by Brindi Quinn
~
“Pssst.”
Huh? Something made me wake while it was still dark.
“Miss Havoc?”
I jumped up at the whispered voice.
“I am sorry to wake you.”
There were two green eyes gleaming in the darkness.
“Nyte?” What’s he doing here? What time is it?
“Will you come with me?” he asked, voice hushed.
I rubbed my eyes. “Come with you?”
“I would like to take you somewhere for a while, if you would oblige. It is my thanks for putting out the fire in Edaw . . . and for saving Yh’tak.”
Go somewhere with you? In the dark!?
I was glad that said darkness hid my flushed cheeks.
“You don’t have to thank me,” I protested, embarrassed not only by the thought of him showing his gratitude, but also by the thought of being alone with him while the others slept.
He shot me a half-grin and without giving me much room to decline the offer, said, “I will meet you outside in ten minutes.” He skated away before I could protest further.
Heart pounding, I got dressed and met him at the bottom of the rope ladder.
He said nothing, but held his finger to his lips and gestured for me to follow him. From there, he led me through the haven and then out into the denser trees surrounding it. I followed him for several minutes, all the while wondering where he was taking me, though I felt no fear of the dark forest or our unknown destination.
Where? But then I saw it.
Ahead there was a clearing; in its center a sparkling pond lit by the moon’s radiance.
“Wow!” I cried, running to the water’s edge.
Nyte stepped next to me, eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “Not only is it ‘wow’, it is enchanted.”
“Enchanted?”
He chuckled a bit, and reached out his hand toward me.
I was nervous, shaking even, to be alone with him in such a setting. But when I looked into his deep forest eyes, my uncertainty melted away, and I let my hand fall into his. It was incredibly warm.
His spirit.
“Now, step forward,” he said, looking over at me.
“Step forward? Into the water?”
He nodded.
It was easier said than done. The idea of an enchanted pond was foreign to me, and I didn’t entirely feel like going for a swim in the midnight hour, but something in his eyes told me that wouldn’t be the case.
I took a deep breath and put one bare foot into the pond. I waited for the cold water to race over it. Only, instead of sinking immediately to the bottom, I somehow managed to stay above the water.
I’m floating? I pushed my foot against the water, but it wouldn’t sink. It was like there was a clear glass barrier over the entire surface of the pond. I reached down just to be sure.
Nope, still wet. At the findings, I let one excited giggle escape me.
Nyte laughed again and pulled me to my feet.
“Walk with me? The thing I wanted to show you is actually over there.” He nodded in the direction of ‘over there’ with an impish smirk.
I grinned and nodded, but had to dig my thumbnail into the side of my finger to be sure it was really even happening.
He led me to the center of the small, moonlit pond and pointed to the sky. The break in the forest allowed for a view of the heavens that was usually shrouded by the treetops.
“The stars are colorful tonight,” I muttered in awe.
It was an understatement. The stars were vibrant, glowing shades of rose, teal, and gold; and they were dancing.
“Things will only get more dangerous from here on out. I wanted to show you something peaceful before . . .” His voice trailed off.
Show me? Why me? But somehow this was just what I needed. Everything that had happened: captured, then captured again, then the ups and downs of Illuma’s fate . . . Something peaceful was perfect.
It was hard to look away from the swirling light patterns with the stars weaving along the night sky like that, but I dropped my eyes and stared into his.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Are you . . . crying?” He looked concerned. “Ah! What is wrong?! Is it because I interrupted your slumber?”
“No, nothing’s wrong.” I flicked the small tear from my cheek, not really sure what had produced it. “Anyways, ‘slumber’?” I sniggered and stared back up at the dancing stars.
His worried eyes lingered before he too returned to stargazing.
We stayed that way, staring at the sky in silence, for a few minutes. Then Nyte absentmindedly started to rub his thumb along my fingers as he held my hand. It was only a small gesture, but it made my heart race.
Ah! Why?
It was warm, and then it was warmer; and I had a sudden impulse to pull even more warmth from his hand, but I knew I had to stop myself.
Cut it out! Be normal!
I tried to remain composed, but when I could no longer take it, I had no choice but to break the silence.
“I-I have an idea,” I blurted out, calling us back from the bewitching night sky.
“Hm?” Nyte looked at me, puzzled.
Let go, Aura. I reluctantly obeyed myself and dropped his hand.
I next took a running start, fell to my knees, and slid across the enchanted pond’s surface. It was slippery like ice, but it was neither hard nor cold. A smile lit across Nyte’s face. He followed my lead, and running much faster than me, fell on his chest and slid along the top of the water.
“Show off!” I called, laughing.
“You are just mad that you are so slow.” He winked at me and slid again, this time on his back.
The childish outburst had done its job and freed me from my warmth-craving state.
Phew. But what had gotten into me?
I walked to the side of the water and dragged my foot around in circles along the surface, still marveling at its solid yet liquid form. After a bit, Nyte joined me. He sat down on the water, hugged his knees, and stared into the inky blackness dotted with dancing stars. I did the same.
We stayed like that awhile in quiet contentment.
Why did I feel so comfortable and yet so nervous around this person? I barely knew him, yet I felt like we’d long been friends. What a ridiculously carefree thing for us to do, stealing away to an enchanted pond in the middle of the night, while the rest of the party slept in preparation for the journey. It was dangerous, childish, and irresponsible, but we both went with it as though it were completely normal.
Now I was sure; we were both in our element under the moon and stars; creatures that preferred the night to the day, found comfort in its still serenity.
I still feel like I’ve met you before.
I wanted to stay there with him until the dawn light reflected off the glassy water, but we both knew it couldn’t be so. We spent no more than an hour before leaving the mystical place.
“I wish we could stay a little longer,” I said when we headed back to the village.
Nyte shook his head. “I already feel guilty for pulling you out of bed. I am certain Grotts’ hammer would meet my stomach if they realized you were gone. We cannot chance it.”
“Afraid of a silly old hammer?” I teased.
He grinned. “Very much so.”
“Well then, thank you for putting your stomach on the line. I’m glad you brought me there.” I stared off into the distance and allowed a faraway look to cross my face. “It was really lovely.”
“It is my favorite thing in Elenque. I could not leave without seeing it once more.”
His favorite thing? And he shared it with me? My heartbeat sped again at the thought.
“Here we are.” He pointed to the hanging ladder that led to the treehouse.
“Oh . . . right.”
Already? The trek back had gone quickly. I’d wandered alongside him, entranced in the fresh memory of the pond and unaware that we’d even entered the village.
&
nbsp; “Good night, Miss Havoc,” he whispered, the night breeze ruffling the bottom of his shirt.
I grasped the end of the ladder and turned to him. It looked like there was something else he wanted to say, so I waited, but in the end, he turned away, leaving the ‘something’ unsaid.
Though I wanted to know what it was, I didn’t press the issue.
“Sleep well,” I called quietly to him, dazed.
Had that really just happened? Our midnight excursion now seemed like a fading dream, a half-awake, half-asleep phenomenon that would forever be only barely visible within the confines of memory.
I crawled back into the treehouse, certain I was much too giddy to fall asleep. But a second time, sleep came easily.
~
This time I awoke with the dawn light. Kantú was snoring loudly in the cot next to me.
I stretched my arm out and poked her.
“Stop it, Rend,” she said sluggishly. “Give Grotts back that kluckoo. We’re hungry.”
I giggled and rolled out from under the covers. It was a chilly morning, but the crisp air that crept through the window and fluttered the cottage’s curtains was refreshing. I took in a hearty helping before reattempting to wake Kantú.
Eventually, I managed to pull her out of bed with promises of the delicious food we would ‘surely’ encounter in the next town, and after several more minutes of coaxing, she even ate one of the bitter purple fruit that I offered her.
I’d count it as a win, even though she cheated and held her nose.
We put the few things we’d acquired in Yh’tak into our packs before taking one last look at the simple wooden cottage and climbing down the rope ladder for the final time.
Everyone was waiting for us outside of Elder Pietri’s tree when we arrived.
“Be swift on your journey. Deliver the Heart of Salvation unharmed at all costs.” The elder addressed the guard then turned to me. “Aura, you are the only one that can save us. Harness your power, and do not stray from your task.”
The weight of his words was heavy, but I nodded, accepting the fate he handed me.
Then, with the Elder’s blessing, we left the quiet haven.
I didn’t know what lay ahead on the road to the Yes’lech headquarters, but I knew I might be one step closer to reuniting with Illuma each step of the way.
I followed faithfully through the barrier and into the unknown.
Chapter 7: The Traveler
It was evening by the time we made it out of the forest. Tepid night air moved through Wanzyr Grove, forcing the honey-like fragrance of its chime trees to reach us long before we encountered the grove’s entrance. This scent left a trail leading to the petite trunks, and it filled my head with all sorts of images of the beautiful growths yet to come, but when we finally reached the entrance, it was more like some haunted potter’s field than the pleasant grove I’d hoped for.
The chime trees had sinewy, drooping branches that were covered in tiny succulent-smelling flowers. Nyte explained that these intricate light-pink flowers were actually tiny bells; their delicate chiming a siren song intended to lure unsuspecting travelers into their silvery branches. It was hard to imagine that such majestic flowing boughs could be so deadly, but the Elves assured us that waiting inside each of the stout trunks lived a small, carnivorous creature called the ‘suckle’. Suckles were said to be adorable, fluffy creatures with giant, glowing purple eyes, though the two Elves had never seen one themselves.
After being lulled to sleep by the chime tree, the traveler would then be ripped to bits by the suckle to be shared between beast and tree. It was an amazing and frightening partnership.
I shivered. All through the grove, small purple eyes shined, thirsty and waiting.
“A-are you certain this thing is going to hold, sorceress?” stammered Scardo, eyeing a particularly large purple shine.
“Of course it will, worm!” spat Rend. “You dare question my might!?”
“Cousin, calm down. You need to focus.” Nyte put his hand on her shoulder. “Please leave her be, Scardo. It is imperative that she maintain the spell.”
“Ah, yes.” Scardo narrowed his eyes at her but said nothing more.
The spell was, in fact, a protective barrier she’d cast around the party, blocking the deadly melody from reaching our ears. I was grateful for the barrier, but the circumstances of it put us all on edge because not only did it block out the chimes, it completely blocked out all sounds from the outside world. Thus, it was eerily silent inside of our bubble. Too silent.
The atmosphere made us all uneasy.
“This quiet just adds to the creepiness of this place,” I said, and my voice echoed within the spell.
“Yeah, yer right,” said Grotts. “Sure’d be nice if we had somethin’ ta listen to.”
I didn’t like the way his eyes sparkled.
To listen to? I hope you don’t mean . . .
But whether or not ‘that’ was what he’d meant, Scardo took it that way. “A wonderful idea!” sang the hunched man. “Why don’t you sing for us, Miss Heart?”
“ME?! That’s not really what I . . .”
Blood flushed my cheeks at the thought of singing in front of all of them. I knew I should be used to it by now, but even after everything that had happened in Yh’tak, it was still hard for me to melt into my role as ‘songstress’ for the group.
With a face that was way too hopeful, Scardo prodded, “It would make this unpleasant journey through Wanzyr much more enjoyable.”
“Ehh.”
“Do it, do it!” chanted Kantú.
Great, not you too!
But then I sighed at the absurdity of my reservation.
Singing for others was supposed to be my trade, so what was with the inhibitions? It was funny in a pathetic sort of way. Even during apprenticeship, I’d never really thought about life as a songstress. I mean, I knew I’d have to sing, but I hadn’t really considered the fact that other people would be listening. It was kind of my duty to do things like this now, wasn’t it?
Good grief! Why am I only now realizing that?! Maybe I should have become a fisherwoman.
“Do it!” Kantú was still chanting.
Rend looked perturbed, but the rest of the party seemed encouraging, so I reluctantly nodded.
“Yes!” Kantú flashed an excited smile.
“If you try any sort of bewitchment, Heart of Havoc, I shall bind you faster than you can blink!” warned Rend.
Grotts shot her a menacing look, daring her to try.
Though she’d taken the opportunity to show her distaste for me, I suspected her unpleasant attitude now had more to do with my friendship with Nyte than anything else.
Nyte chuckled. “Go ahead, Miss Havoc. Do not mind her.”
I blushed at his approval. Rend scowled.
But still, you could have let the bickering go on a bit longer.
Nonetheless, I took a deep breath and began. I chose a soft, soothing Song of Old about lost light traveling over the great ocean, searching for its source. It felt nice to sing something other than an ariando. Far less tiring.
I traveled through the melody until I got to the sad ending:
“Where will you go when everything night turns to light?
What will you do when night betrays you,
And you can no longer shine?
Will you find your meaning,
Will you find your meaning,
When your heart is lost?”
Self-conscious, I forced a chuckle and brushed my hair behind my ear.
“Lovely!” said Kantú.
“Really? Thanks.”
The others, aside from Rend, of course, nodded in agreement, and I tucked another strand back, hoping for something to divert their attention away. Luckily, Kantú did just that.
“Grottsy?!” she said all of sudden, filling the bubble with high-pitched reverberations. “Everyone! Something’s wrong with Grottsy!”
“Wrong?” I looked over
at him.
The burly man had dropped his hammer and was wiping away what appeared to be a tear with the calloused palm of his hand.
“What? A marocanfly flew into my eye,” he grumbled, looking away.
There was a smile hiding in the corner of Scardo’s long mouth. “Peculiar,” he said. “I was under the impression that we were in an impenetrable bubble.”
Kantú let out a soft chitter and in a whisper to me said, “Guess he’s a softy under all that muscle.”
We continued through the grove, unable to make camp until safely reaching the other side, and our talk quickly turned from playful banter to the task at hand.
“So,” said Kantú, pulling on Grotts’ elbow, “What’s Yes’lech’s headquarters like anyway? Is it big?”
At the question, a faraway look spread over his dirt-splotched face. “Big?” He gave out a growling laugh. “Sure is! It’s a great stone fortress by the coast. The pinnacle of miner stonework!”
Kantú let out an awestruck, “Oooo.”
“The coast.” I repeated, feeling homesick. “I miss the waves.” I could almost hear the gentle lapping of water against rock.
“As do I,” said Scardo.
He clasped his hands behind his back in reverence, but it only made him look like some kind of amphibious butler, once more bringing to mind the image of a fancy dinner of wetland creatures.
I held in the urge to laugh, but it was difficult.
Nyte saw my struggle and in distraction said, “Ah, Scardo!”
“Er, yes?”
“Are there many members to your society?”
“Th-that is-” The Yes’lechian was reluctant to answer at first, but then he huffed and said, “Our numbers are secret to even us. We’ve been charged with the greatest secret of all,” – he nodded at me – “therefore, all precautions have been taken.”
Me? I was their greatest secret? It made sense, I guessed, but it was weird, considering how incredibly normal I felt. They had me wrong. They had me so wrong.
“And this ‘Mystress’ we’re going up against?” I said. “Do your members combat her often?”