“Princess?” Piper asked.
Empress Malina raised her finger to her lips, motioning for them to be quiet. She closed her eyes, becoming very still. “She is on her way now.”
Soon they heard a scuffling sound, and a young girl with long blond hair like her mother hurried into the garden.
She must be our age, Gabriel thought.
“No, I don’t think so,” the girl said, looking at Gabriel. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Evangeline! You know it is impolite to read people’s thoughts without permission,” Empress Malina scolded.
“Sorry, Mother,” Evangeline said. “I couldn’t help it. His thoughts are so strong.”
Gabriel felt heat race to his cheeks. “Uh, that’s okay … I’m twelve. How old are you?”
Evangeline smiled. “I will be eleven in two weeks.”
“Very good, darling. These children are very special. They’re here to help us. Please be a dear and take them on a tour of the castle, and show them to the guest rooms. Remember, do not go outside after sunset. Dinner is at seven.”
***
Evangeline led them through the castle. “This is where we used to have parties,” she said as she danced to the center of one room, her voice echoing off the stone walls. Evangeline’s tone turned wistful. “There hasn’t been time for parties lately with everyone being so preoccupied.”
Piper wrinkled her nose. “Wait. What? You don’t have parties? Not even to celebrate birthdays?”
“No,” she replied sadly. “Not even my birthday.”
Piper ran to join Evangeline. They spun in circles, arms outstretched, in the middle of the massive room. It seemed to cheer the princess up. Evangeline grabbed Piper’s hand. “Let’s get out of here. There’s so much more to see.”
As they walked down the long corridor, they passed an open door. A pair of feet hung out from under the sheets on a bed.
“Who’s that?” Piper asked.
“Oliver,” Evangeline whispered. “My brother.”
“You have a brother?” Brent paused, looking in the room.
She motioned for them to follow her past Oliver’s room. “Yes, but he isn’t well. Mother is very worried. We think he is under an enchantment.”
“That sucks,” Gabriel said. “It must be boring, having to lie in bed all day. How old is he?”
“He’s sixteen. He will be emperor one day … if he gets better.” The princess frowned.
Piper squeezed Evangeline’s hand. “He’ll get well soon. We’ll make sure of it.” They walked into another large room at the end of the hall. Large portraits covered the walls. Underneath each one sat plaques inscribed with names.
“This is the chamber of memories,” Evangeline said.
“Cool,” Brent said. “There are so many pictures.”
Gabriel looked at one plaque that read: Quan Rubal. Above it, a picture of an older woman with gray hair, blue eyes, and a long, thin nose seemed to watch them.
“My great, great grandmother,” Evangeline said.
“Who’s this one?” Piper pointed to a man with wavy, shoulder-length brown hair, and gray eyes. The plaque beneath the picture read: Sir Landon Braddock.
“My father.” Evangeline looked to the floor. “He was human, and never accepted by our family. He’s gone now. Duke Malgor did it. I know it was he who killed him. Everyone knows it. Malgor has been trying to take over the throne since Mother married Father. Malgor thinks she tarnished our name—and our blood.”
“I thought you were human,” Gabriel said in amazement. “You sure look human.”
“Well, I am half-human and half-Zeveron,” Evangeline explained. “Besides, Zeverons look human, but we have … differences. Unique gifts. Powers. My mother is a Zeveron. Malgor doesn’t like humans or half-breeds.”
“What’s a Zeveron, exactly?” Gabriel asked.
“We are empaths. We can sense the sincerity of one’s inner being. We can also communicate through mental telepathy.”
“Mental telepathy?” Brent asked. “What’s that?”
“She means they can communicate with their minds without speaking aloud,” Piper answered.
“That must be how the empress summoned her to come and how Evangeline, er, read my thoughts,” Gabriel said.
Evangeline giggled. “Yes, sorry. Mother’s powers are very strong. Some can read minds, change form, or even fly. I have some of my mother’s powers.” Evangeline gave them a toothy grin.
“Can you fly?” Piper asked in amazement.
“I wish!” Evangeline spun in circles, flapping her arms like a bird.
Brent and Finley had been browsing around the curious room, listening to Evangeline. Finley suddenly squealed and jumped up and down, pointing to a portrait. “Me no like, me no like!”
They all ran to see what the problem was. The painting portrayed a man with wavy, dark-blond hair, parted in the middle. The filthy-looking mass hung to the middle of his back. He had a long, pointed nose, and sinister blue eyes that seemed hollow and empty, even in the painting.
“He’s scary looking,” Brent said.
“I know, right?” said Piper, backing away.
“That,” Evangeline said, pointing at the picture, “is—”
“Duke Malgor,” they said in unison, reading the plaque beneath it.
Gabriel arched his brows in surprise. “Why would his picture be here?”
“He’s my uncle. Unfortunately.” Evangeline wrinkled her nose, like she smelled something bad. “Mother says we must remember all family, even if only as a reminder of what we do not want to become.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” She ran to an open door on the other side of the room. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”
As they left, Finley grabbed Gabriel’s hand. Taking one last glance over his shoulder at Malgor’s picture, Gabriel hoped he’d never have to see that face again.
Chapter Nine
Gabriel and his friends sat at a massive table with Empress Malina and Princess Evangeline. Soft music floated throughout the large dining room, and vanilla scented candles flickered everywhere. Flower boxes lined the walls filled with multi-colored tulips and wildflowers.
Gabriel’s mouth watered as he stared at the gigantic feast spread out on the table. He eyed the large trays of roasted quail, covered in strange-looking herbs. Huge, steaming bowls of vegetables drizzled with honey, and freshly baked bread in baskets had been placed around the table. There were even dozens of kinds of fruits and nuts for Finley.
Brent eyed the food just as hungrily as Gabriel. “Let’s dig in! I think I’ll have a bit of everything.” He grabbed a handful of bread and wolfed it down.
While they ate, Empress Malina told them of Oliver’s sickness, and how she had been unsuccessful in making him well.
“He is under a terrible spell,” she said. “He’s usually such a lively young man, but now he can only lie in his bed. I am unable to read his thoughts. It’s as though they are locked within the strongest fortress. I know it must be Malgor’s wickedness. He doesn’t want me to rule Valta, let alone see my son inherit the throne.”
She shook her head. “Forgive me. Eating is no time for worrying. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” She made a motion across her lips, like she was locking them. “There will be plenty of time to talk once we are done.”
When they finished eating, Empress Malina asked them to join her outside in the gardens again.
Andimian stood to follow the empress. He reached his enormous paws in front of him, flexing them one at a time. As he stretched, he extended a large set of wings. He flapped them once in a final stretch, and padded away to the gardens.
Piper gasped. “Look at that! He has wings!” she said as they all followed him outside.
“Can he fly?” Brent asked.
Princess Evangeline grinned. “He sure can.” Andimian folded his wings against his back and let out a proud roar.
Brent laughed. “I think he knows he’s
amazing.”
“He is a special tiger. Not only is he my protector, he is also the leader of my army—an army of tigers just like him. They are an extraordinary species from the mountains in southwestern Valta.”
As they sat on the benches in the garden, Empress Malina turned to Gabriel and spoke again. “Gabriel, you have offered to help me. I know you are a good boy. I sense that you and your friends are innocents. I could use your assistance, but only if you have a willing spirit. If you do not want to do what I ask, I understand. I realize I ask much of you, and it may be too much for you to bear.”
“We’d love to help, but what can we do?” he asked.
“Malgor stole the Divinities, and Valta is dying because of it.”
“Divinities?” Brent asked, a puzzled look on his face.
“They are two small, glowing, crystalline objects. They connect to each other, making one unique Divinity. They energize our world and give life to every creature. They must be placed together as one to be successful. They belong to the ruler of Valta—who is me now.”
Glowing crystals … Gabriel’s stomach dropped as though he’d dropped down a giant roller coaster. “What does a Divinity look like, exactly?”
“They are the most beautiful things you will ever see.” Empress Malina sighed. “They are triangular and—”
“A triangular crystal? But Empress, I—I found one!” Gabriel jumped to his feet and untied the crystal from his neck.
“You what?” The empress and the princess stood. Andimian growled. Gabriel handed the empress the crystal. She held it in her hands, as though it were as fragile as an egg. “Where did you find it?”
“In Willow Creek, where we live. At the falls, the same place that brought us here.”
“You only found one?” Empress Malina’s eyes darted from the Divinity to Gabriel’s confused face. She took a few steps back, still cradling the crystal. It began to hum and shake.
Brent nodded at the empress. “Yeah, we tried to find more, but we got sidetracked.”
Empress Malina returned to Gabriel. As she did, the crystal Divinity became quiet and still once again. “It seems my enchantment worked. I cast a spell on the Divinities, ensuring that if they were ever lost or stolen, only an innocent could connect them. Duke Malgor stole the Divinities. He surely attempted to transfer their power over to him so that he could steal the throne forever. But then he lost one—or maybe he lost them both.” She frowned. “But I do feel within me that he still holds the twin to this one.”
She shook her head. “Malgor wants to rule all of Valta and he would no doubt enslave us all. But without the Divinities united as one, Valta is doomed. Something must have gone wrong in Malgor’s plans. If he had his way, he would use their power for his own gain. Even he would not want Valta to die, as it would mean his own demise, as well. Malgor must still possess the other one, and could not connect them due to the enchantment. Fate has brought a Divinity to you, dear Gabriel. It belongs with you until its partner is found.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened. “It belongs with me?”
“Yes, it does. It can sense your innocence, though it is mixed with guilt and sorrow.”
His face flushed hot. She must have seen the guilt he felt over his mom’s disappearance. Not to mention the extra pile of guilt he felt for getting his friends into the Valtan mess. Empress Malina handed him back the crystal and cupped his face in her hands. Warmth engulfed him as he grasped the crystal.
“The Divinity does belong with you,” she whispered, “until its match is found and order is restored. Do you see how it quiets down with you? You are truly special, Gabriel.”
He didn’t feel special. How can the crystal belong with me? He looked at Brent and Piper in stunned silence. The empress gently tied the crystal around his neck and patted his shoulder. Her face was etched in worry. “I fear it is too big a burden that I ask of you children. But I believe in fate. There is a prophecy that speaks of a child saving Valta. A human child. That angers Malgor to no end. He believes humans are not worthy of such honor. He feels being human is a condition, like a contagious disease.”
Princess Evangeline scowled and shook her head. “Uncle Malgor doesn’t know anything.”
Gabriel’s friends looked at him with eagerness, but he noticed a glimmer of fear in their eyes. His stomach twisted, scared by the thought of going on such an important quest. He tried to shake off the feeling of uneasiness. Maybe this is my chance to be somebody. To do something great. We can fix this. We have to try. Gabriel closed his eyes. His mother’s last words came ringing back. Be brave, Gabriel.
“I’ll find the other one, Empress Malina,” he said as bravely as he could. “My friends and I like quests. It’ll be sort of like a scavenger hunt.”
Piper pulled her lip between her teeth. “Yeah, just with a lot more at stake.”
“You really are wonderful children,” Empress Malina said. “But you cannot start on your quest until the morning. It’s bedtime now. No arguments.”
During the night, Gabriel drifted in and out of sleep, awakened by distant howls. They reminded him that there was nowhere in Valta where he could be completely safe. When he was sure the others were asleep, he crept out of bed, and headed to a table in the corner. On the table sat a lantern. With trembling hands, he snatched up the package of matches beside the lantern and lit it. Where was the stupid Spiderman night-light when he needed it? With a groan, he crept back to bed, and finally fell asleep.
The friends woke to a hot breakfast. After they ate, they walked out the front doors of the grand castle and onto a cobblestone walkway. Empress Malina gave Gabriel a map of Valta.
“The Tandem Wood is where Malgor’s castle stands,” Empress Malina told them. “It is a frightful place, and you will need to be very vigilant there. We are in the royal city of Shataundra. I have circled the places you will stop for rest. There, you will find kindred spirits who will offer you food, shelter, and advice. Stay on the path I have marked, and it will take you two nights to reach Malgor’s castle. You must go there in daylight.” She waved a pointer finger in the air. “Avoid dusk at all costs. The gruocks come then, and they will show you no mercy.”
“Eek! Gruock!” Finley squealed. “Me no like gruock!” He snuggled against Piper. “Finley want go home. Rakur tell Finley come back home. Me be in big trouble if don’t come home … ”
“Gruocks are filthy creatures, aren’t they, Fin-Fin,” Empress Malina said. “No, my dear Finley, you have fulfilled your duty and more by aiding these children and bringing them to me. I will send you home with a seeker. He has just enough power left to transport you in safety.” The empress closed her eyes, and within moments, a seeker arrived. Its floating eyes circled its head in mesmerizing waves.
“Say goodbye to Finley, children. It is time for him to return to his Fegan family.”
Gabriel sighed. He didn’t want Finley to leave them, but he understood. All the friends ran to hug the monkey, thanking him for all he’d done.
“Me want be with you again,” Finley said with a frown.
“Me too, Finley,” Gabriel said. “I’ll miss you.”
Just before he disappeared with the seeker, he warned them: “Be on watch!” Then he vanished.
“You need to be getting on your way, as well,” the empress said. “We’ve packed you food and water for your journey.”
Each one of the friends thanked her and took a bag of supplies. Princess Evangeline hugged them tightly. Then the empress went to each of them, the sound of her shoes clicking against the cobblestone. She grinned at Brent.
“Brent, I give you the gift of fire.” She took his hands and rubbed them briskly between hers. A wind stirred, and the tree branches swayed wildly. She rubbed his hands until the wind almost picked them up off their feet, then she let go. The wind died down as quickly as it had come.
“Whoa.” Brent stared at his palms, which now glowed in a brilliant red.
“Are you okay?” Gabriel asked. “
Does it hurt?”
“Not a bit.” Brent stared at his hands, turning them back and forth. “They just feel warm and tingly.”
“That is a powerful gift, Brent,” the empress warned. “Use it wisely.” She turned to Piper. “Piper, to you I give the gift of the merfish.” She bent over and gently touched Piper’s cheeks. “Open your mouth.” Piper did as instructed. Empress Malina blew into her mouth a steady stream of air she’d somehow conjured within her. It lifted Piper several feet off the ground. Piper’s eyes widened as her feet dangled. After a few moments, she landed back on the ground.
“There,” Empress Malina said. “Now you have the gift of air. You can swim among the fish with ease, and create a great wind with your breath.” She smiled at Piper and patted her head, looking satisfied. Piper looked stunned, but she managed to smile back, tucking stray ribbons of dark hair behind her ears.
As Empress Malina turned her attention to Gabriel, his stomach lurched with anticipation. She tugged gently at his cheek. “To you, my sweet, I give the gift of sensory enhancement. Close your eyes.” He did as he was told, and she placed her hands over his closed eyes. Her palms felt warm—almost hot—against his eyelids.
When she pulled her hands away, Gabriel stared at her in amazement. “You mean I’ll be able to see at night, just like I do in the daytime?” He blinked his wide eyes.
“Yes, Gabriel. It is a gift for a leader. It is only the first half of your gift. Quiet now.” She placed her hands on his ears, and pressed gently.
Then she let go.
“Well, that was easy enough,” Gabriel said.
“Do you feel any different?” Brent asked.
“A little dizzy, and my ears are humming—oh—it’s cool now.” He gave his head a shake. He held his hand above his eyes, shielding them from the bright sun, and stared across the courtyard “Awesome, I think I can hear the butterflies’ wings over there.”
“Wicked cool,” said Piper, following his gaze.
“Epic,” he answered with a laugh.
Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta Page 6