The Girl Who Walked Through Fire

by Dana Gricken

  Elara nodded, understanding perfectly. “You don’t have to explain yourself, Tavia. I have one parent too. I’d do anything for my Dad. I can’t imagine losing him.”

  “I’m glad you get it. Well, now that the mushy stuff is out of the way, we should probably get moving,” Tavia said, nodding towards the entrance.

  “You can’t tell me anything about where we’re going?”

  “Sorry. My lips are sealed. That’s what the humans say, right?” Tavia asked before she stopped for a moment, glancing at Elara’s outfit. “Where we’re going, those clothes will be ruined in no time. Trust me. And it looks pretty expensive.”

  “It was a gift, actually,” Elara replied, before frowning. “I don’t have anything else to wear.”

  Tavia shook her head. “Did you really think I wouldn’t offer you an outfit? What kind of a host would I be?”

  Tavia reached over, opening a nearby dresser drawer. She took out an outfit similar to her own – a revealing, slinky black top and a matching skirt. The outfit was accompanied by a pair of knee-high boots that were designed for trekking through mud and forest and a black leather jacket.

  Elara winced. “I really don’t think it’s my style.”

  Tavia smirked. “Take it or ruin your clothes. It’s your call.”

  Elara accepted the offer, quickly changing while Tavia turned around to give her some privacy. As Elara pulled the shirt over her head, she noticed out of the corner of her eye the glimmer of a familiar ring that sat atop the wooden shelf. She walked over towards it to get a better glance.

  “That ring...” Elara began, trailing off.

  Tavia shrugged. “Yeah? What about it?”

  Elara held up her hand which wore the ring, covered before by the long sleeve of her shirt and now the leather jacket. Tavia was speechless.

  “You’re with the New Dawn,” Elara said before she realized the truth. “That’s what you were doing that night outside the Veil, weren’t you? It was a rescue mission?”

  “What’s the point of even denying it?” Tavia asked herself, sighing. “Yes, fine. Prince Hadrian asked me to lead a group of witches back home through the tunnels, but I couldn’t make it. I don’t know what happened to them. Probably captured by the Knights, I guess. They don’t keep prisoners alive for very long. I heard what they tried to do to you.”

  “Do you know Fane? You both do the same work.”

  “Never heard that name before, although I work independently. You have to be careful who you trust. Prince Hadrian is the only one I’m in contact with,” Tavia looked over her shoulder to make sure no one – or worse, her mother – was listening in. “Look, you can’t tell my mother about this.”

  “Why not? She doesn’t support helping her own people? Hadrian told me all about the New Dawn. You save lives. I think she’d be proud.”

  Tavia shook her head. “It’s not that. Doing these rescue missions involves putting yourself in danger. If my mother found out, she’d ground me for an eternity.”

  “I’m confused about something. Why didn’t you just leave through the underground tunnels? Weren’t they built for this?”

  “To tell you the truth, the tunnels aren’t all that safe. They were built quickly and can cave in easily. We’re only supposed to use them in emergencies, like when we’re transporting a large group of people. I figured I could risk leaving the Veil by myself. I didn’t think there’d be Knights patrolling late at night, but I guess I was wrong.”

  “All right. I’ll keep your secret, but you know one day your Mom will find out.”

  Tavia sighed, rolling her eyes. “I know. It’s annoying.”

  Suddenly, a knock was heard at the door.

  “Come in,” Tavia said, hoping it wasn’t her mother.

  Jordaine opened the door and stuck his head through the small gap, waving to the girls. “I heard you’re going on a little journey. Can I come? You know, for protection. Or company. If it’s okay with you, of course.”

  Tavia shrugged. “I guess.”

  “All right,” Jordaine replied casually, as he tried to hide how excited he was. His eyes widened once he noticed Elara’s new look. “Wow, Elara. You’re becoming more like Tavia by the second.”

  “Oh, be quiet, Jordaine – or I’ll make you wear it,” Tavia replied, playfully rolling her eyes. “We should probably get going. I still want it to be light out when we make it to our destination.”

  Stone of Magic

  It had been several days since Merek Everly had seen his daughter. Prince Hadrian had been kind enough to update him on her whereabouts, but he missed her dearly. Merek was surprised to learn that Prince Hadrian had helped her escape. He never imagined the son of a tyrant King would be so willing to aid a fugitive. Although he didn’t trust Hadrian completely, he was grateful for his support.

  He thought of the last time he had seen Elara – which was at the arena – and how terrified she’d been. Besides that, he was also thinking about the Grey Knights. He shuddered to think what would happen if they found his daughter and if they would come back to interrogate him. With all of the commotion, he assumed they had just forgotten about his owed taxes. That was the only silver lining.

  Three rough knocks at the door tore Merek away from his ruminations. The Wards were usually quiet at this time of day, with everyone at work and school. He stood up quickly, turning off the television that he’d been watching mindlessly. He reached for the crowbar which he kept for protection by the entrance and opened the door slowly.

  He breathed out a sigh of relief when he only saw Prince Hadrian waiting for him. A horse with a heavy pack waited patiently behind him, and he wondered why he hadn’t driven. Merek opened the door wider and leaned the crowbar up against the wall. Hadrian noticed what Merek was going to do, and he laughed.

  “I sure hope you weren’t going to hit me with that.”

  “Forgive me, Prince Hadrian. It could’ve been anyone at my door. I’ve just been a little on edge lately. What can I do for you, your Highness?”

  “I understand how you feel, Mr. Everly. That’s actually why I’m here. I’ve decided to move you to a safe house in case the Knights try to use you to find Elara. The horse will draw less attention,” Hadrian replied before he pulled out a map and pointed to a remote area. “There’s a small, deserted village called Winter’s Peak, up high in the Bluefrost Mountains. Sometimes, dragon or witch refugees stay there if they have no other place to go. It’s hidden and secure.”

  “If I agree, will you tell Elara where I am? She needs to know I’m safe.”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want her to worry.”

  “I suppose it’s better than staying here. The Knights already know where I live,” Merek replied, taking one last look at his run-down home. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  Suddenly, Hadrian heard muffled voices approaching in the distance. It sounded like Grey Knights – and they were headed towards Merek’s home. Prince Hadrian wasted no time as he pushed Merek through the door.

  “Hey! What are you doing?” Merek asked as he tried not to tumble.

  “The Knights are coming. You need to hide somewhere quickly. I’ll try to stop them.”

  Merek nodded, and for an older man, moved quicker than Prince Hadrian would’ve thought. Merek took a moment’s glance around his home, trying to decide on the best hiding spot. He finally settled on a small place in the wooden cupboard in the kitchen, climbing in quickly and shutting the cabinet door. It was a tight squeeze, but he managed to just fit.

  Prince Hadrian closed the front door and shoved the map deep into his pocket. He pretended to be leaving as he saw four Knights strolling up the pathway near the garden.

  “Prince Hadrian?” One of the Knights asked in confusion as he approached. “What are you doing here, your Highness?”

  “I was searching for Elara’s father. I thought he might know where she is, but he isn’t here,” Prince Hadrian replied, innocently.

  “Is that so?” Another K
night asked, eyeing him suspiciously. “I was there at the trial. You defended the girl and disagreed with the King.”

  Prince Hadrian shrugged. “Well, I don’t agree with her punishment, but I still want her to be found. Our people are shaken by her disappearance, and I care about the kingdom’s well-being.”

  The Knights nodded, seemingly believing his story, except the burly Knight who remained skeptical.

  “We should have a look around anyway, in case there’s something you missed. The King wouldn’t be happy if he learned we didn’t search for her ourselves,” The Knight replied, crossing his arms.

  Internally, Prince Hadrian began to panic but he refused to let it show. “Knock yourselves out, but there’s nothing to be found. I’m afraid you’ll be wasting your time, gentlemen.”

  The Knights paid no attention to what the Prince was saying and instead entered the home, practically kicking down the door. They took a good, hard glance around. Merek could see their silver-plated boots underneath the crack of the cabinet door. He held his breath, realizing that any small movement could draw the Knights to his presence.

  Fortunately, the Knights gave up their search and exited the home. Prince Hadrian waited outside with bated breath.

  “There’s nothing here,” The burly Knight said, once he returned with the others. “You were right.”

  “I told you,” Prince Hadrian replied, calmly.

  “Forgive me, your Highness. It’s just-” The Knight was cut off by the sound of a cough coming from inside the home.

  “What was that?” The Knight asked, looking at Hadrian.

  “I have no idea. I didn’t hear anything,” Hadrian replied, quickly.

  “It came from inside,” The Knight said, before the four of them rushed inside the home, followed by a nervous Prince Hadrian.

  They were surprised – including Hadrian – to see that no one was there. The cabinet door was left open, but nobody was in it. The Knights remained still and quiet, waiting to hear something.

  Suddenly, a whinny was heard in the background as the group turned their heads to see Merek on the horse that Prince Hadrian had ridden in on. The Knights tried to chase after Merek, but the horse was too quick to catch on foot. The only thing they could do was watch as Merek rode into the distance.

  “Not my lucky horse!” Prince Hadrian exclaimed. “We can’t let him get away!”

  “We need to return to the castle and tell the King!” One of the Knights said before they got into their vehicle and sped off.

  Although Prince Hadrian was relieved that Merek had gotten away, he hoped he remembered the location of the safe house in Winter’s Peak. He didn’t even have the opportunity to tell Merek that there was an underground passage – albeit a dangerous route – that would lead to the safe house.

  Prince Hadrian figured he should return to the castle as well, and explain why he was at Elara’s home. He didn’t want his father to believe that he had planned Merek’s escape. The New Dawn would fall apart without him. He sighed, realizing he’d be walking back.

  “They could’ve at least offered me a ride,” He muttered to himself.

  ELARA RODE ON THE BACK of Tavia’s Tiburon, with Jordaine following closely behind on his. They had traveled back towards the forest crossroads and headed down one of two paths in the middle clearing. As they veered down a new pathway - the one beside the road leading to Deniva - Tavia nodded towards the way furthest to the right.

  “Never go down that last path. Just trust me.”

  “Why not?” Elara asked. “Is there something wrong with it?”

  “It’s called the Darkwoods. A tribe of evil witches lives there. They communicate with spirits and conjure demons, believing they’ll be protected by them when Kyros returns.”

  “Your mother would be upset to hear you say that name,” Jordaine chipped in from behind, pretending to scold her.

  “Oh, go lick a broomstick,” Tavia replied, half-jokingly.

  “Kyros? Who’s that?”

  “Kyros means ‘Lord of Darkness’ in Witchian. We’re forbidden to speak about him. Witches see him as the devil. He rebelled against The Source and fled to the underworld. Some believe Kyros will return to destroy The Source’s creation, and even worse, kill the Dragonwitch,” Tavia replied, and Elara gulped.

  “Don’t worry. It’s probably just a stupid legend. I mean, no one’s ever seen him – not even the dark witches!” Jordaine said reassuringly, and Tavia nodded.

  “It’s said that Kyros becomes more powerful when humans, dragons, and witches do evil things or practice black magic. He’s immortal because of it,” Tavia replied, before shrugging. “But a lot of witches think it’s just a fable to scare us into being good. With religion, who knows the truth?”

  “What about the other pathway?” Elara asked, quickly changing the subject.

  “It’s a city called Ashterra where the last tribe of witches lives. We call them The Departed. Their mindset is a lot like the Grey Knights. They fear and hate dragons and witches, despite being ex-witches themselves. They try to live like humans without magic. They don’t believe in The Source or Kyros, and they think that the Dragonwitch is evil.”

  “Them and everyone else,” Elara muttered. “What else can you tell me? What’s the difference between your magic and the magic the dark witches practice?”

  “There are many types of magic, named after the color it represents,” Tavia replied. “There’s green magic, which means nature, classical elements, and healing powers. Blue magic is of the mind, such as telepathy and telekinesis. Yellow magic relates to mediumship. Orange magic is defined by shapeshifting. Purple magic is emotional, which is all about aura reading and soul bonding. Black magic is used for evil – like conjuring demons – and the word for it in Witchian is Malefica. That’s what the witches in the Darkwoods use. Lastly, white magic is any magic that helps someone else - a word called Luminos.”

  “Don’t forget about red magic,” Jordaine added. “It’s rare and supreme. All about reincarnation and that good stuff.”

  “Gee, thanks, Mr. Know-it-all.”

  “Do The Fallen use Malefica magic?”

  “No, and thank The Source for that. We’d be in trouble if they did. That’s a line even they won’t cross,” Tavia replied, sighing. “It’s sad. I mean, I’m glad dragons and witches are hanging out again, but killing humans isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

  “I heard they killed an entire human city not too long ago. Somewhere in the Wards, I think. Who knows what they’ll do next?” Jordaine added, shaking his head. “Humans are still my people. I’m angry that The Fallen are slaughtering them.”

  “I wish Galea could be more like Mythania,” Tavia replied, wistfully.

  “You believe in the legend of Mythania?” Elara asked, in surprise.

  Tavia shrugged. “It’s a nice fairy tale. I want – and need – to believe in it; to believe in something better than what we have now. It’s good to have hope.”

  “This is nice,” Elara replied, after a few moments of silence. “I never hang out with people my own age.”

  “Didn’t you have friends back home?” Tavia asked.

  “No. I wasn’t allowed. My Dad always told me it was too dangerous. He was afraid someone would discover my mark,” Elara replied, sadly. “This feels normal.”

  “Well, we certainly won’t judge you for the mark,” Jordaine said, sincerely. “You’re always welcome here.”

  As they continued forward, the change in scenery was gradual and subtle. They were no longer in the city of red trees, but instead overlooked a tropical rainforest that was layered with countless shrubs, waterfalls, ponds, and undiscovered plants and insects. It was like paradise.

  “Welcome to the Velona Forest,” Tavia said, smiling. “Home of everything good and pure.”

  A blackwing flew by and into one of the tall trees, and Elara stared up at it in awe.

  “And the occasional home of the blackwings,” Jordaine added. />
  “I saw a blackwing like that not too long ago. I feel like they’re following me everywhere.”

  “Maybe it’s your soul bird?” Tavia asked. “In old witch legends, blackwings were loved ones who came back in animal form to guide and watch over you. Have you lost anyone recently?”

  Elara shrugged. “My Mom died, but that was when I was a baby. I never knew her.”

  Tavia nodded. “My father died when I was younger, too. I’d like to believe he could be a blackwing. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

  In the distance, a small fire spider spun its web across a nearby tree and Tavia shuddered. “As if regular spiders weren’t enough, these spiders can breathe fire. They’re not dangerous – unless you frighten them, of course.”

  Jordaine nodded. “I scared one a few years ago. It took forever for my eyebrows to grow back in.”

  Up a little further were training grounds, where several Miracari witches were practicing magic. One witch had managed to levitate, while another was focusing on moving a tower of heavy rocks telepathically. Elara was amazed.

  Beside them was a large, square monument made out of stone. It was nearly twenty feet tall and emanated a bright, white light that was calming and mesmerizing. There were some words carved into it, but they were written in Witchian. It appeared to be ancient and sacred.

  “It reads,

  ‘To be fearless, to be righteous;

  To be fair, and to never cause dismay –

  That is The Witches’ Way.

  To love, to hope;

  To dream, and to never stray –

  That is The Witches’ Way.

  If you ever feel lost, and you’re alone and afraid –

  Sometimes the path you walk is one you have made.

  Believe that your darkest night will become your

  brightest day.

  That is the Witches’ Way.’”

  Tavia replied, loosely translating it for Elara. “It’s a moral code we believe was built by The Grand Witch. The Source wants us to follow it closely. The Source is our God - like your Creator - but we believe ours is one with nature. There’s energy in this stone. It gives us our power; our strength. It’s been around forever.”