Ausra’s parents never did come around. They could not forgive her for marrying a wizard. Sometimes, Ausra would run into them at the market, but they would not speak with her, and treated her as coldly as they would a stranger. Wendell would console Ausra on the times she would return from the market after meeting her parents. He took good care of his wife, making her feel loved and special, and most importantly he always made sure to work things out so that no bitterness accumulated from unresolved arguments. Ausra and Wendell came up with solutions to all the problems that arose, and spent much of their time reading books and traveling the seven regions together.
Ten years passed, and then twenty. One day, Wendell was busy fixing breakfast when Ausra came into the kitchen and hugged him from behind.
“You know,” she said, “you fix pancakes just like Master Dellwen.”
“I learned from the best,” shrugged Wendell.
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Will it be strawberry or gooseberry jam today, my darling?” asked Wendell.
“Gooseberry,” she answered.
“I should have guessed,” said Wendell, leaning his head against hers. Ausra’s hair spilled over his shoulder. He looked down at her raven-black hair, and suddenly furrowed his brow. Using two fingers he picked out a single strand that stood out from the rest. The strand was completely white. Wendell’s palms began to glow.
“Don’t you dare!” said Ausra, pulling her hair away. “Yes, it is grey,” she confirmed.
Wendell sighed heavily. “Have you noticed…” he asked.
“What? That we are not aging at the same rate? What kind of woman could possibly miss that?” Ausra said with a laugh.
“You are beautiful, the most beautiful woman in the world!” said Wendell.
“Well, I’m thirty-nine, and I look my age, but you…” she trailed off looking attentively at her husband, “you still look twenty-five.”
“It is the curse,” said Wendell. “The crolackrolite stones are preserving my life force.”
“I could use a curse like that!” joked Ausra, but they both grew silent because they knew all too well what their rift in age meant. Wendell looked down at the pancake that was getting a little over done. He was no longer in the mood for fixing breakfast. Ausra placed his hand onto the handle of the frying pan, and laid her own over top of his. “On three,” she said. “One, two, THREE!” They tossed the pancake together, and it went flying. It was thrown too hard, and it sailed high through the air before rapidly heading to the floor.
“Leversaura!” commanded Wendell, and the disk began to float. He grabbed a plate and caught the levitating pancake. Wendell proceeded to fix it up with the toppings he knew Ausra liked best.
“Let me see it,” said Ausra.
Wendell opened his hand, and there in his palm was a tiny crolackrolite stone, perfectly round and black.
“For a pancake?” asked Ausra. “You will have to carry that for the rest of your life for saving a silly pancake!”
“It was worth it,” said Wendell.
“How was it worth it?” she asked.
“It was a pancake I saved for you,” he answered.
Chapter 9
The Secret Treasure
As happy as Wendell was with Ausra, there was something that gradually began to eat at him inside. He had made himself a promise once, a promise to set things right, and he was doing nothing to make that vow a reality. He saw how the people about him lived, and it hurt to watch them toil day after day and struggle to simply go on living. Wendell knew their suffering was his fault. He was responsible for setting the red era and he was perhaps the only one capable of changing it.
The day came when Wendell could no longer ignore his growing feelings of guilt, and he began to study the books in his library with a newfound purpose. Wendell did not want to worry Ausra needlessly, since he knew not where to even begin fixing things, and so he decided not to tell her of his agenda. Day after day he poured over the books in his library reading and re-reading them, searching for some kind of clue, seeking even a hint that would guide him in the right direction. One evening, as Wendell was sitting in his reading chair he came across a short passage in the middle of a book about masking spells.
Long ago ‘twas hidden, an essential treasure,
Tucked between the stars, time itself protects it.
Secret from the past, artful masters measure,
Returned as intended, when the age detects it.
As the red dust settles, and the rivers brighten,
Sight returns with diamonds, all three planets mended.
Through the door as lightning, one you cannot frighten,
Wind within a tunnel, disenchantment ended.
Wendell read the passage several times. He leafed through the hand-written book until he found the authors signature and date of completion on the last page. The book was written early on in the Amethyst era. That meant the book he held in his hands was nearly three thousand years old! The mention of diamonds suggested that the passage was composed by one of the later seers of the diamond era. If this was the case, then it was likely to be deadly accurate. It was common knowledge that the great seers of old lost their sight forever at the beginning of the Amethyst era when they used their last diamond for a secret spell. Wendell thought of the loss of the last diamond. Might it have been used to hide this one secret treasure, he wondered?
He read on in the book, but there was no further mention of the secret treasure. Wendell could not get the words of the short passage out of his mind. “As the red dust settles, and the rivers brighten…” it had said, as though foreshadowing the end of the red era. “Through the door as lightning… wind within a tunnel…” That last part reminded Wendell of something he had recently read.
Wendell went to the bookshelf and pulled out a book he had read the previous week. This book was bound in green leather, and had faint lettering stamped into its creased and battered cover. The title read, Traveling by Enchantment, by Zuliter Zoronicous Zillmore, and the book discussed at great length the many methods of travel that could be accomplished by magic. Wendell opened the book to the fourth chapter titled Windore, and began to read.
“Simply put, a windore is a portal to another world. Opening a windore is not recommended since once it is opened, it can never be fully closed and the opening can serve as an entry point for many kinds of beings some of which can be extremely dangerous. As was in the unforgettable case of Master Blunderfoot Terribllous Fumbleson, a wizard of the fourth order, who not only accidently opened a windore while testing a traveling potion on his pet lizard, but also managed to mispronounce the incantation and summon an army of skeletor warriors from a fearsome planet called Rigormortis. It took an entire fleet of first order wizards to send the Rigormotians back from whence they came.
Because of events such as these, the creation of windores has been strictly prohibited in the seven regions. All existing windores have been closed, all that is, accept for one. To discourage use, the remaining windore has been masked and the coordinates hidden. However, even a closed windore will reappear in a short burst of activity once in a rare while.
It is imperative to note, that traveling through a windore is a dubious business, since there are billions upon billions of places to potentially end up, some of which may prove difficult to return from. To reach a desired destination, and avoid getting lost in time and space, one must develop a strong mental capacity with which one must focus on the planet he wishes to reach. For a smooth transition, a second, mirroring windore must be opened at the destination planet and this can be done from the home planet easily enough. But be warned, if this step is missed and the mirroring windore is not opened, one risks causing a tear in the fabric of reality upon arrival, which will act as a pull-funnel and slowly being to suck out all the light from the world one has chosen to visit.
However, even if one manages to open a windore and its mirroring counterpart, and is able to focus his
intent enough to arrive at the place he intended, it is still uncertain ‘when exactly’ he will get there since he will have moved unevenly through the space-time continuum. Meaning of course, that our traveler may have unexpectedly jumped backwards or forwards in time a great many years. As if all this were not troubling enough, the most difficult aspect of traveling through a windore remains getting back home at approximately the same time one left.”
Wendell closed the book and a chill rand down his spine. He was not willing to take that kind of a risk! It would be madness to attempt such travel! Especially to go through a windore in search of a three-thousand-year-old treasure, hidden among an infinite number of stars, which may or may not help him end the red era.
Ausra came into the library. “Are you reading in the dark, my darling?” she asked gently. “Would you like me to light a candle?”
“No thank you,” replied Wendell. “I am finished for tonight.”
“Dinner is almost ready,” she said, disappearing into the kitchen.
Wendell watched her walk away and felt a strong desire to hold her. The thought of leaving Ausra on a risky adventure such as this made his heart ache. Wendell followed his wife into the kitchen. His mind felt weary, and the bits of information he had read circled about inside his head in a disorganized series of loops. Wendell watched Ausra cutting up vegetables for a salad and mused over the fact that he could not imagine living even a day without the dear woman. He did not know how to begin telling her of his troubled heart.
“When do you leave?” she asked suddenly without turning around.
“What do you mean?” asked Wendell, shocked that she had practically read his mind.
“Come now,” she smiled, glancing over her shoulder. “You know we are connected. I know you plan a trip—a journey of unknown length.”
“Its not a plan,” said Wendell. “It is only a thought.”
“A thought can quickly become a plan. I knew the day would come when you would have to go,” she said. “The red era troubles you greatly, since you are a good, and moral man and you desire very much to set things right.”
“It is true, I can no longer suppress the need to act on behalf of our world.”
“Take me with you, that’s all I ask.”
“It will be far too dangerous,” said Wendell.
“I would rather die beside you than live without you,” said Ausra, stopping her work and turning around.
“Ausra, I promised your father that I would keep you safe and take good care of you.”
“You do not need to concern yourself with promises you made that foolish man.”
“That is one promise I cannot help but keep.”
“I whish you wouldn’t,” said Ausra.
“There is much research to conduct,” said Wendell.
“You can count on my help,” she said, getting back to the salad.
Chapter 10
The Search
After their conversation Wendell and Ausra began their search together. They combed through each library book one at a time, carefully reading the pages and sharing the pertinent sections with each other. After several long weeks of fruitless searching in the now disheveled library, one morning Ausra tugged on Wendell’s sleeve.
“Look at this!” she urged.
Wendell looked up from the armchair next to her and set down the book he was holding.
“It is an entry in the diary of a young girl,” said Ausra
“What does it say?” asked Wendell.
“Today, a sister planet with an atmosphere and biology similar to that of Windiffera has been found,” read Ausra. “The young planet is called Earth, and it is a water planet with only a small amount of land. The King and Queen of the Diamondell region have entrusted my father, the great seer Alfredore Elven Medley, to guard a secret treasure. This is the highest of honors, and father walks proudly through the halls. I have tried to use my sight to find out what the treasure is, but my developing powers are not yet strong enough to show me what I wish to see. I hear whispers that the treasure is an instrument of incredible power, and that it must be moved to Earth for safekeeping! There it will remain protected from time itself until the end of the red era. Father predicts the red era to be a terrible time, but the grey era after it, he says will be far worse! I asked him to prevent the red era, and bring back the secret treasure before it is set, but father insists that awful though it will be, the red era is needed somehow, and must come to pass.”
“Earth,” said Wendell. “That’s where it is!”
“Yes!” said Ausra, excited over finding the passage in the diary.
“Thank you Ausra, we are one step closer!” said Wendell.
“We must still discover what the treasure is, and locate the windore,” said Ausra. “After that you will be ready for your journey.”
Wendell studied her face. “I don’t feel I can leave you,” he said.
“I have been thinking more and more that you were right,” said Ausra. “I see more clearly with each day that you must go, and leave me behind. It is the right thing to do, and not only because you must use a windore to search for the treasure on Earth.”
“What do you mean?” asked Wendell.
Ausra sighed. “How long did we really think this could go on?” she asked. “We are ignoring the immanent, pretending it will never happen.”
He knew immediately that she spoke of their growing rift in age. “The difference doesn’t bother me,” answered Wendell.
“It changes things,” she said sadly.
“We are still the same age,” said Wendell.
“I know, but outwardly…” she looked at him and then down at her hands.
“You are only 39,” Wendell consoled her. “You are still in your prime!”
“And what will happen in a few more years?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care!” said Wendell. “I only want to be with you.”
“Wendell,” said Ausra, “I am a mortal woman, but you are not a mortal man.”
“Then I will find a way to prolong your life.”
“And curse me like you were cursed?” asked Ausra. Overcome with emotion, she jerked her hand out to the side and a piece of folded parchment fell from the old diary she was holding. The parchment fell half-open on the floor. They stared at it for a moment in surprise before Wendell knelt to collect it.
“It’s a map,” said Wendell unfolding it in his hands.
Ausra hurried to move a few stacks of books from the writing desk and Wendell spread the fragile parchment out on the polished wood.
“This looks like a map of what was once the Majestic Forest,” he said.
Wendell swallowed hard. Near the center of the map was a circle with an inscription of arching silver letters that read, Windore of Diamondell.
Chapter 11
Leap of Faith
“Ready?” asked Wendell.
“Yes,” replied Ausra bravely taking his hand, and with a final glance back at their cottage, the two of them set out along the dry riverbed. Their destination was a day and a half away. Wendell carried a canvas rucksack that he had thoroughly packed with essential provisions. Ausra too carried a small pack over one shoulder containing food and an extra set of clothes for the road home. She would be returning alone.
The couple stopped at the spring to fill their canteens. Wendell thought of the day he had found Ausra in the little glade. It seemed so long ago. Ausra smiled at him, and Wendell knew she was thinking of the same day.
The two of them hiked across the desert all day, resting periodically and orienting by compass. The landscape had changed greatly from the time the map had been written and it was difficult to recognize the former landmarks. Ausra strode beside Wendell beneath her lacy shade umbrella and Wendell kept looking over at her trying to memorize every detail of her face. It hurt so much to think that he might not see her again if things went badly and that their age difference was beginning to be a problem even if he made it
back safely. He pushed those thoughts from his mind, but in doing so only created a vacuum for more painful thoughts to enter. He was destined to lose her no matter what! The love of his life would die long before he himself crossed over into the spirit realm! He would have to live without her, but for how long? Wendell felt his eyes grow watery, and he struggled to force the emotions away. What if he never saw her again? What if something happened to her while he was gone?
“It will be alright,” said Ausra, taking his hand.
Wendell was grateful for her reassuring words and gesture. Ausra was so perceptive she always seemed to understand everything without needing an explanation. She was utterly irreplaceable to Wendell, the very epitome of feminine strength and grace.
“The stars are coming out,” noticed Ausra.
“We shall set up camp here for the night,” decided Wendell, and the two of them began unpacking their things. When the tent was up and its canvas walls were pleasantly billowing in the breeze, Wendell gathered some wood and built a small fire in preparation for dinner. Ausra poured a bit of water into a small pot from her canteen and tossed in the ingredients of a soup she had prepared before they departed. Wendell and Ausra made themselves comfortable on a blanket beside the fire. Ausra leaned against her husband, watching the glowing orange coals and dancing flames of the fire.
“It’s a perfect night,” said Wendell.
“I don’t want it to ever end,” whispered Ausra.
“There must be another way! The risk is too great!” said Wendell.
“We both know it is a risk we must take,” his wife replied.
“This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do, it feels wrong.”
The Curse (The Windore Series Book 2) Page 7