I twisted to Seanna. “Now what? Do we kick their flanks or something?”
“No. Sholto explained briefly how to guide them. It takes a bit of magic for those of us not of reptilian descent.” She patted the thing’s neck as she concentrated. A soft, purple glow came to life under her palm.
Her lizard lifted its head, shook it once, and took off through the swamp. Aoife and my lizards took that as their cue to follow. They launched themselves through the water close behind.
16
DASH TO THE MOTHER TREE
The ride through the swamp would best be described as controlled chaos as the sun sank. They ran with jerky movements, twisting to one side or the other to avoid the obstacles the swamp offered up in front of us. I was thankful for the plates that served as handles. Without them, I’m sure I would have ended up flung into the rank waters within minutes of the ride starting.
Trusting in them as our mode of transportation turned out to be the right call. They seemed to instinctively know where to go to avoid the deeper parts of the swamp. I was splashed in the face regularly with the muck, but the water never came past mid-shins.
The things were fast, too. Our first time crossing the swamp had taken nearly two days on foot. This time I guessed only about an hour had passed before the ground grew solid beneath the lizards’ taloned claws and the mists thinned until they dissipated all together.
Seanna pulled her mount to a stop as her clan’s forest rose before us. Aoife and I rode up next to her.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
She ignored me and closed her eyes. The skin at the corners of her eyes tightened as she turned her face up and to the side like she listened to something in the distance. “She lives still.”
“Who,” I asked.
“The Mother Tree,” Aoife answered.
“Perhaps we are not too late,” Seanna said, a note of optimism brightening her voice.
“Do we need to walk the rest of the way?” Aoife asked with a glance at the dark swamp behind us.
“No,” Seanna answered. “These creatures are willing to carry us further. It is strange.”
“What is?” I asked.
“They are willing to go on even though it will be uncomfortable for them to be out of the waters for too long. Their skins need it or they’ll dry out.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t,” Aoife began.
“They are willing,” Seanna said sharply. “To refuse their continued service would be foolish.”
“Not everything on this world or others is tools for you to use for your own good in spite of the consequences,” Aoife said with a hard edge.
“I said it will be uncomfortable for them,” Seanna said, “not kill them. Look. Look at your mount. It is eager to move on.”
It was true. All three lizards’ tongues flicked like an athlete twitching with anticipation before a game. They eyed the forest in the distance.
“We go.”
Seanna leaned down and waved a slow, glowing hand over her mount’s head. It took off without a hint of reluctance. They were even faster without having to weave around to find dryish land. They little more than hesitated to dodge around trees and bushes. They leapt small streams, startling deer like animals as we blazed past.
The ride through the forest was frantic and fear inducing. As the sun disappeared somewhere out of sight, the trees around us darkened into dark blurs that whistled past with butt-clenching closeness. The lizards didn’t hesitate, though. I hoped they could see in the dark better than me. Seanna had already proven she could, but I wished she would slow our mounts down just a little. Fear clinched around my chest and I flinched at every tree that whizzed past.
The lizards didn’t make much noise as they ran. Nothing I could hear over the sound of my own labored breathing, anyway. I wanted to yell up to Seanna to slow down, but I knew she wouldn’t. Too much was on the line. Then again, the Mother Tree could already be dead or dying. Was it worth it to risk breaking our necks if one of us lost our grip on our mount? I opened my mouth a couple times to call out to her but the words were jerked from my throat when my lizard would dodge around a tree. I was stuck holding on for life.
There was no perceptible change in the forest in the dark that I noticed, but Seanna abruptly pulled her lizard to a stop and jumped from its back. Aoife and I gladly did the same.
I hunched over with my hands on my knees. I thought I might throw up.
“Ow,” Aoife muttered, rubbing her backside.
“The Mother Tree is that way,” Seanna pointed off through the trees. She closed her eyes and wrapped a hand around a branch jutting out from a nearby bush. She gently ran her hand down it. The leaves slid gently through her fist. She opened her eyes and relief washed over her face. She let the branch go, the leaves perked up a little. “We’re not too late. The Mother Tree is unharmed, but we must hurry.”
She patted her lizard mount on the neck. It turned and hurried back in the direction of the swamp. The other two followed quickly behind it. The night swallowed them up only a few yards from us.
“They stink,” Aoife said. “My hands stink.”
I resisted the urge to sniff mine.
“We must hurry,” Seanna said again. She turned and dashed noiselessly through the forest.
Ten minutes or so later, we found ourselves crouching in the bushes. A dead Ashling lay stretched out at Seanna’s bare feet. She rested a thin hand on his rough shoulder, a moment of silent tribute to the fallen defender.
Just outside the ring of bushes, in the middle of a clearing, stood the Mother Tree. I had expected something large and overbearing. Instead, it was rather small, at least compared to the tree of my imagination. It was still magnificent, radiating an ancient power that I could feel like a hum in my bones. It reminded me of an oak from Earth. It had large limbs everywhere, perfect for climbing, and was covered in leaves so vibrant they seemed to shine with a light of their own in the dark of night.
At its base, three figures huddled over a bag on the ground.
“What are we supposed to do?” Aoife whispered.
“Whatever we can. Everything we can.” Seanna answered.
“Whatever that is, it better be soon,” I said.
The three forms stood. One of them held out his clenched fist. He held a blade. It was blacker than midnight. It gathered the dark into itself like a reverse black hole. The form raised the fist over his head. The ground quivered.
“No!” Seanna screamed.
The figure halted its downward stabbing motion and turned in our direction. I snatched up the staff lying beside fallen Ashling defender and rushed out of the bushes, tapping my well of power at the same time. I pushed on the figure as hard as I could. He went flying off into the bushes, the blade flipping off in another direction. Seanna rushed after the arching blade.
One of the other figures ran off after it while the third turned to face me. I ran at it at full speed, spinning the staff overhead. I brought it down with telekinesis aided force. The figure swiped the blow away with an arm and jabbed me in the ribs with the other fist. The blow threw me off balance and my momentum sent me tumbling to the ground. The staff clattered out of reach. I clutched my chest where he had struck and watched him throw off his robe.
The creature underneath could have come straight out of a movie. Its leathery gray skin pulled across tight muscles as it moved toward me. Red eyes glared at me, its mouth opening to reveal rows of sharp teeth dripping saliva. It reached out a three-fingered, clawed hand at me and hissed.
I pushed at it with my power, but he only rocked back before advancing again. I pushed again, harder. It had only slightly better effect on him and a third push had no effect at all.
“Stupid human,” it hissed. “You come here, give us both the death of the Ashlings and our Gatekeeper pet.” It gurgled a laugh.
I pushed again. When nothing happened, I yanked in desperation. My powers had no effect on him at all. His claws clicked together as his h
and opened and closed, eager with anticipation.
“Hey, ugly!” Aoife appeared out of nowhere.
The creature turned toward her.
“I’m tired of being scared out of my mind, how about you feel a little bit of it?” Her eyes flared gold.
The thing twitched, its features twisting in confusion. Aoife strode toward it. It flinched, backed away, its red eyes flickering back and forth.
“What magic is this?” it hissed. “Stay away. Stay away!”
It stumbled to the ground, trying to crawl away from Aoife.
This limb, I’ve been thinking about shedding.
I blinked at the serene voice in my head. It hummed and vibrated like wind rustling leaves.
“What?”
This limb is quite old and I’ve grown tired of it. I believe a new look is in order.
I looked at the Mother Tree. A thick limb quivered directly over the creature cowering in the dirt.
Once it’s detached from my trunk, I care not the force at which it hits the ground. Or whatever might get in its path.
The voice tinkled with laughter. I nodded, wondering if the motion was pointless. Trees don’t have eyes. That was the Mother Tree talking to me, right? I wasn’t going crazy. I hoped not.
Crazy or not, there was a loud crack as the limb split from the trunk. I tapped a good amount of energy. As the large branch started to fall, I pushed down on it as hard as I could. It crashed right on top of the creature’s head. The limb shattered and the creature flopped to the ground. It lay unmoving.
Ah, there’s nothing like losing a few hundred pounds of weight to make you feel young again.
More laughter rained down in my head.
“I’m not going crazy. I’m not going crazy,” I muttered.
17
A FINAL GOODBYE
Seanna!” I called out, pushing myself to my feet.
She reappeared before I could go rushing off in the bushes after her.
I breathed a sigh of relief. “What happened to the other two?” I trailed off as I saw her hands in the glow of the Mother Tree. “Is that blood?”
She nodded, holding up both hands. They were covered in green ooze and she had the black dagger clenched in a fist. “As it turns out, this dagger is only poisonous to trees, but the blade still works quite well.”
“Both of them?” I asked.
She nodded again.
“Well, I guess that’s good, then.”
Her eyes traveled to the broken limb on the motionless creature. Her face flushed with anger, her grip tightening on the dagger. “What did you do?” she hissed between her teeth.
I followed her eyes to the large limb, to the Mother Tree, and back to Seanna. “What?” My eyes widened as I realized the assumption she had made. “Wait! I didn’t...well, I did, but-”
Peace, Sapling.
The color drained from Seanna’s face and she bowed her head reverently.
This is of my own doing. Better to lose a limb than the whole forest, wouldn’t you agree?
“Of course, Mother,” Seanna replied.
These young ones have been through so much because of my Ashlings. The loss of a limb is but a small price of penitence compared to the hardships they have been through.
“As you say, Mother.”
Speaking of that, I find it shameful what my Ashlings did to these two just to save their own lives.
Seanna’s head rose at that, her face full of shame.
It is better to sacrifice our entire clan than to put two innocent lives in danger.
“Yes, Mother.” Seanna glanced Aoife and my way.
When you return to your clan, I would that you inform your father and mother they are to visit me.
“Of course, Mother.”
“That really isn’t necessary,” I put in. “I understand why they did what they did. One life to give is worth an entire people.”
“Speak for yourself,” Aoife muttered.
Indeed, the trade of one life for many is a fair bargain, but only when that life is given willingly. Is it my mistake that you didn’t volunteer?
“No, you’re not mistaken, but-”
Then there is much to be answered for.
I nodded, knowing that argument was lost.
As for you, Sapling. You are much too young to realize the consequences of your actions. You were only following the directions of your father and mother, but you are old enough to tell right from wrong.
Seanna hung her head again, silent.
In the end, though, you earned a little redemption by correcting your wrongs. For that, you are to be commended. I hope our relationship with the Earth Gatekeeper isn’t too fractured.
It took me a moment of silence to realize she was referring to me.
“Oh, yeah. I guess we’re good.” I didn’t say out loud that I had no intention of ever returning to this planet. I wondered if she could read my thoughts since she spoke in my mind. If she could, she gave no indication.
It warms my roots to hear that. More laughter. But, I would guess you have spent too much time and wish to return to home.
“Yes!” Aoife said emphatically.
I nodded. “We need to get home as soon as possible. I think mom might be in danger.”
You came to help save my Ashlings even while carrying the knowledge your mother is in danger? You are a special boy.
I clamped my jaw shut. Why did everybody here have to call me boy?
You will want to travel to the gateway at all possible speed. Luckily, I have access to all the travel-ways in this area. There is one that leads just feet from the gateway.
The ground shuttered around the Mother Tree as a large root pulled from the ground revealing a dark hole underneath. It had the same unnatural darkness as the hole Elder Narit showed us at the top of the mountain.
“I didn’t know you had access to the travel-ways, Mother?” Seanna said in amazement.
There is a lot you don’t know, Sapling. You would do well to gain knowledge and wisdom before thinking yourself so smart.
“Yes, Mother.” A bit of blush appeared on her cheeks.
Now, we do not wish to keep these two any longer. In you go.
We approached the hole under the root. Aoife hopped through first like she had high up on the Jo-Shar’s mountain.
I moved to go behind her, but paused, turning to Seanna. “Sapling?”
“Shut up.”
She pushed me through and I felt the familiar tug and squeeze as I was pulled through the tunnel.
***
Moments later, I was blasted by intense cold. I blinked away the momentary disorientation to find Aoife standing there, already shivering with her arms wrapped around her torso.
“Open the gate so we can get out of here,” she demanded.
Seanna rose out of the snow behind me like she stood on a platform rising from under the stage at a rock concert. I spared her a glance before I moved towards the pull of the gateway. If I had to rely on sight to find it, I would have probably been there all night trying to find it in the dark. I didn’t have to, however. The gateway tugged on me like an insistent child tugging on his mother’s sleeve.
I walked to a rock face and concentrated on the visualizing it opening. After a moment, the rock shuddered and a small crack appeared, widening enough for us to fit through.
Aoife hurried through the gate without fear, eager to return home. I stepped up to it.
“Gaige.”
I stopped and turned to Seanna. She still stood just outside the travel-way.
“I wish I could come with you to make up for what I put you both through.” I waited while she twisted her hands in front of her. “But, I’m needed here. My people need me.”
What did I care if she came with us? I didn’t need her help. As far as I was concerned, I could live a long and peaceful life if I never saw her again.
“Trouble is on the horizon. The things you’ve seen here, that’s not how Alisundi has been for mil
lennia. Everybody’s always just left everybody else alone, even among the humans. I feel the whole world is on the brink of disaster.”
I nodded slowly, then smiled. “Plus, you have your awesome fiancée to think about as well.”
She rolled her eyes. “Shut up.” Another moment passed. “I really am sorry, Gaige. For everything.”
I shrugged. “Hey, we made it out alive. That’s what counts right? There is something you can do to make it up to me, though.”
“What?”
“Check on the Jo-Shar. And Awar.”
“I will try,” she said without much conviction.
“Bye, Seanna.”
“Bye, Gaige.”
I turned and stepped through the gateway, leaving her and Alisundi behind for good.
***
I found Aoife waiting on the other side, standing in the half-light of dusk. I can’t describe how amazing it felt to see the old familiar park again. To know that I stood on Earth. To know I was home. Yet, there was something else lurking there just under the surface. Dread.
“We should check on your mom,” Aoife said.
I shook my head. “Go to your family. They’ll be worried sick.”
“What if you need help?” she protested
“I’ll be fine,” I forced a smile. “After facing a hoard of Balataur and a flock of flying dragon machines, I think one little nasty won’t be too difficult.”
“Gaige, don’t be stupid.”
“I really wish people would stop saying that. Really, I’ll be fine. You need to get home to your family and let them know you’re okay. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Her eyes flashed gold for a moment and she nodded, satisfied. “Be careful.” She hesitated and then jumped on me, wrapping her arms around me in tight hug. She held me for several long moments before abruptly breaking the embrace and stepping back. “You better hurry.”
I nodded and took off running. The speed came easy, though I knew I should have been bone tired. In a few seconds, I left the park, hitting the sidewalk with a strong stride, racing past all the familiar places in the town I’d spent all my life.
After years spent wishing we would go somewhere on a family vacation—anywhere just to get out of Gate City—the emotions of being home swelled in me. It was more than just being home, really. To have survived the whole ordeal sent a wave of relief that conflicted with dread I felt as I took turn after turn until I ran down my street.
The Gatekeeper Trilogy Page 43