Unable to go to sleep, she sat on her bed in the dark room and watched the shifting patterns of moonlight trickling in through the wind-rattled trees. Two year old Crystal slept peacefully in her own bed a few feet away while Crystal’s twin Rock shared Leaf’s room on the other side of the plank wall that divided the log addition into the girls’ room and the boys’ room. Soon Crystal would have the room to herself. She hadn’t told anyone yet she was leaving, but her decision was made. At nineteen it was time to reclaim her true identity, come what may. She glanced at her little sister realizing that Crystal would grow up without her, but with two brothers, the day would definitely come when Crystal would appreciate having her own room. Melinda smiled wistfully at the thought.
Sitting in the quiet darkness alone with her thoughts, Melinda felt the slight tug of the mysterious key she kept tucked away hidden in a little musical jewelry box buried in a drawer. The strange sensation was very subtle and only noticeable when there were no distractions. Reaching from where she sat, Melinda pulled out the bottom drawer of her nightstand and dug out the jewelry box, jostling the release of a single musical note from the movement that blended in perfectly with the faint tinkle of the wind chimes outside. She sat with the box in her lap for a long hesitant moment without opening it. The object’s strange tug became more perceptible with the box in her lap. Slowly she opened the softly padded blue lid, colorless in the dark, and removed the numerous pieces of costume jewelry she had collected or made over recent years. This facilitated lifting the bottom lining, tearing from the sides due to wear. Reaching in with her fingers, she retrieved the mysterious key from its hiding spot. The flat metallic artifact acquired through a nightmare didn’t reflect the moonlight, but seemingly drew in the darkness. In her hand the urge to leave her home of six years and seek…seek what she didn’t know…became even stronger. In a way it spoke to her heart, for she had already decided to pick up her life in the outside world…the world that extended beyond the confines of the forest of the northern Susitna Valley.
It was not a rash decision; Melinda had given this move a lot of thought over the past few months. I am ready to reclaim my identity. By leaving I can protect the Order of the Oracle from exposure. No one will ever have to know I’ve been living up here all this time.
Her decision finalized, Melinda stashed the strange key back in its hiding place and slipped under the covers on her bed, bringing the coverlet up to her chin. Soon the warmth lulled her into deep, peaceful sleep.
In the spring awakened end-on-the-road village along the Alaska Railroad Ilene walked to the nearby train station. A silent sigh of relief made room for a blissful sense of freedom as Ilene, a backpack filled with delectable goodies slung over one shoulder, reached the nearly empty local train platform. After a long and uneventful winter with few distractions Ilene and her mother were definitely in need of a break from one another. Her mother seemed to grow crankier and harder to please by the day. Thoughts of her constantly grumbling, less-than-happy mother were already growing fonder as the distance increased between them.
Perhaps I’ve been a bit cranky lately myself. I know Mother means well, but I’m a grown woman; I need more space to breathe. And she needs to develop more interests; something or someone other than the gift shop…and me.
Ilene embraced the day, surprisingly sunny and clear…and remarkably still…after such a blustery night. Has spring finally arrived? Warm sunshine glared blindingly off what remained of open areas of white snow, while the snowpack along the roadway, darkened by a winter’s accumulation of road grime, dripped with snow melt. Brilliant sunlight reflected off Ilene’s dark gray eyes; the warmth of the sun allowing her to pocket her knitted hat exposing an abundance of curly mossy brown hair that refused to be tamed. A trip into the wilderness to visit Rahlys relieved tension. Rahlys didn’t know she was coming, but Ilene had an open invitation. Probably the guest cabin would be available, although since Kaylya and Quaylyn left a year ago, Ilene has been staying with Rahlys at the main cabin, both women preferring company to help dispel the loneliness.
The quaint little local train clanged merrily as it approached the platform, surprising everyone by being on time. Classic and with character, the local train bore no resemblance to a rocket or a silver bullet but rather the old antique passenger cars nostalgic of the old west. Upon boarding, Ilene glanced around; there were a few travelers occupying seats toward the front of the railcar, so Ilene chose a seat further back on the side of the aisle she knew offered the best views of the mountain and the Susitna River along the way.
As the train began to move forward, a new conductor ambled toward her to collect her ticket. Ilene allowed herself to relax and enjoy the anonymity that the change in conductors afforded her. For once she would not be interrogated with questions she didn’t want to answer concerning her father. With the ticket transaction quickly completed and her mile post destination duly noted, the conductor moved on. A vista of the mighty Susitna River, still mostly encased in ice with only a few open leads, winked in the sunshine with Denali and the Alaska Range towering majestically over the frozen river.
Heading up the tracks naturally drew her thoughts toward Theon. The rhythmic clacking of the train wheels on the rails lulled her into deep reminiscence; she barely noticed the awakening boreal forest flicking by her window. Two years have passed since she has seen her father. Theon, known as Half Ear by the locals, had been notably unusual even by Alaska standards, his mysterious disappearance never accounted for. Only Ilene and the members of the Order of the Oracle knew the truth. Theon returned to Aaia, his own world, to die…at least in his own mind. Nevertheless, the holographic crystal from Rahlys’ painting assured Ilene her father was still alive, despite his unbelievably advanced age. Her heart longed to see him again, but Ilene knew that was unlikely with the vast expanse of the Milky Way galaxy effectively separating them.
Aaia! What a strange and fabulous world Aaia had proven to be! She relived in her mind the fascinating journey she, Rahlys, her father, and Raven had undertaken with Rojaire, Anthya, Zayla, Quaylyn, and Brakalar across the Devastated Continent searching for a lost expedition. The product of an Aaian father and Earthling mother, Ilene had felt a connection to the mysterious continent that Rahlys didn’t share. Will I ever have a chance to claim my Aaian ancestry? It will probably be up to the High Council of the Crystal Table.
Sooner than she expected, the conductor returned to announce the approach of her destination.
“Oh…thank you,” Ilene murmured jostling her awareness back to the present. Slowly she followed the conductor to the exit, her body swaying gently to the rocking of the slowing train. The train stopped with a gentle lurch in front of a packed snow trail that led into the woods.
“Are you sure you will be all right?” the conductor queried showing some concern over dropping off a young unarmed woman alone into the wilderness.
“I’ll be fine,” she reassured him with a smile and stepped down the steps to the rail bed below.
“Will you be taking the train back this afternoon?” the conductor asked. The train crew would know to look for her on the return trip if she answered in the affirmative.
“No, thank you, I’ll be staying for a while.”
“Take care, then,” he said and radioed an “All Clear” to the engineer. The train pulled away leaving Ilene to relish the soft murmur of the open lead in the icy river across the railroad tracks from Rahlys’ trail. The sun reflected blindingly off the pristine snowpack bringing tears to her eyes as she donned her pack properly and headed for the trail leading into the woods.
It was a half mile hike to Rahlys’ log home over a meandering trail that wove up and down hills. The bare birch trees did little to shade the trail but the shadows they did cast helped greatly in reducing the glare. A flock of song birds recently returned from their southern migration flitted about the trees filling their bellies with the abundance of birch seeds still clinging to the branches. She hadn’t gone fa
r when the exertion forced her to pause long enough to drop her pack and remove her jacket. “It’s warm,” she said to no one.
“Aaaarrrk!”
Raven’s unexpected piercing cry startled Ilene. She hadn’t seen him arrive. Perhaps he had been there all along. Knowing Raven, he sat in wait intending to startle her. And since Raven knew she was here, so did Rahlys.
Ilene! Do you want me to meet you on the trail? Rahlys’ telepathed message arriving instantly.
Thanks Rahlys, but that won’t be necessary. Raven is watching over me and I’m enjoying the hike.
Then I’ll see you when you get here.
Raven flew short distances ahead relating mental pictures to Ilene of the trail and surrounding woods. It was fascinating having a bird’s eye view of her surroundings along the way. She became so engrossed in Raven’s telepathed images, she forgot to watch where her feet were going and tripped on an exposed tree root sticking up in the trail, barely catching her balance in time to prevent a fall. Then of course, Rahlys couldn’t resist meeting her part of the way on the trail and soon the two women were greeting each other warmly.
“Aaaarrrk!” Raven cawed as he flew off. Rahlys immediately relieved Ilene of her pack, teleporting it up ahead.
“Careful with that,” Ilene warned. “The makings for our stay-up-all-night-and-chat party are in there.”
To Ilene, Rahlys looked pallid from lack of spirit and exposure to sunshine. Her long graying straw-brown hair lacked luster, her pale blue eyes lacked their usual gleam of contentment, and her strong, slender body had shed unnecessary weight. There were twelve years difference in their age, Rahlys close to pushing forty, but their bond of friendship had been forged through deeply shared connections and incredibly dangerous adventures.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” Rahlys exclaimed with true delight. “What a neat surprise! I’m in need of a distraction.”
“I’m so glad to be here,” Ilene sighed just as truthfully. “It was definitely time for a mother/daughter separation.”
“How are things at the gift shop?”
“Business is picking up, but Mother and Angela can handle it easily. They don’t need me there. I thought we should have Maggie over too; leave Vince with the kids,” Ilene said turning the conversation back to partying.
“Oh, girls’ night out; sounds good,” Rahlys laughed softly, breathing some spirit back into her.
One more rise in the trail and they arrived at Rahlys’ cabin shimmering warmly in the sun. The accumulation of snow around the cabin had barely been disturbed through the winter except for the well-defined trail in and subsidiary routes to the woodshed and outhouse.
Entering Rahlys’ once spacious log home was now the equivalent of walking into a large but crowded rustic live-in art studio. Colorful vivid renditions of moose, bears, foxes, ravens, flowers, berries, ice formations, auroras, children building snow people, children sledding, chickens…. Finished works in acrylics and watercolors crowded all available wall space and lay stacked on furniture, while makeshift easels displaying works in progress limited navigable floor space. Tubes of water colors, acrylics, paint spotted rags, brushes both dry and soaking in water in canning jars, and dried out makeshift pallets, along with empty and partially full cups of cold coffee covered every bit of table and counter space.
“I don’t have to ask what you’ve been doing,” Ilene gasped soaking it all in. “Do you ever come up for air?” she asked genuine concern flavoring her words.
Rahlys hunched her shoulder, “Sometimes.”
Rahlys’ focus on her work had been intense now for a long time…to the point of self-neglect. Ilene was certain the single-mindedness was her effort to fill a void left from Quaylyn’s departure nearly a year ago. With a sympathetic sigh she let her concern rest for now; there would be plenty of time to talk later. “Where’s my pack?” she asked suddenly remembering it.
“At the guest cabin; I thought we would heat it up and have our little party there.” Rahlys said waving her hand apologetically over the art clutter. Plus I could use the change in surroundings; and that way I won’t be taking furtive studying glances at my work all night if it’s out of sight.
“That makes sense…I guess.” On that note, Ilene quickly urged Rahlys back out into the warm spring sunshine.
After a few moments of simply basking in the warmth of the sun, they headed out through the trees toward the guest cabin several hundred yards away, stomping down the snow to set in a trail. After a few yards of this Rahlys called a halt. “Let me take care of this.” Realizing Rahlys had something in mind, Ilene stepped back to get out of the way.
Rahlys stood tall, her concentration intense, as she studied how she wanted to direct the force she would release to achieve the desired result. When she felt she was ready, she stretched out her hands before her, bringing her fingertips together like the prow of a ship or a snowplow and drew deeply on the abundance of elemental energy all around. Suddenly an invisible force gouged a three foot wide pathway through the snow, spewing it off to the sides, all the way to the door of the guest cabin.
“Nice…,” Ilene nodded impressed. “And you didn’t even need to pull up the crystal for help.”
“Since Quaylyn’s been gone, sometimes I forget I still possess these amazing abilities.” Ilene was surprised to hear Rahlys speak Quaylyn’s name out loud. She hadn’t done that in a long time.
Rahlys was the Guardian of the Light, in possession of the Oracle of Light, which gave her incredible powers. The title carried great meaning on Quaylyn’s world, Aaia, but was unknown on Earth beyond their tiny circle. “I might as well send some firewood while I’m at it,” Rahlys decided and in moments had transferred an abundance of kindling and split pieces from the woodshed to the doorsteps of the guest cabin for easy access for tonight’s party.
After building a quick small fire in the stove to take the chill out of the cabin and setting up for their get together, Rahlys and Ilene dropped in on Vince, Maggie, and the kids surprising them with a knock on the door, which set Keiluk, who had been sleeping by the stove, to barking.
“Rahlys…and Ilene!” Maggie exclaimed upon opening the door over Keiluk’s excited barking. “Oh hush,” she admonished Keiluk, “fine guard dog you make…waiting till someone knocks to bark.” Keiluk stopped barking, but continued vying for attention with tail-wagging joy.
“Hi Keiluk, it’s so good to see you too,” Ilene assured her petting the rambunctious over-grown year-old white puppy vigorously. Then like a volcanic eruption, children spewed out of the boys’ room led by Leaf.
“Who goes there?” Leaf exclaimed taking a warrior’s stance and brandishing a cardboard sword. Rock and Crystal took positions beside him, each child boasting a different shade of red hair and green eyes. Crystal’s strawberry blonde curls, wildly framing her delicate heart shaped face, blazed in the afternoon sun streaming in from a southwest window; her hazel green eyes flashed with excitement. Rock resembled Vince the most of all the children. A small but brawny sentinel beside Leaf and Crystal’s delicate features, Rock boasted a strong, sturdy frame topped with thick luxuriant reddish-brown hair and a strongly chiseled face alight with green-flecked brown eyes. Standing above the others, Leaf’s flaming orange hair and emerald eyes were the most striking, making Maggie’s coloring dull in comparison. The visitors greeted all three children enthusiastically, giving each child a big hug.
“Look…my robot,” Crystal cooed holding up her favorite toy.
“Why aren’t you children outside playing?” Rahlys asked. “It’s a beautiful sunny day.” She didn’t mention that it had taken Ilene’s arrival to get her outside.
“We’ve been out in the woodlot,” Maggie explained her own red hair in disarray. “I just got them fed and changed into dry clothes. I was thinking about putting them down for a nap, but it’s getting a bit late,” she added glancing out at the setting sun.
“Good, so they should sleep well tonight, because we have plans for
you,” Ilene said glancing around. “Where are Vince and Melinda?” she asked.
“Bringing in another load of firewood; they should be zipping in with another sled load any minute now. They were getting ready to quit for today.”
The children had turned their attention back to each other and the women had barely settled in with coffee and tea when Melinda and Vince came in covered with woodchips, their outer clothing damp from snow melt. Their arrival created a new wave of greetings.
“So Ilene, how are things in town?” Vince asked after stepping out of his overalls on the porch and shaking them out.
“Town is starting to wakeup; spring is in the air,” Ilene said while giving Melinda a little hug. When Ilene was away from the group she generally thought of Melinda as a young girl still, but standing before her was a young woman.
Vince and Melinda gratefully accepted the glasses of iced tea Maggie offered them. “Thanks, honey,” Vince said taking a seat at the table while Melinda went to her room to change.
It wasn’t long after everyone had settled down again before Ilene brought up the purpose for her visit. “Well Vince, Rahlys and I want to take Maggie away for the night, stuff her with junk food and wine, and make her reveal her inner-most secrets. Do you think you can handle the kids for tonight? We would like to have Melinda join us too.”
Melinda could hear the conversation at the table from her room, and the last part of Ilene’s declaration took her by surprise. She had been included with the adult women.
“Of course, take them,” Vince responded with just a little hesitation. “Maggie deserves a break…Melinda too. I can handle three little children on my own for one night.”
“Are you sure?” Maggie asked with uncertainty.
“Yes,” he reassured her. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. You two have a good time; it will be a piece of cake.”
“Well if you’re certain. The children haven’t had a nap so they should be tired early,” Maggie persisted. “They have recently been fed so you should be able to get by on healthy snacks from now to bedtime and there’s soup and sandwich makings in the refrigerator.” Vince and Maggie had given up on the root cellar for their day-to-day use and had invested in a propane refrigerator.
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