by Lana Axe
“So I must bond with it, and then activate it?”
“I believe so,” he said. “Unless, of course, it tells you differently.”
Pia smiled. He knew she could hear the symbol’s thoughts.
“I had trouble understanding the symbol when we first bonded,” he went on. “It took some time to get to know it. I hope there will be enough time for you to do so before we reach the wastelands.”
Pia looked at the object in her hand. “I don’t think I’ll need much time,” she said. She felt as if it were an old friend come back to her. More than anything, she was ready to bond with it. “What must I do?”
“I will lead you through the other realm, where you will stand at the edge of the void,” he said. “There you will be able to merge with the symbol.”
“Will it leave marks on my arm?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “It might not enter through your arm. Your symbol works differently from my own.”
“How do we get to this other realm?” she asked.
“There is a potion that induces a trance,” he said. “It will unlock a portion of your mind, allowing you to enter a vision quest.”
She nodded. “I’m ready to go.”
“First I must brew the potion,” he said. “It will take about an hour. We’ll also need Embyr’s help.”
“I don’t think she’s in the mood to talk,” Pia replied.
“While we are in the trance, our bodies will be vulnerable,” he said. “Someone must be ready to wake us if there’s trouble.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Pia said.
Embyr sat with her back to the camp, looking out toward the forest. There was nothing to see but darkness. Pia scuffled her feet against some dried leaves to make sure Embyr heard her approach.
“How are you feeling?” she asked as she sat down next to her.
Embyr barely glanced at her. She did not reply.
“I miss him too,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I wish I could have known him longer.”
After a few moments of silence, Embyr finally spoke. “He was my brother,” she said. “We didn’t grow up together, but he meant more to me than any member of my real family.”
Pia placed an arm around Embyr’s shoulders and hugged her. “He’ll always be with you,” she said.
“No he won’t,” Embyr replied. “He is gone. We will never meet again.”
Not knowing how to respond, Pia remained silent. She turned her gaze to the stars, veiled behind a screen of black. Leko was up there somewhere. She knew it in her heart. After Embyr had had time to grieve, she would share this knowledge with her.
“Where was Taren all day?” Embyr asked.
“He went to retrieve the symbol,” Pia replied. “He thinks I’m ready for it.”
“What do you think?” Embyr asked.
“I am ready.”
Embyr nodded. “Leko would be happy for you.” She paused. “I’m happy for you too, but I can’t bring myself to smile the way he would.”
“I understand,” Pia said. “It’s all right. In time, you’ll remember all the good times you had with Leko. I know I will.”
“There are no good times left for any of us,” Embyr said. “Only darkness lies ahead.”
Pia sat a moment in silence before replying. “It can be mended,” she said. “It has to be. For Leko’s sake. No one else will ever have to die at the hands of a wraith.” She was determined to make the statement true. His death was a senseless waste. She should have saved him, but she was too weak. After tonight, that wouldn’t be the case.
“No loss is made easier because someone died a noble death,” Embyr said. “You’re too young to know better, and you haven’t lost anyone. When you do, you’ll realize the pain is the same no matter the manner of a loved one’s death.”
“I lost Leko too,” she said. “And Taren is also hurting, even if he doesn’t show it. There is other work to be done, and he buries himself in it.” When Embyr didn’t reply, Pia said, “And I have lost someone. I’ve lost my parents and my best friend.”
“You only left them,” Embyr said. “They’re still alive.”
“The wraith had my mother’s face,” Pia said. “For all I know, it killed her to take her image.”
Embyr looked up. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I hope it’s not true. Perhaps the symbol will be able to tell you for sure once you’ve bonded. It has great power.”
“I hope so,” Pia replied. Wondering about her mother’s fate was worse than knowing the truth.
“When will your bonding take place?” Embyr asked.
“Tonight,” she answered. “We must enter a dream state and travel to the edge of the void.”
“Sounds terrifying, as Leko would say.” Embyr tried to force a smile. “He was always joking.”
Pia nodded, remembering her departed friend’s wonderful sense of humor. He made her feel at home when she’d first arrived, always trying to lighten the situation.
“We could use your help, if you’re up to it,” Pia said.
Embyr nodded. “What do you need?”
“We need you to watch over us while we enter the trance,” Pia replied. “Wake us if there’s trouble.”
“I can do that,” Embyr said. “You be careful going near that void.” Squeezing the girl tight, she added, “Don’t get lost in there. I can’t lose a sister too.”
Pia’s eyes filled with tears. She’d never had a sister, but she would gladly accept Embyr as her own.
The two sat in silence, observing the darkness of the forest while Taren prepared the potion. When it was ready, he approached on quiet footsteps. “It’s time,” he said.
Pia and Embyr stood, and followed him to the center of camp. A blue fire glowed to life beneath Taren’s hands. Its warmth soothed Pia’s nerves, which plagued her despite her confidence.
Handing Embyr a vial, Taren said, “If you need to wake us, place a few drops of this on the fire. The odor will be strong.”
Embyr nodded and looked at Pia. Both were smiling, imagining the joke Leko would have made if he were here.
Sitting cross-legged, Taren motioned for Pia to join him. “Hold the symbol in your right hand.”
Pia did as she was told. He passed her a cup containing a small amount of dark liquid. It had a strange, earthy scent.
“Drink it all,” he said. “This will keep us under for about an hour.”
“Will that be long enough?” she asked.
“It should be,” he replied. Pressing a cup to his lips, he downed the entire contents.
Following his lead, Pia drank as well. The concoction was hot and bitter. Luckily there was only a mouthful, and she forced herself to swallow it.
Moments later, her world went dark. When she opened her eyes, Taren stood over her, a sphere of white light dancing on his palm. “Come with me,” he said.
Pia rose, but there was nothing beneath her feet. Looking down, she saw only darkness. “Will I fall?” she asked.
Taren shook his head and reached for her hand. They moved through the darkness, guided by Taren’s light. Pia hoped they were moving in the right direction. The symbol wasn’t telling her anything.
Pale dots of violet came into view, floating on the dark backdrop. The stars! They had traveled into the heavens. Pia gasped at the sight and stumbled. Taren caught her, squeezing her hand for support. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself.
The symbol in her hand began to warm, the golden strands tingling against her skin. She clutched it tighter. A massive star loomed straight ahead, far larger than the others. As she moved closer, she saw its lights begin to swirl, snaking inward. “A portal,” she said.
“That is the entrance to the void,” Taren said. He stopped walking, not wanting to be any closer to the vortex.
“Do I go inside it?” she asked.
The sorcerer shook his head. “You cannot enter from here,” he said. “This is merely a vision. You will meet the true portal so
on enough.”
She clenched her jaw, drawing the symbol close to her heart. It would protect her and guide her. If not, she was lost.
Energy radiated from the symbol, its intersecting lines of gold shifting into a new shape. Vibrating at her touch, it cried out to her, begging her to embrace it.
Pressing the artifact against her chest, she said, “I bind you to me. We shall be as one.”
Pia’s breath was stolen away, a rush of energy bursting inside her chest. She felt the symbol inside her, its lines of gold twisting throughout her body. Her mind filled with visions of runes and magic, ancient spells lost to time. It was almost too much, and she grew unsteady on her feet, but the symbol caught her, helping her to stand.
After a moment, the surge of energy faded, leaving her wide-eyed and invigorated. When she looked at her right hand, threads of lavender wove themselves over her fingers, twisting and turning as they traveled up her arm and onto her chest, stopping at the center. She held out her arm to admire the artwork. It was unlike any pattern she’d ever seen. To her eyes, it was the most beautiful pattern she’d seen.
“How do you feel?” Taren asked.
“Unbelievable,” she said. Her mind whirled with all the new information. She couldn’t process it all at once, though she craved it. The symbol spoke softly to her, whispering words of comfort. It was a strange language, one she’d never heard, yet she understood every word. Her deepest thoughts transferred to the symbol, and it delighted in them. She smiled at the notion that it was getting to know her as she was getting to know it.
Her eyes lit with a violet glow, her face radiant. She’d never felt so alive.
“Use this time to acquaint yourself with the symbol and its nuances,” Taren said. “It will try to teach you many things. Don’t be frustrated if you don’t understand.”
“Patience,” she said, imitating the many times he’d reminded her of that.
“Patience,” he repeated. “There are aspects of its power you will not be able to use until you have activated them. To do that, you must enter the void.”
She glanced at the swirling vortex and felt the symbol’s yearning. “The real one,” she said.
“That is our final destination,” he said.
When he said those words months ago, she had been afraid. She would have to enter the void alone, without any help. But that wasn’t true. The symbol was with her and would never be parted from her. She would never be alone again.
Tuning her mind to the symbol, she asked the one question that had been burning on her mind. Do you know if my mother still lives?
The symbol did not speak, but instead granted her the gift of far-seeing. Her mind swept through the forests, passing through trees as if they were only shadows. She reached the sea, her mind floating above caps of white as they crashed into the blue. On and on her mind stretched, her heart seeking the mother she loved.
There inside the little cabin where she had spent her childhood, her mother sat on a wooden stool, sewing a piece of blue cloth. She was alive! Her eyes held great sadness, and it pained Pia’s heart to look upon her. The door behind her opened, and her father walked in. Mixed feelings came over her. She loved him too, and seeing him now, she realized she always had.
She watched as her father put his arms around her mother and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Pia will be fine,” he said. “Sending her with Taren was the only way to save her.”
Her mother was crying. “It’s so hard not having her here. I miss her so.”
“So do I,” her father said.
Pia was surprised. She thought he was glad to have her gone. She had only brought him trouble.
“We might see her again someday,” he went on. “And on that day, we’ll tell her how much we love her.” He kissed Jeya again. “That day will come,” he said.
Pia reached out, daring to lay hands on the images, but they could not sense her presence. She was a witness but not a participant. At least not yet. The symbol promised more in the future.
The image of her parents faded away, leaving her in darkness.
Chapter 19
Taren awoke first, followed seconds later by Pia. She observed the marks on her arm. They were still there. It brightened her heart to know they hadn’t just been part of her vision. She loved them and was proud to have them as part of her.
“I was about to wake you,” Embyr said, the open vial in her hand.
A gust of wind shot through the forest, and the ground beneath them shook. A crash of thunder in the distance forced away any trace of reverie still in Pia’s mind. She was back to reality now, and something was very wrong.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“You and the symbol have bonded,” he said. “The void knows it.”
“It will send its evil creatures to seek me out,” she said. She would be ready for them. The symbol would guide her.
The ground shook violently, the warmth stolen from the air. The void was expanding. Pia could feel the rift clearly in her mind. Shadows moved through it, searching.
“Should we get moving?” Embyr asked.
“We’ll wait until morning,” Taren said. “The evil creatures have less power in the daytime, even if they’ve stolen the sun from us.”
Pia and Embyr stayed close that night, neither of them able to sleep well. Intervals of shaking came and went all night, and the wind cried out as if something were chasing after it.
“I take it your vision quest was successful,” Embyr said.
Pia held out her arm to show her the markings. “Yes,” she said. “It’s an indescribable sensation.”
Embyr admired the intertwining lines on Pia’s arm. “It’s a true work of art,” she said. Studying the girl’s face, she said, “You seem older somehow.”
Pia smiled. “I feel older, or at least wiser. So much seems to have changed inside me.” The symbol was a blessing. Its presence enlightened her mind and nourished her soul.
“You’re happy,” Embyr said. “It’s good to see you smile like that. You deserve so much happiness.”
“You’ll be happy again too, Embyr.”
She sucked in a deep breath and nodded. “In time,” she said.
The wind increased, and the pair moved closer to the magefire, huddling together to preserve their warmth. Pia turned inward, asking the symbol to help her stay warm. It obeyed, its warming energy spreading through her veins. She was happy to share it with Embyr.
“Were you able to find out anything about your mother?” Embyr asked.
“She’s alive and well,” Pia said. “The symbol let me visit her, though I wasn’t able to interact with her.” She paused before adding, “Yet.”
Once the symbol was fully active, Pia had no doubt she would be able to visit her parents. She could pass through the void, traverse the great emptiness, and emerge at any point she chose. That was the greatest gift the symbol could grant her. There were so many wonders she had yet to see, and she yearned to lay eyes on them. Patience, she reminded herself.
As dawn approached, Embyr turned to Pia. “Are you sure you want to complete this journey?” she asked. “This weather will probably get worse, and you’re up against a power that even Taren can’t face. I don’t want you pushed into this if you’re not ready. You have a choice, Pia.”
“I want to do this,” Pia said. Her voice did not waver. With all her heart, she wanted nothing more than to heal this rift and prevent more evil from spilling into the world. She could protect her mother, Embyr, Taren, and everyone else she would come to know. It could be done only if she focused on the moment. Imagining what lay ahead would only frighten her. She trusted in the symbol. It would safeguard her life as it would its own.
“You’re so young,” Embyr said.
“This is my path,” Pia said. “I walk it gladly.” She squeezed Embyr’s hand. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“Gladly,” Embyr said. “I’ll always be here for you.”
* * * * *
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After another week in the dark forest, the travelers reached the wastelands. The ground became a mixture of sand and clay soil. Their feet kicked up layers of dust as they passed.
“How long do you think since this place had any rain?” Embyr asked.
“About six months,” Taren answered. “There’s a wet season and a dry one, though nothing grows in the wastelands.”
“Then I’m glad we’re here in the dry season,” she said. “It’s much better than trudging through clay mud.”
“Have you been in this land before?” Pia asked.
“I’ve only flown over it,” Taren answered. “There was no need to set foot here until now.”
They stopped at the edge of the trees, surveying what awaited them. Swirls of red, orange, and apricot snaked their way across the rugged plain. Formations of rock surrounded the area, their surfaces stained with the same earthy hues. Pia found it beautiful, despite its lack of growing things. Behind her all the world was green. This land stood in stark contrast, but it was no less attractive to her eyes. Uninviting, yes. There didn’t appear to be a source of water.
“Will we have enough to drink?” she wondered.
“There is water beneath the clay,” Taren said. “More than we’ll need.” The sorcerer pointed to the west. “That is our destination,” he said.
Spires of black stone rose in the distance. Pia allowed her senses to focus on them, and she felt the presence of evil. A dark malice and a yearning for revenge radiated from the spires. Someone was alive there. Fearing the answer, she didn’t ask Taren what he might know of it.
“It’s not that far,” Embyr said. “We’ll be there in a couple of days if we push ourselves.”
Pia wasn’t sure she wanted to. Now that the journey was coming to an end, she wasn’t sure she was ready. Warmth spread from her arm, radiating through her body. The symbol was with her.
There was no sunlight in this land. The sky appeared as Pia’s former home had at dusk, with the sun’s bright disc barely outlined against a thick screen of gray. She had seen an eclipse once as a child, and the scene she witnessed now reminded her of that night.