Suddenly, Era felt an indescribable warmth flood her body and she tore off her jacket, searching for the source of the light illuminating this world only to find it blinding and glorious. At last, she released her grip on Tragor’s neck and fell backward onto his spine that she could stare up at the fluffy white clouds illuminated by the fiery sun. Once she’d had her fill of the sky, she sat up and gazed down at the island below, studying what she could of its intricate green plant-life and white beaches, of its mountains...
“Now, then,” began Chamaeleo. “How do you like your first experience outside Atlantyss?”
Era giggled, surprising herself. “It’s everything I hoped it would be.” She took a deep breath and then sniffed the air. “It smells so different. Almost sweet.”
“Honey,” Chamaeleo supplied. “The water is filled with it and its scent seeps into everything on the planet.”
“Oh, how peculiar. I like it.”
“Now, if you don’t mind―and I do realize this is your first flight―but I would rather like to make haste. Might we speed along to the sky portal in an effort to get to Iviana as soon as possible?”
Era grew tense at the mention of speed, but the quality of the air was different outside her domed city and filled her chest with courage. “Very well.”
With that, Tragor shot forward so speedily, she nearly lost her breath. In fact, she found it difficult to breathe until she learned to bury her face in Tragor’s neck where the cutting wind could not reach her.
They flew in this manner for some time until they were suddenly roaring through a swirling vortex. Era was surprised to find herself filled with profound wonderment, though she knew she would ordinarily be terrified. Instead, the swirling portal held the atmosphere of delirious, unsubdued potential and it flooded her with thrilling exhilaration until they were released into a cloudy blue sky, not unlike the one they had just left behind.
“Oh, my,” Era whispered as she laid eyes on the parched earth below, devoid of plant-life and begging for sustenance.
“It’s a wasteland,” Chamaeleo explained. “It would be rather useless if it was not for the fact that it provides privacy for this portal, making it safe for dragons to use. Unfortunately, they’re considered a formidable enemy because of the dark dragons of old.”
“I see. Does that mean we are in Iviana’s kingdom? Are we in Kierelia?”
“Well, my dear, it is not exactly Iviana’s kingdom. It is, I suppose the king’s, er, this land’s leader.”
“Like Flynn?”
“Sort of... but not quite so grand. The king only rules over a small portion of the planet. The rest is either governed by others or unclaimed.”
“So, the planet is divided?”
“Yes, I suppose you would say that.”
“That sounds terrible.”
“It’s not exactly terrible,” Chamaeleo said with some amusement. “Though it does make things rather more difficult, doesn’t it? Well, I suppose they make it work the best they can. After all, they cannot fly upon dragons in this world, so it is much more difficult to travel.”
“Because they do not trust the dragons. How silly of them. If they would only give them another chance, they could see so much more than they planned. They might even grow more united.”
“Perhaps, or it might just cause more problems. Anyway, there are yet dark dragons among them, so they are far from trusting any dragon at this point. Therefore, we must fly a little higher to keep ours safe from harm.”
“What could these people do to a mighty dragon?” Era asked, finding the thought humorous.
“Believe it or not, they have the weapons for it. I know such things are scarce in the Greater Archipelagos, but here, they are used on a daily basis.”
“That sounds dreadful. Why would Iviana want to live here?”
“My, you ask a great many questions, but that is one, I’m afraid, you will have to ask her. And after all, our world has its problems too, as you well know. Now, as you are the Seeker here, I am counting on you to lead us in the right direction. How are we doing?”
It donned on Era this was the first time she had been given the chance to search for something of substance... not to mention outside of Atlantyss. Closing her eyes, she stole a moment to feel for the sparking energy of the Seeker within her blood and found their course already correct.
Through their flight, Era worked hard to remain silent, though her mind was flooded with questions about this new world. She kept herself busy with the realization she had not only experienced her own world for the first time, but had entered yet another within the same day. This was something she was certain few could claim, if any. She would certainly have a story to take back with her.
Realizing she had done at fourteen what not even Aedis had been allowed to do, she hoped she would get the chance to escort Aedis and Merrick to Kaern one day.
Then, at last, Era was struck with a question she simply could not deny. “Why do you think I was chosen, Chamaeleo? Why have I been included in all this and why do you think I was able to have that dream meeting with Iviana?”
“Dream meeting?” Chamaeleo raised her brows in surprise. “Are you a Dream-walker?”
Era blushed, realizing she had divulged her secret. “I could be wrong. It may have only been a dream. I wish it had been, to be honest. There is reason I did not share it.” She felt almost as if she might cry over the memory.
“I believe it was genuine, that you truly met her in your dream,” Chamaeleo ventured. “Else you would not feel so emotional about it.”
Era contemplated whether she should fill Chamaeleo in on the details of it in order to warn her of what they might discover when they found the Glory-bringer.
“I have my... suspicions,” said Chamaeleo.
“About what?”
“About why you would meet Iviana in a dream, why you are being used in all this.”
“And they are...?”
Chamaeleo looked her over carefully and actually hesitated, something Era had not yet seen her do. “I do not know if it is my place to say.”
Era blinked back at her. “Not your place? Why not?”
“That is… Well, it’s fairly complicated.”
Era shook her head. “I don’t care how complicated it is; I must know.”
Chamaeleo appeared as if she was weighing this. At last, she released a sigh and said bluntly, “I believe Iviana is your birth mother.”
Era stared back at her, winded, wide-eyed and speechless. At long last, she was able to mutter, “How do you even know I was adopted?”
“I recall a meeting I was in when you were younger, about you being a Seeker, I mean. I learned then you were found within the city without any trace of your parentage. Your adoptive parents found you and fell in love, thus given the rights to keep you.”
Era nodded, appearing calm, but filled with turmoil and confusion, a great number of questions and doubts racing through her mind. “But... isn’t Iviana not old enough to be―”
“It’s not that simple.”
Era raised her brows. “Well?”
“In a city like Atlantyss, where you’re all trapped there under the ocean, secrets just aren’t possible. I’m sure you know that. There’s no way you belonged to anyone there without someone being aware. So... how did you get there?”
Era stared back at her while she thought. At last, she followed her gut. If she was correct, her life had been far more eventful than she’d believed. It just couldn’t be… “You think I time-jumped there. Oh, goodness, you think Iviana hasn’t had me yet―that she’s going to have me someday and I’m going to inadvertently travel back in time and well, here I am…”
Chamaeleo nodded slowly. “Accidentally, not accidentally... who knows?”
“Well, if I was a baby,” Era defended, “I couldn’t have done it on purpose.”
“No, not you.”
“Iviana?”
“Of course not. If you knew the details of her lif
e, you would never think that. No, the Great One. He knew what we’d be faced with at this time and I think, for whatever reason, he decided he needed you here now more than anywhere else. Like I said, you, Era, are special… and not just because you’re Iviana’s daughter.”
For hours, Era silently contemplated all this, a wide variety of emotions swelling in her heart. When at last they had drawn near to where they would find Iviana, to the place she was now horrendously panicked to face, she said, “You’re not going to tell her, are you?”
Chamaeleo did not conceal her astonishment. “Not if you don’t want me to, dear.”
Era nodded. “I don’t... not yet. You don’t even know if it’s true.” At this point, Era almost hoped it wasn’t.
Chamaeleo tilted her head back and forth. “Well... I sort of do, sweet one.” When Era revealed her confusion, Chamaeleo admitted, “The Great One.”
15
Iviana
All the while Iviana and Darist prepared breakfast, Nimua watched Iviana closely. The others stole glances as well, but assumed she had not slept well. They had no idea of the burden she carried, of the choices that needed to be made this day. They yet knew nothing of the reason they had fled their world. Iviana wondered once again why she did not tell them. Their safety was no longer threatened. Leaving with Iviana and Nimua had made it appear as if they knew all. The answer came down to the fact she simply did not want to speak of it.
She had been biding her time.
Their meal complete, Iviana informed them she needed to be alone for a while and the others assured her she need not leave, for they had things they wished to do elsewhere. All but Nimua and Marquen cast her wondering glances, but they said nothing. Iviana had no idea what Marquen did or did not know. As always, he had the tact not to breach the subject.
After Nimua and Necoli left for their venture, Marquen and Darist made ready to leave as well. After Marquen stepped through the threshold, Darist turned back once more, as if he might ask what troubled her after all, but seemed to change his mind with a small smile before closing the door behind him.
Iviana released a long sigh as she turned away from the door, releasing the pent-up emotion she had been attempting to conceal not only that morning, but since they had fled into Kaern. She kicked herself for not having faced the Great One before―not like this anyway―and wondered if she had feared what He would say. Facing that thought, she could not guess what was on His mind, but she owed Him the question and He owed her the answer, so she felt.
At last, she asked, “Great One, what am I to do?”
And then she waited. But much like the evening of the Time of Waiting when she had heard His voice for the first time, He did not at first answer and so she voiced her question again.
“Oh, Spirit of the Anointed One, what is to be done? Please answer me, for I cannot bear to face this without your voice.”
With that, she broke down, shedding the tears she had been reigning in for too many days. She got down on her knees and held her stomach as she wept, awaiting the Great One’s response. But even unto her final tear, there was nothing―not a word softly spoken into her spirit, nor any sign of the spirit dove; she received no visions. But she had learned the Great One did not always answer one in the way or the timing expected, so she determined to wait in the cottage until He was ready to speak.
While she was yet on her knees, tear stains hot on her cheeks, someone came flying through her door and knelt down on the floor before her where she proceeded to pull her to her feet. Looking up, it was Merri.
This was not what Iviana had expected.
“Ivi, I ran here as quickly as I could,” she said breathlessly, holding Iviana by the shoulders. “We must go. Sir Loric and his men are here to claim you. Someone has betrayed you, betrayed us all.”
Iviana spared no time to ask questions, instead heading straight for the door, but as her fingers grazed the handle, the sounds of shouting and horse’s hooves sounded outside, likely trampling the garden she and her friends had worked so hard to sort, the garden she and Naphtali had spent so many years planting and nurturing.
“Quick, hide!” Merri cried. “I will tell them you have escaped.”
But before Iviana had a moment to decide how she could conceal herself, the door flew open and Sir Loric stood within its threshold.
“Where is she?! Where is Iviana the witch?” he demanded of Merri.
When she did not answer, Iviana watched as, slowly, his eyes found hers. Why had she thought she could remain in one place without putting herself and the people she loved in danger? Even now, her friends might return any moment and be caught. Closing her eyes, she reached for the blade at her side, knowing she was outnumbered, but refusing to go down without a fight.
Sir Loric shouted again, halting her movement.
“You! Don’t touch that!” He marched over and stole her sword, tossing it carelessly behind him. “Where is the witch?” he spat.
Iviana blinked into his face. Did he not recognize her? Had she changed so much in the time they had been apart? Studying him, she was reminded of the coldness of his piercing blue eyes. Oh, how she hated that she had ever thought of caring for him. Nevertheless, he appeared just as she had left him, though his nose was a little crooked from when Flynn had socked him.
“If you are hiding the witch, you will be slain here and now,” he muttered coldly.
That was when Merri turned to Iviana in confusion. Her eyes widened at the sight of her. What on Kaern had happened?
“We...” Merri said, new light in her eyes. “We forced her from our village only this morning.”
Loric peered straight into Iviana’s face, squinting his own to appear as dangerous as he could. “Does this woman tell the truth?”
Iviana nodded. She had no way of knowing what was going on, but followed Merri’s lead. “We were making ready to purge the place of all her... witchcrafty... materials. Don’t want to have any part in the devil’s dealings. She’s deceived us long enough.”
Loric turned on Merri then. “You should have turned her in to me,” he said angrily. “Do you know in which direction she went?”
Merri nodded. “I believe south. Toward the main road, I would guess.”
“Very good,” he said.
Without another word, he fled the premises to continue his hunt for the woman who had rejected him.
The two women who remained caught their breaths a moment before Merri finally turned to Iviana questioningly, “Iviana... it is you, isn’t it?”
Iviana peered at her as she lifted her sword from the floor and replaced it. “Of course, it’s me. What is the matter?”
“You... Iviana, I have no idea how you did it unless you truly are some sort of sorceress, but you’ve changed your looks.” Pulling a piece of Iviana’s hair before her face, she said, “Look.”
Attempting not to cross her eyes, Iviana obeyed, then took hold of the lock herself. “What...? It’s red!”
“You look like you could be my sister. Truly, you look like a twelve-year-old girl.
Iviana looked down at her body and found that not even her clothes were her own. “H-how?”
She supposed she should not be entirely surprised. This sort of thing had been happening often of late. But why should she look so much like Merri? “You know, I was thinking of the village, of your children, hoping they were safe. I wonder if it somehow... Well, I don’t really know how to make you understand. I can assure you once and for all that I do not use sorcery.”
“Well, will you change back? It is terribly disconcerting.”
Iviana closed her eyes and pictured her previous form. “Oh, please go back,” she pleaded aloud.
At that moment, Marquen entered the cottage, shortly followed by Darist.
“Iviana, we have to get you somewhere safe,” Darist cried, running to take hold of her hands which she thankfully recognized as her own. Of course, Darist would not have addressed her so if she had not been herself.
She looked to Marquen and realized he had seen her change, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Well, are you coming?” Darist cried.
Iviana turned her attention to him. “They have already been here and gone again. It is all right. I... shifted, somehow, and we told them I had fled to the main road.”
Darist dropped her hands and sat on the nearest chair, obviously relieved. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he asked, “You shifted? Like Chamaeleo? How?”
“I don’t know...” Iviana replied.
For whatever reason, it upset her. Days ago, she had discovered she could breathe underwater. Before that, she was a Seer and Seeker and then of course there was her healing. She knew she should be delighted, but it was all―everything within the last week or so―too much.
“Marquen, what is going on with me? Why do I keep gaining all these gifts?”
He stepped toward her. “I believe you’re being prepared―filled—with something… for something. You feel different every time I am around you: fuller. The new giftings are only a result of it, I think.”
“Prepared for what?” Iviana asked with some dismay.
“To return for the prisoners, of course,” Chamaeleo said as she entered, followed by Era.
It was almost surreal that the two happened to turn up in that moment. Iviana dropped to the chair beside Darist and took hold of his hand for support.
“Please, come in,” she said, almost dizzily. “Take a chair and tell me why you have come. Is it to bring me back? To change the future? You may think I’m some Chosen One, but I am only a girl, just one girl.”
She watched Era search her face, as if looking for something that would make her more than a girl. Iviana assumed she had not found it when she dropped into a chair much like Iviana had the moment before. Of course, if the two had traveled from the Greater Archipelagos, they must be tired. Iviana knew she should offer them something, but Darist stepped up for her.
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