Revary

by Abigail Linhardt

  They were just paces away when Stella spoke again, her voice hoarse from the adventures that had unfolded.

  “How did I do the thing with the arrow?” she asked softly. “And the powers in the dungeon?”

  Clare weighed her answer carefully. Telling Stella anything she could dream up would happen inside Revary sounded dangerous after how close she was to walking away with the witch. Did she have to lie?

  “Things here are different,” she said, her voice low and sluggish as she scanned the horizon for the entrance to the castle. “I haven’t really figured it out.”

  Her joy at being inside the walls of the kingdom diminished quickly as she realized she had left a life behind. With that one lie, she realized the person she was becoming. If Jinx had survived the rise of Greylheim, he surely would not live through the rage of the witch Zealnis. She wasn’t sure he was evil, but if he had betrayed Zealnis, then he couldn’t have been all bad. He may have, at one point, been able to help them, shown his good side. But now she would never know.

  Chapter 14

  The Beast

  Inside the city gates, Clare spotted Galis. He was holding the under elf in his arms and the peasants around him were whispering in hushed tones and pointing. Some of the boys and men rested their hands on their swords and were watching very closely.

  “What do you want here, barbarian?” one man said suspiciously. “We have no quarrel with your people.”

  “Peace,” Clare said, stepping forward. When the people saw Folkvar, swords were drawn quickly and harsh words were passed. “Steady!” she ordered. “We’re here to see Queen Zephyr and Prince Gwen. She knows of us.”

  The man who first spoke met Clare’s eyes. “Then you are the earthling who discovered the oracle?”

  She smiled in relief, glad that at least they knew of her. “Yes.” She turned to Galis. “You lost it?”

  “No,” he huffed. “It was taken from me when I first came here days ago. I came with Gwen and Yilith and was attacked. They took the oracle and cast us out. It is a long story. We have seen many things and traveled far together.”

  “And the star?” Clare asked the others. “She would appear as just a woman to your eyes. Have you seen her?”

  “Yes, I know her. Gone too,” Galis said. “We were separated when a beast attacked. It took her. That is when this one was hurt.”

  Clare noticed that Yilith had not awakened yet. She went to Galis’ side and examined her little friend as he laid him down. When she removed his hood, the people gasped again and more swords were raised.

  “An under elf!” the man cried. “How can his kind walk this plane?”

  “Because I willed it!” Clare said sternly. “I have taken his sins and the debt of Prince Gwen’s soul onto myself. Call for the prince. He will tell you we mean no harm.”

  She turned back to Yilith and saw he was feverish and weak. He seemed even more deathly than when he had been poisoned by the spider-lizards. His skin was translucent and almost transparent.

  “Touched by the corruption,” Galis said. “It was that beast. He’s fading.”

  Clare nearly slapped herself. “I didn’t call his name yet,” she realized. “Yilith,” she said to her fallen elf. “Yilith, you’re okay. Get up.”

  She leaned down and noisily placed a kiss on the elf’s white forehead. Stella leaned over and looked at his coaled eyes and white hair.

  “He looks like—”

  “Yes,” Clare cut her off. She gave him a playful shake on his shoulder. Relief flooded her as his black eyes fluttered open.

  “I’m sorry, my friend,” she said, helping him up into a sitting position. He winced anyway. Naming him had helped bring back a little of his strength.

  “We cannot have an under elf in our city,” the man from before said apologetically. “We just can’t.”

  “Why not?” Clare demanded, standing up.

  “It is our way.” Yilith had spoken for the first time to her. He stood up, his height barely coming to Clare’s shoulders. “My people are born in the Nether and know only wickedness and evil. I am not offended. That is how it must be.”

  Clare smiled at Yilith. “But you are not that way.”

  The man stepped forward, his sword pointed at Clare. “You must leave our city. We cannot have corruption here.”

  In an instant, Yilith had drawn two curved katanas and stood defensively before Clare. His swords blocked the man’s easily with his speed.

  The man stood down when Galis too raised his large broadsword and Folkvar his crossbow. “Prince Gwen is dead,” he said simply. “The beast killed him.”

  The feeling in Clare’s legs trembled a little. “What?” she breathed. “What happened?”

  “We cannot speak at this time of night,” the man said. “Be on your way before danger befalls us all.”

  Clare started after him, but Stella took her arm. “Clare, let’s go home. Please?”

  Shoving her friend off, Clare set her face in a deep frown. “No. We go see the queen.”

  The white castle was still partly in shambles from Greylheim’s attack. The inside was no less melancholy and the throne room was nearly dark with only a fire in the center for light. In the throne hunched Zephyr, her back bent and her head bowed. Beside her on a little round table hovered the oracle in his blue light.

  “Clare and company, I see,” the oracle said. “Come for another round, have you, earthling?”

  “You speak like an earthling,” she challenged the oracle. “Who are you?”

  “Clare,” Queen Zephyr droned from her throne, interrupting them. “Why have you come back? You did no good this time. What makes you think now you will make a difference?” She raised her head and looked at the company before her. “A barbarian, a norcan, and that under elf again. Why have you returned so soon? My son is dead because of you.”

  Clare stepped forward. “As I recall, I saved him from the Nether Plane. You sent him there to Umbra to save your city. I’ve just come from Zealnis’ realm. Is that what would happen to Calimorden if you did not sacrifice Gwen?”

  The queen drew herself up a little more. “You speak to me as an authority? You are just a child. And what is this I see by your side? A black witch? Perhaps you are just another servant of Umbra like others before you!”

  The thought of other earthlings coming to Revary to help Umbra had never occurred to Clare. She bit back her retort, realizing the queen had some right to be cautious.

  “Can you send us home?” Stella asked the oracle.

  It smiled in its blue light. “Yes, I don’t think this land was meant for you, Stella.” The dark mirth was still present in its voice. “You don’t want to be here, but isn’t that power fun?”

  “Stop it,” Clare snapped. “If she wants to go home, she can. Please take her back.”

  The oracle swiveled its head to Clare now. “Why do you want to abandon your friend so badly?”

  “I don’t. I just want her safe.”

  “False!” it cackled.

  Yilith drew his curved katanas again, but Galis stopped him.

  “Very well, I’ll send her home,” the oracle sighed.

  “Thanks.” Clare turned to Stella, but she was gone. “Where is she?” she screamed.

  “I sent her home,” the oracle said, false hurt in his voice. “Like you said to. Now we can really get down to business.”

  That was not what she had wanted. She had wanted to explain to Stella that this was dangerous and she’d been here before. But Stella had wanted to go anyway, right? Maybe this was better than some long apology and long explanation. She did need to get down to business.

  “Oracle,” she said. “What is Umbra doing to this land? What does he want with it?”

  A small smile spread across the oracle’s face. “I cannot tell you. That’s like cheating.”

  “So cheat,” Clare commanded.

  “I can’t do that, Clardy-cat,” it giggled.

  The name brought back pricks
of memory from her other world and Al. Those thoughts seemed to make her dizzy. Thinking about her other world and her other problems, like her history assignment, seemed impossibly far away. She had to ground herself in this world.

  “Then who can?”

  “The Mirror among others,” the oracle said.

  “That’s so far!” Galis cried. “And already we witnessed its darkness.”

  “Too long a journey for me,” Folkvar added. “My legs could never carry me there, nor do I wish to set foot there again.”

  “I am not afraid,” Yilith said, his booted feet apart in a steady, strong pose.

  “Fear has nothing to do with it, small-fry,” the oracle chided. Yilith gnashed his pointed teeth. “Only an earthling can use that Mirror properly. And it is guarded by the beast now.”

  At this, the queen wailed and buried her face into her arms. “My son!” she wept. “My son was taken by the monster.”

  “And it is the one who wounded me,” Yilith said. “It was here only days ago when we lost the star.”

  “Alright,” Clare said, her mind made up. “Where is this Mirror?”

  “Careful of the corruption,” the oracle said, his voice now the serious tone she had only heard one other time. “It eats away at every soul, every plant, and every rock. Also beware the journey to the Mirror. The Ocean of Woe must be crossed, also the Desert of Snow, and many other dangerous paths. But an earthling may cross with no fear if she can understand how. You may even avoid all those things.”

  “And you won’t tell me?” Clare guessed.

  “Chide me not, Clare!” the oracle hissed. “I am not you and do not know what these perils will look like to you. To each his own adventure.”

  “Many earthlings have sought the council of the Mirror,” the queen said. “Promise me one thing, earthling girl. If you find the beast, slay it and rid my kingdom of its torments.”

  “I cannot slay just any monster,” Clare said. “I am sorry. But I will defend myself if it attacks.”

  “But what about Zealnis and this Umbra? I don’t want to leave you all here with no protection. I’m afraid that witch may come after me and attack your kingdom.”

  “What is left of Calimorden,” the queen sighed, “may be better off under the control of Umbra and the corruption.”

  “No!” Galis cried. “Many of the tribes have fallen to it as well. They have just vanished or worse; some have turned to wild beasts and ravage the land and other people now. If one touched by the corruption is not a ghost of who they were, they are changed to something else. Corrupted to monsters.”

  “I will protect Calimorden with your help, your majesty,” Folkvar offered. “Do not take offense, Clare, but I fear I cannot stand the journey to the Mirror again.”

  Clare didn’t know why, but she wasn’t going to force the poor norcan to make a journey he did not want to when he could be of use elsewhere.

  “That’s fine,” she agreed. “Galis, Yilith: I do not beg you to come with me.”

  “But I will,” Yilith said, holding his head up high. “I need to prove to the world that my race are not all evil and dark. And I owe you my life still.”

  “We will go with you,” Galis agreed with the elf.

  That’s when Clare remembered. “Oracle! Where is the star?”

  “Oh, what do you want with that dusty old crone?” the oracle teased. “Steady, girl!”

  Clare had taken a step toward the oracle and Yilith had done likewise.

  “Stars fall and fade, they’ll roam where they please. I’m sure you’ll find her when you find the beast.”

  Clare smiled at her companions, not ready to say her goodbyes. Galis, the brave and strong barbarian; Yilith, the loyal and mysterious under elf.

  “Is there any other champion you’d wish to send with us?” Clare asked the sad queen.

  “I can only offer you transportation,” she sighed. “I have no champion left with a heart to fight.”

  “We don’t need it,” Galis said darkly. “My people have ships worthy of taking us on our journey.”

  Clare understood now. “Your people are losing their will to fight, Zephyr. When they are so empty, they can be filled with Umbra’s will.” She focused on the queen. “Do not lose heart, your majesty. If you have hope, then Umbra’s will cannot harness you. Folkvar, work with the people to keep them from becoming heartless and fill them with hope. This is what happened to Zealnis. She has no hope and her people are utterly lost.”

  “Sounds like you’re ready to go and see that monster,” the oracle said. “There’s just one more thing.”

  A huge arching gateway appeared before Clare with a monstrous gravitational pull. Even before she saw the quarry within, she knew what it was.

  “No! I will not go back to my world now!”

  “You have to. You’re an earthling,” the oracle said.

  Clare was slowly being dragged toward the gateway. “How can you do that? Who are you to decide these things?”

  “Go home, Clare,” the blue head said again. “You cannot stay here and forget about your home. Remember what Zealnis told you.”

  Galis and Yilith had each taken one of her hands and were helping to hold her back.

  “Let me stay!” she begged as she inched toward the gate.

  As she was held back, some of the guards were swept up and pulled into the gateway. How Galis and Yilith held her back from that power was beyond her.

  “Now look what you’ve done?” the oracle screamed. “People from this world are now in yours!”

  Suddenly, black shapes, like people in cloaks and hoods, appeared from the shadows and began to fly into the gateway.

  “Servants of Umbra!” the queen cried. “They’re leaving this world!”

  “Clare, go!” the oracle shouted. “Those wraiths are in your world now. You must go before more enter!”

  Tears in her eyes, Clare nodded to Galis and Yilith. “Please wait for me,” she sobbed. “I’ll be back and we’ll go then. I promise.”

  She pulled her wrists away from her fantasy friends and let the gateway suck her up. As she tumbled through the hole into her own world, she thought she heard someone from the other side call her name and tell her to seek out the Golden Son. She thought it was the oracle, but she couldn’t be sure.

  In the vortex were a few of the remaining black wraiths. Umbra must have sensed the open gateway and sent as many as it could in that instant. The wraiths didn’t touch her or attack in any way. They just cascaded down with her. For a moment, she vaguely wondered what creatures from this world would be like in hers, but with the impact onto the hard ground, she was knocked unconscious with a cracking sound ringing in her head.

  Somewhere, a monster wept as she vanished.

  Chapter 15

  Halloween

  The time between her last visit to the fantasy world and the week of Halloween, Clare saw little of Stella. Or rather, made little eye-contact with her. They were at school together and in the same classes, but Stella spent most of her time with her eyes glued to her mobile, sending messages to some unknown person. Everyone else—Jeff, Alice, Lance, Max, and Al—all swore they were upholding their end of the pact and were not conversing with her in that way.

  “I tried talking to her,” Alice whispered as Mrs. Vander handed back her tests over A Midsummer Night’s Dream. “She either ignores me or says I have no idea what she went through. Good job on Queen Elizabeth, by the way.”

  She wanted to hear about the latest trip to the fantasy world and what had happened there. Clare had been vague when recounting the tale to everyone over their online game chat the other night.

  “And,” Alice went on, examining her near perfect score with a critical eye, “Jeff wants to know why you haven’t told Al? Don’t you think it may help him see the way you are if you tell him?”

  Clare scoffed. “What can I tell him? I mean really.”

  “The same thing you told Lance and I,” Alice said firmly. “Just
let it come.”

  Not Al. He’d never understand.

  “I’ll think about it,” she said.

  But she didn’t. Science class was long and awkward with Stella angry at her and not speaking. Al was going through the questions and quizzes not knowing about anything that had been wreaking havoc on Clare’s life.

  “I don’t understand why you can’t get these questions done on time, Clare,” Al lectured her. “Don’t you measure your time? Make a schedule and work on it? I’m assuming you’re doing your work for Professor LeGrand?”

  At first, she didn’t hear him. She was twirling the bone necklace around her fingers and reliving the best moments. When Galis and she had struck down that sandpede; when they found the oracle and his loud mouth; when she had first met Gwen in the Nether.

  Her eyes filled with tears instantly at the thought of his name and his blue-black hair. His honest eyes and fearless bravery.

  “Clare!” Al snapped his fingers in front of her face. She hated that more than anything.

  “What?” Her voice was sharp and agitated.

  “You’re not with us, are you?” he said flatly. He closed the book with a thud. “Get your act together.”

  Clare sat up straighter and frowned in disbelief.

  “What is wrong with you?” she said. “I’m here and I’m doing the work.”

  He shook his head as Stella continued to ignore them both. “You didn’t. Not this time. And the tension between you two is giving me a headache. When are you going to wise up and pretend like this science midterm matters?”

  The blood rushed from Clare’s face so fast, her stomach did a somersault. Her eyes went wide with hurt the same time her eyebrows lowered in rage.

  “I did do the questions,” she declared. “I just didn’t over-do them like I normally do. I’m tired, Al. Some things in life are really starting to affect me and I’m sorry I’m not living up to your high standards.”

  “Do you even have standards anymore?” His voice was thick with sarcasm and malice. “Or is whatever you were discussing so intensely with everyone else in private chat the other night bugging you?”