To World's Above: An Epic YA Fantasy Adventure (Roots of Creation Book 5)

by Jason Hamilton

  “You told me about this place, remember?” said Mosaial. “I knew I would come here the moment I could. But there were others of my people that needed freeing. I did what I could for them first, then brought them here.”

  Li spoke next. “I came after bringing stability to my people. We established a new ruler, a queen, who gave us our freedoms, and created strong alliances with the surrounding nations. Her son even came here to live.”

  Jak gave a slight smile. “That would be Seph. I’m sure he would love to meet you.”

  “He is here? We would indeed welcome the opportunity. I personally escorted him here many years ago. Is he well?”

  “He is, though his time with our queen was not everything we could have wished.”

  Li nodded slightly before continuing. “In any case, after some time I decided to bring those who would follow me here, to find you. Most of those who saw you have come.”

  “But you haven’t exactly answered my question. I told Mosaial about this place, but I never mentioned it to the rest of you.”

  “We were both visited by a messenger,” said Bretton. “A woman in white. She told us where to find you, and explained that when we saw you again, only a few days would have passed for you.”

  That explained why none of them seemed overly surprised to see that she was still a young girl of eighteen.

  She took a deep breath. This was a lot to take in all at once. That was the second time she’d heard of this woman in white. She had been the one to tell Seph about the book of Illadar, and she had guided these people here. Who was this woman? Could it have been Eve, the same woman Jak had seen while using the Pillar of Eternity? Or was Eve just a memory tied to the Relic.

  “How many are with you?” she asked after some time to process.

  “Nearly seven thousand,” said Bretton.

  Jak almost fell out of her chair. “Seven thousand!” They didn’t even have five hundred in her own band. How would they manage seven thousand? Was the valley even big enough for that?

  “It is alright,” said Li. “We have already prepared stores of food and tilled the valley for harvesting. There are plenty of resources to last for winter.”

  “Did you bring all of that with you?” asked Jak. Though now that she thought about it, she changed the question. “How long have you been here?”

  “Three years,” said Bretton. “We knew it may be some time before you met us here.”

  Three years. Three years ago she had still been a young teenager herding sheep with her father. Had the Pillars of Eternity, or whatever determined her destiny, already known what she would become?

  “We understand it is a lot to process,” said Li. “But we are ready and willing to help, as needed.”

  “I should warn you,” said Jak. “You may or may not have heard about the Fae. But there are some humans that are predisposed to become them. If too many of your people get close to a powerful Relic like these—” She brandished the Pillars of Eternity. “—then I don’t know what might happen. Some of them might change.”

  Mosaial nodded, “We are aware of this, and we have seen some of your Fae with our own eyes. We are prepared for such an eventuality. Some are even hoping for it.”

  Jak frowned. “Why?” she asked. She knew many of the Fae were content with their change after the fact, but most humans did not like the idea. It was a new idea, and most did not welcome such dramatic change.

  “We do not have many of the abilities that your people enjoy,” said Li. “The Fae you speak of have even greater abilities than most of your people. We welcome such an opportunity.”

  Jak stood up, faced each one of them, and a smile split her face. “If that’s the case, we would love to join you.” She reached forth her hands to grasp those of each of them in turn. Seven thousand people. With that many they could stop anyone from entering the valley. They could find peace. This could be Illadar after all.

  Jak returned in a hurry to the main gate to reassure Skellig that everything was alright, promising to explain the long story later.

  Together, she and the major led everyone inside, where they were welcomed with open arms by Bretton, Li, Mosaial, and their company.

  One by one, all of Jak’s companions entered the valley. Seph, Marek, Gabriel, and what remained of the Bright Elves, Shadow Elves, Water Fae, gnomes, dwarves, trolls, and even the Sky Fae with Perchel who quickly found Jak when he flew in.

  “I told you your actions would have lasting consequences,” he said as he landed a few feet away from her, looking from her to the three leaders of the valley’s occupants. The three of them stared back at the Sky Fae, a mixture of awe and surprise on their faces.

  “Don’t tell me you knew this would happen?” Jak folded her arms as she spoke. “Because you could have warned me.”

  “I knew only what the Pillar of Eternity allowed me to know. I knew your actions in the test would have an impact on future events. It appears they had more to do with your direct future than even I realized.” He gave a slight bow to Li, Mosaial, and Bretton, who returned the gesture with a nod of their heads.

  “We have heard of the many Fae before,” said Li, speaking to both Perchel and Jak. “But we are honored to receive so many. What a wonderous people you are.”

  “I only wish the rest of the world saw it that way,” Jak said. “I can’t say how grateful we are that you would just let us join you here.”

  “It is what we have been preparing for,” said Mosaial. “We have cabins prepared for as many as we can hold, and enough food for all of us to survive the coming winter.”

  “We can’t possibly repay you for your kindness.”

  Mosaial shook his head. “Jak, it is we who are repaying you. Your help, though small, proved to be our salvation, for all of us.”

  “She is that, indeed,” said Yewin, approaching them with Marek and all of the other members of the council following close behind. All except the Water Fae of course, who were probably being carried in their pitch-coated wagons to the nearby lake. Yewin bowed to Li, Mosaial, and Bretton on his approach. “My name is Yewin, I represent the Bright Elves and these are the other representatives of human and Fae alike.” He waved a hand at the other members of the council. “We are eager to hear your story, though I think I might already have an idea of what happened.” He glanced at Jak.

  “You remember, don’t you?” Jak said slowly, not taking her eyes away from Yewin. “The day you changed.”

  Yewin nodded. “How could I forget?”

  “But you told me that the change was spontaneous, that you didn’t know what caused it.”

  “I told you only what you needed to know at the time. It wasn’t my place to say more until you had experienced it for yourself. Why do you think I was so willing to help and learn more of you when we first met? Or why I traveled with Skellig to Mt. Harafast when I heard that there might be a Pillar of Eternity buried there?”

  “But weren’t you terrified after what happened?”

  “At first, but you’re forgetting our nature, Jak. We understand truth when we see it. And truth will rule out fear anytime.”

  Gabriel folded his arms. “Clearly something happened that the rest of us are in the dark on. You’ll have to fill us all in later. But I should first ask about Karlona. Where is she?”

  Jak’s face fell, and she saw her expression mirrored on the faces of Seph, Marek and Perchel. Gabriel’s eyes widened as he and the rest of the council understood.

  “Oh Jak,” said Yewin. “I’m so sorry.”

  Jak stared at the ground. “She died fighting Cain. He almost stopped me from taking this,” she held up the second Pillar of Eternity for all to see. She didn’t tell them of the choice she had been forced to make, between saving the Pillar of Eternity or her mother.

  Gabriel probed further. “And Cain, is he…”

  “He’s still alive,” said Jak. “Though I sent him far away. Long story. But I’m sure he will be returning as fast as he is capable.”<
br />
  “Then we’d better prepare our defenses as best we can,” said Skellig. “Let Karlona be the last of us that he slaughters.”

  “I’m not sure we could stop him,” said Jak. “The Pillars give me great power, yes, but they do not allow me to kill, not even him. All I can do is delay him. But in terms of sheer power, not even I can stand up to him.”

  “Then what can we do?” said Li, who had been listening intently with the others. “We were warned that there would be enemies, but this Cain of yours sounds beyond our power, based on your description.”

  Jak turned to Skellig. “Begin your preparations. We should be ready for him or the queen or whoever decides to attack us here.” She looked at the rest of them. “But we’ll need more than that. Some kind of plan. I’ll admit I don’t know what else to do.”

  “I do.” It was Marek who spoke, stepping out from behind Gabriel. “Or at least, I have an idea.”

  Jak met Marek’s eyes. His advice had worked before. “Let’s hear it.”

  26

  “You cannot use the Pillars as a weapon,” Marek began. “But you have them, and you have them for a reason. They should be used.”

  “Go on,” Jak prodded.

  “Perhaps if you could use their power to create a place where Cain cannot touch us. Where everyone could live in peace. Like this Illadar that Seph told me about.” He glanced back at Seph, who was nodding his head in thought.

  “And what about finding the third Pillar?” said Gabriel. “Perhaps its power would allow you to fight Cain, or at least make him less of a threat.”

  Jak nodded, “Yes, I believe Illadar will remain outside of our reach until we can get that third Pillar.”

  “We may have found Illadar already,” offered Seph. “This valley is big, it is fertile, and defensible. What better place to find peace.”

  Jak thought it through. “Perhaps. But our defenses won’t stop Cain, and we can’t assume that we will remain here forever. Sooner or later our numbers will grow, and we will need to expand beyond this valley.”

  “So you’re suggesting Illadar is a much larger place than this?” asked Gabriel. “Perhaps the size of a whole nation?”

  “Maybe,” said Jak. “Or perhaps it’s not a place at all. Perhaps it’s the idea of peace, a bridge between us and those that fear us.”

  “Well, you can’t just ignore the Pillars of Eternity,” said Marek. “They’re supposed to help you find this Illadar, right?” He looked around at the others. Seph and Yewin were nodding.

  “No one is arguing with you about that,” said Jak. “I will do what I can to learn more about them, and their purpose. They have both communicated with me before so I know at some level they are capable of teaching me something. Perhaps I can get some answers.”

  Bretton spoke next. “I suggest that in the meantime we help everyone get settled. I’m sure there are many in need of food and rest.”

  “Indeed,” said Skellig. “That should be our first priority if there are no immediate threats from Cain or elsewhere,” she glanced at Jak, who shook her head.

  “Very well,” said Li. “The three of us will help you coordinate.”

  They began discussing next steps with Skellig and Gabriel, and Jak let them sort out the details. Instead, she peeled off from the rest of them, with a soft motion at Marek and Seph that indicated she did not want them to follow.

  There was one person that she could always talk to at times like this, well, besides her mother. But since she was dead, that left only Amelia.

  She followed the wagons that were still being led to the lake, where one by one, the Water Fae were released with a splash.

  When she finally found her friend doing somersaults in the freshwater, she sat on the side of the lake and smiled.

  “I imagine those wagons were kind of confining,” she said after Amelia spotted her and drew closer.

  “Oh you have no idea, Jak. It’s maddening when you’re one of us, not being able to move. I honestly don’t know how I stayed still for so long in our classes before my change. Being in water requires movement. By the way, I’m so glad you’re back. How was the trip? Is that the Pillar of Eternity?” She pointed at the two staffs lying next to Jak on the grass.

  “It is,” Jak said, glancing down at the white and black Pillars. “It came with a cost though.”

  She caught Amelia up on what happened, glancing over the details but mentioning the Sky Fae, Cain, her tests and their results, and most importantly what happened to her mother. Amelia’s face fell as she heard the news.

  “Oh Jak,” she said. “Oh Jak. And after barely finding her. I can’t imagine what that would be like.”

  “Where are your parents, Amelia?” Jak asked, not wanting to dwell any longer on Karlona. “Weren’t they in Tradehall or someplace?”

  Amelia’s face split between a mixture of anxiety and chagrin, “Yes, but I don’t think they know anything of what’s happened. They left me with grandfather Gabriel and didn’t expect me to return until I graduated. But I suppose they probably heard about the demon attack on Skyecliff. If they tried to reach Gabriel they would have found out he’s not there anymore. Oh I hope they haven’t heard anything.”

  Jak seriously doubted that. Word traveled fast between Tradehall and Skyecliff. Someone would have looked into Amelia’s disappearance by now. Perhaps at some point, she would have to find Amelia’s parents and bring them here. Maybe Naem would find them in his recruiting and tell them what happened to their daughter.

  “And even with all that, and everything that’s happened to you, you wouldn’t go back to the way things were?”

  Amelia shook her head. “I was born to be a Water Fae, Jak. I know it. I was never complete until I gained a fin and entered the ocean. And this lake is almost better. It’s not as big as the ocean but freshwater is simply more enjoyable I think.”

  “And what if we couldn’t stay here?” Jak asked. “What if we have to keep moving even after all we’ve been through?”

  “Then we keep moving until we find Illadar.” Amelia replied without hesitation. “Besides, it will have to happen eventually. You don’t expect us to live in a single lake forever, do you?”

  “I suppose not,” said Jak, wrapping her arms around her knees. “I just feel like I’m meant to do something. But I don’t know what.”

  “Well, why not try the link?” Amelia offered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The link with Yewin. You can do it safely now, with the help of the trolls, right?”

  Jak thought on that. Yes, it might be a good idea to try the link again. She had thought as much back when she was on Mt. Knot, but had forgotten once she arrived in the valley.

  She’d never linked with Yewin before to ask a specific question. But maybe it was worth a try. Amelia was right that the link was far less risky now that they had the trolls to provide a well of energy to draw from. The link drained its participants of their life energy, and the trolls seemed to be the only way to stop that from killing them.

  She stood. “Amelia, thanks again for helping me clear my head.”

  “My pleasure, though you should probably get that looked at,” Amelia winked at Jak.

  Jak smiled and turned to survey the land around her. The lake stretched on for miles, nearly to the other end of the valley. Irrigated land lay in neat rows on one side, while grazing land made up the other half, dotted with the white forms of sheep. Three years Li, Mosaial, and Bretton had been here, preparing for her arrival. Yes, that could not just be for chance. She was meant to do something here, that much was certain. And with two Pillars of Eternity, perhaps she was capable of doing it. But what about that third Pillar? Where did it lie, and what magic did it possess?

  “This is a great place, isn’t it?” Amelia said, following Jak’s gaze at the surrounding valley.

  “It is,” Jak replied. “But something tells me it’s not to last.”

  “What do you mean? You don’t think the people t
hat were already here will kick us out, do you?” Amelia said, frowning.

  “No, they’re not the problem. Cain is. Or the queen. I don’t know, it’s just a feeling so I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m going to ask Yewin for a link and see what I can figure out.”

  “You do that. And make sure to drop by more often. We don’t talk enough.”

  That much was true. “I’ll definitely try to visit as much as I can,” Jak agreed. Then she left, allowing Amelia to continue exploring the lake with the other Water Fae.

  She didn’t go back to Yewin right away. Instead, she wandered off through the grazing land and up a large hill, letting the familiar smell of sheep and pasture bring her back to simpler days. Most of the sheep ran away at her approach, but she didn’t mind. She just needed some time to clear her head. It wasn’t until she saw a large rocky body to one side that she realized that the sheep weren’t just scared of her.

  It was the large troll she had met just weeks before in Riverbrook, the one she had named Rael after her father. In some ways, he had behaved a lot like her father on that occasion, quiet and resolute. The troll’s body could easily be mistaken for a misshapen boulder, and bits of lightning-like energy lit its eyes and sparked across its body. Somehow the trolls were the embodiment of living energy, which was what made them so important as a sort of fuel during a link.

  “And what do you think of this place?” she asked as she drew near.

  The troll didn’t say anything, which was typical. Instead it sat with a booming crunch that caused the nearest sheep to scamper and bleat in protest. The troll simply sat and looked out across the valley. The communication was clear.

  “Yes, it is beautiful,” she said, coming to rest beside the troll. She thought about sitting down too, but found it unnecessary. Even sitting, the troll was still taller than she was standing. So she put one arm on the troll’s rocky carapace and enjoyed the moment for a while. A cool wind whipped lazily at her hair, and they spent some time listening to birdsong. Too bad these moments couldn’t last.