by John Corwin
Of course he does, girl. Della sniffed. Her spells are rather paltry compared to yours, son.
"I suppose so," I said, trying to ignore Della as she said unkind things about Gwyneth's magical skills and heritage.
"We're never getting out of here," Max groaned as the standoff continued. "There's gotta be some way to get rid of them."
The branches overhead rustled violently. The cacophony of mews turned to panicked screeches and the swarm dissipated in seconds. Shushiel climbed down a thread and dropped to the ground.
"The mewlies seemed as frightened of me as the spider-bats in the Dark Forest are." She swayed side-to-side in amusement. "They are also quite tasty."
"Thank goodness," Max said. "I thought we'd be here all night."
Gwyneth looked up at the eternal night sky. "Whenever that is."
"We shouldn't fly anymore," Evadora said. "That's why the mewlies came after us."
"It appears we have more company." Ambria stared warily into the sky. "They're a lot bigger than mewlies."
I followed her gaze and saw giant birds with bald red heads and crests circling lazily above.
"Condors," Evadora said longingly. "Naeve used to ride them, but they won't let me come close."
"Maybe you could find how to control them in Cora's memories," I suggested.
"That is what Yoghra told me." Evadora sighed. "I could not find anything helpful."
Gwyneth opened the lost room so we could place our brooms inside, but her mouth dropped open in shock. "How many brooms were in there?"
I looked inside and saw all of our brooms neatly stacked in the corner. I held up my broom and inspected it then walked inside and compared it with the one already there. "The brooms are exactly the same." A chip in the broom handle changed my mind because it was on the wrong side. "No, they're mirror images of each other."
Max compared his brooms. "Are you saying we brought copies of our brooms from the reflected realm with us?"
"It makes sense," Ambria said. "Did you notice that our reflections wore the same exact clothing we have on?"
"I wonder if I actually opened a reflected version of the lost room." Gwyneth shook her head. "I've dealt with weird stuff, but this takes the cake."
Max tapped a finger to his chin. "I wonder if we go back to the reflected world and reopen the room if there will be two copies of our brooms inside or none at all."
"We can figure that out on the way home," Ambria said as she placed her broom next to the other one.
"Too bad we can't duplicate money in here." Max took out a silvery bill of Tinsel, the Overworld currency and put it on the shelf. "I'm pretty sure the words and images will be backwards, but it's worth a try."
Ambria tugged on my arm so I followed her outside. She glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one else had come out of the room and whispered, "Do you think a relic could be duplicated like that?"
It was an excellent question. "It's possible, I guess."
"More than possible," Ambria said. "Perhaps we should test the theory on our way back."
"Not everything shows up in the reflected world," I told her.
"Yes, it does seem inconsistent." She sighed. "So many questions, so little time."
"It keeps things interesting."
Gwyneth closed the door once everyone was outside and we began hiking. When we reached the first tree bridge she stared over the lip of the island and into the vastness of space below. "What happens if you fall?"
"Nobody ever falls," Evadora said.
"No one in the history of the Glimmer has ever fallen into the stars?" Gwyneth asked.
"Not that I know of." Evadora grinned. "Maybe before I was born."
"Do you float down there or fall forever?" Max asked.
I looked up at the thick arching trunk of the tree bridge. "I don't want to find out."
"Maybe we should keep a broom handy in case," Ambria said. "It couldn't hurt."
Max chuckled. "We have plenty to go around."
Gwyneth opened the door to the lost room and grabbed one of her brooms, strapped it across her back. She closed the door and started walking up the trunk. "Let's go."
The angle of the trunk allowed an easy climb where the top of the tree wrapped around the bough from the neighboring island. We traversed two more islands without event. While descending the trunk of a beige tree that linked us to an island of desert plains and savannahs, a massive cloud of dust and the thunder of hooves warned us that something potentially dangerous lay ahead.
Evadora's shoulders slumped. "The bronies and gruffalos are fighting again."
Gwyneth surveyed the land. The island looked about a mile straight across, though a spine of jagged hills threatened a tougher hike. We were nearly to the bottom of the tree bridge when we spotted signs of conflict. Body parts and blood stained the sands. The fanged trunk of one of the elephant-like gruffalos flailed like a dying snake. A miniature pony lay on its side, steaming guts spilled out, its muzzle splayed open in what must have been a final scream of pain.
Ambria covered her eyes and buried her face in my chest. "It's awful!"
More bodies littered the desert plain, vanishing into the sand storm a hundred yards away.
"We should go around," Gwyneth said.
"Bloody right," Max muttered.
Tears streamed down Evadora's face. "Innocent creatures pay for my failure."
"Is there anything here that doesn't try to kill you?" Max asked.
Evadora didn't answer.
We hiked along the edge of the island, staying well clear of the pounding hooves, the screams and trumpets of monsters battling, and the whirling dust. Even so, some of the animals wandered the fringe of the fight.
A lone gruffalo saw us. It stomped its thick feet, shook its wooly head, and trumpeted a war cry, fangs flashing at the end of its serpentine trunk. Evadora leapt in front of the group and held out her hands. "Stop!"
It paused, a light of recognition shining in its eyes. The moment passed and the gruffalo charged. I took out the arcwand and used a spell I hoped might stop the creature without killing it. When it was only ten yards away, I flicked the wand. A cloud of charged vapors streamed into the animal's face. It trumpeted, lifting its trunk to strike.
Though the gruffalo was only a few feet tall, everyone screamed and leapt out of the way. I wasn't quite fast enough. Inches from me, a red figure pounced, knocking the animal on its side. Shushiel bounded away before the fanged trunk found her. The gruffalo struggled and went still as the sleeping spell finally took hold.
Evadora knelt next to the slumbering animal. She looked up at me gratefully. "Thank you for sparing it, Conrad."
My heart thudded and sweat trickled into my face. "Thank Shushiel," I managed to say.
"Are you okay?" the spider asked.
I nodded. "Just scared."
Gwyneth blew out a breath. "Let's hope we don't run into a herd of these things."
We stayed at the island's edge. Shushiel distracted a small herd of bronies before they saw us. Jaws bared, they whinnied and chased after her. She camouflaged and circled back around to meet us and we continued.
As we hiked a grassy plain on the next island, a herd of normal-sized horses began galloping our way, silky manes fluttering in the wind. Unlike regular horses, they each had straight horns sprouting from their foreheads.
"They're like unicorns, but with more horns," Ambria said.
Max looked across the plain toward the next bridge. "They're going to kill us before we reach the other side!"
"What are hydracorns doing here?" Evadora said. "They are on the wrong island!"
"I do not think I can distract them," Shushiel said. "They are much too fast."
The huge condors circled overhead like vultures waiting on fresh carrion. Gwyneth looked up at them. "We can't fly."
We were halfway across the island, so retreating the other way wasn't an option. I came up with the only plan that might succeed. "Run for your lives!"
Everyone sprinted toward the other bridge. The hydracorns angled to cut us off. It became obvious within seconds that we'd never reach the other side before they reached us. Shushiel skittered toward the encroaching herd. "I will try to hold them off. Leave me behind."
"No!" Max shouted. He dug in his pouch. "Everyone stand still."
Ambria gasped for breath. "Are you insane?"
"Just do it!" he said. He stopped running, chest heaving for breath. "I have an idea."
Ambria pulled her wand. "Do you plan to eat them, Max?"
I readied my wand. "What's the plan?"
Max took out a handful of black glass marbles and blew on them three times before throwing them individually at different angles from the group. Glass shattered and darkness crept up the grass, spreading like an oil slick. The hydracorns hit the stuff and went sliding uncontrollably, neighing in surprise and anger before the entire herd landed in a massive heap not fifty feet from us.
"Now run!" Max said, and sprinted away.
Our shock lasted only an instant before we came to our senses and ran. The hydracorns were too busy untangling themselves to pursue. When we reached the next bridge, Ambria leaned heavily on Max's shoulder. Between gasps for breath, she said, "I'm not mad at you anymore about getting us an F in potions our first day."
Max laughed. "I just knew this stuff might come in handy."
"Brilliant." Gwyneth flashed a grateful smile. "I was afraid we were done for back there."
"Absolutely." I chimed in agreement. A chorus of neighs drew our attention back to the hydracorns as the last few gained their feet and began galloping our way. "Looks like we need to go."
We began climbing the next tree bridge. The first hydracorns reached it and took tentative steps after us.
"So that's how they got here," Evadora said angrily.
The whoosh of wings drew our attention overhead.
One of the huge condors swept towards Ambria. "Watch out!" I gripped her and pulled her down. Shushiel leapt to our side, as did Max and Gwyneth, wands drawn.
But the first condor had been a diversion. A second bird swooped down and snatched Shushiel so fast, she was nothing but a blur.
Ambria screamed.
"Shushiel!" I leapt to my feet and fired a blast of ice from the wand, but it fell well short. The condor vanished over hills on the next island, its prey in its claws. Tears burned in my eyes. "No! Give me the broom!" I didn't wait for Gwyneth to hand it to me and yanked it off her back. Before anyone could stop me, I leapt into the saddle and flew in pursuit.
"Conrad, come back!" Max shouted.
Gwyneth called a warning. "You're going to get yourself killed!"
I didn't care. I couldn't let the condors kill my friend. Moments after leaving the tree bridge, three of the massive birds appeared in the twilight and dove toward me. I bared my teeth. "Come get me you bloody damned monsters!"
The condors were large and fast, but nowhere near as agile as my broom. I spun right, threading between two of them and led the third on a chase. Pulling up on the broom, I climbed higher, looping behind the bird, and zapped a wing with my ice spell.
Unable to flap the pinion, it spiraled down toward the island where the other condor had taken Shushiel and crashed through the trees. I was far ahead of the other condors now, but a second threat emerged. A cloud of startled mewlies burst from the branches, their screeches deafening.
Like a hive mind, some homed in on the wounded condor, but nearly half broke off and came for me. I fired off a volley of ice spells. Several of the cat-bats plummeted, but there were still too many to fight. I dove for the gap in the crooked branches below where the condor had crashed. The great bird shrieked, its wings covered with gnawing fangs and slashing claws, a giant brought down by ants.
A mewlie slapped into my face, hissing and mewing. Its claws dug into my neck. I gripped its head and tore it off me. Pain blossomed where its claws tore free. I threw it and saw its small body smack into a tree. I clenched my teeth to combat the pain, weaving my way through the forest.
I reached the end of the trees and pulled up to climb a steep hill. The view on the other side of the crest filled me with dismay. A great crater stretched as far as the eye could see, hundreds of stone spires rising from its flat floor. Massive nests sat atop most of them. Skeletons littered the ground below, and dozens more of the huge birds prowled the starry sky.
Flying higher, I rose where I could see into several of the nests at a glance. Some had eggs the size of gruffalos. Others appeared empty and unused, while still more had broken shells, presumably from the birth of fledgling condors. A chorus of squawks echoed through the crater. In the distance, condors tilted their wings and came toward me.
I clenched the wand. Let them come. Nothing would stand between me and my friend. I spotted a nest not far ahead. Three hatchlings chirped as the presumed parent condor circled overhead. I saw no sign of Shushiel in its claws or in the nest. Then I spotted something that stopped my heart.
A furry red leg lay on the side of the nest. One of the hatchlings grabbed it in its beak and gulped it down whole. A scream of absolute fury erupted from throat.
How dare these vile creatures eat your friend, Vic said. They killed her, Conrad. They should suffer the same fate.
I dove for the circling condor and hit its wing with the ice spell. The bird squawked and tumbled from the sky. It slammed into the middle of the stone spire supporting its nest and the entire structure trembled. Sobs wracked my body. I summoned all my strength and prepared to destroy the weakest part. I would send those monsters to their deaths.
Conrad, no. A soft voice beckoned to me. They are not your enemies. They are simply doing what they must to survive.
It doesn't matter, Vic roared with anger, they killed your friend!
I stared at the hatchlings, listened to their hungry cries. They'd eaten my friend and still they craved more. But they didn't deserve to die. The parent condor lay motionless at the bottom of the spire. I had probably already doomed them to a slow death by starvation.
Guilt stabbed into my heart. Hardly a day into the journey and Shushiel had saved my life once. I had been unable to save hers. I circled over the nest, but aside from some bones and eggshells, there was no sign my spider friend had even existed.
The hatchlings lunged, big heads on narrow necks, desperately trying to snatch me from the air. Their shrill cries hurt my ears until I couldn't take it anymore. The other condors were too close to ignore, so I sped away.
The others had reached the bottom of the tree bridge and were headed for the one linking that island to the one infested with condors.
Ambria cried out when she saw me. I landed and fell into her arms, my body shaking with grief. "She's gone," I rasped, voice raw with grief.
Max put his hands on our shoulders, tears streaming down his cheeks. "She was such a good friend. Always there for us."
Evadora dropped to the ground, face buried in her hands as she rocked back and forth. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Gwyneth stayed a distance away, biting her lip and looking troubled, but she hadn't known Shushiel like we had. I didn't expect her to shed a tear.
Ambria backed away from me and slapped my cheek hard. "Don't you ever run off like that again!"
My face stung, and the cuts from the mewlie burned like fire, but none of it hurt so much as the agony of loss hollowing out my guts like a carving knife.
At least Gwyneth waited several minutes before saying what was on her mind. "Shushiel knew the dangers. She wouldn't want us to lose sight of the goal. We should push on before something else finds us."
A forest of blue trees loomed before us, a narrow tunnel between the boughs offering a dark passage. I took one last sad look toward Condor Island and put a hand over my heart. "I love you, Shushiel. I will never forget you."
"She will always be in my heart," Ambria said.
Max choked back a sob. "I hope there's a spider heaven. She was such
a good person."
Evadora screamed at the top of her lungs, "I'm sorry!"
Her voice echoed through the forest. Something inside roared back.
I looked up at the sky to make sure there was no other aerial menace and said, "I don't care about the mewlies. We're flying over that forest."
Gwyneth nodded. "Agreed."
Chapter 28
We flew high above the branches to avoid startling any flocks of mewlies. Other more solitary hunters still found us. An owl the size of a horse nearly took Ambria, but a zap from my ice spell hit it in the eyes and sent it fleeing and hooting in pain. A swarm of fist-sized locusts pelted us like hail. They weren't interested in us, but in our brooms, gnawing on the wood and straw and forcing us to land and drive them off.
Evadora tried her best, but without an experienced queen, the creatures of the Glimmer had taken on the role of disobedient, murderous children. We alternated between walking and flying for hours, finally reaching the crooked mountain. The eternal twilight and bright light of the green moon never changed, but the tired muscles in my body knew it was late at night.
We followed Evadora to the base of a cliff and stood next to it.
Gwyneth peered up at the formidable peak. "Why don't we just fly to the top?"
"No need." Evadora ran a finger against the rock and we hurtled upward as if on an invisible levitator.
Gwyneth shrieked and gripped my shoulder.
I might have laughed if not for the sickening yank of gravity on my insides and the dizzying view spreading out before me. When we reached the top, I quickly stepped to a stone terrace I remembered all too well from my first visit with Naeve. Despite my exhaustion, the bird's eye view struck me with its terrible beauty.
To the south lay the broken islands floating in a galaxy dusted with twinkling stars. The land to the north was mostly unbroken, vanishing into the distance. I wondered where it ended and what waited out there. More importantly, I wondered where I could find a bed and sleep.
Ambria looked straight up at the moon. "It seems close enough to touch."
"Hard to believe those are the realms." Gwyneth took pictures of the small planets orbiting the moon. "Have you ever tried to fly up there?"