Bokah shrugged. “I think that pie is making me sleepy. I’ll leave you be and go rest until we reach Nitari.”
Aura nodded. She took in the smell of the air again, feeling content for a moment. She remembered standing in the exact spot a few days before with Felipe. Longing for his embrace again, she hugged herself as she looked out at the horizon.
Hontak waved at the incoming ship from their loading dock. “Aura! So good to see you again!”
Aura waved back at him. She walked down from the gangplank and hugged the furry Etoyoc. “It’s good to be back. I would like to talk with you and your father about urgent business matters.”
“You look different.” Hontak’s ears flattened for a moment, but he smiled and motioned for her to follow him.
Aura shrugged and her pulse quickened. Can the Etoyoc sense the darkness in me since they live so close to Vadim? She dismissed the thought and shouted up at Bokah, “You’re in charge. Please don’t make me regret saying that.”
“Alrighty!” Bokah replied, waving a hand just above the bow of the ship.
Aura made her way with Hontak, passing the trade shops. An Etoyoc rolled a barrel past her, and their eyes met. His expression changed as his eyes grew wide with fear. Aura quickly cast her gaze toward the ground and avoided contact. They can’t sense the powers in you. They don’t know you have them. She repeated her thoughts to herself, hoping to dismiss her fears of her secret being discovered.
* * *
Hontak remained quiet, and she feared that he knew she brought bad news.
They reached his father’s hut and entered.
Toni stood tall and motioned for her to sit, taking a long drag from his pipe. “You come alone this time,” he said, looking around.
“I’m afraid I have terrible news,” she said quietly as they all sat on the smooth ground. Just Breath. Her throat constricted as the words she had practiced on the ship slipped away from her and the simple truth tried to escape. Felipe is dead.
Hontak’s ears flattened against his head, and Toni’s did, too.
“Felipe?” Toni asked, taking another drag from his pipe.
Aura nodded. “He was brave. He saved my life. I wanted to deliver the news myself.”
“His mother is in town for trade. Hontak, go retrieve her for us.”
Hontak nodded, obeying his father. “This is hard for me to hear. He had such promise, such dreams for our kind. What happened?”
“A Sight came after me. He stood in front of me . . . and the Sight touched him.”
“He died a hero.” Toni nodded at his own statement, blowing out the smoke from his last drag. “How are you, my dear?” He placed his large, paw-like hand on Aura’s lap, and the tears returned.
She knew she couldn’t fight them off again. She leapt forward, hugging him, and let herself cry. The Watcher of the Etoyoc let her cry for a few minutes and brought his paw to her face, lifting it for their eyes to meet.
“You know he loved you, right? My son and I knew he did by the way he looked at you. He had eyes for no other.”
Aura nodded.
“Then be proud you knew him and that he saved you. That’s love.”
Aura sat back in her original spot and wiped the tears from her face. “My sister has come to rule Thindoral and offered me a new position.”
“I have heard we have a new Ruler.” Toni nodded.
“I’m to help her by leading the regions to the north of Thindoral as Monarch. I wish no intrusion on your leadership, just to work alongside you in peace. I’ll help rebuild Hatem. I’ll reside in one of the regions, though I believe for a while I’ll reside on my ship. My sister has requested I choose a Council member to replace Felipe.” Aura paused. “I believe Hontak is capable of this, and it’ll work well, once he becomes Watcher of the Etoyoc, to work directly with Giriveen. I wanted your blessing on my choice before I asked him.”
Toni nodded and took another drag as though processing everything Aura had just told him. “I’m in agreement with you, and I’m honored you’ve chosen my son.” He looked at her and nodded, releasing the smoke from his mouth.
The hut entrance opened, and Hontak walked in with a tall, thin olive-skinned woman. Her hair fell in long, loose dreadlocks down her back, and gray curls grew at her temples. Her dark eyes reminded Aura so much of Felipe. She stood when the woman entered and gazed at the ground after briefly making eye contact.
“Yani, please sit for me. This is Aura,” Toni said, pointing to Aura. “She is now the Monarch of Northern Thindoral.”
“Aura?” Yani spoke with a cool raspy voice. “My son spoke of you.”
Aura nodded, and they sat. She looked over at Toni who nodded at her, attempting to reassure her. But the tightening of her throat returned. Your son is dead. Felipe is dead. “I’m afraid I’ve come to share news with you about your son, Felipe. He . . .” She tried to figure out how to explain to the woman that her only son was dead.
Her vision blurred as her eyes brimmed with tears. She looked at Yani as she gulped. “Felipe and I . . .” Aura paused. “I loved your son. And he saved me, but in doing so, he lost his own life. I wanted you to hear this from someone who loved him. Even though I only knew him a short time, I wanted to know him for the rest of my life. He died a hero.”
Yani’s eyes shone bright, and tears fell down her cheeks, leaving clean streaks that erased the dirt from her face. She grabbed Aura’s hands, and Aura felt the calluses of her fingertips.
“Toni said Felipe cared for you very much. I thank you for being so kind to let me know in person. My son. My son, Felipe . . .” Yani embraced Aura, and they both searched for comfort.
Before Yani left, Aura promised her she would visit soon. Hontak’s eyes glistened, and wet fur matted around them as Aura took her seat back at the center of the hut.
“Hontak, I spoke with Toni, and he gave me his blessing. My sister requested I come here to find a replacement for Felipe on the Council. I would like you to be that replacement.”
His ears perked up slightly, and he stood quickly. Aura stood with him.
“I would be honored.” He sniffled.
She smiled and hugged him.
“Thank you, Aura. I’m so glad to have met you.”
“Adie requires your immediate return. The Guards upon the ship will show you how to use the Globe to have Adie transport you to Giriveen. She will go over your duties as a representative.”
Hontak nodded and made his way out of the hut to prepare a bag to take.
Aura turned to Toni. “Toni, there’s something I wish to do. I know you won’t be happy with my choice, but out of respect for you, I want to be honest with you.”
“Speak.”
“I wish to go to Vadim. Not just the border. I will go into Vadim.”
Toni sighed and returned the pipe to his mouth. Light puffs of white smoke came from his nostrils. “While there is no fighting your authority, make it known that I advise against it.” He shook his head, and his voice grew soft. “But I know you’ll do it anyway. Do you need a scout or supplies?”
“All we need is supplies to create shelter,” she responded quickly, walking toward him and hugging him graciously. “A scout is not necessary. Bokah and I will go alone.”
Toni’s eyes grew wide. “You have peeked my curiosity, but I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”
Aura nodded and exited the hut. She was going to visit the Wicked Willow.
34
Aura
Aura cringed, awaiting Bokah’s response.
“You want me to go with you into Vadim?” Bokah said, throwing his bags at the edge of the entrance to the forbidden forest.
She nodded quickly.
“You’re more than crazy. You’re suicidal. Do you not remember everything that happened last time? You passed out after being chased by Sights!”
“This time things are different. We have more weapons. If we run into Sights, we’ll be prepared.”
“Pssh,
a lot of good that did.” Bokah stopped. His eyes grew sad. “Weapons didn’t help my brother.”
“Bokah, I chose you because you’re fearless, and I know you trust me. I’ll show you soon enough why you shouldn’t worry, okay?” Aura tried to hide her fear, but she knew having these dark powers would help protect her from the Sights. I need to figure out a way to tell Bokah. I have them. I can trust him.
“Fine,” Bokah finally said. “But if I get killed, I will come back and haunt you.”
Aura smiled. “Then I’ll be doubly sure not to fail you!”
They made their way into the forest, and Aura couldn’t help but smile as she remembered her last walk through with Felipe. I can almost feel his hand in mine. Her fingertips tingled.
Bokah looked at her. “I don’t know why you’re smiling. You’re enjoying this way too much.”
Aura let him step in front of her a few paces. The weight of the weapons and supplies on her back made her shoulders ache.
“We’ll stop here for a water break. It’ll start to heat up soon since we are nearing the border,” she said.
Bokah sat on a nearby log and watched her. “Something is different about you. You don’t seem too frightened by the fact that we are going to Vadim.”
Aura hesitated, searching for the right words. “Bokah. There’s something I need to tell you, but first I must explain one of the most vital expectations I have of you in this position. Everything I tell you must be held in the strictest of confidence. You’re not to tell a soul.”
Bokah glanced at her curiously and nodded. “Okay. What is it you want to tell me?”
“Remember the story Adie shared about Samuel killing Zakar?”
Bokah nodded.
“Well, Samuel didn’t kill Zakar.” Aura held her breath. Please don’t freak out. Please don’t freak out.
He froze.
“I killed Zakar.”
“You?” He chuckled, but his laughter fell away as he searched her face. “You’re serious?”
She nodded.
“Aura! But then that means that his powers . . .”
Aura nodded. She held out her palm as the spark of red light came from it, and a gray cloud formed. She closed her hand and looked back at him.
His mouth fell open. “This is dangerous. Dark power can consume you. It can feed on even the slightest negative emotion and take over your mind. You shouldn’t even be using them!”
She looked at him.
“What? A dwarf can’t be educated on the darkness that resides in our world? I’ve read every article by Tutimier himself.” He huffed.
“I’m aware of how it can affect me.” But I can use them to our advantage. . . To help Thindoral.
“Is that why we’re here?”
“Yes.” Aura bit her lip. Partially.
“What’s your plan?”
“I’m going to the Wicked Willow.”
Bokah chuckled again. “You’re kidding, right?”
“She’ll want my powers. She’ll take them from me.”
“And your life, too. Plus, why would you want to give them back to her? She could free herself and destroy us all!”
“Not if I strike the right deal.”
He stared at her.
She could see the internal struggle in his eyes. Please do this for me, Bokah.
He sighed. “I swear to take this to my grave, but the moment I fear for your life, I’ll have to do something.”
“I understand.”
Bokah retrieved his tin cup and walked back over to the tree stump. “Dark powers! I mean, seriously, this could get bad.”
Aura nodded. “We should keep going. I know how to get to the gate leading into Vadim.”
“At this point, I’m just not going to ask anymore—”
“Probably for the best.” Aura smiled at Bokah as they put their packs on and continued their trek through the forbidden forest.
The sky was red above them.
Bokah dropped his pack and wiped the sweat from his face. “How far in there do you plan on going?” he asked, looking at the gate that led into Vadim.
“Oh, you’re going with me!” Aura said.
Bokah laughed.
“Well, wouldn’t you be worried about a Sight finding you here alone?” Aura asked as she narrowed her eyes at him. “At least with me you have someone with dark powers who can make them go away.”
His smile faded, and he shrugged as if wondering which would be a worse Fate.
“I need you to carry the water. We’ll take some food, too. Here’s an axe for you. You know, just in case,” she said, reaching for the weapon attached to her back.
“Just in case, huh?” Bokah said as he tucked the wooden handle of the axe into his belt.
Aura checked both her swords, one at her right and one at her left. She showed Bokah the small blade on the side of her boot. “Just in case.”
He rolled his eyes. Aura pushed the gate open, and they walked into Vadim. She remembered the path clearly. She looked at the ground cracking from the heat, creating a maze in the pathway leading to the tower. In the opposite direction, the Wicked Willow stood. Its height made it easy to see from such a long distance.
“There. It’s off the path, but we shouldn’t have too much trouble.”
“I always say that’s something you should never say, because then you always run into trouble.”
“Bokah!”
“What?! I’m just saying, now we should be extra cautious. You’ve practically doomed us.”
They made their way up steep hills and around sharp rocks and boulders.
Aura peered off into the distance. “How long do you think we’ve been traveling?”
“Most of the afternoon.”
“Okay, so why does the Wicked Willow look farther away?”
“Perhaps you’re hallucinating again.” Bokah chuckled.
“No, Bokah. Look!”
He cursed under his breath as he looked and confirmed what Aura saw. She turned back and couldn’t see the gate from which they’d entered. The wind howled, and the rush of a heatwave rolled over them.
“This can’t be good.”
“Shhh, Bokah! There are no shrieks. This isn’t Sights. Look!”
A red cloud formed to their left, heading straight for them.
“A sandstorm?”
“Well, that is what this region is made of, and we’re trying to reach the leader of the region. Who probably wants nothing to do with us, so of course a sandstorm would be the perfect thing to wipe us out,” Bokah replied.
“We need to find shelter.” Aura glanced around for something they could use as cover. Boulders would be of no use to them. She lifted her hands, and sparks surrounded by gray clouds formed around her.
“What are you going do to? Fight off sand with powers you probably shouldn’t use?”
“Do you want to live?” Aura shouted over the howling wind.
Sand whirled around them, stinging their cheeks.
He coughed as the sand hit his lungs. “Fine, what do you need me to do?” Bokah lifted his arms, trying to block the sand.
“Stand behind me and hold on!” Aura let the dark clouds escape from her hands and encompass them.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m attempting to transport us.”
“Transport us? With dark powers? But—”
“That’s why I said hold on. This might hurt.”
Bokah muttered something under his breath and gripped her leg tightly. The dark clouds completely surrounded them, shielding them from the red storm cloud coming their way. She still felt the grittiness from the sand in her throat as she brought her hands closer together. You can do this. You can . . .
“I’m going to be honest. I’m not entirely sure how to do this.”
“Are you kidding me?”
Red sparks twirled between her palms, pushing them farther from one other. She pushed back, but the pressure between her hands grew too much for her.
She let out a scream, and with all her might pushed them together as Bokah returned her cry. The familiar pulling sensation she felt with the Rokis returned, but on a larger level. Her screams fell around her as the air was sucked from her lungs.
Spinning and falling, she was unable to tell which way was up and which way was down. Darkness with flashes of light surrounded her, and a loud popping noise followed. She suddenly fell onto a hard surface. She gasped for air as sand flew into her eyes, burning them.
After the sand settled, she regained her eyesight. Off in the distance, the tower appeared as nothing more than a tiny spec. The storm cloud had vanished.
“Bokah! Bokah!” she called out, spitting sand from her mouth.
“Ughh!” A grunt came from a few feet in front of her.
She crawled over to find Bokah laying on the other side of a large rock.
“I think I may have a few broken ribs . . . and maybe a bruised ego.”
“Hold on.” Aura brought up the sparks in her hands.
“Do not heal me with that stuff!”
“Bokah, relax and just trust me.”
He stiffened and finally gave in when he breathed deep and the pain became too much.
She moved her hands over the top of his chest, and immediately his breathing eased as the pain vanished. She helped him stand.
“How close did we get to the—” Bokah stopped as he turned and almost fell backward, trying to look up at the height of the tree.
Aura followed his gaze. Her eyes widened as she walked forward. Bokah tried to pull her back.
Hundreds of thousands of thin branches hung, creating a canopy of darkness, swaying in the breeze, creating the illusion of many whispers echoing in the air, warning them to turn away. Roots protruded from the ground, rising to the height of Bokah before diving into the depths below. They appeared as small hooded shadows guarding the area around the Wicked Willow.
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