The Crow Behind the Mirror_Book One of the Mirror Wars

by Sean M. Hogan

  “Shut up, girl,” said Dew-paw, trotting up to the side of the cart. “Be grateful you get to sit in the cart.” He let go a smug pig’s smirk. “Unless you’d prefer to march?”

  She ignored him, folding her arms and refusing to make eye contact. She gazed down at her hands instead. My hands are free, not bound by rope or chains. Does this mean they don’t consider me a hostage? Surely, they would tie me up if that was the case. Or maybe the thought of me escaping in the middle of an army is laughable?

  In the morning light, she got a better look at her captors. She needed to know as much about the pig-runs as possible. Any information could be vital to her survival. So, she observed, as any good scientist would. These warthog creatures varied quite a bit in size, some as small as three-feet-tall and others over five feet. The biggest being her dumb cart puller, the spotted pig-run, at over five-and-a-half feet and half as wide. They wore no clothes except for bits and pieces of mismatching armor. Probably scavenged from raids spent looting human settlements, she guessed. Some even wore colorful trinkets and cloths that they tied to their limbs and around their necks. More spoils of war and badges of victories. And since they were practically naked she could tell their genders. She was surprised to find there were females soldiers among the marching army. Maybe they viewed the sexes as equals? So, I’m not getting special treatment because I’m a girl...

  The one thing the pig-runs all had in common was that they carried an ax on their side attached to a belt. Though they varied in size and shape, axes all the same. Of course! That’s why Michelle told me not to pick up a weapon. Their axes are symbolic. In ancient Viking society wearing an ax at your side was a symbol of being a free man. Slaves did not carry weapons for obvious reasons. Maybe I’m not a prisoner of war, merely a civilian captive at best. Maybe not even a captive. I’m not marching like the rude little pig said. Maybe I’m a guest. She recalled how their leader looked at her. Those weren’t the eyes of an enemy. Where is he taking me?

  Sharon gazed ahead of the army. The pig-runs’ lizard king was out in front, leading the way. “So, I’m being held captive by an army of pigs led by a giant lizard? Great, I always wanted to be in a Grimm Fairy Tale.”

  “Lizard?” Dew-paw snapped back. “Show some respect girl. Khaba is a god.”

  She squinted down at Dew-paw. “A god? Him?”

  “He is the god of the Kingdom of Rock and Sand and the rightful ruler of this world.”

  “This world? You mean your world,” Sharon corrected him. “Not mine. Look, I don’t really know what’s going on here, but I can assure you that I have nothing to do with any war. I’m not on anyone’s side—honest. I’m like Sweden. Neutral.” She pulled out her wallet and slid out her I.D. card. “My name is Sharon Ashcraft. I’m a junior at Saint Francis High. I come from a planet called Earth.” She held up the card for everyone to see.

  The spotted pig-run gave it a sniff before eating it, almost swallowing Sharon’s hand along with it.

  “Gross—you pig,” she said, yanking her now saliva coated hand back. “They charge for duplicates you know, jerk.”

  “Ha.” Dew-paw snorted a laugh. “There is no such thing as neutrality here, young master. Everything and everyone must choose. And you chose the instant you took shelter on our lands.”

  Sharon fumed. “What was I gonna do, huh? It’s friggin’ snowing out here.” She bit down on her teeth and let out a frustrated shriek. “I don’t care about your petty war or your smelly assortment of bacon.”

  “True. All wars are petty and ultimately meaningless,” said Khaba, without turning from his forward march, his line of sight still focused on what lay ahead.

  She raised her gaze to Khaba’s bare muscular back. His response surprised her, not just with his chosen words but that he had been eavesdropping on her this whole time. “If you truly believe that then why are you marching to war?”

  “To achieve true lasting peace,” replied Khaba. “All animals fight for dominance. We can no more escape this nature then we can stop breathing the air. As societies grow into empires, war becomes an inescapable reality.” Finally, he glanced her way. “No matter what world we call home.”

  The path ahead opened up. For the first time, Sharon saw over and past the mountains, and glimpsed what lay beyond. Down below it was like another world, a desert oasis by the sea, stretching on forever in the hot pink horizon. Not a drop of snow in sight. A literal line in the sand below divided the two ecosystems. A perfect unnatural line.

  “That woman was right. As long as the three kingdoms coexist there will always be conflict, and subsequently grief. Only when Tuat is united can the healing begin.”

  The sounds of horrid battle cries and the clash of metal echoed against the mountain rocks. Down below thousands of pig-runs laid siege to the towering walls of an ancient Egyptian city.

  “Only then will my war have meaning.”

  ***

  The sun beat down. Bodies of the fallen lay silent, skin leathered from the blistering heat. The beautiful melody of war grew to deafening levels. Arrows overhead struck down like deadly hail. The huge walls of mud and stone dwarfed the pig-runs and kept the archers safe from their axes. The hordes of pig-runs hacked and slashed through the few defending Egyptian soldiers outside the gate and positioned their crude battering ram, a large tree on wheels chopped sharp to a point. They charged into the fray of falling arrows and sent the ram crashing into the gate. Splinters sprayed as the ram’s head burst through wood. The walls trembled and shook. The pig-runs reversed and, putting their backs into it once more, made another charge.

  ***

  “Magnificent, isn’t it?” Khaba asked, reaching the top of the hill. He surveyed the bloody siege a few miles off in the distance with rising enthusiasm.

  “Yeah, war is just peachy,” Sharon replied.

  The spotted pig-run pulled her cart up to the top of the hill and left her with Khaba.

  Khaba ordered Dew-paw and the rest of the pig-runs to return to camp. When they were out of earshot, he turned to Sharon.

  “No. That is just a diversion. The real fight is here. Can’t you see it?” he asked, eagerly awaiting her response.

  She gazed ahead. There was nothing ahead of her but the line in the sand that divided the snow on their side and the desert on the other. It was like there was a glass wall separating winter and summer.

  She squinted. “See what?”

  “The magic,” replied Khaba, grinning. “It’s a beautiful shade of blue.”

  Sharon spun to meet his gaze. “What did you say?”

  ‘Positive energies tend to come in shades of blue. Like the sky or the ocean.’ The words her father spoke so long ago came flooding through her mind.

  “Here, see for yourself.” Khaba lifted Sharon out of the cart as if she was a small child—despite her protests—and plopped her down on her feet. He forcefully took her by the hand, engulfing it in his large green scaly grip, and led her to the line in the snow and sand.

  She gazed up at him, unsure what to do.

  “Well, go on,” he urged her.

  She extended her hand. Her palm pressed flat against some kind of invisible wall. The hairs on the back of her hand stood up like she was rubbing a static balloon. The taste of batteries on the tip of her tongue. A glow of warmth passed through the ends of her fingers and trickled down into her abdomen. Blue ripples radiated from her palm like ripples in water. Sharon stared back in disbelief as they continued to expand beyond her line of sight. This invisible wall was bigger than she could visibly take in standing this close to it.

  Khaba let go a hard laugh. “I knew you were special, girl. Normal beings pass through the Pyramid of Life. The fact that it reacts to your touch can mean only one thing.”

  Her eyes widened. “And what’s that?”

  Khaba leaned in, his snout brushing past her hair and his forked tongue whisking inches from her ear, and whispered softly. “Magic flows in your veins.”

  CHAPTE
R 12

  Joy

  JOY KNELT DOWN and glided his fingers across a pair of indents in the snow. Hoof tracks.

  “Pig-runs,” he said to himself. “So Khaba has you. That presents a bit of a problem.”

  He rose to his feet. Ahead, just beyond the forest opening, was Michelle’s cabin. He stepped over to a frozen puddle, now a slick sheet of ice, and admired his gothic red reflection.

  “Well, then, looks like it’s now or never. But first, a bit of a face change before our little face to face.” His red crystal lit up and his pale skin gave way to tan flesh. “Wouldn’t want to scare you off before we got to know each other.” The red in his face faded away to reveal a handsome boy of seventeen with soft, dark brown eyes and hair. The only red that remained was the crystal hanging from his neck. His smile grew. “I gotta say, Joy, you are one handsome devil.”

  Wind swirled around him and his feet lifted off the ground.

  ***

  “I don’t understand,” Sharon said glancing Khaba’s way. “Why would I have magic—?”

  “Don’t you see?” Khaba blurted his question out so fast he lost his breath. “Fate has brought you to me. The Oracle said we would find the one who could help us discover our path. The one who would give us the true answer. You are that one, Sharon. The one from my dream. The angel who draws the arrow of hope and pierces the darkness. You will help me unify Tuat and restore order. You will give me the power to kill my brother, Simon, the Slave-king.”

  Sharon shook her head at the insanity of his words. “And just how am I supposed to do all that?”

  Khaba placed his hand on her shoulder and locked eyes with her. “By getting me through this barrier. The magic here is pure. It rejects all foreign energies, including mine. Simon must have changed its frequency to read my spiritual essence as foreign after banishing me. But for some reason it accepts you...”

  His expression changed.

  “What’s wrong?” Sharon asked.

  She felt the sensation of fingers wrapping around hers, intertwining them in a lover’s grip. She followed Khaba’s light of sight to spot a smiling boy with brown hair and eyes behind the barrier.

  Joy’s his fingers poked out between hers.

  “Who…” She wanted to yank her hand back but found her body unresponsive.

  “That’s good to know, Khaba.” Joy pulled her on through to the other side, taking her into his arms.

  “No,” Khaba yelled. He slammed his body against the barrier, a pulsing flash burst out repelling him and sending him crashing to the ground.

  Her cheek pressed against Joy’s chest. A lover’s embrace. So, this is happening…

  “Is that giant dumb lizard bothering you, beautiful?” Joy lifted Sharon’s chin with a brush of his fingers and her gaze met his own.

  They shared a wordless moment.

  “Ummm… hi?” Her expression changed when, for a just moment, his brown eyes seemed to shine a glimmer of red. She blinked and pushed away from his grip, back-stepping to gain a little distance between them. “Easy now, Casanova. Introductions first.”

  “It’s okay.” Joy raised both his palms. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I’m here to help. Scout’s honor.”

  She took a second to catch her breath and slow down her racing heart. “And why should I trust you?”

  “Because we both work for the same boss.”

  She inched up an eyebrow. “Boss?”

  “Or business partner—if you’d prefer. Don’t know what deal he struck with you or why he sent a defenseless little school girl of all people but—”

  “Defenseless?” She placed her hands on her hips. “I’ve defended myself quite a bit already, thank you very much.”

  “But it’s mission failure for all of us if you’re captured by the enemy.”

  “How do I know you’re not the enemy?”

  “Hello, human here.” He gestured to Khaba. “Or would you rather place your trust in mister scales over on the other side of the barrier? Not a lot options here, beautiful. And we’re kinda short on time.” He extended his hand to her. “So, either you come with me right now or…”

  “Give her back,” Khaba demanded as he pounded against the barrier with his fists.

  “Give me? Okay, I’m no one’s property, Godzilla,” Sharon snapped back. “Nobody owns me.” She jabbed her finger at Khaba. “Least of all, some… some pig farmer!”

  Khaba squinted at her. “Pig farmer?”

  She folded her arms and looked away. “It’s been a long night—thanks to you I might add—so don’t expect my A game.” She glanced back at Joy. “And who are you exactly?”

  “Interesting.” Joy studied her clueless expression. “So, you really don’t know?”

  She threw up her arms. “Why would I know who you—or what any of this crazy is?”

  He sighed as he headed for the barrier. “Stay here a second while I take care of something.”

  Sharon watched the strange young man in ink-black, skintight leather stalk up to the barrier. She observed him like he was some exotic creature in a zoo exhibit, trying her best to understand his nature. Are you friend or foe? Considering the predicament I’m in, I don’t think it matters much. You can’t be worse than lizard brain, right? And I am so not committing regicide, so I guess I’ve gotta roll the dice and take my chances on this side of the barrier.

  Joy reached the barrier and stood before Khaba, meeting his glare. “Since when has the great Khaba been in the business of kidnapping innocent young girls?”

  A glimmer of red reflective light flashed across Khaba’s eyes. “That crystal hanging from your neck... You’re a Mirror Guardian, aren’t you?”

  “Mirror Guardian?” she asked under her breath, recalling her conversation with Michelle. If he’s one, then does that mean he can use the mirrors? He could take me back home.

  “Sorry to disappoint,” said Joy, “but I am the furthest thing from a Mirror Guardian as one could get.”

  Sharon sighed. Just my luck…

  “But you still can use the mirrors, yes?” asked Khaba. “I know all about the crystals.”

  Her spirits lifted. Or maybe my luck’s about to change.

  “That ability would be a powerful asset to our cause. Perhaps we could strike up a bargain?” He offered up his scaly green hand.

  Joy pressed his hands flat against the barrier. “I think it’s time you went back to your war, Khaba. She’s with me now.”

  She raised a finger. “Ummm… define with.”

  Khaba bared his jagged teeth. “Why don’t you come a little closer and say that again, human. Or are you just another coward like my brother—hiding behind invisible walls?”

  “Don’t,” she pleaded, instinctively reaching out and grabbing Joy’s wrist as a rush of dread struck her, “he’s just egging you on.”

  Joy winked at her, smirked, and shifted his gaze back to Khaba. “I’m not afraid of you, Khaba. Not one bit.” He moved to step on through the barrier to Khaba’s side but Sharon held onto him.

  “I get it, you’re brave,” she said, refusing to let go. “Considered the girl impressed. Now can we go before you get us both killed?” I need you alive, moron. A corpse ain’t gonna get me back through the mirror. “We should make a run for it now—before the other pigs get here. I can’t do it alone. I don’t know where to go.”

  Joy’s face softened. “You’re scared.”

  “Terrified.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Why?” She gestured with a spread of her arms. “Why the hell wouldn’t I be? Look around. We’re trapped in a world of nightmares.”

  Joy yanked his arm free and jumped back through the barrier. “Then I guess it’s about time to wake up.”

  “Awe hell…” Sharon clasped her head. “We’re so dead.”

  Joy landed a foot from Khaba.

  Khaba unhooked his ax but hesitated to strike. Instead, he snapped his jaws inches from the young man’s face and flickered his forked tong
ue.

  Joy didn’t flinch or falter in his gaze.

  “Well then.” Khaba slid out a large dagger from his belt and tossed it to the ground before Joy’s feet. “Let’s make things interesting.”

  “Don’t touch it,” Sharon shouted, remembering Michelle’s warning. She ran to the barrier, stopping before the crossing point. “He can’t kill you if you’re unarmed.”

  Khaba hissed in her direction.

  She inched back a few steps and raised her palms. “Also, unarmed.”

  “Is that so?” Joy asked, his gaze fell to the dagger then rose to Khaba. “What a silly rule.”

  “Rules are what keep us civilized,” said Khaba. “They are what separates us from animals.”

  A little scoff escaped Joy’s lips. “Says the one conducting a war.”

  Khaba frowned. “All paths to peace require sacrifices made in blood. This reality is unavoidable. The difference in the path that I have chosen is that I give meaning to those who have sacrificed. In that way, my war becomes one of honor.”

  Joy burst out into full-blown laughter, the laugh of a madman watching the world burn to sunders. “Honor? You must be joking. There is no such thing as honor in war. War is but murder on a grander scale. No amount of banners and flags and uniforms can hide this truth. Killing is killing. The dead know not the difference.” Joy knelt down and scooped up the dagger.

  Sharon lost all the breath in her lungs.

  He rose to meet Khaba’s burning glare. “We are animals Khaba. No amount of rules will change that.”

  Khaba raised his ax above his head and plunged it down upon Joy with all his strength and fury. “Fine, then die like the animal you are.”

  Sharon’s heart sunk in her chest. “Don’t!” She clenched her eyes shut and turned away. She heard the thud and flinched. “Damn it.” She inched her eyelids open and reluctantly peeked back.