by K.L. Bauman
Chapter 10
Deadly Handshake
Echo drew her daggers as quietly as she could and turned slowly in a circle, the weapons extended in front of her. The blades caught a beam of sunlight that filtered through the trees. The flash of light reminded her of Dorian’s story and the crystal swords of the Kavalah, giving Echo a bit of confidence. But her confidence was short lived as the sensation of another presence became overwhelming; it surrounded her, smothering her with unease. She searched the trees with her eyes, desperate to catch a glimpse of what she was feeling, hoping desperately to see only a deer or rabbit.
A smell tickled her nostrils. She stood in the midst of a grove of elder trees, but the distinct aroma of pine met her senses.
Echo screamed, then spun her blades around as a figure appeared out of nowhere yelling, “BOO!” Echo’s blades froze open against the soft flesh of Keebo’s neck like a giant pair of scissors. Had she not the reflexes she possessed, she would’ve certainly chopped his head off!
“KEEBO! You IDIOT! I could’ve killed you!” she screamed as she lowered her daggers.
Keebo stood frozen in shock, his eyes as wide as saucers. Echo couldn’t help laughing as she returned her weapons to their scabbard. “For once, I scared you more that you scared me!”
Keebo finally relaxed, leaned over with his hands against his knees, and breathed deeply a few times. He then looked up at her, his blue-green eyes shining. “I think I almost wet myself,” he said and laughed.
“You should’ve seen your expression!” Echo said, and they recounted the whole thing in detail, laughing until their sides hurt.
Finally stopping enough to catch her breath, Echo wiped her eyes and asked, “So what are you doing here anyway?”
Keebo continued to smile, causing a dimple to form, and then scratched at the hair above his ear. “I came to see you, of course. I heard you and Brecker Became today and, judging by the very fancy weapons you nearly sliced my head off with, I see I heard right.”
Echo chuckled again. “Sorry. I’m just jumpy.” She grew serious as they walked a few paces in silence. Keebo studied her, then suddenly ran up the trunk of a tree and snatched something from a branch. He somersaulted through the air and landed softly in front of a startled Echo.
Keebo’s face was tender as he slowly opened his cupped hands. An opalescent butterfly, unharmed by Keebo’s gentle fingers, flexed its shimmering wings. Tiny rainbows slid back and forth across their surfaces. “Token for your musings?” Keebo smiled at her, his slanted brows raised questioningly.
Echo couldn’t keep from smiling. Keebo’s boyish face looked expectantly at her as a finger of breeze ruffled his glowing blond hair. Echo unconsciously twirled the end of her braid around her left index finger as she stretched her right hand forward, allowing Keebo to place the butterfly in her palm. A tingling pulse swept up her arm as his soft fingers brushed against hers.
Echo studied the butterfly for a moment, watching its shiny wings flex open and shut. Then, it fluttered away, back up to where Keebo had so rudely snatched it. She wished she could free her troubled thoughts as easily. She walked a few more paces with Keebo beside her. They were moving slowly, but his mannerisms betrayed more energy than he was expending. He fidgeted with his shirt, tore a leaf from a hanging branch, scratched at his hair again, and picked up a stone, only to toss it into the trees.
Echo took a deep breath and spoke, “I’m really worried about Brecker. He’s changing.”
Keebo folded his hands behind his back and gave her his full attention as they continued to walk.
Echo spoke faster, suddenly eager to share her concerns with someone. “He’s planning on leaving home and joining Mavel and Moodey, and he seems so angry all the time.”
Keebo remained silent, so Echo rushed forward again. “And now, the elves are talking about a doon from three thousand years ago returning to power.”
Keebo’s voice was so soft, Echo thought that she was hearing things. “Belzac,” he whispered.
Echo stopped in her tracks and surveyed her friend. “How do you know about Belzac?” she asked suspiciously.
Keebo gave her a crooked smile and said, “The trees told me.”
Echo sighed impatiently. “Trees don’t talk to humans and you know it!”
“They would if humans listened.”
Echo shook her head. “They talk to fairies and some elves. Not humans.”
Keebo shrugged. “If you say so. So, do you think the Kavalah will return and save the day if Belzac returns?”
Echo gawked at him. “You know about the Kavalah, too?”
Her friend’s face flushed and his eyes gave away that he’d once again let slip something he shouldn’t have. “Well, yeah,” he said slowly. “The trees told me?” he put the statement in a question, probably hoping Echo would accept the answer. She didn’t.
Echo put her hands to her hips and glared at Keebo. Did he really think she was that stupid?
“Okay, okay. I was sneaking around Thildin one night, just for the fun of it--elves are so fascinating--and I overheard the elders talking. That’s it. I’ve confessed everything,” he said, raising his palms in surrender.
Echo’s mind shifted from annoyance to curiosity. “Did you hear anything else? Are the elves preparing to fight? Are they trying to find the Kavalah?”
“I’ve told you all I know, Echo. Sorry.” Keebo truly looked disappointed that he had no more to tell her. They walked in silence for a few moments more.
“Did you enjoy your ride this morning?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Keebo slapped his hand over his face and pulled it slowly downward until all that remained covered was his mouth.
Echo looked at him incredulously. “What is up with you? Have you been spying on me?” A strange mixture of fury and flattery churned in her chest.
“N-No, Echo. I wasn’t spying on you.” Keebo looked nervously at the trees as their leaves stirred in the breeze. “Oh, I have to go! Dad’s looking for me. Bye!”
He was gone in an instant with Echo’s angry cries chasing him through the trees. She was going wild with curiosity, wondering what other secrets Keebo was keeping from her. She also felt a twinge of hurt pride. Why would he keep secrets from his best friend?
This question plagued Echo’s mind over the next several weeks along with the ever-present sense of foreboding that hung over her family like a dark cloud. Brecker continued to alienate himself from the rest of the family. Most of his time was spent in Ulway, visiting Moodey and Mavel and making plans for destroying evil. Every time he returned from one of these meetings, things between him and their dad became more and more tense. Their mother was grumpier than usual and often joined in the yelling and screaming as she made known every chance she had how much she disapproved of anyone in her family being a defender. Echo and Mari usually remained silent and solemn. Mari finally avoided family gatherings all together, leaving Echo trying to keep some sort of peace. Her voice was usually drowned out by the yells and she eventually gave up.
However, Echo did continue attempting to persuade Brecker from going into Ulway. She made one last try after a sparring session one day. They hadn’t sparred much since the day of their Becoming, and Echo had hoped it would be a chance to talk with Brecker.
The summer air was heavy and the sun was stifling as they fought. Brecker showed no mercy and Echo’s muscles were beginning to tire. Sweat stung her eyes and clung to her body. What she wouldn’t give for a breeze! Smiling to herself, she spun her daggers by her sides, creating a nice breeze--and a nice threatening effect.
The teens leapt at one another, their weapons flashing in the glaring sun and sparking madly as they crashed into each other. Echo pushed with all her might, attempting to force Brecker’s solid form away from her. He fell back of his own accord and they circled each other, eyes locked. “You don’t have to let me win, Brecker,” Echo stated.
“I’m not. J
ust keep your guard up, and don’t be afraid to hurt me,” Brecker said.
Echo leapt at him, thrusting a dagger toward his torso. He twisted his body, avoiding the blade. Echo spun too and, for a moment, they were like dancers circling one another in an elegant routine. Their hair and clothing ruffled silently around their bodies, enhancing their graceful movements. The illusion was shattered as the weapons struck each other again. Brecker came at Echo with determined fierceness, swinging his body and blade swiftly. Echo matched his movements, blocking his assaults with her quicker reflexes and smaller form. She spun again, slicing her blades through the air toward Brecker. He dodged her assault, but barely. As Echo passed, the sharpness of one of her daggers sliced the front of Brecker’s shirt.
Echo’s body was caught in the momentum of her spin. She passed her brother and as her back turned toward him, she felt a sharp slap against her muscles. She yelled in pain, falling to her knees. Brecker had used the broad side of his sword, hitting her forcefully across the back.
Tears stung Echo’s eyes. It wasn’t so much the physical pain, but the fury she’d felt from Brecker as he’d made the blow. Within a split second, he had his sword at her throat. “I win! I told you not to be afraid to hurt your opponent, Echo, or they will hurt you.”
Echo’s anger ignited as quickly as a grass fire. She spun her head around, sending her braid flying around her body. She glared up at her brother. “I’m not your enemy, Brecker!” She stood, forcing his blade away from her neck with a dagger. “You’ve become a real jerk, you know that? Moodey’s done nothing but turn your mind into muddled mush!”
Brecker gave her a strange smile that did not reach his eyes, which were shadowed and unfriendly. “You don’t have a clue what Moodey has taught me. He and his cloaked friend have given me a new perspective on everything. You’ll be thanking him, and me, when you’re being attacked by shadow dwellers or dark sorcerers and need our help.”
Echo shook her head slowly. “Don’t go back to them, Brecker. You’ve been going there for weeks and you still don’t even know that man’s name. You’ve never even seen his face. How can you trust him? Please, at least talk to Dad, he’s just trying to--”
“Trying to hold me back?” Brecker interrupted. “Trying to tie me down to this mundane life of chores and minding my own business? No thanks! Dad doesn’t know what’s out there. He hasn’t learned all that I have.”
“Then tell him.”
Brecker stared at the trees, his brows furrowed. He was breathing heavier now than while they’d been sparring. “I’ve tried. He doesn’t want to hear it. And,” he turned and gave Echo a fierce look, “I guess neither do you.”
He turned and stormed away. Fury and fear wrestled in Echo’s heart. Brecker was being completely irrational. His mind was closed to anything except what Moodey and his strange friend were filling it with.
After several minutes, Echo stomped along the edge of Thildin Valley, her mind swirling with a million thoughts. The trees of Thildin formed a wall to her left as she walked toward home. Without warning, Brecker and Midnight Sun burst through the trees in front of her and raced across Thildin Valley toward Ulway. Echo screamed, then watched in awe as the pair quickly became a spec in the distance. Midnight’s speed was astonishing! The rest of the elvish herd whinnied from the far side of the valley before resuming their grazing.
Echo stared after Brecker, struggling with an idea that she knew might get her into more trouble with her brother. When Shimmer separated from the herd and ran to her, Echo didn’t hesitate to leap onto her back. She gave no command, but let the strong desire to follow Brecker fill her heart and mind. Shimmer whinnied, reared, and took off.
For a moment, Echo forgot her dark emotions as the amazing feeling of pure freedom washed over her. Grass and shrubs, rocks and dirt, melded together in a smooth blur as horse and rider flew over the ground. Shimmer’s powerful muscles slid easily under her shining coat and her silky mane caressed Echo’s face and hands. Within minutes, Ulway came into view.
Echo slowed Shimmer to a trot. Although the horse was not winded, the heat of the day caused lather to form on her sweating neck. Echo dismounted a half a mile from the village and softly commanded Shimmer to stay near the river. The horse happily obeyed, diving into the water and taking a deep draught of cool liquid. Echo momentarily felt her friend’s joy, but then became serious as she focused on finding Brecker.
She couldn’t explain why, but she didn’t want him to know she was here. She just wanted to see exactly what was going on. What did they talk about in these meetings? Where did they go? Did they practice fighting? Was Moodey a swordsman? Somehow, she didn’t think so. The thought of Moodey or his wife wielding any type of weapon seemed humorous. But the other mysterious man could very well be a fighter.
Using the skill of stealth she had learned from Dorian, Echo walked silently from one spot to another. She hid behind a bush, then glided to the shadow of a cottage at the edge of town. If she kept to the shadows, she’d less likely be seen. Echo stifled a shiver as she thought of doons slithering from one shadow to another. She suddenly felt wrong, as if she were doing something forbidden.
Echo shook her head. Get a hold of yourself! You’re not a doon and you’re not doing anything wrong! She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Voices reached her, and she crouched to avoid being seen.
She scanned the area. The village was fairly quiet, but a few people strolled along the streets, stopping to chat before continuing on their way. Echo smirked as she noticed that many of the villagers wore Jiggers’ special necklaces.
Mavel and Moodey’s place was just four buildings in from where she sat on her heels. It was quiet. She didn’t see Brecker or Midnight Sun.
She waited for more people to pass before making her way closer to Moodey’s cottage. Squeezing her way between two lilac bushes, she listened as muffled voices trailed through an open window. Echo strained to hear what they were saying, but to no avail. She began to make her way out of the bushes to get closer to the window, but gasped and ducked back into the shadows as the shaded back door of the cottage opened.
Brecker walked into the open, followed by the dark cloaked man. Echo’s blood felt cold at the sight of that mysterious figure. Something was frightening about him. Why did he never show his face? Why was he constantly under that black hood?
The man’s voice, clearer now that they were outside, carried on the air to Echo. She’d been expecting a raspy voice to emanate from the figure, but it was surprisingly smooth and pleasant. “Are you certain this is what you want, Brecker? Are you certain you wish to devote yourself to our cause? Are you willing to do whatever I ask?”
“Absolutely. My family doesn’t understand the dangers here. They don’t want to listen,” Brecker said bitterly.
“I have listened, my friend. I understand the dangers. I understand them very well.” The figure’s voice had become quiet, alluring. Echo felt a horrid discomfort, like she was watching a spider lure a fly to its web. She wanted to yell to Brecker to get away, but she didn’t want him angry at her for spying, so she remained silent.
“I know you have. You and Mavel and Moodey have been amazing. I’ll do whatever you ask of me,” Brecker stated firmly. He and the figure stared at each other for several seconds as they stood in the shadow of the cottage.
“Then let us seal our purpose. Let us form a pact of loyalty.” The figure extended a dark-gloved hand.
It was a common gesture, but Echo’s heart pounded furiously against her chest. Don’t do it, Brecker! She couldn’t explain why, but she did not want him to grasp that man’s hand.
Brecker slowly extended his right hand until it was alongside his companion’s. The men’s hands hovered beside each other momentarily. And then, in a motion that would haunt Echo’s dreams for the rest of her life, Brecker grasped the figure’s hand tightly. In response, the figure’s da
rk fingers curled around Brecker’s hand like a bird of prey grasping some helpless creature. Brecker’s eyes widened. He struggled to break the bond, but without success. A soft chuckle came from under the hood of the cloak.
With his free hand, the figure removed his hood, revealing a man-shaped, shadowy head. Blazing orange eyes were its only discernible facial feature. They bore into Brecker’s as the figure continued to chuckle.
Echo’s stomach lurched so violently, she thought she would vomit. Brecker’s horrific, painful scream sliced through the air. The doon quickly covered Brecker’s mouth to stop the noise. A horse’s shrill and angry scream sounded from far away. What had they done to Midnight Sun?
Brecker fell to his knees, his eyes wide and streaming with terror, his muffled scream betraying his pain. He tried again and again to pull away, but the doon held firm. Finally, Brecker’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed, and the doon dragged his limp body into the cottage.
Echo remained in the bushes throughout the entire ordeal, restrained by fear.