Raff chuckled as he pulled the amulet from its sheath. “Seriously? Is that all you have, dog-face?”
Leah saw the fear flash in the kitsune’s eyes, and then a blue glow began to form around her right paw. “Shield!” she screamed, as a bolt of blue fire streaked towards them.
The shield came up at the last possible moment, wicked blue fire exploding against the outside. Griz was looking wildly around her, her paw still holding onto the blue glow, waiting for them to reappear.
Raff held the amulet in front of them. “What the hell was that? I don’t remember anything about the blue fire thing in any of the memos we received. Must have missed that one!” He chuckled, the hint of a nervous tremor in his voice. “Okay, let’s move around the room behind her. We need to be ready to use the amulet the second we drop the shield. We won’t have much time, so have the images of what she’s done ready in your mind.”
They moved to the opposite end of the lounge room from where she’d last seen them. “Ready?” Raff whispered, holding the amulet out in front of him.
They all nodded as Leah and Belle connected with the amulet. Griz had her back to them, her nine-tails flicking wildly in front of them as the shield evaporated. Leah felt the power surging through the amulet and closed her eyes, focusing her mind on the images of the kitsune trying to kill them with the blue fire.
Griz whipped around to face them, releasing a blast of blue fire directly at them. Leah opened her eyes to see the fire rushing towards her face and braced for the impact. Frozen with terror, she gripped the amulet tighter, fighting the urge to drop it and run.
At the last second, the blue fire changed course. The blade of the amulet seemed to be working like a magnet, sucking the blue fire out of the air in front of them. A heartbeat later, a familiar blazing light shot out of the end of the amulet, streaking towards the kitsune and severing its tails in a flash of light. Leah wondered if she imagined the slight tinge of darker blue, the colour of the kitsune’s fire, in the deadly stream of light wreaking havoc on the doomed kitsune.
* * *
Leah collapsed to the floor, her legs suddenly turned to jelly, the dead kitsune slumping to the floor in front of them. Her entire body was shaking from the image of the blue fire in front of her face playing over and over in her head.
Raff dropped down beside her, wiping the sweat off his face with the sleeve of his shirt. “Wow… for a second there I thought that blue fire had us. How cool was the amulet though, sucking it out of the air in front of us? Still… I’m starting to rethink the whole adventure thing again. We seriously need to get out of this line of work!”
Belle and Lyricus dropped to the floor beside them. “Or at least ask for a pay rise!” Belle said, and the four of them dissolved into laughter. It felt good to laugh, and Leah knew if they hadn’t laughed, they probably would have cried. That had been way too close for comfort!
Suddenly Raff sat bolt upright, grinning as he pointed at the doorway. “Ummm… did anyone happen to notice when the portal disappeared?”
Leah’s eyes flew to the door, searching for the faint outline of the magical doorway. Raff was right… it was gone. “Yay! It must have been shut down when we destroyed Griz and her star ball. Looks like our next problem has already been dealt with.”
Belle was staring at the dead kitsune on the floor. She shuddered as she finally turned away from the grizzly sight. “So it really is over then. I just feel… numb.”
Leah put her arm around her friend’s shoulder and yawned. “It’s been a long day Belle, with way too many surprises. I vote we get some sleep. No more thinking or decision-making until the morning. There must be beds in this house somewhere.”
“I totally agree," Raff said. "But first, I noticed some food in the kitchen earlier, probably left by some caring villagers for the visiting ‘Health Inspector’. Anyone else hungry?”
Leah and Belle groaned, and Lyricus chuckled. “I don’t think the girls have much appetite, but I’ll join you for a meal Raff.”
Raff jumped up and headed towards the kitchen. “Oh, and I’m going to see Garth before I go to bed. See if he has any suggestions about the best way to get everyone out of Naissance. ‘Night girls.”
Lyricus followed Raff into the kitchen as Belle and Leah scrambled to their feet. “It never ceases to amaze me how he’s always hungry. How could anybody eat after what went on here tonight?” Leah said, shaking her head.
Belle threw her arm around her shoulder. “Must be a boy thing,” she chuckled, as they headed upstairs in search of a bed to collapse into.
Chapter Thirty-Six
-The Children of Naissance-
Raff sat with Garth in his office, telling the man all about his adventures since leaving Naissance. Garth had not interrupted him once, listening intently to everything Raff had to say. When Raff was nearing the end of his tale, describing the events of earlier that night, Garth sat bolt upright in his chair, a look of horror on his face.
“She’s been killing the children of Naissance? That’s why the numbers have been dropping?” Garth looked like he was about to throw up. “I can’t believe how lucky we were you showed up when you did. Another twenty-four hours and…”
“Dwelling on ‘what-ifs’ is not a good idea… trust me.” Raff sighed, feeling weird at the role reversal going on here. Not so very long ago, he’d have been sitting at this desk in front of Garth getting a lecture about something he’d done wrong.
From the twinkling in Garth’s eyes, the irony of the situation had struck him as well. “Listen to you, eh? All grown up and giving me advice.” He chuckled sadly. “So what do we do now?”
“Ummm… I was hoping maybe you’d have some suggestions. How do we convince the remaining Guardians that we need to get them, and all the kids, out of Naissance?”
“I think I might just be able to help with that. Some of the other Guardians have been concerned about what’s been going on as well, so we’ve been… communicating… and sharing what we know. Communication between villages has always been frowned upon, which is why this Kitsune Council has managed to get away with this crap for so long. Until now, there was nothing we could do about it; we had nowhere else to go. Come back and see me in the morning, and we’ll see what I can organise.”
* * *
Raff rolled over and buried his head under the pillow, trying to shut out the rays of sunlight pouring into the room. It felt like he’d only just gone to sleep, but he knew it must have been at least a few hours since he’d found the bed where he’d collapsed.
Leah’s voice drifted up from downstairs. “Raff, I think you’d better come down here and look at this, right now!” She sounded… actually he didn’t know what she sounded! He dived out of bed and bolted down the stairs.
“What…? What’s wrong? Is everyone…” He’d been about to say ‘okay’ when Leah opened the curtains on the front window of the house. A large crowd of people were standing or sitting around outside the house, bags and belongings packed for a trip. He caught sight of Garth, who waved and called for him to come out.
Leah stood next to him, her hands on her hips. “So… was there something you forgot to tell us?”
Belle and Lyricus entered from the kitchen, huge smiles on their faces. “How did you manage to organise this Raff? It’s amazing!”
Raff just stood there… speechless! He couldn’t believe Garth had been able to organise this so quickly. “I… I didn’t do anything, except tell Garth last night about everything that’s been happening. He said he’d give it some thought and talk to me in the morning. But you’re right about one thing… this is totally amazing!”
He ran to the front door and threw it wide open, a huge grin on his face as he watched Garth approach the house. “What…? How…?”
Garth chuckled as he stepped up to the front door. “What? You think you kids are the only ones who can pull off miracles?” He slapped Raff on the back, grinning at Leah, Belle and Lyricus standing behind him. “So, ar
e we all ready to go? There are quite a lot of people waiting for us in the other villages!”
Garth’s eyes went wide, and his jaw dropped, at the sight of the dead kitsune sprawled on the floor behind them. “That’s what we’re up against?”
Raff laughed. “Yep, ‘fraid so. But they’re even scarier when their nine-tails are still attached to their body!”
Garth shuddered, and looked at the four friends. “Well, I vote we get out of here sooner rather than later. From what you’ve told me, I’d prefer not to see one in action.” He winked, and they all laughed.
Raff frowned. “Hang on, you may have to head to the veil ahead of us. We need to check the amulet first, and see which way leads to the Orb.”
Raff pulled out the amulet, and Leah and Belle reached out to make contact. The soft blue light emerged from the end of the blade, seemed to hesitate for a moment, and then meandered off in the direction they’d come from the day before, back towards the other villages, and the veil.
Leah scratched her head, and then blushed. “I really need to stop doing that! Right, so the Orb is now back in the direction we came from…how does that work?”
Belle was smiling, her eyes looking at the amulet in awe. “It was all about the children! The amulet sent us here first, so we could stop Griz. Think about it, the amulet sent us through the veil into Valleron, knowing we’d bring the children out. And then, when we got here, we’d decided to go after the Orb first. So the amulet led us away from the Orb, and towards the children instead. Now that we’ve saved the children, it’s showing us the way to the Orb. The amulet’s priority has always been to save the children of When first!”
* * *
Raff’s face lit up when he saw his foster-brother, Jeb, weaving his way through the crowd of people preparing to leave the village.
“Raff! I never thought I’d see you again…’specially here in Naissance. The last time we spoke, you couldn’t wait to get outta here.”
“Yeah well. Life’s just full of surprises, eh?”
“So tell me everything...” Jeb said, his face alight with excitement. Raff laughed, throwing his arm around his younger brother and heading down the road towards the veil.
By the end of the first hour, Raff was ready to throttle him. He’d forgotten about Jeb’s habit of asking incessant questions, his eyes as big as plates as he hung on Raff's every word. When they reached village four, Lyricus sidled up beside them, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He’d obviously seen the look in Raff’s eyes, and decided it would be best if Jeb walked with him and Belle for a while. Jeb’s eyes lit up when Lyricus offered to tell him all about what it was like to be an elf. Raff had wanted to hug his friend for saving him from insanity.
They checked the amulet twice along the way, and both times the blue light continued to point towards the veil. Raff chuckled at the thought that the Orb of Truth was probably somewhere close to where they’d come through the veil. He needed to remember that the amulet had its own priorities, and would always put those before the needs of its users. Not that he was complaining. The amulet seemed to know a lot more about what needed to be done than they ever would.
It was late afternoon by the time they reached the veil, and their group had swelled considerably. Raff grinned as he pictured the look on Madame Persimmons’ face when she heard about her 400-odd new houseguests.
Belle and Leah were moving from group to group, explaining how the crossing worked, and stressing that they needed to keep contact with each other, or risk being left behind. They also warned them about the headache, and that it would pass.
Lyricus, who’d been busily helping people with their belongings, came up beside him. “I’m thinking it might be time to find the Orb of Truth and get everyone out of here. That kitsune Griz was talking to last night is going to be expecting a report soon, and I’d rather not be around when they find her.”
Raff nodded, and called Leah and Belle over. “Time to find a quiet corner and see if the amulet’s finally ready to show us where the Orb is hidden.”
They moved away from where the crowd of people sat waiting, and Raff pulled out the amulet. Once Leah and Belle’s hands touched it, the blue light shot ahead about 100 paces, and lit up a huge ancient-looking tree. The children stared at the tree, and then looked at each other.
Belle shook her head. “Unbelievable! It’s been right here the whole time! But wait… how are we supposed to find something that’s ‘hidden below’ a tree?”
“Guess there’s only one way to find out!” Raff said, as he hurried towards the tree. The four friends spent the next ten minutes thoroughly inspecting the ground around the enormous trunk of the tree, but found nothing that suggested anything had been hidden there.
Raff slumped to the ground and scratched his head. “There has to be something we’re missing. Or maybe something special we’re supposed to do. But I can’t, for the life of me, think what it could be.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
-The Orb of Truth-
Belle rested her hands against the immense old tree-trunk, and looked up at the myriad of branches extending out from its centre. The bark, though ancient, was smooth, and she rubbed her hands gently against it.
Welcome, Elf Mother. I have been waiting a very long time for you to come. Belle was startled by the voice that popped into her head. She started to look around to see where it had come from, and then she realised… the voice had come from the tree!
Ummm… hello… how are you talking to me? Belle looked up at the old tree in awe.
As Elf Mother, your Gift allows you to communicate with all living creatures, and them with you. I believe trees are living creatures as well… are they not? The branches and leaves shook, as if the old tree were laughing. She saw Raff, Leah and Lyricus looking from her, to the tree, and back again, their eyes wide and mouths open.
I’m so sorry… of course you are living creatures. I just didn’t realise… I mean, I thought… Belle was too shocked by the whole situation to speak coherently.
Do not apologise child. I believe the last Elf Mother died before she was able to pass on her knowledge. The past is over… the future requires your attention now.
Belle smiled. Thank you for your understanding. I wonder if you would be able to help us. We are looking for the Orb of Truth, and the amulet has shown us that it is somewhere near here. All we know is that it is ‘hidden below’ something, and that it’s somewhere here in Naissance.
Aah… the Orb of Truth has been waiting a long time for you to come as well. Allow me… But you may need to step back, so you don’t get hurt.
Belle stepped back away from the tree, and ran straight into her friends, who had been standing watching her. She smiled, put her finger to her lips, and pointed at the tree.
The ground around the tree began to shudder, the earth cracking and grinding, as if something were pushing upward from beneath the surface. A long ridge began to take shape, the loose earth crumbling into the cracks appearing in the ground.
Finally, a dark, dirt-encrusted appendage began to emerge from the cracked surface. It was a root belonging to the old tree. And cradled inside a groove carved into the wood, was a small glowing ball of light. The tree was giving them the Orb of Truth!
Belle’s hands were shaking so badly she was scared she’d drop the Orb, but she stepped forward and took the offered Gift.
She stood with one hand holding the Orb, and placed her other hand on the old, gnarled root. Thank you, old one. I promise we’ll use the Orb of Truth wisely, and only to help the people of When.
You are indeed welcome. I know you will use the Orb as it was intended. Farewell… Elf Mother.
Belle stepped back to her friends, the root immediately sinking back into the ground. Within seconds, the appendage was gone, and the ground had returned to its previously undisturbed state.
Belle smiled as she looked down at the glowing Orb in her hand. “So, apparently this is the Orb of Truth.” She looked up into t
he stunned faces of her friends and tried not to laugh. “Now can we please go home.”
* * *
Belle smiled, and inhaled the beautiful, sweet-smelling Florisian air. The crossing back to Florisia had gone without a hitch, surprising considering the long trail of people now walking along the road to the Fey Academy. Leah had sent a message to Dub as soon as they arrived, so he could let Madame Persimmons know they were bringing the entire population of Naissance home to the Fey Academy.
She could hear the murmurs, whispers, and cries of delight from the new arrivals. She chuckled to herself – if they thought this was strange, what would they think of the Fey Academy?
Lyricus sidled up beside her and slipped his arm around her waist. “What are you chuckling to yourself about, oh gorgeous Elf Mother?”
Belle giggled, and slapped his shoulder. “Stop calling me that! It was just a tree… what would it know?”
“Whatever you say beautiful girl. So Leah tells me Dub nearly had a fit when she told him we were bringing all these people back. I’d love to have seen his face!” Lyricus said.
Belle looked ahead to where Leah and Raff were bantering and shoving each other playfully as they walked. “Yep, and I’ll bet Madame Persimmons’ face was even funnier!”
They’d reached the curve in the road where the Fey Academy first came into sight, and Belle could see Leah doing the walking backwards and taunting Raff thing.
“Last one there’s a kitsune…” she yelled, and turned and sprinted towards the school.
And then… she vanished!
Belle frowned up at Lyricus. “How did she do that? She can’t raise a shield.”
“Ha-ha, very funny! I don’t know how you did that, but the joke’s over. Leah, where are you?” Raff was turning in circles as he spoke, the smile on his face turning into a worried frown. “Did you guys see that? Seriously… how could she just… vanish?”
Valleron (Book 2) Page 18