CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The four remaining companions stood in a frozen tableau of shock for several moments. Finally, Phoenix looked around in bewilderment.
“What did she mean?”
Marcus groaned and sat down on the couch, holding his head. Brynn cast Phoenix a reproachful glance and turned away. Truda sighed and rolled her eyes at him.
“Arawn offered to let her stay here,” the child said. “I think she really likes it here.”
“I knew it!” Phoenix growled, anger burning in his guts again. “As soon as I heard she was Arawn’s daughter. I knew she’d quit and-”
“She said ‘no’,” Truda interrupted scornfully. “She turned him down.”
He blinked at her, anger derailed. “Really? Why?”
“I think you know the answer to that.” Marcus’ deep voice cut through Phoenix’s ranting. He tapped his chest significantly, reminding him of the linked amulets, another world; the real world.
“Oh.” Phoenix slumped onto a chair, deflated.
Truda huffed at him, yawned, excused herself and went into her own bedroom. Brynn and Marcus continued to sit, watching Phoenix as he struggled with his thoughts. He glanced up at Jade’s closed door. He’d overreacted to the news of her noble status. He felt like an idiot now but he’d just been so angry with her: angry that she’d been so freaked out and unreliable recently; angry that she’d let him down; angry that she’d gone and died and scared the living spit out of him.
It had felt just like when his father died. Being so reliant on someone else was frightening. He didn’t want to need her alive. Control of his own life again: that’s what he wanted. That was why he’d started this game in the first place. If you needed people you were vulnerable; it hurt when they left.
When he’d heard Truda say Jade was a real princess, with a father and a family here, something in him snapped. He just knew that she was going to abandon him; that she would to quit the game she was so scared of and stay here, safe. He’d lashed out, unthinking, impulsive, reactive as usual.
Phoenix groaned aloud. He’d screwed up. He dropped his head into his hands, rubbing tired eyes with the heels of his palms.
“I really did it this time, didn’t I?”
Marcus snorted. “I’d say you’ve got some serious apologising to do, yes.”
“She doesn’t really act like a princess, y’know,” Brynn said meekly.
Phoenix sighed and looked at the boy. “I know. I just...” He waved a hand to indicate the confusion of feelings he was struggling with. “I’m an only child.” He smiled wanly. “I’m not used to having siblings and I think of Jade like a sister. She’s always thinking the worst will happen and arguing with me instead of following my lead. It’s annoying.” It was a weak excuse but the welter of thoughts in his head was too hard to explain. He didn’t want to do something dumb like burst into tears about his father’s death.
Marcus smiled ironically at him. “There’s part of your problem. You see her as competing with you for leadership.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t see her as competition,” Phoenix scoffed. “She doesn’t even want to be here. She just wants to go home.”
Marcus shrugged and inspected his dagger.
Phoenix stared uneasily at the Roman. “She keeps letting me...us down! She’s losing the plot and she disagrees with me all the time.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow at him but remained silent.
“But there can only be one leader,” Phoenix finally growled.
“Get up,” Marcus commanded. Phoenix did and the Roman boy took his hand in a handshake held at hip height. “Now,” he said, “the object of this game is to score points.” He tightened his grip on Phoenix’s hand until it almost hurt. “If your hand touches your hip, you score a point. If mine touches my hip, I score a point. Brynn, you count to twenty for us to keep time. Ready?”
Phoenix nodded, tensing his arm to pull against Marcus’s strength. It would be a pretty even match. Brynn leaned on his elbows over the back of a chair to watch.
“Go!”
Phoenix pulled hard, straining to haul their clasped hands to touch his right hip. Marcus’ muscles bulged, his face contorted as they battled for supremacy. Slowly but surely, Phoenix dragged Marcus’ hand toward himself. He was going to win.
“.....nineteen, twenty!” Brynn shouted, laughing at their pained expressions as the pair released hands and shook blood back into them.
“OK,” Phoenix said, irritated. “What was that supposed to prove? We’re evenly matched. Nobody scored anything.”
“Try again,” Marcus suggested.
Phoenix sighed and gripped his friends’ hand. On ‘Go’ he once more yanked as hard as he could. This time, Marcus gave no resistance and Phoenix’s hand touched his own hip easily. Shocked, he didn’t react quickly enough to stop Marcus from pulling back to score his own point. When he did think to pull, Marcus simply let him score another point.
A blinding light went on in Phoenix’s head. He stared at Marcus for a moment then down at their hands. He relaxed. Marcus pulled; then Phoenix pulled back in turn. Hands blurred as they both racked up points faster than could be counted.
“....nineteen, twenty!” Brynn giggled again, this time at the look of stunned amazement in Phoenix’s eyes.
Marcus sat down again and put his feet up, raising one dark eyebrow at Phoenix.
“I get it, I get it,” Phoenix said humbly. “Co-operation means we both score points. Competition means we both lose. Oh man!” He sank onto the couch.
“You have to learn to co-operate with Jade,” Marcus murmured. “This isn’t a game, Phoenix. It’s not just about points and winning. You need all of us to survive but Jade especially. She needs you, too. This is about friendship. If you fight with her or belittle her, we all lose. You help her go a little easier on herself; help her to feel good about herself - and we all win.”
By the time dawn sent its pale fingers into his window, Phoenix had pretty much given up on sleep and lay on the bed, staring up at the smooth, white ceiling. The ideas Marcus had started kept him awake, thinking. In many ways, the concept Marcus was trying to teach him was the spirit of Aikido and the essence of the YinYang symbol he and Jade both wore – balance and harmony. Resisting your opponent - or friend, in this case - lead to conflict. Harmonising with and understanding your partner lead to power and control - self-control. He shook his head and could imagine his sensei doing the same. Why had it taken him so long to understand something so basic?
Something inside him had changed during the night. He wasn’t sure exactly what but he knew that Jade’s emotional ups and downs wouldn’t bother him anymore. Well, not much. OK, not as much. He couldn’t keep expecting her to change to suit him. She was who she was. If he really was the Ieader then it was his job to work out how they could get along and work together. Marcus was right. If one of them didn’t pull their head in and learn to co-operate, they would all die. Several times for Jade and himself.
Idly, Phoenix fingered the tear-drop shaped amulet around his neck. He still had a major apology to make. Overreacting like that had been way out of line He nodded with decision, happy to have a plan of action in place. He’d speak with her first chance he got.
Yawning, he scrubbed a hand over his face. In the mean time, the bathroom was calling. Thank goodness the Elves had discovered indoor plumbing. Having a bath last night had been utter bliss; sitting on a real toilet had been heaven. He’d never really appreciated the value of nice, soft, double-ply toilet paper before now.
Grinning at his whimsy, Phoenix rubbed gritty eyes and swung his legs off the bed.
An hour later, he was no closer to apologising to Jade or to finding out how to work with her. They’d been served breakfast and Phoenix was now not sure what he would miss most about Alfheim – the food or the plumbing. He’d joined the other three in the living area of their
rooms, but Jade had requested her food in her room. He’d tried knocking but she wouldn’t answer. Brynn and Marcus could get no response either.
She’d emerged only when the king had summoned them all. In the presence of an Elvish escort, it was impossible to talk about anything more than how they’d slept. Wan and tired-looking, Jade had met his gaze only briefly before turning away. Concerned, Phoenix followed the others to the king’s audience chamber.
There was barely time to take in the wonders of the huge, tapestry-hung hall before a bizarre sight claimed their attention. All five of their horses were in the luxurious space; eyes rolling and hooves clattering loudly on the white stone floor. They seemed nervous in the presence of the Elves holding their bridles. One of the animals dropped a large, steaming pile of something unpleasant on the floor.
“Oh, great!” Phoenix muttered, embarrassed.
Brynn and Truda clutched at each other, giggling at the sight. Marcus hurried to the Elves, bowed and took charge of two of the horses. Phoenix moved to do the same. The last thing he needed was the king of the Elves angry because a horse had fouled his palace.
He was so busy calming the horses, he didn’t notice Arawn and Aurfanon enter. They came in quietly, with no fuss. When Phoenix looked up, he saw Jade nodding solemnly and listening to the king. What was he saying? Feeling slightly panicked, he handed the reins over to Brynn, who looked alarmed at having control of three large, nervous horses.
Hurrying over to the royal party, Phoenix managed a sketchy bow. Aurfanon smiled faintly but Arawn merely looked at him with those cool, unreadably-dark eyes. Jade inspected her own hands.
“Your majesties,” Phoenix said. “Thank you for your hospitality.” He nodded toward Jade. “I can never repay you for your help with the troll and in bringing Jade back to us. We...” he stopped and glanced at her, catching her eye as she finally looked up, “I need her. She’s a vital part of our company and,” he paused to take a deep breath, “a much valued friend.” Her green eyes widened.
“It is good to know that you rate my daughter so highly, mortal,” the king said quietly. “I entrust you with her care and, believe me, I shall know if you break my trust,” he warned.
Phoenix swallowed, knowing what he had to do. Why was doing the right thing so hard sometimes?
“We’ll do our best to look after her my lord but,” he glanced at Jade again, “I understand you’ve offered her a place here. I’d like both of you to know that, if she truly wants to stay, we won’t stop her.” Jade gasped but Phoenix hurried on, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. “I’d like you to come with us,” he assured her, “but if you really don’t want to go back then I won’t make you. I’ll find some way to win or I’ll find a way to make a home here, too.” He looked away, feeling awkward. “I don’t want you to be unhappy. So you choose. Plus...I’m sorry for the things I said last night. I was way out of line,” he added.
For a long moment there was silence, except for the snortings and clatterings of the horses. Jade stared at Phoenix for ages, her eyes now swimming in tears. Then she sniffed and managed a watery smile.
“Thanks Phoenix.” Her voice broke and she gripped his hands for a moment. “I’m sorry, too. It’s been so scary and I feel safe in Alfheim.”
His heart sank. She was going to stay. He’d really hoped that she’d come with them. As much as he didn’t like the idea of having to depend on her, he was pretty sure he’d never get home without her. Well, he’d just have to give it a shot. Sighing, he let go of her hands and stepped back.
“Right then,” he said firmly. “Good luck. I’ll try and come back to see you if I don’t make it home.”
Jade blinked at him, confused. “What?”
“You’re staying here, aren’t you?”
“Idiot,” she grinned up at him and punched him on the arm, hard, “as if you’d make it through another three levels without me.”
“Ow!” Phoenix rubbed his arm and smiled back, hugely relieved.
“Well, children,” Aurfanon’s soft voice broke in on their reunion of spirit. “Now that’s all settled, we should see you on your way to Asgard. Through here.” She moved toward one of the massive tapestries that hung from ceiling to floor on one wall.
Its bright colours depicted a whole world of mountains, plains, forests, castles and people in what seemed to be a series of detailed stories. Phoenix looked closer, blinking and squinting. He stepped even nearer, until his nose almost touched the fabric. The figures on the tapestry seemed to move. A quick look around the room showed seven other similar, enormous tapestries. They all showed scenes of other worlds, on which figures moved and lived.
“Oh! This one’s Asgard.” Truda’s excited exclamation drew his eyes to her pointing finger. “I can see Pa with Grandpa Odinn! I wonder why Pa’s in Gladsheim?”
Sure enough, inside a massive hall in the middle of a huge plain, sat a small, hooded figure on a throne. As they watched, a second figure paced back and forward in front of the throne, apparently talking to half a dozen people who stood around him.
“Gladsheim?” Jade asked. “Gods-home?”
“Gladsheim’s here,” Truda pointed again, “the hall in the middle of the Plain of Idavoll. The gods all meet here to talk, but I live here, in Bilskirnir.” She pointed to a great castle in a valley at the foot of a ring of mountains. “See, there’s Ma and Modi and Magni in the kitchen.” Truda giggled. “Ma’s getting mad at them ‘cause they’re snitching food again.” She inspected Gladsheim again. “There’s Uncle Loki – I wonder who that funny-looking man he’s with is?”
Phoenix wasn’t listening to her any longer. The import of this wall-hanging dawned on him. He turned to stare at Aurfanon and Arawn.
“This is how we’re getting to Asgard? You’re going to magic us into this tapestry somehow?”
Arawn bowed slightly. “This is the fastest way. You simply walk into the hanging and arrive on the Plain of Idavoll, right outside Gladsheim, since that seems to be where Thor is at the moment. You will have your opportunity to return Truda to her father immediately but,” he smiled faintly, “do try not to annoy Thor. He does have a rather quick temper.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Phoenix couldn’t help the sarcasm that crept in to his reply.
Their chances of not annoying Thor were zero and none – unless they could find a way for him to be happy about losing his hammer.
As Jade said her final farewells to Arawn and Aurfanon, Phoenix muttered in an aside to Marcus. “At least it looks like we’ll get Truda home in time to prevent the end of the world but how the heck are we supposed to steal that stupid hammer from Thor when he’s in the middle of a roomful of gods?”
Marcus sent him a sly look and a small smile. “I’m sure, together, we’ll think of something suitably dramatic. Shall we go?”
Phoenix bowed mockingly and waved a hand at the tapestry. “After you, I insist.”
Marcus took a tighter grip on his horses’ reins and, with a solemn salute to the Elves, he stepped into the tapestry. His broad-shouldered figure shimmered weirdly purple-blue for an instant before disappearing. A second later, his horses vanished similarly.
Brynn gasped and pointed. “Look! There he is!”
Phoenix peered closer at his friend’s embroidered figure. It stood on the grass outside Gladsheim, looking rather lonely and very small. He seemed to be having trouble controlling the horses.
“Well, let’s not keep the gods waiting then,” Phoenix said, with more resolution than he felt.
Grasping Truda’s wrist with one hand and two sets of reins by the other, he nodded his thanks to Arawn and stepped forward with eyes firmly closed.