“I’m sorry, Ambrosia.”
“It’s my fault.”
Ambrosia waved her wand, and from the tear she made, things spilled out. A peach tarp hovered over them, and then sheer lace rolled down. There was a hole in the roof like a teepee. Odd chairs, a table, cots, blankets, pillows, and creature comforts flew from the space where Ambrosia hid her belongings. Her possessions neatly arranged themselves around the fire. Peculiar objects, like bells and unusual traps, surrounded the tent. Ambrosia said it was a warning system. Then she explained traders could still find them, and with luck she could barter for freedom out of the realm, or easily ward them off if they proved dangerous.
An engraved silver box with a small entrance hole landed on the table and Ky’s druse darted in.
“I forgot that was even in my room.” Ambrosia tried not to shed tears. She shrugged and added, “She can have it.”
“Thank you. Are you okay?”
“We’re stuck here until released. I guess the only thing we can do is go to the City of Sterlings and find my father. I would take us, but I don’t know the way. I don’t even know the way to Sarnia. I never bothered collecting anything to help me travel and keep direction. I have no maps. I thought I would always stay in the City of Sterlings, until... I wanted to bond with the only healer I’ve ever met, and have his children. I should have stayed in the city like he told me, but I didn’t want to be there if he was leaving. I’m sure he had his reasons. I wouldn’t be in this mess if I listened. Where is he now when I need him? Off pretending he’s something he’s not, and leaving me behind again,” Ambrosia griped. Ky pretended to understand, but Ambrosia divulged little to ascertain her meaning.
Ky collapsed on a stool by the fire, and frowned. Ambrosia plopped onto her seat with a heavy sigh. “Maybe if the warriors found us, they could lead us back to the city and my father, but...” Ambrosia shrugged. “We could tell them to take us there.”
“You really think Hyun could help? I thought you said you needed a witch?”
“He has a countless variety of magical instruments, more than my mother because he’s lived twice as long. His family had more charms than my mother’s. I’m not his real daughter, but he still shared his secrets. It’s a huge honor. My room comes from his great grandmother. He’s a very talented healer. My mother used to make magical devices, until my grandmother’s last project killed her, and my mother vowed to never make another. I’m certain they have a spell to get me out of here. I didn’t study as I ought; I sorely regret it. But don’t worry, my father is wise and will know which magic will free us. He would do anything for me, even track down this witch. It will be okay, my Lady.”
“Ky,” she corrected.
“Yes, that is what I meant.” Ambrosia smiled.
Ambrosia chatted until convinced Hyun stored magic that would prove helpful. In truth, Ky liked knowing her options. Ambrosia continued going back and forth about all the things her father could possibly do, until she was convinced there was nothing to fear.
“The best thing to do now is make noise. Our smoke will be strong enough the warriors can track. I’m sure Cobaaron will never stop looking. I’m counting on it.”
“Yes.” Ky nodded, having great confidence that the warrior would indeed find her. For some reason, the thought of him made her happy. “He’ll stop at nothing.” She couldn’t explain her attachment, or her strong feelings for a stranger. She had visions of making love to him. The moment they popped into her head, she shook the thoughts away. It was strange how vivid the picture was, as if it were memory.
“Maybe it’s for the best. It’s not likely anything will happen to us in this realm. Few traders are magical, few beasts escaped into this realm, and I’m sure Luanda drives witches from this area. If a stray trader comes along, I’ll jinx him to wander around lost for days. We’ll be in the warriors’ protection once they find us. It will be soon. You’ll see,” Ambrosia said enthusiastically. “Then again, Tyrus is a great warrior and far more capable than he pretends. I’ve seen him do great, courageous things. Never tell him I said so! He’d gloat for days, and his smug grin would be insufferable.”
“You sound like you know him.”
Ambrosia stiffened. “A little.” She shifted uncomfortably, and said nothing more of him. By the way she spoke of loved ones, Ambrosia came across as someone tremendously loyal, and Ky assumed allegiance to Tyrus was her reason for silence. Ky simply wondered why she pretended to not know him if they were clearly friends at one point. Ky wanted to ask if Ambrosia once put him under a love spell, as he accused her, and if that was why their friendship dissolved. That would explain why Ambrosia didn’t want to talk about him. But childhood infatuations are painful when they aren’t returned, and clearly Ambrosia didn’t want to linger on Tyrus or the past.
“So, where did this healer friend of yours go? The one you wanted to bond with?”
“Oh, last I heard he wanted to go to the Tungsten Hills on sabbatical for a few years.”
Even though they knew they couldn’t be seen or attacked, they still quieted anytime a creature neared. They peered between the trees, beyond the fire’s glare, to see when the creature lurked. Once a strange animal like a large Tasmanian devil trampled the ground in their fire, but the flames weren’t in its realm, and the smoke still billowed. The creature smelled the air, circled their campsite confused, and left.
“I’ve never been in another realm. I’ve read about it, but I never thought…” Ambrosia stopped talking. She stared at Ky hopefully. “I have an idea! I’ll go in my room and get some of my books. Maybe there is something in my family’s crest about realms that could assist us.”
“Can I see your room?”
“Er, it’s really messy, my Lady. Mortifying really.” Ambrosia fidgeted anxiously while refusing Ky’s request.
“It’s Ky, and I don’t mind. My room was a dive,” Ky said honestly. “I’d like to see what the inside of a healer’s room looks like.”
Ambrosia blushed and couldn’t hide her embarrassment. “It’s heaps of junk upon junk. Imagine never throwing out a gift, and storing everything in a room that shifts occasionally if a forgotten door is left open. I have walkways, but...”
Ky grinned, amused. She had to see it now, after such a speech about clutter. “It’s that bad?” She teased.
“Worse,” Ambrosia confided, chuckling uneasily, and then waved for Ky to follow her. Ambrosia used her finger to draw an invisible line a foot taller than them and stopped at the mossy ground. Ambrosia walked through the line and disappeared. Ky followed. When she stepped through, Ky peered behind, seeing a thin, silver etched line that rippled from her passing. Ky saw the forest and campsite.
Ky ran smack-dab into a very tall stack of blue objects. “Oh, that is color-coordinated. We are heading to the book section in back. This is water creatures, poisonous fungi detectors, and useless blue artifacts. We’re looking for any information about realms. That might be in my oddities section, close to my puzzles pile.” Ambrosia tapped her lips while considering her collection. “Let’s try this way.”
“Can’t you use magic and make it fly to you?”
“I could if we were outside. When we’re in my room, magic doesn’t work. Well, what I mean is no healer can perform a spell within this space. But if the object is magical and already in use as it enters, like your cloak, it still works. But I want to jog my memory of what is in here. While we’re looking for the book, maybe something will come to me.”
“Well, Ambrosia, you do have a lot of stuff. You weren’t understating having plenty of possessions,” Ky said, smiling.
“I know.” Ambrosia smirked. “I have a very large family, and, like elves, we’re big into sending gifts; most of which we make, and it’s tradition to show gratitude by exchanging gifts. Likewise, if anything is purchased, an offer of double its worth is suggested out of respect to the merchant. Usually the seller denies the bargained price asking only for its true merit. Gifts are no different
.”
“I see. But why double the price?”
“It’s the way buying and selling has always worked. If you really want something, you offer a greater gift in return.”
Ambrosia explained things as they avoided color-coordinated piles, mounds of metallic materials, and stacks of teetering trinkets. They passed a section of hovering jewels, and a new subdivision appeared. A blossoming tree towered over an unmistakable bed of pink petals. “That’s a Hastily tree. Usually the petals fall in season, but mine is enchanted.” Ky gazed in wonderment as they passed, heading to Ambrosia’s miscellaneous collection. Tiny wooden warriors guarded a fort of carefully balanced clutter. When the toys shouted at Ky for trespassing, warning her to stand back, more warriors rushed out.
Ambrosia searched the books and parchment scrolls, dividing the heap twice before giving up two hours later. “I don’t see my family crest. I don’t know what else could help us get out of here either.” Ambrosia’s shoulders sank in defeat. “Let’s leave, and then I’ll use magic to call my crest. Maybe it’s in the mystic items. I was reading near there last.” Ambrosia scratched her head and scanned the room once again before deciding it wasn’t worth the search.
They passed a stack of crystal objects and Ambrosia selected a small orb on a chain. “Have you seen one of these?”
“I haven’t seen anything that’s in here. It may be a mess but it’s all incredible.”
“Thanks.” Ambrosia beamed. “This is a lynksys. It doesn’t need a healer’s talent to work. Most magical instruments are easily used without additional effort. Lynksyses are excellent at changing your appearance at will. You should keep it. I’ve no use for this one, because I have nine more...somewhere.” Ambrosia flushed.
“At least you have aisles,” Ky said, knowing why she was embarrassed. “I stepped on my clothes.” It was a fib, but Ky believed the white lie harmless. The truth was that Ambrosia’s room was an organized disaster. “At least you can find what you need.” On second thought, Ky realized that wasn’t exactly true. They were leaving empty-handed.
Ambrosia chuckled, to calm her mortification. At least that was why Ky joined in the laughter.
Once out of the room, Ky examined her necklace curiously. “So, at my will it changes me, or it changes me when it wants to?”
“Imagine how you wish to appear, and it does the work,” Ambrosia clarified.
Ky was about to slip the necklace on, but she halted, “Oh, but I don’t have anything to exchange and you said it’s rude to take without giving.”
“Don’t worry. I have enough stuff.” Ambrosia waved toward her room and contents.
Ky lengthened the adjustable chain so it wouldn’t clink against her timekeeper as she put it on.
“Wish to change into someone, and you will. Then, when you want to be yourself, you’ll change back. It’s as simple as that. Try it.”
Ky concentrated and instantly shifted into her former self. Her skin lost the red markings, and her crimson hair softened to the orangey shade she remembered. From what little she saw, she knew she became Kylie. “Ooh, who are you?”
“Me, before I was a Star.”
“Oh.” Ambrosia stared at her once again. Ky knew she wasn’t extraordinarily pretty as Kylie. But she was never one to shy away from people’s gaze.
“I know. I’m remarkably changed. I’m what my partner likes. I wasn’t nearly as beautiful as Ron made me,” Ky said and thought of Ron, but surprisingly the face of her husband wasn’t clear. “You’re lucky you’re not married, Ambrosia. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Now, if you had something that could lift this union, I would cherish that trinket.”
“Yeah,” Ambrosia mumbled guiltily.
CHAPTER TEN
Ky stared at the starless sky. She faintly saw the thick cloud cover overhead, because the always-full moon was hidden behind a haze of clouds close to the northern horizon. Bats gobbled strange glowing bugs fluttering around the treetops. She missed Huntra. There was a sense of loss, almost as if she missed her husband, but something about Ron bothered her. No matter how hard she tried to remember his face, she couldn’t picture him. She couldn’t remember how they met, but was convinced she first saw him during a council meeting in Gem City. Yet she couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment they were introduced.
Ron’s face slowly emerged. He had light brown eyes, almost golden-yellow, and salt and pepper hair. He was much older than her. No wonder she easily forgot him. He was years beyond her.
Ky’s concentration broke. The moon’s glowing light seemed to brighten. Ky shifted in the magically comfortable cot and scanned the forest.
She glanced to the south and saw a blue glow approaching. She gently shook Ambrosia’s arm. “Ambrosia,” she whispered her name, and nudged her gently.
“What?” Ambrosia asked groggily. When she was awake enough to remember she was in the forest, she sat up, instantly worried, and repeated frantically, “What?”
“There is a light over there. It’s blue.” Ky pointed. She wished it was Wyt, but couldn’t be certain. The faint hue was the identical match of his glow.
They watched for a few minutes before Ambrosia said, “It’s definitely coming this way. It could be a witch in disguise. They can appear beautiful.”
Ky stood, and continued to watch. Ambrosia, instead of idly standing around, took out her wand, and with a whoosh everything was magically tossed into her room with a clatter, including her family’s crest. With another flick of her wand, Prism’s new silver home sported a hook. Ambrosia simultaneously formed a belt around Ky’s waist, carefully attaching the new home to it with Prism tucked inside.
“I can’t believe I fell asleep,” Ambrosia mumbled. “I should have continued to look for a way out. But it’s been a long day; I’m exhausted.”
“You already said that there is nothing in that book that will get us out of this realm. We’ll go back to the City of Sterlings.”
“We should hide. It won’t be long before the light reaches us. I don’t know why a witch would risk entering Luanda’s territory, but we can’t take chances. Don’t let me sleep again until we are with the warriors. I should have planned ahead.”
They sought a place to hide. “I can’t hide us with magic. It will have a trace, and we’ll be heard.”
They searched, but to no avail; there was no adequate spot. They left the campsite, and stumbled around the forest. Prism exited her dwelling because it bounced around. Ambrosia didn’t want Prism’s light seen and put a spell on the box, assuring the druse home would be stable. Prism went back inside as they hurried along the spongy forest floor.
“It almost has a tinkering sound,” Ky whispered, pointing to the small home, hoping Ambrosia could quiet the soft chiming.
“Oh, there might be a few things in there. It’s a druse house, and as a girl I collected shiny things because I wanted a fairy.” Ambrosia flicked her wand again, and the sound was gone.
The two halted and stopped talking. The light grew brighter, and moved closer. It seemed to pursue them, but definitely searched for something.
“Do you think that’s Wyt? Do you think he’s with the warriors and they’re tracking us?” Ky asked hopefully. She wanted reassurance that the light wasn’t a witch but a glowing Star. “It’s coming from where we ran from Luanda.”
“I hope so, but I’d rather hide. Then when it passes, we’ll see,” Ambrosia confided.
They kept walking with long strides, while they searched for a refuge. The forest closest to the swamp was moss covered, and contained rotting trees with no hollow trunks or holes in the ground.
“I have an idea.” Ambrosia raised her wand and shoes appeared. Several pairs of thick-soled sandals lined up behind them. With a swish of her wand, they all skipped. Each shoe hopped, not bothering with its mate. Some even leaped several feet for a single step. “Mother of pearl! How specific do I have to be?” Ambrosia complained. They all flew back to where they started, and the pairs matched again. This time th
ey stepped two by two, in various directions. Ambrosia then instructed Ky to walk in the shoeprints to conceal their new direction.
They paced carefully in the deeply imprinted footprints a few minutes, and then once again Ambrosia made more shoes, concealing the changed course. Shortly they found a hiding spot in a hollowed-out tree. Instead of staying in the obvious hideout, they climbed up the thick branches with difficulty. Ambrosia had a footprint trail into the lair for good measure, and then they waited on a high limb.
They watched the light reach the camp where they were minutes ago. The glow moved faster, and veered sharply. There wasn’t even a pause in movement as the light skirted from their old campsite. Ambrosia and Ky sat in silence. “If it’s a witch, we’ll escape into my room,” Ambrosia whispered. “If it’s Wyt…we’re saved.”
Minutes later, Ky heard heavy footsteps. Then in the shadow of darkness, she saw warriors running along their path, not confused by the different footprints. Cobaaron was leading the warriors. Ky couldn’t understand why, but she was thrilled to see him. She started to lean forward, wanting to jump down to greet him. Ambrosia caught her when she lost her balance and nearly toppled over.
Cobaaron suddenly stopped under their tree, and his men halted behind him. Cobaaron scented the air. His muffled voice was only a whisper. “I smell honey. They’re here. I know she’s around somewhere.” Huntra began to climb the tree they were in. He was the size of a housecat, and his little eyes were locked onto Ky. He began to hop up the tree with determination.
“Ambrosia, I have to get down,” Ky exclaimed. She needed to get to Cobaaron.
Ambrosia and Ky descended the tree with a flick of her wand, as Cobaaron searched the ground still bellowing that he smelled her. Noxis and Tyrus pointed to the decoyed tracks before Tyrus said, “Either she stopped erasing her treads and decided to hover or they climbed a tree. My guess is she wouldn’t use magic unless necessary.”
The Coming Dawn Trilogy Page 44