Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One

by Donna Wagner

  The faces of everyone around the table, were all showing looked of complete and utter shock. Grandma Aras quietly chuckled to herself. “I don’t mean the exact stories! I mean the person the stories were based on.”

  One by one, it seemed everyone let out a sigh of relief. “I still don’t understand,” Anna said, “If you learned about all this from some long-ago relative’s diaries, how would that help you? Wouldn’t the woman you thought might be the Old Woman E, be long gone?”

  “In the stories, dear, the Old Woman E, was a witch, yes, but don’t forget, this is a Snillotian fairytale! Everyone in Snillotia has some kind of power. It’s as normal as someone having brown hair! The Old Woman E had a power, too!”

  Everyone one who knew the stories suddenly realized what she meant. “She lives forever,” Ronnoc said quietly.

  Tim raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn’t heard about that power yet. He looked at his grandmother and waited for her to finish her story. “I found her. She lived in an old cottage in the middle of nowhere, and yes, she was very, very old. She told me she could help my Nelle. She said she knew this day would come. She told me that when she was once a small child, she was given a prophecy. She was told that in many years to come she would one day give her life to a small girl, who shared her blood, who would be the start of something wondrous. She told me at first she thought it would be a child she would have that she would dedicate her life to raising and loving, and she said she did have children, and they had children, and so on, but none born had ever done anything wondrous. As the years passed and she realized what her power really meant, she lost track of her descendants, but as soon as I arrived with Nelle, she knew the day had come. She said Nelle looked exactly like her daughter had as a child.”

  “What’s her name? Where is she?” Ronnoc asked.

  Grandma Aras shook her head. “She didn’t tell me her name. She told me as the years passed and she stopped interacting with anyone, she no longer needed a name, since there was no one to use it. You very rarely have any reason to use your most important possession! She was quite right! Other people do use your name more than you do! She saved my Nelle that day. She transferred her power to her somehow,” she paused, seeing the look on Tim’s face, “No, Tim, I don’t mean that your mom would live forever, just that she wouldn’t die at that time. Whatever the Old Woman E did immediately had an effect. Nelle’s color came back; she became her energetic self again. However, when I looked for the woman to thank her, she was gone. She had completely vanished.”

  Everyone was silent as they processed what they had learned. Grandpa Cire continued the story. “Aras came and found me. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My baby was herself again! I finally listened to Aras explain what had happened. Then I believed. However, we kept it to ourselves. We had no proof since the woman had disappeared. We went about our lives. When people asked how Nelle survived, we just said it must have been something a healer had done and that we didn’t know exactly what, but that we were happy whatever it was had worked! People seemed to accept that without any more questions.”

  It was silent as everyone digested this new information. “And now I can resume my story,” Ronnoc said, “I must admit, I didn’t know any of that. From my perspective, I thought my father took me away because he knew I made my sister sick- that I hadn’t protected her. I know now that was just a childish misconception. However, at that time, I didn’t. When we returned home and Nelle was well, things changed. Nelle could do no wrong. I felt like I was fading into the background. I was angry at my parents. I was very excited to go to the Y in my thirteenth year. I thought I would be able to finally have friends and people who cared about me and not my sister.”

  “We had no idea you felt that way, son.”

  Ronnoc looked at his father. He opened his mouth and then closed it, as if he was about to say something and then changed his mind. “When I got to the Y, I had friends, but it still felt like something was missing. I didn’t know what it was. Arat’s brother was the one person I talked to most during my time there. She was not on my floor, but because of her brother, I saw her quite a bit. She made me happy. How much of that was love and how much was her power, I’ll never know, but by the time I was starting my final year, I had decided I was going to marry her. I knew I had to wait because she was two years behind me. Then everything changed again,” he paused and glanced at Einna, as he continued, “The prince and princess arrived for their first year. Although they were only in their thirteenth year, even those older became obsessed. Everything they did was reported and obsessed over. All the girls, even my Arat, loved Mit. He was charming, and he knew it.”

  Ronnoc had started sounding angry as he talked. “I’m sorry, Einna. I do know now that it’s not your fault, or even Mit’s fault, that everyone decided to obsess over the two of you, but for me, when my best friend fell in love with you, even if you didn’t know it and could talk of nothing else, and the girl I wanted to marry could talk of nothing but Mit, it was the final straw. For me, it felt like my world was crumbling and I was that little boy again, being cast aside for my perfect sister.”

  Einna tried to apologize. Ronnoc waived his hand, as if brushing it away. “As I said, I know now, it wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry if I sound angry. I’m just trying to explain what was going on at that time in my life. I wouldn’t talk to Arat or her brother. I stayed in my room, brooding all the time. It was in my anger that I took a step that changed everything. If I knew how everything would have played out back then, I never would have done what I did next, you must believe me,” he looked at Tim and Tim stared back, questioningly.

  Ronnoc looked down at his hands. “I started looking for new friends, friends who wouldn’t fawn all over someone just because they happened to be born in the right family. I found a few. What I didn’t know then was that I had, inadvertently, put together the group of people who would later become the Rebels.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  There was stunned silence at first, then everyone started talking at once. Grandma Aras was as white as a sheet and had tears streaming down her face. Grandpa Mit was staring at Ronnoc, with rage in his eyes. Tim knew there was more Ronnoc hadn’t told him. He felt his uncle was being truthful, but something seemed to be missing from his remorse. Tim also knew that now wouldn’t be the time to find out. He needed to get everyone out of there before someone did something in their anger and confusion they’d regret later. He reached far inside his mind for a power he’d only used once before. Suddenly everything in front of him stopped. Everyone and everything was frozen in place. He let go of his and Anna’s younger perceptions and turned and tapped Anna on the shoulder. She turned and looked at him, as everyone else remained frozen in place. She had been watching the reaction from Ronnoc’s revelation in silence.

  “They’re shocked. I know they were expecting to be told he had joined the Rebels, not that he started it! If your parents hadn’t been killed by the Rebels, they may have, at least, listened to the rest of Ronnoc’s story, but Grandpa Mit, especially looks ready to leap over the table and strangle him. But how can we leave without anyone doing anything stupid? How can we calm them down?” Anna questioned, frantically.

  “I need to know what else Ronnoc is going to say, and I have a plan- sort of. They may not be ready to go to the backwards world right now, but that’s where they’re going. I’m explaining this to you first because you’re going with them, and I’m staying here until I have all the information I think Ronnoc is going to tell me. Then I’ll join you,” Tim paused, seeing her hesitation, and then continued, “I can go through on my own, as long as I find a way. I also still have the medallion in the walkie-talkie, if I need to call Goldie. I’ll be fine.”

  Anna slowly nodded, but she was frowning as she did. “Why do we look like ourselves again?”

  “I can’t use all my powers at once. As soon as I froze everything, I had to let those perceptions go. I’m going to unfreeze each of them, one at a time.
I’ll explain that they need to calm down enough to tell Ronnoc that we’re leaving. No” he started, hearing her question in her mind, “we can’t just leave while he’s frozen. We don’t want him to know about my powers and he’ll definitely notice if everyone seems to just disappear into thin air!”

  Anna nodded, knowing this was their only option. She watched as Tim unfroze and explained the plan to the grandparents, one at a time, as quickly as he could. Grandpa Mit was the last and the one Tim was the most worried about. However, after he was able to calm down, he saw that Tim’s plan was the only way. Tim took his place back at the table. Tim! The way we look!

  I know. Don’t worry.

  Tim turned and looked at Anna who once again appeared thirteen and gave her a slight smile. He reached down and took her hand and released the freeze. Ronnoc looked at everyone expectantly. He had fully expected yelling and screaming, but everyone sat staring at him in silence. Grandpa Cire, finally cleared his throat. “That was quite a revelation, son. You’ll have to forgive everyone for being speechless.”

  Ronnoc nodded, sadly. He started to speak again, but Tim stopped him before the forced calm everyone is feeling was shattered by whatever was coming next. “So, Uncle Ron, thanks for the food and all, but we need to be going now.”

  Ronnoc, glanced at Tim, in surprised. “Go? Go where?”

  Tim gave him a slight smile. “Well, you said it yourself earlier. You knew we’d have questions. You have to realize we are trying to determine if we can trust you. After what you just said, would you be surprised to hear that trust isn’t what’s at the front of everyone’s minds at the moment?”

  Ronnoc stared at Tim for a moment, then at his father, and finally at Grandpa Mit. He looked at Tim again, deflating a little. “I guess I do understand, but I have more to say.”

  Tim nodded. “I realize that. I’m going to stay for a bit so we can chat, but everyone else is leaving. Right now.”

  Tim’s hand had been on the walkie-talkie in his pocket as he’d been talking. He walked over to the door and opened it wide. Goldie came trotting out.

  “It will be very crowded, but I suppose that doesn’t matter,” Goldie stated.

  She barked once. “Come along everyone. It will be nice to have company again.”

  “You’re going to the Y?” Ronnoc asked.

  “Goldie can protect us,” Tim said.

  Everyone filed into the empty room. Anna stopped in the doorway and threw her arms around Tim. Be safe and come as quickly as you can.

  Promise.

  Tim closed the door after her and turned to face his uncle.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “Continue your story, Uncle Ron.”

  Ronnoc flinched at the use of Tim’s familiar manner. “I do wish you’d stop calling me that. My name is Ronnoc.”

  All pretense of being friendly had vanished as soon as it was just the two of them. Tim was not surprised. Although Tim had felt his uncle was being truthful with some things, he sensed that he still despised his family and the Royals. Tim nodded. “Of course, we don’t know each other. I apologize,” he paused, for effect, “for reminding you that I’m related to you.”

  Ronnoc narrowed his eyes. “You certainly don’t sound like a child, even if you do look like one.”

  He stared at Tim, as though he were trying to look passed him, as though he guessed that there was more than what he was seeing. “I’ve had to grow up fast, what with your friends murdering my mother and all.”

  Ronnoc flinched again, but his eyes softed a bit. “I’ll tell you the rest of what I was planning to tell everyone. Then you can leave, since I’m sure you’ll trust me even less.

  “After your mother started at the Y and became friends with the Prince and Princess, my parents could talk of nothing else. My mother was so sure that the Price was going to fall in love with Nelle. However, now that I know of that interesting information about the Old Woman E, I realize that my mother thought this was what the “start of something wondrous” nonsense meant. I couldn’t be around them anymore. Their constant talk about the Royals made me incredibly angry. Having nowhere else to go, I stayed with some friends from the Y. Yes, the same friends who later became the Rebels. And yes, before you ask. I became a Rebel, too.”

  Tim looked at him with a bored expression. “This doesn’t surprise you.”

  Tim shook his head. Ronnoc looked confused. “Why?”

  “Honestly? Because my mother never mentioned you. I had no idea who you were until today. If my mother had been proud of her brother, or sad that he was gone, she would have reminisced, as she did about her parents, often. She had to have known what you became, even if your parents didn’t. Also, because how else would you have been able to “save” everyone? Do you want to hear my theory?

  “I believe you still are a Rebel. I believe you’re trying to gain our trust, only to find out ways to end the Royals once and for all. You and your Rebel friends found a way into the castle, with all intentions of killing whoever you found there. However, as much as you claim to hate your parents, I think it shocked you to realize they were there too. I honestly believe you thought they were dead. I wasn’t expecting to find them in the castle, either. So, you changed the plan, which means you’re pretty important. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Your house here is not more secure than all the spells that were on the castle. If those were able to be broken, any Rebel who wanted to attack here could have, unless, of course, they were given the order not to.”

  “You’re right.”

  Tim couldn’t hide the surprise on his face. “You’re surprised to be right?”

  “No,” Tim shook his head, “I’m surprised you admitted it. I was expecting you to continue to try to convince me I’m wrong.”

  “There’s no need to. However, you did get one detail wrong.”

  Tim waited for him to continue. “I was a Rebel. I still am. However, I’ve been also working to shut them down from the inside.”

  Tim looked at him skeptically. Ronnoc went on to explain. “I believe that others should have the chance to rule, that it shouldn’t just be because you’re born into a certain family. However, I never wanted anyone to die. I was happy when my sister escaped with your father. I was happy we couldn’t get into the castle for years. When I realized that there were people like Aaron- people who didn’t even care about the original reasons for becoming a Rebel- people who just liked violence, I started taking notice of some of the activities I wasn’t involved in. When Aaron ordered my sister’s murder, it was the final straw. I knew then that the Rebels were no longer the group I joined years ago, or even the group that did fight to remove the Royals from power. I want to help you, Tim. I want to defeat the Rebels. I can help you by giving you inside information.”

  “I’ll have to think about it. You say you want to help me, but you can’t help but sneer when you talk about the Royals. My mother may have been your sister, but my father was the Prince. I am a Royal. I am who you seem to hate. I will take what you have said into consideration. I will share it with everyone. I will get their input. I know where to find you.”

  Tim turned toward the door to leave. “If I wasn’t willing to help you, would I really let you leave?”

  “If you were trying to convince me, yes, you would.”

  Before Tim could open the door, Retep rushed into the room. “Wait!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Tim waited, partially shocked that Retep had even spoken. It hadn’t seemed as if his cousin actually had it in him to speak up without being spoken to first, based on Tim’s first impression of him. Again, Tim was surprised when Retep walked past his father and right up to him. “I know your secret,” Retep whispered quickly and quietly, “I don’t freeze.”

  Tim’s eyes widened. “I want to go with you,” Retep stated, loud enough for his father to hear.

  Tim paused to consider it. Having Ronnoc’s son with him, would stop him from attacking. He did seem to truly love
his son. On the other hand, Ronnoc could have planned this- if he wanted his son to spy. Tim glanced at his uncle. If his expression was real, he was completely surprised by Retep’s actions. Tim had a decision to make, quickly, since he apparently couldn’t freeze Retep, while he thought it through. Anna?

  He asked her in her mind, not knowing if she could hear him, but it was the only option left to him. I’m in the room, Tim. Open the door and let’s get out of here.

  Wait, did you hear Retep?

  Yes. I want to try something.

  The door swung open. “Let him come,” Anna said, out loud, standing in the doorway.

  Retep started, just realizing Anna was there, and then stared at her in horror. “I- uh..”

  Retep couldn’t seem to form a single clear sentence. Interesting. He’s really afraid of me for some reason!

  Tim looked at Anna. She was amazed by Retep’s reactions to her, first, earlier when they’d first met, and now. He decided he’d use it to his advantage. “After you,” he said to his cousin, as Anna moved aside so Retep could enter the room.

  Tim followed and closed the door behind them. “Go ahead, Goldie,” Anna called.

  The room seemed to shift, and the door opened. In a brightly lit hallway, Goldie sat waiting. She stood as she saw Tim, her curly tail wagging slightly. Then she saw he and Anna were not alone. “It’s okay, Goldie. He wanted to come with us,” Tim said, before Goldie could say anything.

  Goldie didn’t think the boy looked like he wanted to be there. He was quite pale and was visibly shaking. She kept her thoughts to herself and said, “Follow me. Everyone has gathered in the Queen’s old rooms.”

  “Rooms? As in more than one?” Tim asked.

  “Of course! The prince and princess each have a suite of rooms while at the Ymedaca. They would not be happy in a small room after living in the palace!”