by Brandon Mull
“I want to get home and stay home,” Cole said. “I want my family to remember me.”
Violet sucked in air through her teeth. “That could be tough. Getting there could happen. But you would be drawn back to the Outskirts before long. And those who know you best will have forgotten you. Casual acquaintances might remember you a little.”
“I know how it works,” Cole said. “But I’m going to find a way to change it.”
“Now that would be a project!” Violet exclaimed. “Talk about testing the limits of the possible.”
“Just you wait,” Cole said. “I’ll figure it out.”
“I hope so.” Sighing, Violet looked beyond Cole. “When will that kid come back? I’m getting sick of this smell.”
CHAPTER
6
DEENA
After some time, Cole spotted Arie and a tall, bony woman making their way between the ponds toward the burned shrine. She had long, graying hair and waved at Cole when she saw him.
As they drew near, the woman came directly to Cole and took his hands in hers. He noticed her short fingernails and dry skin. “Welcome, young Cole. I am Deena. Your friends told me to watch for you. They mentioned others as well, but you especially. And here you are.” She glanced at Violet. “Well met, young woman.”
“Good day,” Violet replied with a small bow.
Holding her hands, Cole could sense Deena’s power, fairly strong, and somewhat murky. “Do you know where I can find my friends?”
“I better know,” Deena said. “I hid them.” She looked around. “I don’t believe any of the Enforcers lingered. But who knows for certain? Those jackals can be subtle.”
“Burning down a shrine is subtle?” Violet asked.
“They can be harsh, too,” Deena said. “Though they have never gone so far as to directly attack a shrine before. Unprecedented boldness.”
“Almost like they suspect the world is ending,” Violet murmured.
“Are my friends hidden nearby?” Cole asked.
“Yes,” Deena said. She held up a small golden strand. “First, if you are indeed Cole, Jace told me you could turn this little string into a rope.”
Seeing the rope made Cole happy. It was almost like seeing Jace. He accepted it, found his shaping power could connect easily, and forced some energy into it. The little string expanded to the size of a bullwhip.
“Excellent,” Deena said. “We should waste no time.”
“Wait,” Violet said. “How do we know we can trust you?”
“Because I haven’t attacked you, and I’ll bring you right to your friends,” Deena said.
“Fair enough,” Cole said.
“This way,” Deena said, leading them around one of the nearest ponds along a squishy embankment, and then down a ladder to a small wooden platform beside another pond, this one larger and partly covered with lily pads. She started turning a crank. “Arie? Would you go close the other intake?”
“Completely?” the boy asked with relish.
“Yes,” Deena said. “Then open the outflow gate all the way.”
“You got it,” the boy said, running along the edge of the pond to another platform, where he started turning a crank of his own.
“What are we doing?” Cole asked.
“Draining the pond,” Violet said.
Deena winked. “Funny thing about traveling into the echolands. The body left behind enters a hibernation state. Whole metabolism slows to a crawl. Keeps a person from wasting away. Slow heartbeat. Minimal breathing.”
“They’re underwater?” Cole asked.
“Inside sealed capsules,” Deena said. “I sent them back to the echolands so I could use my best hiding place. In hibernation, they would last at least a week down there, even with the small amount of fresh air trapped with them.”
Deena hustled along a narrow path bordered by tiny, dense clover to the dam at the other side of the pond. There she turned another crank. On the far end of the dam, Arie cranked as well.
“How’d you put them down there?” Cole asked.
“We have weighty boxes for the purpose,” Deena said. “They look like coffins. An echo warned us of the approaching Enforcers. It was too late for conventional fleeing. We sank Joe, Jace, and Mira before our enemies arrived. The Enforcers demanded we give up the princess. When we refused, they set fire to the shrine. Some who worked here were slain. Several of us fled. I was chosen to linger and awaken our sunken guests after the Enforcers departed. Before they went into the water, your comrades charged me to keep watch for you. And for Dalton or Hunter. They gave me questions to verify your identities, in case of deception. If nobody showed up, I would have extracted them in three days.”
“The water level is falling,” Violet observed.
“It doesn’t take long,” Deena said. “Ingenious design. Different waterfalls come and go depending on how the flow is managed. Not all the ponds can be completely emptied. This one is the deepest pool designed to be fully drained.”
Arie rejoined them. “I’ve never seen this one dry,” he said.
“We don’t empty them often,” Deena said. “Not entirely.” She closed her eyes, breathing slowly. When she opened her eyes, she smiled at Cole. “Your friends are nearby. Their echoes have found their way here. I began summoning them as soon as they crossed over. I should be able to rouse them with little difficulty.”
“Why summoned?” Violet asked. “Didn’t they cross over here?”
Deena shook her head. “They had all been to the echolands before, so their lifesparks joined their existing echoes. They had some distance to travel before I could restore them to their physical bodies.”
Cole watched the water level drop. Eventually, three bronze coffins were revealed. As the pond finished draining, Cole followed Deena down into the resultant depression, avoiding puddles as they picked their way among slimy rocks and stranded lily pads.
“These containers are airtight,” Deena explained as she approached one of the coffins. She unfastened some clasps along one end of the lid. “They have seldom been used.”
Deena grabbed one side of the lid, Cole the other, and, pushing upward, they raised it on surprisingly smooth hinges. Inside rested Mira, still as death, and completely dry. Cole couldn’t resist a shudder at the horrifying sight.
Deena closed her eyes and extended one hand, lips moving soundlessly. Mira sat up with a gasp, her eyes fluttering open. She looked disoriented for a moment, but when she recognized Cole, her face lit up, and he felt a rush of relief. “You found us! Good job!” Her gaze switched to Deena. “Hurry with the others. Some troublemakers just showed up.”
“I saw how she opened it,” Violet said from behind Cole, grabbing his shoulder. “Come on.”
Cole ran to one of the other coffins with Violet, while Mira and Deena raced to the third. Violet moved along one side of the container, undoing clasps. Cole had not paid close enough attention to learn the trick, but he helped Violet lift the lid when she had finished.
Jace lay inside, frowning in hibernation.
Deena ran toward them, slipping on the greasy stones but somehow keeping her balance. Joe clambered from the other coffin, soaked and dripping.
“Quick,” Joe called. “We’re right by a slipstream. They’re trying to force him in.”
Deena reached the coffin and closed her eyes. Jace flinched, rolled over, and then stared wildly up at Cole. “Took you long enough!”
“We’re doing our best!” Cole said.
“At least I made it,” Jace said, swinging out of the coffin. “You couldn’t have cut it any closer. I was getting chucked into a slipstream when I woke up in the box. I’m not sure if our echoes are going to escape. I may have to skip the echolands when I die.”
“Who are they?” Violet asked, pointing.
Cole turned to see two men standing in the middle of the empty pond. The bald one was tall and broad. The shorter one was heavyset with a long brown beard. Both glared. Both had a hint of
transparency to them.
“Echoes,” Deena said.
“They were both there,” Jace confirmed. “About ten others as well. Some of them were rushing away, talking about reinforcements.” Jace raised his voice. “Nice try!”
The bald echo pointed at him. “Your echo rode the stream. You will never return to the echolands.”
“You can keep your lousy land!” Jace cried, crouching to pick up a slimy stone. “All of it! I’m happy to go straight to the Other when my time is up!” He threw the stone, and it passed harmlessly through the echo’s chest.
The bald echo smiled. “That will be promptly arranged, I’m sure.” His stare shifted to Joe and Mira. “We have your echoes in custody. When you return here, you will be ours.”
In the distance a horn sounded. A second horn answered from another direction.
“Enforcers!” Arie called down from the platform where he stood watch. “Lots of them!”
The two echoes in the pond grinned.
“See you shortly,” the bald one said to Mira.
Deena stretched a hand toward the echoes. “You dare materialize and threaten in my presence?” she sang out. “I bind you!”
The two echoes went from gloating to alarmed. They held still, trembling, eyes fearful.
“I call you home!” Deena yelled. Then her voice became gentler. “Luxuriate in the homesong. Submit to the tranquility. Answer the summons. Away with you!”
The two echoes disappeared.
“Did you get them?” Jace asked hopefully.
“They didn’t stand a chance so near to a slipstream,” Deena said. “In they went. It’s not much consolation. My deepest apologies to all of you. I didn’t know the Enforcers were so near. This has been a trap, sprung simultaneously in the physical world and in the echolands.”
“No problem,” Cole said with a big smile. “We have a Wayminder.”
Mira rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t work like that, Cole. She can’t open a way in Necronum.”
“She can with me around,” Cole said, taking Violet’s hand.
A glimmering oval appeared nearby.
“Yes!” Jace said, raising a clenched fist. “Cole, you’re the best!”
“Hurry,” Cole said. “Deena, you and Arie should come too.”
“Arie!” Deena shouted. “Come down here immediately!”
The orphan scrambled down the steep side of the pond, falling part of the way. Clothes and skin streaked with mud, he dashed toward them across the pebbly ground.
“We have company!” Jace warned.
Cole looked up to see an enormous bird of prey swooping toward the pond. An Enforcer dangled from the talons.
“Through the wayport,” Cole urged.
Deena stepped into the oval and vanished. Then Arie.
“My rope?” Jace asked.
“I have it,” Cole said, fishing the golden strand from his pocket and making sure it was still connected to his power.
The huge bird screeched and dropped the Enforcer, who rolled to a stop at the edge of the pond and produced a crossbow. He raised it and took aim.
Cole passed the golden rope to Jace.
Joe stepped in front of Mira as she entered the shimmering wayport. When he turned to follow her through, a quarrel pierced his thigh. Joe stumbled into the wayport and disappeared.
The Enforcer produced a second quarrel as the golden rope reached him and snaked around his waist. The rope heaved him high into the air and then smashed him down against the glossy stones of the emptied pond, armor clanging violently. As Jace retracted the rope, the broken body remained motionless.
“Go,” Cole ordered
Jace lunged through. Cole followed.
Suddenly he was back in the parlor inside Harmony’s tower. Arie turned slowly, staring at the room with astonished eyes. Deena and Mira crouched over Joe, examining the quarrel that jutted from his thigh. Cole winced at the dark red stain spreading across the wet pant leg from the wound. He couldn’t help thinking about the time Sultan had bled out and died from a wounded shoulder.
“I can yank it,” Jace offered, his golden rope twirling above him like a magical lasso.
“Don’t you dare,” Joe growled through gritted teeth.
Jace’s rope shrank back into a small golden strand. Violet came through the way, and it disappeared behind her.
“There must be a healer around,” Mira said. “Where are we?”
“You mom’s tower,” Cole said.
Mira glanced at him. “Really?” She looked around. “She didn’t use to live in a tower.”
“Your dad lives in another one,” Cole said.
Mira turned back to Joe. “Did you hear that? We’re with my mother. We’ll get you the best healer in the Outskirts.”
His expression strained, Joe gave a nod. “Some painkiller would do.”
“Why are your clothes all wet?” Jace asked.
“His container must have sprung a slow leak,” Deena said. “Some air remained when we opened it. But not much.”
“Thanks for shielding me,” Mira said. “You shouldn’t have.”
“I was trying to get away too,” Joe replied modestly.
“You probably saved my life,” Mira said.
“Who’s that?” Arie asked, pointing to Queen Harmony, who had just entered the room.
She stood staring at her daughter.
Mira ran to her mother and embraced her.
Harmony hugged back, her expression stunned. Tears filled her eyes, and she tightened her embrace.
Only Violet knelt.
“We need a healer, Mother,” Mira said. “Our friend Joe was shot while protecting me.”
“Of course,” Harmony replied, her lips finally parting in a huge smile. “Right away, my darling Miracle.” Harmony held Miracle away from her and looked her up and down. “You haven’t aged a day.”
“I barely started again once I got my power back,” Mira said.
“You’re unhurt?” Harmony asked.
“Mother—Joe!” Mira insisted, almost whining. Cole had never heard that particular tone from Mira before.
“Right away,” Harmony said, bustling out of the room.
Deena was using a frilly doily stolen from a nearby table to apply pressure at the source of the bleeding. Sweat slicked Joe’s face.
“Those Enforcers will wonder what happened,” Jace said.
“What about the one with the great raptor?” Deena asked. “Didn’t he see our escape?”
“I took care of that one,” Jace said. “No living Enforcers saw how we got away.”
Queen Harmony returned.
Violet knelt again.
“My personal physician is on his way,” Harmony said. “Rise, Violet. Formalities end when people are bleeding.” The queen crouched beside Joe and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for protecting my daughter. You have my lasting gratitude. Rest assured that you will soon be in some of the most capable hands in Junction.”
“Thanks,” Joe said.
“Who are our other guests?” Harmony asked, straightening.
“This is Deena,” Mira said. “She took care of our physical bodies when we were in the echolands the first time. Then she sent me, Joe, and Jace back to the echolands and hid our bodies when the Enforcers attacked.”
“You also have my deepest gratitude,” Harmony said, inclining her head. “And this young man?”
“Jace has traveled with me and Cole since we escaped the Sky Raiders,” Mira said. “I owe him my life many times over.”
“Thank you, Jace,” Harmony said.
“We have more to do,” Jace said. “Right, Cole?”
“Yes,” Cole said. “And this little guy is Arie.”
“I found Cole and drained the pond,” the boy said. “You don’t have to thank me.”
“If you helped my daughter make it home, I thank you nonetheless,” Harmony said. “You will all be rewarded.”
“Spend it quickly,” Jace mutter
ed. “There’s a torivor coming.”
A short, narrow man entered the room, his mostly bald head offset by a gray goatee. He hurried to Joe and placed both hands on his leg.
“What did you do?” Joe asked. “The pain just . . . stopped.”
“A minor changing,” the physician said. “I’m from Elloweer. Not a pretty wound. The quarrel was designed to wreak havoc. But I’ll get you patched up.”
Jace was looking around the room. “So this is the First Castle.”
“Not the best part,” Mira said. “You should see the parade grounds. And the stables. And of course the main residence.”
“I make do here,” Harmony said.
“Sorry, Mother,” Mira said. “I didn’t mean . . .”
“Do not speak of sorrow, dear one,” Harmony said. “You belonged here these many years, and instead you lived like a hunted trophy. My sorrow is an ocean without shores. Where do we begin, my child? I want to hear about your time away from me! Tell me of your sisters! I understand you have seen all but Elegance. I want to know everything!”
Deena bowed. “I imagine you would prefer some privacy.”
“You all deserve to be made more comfortable,” Harmony said. “My head of staff is on her way!”
“Did you figure out how to get me to the Founding Stone?” Cole asked.
Harmony gasped. “I meant to tell you! The Founding Stone is gone!”
“Isn’t that impossible?” Deena asked.
“Legend has it the stone cannot be moved,” Harmony said. “And yet it is clearly missing. Not a fragment remains.”
“Owandell must have moved it somehow,” Cole said. “He used shapecraft to break off a piece and send it to the echolands. He must have used shapecraft to move the whole stone.”
“It’s unsettling,” Harmony said.
“I wonder what he’s going to do with it,” Cole said.
“Maybe he just wanted to keep it away from you,” Mira suggested.
“I’m not sure it can do much unless I power it up,” Cole said. “But maybe they can energize it somehow through shapecraft.”
“I will do my best to find it,” Harmony promised. “What would you like to do now?”