by Jenny McKane
She nodded her head. “Yes. The pain is going.” She gazed at him. “Aysus, I am so confused. I have the overwhelming feeling that something is gone. It is causing me such sadness.” A single tear rolled down her face.
Aysus made a soft, hushing sound. “It is alright, Avalon. You are just disoriented from your fall, that is all. You will start to get your bearings again and will feel better.”
Fatigue washed over her. She leaned against him, resting her head against his shoulder. Again, she felt the coldness emanating from him. She raised her head and stared at him, puzzled. Why was he so cold? It was an intensely hot day. She felt that she might faint from it.
And yet, Aysus felt like snow. Or ice. She shuddered, again.
“Have some water,” he said, passing her a drink bottle.
She took it and drank deeply. She could feel the water replenishing her, seeming to enter her very veins. When she had drunk her fill, she replaced the lid, wiping her mouth. They were on an important mission, she knew that. They should get going. She stood up.
“Are you feeling better now?” he asked gently. “Are you ready to keep walking?”
“I am,” she said. “There is no time to lose.”
Aysus smiled. “I am so glad that you are recovered,” he said. “And I agree. We shouldn’t waste any more time.” He stood up. “Come. I will lead the way.”
She followed. She turned her head, looking in the direction of the large rock formation where she had fell. A wave of uneasiness swept over her, and again, a tear fell down her cheek.
***
Avalon looked above her. A great dark cloud had swept over the sky; if she didn’t know any better, she would have thought that it was about to rain. In the far distance, she could hear a rumbling, low and ominous. She shivered despite the heat.
Aysus was walking ahead of her, barely pausing for breath. She watched the old man nimbly skirt through the sand. Her feet felt like they were sinking, as if she were walking through quick sand. How did he have so much energy?
Her head had started to throb again, and a faint fog had fallen over her mind. She recognized the sensation now; it was almost as if she had been drugged. As she walked, she cast her eyes anxiously around, always searching. But for what?
In the far distance, she could see a creature, sitting on a rock. It was medium in size with a startling white fur coat. It had long ears and a pointy nose, which twitched frantically.
Aysus had stopped and was looking at it.
“Do you see?” he said, pointing. “It is a rabbit. They rarely come out during the day, and if they do, they usually stay well hid. Yet this one is simply sitting there, watching us.”
Avalon stared at the creature. She had seen a rabbit, darting through the vines at Mother Oda’s house, but this animal was far larger than the one she had seen. Its back paws looked as if they could barely support its weight.
What was it doing, sitting on a rock, out in the desert?
“Let’s approach it,” said Aysus in a low voice. “I am curious to see what it does.”
Avalon nodded slowly, thinking…Why not? They walked towards it. Avalon could see that it was watching them, but it did not move. They were so close to it that Avalon could see its large brown eyes resting on hers.
“Go on,” urged Aysus, leaning on his staff. “Touch it. I think that it will stay.”
She reached out a hand and gently rested it on the creature’s head. It was incredibly soft. She petted it slowly. The rabbit appeared to accept her caress; it leaned toward her, as if trying to draw her hand closer.
“It’s beautiful,” breathed Avalon. It was amazing to her, now, that she had never known that animals existed. All these wonderful creatures that had been forced to live in the Outlying Zone. She knew instinctively that it was her friend.
Suddenly, it raised its head higher, its nose twitching harder. Then, it turned and bounded away. Avalon felt bereft. She longed to keep petting the animal.
“We can follow it,” said Aysus gently. “The burrow wouldn’t be that far from here. We can see where it lives, if you like.”
Avalon felt a wave of excitement flood through her. Yes, she would very much like to follow the creature. She nodded her head.
She could see flashes of its white coat through the sand, bounding over the sand dunes, but it always stopped and looked back at them. It was as if it knew that they were following it, and it was deliberately leading them.
The cloud above them darkened. Suddenly, there was a crash of thunder in the distance, and a spear of lightning forked down. It was so close Avalon jumped in terror.
And then, it started raining. It was pouring so hard, she could barely see through it. She had not seen rain the whole time she had been in the desert, but now it was as if the sky was making up for it.
“Where do we go?” she shouted to Aysus.
“Over here,” he said, grabbing her hand and leading her towards some trees. She could still see the rabbit. Only now, it seemed to be following them.
The trees closed in around her suddenly. Another great clap of thunder filled the air.
“Quickly,” said Aysus, tightening his grip on her hand.
She didn’t want to keep going. She was so saturated, she could barely move. And yet, he kept insisting that they press on through the trees—until they got to the side of a hill, where she could see a large burrow.
The rabbit dashed ahead of them, scuttling into it.
“Go on,” said Aysus, pushing her forward. “Climb into it. It will be the safest place to hide from the storm.”
She turned to him, a questioning look on her face. While it was a large burrow, she didn’t think that she could fit into it. And besides, what was she going to do within it? It was only big enough for the rabbits who lived in it.
“It is safe and dry,” whispered Aysus into her ear. “And it won’t be for so very long. Only until after the storm has abated.”
He pushed her again. She took a step forward, peering into the hole.
Suddenly, he pushed her, quite violently. She lost her footing and fell into the hole. It was as if she were spiraling downwards. She could hear his laugh echoing in the tunnel.
She was spinning out of control, hurtling downward, and then she landed with a sudden thump onto a wet patch of sand.
The rabbit that they had been following was crouched in a corner, staring at her. Another one, slightly bigger than the first, twitched its nose at her.
So, you have come to stay with us?
She turned around suddenly. Where had the voice come from?
I am speaking, silly.
She stared at the first rabbit. She couldn’t believe it, but the voice seemed to be coming from it. It wasn’t emanating from its mouth—but rather—she could hear the voice in her head.
Don’t look so alarmed, said the rabbit. It’s not as if you didn’t know that animals could talk! You have been told over and over. It twitched its ears.
“I don’t understand,” said Avalon, backing up.
No, you don’t, said the second rabbit. And that’s probably just as well. You are going to be staying with us a long time.
“How long?” Avalon gasped, backing up further. “How had this happened?”
The first rabbit hunched over its paws, looking at her. Well, now, it said slowly. How about… forever?
Chapter Twelve
Everard twisted slowly. Sweat ran down his neck, and he could feel his heart start to thud uncomfortably. He never got used to hearing the low growls of the creatures, almost humming together in this tight, dark space.
He had lost track of the time in this darkness. Had days passed, or weeks? Or had it merely been hours? Once again, he cursed his stupidity. He had heard Avalon voice doubts about the Storyteller. She hadn’t trusted him at all. Everard had thought that she was overreacting, but he had only seen the façade the old man had presented. And he had believed his honey lies, whispering words of doubt to him about Avalon and Sk
yresh.
He didn’t know how he and Aysus had suddenly become separated from the others. All that he knew was that he was battling through thick vines, leading the baby animal that had so touched Avalon’s heart. Was that why he had been so insistent about being in front? To impress her? Everard closed his eyes tightly. Yes, he was honest enough with himself to admit that had probably been the reason.
He had stopped, at one point, desperately imploring Aysus.
“What do we do?” he cried. The vines seemed like they were going to entangle him entirely.
“We keep going,” the old man had said. “The others will catch up.”
Everard had frowned, but he did as the Storyteller said until he simply couldn’t go on any further. He had turned to look back at the old man, but he had disappeared. Suddenly, he heard a loud laugh in front of him. He swiveled his head back quickly, and the old man was standing right there. He had a broad smile on his face.
“How did you do that?” he whispered, confused.
Aysus had walked up to him slowly. “There is nothing that I cannot do, Everard,” he replied. “Have you not realized it yet?”
Everard had looked at him in horror. “What are you saying?”
Aysus had doubled over in mirth. “I do not know who is the sillier out of all of you,” he said, wiping away tears of laughter. “Is it Skyresh, who stubbornly believes in me just because I claim to be Stromel and can tell a few folktales? Is it Avalon, who knows deep down, but refuses to trust her intuition? Or is it you, Everard, the man who doesn’t want to be on this journey and so has shut down to any signs of danger around him?”
Everard paled. “You are not who you claim to be.”
“No,” said the old man. “I am not, but it is all too late for you and your friends now. Don’t worry, Everard. They won’t grieve for you. By the time I get back to them, they will have forgotten that you existed at all.”
Everard drew his sword quickly. The old man laughed again. Suddenly, the sword flew out of Everard’s hand, landing with a thud in the distance. He turned to run after it but couldn’t move. It was as if his feet were glued to the ground.
Aysus approached him slowly. The old man studied his face carefully.
“I am leaving you with the lions,” he said. “They are not real lions, of course, but they look enough like them to pass as the species. You will live with the lions forever, Everard. Entrapped in their lair.”
“Why?” cried Everard, flailing wildly. “Why are you doing this?”
Aysus smiled. “Because I can,” he said softly. “I could kill you outright, of course, but where is the fun in that? Much better that you live the term of your life in the lair. Tormented. Wondering what you could have done differently, and what was the fate of your beloved Avalon.” He paused. “There is no escape, my friend. The creatures are loyal and will guard you well.”
Everard’s face had darkened. “We will defeat you,” he spat. “You will never ensnare the others, and I will escape. When I do, I promise that I am going to kill you, Storyteller.”
Aysus laughed. “There really is no escape,” he said. “You should accept your fate, Everard. It will make it so much easier to endure in the long days ahead.”
The old man walked up close to Everard, staring at him hard in the face. “You know what your problem is, Everard? You are a fool for love. You could have been useful on this mission, if only your heart had been in it. You cannot fight and defend properly when you don’t believe in the cause.” He laughed. “The irony is, of course, that now you must believe it. Magic is real, my dear friend.”
He reached out and pushed Everard, hard. He flailed backwards, unable to stop himself from falling. Then, he landed on his back in the lair.
There had been two adult creatures, who circled him where he fell. When he saw them, he could tell that they were not ordinary lions. They were much larger, and their teeth were longer.
One of the creatures crouched low and let out a loud roar that seemed to shake the cave.
Don’t look so scared, said the other creature. We won’t bite you.
Both creatures roared at this. Everard gasped. He had heard the words of the creature in his head! How was it possible?
Believe it, said the first creature. I have been told that you are skeptical, but it is simply stupid to refuse to believe what is right in front of your face, isn’t it?
Everard fell to his knees, trembling. It was like a bad dream. Surely, he would wake soon? How could he be imprisoned in a lion’s lair? And how were those lions – or whatever they were - speaking to him?
You would make a tasty meal, said one of the creatures, growling softly in its throat. It’s a pity we can’t eat you, but we have orders.
Everard grasped his head, shaking it from side to side. He was going mad. He had to find a way to get out of this place and find the others.
He knew, now, that it was all true. In his heart, he had known for a long time, but he had stubbornly refused to believe it. Even when Avalon had implored him, he had shaken his head and walked away.
It was true what Aysus had said. That stubborn refusal to believe the truth had endangered all of them. He had been unable to react to his environment in the way that he should have. He had put all of them at risk. He had sworn to protect Avalon, and now, he was imprisoned with these strange animals.
***
He had fought off despair in the time that he had been here, and now he was becoming alert again. He watched the movements of the animals. They were predictable; they left the lair to hunt and drink at the same times each day, but they always left one of them to watch him.
He had worked out that his only chance of escape was during this time. Could he distract the creature on watch? Or subdue it somehow? It was risky, but he saw no other way.
He had to get out. He had to find Avalon.
***
Avalon crouched in the darkness, trying hard not to let fear and despair overtake her entirely.
The rabbits had brought her some food, placing it down on the ground in front of her. She had stared at it and turned away.
She could kill these creatures, of course. They were larger than regular rabbits, but they were not predators; they had no claws or fangs. She could overtake them in an instant, but even if she killed them, she did not know how to get out. She was deep in the center of a labyrinth of burrows, twisting out in all directions. She no longer knew which one she had entered to come here. How would she be able to breathe if she took the wrong one?
Yet, she must escape. Her head throbbed, from where she had fallen and hit it on the rocks, and it was still cloudy; she could barely think clearly. What was she going to do?
Do not trouble yourself with thoughts of escape, said one rabbit, staring at her. The burrows are deep, and you would surely lose your way and die within them. We are the only ones that can navigate them.
She took a deep breath, wiping dirt from her forehead.
“Why do you do this?” she said out loud, staring at the animal.
Our mistress commands it, answered the rabbit, its nose twitching. She is the one who created us. She gave us life. We are honor bound to serve her and do as she asks.
“It is wrong to hold me against my will,” she said slowly. “Do you understand that? Do you have a notion of right and wrong?”
The rabbit stared at her but said nothing. It burrowed deep into a nest and closed its eyes.
“Can I tell you a story?” said Avalon, taking another deep breath.
The rabbit opened its eyes. You may talk all you want, but our loyalty is to our mistress. You cannot sway us.
Avalon ignored that.
“Many years ago,” she said, “the realm that is now known as Agnoria was invaded by a dark army called the Jarle. The Jarle destroyed everything; they invaded the realm and killed the queens that had ruled there since the beginning of time. When the queens ruled, the realm was called Masgata. Everything was peaceful and well.” She paused.
The rabbit continued to stare at her, its nose twitching. Another rabbit had bounded into the space from a burrow and was listening also.
“But when the Jarle took over,” she continued, “all of that changed. The common people, known as the Stromel, were enslaved. They are treated badly and often killed. Their history and stories were taken from them, and they were told it was all lies. And the animals that had once been their friends and allies were banished—to here. To the Outlying Zone.”
That is none of our concern, said the rabbit, sitting in its nest. We do not remember it. We are not the animals who were your allies.
Avalon sighed. “Yes, but you are an animal,” she said. “Do you not feel a kinship with your fellow creatures? Do you want to live a life that is ruled by evil and fear?”
The rabbit that had just come put its front paws to its face. Our mistress is not evil. She created us and lets us roam freely. The only thing she asks of us is obedience.
Avalon let her head fall. Was there any use continuing? But she had to try.
“Your mistress keeps all the animals imprisoned in this realm,” she said slowly. “Your fellow creatures. And when the time is right, she will take all of you to Agnoria and use you all to guard the Stromel. You will all be used as an army to oppress these people.”
That is not true, said the first rabbit. She promised us that we can live here, in peace. You are lying. She said that you would try to talk your way out of this.
“Do you know who I am?” Avalon cried. “I am a queen of Masgata. My family was killed by the dark army, who your mistress serves. I was taken from my mother and grandmother and raised as one of them. All my life, I believed their lies. I thought that they were benevolent and treated the people well.” She took a deep breath. “But now I know. They rule by force. They changed history to make us believe that they have ruled the realm since the beginning of time.”
The rabbits stared at her.
“They must be overthrown,” whispered Avalon. “They must! And you are a part of it. By doing her will and keeping me here, you are a part of what they do. Please, just think about it. You have a choice. You could lead me out of here, and you could tell her that I escaped. If I was captured again, I would not say that you helped me.”