by Lynette Noni
“You can never trust prophecies,” D.C. said, her nose wrinkling. “They always have too many meanings and you never know what they refer to until it’s too late. Hindsight is the only way to see their full truth. And with yours, despite whatever Athora claimed, we might as well be searching for a specific grain of sand in the middle of a desert.”
That was what Alex feared. But all she had right now was hope.
“Speaking of deserts,” she said, “did any of you visit one on your way here?”
Blank looks and raised eyebrows met her question, so she quickly mumbled, “Never mind.”
“What are we supposed to do now?” Declan asked, stretching his long legs out and rearranging the pillows around his bulky form. “Not that this place isn’t cushy, but sitting around isn’t going to—”
He didn’t get a chance to finish before a blinding light surrounded them and once again they were flash-transported away.
Four
Jumping to her feet beside the others, Alex took stock of their new surroundings, noting that they were back in the throne room, without their glass prisons this time.
Saefii was sitting on the middle throne, the largest of all three, with Calivere seated on her left and Tayros on her right. Alex and her friends stood at the base of the shining steps leading up to the dais, with the rest of the silver-eyed assembly from earlier standing behind them, hemming them in amongst the golden pillars.
“Alexandra Jennings, we have conferred in the wake of your tale and have brought you here to bear witness to our judgement,” Calivere said, his voice just as angelic as his features. But despite the soothing quality to his tone, his words caused a shiver of foreboding to travel down Alex’s spine.
“Many eons have passed since we banished the Meyarins from our world,” Tayros said, his voice deep and silky smooth, like heated syrup. “We have no desire to reignite a war long since won.”
Alex had to bite her cheek to keep from jumping in, determined to wait until they were finished before she would argue her point again.
“However,” Calivere said, as if he and Tayros were tag-teaming their discussion. “The threat of the one named Aven does trouble us, if only due to the question of where he will next turn his gaze once he has conquered your world and slaughtered your mortal races.”
“This guy sure has a way with words,” Jordan muttered from beside Alex.
Calivere’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t engage other than to raise his head and watch Jordan emotionlessly from his throne.
When no one else said anything, Alex took that as permission to speak. Her heart pounding with hope, she asked, “Does that—Does that mean you’ll help us?”
It was Empress Saefii who answered.
“We will.”
Alex’s face broke into a wide smile as her spirits soared. She couldn’t believe it—after everything she’d been through to get to this point, it seemed surreal to receive such a positive response. She turned to share beaming looks with her friends, but all their expressions froze when it became clear that Saefii hadn’t finished speaking.
“We will,” the empress repeated, “but only if you prove yourselves worthy.”
Just like that, Alex’s hopes crumbled.
“How would we do that?” Kaiden asked carefully.
It was to Alex that Saefii directed her answer.
“If you wish for us to come to your world and help you defeat Aven Dalmarta, then you must pass through Tu’eh Saeron ess Telari.” Saefii didn’t know Alex had an inner Tia Auran translator, so the empress spoke the common tongue equivalent aloud for all to hear. “You must undergo the Gates of Testing.”
“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” D.C. said quietly.
Alex shared her friend’s concern.
“Six of you there are, so six Gates you will face,” Saefii said. “Six tests over six days. If you prevail, we will consider you worthy and travel to Medora to fight in your war. But if you fail, we will leave you to your fate.”
Alex felt the room spin around her. She raised a hand to her head, hoping to steady her whirling thoughts. Six days was a long time to remain in Tia Auras. Anything could happen back in Medora in their absence. But if it meant they would return with the very people who had conquered the Meyarin race to begin with, then the wait would be worth it. It would have to be.
But the risk of failure…
“What are the tests?” Alex asked, her throat tight.
Saefii spread her hands in supplication. “Should you agree to prove your worth, you will see for yourself.”
“So, you’re saying we have to go in blind?” Bear clarified. “Without knowing what we’re agreeing to?”
“They are not called the Gates of Testing without reason, young mortal,” Saefii told him. “Part of the test is deciding whether or not you will undergo it.”
“And there are six of these tests—one for each of us?” Declan asked.
“I did not say that,” Saefii replied with a small shake of her head, her circlet sparkling as it caught the light. “There are six, yes. But depending on which specific Gates you choose, the tests may be for one of you, or for all of you.”
Without knowing more about what the Gates of Testing required, Alex was having trouble grasping the concept of what they would be facing.
“I will say this,” Saefii continued, once again looking directly at Alex. “You have come as the representative for your world, Alexandra Jennings, so the most demanding Gates will challenge you—specifically—in some way. That is the only warning I will offer.”
Fantastic, Alex grumbled to herself, not that she would have expected anything less, given the nightmare that was her life.
“What if we decide not to go through these Gates of yours?” Jordan asked, his arms crossed. “What then?”
Saefii didn’t even blink. “Then you will return to your world without us, and we will make it so none from Medora will ever be able to walk the eiden paths to venture here again.”
Jordan’s forehead crinkled until Alex whispered to him and the rest of her friends, “The eiden paths are the Library’s doorways. She’s saying they’ll block anyone from being able to step back through to Tia Auras, Aven included. I guess it’s their version of a failsafe. This is the only chance we’ll have to secure their help.”
“Can we have a moment to decide?” Kaiden asked the empress, and she dipped her chin in agreement.
Huddling into a circle, D.C. spoke up first. “There’s no choice here, is there? We have to do it.”
“We don’t know what ‘it’ is,” Bear pointed out as he scrubbed a weary hand over his face. “Testing by definition implies a challenge—and without knowing the rules of this challenge, we have no way of knowing what kind of game these people are playing. For all we know, failing any of their tests could mean instant death.”
Alex’s stomach clenched at the realisation he was right.
“That’s a risk we might have to take,” Kaiden said, his voice calm, steadying. “We all came here knowing it would be dangerous. We can’t leave without doing everything we can to see our mission through.”
Yet again, Alex was grateful for his unwavering confidence.
“I’m with Kaiden,” Jordan said, rolling tension from his shoulders. “We’re here now—we might as well see what these Gates are and do what we can to convince these guys to help us.”
“Six days, though,” D.C. said, looking around the golden room with uncertainty. “We’ll have been gone for a week by the time we get home. Our families—”
“There’s nothing we can do about that,” Declan interrupted, if gently. “We have to focus on the here and now.”
Bear gave a quick nod and said, “Are we all in agreement, then? That we’ll stay and try to pass these tests, whatever they might be?”
As one, they faced Alex, waiting for her final verdict.
“For the record, I hate this,” she whispered, looking each of them in the eyes. She then str
aightened her spine and turned towards Saefii. “We accept your challenge.”
The smile that spread across the empress’s face was almost blinding as she responded, “Then the testing shall begin at dawn.”
With another bright flash, Alex and her friends were instantly transported back to the balconied room they’d been in earlier.
“Why is it always dawn?” she mumbled. “Why not noon? Or any time after nine, really? Nine is a perfectly acceptable time to face life-and-death challenges. None of this dawn business.”
“Are you good, or would you like another minute to continue your pity party?” Jordan asked with a twinkle in his eyes, one that had been missing earlier.
Taking her cue from his light-hearted attempt, she stifled the urge to pick up one of the cushions and throw it at him. Instead, she answered, if still with a slight grumble, “I’m good.”
Before she could say more, the six previously locked doors around the edges of the room opened, and through each walked a Tia Auran robed in black. They all appeared young—only a few years older than Alex herself—but their age was relative given their immortal status. They could easily be thousands of years old, if not more.
Coming to a halt in front of Alex and her friends, the six new figures remained silent, almost awkwardly so, until a light flashed and Calivere appeared.
“These are your helpers for the duration of your stay,” he explained without preamble. “They will ensure you are as prepared as you can be for your upcoming challenges.”
Alex raised a brow, wondering what kind of preparation would be necessary, and dreading the possibilities.
“For as long as you are undertaking Tu’eh Saeron ess Telari, you will be considered our guests here in Vardaesia,” Calivere continued. “You may therefore wander the palace and the city at your leisure.”
That surprised Alex. She had presumed they would remain locked within this space for the duration of their stay, not be afforded such liberties.
“However,” Calivere said, and his tone nearly had Alex rolling her eyes, since she was certain he was about to rescind his offer in some way. “I would advise against undue exploration, at least until you’ve had a chance to settle in. Our people are unaccustomed to strangers and may react poorly to your presence.”
Because everyone we’ve met has been super nice so far, Alex thought cynically. She didn’t want to imagine what the rest of the Tia Aurans might be like, especially given Calivere’s warning.
“I will leave you for now,” the advisor said. “Your helpers will ensure that you are fed and settled for the night, and they will return before dawn to ready you for your first test.” He gestured for the black-robed Tia Aurans to step forward one by one. “This is Kantor”—a tall, dark male moved to Declan’s side—“Anais”—a male with the squarest jawline Alex had ever seen stepped up beside Bear—“Enka”—a fair-skinned male with facial hair trimmed to perfection nodded to Jordan—“and Sorin”—the last male strode towards Kaiden, his hair like burnished bronze.
Calivere then gestured to the two remaining Tia Aurans, both of whom were female. “Lastly, we have Latania and Zaylin.”
The one named Latania looked like a shining star come to life, and she moved with impossible grace towards D.C., while the other one, Zaylin, approached Alex more warily. With skin as black as Saefii’s, Zaylin was equally stunning to behold—and that was saying a lot, considering how lovely the ruler of Tia Auras was.
“Unfortunately, your helpers don’t speak the tongue of your world,” Calivere said, a hint of mirth on his angelic face at what he presumed would be a challenging language barrier for them all. “But I’m sure you’ll find a way to get by. Sleep well, mortals.”
And with another flash of light, he was gone.
“Handy little ability, that,” Jordan said, and Alex couldn’t help agreeing.
Looking at the new arrivals, she wondered if she was the only one in the room who felt uncomfortable. But given the fidgeting of her friends, she wasn’t alone.
“So… Didn’t Calivere mention food?” Declan asked.
“I sure hope so,” Jordan said, rubbing his stomach. “I’m starved.”
Alex, too, was desperate for a meal, still having eaten nothing since before her torture session in Meya a few nights ago. Her hunger and thirst may have been eased by whatever healing she’d undergone while unconscious, but she was still eager to fill her stomach.
“Dahana, tornas,” Kaiden said quietly to Sorin while gesturing towards the rest of them. Immediately the helper bowed and disappeared, along with Enka and Latania.
Alex turned impressed eyes to Kaiden, having translated his words to mean ‘please’ and ‘food’.
“Enough to get by, huh?” she said, referring to his earlier explanation.
“I can find out where the bathroom is too, if you want,” he said with a light-hearted grin. “Athora seemed to think that question was important enough for me to know.”
Alex laughed lightly. “You do realise we’ll all be relying on you anytime we need to ask them something?”
“Good luck,” Kaiden said ruefully. “I wasn’t kidding about not knowing much. For all I know, I just asked Sorin for a bowling ball.”
Alex shook her head, amused. “I’m pretty sure you’re underestimating your language skills.”
A second later, everyone else was sure too, because Sorin, Latania and Enka returned, and with them materialised a table with six chairs that held a mountain of food complete with crystal chalices full of sparkling liquid.
“Now this is more like it!” Jordan said, clapping Enka gratefully on the shoulder as he moved towards the table.
Stomach rumbling and mouth watering, Alex took a seat beside her friends and didn’t hesitate to tuck in, not even caring that she had no idea what she was eating. If there was one thing she’d learned while living in the past, it was that Meyarin food might have been unidentifiable for the most part, but it was also sublime. The same could be said for Vardaesia’s offering.
“I’ve never tasted anything so delicious in my life,” D.C. said between mouthfuls.
No one was able to respond other than to grunt their agreement. Even Bear was eating heartily, which helped ease some of the concern Alex felt for her friend. She was almost embarrassed by their collective uncivilised behaviour, especially knowing their six helpers were just standing to the side and watching them. But she was also too hungry to slow down her eating, not until she was so full that she thought she might burst.
“Six days of this mightn’t be so bad,” Jordan said, leaning back and placing a hand to his stomach.
“I hear you, mate,” Declan said, downing what remained in his chalice, some kind of bubbly fruit punch that Alex herself had devoured. “That was amazing.”
As if knowing they were done, the food disappeared, leaving an empty golden table carved with glittering constellations.
“I wonder how much of what they can do was passed on to us by the Meyarins?” D.C. mused, looking at the bare space where her plate had just rested and running her fingers over one of the shining patterns. “And how much of our advancement as a human race is thanks to the Tia Aurans?”
“You’re thinking of our TCDs?” Bear asked, shifting forward in his seat as he considered the implications. “Like in the food court back at Akarnae?”
D.C. nodded. “That, among other things.”
It was on the tip of Alex’s tongue to mention house elves, but she managed to resist the urge. Just.
“It’s an interesting question, but perhaps one for another time,” Jordan said, leaning over to press a light kiss to D.C.’s temple, easing her furrowed brow by affection alone.
Sighing, she said, “You’re right, of course. Given our early morning, we should probably all try and get some sleep.”
Alex was trying not to think about the next morning—or rather, not to think about how little she knew of what they were getting themselves into.
As if understanding
D.C.’s words, the six helpers all stepped forward, as silent as mimes.
“That’s going to get real weird, real fast,” Jordan said quietly.
“Already there,” Bear returned, warily eyeing the black-robed figures.
Alex had to repress a smile. While she was worried about what her friends might have to face in the coming days, she was still grateful that they had followed her and Kaiden to Tia Auras. More than ever, she needed them by her side—not just to provide support and encouragement, but also for the moments like this. Moments where they pushed through their grief and reminded her of the purity of their friendship, something that had helped her survive as long as she had. Through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, they were always there for each other. They could get through anything together—including, perhaps especially, everything that lay ahead.
“I guess I’ll see you all in the morning?” Alex asked as Zaylin began to stride away from the group towards one of the previously locked doors.
The other helpers did the same, with them gesturing politely for Alex’s friends, rather than just expecting them to follow in their wake like Zaylin.
“Don’t let the otherworldly bed bugs bite,” D.C. called from her doorway across the room, her tone joking until she realised that it was a possibility, at which point her face paled.
Smiling to herself, Alex followed Zaylin into what she guessed was her bedroom for the duration of her stay. She tried not to gape at the luxurious surrounds, but it was a challenge. With everything covered in diamonds and gold, Alex couldn’t help feeling like she’d stepped into a life-size chandelier. The bed, the dresser, the ensuite bathroom—everything was so shiny that it was almost painful to her eyes. The only reprieve was a set of gauzy, opalescent curtains that led to a private balcony, but even that hosted a view of the extravagant city. With the three moons now high in the sky and the shooting stars still streaking across the horizon, Vardaesia looked more like a galaxy than a city. Lit from above, lit from within, and surrounded by billowing clouds—it was truly awe-inspiring. And yet…