“Find Lucretian,” Fan’twar said. “The druid who spoke the Deathbringer prophecy is the only person who knows how to change the course of time. He has…the sword…” Fan’twar’s breathing grew labored. It took a moment to find his voice. “…has the sword of Dracon. Use it…to destroy Theht.”
“But how?” An image flashed through my mind—a vision of Kull stabbing me through the heart with the sword to kill the goddess inhabiting my body. But there had to be another way.
“Find Lucretian,” was Fan’twar’s answer. His eyes closed. I glanced up at Silvestra. She stared down on me with those icy eyes.
“You must find the druid,” she said.
Yeah, got it. Find the druid. Didn’t need to tell me twice. I stood and walked with Silvestra to the opposite end of the room where my friends were gathered.
“We need to find the druid,” I called to them.
“We already knew that,” Heidel answered.
“Yeah, well, now we really need to find him or else Faythander won’t survive.”
“Faythander’s survival is always in danger. What else is new?”
And people say I have a smart mouth. Sheesh.
“We need to find the druid or else my stepfather will never heal from his injuries and most likely die. Also, Theht will destroy our world with an asteroid. Ninety percent of not only our planet, but also of Earth, will die. Is that good enough motivation to find him?”
She shrugged. “I suppose.”
“Sister,” Kull said, “you are incorrigible sometimes.”
“I learn from the best, Brother.”
“Well,” Brodnik said. “When do we leave? I’d like to get this over with.”
“We all would,” I answered, glancing back at the witch.
“You must enter the portal leading to the Shadow Realm as soon as the sun rises,” Silvestra said. “Only the energy of the first light of day at the spring equinox can negate the dark energy that exists there.”
“How long will it take to travel to the portal?” Rolf asked.
“It is on the other side of the mountain’s peak. We should leave soon if we wish to arrive before morning, but I must beg you to reconsider this quest.”
“Why?” I asked.
She stood straight, seeming taller and more menacing as she scanned each of us. “Because this place you travel is not one I’ve ever allowed any mortal to enter before, and there is good reason for it. When I became the portal’s protector, I swore an oath to keep it safe. I only allow you there now because these are the direst of circumstances. But know this—the world you cross into is not like our own. It is inhabited by creatures who feed off life energy, who will do whatever it takes to survive. They cannot be killed with our weapons, for life does not exist there as it does here. The creatures there have no morals, no conscience. They will kill and take your life’s energy without a second thought.”
“Can’t be killed?” Brodnik said. “Then why are we bothering to bring our weapons?”
The witch narrowed her eyes. “There is one weapon that has the ability to stop them.”
Silvestra reached out, palm facing up, and whispered a word of magic. Greenish mist gathered around her hand. When the fog disappeared, she held a staff with a blue jewel atop it and runes etched into the dark wood.
The staff of Zaladin.
“Hold on a moment,” I said. “Is that—?”
“The staff of Zaladin? Yes.”
“But how did you get it? The elves had it last, didn’t they?”
“Yes,” Silvestra answered. “However, I was able to obtain it once again.”
“How?” Kull asked.
“A bargain was struck.”
“What sort of bargain?” I never liked when the witch mentioned bargains.
She smiled, but gave no answer. “Use this staff to find your way.” She held the staff toward me. As she did, Grace trotted forward, sniffed the staff, and let out a long, pitiful whine.
Heidel walked forward and patted Grace’s head. As Heidel focused on the staff, a haunted look crossed her face. Zaladin’s staff must have brought up memories. She’d been caught in a portal with Maveryck and traveled to Earth with him in order to retrieve it. There were memories attached to this object—fresh, painful ones that had yet to heal.
Heidel backed away. “Grace, come away from it,” she said.
The wolf lingered, looked at the staff, and whined once again.
“Grace,” Heidel repeated. “Come away.”
Grace sniffed, then paced back to Heidel’s side.
I took the staff from the witch. As I touched the wood, its magic made my heart skip a beat. The power was ancient, brittle, yet powerful. Theht’s presence also reacted to the magic. She stirred inside me, calling to the magic. I pushed the presence back as best as I could, but I still felt it lurking, watching. Waiting.
Breathing deeply, I focused on the witch to stay distracted from Theht. “Will this staff lead us to Lucretian?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Use your magic and the staff will show you the way.”
I studied the staff, its magic warming my hands, hoping I could use its powers without awakening Theht. Well, more than she already was awoken, anyway.
“What more can you tell us of this land we travel to?” Kull asked.
“I can tell you that to enter, you must rely on Olive’s magic.” She looked at me. “Do you know the spell word to cross through?”
Spell word? This was the first I’d heard of it. “I have the spell to cross from Earth to Faythander.”
“No, child. That spell will not work for a crossing like this.”
“Then what word am I to use?”
She studied me with those icy eyes, and I tried to keep from flinching. “The word you were given—the name of the world.”
Aha! “Yes, I know it.”
She nodded. “Keep it guarded. Do not repeat it unless you must.”
“I understand.”
“Very well. I shall guide you to the cave where you will prepare to cross before sunrise. Follow me.” She turned on her heel and headed for the doorway.
I glanced back at Fan’twar. He rested with his eyes closed, his head propped on his tail, reminding me of the way Han perched on the couch. I didn’t want to leave him. Even though I wanted to tell him good-bye, I decided it was best not to disturb him. Besides, I knew I would see him again soon.
The others followed the witch toward the doors, but I couldn’t bring myself to take a single step forward. If I was being honest with myself, I had to admit I was scared. I had confronted the bloodthorn in that cave—and it was also the place where I had encountered Theht. I never wanted to return to that place again.
Kull saw me waiting. He turned and came to my side.
“You’ve got that look,” he said.
“Look?”
“Yeah, that look that tells me when you’re worrying about something.”
“Not worried. Scared.”
“I see,” he said, his gaze drifting toward the doors where our companions followed the witch. “In that case, the feeling is mutual.”
I glanced up at him. Kull didn’t get scared. I wasn’t sure the word was in his vocabulary. “You’re scared? That’s hard to believe.”
He smiled and took my hand. “I know it seems impossible, but it’s true. I have an ill feeling about this journey. We travel to a place unknown, where I put not only my own life in jeopardy, but also the lives of my men and my sister.” His smile faded. “Worse, I will be putting your life in jeopardy.” A haunted look crossed his face. He’d told me before that he could never go on without me. I believed him. “But,” he said, “we have to reclaim the sword. At this point, we have no other options. If we want to stop Theht and save our world, then finding the sword of Dracon must be done.”
“Then let’s get this over with.”
“I agree.”
I walked with Kull’s hand in mine toward the doors and out of the ballroom,
casting one last glance over my shoulder at my stepfather. Somehow, I knew he would be okay. Silvestra could be irrational and cruel at times, but she would protect her own kind. Even if she had tried to kill him not long ago.
But she was different now. At least, I hoped so.
Kull and I caught up with our companions just as they approached the main gates leading outside. No one spoke as we followed the witch out into the night.
I wrapped my cloak around my body as the wind gusted. Silvestra, carrying a lantern with green magical flames, led us around her castle and onto a narrow trail leading up the mountain. Boulders and patches of snow replaced the vegetation as we climbed higher. The silver glow cast from a crescent moon shone weakly, although Silvestra’s lantern gave off enough light for us to see the path ahead.
My heart raced the closer we neared the cave. I wasn’t ready to go back and face the demons that haunted it. I held the staff of Zaladin in a firm grip, letting its magic infuse mine, helping to calm me.
In the greenish glow of Silvestra’s lantern, the scars on my wrists stood out more than usual. I hated those scars—hated the memories they brought up. And now I returned to the place where the creature who had put them there tried to kill me. But the bloodthorn was dead now, and I was pretty sure I feared crossing into the third world more than I feared him.
None of this mattered. Being afraid didn’t matter. I would face my demons any day if it meant I stopped that asteroid—and if it meant I rid myself of Theht’s presence.
The wind grew colder, and ice formed along our path. I slipped on a patch, but managed to stay upright and continue forward.
As we approached the mountaintop, the wind grew shriller, like the screams of lost souls all mingled together, a haunting sound that announced we’d arrived.
I stood with the others as we stopped.
In the eerie glow of Silvestra’s lantern, we stared into a giant fissure splitting the mountain—the entrance to the cave.
Chapter 5
Our group camped on the mountainside and got a few hours of sleep, although I wasn’t sure why we couldn’t have slept in the castle. If it was because Silvestra was determined to make it here before sunrise, I couldn’t blame her.
We awoke before the sun rose. The moon had disappeared, replaced by thick clouds that made the air smell of rain and hid the stars. After gathering our things and replacing our sleeping packs, we stood at the entrance of the cave.
A portal guarded the entrance, but the witch whispered a word of magic and stripped the spell away. We followed her inside. Walking the path through the cavern made old memories resurface.
Officer Gardener being held prisoner by the bloodthorn. What remained of the bloodthorn’s body smeared across the floor. Being horrified at how I was capable of such violence.
Worse, I remembered Theht infecting my mind with her presence.
My thoughts were interrupted when we reached the portal chamber. We crossed into the room, stood at its center, and faced the portal.
Blue light glowed from the reflective surface, taking up the cavern’s entire back wall—the largest portal I’d ever seen. Long streamers of sparkling magic danced through its surface. Reluctantly, I had to admit it was sort of pretty, even though it was leading us to a doomed world.
“What do we do now?” Rolf asked.
Silvestra spoke up. “Everyone except Olive must step to the portal and place their hands on its surface.” They did as she said, and then Silvestra glanced at me.
“Olive, whenever you are ready, place your hand on the portal and open the gateway.”
I approached, its magic making my skin tingle as I stopped in front of it. Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand and placed my fingers against it.
Magic punched me. I gritted my teeth against the pain and stood tall, letting my own magic balance the portal’s power. But as I did, a howling wind came from the surface, drowning out any other sounds. The wind tore at my skin and clothes, so strong it was nearly impossible to remain upright.
I turned to the witch. “What’s happening?”
“You must open the portal or it will tear you apart!”
“Couldn’t you have warned me sooner?”
“You must open it now!”
Turning to face the portal once again, I tried to focus on opening it. Usually I needed a clear mind, but concentrating on staying calm when I was about to be torn apart was slightly difficult.
Conjuring the spell word in my head, I attempted to say it aloud, but for some unknown reason, fear gripped me, making it impossible for me to utter it. I tried again, keeping my magic inside until the fear died down.
The wind’s intensity increased. Sparks of lightning shot outward, making the sound of crackling electricity mingle with the howling wind.
“Any time now,” Heidel shouted over the wind.
“I’m trying,” I yelled back.
“Try harder!”
I pressed my hand firmly against the portal’s surface. As the wind tore through the room, I gathered the courage to speak the spell word aloud.
“Dalgotha.”
The room began rumbling. A crack split the portal’s surface. It widened, making large rocks fall from the ceiling and crash to the ground behind us.
“Step through the opening,” Silvestra shouted.
I inched toward the gap as it widened, but the wind knocked me back. Rolf made it through first, then Heidel, Grace, and Brodnik. Kull took my hand and pulled me toward the opening.
We stepped through the portal.
I awoke with sand in my mouth. No, not sand. Something cold. Snow? As my eyes opened, I gazed at a deep purple sky overhead and a band of glowing stars stretching from one end of the horizon to the other. I spat the sandy stuff out of my mouth, realizing I lay on a ground covered in cold, icy beads the size of sand grains.
My muscles protested as I raised to a sitting position. The others lay scattered around me. Everyone looked dazed as we stared around our new surroundings. Kull lay not far from me so I crawled toward him.
Dizziness made it hard for me to see straight, so I steadied myself and took several deep breaths before I reached his side. He lay with his eyes opened, staring blankly overhead. I gently shook his shoulder, and he focused on me.
“You all right?” I asked.
“I’m alive.”
Heidel came toward us. “It looks like we all made it through.”
After getting to my feet, I located my pack and the staff, and I picked them up.
The others stood, and we scanned the landscape. A mountain range rose over the horizon. Other than that, I saw no other landmarks. The air wasn’t as cold as it should have been for ice to form on the ground, which made me wonder how the tiny pebbles managed to stay frozen. As I stared at the strange purple sky, I realized what I assumed were a band of stars might be something else.
“Is that… the moon?” I asked.
Near the horizon, what appeared to be a large chunk of the moon glowed in the sky, but the rest of it had been broken into pieces so small they looked like bright stars glowing in a band that crossed from one end of the sky to the other.
“Yes,” Brodnik said. “What happened to it?”
“No idea,” I answered.
“What do you know of this world, Olive?” Rolf asked.
“Not much. In the vision I saw, I got the impression that it was damaged somehow. I also know there are unfriendly creatures here, and we’ll most likely run into the Regaymor at some point.”
Brodnik wrinkled his nose. “Regaymor?”
“You remember those, don’t you?” Kull said, finally getting to his feet. “Big, scary phantoms with long, wispy cloaks. Impossible to kill.”
“Then we should avoid them if at all possible,” Heidel said. “Where do we go from here?”
Glancing at the staff, I tried to figure out how the thing was supposed to lead us to Lucretian when it occurred to me that I had no idea how to use it. “To be honest, I�
�m not really sure.”
Grace whined as she sniffed the ground. She trotted ahead of us, stopped, then headed straight for the mountains.
“Should we follow the beast?” Brodnik asked.
“The mountains would be the best place to find shelter,” Kull said.
“We can’t let her go alone,” Heidel said.
“Fine,” I answered. “We’ll go to the mountains. In the meantime, I’ll try to figure out how to use this staff.”
The five of us started across the desert. There were no trees or plants of any kind, no sounds except for our footsteps shifting over the icy sand. The air was thin. As we walked, catching my breath became more difficult.
The sun rose above the horizon, changing the sky from a deep purple to lilac. Although there were no clouds, the sky remained hazy, and the moon remnants were still visible. A stiff wind whipped my cloak around my legs.
“How does anything survive in this place?” Brodnik asked, breaking up the tense silence that had fallen over us.
“Not very well,” I answered.
When the sun rose higher, we reached an area where large boulders lay haphazardly over the ground. Resting on the rocks, we ate a quick lunch of dried fruit and a strange dried meat that tasted stringy and was difficult to chew, bread, and a few pieces of cheese. I’d been smart this time and smuggled a few granola bars with me. I shared, of course. I wasn’t totally selfish.
“It tastes like stale marshmeal,” Rolf said, staring at his half-eaten granola bar.
“At least it’s better than that cissikin she roasted in the pixie swamps,” Brodnik said. “She almost killed us with that charred rodent. Do you remember?”
“Yes!” Rolf answered a little too cheerfully, “I remember that one. It was horrible!”
Brodnik grunted. “Hard to forget.”
“But maybe we should forget about it, right?” I asked. “I think we’d be better off if we just forgot about it.”
“I like it,” Heidel said, interrupting us as she chewed a bite of the granola bar. “It’s better than those dried leathers you brought, Rolf.”
He squared his shoulders. “I’ll have you know that Bryn made those.”
Fairy World M.D., Boxed Set Two (4-6.5) Page 45