body shuttered and then collapsed deeper into the bedding.Â
I poked Chuck, concerned. âWhat are we doing to him?â I whispered, pointing at Tiell.
The wizard patted my arm reassuringly. âItâs part of the process, Iâm afraid,â he whispered quietly. âPoor boy must relive it all for us to see.â He frowned, âA considerable sacrificeâŚso letâs be quiet.â
Powerful hands locked around the Elderâs throat above us. A creeping darkness closed in. The walls of the Bedurrim grew dim, spreading over stone, chair and wood, the image of the vallen fading before them.
My legs bounced atop the balls of his feet, his palms clammy, fingers twitching. He was being choked to death! Mouth open wide, the misshapen fangs of the vallen closed in to bite. With a growl I recognized, rumbling from its chest. Tiellâs raspy voice could barely be heard, gasping for the last sips of air.Â
The scene trembled violentlyâŚand went black.
No one in the chamber made a sound, though several glanced to Tiell on the cot. The four symbols continued to give their light in the scene's absence above us. I could still hear Tiell breathing all around us.
Light slowly crept back into the chamber.
It was blurry at first â but moments later â I could make out the lower branches of a tree.Â
Where was the giant? What happened??
The perspective tumbled forward as Tiell sat up. The room spun around to look at the giant.
A daggerâs hilt was fixed under the giantâs chin.
Blood ran down its thick neck and into the soil. A smaller trail ran from the top of the skull where the blade punctured through the bone. Another train of blood ran down across the Vallenâs open eye.
The fixed stare made me shudder.Â
Mangled fingers came into view, already swollen and turning dark. I cringed as Tiell, with great difficulty, pulled the blade from the lifeless body and wiped it clean across his enemyâs tunic.
We watched the elder work his way back to the Prime Gate, silently circling the rim of the trees, avoiding the searches and whispering incantations to hide his presence. Tiell eventually found a thick outcropping of plant life with a clear view of the Prime Gate. Nestling himself between the trees and rocks, he laid down, covering himself with leaves and other plant debris.Â
Tämä-Unâs unwelcome visitors â now four alert guards â paced the base of the Prime Gate.Â
How is he going to get past them, I wondered?
How did he get past them??
A single drop of light fell from the sky and struck the Gate.
The air upon the platform blurred. Shapes formed at its center, silhouettes of shadow converging.Â
The four guards positioned themselves at the ramps, swords drawn, shields raised and ready. And then, altogether pushing through, the darkness gave birth.Â
Creatures that looked like lizards crossed with panthers jumped from the platform on six legs, thick tails hissing with fanged mouths. Furry beasts with powerful arms and shoulders swung their short, squat bodies across the ground. Small heads turned warily from side to side, long black tongues tasting the air. Deformed men with deep scars and tattered vests cracked long whips at the beasts, shouting commands. Small dogsâŚor what I thought were dogs, nipped at the heels of those in line. Yapping like hyenas, their faces were marred and twisted, lacking eyelids or lips.
I recoiled in my seat.Â
Bare-chested slaves guided beasts of burden through the use of spears, jabbing at necks and tugging on leashes. Mammoth humanoids, chained together in lines, lumbered forward, pulling heavy laden carts. Behind them came black wolves the size of grizzly bears. Muffled and harnessed, the wagons they pulled groaned under the weight of their cargo.Â
Then there were soldiers. Line after line, pushing through the darkness. Giants in horned helmets, thick steel plate, and rattling chain mail. The ground shook with their uniform march, pikes and spears stabbing the ground with each step. The invaders poured through like an open wound, black blood flooding into the open valley as if they would never stop.
Terror gripped my chest.
It was an army of blood lusting freaks and monsters.
I tried to count how many came through the portal at first, but I lost track repeatedly. There were too many.
Nuriiâs eyes searched the open vision before her. âTiell, how did you escape?â
The images shifted once more, darkness engulfing the room as the sun vanished.
Stars took their place, shining brilliantly overhead. A sea of diamonds. There was no longer any sign of the army. The valley was empty, except for the guards of the Gate. Tiell shifted cautiously through the trees, inching forward. Into the open, he ventured. Crawling up behind the Prime Gate, he peered around the edge of the platform. The guards sat quietly around a small fire in the distance. Engaged in eating and drinking, they payed little attention.Â
Nowâs his chance, I knew, but the Elder hesitated.Â
Both hands came into view.Â
Swollen, broken fingers moved painfully across the engraved symbols of the black claw. The marking slid along the stone surface, changing from single shapes to complex formationsâŚthe deep red changing to a dull blue. I could hear Tiellâs breathing becoming shallow.
Quickening.Â
Heâs scared.Â
Crawling up the back ramp of the platform, Tiell crouched behind one of the claws and looked upward. A brilliant drop of light launched upward, vanishing into the heavens.
Calling home.
Jumping to the center of the platform, the elder quickly wrote symbols in the air, whispering incantations. Light accumulated around him, casting pointed shadows from the platform.
Magic.
Itâs too bright! The guards are going toâŚÂ
The soldiers were already on their feet, sprinting. One by the fire lifted a crossbow.Â
âLook out!â I cried, caught up in the moment.Â
Several Elders glanced at me, and Chuck patted me on the back. I sunk back into my seat, still transfixed by the scene. Light flared from the blue hands, just as Tiell cried out from the cot. Vallen fell to the ground, scattered and smoldering, but Tiellâs good arm fell like a dead tree to his side. A crossbow bolt protruded from his shoulder. The surrounding light waned.Â
I looked to Tiell, laying on the pillows, cleaned and dressed in white, wounds bandaged, bones reset. Even in the dim light, I could see the glistening sweat along Tiellâs brow. Tiny streams trickled across his temples.
Above us, a long dagger appeared in broken fingers. A moment later, the blade flipped through the air, past an oncoming foe, towards the crossbowman by the fire. An impossible throw, let alone with a wounded hand.
 The blade struck the vallenâs face.
âŚand sank to the hilt.
The body fell backwards into the flames.Â
As the last standing soldier drew close, darting up the ramp, I cringed. My heart thrashed in my chest as the enemy drew close enough to swing his war hammer. I threw my arms up in defense as the hammer dropped. Tiell rolled with the blow.
âŚtoo late.
The sound of cracking bones echoed throughout the Bedurrim.
Images instantly flashed and warped to show the park in Sanctuary. New images flooded the chamber, and I blinked. The perspective spun about as Tiellâs body flew back from the blow, rolling down the steps of the ramp.Â
A growl seeped from the lips of Elder TĹŤrsin.Â
For a moment, the images didnât moveâŚand I felt a coldness creep up my spine.
Get up Tiell. Get UP!Â
I knew what was next. Kyliene was nearby. She had just walked me back to meet with Delnar, the High Elder. We were standing on the terrace just a hundred yards away.Â
A scream pierced the air, and I nearly came unglued.Â
Get up Tiell!!Â
âŚbut it was useless.
I knew the outcome.
We all did. Tiell raised his head weakly. The young girl came into focus. Kyliene was cowering before the vallen, retreating to the tree line of the park.Â
NO!
I wanted to jump into the scene and attack the giant with my own fists. Knowing that power was now in me, I nearly stood up to try.
Grunting and breathing heavily, Tiell pulled his knees under him and started whispering words I didnât understand. Light once again began to gather around the Elder, his good hand limply tracing signs in the air.Â
Again, it was too late.Â
The giant charged at him and the hammer came down swiftly. The images vanished.
Tiell was unconscious.
I sat wide eyed, my heart nearly refusing to beat.Â
He killed her. That foul demon from hell killed her!
My hands trembled. Thoughts of Kylieneâs body, lying upon the ground, wrapped in the white Iskari ceremonial cloth of death.
He killed her.
The four symbols faded as the incantation ended. The flames in the Bedurrim rose once more, chasing away the haunting shadows of the brutal memories.
âThat is all Tiell can show us,â Nurii said softly, gently raising and kissing Tiellâs hand. âRest now, little brother,â she whispered. âYou have done well.â
The prone Elder continued on in sleep, but I noticed a line of blood from Tiellâs nose. It slowly trailed across his cheek. Nurii took a cloth from her sleeve and wiped the blood from his face.
The mood in the room seemedâŚodd. I expected an outburst of comments or questions. Seeing a brother and friend hurt like this, I assumed, would enrage the council. At the very least, I expected noise, but it remained silent. Hoods turned this way and that, but no one spoke. Even Delnar sat in silence. Pulling his hood back, the High Elder lookedâŚfrozenâŚa statue of cobalt, eyes locked on Chuck.
The wizard sat next to me, hands tightly gripping the neck of his staff. They looked like they were locked in a muted conversation. Delnar looked to have aged during the open vision. The lines in his face deepened in concern as the old wizard continued to gaze at him. Unblinking, unmoving.
A small light sparked as Dax lit a cigar, breaking the tension.
âDecisions must be made,â said Elder Gaidred. His gloomy voice ending the silence and all hoods turned to him. ââŚand in haste, I fear.â He stared at Tiellâs sleeping body, gently pulling at his black beard in contemplation. âI believe a dangerous situation just got worse. Our brother has been wounded. We must train the royal bloodline in using the Ithari. Now we have irrefutable proof that the enemy moves against the humans. We are wholly unprepared.âÂ
Several hoods nodded in agreement.
A thin, pale Elder sat forward, leaning on the edge of his seat. He looked to Gaidred. âWill it do us any good to purge the Gate?â
âIt will buy us time, I believe,â Gaidred replied. âNothing more.â
âExcuse me,â I interrupted. After the event at the Black Market, I was determined to be included in this conversation. âWould you mind explaining what youâre talking about?â
None of the Elders replied.
Chuck sat in silence, pondering.
Dax scoffed, flicking cigar ashes onto the floor. âWe donât know ânuthin. Itâs just a buncha troll trash and their pets cominâ through the Gate. Big freakinâ deal. Letâs get some real men, a few mägo, and deport their butts! Kick âem out, lock the Gate, secure the shoresâŚproblem solved.â
Gaidred shook his head. âItâs not that simple, Dax. When was the last time you saw a Vallen open a Prime Gate?â
Dax sneered, âThey canât! Theyâre too stupid toâŚâ His face went pale. He dropped his head and paced.
This new information deeply disturbed them. Seriously botheredâŚenough to make Dax shut up.
My hand went to my front pocket, fingers resting against the letter Iâd folded and tucked away. Then I raised my hand, awkwardly. âIâd sure like to know what youâve all concluded,â I said nervously.Again, none of the Council replied.
âVallen canât open Gates,â answered Chuck. âThe Täuku, however â a filthy, foul race of sadistic parasites â are masters of Gate Lore.â
I looked around the room. Then it hit me.
Oh, crap.
âTheyâve teamed up,â I said.
âThatâsâŚthe theory, anyway.â Chuck looked at Delnar, âBut we wonât know for sure until we get involved.â
Dax continued to pace across the floor, puffing the cigar aggressively, doing an excellent impression of a choo-choo train.
âThe Vallen and Täuku are bitter enemies, Lord Wendell.â A round bellied, heavy set Elder sat forward. âIf left alone, they would eventually destroy one another without our help.â He pulled the Black robes about his legs, shifting in his chair. It creaked under his weight. âThe only alliances we know of in our recorded history have occurred when they engaged in warâŚunder the direct rule of Mahan himself. The Täuku opening the gates may be an assumption,âŚbut I am unaware of any other dark race with such knowledge.â
The High Elder raised his hand for silence.
âThank you Sulvan,â he said politely, then looked at me. âThe last alliance between these races was to destroy the Nocturi people.â
âHere we go,â whispered Dax to himself.Â
âYou donât know that, Delnar,â countered Chuck. His blue eyes sat fixed under the bushy brows, unyielding, challenging. âItâs speculation at best,â he continued, and even louder, âwe donât actually know what happened.â
âAre you serious?â scoffed Dax, stopping mid-step and shooting the wizard a glare of disgust. âAfter all this time, you still want to argue about this?â
âMaybe so,â cut in the High Elder, âbut tell me when the Vallen, regardless of how powerful and vicious they are in battle, has ever defeated the mägo? Let alone the greatest culture of magic users that ever lived! There had to be magicâŚpowerful magic, to subdue and destroy our brothers.â He looked around at his council, most of them nodding. âWhen the Nocturi were destroyed, the very world trembled! We had peace for hundreds of years and then, suddenly, shadows re-entered the world, Morphiophelius. Even you cannot deny this. Mahanâs whispers were heard once more.â
The wizard shook his head. âNo. âŚno, you donât knowâŚâ
I flinched when the High Elder sprang to his feet, shouting. âNo mere unembodied has the power to penetrate the defenses of ErimĹŤri, Morphiophelius! Something aided that creature,â he grit his teeth, choking back the rage. âIt was not just Vallen spawn! It killed one of our CHILDREN!âÂ
Delnar fell back into this chair, fuming. âThis is not a game, wizard,â he trembled. âWhat other proof do we need?â
 The tension continued to rise in the chamber, though there were smiles, nods and manners used. It was apparent that Delnar and Chuck didnât always see eye to eye.
So the bad guys get together when they really want to put the hurt on people. Lovely. This job keeps getting harder by the minute.
This is where the rubber hit the road. This conflict was now my personal business. It was time to learn anything and everything about this world and its conflicts. So I piped up again.
âWhy Tämä-Un? Why humans?â I looked around the room. âI mean, why not Gnomes, or Kutollum, or EvoluâŚeven Gypsies?â
A few mouths opened in surprise as I rattled off the names of the races.
âThe humans have been the greatest force against dark uprisings from the beginning,â answered Gaidred. âDestroy the humans. You break any serious foundation for a resistance. King Robert III has thwarted every major invasion for the past two centuries. His greatest effort of late has been to rebuild the old alliances, though heâs had little success.â
Elder Nurii stirred in her seat. âAndilainâs government is crumbling. Nobles wage war against each other, poverty forces the citizens to rebelâŚand they are ripe for destruction as a nation. Especially while King Robert is away.â
âDo we know if anyone else has opened any other gates?â another Elder in white robes interrupted.â I recognized him as Elder TĹŤrsin, the one who killed the vallen in Sanctuary. He was a shape-shifter and defeated the giant by transforming into a bear. TĹŤrsinâs face contorted in anger, the crease of his brows so deep they looked like lightning. He gripped the arms of his chair, knuckles of his wide hands turning white from the strain.
âNot unless we travel there ourselves,â answered the Elder beside TĹŤrsin. He looked to be a thinner twin of the shapeshifter, but only their faces were identical. A steady hand reached out and gripped TĹŤrsinâs forearm. He immediately relaxed. âBut our decision here must be made with calm hearts and open eyes. Based upon what we do know, not our assumptions. If the enemy is once again organized, then its general is also involved and most certainly on the move.â
Dax closed his eyes tightly, as if in pain. âThule,â he whispered to himself, though I could hear him well enough.
âMahanâs Pink Panties!â snapped Chuck. âThis just gets better and better!â He looked at me and shook his head in disgust. âPoster child for birth defects, if you ask me. Donât think his mother took vitamins when she was pregnant, if you know what I mean.â
âLordâŚ,â the High Elder paused as I looked up at him. He tried to smile, but he looked worn. âWendell. Have you read the letter I gave to you?â
I looked around sheepishly and nodded. âI donât think itâs going to help much. It was more of an apology than anything else.â
âAn apology?â repeated the High Elder.
I pulled the letter from my pocket and unfolded it. âIt says the enemyâs going to escape. That it was his fault, the heroâs, because he couldnât kill Mahan. He didnât have the heart to.â
Gasps and whispered comments erupted from the Council.
âGive me that!â snapped Dax, yanking the paper from my hand.
âIt says to find Ithariâs childrenâŚand keep them safe?" I said, "Which seems kinda crazy, because a diamond canât have kids.â I looked around at the stoic expressions surrounding me. âCan it?â
âYer insane kid,â challenged Dax. âItâs just a blank sheet oâpaper. It says nothing!â
I took the paper back and stared at it. âItâs all right here, DaxâŚsee?â I tapped the paper with a finger.
âDaxâs eyes are fine,â clarified the High Elder. âThe letter was sealed by magic and given to the High Elder of the time. Only Ithari could break the enchantment upon it,â he smiled at me, âand apparently read it.â
I relaxed.
Now I had a letter that only I could read? That was even better. Another layer that would allow me to keep up appearances.
âThe children the letter speaks of,â added Gaidred, âwould be the fragments of the original stone Ithari came from. The Lanthya. Twelve shards, and the heart stone, which you now wear in your chest.â At its mention, my hand caressed the stone under his t-shirt.
Now weâre getting somewhere!Â
âWho has them?â I asked.
The High Elder shot Chuck a glance. The wizard nodded.
âThe first is here, within Sanctuary. The second was a gift, from the Evolu to the High Kings of Humär. The third, we believe, is still with the Northern Kingdom of the Kutollum, hidden from all sites.â
âThatâs nine shards unaccounted for,â I said.
"Three were used for the Demoni Vankil seals," Chuck added. "We donât know exactly where those seals are presently, so we donât know who has them." He gave Delnar a sideways glance. "If this council is correct, I think it is safe to assume the Täuku have two shardsâŚif not more."
âTherefore we must act wisely,â said Delnar. âThe remaining shards could be anywhere.â The frustration on his face gave way to resolve â the spring sun melting the hold of a winter snow. âWe cannot sit by and allow the enemy to tread on our ancient kin, nor our covenant alliances.â He stood up to address the Council. âBrothers and sisters, I believe the time has come for the Iskari to walk among men once more.â
âThen we must plan a strategy,â answered Gaidred. âThe Prime Gate should be purged and locked to prevent further use by the enemy.â
ââŚand to prevent their escape,â added another.
My mind kept flashing to the angry face of the vallen, snapping its jagged teeth at Tiell. I did a double take when I noticed Chuck just standing there, a huge smirk on his face. Dax, however, still paced the floor.
âAnd you, our young friend,â added the High Elder with a smile, âwill stay here in Sanctuary and begin your studies.â
I blinked. âExcuse me?â
âWe must keep you isolated from danger,â said Delnar. âWe cannot allow the gem to fall into the hands of the enemy.â
âWoah, woah, woahâŚâ I said, quickly jumping to my feet.
âYou must remain hidden,â Delnar stressed, ââŚfor now.â The Council nodded their silent agreement. âIt is the wisest course of actionâŚand the final decision of this body.â
When I opened my mouth to object, the High Elder cut me off. âIf Thule were to discover that you were here, he would stop at nothing to find you. He will hunt you down and destroy you. Every appearance you make jeopardizes your life. You must prepare and develop your abilities. Keeping you confined to ErimĹŤri is the only way we can ensure your safety. Once youâve learned how to use the Ithari satisfactorily, we will find the best use for your abilities.â
Chuck nervously stepped forward. âUh, gents â speaking of appearances â there may be a small probâŚâ
âNo,â I said.Â
Everyone went silent, and I blinked, unsure if it was actually my voice that had objected.
"No point in turning back now," Doubt said smoothly. "Sock it to them."Â
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
This was it. The moment. I purposefully looked at each of the hoods in turn, then said firmly, âI will not stay in Sanctuary.â
Mouth open, Chuck froze.
All eyes shifted from me, back to Chuck, expectantly. Even Dax stopped pacing and looked up.
Patting me on the back, the wizard grinned weakly, shoulders up around his ears. âWhyâŚdonât we see what the boy has to sayâŚâ and then he quickly sat down.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
All eyes were now on me. It was now or never.
If I didnât speak up, it was doubtful Iâd ever get another chance.
I can do this.
I have to do this.
There were questions burning in my mind, but I knew Iâd never find the answers confined or locked away.Â
âOur enemy will eventually escape from the prison we are preparing, unless the seals are maintained. Protect them at all costs.â
Elders stood up, pointing, waving their hands about and talking. I couldnât hear them. It was downed out by a soft rhythm, pulsing in my ears, in my chest â through the veins of my body â masking the sounds in the Bedurrim.
The beat of my new heart.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Ignoring the Council, I unfolded the letter and read it again.
âBe patient with others, my son, for few will understand the path you will be forced to walk. Trust no one but the Gem. Listen to that inner voice that whispers to you. Not your own voice, but that voice that tells you only to do what is right, what is true and just.â
Only Delnar sat still.
His eyes transfixed on me.
Studying me, while his brothers and sisters came unglued.
âFew will understand the path you will be forced to walkâŚâ
âWhy are you so troubled?â I finally asked aloud.Â
Silence quickly fell over the room.
Be patient with others, I repeated to myself. It forced a smile to my faceâŚwhich triggered the smiley on my t-shirt. It glanced around, scowling and shaking its head, disgusted.Â
âI respect what Iâm guessing is protocol and tradition, but could you please pull back those hoods? Iâd really like to see your eyes for a changeâŚâ I shrugged, âand to tell you the truth, this whole grim reaper thing creeps me out.âÂ
Chuck stifled a laugh. Dax plopped back down on the bench, stifling one of his own.
One by one, the hoods fell, until every set of eyes, every scowl and every frown of disapproval, could clearly be seen.Â
Muuuuuch better.
Keeping my tone calm, I stepped forward, holding my hand out, palm up. Not sure why I, but I felt like I was offering a palm to a pack of mean dogs. It was my way of offering a smidgen of submission. âI feel Iâm lacking in understanding, High Elder. With your permission, may I ask a few questions?â
Delnarâs expression didnât change, nor did the intensity of his stare. âPlease.â
I looked around the semi-circle. âThank you.â It occurred to me that this reaction by the Council was actually a good sign. These were people passionate about their beliefs, thatâs all. Passionate about their duties and responsibilities. That wasnât something to be afraid of or fight against. It was something to be respected, admired, and in truthâŚit meant that such passion â if pointed in the right direction â would be unstoppable.Â
âI apologize if Iâve offended any of you," I said. "That was not my intention. Elders, Iâm confused. I volunteered for this responsibility, so I hope you can support me in wanting to take this responsibility seriously.âÂ
A few eyebrows raised.Â
âI want to understand where my place is â to stand in my duty â and not shirk my responsibilities. Does that make sense?âÂ
No response.
Right then.
âAm I correct to assume that this council was formed to protect the Ithari?ââ
âThat is correct,â replied the High Elder.Â
I nodded. âAnd so I understand correctly, in what areas does this council rule over and direct Ithari?â
Soft gasps escaped from several mouths.Â
âWe serve her, not direct her,â said Delnar, shocked. âThat would beâŚblasphemy.â
I frowned. âBut have some authority over Ithari, surely?â
The High Elder frowned. âNever! Our ancestors received their commissions from the original hero himself. Throughout the ages, this Council, formed by Ithari, has faithfully fulfilled its duties and responsibilities. The created cannot control the creator. Surely you can see this logic?â
Delnarâs eyes suddenly narrowed.
The smiley grinned smugly up at him from my t-shirt. It continued to grow until it was eyebrow to eyebrow.Â
âIâm truly confused, then, High Elder. Because if you have no authority over the Ithari, then by what authority do you confine its host to Sanctuary?âÂ
Delnarâs eyes popped open wide, as if someone had slapped him. Several Elders stood up, affronted.Â
Careful, Wendell, donât push too hard. Stay respectful. The last thing you want it to make enemies of these guys.Â
I took a deep breath and held his palms up in a surrender display. âIâm sorry. ThatâŚwas rude and disrespectful.âÂ
This was harder than I thought it would be. Communicating with adults was not my specialty. I looked around the circle pleadingly. âDid you even hear yourselves, though?â Then I repeated in a softer tone, âOnce youâve learned how to utilize the Ithari âsatisfactorilyâ, we will find the best use for your abilities?â I looked each of the outraged elders in the eyes, accepting their angerâŚand shrugged. âReally?â
Slowly, one by one, they all sat down.
âCan we agree that we â you and I â are all on the same side? Iâm just trying to serve Ithari, like this council. Like each of you men and women. Sheâs put thoughts in my mind, feelings in my heart, and I can tell you â promise you â Iâm already a new person from when I arrived."
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
"I know Iâm not the hero you wanted,â I said, softer still. I looked over at Dax. âHeck â I donât even know if I am a hero. The situation is dangerous, complicated, even desperate,âŚI get that.â
The stone expressions were crumbling around me. Some of the council were sitting forward. A few even leaned on their knee, listening.
âBut Iâm here now. The gem chose meâŚWendell Percy Dipmier. Regardless of how you might feel about me. You can support me or doubt me, but the gem is in my chest â not yours.âÂ
The High Elder shifted uncomfortably in his chair as my focus settled back on him. âI also have an inkling of what Iâm capable of. The last thing you should do is try to shove me in a box or put a leash around my neck. Thatâs not wisdom," I said."Itâs insanity.â
The smiley instantly turned a shade of orange, displaying a ferocious grin.
âAnd I wonât let you.âÂ
For a long moment, I stood there, unmoving. Something told me to wait. To meet every stare with boldness. To remain calm and just smile.
No one spoke.
No one rebuked me.
No one challenged me.
Lifting my t-shirt, I waved my hand over my ribcage and said aloud, âSilmä inakmään.â
Ithari became visible, sparkling brightly in the firelight.Â
Chuck applauded, then thought better of it.
âSupport me or not,â I concluded. âI am the guardian of Ithari, and I know what to do first.â Taking the time to allow every member to see the gem solid in my chest, I finally let the shirt fall to cover the gem. âSheâs not staying here.â
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Tha-THUMP-Thump.
Fourteen blue faces stared back at me.
What an impetuous, arrogant young man! Thatâs what youâre thinking about me, arenât you?
But I couldnât help feeling a strong sense of satisfaction.Â
Thu-THUMP-thump.
I accepted the dumbfounded silence as a sign of support. Taking a single step towards the High Elder, I smiled widely.Â
âNow that we have that settled â how do I get to a place called Til-Thorin?âÂ
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