by Sanders, Dan
“It’s no use,” Emily cried and rolled onto her back with her legs in the air.
“It takes time,” Rupurt said. “Imagine me as a bird. I would die if I had to get up in a tree.”
Emily pondered the thought. She nodded and tried again and again. Time passed without success.
“Maybe you are trying too hard. Try a very small hop, like a shuffle first, before you attempt to push too hard. Now concentrate, Emily.”
Emily twitched her nose and flapped her paws. It was a habit from her bird days and she hadn’t been able to shake it. She breathed in, kept low, leaned forward, shuffled onto her forepaws and quickly tucked her tail underneath. She hopped two steps, then three then four. She hopped over to Rupurt and threw her paws around his fluffy blue neck. He disappeared under the huge hug.
“I did it!”
“Praise Eostra, you did,” Rupurt said.
“It sounds strange when you say that, given I have seen her.”
“We have all seen her from time to time, Emily. Eostra appears to all of us at least once. I have been fortunate to see her in my early years. But we do see her, that’s how we know her to be true.”
Emily nodded then focussed on her next trick; long hops.
“I saw many of the rabbits jumping long distances. Can I learn that?”
“Rabbits can jump up to ten times their own body length, if they need to.”
Emily twitched her whiskers, waved her paws and looked straight ahead. She took a few short hops and gradually lengthened them. Then she pushed hard into the ground for a long hop but her tail ended up over her ears in the air. She splash landed in the sparkling blue stream. This time the playful rabbits all stopped and applauded the huge rabbit and her huge jump.
Rupurt stood on the bank of the stream and said, “Balance and rhythm. When you hop high in the air, stretch your forepaws forward then clip all your paws together before landing. Then you will keep your tail behind your ears.”
“Now, now, don’t rub it in. Can you help me up?”
Rupurt stretched out his paw. Emily grabbed hold and pulled him high in the air. Landing paws first in the water, he surfaced and said. ”See what I mean? Balance and rhythm.”
They fell laughing in the water. Emily hopped after Rupurt. Where Emily had a size advantage, Rupurt was skilled with the lightning reflexes of the rabbit-born, and easily eluded Emily’s capture.
The next few days Emily learned the ways of the rabbit. These included the various clicks and tuts of the tongue. She hadn’t realised this simple sound could have so many meanings; short and close together to show you’re angry, and long and spaced apart to demonstrate your kind thoughts or agreement. Emily often clicked too fast and offended her new fans. Rupurt spent days apologising on her behalf.
“Now you must learn the purpose of smelling the ground after a single hop or every few hops.”
“I wondered why I kept feeling the urge to stick my nose in the ground.”
“Our eyes are not as keen as a bird’s, but a sense of smell and hearing connects us to the land. This time I want you to smell. When you sniff try and reach your mind into your smell with the ground.”
Emily was used to having strange feelings about the land on Earth, but had not had those sensations on this world. She went to a quiet place in a grove of trees, looked around and saw only a few rabbits passing through. She twitched her long ears and wiped her whiskers. It was approaching mealtime, Emily’s favourite time of the day. Rupurt stood off to one side and looked at the sparkles in the ceiling. Emily placed her paws on the grass and pushed her nose deep into the ground. She drew a full smell and was overwhelmed with the taste that ran through her body. She gagged and lifted her ears high in the air. Rapidly turning her head she looked around and buried her head in the grass again. This time she did it slowly. She could sense flavours and spices in the ground. She sensed the nutrients. And she loved the feeling. It was like home but stronger. She closed her eyes and let her mind go with the smells. After a while she smelled the shaking of the tree and gentle rushing of the stream behind her.
Suddenly, reflexively, her head shot up. “Magas is calling for me.”
Rupurt said, “Where? I can’t hear him.”
Emily looked around with her ears on high alert. “I just had a strange feeling, sorry.”
Just then Rupurt pointed his blue paw. She turned and saw Harli and two helpers hopping down the slope towards them.
“Why do you look so surprised?” Harli said.
“Oh nothing,” Emily said.
“Magas sent a message. Our time has come to head to Adros. Your quest has begun.”
Emily’s stomach dropped and her paws burned as fear gripped her. She glanced at Rupurt who sat astonished.
“Are you well, young one?” Harli said to Rupurt.
Rupurt glanced up at Emily.
It was agreed, under much insistence from Harli, that Emily would have a travel party to escort her safely to the Emperor of Adros, where she would meet Magas to complete their business. Emily was secretly grateful for this. She didn’t want to travel alone in such a strange land, even though it was only fifty leagues in the Rabbit Rail, whatever that was.
The time came for goodbyes. Only Emily’s original four minders were selected to attend her voyage. Kobi was chosen for his big brain, Bently for his courage, Alecia for her leadership, and Rupurt for his loyalty and care of Emily.
Harli escorted them through a deep underground tunnel of sandy soil. After fifteen minutes of scraping Emily’s ears on the lower rabbit-sized ceiling, the group arrived at a bustling and voluminous cavern called Rabbit Central.
According to Alecia, Rabbit Central was a marvel of metropolitan living. Emily had seen nothing to resemble the sophistication of this central hub of animal organisation.
Florescent green rail tracks reached out into many darkened subway shafts, all emanating from this central chamber. Platforms had rabbits waiting to be whisked to far flung places in the north-east regions. A loud humming filled the cavern. It took Emily a few minutes to adjust to the sound.
The railcars looked like simple machines. Small topless wagons, they held six to eight rabbits and were made of timber similar to the wood found in Emily’s tree at home. The most unusual thing to Emily was that each wagon hovered above the tracks. Four crystal planks underneath each of the wagons glowed a honeyed yellow. Emily guessed the constant hum in the background must originate from these planks.
“This is amazing,” Emily said, inspecting the closest of the wagons, scattering a family of rabbits who were shocked at being so close to the Chosen One.
“This is connected to our underground burrow network, giving us easy and safe passage to many parts of the surrounding north eastern region,” Kobi piped up as he proudly slapped one of the wagons. It rocked in the air.
“How does it work?” Emily asked. “There are no wheels. Even the humans on Earth have wheels for their wagons.” Emily climbed aboard, struggling to get her big feet through the rabbit-sized door.
“I’m glad you asked that,” Kobi said. “Power Planks are a phenomenon…”
“You can explain on the way,” Harli said, and placed his paw on Kobi’s ivory furred shoulder. The old rabbit leader climbed aboard the wagon to say goodbye to Emily.
“It has been an honour Emily. I never thought in my lifetime…” Harli cleared his old throat.
“Well, I have a gift for you. Guard it with your life. It was handed down to me by the previous Rabbit Chief as part of the prophecy. I never thought it would be fulfilled in my lifetime. You will open it at the appointed time. It has been made with ancient Annwynian Lore. It will help you fulfil your quest.” Harli placed a small golden silk pouch with a drawstring over Emily’s neck.
Shaking, Emily held the pouch in her paws and pulled it to her velvety chest. “It is my honour,” was all she could manage. She had never had such responsibility.
Harli patted Emily’s paws and hopped off her car
riage. Because she was such a large rabbit there was room for only one other passenger in her wagon. Rupurt volunteered.
Emily gripped the carriage. The Power-Planks ignited and hummed, rising in pitch until Emily thought they would burst, before the carriage rocked and finally bolted into the dark tunnel to Adros.
The travel to Adros was too brief for Emily. The feeling of floating above the ground, no higher than a rabbit, bobbing around like a cork in water, was almost as much fun as she had soaring above the treetops on Earth, and a balm to her grieving heart. The glittering tunnel roof became a blur of soft dim light as the wagon gathered speed. The fluro green tracks illuminated the darkness ahead.
Emily’s strange feelings intensified. Rupurt sensed the darkening of Emily’s mood, leaned forward to the carriage in front and asked the round-bellied Kobi to explain Power Planks to her.
“Well, I’m glad you asked that,” the ivory rabbit said. “Power Planks are pieces of the Azurite Crystal used throughout Annwyn to power many everyday items. Sails are made of the crystal to power ships, and special craft like the Skychariots used in the Grael sporting contest also use a form. The Power Planks used in the Rabbit Rail are a smaller version of the ones used in the ARail.”
“But how do they work?” Emily quizzed, grateful for the distraction. She leaned back in her seat, fiddling with the silk purse from Harli.
“She certainly is nosy,” the orange Bently offered from the front. Emily stuck out her long pink tongue.
“I don’t know, my dear,” Kobi reluctantly conceded. “You had better ask Magas or others more qualified than I. As rabbits, we don’t tend to get that scientific. We adopt technology from others and use it creatively to our benefit.”
Emily nodded, satisfied with the answer. Sensing the others were also becoming anxious, she rested her paws on the silk purse around her neck and let the hypnotic hum of the Power Planks and the rhythm of the rail wash over her, with the dawning realisation that she might not be in a dream and she might never see her friends and family again. A tear formed in her eye as she pondered another plan, to find the boy and Noogie, change back into a bird and get back home.
Chapter 10
Torek’s Assassin
STORVEN STRONGHOLD,
ANNWYN
A girl with relaxed brown hair and a placid smile sat cross-legged on the floor. Pink morning sunlight streamed across two large beds in the room. The lilac drapes that hung from the ceiling were accented by the gold-laced bed-cushions. The girl’s strong fingers, a common trait for the Storven–keepers of the rock people, plaited her sister’s auburn hair in readiness for the royal dinner that evening.
“Theni,” said the girl’s younger sister. “Why do we have these dinners? I don’t like these people. They smell funny, and everybody is smiling when they don’t mean it.”
Theni laughed. “Ah Selea, these events can be a bore, but Oriani wants me to begin meeting people.”
“Why do you call Mother, Oriani? You know she dislikes it.”
“I am practically grown up, and she needs to remember that.”
“You’ve changed. Are you hoping to find a life partner?” The younger girl giggled.
“That’s what Mother wants, but not what I aspire to.”
“Are you not happy tending the Reven?”
“I do love the Storven life, but some people are destined for greater things. When an opportunity comes along you need to embrace it.”
“You don’t make sense.”
“Someday you will understand.”
The elder girl walked to a dresser, and grabbed pink face powder and two bottles of perfume. She kneeled and began applying powder to her younger sister’s face.
“I think the Prince of Ibendari would make a wonderful match for me,” Theni said wistfully.
“What makes you think Bevan would go for the daughter of a simple Governess?”
Theni’s thin, knowing smile went unnoticed. Her younger sister’s eyes were closed from the puffing powder. “I will not always be a daughter. Someday…”
When Theni squirted perfume on her sister’s neck, the violet-smelling droplets froze in mid-air like an icy blue rainstorm. She squinted as the room darkened around her. Her sister was also frozen. Theni’s fingers reached for the blood-red charm on her neck.
“Master, is that you?” Theni’s voice searched the inky room.
“You risk too much when you speak to others. You must be careful, my dear one.”
“She is a baby. She doesn’t understand. I wouldn’t—”
“Use Thoughtspeak, child.”
The younger sister sat with blank eyes ahead, her braid suspended awkwardly.
“Don’t speak to me like that,” Theni Thoughtspoke back. “We are united–”
“You are my servant; remember your place.” The bitter voice filled the girl’s mind.
Theni sat on the bed and grabbed her ears in pain. She rose and stamped around the room, ignoring the unseen shadow. “I am not a baby anymore. My powers are stronger every time I deharmonise a life force.”
“Perhaps on small children or animals, Theni, but not somebody as powerful as a queen.”
“Really. A queen?” She considered the opportunity, before adding, “So you do still need me.”
The room stayed quiet before the darkness soothed Theni’s mind. Warm waves of power and support settled the girl.
The dark voice in her head lulled her when he Thoughtspoke. “An opportunity has arisen to increase your power. The Queen of Gardsvor has betrayed the Coalition.”
“Betrayed,” Theni said. “Mother said she was voting with the Coalition. We dined with her in the past lunation.”
“Well the Ibendari King has a powerful new ally.”
“Who?”
“Don’t bother your mind about that, dear one. You need to be fresh. You are neighbours to Gardsvor. Look for a reason to visit.”
“Yes, Lord, that will be easy. We are dining tonight. Mother said it is a celebration.”
More warm waves of power and support washed over the girl’s mind.
Theni’s mind emptied of readable thoughts and emotions: Good feelings, love, support, love you, Lord Torek.
Theni Thoughtspoke, “Do I still get to have the other one, the Princess?”
“Yes, at the Gala dinner.”
The darkness placed a picture of the Gardsvor Queen’s mind structure in her mind. Theni smiled and clapped her hands. “Oh yes, yes, thank yoooooou.”
“No mistakes. Get the queen alone, hold the Zora Stone as usual and I will be ready to aid you with my power. Do not take strong drink. Your mind has to be clear to focus the power required for this.”
“Yes, oh yes. I will do it. I promise.” Theni was excited and forgot to use Thoughtspeak.
“Theni?”
“Yes, Lord Torek.”
“If you succeed with these two strong minds, we have a new target. The new host has formidable power, but if you succeed, your power will be complete and you can have all you desire.”
“So soon? You are most kind, master.”
“It will not be easy. This new being is the most powerful host you have known. We must strike soon, before she learns how to use her power. Another thing, her particle structure is different. I will need to train you further so you are able to deharmonise this one. We don’t have much time.”
“How is this one different? I have been training with Supreme Gorgos for years. When can I do one by myself?”
“Don’t be impatient my beauty. Let me show you.”
The darkness placed an image in Theni’s mind of a small stone pot.
Theni said to the space before her, “Gilga’s Kettle? This is guarded by the Reven. It is in my home nation. I don’t understand.”
The shadow placed another image in her mind. Theni scratched her nut-brown hair, puzzled at the sight of a large rabbit. As if in recognition of this confusion, the darkness placed the image of an old white-haired Melder, a blue fla
me streaked through his hair, next to the animal.
“Thank you Master Torek. I won’t disappoint you. May Lagan be with you.”
“I seriously doubt it,” was Torek’s silent reply.
Chapter 11
Adros Dagger
CASTLE OF EMPEROR HEILYN,
ADROS–CRYSTAL CITY,
ANNWYN
The warm purple sun of early afternoon lent the snowy landscape a serene, almost friendly quality. Adros was aptly named the crystal city. Slim towers of red, yellow, blue and green rose from the snow. Every morning when the sun stretched above the horizon, the crystal spires of the Adros towers cast a rainbow shadow across the snowy Adros ranges.
Emily revelled in the frosty breeze as they raced along the glowing green rail tracks that melted the snowy floor towards the castle. Alecia was cross every time Emily rocked her carriage which, in turn, rocked the one in front. They slowed and entered under the cover of the castle. Emily felt the heat from the crystal, the snow melting as they entered a small dual carriage tunnel.
The carriages hummed to a stop. Four Adros guards, spindly beings in slippery black robes, greeted them carrying yellow crystal spears. Emily had never seen a being with a neck as thin and as long as its own arm. Their oversized heads wavered as they walked; their necks surrounded by cowls that nearly touched their ears.
The Adros guards ignored the rabbit’s guffaws as they hustled them through the throne room, through long corridors of high walls and rooms with locked sliding doors, all made of crystal. Whenever Emily stumbled, Rupurt and Alecia pulled her to her feet. The crystal walls produced their own coloured glow. One red room made Emily feel angry until they moved through to a calming green corridor.
“This place is lovely,” said Rupurt as the tall-necked guards escorted them into a chamber with yellow crystal walls.
Along two of the walls were rows of variously coloured and variously sized swords, daggers, crossbows and spears, all made of crystal.
Gathered around floating glass tables, sombre Adrosians hunched over their latest creations. At the other end of the room a gathering faced the back wall, watching a demonstration.