Miraclist

by P B Hughes

  “We won’t stop them by staring,” he remarked, taking out his staff. “Let’s practice.”

  The four of them spent the next hour honing their skills. Ari practiced her takeoff— rocketing into the sky and then landing to the ground like a falling leaf. Daniel surfed across the water on a block of ice, and Jude toyed with the rigidity of leaves, making them hard and sharp as he saw the girl do in the arena. Gregory stood off to the side, flinging fireballs into the moat.

  “It’s not so much of a toss, Gregory,” said Ari, taking notice. “It’s more like a punch.” She landed next to him and looked him up and down. “I’ve noticed you throw your fireballs, which is fine for distance fighting. Though, in close combat you should attack the air with your fists.” She adjusted his stance with her staff, turning him sideways like a boxer. “Try it now.”

  Gregory did, launching fireballs from his fists into water. “Hey,” he exclaimed, “that’s not a bad tip—what else do you know?”

  Ari smiled and proceeded to show him the proper method to bend fire, moving his entire upper body rather than just his arms. Daniel watched, glad his friends were warming up to her.

  “Ari!” called a voice from across the bridge. Two girls leaned over the railing, waving to her. One was dressed in orange robes, stocky in build with a short crop of brunette hair. The other stood half her size, dressed in canary yellow robes with a head of hair so blonde it was closer to white.

  “Ah,” Ari replied, motioning them over. “Tiff, Gertrude, meet Daniel, Jude, and Gregory.”

  “Nice to meet ya,” the large one grunted, ignoring Daniel and Gregory altogether. She pushed them aside and marched straight up to Jude, tailed by her meek friend. “The name’s Tiff. I saw what you did in the arena back there, hot stuff.” She thumped Jude on the shoulder with a heavy hand. She was nearly a head taller than him and twice as thick. “You’ve got some serious game. When Ari asked me if I wanted to be on your team, I knew it was destiny—me and you!”

  “And me, too,” chimed in Gertrude in a soft, almost inaudible voice.

  “Say,” said Tiff, squinting down at Jude. “Do you have a girlfriend? I’m pretty much single these days—and I’m lookin’.”

  Jude recoiled with disgust. “I’m single, and I’m not even remotely interested.”

  “Oh playin’ hard to get, eh?” Tiff laughed, punching Jude in the chest. “That’s all right—I like it when they run!”

  “So do I,” Gertrude interjected, batting her eyelids at Jude.

  “Okay, okay,” said Ari, finally coming to his rescue. “We have more important things to worry about right now. Now remember—none of us are permanent members of this team. We’ll all be judged separately on three things: whether we live through the battle, overall ability, and how we contribute to the team. So Tiff, Gertrude, now is not the best time to be planning future marriages. What these boys really want to see is what kind of skill you bring to the table.”

  Tiff lifted her leg and slammed it to the ground, tearing a large piece of earth from beside her and launched it into the air. It soared through the sky and landed in the water with a splash.

  They looked over to Gertrude, who blushed and gave her staff a little wave. Sparks, like yellow balls of cotton fell out from the tip, pulsating on the ground.

  “What?” asked Gregory, clearly unimpressed. “That’s it?” He kicked at one of the balls with the tip of his boot.

  ZAP!

  A wave of electricity shot up Gregory’s leg, and he fell to the ground, convulsing.

  “Impressive enough for you?” she said, standing over Gregory with shining gold eyes.

  Fortunately for them, Daniel decided, neither girl was incompetent—Tiff was very adept in brute strength, hurling boulders as if they were mere stones. Gertrude, while small and lacking in power, could produce electricity with deadly effect.

  After each of them gave a display of their abilities, they continued working individually until the sun became a vermillion line across the sky.

  “Good job today, guys,” said Daniel, slinging his staff across his back. “We should all meet tomorrow and watch the preliminaries—we could learn a lot from them.”

  “Agreed,” said Jude. “They begin at noon tomorrow—let’s meet by the arena and sit together.”

  “As long as I get to sit next to you, Jude,” Tiff said with a wink. “Save a spot for me, my hunky meat-pie!”

  She turned to walk away, leaving Gertrude staring at Jude with huge, unblinking eyes. “Save a spot for me too,” murmured Gertrude, “my meaty meat-pie.” She turned and followed after Tiff.

  The four of them remained, watching them go back across the bridges and through the front gate.

  “Ari—you sure know how to pick ‘em,” said Gregory, rubbing his leg where the shock had originated. “Those girls are a couple of batty loons.”

  Ari laughed. “Well, they might be a bit odd, but they’re capable enough. It’s not like we had a lot to choose from.”

  “Just keep them away from me and we’ll be fine,” Jude replied.

  “See, that proves they’re crazy—they like Jude! Any girl in her right mind would go for me over that guy,” Gregory said as they walked together back toward the hotel.

  “I’m sure,” Ari replied, rolling her eyes.

  Daniel worried as the next day arrived and there was still no sign of Mordecai. Just as planned, they met with Tiff and Gertrude at the arena to watch the other teams battle it out. They observed the first two teams, but took few notes as they would almost assuredly not face them. The team winner would go on to face Caden’s team. The next game, however, he thought very interesting indeed.

  The two teams lined up across from each other about fifty yards apart, a pool of water separating them. The signal was given to commence. Immediately, one team gained the advantage. A Sapphire Miraclist sent a wave ripping across the water, overturning four of the six opposing team members in its wake. Their Gold Miraclist followed with a thunderbolt, eliminating all four instantaneously. The two remaining Miraclists fled into the corner of the arena. One was a Gold Miraclist girl with bushy blonde hair, the other was a large Amber Miraclist boy with black skin, bald-headed and barrel-chested. The Gold Miraclist, Nera Gallagher, knelt to the ground, while the Amber Miraclist, Jelani Uboko, pointed his staff and tore the ground from beneath her, levitating her atop a stone platform. He flew her about the arena and she shot bolts of lightning from her staff, knocking out the Gold, Sapphire, and Amber Miraclists on the opposing team.

  The enemy team focused all their attention on Nera, flinging fireballs and gusts of wind, while the Emerald tried to knock Jelani off balance with lassoed vines. Jelani stamped his boot to the ground, sending a fissure ripping across the ground to beneath the Emerald Miraclist’s feet. She dropped into the gap and disappeared. All the while, Jelani kept Nera afloat; she eliminated the last of their foes.

  “Those two,” said Jude, pointing to Jelani and Nera. “Those are the ones we need to look out for. The rest of their team is rubbish.”

  Chapter 30

  “But Jude,” Martha pled, running along beside the new team of Miraclists as they made their way back to the training field, “he hasn’t been back in two days—it’s not like him to be gone so long and not say anything.”

  “Mordecai’s a grown man,” Jude replied, unconcerned. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s probably just taking a break from you badgering children.”

  “Sounds like the runt misses her teacher,” taunted Tiff, edging in between Martha and Jude. “Are you a teacher’s pet?” She laughed at what she thought was a very witty comment, though the only one who joined in was Gertrude.

  Martha glared at her.

  “I don’t like this,” Daniel said, folding his arms, feeling as though they were ignoring something important. “Martha’s right—Mordecai would never be gone this long. He typically visits us every night.”

  Jude let out an impatient sigh. “He said he was going to th
e Senate meeting with Tiberius, did he not? He’s probably still there arguing with the Senate, trying to return the troops.”

  Ari shook her head. “The meeting let out two days ago—my father was there.” She fell in beside Martha and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I’ll ask my father about Mordecai if you’d like, Martha. In the meantime, you and the children can stay at my father’s house. Our servants would be happy to help take care of the children.”

  Martha looked up at Ari, renewed hope in her eyes. “That would be wonderful. I’ve been so worried!”

  “I’ve been so worried,’” Tiff mocked. “Girls like you make me sick—always fretting about who’s going to take care of them.”

  “They make me sick too,” chimed Gertrude softly. “I feel nauseous just looking at her. Oh goodness!” She suddenly turned a light shade of green and looked away from Martha.

  “Hey,” said Gregory, “she’s got every right to be worried—you can’t talk to her like that.”

  “Oh yeah?” growled Tiff. She turned around and poked a stubby finger in Gregory’s chest, forcing him to halt. “You trying to tell me what I can and can’t say, stick-boy?”

  Gregory gulped underneath her shadow. He looked to Martha and then back up to Tiff.

  She poked him in the chest again, nudging him backward. “What are you going to do about it—you willowy-boned twit?”

  “Excuse me, Tiff,” said Daniel, pushing away her finger and stepping between them, his brown eyes narrow with anger. “Let’s focus on fighting the other team, not amongst ourselves.”

  “Well said, Daniel,” Ari said, clutching her staff. “We must work as a team, or none of us will progress through the games.”

  Tiff stared down and Daniel, then spat. “The runt has guts. Fine—let’s get to practicing. I need to crush some stuff.”

  “Yes,” breathed Gertrude, “me too.”

  The seven students made their way outside the city walls to the same area where they practiced before. Gregory slowed down and tugged on Daniel’s sleeve.

  “I can’t stand them,” he said in a low voice. “If we have to work with them for the rest the competition,” he paused and placed a hand on his forehead, “no—maybe the rest of our lives, I think I’ll go insane.”

  “Me too,” Daniel replied. “But right now we need them. Best to just get along. Remember, no position is permanent.”

  Martha remained with them for only a short while before she dismissed herself, saying that she couldn’t leave the rest of the children alone for very long, and that perhaps Mordecai had returned. The rest of them continued to practice until evening.

  They returned back to their rooms that night and readied themselves for bed when there was a knock at the door. It was Ari.

  “Mordecai—” she said breathing heavily as Daniel opened the door. “He’s—he’s been arrested.”

  “Arrested?” Daniel said. “How do you know?”

  “My father—he said Mordecai stood in open opposition to the war with Irachnia. After hours of debate Mordecai finally grew angry and began shouting that Greavus was a no-good liar and would plunge our nation into chaos. Greavus then accused him of being in league with the rebels and had him arrested for treason. Father says it was a madhouse. Tiberius was shouting for the guards to stand down, while others were saying Mordecai should be put to death. But in the end they took him away.”

  Her words fell upon Daniel’s shoulders like the weight of an anvil. He stared at her, mouth tight.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said, “I came as soon as I learned—I know this must be awful and—”

  Jude held up his hand. “When is his trial?”

  “Father says they are waiting until after the competition.”

  “Then we will worry about this after the competition.”

  “After the competition?” Daniel shot. “We have to do something now!”

  “And what can we do, Daniel?” Jude shot back. “Hm? Tell me your plan. Beg Greavus to release him? Break him out ourselves? No—we have no power. We have to wait. And win. When we become Guardians we will have a much greater voice and perhaps we can free him.”

  “There has to be something we can do,” Daniel said.

  “Daniel,” said Ari quietly, “I’m afraid Jude is right. The only thing we can do is move forward in the competition. We can’t let this ruin us.”

  “Easy for you to say,” snapped Daniel. “You have a family—people who care for you. We don’t. Mordecai’s all we’ve got, and now he’s gone.”

  “I know,” she said, unfazed. “And we will do everything in our power to free him. But in the meantime, we must do what we can. And that is wait.”

  Daniel felt slightly guilty for the outburst, but continued. “And what about our classmates? Is Martha supposed to keep taking care of them? She’s only a girl.”

  “Martha is very responsible,” Ari replied. “I’m sure she will manage until Mordecai is released. Meanwhile, they are safe at my estate.”

  “Mrs. Doppledodger,” said Gregory. “She needs to come back—she can take care of the children.”

  “If she could come back then she would be here,” said Daniel. “No—we’re in it alone now. We can only rely on ourselves.”

  Jude sat down on the edge of his bed. “Then there’s no use fretting about it. Mordecai is safe—albeit in jail—but not on the executioner’s block. In the meantime, we have a competition to win. Ari, get a good night’s sleep. Daniel, Gregory, time to turn in.”

  “We have to win tomorrow,” said Daniel, his eyes gleaming blue for an instant. “It’s not about us anymore—this is about so much more. We have to change things, and this is the way to do it.”

  Ari nodded curtly. She smiled, ever so slightly, then turned and hurried back to her room, leaving the three of them alone. Daniel lay down and forced his eyes to shut, searching for elusive sleep.

  * * *

  They met Martha outside the hotel the next morning. She wore a robe over her nightgown, clutching the front to keep out the chilly morning air. Ari had arranged for a carriage to bring Martha over; the driver waited in the driveway. Martha’s lip trembled when Daniel relayed the news, her eyes welling with tears. Then, suddenly, she stopped.

  “I cannot cry,” she said, sniffing, then exhaling. “I must be strong until we get him out. If I cry, the children will cry. We will get him out, won’t we?”

  “Of course we will,” Daniel replied, doubting the words as they left his mouth. “This whole thing has to be a misunderstanding.”

  Martha turned to get back into the carriage. “Good luck today, everyone,” she said. She paused in the doorframe. “I’ll be there with the children, cheering you on. Extra loud since Mordecai won’t be there.”

  With that, she ducked inside.

  An hour later the carriage returned, this time bringing Tiff and Gertrude with it. Ari, Daniel, Jude, and Gregory piled inside and left the hotel for the arena. When they arrived, two officials met them at the front gate.

  “We need to split into factions of two,” said Jude as they were led into the coliseum. “We start in the tunnels again this round. Gregory and me, Ari and Tiff—”

  “I’m with Gertrude,” Tiff butted in. “We always fight together, no matter what.”

  “Always,” Gertrude agreed.

  Jude stopped, eying them with an annoyed expression. “We have to do what’s best for the team. Daniel and Gertrude should go together due to—”

  “I couldn’t care less what your reasoning is,” interrupted Tiff, “I’m with Gertrude and that’s final.”

  “Fine,” said Jude, waving his hand. “Ari, you’re with Daniel.”

  Ari nodded.

  Tiff grunted her consent. “Come on, Gertrude,” she said as they passed beneath the archway leading into the arena halls. “Glory’s waiting.” The two of them split off and walked toward the tunnels.

  Daniel watched them go, exasperated. If I have to work with those two for the rest of
my life I’d as soon not be a Guardian, he wanted to say. He tried to dispel the notion. Now was not the time to sow seeds of discord.

  “I guess the honeymoon is over,” said Gregory to Jude with a smirk.

  “I wanted to split those two up,” Jude said, shaking his head. “Daniel and Gertrude would have been the wisest pairing—water and electricity can be a deadly combination.”

  “True,” said Ari, “but at this point it’s best to not fight amongst ourselves.”

  “Tell that to Tiff,” Gregory replied.

  “Well,” said Ari, giving Daniel a half smile, “I for one much prefer my partner to that ogress.”

  Daniel felt his ears turn red, but he had no time to reply. One of the officials told them it was time to get ready. They split up. Daniel and Ari made their way down the hall and to the stairwell leading to the tunnel.

  Daniel felt troubled. He tried to focus on the fight ahead, but thoughts of Mordecai plagued his mind. We should not be fighting pseudo-battles, but storming the prison gates. He gripped his staff, knuckles turning white.

  “Are you okay, Daniel?” asked Ari.

  Daniel’s thoughts broke at the sound of Ari’s voice. “How can I be okay when Mordecai rots in prison?”

  She touched his hand. “I’m sure everything will be fine. I know it must be difficult. Are you two very close?”

  Daniel looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Mordecai is the closest thing I have to a father. I never knew my parents. He took me in—raised me as his own, cared for me when no one else would.”

  “Other people care for you, too,” she said.

  “Like who?” Daniel let out a small laugh. “It’s like Jude once said—no one cares for me. I am on my own and always will be.”

  “I care about you,” she said.

  Daniel turned to look at her, checking the sincerity in her eyes.

  “And Gregory cares too,” she said a little too quickly. “And Martha, and even Jude—though he’s slow to admit it.”

  Daniel turned away from her and stared down the tunnel. “Right,” he said. “I’m sure they all care about me.”