by Alan Tucker
Jenni looked around the room before answering. “Yes,” she said. “I can hear you.”
The others looked at her from the couch questioningly.
Jenni shrugged and the voice continued. “Oh, thank goodness! I thought I’d never find you! This is Teresa Osorio, Marco’s mom.”
Jenni’s heart skipped a beat and she stammered. “Mrs. Osorio! How?”
Crank’s eyes lit up and he ran over to Jenni. She handed him the other earbud so he could listen too.
“It’s a long story,” they heard amidst the static. “I’m so glad this works so I can talk to you! I’ve been so lonely and worried about all of you — is Marco okay?”
“Yes, yes, he’s fine. He and Carrie are living in the Elvorstrastenai section of the city. We haven’t seen them for a while but I’m sure they’re fine.”
“Oh, I’m so happy to hear that,” Mrs. Osorio said. “How long has it been?”
Jenni was puzzled. “You mean since we saw you? Um, at least a month I think, maybe more, I’ve kind of lost track of the days.”
“That long?” she said through the crackle of interference. “This has all been so strange.”
Mrs. Osorio did her best to explain what had happened to her since the battle outside the forest. She didn’t understand much of it, and she saw the world differently as a fire spirit. Time passed in fits and starts for her.
She had existed for a time in the fires burning the prairie grass after she’d driven the Gobinstratstorai back from the forest. It took her a while to come to grips with what she was. The fires were dying out, and she wasn’t sure what to do when a storm passed overhead and she rode a stroke of lightning into the sky.
She drifted for a long time then, living in the electricity of the storm clouds. She met a few more festri’i, but they were difficult to communicate with — their attention spans were extremely short and they didn’t stay in one place long.
Eventually, she got her bearings and then jumped from cloud to cloud, storm to storm, in search of Seren’naie. Once her storm arrived, the concentration of electronics in Jenni and Crank’s apartment had drawn her attention and she had directed a bolt at their balcony.
“I’m so sorry if I scared you,” Mrs. Osorio apologized.
Jenni laughed. “It’s okay, we’re happy to have you back. And I’m sure Marco will be thrilled too.” Jenni looked outside and saw the storm had passed and starlight dominated the sky. “Can you wait ‘til morning for us to find him?” Jenni asked.
Another burst of static blended with laughter from Mrs. Osorio. “I’ve waited this long, I suppose one more night won’t matter … but please, don’t turn off your player.”
Jenni smiled. “No way! I wouldn’t want to risk losing you again.”
Jenni’s eyes drooped and she suddenly felt very tired. Her excitement from the storm and the events of the day faded. She yawned a good night to the others and made her way to her room and sleep.
30
They located Marco and Carrie the next morning, with Rodrin’s help, and reunited mother and son.
Jenni could tell Marco was conflicted. While he was overjoyed his mother was here and alive, not having someone to hold was frustrating. It was like talking on the phone with a loved one but never seeing them in person.
Jenni and Crank also relayed Deena’s story of Carrie’s mother and the others they left in Crank’s village. Deena had guessed Mrs. Minch, Mike, and Scott had survived the attack, but they had not seen any sign of the three when they made a quick investigation of the village the next morning.
Carrie didn’t seem troubled by the news, but Jenni knew Carrie was good at hiding her feelings. Mrs. Minch wasn’t the nicest person, but she was still Carrie’s mother, and Jenni was sure the news affected her.
They sat at the conference table in Ba’ize’s office, snacking on bread, fruit and cheese. Deena and Feeder had stayed behind in the apartment to catch up on their rest. Mrs. Osorio, still in Jenni’s MP3 player, was placed on the table, and they had connected a set of small speakers that still functioned after their episode in the river.
Marco and Carrie had been getting training of their own over the past few weeks. Marco’s aptitude with animals proved true, and he had been learning how to work with the herd animals that grazed outside the city. Carrie’s musical talents were discovered as well, and she had worked with several instructors, learning some local instruments. They both appeared vibrant and happy with their new lives. Mrs. Osorio told both of them how proud she was.
Jenni turned to see Rodrin on the lift, accompanied by Denny. Jenni waved and Denny gave them a big smile back.
“Well, this is turning out to be quite the reunion!” Jenni laughed.
“Hello, Mrs. Osorio,” Denny said as he climbed into one of the chairs. “I’m happy to, well … see you again.” He laughed.
“And you, Denny,” she replied. “Are you doing well?”
Denny nodded. “Pretty good, being so short is still frustrating sometimes, but I’ve learned so much since I got here!”
“I’m very happy for you!”
“Rodrin told me you were here,” Denny continued, “and I’m hoping you can help us with something.”
“Of course, what is it?” Mrs. Osorio asked.
“We had a venti’i, an air spirit, show up a couple of days ago and I think it wants to talk to us, but we can’t figure out how. Neither Matt, nor Charles or Bonnie, can talk to air or fire spirits. When Rodrin told me about you being inside Jenni’s MP3 player, I thought we might try it.”
“You want me to talk to it?” Mrs. Osorio offered.
Denny nodded again. “Yes, if you can. Earth and water can communicate, so I’m hoping that fire and air can.” Denny looked around the room. “I tried to get it to follow me, but I’m not sure if it got the message.”
Silence followed for a few seconds, then a short burst of static sounded from the speakers, “Yes, it … she, rather, is here.” Mrs. Osorio paused. “It’s Lori!”
Stunned silence was followed by a jumble of voices. They laughed and settled down to listen to Lori’s story, as translated by Mrs. Osorio.
Lori told of her group’s flight from the forest on Brandon’s back, and her subsequent imprisonment, along with Zoe and Mr. Kain. She wasn’t fed for the next few days. Mogritas evidently knew what she and Zoe would turn into, and had wanted speed up the process. Although torturous, it had worked, and she had found herself waking one day to the realization that she no longer had a body.
She spent the next several agonizing days figuring out what she was and what she could do, all alone in her stone cell. The edges around the door were sealed and her window was filled with crystal, rather than stone bars like the others. Trapped, she spent a long time despairing about her condition.
Lori found herself able to communicate intermittently with Zoe, but because of the thick stone walls, or just their lack of ability, they couldn’t convey much information to each other.
Lori had watched and listened also as Mr. Kain had been interrogated by Mogritas several times. The sessions lasted sometimes for hours, with Mogritas asking the same questions over and over. He was very interested in Earth and how they had arrived. Mogritas seemed to think Mr. Kain had something to do with their arrival on Mother. Mr. Kain, of course, had no idea, but it didn’t stop Mogritas from asking the questions.
Then, some time later, Alisha had come to the dungeon with Will, wanting to see what had happened to Lori and Zoe. Lori told Jenni and the others of her desperate attempts to make herself known, only to meet with utter failure. Mr. Kain had woken up and argued with Alisha, trying to get her to understand the true nature of Brandon’s “benefactor.” Then, Mogritas had arrived and, after a brief discussion, had escorted Alisha away. It was the last Lori had seen any of them.
Days passed and Mr. Kain had started talking — mostly to himself, but sometimes to Lori and Zoe. He spoke of different ways they might escape. He talked about the properties of s
olids, stone in particular. He said that most stone was porous to some extent, and if water could eventually pass through, then so could air. Lori had all but given up, but she decided since all she had was time, she may as well give it a try.
Lori lost track of time as she probed the stone walls of her cell for the slightest imperfections and inconsistencies. Finally, she managed to push enough of the air from her cell out into the hallway that she could slip out. She had never felt so free! She stopped to spend a few minutes with Zoe, but hadn’t seen a way to break her free. Then she did her best to thank Mr. Kain — he did notice the breeze of her passage and smiled. Then she sped out of the fortress.
She wandered air currents and clouds for quite a while, unsure of where to go. Then she spotted a large group of Gobinstratstorai, heading south along the edge of the forest. She flew closer and saw they were Mogritas’s guards, and were carrying many weapons and supplies. After eavesdropping on conversations among the soldiers, she discovered they were headed for Seren’naie. Following the path they planned to take, along the edges of Lodir’naie, first south, then west, she had arrived a couple of days before.
Lori had wandered the city for a time, then found the workshop where Denny and the other Nomenstrastenai were working with other elemental spirits. It had taken some effort to get their attention, but Denny had finally noticed her, and they had tried to communicate.
She’d started to lose hope after Matt, Charles and Bonnie had been unable to understand her and vice versa. Then Rodrin had arrived this morning with the news of Mrs. Osorio. Lori was ecstatic to be able, finally, to talk to someone!
Ba’ize had come down from his quarters midway through Lori’s story and had listened with rapt attention. He frowned when she had described Mogritas’s army of guards marching south and had sent Rodrin away on an errand and had bade Lori to continue.
“Jenni,” Mrs. Osorio’s voice crackled over the speakers, “Lori also says she is sorry for the way she treated you and Sara in the past. She sees now that Alisha is just a stuck up princess and not worthy of her friendship.”
Jenni felt tears well up in her eyes and tried to will them away. “It’s okay, Lori. I can’t imagine the torture you’ve been through the past few weeks … being locked up like that with no one to talk to. No one deserves to be treated like that.”
Jenni felt a breeze around her face and she smiled.
“What are we going to do?” Marco asked.
They looked at each other, searching for ideas.
“I don’t know,” Jenni said to break the silence, “but we need to do something. Mr. Kain and Zoe are still there as prisoners. We have to help them.”
“We’re just kids,” Carrie said. “What can we do?”
“Nonsense!” Ba’ize interrupted. “I see a group of capable young people who are going to be part of some big changes in this world.”
Carrie blushed at the praise and Jenni looked to Ba’ize for help. “Still, Mogritas’s castle is a long ways away, and we don’t know how to get in, or where Mr. Kain is … “ Jenni trailed off, despairing of their situation.
Ba’ize held up a hand. “First of all, you have someone here who can guide you, if she’s willing to help.”
Mrs. Osorio said, “Lori says she can lead you back there … and it looks like I’ll be going too.”
“Why, Mom?” Marco asked.
“Well, from what I’ve heard, I’m the only way you’ll be able to communicate with Lori. And, I come with my own carrying case,” she joked.
They all had a laugh and then Rodrin returned with two others on the lift. Jenni squealed on seeing Sara and ran to give her a hug. Sara was accompanied by Captain Herina. She stepped to Ba’ize and crossed her arms over her chest in salute.
“Reporting as requested, Your Honor,” Captain Herina said somberly.
Ba’ize nodded. “Thank you, Captain. We have a couple of matters to bring to your attention. First, we’ve just received a report of an army headed our way from Mogritas’s keep. Have you heard anything from our scouts that would confirm this?”
Captain Herina’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “No, Your Honor. I’ll look into it immediately. Do you happen to know the current whereabouts of this army?”
Ba’ize spoke to the air around them. “Lori, would you be able to show us on a map where they might be?”
The speakers on the table popped. “Yes, she thinks she can,” Mrs. Osorio answered.
“What manner of magic is this, Your Honor?”
Ba’ize smiled. “Elemental spirits, Captain. Our new friends are proving to be full of surprises.” He turned to his aide. “Rodrin, would you be so kind as to bring us a map of southern Lodir’naie?”
Rodrin nodded and took the lift down.
“Our other concern is a rescue mission we could use your expertise in planning,” Ba’ize said.
The captain’s eyes registered surprise again. “Of course, Your Honor, anything I can do to help.”
“How quickly can you mobilize the guard force if the city is threatened?” Ba’ize asked her.
“The guard can be fully mustered in less than two hours, Your Honor. We drill on that regularly.”
“Excellent,” Ba’ize said. “We should have much more warning than that, but it’s good to know you are prepared.”
Rodrin returned with a couple of rolled parchments under one arm. He passed them to Ba’ize, who checked the ends, then spread one out on the table. The map was artfully drawn, with Seren’naie and the Baer’naie river on the left side, and the southern edge of the forest across the middle. Jenni saw a mountain range inscribed on the far right.
Ba’ize placed a finger on Seren’naie. “I’ll move my finger slowly east on the map. Just say something when I’m close to where you think the army is.”
He dragged his finger along the southern edge of the forest and crossed another river marked near the center of the map. Shortly before he reached the eastern mountain range, Mrs. Osorio spoke. “Stop. Move back slightly. Good. That’s her best guess.”
Ba’ize looked to Captain Herina, who nodded. “I’ll have the Faerstrastenai scouts check the area as soon as we’re finished here, Your Honor. But it will take two or three days for them to report back.”
“Thank you, Captain. As you know, we have an important Council meeting in a few days; it would be most helpful to have some information before then.”
“Of course, Your Honor.” Captain Herina indicated the map. “If they are indeed in that area, we should have two weeks, maybe more, before they reach the city.”
“Very good,” Ba’ize replied. “Now, to our other problem. We have also learned that Mogritas is holding at least two of our friends’ compatriots prisoner in his fortress. We would like to attempt a rescue. What suggestions would you have?”
Captain Herina sighed. “That won’t be easy, Your Honor. His castle was constructed before Seren’naie, and is thought to be impregnable, as I’m sure you are aware.”
Ba’ize nodded. “Please continue.”
“Well, it was built high up on a cliff face and is unapproachable from the ground. I would assume there are tunnels allowing access from the mountain below, but you might search around for weeks and still never find them. The only way I can think of to get in undetected would be by air, at night. Even then, it would be risky. The team would have to be very small and well trained.” She shook her head. “We have a few rocs trained in troop transport, but they can only carry one at a time and without armor.”
“Rocs?” Jenni asked. “What are those?”
Ba’ize answered, “Very large eagles. Some are big enough to carry a grown Gobinstratstorai or Saromstrastenai.”
Captain Herina nodded. “Yes, and I have a couple of guards I could recommend for such a duty, but, frankly, Your Honor, I will need them here to prepare a defense of the city if this approaching army intends to attack.”
“Yes, Captain,” Ba’ize agreed. “I wouldn’t want to pull any of your for
ces away from the city for this mission. Your observations of the situation have confirmed my own and I appreciate your advice. I’ll leave you to your preparations and please keep me posted on the findings of your scouts.”
Captain Herina saluted. “Of course, Your Honor.” She glanced at Sara and the two turned to go.
“Ah, Captain, one more thing. If you wouldn’t mind leaving your assistant here for a while, I’ll send her back with any other information we might uncover in our discussions.”
The captain inclined her head. “Certainly, Your Honor.” Then she turned and rode the lift down and out of view.
“It sounds kinda hopeless,” Jenni said with a frown.
“Not necessarily,” Ba’ize said with a finger to his lips in thought. “Jenni, I think it’s time to show your friends what we’ve been working on.”
Jenni looked at him in surprise. “Are you sure?”
Ba’ize nodded. “Events seem to be moving quickly, now is the time for action rather than caution,” he said with a smile.
Everyone’s eyes were on her, waiting. Jenni calmed herself and took off her light jacket. They had cut and hemmed holes in the back of her shirt to keep from destroying too many garments. She concentrated and made the necessary adjustments in her body.
A collective gasp issued from the group as two large, leathery wings emerged from her back. She opened her eyes and flapped her wings experimentally.
“Jenni, that’s amazing!” Sara shouted.
Jenni turned to her best friend and apologized. “I wanted to tell you before, but Ba’ize said it would be dangerous if anyone knew.”
Sara looked puzzled. “Why would it be dangerous?”
Ba’ize stepped to her side and addressed the whole group, explaining Jenni’s similarity to Mogritas, and how it could cause a panic among the citizens of Seren’naie if they knew of her ability.
“So,” Sara said after Ba’ize had finished, “how do we rescue Mr. Kain and Zoe?”
Ba’ize smiled and placed a hand on Sara’s shoulder. “‘We’ will be staying here and preparing for the army that is approaching. Rescuing Mr. Kain and Zoe will be Jenni’s job, along with your air and fire spirit friends.”
Jenni’s eyes widened in fear. “Me?”