Edward didn’t reply immediately. Although he knew that it was important to learn the new skills, he still had a hard time being around his father. He felt bad for snapping at him the night before. Somewhere deep inside, he knew that Mr. Spines had just been trying to be friendly. But Edward wasn’t ready to forgive his father for what he’d done, for all that he’d put Edward and his mother through.
Finally, after a long pause, Edward nodded slowly.
“Right,” Mr. Spines said, straightening up. “Time for us to go.”
Al sent them off with a cheery wave and a basket filled with provisions for the road ahead. They all thanked him for his generosity as they set out, promising to return the little pony that he’d lent them to pull the wagon.
They traveled up from the boatman’s shack into the nearby forest. The Seven Bridges Road began there.
Mr. Spines was going to wait to hide under the tarpaulin until they came in sight of the first city. He spoke up from where he sat in the back of the wagon when the signpost passed by. He said, “This is the old road, the main thoroughfare through the Woodbine. We’ll be traveling this for several miles until we cross the border where the Woodbine ends and the Blighted Lands begin. That’s the official demarcation point of the Jackal’s territory.”
“I thought Cornelius’s Valley was in the Woodbine,” Bridgette said.
“He lives just over the border,” Spines replied. “It’s because of the Baruch that he’s able to protect himself in that hostile territory.”
“W-what’s a Baruch?” Edward asked.
Spines noticed that Edward was being slightly more friendly. Glad that they were on semi-civil terms, Spines replied, “They’re battle snails—terrifically huge beasts with blue shells and faces that look almost human. They’re some of the oldest inhabitants of the Woodbine and are said to have existed before the Guardians were created.”
“I’ve only read about them in fairy books, like The Bridges Between the Worlds,” Bridgette confessed. “I never even believed that Cornelius was real until you mentioned him last night.
Edward scratched an itch on his leg with a furry paw. The partial transformation was really uncomfortable. His fur felt hot and itchy and the eye that looked like a cat’s focused differently than his human eye. His old body never looked so good to him as it did at that moment. Trying to distract himself from his discomfort, he asked to nobody in particular, “What city do we have to go through before we’re on the open road?”
Bridgette replied, “Woodhaven. It’s a really interesting place. Many of the newly arrived mortals settle there, hoping to reunite with loved ones. Be prepared,” she warned Edward with a smile. “You’ll probably be asked a dozen times if you are a long lost relative of someone.”
Edward wondered if anyone in the city would want to believe they knew him. He looked so strange and frightening that he doubted anyone would think he’d willingly chosen to look like he did!
Bridgette added, “I just remembered something! There’s a big carnival going on in Woodhaven this week,” her face broke into a wide smile. “This is great! You’ll love it! They’ve got some amazing things to see.”
Mr. Spines broke in. “We shouldn’t delay for a carnival. We need to get to Cornelius’s Valley as soon as possible. And the sooner we can get out of the city, the sooner we can start Edward’s training.”
But Edward, who was thinking that a carnival might be just what he needed to lift his spirits, spoke up in Bridgette’s defense.
“We d-don’t have to stay long. I wuh-want to see it.”
Bridgette smiled up at Edward, and the matter was settled. After all, Mr. Spines would be hiding in the back of the wagon while Bridgette drove. It wasn’t like he had much choice.
Edward ignored his father’s grumbles as the little wagon made its way along the muddy road, deeper and deeper into the forest. Because of the recent rain, the wonderfully clean scent of pine needles and fresh earth was in the air. It smelled like Oregon.
Edward couldn’t wait to see his mother again. Maybe they could start over with a nice little house here in the Woodbine, just like they had back home, surrounded by pine trees.
As the trees thinned, Edward could make out the waving banners of a city in the distance. It looked a little bit like a rustic fort.
Bridgette nudged the pony into a trot and called back over her shoulder, “Better get down, Mr. Spines. There are some guards up ahead.” She squinted into the distance, eyeing the sentries. The tough-looking men seemed to be involved in some kind of major disturbance at the city gates. “And it looks like something’s wrong.”
Chapter Twelve
WOODHAVEN
“Whatever you do, don’t mention your real name,” Edward heard Spines hiss from underneath the tarp. “We don’t want anyone in Woodhaven to know our business or who we are, understand?”
Edward nodded. As the city drew closer, Edward could make out sentries, dressed in cavalry uniforms with sweeping feathers perched on broad-brimmed hats. A large crowd was trying to edge past a couple of individuals who were involved in a fight just inside the massive log gates.
The sentries were trying to separate the brawlers, but were having a difficult time. Edward quickly saw the reason why. It wasn’t two mortals fighting. It was a pair of Guardians!
“By the Seven Bridges, Gadreel! I won’t allow you to do it!” one of the Guardians thundered. He was big and lantern-jawed, and had the other one, Edward assumed it was “Gadreel,” pinned to the ground, holding him in place with a knee on his neck.
The wiry Guardian on the ground reacted, quickly grabbing a handful of dust and flinging it into his opponent’s eyes. The bigger Guardian stumbled backward and Gadreel leaped up. In a swift movement he grabbed the other’s arm and gave it a ferocious twist. There was a sound like wood splintering and the bigger Guardian cried out in pain.
The Guardian grinned as his bigger opponent slumped to the ground, his hawklike face alight with triumph.
“Too late, Kyriel!” he screeched. “I’ve joined with the Jackal! Not even Mi’kael can stop me now!”
The two sentries leaped at the wiry Guardian, but were flung backward with a single word. The stunned mortals thudded against the log gates, unconscious. The crowd around the fighting Guardians scattered, giving them a wide berth. It was obvious that the crowd had never seen a fight like this before.
“You fool!” Kyriel shouted between clenched teeth. The Guardian was gripping his broken arm and seemed to be in a great deal of pain. “For the sake of our father, don’t go through with it. Break your contract!”
Gadreel withdrew an Oroborus and shouted the word Edward had heard the Groundlings shout on the riverbank.
“NSH!”
The ring burst into a circle of red flame. The thin, sharp-faced Guardian strode over to where his brother knelt on the ground.
“You’re the fool, Kyriel. Following father’s orders like a mindless drone,” he gestured at the assorted crowd. “You’re hardly better than they are. Stupid sheep without a shepherd,” he mocked. “You’d spend your whole life protecting this lot?” Gadreel’s eyes burned with malice. “I told you not to interfere with my Charges, brother. They were mybusiness, not yours.”
“You were inspiring them to hate. You gave them weapons, goading them to kill! That’s not what Guardians do, Gadreel. I had to get involved or they would have murdered each other. Is that what you intended?”
“You humiliated me in front of father,” Gadreel hissed. “I was going to be demoted in front of the entire Council. I couldn’t allow it.”
Bridgette whispered to Edward, “I don’t believe it! Those are Mi’kael’s sons. They’re two of the most powerful Guardians in the army!”
Edward heard a rustle and noticed Mr. Spines staring out from a tiny hole in the canvas cover. There was a sharp intake of breath as he recognized the two brothers.
“Gadreel’s going to kill him,” Spines whispered suddenly. “You must put a stop
to it, Edward. Here, take this.” There was a slight scurrying sound and the next thing Edward knew Spines had shoved the wedding band from his left hand into Edward’s palm.
“W-what do I do with it?” Edward stammered.
“This was made for me by Cornelius. It is one of the most powerful rings left in the Woodbine. You must stare into the center of the ring and empty your mind. Then, with as much focus as you can muster, I want you to say Qadosas loud and as clear as you can,” Spines said.
“But I-I can’t . . .”
“You MUST,” Spines hissed. “Kyriel is a vital part of the Guardian army. He provides his father with reconnaissance on the Jackal’s activities. If killed, it will be a major victory for the Jackal and a heavy blow to the Guardians. You must stop him!”
Edward was frightened. He had no idea if he could do it. What if he couldn’t?
But Edward knew that if he wanted to be a hero, a real Guardian, then he had to at least try. His furry, leopard paw shook nervously as he raised the tiny ring to his good eye. He tried to concentrate, staring into the center of it, just as Mr. Spines had told him to. But so many anxious thoughts were racing through his mind, that he couldn’t find a way to blank them out.
Outside the Woodhaven gate, Kyriel reached for his Guardian’s ring with his one good arm. But it wasn’t there.
There was a murmur in the crowd, causing Edward to glance up from the wedding ring. It was then that Edward realized how Mr. Spines had known what Gadreel was intending to do. The ever-observant Spines had seen Kyriel’s smooth ring hanging from Gadreel’s belt before Kyriel knew it was missing.
Gadreel grinned mockingly at his brother. “Too slow, my brother. Much too slow. You really are quite overrated in your abilities, Kyriel. I’ve been telling the Council for years they should have chosen me to be the espionage agent, not you.”
The flaming Oroborus that Gadreel held seemed to burn with renewed vigor. “Goodbye, brother,” Gadreel said icily. “Your wings will make an excellent trophy in the Jackal’s chambers.”
“Qados!”
As soon as Edward had said the word, the tiny ring had grown, becoming a large, flaming hoop of blue fire. Now the boy stood, trembling, with it clutched tightly in his furry fist.
“Throw it, NOW!” Spines hissed.
Whether it was by accident or by luck, Edward’s throw was true. He’d reacted without thinking, hurling the ring with all of his might at Gadreel.
The Guardian hadn’t been expecting an attack, especially not one from someone who looked nothing like a Guardian, but he reacted faster than anyone expected. With a lightning-fast downward flap from his wings, he shot into the air. At the same time, he whipped his hand around and deflected Mr. Spines’s ring with his Oroborus, sending it hurtling back toward Edward.
Edward had no idea what to do. Mr. Spines’s blazing ring was racing toward him and he didn’t know whether to duck or to try to catch it! At the last minute he decided ducking was the best idea and dove from the cart to the earth, barely avoiding being hit.
Mr. Spines’s ring missed him and hurtled into the forest behind them, its blue flames igniting a few of the pine branches as it disappeared into the woods.
Gadreel landed lightly on the ground next to Edward, who was still lying in the dirt. The fallen Guardian cackled as he took a closer look at Edward’s misshapen form. “What’s this? A mortal with a ring? Now I’ve seen everything,” he said with a sneer.
Edward rose awkwardly to his feet, giving everyone a good look at his misshapen form.
“Well, mortal. You must possess the ugliest soul I’ve ever seen,” Gadreel smiled cruelly.
“And for a wretched, deformed creature like you to have the audacity to attack me, well, that’s just unacceptable.” Gadreel’s voice lowered into a sneer, “I don’t know how you did it, ugly one. But it certainly won’t ever happen again.”
“Leave him alone, Gadreel!” Kyriel called out. The big Guardian had risen to his feet. In spite of his badly broken arm, Edward thought he still looked formidable. “If you harm him, you’ll answer to me.”
Gadreel let out a long, angry laugh. “Oh, I’ll take my chances, brother. Besides, I’ve got friends now. Friends of power and influence that have little regard for you, or your precious Council.”
There was a parting in the crowd behind Gadreel and, to Edward’s horror, Whiplash Scruggs, flanked on either side by Henry and Lilith Asmoday, stepped out of the crowd.
Edward’s heart stopped for a moment as Scruggs looked him up and down. But then the massive Groundling turned back to Gadreel, with no hint of recognition. Edward’s disguise had worked!
Scruggs, Henry, and Lilith seemed eager to see Gadreel prove himself in front of his brother. Kyriel glared at the assembled Groundlings. In spite of his broken arm and being hopelessly outnumbered, the Guardian looked like he was going to try and fight.
Gadreel turned his attention back to Edward. “Now then, where was I?”
Gadreel grinned and raised his flaming Oroborus. This was it. Edward was finally going to discover what happens when someone dies in the Afterlife. He’d first wondered about it when he’d arrived and almost drowned in a river. He was curious about it, but he really hadn’t wanted to find out firsthand. But there was nothing he could do now. He just stood where he was, his body trembling as the evil Guardian prepared to throw.
Let it be quick, he prayed.
Suddenly, something flashed downward from over Edward’s left shoulder. A sizzling ring smashed into Gadreel’s Oroborus, sending it spinning out of reach. A blur of wings followed close behind and a loud voice called out, “Magen!”
There was a burst of white light as Gadreel was thrown backward, smashing into Whiplash Scruggs, Henry, and Lilith. The three Groundlings toppled where they stood, scattering panicked mortals in their wake.
It was Tabitha!
The Guardian caught her returning ring with lightning reflexes and then, with a mighty heave, hurled it at Gadreel again. As she threw, Edward caught a snatch of a melody that he’d never heard before. But to his surprise, he recognized the words she was singing. He’d used them before, when he’d tried to escape from the cellar beneath the Foundry. They had come to him unexpectedly, as if they were a long forgotten memory.
Azru Li . . . Azru Li . . . Azru Li.
Tabitha made a perfect, deadly throw.
In one terrific slice, the blazing ring made contact with the base of Gadreel’s outstretched wings, severing them from his shoulders.
The wail that filled the air around them was terrible, echoing from the trees, air, and earth itself. The ground beneath Edward’s feet shook and several mortals fell to the ground.
There was the briefest outline of Gadreel’s tortured form. And then, seconds later, the Guardian was gone, dissolving into nothing.
Edward stared at the spot, a terrified expression on his face.
So that’s what happens if you die in the Afterlife.
Chapter Thirteen
A NARROW ESCAPE
“Go!” Tabitha shouted to Bridgette.
“Edward, get in the cart!” Bridgette called. Edward rushed over to the waiting wagon. At the mention of Edward’s name, Whiplash Scruggs rose from where he’d been knocked down, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Get the boy!” Lilith screeched, finally recognizing her prey in spite of his disguise. Scruggs and Henry Asmoday rushed toward the wagon, their sharp teeth bared.
They moved so quickly, Bridgette barely had time to react. She slapped the reins down hard on the little pony’s back. But just as the wagon pulled forward, Edward felt a powerful, vise-like grip on his wrist, nearly jerking him from his seat.
“Got you, boy!” Scruggs shouted. The familiar, Kentucky drawl made Edward shiver.
Suddenly a small, prickly body leapt from underneath the tarp and pounced on Scrugg’s meaty back. Then the creature bit deeply into Scruggs’ shoulder with his broken, yellow teeth.
“Aaaaaiiiieeee!�
� Scruggs cried, releasing his grip on Edward’s arm. The pony shot forward, nearly throwing Edward and Bridgette from the cart. As the wagon raced away, Edward turned back to see Tabitha, Spines, and Kyriel fighting the enemy.
“I-I’ve got to go back!” Edward shouted. He couldn’t let Tabitha or Mr. Spines die after they had just saved his life.
“No! We have to get away. You’re too important!” Bridgette exclaimed.
“Why?” he shouted back.
“Because you’re the Bridge Builder!”
At that moment Edward realized that Bridgette really believed that prophecy. He wasn’t some legendary figure. Even though he wanted to be, he still wasn’t even a Guardian yet.
His heart sank as he glanced back to where Mr. Spines and Tabitha were fighting. Some hero. If he was something special, wouldn’t he have gone back and rescued them in spite of anything Bridgette said? But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had no idea what he could do. Edward still couldn’t believe what Mr. Spines had done, risking his life for him.
Bridgette continued to goad the pony forward as far as the little beast could carry them. Her face was pale and resolute, and she looked desperate to get as far away from the Groundlings as possible.
After several hours the pine forest gave way to rolling green hills dotted with twisted oak trees. As the shadows on the ground lengthened, they finally slowed the cart, reasonably sure that they had escaped.
Bridgette eased the wagon off into a thicket by the side of the road. Both she and Edward were quiet as they unhooked the wagon from the pony and led it to a grassy area to be rubbed down.
Several minutes passed in silence as they made camp. Then, as Edward was digging through the supplies in the back of the wagon, Bridgette suddenly spoke, interrupting his morose thoughts.
“It’s been six hours,” she said. “We can change you back to your old appearance now.”
Bridgette handed him the Beezlenut’s Guide to the Afterlife, and Edward immediately turned to the page that dealt with transformations. He didn’t want to wait another second to be himself again.
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