by Blair Drake
Chapter 11
After a breakfast of more fresh fish, Jasper, Rylan, and Willow gathered around the embers of the fire and discussed the plan to move forward. The river was still grossly swollen, and it would be suicide to attempt a crossing, even if Jasper’s impressive strength manifested. There was no guarantee the magic would kick in when it was needed, and no one felt like putting it to the test.
“There is another way,” Willow murmured thoughtfully.
Both Rylan and Jasper came alert. “Which is?” they asked almost simultaneously.
Willow picked up a stick and began drawing on the ground. “It would mean a day or two’s walk north and then ye would have to backtrack once ye got across, but it’s the only way I can see unless ye wait for the flood water to subside.”
Jasper looked at Rylan and then returned his attention to Willow. “That’s not an option. We have less than a week before the moon is full. If we don’t find the stone by then, Rylan will be under the spell forever.”
Willow stared at him. “How do ye know this?”
Rylan cleared his throat. “It’s written in the book I told ye about.”
Willow nodded. “Then we have no time to waste.”
Jasper frowned. “What do you mean, we? You’re not involved in this quest.”
She turned on him with a fierce frown. “Of course I am!” she protested. “Rylan’s my father!”
“That’s beside the point,” Jasper argued. “Haven’t you been listening? Rylan needs me to find the golden stone. No one else. This mission will be fraught with danger. I don’t need the extra complication of having to worry about your welfare.”
Willow puffed up with indignation. “Excuse me! In case ye haven’t noticed, I’ve been fending for myself for most of my life. I don’t need anyone to see after my welfare, least of all, ye!” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “I’m coming, and there’s nothing ye can do to stop me.”
Jasper’s breath came fast. He stood to his full height and came nose to nose with Willow. “Do you want to bet? I’m in charge of this quest and I say who stays and who goes. We have to cross a flooded river. There’s no guarantee we’ll get through it without drowning, and if by some miracle we do get across, who knows what other dangers lie ahead? You’re staying here, and that’s final!”
“No!” Willow shouted. Her eyes flashed fire.
“Yes!” Jasper yelled back, frustrated beyond measure.
“Enough!” Rylan yelled. Hobbling over to them, he forced his way between them. “I won’t stand for two people I care about fighting like this. It’s distressing, and this whole thing is upsetting enough.” He drew in a deep breath and slowly eased it out. At the same time, he moved away and settled himself against a fallen tree trunk they’d used earlier as a bench. Jasper and Willow also moved away from each other.
“I’ve lived with this curse for nigh on twenty years,” Rylan continued in a tired voice. “And though I’ve chafed against every minute of it, I’ve also learned to live with it.”
He paused and dragged in a ragged breath. “Then Jasper came along. He quite literally stumbled into my path. It was like our meeting was predestined. Then I got a good look at him and realized our meeting was predestined. He was the one. He was the one foreshadowed in my family’s book; the one who would save me.” Rylan lifted his head and stared at both of them. “For the first time since the day I was cursed, I felt hope. Mayhap I would be given a chance to live my life as I should have. Mayhap this boy was the one to make it happen.”
He paused again and silence fell between them. Rylan broke it a short time later when he spoke again. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and we’ve certainly faced challenges along the way —Jasper more than me. Then again, it makes sense he’d be the one put to the test. He’s the savior, after all, the only person who can set me free.
“There were times when I doubted our ability to make it. Those times have been the hardest of all. Every time I give in to the blackness it depletes my strength—strength I’ll never get back.”
“Ye must stop thinking those dark thoughts!” Willow admonished. “I’ve only just found ye! I can’t lose ye now! You must believe in Jasper and his power to save ye, Papa! It’s the only thing ye can do!”
She moved over to where Rylan sat and threw her arms around him, burying her face against his chest. Her quiet sobs could be heard in the silence. Rylan held her a little awkwardly and did his best to offer her comfort.
“There, there, lass. Don’t cry like that. It’ll be all right. I promise.”
She pulled away and stared at him, her face red and blotched with tears. “How can ye promise? Ye don’t even believe it yerself! Ye just admitted there have been times when doubt has crept in. How do ye expect me to believe everything’s going to be all right when ye don’t?”
Rylan looked across at Jasper and gave a helpless shrug. Jasper almost felt sorry for the man and was more than pleased the question wasn’t directed at him. He had no clue how to deal with a woman’s tears. He also wasn’t in a position to provide Willow with reassurance everything would be all right. He had no idea if he had what was needed to find the stone and break the spell. Only time would tell and unfortunately, time was something they didn’t have enough of.
With a spurt of impatience, he cleared his throat and looked back at Rylan. “We need to get moving. The sun’s climbing. Time’s a wasting. We have a river to cross.”
“Yes.” Gently, he set Willow away from him. “I wish I could take ye with me, lass, but Jasper’s right. We have no idea of the dangers ahead of us. I want to know ye are safe. Please, stay here and wait for us. I promise, we’ll return.”
Willow pulled a face. “Ha! Another promise ye have no idea if ye can keep! I don’t want to hear yer promises. I want to go with ye. Besides, ye need me to show ye the crossing. It’s not easy to find. Do ye want to risk going the wrong way and drowning when ye have come this far?”
Rylan gave a reluctant grin. “Ye are a stubborn one, I’ll give you that. Just like yer ma.” A wistful expression passed over his face.
Once again, Jasper cleared his throat. “We need to get moving, Rylan. I vote she stays here where she’s safe. She can give us directions.”
“It’s not that easy!” Willow shot back.
Rylan looked from one to the other. His expression reflected how much he was torn. He reached up with an unsteady gnarled hand and smoothed back the dark hair from Willow’s face. He cupped her cheek.
“Ye have no idea how it feels to finally have found ye,” he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. “I held out no hope of finding ye. I didn’t even know ye were alive! I knew nothing about ye other than what I had been told. I can’t lose ye now. I just can’t!”
“Then take me with ye, Papa!” she implored. “Let us spend every moment we have together! Who knows how long we have? Let’s not waste a minute of our time together.”
Rylan’s shoulders slumped on a heavy sigh, and Jasper could tell Willow would get her way.
“All right, lassie. Ye can come with us, but ye are going to stay well out of harm’s way. If anything were to happen to ye…” His voice drifted off.
Willow’s voice gentled. “Nothing’s going to happen, Papa. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”
Rylan acknowledged her comment with a nod but still looked far from happy. Jasper knew exactly how he felt, though a tiny part of him lit up with excitement because Willow would accompany them. Despite everything, he looked forward to spending more time with her and getting to know her better.
“Let’s get going,” Jasper said and shouldered his backpack.
Together, they doused the fire and Willow collected a few things in a bag made from woven leaves. Rylan offered to carry it for her, but she quickly took him to task.
“I’m a big girl, Papa. Ye don’t have to look out for me. I told ye that already.”
Rylan opened his mouth to pro
test but wisely closed it again. They’d already had this discussion. It was time to accept the decision and move on.
Jasper headed out of the clearing. The other two fell in line behind him.
“Head back toward the river,” Willow called out. “We’ll turn north when we get there.”
Jasper did as she suggested and trudged through the all-too-familiar damp and moldy undergrowth, rotting vegetation, and fallen trees. The humidity scorched a path across his neck. For the first few days of their trek, his neck had burned and peeled from the constant exposure to the sun. Rylan applied some kind of cooling poultice that had removed most of the sting, but Jasper didn’t feel like repeating the experience. He hoped his skin had adjusted somewhat to the heat and that he would turn brown instead. The height of the sun in the sky reminded him of the time they’d lost. If they were to make it to the cave in time, they needed to pick up their pace.
With that thought in mind, he struck out for the river, determined to make it there as quickly as possible. As it was, they would have to retrace their steps somewhat in order to safely cross it. He only hoped the extra time wouldn’t prove catastrophic. He refused to contemplate what failure might mean, both to him and to Rylan. He’d find the damned stone and set Rylan free, and then he’d find his way home again. There was no room for doubt.
From the corner of his eye, he spied a dark shadow twenty yards to his left. He stopped and the shadow moved. The panther. His heart skipped a beat. Mika? He sure hoped so.
Surging ahead, the gap between him and the others widened. Secure in the knowledge Willow would assist her father if he needed help, Jasper continued forward. He didn’t have a clue why he’d been chosen for this mission, but now that he was, he intended to prove his worthiness and bring home the gold.
His thoughts wandered to his school mates and he wondered where they were and what became of them. Have they also been caught up in this strange magic? Are they even now wandering in some foreign land, some strange alternate universe that’s demanding something of them—something they aren’t even aware they have to give?
He wished he knew. Somehow, he’d feel better knowing this journey was all a part of someone’s grand plan, and in the end everything would work out and he’d return home to his family, where he belonged.
He clung to the thought.
He heard the roar of the river long before he saw it. Breaking through the trees, he stepped onto the softer ground of the marshland. Mud squelched under his school shoes. He looked down and grimaced. Some of the stitching had come loose along one side. There was a tear in the leather near one toe. They weren’t meant for such rough treatment. They’d never be the same again. Still, the need to replace his school shoes was the least of this worries. He’d be happy enough just to make it safely home.
“Ye’ll need to head over that way,” Willow said, coming up behind him.
He looked in the direction she pointed and nodded. The grass was tall and thick. It swayed in the light breeze. The sound of frogs and crickets was almost as loud as the river.
“Watch out for water moccasins,” Willow cautioned.
Jasper jumped. He hated snakes.
“Then of course, there are the crocodiles,” Willow continued in a casual voice. “They grow pretty big around here.”
Forcing a smile, Jasper shrugged. “Bring it on.”
“Stay up on the high side,” Willow murmured. “Ye’ll have a better chance of avoiding them there.”
Jasper gritted his teeth and refrained from responding. It annoyed him she saw through his nonchalance. They continued along in silence. Rylan brought up the rear.
Jasper wasn’t sure if he imagined it, but the old man seemed to have aged dramatically over the past few days. Perhaps it was the shift to the silverback he was forced to endure a couple of nights earlier? Or maybe he was simply tiring of their journey. It was taking a lot out of Jasper too, and he wasn’t walking around in a body well past his prime. Not for the first time, he sent up a silent prayer that they cover the distance quickly and find the golden stone in time.
At last, Willow called a halt to their progress. The sun was high in the sky. Jasper’s throat was dry and scratchy. His belly rumbled. They’d traveled for hours and still had a long way to go. Willow told them it would be dark by the time they reached the place where they could cross. The plan was to make camp near the river and cross at first light. Jasper’s stomach tightened with nervousness at the thought.
No matter how far north they went, it seemed to him the river was every bit as wide and treacherous as what they’d left behind. The muddy water flowed full and fast. He hoped his trust in Rylan’s daughter wasn’t misplaced and they’d come out of this alive.
Jasper shrugged off his backpack and collapsed on the damp ground with a sigh. He was tired of walking, and they still had a long way to go. He glanced across at Rylan who sat down on the ground beside him and, not for the first time, Jasper marveled at the old man’s stamina. Rylan might be a man of thirty-nine on the inside, but he walked in a body nearly twice that age.
And then there was Willow. Tall and slender, the muscles in her arms were shapely and well defined. Living in the forest, foraging for food, fighting off enemies, living by her wits – none of it could be easy, and though he initially argued for her to stay behind, it wasn’t from any concern she couldn’t take care of herself.
“Are ye hungry?” she asked, pulling the remnants of their meal of fish from her sack.
Jasper nodded. “Starving.”
“Here. Take some.”
She handed him a healthy portion of fish wrapped in bamboo leaves, and he took it from her with a grateful murmur of thanks. She did the same to Rylan, and all three of them ate in silence, relishing the taste of the fish in their mouths.
For the past seven days, apart from the hare Rylan caught, and the cheese and bread and small morsels of dried meat they’d brought along, the two of them had relied mostly on nuts and berries to sustain them. Jasper wasn’t particularly fond of fish in his old life, but right now it tasted like heaven.
The roar of the river reminded him it was still nearby. He turned to Willow and voiced the question that had worried him most of the day. “What makes you so sure we’ll be able to cross there safely?”
Willow swallowed before replying. “I didn’t say it would be safe, only that it was safer than where ye intended to cross. The river takes a sharp turn not far from here. It means it’s significantly narrower at a certain point. There are also a number of large boulders interfering with the flow. That means that there will be places to hold on to and rest if we need to and it also slows the rush of the water. It won’t be easy, but it’s our best hope.”
He considered her answer and eventually nodded. “Well, you know better than us about this. We’ll bow to your greater knowledge. Let’s hope we make it safely across.”
“Here, here,” said Rylan, lifting an imaginary cup.
Jasper finished his meager meal and then went to the river to wash up. The night was well upon them, but once again, he was aided by the moonlight. He picked his way among the grass and reeds and then bent down to wash his face and hands. He hadn’t realized Willow had followed him until she spoke.
“Tell me about the world where ye live.”
Chapter 12
Surprised, Jasper slowly stood up. It was the first time Willow had expressed any interest in where he came from. Rylan had filled her in on how Jasper came to be on Ardhi, but there was plenty they hadn’t talked about. He’d hoped she might be as interested in him as he was in her, so her curiosity pleased him.
Realizing he still had water dripping from his chin, he hurriedly swiped his hand across his face. Even in the dimness, he felt self-conscious. Dirty and unkempt, he stood only a few feet away from a girl who made his heart somersault with nerves. He was sure he looked a mess.
His mom often complained he never brushed his hair, but right now he’d kill for something to unravel the knots
in his longish blond locks. He thought of his toothbrush with yearning and wondered how long it would be before he had the chance to clean his teeth properly again.
“Did ye hear me, Jasper?” she asked. A thick, shapely brow rose in silent query.
His cheeks heated like they’d been set on fire, and he cursed the moonlight likely making his discomfort obvious. “I-I don’t know where to start,” he stammered.
“My father said ye came from another planet and a time far in the future. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Jasper replied, recovering some of his aplomb. Hurriedly, he pushed down his sleeves and straightened his shirt.
“How did ye get here?”
He gazed at her and answered honestly. “I don’t know.”
“Okay. That’s a little strange... Did ye come alone?”
He told her about the wild storm that had swept him and some of his school friends off the roof of their school. “I’m not sure if they were also sent to distant lands or if I was just the lucky one. It’s one of the first things I’m going to ask when I return home.”
“That’s why ye want to help my father, isn’t it?” she said quietly. “Once ye fulfill the prophecy and free him from the spell, ye plan to return to the place where ye came from. Am I right?”
Jasper gazed at her steadily. “Yes.”
“What’s it like in yer world? Does everyone wear funny clothes like ye?”
Jasper looked down at his school shirt and tie which were now stained and torn almost beyond repair and laughed. “Yes, I guess so, although most wear clothes in better condition than this. I went through the portal into your world wearing my school uniform. This is all that’s left of it.”
“Tell me about school. What is it like?”
Jasper thought about the six years he’d spent at Gray Cliffs Academy and the friends he’d made there. Those were some of the best years of his life. He explained to Willow as best he could.