An Army of Good

by K. D. Faerydae

  * * *

  “Grace… Grace…” a voice whispered softly. Grace took her arm away from her eyes to see Jazmine crouching beside her.

  “Sorry to wake you, I know you must be exhausted, but you can’t sleep out here in the full sun, you’ll get heatstroke.”

  “Huh… erm… okay,” Grace replied, still half asleep.

  “Come on. Let’s go inside, lunch is ready.”

  “Great, I’m starving,” Grace said, suddenly recognising the empty feeling in her stomach that she’d woken with. She wiped dribble from the corner of her mouth and opened her eyes wide in an attempt to shake off the tiredness. Jazmine held out a hand and pulled her to her feet.

  “Where’s Christian?” Grace asked, brushing sand from the backs of her legs.

  “He’s at the beach house with the others, they’re waiting for us to get back before they eat. I thought it would be nice for us all to sit and have lunch together. Once we’ve eaten, Zavier wants to speak with you both. And I’m sure that you and Christian must have lots of questions that you want to ask us. We’ll all be there to help answer them for you.”

  “That’s good. I’d like to know lots more about Liberty, like are the Fire Fairies going to dance for us again tonight? And will the starfish be lighting up the sea?”

  “Yes, I’m sure they will, but that’s enough questions for now. Come, let’s go and eat, you can ask all the questions you like after lunch,” Jazmine said.

  “See you later, Abi,” Grace called out as she dug her toes into the sand and headed off toward the beach house.

  Abigail, still merrily munching on seaweed, acknowledged Grace by lifting her head and smiling, crinkling up her sparkly eyes.

  * * *

  The kitchen was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread. The table was laid with an assortment of baked foods, wholesome fruits and an array of cheeses. Grace pulled out a chair and sat herself at the table beside Christian.

  “Hi, my name’s Grace, remember me?” she said sarcastically, holding her hand out for an introductory handshake.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m sorry, but it’s not every day you get to swim with a dolphin, is it?”

  “I’m only teasing you, Chris,” Grace said, lowering her outstretched hand. “It’s been good to see you having so much fun. I was worried about you when we first got here. You were really quiet, and that’s not normal for you, is it now? You’re usually very loud and very annoying.” Grace laughed.

  Zavier was seated at the head of the table, with Jazmine and Aaron seated on either side of him. When they’d arrived at the beach, Zavier had sent for Jazmine, requesting she join them at the beach house. He knew that when the children arrived they would benefit from her warm and mothering nature. The rest of the herd had been advised to remain at the meadow until further notice.

  “Well, this makes a nice change. I normally have to wrestle Zek or Tobes for the last of the food,” Aaron said, picking up the one remaining bread roll.

  “Manners, Aaron!” Jazmine said scornfully. “Don’t forget our guests.”

  Aaron rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry, would either of you like this roll?” he grumbled, offering it to the children. “No, okay then, I’ll have it,” he said, quickly shoving the bap in his mouth before Grace or Christian had a chance to answer.

  Jazmine shook her head and couldn’t help but smile. Grace and Christian laughed as Aaron’s cheeks bulged, pushing his eyes into a squinting grin. Chester hopped onto the plate, and began to peck at the remaining crumbs.

  Zavier pushed back his chair and rose from the table.

  “Grace, Christian, I’ve allowed you very little time to adapt to your new surroundings, and for that I apologise, but I don’t have the luxury of time, we must talk, you need to know why you are here, and you need to be made fully aware of the dangers that lay ahead.”

  Christian grabbed Grace’s hand under the table and gave her a concerned look. He’d been having such an amazing day with Mateo that he’d forgotten about his worries, and now they came flooding back to him with the full force of a steam train: the evil Nomeds, the loss of his powers, the absence of everything that was familiar to him, except for Grace that is, she was his comfort, his link to home, his best friend.

  “Come, let’s sit outside,” Zavier summoned.

  Grace gave Chris’s hand a reassuring squeeze and pulled him up from his seat. Why is she so okay with everything? Christian wondered, and then he realised, she doesn’t know, she still thinks we have the magic powers that we used against the Nomeds in her garden on New Year. She thinks we’re able to protect ourselves. Well, I know differently, he thought as he rubbed the bruise on his thigh that he’d received after falling from the tree branch.

  Zavier pulled a stick from the unlit fire and sat himself down on a log. He jabbed the stick into the sand and began to draw.

  “Is that supposed to be Mateo?” Grace asked, looking at the image etched in the sand that resembled a dolphin, nose down with its tail in the air.

  “No, this is a map of Liberty,” Zavier replied, and he continued to draw, marking above the dolphin’s tail with an N for north, below its nose with an S for south, beside its belly with an E for east, and a W beside its back for west. “We’re here,” he said, pointing along the belly of the dolphin. “This part of Liberty is known as Serenity Sunrise Beach. I brought you here because this is the safest place for you to be.”

  “How come it’s safer here than it is in the woods? It was so beautiful there. It didn’t look dangerous to me,” Grace puzzled.

  Zavier pointed to the dolphin’s head on the map. “This is Bluebell Wood, and the entrance into Liberty lies just about here,” he explained, tapping the part on the map just above the dolphin’s nose. “It was morning when I brought you into Liberty, the safest time of day to travel, and I chose the southernmost path from the entrance to Serenity Sunrise Beach, ensuring that we journeyed as far away from Shabriri Swamp as possible.”

  “Shabriri Swamp? Now that does sound dangerous!” Christian gulped.

  “Yes, it is dangerous, very dangerous indeed. It is home to the Nomeds and their king… Balam.”

  “Where is this swamp?” Grace asked.

  “It is in the northern region of Bluebell Wood. Round about here,” Zavier answered, poking the stick just behind where the dolphin’s eye would be.

  “Well, that’s not far away enough for my liking.” Christian shuddered.

  “Oh Chris don’t be such a wuss,” Grace griped. “We smashed those Nomeds before and we can smash ‘em again,” she exclaimed, waving a clenched fist in front of his face.

  Chris grabbed Grace’s knuckles and pushed her fisted hand away “No, Grace, we won’t be able to smash ‘em, we don’t even have any super powers. We’re just normal kids and those Nomeds are more likely to bash us!” he shouted angrily.

  “But we did send them flying across my garden, we have got powers,” Grace argued.

  Ice perched on a log beside Grace and weaved her head, contemplating whether or not to tell her the truth, and then she said. “I’m afraid not, Grace, it wasn’t you or Christian that sent the Nomeds flying across your garden that night, it was me. I used a propelling enchantment on the Nomeds. I was protecting you. You see, if I had allowed the Fire Nomed Adramalech to get any closer to you, he may have burnt you or even worse, killed you.”

  “So what are you saying? We haven’t got, and never did have, any powers then?”

  “I told you, sweet child, only those that has the blood of Liberty a-running through their veins gets to has the magic and the power,” Abigail interjected from her nearby grazing spot.

  “I told you,” Chris mumbled.

  “Now, listen to me and listen carefully,” Zavier commanded, regaining control of the conversation. “The reason that you are both here is because Liberty is in great danger from the Nomeds. If we don’t find a way to destroy them they will conquer the realm, and when their food supply runs out he
re in Liberty they will invade your world, and they will feed on your kind. I’m sorry to have to be so blunt, but you needed to know.

  “Now, the Great Prophet foresaw that Humans are essential if we are to win this fight. Don’t ask me why, but if the Prophet says that you are needed, then needed you are. The Berthold of the realm were told to gather some good Humans, and we decided to start with you. And yes, Grace, you do have magical powers. Abigail was wrong to say that you have to be born in Liberty to have them. You are good and kind, and those are two of the most precious and magical powers that anyone can possess. So you see, your kind hearts, combined with our power and magic, will form a lethal combination of magical-good and with enough good, we will overcome evil!”

  “Okay, okay, I get it, you need us,” Christian snapped. “But to be honest I don’t see how we can help that much… and I… well, I… I’m scared, okay. There, I said it. I’m scared, all right!”

  Chris covered his face with his hands and tried his hardest not to sob.

  Zavier walked over to Christian and pulled his hands away from his face. “I cannot one hundred per-cent guarantee your safety, but you should know that I would sacrifice myself in order to protect you. I think I know a way in which I can reassure you. Come with me,” he said, pulling Christian off the log he was sitting on and dragging him over to a clearing in the sand.

  Zavier picked up a large rock and hurled it to Aaron. The large black man caught the beach-ball-sized rock with ease, as if it really were a ball that was filled with air. Zavier then grabbed Christian and pulled him close before turning him to face Aaron. “Be brave and trust me,” he whispered.

  “What are they going to do?” Grace asked Ice.

  “Just watch, Grace, you’ll see,” Ice replied.

  “Okay Aaron, when you’re ready. Hard as you can,” Zavier ordered.

  Aaron leaned back, getting himself ready to launch the rock at Christian. Christian went to cover his face with his hands again, but Zavier pulled them away and firmly held them against Christian’s side.

  “Trust me,” he whispered.

  Aaron took a powerful run up, kicking the sand out from under his feet as he propelled himself forward. Then, with all his might and gritting his teeth, he threw the rock at Christian.

  Christian screwed his face up in fear as the massive rock hurtled toward him, but the rock didn’t hit. It collided with Zavier’s invisible barrier, falling to the ground and hitting the sand with a thump.

  “Whoa, how’d you do that?” Chris gawped in amazement.

  “That’s not all. Francis, show them what you can do,” Zavier ordered.

  Grace and Ice were seated on a log in front of the unlit beach fire. Francis flapped his tawny wings and perched himself atop Grace’s head, then he bobbed himself up and down, up and down. The ground shuddered as if there were a mini earthquake, and Grace, Ice and Francis disappeared.

  “Where’d they go, where’d they go?” Chris asked, astonished.

  “We didn’t go anywhere,” Francis hooted, and then what appeared to be a log and a pile of firewood transformed back into Grace and the two owls.

  “Were we invisible?” Grace squealed excitedly.

  “Err, yeahh!” Chris responded.

  “That’s so cool. Show us what you can do, Ice,” Grace asked eagerly, looking into the snowy owl’s yellow eyes in wonderment.

  “Well now, as you know I am an enchantress, and there are many enchantments that I can perform. Too many to be able to show you all of them; you will get to see a few while you are here though, of that I’m sure.”

  “Well, what about you, Chester, what can you do? Show us.”

  “I’m just Chester, there’s nothing extraordinary about me,” the little robin uttered from within the fire-mound where he was perched.

  “Now that’s where you are wrong, Chester,” Zavier interrupted, “there is plenty that is special about you. You are loyal, brave and kind, and I wouldn’t be the Halfse that I am today without you.”

  Chester puffed out his chest with pride, “Aww, stop it, you’re making me blush,” he said, as the redness of his feathers glowed richer than ever.

  “Now, do you both feel safer knowing that you have us to look after you?” Zavier asked.

  “Yeahhh… definitely.” Grace beamed.

  “Well yeah, I suppose, but those Nomeds seem mighty powerful too,” Christian said, still feeling very wary of the whole situation.

  “Yes Christian, they certainly are, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise, but you must believe me when I say that we will do everything within our power to protect you, and by we, I don’t just mean us here, we aren’t the only ones that will be looking after you.”

  “Who else will be looking after us then?” Christian asked.

  “Yeah, who else?” Grace echoed.

  Zavier walked back over to the partly-drawn map and picked up the stick.

  “Like I said, we are here at Serenity Sunrise Beach, and out there is Serenity Sunrise Ocean.” Zavier lifted the stick and pointed it towards the vast expanse of water. “You have already met some of the beach’s and ocean’s inhabitants, but you have yet to meet their Berthold, Pelagia. He is the commander of the Water Warriors. He and his Warriors will also be protecting you.”

  “We’ve been here for over a day now. How come we haven’t seen any of these Water Warriors? ” Grace asked.

  “They reside deep within the ocean. You see, they are at their most powerful when they are within their home, and they will only come ashore in extreme times of need.”

  “Well, I thought this was an extreme time of need!” Christian exclaimed.

  “Yes it is, but for the moment we are safe and Pelagia and his Warriors have returned to the ocean to regain their strength in preparation for the next battle. They will come ashore when they are needed, don’t you worry about that.”

  Zavier poked the stick into a section of the dolphin’s body.

  “This is Maytime Meadow, my home. This is where I live along with the rest of my herd. They will also be helping to keep you safe. Then up here in the north of Liberty,” Zavier said, running a line in the sand up to the dolphin’s tail, “is Winter Forest and the east and west Fishtail Mountains.”

  “This is my home,” Ice beamed proudly, as she sat on the sand by the section of the map where Zavier had marked Winter Forest.

  Zavier poked the stick in the dolphin’s east tail fin. “These are the East Fishtail Mountains where the Berthold Aurora can be found.”

  “Is Aurora an owl like Ice?” Grace asked.

  “No, not an owl, a leopard and a Meh-Teh”

  “What’s a Meh-Teh?” Grace and Christian asked together, wide-eyed with curiosity.

  “Well, a Meh-Teh’s a kind of snow creature; I think you call them Big Foot, Abominable Snowman or Yeti in the Human world.”

  “A girl Yeti, I bet she’s pretty!” Christian sniggered.

  “She’s one of the most beautiful creatures you’ll ever meet,’” Zavier snapped, raising one eyebrow at Christian.

  “And here in the West Fishtail Mountains lives the Berthold Takoda. And before you ask, no, he is not an owl, he is a very large wolf. So you see the realm is full of many good creatures and powerful Berthold, and they will all be joining forces to ensure your safety while you are here.”

  “So how long will we be here? And what exactly is it that you need us to do?” Grace asked.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to either question yet, Grace. I’m going to return to the meadow tomorrow. I’ll speak with the Great Prophet, and I should have the answers to your questions when I return.”

  * * *

  That night the ocean sparkled. Its still water glowed a beautiful rich turquoise, decorated by the luminous starfish that dappled its bed. On-shore, the beach poppies slowly unfurled their petals one by one, releasing the Fire Fairies into the night sky. The fairies brought the deadness of the firewood to life as they flickered over it, and wh
ile Grace and Christian sat on logs toasting marshmallows in the fire, the Fire Fairies entertained them by dancing blissfully within the quivering flames.

  CHAPTER 3

  DIVINATION

  Zavier had galloped to the meadow as soon as dawn had broken, taking the little bunny Benjamin with him. He’d delivered Benjamin safely back to his family and was now standing proudly before the Great Prophet. A gentle breeze blew a curtain of the weeping willow’s thin, wispy branches over him. The leaves brushed daintily against his silver-grey coat, and the Great Prophet prepared to whisper.

  “We have the Human child and her friend, a boy of the same age. They are safe and well. Jazmine is looking after them at the beach house,” Zavier said.

  The branches’ delicate leaves caressed Zavier’s body and the Great Prophet began to speak softly to him.

  “The girl child’s presence is strong, there have been many whispers since her arrival; she is definitely of great importance to us. The Nomeds have been lying low ever since she entered the realm. They have sensed that she is a great threat to them, and they have therefore kept themselves concealed within the swamp. We must not get complacent at their absence though, for a great battle has been foreseen, a battle bigger than any ever encountered in the history of Liberty. The Nomeds will be preparing for war and we must do the same. Zavier, you must prepare an army… an army of good.”

  “I hear you, Great Prophet, but I fear the children are too weak to withstand such a war.”

  “Fear not, Zavier, and never underestimate the power of good. The prophecy confirms that kind Humans are the key to victory; we must find more of them to join our army. The children will be able to advise us on which Humans to select. But Zavier, this prophecy also came with a warning; the children are immature, and with such immaturity comes ignorance. They may not always make the right decisions, and of this we must be extremely cautious.”