“Another one of your tricks?”
“Do not make me wait any longer for you, Slave,” Giselle said in her spooky voice, just in case the man could still be frightened. The light might even help. But she didn’t wait to hear a response. She had to get to the chasm. The light was much too bright. Something very strange was happening, she was sure.
She rounded the last corner and stopped short. Of all the crazy things she could’ve imagined, this was not one of them. Sparkling light stretched from one end of the chasm to the other and the children were walking across it.
It was a bridge – a bridge made of light!
My energy is gone. Domi, you are here beside me. Your tears are beginning to fall, beginning to restore me. I am so grateful for you, my love.
But I can feel your unease. What is wrong? Your girl needs you too? Yes, go to her. Bring her across the bridge. You have given me enough strength to keep the bridge powerful for another minute. You should have plenty of time to bring her across.
Go now. I will be fine.
“Zellie,” Robert’s voice came from the other side of the chasm. “Come across. It’s hard like glass.”
Giselle put her fingers to her lips and pointed back the way she’d come, to let them know the guard was behind her. Then she motioned for them to go ahead. Maura understood. She nodded to Giselle, and then shepherded the children out of sight along the passage.
Giselle walked to the edge of the chasm and touched the glowing filaments. They tingled against her toes. She pushed her foot two or three inches into the light before she felt resistance. The bridge wasn’t hard as Robert had indicated. Either he was exaggerating or the bridge had grown weaker since he’d walked it.
Okay, I just have to cross, just one step at a time. Yet still she hesitated, looking over beside the chasm. The narrow shelf looked much safer than the magical bridge.
But I can’t do that, Giselle realized. The guard will see me and will know how to get across too. And he’ll know I’m not evil or magical if I can’t even walk on a magical bridge. No, I have to walk on the light.
Ripples of luminance lapped against her toes, and Giselle looked up to see Domi walking across the bridge toward her. Thank goodness, she didn’t have to do this alone! Domi was coming to meet her.
Taking her courage in hand, she stepped out onto the light. She sank almost to her ankles before hitting a firm surface. She took another step. The wispy light clung to her feet like a bright fog. Another step. No problem.
Suddenly she noticed she could see through the bridge. The light brightened the jagged, deadly rocks spearing up from the pit far below. If she fell…
Domi nickered to her and she tore her gaze from the pit. Keeping her eyes locked on his, she took another step. Don’t look down! Another step. Another. Another. And then she was at Domi’s side, halfway across the bridge.
“Thank you, buddy,” she said when she reached the pony’s side. “Thank you for coming to get me. I don’t think I could’ve done it alone.”
The pony nickered again and Giselle leapt to his back. But when Domi tried to turn back the way he’d come, Giselle stopped him. An unwanted realization had come to her. She could use the light bridge to finally get rid of the guard. There was no need for him to fall into the pit or to continue on to recapture the children. With the light bridge, she could finally convince him she was someone to fear.
“Trust me, buddy,” she whispered to the pony. “We’ll go soon, okay?” She reached down and took some of the light clinging to her feet and smeared two lines across each cheek, then leaned forward to rub the rest into Domi’s forelock. Then with the sly smile of a zombie queen on her face, she waited.
Domi snorted and Giselle felt him fidget beneath her. A tremor ran through him. Giselle allowed her eyes to drop.
What she saw almost took her breath away. Domi’s legs were slowly sinking into the light. And the light filaments were fading! How long would the bridge last? Did she have time to scare the guard?
A movement caught her eye. It was he, uneasily advancing around the corner. His mouth hung open as he stared at the light bridge, at Domi, at Giselle. Then his gaze darted to the side, to the trail beside the chasm, and Giselle knew she had no choice. There would be no running for her.
“I have been waiting for you,” she hissed. “What took you so long?”
The man’s mouth snapped shut and he appraised her with wary eyes. She could almost see him running different possibilities through his mind.
“Come closer, Slave.” Her hand shook as she beckoned to him.
And he stepped closer!
No, don’t do that! Just be scared! Just run away! But her voice was calm when she spoke. “That is good. Now come closer still.”
She slid from Domi’s back and whispered into his ear. “Go back, buddy. This won’t take long. And you’re sinking too fast.” She pushed his head around and patted him on the shoulder. To her relief, the pony turned, however reluctantly.
The guard was almost to the edge of the chasm now. “My horse servant will tell the others to expect us soon,” Giselle said, hoping she didn’t sound too silly.
“I don’t know how you did this, but I don’t think…” He paused for a moment. “You’re just a girl.”
Giselle felt she was going to die with fear. How could he not be terrified of her? Or maybe he was scared, just not enough. Was that it? She could see the alarm in his eyes. It may not take much to push him that little bit farther. But how? She had no real power. “You are right. I am a girl. An ageless, timeless girl.” To Giselle’s relief, her voice didn’t echo her fear.
But the man wasn’t convinced. He stepped onto the light bridge – and sank halfway to his knees.
Giselle could feel herself sinking too. The bridge was going to give way soon. Very soon.
Hold his eyes. Hold. She sank deeper. Don’t look away. Smile a knowing smile. Don’t think of falling. Hold his gaze. Hold it. Hold… “I am the Zombie Queen! See my kingdom, below!”
The guard looked down through the light bridge. Instant terror flashed into his eyes and he cried out, spun around, and lurched for the edge of the pit. With panicky movements, he scrambled up onto the solid rock.
“I will give you one last chance!” Giselle yelled in a shrill voice. She stretched out her hand. “Your place waits for you below!”
The guard stood frozen on the edge, seemingly unable to move. Milliseconds passed like hours.
Decide what you’re going to do! She was thigh deep now. Decide! Decide! Any second, she was going to break through. But until he was out of sight, she couldn’t run. She couldn’t do anything, except slowly sink through the weakening filaments – then fall to the jagged rocks below.
Giselle opened her mouth to scream – and at the last moment, shaped the primitive wail into words. “Never steal my children again! They are mine! Only mine!”
The big man ran. Halfway to the corner, he stumbled and sprawled across the rocks. His eyes were glazed with terror when he looked back. He staggered to his feet and limped around the corner. His boots scraped against rocks as he ran farther down the passageway.
Giselle couldn’t feel anything against her feet anymore. Instead, she felt she was floating in a fog. She used both her hands and feet to turn, as if she was swimming.
And the light let her go.
Domi, thank you for returning. Thank you for healing me.
I must act. Now!
Giselle fell with no coherent thought, only terror. Fear was the blood that coursed through her veins. Horror shrieked through every corner of her mind. She was going to die! She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing the jagged rocks rush up to meet her, so she shut her eyes and waited for her life to end.
Something tingled against her leg and her eyes popped open. Was she dead? Was it that easy? But no, a cord of light encircled her ankle. And she was no longer falling. She was suspended in mid air, a wicked looking spike just a half yard below her.
; The cord of light lengthened to wrap around her body, as soft as silk, as gentle as a warm breeze. Then it tipped her upright and lifted her out of the chasm.
Angelica stood at the brink of the pit with Domi at her side, the light cord attached to her hand. With her eyes closed and her brow wrinkled in concentration, Angelica reeled Giselle closer, closer, and then set her down gently a yard from the edge. Giselle sagged to the ground when the light released her, her legs too weak to take her weight, and Angelica slumped down beside her.
“Thanks,” Giselle gasped.
“You are welcome,” whispered Angelica, and she smiled a wan smile. Then the cord of light fizzled to nothing, leaving them in the dark once again.
“It was you all along, wasn’t it? You were the one they were afraid of?” asked Giselle. “Somehow they knew you were magic?”
“They never saw me,” explained Angelica. “When I played my tricks on them, they assumed I was you. I am sorry. I should have warned you.”
Giselle took a deep breath. “No, don’t be sorry,” she said. “It turned out for the best. I’m just glad it’s finally over.”
“Me too.” Angelica’s voice was even weaker.
Domi’s hooves struck stone as he moved closer in the darkness. Slowly, Giselle stood and reached for him. She touched his hindquarters, and then stepped cautiously toward his head. “I’ll help you get on Domi,” she said to the older girl. “You sound tired.”
“All I need is a minute to rest,” Angelica answered her.
Giselle reached to stroke the pony’s face, and pulled her hand away, puzzled. His face was wet. “What’s wrong, buddy?” she asked, suddenly worried again.
“He is fine,” said Angelica, sounding stronger.
“Do you think he has dust in his eyes?” She could hear Angelica stand beside her.
“No, he is fine. I cannot explain now, Giselle, but he has given me a gift in his tears,” said Angelica.
“His tears? What gift?”
“I will explain another time. Here, Giselle. I have something you will need. Take this.”
Giselle gasped when soft light swelled around them. She took the glowing white stone from Angelica’s hand. “It’s beautiful,” she said, turning it this way and that.
“So you and Domi will find your way in the dark,” said Angelica.
“Aren’t you coming with us?”
Angelica shook her head. “I will see you again on your trek through the mountains. But for now, I must go. Another needs me.”
“What? Who needs you?”
But Angelica just smiled. “That I must explain another time as well. Now hurry. The children are waiting for you in the chamber where we first met Maura and Thierry. I will come again soon.”
Caramel, my princess, give me a minute or two to regain my strength. Then we shall search for your lost daughter. Do not worry. She is alive. The people who stole her from you have not harmed her.
However, it will take much effort to free her.
And now, I am ready. Come, let us begin the chase.
It took the children, Domi, Maura, and Thierry four days to walk through the mountains. They traversed the caves, crossed creeks and tramped through forests, clambered up hills and down into wild valleys. They ate coconuts and other wild foods along the way, as well as Maura and Thierry’s dried goat meat, and they drank from mountain streams.
Giselle tried not to worry about Angelica, but it was hard, especially the fourth day when they hiked out of the mountains and started walking the dry, dirt roads. Despite what she’d said, Angelica hadn’t appeared once during their long walk. It was as if she’d vanished off the face of the earth. The thought of her out there all alone bothered Giselle, no matter how many times she told herself that Angelica could take care of herself. What if she was hurt or starving? What if she was in trouble and needed help? Giselle longed to turn back to look for her, but her duty lay with the children. When they were safe, she would go back for Angelica.
Mid morning, they interrupted a friendly-looking farmer working in a field beside the road. To Giselle’s great relief, when they asked directions, he didn’t act like he’d never heard of a Children’s Village. Instead, he pointed farther down the road, told them to turn right at a crossroads and to look for a walled compound with a red gate on the left. The houses and school were inside the walls, he said, the fields and gardens outside. He only looked at them strangely when some of the children cheered.
Giselle knew she’d never forget her first glimpse of the Children’s Village. They turned a corner and there it was: a pure white jewel glistening in the late afternoon sun. A girl in a clean, sky-blue dress was leaning against one of the gateposts, reading a book. She looked up and shaded her eyes against the sun to see them better, and then ran to alert the others.
By the time Giselle’s bedraggled group arrived at the red gate, an entire crowd had gathered. A businesslike woman came forward to meet them. “Who are you?” she asked curiously, after greeting them.
“We’re orphans, Madam, running from child labour agents,” said Giselle. “We escaped and came across the mountains. Tell me please, is this the Children’s Village?”
“It is. And you are welcome here.”
Seven simple words. Giselle thought they were the most beautiful words she’d ever heard. Tears sprang from her eyes. Their journey was over. They’d found a home at last.
The children were given a hot meal, and then the headmistress sat them down and started to ask questions. There was much to tell, het Giselle could barely stay awake to tell it. The last few days had been exhausting and now, with a full meal in her stomach, all she wanted to do was sleep.
Finally, the headmistress smiled and said they would talk more the next day. Giselle fell fast asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, happy in the thought that Maura and Thierry were staying at the Children’s Village too. Maura had even been offered a job. As luck would have it, the Children’s Village was looking for another teacher. The headmistress had even offered Thierry steady employment, teaching carpentry skills to the older children. When Thierry insisted on telling her of his past, she said she wasn’t a superstitious woman and that was that. There was no more mention of zombies.
Giselle dreamed that night of a scarlet-haired girl racing across the prairie on the back of a fire-red mare, a yearling filly galloping behind. A silver moon hung above them, and grass bowed beneath their flashing hooves as they galloped on and on. She could feel their exultation in the run, in the burn of their muscles, in the wind through their manes – and their joy in being reunited.
Finally, the dream horses stopped on a hilltop and the girl slipped from the mare’s back. Her hair shimmered gold as she caressed the mare’s neck, stroked the filly’s forehead – and disappeared in a flash of light.
“Giselle!”
Giselle sat up in bed. Had someone called her? She looked across the room. Robert was fast asleep on his bed. She smiled. It was nice seeing her brother in a bed. He’d never had one before.
She was glad her dreams had awakened her. This could be her chance to find Angelica, with Domi’s help. She slid from beneath her covers.
The moon hung like a silver pendant in the star-studded sky. Giselle found it hard to believe that just a few nights ago she’d been running through the streets of her old town, trying to escape the restavec agents. She’d changed so much since then, and so had the other children. They were all more confident and hopeful, and much closer to each other – almost like a family. Maura and Thierry were even acting like parents toward them. Everything had turned out wonderfully, more than she could’ve even imagined, thanks to the people from the Children’s Village and Angelica. If it was the last thing she did, she was going to make sure Angelica was okay.
“Domi?” whispered Giselle when she came to the darkness of the stable. Everything had worked out miraculously for Domi too. The headmistress had promised to send Madame Celeste money for the pony. He would belong to all o
f them now.
“Giselle.” The voice flowed from the darkness like the softest melody.
“Angelica?”
“Yes, it is I.”
Giselle heard rustling in the straw, a nicker from Domi’s new stable mate, Tia, and then Angelica walked into the moonlight with the gray pony behind her. “Oh, Angelica, I am so glad you’re okay! When did you get here?”
“Just now. I stopped to say goodbye to Domi first.” The moon glistened across her golden hair.
“Goodbye?”
“Yes, I will not see you again, Giselle, unless Domi or you need me.” She beckoned to the younger girl, and together they walked toward the gate. It was locked for the night. The compound was peaceful and quiet.
“What do you mean?” asked Giselle.
“I have a gift for you.” Angelica stopped and looked at her with amber eyes. Her hair suddenly swirled in a nonexistent wind, and Giselle watched her capture a single strand, twine it around a slender finger, and tug sharply. She clasped the hair between her hands and dropped the hair into Giselle’s outstretched palm.
But it was no longer a hair. It was a necklace, as gold-coloured as Angelica’s locks and as light as air. A strange energy tingled to warm Giselle’s palm. Gently, she touched the necklace with her finger.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” choked Giselle. “You can’t give me this. It’s too valuable.”
“Its value is beyond that of mere money, Giselle,” said Angelica. “It is the link between us. If you ever need help, touch it and call my name. I will hear you and I will come.”
“You will? You’ll come to help me?” Giselle said breathlessly.
“Yes, as fast as I can,” answered Angelica. “I am sorry to be abrupt, Giselle, but I must tell you this quickly. I may be called away, and there is one more thing you should know. Maura and Thierry owe you their lives.”
“But...”
Angelica held up her hand to hush her. “You needed them to go through the caves, it is true. But they needed you to bring them here. You saved more than the children and Domi, Giselle. You saved Maura and Thierry too. I thought you should know. Now you can see that sometimes our actions have unintended results, even wonderful results, when we do what we believe to be right.”
Slave Child (Horse Guardian) Page 11