Dark Tide Rising (Book 1 of The Bright Eyes Trilogy)

by J. M. Rojas

CHAPTER 26: SWORN OATH

  “Unquenchable wrath?” Caleb asked, looking up at the ceiling. He was rubbing his elbow which had been jolted after he swung Arthur's glaive at the Revenant's head. “Couldn't you have said something like, 'unstoppable wrath'? Unquenchable sounds like you're really thirsty. Its kind of cheesy, really.”

  Cheesy? I don't think I understand what you mean. Arajasta sounded confused, but reflective.

  The teenager waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it. Anyway, why did it take you so long to wake up and help us? We nearly all got killed.”

  I was regenerating, Caleb. My power gets expended quickly because of this prison I am in. It restricts my reach... so I must use more to do little.

  “Well... whatever... just be there next time.”

  I was there.

  “Forget it.”

  “We have to find them, Rowan!” Elly cried as her eldest son climbed onto his motorbike. “I can't lose them, too!”

  Rowan turned back to his mother and said with a determined look, “I promise on my life, I will get them back safely.”

  “We're coming, too,” Jai said, running over to the black Chevy. Arthur was scraping shards of glass off the hood, and kicked a Revenant's black skull down the driveway.

  “Stay with mum,” Rowan said sternly, kick starting his bike's engine. “There could be more of them around.”

  “I think they're all dead or a hundred miles from here,” Arthur replied, pulling the passenger side door open, “Rowan, we're coming.”

  “Stop arguing, and lets go find them!” Emily shouted, rushing over to the bike and climbing behind Rowan.

  “What are you doing?” Rowan asked, turning to face his partner. “You have to stay with mum and Caleb.”

  “I'm coming with you, Mister Stubborn,” she rebuked with a sweet smile. “They are my family just as much as they are yours.”

  “Guys!” Rowan said loudly, addressing everyone. “I can do this alone.”

  “Ahem,” Jai cleared his throat from the driver window of the Chevy. “Didn't I just save you from being rip to pieces by the Revenant Lord? I think that warrants me to come with you.”

  “Please, Rowan, please just go,” Elly said, then suddenly her eyes grew wide. “They're here!” she screamed, covering her mouth to hold back sobs of relief. Elly then broke from the group and hobbled with her walking stick down the driveway with tears in her eyes.

  Everyone turned to follow her gaze and saw James and Alora on the dirt road at the edge of the woods. Alora appeared to be limping, but James—who was shirtless—was holding her up.

  Alora sipped at the warm mug of hot chocolate, her eyes on James as he retold the story of their escape.

  “Well,” he said slowly, “it took a lot of creativity on our part.” He paused, listening to the silent anticipation, then continued...

  James held Alora tight, allowing her to bury her tear-streaked face into his chest. “Shhh, its going to be alright.”

  “Watch these two,” Gha'haram said to a wolf-headed Revenant who still stood as a man, gesturing at the Grey children with his eyes. “I will lead the assault on the house.” The beast nodded, and the Revenant Lord wheeled away towards the tree-line, not sparing another glance. “The rest of you, follow me!”

  All but the wolf-headed Revenant and—upon his command—two female Revenant stayed behind to watch the children.

  Gha'haram changed into his previous bear shape and issued a great roar before leading his forces out of the cover of the trees towards the house.

  “Oooh, is the wittle kiddies scarrrred?” one of the female Revenant taunted Alora, and began to cackle in the way that James imagined an evil witch would sound like.

  Alora screamed as the woman loomed nearer, then shut her eyes and squeezed James tighter.

  “We're not scared of an ugly hag like you,” James said abruptly. He then winced, suddenly realising he might regret what he said.

  Haughty laughter rumbled in the chest of the wolf-headed Revenant, which escaped its maw as a wheezing, gurgling sound. The woman—who was pretty except for the tears at the corners of her mouth which exposed more teeth than normal—stopped her own laughing and flashed a face of scorn at him. “Stupid brat!” she cursed, taking a step forward and attempting a swipe at James' head with her clawed hand. The boy ducked the blow and crawled away from her with Alora scrambling after him. “I'll cut up that soft face of yours!”

  “Enough!” the wolf-headed Revenant growled, grabbing the woman by the wrist and pulling her back. “The master wants these children unharmed.”

  “Well tell them to keep their traps shut!” the other woman hissed, kicking a spray of dirt and leaves at James. She was uglier than the other one and most of her body had decayed away, revealing part of her ribcage and the bones in her legs. “I am half tempted to devour these little ones, regardless of the master's punishments. I haven't had a good feed in the last few days. There's only so many trees you can turn to ash before you get sick of it. Tastes hard and brittle. And animals stink! Dirty fur! Human flesh on the other hand is nice and soft...”

  “You will do no such thing,” the wolf-headed Revenant said, scooping up a large rock off the forest floor. He stepped towards the woman and looked down at her. His black fur bristling and his lips curled in a snarl. “You so much as touch them and I will smash this rock straight into your Doom Stone shard. That isn't a threat, its a promise, Martha. Now, you and Ashlynn keep watch, while I check how the fight is going.” He turned away from them and strode in the direction that Gha'haram had gone, sparing only one glance at them.

  When he was a slither of a shadow amongst the trees, Ashlynn backhanded James, sending him sprawling on his back. “That's for giving me cheek!”

  Martha laughed. “Pity we can't just devour these little morsels. The master already knows that they don't know where the Crown of Dreams is. So why keep them around?” She leered one bulbous eye at Alora then sniffed. “That one isn't fit for a light snack—if anything, I'll take the boy!”

  “You heard the wolf!” James shouted, rubbing his jaw where Ashlynn had hit him. “You so much as think about eating us and he'll kill you!”

  “Oh,” the pretty woman laughed, “really? Well, maybe we're far too hungry to care about a little threat. Have you thought about that?”

  Both women burst into hysterical laughter.

  James eyes flit about the clearing, searching for something to use as a weapon. Finally they fell on a fallen log twenty feet away, half covered in moss and pierced by grass and weeds. I can swing that thing with my thoughts... Ignoring the women's laughter and cruel jibes, his mind began plotting. Then smash their stones... but first... we need a distraction.

  “Gnat,” he whispered to his sister, “remember last year in the Rosewood Park with mum?”

  “Huh?” Alora replied softly, sounding half aware of what he said, her face still buried in his chest. “Wha—oh, yes, I remember.”

  “What are you two talking about?” Martha demanded, stepping closer to the children.

  “Remember that trick we did?”

  “Answer me, boy!” the Revenant shouted, kicking more dirt at him.

  Ashlynn snickered to herself, finding humour in the children's mistreatment. “They're being typical kiddies, keeping secrets from us grown ups!”

  “That was autumn though, there were more leaves.” Alora lifted her blue eyes up and stared at James. Then she nodded. “Okay, I will try.”

  The ugly woman was now standing right next to them, staring down at their huddling figures. “I said—!”

  “What is that?” James suddenly shouted, pointing behind Martha and Ashlynn.

  Martha started, then quickly turned around, looking in the direction he pointed. Ashlynn did likewise, her wild hair, which was full of leaves and twigs, bouncing on her shoulders as she spun.

  Nothing.

  Ashlynn began to cackle again and turned a sly eye on James. “He tricked us!”

  “Do
you take me for a fool!” Martha screamed, preparing her own backhand for the boy.

  “No, wait! You didn't look properly!” he said desperately, pointing again in the same direction. “There are things out there! They look like some kind horrible... forest spirits!”

  “Forest spirits?” Martha echoed him, screwing her face up in disbelief. She slowly turned around and squinted her eyes in the direction again, across the empty clearing. Then her eyes widened.

  There were three human-shaped figures walking towards them from the edge of the trees. They appeared to be made of swirling leaves and twigs.

  “What... are... they?” Ashlynn asked her companion wearily.

  “Theyʼre not servants of our master, thatʼs for sure,” Martha replied wearily.

  “Maybe they've come to free the little ones?”

  While their attention was diverted from him, James' eyes began to glow white. He looked down at his sister whose own glowing white eyes were hidden against his chest. She looked to be in a trance, as if her mind was elsewhere. Grinning, he turned his attention to the log. Slowly but steadily it began to tear away from the ground, snapping the weeds that anchored it. Puffs of soil popped with each gnarled root that broke from its base, then steadily the log levitated head height with the Revenant. It was right behind them.

  I can barely hold this! His mind exclaimed to his sister. Hurry up!

  I'm doing the best I can, James! She replied indignantly.

  Across the clearing the three apparitions of swirling leaves ran towards the Revenant.

  “They're coming at us!” Ashlynn shrieked.

  Martha bared her teeth in a vicious snarl, and began to shape-shift into large cat-like human; while Ashlynn unsheathed a curved, sacrificial looking dagger from her belt.

  “Behind you!” Alora suddenly screamed, and began squealing at a high pitch that could shatter glass.

  Spinning around, both Revenant managed a brief scream of surprise before James' flying log collided into their heads. The force threw them backwards, passing through Alora's charging leaf men and onto their backs. Like an autumn wind, the leaves swirled together into a little whirlwind, losing their humanoid shapes, and then dissipated, raining down on top of the stunned Revenant. The log positioned itself directly above the women's heads and proceeded to rise up and down, crushing their Doom Stone shards. One last blow saw the old log break apart into jagged shards, which fell onto the charred remains of the Revenant.

  James pulled Alora to her feet and began to run for the road he could see to the west of the clearing. It ran out of the trees towards the house, but travelled on an angle up a hill, shielded by low hedges, which skirted the battle between the lore-kin and the Revenant. He hated to retreat from a fight; but his sisterʼs safety overran his pride and anger.

  “Get back here!” a voice exploded with rage behind them. “I'll have your little hides if you don't come back!”

  “The wolf man!” Alora cried, increasing her speed to keep up with James. “What will we do?”

  “Just run!” James shouted, grabbing her hand and pulling her after him.

  They had made it to the road, when James looked over his shoulder and saw the wolf-headed Revenant no less than fifty feet away, and gaining.

  “Run 'lora!”

  “Iʼm trying! Iʼm... tired! Wait!”

  Leaping on all fours, the Revenant's body crunched and contorted into the shape of a wolf, which increased its speed.

  Alora tripped and fell, screaming as she tumbled to the ground. Laying on her side, crying, she held her right knee, trying to stop a trickle of blood that ran from a small gash. “I... I can't go on! It hurts!”

  “Its these damn rocks!” James yelled in frustration, kicking a large rock off the dirt road and stubbing his toes in the process. He bit back a curse from the pain, then threw his accusing stare at the blue-grey rock. Then an idea came to him. He turned to the wolf that was almost upon them, and blinked his eyes back to two balls of white fire. Lifting his palms up to the sky like a maestro, a series of large rocks rose up from the dusty road and levitated around him like stars around a solar system. “They said I was always good at archery at school!” Then his hands flew forward, and the the rocks sped like bullets at the wolf that lunged into the air, aiming its wide jaws for his throat.

  It took three of the rocks to smash the red shard that burned in the creature's forehead to pieces. In mid-flight the wolf ignited into a ball of flames, and James leaped to the side, barely missing impact with it. The burning carcass crashed onto the road where the flames devoured its flesh, revealing black bones beneath.

  Wincing, James knelt beside Alora, tore off his shirt and made a bandage for her knee...

  “Well that explains why you're shirtless,” Caleb said, casually. “I thought it was a macho thing.” He looked at Jai who was also shirtless—his gold bands gleaming.

  “Hardly,” James told him, shrugging off Caleb's sarcasm. He then turned to Rowan who had hung on every word he said. “I did what had to be done. My family is all I have.” His older brother nodded with an approving smile.

  “Spoken like a true Grey,” Emily said, handing the boy a mug of hot chocolate.

  “Nothing says I'm a boy becoming a man than a mug of hot chocolate.” Caleb covered his mouth. “Sorry, I don't know when to shut up.”

  Emily raised a brow at Caleb's comment. “I was going to pour you one too, but it seems that you have forfeited that privilege. Jai, Art, mum would you like a drink?”

  Jai and Elly shook their heads politely, but Arthur raised his hand and smiled. “Yes, please.”

  Caleb wore a sour face and said to Arthur, “Your hot chocolate for me saving your life back there.”

  The rotund man chuckled and slapped Caleb on the back, which nearly sent him flying off his perch on the couch's armrest.

  “That's fair,” Caleb protested, thinking the man was ridiculing his offer.

  “It is fair,” Arthur agreed, “but worth more than that.” Then he cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. When all eyes were on him, he said, “Caleb hasn't told you how he saved my life, so I thought I'd bring it up. This lad is braver than any of the students I have taught at the Trident Academy. Even the graduates.”

  Caleb slapped his hands over his face, hiding his red hue. When his fingers dragged away from his mouth he said in an offhanded way, “I did what any of you would have done. It was nothing really.”

  “It wasn't nothing, lad, it was brave and worthy of reward.” Arthur turned to Jai and there seemed to pass a brief unspoken conversation between them, which elicited nods and agreeable mumbles. Arthur then turned to Caleb with big grin on his face.

  “What was that all about?” Caleb demanded, his embarrassment diminished by the mischievous expression on Arthur's face. He looked at James and Alora and read on their faces that they had heard the telepathic conversation as well. “You all heard that. What were they saying about me?”

  “Sorry Caleb,” Rowan finally said, coming out of his silence, “but before we go any further, I would like to know what James and Alora learned from our enemies, while in they were prisoners.”

  James had just pulled on a spare tee shirt that Elly had passed him, when the room's attention shifted to him. “Uh... um. Yes, we did... hear some things discussed.”

  “They used a device on us,” Alora said, pulling away from her mother's embrace and standing up from the couch. After trying to equal her weight on both feet, she winced a little and rubbed her bandaged knee. Rowan turned his gaze to the young girl and signalled her to continue with a nod. “It was some memory or dream reading device. I can't remember much about it; but they tried to find out if we knew where this thing was. The—”

  “Crown of Dreams,” James said ominously. “Whatever that is.”

  “Yes, I was getting to that,” Alora continued, frowning at her older brother for interrupting. “The Crown of Dreams. But... they couldn't find it in either of our memories. I suppo
se dad only left that memory with Jack.”

  “What is this Crown of Dreams?” Elly asked. Then before an answer could be uttered, she suddenly became angry, her usually mild manner gone. “Why did we all nearly die because of this... this... Crown? What does Jack have to do with it? What memory? Rowan? Emily? You both know, and you will both explain this to us right now. The time for secrets are over. I want to know where Jack is!”

  Jai and Arthur both moved forward in unison to speak, but Rowan fending them back with raised hand. “Mum, Jack is in Egypt.”

  “Egypt?” Her eyes were like the burning red Doom Stone shards of the Revenant. “What is he doing in Egypt? Answer me!”

  “He is being protected by dad's people.”

  Elly did not throw another question into the ring, but kept her unspoken interrogation in her stern gaze.

  “The Lemurians are keeping him safe from the rebels who want to find this ancient weapon called the Crown of Dreams.”

  “What does it... do?” James asked.

  “It can use the power of every person's memories and thoughts in the entire world,” Jai answered, “to do... almost about anything. Control storms, topple mountains, raise oceans. Even,” he paused, his eyes looking up at the roof as if searching for Arajasta's unseen face, “pull celestial bodies out of the sky. Meteors and asteroids.”

  There was a brooding silence, and everyone in the room could feel the Azlazarani's presence. Although he slept in the Reflecting Cube, restoring his strength, part of his consciousness still lingered, alert. A feeling of sorrow and guilt permeated their thoughts, but no words were said.

  “Some say, even the moon if the wearer has the daft mind too.” Arthur's comment brought Caleb shivers. “And if it falls into the hands of Kaelan, I wouldn't doubt he would do just that.”

  “Kaelan?” Elly said, her voice still sharp as a blade. “Who is that?”

  “The leader of the rebel Atlanteans,” Rowan said solemnly. “A man with no desire to live side by side with modern man. If he had it his way, we would all be slaves.” He then turned back to James. “What else did you learn?”

  “One of the men—I think his name was Xharan—said he was going back to the Library in Egypt. Said something about having to find Jack.” James folded his arms across his chest. “We can't let them take him.”

  “We won't,” Rowan reassured the boy, then lowered his eyes in deep thought. Finally he said, “Jai has killed Gha'haram and now there will be some turmoil among Kaelan's forces here. I believe the Revenant will be done with their hunt for Jack, done with the Dark Tide. They will be too busy fighting over their leadership—Veil being the strongest contender—and ownership of the Doom Stone, wherever that may be.”

  “I'm sure without this,” Jai said, holding up Gha'haram's Doom Stone shard and startling his audience, “Veil or any other Revenant will find it hard to keep their brethren in check.”

  James looked curiously at the black crystalline shard which shimmered from an internal source. Its lower half, which Jai held between his thumb and index finger, was pure gold. Or what looked to be gold—forming a protective sheath. Along the edge where the gold ended, the black stone seemed to be glowing there the most. Small wisps of what looked like steam or smoke rolled endlessly over the edge of the sheath, trying to reach Jai's fingers, but dissolving into nothing under the stronger radiance of the gold.

  “Vis-vereth,” Arthur told him, noticing the boy's intense, almost hypnotic stare. “A metal that has not been made on Earth since the days of the Three Empires. It gives Argadnellian Kratoth their strength. Only the High Alchemists of Argadnel, the Sorrorani or Mir know its composition and how it works.”

  Jai snatched the stone away, concealing it back in a leather pouch with a draw string where he kept it safe. “We were giving it as a gift during the days before Lemuria by the Mir.” His face was proud and distant. “Now its lore is forgotten, even from the last of my people. The bands I wear were given to me by my father. This Doom Stone shard encased in a melted vis-vereth is a curious thing, I don't know how Gha'haram did such a thing. However the shard is negated and empowered at the same time.”

  “Can it still... hurt someone?” James asked, withdrawing a hand he had suddenly realised was outstretched and reaching. “I mean, if it was—”

  “Stabbed into your noggin?” Arthur interjected, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

  “Y-yes,” James stuttered and lowered his eye, feeling ashamed he had asked.

  “Yes it can,” Jai answered. “It can hurt anyone foolish enough to try such a thing. They will instantly become a Revenant—of greater power, but cursed nonetheless—and will need the life-force of living things to endure their deathless existence. However I do not know to what extent. The vis-vereth has some strange effect on the Doom Stone shard it seems. The cursed one appears to gain twice or three times the strength as a regular Revenant. So whether their hunger is less or greater... I cannot say. But be careful, James. The Doom Stone will sing to the curious; thus why you found yourself reaching for it. It can do terrible things.”

  James said no more.

  Rowan began pacing the floor, his thoughts weighing his head down. “What did you learn, Jai?”

  Jai passed the leather pouch to Arthur who stuffed it into his backpack. “Gha'haram said that Kaelan will have his war now that the old city has been secured. It sounded to me like he meant sooner than later.”

  “Then the Library of Alexandria is in danger,” Arthur exclaimed, jumping to his feet and slinging his backpack over his wide shoulders. “There's no point in waiting here!”

  “Wait,” Rowan commanded with an staying hand. “We can't rush to Egypt just yet without learning all the facts first.”

  “The facts are that our family and friends are in danger!” Emily protested, standing next to Arthur. “And we can't just wait here debating when or where!”

  “I agree,” Elly said firmly. “If Jack is in danger, Rowan, it is your duty to save him. You said you had sworn your life to his!”

  “I did,” the dark haired man said firmly, not losing his cool. “And I will. But we need to... I have it!” He turned to Jai. “What happened at Zerzura?”

  There was a pause, then Jai's confused expression changed to understanding, his eyes wide. “Zerzura, or the “old city” as it has been called, was occupied by djinn tribes. When the Lemurians came a battle ensued and our armies won, driving them out. During its restoration, the djinn came again and attacked in full force, so Oreus sent most of the Library's army—from the advice of one of his sons—to take it back. They won, and now the city is under full development. However, the army did not return to the Library. And... Kaelan knows this! He must be preparing an attack!”

  Rowan nodded. “Now we have what we need to warn Alexandria.”

  Elly, James and Alora looked confused by everything Jai and Rowan had just said, but they understood that where Jack was he was in serious danger.

  “When do we go?” There was determination in James voice.

  “I'm afraid you, mum and Alora won't be going,” Rowan told him.

  Before James could protest, Jai added, “You will be going to Paradise, as originally agreed. There you will attend the Trident Academy and learn to use the full extent of your powers.”

  “We're moving to Paradise?” Alora asked her mother excitedly. “Oh yes, please!”

  “I will personally see that your education is continued as well, of course.” Jai smiled, his jovial persona returning. “And Caleb, we would like to offer you a place in the Academy as well, as a lore-kin in training.”

  Caleb's jaw dropped. Alora giggled and pushed his gaping mouth closed. “You mean, I will get to speak with my thoughts?” he finally said. “And use one of those cool swords?”

  “Eventually,” Jai laughed.

  James rolled his eyes and Elly broke her dark mood with a light chuckle.

  “Well,” Caleb said, brushing his sandy blonde hair out of his face, “if c
hicks dig that sort of thing, which I think they do, then I'm down.”

  James shook his head, his serious face restraining any hint of amusement he felt.

  Arthur shook his head, but his broad grin didn't waver. “This will be interesting, Jai. Good luck.”

  “Oh, no,” his companion said, “Caleb will be your little project. He saved you remember?”

  “Why are you fighting over me?” The teenager tried to conceal a proud smile. “I mean, I know I'm probably the coolest kid you've ever offered this too, but it doesn't mean I won't take it seriously.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “So is that a yes?” Jai asked.

  “Its a hell yeah!” Caleb shouted, then pulled a goofy grin as Rowan ruffled the teenager's hair.

  The sun sunk low behind the western horizon like a melting egg yoke; however its warmth still hung in the air, stifling what little breeze that blew through the trees of the forest. Autumn was a mere whisper in that breeze, and its invisible fingers had already begun plucking off the leaves from the branches and sprinkling them on the ground.

  Kneeling in a small, walled courtyard adjacent Thomas' house, under the gaze of a silent, vine-covered statue of a man holding a broken spear, Caleb found himself kneeling before Rowan. Standing shoulders abreast behind the lore-kin was Emily, Jai and Arthur. All three stood still like statues themselves, their glaives stabbed in the ground before them with both hands atop the hilt in an Atlantean ceremonial gesture.

  These cobble stones are killing my knees, the teenager thought, grimacing.

  Do you want a pillow, Caleb? Alora's voice pipped in. The girl, James and Elly stood under an apple tree some distance away, watching from the shadows.

  Huh? What? I thought I have to learn how to speak with my thoughts. How come I can hear you?

  Its all our minds in harmony with Gaia. This time it was Rowan who spoke. You are being welcomed into the fold of our thoughts. However, once we break this connection, the voices will be silent. So for now, let us use this time to speak of the Oath.

  What is... the Oath? Caleb felt skittish. However he did not let the butterflies in his stomach overwhelm him; he hated commitment usually, but this time he felt it was right.

  It is what all lore-kin must adhere to. Friends of the Library. Friends of the Lore Keepers, our ancient ancestors

  Caleb did not speak; for once he managed to silent his busy thoughts and listen.

  We gather at the House of Thomas for this Oath, this promise to be uttered and forged in stone. Rowan closed his eyes, before continuing. Caleb Denison, do you swear your life to Atlantis, to the High Throne of Lemuria? Do you promise to live courageously and virtuously as not only a guardian protector of the Grey family, who your life is now bound to, but also as a person who will now be counted among the Emperor's people?

  Caleb swallowed hard and shook out the nerves that tingled down his arms. He hadn't expected to find himself in this situation: kneeling before Jack's brother and swearing an oath of allegiance to a mysterious empire that had been destroyed thousands and thousands of years ago. If he was told any of this a week ago, told that he would fight undead creatures that could absorb the life-force of living things, told that he would converse with an invisible entity that might as well be called a poltergeist, he would have laughed and perhaps given ridicule in his usual charismatic way. But now he believed it all. He lived through it, and without a doubt found himself excited—and scared—by it all. Jack and him had been through some tough and exciting times together, but this would top them all. Now his friend was in trouble and he had to help in anyway he could.

  I do. He said.

  Now rise, and choose the glaive that speaks to you.

  Before him was a large woven basket with three silver swords inside, poking hilt first out the top. He knew what they were. Glaives. They had been rescued from the Grey's house by Rowan, who said he found them under a tree. Now one of them would be his.

  Not far away, more glaives lay in a tied bundle on a stone bench; they had been collected from the Dark Tide rebels who had died when the Revenant had turned on them. They looked more plain than the three in the basket, which bore curved cross-guards and pommels that looked like the four pointed star. They were Order Knight glaives, which were bigger than the other ones, and had more capabilities, which Rowan had mentioned but not elaborated on.

  Caleb swallowed again and reached for a hilt...

  Holding the weapon was like holding a cardboard sword. It was light and effortless to swing. After making a figure eight on its side in the air before him, he held the blade perfectly still in front of his face. Both hands clasped the silver handle tightly, his eyes admiring the shimmer of afternoon light against the blade's length. Then it occurred to him, the whole weapon was made of the same material; there was no crease or joint separating it into blade, guard and handle.

  Glaive... so... mysterious.

  Then he remembered what Arthur had told him before they gathered in the courtyard. He remembered what he had to do. Smiling softly, he closed his eyes and projected a thought. Imagined the blade to melt like the sun had behind the trees. When he opened his eyes, he released a slight gasp of surprise. The blade of the glaive was melting down to the guard like a drooping candle. He laughed, then thought of the blade shooting up into the air into its original rigid pinnacle. And so it did. Then he imagined the blade exploding into a fan of porcupine-like quills. When the blade mirrored his thoughts, the teenager swung the blade above his head, bringing it back to its true form again.

  Caleb Denison. Rowan pulled him back to earth. However the man was smiling now and so were the other lore-kin behind him. He could see the Grey family had stepped out from under the tree and were watching his antics in awe. This reminded him when they use to watch him do his skateboard stunts with Jack back in the day. That thought brought a lump in his throat. Do you swear by the Oath to use this weapon, this glaive to defend the lives of James, Alora and Eleanor Grey until death take you. To use it wisely and only for the purpose that it was made: to battle tyranny and uphold the Law of Lemuria?

  Smiling, Caleb winked and threw the glaive up into the air. It spun in two circles before landing into his hand in the new shape of a trident. The three pronged spear. The weapon he saw Emily wield. That he saw the Dark Tide carry. The symbol of Atlantis.

  I do.