Miraclist

by P B Hughes

  “Now,” said Mrs. Doppledodger with a grin, “let’s see what this girl knows.”

  They went outside, leaving Sir Weston at the gate and Gizzard to tend to the beasts. Shade stretched her wings in delight and gulped in the mid-morning air. There was only a thin stretch of land for them to stand on before the grass met the moat. Daniel, wanting to show off, hopped on Shade’s back and launched into the sky, turning over and over a few times before landing.

  “Marvelous,” clapped Ari.

  “No more of that, Daniel” said Mrs. Doppledodger. “It’s imperative that you learn how to use this whistle. Ari, would you mind taking Shade back along the edge of the water?”

  “Not at all,” said Ari, walking slowly up to Shade. She took her by the collar and began to lead her away. “Come on, that’s it,” she encouraged.

  “Get as far away as you can!” Mrs. Doppledodger called after her.

  As soon as Ari was out of earshot, Mrs. Doppledodger’s face grew serious and she lowered her voice to a whisper. “Daniel, we haven’t got much time. Shade—and possibly you—are in danger.”

  “I—I don’t understand,” said Daniel, feeling bewildered.

  “That scroll you boys found—Tiberius believes the real one contains a great power. Shade’s rider was its sentinel—protector, if you will. Tiberius knows of the raid on the temple where it was kept. ”

  Daniel looked surprised. “A great power? What kind of great power?”

  “That’s just it, we don’t know,” said Mrs. Doppledodger with a frown. “They raided the temple to the south and killed the priests. The strange thing is the only thing missing was that scroll. The rider must have taken it and fled.”

  “But the scroll was blank—why would Shade be in danger?” Daniel asked, giving a furtive glance in Shade’s direction.

  “Again, we’re not sure. However, Tiberius does not want her in a place as unguarded as this—he ordered you not to leave her here another night!”

  “But what do I do with her?” asked Daniel, placing a hand on his forehead. “I can’t just release her.”

  “The General ordered us to a safe haven in the forest near here until he can get it sorted out. I’ll be taking her there. I’m giving you this whistle because the day may soon come when you need her at your side.” She handed Daniel the whistle. “Now give it a blow.”

  Daniel held the whistle to his lips and blew. A shrill note rang out. Daniel watched Shade take flight, soaring into the sky and heading toward him. She landed in front of Daniel and bowed low, ready for him to climb aboard.

  “Good!” Mrs. Doppledodger exclaimed. “We won’t have to waste any time training her. Say your goodbyes, boy. You won’t be seeing us for several days at least.”

  “Several days? Does that mean you won’t be able to watch the games?” exclaimed Daniel.

  Mrs. Doppledodger chuckled. “If you’ve seen one Grand Investiture you’ve seen them all—and I’ve seen nearly fifty. Besides, this is an issue of far greater importance.”

  Daniel stroked Shade’s head and gave her a quick hug around her soft, velvety neck. “I’ll see you soon, girl. Everything’s going to be just fine.”

  “Do me a favor, Daniel,” Mrs. Doppledodger said as she removed her hat and stuffed it inside the pack. “I’m not a fan of Professor Beelzy, and I don’t want to see his smug expression when half the Gate Guardians are from Apex for the ninth time in a row.” She then turned to Shade. “So win for me, eh? Skyward!” she yelled. Shade crouched down. She pulled herself on top of Shade’s back with the grace of a rider who had done it a thousand times. “Yi-hup!” she called, and Shade shot into the sky.

  Chapter 19

  Gregory gnawed the tips of his fingernails as he stared down the rows of students waiting to be ushered into the arena. The spacious tunnel stretched before them, the stone-studded ceiling and floor lit only by sunlight that poured in from outside. For the rest of the city, the Opening Ceremonies were like a holiday—a circus; a theater for war without consequence. Though not without pain, Gregory reflected. Only a few had ever died during the games, he had been assured, and that was long ago. The Sapphire Healers would see to it that each student would be protected from anything lethal. However, that didn’t mean Gregory wouldn’t boast a scar or two by the end of things. Though he would only earn one of those if he made it through the preliminary testing. True, pain did frighten him, but pain was a temporary. What he feared most was humiliation. He spit a fingernail onto the floor.

  Gregory caught a disgusted look from Jude and pulled his fingers out of his mouth. “Any sign of Daniel?” Gregory asked.

  Mordecai craned his neck and looked backward through the tunnel. “None. He’ll be here, though. Don’t you worry.”

  “Unless the Apex students took him captive,” Gregory replied, placing a finger back in his mouth.

  Mordecai did not reply, though the angry glint in his eye told Gregory he was still not happy about what transpired earlier that day. Suddenly, relief passed over Mordecai as Daniel entered the back of the tunnel, cheeks flushed and hair disheveled.

  “There you are,” Mordecai said as Daniel approached. “What kept you?”

  “Sorry,” replied Daniel, adjusting his cloak and running a hand through his hair. “I went to see Shade and ran into Mrs. Doppledodger.”

  “I told that woman not to keep you.” Mordecai gave a nod and focused his attention ahead. “You’re just in time, thankfully. The ceremony will begin any—”

  The sound of a trumpet blasted outside in the stadium.

  “That’s the signal,” whispered Mordecai. “Just follow the line and don’t say anything.”

  The stone gave way to a blanket of grass and blinding light as they entered the arena behind the procession, blinking and disoriented.

  The roar of the cheering crowd hurt Gregory’s ears, though it lifted his spirits as he gazed up into the stands. Adoring fans—all of them.

  I’m officially a celebrity, he reflected, enjoying the thought. Though whatever fame he possessed would likely be short-lived. Might as well enjoy it. He waved to his fans, growing ever bolder as their cheers grew louder. A girl in the first tier seating blew him a kiss. She blushed as he pretended to catch it from the air and hold it next to his heart.

  “I could get used to this,” he whispered to Daniel.

  Before them, built in the middle of the stadium seating was the Judge’s Platform—a sprawling marble balcony shaded by a splendid overhang. Curtains of purple and blue draped lazily between its white pillars, and throne-like chairs glistened at the balcony’s edge. They were reserved for the wealthiest members of society—politicians, businessmen, royalty, and the judges. In a chair directly in the middle of the stage sat an enormously fat man dressed entirely in gold, a bulging smile across his pudgy face. The way the light shimmered off of his robes made him appear like the sun itself, Gregory mused. On the man’s head stood a tall white hat with a golden plume.

  “Senator Specula Greavus,” muttered Jude, giving a nod to the man. “Self-appointed Regent to the Emperor.”

  “Looks like someone dressed a pig and put him on stage,” Gregory said. Daniel stifled a laugh, and Mordecai quickly grabbed his shoulder.

  “Hold your tongue if you’d like to keep it,” he whispered harshly. “Greavus’ pride runs deep. If his ears catch any of your jests he will not take it kindly. I mean it, Gregory.”

  Gregory turned a sour gaze upon Greavus, detest growing within him. He spotted a man behind him dressed completely in black—from the turban on his head down to the taut shirt and leggings that covered the rest of his body. His mouth and nose were masked, making only his eyes and the milk-white skin around them visible. That must be his personal servant, thought Gregory.

  Next to Greavus sat Chancellor Harquist, Judge Marriott, and another judge Gregory did not recognize. The rest of the chairs were filled with dignitaries Gregory didn’t know.

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,” blasted a magnified v
oice from the platform. It was a burly man in rainbow-colored robes with a mane of red hair. An amethyst Miraclist stood in front of him holding her staff in front of his mouth. “WELCOME TO THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND GRAND INVESTITURE!”

  Excited shouts rumbled through the crowd as the people waved flags and applauded. Banners unfurled, rolling down the deep walls—blue, green, yellow, orange, red, purple. Gregory felt chills of excitement shoot through his body down to his toes. Everything happened in a blur—music resounded, glorious and triumphant; Miraclists lined the edges of the stadium—Guardians from years past—working their marvels. The ground rumbled; tiny saplings appeared all over the vast stadium floor, and then exploded into trees, blossoming with pearly white flowers. Powerful blasts of wind whirred about them; the flowers flew into the sky and scattered like thousands of creamy butterflies above the crowd’s head. Fireballs rocketed upward, setting the petals ablaze. A tidal wave billowed behind Gregory and then roared past around the perimeter of the stadium, shooting into the sky as six Guardians cloaked in blue waved their staffs up and down. Lightning bolts shot upward like a spider web of lights, and the arena floor shook as rows of earthen benches rose up from the ground for them to sit on. The music reached a climax, and for a moment, everything stayed suspended in place—the flaming petals, the web of lightning, the spray of the fountains, whoosh of wind, and the rumble of the ground.

  “BEHOLD, THE POWER OF THE GUARDIANS!” the announcer’s voice rang out. “I AM RIN TARNEL, YOUR MASTER OF CEREMONIES!”

  The crowd was in a frenzy of delight. Their cheers were deafening as they applauded some of their favorite heroes—the Guardians performing the wonders.

  A glimmer of desire lit in Gregory’s heart. Perhaps one day he could be one of them. But the desire was quickly extinguished. Gregory had hoped for things before, and they had never come true. Except for getting into the University…

  “THANK YOU, THANK YOU,” said Rin. A lady came up and whispered in his ear. “WHAT—TOO LOUD?” The Miraclist in front of him tapped the end of her staff on the ground. “Sorry, is that better?” His voice was still crystal clear, though not quite so earsplitting. “Good. Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the most exciting Investiture in Orsidian history?” He raised a hand to his ear, soaking in the cheers, and then laughed heartily. “First and foremost, I’d like to welcome our esteemed guests—the men and women that run our great Empire! Well at least some of them—the Duke and Duchess of the Basel!”

  There was light clapping as the man and woman in white stood up on the stage.

  “Mr. Herman Baine, of Baine Mining!”

  It was Caden’s father. He rose from his seat, gave a nod, and sat back down. The crowd received him warmly enough, much to Gregory’s annoyance.

  Rin went down the line, skipping over Greavus, saving him until very last. Then, he recognized the graduating Gate Guardians along with dozens of other Guardians littered throughout the audience, some young, some old, and all commanding the deepest respect.

  “And last but not least, your very own Senator Specula Greavus!”

  The crowd cheered wildly for their hometown politician as Greavus rose from his chair, a grin across his face, though there were a few distinct boos. Greavus swaggered over to the Amethyst Miraclist, his servant in black shadowing his every move. He waved Rin away from the staff with gloved hands and stuck his face down into it to speak.

  “My people!” cried the Senator with a wave to the crowd. “As I look out into your faces, I realize that not only I experience this moment with the deepest emotion—our entire nation experiences it with me. The rise of Orsidia’s next heroes!”

  The people roared with approval.

  “My greatest pleasure in life has been to lead you—the people of this great city—whilst our young Emperor is across the sea. In his absence, our city has become an impenetrable fortress of virtue and prosperity!”

  Another cheer.

  “Yes, we have come far, and through sheer ingenuity, perseverance, and direction, we have seen the most affluent years in our nation’s history!” The crowd rose to their feet, applauding the Senator as he waved and smiled. Suddenly, his smile vanished. “But know this—your security is threatened this very moment.” A hush ran through the crowd as they listened intently. “The Irachnian territory,” Greavus leaned in as if sharing a secret to a close friend, “stirs in the south.” There was a gasp and the crowd began to murmur fervently. “Whispers of their schemes have reached my ears, but never before did we have proof.” Greavus turned to his servant and gave him a nod. From one of the gates, a man gagged and in shackles was pulled out by a chain. “We captured this monster outside the city—spying for weakness in our wall. He admits that they are mobilizing an army as we speak!”

  The man grunted and shook his head, but the servant pulled him to his knees with a yank of the chain.

  “They would ransack our beautiful city, steal our possessions, and enslave our women and children!”

  Shouts of outrage rang out through the stadium.

  “One thing proven by our barbarian neighbors is that despite our painstaking guidance of industry and thrift, they remain in poverty.” Greavus turned to the prisoner. “I have been to his home, and everywhere traces of retrogression and decay are visible—and they blame us. The mongrels wish to seize our wealth for themselves.” The crowd rose to their feet cursing and shouting.

  “Off with his head—the ungrateful beast!” shouted one woman from the crowd.

  “Will we let them destroy our great city?” bellowed Greavus.

  The people shouted no and raised angry fists.

  “Will we let them degrade our way of life?”

  “Never!” was the cry.

  “Then we must send our armies south this very hour to thwart our enemies’ plans with a counterattack!”

  The people roared! The stadium shook! Greavus gave one more wave, motioned his servant to take the prisoner away, and reclaimed his seat, a sly glint in his eyes.

  Mordecai fidgeted in his seat, shaking his head disapprovingly. “That scoundrel,” he muttered. “Using the Investiture to advance his own agenda; how low can he stoop?”

  Rin took the platform. “What an honor,” he said wiping tears from his eyes, “to have that man in our presence. Am I right, folks?”

  There was a resounding hurrah.

  “Now ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a great Investiture for you this year—unlike any we’ve had before!” Rin wrung his hands excitedly. “And don’t ask me to tell you what’s different, because that’s a secret.” He winked; the people laughed. “This year, the University accepted seven hundred and twenty students—the biggest class in Orsidian history. But remember, only six will be Guardians!”

  Another cheer rose up.

  Rin pulled out a piece of paper and began to read off it. “Three hundred students from Apex Academy!”

  The Apex students stood and cheered, high-fiving each other and shouting. As he continued down the list, each school stood up with a shout.

  “One hundred and sixty from Rigget Academy, one hundred and fifty-two from Dalton Ridge Academy, sixty-six from Alphi Academy, thirty-nine from Gamar Academy, and,” he paused and chuckled. “This one always gets me—three from Littleton Academy. Little is right!”

  Gregory felt a flush of embarrassment, though right beside him, Daniel leapt to his feet and let out a cheer. Abandoning his inhibitions, Gregory joined in, all the while Jude remained a statue in his seat. The sound of cheering came from a little section in the upper decks where their classmates sat.

  “With such a massive incoming class I think we can expect some fun.” Rin stroked his beard thoughtfully. “But first! We’ve got to narrow things down, don’t we? These students are about to be whisked off for written testing—I know, I know, the most riveting part of the Investiture. But get this: only the top twentieth percentile will be able to compete in the fun stuff. And that begins here tomorrow morning with the orb
competition starting at nine, so don’t miss it!”

  The crowd rose up and began to exit the stadium.

  “See you all tomorrow, bright and early!” Rin called after them.

  The band began to play again and the procession of people slowly filed out into the city.

  “Now what, Mordecai?” asked Daniel.

  “We’ll see what General Tiberius says about this,” Mordecai muttered.

  “Mordecai?” said Gregory, tugging on his sleeve.

  “Huh, what?” Mordecai replied, turning to the boys. “Oh yes, they’ll be taking you to testing next. Good luck to each of you. Remember your studies—you’re all more than capable of success.”

  “What do you think your chances are when our school is one hundred times larger than yours, eh Mordecai?” sneered Professor Beelzy from behind. Caden and a group of students stood with him.

  “Quality, not quantity, Norman,” replied Mordecai with a frown. “I think my boys will surprise you this year.”

  “I’m sure,” Professor Beelzy responded sarcastically. “This year will be different than all your past failures because these boys are special, correct?”

  Mordecai stared at him with loathing in his eyes but said nothing.

  Professor Beelzy laughed. “Your boys are nothing but troublemaking buffoons! My students will eat them alive—that is, if they make it past the written test.”

  Caden and the others laughed in agreement.

  “Farewell, Mordecai,” sang Professor Beelzy over his shoulder as he led his students back into the tunnels. “And good luck—you’ll need it.”

  Mordecai whirled on his heels. “Beat them,” he seethed. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it—because you will!”

  Gregory tightened his lips. His skin turned white as nausea began to course through him. As soon as Mordecai disappeared down the tunnel, he ran to the edge of the stadium and vomited. Daniel and Jude kept their distance until he was done.

  “Nervous?” asked Daniel when Gregory came back.