by LJ Andrews
I moved to follow Finn, but soon cried out in warning as a man with wide shoulders, a thick neck, and a dusty brown complexion bounded toward Finn, a long, sleek sword in one hand.
“Finn, look out!”
Finn glanced up, catching the eye of the man, who nodded, his eyes wild with fury. “Yes, Finn. You might want to look out,” he shouted as he raised his sword above his head.
Chapter 20
I watched helplessly as the man approaching Finn with fury wound the sword above his head. He was going to strike him down, right here, in front of everyone. What happened to the peaceful people of Tala? But the sword swung around and back down to the man’s side as if he were doing something as simple as stretching a sore muscle in his shoulder.
My shoulders relaxed, but I could tell the angry expression was still as furious as before. The man had thick black hair which fell between his shoulder blades. He stood a head taller than Finn, and I admitted, his striking green eyes against the rich color of his skin was beautiful.
“Where is it Finn? I want my blade returned now,” he held out his hand expectantly.
Finn raised his hands, but I relaxed even more as I watched Finn’s lips turn into a smile. “Aaron, I can explain why I took the Blade of Lore.”
“You had better, what kind of person rips my heart out like you did. That weapon means everything to me,” Aaron pouted dramatically.
Finn chuckled. “You say that about everything in your collection.”
Aaron rolled his eyes. He hovered his hand above the dirt and two small stones raised up. The rocks floated above his open palm, and as Aaron waved his finger gently the two stones circled around one another. Aaron never glanced at the stones spinning above his open palm, almost as if it were an anxious habit used to calm himself. His eyes drifted from Finn to me.
“Who are you? Are you party to thieving weapons too?”
I shook my head, but wasn’t concerned when Finn scoffed and chuckled, glancing incredulously back at Aaron.
“I didn’t take your weapon,” I insisted. “But if it helps you feel better, your blade saved my life. I’m glad you had such a heroic weapon.”
Aaron’s face brightened, and he met Finn’s eye smugly. “Well aren’t you fortunate. You see Finn, that is how you ask forgiveness for stealing. You tell me how wonderful my beautiful, priceless weapons are,” Aaron reprimanded while pointing at me. “Now, may I have the blade back?”
Reaching into his jacket, Finn removed the Blade of Lore. Its silver hilt gleamed even brighter than it had before. Gently, he passed the dagger back to Aaron’s outstretched, fatherly arms. Aaron practically cooed once the hilt was nestled back in his hand. The two stones dropped to the ground and were replaced by the lost dagger.
“Hello, lovely,” he crooned before peering at Finn with narrowed eyes. “I’m waiting, Finn.”
“For what?”
“Oh, you know what I need to completely let this go and never think on it ever again,” Aaron cried, thrusting the Blade of Lore deep in the billowing brown robe around his shoulders.
Finn kicked at the dirt. “Fine. Aaron, I apologize for breaking into your weapon crypt and taking your dagger.”
“And…”
Finn ran a hand through his hair and met my gaze as if asking for help. I folded my arms across my chest and shook my head. “What else, Finn?” I questioned with a raised brow. “I agree with Aaron. He looks reasonable enough, I’m certain if you would have told him his blade was going to be key in a heroic mission, he would’ve just let you borrow it.”
“Oh, I like her,” Aaron chirped, smiling brightly.
“Traitor,” Finn hissed under his breath before taking both Aaron’s shoulders in his grasp. “Aaron, your blade is simply perfect. Your entire collection is unmatchable. I promise to never, ever break into your stores again, because I don’t deserve to hold such weapons as these.”
“A little over the top,” Aaron teased. “But I accept. So, where are you heading?”
“To the tower. We are meeting with Jacque,” Finn explained, taking my hand again and leading me down the path.
“Jacque? Consider my interest piqued. This meeting doesn’t have anything to do with the disturbances in Ama and this mysterious young lady does it?” Aaron winked at me as he tucked the Blade of Lore into his leather belt, which held up his baggy, canvas-like pants.
“Sorry, Aaron, we really shouldn’t say anything yet,” Finn said.
“Are you and Finn friends?” I asked, ignoring the look Finn offered at my side.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” Aaron said, jogging to keep up with Finn’s pace.
It stunned me. Did the people of Tala not form friendships? “Um, do you…trust one another? Speak in social settings?” I rambled, trying to think of words to describe friendship. I hadn’t had many deep relationships during high school ever since my best-friend moved away years earlier. Mallory had been the only girl in our junior high who had behaved like I was normal, not the girl who was cursed by shadow people. After she’d left, I kept my head down, and made enough acquaintances so I didn’t sit alone at lunch, but we’d all lost touch since graduating.
“I trust Finn with my life,” Aaron said sincerely, in a tone which caused me to feel foolish for asking. “We both have difficulties harnessing Ama’s energy, which is why I collect powerful weapons and artifacts. They give me strength. So I found something which helps me, now I just need to help Finn find what spurs his power.”
“All right, Aaron, thank you for walking us to the tower, but we really must speak with Jacque alone,” Finn blurted out quickly, nudging Aaron to turn around and head back toward town.
“You promise you will share what is going on?” Aaron asked, shoving Finn’s hand from his elbow.
“We will, Aaron, I have a good feeling you will be able to help,” I spoke for Finn.
“I really like her,” Aaron chuckled. “Remember, I’ll be waiting.” He pointed the blade he’d been carrying at Finn’s face.
“I have no doubt you will be,” Finn mumbled under his breath as Aaron trudged confidently away from the tower gate. “Why did you promise him we would include him?”
“Because I meant what I said, I sense he can be a help to us,” I responded defensively, as Finn knocked at the high wooden gate.
“You don’t even know Aaron.”
“Well, I can see you are friendly with one another, and you trust him, right?”
Finn rolled his eyes, stuffing his hands in his jeans. “It doesn’t matter what I think, it matters who and what are going to help you the most. You heard what Aaron said, he cannot harness energy as well as others. I would not pick him first to help you in the Wander.”
I faced Finn, hoping I could show him the fervor behind my words. “Finn, in all honesty, I don’t want anyone helping me through the Wander but you. I trust you that much, but you need to trust yourself.”
“Laney, you don’t understand what you’re saying. Didn’t you hear my own father back there? I am not a powerful Talan.” he said, sounding angry.
“Yes, I heard him, and I respectfully disagree. And don’t patronize me, Finn. I might not understand a lot of things, but I haven’t lied to you once about my belief in your abilities. What are you so afraid of? Why are you holding yourself back?”
He spun on his heel, releasing a breath of frustration and placing his hands on his hips as he watched the brilliant bright sun set in the lilac sky. The glow from the sunset cast a beautiful greenish sheen along the village. It was surreal and breathtaking.
Finn spoke with his back toward me, so it was hard to hear without stepping closer. “Laney, I am afraid…because I don’t think I could take it if I was the reason for you getting hurt. There are so many powerful Talans who can help you—who can be there for you. You don’t want to depend on me, because I can’t guarantee I will be able to help.”
My voice caught as the electrifying pull urged me to reach out and touch him. Insid
e, my soul seemed to catch fire the longer I resisted. Finn was proud, but over the last several days I’d watched him crumble into a vulnerable man who wanted to belong in his world every bit as much as I did mine.
My hand trembled as I reached out and brushed his forearm, forcing him to face me. His eyes were locked on the ground and he seemed to be purposefully avoiding my eyes. My hand still cupped his arm as I relished in the tingling sensation of his skin beneath my fingers.
“Finn,” I prompted. “Will you look at me?”
His crisp eyes lifted, and I saw the concern in their depths. I nudged my face even closer, so our noses were only a few inches apart, grateful Finn didn’t back away.
“Finn, I need you to believe me when I say I don’t want anyone else to be with me as we go through this. I trust you,” I whispered, fighting the urge to kiss him, though the pull was powerful.
“I don’t know what it is about you, Laney,” he said in a soft voice. “I’ve never felt so defensive, helpless, and powerful all in the same moment. I don’t know how to watch you go into the Wander. It isn’t fair that this is all on your shoulders. You didn’t ask for it…and I don’t know why it matters to me. I’ve never questioned whenever Ama petitioned someone to use her power. But now, with you, I would rather it be anyone else.”
I trailed my hands around to the back of his neck, breathing deeply the closer we moved. I could feel Finn’s pounding heart against me as he hesitantly placed his hands on my waist.
“I don’t know what’s happening. I feel energy stronger than I’ve ever felt,” he admitted, smiling once our foreheads rested against each other. The heavy tension mounted quickly, and I feared I might crumble if he didn’t do something soon.
My fingers tangled in his hair as he coiled his arms completely around my body. Closing my eyes, I leaned in, unable to withstand the pounding in my head. My lips brushed his, but we jumped apart, startled, as the heavy gate creaked open in a rush of dust and wind.
Finn kept his hand curled tightly with mine and when the dust settled a man with an ivory beard trailing to his belt stood in the center of the entrance. He wore black, silk robes, with a woven sash draped across one shoulder. His eyes were the color of amethysts, and in his hand he carried a staff with a gleaming azure crystal on the tip.
“Jacque,” Finn said, respectfully bowing his head. “We must council with you.”
“Yes,” Jacque responded wistfully, his eyes falling upon me. “I sense you have brought me a paradox needing to be dealt with.”
Chapter 21
The tower was larger on the inside, with winding stone staircases leading up into drafty rooms. The walls were made of both stone and wood, with high beams across the ceiling decorated with dangling tapestries.
“Depictions of Ama’s gifts,” Jacque whispered to me as he pointed to the different images.
Some of the designs seemed to portray fire, others water. Another had a brilliant sun intricately sewn into a black hanging tapestry. I marveled at the beautiful swirls of orange and yellow, tangled into a brilliant orb blazing above a mountainous landscape. Just off the entrance was a long dining room filled with a long wooden table large enough for twenty men.
Jacque led us up one flight of stairs before kindly gesturing toward a comfortable sitting room. The elder signaled toward a plush chair which seemed to be made with smooth velvet. He pointed quickly toward a large fireplace which soon roared to life with blazing flames, bringing a soothing warmth to the room.
Finn settled into the chair next to me as Jacque leaned on his staff in front of us.
“Do you have something to give me?” he asked Finn.
For a moment Finn looked around slightly confused, but soon reached into his back pocket. He’d rolled the malleable leather-bound notebook from Clement into his back pocket. Jacque retrieved the papers and scanned them rapidly. It seemed impossible to garner the information as quickly as the old man was, but after a few moments he turned and handed the papers back to Finn.
“So, you are the young woman Clement offered to Ama? I wondered for many years if we would hear of his transgression someday.”
“I didn’t mean to manipulate the energy,” I began, preparing to defend myself as Jacque’s expression was somber. The old man held up a hand, stopping my rant.
“I do not blame you for what has happened. But, Ama’s light is weakening with each sunrise,” he stated, looking thoughtfully out the window at the lower village. “The elders have already gathered twice since the breach, and we still have yet to make a decision. Ama is closing to our hand and reaching for another. I fear soon our great energy will only bless those of darkness, and the realms of this earth will die.”
“You truly think it will destroy everything?” I asked. It was bleak and seemed so far from the way Clement spoke, I was taken aback.
“It will not be immediate,” Jacque clarified. “But soon the light would fade; creatures would weaken. Everything requiring light to survive would suffer and whither into nothing. Lastly, the human life. Because human energy has weakened over the centuries it would not take long for Tala to fall victim once the human realm faded. I understand what a grim scenario I have presented.”
“What do the other elders say, Jacque?” Finn asked politely.
“As usual, the elder council is divided on the next move. Some feel the human world is too great a liability now that the vein of Ama was exposed; others feel we should take up arms against the dark creatures. I admit I was leaning toward battle, until you handed me these rather interesting theories.
“My dear, I understand you’re aware no one has been blessed with the amount of energy flowing inside you. I sense you are not entirely enlightened to your strength, however. Would you like me to explain why Clement believes you will succeed in opening the Wander?”
I looked at Finn nervously, but nodded as Jacque rubbed the crystal on the end of his staff. Light swirled inside, seeming to respond to his touch. It was mesmerizing and mystic as the powers swirled together. Jacque wiped the staff in front of us, and a tail of colors burst from the end creating a vision of the outer universe swirling around the room.
“Energy from the universe formed our planet, creating the surging power of Ama in the core of the Earth. So, Ama is a universal energy, the most powerful substance we know of. Once the realms were interconnected, and humans and Talans lived together, but division began. Many Talans believed the humans, who were not as connected to the energy in Ama’s veins, were lesser beings. And humans in turn believed Talans to be creatures of sorcery, and people to be feared.”
The image of the sparkling stars shifted, and I saw scenes of great battles. I heard cries of women as hordes of armies raided their towns. A hangman’s noose swung with lines of accused witches waiting to meet their judgment. A darkness encompassed my body, sending chills up my arms. Finn was notably affected, when I saw him shudder uncomfortably in his chair.
“With the wisdom the energy of Ama provides, the realms were divided, and slowly the human world forgot about the existence of ours. We tend to the earth through a veil, cut off from the mounting technology and culture of your world. As I’m sure you can guess, Tala’s world is filled with creatures of legend, while yours is placed with low energy animals who thrive in the human sphere. Alicorns, pixies, even the occasional dragon, though they are not as large as you would think, live within the realm of Tala. They are creatures filled with light energy, and would unhinge the balance of your world.”
I couldn’t help but stand from my chair as the images of beautiful white horses spread golden wings and took flight. Small lizards the size of a labrador shot sparks of fire like a sparkler across small streams and hissed like snakes as they rumbled along the ground. I reached out to touch a ball of blue light buzzing around like a neon bumblebee, but before I touched it, the light darkened and a terrifying woman with black eyes stood before me. Her ghostly hair swirled around her face as if she were under water. Her gray hand reached o
ut for me, but stopped and faded.
I faced Jacque, who pointed toward a herd of imps running wildly around the room. “There are wonderful creatures of light, but as you know, Tala is home to creatures filled with dark energy. Wraiths, demons, revenants, and more. They thrive in chaos, like the imps. Nothing would please them more than unhinging the balance of the realms.
“Ama has a side of light which we harness for the benefit of others, but there is also a dark side of Ama. We have concealed it with great effort and sacrifice. When the realms were separated, so was the dark side of energy. We could not risk unleashing the chaos this earth once experienced. The problem with creatures like imps manipulating Ama is simply this: They are not strong enough to control the dark energy.”
Jacque waved his hand over the crystal once more, and the dark creatures faded back into the beautiful orb.
“I am confident the imps are not even aware their actions could create a surge of dark energy upon the realms. I am much more prone to believe the imps are more interested in free reign to create chaos once again.”
“But how did they coordinate, Jacque?” Finn asked. “Imps are not known for their intelligence.”
“Excellent question,” the elder praised. “There is certainly an enemy of Tala instructing them. However, I cannot find a shred of energy pointing me to someone emitting darkness.”
“So, why does Clement believe I’m the only way to stop all this from happening?” I asked, afraid to learn the answer.
“Clement has found a string of theories about connecting a mortal soul to the energy of Ama, he was always the studious elder. In this case, however, I believe his theories to be just and probable. According to legends and studies of old, the theory is this young woman is filled with each side of Ama’s power, including the energy of a mortal soul, which has power. This means she can, with enough focus, control both light and dark energy.