Body

by Mary Duke

  I listened to the sounds of the waves lapping at the rocks that lined the shore, to the owls hooting and the critters scurrying in the forest behind me.

  I took a deep breath, holding it in before I slowly let it go. “I smell the sea,” I whispered to myself. “Smoke from a distant fire. Pine from the forest. Fresh dirt…” I paused as my heart sank, “for the fallen.” I took another deep breath, pushing them through the process. “I feel the moon's rays sinking into my skin. I feel the soft sea breeze through my hair. I feel the crisp spring air.” I stopped, again taking another breath and starting over. At some point between trying to clear my head and repeating my pleas to Ayana, I fell asleep, still cross-legged on the beach.

  I was awoken by Illiah. “Have you been out here all night?”

  I opened my eyes to see, but I was instantly blinded by the sun. I shielded my eyes and rolled over onto my stomach, slowly stretching out my legs. “Is it morning?” I asked sarcastically.

  “Can you see the sun?” she shot back.

  “And the moon,” I pointed out.

  Illiah rolled her eyes. “Itheus is waiting on you. Ayana came to him last night.”

  I rolled back over in the sand and willed myself to stand up. “Did he say what she said?”

  “No, he’s waiting for you,” she reminded me, using the same shitty tone she used last night with Fabien.

  “Right,” I said, following her back to his cabin, ignoring her attitude.

  Zavery sat at the end of the table. His expression blank, as his eyes stared blindly across the room.

  “What’s wrong with you?” I asked nudging his shoulder as I walked past. “Couldn’t sleep?”

  Zavery glanced up at my face before he let his eyes fall again. “I’d say we both slept equally well.”

  I chuckled under my breath. “Then we are both in trouble today,” I said as I sat down beside him.

  Cilla walked in and took a pot from the fire, before pouring its contents into cups she had laid out on the table. “It would appear as though I am the only one who slept last night,” her soft voice cheerful. “Not to worry. I have just what you need; you’ll be perked up in no time,” she said as she placed a carved cup in front of each of us.

  Illiah curled her lip as she caught a whiff. “What is this?”

  “Tea leaves, honey, some of this, a little of that,” Cilla replied. “It tastes better than it smells, I promise.”

  “MmmHmm,” Illiah mumbled, as she set the cup back on the table.

  I held my breath, so I couldn’t smell it, and I took a drink. “She’s right, it doesn’t taste that bad, actually,” I said as I took another drink.

  Zavery side-eyed me as he picked up the cup and smelled it.

  Cilla smacked him on the back of his head. “Drink it. You’ll feel better.”

  He closed his eyes and downed it, handing her his empty cup.

  “You’ll thank me later,” she said as she bent down and kissed his cheek.

  “Itheus,” Zavery said, as the old man walked through his door.

  He nodded as he hung his cloak on the peg.

  “I noticed a lot of missing faces this morning,” Zavery said. “Please tell me we didn’t lose them all.”

  Itheus hung his head as he took his seat at the table. “Many good lives were lost last night,” he said, his voice full of sorrow. “Many of our friends have yet to return, and I am afraid that I do not know their fate.”

  Zavery rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand before running his fingers through his hair, fighting back the rage that welled up.

  “I have faith that not all have been lost,” Itheus said, reaching out for Zavery’s hand that now laid on the table. “Dragons are still bringing in wounded, so there is still hope.”

  “Not to turn the tables,” Illiah said. “But what is done is done, and we need to move forward.”

  Itheus turned his attention to the young woman who sat across from him.

  “Cilla said Ayana came to you last night.”

  “She did,” he replied, as he appeared to study her.

  “Did she say anything about my father?”

  “She did,” Itheus replied again, as he turned his attention to Zavery and me.

  “Aren’t you going to tell me what she said?” Illiah asked, annoyed.

  “When the time is right,” Itheus said coyly. “As you know, last night Ayana and I had a conversation. Many points were made, and many things were discussed. More happened that night than we would have ever imagined. The lengths in which the Queen and her court took that night, fooled even the best. However, the tides have changed. It is my understanding that we now hold the upper hand. It is the three of you, who will go forth with the knowledge it will take to defeat her, and return the balance to our realm.”

  “Three,” Fabien said from behind Illiah.

  “Yes,” Itheus said. “Three. Sno, Zavery, and Illiah will together venture back into the Realm of the Gods, and restore Illiah’s powers.”

  “But I just got her back,” Fabien tried to protest.

  “And in time you will again. Ayana’s instructions were very clear. The three of them would return, only the three. She told me you would know how to restore your powers, Illiah.”

  For a moment Illiah just sat there, her eyes blank as she sat in thought. “Will I have to start over?”

  “I believe so,” Itheus said. “She said to find the tree; he will again guide you.”

  Illiah rubbed her forehead and sighed as she mumbled under her breath, “That wasn’t the answer I was looking for.”

  “It may not be the answer you wanted,” Itheus said. “But it is indeed an answer to both of your questions.”

  Illiah paused. “So my father is alive? Has she heard from him?”

  “Not directly, but there are rumors she believes to be true.”

  “Rumors of what?”

  Itheus smiled. “The Goddess does not convey rumors herself.”

  Illiah wrinkled her face.

  “So that’s it?” I asked. “We escort Illiah to the Realm of the Gods, she gets her magic back, and that’s how we destroy Jadea?”

  Before Itheus could answer, Zavery interrupted him. “Why have our motives changed?” he questioned. “I thought our objective was to reunite the races and restore our kingdom…not destroy its Queen.”

  “That is still our end goal, Zavery,” Itheus reassured him. “Though that goal is impossible without first conquering the beast that stands in our path.”

  “Beast?” Zavery spat, disgusted.

  Itheus sat in silence, unsure of what could be said.

  “What gives?” I asked him, confused. “I thought we were on the same page yesterday…I mean with everything she did to you, everything she did to all of us.”

  “You don’t know everything,” Zavery said, beginning to defend her.

  Illiah laughed sarcastically. “What more is there that I need to know? She imprisoned me, stole my magic. She best hope she’s dead before I get my magic back, or I swear I will…"

  Zavery shot up out of his chair, sending it flying back against the wall behind him. He held his hand out in front of him, and Illiah began clawing at her own throat gasping for air.

  “You. Will. Do. Nothing,” Zavery said very slowly.

  I grabbed Zavery’s arm and struggled to overpower his magic.

  “What is wrong with you?” Illiah asked between breaths.

  Zavery didn’t answer her, instead he turned to me. “I’ll be outside, let me know when you and I are leaving.”

  Once the door slammed behind him, Itheus shook his head.

  “What is his problem?” Illiah questioned, sitting back down at the table.

  “Zavery is complicated,” Itheus answered. “He has been through a great deal of pain in his life… The woman in question, Jadea, The Queen, Ellyra… whatever you decide to call her. She is all he has left in this realm. And though he has every reason to hate her, he can’t bring himself to shut h
er out. After all, when everyone stood against him, she was the only one that never gave up hope.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  TAMARA

  Tears still slid silently down my cheeks as we silently made our way back to the island. My father laid motionless across my lap, and it took every ounce of will I had not to try to save him.

  My magic was powerful, and with it came the ability to choose my path. I had chosen to follow the path of light and not dabble in the shadows, but right now at this moment, I had second thoughts about my choice.

  Her voice crept through my ears as a soft whisper, “I can help you. All you must do is ask.”

  I hesitated…unsure at first who it was.

  “You and I are more alike than you know, Tamara of the Night Mountain.”

  “What do you want, Jadea?” I asked, recognizing her voice.

  “I merely ask for ten minutes of your time. I have an offer that I know you won’t be able to refuse,” Jadea whispered back to me.

  “What would you have to offer me that I couldn’t do myself?” I questioned.

  My sight began to fade, and everything around me darkened for a moment before everything came back. I was no longer on the dragon, flying over the sea; I was in a forest standing in front of Jadea. “Where is my brother?” I questioned. “What have you done with my father?”

  “Everything is just as you left it, and your vessel remains,” Jadea reassured me. “I just thought this conversation would be best held face to face.”

  “There is no need for you and me to have a conversation at all,” I stated.

  “Tamara, Tamara,” Jadea said as a smile spread across her face. “I do believe your thoughts about me have been marred. Now, I don’t know what Sno and her band of misfits have told you…”

  I laughed. “I don’t need the words of my family to cast judgment on you, Ellyra. I am capable of reading you myself.”

  Jadea narrowed her eyes. “How do you know my name?”

  “I know a lot of things, call it a gift.”

  “A gift?” she snorted.

  I nodded. “I’m a reader. I pick up on things others don’t. I sense things others overlook. I have a knack for intuition, you could say.”

  “I see that I have underestimated you, dear,” Jadea replied. “But I do believe you have also underestimated me.”

  “How so.” I laughed, intrigued.

  Jadea snapped her fingers and my father appeared behind her.

  “Father,” I said trying to step towards them, but my feet would not move.

  Jadea snapped her fingers again, and he was gone.

  “Where is he? How did you do that?” I asked.

  “Let’s call it a gift,” Jadea responded snidely.

  I stood there across from her, trying to get a read on what she was up to. Some sense on her direction.

  “Now, let’s make the arrangements of our deal very clear,” Jadea said, her eyes locking with mine.

  “We haven’t made a deal,” I reminded her.

  “Not yet, but I know that you will. In return for your father's life, I will grant you and your siblings protection. I give you my word that as long as I remain in power, death will not break apart your family.”

  “And what’s the price?” I questioned.

  “Sno’s power,” she said coldly. “I want it. If I am to end what I started, if I am to correct the wrongs that have been made, I need her power.”

  “I can’t do that,” I whispered. “It would go against everything that I am…everything I promised my parents I would be.”

  “What a shame,” Jadea said, once again snapping her fingers. This time though, instead of my father standing motionless beside her, it was the lifeless souls of my siblings.

  “Let them go,” I demanded.

  “Do we have a deal?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  I sat in silence. “Either way, I will lose my family…” I again whispered.

  “No, no, no,” Jadea responded smoothly.

  “Yes, I will,” I corrected her. “Dark magic never wins. In the end, I will be left with nothing.”

  “Foolish child.” Jadea scowled. “The magic that brings your father back is not dark,” she explained, pulling her shirt down to expose the skin between her shoulder and heart.

  “You’re a reaper?” I said in disbelief.

  “Queen of them, actually,” Jadea said, the smug smile returning to her face.

  “Impossible,” I muttered under my breath.

  “No, it is indeed possible. Am I not standing here before you? Do I not bear the mark of Illian?”

  “How?” I questioned.

  “Details, details.” Jadea laughed, throwing her hands in the air as she stood. “Everyone always wants to know the details.”

  For a moment, my focus returned to my brothers, whose souls remained behind Jadea. Then my thoughts returned to my father. There was so much I wanted to tell him, so many things I wanted to hear from his mouth again… I wasn’t ready to let go. Even if I did lose them in the end, at least this time I would get to say goodbye.

  Jadea walked behind me, dragging her hand across my shoulders as she moved.

  “I’ll do it,” I said, caving.

  “You’ll do what dear?” Jadea asked, coy.

  “If you return my father, and hold up your end of the deal, I will bring you Sno.”

  Jadea pulled a dagger from her waist and slid it across her hand, before holding it out to me.

  “I thought you said this wasn’t magic?” I questioned.

  “What I will do is not; however, I want to make sure our deal is everlasting. We will be bound by blood magic, and our bond will become unbreakable.”

  Hesitantly I followed suit, carving the dagger she held out into the palm of my hand before reaching for her hand.

  The sound of my father coughing and gasping for air filled my ears and the wind whipped at my face, as I once again found myself on the back of a dragon.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  SNO

  “So,” Illiah said, breaking the silence that followed Itheus’ words. “When do we leave?”

  “The sooner the better, I’m afraid,” Itheus replied. “I had everyone gather some supplies for you, at the base of the mountain.”

  “Great,” she said nodding her head.

  “Ummm, question,” I said feeling foolish. “Am I the only one here who doesn’t know how to get into the Realm of the Gods?”

  “Where did you think you were this morning?” Illiah asked.

  “I’m going to take a wild guess and say we were in the Realm of the Gods,” I replied, though I had no idea.

  Illiah rolled her eyes and stood up from the table.

  “However, I would not like to repeat the process of how we got there.”

  Itheus nodded. “Sno is right. Do you know of any other ways in?” he asked Illiah, “Any ways that are unguarded?”

  “Well, if I had my staff, I would be able to just go home from anywhere,” she snarked.

  Itheus also stood and met Illiah at the door, placing his hands on her shoulders. “You will have your powers again, and it will be sooner than you believe,” he reassured her. “Have faith in this old man.”

  Illiah pulled Itheus in for a hug. “I’ve always had faith in you.”

  “Now go,” Itheus said as she pulled away. “And,” he said, turning so he could face both Illiah and I, “keep an eye on Zavery. He feels more conflicted now that he has his entire life. Every choice he makes, every thought that runs through his head, is being questioned.”

  Itheus followed me outside, and the four of us walked down the mountain in silence. Just as Itheus had said, the Faye and Halflings that remained on the island had gathered a range of supplies. As Zavery and I filled our packs, Cilla walked up to us.

  “Take these as well,” she said as she handed us each a satchel.

  “What is it?” I questioned.

  “Herbs, remedies, poisons, you know, the essentials,” s
he said as a smile spread across her face.

  “Thanks,” I laughed.

  “And for you,” Cilla said, handing Illiah a bag already packed to the brim. “You may have come here without anything, but it’s not in our nature to let you leave that way.”

  Illiah weighed the pack in her hand before she threw it over her shoulder. “Thanks,” she mumbled, turning towards me.

  “All set?” I asked Zavery as he pulled the strings of his pack tight.

  Zavery shrugged his shoulders. “I’m ready to take her back where she belongs, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Really?” Illiah questioned rhetorically.

  I turned to her and held up my hands, hoping she would get the hint and not push it any farther. “So,” I said changing the subject. “Where are we going?”

  “To the Realm of the Gods,” Illiah said, side-eying at me like I was stupid.

  “We’ve established that… But how are we getting there?”

  “Like I said, the way you brought me home is out… So we will try the second closest gate that I know of that might be open. It’s in the Dark Mountain.”

  The Dark Mountain, I repeated to myself as the final moments before we reached the vault ran through my mind, and I saw Tamara standing over Jethero.

  “Do you have a problem with the Dark Mountain?” Illiah asked, her voice filled with attitude.

  “No,” I mumbled. “A friend of ours that we lost yesterday is from there, that is all.”

  “There are many who dwell within the mountain,” Illiah replied.

  “Jethero was a Keeper of the Mountain,” Zavery snapped.

  “Oh,” Illiah sighed, losing the sarcastic tone.

  “Is that a problem?” Zavery asked as we walked onto the beach.

  “Only if he was the last Keeper.”

  Tork and Kegan were waiting for us on the shoreline, both large griffins.

  “Will we not be taking dragons?” I asked as Zavery climbed on the back of Tork.

  “The dragons do not wish to be a part of this,” Kegan replied, walking between Illiah and me.

  “Why is this any different from what they helped us with yesterday?” I questioned.