by Eliza Tilton
“I don’t think so,” Derrick said, forcing me closer to the ground.
Dirt covered my mouth, and I spit it out. Using two fingers, I found a pressure point in his arm and dug in. It took a few agonizing seconds before he released me. Once free, I twisted his arm back, locking him in a move my father taught me. Derrick’s head butted me in the face, and I stumbled back. He jumped to his feet and waited.
This time I was ready.
Blood trickled from my nose. I wiped it away with the sleeve of my shirt. My gaze locked onto Derrick. Only one thought entered my mind—hit him hard. My arms pumped forward in quick thrusts to his chest. Each hit I scored released more tension. A mixture of sweat and blood stung my lips. Waves of emotion rolled through my body. I knocked Derrick in the face leaving a large welt. He dodged my next punch and wrapped me in a bear hug. I uttered something guttural and stomped on his foot, trying to dislodge him.
Derrick’s grip tightened. “It’s not your fault.”
Everything paused.
My body slacked as the memory of Jimri flashed in my mind. “Yes, it is … I should have been paying more attention. He was my little brother …”
Derrick dropped his arms and slowly backed away. My knees buckled, and I dropped to the ground. Pulling at the grass, I thought of every stupid mistake that led me to this point, and I wished I could do it all over.
Derrick knelt beside me and put a hand on my shoulder. “I was there too. It was an accident.”
I closed my eyes, imagining Jimri’s dimpled smile. I could hear his laugh whistle with the trees. Two years later and the pain still echoed through everything. Would it ever go away?
I picked myself off the ground, walked to the stream and dunked my head into the water. Every year since we were five, and even though we were too young to enter, Derrick and I had practiced for the annual tournament. I’d stopped fighting the day Jimri died, but I couldn’t ignore the life it sparked in my soul. I missed the rush.
Shaking the water off my head, I glanced at Derrick. “Nice shiner.”
He smiled. “I let you get that one in.”
I laced my fingers behind my head and looked up at the sky. “Thanks.”
“I’m here for you. Anytime you want to get beat up.”
“You do know you can’t beat me in a real fight?”
Derrick laughed and punched my shoulder. “Say you’ll enter.”
Jimri had loved watching us train. He used to pick up branches, pretending they were swords.
“Maybe,” I said, and then noticed the suns’ position. No! We were going to be late, and Jeslyn would torture me to death for ruining her precious plans.
“Come on,” I said, getting up. “We need to get back.”
Chapter Three
JESLYN
We had more than enough berries. Derrick would be thrilled I made him his favorite tripleberry pie. I placed the baskets on the grass and studied my stained hands. It would take quite a bit of scrubbing to remove this mess.
Drops of water sprinkled my face. I turned to see Calli trying to catch a drifting leaf in the stream. While her attention stayed on the frail object, I cupped a handful of water and splashed her. She squealed and splashed me back until the front of my dress was soaked and I cried out, “Truce!”
Calli giggled and shook out her wet curls. I loved the way her springy locks bounced around her chubby cheeks. It made me wish I had curls. Although, Mother said my chestnut hair was like fine silk, and I shouldn’t complain.
Between the blades of grass, I spotted a lone dandelion. I plucked the little flower—or weed, as Mother would say—and twirled it, admiring the small petals.
“Want to see something special?” I said.
Calli bobbed her head up and down. I motioned her to come closer. I grabbed her arm and held the flower just an inch or two above it.
“Once upon a time there was a family, and they all drank too much cider. Poppa ran outside, Momma ran outside, the annoying brother ran outside, big sister ran outside, but poor little baby couldn’t and peed all over.” I rubbed the dandelion down Calli’s arm, leaving a faded stain.
Calli frowned and wiped the flower dust. “Now my arm is yellow.”
I gasped and dropped the dandelion, my hands clutching my chest. “Oh, no, how did that happen?”
Calli tilted her head at me. I stuck my tongue out at her.
Calli’s eyebrows straightened, giving me her mad face. “You did that on purpose!”
I puffed out my cheeks and crossed my eyes. She giggled, and I jumped to my feet and ran, taunting her to chase me. I could hear her high-pitched laughter catching up to me, and I turned around.
There, creeping towards her, were three unfamiliar men.
Three men that should not have been this deep in the forest, so far from the local routes.
“Calli, come here, now,” I said in a stern voice, trying to hide my fear. A worried look crossed her face, and she hurried to me. I grabbed her as soon as she was close and wrapped my arms around her. No one was touching my sister.
These men were not from our land. Each one wore, what resembled, rags, but I knew what expensive fabric looked like. Every time I went to the market, I touched clothes I’d never have. These men appeared to be Roamers, but I knew better. Roamers couldn’t afford embroidered tunics.
“What do you want?” My grip tightened on Calli as they approached us.
“Can’t you guess, my lady?” the largest of the three said.
I leaned down and whispered into Calli’s ear.
“Tsk, tsk,” said a man with a garish scar across his right cheek. “No secrets between friends.” He took out a small dagger and, with his shirt, wiped off the blood on it.
“Go!” I yelled.
Calli and I dashed forward, kicking the closest two men in the groin as hard as we could. They both yelped and doubled over. We ran past them, heading towards the woods. I knew we were too far from home to make it, but we had to try. If anything, we could hide.
The third one ran after us. He was too fast.
“Run, Calli!” She was by my side. I grabbed her hand, half-pulling, half-running with her. I could hear the heavy steps behind us. We weren’t going to make it.
Fingers grabbed my hair, yanking me away from Calli. I screamed and twisted underneath the brute’s arm and stomped on his foot. He lifted a sword to my throat.
A voice rasped into my ear, “One wrong move and I’ll slit your neck.”
Calli stopped and stared at me in horror.
“Go, Calli!” I could see she was terrified, but instead of running away, she ran towards me. “No, Calli!”
Her little fists pounded my attacker’s side as hard as they could.
When that didn’t work, she bit his arm.
“Will you two get up and get this one!” my captor said, swatting at Calli. She fell back, taking a piece of his sleeve with her.
The other two men groaned, stood with a slight limp, and closed in on my sister.
“Calli, please, run. Go get Poppa!”
At the mention of our father’s name, her teary eyes widened, and then she sprinted into the woods, the two men stumbling after her.
Chapter Four
AVIKAR
We’d just arrived home when Derrick pointed to the woods adjacent to the stables. “Is that Calli?”
“Yes,” I said, recognizing the running figure. I ran to her. Her cheeks were flushed and stained with tears. She nearly collapsed in my arms when I reached her. “Calli, what’s wrong?” Her eyes shut.
“Calli?” I lifted her and carried her inside. Her face had a slight bruise, and she breathed heavily.
“Mother!” I called, bringing Calli into her room, where I carefully laid her on the bed.
My mother walked in, wiping her hands off on her apron. “Calli!�
�� She rushed to my sister’s side, feeling her forehead. “Get some water Avikar. Quickly.”
I bolted outside and filled a pail with water, then flew back in. Calli moaned and my heart lurched. “What’s wrong?”
“Go ask Jeslyn what happened.”
Derrick and I both looked at each other. “Jeslyn wasn’t with her,” Derrick said.
My mother swirled around, her eyes wide. “Where’s Jeslyn?”
Neither of us had any idea, and my mother’s frantic expression chilled me. “I haven’t seen her since this morning,” I said.
“Calli, where’s your sister?” My mother patted Calli’s head with the wet cloth.
“Gone, Momma. She’s gone.”
“What do you mean she’s gone?” I said, stepping closer to the bed. “Gone where?”
Calli sobbed and reached for our mother. “Avikar, go get your father.” I couldn’t move.
“Avikar!”
My mother stared at me. Her eyes filling with water. It was a bad dream. It had to be.
Derrick ran outside to get my father, and when they walked back in, I was still trying to convince myself this wasn’t happening.
My father knelt by Calli’s side, calmly asking her questions.
She sniffled. “They came out of nowhere, Poppa. I was so scared.”
The vein in Father’s neck bulged, but his voice stayed steady and smooth. “Tell me what they looked like. Think of anything out of the ordinary.”
Calli’s petite shoulders rose and sunk. “One had an ugly scar on his face, and the other two dressed real sloppy.”
Father sighed. “Anything else?” She shook her head.
“Okay.” He kissed her on the forehead and stood.
“What are we going to do?” my mother cried. Her tone tore me to pieces.
“I’ll go,” I said.
“No,” Mother replied. ‘We’ll gather men and send out a search party.” Tears wound down her face. “If we can get word to Lord Tyre, maybe he can help.”
“There’s no time,” I argued. “If we don’t leave this instant we could lose the trail!”
Father stormed past us. His big bushy brows narrowed in an angry line. I followed him. He ripped his massive battle-axe from its mantle. The only remnant from his war days.
“Father, no!” I protested.
Derrick stood by me. I saw the resolution in his eyes. He would go with me, and together, we could rescue her.
“Boy, now is not the time to test me!” Father pushed past me and grabbed a satchel from the kitchen cupboard, which I snatched away. His gigantic hand grabbed me by the shirt, lifting my toes off the ground. I could feel the growl coming off him. If we were wild animals, I’d be cowering on my back.
“Let me go. You can’t ride with that leg. You’ll only slow us down,” I urged, “I can track whoever took her.”
“I’m going with him.” Derrick dared to look my father in the eye.
“It’s only three men. We can protect ourselves and take care of them.”
“Garn,” Mother said softly, touching Father’s arm.
He ignored her and gripped my shirt tighter. “You’re just boys. What do you know about killing?”
Nothing, but that wouldn’t stop me from going. “Father, you taught me how to hunt, how to track. I will find her.” I breathed in deep. “I know you both blame me for Jimri’s death, and I will never let myself forget that.”
Mentioning Jimri caused Father’s jaw to clench.
“I won’t fail you this time,” I finished.
Father released his hold. I didn’t want to wait for an answer, or listen to all the reasons why I couldn’t go. I motioned for Derrick to follow me.
We swarmed through the house without speaking, grabbing supplies and leaving as quickly as possible. I tried to think of everything we might need: fanna, my bow, enough arrows to keep my quiver full, and coin.
“Is that all of it?” Derrick asked, throwing one of the packs over his shoulder.
“Yes. We just need the horses, and then we can head to the shop to grab weapons.”
Derrick gave me that you’re-going-to-get-us-in-serious-trouble look. “Do you think your father is going to let us walk out of here with two of his horses? He wasn’t exactly…”
“He’s not stopping me.”
“Then lead the way,” Derrick said.
We marched past Calli’s room. Mother held Calli in her arms, rocking back and forth and humming. I stopped, walked in and kissed her on the head. She continued rocking.
Calli wiggled out of her arms and reached for me. I lifted her up, hugging her as hard as I could. “You take care of Momma for me.”
She kissed my cheek. “Be careful, Avi, and hurry. I know you’ll find Jess.”
My eyes watered. No matter what I did, Calli always believed in me.
Calli ran over to Derrick and threw her arms around his thick waist. He placed a hand on her head and rubbed it.
“Don’t worry, kid,” Derrick said. “Jeslyn will be back before you know it.”
She stiffened. “I almost forgot!” She ran into her room, searching the floor and bed for something. “Here!” She ran over to me, her tiny hand holding out a piece of green fabric.
I took it. “What’s this?”
“That’s from the man who took Jess. I ripped it off,” she said. “And he had a snake right here.” She pointed to her forearm. “I saw it when I ripped his shirt.”
I smiled and shoved it in my pocket. “Good thinking, Calli.”
We headed outside where my father stood on the porch staring into the distance. I breathed deep, mustering whatever courage I could to face him. This wasn’t going to be easy. I stood straighter, waiting for him to scold me, possibly lock me in the stables, or worse.
Instead, he turned around, holding a black sheath in his right hand.
Holy heifer.
Time slowed as he handed the object over to me. I clasped the hard leather, my mouth going dry, my heart spinning. Father was a man of few words, and I didn’t need to hear any to understand what the gesture meant—he was giving me permission to go. He patted my shoulder and shuffled back into the house.
Derrick crept closer. “Is that what I think it is?”
“It’s my father’s dagger,” I croaked.
I slid the gleaming blade out of its case. Laying it across my palm, I touched the fine metal. Iron. All our weapons were made from bronze. The iron mines were by the king’s land and the metal too expensive to buy. The dagger had a jeweled hilt with two brilliant rubies worth more than our whole farm. Three circular runes were etched on the hilt, between the two gems.
We both gawked at the weapon. When I was younger, my father told me about the family dagger. For generations, it had passed down the Desdar line to the eldest son. After Jimri’s death, I never expected to receive it. I didn’t deserve such an honor. I had assumed Father would wait until he had another son, but he didn’t. He gave it to me.
I put the dagger back in its sheath and belted the sheath around my ankle.
Derrick stepped off the porch. “You ready?”
I didn’t think anyone could be ready for what we were going to do, but I was close enough.
Chapter Five
LUCINO
The clear liquid inside the bowl rippled, revealing an image of four exquisite creatures. Their delicate and sensual features accentuated their beauty.
“Good morning my pets,” I said.
They sat around giggling about nonsense and stroking one another’s hair. I found it interesting how excitable they became before my visit. Ah, and how beautiful they all were. However, not perfect. The voluptuous brunette had a nose with a slight bump, and the redheaded vixen had a forehead too wide. If I could combine the full lips from the petite one, and take the hazel almond ey
es from the shy one …
“Spying on your dolls again, hmm?”
With a flick of my hand I brushed the image away. “I’d hardly call it spying.”
Romulus bobbed his square head as he waddled over to a table stacked with various beakers and caged animals. He opened a cage and pulled out a large lizard which snapped irritably at his hand.
“You spend too much time on these females,” said Romulus. “I wonder what the King would say of this, hmm?”
Romulus only got away with such brazen talk because he was my advisor. Anyone else and I would have cut out their tongue. “It’s research. I must understand their ways if I am to blend in.”
He scrunched his large nose and grumbled. “Obsession, not research. I do your research.”
Insolent fiend. I willed myself to calm, ignoring his brash comment.
“Have you collected the specimens I discovered? I think you will be pleased with what arrives.”
“Yes.” Lucy had left weeks ago to start the hunt. With the firemares pulling the wagons, they should arrive back in Daath shortly. I trusted Romulus that one of these humans would be the one I had been searching for.
“Good,” said Romulus. “I think it’s time we discussed your Awakening, hmm?”
My Awakening. A topic of extreme interest. Romulus had been my teacher since I was old enough to kill a wyvern, the smaller dragons of our home world. On my upcoming birthday, the dormant power in me would release. No one knew the extent of my abilities, but Romulus had an idea. I would lead our people into a new era, and it would begin on Tarrtainya.
Romulus dropped an orange liquid onto the lizard, and it screamed. “I have calculated this planet’s gravitational pull on the day of your Awakening. You must perform the ritual at the exact moment of the eclipse.”
“Yes, Romulus. We’ve gone over this already.”
He grumbled and picked up the decaying lizard with a pair of scissors. “You need to have a pure vessel. This world is different from ours. The pure females emit a specific aura that is critical, hmm. You must capture this during your Awakening. The aura will amplify your magic.”