Book One: Beginnings

by Nicole Ashley Brown Segda

  And then it dawned on her. Hopeful that her epiphany would prove fruitful, she cannot resist laughing away her uneasiness as she makes her way back home to the Sylvan cottage.

  Like a breath of fresh air Lara was home again and they all knew that any news she had would be welcome. The waiting was the most unbearable part and in knowing this, Lara began her briefing of the situation as soon as she touched firm ground. Everyone had been outside on the hill, awaiting her arrival as no doubt predicted by Jessica. Letting her arms fall to their place of natural rest at her sides from the slightly extended position that helped her to control her landing, she speaks softly yet loud enough for everyone to hear.

  “This land is Smithee, a land of mountains and forests, lakes and rivers. The land itself is alive and it is the season in which the land has been renewed. Its hills sing of the people who have traversed here and toiled here. At no other time is its song so strong.

  “Yet, even now, this song is but a vibration upon the strings of my heart. I know it exists, but that is all. I cannot hear it. Its words are beyond my understanding.” She sighs and then looks straight ahead, her vision focused on something beyond even her sight. “I am the Wind. The Sky is my Home. The Earth is apart from me and I from it.”

  She turns to Joel and Jessica and, as if by the strength of her gaze, they step forward in unison as the others simultaneously melt into the background. Smiling her encouragement, she continues, “I reassign this mission to you. This will test your abilities and push them to the limits, and even perhaps beyond them, but through your combined skills, I know that you can accomplish the task for which my abilities were a hindrance. As is always the case, I fear that we do not have much time. Go now. And Godspeed.”

  * * *

  “So,” Joel whistles, “any ideas on where to begin?”

  Jessica ignores him, confidently walking forward through the brush as if she intimately knew each branch and leaf and pebble and their positions relative to herself.

  Joel follows her closely, the darkness hiding his smirk but his tone giving away his amusement. “Do you have any idea where you’re going?”

  Jessica turns. “No, but you’re following me and that has to count for something.”

  Joel shrugs. “Just making sure that you stay out of trouble.”

  Jessica resumes her path, sniffing in feigned contempt as she does so. “Who appointed you as my keeper?”

  “Keeper?” Joel replies in mock offense. “Since when did I become the lackey? You will not catch me bowing and saying, ‘Yesth Masther’. Nuh-uh. No sirree. I prefer the term ‘guardian angel.’”

  “Whatever.”

  Joel stops and slowly turns his head to look around and above him. A slight smile crosses his lips as he breathes in the wonder he is feeling. “Can you hear it?”

  “Hear what?” Jessica calls back to him from a few yards away.

  “The spirit of the land is singing. “ Raising his arms with his palms towards the starry heavens, he speaks in a voice full of power and wisdom, “The vibrations of its song reverberate through everything that is part of the land; and the land is connected to all things, except the air over which it holds no sway nor bears allegiance.”

  Jessica turns to stare at him, her lavender eyes sparkling with longing but her voice as melancholy and monotone as the voice in her dreams. “Yes, I hear it, among other things.”

  Joel breaks away from his reverie to look at her. “Other things?”

  The power and wisdom that had been infused in Joel’s words just moments ago now lends themselves to that of Jessica’s. It is now Joel’s turn to listen. She speaks, “I hear the cry of an ancient civilization, first as a rising up of unparalleled victory, and then as one of sorrow as their glory fades into memory and later, as is the fate of all great things, transformed into a legend whose history is considered myth. I hear the story of the past told as something current by those who lived it, and for the sake of nostalgic dreams by those who were born an age too late.”

  “Well,” Joel begins, “it seems to me that the age we live in is not the one that we believe we belong in. There will always be something better. Days of adventure yearn for peace, and tranquil times manifest wanderlust. Why is it that we dream of things that are, given the state of the world, beyond our grasp? Don’t you think it to be somewhat hopeless?”

  “If they weren’t beyond our grasp, then they wouldn’t be dreams,” Jessica replies matter-of-factly. “And no, for in these dreams do we find hope.”

  “But dreams fade, just like the starry night as the new day dawns.”

  “The old dreams are replaced by new dreams.” She rubs her hands together, clasps them, and rests her chin on them as if in prayer. “As we change, and as the world changes, so do our innermost desires. Dreams are inconstant, like the moon. But no matter in what form they may come, they still exist. For without dreams we simply have given up, and life becomes meaningless.”

  “So,” Joel theorizes, “the only thing giving our lives meaning is our dreams, which in themselves are empty and inconstant?”

  Jessica punches him. “No. We place value on our dreams and, in turn, our lives become worth living. We value life, friendship and love. All these things are desires that makes our dreams that much more substantial. Dreams are only empty if we accept the impossibility of them.”

  “But they’re still impossible, right?”

  “You’re impossible.”

  “Haven’t we already discussed this?”

  Jessica seethes. “Impossible is nothing. It doesn’t make a difference.”

  Joel rubs his chin. “I am glad to hear you say that.”

  Jessica turns, frustrated. “So then, what was all that about impossibilities?”

  Joel shrugs. “Just wanted to see which ‘Jessica’ I am speaking with.”

  “You make me sound like I am schizophrenic or something.”

  “Well,” Joel teases her, “you do hear voices.”

  “I know there is at least one voice that I don’t want to hear right now,” she retorts meaningfully.

  Joel remains silent throughout the rest of the night, moving as quietly as humanly possible through the dry leaves that litter the ground, speaking minimally and only to give advice on which direction they should head. Finally, he speaks, “I know what you want to hear, but I cannot … I cannot … an apology will not mend this.”

  Jessica stops suddenly, her emotions boiling just beneath the surface of her skin. “Are you blaming me?”

  “NO!” Joel loses his composure for an instant but then regains it momentarily. “No. I do not blame you. But neither am I at fault. It is just the situation. It is the way things are. What I … what you … what we want … it’s a…,” he lowers his shoulders in defeat and sighs, “… it’s a dream.”

  “Right,” she sighs, “a dream….” Clearing her throat, she nods her chin towards the east. “The sun is coming up.”

  They both stand still, watching the golden fingers stretch through the forest towards them, silent, as if witnessing a funeral. The vigil lasts for but a moment before they continue their trek, but it is enough. It will have to be enough.

  * * *

  “You’re still here.”

  Cara turns at the sound of Cole’s voice. She looks up at him for a moment before returning her gaze to the rosy skies that herald the dawn. Sitting there perched atop the cliffs with the waves thundering below her, she looks like a bird ready to spread its wings and fly away. But the sadness that consumes her weighs her down and keeps her here, clipping her wings and denying her her freedom. She speaks softly but the wind carries her words to their intended listener. “A bird came in the night. A messenger.”

  Cole sits down next to her, crossing his legs. “What news did it bring?”

  “Verdana is gone. Burned to the ground. No sign of survivors.”

  “Burned?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mala?”

  “Yes.”

 
; Cole sighs, “So what are you going to do now?”

  Standing, she breathes deeply. “I will go where there is need of me. I will fight. The Sentran shores are calling my name….”

  “Cara…,” Cole interrupts, “I know you feel that this is your duty, your mission—and I am not telling you to not go—but your wings are not broken. They are merely bruised. In time they will heal.” He tries to hold her hands but she brushes his away. He sighs, “I know you cannot help me … but I promise you that one day I will be ready to fly. I hope that when we are on equal footing that you will fly with me.”

  Closing her eyes and clenching her fists firmly to her sides, she turns away and speaks forcefully, “I will be on that boat to Nesthra.”

  Standing, he concedes, “I understand.” He starts back down towards the camp below but he stops as he is reminded of something. “Shadow, she likes you. And even considering the circumstances, I know she is glad that you are going to stay with us for a while longer. She will miss you very much when it is time for you to part ways. Perhaps you might consider taking her with you. I know she will make sure you are safe and will not let anything bad happen to you.”

  Cara turns back to him and smiles through her sad eyes. “Tell Shadow that I like her too, and I too am glad I am going to stay for a while longer. I will miss her very much when it is time for me to leave, so I accept your offer of companionship. I will very much like having her by my side. She will be a kind reminder of the friend that I am leaving behind.”

  Cole nods and then continues on his way, leaving Cara to her solitude that now seems just a little less lonely. Returning to her lonesome perch, she is once again overwhelmed by the questions that continue to plague her. For the first time in her life, she is uncertain and finds the feeling rather disagreeable. She is daunted by the sense that she has somehow been excluded from the realization of the dream of the future that she is trying to preserve. For the first time in her life, she must look to someone else for the answers. But in order to do so, she must first admit to her inadequacy. Such a submission, however, is not made without the admonition in accordance with one’s innate instinct of self-preservation. She must be careful of who she turns to. There is a traitor amongst them. For the first time in her life, Oracle Seven is not the divine council from which she will regain her focus or clarity. No. An outsider is who she needs. She needs Cole.

  “Well, if you’re coming with us, the boat is almost ready to depart.”

  Cara turns and stands at the distant sound of Cole’s voice. “Yes, I am coming.” She looks back at the dark blue vastness and replaces a strand of hair that the wind had blown from behind her ear.

  Cole waits for her and takes her hand in his when she reaches him so he can steady her in their descent. “Come on.” With a wary look to the skies that had suddenly turned dark and in response to the drastic increase of wind velocity, he adds, “Getting to Nesthra will be half the battle it would seem.” She slips slightly on the rocky hillside and his arms instinctively wrap around her waist.

  Highly conscious of his proximity, she blushes. “It won’t be the only battle.”

  He looks upon her and laughs. “No. I guess not.”

  By the time they reach the docks, the water is turbulent and the salt spray washes violently over the barnacled boards. The gray skies are overcast, blocking the brilliance of the sun that is now a hazy orb in the distance. Lt. Atkins pops his head above the side of one of the twelve ships and, upon seeing his men waiting in the relative safety of the shoreline, jumps over the edge onto the creaking port below. He runs a short distance before stopping and cupping his hands over his mouth.

  “It is now or never.”

  Motioning for them to follow, he runs up the gangway, inspiring his men to do the same. The three thousand troops board the ships relatively quickly, motivated to begin with but now apprehensive of the wooden hulls that would carry them across the rough whale-road that led to the enemy’s dark shores.

  Cara, Cole, and Ashe had wound their way to the front of the crowd, undaunted by the stormy seas that awaited them. Joining Lt. Atkins on the flagship, they were prepared for the worst and had prayed for the best. It would be a bittersweet moment for them all.

  As the sails unfurl and the ship exits the harbor, Lt. Atkins gazes upon the shore of his homeland and inhales. “We leave behind peace and come into war.” He smiles. “From this moment on we are no longer men of Smithee. We are Ilian.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  “There,” Jessica points, “do you see it?”

  Joel squints his eyes and stares intensely at the spot to which Jessica is pointing. Shaking his head and putting his hands on his hips, he sighs, “Nope. I don’t see a thing.”

  “It’s right there.”

  He turns his head to her, a look of complete helpless confusion on his face. “Right where?”

  She taps her foot, contemplating. She claps her hands together as an idea begins to form in her mind. “Okay.” Biting her lips, she continues, “Okay, Joel. Close your eyes.” She turns his head towards the area and takes a deep breath. “Now do you see it?”

  Joel laughs as he reaches out his hand, his eyes still closed. “Yeah. Is it really a … a….?”

  Jessica laughs. “What else could it be?”

  Joel shakes his head in bewilderment, smiling. “A datrymia.” He opens his eyes. “Even now that I know it is there, I still don’t see it. I can’t even sense it now.”

  Jessica kneels and summons the bird towards her. “It’s such an amazing creature. I wish you could see it how I do. But I think … I think it’s a self-defense mechanism. Some sort of invisibility technique.”

  “Then how can you see it?”

  She shrugs. “Perhaps it has to do something with my connection to shadow and light. This bird survives on its elusiveness. It likes to remain a mystery. Extremely intelligent. Highly cautious.”

  Joel closes his eyes and smiles. “What I see is light taking the shape of the creature. I see its aura.” Clearing his throat, he adds, “I see you.”

  She turns to him. “I know you do. That’s why you know me so well.”

  Kneeling, Joel whispers, “I think it is intrigued by us.”

  She whispers back, “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, it isn’t running away.”

  She considers this. “Or maybe he doesn’t see us.”

  “But it’s looking straight at us.”

  Jessica wonders. “Is it? You didn’t see it before and you were looking straight at it.”

  He opens his eyes as a thought darts through his head. “Jessy, do you think you can turn invisible?”

  “I guess it’s worth a try.” She smiles. “I’ll be seeing you.”

  Joel watches intently as she tries to disappear, incredulous, but not too overtly surprised when her image flickers for a moment and then stabilizes. He claps and nods his head in modest approval but is stricken by the look on Jessica’s face.

  She wraps her arms around herself and stares at Joel, scared. “Where did I go?”

  Joel cocks his head. “What do you mean where?”

  She shakes her head vehemently. “I went somewhere. Someplace I have never been before. It wasn’t a bad place, but it wasn’t here.”

  “Do you think you can go back there?”

  “I’m not sure if I want to.”

  He nods his understanding. “Okay. Let me try. Tell me what you did.”

  “I just blinked.”

  “That’s it?”

  She looks exasperatedly at him. “I don’t know. All I know is what I did and what happened.”

  He blinks. Looking around, he sighs, “Okay, I guess that didn’t work.” Something rams into his back, sending him to his knees. He looks behind him to see the datrymia staring belligerently at him. Getting up and dusting off his pants, he questions, “Why did you do that for?”

  The datrymia lowers its head and prepares to attack again.

  Joel stares dir
ectly into its eyes and suddenly the revelation hits him. He can see the bird. The real bird and not just its aura. Putting up his hands in self-defense, he shouts, “Look, birdy, I don’t want to hurt you, but if you hit me again, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”

  The datrymia raises its head, takes a step back, and stares inquisitively at the intruder.

  Joel slightly lowers his fists. Slightly. Keeping a wary eye on the bird, he speaks, “You see me now. Don’t you? You didn’t see me before. But now that you do see me, you think I am a threat. I was … invisible … to you before but now that I have made myself invisible—or I believe that to be the case—we exist in the same plane and therefore I am visible to you.” He cracks his neck to his right and then to his left. “So the only question I have left is this: you see Jessica. You saw her before. So why attack me and not her? Not that I am telling you to attack her now, of course.”

  The datrymia looks past Joel and at Jessica. It looks back at Joel and in its silent stare speaks volumes.

  Joel nods. “She is not like you. But I am. You are supposed to be unique. You are light. As I am. She is different. And that intrigues you.” He smiles as he sees the surprise register in the bird’s eyes. “Yeah. I know exactly how you feel.”

  The bird seems to remember something and lowers its head again.

  Joel lowers his fists completely. “But there is something else, isn’t there? Are you protecting her?” Sitting down and crossing his legs, he whispers, “So am I.”

  The bird raises its head, contemplating.

  “Will you let me help you protect her?”

  The bird shakes its green feathers and the crystal inset into its forehead glows citrine.

  “Strange,” Joel exclaims, “I hadn’t noticed your color before.”

  The bird lowers its eyes as if ashamed.

  He nods. “Ahh. This is your true self. You kept it hidden until now. Do you trust me then?”