“From what I hear, yes. No worries though, it’s not a part of our task to make contact with any goblins. Besides, once the daylight returns, they will go back to sleep. They don’t like the daylight.”
“Seems odd they would choose to live in a really sunny place, then.”
“Everyone has to sleep sometime,” said Ivan, handing Meghan a meat pie.
After eating, she set into her duties. Her nerves got the best of her right away. She saw Ivan about to say something and shushed him. He frowned but backed off. After a few more tries, she successfully created a small, controlled fire in the palm of her hand.
“Now for the hard part,” she whispered. She tried to focus on what she wanted to see… the path ahead of them and their destination, but she saw nothing but flames.
“Anything?” questioned Ivan.
“No. Nothing,” she answered. Nothing, is better than visions I wasn’t trying to have. “I’ll try again in the morning, before we head out,” she told him. Ivan agreed and advised Meghan to get some rest. He would do so as well, once he looked over the map again.
As exhausted as Meghan was, she found it hard to relax. There were actual, real, living goblins wobbling around outside their cave. Moreover, leaning against a hard rock wall, with just a small blanket for cover and a sweater for a pillow, did not condone a good night’s rest. Sometime during the night, she did finally fall asleep, to Ivan’s rhythmic pacing in the cave.
He awoke her early the next morning. It was still dark in the cave. Meghan wondered if Ivan had slept at all.
“Get packed up. I want to get out of this cave and moving as soon as it’s safe to do so. The goblins are moving back into their sleeping positions before day comes.”
Meghan packed up, ready in just minutes. She wolfed down another meat pie and then set to seeing. She was about to give up, again thrilled that she had not seen any nightmarish visions, when she did see something: a figure, following a red rock path, and hiding in caves, watching the valley come to life just as they had the previous night.
“Oh no,” she whispered.
Ivan knelt down beside her. “What?”
“There’s someone else wandering through the valley, and they’re heading in the same direction we are,” she gulped. “We’re not alone.”
Ivan gaze penetrated hers. She tried to decipher what he was thinking.
“You’re certain?”
She nodded.
“And what you’re seeing is the present? Not the past or future?”
“Um?” She shrugged. There was no way to know that with any certainty.
He slumped down, exhaling in a deep grumble.
“We can’t take the chance. We’ll consider it the present until we can prove it’s not,” he decided.
“It’s not by chance some part of your Initiation is it? Friendly competition perhaps?”
“No. I’m confident it’s not. Banon Blackwell took me aside and, well, let’s just say the only people that know about this little jaunt of ours is us, and her.”
“Oh. Right.” She let out a huff, wishing her visions came with cheat notes. It would be so much easier to decipher them that way.
The goblin’s rock bodies groaned against the ground as they shifted into a comfortable position to sleep away the day.
Ivan looked ready to bound out of the cave at the first sign of light. He looked down at Meghan.
“If there’s someone else out there we have to get there first.”
“Maybe this person I saw isn’t headed where we are, Ivan.”
“We cannot take that chance. We will have to travel faster today,” he warned.
Meghan frowned. Her feet were still sore from the previous day’s hike. However, she did not want to disappoint Juliska. Or give Ivan the satisfaction that she could not keep up. She took a deep breath, digging deep, trying to find her determination.
She got to her feet and Ivan assisted her with getting the pack on. He’d already slid his onto his back. Minutes later, light filtered into the cave. Ivan stepped out first, carefully, to check that the goblins were asleep. They were.
He took out his map and let the light filter through. Their pathway had changed. The goblin formations were not the same as the previous day. It appeared they did not stay in the same place night after night.
He motioned for Meghan to follow and the journey began again.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The bird sat on Colin’s shoulder and together they gazed, awestruck, into the valley, watching the goblins shift their way into the darkening distance.
After Colin had come to, he’d chastised himself for passing out.
How very cowardly he’d mumbled, disappointed. He had looked up to see the bird-human perched nearby; squawking in what Colin could only describe as laughter.
Colin laughed, shaking his head at himself. “At least no one I know was here to see that. Well other than you,” he aimed at the bird.
After this, the bird had taken up Colin’s shoulder and they watched the goblins, mesmerized by the creatures’ movements. A while later, Colin decided he had better go deeper into the cave to rest and eat. He talked aimlessly as he took out a meat pie, sliced off a piece for the bird, and ate the rest himself.
“I know you can understand me, so I’ll just talk. I guess if you ever want me to know who you are, you’ll tell me, or show me. Thanks by the way, for coming with me. I hate to admit it, but I did not like the idea of doing this on my own. I just know I have to save Catrina.”
Colin explained all about the girl as they’d hiked the day before. But after he finished eating he continued, dreamily.
“She’s beautiful you know. Wait until you see her, you’ll agree.” He looked at the bird. “I wish I knew what your name was.”
The bird shrugged as if to say, sorry, but not today.
“Well, maybe I’ll give you a name then,” decided Colin.
Thinking of a name to call the bird took Colin’s mind off the frightening challenge that lay ahead, as well as the goblins slithering raucously across the valley floor outside. He went through a list of names, none of which sounded right.
“You know, I only know you as the bird or the bird-human, and no other name fits. So I’m just going to call you Bird. But I won’t think of it like you’re a bird, more like the jazz musician, who was nicknamed Bird.”
Colin wished that he had his I-Pod and could actually listen to music, what a pleasant distraction that would be.
Bird nodded its acceptance of the name choice and squawked gently. It shook its feathers and stalked through the cave, acting silly. Bird had Colin laughing in no time. At one point, he was afraid he had laughed so hard that he had gained the unwanted attention of their outside companions.
Before turning in for the night, Colin took out the map. As he did so, Magicante’s pages flipped open, stopping on a green and yellow shimmering leaf.
“Oh, what’s this?” muttered Colin, taking a look at what the book was trying to show him. It didn’t let him read though, but spoke instead.
“I think it would be wise,” the book said, “for you to learn something new.”
“New magic?” Colin could barely contain his eagerness.
“Yes, I believe you will find this lesson prudent to the current situation.”
“How so?” he asked the Magicante.
“I sense danger in this place. One can never be too careful,” the Magicante’s voice hissed.
“Danger,” stuttered Colin. “More than what we’ve seen already?”
“Ah. Not to worry, Kid,” the book replied. “Nothing you can’t handle without proper training.”
“Okay,” said Colin. “What do I do?”
“Any real magician,” started the book, “knows the value of using a spell without having to speak it.” Magicante paused as if waiting for something.
“And?” questioned Colin.
“Well, why is it important?” asked the voice of Magicante.
“Oh. Okay. Um, my guess would be secrecy. No one would know what kind of spell you’re using against them.”
“Naturally,” agreed Magicante. “But here is what you do not know: spells thought, rather than spoken, use less energy to perform. Something many a fool that calls himself a magician does not know.”
“Oh. Okay,” said Colin. “Kind of makes sense when you think about it.”
Magicante had Colin practice various spells, thinking them rather than speaking them. Colin was sure to use Abdo before saying each spell in order to hide the fact that he was using magic. He took a stack of rocks and set into hurling them deeper into the cave.
“I did not think you’d have a problem with this bit of magic,” said the cranky voice of the book, after seeing Colin succeed easily. “But I decided it was time for you to know it. One of those little secrets apparently lost in magical training today.”
“Any other helpful hints?” asked Colin.
“That is all for tonight.” The book slammed itself shut and set into a soft snore.
Colin decided it was time to do the same. He wanted to get an early start. Bird nestled into a crevice and curled its beak underneath its feathers. Colin dozed off but woke with a start. He glanced around, but there was nothing there except for Bird, sleeping soundly. Colin shook it off, glad of Jae’s magic tunic. The night air was chilly, but he was not cold at all. Before long, he was sleeping again.
A few hours later, in the middle of the night, Bird awoke with a start. This time, something approached the cave. He left the sleeping Colin and flew outside to have a look. The valley was empty as far as Bird could see, with the exception of an approaching Catawitch.
Bird transformed into human form. There were no goblins nearby and Colin was sleeping soundly inside.
“Nona,” a young male voice spoke. “It’s nice to see you again. But what are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Meghan?”
“Well hello to you, too. Bird, is it now?” She laughed a girlish cat laugh.
“Very funny. Like I could tell him my name. Now back to my question.”
“Meghan asked me to stay behind and watch over Colin. She became afraid to leave him. Little did I know he had his own journey planned,” she purred in catty reply.
“I’ve got Colin’s back. You should catch up with Meghan.”
“I do wish greatly to be at her side, but how would I explain? No. I will stay and do as she asked.”
Bird nodded. “Do you want to come inside the cave then?”
“There’s a few hours left until morning. I’m going to hunt for some food and snoop around. I’ll be following you tomorrow, just so you know.”
“Be safe then, Nona.”
“You too.”
Bird transformed and took flight, landing next to the still soundly sleeping Colin.
#
Light filtered its way into the cave. Colin opened his eyes, not believing he had slept so well. He jumped up and packed his shoulder bag. “Better get moving.”
Bird followed overhead as Colin stepped out into the daylight, extracting the map. His path had changed directions. He realized that the rock formations he was looking at were not the same as the previous night. The goblins had moved positions.
“What a map!” he gushed, admiringly. “When this is all over, I really need to do something nice for Corny.”
Colin smiled up at Bird and closed the map. If he was lucky, today might be the day he found his dream girl.
#
Meghan stood behind Ivan, waiting as he again studied the map. She took off her pack and plunked down. As she did, a plume of red dirt wafted off from her clothes.
“I’m never going to get these clean,” she whined.
“While we’re stopped, can you…” Meghan cut him off.
“Yeah, yeah. Just a sec.” She took a minute to gather herself and then created a fire in the palm of her hand. She focused on their journey, and the figure she had seen earlier that morning. She saw the same shadow of a figure, hiking through the valley. Nothing had changed. She searched the flames for any hint of what they might face ahead. However, there was nothing new in her vision. Nothing to indicate if it was in the present, past or future.
Ivan shook his head in confusion after Meghan informed him. A sense of urgency came over them both and they decided to eat lunch while walking.
After a while, the quiet of the valley grew on Meghan’s nerves. Hoping it would not turn into the catastrophe it had the first time, while in Grimble during the carriage ride to the Up and Comer’s Dinner, she attempted conversation with Ivan.
“Do you mind if I ask you something?” she threw out there.
“Um, go for it.”
“I’ve been wondering about the other Svoda groups.”
“What about them?”
“I know they exist, I guess I’m just trying to understand a little better how it all works. Do you know anyone in the other groups?”
“I was almost five when we left our island and started traveling,” he answered. “So no, I don’t really know much about the other groups other than they exist. Their numbers are similar to ours and there’s nine all total. I’m sure there’s a few people that know me, but I don’t think I’d remember them.”
“How about Jul… Banon Blackwell? She is the leader of all the Svoda, right?”
Ivan shot her a look that said, DUH!
“What I mean is,” she clarified, “how did she end up here, with this particular group, since there’s nine?”
“Oh. Well, when the time came for the Svoda to divide themselves amongst the different groups, Banon Blackwell knew she would have to choose just one. She wanted it to be a fair decision, so she, along with those selected to be leaders of the other groups held a raffle. A regular pull-a-ticket-out-of-the-hat kind of raffle, actually. Each ticket had a group number on it and Banon Blackwell drew this group.” Ivan actually sounded happy explaining this to Meghan.
“I wonder how the other groups handle not having her around. They must miss such an incredible woman, leader, I mean.”
Ivan chuckled. “She is admirable, to say the least,” he agreed.
A short while later as the heat of the day wore on Meghan, a voice echoed through her head.
“Colin?” she whispered, knowing instantly that it was not her brother. Her block was still firm. She sensed Colin in the back of her mind, but did not contact him or let his thoughts in. So whose voice was she hearing?
“Aahhh!” she suddenly yelled, falling over. She had not been watching her steps and was now laying face first in the dirt.
Ivan shook his head, but grabbed her hand, helping her up. Meghan wiped off the red dirt now plastered on her face, spitting out bits that had wormed their way into her mouth. She poorly ignored Ivan’s amused smirk.
“You are enjoying my discomfort a little too much, aren’t you?” she grumbled.
A sly sneer snuck through his lips but he said nothing.
Throughout the rest of the day, the unfamiliar voice periodically entered Meghan’s mind, but never clearly enough to hear what was being said.
“Great,” she thought in a low whisper. “Just great! Hearing voices while stuck in the middle of nowhere on a mission with Ivan. Just perfect!”
Meghan’s frustrations grew more obvious as the day progressed. Ivan’s amusement turned to agitation as Meghan slowed and stumbled more often. As the second day ended, Ivan announced their hideout for the night was not too far, but they needed to pick up the pace to get there in time.
Once again, they found themselves scurrying to the cave with just minutes to spare before darkness descended. Ivan looked quite pleased when they arrived.
“What?” prodded Meghan breathlessly.
“We made good progress today. We actually went a lot further than I expected we would. We will arrive at our destination sometime in the late morning, if all goes well.”
“No wonder I’m so damn tired,” retorted Meghan. “I thought this jou
rney wasn’t supposed to be that long.”
“I have a theory about that, actually. We know the goblins don’t go to sleep in the same place each morning. I think this might be on purpose. A defense mechanism of sorts, to make it harder to get through the valley. I don’t think Banon Blackwell realized we might walk in circles a few times.”
“Have we been?” Meghan had not noticed.
“Yes. A few times.”
“I’ll say it again, then. No wonder I’m so damn tired!”
“You survived,” replied Ivan, adding, “Same drill as last night. You see and I’ll get us some dinner.”
This plan was all well and good, except for the fact that Meghan was not in control of her emotions. As soon as she started her fire, the unwanted vision came: Jae, on his pillar, the malevolent being hurting him. Jae fighting back, but also fighting some evil growing inside him.
But this one didn’t end the same as the previous one.
Each time now, the vision changed just a little. Meghan could only assume that it meant Jae was changing too.
Near the end of the vision, Jae and the malevolent being were fighting on the pillar. But this time there was a sadistic voice that taunted Jae to let it free. To let the darkness inside him, out.
Whatever this thing was inside Jae, it was winning.
Meghan wished she could piece it all together. Was this vision a metaphor for some difficult or terrifying thing Jae was going through? Or was it more literal, like he was actually changing into something else? Like what? A monster? That didn’t make any sense.
However, in the vision, it’s exactly what happened.
The malevolent being challenged Jae, forcing him to release what was inside him. He did, and Meghan watched in horror as her scrawny friend turned into a monster.
With feral looking teeth that snapped at his opponent.
Rugged, thick arms and elongated fingernails that slashed and cut.
Jae let out a snarl and charged his attacker pushing the being to the edge of the pillar and right over the side into the black abyss. But the being’s hideous laugh echoed up from the depths. Jae might have pushed the being over the edge of the pillar but the being had gotten what it wanted from Jae.
Embrace (The Shifter, The Magic Map, and The Goblin King) (A Fated Fantasy Quest Adventure Book 3) Page 11