Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One

by Donna Wagner

  “I said we don’t need your help!”

  Derf’s voice raised high enough for the others to become interested in their conversation. Anna immediately tried to distract the other children, but Yma ignored her and came over to join Derf and Tim in the kitchen. “Derf, be nice!”

  Derf scowled at his sister and looked back at Tim. “We’re fine. This kitchen had a lot of food when we found it. Most people don’t come here; they think the castle is haunted, so no one bothers us. Besides Woof- er Goldie, there was only one other time we saw someone actually inside the castle.”

  Derf rolled his eyes slightly as he mentioned the person they’d seen. “Did you talk to the person?” Tim asked.

  “Not very much. I don’t know his name, but I know who he is. My father worked for him before…”

  Derf’s voice trailed off and his eyes flickered to his sister, who was still listening to their conversation. “Before he died. Father died. Mother died. You can say it, Derf! I’m not a baby and I know what happened!” Yma cut in, abruptly.

  Derf lowered his eyes, and then continued. “Anyway, at first he told us we needed to get out of here- like he was in charge of this place or something. He was gathering things up and taking notes of things. I told him he didn’t own the place and he just smiled, but it wasn’t a nice smile. Then he asked my name. I told him, because I didn’t think it really mattered if he knew who I was, plus I knew he had known my father and I wanted to see if he’d make the connection. He did. After he realized who I was, he said I could stay. I didn’t mention the other kids. If he knew who I was, I’m sure he knows about Yma and Xela. I haven’t seen him again, but I have found bundles of food, randomly, in the hallway of pictures. I can only assume he’s leaving them for us, which seems nice, but it still doesn’t seem like he’s doing it to be nice. I don’t know how to explain it.”

  Tim nodded, understanding how Derf felt. “This man- was he about my height, blond hair, and a large mustache?”

  Derf nodded. Tim sighed. It sounded like Ronnoc was the one helping the kids and it also sounded like their father had once been a rebel. Tim hoped he hadn’t died in the castle explosion. He decided he had to ask, but he didn’t want Yma to hear. Can you call Yma back over?

  “Yma, can you come here for a minute?” Tim heard Anna call.

  Yma left them in the kitchen and Tim looked Derf straight in the eye. “Derf, I need to ask. Your father- he didn’t die in the castle explosion, did he?”

  Derf just stared at him, silent. Tim didn’t think he was going to answer. As Tim opened his mouth to explain that there was a reason he was asking, he heard Derf’s very quiet answer. “No.”

  There was no elaboration. Tim was satisfied with no explanation, but he could see the internal debate of whether or not to say more happening in Derf’s head. “You don’t need to explain anything.”

  “No, since you asked about the explosion specifically, I think you need to know. He wasn’t in the castle the day of the explosion, but sometimes, I think he might still be alive if it had never happened.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Tim’s relief faded in an instant. “What do you mean?”

  Derf took a deep breath and glanced towards his sisters who were now playing with Anna’s hair. “Well, I need to explain some things. See, Mother died when Xela was born. Father was a mess. He really loved Mother and always said everything he did was so she would have a better life- the life she deserved. I don’t remember a lot, but I know Mother was different. Yma was named after her, but I don’t think even Yma realizes that. You see, Mother’s name was Amy.”

  Tim’s eyebrows raised in surprise, as his mind started wondering how much Derf actually knew.

  “Yes. I know about the backwards world. I know that’s where you and Anna came from and maybe why I feel like you need to know this. If you came from where Mother came from, you can’t be bad.”

  Tim started to ask a question, but Derf cut him off. “Please, let me tell you what I wanted to tell you, then you can ask me anything you want. I’ll answer if I can.”

  Tim nodded and motioned for Derf to continue. “After Mother died, Father stopped working with the Rebels. Yes, I know that’s what he was doing,” Derf explained, seeing the question in Tim’s expression, “I may have been young, but I saw a lot and I listened when people would talk in front of me, thinking I was too young to understand. Father had us to take care of and he was by himself. We never knew Mother’s family, for obvious reasons, and Father’s brother also was involved with the Rebels, so he couldn’t help. By the time the explosion happened, we had a routine. As Father became more comfortable taking care of us on his own, his Rebel friends came over more and more. The man with the mustache was one of them. I could tell he still wanted to be involved, but he always did the right thing and put his children first.

  “A few days before the explosion, we were in the village, at the market. Father noticed two children and two adults following the healer woman, very quickly. Everyone knew she was the only one who could get into the castle, but since she was known to help anyone who needed it, Rebel or not, no one had ever forced her to talk about why she went to the castle every week. My sisters and I were with him. I didn’t know who you or Anna were then. I didn’t realize that until I saw those pictures in the hallway, then I pieced this together on my own. We saw the healer lead you all to a shed and everyone disappeared inside. The healer woman left you all there. You never came back out. Father made us sit there for hours, waiting. Eventually, it got dark and Xela was hungry and crying and he finally took us home. All night, I heard people coming in and out of our house. This man I never saw before showed up. He seemed very angry that you all were here. I heard them mention that the “boy’s parents” were no longer in play. I assume that meant they were dead,” he paused a moment, then asked, “Are you “the boy”?”

  Tim just nodded, too angry to say anything. “I’m sorry. Do you want to hear the rest?”

  “Yes, go on.”

  “The man with the mustache was surprised to hear about your parents. He seemed rather sad. I think that’s one of the reasons I trusted him when I met him this time around. The night before the explosion the angry man came again, only he wasn’t angry anymore. He was really happy. He said they’d found the way and broken whatever spell was on the palace. Anyone could now just walk in through one of the doors. All of the people in our house that night came up with a plan to raid the castle. Only the man with the mustache seemed to be against the idea. He wanted to quietly explore first, instead of storming the place. When everyone left that night, it was still undecided what they would do. Then the next day after the explosion, Father was crazy with worry. He didn’t know what had happened or if any of his friends had been in the castle when the walls fell. All of his friends had agreed with the angry man. He didn’t know if they had actually stormed the castle and set off a trap or if it was something else. After two days of not hearing from anyone, he told me I was in charge and that he’d be back. He didn’t return for two weeks. When he did, he was different. Every noise made him jump and he was constantly looking around. Whenever I asked what had happened or where he was, he would start muttering about flying machines. I have no idea what he was talking about. He stopped eating, stopped taking care of himself at all really. He didn’t take care of us either. Eventually he got sick and just... died.”

  Derf stopped talking and watched Tim as he processed everything he’d just been told. After a moment, Tim said, “Derf, I’m really sorry you experienced that.”

  Derf shrugged. “I just want to know what happened those two weeks he was gone. I was hoping the man with the mustache could tell me, but he’s never come back that I’ve seen. I know he must be coming back at some point, since he’s leaving the food, but he was involved in all of this. He must know what happened.”

  “Flying machines, huh?”

  Derf nodded. “Well, I don’t know this for sure, but it sounds to me like he wound up in
the backwards world, somehow. There are things there that could be considered flying machines.”

  Derf considered that thought, but Tim could tell he still wanted to know more. He had a thought but thought he should discuss it with Anna first. “Derf, thank you for sharing your story with me. I apologize for any part Anna and I played in what happened. We never intended to hurt anyone. I want to fill in some of what I know about that time for you, but first I have a question. How did you recognize us from that day? Asilla gave us a potion that was supposed to change what we look like.”

  Derf’s face turned slightly red. “Well, my sister isn’t the only one who’s power appeared early and my power is that I see magic.”

  “What do you mean, you see magic?”

  “Any type of magic that's being done, to me, looks like colors. When you and Anna were talking telepathically earlier with Yma and when I think you asked Anna to call her back, so she didn't hear us talking, around your head was all purple. That day you and Anna and the adults with you were in a cloud of yellow. I knew some magic was being done because of that. I guess I see through it too, if you were supposed to look different. You didn’t, just a lot younger than you do now.”

  Derf’s eyes narrowed as he finished his explanation. “How are you guys so much older then you were then?” he asked suspiciously.

  “Well that's part of our story,” Tim started to explain, “but before I tell you anything, I need to know I can trust you completely. I know you want answers about your father, and I think I can help you with that, but I need to tell you something first. The man with the mustache is my uncle, Ronnoc Rellim. He started the Rebels years ago, basically because he was jealous of the attention my mother received when she became a royal. He claims to be on my side now and that he regrets everything that has happened, but I don’t believe him. I think he's saying only what he thinks I want to hear. I know he's been leaving you food, and he may feel guilty that things he put in motion contributed to your father’s death, but I need you to swear that anything I tell you remains with you alone. You cannot tell him any of what I share with you. The entire fate of this world may depend on it.”

  Derf raised his eyebrows skeptically. “I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but once you hear our story, you’ll understand.”

  Derf's thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Okay, I swear I won’t tell your uncle anything.”

  Tim held his hand out to Derf's, which Derf shook, then his eyes widened as a swirl of green surrounded his hand grasped in Tim’s. He pulled his hand from Tim’s. “What did you just do?”

  Tim cringed slightly. “You really can see everything. Don’t worry. Your oath to me can’t be broken now, that’s all.”

  Derf looked at Tim, uncomfortably. He was beginning to think there was a lot more to the older boy than it seemed. “Well, tell me what's so important already. Oh!”

  Derf’s voice trailed off as Tim sent memories of his parents’ murder and his discovery of the portal and everything that happened since. He’d never sent so much at once and he could feel it draining him. He wished his grandmother was there with him to help. When it was done, he staggered to a chair and collapsed. He watched Derf through half closed eyes, hoping the boy could handle everything Tim had just dumped on him. Derf was young, but he’d had to leave childhood behind long ago.

  Derf looked into the other room, at his sisters, one on Anna’s lap and the other playing with her hair and found it hard to associate that girl with the one in his new memories. He found himself wanting to get his sisters as far away from her as possible, but he knew they wouldn't understand.

  “She won't hurt them. That only happened that one time. I think it would only happen again if Anna felt really threatened. She’s gotten control of her powers a lot since then.”

  Derf turned to Tim in surprise. “Powers. How many powers do you guys have? Why do you have so many?”

  Tim shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know how many we each have because it seems a new one always pops up. As for why, I can only guess it's because Anna and I are meant to save Snillotia.”

  “There was a boy in your memories. I’ve seen him before.”

  Tim nodded. “That’s Pete. Well, Retep, my cousin, but he’s decided, after being in the backwards world, that he prefers Pete. He’s Ronnoc’s son.”

  Derf nodded, accepting the explanation, but something seemed off about it. Not knowing why, he dismissed it. He had a more important question to ask. “Time is different between here and the backwards world. That’s why it seems like your older than you should be.”

  Tim nodded. “So, my father could have been there a lot longer than 2 weeks.”

  Tim nodded again, but added, “But, he also could have been there a lot less. It’s always different, when you go through a portal.”

  Derf thought for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to ask his next question, but before he could, Tim spoke again. “Yes, Derf, I’ll bring you all to the backwards world, but I can't yet. We need to take Goldie back and see if we can help her and find out what happened to her, so I need you to be patient. I’ll come back for you; I promise.”

  Derf stared at him for a moment, and then held out his hand, silently. Tim smiled and shook his hand. Derf watched as the green swirls appeared then disappeared, then he smiled. “You should be leaving, then. The faster you go back now, the sooner you’ll return, and I can find out what happened to my father.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  After a lengthy goodbye, Anna and Tim stood in front of the portal. Goldie was in Anna’s arms. Tim closed his eyes and took Anna’s arm. After a moment, he pulled them through the portal. It was dark in the secret room. Anna placed Goldie on the floor and used her light, so they could see their way out of the room. Once in the hallway, they could see it was dark outside. Tim headed for the kitchen and stopped at the counter. “It worked or it’s a coincidence,” he said quietly.

  “What?”

  Tim reached out and picked up the note Anna had put on the counter before they left. “It’s the same night. No one even knows we left.”

  “So, what do you think worked?”

  “I’m trying to see if I can figure out how to control when I go through the portal. In the books, Eimaj learned how to do that after a while. If she's real, I thought maybe that ability could be too. So, before I pulled us through, I thought very hard about when I wanted it to be on the other side. So maybe it worked. I guess I’ll have to try it a few more times to know for sure.”

  Anna nodded, understanding. Goldie let out a quiet bark at their feet. “I know it's the middle of the night, but I think we need to come clean. They’ll realize once they see Goldie anyway.”

  Tim agreed and they went into the copied rooms attached to the kitchen. The front room was empty, and in the dim light they could see into the further rooms. Everyone was in bed. Anna started towards her parents’ room to wake them, but Tim stopped her. “Wait. Maybe we should call Fey before waking everyone up. If she can help Goldie, then that would be one less question we have to answer,”

  Goldie let out a soft bark, in agreement, and Anna nodded. “Fey!” Tim whispered as loudly as he dared.

  There was no response, at first, but then they heard a loud crash behind them. They spun to the noise and saw Fey tumbling down the steps. “So much for keeping quiet,” Anna said, as she heard movement above them and saw Grandma An climbing out of bed, through the doorway.

  By the time everyone had come to find out what had made the noise, Fey had found Goldie and was excitedly running in circles and sniffing her. Goldie let out a sharp bark and Fey froze in her tracks. She cocked her head, listening. “Fey, can you translate for her? It seems Goldie can’t talk to us anymore. We don’t know what happened to her.”

  Fey turned to look at Anna but remained silent. Goldie started barking, in earnest, but Fey stopped her. “I’m sorry. I was never formally taught that language, so I only recognize a few words.”

&
nbsp; “Well, what words do you recognize?” Grandpa Cire asked.

  “Room, Storage, and…” she paused for a moment, thinking, “floor.”

  Goldie erupted in a series of barks. “Sorry, I meant door!” Fey corrected.

  They all thought about the three words Fey had understood and tried to guess what Goldie was trying to say. Goldie furiously shook her head after each guess. After about ten guesses, she stood directly in front of Fey and slowly barked twice. When Fey didn’t understand, Goldie did it again, even slower. “Bear? No! Pair! No?”

  Goldie’s smashed face looked sadder and sadder as Fey failed to understand what Goldie was trying to say. As Fey pondered to herself, Goldie tried once more. This time the last bark sounded a little different. “Wait! I know that one! Power?”

  Goldie’s tail started wagging quickly, but Fey frowned. “I still do not know the first word though. Chair power?”

  “If I may interrupt, dear,” Grandpa Cire started, “could it possibly share power? Can you share your powers with Goldie so she can talk to us again?”

  Goldie ran to Grandpa Cire, jumped on his lap, and licked him. “Well! I’d take that as a sign that I’m right!”

  “Oh! That does make sense!” Fey exclaimed, making no attempt to do anything.

  “Can you do it?”

  “She already did, Tim.”

  They all turned to look at Goldie at once. “It’s so good to hear your voice again, Goldie!” Anna exclaimed hugging her tightly.

  “It is very nice to have my voice again. Thank you, Fey.”

  “You’re welcome.” Fey said, quietly.

  Goldie looked at Fey for a moment. Tim could see that something passed between them. When Goldie looked up, Fey resumed her normal puppy-like behavior. “So, what happened to you, Goldie? Why did you leave?” Tim asked.

  “I meant to only be gone a short time. I returned to Storage to replenish my magic. I could feel it disappearing, slowly, the longer I stayed in this world, even while in the copied rooms. Not long after I arrived, I heard the request for a copied room. It was unusual. As I told you before, your mother had been the only one to do that, in recent years. I realized that it was your uncle making the request. Because of the binds of my magic, I could not ignore his request, even though I knew it would probably not end well. I sent him a copied version of his room and once he went inside, he summoned me. I had to appear to him. At first, he was cordial. Asking if I knew how his son was doing. His questions became more and more direct, to the point where he directly asked where I had taken you all. He assumed you were in Storage, with me, and threatened to burn down the Ymedaca in order to find his son.”