6. The Perfect Distraction
âDistance is irrelevant in this matter. Especially when you side with the unembodied.â He gave me a weak smile. âNothing you need to concern yourself with, my friend.â
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 wasnât 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? Iâd had enough problems with Jeffery and his dogs. The last thing I wanted was adding some âDark Lordâ 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 heâd be complaining or begging me to change my mind and stay.
Nope.
Not a single peep from the blueberry.
âYouâre taking this well,â I said, âconsidering I just dropped a bomb on your plans.â
The High Elder didnât turn around. âI have done what my duty demands of me. That is enough.â
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 mansionâŚbut, uh, thatâs 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 âŚI have this enormous diamond in my chest. Oooo, wait. Itâs supposed to give me magic powers! I wonder what I can do? Can I fly? That would be SO cool if I couldâŚ
No.
âWhat?â I asked.
The High Elder stopped and turned. âYes?â
âUhâŚâ
He waited.
âNever mind,â 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 Elderâs head, perplexed.
WellâŚcan IâŚ?
No.
âWhy not?â I said.
The High Elder stopped once again and turned around. âWhy not, what?â
âWhy canât I do anything with this gem? Arenât I supposed to have magical powers or something?â
âIndeed, you are,â he said. âYour blood, combined with the gem, can make you the most powerful of all Mägo.â
âMägo?â I asked.
Wizard.
âWizard,â said Delnar in unison.
I stopped in my tracks, looking behind and then above me.
âAre you all right?â
Flustered, I asked, âS-so you mean I can, or rather will be ableâŚto actually do magic?â
OH, YES.
The High Elderâs lips never moved. Iâm 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.
âYes, she can,â Delnar said softly.
I looked up, even more confused. âShe can, what?â
âIthäri. You are wondering if she can talk to you,â he said. âYes, she can talkâŚand 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.â
I can do magic, as in REAL magic?
Yes, you can.
My hands trembled with excitement. âIâm curious about something, Delnar. Does magic only work on the world below?â
The High Elder stopped and turned. âYou already know the answer to that, young Wendell. Dax traveled from here to Earth to retrieve you. His magic worked both there and back.â
Good point. I scratched my chin. âHow long would it take for me to learn magic?â I did my best not to go nerdy on the blueberry.
The High Elder shrugged his shoulders and continued on up the stairs. âThat would depend on you. You could learn a substantial amount before you left us.â
That was the best answer I could have been given. Learning magic while I waited, then go home as a mager, or mogerâŚ.orâŚ
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.
âCan I ask another question?â I said.
The High Elder smiled to himself. âYou may ask all the questions you desire. I do not know everything, but if I have the knowledge, it is yours.â
âWhat kind of magic are we talking about? Because I play a lot of roll playing games, and if itâs anything like that, I really want to know more.â
Delnar gave a quick glance over his shoulder, his brows crumpled in confusion. âI am not familiar with ârole playingâ, but I am grateful it has given you an eagerness to learn more,â he said.
âI mean, do you learn to throw fireballs and take over peopleâs minds, orâŚI donât know, turn invisible?â 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 wasnât actually a half-elf.
For the first time, the High Elder chuckled out loud. âThe 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.â
I quickened my pace to get closer. âWhat did you call them again?â
âMägo,â he said.
âYeah, those,âŚthey can actually change their forms?â
The High Elder nodded. âTwo of our brethren upon the Council can transform into creatures of the land, air, and water.â
âSeriously?â I asked.
âSeriously,â he replied.
âDoes everyone do magic around here? I mean, is it common?â
We reached the top of the stairs and walked across his office chamber. We walked to the far door where Iâd originally appearedâŚon my face. âMägo are not common, no,â he said. âThough it varies upon the race and culture.â
âRace and culture?â I said, âIâm not following you.â
Stopping to inspect, Delnar smiled at me reassuringly. âYouâre following just fine.â
I chuckled. âRight. Good to know. Thanks.â
âMagic is more openly accepted among our people, the Evolu, and many of the darker races. Then there are the KutollumâŚâ
âDwarves,â I replied without thinking.
The High Elder grinned widely. âExactly. 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. Heâs 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.â
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 âlordâ thing didnât sound so bad after all. But that was ego talking.
âUhhhh, where are we going?â I asked.Â
âWe are soon to meet with the High Council pertaining to your arrival, and I want to show you something first,â he said.Â
âMore Elders?â I hesitated. âAre they blue, too?â
âYes,â he chuckled. âWe are all blue.â
âNot Dax. Heâs green,â I said.
âDax 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.â
How would THAT be? âYouâŚsaid he was a voluâŚâ
âEvolu,â he said. âThat is what some call an elf.â
I laughed. âDax? An elf? Elves arenât green!â But I paused, âAre they?â
âNo. He is, I admit, an anomaly, but Dax is an Evolu all the same.â
âEe-vaw-loo?â I drawled.
âCorrect.â
âYou know, Delnar, there are quite a few words you use here that we use on Earth. Thatâs confusing to me, because it seems outright impossible. You and I, and even Dax, are speaking the same language.â
âWe are,â he said.
âWe arenât even the same species,â I said, âand we can communicate at first contact? This shouldnât be happening. Care to explain that?â
He smiled at me. âNo.â
I laughed again. âNext, youâre going to tell me there are gnomes and giants, too.â
With a single shrug, the High Elder resumed walking and said nothing.
âSeriously?â This kept getting cooler by the minute. âWhat other races are there? No, wait. You said Iâm from this planet. What am I?â
âYou, my young friend, are one of us. You are Iskäri.â He looked over to me, his smile genuine and friendly.
âBut Iâm not blue,â I said.
âNor 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.â
âOh.â
So the blueberry was my cousin, huh? Well, Evanâs cousin, but he didnât know that, and I had no intention of telling him.
âWhy do you guys need a hero?â I asked. âI mean, you have magic and dragons and, wellâŚpeople like Dax. What do you need a kid like me for?â
We rounded a corner, and the High Elder stopped short.
âThe races are falling,â he said. âThe 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 Lordâs influences are growing.â
âHow can he have power when he isnât even here?â I asked.Â
âDistance is irrelevant in this matter. Especially when you side with the unembodied.â He gave me a weak smile. âNothing you need to concern yourself with, my friend.â
I frowned. âYou shifted from creepy to outright bizarre, Delnar. The unemâwhat?â
He stared at me for a moment, studying me before answering.âUnembodied. Spirits never born â never to receive a body of flesh â who seek to steal them from those who live.â
I shivered. âOkaaaay.â
âMahan 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.â Delnar turned away, his voice becoming firm. âThere 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.â
The High Elder wasnât pulling any punches in the guilt department. I donât know. This all seemed too outrageous to believe, anyway. The only peopleâd Iâd seen since Iâd gotten here were Dax and Delnar. âAnd you think that guy is me?â I said.
âI have been watching over you since I was a young elder,â he said with a confident smile. Then gently, âWendell, 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.â The High Elder grabbed my forearm. âMy efforts were hurried so we could get you the protection of the gem. I didn't I didnât want to leave you potentially open for attack.â
âYou mean assassination, donât you?â I asked, followed by a gulp.
The high Elder nodded.
âHadnât really thought of it that way,â I said. âGuessâŚI should thank you for that one, at least.â
âUnfortunately, you are still vulnerable. You have decided not to accept the mantleâŚand the evil is still striving to find and destroy you.â
âWell, here I am,â I challenged, being deliberately obtuse. âCloser 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?â
Iâm thinking the High Elder understood my implication. He rolled back his shoulders and stood more erect, speaking firmly. âYou made your choice. I may have rushed you. I may have encouraged you. But I did not choose for you.â
Those words, out of all the things that could have been thrown in my face, stung.
He didnât choose for me. YOU said the words. Your stupid greed and assumption, Wendell, not willing to wait â to think things through, like mom and dad always taught you to do. THATâS why youâre here now. Stuck with a King Kong engagement ring jammed through your ribs. You chose. Thatâs the truth of it.
All my life Iâve wanted to be a somebody. I didnât 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 ânoâ, I had a month to change my mind.
I meanâŚmagic. Come on.
Plus, I didnât have to believe anything the High Elder said. Iâd 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 nowâŚjust a deep calmness and peace.
The High Elder placed a hand on my arm, interrupting my thoughts. âCome with me, Wendell. I want you to see something.â
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 didnât 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.
Iâd forgotten about the High Elder until the scuffled footsteps paused next to me. I squeezed my eyes tight and exhaled.
âAre you alright?â Delnar asked.
âDoesâŚIthäri heal my wounds?â I asked. âI mean, if I get hurt?â
Yes, I will.
The High Elder smiled. âAs 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.â
Just the mention of this sent a warm sensation through my body.
âBeholdâŚSanctuary,â the High Elder said with reverence. âA gift from your family to our people.â
Iâd 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.
Thatâs 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.Â
âYou seem more relaxed,â Delnar said.
âThe open air helps a lotâŚâ I said, but when I opened my eyes again, my gaze rose higher and higher.
Whoa.
Iâm 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.
âThis is my favorite view,â whispered the High Elder. âMagnificent, isnât it?â
âIs thatâŚthe place?â I gasped, looking around awkwardly at the High Elder.
Delnar stepped closer. âThat, young Wendell, is Elämä. It is the battlefield, the prize, and your birthplace.â
I glanced back at the monoliths, at the planet, then at the mountains again. âThatâs insane,â I said. âWe really are on a moon.â
Delnar chuckled quietly. âWe 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.â
I was a loooong way from home.
Without warning, my heart started racing and my mouth went dry. Weâd talked about where I was, and that this was all real. I knew I was on a different planet, but this simply didnât register. My breathing became shallow, and all I could do was stare. But here I walk out and see that this isnât some crazy mind-thingy. Itâs not a breakdown or hallucination. There is actually an entire planet out there thatâs not supposed to be here.
Okay, no. Thatâs not right. Iâm not supposed to be here.
My brain hurt trying to take in the possibilities I couldnât explain.
So far away from home.
âGo explore,â the High Elder encouraged with a gentle, fatherly smile. âYou are safe here.â
I had to yank my thoughts back. Something in me cracked. âWhat?â I asked.
âTake some time and explore our magnificent town,â 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. âWhat about that meeting with the Council?â I asked.
âMeet 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.â Then he noticed my confusion. He pointed. âThat structure in the middle of the park. The three big fingers curled upward? That is the Prime Gate. Meet me thereâŚat dark. All the main roads lead back here, so you cannot get lost.âÂ
He didnât realize I had a particular set of skills.
âDo you understand?â Delnar asked.
I nodded. Even though I didnât, 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,âŚALONE. Wasnât 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 justâŚleft me? I donât know anybody. Then again, he didnât 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 dailyâŚstuff. It would be rude to interrupt them, right?
My stomach growled loudly in protest.
Right. I am hungry.
âŚâŚâŚâŚ.
Fine.
****
Mom always said I was likable, as did Evan. So thatâs what weâre going with. Charm. Cuteness. VulnerableâŚin a âmanlyâ way. If that doesnât work, weâll 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 bridgeâs 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 wasnât 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 cornerâŚa 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 lookedâŚout 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.Â
âHey,â 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 didnât you say something else? Stupid, stupid. STUPID.
Loud laughing in the distance caught my attention.
Right. Mistakes happen. Remember, youâre a kind guy. People will like you. Have confidence. Thisâll 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 andâŚsweet stuff.
My stomach growled like a wild beast.
Alright, alright! Weâre 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 farmerâs 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 patronâs skin color, the market looked a lot like something Iâd 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. Thatâs 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, âGood Morningâ, 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 Iâm not an oddity. Huh. Well, the High Elder said there were other Iskari who had pink skin too, soâŚ
Barging into my wandering thoughts, a stout man at the corner shop hollered, âWould you like to try the sugar buns?â He stepped out of the doorway, wiping his fat hands on an apron, beaming directly at me. At first glance, I wasnât sure the shop owner was talking to me. I looked behind me, then pointed at myself. âAre you talking to m-me?â
The man grinned widely. âOf course Iâm talking to you!â Waving a hand for me to come closer, he beamed at me. âCome, come. See what weâve created today!â He said with obvious pride. âWe 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.â
The aroma of sugar and butter pulled at me until I hovered over the cart, smelling the bread and cinnamon. Thatâs when I reached for a back pocket that wasnât there.
Oh, crap. The High Elder hadnât given me anything to pay for food. My stomach whimpered with another growl.Â
It was going to be a looooong day.
âNo, thank you,â I said sheepishly. My stomach protesting with a loud moan. âIâŚuhâŚdonât have any money.â
The manâs jovial belly jiggled as he laughed out loud. âAh, youâre new here!â He reached out, grabbed my arm, and pulled me close. âWe donât 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.âÂ
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.
âMmâŚMmmmmâŚMmmmmmmm!â 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. âIâll take THAT as a true testimony of success,â he said. âMore?â
What was I supposed to do, be rude? Thatâs not how MY mother raised me. With an eager nod and a muffled thank you, I went about sampling everything in the display. When Iâd had my fill, the kind baker wrapped a small dark loaf of sour bread in a white cloth and handed it to me.
âNow be off with you,â he said. âThereâs far more than my goods you should sample at the market.â He paused, seeming to consider something, then patted me on the back. âWhen you have need, my young friend, you ask when among the Iskari people. Understand?â
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 wasnât 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 didnât feel aloneâŚor 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 couldnât help but laugh. It was all so amazing to me. Luckily, my genuine shocks of delight didnât 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 tomatoâŚand it turned out to taste exactly like a cherry tomato.Â
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?
âWatch it,â 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.
âOh, no! Sorry. Sorry!â she cried, people skipping and hopping to avoid trampling the small silver fruits.Â
I dropped to my knees, turning the basket aright. âIâm so sorry,â I said. âItâs my fault. I should have looked where I was going.â It felt like an old arcade game of whack-a-mole, snatching the escaping produce before it could roll out of reach.
âNo, my mother always told me not to carry the baskets so full,â she sighed in frustration. Reaching for an escaping piece, the girl stopped short when she noticed my hands getting to it first.âGoodness!â she exclaimed, pulling back in surprise. âWhatâs wrong with your skin?âÂ
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.
âWell, hello!â she said, freely studying me. That beautiful smile grew as she did.
WâŚwâŚwow. SheâsâŚ.wowww. Nervously, I stammered, âReally, IâŚIâm sorry about this. CâŚcan I carry it for you?â Not sure what to do, I worked with my big toothy grin, my face feeling warm, and lifted the basket from her arms. âWhereâs your shop?â I asked.
âRight behind you, boy,â 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. âThank you, Kyliene,â he said. âGive my fondest regards to your grandmother.â
âYouâre welcome, Alor,â she sang cheerfully, without taking her gaze from me. âNana said she hopes the salve is working for you.â
Alor cleared his throat and averted his eyes. âUh, âŚyes.â He set the empty basket down between me andâŚKylieneâŚsighâŚ.then turned back to his shop. âGood day, dear.â
I watched Alor leave and then looked backâŚ.to find Kyliene staring at me, still smiling without a word. Strange thing was, it didnât bother me as much as he thought it would. I wasnât exactly used to attention from girls.Â
Why wonât 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 backâŚshe was still staring. My smile broadened to match her own.Â
Oh, I am SO glad Iâm stuck here for a month. Sheâs 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, thatâs weird and high on the creepy scale. But I mean, wow. She looked close to my age, and I didnât care one bit that she was blue.
Besides the fact that she was talking to me and not, you know, running awayâŚthere was something about her. Something that pulled hard at my heart. Honestly, I donât know what came over me, but I went with this strange new rush of courage and held out my hand. âKyliene?â
Like a delayed firecracker, she popped upright, face all aglow. âYou know my name?â she piqued. âWow.â
I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. âNo, the guy who took the fruit saidâŚâ
âFruit!â she squeaked. âNana! I need to get back to Nana.â She looked confused, turning in circles. âYes. She canât see, you know. Oh, you donât 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.â She suddenly paused. âAnd you are?â 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.
Shouldnât 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.
âUmâŚWendell?â I gulped, changed my expression, hoping to look nonchalant.
Kyliene giggled. âAre you sure?â she asked sweetly, batting her long eyelashes.
âUhâŚ,â I said, with an awkward, dopey laugh. âYup, I amâŚI am Wendell.â I had to be red as a beet, cause my cheeks were on FIRE. Whereâs Evan when I need him? What do I do now??
âOkay,â she chimed. âDo you like silveens, Wendell?â Picking up the empty basket, she put the handle over her forearm.
I cleared his throat. âUh, silveens? I, uhâŚâ
âSilver fruit, small, beautiful, super sweetâŚâ
Just like you? Before I could answer, Kyliene slipped her arm through mine and pulled me down the road.
âI really could use a strong, handsome man to help me lift this heavy basket.â She flashed me another smile. âI donât want to ruin the fruit weâve worked so long to grow.â
âO-okayâŚâ I said, in my manly-ish tone. Butterflies zipped between my stomach and heart. Oh yeah, theyâre talkinâ 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 didnât 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! Youâre smelling her! You donât SMELL girlsâwhatâs WRONG with you!?! Thatâs weird. DONâT BE WEIRD!! You donât want to blow thisâŚso 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.Â
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, Kylieneâs grandmother, was a third generation âhead stewardâ 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, âYouâll always be better at and more loyal to something you love, wonât you?â 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. âCan you keep a secret?â she said in a low tone.
I nodded.
âCaleb, my little brother, heâs a page to the High Elder.â 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 GnolaumâŚis coming.â She gripped my shirt sleeve in both fists. âThe GNOLAUM. Isnât that exciting!?â Kyliene bounced on the balls of her feet. âWeâve waited hundreds of years for the Hero of the Gem to return!â
My heart sunk. She was talking aboutâŚme. 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 didnât.
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.Â
âCome on!â 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.
âNana, Iâm back!â 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. âI was worrying. You took longer than usual, Kyliene, and thatâs saying a great deal!â
Looking up at me through those long lashes, she leaned closer to her grandmotherâs ear and whispered, âI was distracted.â When I hesitated, she reached out, grabbed me and pulled me near with a nod of her head. She placed my hand within her grandmotherâs. âThis is Wendell,â she said. âHeâs offered to help us today, Nana.â
âDid you now?â Nana laughed knowingly. She patted my hand gingerly. Without waiting for a response, she added, âThen be about the field. The dayâs waning.â
âYes, Nana,â Kyliene smirked. Taking my hand from Nanaâs, she squeezed it tight and pulled me along.
âWhatâŚam I going to be doing?â I asked, puzzled. The closest Iâve ever been to farming was pulling weeds.
Kyliene slid closer, wrapped both arms around one of mine and smiled up at me. âYouâre going to spend the rest of the day with me. If you donât mind.â Her head suddenly popped upright. âOh! Iâm so sorry! I didnât even ask you if you had plansâŚor if you were waiting for someone elseâŚ.,â she frowned, âor if that someone else was a girl.â Letting go of my arm, she sighed. âUngh! Kyliene, you idiot! Youâve gotten in the way of another girlâŚâ
âNoâwaitâŚâ
âHere I am, jumping in where I donât belong and sheâs probably back there, in the market, wondering where youâve gone!â Shifting in front of me, she pleaded, âForgive me, please! Youâve been SO kind and wonderful â walking with me, listening to my rants and jabbering, being so polite while your girlfriend is left stranded on her ownâŚâ
âBut I donât have aâŚâ
Tears welled up in her eyes, which seemed to amplify how adorable she really was. âI should have been more thoughtful.â She blinked away tears and laid her head against my shoulder. âI should have asked before, assuming you were free to spend time with a stranger like me. IâŚâ
âKyliene!â I jumped in, my smile probably a bit too wide and filled with too much glee. âIâm not waiting for anyone.â
She paused.
She looked up at me.
Then she blinked once.
âButâŚyour girlfriend, back at the marketâŚâ
I chuckled. âDoesnât exist.â
Kyliene frowned. âWendell, thatâs not a gracious thing to say about her.â
âNo, no! She doesnât exist, because I wasnât waiting for anyoneâŚI was alone when we met. Iâve been wandering through the market all by myself.â
Kylieneâs eyes opened wide, âOh!â She sniffed and wiped her tears away. âSo, I wasnât being rude?â
Grinning still, âNope.â
âAnnnnd, would you like to spend the day helping me in the orchards?â she asked sheepishly.
âI really would.â
Kyliene leaned in closer and whispered, âIs there a girl waiting OUTside the market, somewhereâŚanywhereâŚfor you?â
I laughed. âNope.â
She gave a big, open sigh and squeezed my hand with hers. âOhhhh good.â
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 Kylieneâs 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 didnât 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 teensâŚand most especially in front of Kyliene, seemed daunting.
But I already said I would, I signed inwardly. Canât back out now. Reaching up to a low-hanging branch, I pulled at one of the small, round silver fruits.
It wouldnât come free.
Come on, Wendell. Sheâs 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. âIâve never, uhâŚâ Swallowing my pride, I tried the humble approach. âIâve never done this before. How do you get them off the tree?â
Kyliene smiled slyly. âWith magic, duh.â
âMagic?â I said. âSeriously.â
She nodded soberly. âAbsolutely. Itâs a magic every steward before me has used and everyone who labors with us must master.â She drew closer, lowering her voice to a near whisper, âAre you willing to abide by what you are about to be taught?â
Clearing my throat, I soberly replied, âI am.â
Kylieneâs eyes narrowed. âAnd do you promise to show other stewards of the grove the proper use of this magic? Should you be called upon?â
âYes. Absolutely,â I grinned. YES! Iâm going to learn magic! Heck, yeah!
âThen I shall teach you the ancient lore of silveen harvesting,â she said. Biting her bottom lip, Kyliene held up a small blade with a wooden handle. âThis is called a knife. If you draw it across the stem of the fruit, it magically drops into your hand.â
She held it out to me, handle first.
I rolled my eyes. âSo THATâS how they do it around here, huh?â
She winked at me, and we both laughed.
Turns out I wasnât as bad at harvesting fruit as I thought Iâd be. The sweet scent of the ripened silveen fills your nostrils as you work. It was like adrenaline in my veins. Itâs 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.
âSo, Wendell,â started Tyra, a young girl with tight frizzy hair and big, piercing blue eyes, âdid you come to visit with the merchants?â
The other kids looked at me expectantly.
I froze in mid-chew. The High Elder had said nothing about keeping secrets. In fact, heâd done the exact opposite â 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. âSomething like that.â Better not get myself trapped in a corner. Donât want to lieâŚbut I donât want people thinking that Iâm staying here, either.
I looked over at KylieneâŚand found her staring at me again.
She fluttered her eyelashes.
Sighhhhh. Then againâŚ
By early afternoon, Iâd 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.
âLooks like we have a cutter among us!â cried one of the younger boys.
âWeâll see about that!â replied another, picking up his pace.
âNow donât go cutting yourself, Bram,â Kyliene chimed, âjust because you want to be the fastest.â
âBut I AM the fastest,â 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. Heâd 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.Â
Following his lead, I placed my knife between my teeth, grabbed a branch and prepared to lunge.
âWendell, I wouldnâtâŚ,â Kyliene said, but it was too late. I lunged from the tree and was airborne.
âŚand then not.
Iâd underestimated the jump, and caught hold of the next tree branch with a single hand. It wasnât enough. I missed my foothold, and my body dropped. Luckily, the knife flipped from my lips with an, âOh no,â landing on the nearby grass. The tree branch held, but my grip didnât. I landed on my backside, flung across the bench below. Landing squarely against my forearm, I cried out as bones snapped.
âWENDELL!â Kyliene cried out, and the cheering stopped. Dashing to my side, she grabbed hold of my arm to help me up.
âOW! Ow, ow, ow!â I yelped. âArms hurt. Landed on it wrong, blast it.â
âBring him here, child,â Nana called out. âLetâs have a look.â
I sat still, bitting my lip as the blind woman gently inspecting the bones with experienced fingers.
âYou, my dear boy, are a reckless harvester!â 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, âYou should practice a bit more before trying to fly like a squirrel! HAHA!â
I chuckledâŚthen flinched.
âFeels like you have a cracked bone. Not quite broken, but if jarred enough, youâll certainly finish the job. It needs to be protected. Kyliene, fetch me some pruned branches for a splint.â
Within a few minutes, the young Iskari wrapped my forearm securely with a couple of Nana's handkerchiefs, just as she was told.
âThat should do it, for now,â she said.
âThank you,â I replied. Everyone was standing around, staring at me. They genuinely looked concerned, so I grinned. âLooks like Bram is DEFINITELY the fastest!â
The older boys whooped and hollered, bouncing the exhausted worker on their collective shoulders. I cheered with them, chanting Bramâs name.
When Kyliene shot me a questioning look, I simply winked.
I wasâŚactually 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.
âBut you donât belong here,â nagged a familiar voice.
I sighed. Iâd wondered what happened to you.
âYou locked the door on me,â Doubt said. âRude. Completely understandable, and I would have done it also, but still rude.â
Yet no one had questioned me. Not a single person Iâd 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.
âŚso 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. IâŚcould be happy here. SafeâŚhere.
âBut you donâtâŚâ
Stop right there. Just stop. I know you can feel this just like I can, so donât deny it. Somethingâs tugging at my heart.
âWhich youâre not fighting,â Doubt countered.Â
What if Iâm supposed to be with these peopleâŚto protect them? That was the point. Iâm being asked to give up my life, to serve these people. People I donât know. But when I looked around and watched the new friends Iâd made, looked at Kyliene, even Nana, I wanted to know them all better.
To fight on their behalf.
âBut itâs not your fight,â Doubt blurted out with a whine. âYou were snagged by mistake, Wendell. Remember? They wanted Evan, not the default kid who was in the right place at the wrong time.â Doubt started laughing, his tone mocking. âYeah, I can see you wearing chain mail armor, waving a sword around on a field of battle. Swinging. Hacking. Stabbing.â
A wave of nausea hit my stomach.
âOh yeah,â Doubt said, ââŚthey got the wrong guy.â
But what if Iâm wrong?Â
âAbout what?â
What if I was, in fact, the hero the people had been waiting for? Wouldnât 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.
âYeah, buttâŚâ
Moments after Nana braced the wound, my entire arm had flooded with a deep, comforting warmth. Completely washed the pain away.
âOkay, butâŚâ
Not only can I wiggle my fingers, I can make a tight fist and even bend my wrist without pain. What about that?
âGreat, the Ithari will heal you, even when you do something stupid?â
Yes.
âWoah,â screamed Doubt. âWhoâs in here with me? This is MY personal space!â
âWhere are you staying, Wendell?â asked Kyliene, breaking my mode of thought. She stacked another empty box into the supply cart.
âUhâŚIâm supposed to meet the High Elder at the Prime Gate at even.â Why did I say that? It felt goofy using the High Elderâs words, butâŚDid she notice?
âOh. Good,â she replied, her eyes smiling back at me. âThen you have time to walk me and Nana home.â She paused, âThat isâŚif you donât mind?â
A strange, almost annoying goober laugh ran up my throat and escaped before he could stop it.
âWhat was THAT?â Doubt screeched. âBe COOL, man. Sheâs the cutest thing weâve seen sinceâŚwell, sinceâŚever!â
I slapped a hand over my mouth with a âWHAP!ââŚeyes wide with embarrassment, my face turning beet red.
Kyliene giggled and grabbed my hand, slipping her fingers between mine. She tugged softly. âCome on.â
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, âSo, youâre new around here and youâre meeting the High Elder?â
I wasnât sure what to say, so I bit my bottom lip and said nothing.
âMind your own business, young lady,â Nana interrupted. âBesides, itâs my turn.â She grinned up at me and I could see where Kyliene got her smiling eyes and spunk from. The attention was niceâŚand appreciated. I took this as an escape route from the questions and exaggeratedly turned my complete focus to Nana.Â
âWe have a wonderful history, the Iskari people,â she said. âWe are still grateful for the gift of Erimuri.â There was an unmistakable reverence in her tone.
âErimuri?â I asked. âWhatâs that?â
âThe streets you now walk upon, Wendell. Itâs 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 groundâŚthe 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.
âStunning, isnât it?â whispered Kyliene.
âErimuri, in the ancient tongue, means desert flower,â chimed Nana. It was then I noticed Iâd slowed my pace, transfixed by the site ahead. âIt 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.â Nodding toward the castle, âThe Keep of Tamku was always my favorite.â
âIâve never seen anything like it,â 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.
âYou are a good boy,â she whispered. âI havenât heard my granddaughter laugh this much since her parents passed. For that, my dear, you have my deepest gratitude.â
I wasnât 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 Iâd 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 ânormalâ in a day here than I had my whole life at home. I didnât know what to say, so I leaned down and gave the old woman a gentle hug.
âAwww,â Kyliene cooed in her trilling way.
The old woman waved her hand over her head in submission, âIâm leaving, Iâm leaving. Goodnight, Wendell, my dear boy. You come see us again soon, yes? Come back to return my handkerchiefs.â 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 dayâs labors looked lovely on her.
âI have to go,â I said, hating to hear that phrase come from my own lips. âIâm supposed to meet the High Elder by sundown.â He frowned, âThatâsâŚeven, right?â
âUh-huh.â 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. âThen I better make sure you donât get lost.â
We didnât walk so much as stroll along, saying very little.
Iâd never felt this way before.Â
Heck, I didnât even know I could feel the way I didâŚwhich was amazing, loved, and very eager to walk Kyliene back to her house, just so I could spend more time with her.
âSheâs perfect,â Doubt sighed.
On that, we agreed.
In every way I could think of, Kyliene truly was a perfect person. Youâll probably laugh at me, but for the first time in my life, I feltâŚwhole. Does that make sense? Yes, she was lovely and no, the blue skin didnât matter at all. In fact, the color made her amazing green eyes and black hair stand out even more. But that wasnât it. There was something about her very nature. Her words, the way she moved, her kindness, intelligence, her sense of humorâŚall of it rolled into one package.
Sheâs perfect. I couldnât help but grin.
âWeâre going to enjoy staying here for the next month,â 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!Â
âHey,â Doubt growled, âIâm finally on board and youâre messing this up?!? THIS IS WHY I MOCK YOU, you KNOW that, right?â
I hadnât thought that far ahead.
âOh, for cryingâ,âŚthen STOP thinking about things. Youâre actually GOOD at that.â
âWendell?â she whispered, âWhatâs wrong?â
Flustered, I forced a sudden smile to my face. âOh nothing. Everythingâs wonderful.â I turned slightly away, as if glancing off into the distance. Get it together, Wendell. Donât ruin this. Youâve been so caught up in the here and now, you never considered what itâs going to feel like to leave once the month is over.
âYou realize youâre talking to yourself, right?â Doubt sighed.
To say that I would miss Kyliene wasâŚinadequate.Â
âRight. Guess I need to put on another hat here and place the voice of reason.â Doubt cleared his throat. âOh, come onâŚyou just met her today! You canât possiblyâŚâ
All it took was a single glance, and we both knew.
âNope. Reason isnât my job. Maybe staying here is the right decision after all. Iâll leave you to it.â
The crystals were dimming, but not so much so that I couldnât see the annoyingly enormous smile on the High Elderâs face as we approached the ramp. Embarrassed, I slowly let go of Kylieneâs hand.
Delnar stepped forward, put an arm around Kyliene and squeezed, leaning his cheek tenderly against her forehead. âHello, my dear. Iâm glad to see young Wendell has made friends with one of our more responsible youth. And how is Moira this evening?â
âNana is very well. It was a fruitful day,â 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. âPlease let her know Caleb should be home within the hour. If youâll excuse us, my dear, Wendell and I have an appointment to keep.â
âOf course. Goodbye, Wendell.â Her smile was bright, but the expression was questioning. âWill I see you again?â
I looked to the High Elder for an answer to Kylieneâs questionâŚbut he simply shrugged his shoulders. Thatâs right â this was all on me â so I let my heart speak for me.
Tha-THUMP-Thump
âCount on it,â 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.





Hope you liked it.
Still needs refining.
I'm looking forward to more of this.