6. The Perfect Distraction

“Distance is irrelevant in this matter. Especially when you side with the unembodied.” He gave me a weak smile. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with, my friend.”

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.

Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may.

After all...I can't fix stupid.

Previously: Wendell learns the reasons for his kidnapping, the reality of his situation, and what it will take for him to get back to Earth. Then he tried to breathe.

---

---

---

Chapter 6

---

So I had a basic plan.

It wasn’t the best deal, but hanging around for a month and getting home was a lot better than the alternative.

Besides, could you imagine me, in a fight? I’d had enough problems with Jeffery and his dogs. The last thing I wanted was adding some ‘Dark Lord’ to the list. Delnar led the way out and I followed him back up the billion-and-one stairs of the Key, in silence. I thought he’d be complaining or begging me to change my mind and stay.

Nope.

Not a single peep from the blueberry.

“You’re taking this well,” I said, “considering I just dropped a bomb on your plans.”

The High Elder didn’t turn around. “I have done what my duty demands of me. That is enough.”

Listening to him scuffle up the steps, I had time to consider my situation. Where am I going to stay? Wait, Delnar said I had a mansion…but, uh, that’s likely to be on the planet below. What am I going to spend my time doing? I wonder where the girls are. Do they come in an assortment of colors? Hmmm …I have this enormous diamond in my chest. Oooo, wait. It’s supposed to give me magic powers! I wonder what I can do? Can I fly? That would be SO cool if I could…

No.

“What?” I asked.

The High Elder stopped and turned. “Yes?”

“Uh…”

He waited.

“Never mind,” I quickly amended.

The High Elder turned and resumed climbing the steps in silence.

Weird. Maybe I can shoot lasers from my eyes? Or run at super speed?

No.

I stared at the back of the High Elder’s head, perplexed.

Well…can I…?

No.

“Why not?” I said.

The High Elder stopped once again and turned around. “Why not, what?”

“Why can’t I do anything with this gem? Aren’t I supposed to have magical powers or something?”

“Indeed, you are,” he said. “Your blood, combined with the gem, can make you the most powerful of all Mägo.”

“Mägo?” I asked.

Wizard.

“Wizard,” said Delnar in unison.

I stopped in my tracks, looking behind and then above me.

“Are you all right?”

Flustered, I asked, “S-so you mean I can, or rather will be able…to actually do magic?”

OH, YES.

The High Elder’s lips never moved. I’m not sure what my face did at that moment of shock, but I could feel my mouth swing open. Yanking the collar of my shirt forward, I stared at the Ithäri. A tiny light winked at me.

“Yes, she can,” Delnar said softly.

I looked up, even more confused. “She can, what?”

“Ithäri. You are wondering if she can talk to you,” he said. “Yes, she can talk…and she will, from time to time. When you need her. As for the magic, you will quickly learn there are many disciplines within the seven circles. You are one of very few who can master every one of them.”

I can do magic, as in REAL magic?

Yes, you can.

My hands trembled with excitement. “I’m curious about something, Delnar. Does magic only work on the world below?”

The High Elder stopped and turned. “You already know the answer to that, young Wendell. Dax traveled from here to Earth to retrieve you. His magic worked both there and back.”

Good point. I scratched my chin. “How long would it take for me to learn magic?” I did my best not to go nerdy on the blueberry.

The High Elder shrugged his shoulders and continued on up the stairs. “That would depend on you. You could learn a substantial amount before you left us.”

That was the best answer I could have been given. Learning magic while I waited, then go home as a mager, or moger….or…

Mägo.

Right, mägo. The idea occurred to me that this month could be a kind of summer camp experience. I mean, why not, right? Make a few new friends, learn some tricks, try some new foods, explore, and then go home with all sorts of marvelous stories. Of course, they would likely be stories to put me in a padded room, but then I could show some bone fide magic!

Yeah, this was a good plan. With my indignation diffused, I felt pretty confident. Since I had already been impaled, the worst part was over. I could do this.

“Can I ask another question?” I said.

The High Elder smiled to himself. “You may ask all the questions you desire. I do not know everything, but if I have the knowledge, it is yours.”

“What kind of magic are we talking about? Because I play a lot of roll playing games, and if it’s anything like that, I really want to know more.”

Delnar gave a quick glance over his shoulder, his brows crumpled in confusion. “I am not familiar with ‘role playing’, but I am grateful it has given you an eagerness to learn more,” he said.

“I mean, do you learn to throw fireballs and take over people’s minds, or…I don’t know, turn invisible?” Just the thought of doing magic had me want t squeal out loud. Four years in the RPG club certainly prepared me to be a wizard, even if I wasn’t actually a half-elf.

For the first time, the High Elder chuckled out loud. “The world of magic is quite large, young Wendell. In part, my own powers are restricted to this community and my calling as a High Elder. However, there are some who have power over flame and every other element. There are those who can breathe life into inanimate objects. There are some who speak with and command plants, while others can become the very beasts they converse with.”

I quickened my pace to get closer. “What did you call them again?”

“Mägo,” he said.

“Yeah, those,…they can actually change their forms?”

The High Elder nodded. “Two of our brethren upon the Council can transform into creatures of the land, air, and water.”

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Seriously,” he replied.

“Does everyone do magic around here? I mean, is it common?”

We reached the top of the stairs and walked across his office chamber. We walked to the far door where I’d originally appeared…on my face. “Mägo are not common, no,” he said. “Though it varies upon the race and culture.”

“Race and culture?” I said, “I’m not following you.”

Stopping to inspect, Delnar smiled at me reassuringly. “You’re following just fine.”

I chuckled. “Right. Good to know. Thanks.”

“Magic is more openly accepted among our people, the Evolu, and many of the darker races. Then there are the Kutollum…”

“Dwarves,” I replied without thinking.

The High Elder grinned widely. “Exactly. Very good. The dwarves are tolerant, and work their forms, but are not overly active in the arts. Then you have humans who either immerse themselves or shun it like a disease. It depends upon which continent you are standing on and what company you keep. King Robert III is a prominent advocate for the mägo, for example. He’s used their skills to enhance his kingdom, maintain peace, and defend his borders. King Borsilav allows the mägo to practice their arts, but only in the crown's service. For king Matamatafua, the ways of magic are a part of the culture among the islands.”

I followed him through the doorway and into the shadows of an immense hall. I looked familiar with the rows of pillars and all, but there was a measure of light. Small windows positioned high along the walls let in a measure of sunlight. With all this talk of kings and kingdoms, the whole ‘lord’ thing didn’t sound so bad after all. But that was ego talking.

“Uhhhh, where are we going?” I asked. 

“We are soon to meet with the High Council pertaining to your arrival, and I want to show you something first,” he said. 

“More Elders?” I hesitated. “Are they blue, too?”

“Yes,” he chuckled. “We are all blue.”

“Not Dax. He’s green,” I said.

“Dax is not one of our people, nor does he usually consume our food. His talents give him a rare freedom few enjoy. I know of no other who has his gift. Dax can move about with a thought.”

How would THAT be? “You…said he was a volu…”

“Evolu,” he said. “That is what some call an elf.”

I laughed. “Dax? An elf? Elves aren’t green!” But I paused, “Are they?”

“No. He is, I admit, an anomaly, but Dax is an Evolu all the same.”

“Ee-vaw-loo?” I drawled.

“Correct.”

“You know, Delnar, there are quite a few words you use here that we use on Earth. That’s confusing to me, because it seems outright impossible. You and I, and even Dax, are speaking the same language.”

“We are,” he said.

“We aren’t even the same species,” I said, “and we can communicate at first contact? This shouldn’t be happening. Care to explain that?”

He smiled at me. “No.”

I laughed again. “Next, you’re going to tell me there are gnomes and giants, too.”

With a single shrug, the High Elder resumed walking and said nothing.

“Seriously?” This kept getting cooler by the minute. “What other races are there? No, wait. You said I’m from this planet. What am I?”

“You, my young friend, are one of us. You are Iskäri.” He looked over to me, his smile genuine and friendly.

“But I’m not blue,” I said.

“Nor would you become so, even in your lifetime. The minerals in our soil cause the pigment of our skin. It took generations to manifest itself. Our brothers, who live upon the world below, have the same fair skin as yourself, but we share the same ancestry.”

“Oh.”

So the blueberry was my cousin, huh? Well, Evan’s cousin, but he didn’t know that, and I had no intention of telling him.

“Why do you guys need a hero?” I asked. “I mean, you have magic and dragons and, well…people like Dax. What do you need a kid like me for?”

We rounded a corner, and the High Elder stopped short.

“The races are falling,” he said. “The one we call Master Mahan desires to rule over all living things. His lust for power is all-consuming. He would see entire civilizations destroyed rather than allow men to choose for themselves. The last Hero only locked Mahan away, banishing him to the farthest world of our system, instead of ending his life. But even banished from this world, the Dark Lord’s influences are growing.”

“How can he have power when he isn’t even here?” I asked. 

“Distance is irrelevant in this matter. Especially when you side with the unembodied.” He gave me a weak smile. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with, my friend.”

I frowned. “You shifted from creepy to outright bizarre, Delnar. The unem—what?”

He stared at me for a moment, studying me before answering.“Unembodied. Spirits never born — never to receive a body of flesh — who seek to steal them from those who live.”

I shivered. “Okaaaay.”

“Mahan has gained considerable influence over mortals among the nations and is sowing more discord, more anger, distrust, and we are struggling to save this generation.” Delnar turned away, his voice becoming firm. “There are many hopes built upon the prophecy of the Hero. We were told he would come, and through him, the Ithäri defeat the evil descending upon us.”

The High Elder wasn’t pulling any punches in the guilt department. I don’t know. This all seemed too outrageous to believe, anyway. The only people’d I’d seen since I’d gotten here were Dax and Delnar. “And you think that guy is me?” I said.

“I have been watching over you since I was a young elder,” he said with a confident smile. Then gently, “Wendell, I know this is hard to accept, but you were hidden on Earth because you were in danger. Your loving parents made that hard decision to save your life. Mahan wanted to find you and destroy you.” The High Elder grabbed my forearm. “My efforts were hurried so we could get you the protection of the gem. I didn't I didn’t want to leave you potentially open for attack.”

“You mean assassination, don’t you?” I asked, followed by a gulp.

The high Elder nodded.

“Hadn’t really thought of it that way,” I said. “Guess…I should thank you for that one, at least.”

“Unfortunately, you are still vulnerable. You have decided not to accept the mantle…and the evil is still striving to find and destroy you.”

“Well, here I am,” I challenged, being deliberately obtuse. “Closer than I ever wanted to be. Did this bloodline and Ithäri also agree to put themselves at the mercy of your council? To give up any independent thought or choice?”

I’m thinking the High Elder understood my implication. He rolled back his shoulders and stood more erect, speaking firmly. “You made your choice. I may have rushed you. I may have encouraged you. But I did not choose for you.”

Those words, out of all the things that could have been thrown in my face, stung.

He didn’t choose for me. YOU said the words. Your stupid greed and assumption, Wendell, not willing to wait — to think things through, like mom and dad always taught you to do. THAT’S why you’re here now. Stuck with a King Kong engagement ring jammed through your ribs. You chose. That’s the truth of it.

All my life I’ve wanted to be a somebody. I didn’t like admitting that, even to myself, that secretly I will take chances if I could change my circumstances. Maybe this was my chance? Even though something in my mind still screamed ‘no’, I had a month to change my mind.

I mean…magic. Come on.

Plus, I didn’t have to believe anything the High Elder said. I’d already told him about my decision to go home. Now that he thought I was going home, the High Elder had no reason to lie anymore. Right? Besides, there was no seizing in my gut or impulse to run now…just a deep calmness and peace.

The High Elder placed a hand on my arm, interrupting my thoughts. “Come with me, Wendell. I want you to see something.”

The hall narrowed as we passed underneath an arch. I could see the light, hear the birds chirping. Enticing me, the scent of freedom quickened my pulse, rushing me forward.

We were going outside!

Air.

In the excitement and near desperation to get my bearings, I dashed past Delnar and burst through the doorway. I inhaled so sharply I became lightheaded and had to steady myself against the stone archway for support. It was so unexpected, so gratifying, to revel entirely in the fresh air and natural light. I didn’t care to hold back his tears.

I am alive.

The cool mist in the breeze danced on my skin, enlivening each nerve. I closed my eyes, leaned over, then placed my hands on my knees to take in another deep breath. It felt fantastic to surrender all conscious thought and will to relishing in the sensations.

I’d forgotten about the High Elder until the scuffled footsteps paused next to me. I squeezed my eyes tight and exhaled.

“Are you alright?” Delnar asked.

“Does…Ithäri heal my wounds?” I asked. “I mean, if I get hurt?”

Yes, I will.

The High Elder smiled. “As I said, you have the greatest treasure a mortal can possess, but you are her greatest treasure. No one is more important to her. She will use all her power to keep you alive, healthy, and strong.”

Just the mention of this sent a warm sensation through my body.

“Behold…Sanctuary,” the High Elder said with reverence. “A gift from your family to our people.”

I’d totally missed the fact that we were now standing on an immense stone terrace, surrounded by statues of men and warriors supporting the dome overhead. Each figure seemed to share his story. Some old, some young, faces staring back while dressed in robes, leather, plate mail and even animal skins.

Walking to the balustrade, a vast town stretched beyond the terrace, along the mountains, and enveloped the whole of the valley in between. Thousands of white buildings with domed rooftops encased intricate waterways and cobblestone streets. Windowsills and rooftops saturated with flowers, trees, vines, and grass, between, around and even through the buildings constructed on a grid. At the center was a small, football-shaped park surrounded by a lake of crystal blue water. Five small bridges joined the park to the town and a much larger, white bridge arched over the buildings and waterways extending up to the terrace, just to my left.

That’s when I noticed the mist.

The moisture in the air came from the waterfalls on either side of the terrace. The waters, spraying out of giant dragon heads, plunged hundreds of feet to a pool below. White foam glistened as it sprayed into the breeze, carrying the cool moisture up to my nostrils. Content in this moment, I closed my eyes again, smiled, and inhaled deeply. 

“You seem more relaxed,” Delnar said.

“The open air helps a lot…” I said, but when I opened my eyes again, my gaze rose higher and higher.

Whoa.

I’m not sure how I missed this, but jagged stone stretched upward in two monstrous glowing waves of earth. They curved over the entire valley like vigilant guards to the white town. What made the sight even more spectacular was the deep blue and white planet, nearly engulfing the sliver of exposed sky.

“This is my favorite view,” whispered the High Elder. “Magnificent, isn’t it?”

“Is that…the place?” I gasped, looking around awkwardly at the High Elder.

Delnar stepped closer. “That, young Wendell, is Elämä. It is the battlefield, the prize, and your birthplace.”

I glanced back at the monoliths, at the planet, then at the mountains again. “That’s insane,” I said. “We really are on a moon.”

Delnar chuckled quietly. “We are, indeed. Shifted and shaped by the Ithäri, herself. Those shields of stone, ore, and crystal help protect us from the high planetary winds and dangerous sands. An enchantment, through the crystals, regulates our days and nights.”

I was a loooong way from home.

Without warning, my heart started racing and my mouth went dry. We’d talked about where I was, and that this was all real. I knew I was on a different planet, but this simply didn’t register. My breathing became shallow, and all I could do was stare. But here I walk out and see that this isn’t some crazy mind-thingy. It’s not a breakdown or hallucination. There is actually an entire planet out there that’s not supposed to be here.

Okay, no. That’s not right. I’m not supposed to be here.

My brain hurt trying to take in the possibilities I couldn’t explain.

So far away from home.

“Go explore,” the High Elder encouraged with a gentle, fatherly  smile. “You are safe here.”

I had to yank my thoughts back. Something in me cracked. “What?” I asked.

“Take some time and explore our magnificent town,” he grinned.

For the first time, I noticed tiny figures moving about the white landscape of the town. People. Thousands of them busy about daily life, walking the streets, shouting and waving to one another. Some were working among the plants. Several were working on a nearby roof. “What about that meeting with the Council?” I asked.

“Meet me at the Prime Gate at even. That will give you some time to ponder and explore your temporary home. You have the whole day to enjoy yourself. Find yourself something to eat.” Then he noticed my confusion. He pointed. “That structure in the middle of the park. The three big fingers curled upward? That is the Prime Gate. Meet me there…at dark. All the main roads lead back here, so you cannot get lost.” 

He didn’t realize I had a particular set of skills.

“Do you understand?” Delnar asked.

I nodded. Even though I didn’t, really.

Just like that, the High Elder tucked his arms into his robe, turned and walked back inside. Left me standing there, on a totally new PLANET,…ALONE. Wasn’t scary at all.

For several minutes, I just stood there.

Seriously, what the freak was I supposed to do? I stared hard at the doorway where the High Elder had vanished.

He just…left me? I don’t know anybody. Then again, he didn’t say I had to go anywhere. That was just implied, not stated. I could hang out here and take in the sights from a distance. Besides, people look busy down there with their daily…stuff. It would be rude to interrupt them, right?

My stomach growled loudly in protest.

Right. I am hungry.

………….

Fine.

****

Mom always said I was likable, as did Evan. So that’s what we’re going with. Charm. Cuteness. Vulnerable…in a ‘manly’ way. If that doesn’t work, we’ll claim ignorance and blame the High Elder.

I nodded to myself. It was a good plan.

Not a fan of heights, but I could make it across the painfully high archway, down to that eye-thingy park with the huge black triangle. Thick woods covered the rim of the park. The bridge’s base met with a wide, well-used path, which made it easy enough to follow directly to the Prime Gate.

Now, being on another planet, I expected to see something crazy and new with the plants. But the trees looked like aspens and willows, and if he wasn’t mistaken, a few cherry trees.

Just like home.

The Prime Gate was something new altogether. It was a giant triangular structure much larger than I thought it would be from a distance. Standing at what I guessed to be a good thirty feet tall, the platform loomed over me. It sat smack dab in the center of the park, just like the High Elder said. From each of the three sides, stone ramps led to the center. Three black claws jutted out, one from each corner…a white eye scratched into each base. The claws stretched up from the corners, tapering off to points as they hooked over the platform.

There were other carvings, smaller, almost translucent symbols on each claw. They looked messy, randomly placed, almost accidental. It looked…out of place, standing against the beautiful white structures of the town. I tried to imagine what its purpose could be among the grass and birds and butterflies.

Circling the base, I stopped short. A few people were leaning casually against it, watching me. They looked young. Late teens, maybe early twenties, all dressed in tan and white, which made the blue of their skin almost glow. 

“Hey,” I said, forgetting my feet were still in motion.

I stumbled.

A couple of them chuckled, but most just started on.

Hot faced, I tucked my head down and walked in the opposite direction.

Unghhhhh. That was horrible, Wendell! Why didn’t you say something else? Stupid, stupid. STUPID.

Loud laughing in the distance caught my attention.

Right. Mistakes happen. Remember, you’re a kind guy. People will like you. Have confidence. This’ll work. Moving on.

Refocusing, I walked towards the loud sounds. The bustle of people. Children laughed. Flutes and small drums played a merry tune, and frolicking on the breeze was the potent aroma of grilled meats, fresh-baked breads and…sweet stuff.

My stomach growled like a wild beast.

Alright, alright! We’re going!!

It sounded like a celebration. More laughter and children calling out to one another, growing louder as I walked up the tiny arched bridge. My feet hesitated.

Plan. I need a plan.

I could see them now. A street full of busy blue people.

Just breathe, Wendell. In, out. In, out. You are going to be okay.

It was, in fact, not a celebration at all, but what looked a lot like a farmer’s market back home. Shops lined both sides of a deep cobblestone street. Facing the established shops, smaller cart vendors lined themselves along the center island, which showcased an abundance of blooming flowers and small benches to sit on.

Hundreds of people were busy in conversation, wandering about, looking at wares and gathering food in their baskets. Too busy, I realized, to notice me.

That was comforting. Except for the patron’s skin color, the market looked a lot like something I’d find on Earth, in any small town or inner town. Vendors selling street food. Breads, meats, and the abundance of vegetables.

At least they looked like vegetables, anyway.

Mouth now watering and stomach aching, I walked timidly to the center of the street. That’s when it happened.

People smiled politely at me.

Without pausing.

I passed couples or mothers walking with their kids, and they nodded. Some even waved, and a few small children pointed with open mouths for which the parents would apologize. Yet every single person smiled and said, ‘Good Morning’, as I passed them.

Should I find it surprising that they have no interest in an obvious stranger wandering in their midst?

Then again, I did not know if this was normal? Ahhh, maybe they got visitors like me all the time, and I’m not an oddity. Huh. Well, the High Elder said there were other Iskari who had pink skin too, so…

Barging into my wandering thoughts, a stout man at the corner shop hollered, “Would you like to try the sugar buns?” He stepped out of the doorway, wiping his fat hands on an apron, beaming directly at me. At first glance, I wasn’t sure the shop owner was talking to me. I looked behind me, then pointed at myself. “Are you talking to m-me?”

The man grinned widely. “Of course I’m talking to you!” Waving a hand for me to come closer, he beamed at me. “Come, come. See what we’ve created today!” He said with obvious pride. “We received an extra shipment of cream this morning, so I made good use of it all. Be the first to enjoy the tasty treats we offer.”

The aroma of sugar and butter pulled at me until I hovered over the cart, smelling the bread and cinnamon. That’s when I reached for a back pocket that wasn’t there.

Oh, crap. The High Elder hadn’t given me anything to pay for food. My stomach whimpered with another growl. 

It was going to be a looooong day.

“No, thank you,” I said sheepishly. My stomach protesting with a loud moan. “I…uh…don’t have any money.”

The man’s jovial belly jiggled as he laughed out loud. “Ah, you’re new here!” He reached out, grabbed my arm, and pulled me close. “We don’t deal in coin, boy. No, no, no. The blessing of working together is being able to do what you love for those you love. So, come. Try one of my beauties.” 

In one swift motion, the fat fingers snatched up a moist, sugar-coated bite-sized roll from the cart and pushed it into my mouth.

The buttery, caramel covered bread melted in my mouth.

“Mm…Mmmmm…Mmmmmmmm!” I noised, covering my mouth with a hand.

It was good. Sooo good. And not just because I was famished. Embarrassed, I looked down and quickly wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand.

The baker laughed openly. “I’ll take THAT as a true testimony of success,” he said. “More?”

What was I supposed to do, be rude? That’s not how MY mother raised me. With an eager nod and a muffled thank you, I went about sampling everything in the display. When I’d had my fill, the kind baker wrapped a small dark loaf of sour bread in a white cloth and handed it to me.

“Now be off with you,” he said. “There’s far more than my goods you should sample at the market.” He paused, seeming to consider something, then patted me on the back. “When you have need, my young friend, you ask when among the Iskari people. Understand?”

I nodded, mouth still full and chewing.

One kind of interaction was all it took to break the cycle of fear. Feeling more comfortable, I wandered from shop to shop and cart to cart, exploring and asking questions as I nibbled on the dark loaf. Turned out it wasn’t so odd for a complete stranger to walk among them after all. The Iskari people traded with other communities from the world below at certain times of the year.

My pale skin bothered no one and before long, I didn’t feel alone…or self-conscious.

The market fascinated me and I tasted samples of anything offered. Each vendor had a similar attitude and countenance to the baker, always eager to share and please others. There were purple fruits that looked like melon and tasted like tart oranges, and bread stuffed with something that tasted like spiced pork and potatoes. I nibbled on what looked like grapes, but tasted more like blueberries. The strangest experience, though, was a long, hard fruit, which looked like a cucumber, but tasted exactly like an apple.

I couldn’t help but laugh. It was all so amazing to me. Luckily, my genuine shocks of delight didn’t offend the kind Iskari people. Instead, it brought smiles to everyone I met. Someone had put everything I'd ever experienced with food in a bag and jumbled it up. My biggest surprise was when I bit into something that looked like a cherry tomato…and it turned out to taste exactly like a cherry tomato. 

I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

Everywhere I looked, people filled baskets with vegetables, fruits, meats, breads, and spices, but they never exchanged coins. The Iskari took care of each other. Their profit was being of service. Every one of them doing what they love, giving their best for the benefit of others.

What could the communities of Earth learn from such a shift in focus and perspective?

“Watch it,” a feminine voice hollered with a climbing trill.

Too late.

I turned from a merchant and collided head-on with a large basket filled with produce. It flipped to the ground, sending the contents rolling across the marketplace.

“Oh, no! Sorry. Sorry!” she cried, people skipping and hopping to avoid trampling the small silver fruits. 

I dropped to my knees, turning the basket aright. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “It’s my fault. I should have looked where I was going.” It felt like an old arcade game of whack-a-mole, snatching the escaping produce before it could roll out of reach.

“No, my mother always told me not to carry the baskets so full,” she sighed in frustration. Reaching for an escaping piece, the girl stopped short when she noticed my hands getting to it first.“Goodness!” she exclaimed, pulling back in surprise. “What’s wrong with your skin?” 

My stomach sank. I knew this was too good to be true.

She looked up at me, eyes widening. Something in me expected her to scream or flee. Instead, she smoothed her wavy, raven hair, gathered it from her face and tucked it back into the loose ribbon of her ponytail. A smile appeared at the corners of her mouth as she quickly composed herself.

She gently refashioned her surprise into an enveloping broad smile flattered by full, glossy lips, and a dimple in her left cheek. Her bright azure eyes crinkled at the corners, turning up slightly like they were smiling at me as well.

“Well, hello!” she said, freely studying me. That beautiful smile grew as she did.

W…w…wow. She’s….wowww. Nervously, I stammered, “Really, I…I’m sorry about this. C…can I carry it for you?” Not sure what to do, I worked with my big toothy grin, my face feeling warm, and lifted the basket from her arms. “Where’s your shop?” I asked.

“Right behind you, boy,” came a burly, protective voice. Grinning, the tall man rolled his eyes at the transfixed girl. Taking the basket from me, he gently placed the silver fruit into the display cart. “Thank you, Kyliene,” he said. “Give my fondest regards to your grandmother.”

“You’re welcome, Alor,” she sang cheerfully, without taking her gaze from me. “Nana said she hopes the salve is working for you.”

Alor cleared his throat and averted his eyes. “Uh, …yes.” He set the empty basket down between me and…Kyliene…sigh….then turned back to his shop. “Good day, dear.”

I watched Alor leave and then looked back….to find Kyliene staring at me, still smiling without a word. Strange thing was, it didn’t bother me as much as he thought it would. I wasn’t exactly used to attention from girls. 

Why won’t she stop staring?

I smiled back, and I could feel the heat rising in my face. Did I have food on my face? A bit embarrassed, I hurriedly stood up, turning a bit to the side so that he could swipe a hand across my mouth.

Probably have fruit stains on my lips!

When I turned back…she was still staring. My smile broadened to match her own. 

Oh, I am SO glad I’m stuck here for a month. She’s adorable. The soft, bouncing black curls reminded me of a playful puppy and I had to resist the urge to scoop her up and squeeze her. Alright, that’s weird and high on the creepy scale. But I mean, wow. She looked close to my age, and I didn’t care one bit that she was blue.

Besides the fact that she was talking to me and not, you know, running away…there was something about her. Something that pulled hard at my heart. Honestly, I don’t know what came over me, but I went with this strange new rush of courage and held out my hand. “Kyliene?”

Like a delayed firecracker, she popped upright, face all aglow. “You know my name?” she piqued. “Wow.”

I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “No, the guy who took the fruit said…”

“Fruit!” she squeaked. “Nana! I need to get back to Nana.” She looked confused, turning in circles. “Yes. She can’t see, you know. Oh, you don’t know. How would you know, we just met? Oh, but now you know and I left her in the orchard, which is that way, at the far end of town, while I delivered these.” She suddenly paused. “And you are?” She leaned in closer to me, tilting her head to the side, waiting for my answer, again looking up at me with that intoxicating smile.

She had this melodic way of putting words together. It was like listening to a wind chime being tickled by a spring breeze. Every time I looked at her, she was still watching me.

Shouldn’t that be creepy, even coming from a girl?

I think the attention overwhelmed my body, causing my knees to suddenly wobble, and forcing me to reach out to the cart beside me to steady myself.

“Um…Wendell?” I gulped, changed my expression, hoping to look nonchalant.

Kyliene giggled. “Are you sure?” she asked sweetly, batting her long eyelashes.

“Uh…,” I said, with an awkward, dopey laugh. “Yup, I am…I am Wendell.” I had to be red as a beet, cause my cheeks were on FIRE. Where’s Evan when I need him? What do I do now??

“Okay,” she chimed. “Do you like silveens, Wendell?” Picking up the empty basket, she put the handle over her forearm.

I cleared his throat. “Uh, silveens? I, uh…”

“Silver fruit, small, beautiful, super sweet…”

Just like you? Before I could answer, Kyliene slipped her arm through mine and pulled me down the road.

“I really could use a strong, handsome man to help me lift this heavy basket.” She flashed me another smile. “I don’t want to ruin the fruit we’ve worked so long to grow.”

“O-okay…” I said, in my manly-ish tone. Butterflies zipped between my stomach and heart. Oh yeah, they’re talkin’ to me now!

We walked through the market as I listened attentively to the girl on my arm, charmed by the musical way she spoke. I half-heartedly tried not to stare. I didn’t want to scare her, but I loved the way her curls kept falling across her eyes. Also, if I leaned in toward her, ever so slightly, the warm sweet scent of her hair on the breeze rewarded me.

STOP IT, Wendell! You’re smelling her! You don’t SMELL girls—what’s WRONG with you!?! That’s weird. DON’T BE WEIRD!! You don’t want to blow this…so FOCUS. Why did girls work so hard to be so pretty and smell so good, if not to be appreciated? Right? Right. NO. SHUT UP! FOCUS!!

As we approached the edge of the town, Kyliene pointed to furrows branching out from intricate waterways built with stone. She explained how the propulsion from the waterfalls watered the entire town and orchards. 

All along the side of the streets were grooves, routing fresh water from various pools to the orchards and fields. Kyliene explained that the workers, who opened numbered gates to fill a field, controlled the water. Once the field well was full, the gate was closed and the water immediately channeled to the next field.

Nana, Kyliene’s grandmother, was a third generation ‘head steward’ of the orchards. Apparently, being a steward was a great honor, and family members could inherit the position if they desired the job. Again, this was about doing what one loved more than anything else. When asked, Kyliene simply stated, “You’ll always be better at and more loyal to something you love, won’t you?” Nana had been raising Kyliene to take her place.

Stopping abruptly, Kyliene tugged on my arm. She glanced back toward the town and then looked up at me with a big grin. “Can you keep a secret?” she said in a low tone.

I nodded.

“Caleb, my little brother, he’s a page to the High Elder.” She looked around before continuing. "He has been sent on a secret errand outside the valley," she whispered, leaning in close. He said he thinks that the Gnolaum…is coming.” She gripped my shirt sleeve in both fists. “The GNOLAUM. Isn’t that exciting!?” Kyliene bounced on the balls of her feet. “We’ve waited hundreds of years for the Hero of the Gem to return!”

My heart sunk. She was talking about…me. Does everyone know about this stuff around here? I tried to look appropriately excited by raising my eyebrows over widened eyes and smiling hugely. I wished I could share that same excitement, but I didn’t.

Then again.

Kyliene lapsed into an enthralled silence.

The cobblestone street narrowed as they reached the end of the town, where buildings stopped and rows of trees began. A twinkling orchard lay before them, and a succulent, sweet fragrance beckoned like an intimate friend to come closer. Kyliene squeezed my arm again, bringing a fresh flutter of butterflies to my stomach. 

“Come on!” she beamed, and pulled me into the orchard.

Gnarly, white trunks bore branches heavy with clusters of small silver fruit and radiant green leaves. I watched and listened to the chatter and laughing of young people busy working throughout the orchard. Dozens of kids dragging wood boxes, carts and baskets from tree to tree.

“Nana, I’m back!” Kyliene called out in her singing way. The only grown-up I could see was a little white-haired woman with a cane, sitting on a bench along the main path. Kyliene smiled brightly as we made our way to the bench.

Kyliene knelt beside her, taking an old wrinkled hand and placing it against her cheek. Her Grandmother wiggled her gnarled thumb against the soft flesh and smiled. “I was worrying. You took longer than usual, Kyliene, and that’s saying a great deal!’

Looking up at me through those long lashes, she leaned closer to her grandmother’s ear and whispered, “I was distracted.” When I hesitated, she reached out, grabbed me and pulled me near with a nod of her head. She placed my hand within her grandmother’s. “This is Wendell,” she said. “He’s offered to help us today, Nana.”

“Did you now?” Nana laughed knowingly. She patted my hand gingerly. Without waiting for a response, she added, “Then be about the field. The day’s waning.”

“Yes, Nana,” Kyliene smirked. Taking my hand from Nana’s, she squeezed it tight and pulled me along.

“What…am I going to be doing?” I asked, puzzled. The closest I’ve ever been to farming was pulling weeds.

Kyliene slid closer, wrapped both arms around one of mine and smiled up at me. “You’re going to spend the rest of the day with me. If you don’t mind.” Her head suddenly popped upright. “Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn’t even ask you if you had plans…or if you were waiting for someone else….,” she frowned, “or if that someone else was a girl.” Letting go of my arm, she sighed. “Ungh! Kyliene, you idiot! You’ve gotten in the way of another girl…”

“No—wait…”

“Here I am, jumping in where I don’t belong and she’s probably back there, in the market, wondering where you’ve gone!” Shifting in front of me, she pleaded, “Forgive me, please! You’ve been SO kind and wonderful — walking with me, listening to my rants and jabbering, being so polite while your girlfriend is left stranded on her own…”

“But I don’t have a…”

Tears welled up in her eyes, which seemed to amplify how adorable she really was. “I should have been more thoughtful.” She blinked away tears and laid her head against my shoulder. “I should have asked before, assuming you were free to spend time with a stranger like me. I…”

“Kyliene!” I jumped in, my smile probably a bit too wide and filled with too much glee. “I’m not waiting for anyone.”

She paused.

She looked up at me.

Then she blinked once.

“But…your girlfriend, back at the market…”

I chuckled. “Doesn’t exist.”

Kyliene frowned. “Wendell, that’s not a gracious thing to say about her.”

“No, no! She doesn’t exist, because I wasn’t waiting for anyone…I was alone when we met. I’ve been wandering through the market all by myself.”

Kyliene’s eyes opened wide, “Oh!” She sniffed and wiped her tears away. “So, I wasn’t being rude?”

Grinning still, “Nope.”

“Annnnd, would you like to spend the day helping me in the orchards?” she asked sheepishly.

“I really would.”

Kyliene leaned in closer and whispered, “Is there a girl waiting OUTside the market, somewhere…anywhere…for you?”

I laughed. “Nope.”

She gave a big, open sigh and squeezed my hand with hers. “Ohhhh good.”

Youuuuu said it! *Sigh*

Kyliene introduced me to some of the other youth workers. Not a single comment about my skin color. The girls waved and smiled politely, while the boys grunted with nods, grateful for the help. A few rolled their eyes, noticing Kyliene’s smitten countenance.

While she gathered a few baskets to place under a tall tree, I watched the other boys working across the path, rapidly filling crates.

It looked simple enough, but coordination was not in my wheelhouse. I didn’t know any other teen who could trip themselves using a rake, or considered volleyball or badminton as an elaborate ritual of self humiliation. The thought of trying to help now, in front of all the other teens…and most especially in front of Kyliene, seemed daunting.

But I already said I would, I signed inwardly. Can’t back out now. Reaching up to a low-hanging branch, I pulled at one of the small, round silver fruits.

It wouldn’t come free.

Come on, Wendell. She’s watching you!

I yanked again, shaking so hard the leaves started falling off the branch, but nothing else.

You have GOT to be kidding me! The mutant fruit tree is going to make me look like a fool.

Kyliene stood there, watching patiently, one eyebrow raised.

When I scratched my head and glanced between the pretty girl and the annoyingly tough fruit, all I could do was shrug. “I’ve never, uh…” Swallowing my pride, I tried the humble approach. “I’ve never done this before. How do you get them off the tree?”

Kyliene smiled slyly. “With magic, duh.”

“Magic?” I said. “Seriously.”

She nodded soberly. “Absolutely. It’s a magic every steward before me has used and everyone who labors with us must master.” She drew closer, lowering her voice to a near whisper, “Are you willing to abide by what you are about to be taught?”

Clearing my throat, I soberly replied, “I am.”

Kyliene’s eyes narrowed. “And do you promise to show other stewards of the grove the proper use of this magic? Should you be called upon?”

“Yes. Absolutely,” I grinned. YES! I’m going to learn magic! Heck, yeah!

“Then I shall teach you the ancient lore of silveen harvesting,” she said. Biting her bottom lip, Kyliene held up a small blade with a wooden handle. “This is called a knife. If you draw it across the stem of the fruit, it magically drops into your hand.”

She held it out to me, handle first.

I rolled my eyes. “So THAT’S how they do it around here, huh?”

She winked at me, and we both laughed.

Turns out I wasn’t as bad at harvesting fruit as I thought I’d be. The sweet scent of the ripened silveen fills your nostrils as you work. It was like adrenaline in my veins. It’s not that the work was hard, but it was fast, and required coordination. Not being my strong suit, I was surprised at how easy my hands seemed to function for the first time in my life. The blade moved swiftly and with precision, from fruit to fruit, without worry or hinderance. In fact, I enjoyed harvesting. Simple work among good company and pleasant conversation.

At noon, the crew stopped for lunch together. Nana provided sandwiches and chilled water while they picked dessert from the grove. The taste of the silveen was something between a grape and a juicy pomegranate. The skin had a hard membrane, yet once bitten through, gave way easily to further bites. Even the black seeds at the center tasted good. They reminded me of salted pecans.

“So, Wendell,” started Tyra, a young girl with tight frizzy hair and big, piercing blue eyes, “did you come to visit with the merchants?”

The other kids looked at me expectantly.

I froze in mid-chew. The High Elder had said nothing about keeping secrets. In fact, he’d done the exact opposite — wanting me to explore and mix with the people. The thought suddenly occurred to me that perhaps that was his plan: get me to mix with the people, hoping to convince me to stay.

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I smiled and gave a quick nod. “Something like that.” Better not get myself trapped in a corner. Don’t want to lie…but I don’t want people thinking that I’m staying here, either.

I looked over at Kyliene…and found her staring at me again.

She fluttered her eyelashes.

Sighhhhh. Then again…

By early afternoon, I’d caught the steady rhythm of moving from tree to tree, mimicking the other youth. With each new box they filled across the way, I tried to match my progress with the other boys. Box after box, I pushed, hopping from the tree and sliding them to the path to be picked up by the next crew.

“Looks like we have a cutter among us!” cried one of the younger boys.

“We’ll see about that!” replied another, picking up his pace.

“Now don’t go cutting yourself, Bram,” Kyliene chimed, “just because you want to be the fastest.”

“But I AM the fastest,” Bram chided back, picking up speed. All the kids laughed.

Next thing I know, the younger boys were egging me on, racing from tree to tree on the other side of the path. The packers paused and started chanting my name as Bram kept pace. He’d lurch ahead, only to find me side-by-side once more.

All the while Kyliene, sitting in the middle of the lane of trees, described the events to her Nana, as the old woman laughed.

I realized why these teens were chosen for this job. They were fast, agile, and to keep up, I decided not to use the ladders. Instead, I jumped from tree to tree. Well, until I came to a wider gap, where I had to start a new row. Bram pushed ahead of me, placing the knife between his teeth and leaping to the new row like some olympian monkey. 

Following his lead, I placed my knife between my teeth, grabbed a branch and prepared to lunge.

“Wendell, I wouldn’t…,” Kyliene said, but it was too late. I lunged from the tree and was airborne.

…and then not.

I’d underestimated the jump, and caught hold of the next tree branch with a single hand. It wasn’t enough. I missed my foothold, and my body dropped. Luckily, the knife flipped from my lips with an, “Oh no,” landing on the nearby grass. The tree branch held, but my grip didn’t. I landed on my backside, flung across the bench below. Landing squarely against my forearm, I cried out as bones snapped.

“WENDELL!” Kyliene cried out, and the cheering stopped. Dashing to my side, she grabbed hold of my arm to help me up.

“OW! Ow, ow, ow!” I yelped. “Arms hurt. Landed on it wrong, blast it.”

“Bring him here, child,” Nana called out. “Let’s have a look.”

I sat still, bitting my lip as the blind woman gently inspecting the bones with experienced fingers.

“You, my dear boy, are a reckless harvester!” she scolded me openly.

I could feel the collective eyes of my peers on me and I let my head droop forward. She was right. I dreaded the thought of what Delnar was going to say about this, all because I was trying to impress my new friends.

Nana leaned forward with a smirk on her face and added, “You should practice a bit more before trying to fly like a squirrel! HAHA!”

I chuckled…then flinched.

“Feels like you have a cracked bone. Not quite broken, but if jarred enough, you’ll certainly finish the job. It needs to be protected. Kyliene, fetch me some pruned branches for a splint.”

Within a few minutes, the young Iskari wrapped my forearm securely with a couple of Nana's handkerchiefs, just as she was told.

“That should do it, for now,” she said.

“Thank you,” I replied. Everyone was standing around, staring at me. They genuinely looked concerned, so I grinned. “Looks like Bram is DEFINITELY the fastest!”

The older boys whooped and hollered, bouncing the exhausted worker on their collective shoulders. I cheered with them, chanting Bram’s name.

When Kyliene shot me a questioning look, I simply winked.

I was…actually good at this! How would it be to come to work, be with good friends, have simple meals, and work hard to accomplish something everyone around you appreciated?

It sounded like heaven.

“But you don’t belong here,” nagged a familiar voice.

I sighed. I’d wondered what happened to you.

“You locked the door on me,” Doubt said. “Rude. Completely understandable, and I would have done it also, but still rude.“

Yet no one had questioned me. Not a single person I’d met all day had shunned me from their presence or treated me with anything less than kindness and generosity. Sounds like acceptance to me, I chided.

Doubt grumbled.

…so I let him.

Once the fruit was gathered, half the youth went off with their carts to deliver the harvest throughout the town. The other half cleaned the tools and packed them away.

They take care of each other here. I…could be happy here. Safe…here.

“But you don’t…“

Stop right there. Just stop. I know you can feel this just like I can, so don’t deny it. Something’s tugging at my heart.

“Which you’re not fighting,“ Doubt countered. 

What if I’m supposed to be with these people…to protect them? That was the point. I’m being asked to give up my life, to serve these people. People I don’t know. But when I looked around and watched the new friends I’d made, looked at Kyliene, even Nana, I wanted to know them all better.

To fight on their behalf.

“But it’s not your fight,” Doubt blurted out with a whine. “You were snagged by mistake, Wendell. Remember? They wanted Evan, not the default kid who was in the right place at the wrong time.” Doubt started laughing, his tone mocking. “Yeah, I can see you wearing chain mail armor, waving a sword around on a field of battle. Swinging. Hacking. Stabbing.”

A wave of nausea hit my stomach.

“Oh yeah,” Doubt said, “…they got the wrong guy.”

But what if I’m wrong? 

“About what?“

What if I was, in fact, the hero the people had been waiting for? Wouldn’t I be turning my back on my responsibilities? To make matters even more confusing, in less than an hour, the pain in my arm had completely vanished.

“Yeah, butt…“

Moments after Nana braced the wound, my entire arm had flooded with a deep, comforting warmth. Completely washed the pain away.

“Okay, but…“

Not only can I wiggle my fingers, I can make a tight fist and even bend my wrist without pain. What about that?

“Great, the Ithari will heal you, even when you do something stupid?”

Yes.

“Woah,” screamed Doubt. “Who’s in here with me? This is MY personal space!“

“Where are you staying, Wendell?” asked Kyliene, breaking my mode of thought. She stacked another empty box into the supply cart.

“Uh…I’m supposed to meet the High Elder at the Prime Gate at even.” Why did I say that? It felt goofy using the High Elder’s words, but…Did she notice?

“Oh. Good,” she replied, her eyes smiling back at me. “Then you have time to walk me and Nana home.” She paused, “That is…if you don’t mind?”

A strange, almost annoying goober laugh ran up my throat and escaped before he could stop it.

“What was THAT?” Doubt screeched. “Be COOL, man. She’s the cutest thing we’ve seen since…well, since…ever!”

I slapped a hand over my mouth with a ‘WHAP!’…eyes wide with embarrassment, my face turning beet red.

Kyliene giggled and grabbed my hand, slipping her fingers between mine. She tugged softly. “Come on.”

With Kyliene on one arm and Nana on the other, we strolled back towards the market. It was near the end of the day and the shops were closing down. Display carts had been removed, and only a few merchants remained outside. Most were sweeping the cobblestone street.

Suggestively, Kyliene asked with an impish grin, “So, you’re new around here and you’re meeting the High Elder?”

I wasn’t sure what to say, so I bit my bottom lip and said nothing.

“Mind your own business, young lady,” Nana interrupted. “Besides, it’s my turn.” She grinned up at me and I could see where Kyliene got her smiling eyes and spunk from. The attention was nice…and appreciated. I took this as an escape route from the questions and exaggeratedly turned my complete focus to Nana. 

“We have a wonderful history, the Iskari people,” she said. “We are still grateful for the gift of Erimuri.” There was an unmistakable reverence in her tone.

“Erimuri?” I asked. “What’s that?”

“The streets you now walk upon, Wendell. It’s more commonly called Sanctuary by other races, but to those who call it home, its aways been Erimuri. Nana kept talking, but my attention quickly shifted from the old woman's voice as I looked ahead.

The shape of the valley and the gentle slope of the town streets allowed me to see the small black claws of the Prime Gate poking up above the tree line. In the distance, the large white rainbow of a bridge that lead back to the Keep arched high above the park. Yet the biggest distraction of all stood boldly above the ground…the shimmering castle of white stone floating upon the mist of the waterfalls, reflecting the dimming light of the crystals overhead.

The enormous castle, which earlier looked to be born out of the very stone it rested upon, now hovered gracefully, without foundation.

“Stunning, isn’t it?” whispered Kyliene.

“Erimuri, in the ancient tongue, means desert flower,” chimed Nana. It was then I noticed I’d slowed my pace, transfixed by the site ahead. “It became a great haven for our people. There are fifteen valleys, each one named for the fifteen cycles which make up our year. This valley is called Tamku. Each of the elders preside over a valley as their stewardship. The High Elder is the Head Steward of all Sanctuary, and steward of Tamku.” Nodding toward the castle, “The Keep of Tamku was always my favorite.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I whispered.

They waited patiently until I was ready to move on, and then Kyliene guided us down a side road.

Their home was beautifully situated. Facing the lake and trees around the park, it had a great view, not to mention conveniently next to the market. It was practically on my way back to the Prime Gate. The home stood out from the others with its bold red door, adorned with violet-blue and white bellflowers. The window beds on either side burst with rosy-pink geraniums.

Kyliene took the basket into the house, and I helped Nana up the small steps. She took my hand, tenderly kissed it at the door, and held it tight.

“You are a good boy,” she whispered. “I haven’t heard my granddaughter laugh this much since her parents passed. For that, my dear, you have my deepest gratitude.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, but for the first time today, I found myself bewildered as I saw a blue hand placed upon my white hand. The experience had been so comfortable that I’d forgotten the Iskari were blue and I was not. There I was, in a place where I was so obviously the outsider, and yet I felt more ‘normal’ in a day here than I had my whole life at home. I didn’t know what to say, so I leaned down and gave the old woman a gentle hug.

“Awww,” Kyliene cooed in her trilling way.

The old woman waved her hand over her head in submission, “I’m leaving, I’m leaving. Goodnight, Wendell, my dear boy. You come see us again soon, yes? Come back to return my handkerchiefs.” Then she hobbled past her granddaughter and into the house.

My heart pounded as Kyliene leaned in the doorway with that smile. For a moment we just watched each other shyly, stringing out the moments.

Kyliene brushed her hair from her face, tucking it over an ear. Even the small flecks of dirt from the day’s labors looked lovely on her.

“I have to go,” I said, hating to hear that phrase come from my own lips. “I’m supposed to meet the High Elder by sundown.” He frowned, “That’s…even, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Her soft hand slid into mine, entwining our fingers. She stared at the woven colors of flesh for the longest moment, a smile crawling across her face. “Then I better make sure you don’t get lost.”

We didn’t walk so much as stroll along, saying very little.

I’d never felt this way before. 

Heck, I didn’t even know I could feel the way I did…which was amazing, loved, and very eager to walk Kyliene back to her house, just so I could spend more time with her.

“She’s perfect,“ Doubt sighed.

On that, we agreed.

In every way I could think of, Kyliene truly was a perfect person. You’ll probably laugh at me, but for the first time in my life, I felt…whole. Does that make sense? Yes, she was lovely and no, the blue skin didn’t matter at all. In fact, the color made her amazing green eyes and black hair stand out even more. But that wasn’t it. There was something about her very nature. Her words, the way she moved, her kindness, intelligence, her sense of humor…all of it rolled into one package.

She’s perfect. I couldn’t help but grin.

“We’re going to enjoy staying here for the next month,“ Doubt whispered.

But then what? The thought hit me like a fist to the gut. Id have to leave, and walk away from whatever this would grow into! 

“Hey,“ Doubt growled, “I’m finally on board and you’re messing this up?!? THIS IS WHY I MOCK YOU, you KNOW that, right?“

I hadn’t thought that far ahead.

“Oh, for crying’,…then STOP thinking about things. You’re actually GOOD at that.“

“Wendell?” she whispered, “What’s wrong?”

Flustered, I forced a sudden smile to my face. “Oh nothing. Everything’s wonderful.” I turned slightly away, as if glancing off into the distance. Get it together, Wendell. Don’t ruin this. You’ve been so caught up in the here and now, you never considered what it’s going to feel like to leave once the month is over.

“You realize you’re talking to yourself, right?“ Doubt sighed.

To say that I would miss Kyliene was…inadequate. 

“Right. Guess I need to put on another hat here and place the voice of reason.” Doubt cleared his throat. “Oh, come on…you just met her today! You can’t possibly…”

All it took was a single glance, and we both knew.

“Nope. Reason isn’t my job. Maybe staying here is the right decision after all. I’ll leave you to it.”

The crystals were dimming, but not so much so that I couldn’t see the annoyingly enormous smile on the High Elder’s face as we approached the ramp. Embarrassed, I slowly let go of Kyliene’s hand.

Delnar stepped forward, put an arm around Kyliene and squeezed, leaning his cheek tenderly against her forehead. “Hello, my dear. I’m glad to see young Wendell has made friends with one of our more responsible youth. And how is Moira this evening?”

“Nana is very well. It was a fruitful day,” she smirked, her eyes drifting back to me.

The Elder chuckled at the pun and placed a hand on my shoulder. As much as I wanted to shrug it off, I kept up appearances. “Please let her know Caleb should be home within the hour. If you’ll excuse us, my dear, Wendell and I have an appointment to keep.”

“Of course. Goodbye, Wendell.” Her smile was bright, but the expression was questioning. “Will I see you again?”

I looked to the High Elder for an answer to Kyliene’s question…but he simply shrugged his shoulders. That’s right — this was all on me — so I let my heart speak for me.

Tha-THUMP-Thump

“Count on it,” I replied, giving her what I hope looked like a charming smile.

Then I allowed Delnar to lead me up the path toward the Keep.

---

---

Own your own copy of CHOICES