The Battle for WondLa

by Tony DiTerlizzi

  A look of concern came over Rovender’s face. “How do you know this, Eva?”

  “Loroc told me at Lacus when I tried to warn Arius.”

  “And why wouldn’t we think that this is not more manipulation from Cadmus?” asked Rovender.

  “Cadmus Pryde is dead,” said Eva.

  Rovender blinked in astonishment. “Dead?”

  “New Attica is gone,” said Hailey.

  “Burned to the ground by Cadmus’s own devices,” added Huxley.

  Galell and the others whispered among themselves.

  “I want to hear everything, but so too will the elders,” said Rovender. “Galell, go ahead and alert them. Let us meet immediately so that you will have to recount your news only once.”

  Rovender led Eva and her friends into Faunas. Just as Eva remembered, the huts resembled gigantic woven urns decorated with ornate pictographs. Each hut towered above nearby treetops to meet the golden rays of the rising sun. On the ground below, under glowing lanterns hanging from the belly of each hut, gathered both Cæruleans and Halcyonus. Though smaller in stature than Rovender’s clan, the Halcyonus were similar in shape but adorned in brightly colored garb. Eva noticed several other species she had never met before. The gathering parted for Rovender, but the crowd whispered and pointed as they passed by.

  “Now, this is living.” Huxley smiled at the villagers. “Hey, blue, any chance we can get some of that food for this meeting? I’m trying to grow some new appendages here.”

  “I will make sure there is breakfast brought to you all,” said Rovender in a low voice. He ushered his friends around the base of a large hut toward a small, squat structure tucked behind all the others. The wooden stairs creaked as everyone filed inside.

  As before, the council of elders was seated in a circle at the center of the round room. Each Cærulean elder was tethered to the wall by a thick fibrous cord. But now there were Halcyonus tribe leaders seated between the elders. Crammed in the remaining space of the room, members of Faunas and Lacus stood and watched as Eva and her friends entered. Even Hostia and Fiscian Haveport were present. Eva waved, but her Halcyonus friends did not return the greeting.

  “Come in and sit,” said Antiquus, the aged leader of the Cæruleans. He sat on a hoverdisc with a curved ear horn in hand. Next to him was Soth, the decorated shaman, who smiled when she saw Eva. Behind them sat the wooden perch for the treowe, the truth bird. The tiny animal sang as the group entered. Eva could now hear the bird’s tinkly voice within its trills:

  Hello! Sit! The day is new! Hello! Sit!

  “Eva Nine.” Antiquus reached out and grasped her hand. “What a reward for these eyes to see you here in our village at the start of the day.” His large bushy eyebrows rose as he watched everyone enter. “You have brought others with you, including a Mirthian.”

  “Name’s Huxley. Huxley the Brave,” Huxley said, holding up his palm in greeting. “Royal Beamguide Scout for Her Majesty, Queen Ojo.”

  “And this is my friend, Hailey Turner,” said Eva, palm raised. She gestured at Hailey, and he mimicked the greeting.

  Antiquus kept his gaze on Hailey. “Hailey Turner, are you the one also responsible for helping our brother, Nadeau, escape from the hu-man city?”

  “I am—that is, we all are, sir,” answered Hailey in a sheepish tone. He yanked his flight cap off and wrung it in his hands.

  Eva could see that the pilot seemed oddly reserved in this situation . . . perhaps even a bit humble. Eva smiled at this.

  Antiquus spread open his arms. “Then on behalf of our entire village, I thank you all for risking your lives—”

  “And limbs!” Huxley interjected, waving his arm stump.

  “And limbs,” Antiquus continued with a slight grin, “to return our brother back home. We accept this as an act of goodwill among our species and hold no discord toward you as individuals. Please sit with us over a meal and share what news you have.”

  CHAPTER 24: ELDERS

  And so Eva and her friends sat with Antiquus and the council of elders. Over a fine breakfast of fresh fruit and juices, Eva told them everything she knew.

  When she was finished, Antiquus regarded her for several minutes in silence. Eva wondered if he was contemplating having Soth use the truth-bird on her. A large hand rubbed her shoulder, and she turned to see Rovender offer a reassuring smile.

  Antiquus finally spoke, “Eva, when you came here last, you and my son warned of a pending invasion by Cadmus. You expressed your worry for the safety of Arius and the Halcyonus living in Lacus.”

  “Yes,” said Eva. She glanced over at Hostia in hopes that this statement from Antiquus would clear all doubt toward her, but Hostia averted her eyes away from Eva.

  “You also presented us with a mystery: Who was this ‘Prime Adviser’ who was working with the hu-man leader? This is a mystery now solved. You have come to the conclusion that it is the Arsian known as Loroc.”

  “Right. He mutates after he . . . eats his siblings and then somehow absorbs their powers, which is why I could not identify him before.” Eva’s words sent murmurs of discontent through the council and assembly.

  Antiquus quieted everyone with a wave of his hand. “Now you believe that Loroc deceived Cadmus and gained control of his war machines. Once accomplished, Loroc then destroyed their maker and the hu-man city, correct?”

  Eva nodded. “And if Zin cannot stop him, I think Loroc will kill Zin and Queen Ojo.” Eva waited for an eruption of upset voices from the council, but they remained silent.

  “And then?” Antiquus asked.

  Eva looked around at all the gathered faces: the Cæruleans, the Halcyonus, and her friends. Did they too feel the same mix of anxiety and helplessness that she did? “I think Loroc wants to rule over all of Orbona. He told me he would ‘be king’ . . . like King Ojo.”

  Antiquus rubbed his dewlap in thought.

  Soth spoke up. “Eva, the glyph that Arius gave you, may I see it?”

  Eva rolled up her sleeve and showed her forearm.

  Soth put her hand to her mouth in shock. “The glyph is gone! Arius has passed onto her next journey. May her spirit find serenity.”

  The council held up their palms and spoke in unison, “Spirit find serenity.”

  “And so Loroc’s surviving sibling, Zin, seeks to unravel why his brother has done what he has done?” asked Antiquus.

  “Yes,” replied Eva.

  Antiquus pulled a small translucent cube from his robes and held it flat in his palm. He gestured for a lantern, which Soth lit and handed to him. Antiquus placed the cube on top of the lantern. The light filled the cube and projected alien writing onto the ceiling, walls, and faces of all those in the hut. Antiquus pointed to the writing. “Eva, the reason I asked you these questions is that yesterday we received official word here that the hu-man’s invasion of Solas had failed. Their kind have been defeated and would bother us no longer.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Hailey said with a snort.

  Antiquus ignored this comment. “See here, Eva. It reads that tomorrow representatives from every known village will attend a Victory Feast—a mandatory audience with Her Majesty, Queen Ojo. Her adviser shall explain to us the details of the invasion, why it failed, and Her Majesty’s plans to protect us from further attacks. Then the queen shall present her plans for rebuilding the city and Lacus.” He removed the cube from the lantern, extinguishing the projection. “In light of your news, you can see that I am torn as to what actions are best.”

  “But that is not what happened,” Eva said. “I don’t think that message is telling the whole truth.”

  “If I may.” A Halcyonus elder sitting next to Antiquus spoke in concise diction. “Is it not interesting to hear that the hu-mans have failed to conquer our cities and so now blame another for all their actions?”

  “We aren’t blaming another,” Hailey retorted. “We are simply stating the facts that we’ve uncovered.”

  The Halcyonus frowned.
“The fact that your leader planned an invasion of our peaceful village? Or that Loroc learned of it and neutralized him before all was devastated?”

  “Eva, your sister herself said that Cadmus had been preparing his people for just such an invasion,” said Soth.

  “She did,” said Eva.

  “But his people are ignorant,” said Hailey. “They didn’t know what was really going on or what Cadmus was preparing to do.”

  “And so their ignorance excuses them?” There was a fire in the Halcyonus leader’s orange eyes. “Their ignorance allows them to carry on their lives guilt-free of the destruction their chosen leader has caused? Or the lives he has taken?”

  “Lives have been lost on the human side as well.” Eva tried to dispel the vision of the girl lying in the street, covered in ash.

  “Their city is obliterated,” said Huxley.

  “By their own machines, correct, hu-man? Perhaps now they will learn that venturing down the road to dominance over many only leaves oneself unprotected back at home,” the Halcyonus leader said, and the other Halcyonus shouted out in agreement. Several Cærulean elders chimed in.

  Eva could see anger and frustration reddening Hailey’s face. Her gaze met with his, and he gave her an I told you so look.

  “Why not just bring the truth-bird?” Eva spoke out, hushing the din of the room. “Bring the bird to your meeting with Ojo and have Loroc tell you the truth.”

  Antiquus shook his head. Soth replied, “The bird will not work on an Arsian, Eva. Their kind are far too powerful to succumb to a treowe’s effects.”

  I think you would work, Eva thought to the bird. Loroc needs to confess his actions.

  “Loroc needs to confess his actions,” the bird sang, but no one seemed to pay it any mind. It continued on chirping. I sing the purest of songs, Eva heard within its chirps.

  Antiquus hushed the group once more. “Eva, I know that you and your friends truly have good intentions,” he said. “But let me be clear when I tell you all that the majority among those of Solas and Lacus will not be as understanding toward your kind based on the actions they have witnessed.”

  “What are we supposed to do, then?” Eva asked. “Where will we go?”

  “Well, we’re not going to the queenie’s soirée, I can tell you that,” said Huxley.

  “Father.” Rovender spoke. “What advice do you suggest for Eva and her people?”

  “Find a new location to start your village, away from all this. Let time heal these wounds that are so very raw at this moment,” said Antiquus.

  “Run away and hide. That’s just great.” Hailey threw down his food and stood, clearly disgusted. “She risked her life to stop a battle that will ultimately enslave all of you, and your advice to her is ‘run away’?”

  “To keep your tribe safe? Yes,” said Antiquus.

  “I’ve heard enough. Eva, let’s go,” said Hailey.

  “This is not the answer, Father,” Rovender said. “We have but a moment right here and right now to clear away what has been done and start anew.”

  “As much as I wish for that, I am not sure that the moment is now,” replied Antiquus. “Let us break, go outside for some fresh air, and celebrate another day. Perhaps in the sunlight we shall discover something we have yet to see.”

  Heated conversations broke out as everyone shuffled out of the hut.

  Eva trailed behind Rovender at the back of the crowd. A crooked staff dropped in her path, blocking her exit. She looked up to see Antiquus watching her. “I’d like to have a word alone if you do not mind,” he said.

  Eva looked to Rovender. He nodded and exited the hut.

  “Of course,” Eva said.

  “Sit.” The Cærulean leader patted a woven mat lying on the floor next to him. Behind him the truth-bird chirruped from its perch. The nearly empty room appeared much larger with just the two of them left alone. “Eva,” said Antiquus, “I’d like you to tell me what you think the word ‘truth’ means.”

  “ ‘Truth’?” Eva repeated. “It’s the facts. It’s reality.”

  “Mmm.” Antiquus nodded his head in agreement. He tapped the side of his hoverdisc with his cane. “Would you say that the truth is that I can no longer use my legs?”

  Eva studied the floating disc that held Antiquus. His legs were folded underneath his simple drab robes. “I . . . guess. I’ve never seen you walk.”

  “Correct. You have not. Even if I used the treowe on you, you’d state what you view as the truth. However, the fact is, I can walk.” Antiquus stepped off the disc and hobbled around Eva. “On good days I do not even need my cane to aid me.” He handed his cane to her. “I choose to use the disc because my old knees find it difficult to hold me for great lengths of time. Soth tells me to rest them as much as possible.”

  “Oh,” said Eva, and she helped him back onto the disc.

  “So you see, truth is how we perceive facts. For those in my village, I can no longer walk. They have arrived at this conclusion because they have not seen me on my feet for a very long time. There have even been times where the pain was so intense that I myself doubted I would ever walk again. Truths can change.”

  Eva thought about how the facts had changed for her in the short amount of time since she had been out of her Sanctuary. Some facts, like Cadmus’s true motivations, had changed so many times that she became more confused the more she thought about him. “But what about truths in science? I was taught laws of physics in my Sanctuary. Those aren’t just assumptions.”

  The elder nodded. “Those are the greatest of truths. You do speak wise for someone so young.”

  The truth-bird sang from its perch.

  I sing the prettiest song. I sing the purest song.

  “What about the bird?” Eva asked.

  “The treowe?” Antiquus wore a sly grin. “Though this variety is more effective than those that were brought from our planet, the treowe’s true magic is in the dust it releases from its feathers. For many who inhale it this dust causes them to enter a relaxed, trancelike state. Once in that state, most are willing to speak freely of what they believe is the truth. The bird’s body somehow becomes the conduit to do so.”

  You little trickster, Eva thought to the bird.

  “You little trickster,” the bird repeated from its perch. It began to preen its iridescent feathers.

  Eva watched the truth-bird, fascinated.

  “They speak out like that sometimes,” said Antiquus. “Singing the songs of old voices. Pay no attention to it.”

  “So without this bird, who do I believe is being truthful?” she asked.

  “Now you are thinking.” The old Cærulean playfully tapped Eva’s forehead with his finger. “Unless someone is actively deceiving you—lying—most will speak their truth.”

  “But wait. If that is the case, why did you use the truth-bird on me? I told you that I’d tell the truth.”

  “You did. Please understand, Eva, I had no experience in dealing with your kind. I’d only heard stories, and of course, you were highly suspect because of Nadeau’s condition. I arrived at a conclusion—one that was wrong. My assumptions toward you changed, as it did for many who were present that night.”

  Eva hadn’t given much thought to how others viewed her and her actions. Her mind was constantly occupied with how she viewed everyone else.

  “Most will tell you what they believe to be fact because it is much harder to conceal it. It takes effort to suppress the truth. It usually eats you up from the inside out if you try to contain it in silence. In the end you have to decide what truth resides best within you . . . even if your point of view does not agree with others.”

  “Hailey doesn’t always agree with my point of view, that’s for sure.”

  Antiquus chuckled. “He is young and brash, like Galell. Give him time.”

  “Rovee talks the same way you do. Now I know where he gets it,” Eva said.

  Antiquus smiled. “Yet I’ve learned much from you, Eva. When yo
u returned my son to me and he spoke the truth—his truth, from his point of view—it was then that I understood that we are all seeking the same thing, but we are not all occupying the exact same space or the exact same life. We are each unique. We each bring slightly different viewpoints to the circle based on where we stand in the world.” Antiquus pointed to the mats arranged in a circle on the floor. “Even Loroc, from his place of corruption, somehow believes he is seeking answers despite the effect his actions may have.”

  “You’re saying because he believes he is true, then he is not wrong?” asked Eva.

  “In his mind? Yes.” Antiquus sat with his cane in his lap. “Have you not felt the same way? Have you not caused anger and pain in others? Even when it was furthest from your mind?”

  Eva thought of arguments with Muthr. She thought of fighting with Eva Eight. Then there was the horned beast in the forest and its abandoned cubs that Eva could have saved. But that was different, wasn’t it? “Loroc has caused pain and death to so many.” Eva put her head in her hands. “Even to his own family.”

  “From where you stand you speak a truth. But there are others who would disagree.”

  “Ojo?” Eva looked up at him.

  “Possibly. The burden of leadership is that sometimes difficult choices must be made for the greater good of all involved and not just for oneself. It is a matter of ‘we’ and not ‘I.’ ” Antiquus leaned in close. “I know this is much for you to hear and ponder, Eva. But I tell you this for the simple reason that I observed firsthand today what my son has told me repeatedly: you are the leader of your friends. They believe in you and your words. You speak their truth.”

  “But I don’t want that responsibility. All I wanted was a . . .” It dawned on Eva. The picture—the characters all joined arm in arm—the WondLa. “A family.” Tears welled in Eva’s eyes. “Hailey, Huxley, Vanpa, Otto, and Rovee. They are my family.”

  “They are indeed, Eva Nine. Had you not seen it?” Antiquus smiled. “A more unusual family I have never known, but you all are bound together, including my son. And that makes me happy.”