It was then that Tat remembered she needed to tell them about the stone. She considered mentioning it before, but it just didn’t seem like the right time. But now, there was no denying it. She must ‘fess up’, like Aidan put it earlier.
“Uhm… about that, the keystone I mean,” Tatyana felt a lump well up in her throat as if the stone wasn’t lost but there instead. “I am just curious, what would happen if someone… might have lost it?”
“Might have, or did?” Biscuit inquired.
“Did,” she sighed.
Clover gasped. Biscuit shook his head then they stared at one another for a few moments.
“Well, I don’t know,” Biscuit said, “I don’t think anyone has ever lost one before.”
Guilt overwhelmed Tat like a true monster springing out of the darkness as tears flooded her flustered cheeks.
“Don’t you fuss none, sweet one. I’m sure it was an accident.” Biscuit said.
“We’ll figure it out,” Clover added and Biscuit nodded. “Besides, if the worst of it comes to pass, Biscuit and I have done more than our share of collecting – and we found the best treasure of all – you.”
“Oh Ba, Da!” Tatyana jumped up and hugged them both.
Aidan waited a few seconds then cleared his throat, “About seeking out these Gods?”
“Oh yes,” Biscuit acknowledged, “I imagine you do have a few questions about all of this. No worries, we’ll do our best to answer them and maybe we can figure out how to help regain your seal.”
“Regain my what?”
Biscuit sighed. This would take some time to explain. He began telling the story of the eight Gods of Fate, although hardly anyone speaks of all eight Gods anymore, and in some places, it was illegal to refer to more than seven of them.
He told how the two brother Gods, Kismet and Khaos used to be so competitive. Kismet, being the eldest by mere seconds considered himself to be the true ruler of all, but Khaos couldn’t stand being under his twins’ rule.
“It wasn’t until the human creatures that Khaos created began becoming a problem that he reluctantly started agreeing with his brother’s way of seeing things. No one could deny that the humans were becoming a nuisance and if left to continue as they were, would end up destroying the world.”
“Now hold on a minute! What do you mean ‘humans were becoming a nuisance’?” Aidan stood up, feeling personally insulted as if somehow Biscuit was taking a stab at the uninvited human in the room.
“Well, during that time, humans were becoming quite destructive. All they cared about were themselves and did little to help even their own. Power hungry they were, not to mention how out of sync they became with the rest of our world. They were destroying whole forests just to make their grand homes, destroying many of the smaller creatures and plants in the process. And that was the least of it!
“The bloody battles resulting from who owned what land, and what belonged to whom, nothing to them was sacred. They destroyed anything in their paths. Everything became out of balance because of them.
“Now don’t take offense child, it was a long, long time ago, I wasn’t even around back then, and I’m 443 years old.” Biscuit replied, and then continued with his story, not giving Aidan a chance to process what he’d said.
“So, as I was saying… since Khaos loved and favored his humans so dearly, he fought to keep them from being eradicated. He agreed an Otherworld would be created. One world where humans existed alongside this one where the Fae could live in peace from them. Only by holding a piece of the Stone of Fate can anyone go through the gates and travel between worlds. We call those keystones.
“The Annokai, the soldiers and acolytes of the Gods, were then given the order to place a seal created by a God of Fate on every human and fae child alike born into either world. This was so the Gods could keep track of everyone and could govern their lives, keeping anyone from returning to those destructive behaviors.
“That worked well for a long time, but as time grew on mistakes started happening, especially since the twin Gods found new things to quarrel over. The rest of the Gods became divided on the issues and began taking sides. And of course there was the banishing, but we won’t dawdle on that–”
“So these stones, the keystones, that open the gates; how does one go about getting one of those?” Aidan asked the second Biscuit paused for air, hoping to get a straight and simple answer that would solve his dilemma.
“I’m sorry, but only families in select fae races get them, and then only when there is a need to go between worlds. Take for example the Pooka–”
“The Pooka?”
“Yes, that’s what Clover and I are. The Pooka are fae, and our kind cleans up after the humans, and have been for as long as we can remember. As a race, we became dependent upon it for our very survival. Our kind used to have to do a lot of trickery to get things from the humans, but now we just wait for them to toss it away.
“It is said that when the worlds were divided, our ancestors were given keystones to be passed down the family line. Allowing us to go to the Otherworld and collect from the humans and bring back what we needed to survive here in the Notherworld.”
“Collect? Collect what?”
“Things you would call junk, mostly. The Gods decreed we could have anything that the humans threw away and would never miss. We mainly go to their dumping grounds. Humans never see us though, that’s part of what the seal does to keep us shielded.”
“So, what about Tatyana? She’s human, obviously, and not pooka. She said she’d been born over there. Then how did she get here?”
“We brought her here when she was just a baby. You see we found her on top of one of the dumpsters in an alley. In fact the very alley that our gate leads to. We found her with a note asking that whoever found her to take dear care of her.
“Clover and I became instantly fond of the little one the moment we saw her. We reckoned, being the ones that found her and all, that it was our responsibility to take her in. Not to mention the Gods did say we could have anything the humans tossed away and wouldn’t miss.
“Of course, we didn’t know then that she was Errata. We found that out later when we took her to the temples to be blessed, and so we would know who to give her offering to, but they couldn’t find her seal. Thank the Fates that the high priest showed mercy then and didn’t alert the Annokai–”
“Errata, what’s that about again?” Aidan interrupted again, still confused on everything.
“Like I said, it’s what you are when you don’t have a seal.”
“Actually Da; I don’t think you…” Tat began to correct Biscuit, but he gave her another silencing look.
“The Annokai keep a list of everyone that is reported who isn’t marked with a God’s seal and seek them out to eradicate them. In essence, an Errata is a mistake of the Gods.
They say Erratas happen for all sorts of reasons, from anything from clerical errors when the Gods are approving what seals goes to whom, to a soul being born at the wrong time and place. The story goes that once you are eradicated no one even remembers that you even existed. Then you are reborn again and will have a seal properly placed on you.”
“How would anyone know that?” Aidan asked, but then shook his head and changed his mind about wanting an answer, “never mind, but why can’t Errata go to the human world?”
“I never said they couldn’t, they just shouldn’t.” Biscuit grumpily snapped. “If you’re human and you touch another human then their seals will dissolve as well. That’s what’s happened to you. No one knows why, only that it happens. That’s why the Annokai must eliminate anyone who is Errata.”
“And Tatyana made me Errata?” Aidan continued his inquiry while shifting his gaze over to Tat who looked as if she were ready to find the nearest hole to crawl into.
“Sadly, yes; our little Tatty Buttons is Errata, she was never given a seal,” Clover spoke up.
“Tatty Buttons?” Aidan smirked, looking over at Ta
tyana.
“But Da,” Tatty ignored Aidan, “since Aidan had a seal would he not be able to get his back?”
“Like I said, he needs to seek out the Gods.”
“OK, so if these Gods of Fate put my seal back, then can I go home?”
“Well, if the Gods allow it, certainly. However, that is no easy task and to do so may mean having Tatyana eradicated since they will then know how you got in this tricky little predicament. And I am sure that is not what you mean to do now is it?”
“Have Tatyana eradicated?” Aidan looked bewildered. After all, from what he was told it wouldn’t really hurt her or anyone, and what was this stupid girl to him anyway? He’d just met her, and she caused all this trouble. And if he did, would anyone even remember?
“You wouldn’t do that, would you?” Tatyana asked since he was taking his time to answer and she had to know.
Hearing her question shook him out of whatever momentary internal struggle he was having. “Of course not!” he sighed but knew he had just considered the alternative.
“Well then that settles it,” Biscuit clapped his hands. “You will just have to stay here with the Fae. We’ve hidden Tatty all these years; I am sure someone can do the same for you.”
“No wait,” Aidan protested, “I have to get home. I have to; I have family and friends. They’ll miss me. I mean, I don’t want to get Tatyana into any kind of trouble, but there has to be some other way–”
“Nope! There is no other way.” This time Biscuit interrupted before Aidan could finish his sentence.
“Well, there is one way,” Clover looked over at Biscuit as if to say you know it’s true too, “Serendi.”
“No. We’ve discussed this before and it’s just too dangerous.”
“Now listen here Biscuit. You’ve had your say about it, but it’s time. If not now, then when? She’s a young woman by human years. You knew there would be a time when we would have to go,” Clover chastised, and it made Tat gasp. They were not the type to quarrel. She’d never heard Clover raise her voice to Biscuit or contradict anything he’d ever said.
Clover lowered her tone seeing the look on her daughter’s face, “Tatty Buttons, we love you dearly and the only way things will ever change for you or Aidan is for us to seek out the Goddess Serendi. We should go and find her as soon as we can. She’s the only one who would be willing to set this mess straight.”
“Serendi! That’s great. Where do we find her?” Aidan asked with a renewed smile of hope showing on his face, as if all of this would be that simple.
“No one knows,” Biscuit answered and Aidan’s smile faded. “Once Khaos went missing Serendi became heart broken, and they say she went into hiding.”
“So, we’re back at square one. Great. Just great.” Aidan moaned while rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
“We could always go to the Dorn of Breah and ask to summon her at her temple,” Clover chimed in again.
“The Dorn of Breah?” Tat asked as if in disbelief. “That’s all the way through the wild lands! We can’t go that far. We just can’t…” Tat hesitated to get her thoughts together, “I mean, no, we can’t do that, at least not all of us.”
“What do you mean child?” Clover asked.
“I mean, this is my fault. I’m the one that took the keystone and brought Aidan over here. I should be the one to take him. Like you said, I’m a young woman now. It’s my responsibility to fix this. I will go with him to the temple–”
“Oh, for Amore’s sake! You can’t go alone with a young man you hardly know!” Biscuit crossed his arms.
“No, she’s right dear.” Clover took Biscuit’s hand. “She is a young woman now, we have to support her choice in this.”
“I don’t have to do any such thing! This is just foolishness,” Biscuit mumbled.
“Stop being stubborn old fool. This needs to happen and you know it,” Clover replied softly but sternly and then leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.
“Fine. I don’t like it, but you’re right as always.”
“Good, it’s settled then. The both of you will stay here for the day and rest. Get some good food in you, a good night’s rest and you’ll be ready to journey in the morn.” Clover laid out the plan to them as if she had already worked it all out.
“Tomorrow? Isn’t that rather soon Ba?”
“Well you were certainly ready to leave us last night, now weren’t you?” Biscuit reminded her, and Tat looked away feeling wounded.
“Don’t be bitter Biscuit. I am sure that Tatty didn’t mean harm. Remember, she’s safe and that’s what matters.” Clover was quick to say his own words back to him. “Tatty dear, we did well to keep you hidden, but now that you’ve crossed worlds, you will more likely be on their list. Not to mention the longer poor Aidan is in this world he will be in danger too. You’ve had the benefit of being protected by the Pooka community, but it’s not so for young mister Aidan here.”
Tat looked at Aidan and nodded, knowing Clover was right.
Tatyana slept the rest of the day after getting what Clover considered a proper meal. She slept straight through the night like she’d never slept before. Aidan, however, did not. Even though he had ample room to spread out on the spare cot Biscuit set up for him in the den, Muk insisted on keeping him company, taking up half of the oddly colored feather downed mattress. It wasn’t as if Aidan could sleep anyway, not after being thrown into another world, and not knowing if he’d ever see “home” again.
He was up, ready to head out when daylight spilled through the tiny round thick-paned windows and he heard Biscuit and Clover stirring about. Tatyana however, most likely would not have budged for several more hours had Aidan not started tapping on her door.
“Your parents want you to come out for breakfast,” he cracked the door and called in.
“What?” her eyes tried to focus. The voice she heard sounded unusually familiar, almost like the voice of the weird human boy in the strangest dream she’d ever had.
“I said your parents want you to come out for breakfast, AND it would be really nice if you’d get this monster-dog-beast-thing to stop licking me.”
“Oh no, Aidan–” Realizing the voice was real and it wasn’t a dream she bolted upright. Tat stumbled out of bed, half tripping over the jumbled mess she’d left from trying to fully conceal herself before venturing to the Otherworld. A lot of good that did.
“Muk, go find Da,” Tat said sticking her head out from around the door and Muk whimpered in reply. “Tell them I’ll be right there,” she instructed Aidan before shutting the door as if all of this was completely the normal routine they had every morning. Tat shoved the pile on the floor into the nearest basket she could find and then dressed in better tunic and leggings than she’d worn on her journey to the Otherworld.
Before Tat even made it to the table, she could smell the breakfast feast wafting down the hallway. Rounding the corner into the kitchen she could see every inch of it covered with some dish or another; and all of Tatty’s favorites were there.
“Ba, you must’ve been cooking all day and night.”
“Oh this, it’s nothing,” Clover shyly dismissed it before heading to pull one last bread pan from the warming oven. “Besides, it might be a while before I get to cook for you again sweet one,” she tried not to cry.
“So, let’s eat,” Biscuit suggested, not giving anyone a chance to get the tears going again.
The meal was relatively quiet and all of them ate until they couldn’t eat anymore. All but Aidan, who picked here and there at the very unfamiliar dishes that sat in front of him. It’s not that he hated the food; it was more that he wasn’t used to any of it. It was definitely not the generic brand wanna be toaster-tarts and instant coffee sweetened with milk and his usual three tablespoons of sugar that he’d grown accustomed to every morning.
“You should eat,” Biscuit commented, seeing Aidan scrape his fork through his mashed honey buttered turnips. “It will be a long journey and y
ou’ll need your strength.”
“Oh, sorry; I’m just not much of a breakfast eater–”
“Not much of a breakfast eater,” Biscuit parroted under his breath unable to comprehend the audacity of this boy with such a spread of food set in front of him, but then Clover cut in.
“It’s all right dear, I have packed plenty for the both of you. You just eat when you feel like it.”
Taking it as a cue, Biscuit stood up and began clearing away some of the dishes. And then he unceremoniously plopped two full, yet rather well-worn and somewhat dingy gray canvas backpacks on the table in their place.
“This is for you Tat, and well, for you too I suppose,” Biscuit glanced momentarily at Aidan. “It’s packed with some supplies, maps, lanterns, and the like. Here’s a hooded cloak for each of you. If anyone recognizes you as human there might be trouble,” he said as if to warn them. “Oh and as Clover said, she packed a good deal of food for the journey.”
“But…” Tat could hardly speak, “that’s yours and Ba’s cloaks and run packs. We can’t take those!”
“Sure, you can,” Biscuit replied, “it’s only right it should go to you and well,” he glanced over at Aidan again.
“What your da is trying to say sweet one, is that we had always planned to give you at least one of our packs at some point. It is of course tradition once the eldest child leaves the home, so there you go,” she sighed. “Even if it is under these circumstances. I’ve already fixed the cloaks to fit you both, and fair little good they will do us without the stone anyway.” Tat felt a twinge of guilt at the mention of the stone, seeing this Clover continued, “As we said we have had plenty of good runs in our time, now it’s your turn.”
Chapter Four
The Journey
C lover kissed her daughter’s head gently assuring her that they would be waiting for her when it was time to come home. After a lot of tears and long hugs, Tat knew she couldn’t procrastinate any longer. Biscuit gave a gentle warning out of the ladies’ earshot to Aidan to keep his ‘little Tatty Buttons’ safe before they finally agreed it was time to begin their journey.
The Fateless: Errata Page 4