“We … left our staffs in the kitchen,” said Reuben, finally letting go of Petra’s hand as they followed his mother out of the room. “Do you want us to go retrieve them?”
Aunt Michelle turned and raised an amused eyebrow. “You left them in the kitchen?”
“We were distracted,” said Petra.
“You left them in the kitchen?” Aunt Michelle repeated.
“Are we not supposed to do that?” asked Reuben. “Fine, we will go back and get them immediately.”
Mum laughed behind them, and they turned back to face her.
“Before you retreat to the kitchen, check your pockets,” she instructed. “I don’t see any unfamiliar jewelry on either of you beyond the boxes, and those are hardly unfamiliar, so pockets would be my best guess.”
Petra raised an eyebrow, but checked first one pocket of her dress – she rather liked this Rizkan style for this very reason – then the other, and her eyes widened when her left hand closed around a thin, straight stick. She pulled it out to find that it was a wooden pencil, painted a deep purple, with her name written on the side in the same fancy lettering that was on her staff.
“Oh my,” she muttered, rolling it between her fingers in awe. “I’ve never found a pencil with my name on it before.” She could always find Sarah’s, occasionally Sylvia’s, but her own? Never – unless it was merchandise for the old rock group or the rock city in the Middle East.
“I’m quite certain that this wasn’t here earlier,” said Reuben, pulling a green pencil out of his shirt pocket.
“We early discovered that they don’t like being left behind,” said Mum. “Even if you try, they’ll just relocate themselves onto your person in a smaller form. It’s really a very convenient feature of theirs, as they get in the way, otherwise.” She grinned as she pulled off her wedding ring and placed it onto the palm of her hand. It grew and morphed into a bowl, which she set spinning, and a tower of flame burst out of it.
“David and I do wear ours in their natural form,” said Aunt Michelle, tapping her necklace. “But since ours are just strings of rocks, that’s how they roll. Ours are actually the most versatile in their appearance and uses. Come along to the Room, and I’ll show you.”
When they reached the Room, Laura and Alyce were seated at the foot of the Hill. As they entered, Alyce stood and put a hand on Laura’s shoulder. “Got that?”
Laura’s eyes were wide, but she slowly nodded.
“Well, close enough, leastways. Things’ll turn out. I happen to know.” Alyce straightened, turning to the rest. “I’m going to leave you guys to it. Have fun while I wait on the front porch for Ralph and Tyler, so I can make sure that they each go in the proper direction.” With that, she dashed out of the door, pausing only to take Petra’s hand for a quick squeeze as she passed.
“Now then,” said Aunt Michelle. “Onto training. Jane, you can play the Dragon and hurl some fireballs once they have the basics down, but for now, you can just sit next to Laura and make sure you don’t hurt yourself.”
Mum just grinned and sat down next to Laura.
“First, while you can probably find practical use for your pencils,” Aunt Michelle continued, once Mum was safely out of the way, “they’re not going to help you fight the Dragon unless Amber decides to make the final war a battle of ‘who can write the better story,’ which I do not see happening.”
“Mmm, I’m not so skeptical,” Mum put in. “Granted, though, you were a melted puddle at the time, so Amber didn’t show you her library like she did to Renee and me. Quite extensive, and she wrote most of it herself.”
“Goes to show that even villains have hobbies, eh?” asked Aunt Michelle. “Now, as I was saying, you need to have your staffs at their full size, as convenient their travel size may be. Restoring them to their proper form is actually quite easy, as you saw Jane do just a few minutes ago. Just hold it and picture it the shape you need it to be – proper or travel. It will comply. We don’t have time to get into it now, but in time, you may discover other travel-sized forms for them in the future.”
Petra raised an eyebrow but did as she was told. Moments later, the pencil was her staff. Reuben had his, too.
“Hello, my long-lost friend,” said he.
Petra just shook her head.
“Good, good,” said Aunt Michelle. She did something with her necklace, and the next moment she was holding a long, silver sword. She spun it around by the hilt and then leveled it at Reuben, a far too excited smirk on her face. “Now, we don’t have time for more than the basics, but I’ll pound everything I can into the two of you.”
Chapter 11
“I was told that I could find my family in here?”
Petra had never been so happy to hear her father’s voice.
“Along with a few extras,” confirmed Aunt Michelle, stepping back. Her sword vanished as she touched the hilt to her necklace. “You’re here now. The party can begin.”
“So glad you waited for me,” said Dad. He glanced between Reuben and Petra. “I take it things have started?”
“All too quickly,” said Petra, catching her breath. Aunt Michelle had driven them hard.
Laura appeared at her elbow with a glass of water, which Petra took gratefully. Laura had one for Reuben as well, which he appeared just as happy to see. Petra hadn’t seen the girl sneak out for them, but decided to not ask questions. Laura didn’t make sense. It was as simple as that.
“Yeah, Petra is prophesied to fight a Dragon, and then we both get to rule Rizkaland if she wins,” said Reuben. “Petra finally agreed to marry me. Actually, I think that’s the strangest thing that has happened today.”
“Yes…” said Dad, turning to gaze thoughtfully at Petra. “I suppose it would be. Hard to believe that this day has come already. Children grow up so quickly these days.” He glanced back to Reuben, with a shake of his head. “I’d offer you a warning, but I think you know her well enough to know what you’re getting into.”
“Don’t encourage him, Dad,” said Petra, sighing. “Let’s just get this Tying Ceremony done and over with so we can get back to Rizkaland, and I can get killed by the Dragon.”
“As you can see, Petra is very excited about the whole affair,” said Mum. “There’s no one in Rizkaland who is qualified to Tie them, so Laura brought them back so you and Michelle can do the honors, Ralph.”
“Ashley will officiate,” Laura announced. “Since she’s a Bookdaughter, she’s the most qualified.”
“But I’m not yet Tied myself,” Ashley protested. “I can’t!”
“I know it’s not ideal, but it’s not without precedent. The Wind Prince and Leaf Princess weren’t Tied when they Tied the Water Princess and Fire Prince,” Laura countered.
“But at least they were of age! I haven’t had my twentieth birthday yet – it’s still a few weeks away – I’m not a proper Bookdaughter until then.”
“Do you know the proper words?” asked Mum, laying a hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “If so, then I don’t think we have anything to worry about. It’s Laura who says that you are to do it.”
“But I can’t speak both English and Rizkan at the same time. The words are supposed to be spoken by two people at the same time.”
“Speak the Rizkan,” said Laura. “It is the language of truth, and everyone in this room can understand it. Really, the English speaker is usually just there for translation.”
“But they…” Ashley glanced towards Reuben and Petra.
“Are king and queen of all Eliue,” finished Laura. “There isn’t a language spoken in any world that they wouldn’t be able to understand. Look, I – I understand you don’t feel you’re ready. You’re not the only one. Sometimes things happen like this. You just have to step up and do what you’re called to do.”
Ashley took a deep breath and leveled her chin. Slowly, carefully, she climbed the set of stairs nearest her. Dad slid an arm around Petra’s waist, and he guided her to the base of another set of stairs. Mi
chelle took Reuben elsewhere. Ashley began to speak. Petra had never before heard the language Ashley used, yet she still knew exactly what the girl was saying. It was a prayer, simple and hesitant, yet heartfelt.
“Alphego, we gather here together to ask Your blessing and grace upon this day. Reuben and Petra are young and will require Your guidance, especially as they are also called to fight the Dragon, a difficult task to be certain, and to rule Rizkaland after their victory. Today they come to join their hearts together in Your sight. Keep them under Your Wings.”
Petra and her father climbed their stairs. Reuben and his mother appeared on the opposite side of the Hill. They met in the center.
“You need to kneel,” Dad whispered in Petra’s ear. She thought the idea ridiculous, but at this point, she just wanted to get the thing over with. She knelt and Reuben knelt in front of her. He was grinning like an idiot. She frowned.
“Petra,” Ashley switched back to English, “take the ring and place it on the third finger of Reuben’s left hand.”
Petra blinked in slight confusion but then realized that Aunt Michelle had her hand outstretched with both rings on her palm. She drew in a breath, then took Reuben’s and slid it onto that finger. Easy as that.
“Reuben,” Ashley then instructed, “take the ring and place it on the third finger of Petra’s left hand.”
He did as he was told and Petra didn’t fight it. The silver band was cold, and Petra felt it clench around her heart with an awful sense of finality. Why did they have to be forced so quickly into such an irrevocable decision?
Never mind the fact that she probably would have come to it eventually anyway. Honestly, she’d put far too much investment in the guy for her to pick anyone else so long as he was content with her.
From the ridiculous grin on his face, she knew he was more than content with it.
There was a moment of silence while Dad and Aunt Michelle joined them in kneeling. They took Petra’s and Reuben’s left hands and placed their palms together, sandwiching the ends of some impossibly long leather cords between them. Petra wondered where these cords had come from because she hadn’t seen anyone with them a minute before. They laced Reuben’s and Petra’s fingers together and then began to weave the cords at an impossible speed.
“Since the time of the Eight, the Ten, and Shanner and Fnae of the elves, man and woman have been Tied together. They become no longer two, but one.” Ashley was back in Rizkan again. “One before Alphego.”
“Reuben,” said Petra’s dad, in English. “I give you my daughter, Petra, a precious treasure for you to keep and guard. Protect her as your own flesh. Love her and honor her as your own soul. Stand by her in good times and in evil, so long as you both shall live. Do you promise to do these things?”
While her father spoke, the smile melted from Reuben’s face as he finally seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation. He answered with a straight face, his words complete sincerity: “I do.”
“Petra,” said Aunt Michelle. “I give you my son, Reuben, a young man who could be so easily turned from the path appointed for him. Care for him as your own flesh. Honor and love him as your own soul. Stand by him in good times and in evil, so long as you both shall live. Do you promise to do these things?”
These were promises that weren’t to be taken lightly, but promises Petra had already prepared for and made in her heart. It was basically a marriage ceremony, after all. Her “I do,” came without hesitation.
“Then, in the sight of those gathered here,” proclaimed Ashley, still in Rizkan. “I—” she faltered for the first time. “I declare you one before Alphego.”
Silence resumed while their parents finished twisting the cords, tucking the ends into the weave. When they finished, they stood and took a step back.
“Rise and stand in the sight of Alphego,” Ashley instructed.
It wasn’t easy, and it certainly took a bit of teamwork, but Reuben and Petra managed to do as they were told. Reuben’s smile had returned. Petra wasn’t sure how, but she could somehow feel his excitement and joy. It mixed uncomfortably with the unease that had settled in her own stomach.
She wondered what was supposed to happen next, and when someone was going to release them from these cords so that they could get on with things. Were they expected to kiss? She wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet. Honestly, were they supposed to go from best friends to lovers in one day?
Even as they watched, however, the cords faded away – no, they were actually melting into their skin. Fortunately, it wasn’t a painful process. Within a few minutes, they were completely gone.
Visually, at least. Petra could still feel them.
That was awesome.
Petra gasped. She didn’t know how she was so certain – it didn’t actually sound like his voice, like books or movies made it seem – but that was Reuben’s thought in her head. She jumped back, ripping her hand out of his. It stung painfully, like ripping a bandage off of a wound, but too much confusion jangled through her mind for her to pay much thought to the pain.
But before she could open her mouth and say something, Ashley interrupted with a panicked, “Did … did I mess it up? What did I do wrong? Is it because I’m not Tied myself? Is…”
Petra turned to her, frowning as she fought off unease. “Did something go wrong? Is this not supposed to happen?”
“Normally, it takes at least twelve hours for the Tylith Cords to change like that,” said Aunt Michelle, who seemed as stunned as Ashley, though she wasn’t panicking.
“So, you’re saying that it might not have worked properly?” asked Reuben, rubbing at his forearm.
“Oh, it worked,” said Laura, almost too quickly. “They’re Tied properly. The cords represent the joining together of your lives – and they’ve already been joined, on some level or another. Also, we’re in this Room and time sometimes flows strangely here. Ashley, it has nothing to do with you. It may have something to do with me, but it has nothing to do with you.”
“Yes, you did wonderfully,” said Dad, putting an arm around Ashley’s shoulder.
“So, now what?” asked Petra. “Are … we done?”
“Yes, I suppose you are,” said Mum. “Normally we would leave you in here overnight while we waited for the cords to change, but I think that it’s a moot point in this situation.”
“Yes, and now it’s time for us return to Rizkaland,” added Laura, “and while we could use the Hill to get here, I’ve been informed that we can’t use it for the way back, since it wouldn’t allow your ages to reset when you return here at the end of everything. So, you three need to follow me so we can find another door.”
Reuben, Petra, and Ashley descended the steps and followed Laura out of the room and through more twisting hallways. None were willing to ask any questions. Petra was, for one, too busy trying to ignore her stinging arm.
“This is where my older self said that we have to return, but there’s no door here,” Laura announced when they reached an empty supply closet. She took a deep breath. “So, I would recommend that you step back. I’ve never made a door on my own before. This might not … you know what, just step back as far as you can. I’ll have it over quickly enough.”
Petra, Reuben, and Ashley retreated down the hallway. They didn’t go terribly far, just far enough to satisfy Laura. The girl braced herself in front of the closed closet, pressing her hands and forearms against the door, her face screwing up with intense concentration.
Nothing spectacular seemed to be happening, so Petra turned her attention to Reuben. Having had a chance to recover from her surprise on the Hill, it was time to test theories and get back on the same page with him. She slid her hand into his – something that he didn’t protest and which felt surprisingly good on her left arm – despite the fact that it was her right hand she gave him.
Reuben, she thought, using the same method that Spiraldream had recommended that morning. Do you hear me?
He started, surprise washing t
hrough him – there was no mistaking that she was feeling his emotions now. “Petra…”
No, don’t talk, just think. Don’t worry, I’ll hear you. I heard you on the Hill.
He relaxed, though he tightened his hold on her hand. Is that why you panicked? How are we doing this?
As she listened to his thought again, Petra noted that it actually did sound a bit like him, but deeper and stronger – the way he heard his own voice, she realized.
Her: I don’t know, but it probably has something to do with this whole king and queen of Eliue business, though. If we can understand any language, then it only makes sense that we don’t need speech at all.
Him: Wow. I wonder what all we can do with this…
Her: Reuben!
She felt him wince at the concentrated intensity of that thought. She continued more quietly.
This isn’t a game, Reuben. We could hurt someone with this. We shouldn’t play with these powers. Sure, it’s incredibly fascinating, and I can assure you that my curiosity is piqued too, but we need to be careful and set some boundaries. Otherwise…
Petra felt his attention shift away from her in a wave of shock. Slightly annoyed that he was no longer listening, she followed his focus to see that he was staring at Laura. A gasp caught in her own throat. A white-gold glow covered the girl, flickering like fire over her body, concentrated especially on her arms. Laura’s expression was pained.
An unearthly noise that she could never hope to describe shook the house, rattling Petra to her very core, setting her heart pounding. Laura’s glow surged onto the door, coating it, making it almost too bright to look at. Then it was gone.
Laura staggered backward, her face very pale and spent. “It’s … ready,” she whispered, opening the door. “Please hurry, I’m not sure how long I can hold it open, and we don’t want to get trapped inside.”
Ashley dashed forward and through the door with no further encouragement, but Petra wasn’t in a hurry to leave her house and return to Rizkaland. However, Reuben pulled her forward, giving her a stern mental warning not to fight. She didn’t.
Lady Dragon, Tela Du Page 18