by Darren Lewis
Ellie's eyes went wide and she looked at Cole and Malachite who she had to admit looked ridiculous standing there with their jaws dropped open in amazement. She snickered and then laughed at the amazing and secretive Anqi Sheng, the first human magician she'd met.
Xianyang
Ellie sat astride Cole's back as he hovered alongside Malachite over the main palace Xianyang. Their `favour' to Zheng was simple, be present at a certain time of day and inspire fear, which was easy for Cole and Malachite. All they had to do was breath fire every so often.
Once more. Ellie instructed in a resigned tone and the dragons roared their yellow and red fire above the city.
Why on earth are we doing this? Doesn't he have a big enough army? Malachite asked.
From Cole's back Ellie shrugged.
A revolt needs putting down apparently, not to mention a demonstration of his absolute power over these lands. Ellie answered half-heartedly.
So much for staying out of history's way. Cole remarked.
Quite a few years had passed before the charm Anqi Sheng summoned Ellie and her friends back to what was China in Ellie's original time. Zheng had conquered many warring factions and claimed dominion over them all with the new title of emperor. It was his plans for the future that raised concerns from the populace. Several years of labour had already been devoted to Zheng's tomb and his warriors that would protect him in the afterlife. But it was also Zheng's obsession with immortality and his quest to find the elixir of life that many thought was clear madness that paved the way for this potential takeover.
So Ellie came with Cole and Malachite and received instructions from the man they simply knew as Zheng. Ellie tried not to think about what they were doing. She owed Zheng her life and it seemed he had found a way to use her indirectly to help his cause after she had stated she would not harm anyone. The dragons were in agreement that they should perform this task and be done with him and these lands.
I love the buildings. Malachite said, interrupting Ellie's dark thoughts and she wondered sometimes if Malachite was as daft as he proclaimed as it distracted her enough to look around the great city. The green dragon was right. In the early morning light, even with and the shouts of terror and noises of violence in the city below, the place looked beautiful.
That's what power, money and a great deal of forced labour gets you. Cole observed.
You know how to spoil the mood don't you, Cole? Malachite tutted.
He's right. Ellie whispered. She shook her head as Zheng's soldiers routed the members of the revolt. Let's get the hell out of here, my friends. I never want to see this place again. Our debt is repaid many times over.
Cole and Malachite nodded to one another and tilted their wings to send them west and away from Xianyang.
Mount Penglai
Ellie? Ellie can you hear me?
Cole it's late. Get some rest.
Ellie…its Anqi Sheng. Do you remember me?
Ellie calmly opened her eyes and smiled as the sun rose, dispelling the blue-black of night for the purple dawn. The realisation that she was not in the camp she and the dragons had set up two days ago during their exploration of the Americas did not disturb her at all. In fact she felt at peace. For the first time since she had journeyed back with Cole to this past she was at peace with her choice to leave her family. She laughed at the weight now gone which had oppressed her all this time and jumped up, wishing to share this feeling with her friends.
Ellie. Over here.
Ellie turned and saw the old magician Anqi Sheng a short distance away. Again she felt no strangeness that he should be standing there, though it had been at least twenty years since he had healed her. She smiled and bowed low, showing her respect towards him. Anqi returned the honour and strode towards Ellie.
My heart is glad at your coming. Anqi spoke into Ellie's mind.
Coming? Ellie cocked her head quizzically. Anqi Sheng gestured at the landscape around them.
This is my home. You're the first to visit me. In fact you're the only person I've ever invited.
It's beautiful. Ellie said gazing at the rolling hills leading to a large snow-capped mountain in the distance.
Thank you. I wish you could stay longer but I require your assistance.
Of course. Ellie replied. Anything.
Zheng's quest for immortality led him to seek me out again. His physicians have been plying the fool with mercury for years promising life everlasting. Anqi tutted, his displeasure seemed to coincide with a dark cloud passing over the rising sun and Ellie shivered. He noticed her reaction and held up a hand in apology. He pursed his lips and blew the cloud away allowing the sun to warm Ellie once more. All it was doing was hastening his end which he now fast approached. He asked me to construct a device to bring him and his army an unnatural long second life. Anqi paused allowing Ellie to fully absorb what the emperor would do given enough time in the world with his army.
But why would you make such a thing for him?
Because he asked. Anqi shrugged. I am not a dispenser of wise old sayings. I am not the wise-man who sits on the mountain spouting advice for those that would hear. People must use their own wisdom not others, whether that be for right or wrong. That would make me a prophet or messiah and I am neither.
Ellie nodded while trying to come to grips with the old man's philosophy.
Alright. She said eventually. So why am I here?
Anqi rubbed his hands together and produced two gold talismans, each etched with the outline of a dragon.
I gave Zheng two false talismans. He will go to his eternal rest undisturbed by the need to conquer. Anqi saw Ellie's cocked eyebrow and he shrugged. Just because he asked me to make them doesn't mean they belong to him. And the old magician grinned. Ellie shook her head at this odd, complicated man as he handed them to her. Please keep them safe. If you ever have need, one must be placed at the head of his army facing east and the other will replace the false one on his tomb.
I will, Anqi Sheng. I promise. Ellie said looking into the sky which was becoming dark with the approach of night.
I also have a gift and an insight for you, rider of dragons. The old man reached out towards Ellie, she looked down and saw his previously empty hand now contained a sword hilt but with no blade. Ellie gave the magician a shake of her head.
Thanks, but no. I've never carried a weapon, not even a broken one.
Anqi Sheng smiled sadly and then frowned.
There will come a time, dragonrider when you will face a threat the blade recognises as hopeless.
Then why use it at all? Ellie asked.
No you don't understand. Anqi Sheng replied shaking his head. The fight will be with one beyond hope, beyond redemption. The blade will know.
I hope that's not a certainty. Ellie said slowly, taking the sword hilt from the old man's hands.
Nothing is for certain, Ellie. The sun may rise tomorrow and the next day but it will not do so forever.
She nodded as Anqi Sheng cast a glance at the ever darkening sky.
The army will be led by you against a foe of great power, but it will not be you. Anqi Sheng's forehead wrinkled as if his own words were a cause for his own confusion. He laughed and shrugged as the sky became black and Ellie lost sight of Anqi Sheng.
Goodbye, he whispered.
*
Ellie woke staring at the inside of her shelter. A light rain drummed on the skin above her head and she rolled her eyes at the strange dream. She pushed herself onto her elbows, ready to start the day and gasped. On her chest lay two golden talismans, each with the image of a dragon and the sword hilt. Ellie wasn't sure how long she stared at them her mind reeling at the impossibility of what had occurred during the night. The feeling of a great weight lifting from her remained and Ellie's eyed welled with tears as she realised the guilt she carried for so many years was gone. Ellie picked up the talismans and hilt and gently placed them in her pack.
“Thank you, Anqi Sheng. I'll protect them
.” She whispered. “Though it would've been easier if you hadn't made them in the first place.” She finished wryly and Ellie left the tent to wake Cole and Malachite. She was excited by what today would bring.
Ellie
Ellie sat on the floor of the living room and placed her head in her hands. For starters she'd forgotten how hot the day was after spending time in the sterile, air conditioned environment of the White Room, the room that Baiulus would use to place the rabbits into a sort of suspended animation. She'd also forgotten, with the whirlwind nature of the day, how stubborn Mum could be. From being captured by Isabelle to being rescued by Malachite from Baiulus field agents, to Rox's home where she'd met Storm, who was Rox's mother and supposed to be dead to outside the warren where Ellie witnessed the capture of Rox's family leading to her being shot with a tranquiliser dart while trying to save Rox. Not only that Ellie was then shown her other past. The past where a previous Ellie had gone back in time to convince the dragons to leave and stop a war. A past where that Ellie had discovered Malachite and along with Cole spent who knows how many years exploring and then dedicating themselves to saving people from persecution! It was a bit too much to take in over the course of just a few hours and Ellie sighed and rubbed her forehead in an attempt to stave off the headache that was starting behind her eyes.
Ellie looked up straight into her Mum's eyes. There she saw a mixture of disbelief, anger and something else. Ellie couldn't quite place it but it was new. When Ellie had returned home to ask her family to leave while she and the others attempted to free Rox's family and Cole, she'd found out that Lily had recorded her rescue by Malachite on her phone. This led to Dad telling what he could remember of Rox and the dragons. Not surprisingly Mum thought it was time to call for the doctor and then Ellie walked in. As Ellie told the tale as calmly as possible she noted the disbelief and hint of anger in Mum's eyes. The disbelief was understandable but the anger seemed to stem from this story being believed totally by her husband and daughter. Now when Ellie looked into her Mum's eyes that hint of something else seemed to be replacing the disbelief and the anger. Ellie moved across the floor to where Mum sat and took her hands.
“You know I'm not a liar.” Ellie said gently squeezing Mum's hands. “And if you try to remember this morning how it really happened, you'd know I'm telling the truth.” Mum cocked her head at her daughter.
“This morning? But we were simply sat here suffering in the heat?” Mum said.
“Yes.” Ellie acknowledged quietly. “But after that. The wasps, the witch. The wasp threatening Jack in the bathroom.” Ellie looked deep into her mother's eyes now as they darted rapidly as if seeing something else in front of her and not Ellie. “The tape around the doors, the mud and ash on the side of the house.” Ellie continued. The hint that Ellie saw became dominant, it was the look of understanding and she felt Mum shiver and saw her turn white as the memory, the real memory of the day returned. Mum tore her hands from Ellie's grip and placed them on her shoulders.
“Oh my God!” She said tightening her grip on Ellie's shoulders. “You had to face that awful creature alone!” Mum turned to Dad and Jack. “And we were stuck here being attacked by wasps!” Jack's eyes were wide as his memory returned and a cry of fear escaped him. Dad quickly snatched him up for a comforting hug.
“It's okay now, mister. Ellie took care of the bad lady.”
Lily and Cerys simply stared at one another as they remembered being pursued by incredibly large and evil swarms of wasps. In tandem they both slumped to the floor as the memory of being captured returned. Ellie smiled softly at Mum.
“Do you see now?” She asked. Mum nodded, her eyebrows almost disappearing from her face as more memories surfaced. “But that wasn't it. There's another danger now and they'll be coming. For you, me, Jack, everyone I know.” Dad crossed the room, still holding Jack, to sit with his wife and daughter.
“The helicopters and the people dressed in black?” Dad asked while stroking Jack's hair.
“Yes.” Ellie responded. “The Baiulus Institute. Set up by me, well the other me hundreds of years ago to protect people. Isabelle, the witch took it away from her and it changed for the worse.” Ellie's voice dropped to a whisper as the memory of Isabelle about to destroy the village who'd tortured and killed her mother, Arianne, returned. Mum shook Ellie's shoulders and Ellie came back to the now. “Because of who I am you're all in danger and I need you safe while I deal with them.” Even as Ellie finished her sentence both Mum and Dad were shaking their heads.
“No.” They both stated firmly at the same time. “You're a young girl, Ellie. You can't be expected to do all these things. I'm sure if we contact the police they'll be able to help.” Mum said. Ellie simply shook her head.
“Their reach exceeds the laws of this country, of any country. The police who listened and could help would be told to stop investigating or worse would happen to them.”
Mum sighed angrily.
“Well you're not doing it alone!”
“She won't be alone.” A voice said from the doorway. They all turned as one and saw the older Ellie standing there gently cradling Flare in her arms. Mum frowned.
“Margaret? What are you doing here?” She asked still thinking she was talking to her next door neighbour. The older Ellie smiled and tears formed in her eyes. This was the closest she'd been to her family since she'd been seven years old. Older Ellie looked at younger Ellie as those tears ran down her face.
“Close your eyes.” She instructed her in a voice filled with pent up emotion. Ellie did and saw a quick orange flash through her eyelids. “It's okay you can open them now.” When she opened her eyes Ellie saw everyone except her and her older self were asleep. “Sorry.” Ellie apologised, wiping the tears from her face with one hand while she held the orb and Flare with the other. “But time is short and they would've wanted, quite rightly, to keep you here.”
Don't worry. The orb added gently. They'll sleep till tomorrow.
Ellie cast her gaze over the sleeping forms of Mum, Dad and Jack.
“I'll be okay.” She whispered.
Ellie and Malachite
This is crazy. Ellie thought.
Certainly is. Malachite thought back and Ellie felt the heat of embarrassment on her cheeks as she realised Malachite could hear everything she was thinking within the black tunnel of the dragon thread. Malachite chuckled inside her head and she shook her head with a smile. Ellie reached down for probably the hundredth time and patted the bag slung over her shoulder. It held two extremely precious objects. Objects that would aid them in freeing the rabbits from Baiulus and hopefully the captives held in the city.
Do you think this will work? She asked Malachite
If Ellie says so then yes. Malachite replied confidently. She's been planning this for years and years. Malachite snorted. Eleanor I mean. Didn't realise having two of you around would be that confusing! He finished sarcastically. The small group quickly surmised that having two people around with the same name was one matter, for that person to be the same person was another. It was decided quickly that it would be slightly easier if the older Ellie was called by their full name, Eleanor. Easier for everyone except Malachite it seemed.
Ellie nodded in the cold blackness, realising it was making her headache worse and she hoped the journey would be over soon. Their destination should at least be interesting and the effect quite unbelievable. After the orb had used its power to move her family, Lily and Cerys to Eleanor's basement the plan was explained in greater detail. Firstly though Ellie had to make her way through a house she remembered as being abandoned and derelict in another time, Eleanor's time, when she'd encountered Cole in the dark basement. The only light being that of the orb, long before anyone realised its importance. It was a strange feeling and Ellie's vision was a confusing mixture of a past she'd never experienced coupled with the present. The basement itself was nothing like the memory. Eleanor had converted it into an incredibly massive space, certainly large en
ough for a dragon to safely enter and exit which Malachite had performed with Eleanor and Flare on his back not twenty minutes ago. Ellie recalled a time when Dad had complained about the noise of diggers next door and she smiled slightly as his guess of a swimming pool being dug out was just a bit off the mark. The basement was empty with the exception of Ellie's family and friends safely asleep among several duvets, blankets and pillows in a corner near the door and what looked like a computer geek's fantasy. It was populated with a myriad of computer screens and their coupled hard drives all whirring away in a large rack close by.
“When Isabelle attacked the village,” Eleanor explained. “I was down here.” She pointed to several monitors that showed images of Ellie's house and the damage wrought by the wasps. “I've been keeping an eye on you, making sure you were safe. A lot of good it did me today.” Eleanor sighed.
“You weren't effected by Isabelle altering everyone's memory?” Ellie asked curiously.
“No. Even though the orb wasn't with me it helped discipline my mind over the years. It kept me from being effected by Isabelle. Came in very handy when working for Baiulus and getting round their security.” Eleanor finished with a disgusted tone in her voice while sitting at a small desk in front of the screens. She began typing on the black wood and to Ellie it looked very strange until she moved closer and saw a keyboard inlayed within the surface of the desk.
“Baiulus have shut down access to the internet, mobile phones and all landlines. Not that we need them.” Eleanor said quietly. The two screens directly in front of her turned white and then one resolved into an image of a grass hill and the next a row of trenches filled with dark figures. Eleanor pointed at it and turned to Ellie. “That's where you're going. China.” A thud caused both Ellie's to turn and lean back as Malachite moved his large bulk in for a closer look. Malachite narrowed his yellow eyes upon the screens.