by Travis Pond
Tureis nodded and said, “Ok. I can remember that.”
“Also you need to lead them throughout the kingdom so they won’t be seen or discovered. You know what you need to use to do that.” said Elis looking directly into his eyes in a way that actually scared Tureis a little.
“And what is it that I need to use?” Tureis asked.
“It’s in your pocket. Your sphere.” said Elis
Tureis’ eyes widened at the surprise. How had his father known about the sphere, let alone that it should be in his pocket?
Tureis hung his head, “I seem to have lost the sphere. I can’t find it.”
Elis smiled and put a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I couldn’t have you using it to escape us finding you. I used my sphere to sort of hide yours so you couldn’t use it. It’s been there all along.”
“But... you hid it even before we helped Braon escape the stocks? How did you…,” Tureis began.
“With everything that happened around this dilemma Braon seemed to find himself in, we had a suspicion that you three would try something to help him. Although this was more than we thought you would do, but I’ve been monitoring you all night,” Elis admitted.
“What happened with Braon? What are you not telling me?” asked Tureis thinking about his earlier feelings.
“Unfortunately there’s not time now to explain it further,” said Elis. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. Just find the Oracle and things should become clear.”
Tureis put his hand into his pocket and, true to what his father said, the sphere was there. Tureis removed the sphere and gazed upon the shiny surface.. He felt the energy as he moved his fingers across its smooth surface. He was happy to have it back in his pocket.
“How did you hide it?” asked Tureis.
Elis smiled, “Not time today, unfortunately. Someday I will teach you how it is done.”
“You have a sphere too?” Tureis asked in surprise.
“Yes. We all have them,” Elis replied.
“All? All of who?” Tureis asked.
Elis patted Tureis’ shoulder, “Enough questions for now. You will understand what I am saying after you visit the Oracle. Now you need to get going.”
Elis reached into his pocket and removed a bag of coins and handed it to Tureis. “Here, take this and use it to get the supplies and food you’ll need along your journey. There should be more than enough for all of you.” Tureis took the bag of coins and placed it in his bag. Together they walked back and rejoined the rest of the group.
“You really need to get going,” said Emmett with urgency. “It’s getting light and people will be out soon. You need to get to a safe place to hide out today, then travel out of town tonight.”
“We need to be going as well,” said Elis. “People will start asking questions if we don’t get back soon and we are quite a ways from the castle.”
Emmett and Elis exchanged hugs with all three of them and wished them well in their travels. Then Emmett and Elis turned and walked into the forest, back to the castle.
“Ok Tureis,” said Ailish with her hands on her hips. “How do we get back to the cave?”
Tureis looked at Ailish and then at Seth. “I don’t understand,” he said.
Seth met his eyes, “Emmett said you could get us to a safe place. He said to follow you without question and we wouldn’t get caught.”
“Yeah. Why did he say that?” asked Ailish.
“How about we get out of here and when we’re back in the cave safe, we can talk about it while we wait for dark,” said Tureis.
Tureis placed his hand into his pocket and felt the familiar energy. For a moment, Tureis just let the energy of the sphere flow into his hand, up his arm and warm his chest. He didn’t realize how much he relied on the sphere and how much he missed it. Finally, he closed his eyes and his mind opened to an understanding of where they were and how they needed to travel. After a minute, Tureis opened his eyes and said, “Follow me. Let’s go.”
Chapter 9
- Preparation -
Ailish awoke from a long sleep. “Was that all a dream?” she wondered as she lay there in the small bed. She opened her eyes, rubbed them and things began to come into focus. Laying on her back looking up, she noticed the ceiling was solid rock. She sat up in bed with a start and surveyed the room. As her head began to clear, the memories came back to her and she sighed heavily as she realized this was not a dream.
Seth was laying on his side, still asleep on the floor across the room. Tureis was sitting at the small table reading a book. He didn’t look up, but stayed focused on his reading. Ailish pulled back the light blanket, stretched and walked over to the table. She sat down and put her elbows on the table, resting her head in her hands. Tureis still didn’t react. Ailish leaned forward and whispered, “What ya reading?”
Tureis jumped and let out a little scream, “Ailish! You scared me.”
Ailish laughed. They looked at each other and Tureis laughed as well. “You sounded like a little girl,” said Ailish.
Tureis stopped laughing and shook his head. Ailish took a deep breath as she stopped laughing, “I was hoping this was all a dream when I awoke, but when I opened my eyes....”
“Yeah, me too. But...here we are,” Tureis said as he looked over at Seth still sleeping.
“So, what are you reading?” Ailish asked with genuine curiosity.
Tureis closed the book so Ailish could see the title. “You’re reading a book called ‘How to Wash Clothes?’ Are you in need of doing your laundry?” Ailish looked very confused.
Tureis took her hand and guided her forefinger to the bottom of the binding, along the back cover. He moved it around slowly until she felt the energy. She smiled and understood. “The mark,” she said.
“Yes. It’s actually a book about the different legends that people afraid of the Matya have created,” Tureis said.
“Aren’t those just scary made up stories?” asked Ailish.
“Some of them. But my father always said that most legends have some truth to them,” Tureis explained.
“Just fun reading or are you looking for something specific?” asked Ailish.
“I am looking for any information about where we can find the Oracle. I don’t even know where to look for her,” said Tureis.
“What do the legends say about her? Anything at all?” asked Ailish.
“The legend I’m reading right now says she lives in her own town in an area completely surrounded by the Matya,” said Tureis. “Standing at the entrance are large evil half man half lizard creatures that stand guard with pitchforks.”
“It really says lizard men with pitchforks?” asked Ailish making a face.
“Yeah. it even has a picture,” said Tureis as he slid the book over so Ailish could see the picture.
Ailish bent over the book at the picture, “That’s just gross. I will say, though, that if they do actually exist, I’m not going to see the Oracle with you. You two can go on your own.”
Tureis chuckled, “Yeah. Me too. Seth’s on his own.” They looked at each other and together they both laughed. “We both know they don’t exist, it’s just a legend made up to scare kids and others into fearing the Matya,” said Tureis.
“Anything else in there?” asked Ailish.
“It also says, she is very powerful and very old,” said Tureis.
“Like how old?” asked Seth, as he yawned and stretched after getting up from the floor.
“I don’t know for sure how old the current Oracle is in these parts, but this suggests Oracles can live for hundreds of years,” said Tureis.
“How do we find her?” asked Seth.
“That’s what I am trying to figure out,” said Tureis. “I’ve read or at least skim
med most of the books I have here and can’t figure it out.”
“Apparently Seth, you have to fight a bunch of lizard men to get into her private town,” said Ailish. She waited as Seth tried to understand what she was saying.
“Wait. What?” Seth said, now totally confused. Tureis and Ailish chuckled.
“It’s just a story in this book. Pretty wild ideas in some of the stories,” said Tureis. “I don’t think you will have to fight any lizard men.”
This time they all laughed. “Any real clues?” asked Ailish after the laughter died down again.
“Just one, in this story here.” Tureis flipped through some pages until he came to the page he was searching for. “Right here it says, the Oracle can be found by going through the City of Rock.”
Tureis laid the book on the table and sat back in his chair. “I’ve never heard of a City of Rock,” he said. “But it’s the only direct clue as to where to search in this entire book. But that’s not the only thing.” Some time earlier, Tureis had moved the wooden crate that held his books over to the table. Now, Tureis stood and looked through the crate on the table. He removed another book and opened it to a page he had bookmarked.
Tureis held up the book, “Listen to this. It says: Finding the Oracle is a journey of folly. The Oracle cannot be found by one that is searching; for the Oracle is never found, but finds the one she seeks.”
Ailish sat forward in her chair, “It suggests that no one can find the Oracle, unless the Oracle is wanting to be found.”
“That’s true,” said Seth. “When I was a boy, my father said someday I would meet the Oracle, but not until the Oracle invited me to meet her. I do remember him saying the word ‘invite’ as if I couldn’t just go and see her. She had to invite me in.” Seth paused before continuing. “I have to be honest, I thought the story of me meeting the Oracle was just made up—just my father using it to scare me into behaving.”
The three of them sat back and pondered the things they had just learned. Overall, not much information to go on. They had been told to find the Oracle and that she would accept them, but they were still unsure where to look for her.
“I guess the only thing we can go on is the City of Rock. We should search for that city and see what we find,” said Tureis.
“Where do we look first? Which direction do we go?” asked Seth.
“I have an idea,” said Ailish. “In the forest, my father said to find Braon and he could help us. Why don’t we go find Braon first? Maybe he knows.”
“I’ve been wondering about that,” said Seth. “Why would Emmett say to find him and that he would help us? Didn’t he try to send Braon to prison?”
Ailish paused and thought about that for a moment. “That’s a good question,” she said.
“I sense there is more to the story than we know,” said Tureis. “For now I say we find him. I trust Emmett and my father not to lead us into trouble.”
With that comment, Ailish stared at Tureis. She asked, not sure if she really wanted to hear the answer, “Why do you say that? Is there something you know you’re not sharing with us? What did your father say?”
Tureis thought about the question for a moment. As he looked at Seth and Ailish, he wondered how much he wanted to share. After all he had no definite information, just some feelings and emotions he sensed both in Braon and in his father. The feelings had left him surprised and a bit confused. He was really unsure what it meant and he didn’t want to overreact, but he had to tell them something.
“My father didn’t actually say anything,” said Tureis cautiously. “But as he spoke about Braon I was able to get a feeling from him.”
“What kind of feeling?” asked Seth.
“I’m not sure what it meant,” said Tureis. “It may mean nothing. It was a feeling more of being unsure than not trusting.”
They all became quiet as Tureis had now cast a small bit of doubt on finding Braon. Tureis could sense the doubt and knew he needed to change their emotions if they wanted to be successful on their journey. “I don’t think it means anything,” said Tureis, “I really think Emmett is right and that Braon could help us. Emmett has known Braon for a long time and wouldn’t suggest we find him if he didn’t think Braon could help us.”
“I agree,” said Ailish. “My father suggested to me that he also thought there was more to the story because the situation seemed very much not like Braon.”
“But Braon is long gone. Besides, why do we need him?” asked Seth.
“It might be nice to have an extra person to help on the search,” said Ailish. “Also, he’s a great fighter. He taught all of us most of what we know. We sure could use some help fighting if the need arises.”
“We are going to be traveling in some areas out on the borders of the kingdom,” said Tureis. “I think Ailish is right that we could use an extra person should we get into trouble. And, again, if your father suggested it could be helpful, let’s go find him.”
“Where do we look?” asked Seth. “We have no idea where he is or….”
“Actually we do,” Ailish said interrupting Seth. “If you remember when we were in the cellar, he said he had a friend from the Guard that lived in Kurith. Let’s go to Kurith and look for him.”
“Sounds like a good place to start,” said Tureis.
Seth thought for a minute before finally nodding his head in agreement. “I can’t think of anywhere else to go. Let’s go tonight,” he said.
They began going through their bags, taking inventory. Along with their few weapons, they had a couple blankets and one bed roll. Tureis went around the cave looking for anything they could use on their journey. He found another bed roll and another blanket. He also took the rope he had sitting under the stone shelf.
After repacking all their bags, they sat down at the table to wait for sundown. “My father told Seth and I to follow you as we travel and you would make sure we don’t get caught,” said Ailish in a questioning tone.
“Yeah,” said Seth. “When he said that, I remembered when we were in Freb you somehow figured out how to navigate a city we’d never been in and we escaped. How did you do it?”
Tureis looked at Ailish and then at Seth contemplating if he should tell them about the sphere. So far these last two days had been full of secrets, one more wouldn’t hurt, he thought. Almost without thinking, he reached his hand into his pocket and pulled out the sphere. Tureis opened his hand and laid it on the table. Ailish and Seth leaned in close looking at the perfectly polished, smooth silver surface. For several minutes they looked at the sphere, no one saying a word.
Finally, Seth asked, “Can I touch it?”
“That’s a good question,” said Tureis. “Actually, I don’t know. I’ve never shown it to anyone before. I guess we can see what happens. Go ahead and try.”
Seth slowly reached for the sphere. As his hand got closer a very low hum sounded from the sphere. When his hand was within six inches a blue spark erupted from the sphere and shot into Seth’s hand. Seth pulled his hand back, shaking it hard. “Ouch! That hurt.” he said.
“I guess that means means you can’t touch it,” said Ailish smiling.
“I wonder what would happen if I just grabbed it,” said Seth and he reached out his hand. After taking a moment to contemplate the potential consequences of this action Seth put his hand back down. “On second thought, I don’t think I want to find out.” They all chuckled at this comment.
“How does this work? I mean how can it keep us from being caught as we travel?” asked Ailish.
Tureis picked up the sphere and held it in his hand. “When we are in trouble and I hold the sphere it opens my mind and allows me to see ways out I didn’t previously know about,” he said. “It also warns me of danger or people approaching. It will even tell me where to go and when to move. The amount o
f help it gives seems to depend on our need and my focus. The more focused I am, the more it helps.”
“Yesterday, when we were leaving the yard behind your father’s store, did you use the sphere to help us escape the members of the Guard?” asked Seth.
“Yes, I did,” said Tureis.
With that explanation, they all fell silent and sat back on their chairs remembering the events of yesterday. Tureis put the sphere back in his pocket. They quietly began going through their packs again, making ready to leave the cave. They didn’t know when or if they would be back here, so they wanted to be as ready as they could.
They packed up the blankets and the little food Tureis had in the cave. Tureis had also decided he wanted to take some of his books along. He split up the books among all three of them, but he had to make some sacrifices and leave a few books behind. They just didn’t all fit in the bags.
Tureis had a bag of coins, as did Ailish. Apparently, her father had also given her a bag of coins to aid them on their journey. Between both bags of coins, there should be plenty to buy supplies and food along their way. As for the beginning of the journey, other than a two loaves of bread, some apples, blankets, a few weapons, and of course Tureis’ books, they didn’t have much.
“There isn’t much food here,” said Seth as he packed his bag.
“I agree,” said Ailish.
“We will have to wait until we get out of town to buy supplies and food. We are too recognizable in Grinnurd or Darish,” said Tureis.
“Where do you propose we get food?” asked Seth.