by Unknown
“We’re almost there now,” they all heard someone announce, up ahead. Many sighs of relief echoed through the weary travelers, many of whom still nursed injuries from the battle with Eidolon, the Goblin King.
The caravan stepped out of the dark forest they had journeyed through and into a bright meadow that glistened with a cover of recently fallen rain. Everyone stopped, temporarily 10
blinded by the brightness. It took a moment for their eyes to adjust, and as each member regained clear visibility, no one moved. Instead, they waited with baited breath, each staring in confused awe at an unexpected sight.
Fire had swept through the meadow, leaving behind only remnants of the huts that should have been their new homes. Smoke still smoldered on the wet ground. Belongings from the previous tenants lay strewn about the meadow, as if someone had been searching for something, and at the same time, indicating that the people living in the huts had either no chance of escape, or had made such a hasty retreat they had left everything behind.
Juliska Nandalia Blackwell, Banon (leader and Queen) of the Svoda Gypsies, took a few steps forward, followed by her personal Balaton, Jelen and Jenner Wandrer. They were brutish looking men, and also, brothers.
“Everyone, stay here,” she ordered softly, in as much disbelief and concern as the rest of the group.
“Could this be a trap?” asked Jelen, as she stepped into the meadow.
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “You two, check the perimeter. Once we know its safe we will allow the rest to enter.”
Her personal Balaton left her side and examined the entire meadow. There was no sign of a trap. Or life. Or anything that indicated what had occurred in the meadow, other than destruction.
Juliska motioned for the caravan to follow her. The Svoda remained silent, in awe of the devastation that lay before them, growing more fearful with each step.
Meghan left Colin’s side to follow Ivan. She assumed he would be following Juliska. Colin stayed in the back of the group, behind the Mochrie family, with Catrina, still invisible, by his side.
Suddenly a woman cried out in angst, shaking the rest of the group into life.
The woman ran to a muddy blanket lying, still folded, on the ground. She grasped it in her hands, falling onto her knees.
“This blanket belongs to my daughter. I made it for her unborn child before we left our island.”
The woman’s statement confirmed the Svoda’s worst fear: the belongings in the meadow belonged to another Svoda caravan.
“So where is everyone?” It was Billie Sadorus, who asked the question they were all thinking.
No one dared reply.
Cautiously, they stepped into the meadow, looking for any obvious clues. But the rest of the meadow held the same ominous scene: smoldering fire, strewn belongings, and no sign of life.
Juliska Blackwell swallowed hard and then made an announcement.
“Initiated members, organize into your zones at once, we meet within the hour. Non-Initiated members, set up temporary living quarters, away from the devastation.” She paused, 11
her face set in determination. “We will discover what has happened here. We will not leave until we do!”
The caravan buzzed, nervously setting in to obeying their leader’s orders. They searched their own belongings for tents and other camping supplies, setting up in the only corner of the meadow not covered in smoldering fires or haphazardly discarded belongings.
The Balaton set up a larger tent for zone meetings, which stood in between the tents for living in and the devastation in the meadow. In the center of their new living space, a cantina began to take shape.
Meghan and Colin helped the Mochries set up their tent, and were surprised at how fast the temporary tent city took shape. Exactly an hour later, all zone members headed for the large meeting tent, leaving everyone else to finish unpacking.
The meeting was surprisingly short. When it ended, everyone gathered in the cantina.
“The Viancourt will vote now,” Ivan informed Meghan, Colin and Jae, upon seeing them.
“On what?” Jae asked him.
“We’ll find out soon,” Ivan replied.
A few minutes later, Pantin Hollee exited the tent, ready with an announcement.
“All zones leaders met and spoke their views, and the Viancourt has taken a vote and decided unanimously, that as of this moment, the following rules will be strictly enforced.” The meadow was silent as she spoke.
“No one is to leave this meadow without the direct permission of the Viancourt. A curfew is set for sunset, meaning you must all be in your tents by the time the sun is down, and, no one shall use magic unless instructed by the Viancourt to do so!” she paused, taking a breath.
“The Balaton,” she then continued, “are setting up special measures, which will track any and all magic that has been or is used in the meadow. Anyone discovered using magic will be considered as interfering with this investigation, and will be promptly and severely punished!”
Pantin Hollee paused again.
“These rules are necessary if we are to discover the terrible truth about what has taken place here.”
The group shouted their agreement. These rules seemed a small price to pay for the answers they all desperately wanted.
“Now disperse,” added Pantin Hollee. “Tomorrow at first light, all zone leaders will attend a mandatory meeting to discuss further developments and plans. Until then, keep your eyes and ears open, and most of all, be safe.”
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3
Colby and his Catawitch, Elisha, trudged up a steep hill. At the top of the hill stood two trees, the trunks of which were tall and straight, but whose branches entwined around each other, like a gated entrance. The corner of Colby’s mouth turned up slightly. His bright blue eyes peered sideways at Elisha.
“You know what to do,” he said.
His Catawitch then took out her front right paw and extended a claw, scratching Colby’s hand. He winced only slightly, allowing the blood to pool in his palm. He then stood in between the two trees, allowing the blood to pour out of his palm and onto the ground.
The instant it hit the ground a voice echoed.
“Welcome home young master. Your blood is true and you may enter.” Elisha jumped into Colby’s arms and began licking his wounded hand.
“Terrible! Vile! Appalling!” she cattishly admonished. “Requiring a blood sacrifice every time you come home.”
“Father has to be sure it’s really me, Elisha. You know this.”
“Still, it’s cruel that I have to hurt my master each time he comes home.”
“But I’ve got you to heal me, don’t I?” he reminded her.
Elisha had already healed his wounded hand, using her Catawitch magic to do so. She jumped down, parading alongside him.
They no longer stood atop a lonely hill, but rather at the entrance of a vast estate. Colby stepped onto the cobblestone driveway, soon crossing a small wooden bridge. A stream trickled underneath, feeding the surrounding lush gardens with water.
“Ah, welcome home young master Colby,” a voice spoke just after he crossed the bridge.
Colby turned to see an older man sitting on an upside down bucket, with his gloved hands elbow deep into another steaming bucket. The foul stench quickly found Colby’s nose.
“I’ll never understand my father’s love of gardens,” he said.
The man got up off his bucket and leisurely made his way toward Colby. Manure still covered his elbow length gloves.
“Your father has good taste, Young Master. Knows good food when he’s had it! Would you want to live off that stuff the others call food? Where they got the idea to use magic to grow their food I’ll never figure out! Only had to try it once to see just how clearly using magic to grow food is about as idiotic as digging a water well in a sandbox! Nope. I’ll be your father’s gardener till my death, and happy to do it.” He then went back to his smelly, steaming bucket and left Colby to his own bus
iness.
Colby did not give any more thought to the matter. He had news to share with his father.
News he hoped would please his father immensely.
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Then his father appeared, standing in front of him at the entrance to the main house. His father’s aged and gaunt face made no change at the sight of his son. He and Colby looked like ants standing in front of the house, which towered well above the tree line.
“Hello father,” said Colby. “I have news.”
Jurekai Fazendiin, the unspoken ruler of the immortal Grosvenor, motioned for his son to follow him, but said nothing.
Colby knew the drill well. He followed his father down a long corridor, knowing he would not speak of business until in the one room he knew with absolute certainty was safe for business conversations.
The long corridor opened to an oval room with ceilings a good thirty feet above Colby’s head. The room and walls were bare, except for a stained glass portrait. Fazendiin stared fondly at the woman portrayed in the stained glass. She was dark haired, pale skinned, and her head tilted to one side, leaning against a pillow, sleeping.
“Wake up mother,” asked Fazendiin gently.
Light then emanated through the window, and the woman opened her eyes. She sat up, looking stern, nodding slightly at her son. She then noted Colby standing a few feet away.
“My grandson, home at last!” she spoke, understanding their appearance before her.
Fazendiin then knelt to the floor. Colby repeated his father’s actions.
“I swear vengeance upon those that have done this to you, Mother! One day I will find a way to free your soul.” Fazendiin then arose.
Colby followed.
“I know that one day you will fulfill your promise, my son. Now enter.” She outstretched her arms as an orange and gold light shined forth from her body. Fazendiin stepped into the light, followed by his son.
They stood inside an oval, fire lit room. There were two chairs sitting on each side of the fireplace. Fazendiin sat in one of them, motioning for his son to sit in the other.
Colby, eager to announce his news, did not wait for his father to ask how his venture had gone.
“The Svoda arrived at the destroyed camp earlier today, just as expected,” Colby informed his father. “They’re definitely sticking around for awhile.” Fazendiin’s voice was aged but acute as he replied.
“You have done well, son. Soon, we will not only have our hands on the Magicante, but the Projector as well!”
Colby beamed. A happy father was a good thing indeed. However, Colby’s happiness was short-lived.
“Now that the plan is in motion, I believe it is time to let the others play it out. You have been absent from your schooling for too long now.”
This was unexpected. Colby had hoped that once he had proven his usefulness to his father, that school would be indefinitely postponed, if not permanently canceled.
“Father, couldn’t I just finish this one task? And then go back to school?” he pleaded.
Jurekai shook his head as he spoke.
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“You have done the hard part my son. The rest of this task will simply unfold. Finishing your schooling is just as vital as any task I have ever asked of you. I want you to be ready for your future, and there are things you have not yet learned.” Colby sighed. He knew no amount of pleading would change his father’s mind. But back to school? He despised the thought of being stuck behind a desk and books. There had been a time when he had enjoyed school, but that was when his mother was allowed to teach him.
She was gone now. He had not seen her in three years.
“I have found a new teacher for you,” his father then said, interrupting Colby’s thoughts. “I think you will like this one.”
“Great,” Colby replied with little enthusiasm. With each new teacher, he was never sure whether to prepare to be relieved or petrified. His previous teacher had been impatient, mean and demanding, but mostly, she had smelled old and musty.
“Your new classes begin tomorrow morning. You start school again at nine a.m. sharp!”
“Yes Father,” answered Colby.
It looked like his task, and any fun, was finished for now.
4
Meghan Jacoby awoke, confused by her surroundings. Then she noticed Nona at her feet and the memories came flooding into her mind.
“You’d think, after over a year of being on the move, I would be used to waking up in strange places.”
Meghan lay on a cot inside a tent, alongside Jae and Mireya Mochrie.
Colin had opted not to sleep in the tent, but rather outside, underneath the stars. Of course, she knew this had nothing to do with his desire to sleep outdoors, but only do to with keeping Catrina Flummer safely hidden from the Svoda Gypsies.
Meghan’s body begged her to return to slumber, but outside the tent, footsteps already bustled across the meadow, and voices echoed into the tent boosting her curiosity.
The noise awoke Jae and Mireya as well.
Meghan sighed, pushing off her blanket. There was no need to dress, as she had not bothered to undress the night before.
“Morning guys,” she muttered sleepily.
15
Mireya answered back and then scurried out of the room. Meghan heard her ask her mother if she needed help with anything, but did not listen for the reply.
Jae sat on the edge of his bed, looking as tired as Meghan felt.
“So Jae, will we have any part to play in figuring out what happened to the other group?”
“Don’t know actually,” answered Jae, sleepily. “I assume they’ll keep us busy doing something.”
Whenever Meghan and Jae happened to be alone together, she could not help but try to prod him into talking; still hoping he might divulge whatever torment he was hiding.
“Creepy, isn’t it?” she then said. “Finding out three months passed while we were in Limbo.
It felt like three hours.”
Jae perked up the littlest bit.
“Especially since Banon Blackwell didn’t even know about that,” he added.
He headed to the outer room. She would have to wait to try and talk to him again.
“Good, you’re up,” Sheila said when she saw Jae. “Mireya and I are about to go help serve breakfast, and after that, I’ll need you keep a watch on your sister while your father and I attend a zone meeting.”
“Sure, mom. I got it.”
She gave him a quick pat on the shoulder and a smile and then departed.
Meghan’s stomach growled.
“I always get so hungry when the weather is cooler,” she complained.
“You know, I’m starving this morning, too! Maybe our bodies know we’ve got three months worth of eating to catch up on,” Jae said, excited at the idea of gorging on food.
“Let’s go before it gets too crowded,” added Meghan, leaving the tent and stepping into the meadow.
The air was crisp and the sky gray.
There was already a line forming in the cantina. Jae saw his mother and sister serving food, alongside Billie Sadorus.
Fires still smoldered throughout the meadow, serving as a constant reminder of the eerie task ahead.
Meghan glanced around for Colin but did not see him. She searched in her mind for his thoughts and located him sitting behind a jutting rock, near the edge of the meadow.
“Morning Colin,” she sent him, quickly adding, “Catrina too!”
“Join us once you get breakfast,” Colin replied.
“So maybe you don’t look like you’re talking to yourself,” Meghan joked.
“Very funny, Sis! And hey, grab a little something extra, for Catrina. I think she needs to eat more.”
“Okay. See you in a minute.”
Meghan then explained to Jae.
“I’ll grab a little extra, too,” he offered.
As Meghan and Jae were about to hop into the back of the line, rushed footsteps hurried alongsi
de them, pushing them out of the way and cutting in.
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“Darcy,” muttered Meghan.
“Dulcy,” added Jae.
Daveena was not with them.
The duo pushed aside two other younger children, grabbed a plate of food, and then pushed their way out of the line. As they walked back by, they stopped.
“I don’t wait in line behind ditch-witches,” sneered Darcy.
She did not permit Dulcy to add what would surely have been a witty retort, and instead, shoved a piece of bread into Dulcy’s mouth, motioning her to follow.
Meghan and Jae grabbed their breakfast and tried to make a beeline for Colin, however, Meghan stopped when a woman stepped in her path, blocking her.
It was the same woman, who had discovered the blanket the previous day, upon entering the meadow.
“You’re a Firemancer,” the woman said as if to start a conversation. She added nothing more. Her tired eyes bored into Meghan’s searching for the answer to a question she had not yet asked.
“Um, yes,” Meghan finally spoke.
“Can’t you see what has happened here? Can’t you tell me what has happened to my daughter?”
Meghan lost her breath.
“Please, tell me. I must know,” the woman begged.
The crowd quieted, all eyes starring at Meghan. Is this something I could see? Is this what is expected from a Firemancer? Her thoughts overwhelmed her. Was everyone waiting for her to see something? Wouldn’t they all be expecting this from Juliska? Their leader?
Jae came to her rescue.
“You know that being a seer doesn’t work like that. Besides, you know that if Meghan did see something, it would be directly reported to Banon Blackwell.” This answer did not quench the woman’s desire.
“Well why can’t it work like that? I want to know what’s happened to my daughter,” her voice started to shake. “Why won’t you just tell me?” she beseeched Meghan.
“I’m sorry,” said Meghan, stepping back.
Just then, two members of the Balaton came running around the corner.
The woman began to cry.
“Let me take you to your husband,” one of them said calmly.
“I just want to know,” she then sobbed.
He smiled understandingly and then took hold of her, gently walking away from the cantina.