“Nothing for me,” Chamaeleo said.
“Could I have some water?” Era asked a little shyly.
Darist offered her his most friendly smile and said, “Care for a little food, too?”
Era could not help smiling in return and nodded. “Thank you.”
With that, Darist pulled together what he could for Era, and Marquen excused himself, saying he wished to intercede with the Great One outside.
With that, Chamaeleo turned to Iviana. “What are you doing here?” she asked, a little scolding but genuinely curious. “From what I gathered in the town, you’re a wanted fugitive who was nearly arrested just now.”
Iviana shrugged. “They think I’m a witch. Well, the town doesn’t, I don’t think. Not even sure if Sir Loric really believes it, but he wants me to pay for―”
“For denying him,” Chamaeleo finished. “Yes, I recall how he watched you. A terribly unsettling man. But you have not answered my question.”
Iviana stared into her face. “I feel certain you know why. Still, I know you want me to say it, so I will. I... I guess I am running away.”
“Running away? Is that all? I suppose that’s understandable, so long as you plan on running back. Precisely what are you running from?”
“I assume Era’s told you about the prison? I went to Flynn about it. I even went before the council. They responded by chasing me off the planet.”
“Flynn the Realm Leader, I presume. That handsome boy? Why, that must have been heartbreaking.”
Iviana did not know how to respond, for, in fact, it had been.
“I wonder if, in truth, you’re running from him?”
Iviana shook her head. “He is nothing to me anymore.”
“But he was your friend―you helped make him Realm Leader. That must mean something, at least.”
Iviana nodded, relenting. “Of course, it does.
Chamaeleo was quiet and Iviana wondered if she realized their conversation was going nowhere so long as Flynn was in it. Thoughts of Flynn seemed to cloud her mind with rage, but also, admittedly, with heartbreak.
“You know, Ivi, I could have been put into that dungeon.”
Iviana looked up at her. “Why?”
“My gift was seen as unfit—too fearsome. As a child, I made the mistake of morphing into the form of Rhimesh. It was meant only to be a joke and, in truth, it caused no trouble except to myself. It was only the fierce protection of my parents that kept me from being sent away. I only know this because my father was on the council and I often eavesdropped on their meetings―that meeting was no exception, of course.
“Though my parents managed to save me from that fate, I was kept nearly under lock and key in my own home. When I was allowed outside, it was never alone and all watched with fear or judgment in their eyes. I was... a bit of a monster to them, I’m afraid. Shifters were extremely rare.” She explained this with great emotion, as if she was that little girl again.
“But when I was fourteen, my parents passed and I was left alone and unprotected. That was when I knew I had to leave, why I lived the rest of my life in Kierelia until the Great One called me back to do what I could in secret. And to work with Atlantyss until the coming of the Great One’s plan was displayed in that world.
“His plan is not to hold those people captive; you know it as well as I. You know that fearing a gift of the Great One is foolery, blasphemy in itself. There is deep, sinister oppression building over the Greater Archipelagos, circling especially over our capital island. Despite its dazzling bright skies and perfectly white walls, I believe the people have been feeling it grow for some time.”
“The Greater Archipelagos is a joke,” Iviana scoffed, as if she could contain her resentment no longer
“The Greater Archipelagos was a gift created by the Great One out of the deepest love of His heart,” Chamaeleo contested.
“But the Great One knows everything―I know Him well enough to know that now. How could He create a land that was going to become this—this place that rejects and imprisons those He loves and blesses with such brilliant potential?”
“Iviana, have you never heard the story of why He created that world?”
Iviana grew curious, despite herself. “No.”
“Well, the story, as I know it, goes something like this,” Chamaeleo began.
Her tale originated long before the kingdom of Kierelia was dreamed of and the people of that land were yet ungoverned. At that time, there lived a woman named Jaela, whose heart was very near the Great One’s and His to hers. She was His first friend on the planet Kaern and she vowed every piece of herself to Him and He the same. Still, He desired to give her more. So, He looked upon the stars and knew what He longed to do. One day, He took her and her husband by the hands and led them to a cave, revealing He had carved something exceptional into the end of it.
Jaela looked up into His face with an adoring smile, pondering what the surprise could be. She knew from prior experience it would be nothing short of just who He was and He was marvelous. Turning to her husband with that same smile, she raised an intrigued brow and stepped into the cave.
She had no light with which to see, but the Great One provided this with His glory and so they were guided by the sparkling wonder of His presence. Jaela giggled with delight and attempted to touch the shimmering glory with her fingers, but it fluttered and danced around her, into her fingertips and through her hair. She looked upon her Great Friend and shook her head in disbelief.
When the couple reached the end of the cavern’s passage, there was a glimmering, shifting veil. The sight of it would have frightened most people, but not these two. Jaela smirked and stepped through the vortex. When she reached the other side, she and her husband found a vast desert land.
“What is this?” she queried, though the Great One was nowhere to be seen.
His voice emanated from the sky with bubbling joy as he said, “It is yours, Jaela. I made it for you. It is all yours.”
Jaela’s mouth opened in wonder as she took this in. This was a new world and, though it was plain, it was hers. She fell to her knees and began to weep. “How great is Your love for me?” she muttered through her tears.
As a single tear dropped upon the sandy earth, a great, blue substance shot forth from it and covered the land with a vast ocean of the bluest blue water. Jaela and her husband laughed in amazement as they swam in the ocean that now covered the entire planet.
The Great One said joyously, “As wide and deep and great and vast as the ocean surrounding, that is my love for you.”
He proceeded to lay a finger upon various areas of the water where beautifully green flourishing islands formed, covered with flowers, trees, mountains and creatures that roared, buzzed, crawled and flew. Some were foreign, while others were familiar to Jaela.
She saw all this and fell beneath the ocean’s surface in wonder of it all, but the Great One shed His glory light upon her again and raised her from the ocean, saying, “This is my love for you, sweet one. This is my love for you.”
He gently placed the couple upon the soft green grass of the nearest island and stretched out beside them with His head rested upon His bent up arm. “How do you like it?” he asked eagerly.
Jaela released a great laugh through her tear-filled eyes. “I think it will do,” she muttered with gleaming delight.
The three laughed together and discoursed until the new sun set upon the land and the uniquely designed stars and galaxies unveiled themselves above.
“In those first moments in that new realm with the love of His heart,” Chamaeleo continued, “He could see what was coming. He knew the world would eventually be filled and its people as numerous as the stars. He knew every person that would be born into that realm, all that the people would become and do. But He saw beyond that and He has prepared even for times such as this. He has an answer. And, you know, even in the midst of our biggest failings, we’re still worth it to Him. How wide and deep, vast and endless
as the ocean of the Greater Archipelagos, that is His love. That is how enormous His heart is.”
Iviana sat silently for a while, refusing to reveal her thoughts to those who waited. Even Darist’s curious stare she avoided. She needed time to process all she had heard, for she had expected nothing like it.
At last, she stood and started for the door.
“Where are you going?” Chamaeleo asked, at a loss for the first time since Iviana had known her.
“The Great One created that realm with such... love, purity and honor... and I’m not going to let this perversion of His gift continue any longer.”
Darist followed her to the door. “We’re going to the Greater Archipelagos?” he asked.
“Are we?” she asked, somewhat surprised he meant to join her, even though he still knew little of what it was all about.
“Of course, we are.”
Marquen walked through the door then and said, “I’m guessing we’re going to wreak a little havoc?”
“Absolutely,” Iviana replied.
“I’m coming too!” cried Era, who had remained silent for so long. When Iviana appeared surprised by her outburst, she said, “I did not come all this way to be left out.”
Iviana took hold of her hands and said, “Of course, you must come. You’re as much a part of this as I am.”
“I wonder how you’re planning on getting there,” said Chamaeleo with an eyebrow raised.
“Oh, well, I suppose the door in Jaela’s Cavern,” said Iviana with new wonder at understanding the meaning behind the name.
“Well, if it helps, I brought along a few friends... a few flying friends,” offered Chamaeleo, knowingly. “They or he, in particular, is waiting for you in the forest. Era will take you there.”
“You’re not coming with us?” asked Era.
“No. I’ve another errand to see to. But I will meet you there, I think.”
All of a sudden, Iviana noticed Merri sitting on the bed, wide-eyed and stunned.
“Oh, Merri...” Iviana’s voice trailed off when Merri met her gaze, her face bright and alive.
“So all those stories you told about the Great One and the splendid land in another world…” muttered Merri, “…the Greater Archipelagos, where the people have extraordinary gifts bestowed by a wondrous Being… they were all true? And that is where you come from?”
Iviana nodded. “Well, where my parents were from.”
Merri laughed with delight. “Wait until I tell the children!”
Darist tugged on Iviana’s sleeve then. “What about Nimua and Necoli? I believe he wanted to show her around a nearby town. I can’t say when they’ll be back, but it won’t be for some time.”
Iviana debated on what to do, but knew she must move against her own desires, no matter how wrong it felt. “We cannot wait,” she insisted regretfully. “We really haven’t another moment to spare... I can feel it. Something is coming to a head.” She turned to Merri then. “Will you tell them where we’ve gone?”
Merri nodded, looking on her as if she was an enchanted being. “Of course,” she said solemnly.
With that, the four bid them farewell and Era led the others through the woods into a large clearing. When Iviana spotted Tragor there, in their old place―the place she had often wandered over the last few days, fearing she might never see him again―she flew toward him without another thought and wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling her cheek into his neck.
“You darling dragon, how is it you’re always here when I need you? And why have you not come before now?”
She gazed into his eyes and found his character within them; she knew just where he’d been: flying over the cannibal island, doing his best to watch over the prisoners in her absence. Likely, he had not approved of her leaving any more than she herself had.
“I’m sorry I let you down. You believed in me, when first we met. I will do my best not to disappoint you again. What do you say we free them?”
His green eyes grew bright and were full of affection for more than her willingness to save the imprisoned. He loved the little lost girl he’d picked up in a wasteland, the one so like his Latos.
Iviana found Era standing awkwardly by and asked, “How did you know to bring the extra dragons?” She gestured to the two beside Tragor.
“We came prepared,” Era said with a smile.
As Darist and Marquen pulled themselves atop the other two dragons, Iviana saw that Era was making ready to leap upon Tragor.
“Oh, dear, I don’t know if he will take you,” she said worriedly. “He doesn’t like people.”
Era looked at Tragor admiringly. “Oh, but we flew together. I believe we’ve become friends.”
“Really?” Iviana asked Tragor. “I’m not the only woman in your life anymore, old boy?” She leaped upon him and pulled Era up behind her. With that, they took to the air, flying faster than any of them ever had before.
Iviana didn’t exactly have all the details lined up―such as how they would keep from being killed and eaten or how they would get them all off the island―but she knew the Great One was with her and would supply. She could feel Him all around her, inside of her, pulsating through her veins, pumping through her heart, smiling into her spirit. All she must do was move, trust Him and all would come out as it must.
Knowing Darist and Marquen ought to know all, she filled them in while the dragons took a moment to rest. She knew Era must have known most of it, but to hear it again seemed to rock her.
“Thank you for letting me come,” was all Darist was able to mutter in his low, almost threatening voice. It was apparent he was harboring indignation he did not yet know what to do with.
Marquen responded with great emotion. “I knew something was afoot, but the Great One never revealed it to me. I am ashamed I hid away on my mountain. I only did so because I thought if I stayed out of the council’s business, I would not be considered a threat.” He swallowed, as if attempting to hold back tears. Iviana had never seen him so affected. “I succeeded, but...”
“Marquen,” Iviana interrupted. “It was the Great One’s will that you lived in your hills, hidden away for another time. If He had wanted you to know before now, He would have told you. Take comfort in that you are one of the few in the Greater Archipelagos who shares a friendship with the Great One. Most everyone else is too awed or intimidated, too rebellious or closed-minded to give Him all He ever wanted: friendship... family.”
Marquen offered a small smile, saying. “I think our roles just exchanged, Chosen One.”
Iviana ignored him. No matter what happened, Marquen was and always would be her greatest councilor aside from her Great Friend.
16
Flynn
Standing before the door, Flynn found he could not do what had been asked of him—or, rather, demanded. He was expected to program the door that led into Jaela’s Cavern to deny his friends’ re-entrance. Certainly, it would make them safer, for they would be in grave danger if they ever attempted to return, but there was a part of him that wanted them to return. They were his closest friends, his family. Iviana was...
Well, Iviana was, after all, the one who had brought him to this world to be its leader, if a cowardly, spineless one he was turning out to be. Besides, he could not deny she truly was his dearest friend, the one closest to his heart, the one he kicked himself every day for not defending in her hour of need, when she had been bold and courageous so often in his presence. If only she had rubbed off on him. If only she had been made Realm Leader in his stead. Perhaps she had made a mistake. But then, he had been anointed with agelessness. Surely, the Great One would not have done so had He not approved of the one filling the position. That was something he would never understand.
Flynn stared at the panel that awaited his touch, his command to seal his friends from this world forever, and took a step back. How could the council truly expect him to do this? Did they think him that spineless? Of course, if they did, it was his own doing. And c
ertainly, if Iviana was as smart as he thought her, she would not return. But if she ever chose to do so, he would not deny her.
Never.
Brenna had spoken with him in secret the evening Iviana and the others had fled. They had discussed further the end of their engagement and Brenna had been able to wriggle a little out of him about the situation with Iviana, though not enough to put her in jeopardy. They had examined the months in which they had grown close and even pinpointed when things had begun to change―when the beginning of the end had taken place, though neither had wanted to acknowledge it. And then, of course, as it happened, he had been changing, as he knew Iviana had perceived. It was more than evident in the way she looked at him, in her tone, when she had spoken to him that last time.
No, there was no question of what to do. He would leave the door open to them. And perhaps, somehow, something could be done about...
Anyway, the council would never know if he had done what they’d asked. At least he had the wits to know that much.
“Greetings, young man,” spoke a charming voice.
Flynn leaped about, but relaxed when he recognized Chamaeleo. “What brings you here?” he said in greeting. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“No. No, not for me.”
“Then who?
“A number of people. Namely yourself, I think.”
“What is it?”
“I thought I’d let you know that Iviana is going to free the prisoners today.”
“What?” Flynn almost jumped at the thought Iviana might be in the realm even then. “But how?”
“However she can, I suspect.”
Flynn stood stock still, his mind racing.
“Well?” Chamaeleo urged. “Are you going to let her do it alone?”
Flynn looked up, feeling ultimately free for the first time in a long while. “Not a chance.”
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