by Kealohilani
Lani’s heart leapt for joy. Goodbye wretched mountains! Hello gorgeous town! Her eyes lit up and she gasped as the delightful image of the village in front of her became even clearer.
Creamy white stone buildings with red tile roofs dotted the gentle hillside in a winding pattern. Although it was still nearly an hour or so before sunset, the buildings already glowed with a tinge of red and gold.
“Stay here, behind those orange trees!” Arante commanded, pointing to a small grove nearby. “I’ll be back with clothes for you five. You need to blend into this town or you will endanger everyone.”
“I completely agree,” Tierza stated. “This town is very rich and full of spies. I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t think so! I can handle this on my own.”
“I have a relationship with these people and you will get much further with my help.”
“I’ll take my chances! I’d rather pay ten times the local price than to have you help!”
“You don’t have a choice. You can’t outrun me.”
Confound it, thought Arante. Tierza was right. Elves were notoriously the fastest human-like creatures in all of Alamea. There was no escaping her.
“Fine! But follow my lead.”
“I think not.”
Tierza nearly skipped as she started off in the direction of the town. Arante exhaled sharply and narrowed her eyes until she could barely see. She followed after Tierza with quick angry stomps, making threatening gestures behind her back.
“There goes a happy duo,” Erik stated, somewhat amused.
“I wonder which one would win in a catfight?” Raoul asked with a grin, as they followed the other rebels into the orange grove.
Once inside the ring of heavily-laden trees, Lani could see why Arante had chosen it. The cover was almost impenetrable. But what she loved the most was the amazing smell!
All the rebels except for the five earth friends, Laern, and Jharate sat down in various places to relax and enjoy an orange. Jharate kept his distance from everyone.
“With or without their gifts?” Justin inquired, as he plucked an orange off a tree and began to peel it.
“Without. Just a good old fashion catfight,” Raoul replied, following Justin’s lead and grabbing an orange for himself.
“Real progressive, guys,” Kendra muttered.
“Hashtag they’re just having fun,” Erik shot back.
“My money would be on Arante,” Lani answered cheerfully.
“I would not underestimate my sister. She may look like a girl, but she does not fight like one,” Laern warned.
Kendra twitched at the comment but said nothing.
“Neither does my cousin.”
Lani felt a spark in her spine as she heard Jharate’s voice. It was always surprising when Jharate spoke to anyone— especially as of late. It was even more odd that he had jumped in on a conversation in which Lani was involved.
Tierza was gone and the only other person Jharate had willingly spoken to for such a long time now was Arante— and only if Arante was alone. So what did this mean?
Lani shook her head. Snap out of it, Lani! Don’t think about him! Just don’t! Not once during her entire thought process did she look at him and she decided it was best to keep it that way.
“It doesn’t matter. Because if I was there, they would both lose!” Kendra insisted.
Laern smiled. Raoul and Justin burst out laughing.
“I totally believe that,” Raoul chuckled as he finished his orange.
“I think I’d like to see that fight!” Justin said with a grin. “I would watch Tierza take you both down.”
“Oh yeah, Justin?” Kendra replied with a playful smile. “You’re lucky this air is holding me back or I’d beat you down right now.”
Kendra struggled against the air as though she were trying to escape invisible restraints that were barring her from Justin. Everyone except Jharate laughed this time. Even Jaresh seemed to be amused.
“I wouldn’t ever bet against Kendra winning,” Lani admitted. “She has seven brothers and a black belt! She can take anyone down.”
“At least someone knows the truth,” Kendra chirped happily, dusting off her shoulders.
Drakne rolled his eyes. If there had ever been a more inane conversation topic out there, he couldn’t think of it. He worked very hard to resist the temptation to set one of them on fire to entertain himself— but only so he would not warn them of his presence before he had the chance to carry out his plan.
Rutghar dragged a seventeen-year-old boy in through the throne room doors— pulling him by the chains which bound his hands. The boy was above average in height with ashy-blonde hair and brown eyes. He did not fight Rutghar— but it was somehow clear that this was a choice and not the act of a broken man.
Rutghar stopped just short of the steps that led to Vranah’s throne. He let go of the chains. The boy quickly righted himself, but stayed on his knees rather than risk immediate retaliation.
“We captured this spy attempting to carry a message to The Phantom.”
Vranah’s eyes lit up in surprise and delight.
“Give it to me.”
Rutghar handed the scroll over. Vranah looked at it and instantly frowned.
“Whatever it is— it must be important for someone to have gone to these lengths. Charms like these are not easy to come by.”
“Agreed, Your Excellency. Her Ladyship Zarkania was most displeased by the message she read.”
Vranah stifled a laugh. “Mine is quite insulting as well— elaborately so.”
“I cannot see anything at all,” Rutghar admitted.
“Apparently, you do not rank high enough for them to charm a specific message just for you.”
“Not yet,” Rutghar muttered with a bow.
“Patience, Rutghar. Your day will come.”
“As it pleases you, Your Excellency.”
“My guess is that there are only four people who would see anything on this parchment— Zarkania, Lord Drakne, myself, and— blast him— The Phantom.” Vranah rolled the missive up, handed the scroll back to Rutghar, and looked out of a nearby window. “Burn it. If it is of no use to us— make sure it will be of no use to him…”
“Or her,” Rutghar thought aloud.
“Doubtful,” Vranah replied. “Where was this boy caught?”
“In the middle of Trisakne.”
“Heading in which direction?”
“We were unable to determine that.”
“His name?”
“Danu,” the boy answered defiantly. “And he can speak for himself.”
Vranah turned around with an amused smile which quickly became a laugh.
“I admire your spirit, boy! You can’t be more than what— fourteen?”
“Seventeen,” Danu corrected.
“Your family?”
“Dead— thanks to you.”
“The boy is from Echredaun, Your Excellency. We believe he was sent out before the battle ended with this message for the leader of the Alamean United Rebellion.”
“Well then you do know something after all. You know that he was not going to Kelamosa or Kresar,” Vranah chided. “You found him in the middle of Trisakne, which is both south and west of Echredaun. That leaves only Zenastra, Lanas, or Tofan as choices.”
“We thought so too. However, spies have been known to travel in the wrong direction as decoys for weeks— only to turn back and go another way entirely. They have also passed messages on to another spy— and not directly to The Phantom— many times before reaching their destination. I did not want report unverified information.”
“Who gave this to you, boy?” Vranah demanded.
Danu smirked. “I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to.”
“More magic. Alright. Well, Danu of Echredaun— it seems that you are no longer of any use to me.”
“I go to my death with pride,” Danu declared— shoulders back, chin up— glaring at Vranah.
“How precious,” Vranah laughed, before turning to Rutghar. “You heard the boy. Hang him in the nearest town square as a warning to all other would-be spies. Have it accomplished before the sun sets.”
“It will be done.” Rutghar placed his hand over his heart and bowed. He moved to seize the boy’s chains, but Danu stood up vigorously.
“I’ll walk.”
Rutghar looked to Vranah.
“Humour him,” Vranah commanded.
Rutghar nodded and held his hand out to show the way, as if leading a guest to his chambers.
Danu walked forward, as directed— his head held high. I’ll be with you soon, he thought— thinking of his parents and the girl he loved.
José, Tyler, Zack, and Alex walked, arm in arm, with their girlfriends— Dianne, Michelle, Tara, and Anna. It was a particularly warm Saturday night for this time of year— and the sun hadn’t quite set yet. They were strolling through La Jolla— having just finished playing in the waves of the cove.
As they crossed a street at the bottom of a hill, they heard the sound of a car honking wildly. José and Zack rushed their dates across the road to safety. Tyler barely got himself and Michelle out of the way— coming within inches of disaster. Alex and Anna were at the back of the group.
In a split fraction of an instant, Alex knew what he had to do. He pushed Anna as hard as he could out of the way— and took the hit himself.
The car collided into him at full force. He flew up and slammed into the windshield. Thousands of spidery cracks radiated out from where Alex hit. Spiraling over the back of the car— he landed on the asphalt behind it with a sickening thud. The vehicle, still unable to stop, crashed headlong into a parked, but empty, car.
“Alex!” they all screamed. Passersby stopped traffic as the seven remaining friends rushed to his side. There was so much blood!
The teenage girl who had been driving the out-of-control car was completely unharmed. She exited her vehicle as fast as she could and sprinted over to the friends who were huddled around Alex.
“I’m so sorry! M-m-my brakes! They stopped working! I-I-I tried to s-stop! H-he’s going to be ok-kay, r-right?!”
No one answered her.
“Call 9-1-1!” José screamed.
“On it!” Zack replied, pulling out his phone— taking deep breaths as he dialed. “I need to report an accident— my friend is hurt! We need help! La Jolla— right by— right by— there’s a park—
and— What street are we on?!”
He looked around for a sign and answered— and continued to answer every question set forth to him.
“Alex!” Anna wailed, holding his hand to her heart with both of hers— scared to touch him too much but unable to resist it completely. “Alex— please!”
“If you can hear me, Alex— we’re calling for help,” Tyler spoke, as calmly as he could— fighting back the panic in his soul. “Stay with us, Alex!”
Karsenia closed her eyes and concentrated. She had seen the fate of Danu— and the repercussions for a young boy named Alex on Earth. This vision must not reach Lani. However, stopping a vision such as this from being received was no easy matter.
Lani almost felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her— only it was a little less jarring. Raoul was staring at her— worry lines crinkling his forehead.
“Did something happen?” Lani asked.
“You totally blanked out on us for like five minutes,” Justin answered.
“Are you okay?” Raoul asked.
“Yes… I’m okay. Five minutes?! Really?!”
“Or longer… Did you have a vision?” Raoul guessed.
“No. Everything was just completely white for what I thought was only a few seconds. Weird.”
“Maybe you should have some more of Jaresh’s medicine.”
“Okay. Thank you, Raoul.”
“No problem.”
Lani took the canteen and drank it, gratefully. But she didn’t feel worn out. She felt blank. Like whatever she had been thinking had been ripped away— erased. How could she have lost five whole minutes? It didn’t make any sense.
But then again— what did make sense right now? She sighed heavily and let the minor mystery slide.
Karsenia opened her eyes and relaxed— feeling very relieved. She was not sure if she would be able to stop any subsequent visions of Alex’s fate— or the emotions Tyler was about to suffer as he mourned the death of his friend. She had only just been able to stop this one. However, it was imperative that Lani not find out today. Not if everything was to go as it should.
Meanwhile, shopping for clothes in the gypsy village, Tierza and Arante walked along the cobblestone pathways— passing merchants selling from inside their stone premises.
Ivy and burgundy flowers dripped down the sides of these white stucco-covered buildings— and also grew up the walls. The vibrant flowers were accentuated by a dry, greenish-grey, swamp moss that spilled from the red tile roofs and wrought iron balconies.
Purposefully walking through the wide and winding passageways, the two of them eventually came to an enormous town square— filled with decorative tents with colorful awnings.
Peddlers offered their wares as they passed. The sweet smell of delicious breads and the scent of roasting meats floated through the air and enveloped them in an aromatic paradise. Dulcet melodies meandered harmoniously into their ears on sound currents so palpable and sublime that they could almost be seen coming from the musical instruments being sold by the merchants.
Arante and Tierza pushed past the various vendors, who tried to pull them inside their places of business to sell them fine linens, intricate jewelry, strings of pearls, flowers, rare books, brand new books, maps, crystal vases, carved soaps, lotions, cooking tools, copper pots, pans, magic potions, relics of days gone by, and every other possible item of convenience or luxury.
Everything that could be made out of gold was made out of gold— candlesticks, flatware, frames for paintings, mantle clocks, fine pocket watches, napkin rings, birdcages, goblets, and jewelry boxes were only some of the examples of opulent craftsmanship before them.
Despite the obvious wealth of the town— the two women worked to keep their gold-coin-filled moneybags well hidden— they knew it was not an honest place.
With their fashion sense and bearing, Arante and Tierza blended in effortlessly. Some people wore stylish battle wear— like the two of them. Most were dressed in their extravagant everyday wear.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people shopped their way through this market— dressed to the hilt. And though the clothing styles, hairstyles, and the skin tones varied— every shopper there appeared to be wealthy in the extreme.
Tierza nodded her head in deference to the few elves that she passed— subtly holding up one finger to her lips to indicate that they were not to approach her. They in turn bowed their heads— almost imperceptibly— and immediately struck up conversations with the nearest vendors so that Tierza would remain unnoticed.
Through all of this, however, Tierza and Arante continued to bicker. They squabbled over everything— color, style, shape, and size.
“ALRIGHT!” Arante finally exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “I’ve had enough! You go get clothes for Justin, Raoul, and Kendra. I will get everything for Erik and Lani. Okay?”
“Fine. But that is really not fair to Lani or Erik because they will not look as good as the rest of their friends.”
Arante walked away. She didn’t want to start a bigger fight in public. It would call too much attention to them. And it wouldn’t do any good anyway because Tierza was too irrational to be reasoned with.
The fashion war was on. Arante was more than confident that she would win. Fashion was like a gift to her. Perhaps a victory in this skirmish would lead to a few peaceful hours of Tierza’s humbled silence. She could think of no greater reward.
As they returned, the stony silence between Tierza and Arante was palpable. Quizzical glances were exc
hanged by the other rebels and Laern but no one voiced the questions buzzing around in their head.
With a haughty smile, Tierza handed Justin, Kendra, and Raoul the elegantly-tooled butter-soft-leather bags— embossed with pure gold accents— which held their new clothes. Arante quickly handed Lani and Erik their equally-luxurious almost-identical bags.
“I’ll come help you with your ensemble.”
“Thank you, Arante,” Lani replied.
Lani looked at her bag curiously and wondered what could be so complicated that Arante would need to help her. The five Earth friends left the ring of orange trees and split up to find a place to change— with Arante following Lani out of sight. The Alameans waited quietly where they were— hoping this wouldn’t take long so that they could get to a safe destination before sunset.
Laern looked up with an expectant gleam in his eyes as he saw that Kendra was the first to emerge from the cover of the nearby trees and bushes to re-enter the orange grove. He flashed his dashing smile as she came into full view.
“Zenastra is the land of the gypsies, after all,” Tierza trilled as everyone surveyed Kendra’s new look.
Tierza had picked out a dress made up of a burgundy velvet skirt, a blousy white satin top, and a black velvet corset that came to a point at the bottom. Black peasant stitching in the front laced its way through gold eyelets, which matched the scrolling gold embroidery at the top of the corset.
Kendra beamed back at Laern. A light pink blush appeared on her cheeks and she batted her eyelashes briefly— before looking away shyly.
Raoul was next. Tierza had an approving smile on her face.
“It appears that I am two for two,” she proclaimed smugly.
Raoul wore a white pirate-like shirt with flamboyantly-billowing sleeves. The burnt orange silk vest— which had three buttons to close it over the top of his shirt— added a nice touch of distinction. His brown pants looked as if they were made of high-quality tweed and his brown boots had been made from the hide of some animal.
Justin emerged, dressed in his new attire, right after Raoul. His outfit was much like Raoul’s— although the vest was black leather, as were the boots, and his pants were made of a black material that resembled denim.