“Get what belongs to you or something like that. Am I right?” Conner asked.
Jake’s eyes locked on Seneca. He watched her blank expression slowly turn into a smile.
“Leander. Jake’s key is with Leander!” said Seneca. “You saw the key when we were there because it belongs to you.”
“It’s not a key in the traditional sense, but if I’m right, there are two of them.”
“Two keys?” Rileau asked sternly. “Are you sure there are two?”
“Yeah, I’m sure there were two. Why?” Jake asked with bewilderment.
Rileau let out a blast of smoke that filled the room. His tail slammed hard against the floor. The scattered remains of ice popped from the impact. Shayna and Seneca were startled and grabbed on to each other. Jake and Conner barely reacted as they watched the dragon’s reaction in awe.
“Brigara’s after the key,” said Seneca slowly. “That’s where she’s going, Jake. She’s going to Leander.”
“No. This can’t be happening. Please, no,” he moaned.
Jake was being bombarded with reactions from everyone in the room. He couldn’t focus; his mind swirled from the chaos. He had a home and possibly a family somewhere, and they had left a key. The images he tried to force wouldn’t form; his mind was blank. It finally registered that he needed to protect this home, no matter how foreign or disconnected. He had to explore and find his true path. He could hear Wren yelling, but it took a moment for her words to make sense.
“Huh? What did you say?” he asked, still slightly disoriented.
“She must be stopped!” Wren said. “I will contact the elders; they must know of this.” She turned to leave and then turned back to face Jake. “It is an honor to serve you, and I am aligned with you. Arcadrom must be protected. I shall return shortly.” She bowed her head slightly before making a quick exit.
“We shall await Wren’s return before we take action,” said Rileau. “Let us leave this chamber to prepare. Time is not on our side; ’tis a grave enemy.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Prepare to Fly
The dining hall had been a place of pleasure with the inviting aromas and abundance of offerings, but that day was different. Rileau had insisted they eat while they awaited Wren’s return, but eating was by far the last thing on their minds. Waiting for Wren to arrive was torture, and the rack of roasted lamb with rosemary was a waste, as was the leek-and-potato soup. Seneca tried to nibble on a slice of yeast bread with a slather of creamed goat cheese, but it was bland to her unresponsive taste buds. She finally tossed it aside as she noticed she wasn’t the only one skipping the feast.
“I can’t believe we’re going to see Leander again,” she said hoarsely. Her throat was dry, and she realized she was parched. She gulped down her goblet of spring water.
“I’m nervous about it,” Shayna muttered.
“It’s definitely going to be different,” said Jake.
Conner, Jake, Seneca, and Shayna discussed Leander and how it felt to be in the presence of the massive tree. Not one of them had conceived of returning; their world and the life-altering events were spinning too quickly. They reminisced about their flight across the vast ocean and the beautiful landscape that surrounded Leander. The memories of retrieving the portal and the rules they had to follow were discussed in great detail. The consequences of not following them had to be avoided.
“Remember, you can’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you,” said Seneca.
“I bet Brigara’s going to get around that rule,” said Jake in a tight voice.
“You should have grabbed them when we were there,” Conner moaned. “I know we’ve been over it, but it would have saved us a lot of grief.”
“Yeah, but if he had, you’d miss out on riding an arion again!” Shayna said.
“If they don’t agree to take us, then what do we do?” asked Seneca nervously.
No one wanted to answer. The conversation died out. It had become a pattern since they’d left the crystal room. This had been the most they had spoken since realizing they had to go after Brigara. They’d been instructed to wait and not invoke any magic or attempt leaving the castle. The last instruction had been specifically meant for Jake. He had boisterously declared that he was going to find a way to Leander, even if he had no idea how to get there. Rileau had recognized it as a situation he didn’t want to handle. He’d decided that all threats of reckless behavior needed to be managed, and as a result, he’d cast a charm barring their exit from the castle.
“It will be for your protection. You must trust that I know best,” Rileau had said.
He’d taken off to gather the arions. He was convinced that Brigara would not have gone straight to Leander. It had been told that she was not allowed to step on hallowed ground. She would have to figure out a way to overcome that barrier, which could potentially buy them some time—but not much. Rileau believed Leander was her ultimate destination. As such, they had to get there before she did. It was a race to the key.
Jake was perplexed by Brigara’s knowledge of the key’s location. He analyzed various possibilities, but each scenario had the same conclusion: someone was feeding her information. The dilemma was figuring out who and why.
Shayna, Jake, Seneca, and Conner attempted to eat the meal set before them. The offerings were as abundant and well prepared as usual, but their appetites were stunted. Seneca had held the same bowl of beef broth for the entire meal, and most of it still remained. It was now lukewarm, and a thin film had formed on the surface. She rocked the bowl slowly as she stared blankly at the flowered tapestry on the wall. Even Conner was unable to finish more than a few bites of his favorite sandwich. Shayna flicked her fork through her salad. She’d raise a few lettuce leaves to her lips and then ceremoniously let them fall back to her plate. Jake seemed to be the only one who managed to eat at least a partial meal, primarily because he did so absentmindedly. He would take a bite and then drift off into thoughts of his childhood. The multitude of lies he had been fed was mind-numbing. He wondered what would have been different had he been raised in Arcadrom, a land he’d never known existed, in a realm he’d never fathomed. It was a place cut off from the rest of the world, and he was cut off from it.
“We must move quickly!” Rileau interrupted the silence with a voice that bellowed and reverberated off the dining room walls. He had entered without any of them noticing him.
“Is it time to go already?” Shayna asked wearily. She pushed away from the table and rose to her feet. She was tired and knew she needed to get charged, but she felt dejected. Her confidence waned. She dwelled on how she’d created the opportunity for Brigara to escape. No one blamed her, but she felt it was her fault.
“Four arions have agreed to provide transport to Leander. As there are six of us, two must fly,” Rileau announced.
“Well, I guess that’s me, for one,” said Seneca. “I’m going to enjoy this!” She was elated. She hadn’t flown much since they’d arrived at the castle. She wanted to master flight and discover more about her wings.
“I haven’t tried flying since I escaped from the wild river ride when I first consumed the Himalayan crystals,” said Jake. He hadn’t a clue whether or not it was even possible.
“You, Jake, will ride by arion,” replied Rileau. “Shayna, Conner, and Wren will do the same.”
“So that just leaves you. Aren’t you coming?” Seneca asked. She felt a sudden jolt of anxiety hit her stomach.
“Naturally, I will be coming,” said Rileau.
“But I thought you said there are only four arions,” said Conner. “How are you going to get there?”
“Ask Jake about his knowledge of dragons,” Rileau replied in a flat tone. “It is affirmative they have the ability to fly. I shall, of course, fly alongside you.”
They exchanged looks of surprise and excitement. Jake shook his hea
d in disbelief as Conner’s mouth hung open.
“I don’t have words to say how totally cool and awesomely spectacular that is!” Shayna exclaimed.
“I think you used all of the right words.” Jake laughed. “I can’t wait to see this!”
Rileau remained serious and did not engage any further in the banter. His brow furrowed, and he raised one eyebrow as he gazed at them. Both Jake and Conner knew it was a sign to get serious.
“We must make our leave to Leander. Follow me! Wren and the arions await.”
They followed Rileau’s lead and were cautious not to trip across his tail. It swung briskly back and forth in rhythm with his quickened stride. It was a definitive sign of his anxiousness, along with the trail of smoke that followed. Conner held his breath in anticipation. He had inhaled the sulfur-scented discharge more times than he could count. He deplored the taste it left in his mouth.
“Listen as I tell you the story of Arcadrom, because once the key is retrieved from Leander, we must find our way there,” Rileau said as he picked up his pace. The foursome sped up to ensure they heard all he had to say. “We must provide protection to the realm to prevent any breach by Brigara.”
“I thought this wasn’t allowed,” said Seneca. “Going into Arcadrom, I mean.”
“There is certainly no other way to protect it from Brigara,” said Rileau. “The elders made it absolutely clear. The dominion must take on this dangerous task, even with the risks involved when entering Arcadrom.”
“Ah, risks, my favorite word,” Conner moaned. “It comes in second only to danger.”
“What can we expect?” asked Jake.
“What you will see first is the black sand beach of Arcadrom. It is the place with no beginning and no end, as it has been present since the beginning of time,” said Rileau. His voice deepened the more details he revealed. He continued making his way down the spiral stairs that led to the castle’s main floor and exit. His teenage entourage trailed close behind.
“Arcadrom is the origin of nobility, honor, knowledge, and harmony. The Otherworld is a fragment of Arcadrom, as we were cut off and forced to align closer to the mortal realm. As a veil separates our Otherworld from the mortal realm, there is also such a veil that separates us from Arcadrom. We can admire it from afar, but we are forbidden from touching its shores.”
“Nobility, you say? Does that mean Jake is a prince?” Shayna asked jubilantly.
“Noble isn’t the same as royal,” Seneca said, smirking when she saw the smile disappear from Shayna’s expression. Shayna huffed with disappointment.
Seneca latched on to Jake’s arm to keep from falling behind. Rileau told them all he knew about the history of Arcadrom. He spoke with pride when he described their way of life and the admirable absence of strife. They were beings of peace.
“The arions are the only beings that can freely cross the threshold that separates us. It has been said that they are from Arcadrom, but this has never been confirmed,” Rileau said.
He explained why Arcadrom could not be detected from the Otherworld or the mortal realm. At the conclusion of his lengthy explanation, they finally agreed that Arcadrom existed beyond comprehension.
“Like Leander, no one knows of its actual beginning. It has just always been.”
“That’s intriguing,” Jake said nearly inaudibly.
“As you will learn, discord is the complete polar opposite in Arcadrom. As such, it is also inaccessible to the Otherworld. It was not always so. Greed in harnessing unlimited magical powers ultimately separated us from them. It is known by all that Arcadrom is the birthplace of magic, and to breach its boundaries is a law that we have all accepted.”
“Except Brigara!” Shayna snapped. “Tell us about the sand.”
“The black sand surrounding its shores is rich in elements necessary to create both light and dark magic. Its essence is untainted and of vivid clarity. Untouched, it is in perfect balance. This sand is said to be the actual remains from the vast sparks that created our earth and all living beings in all realms,” Rileau said. His voice was captivating. They were enthralled by the enchanting description.
“The actual source of all magic,” Seneca said softly in a modulated tone.
“Yes, the source in its purest state and equally as magnificent as it is deadly,” Rileau said.
They made their way into the courtyard of the castle. The sky was lit with a blanket of stars. Jake looked up in contemplation. He was anxious to discover where he’d come from and learn why he’d been raised away from Arcadrom. He felt pride in all Rileau had revealed, as well as a deep desire to protect the sacred realm.
“If Brigara gets there before us, the balance will most definitely be disrupted,” said Jake. “I’m not going to let her destroy my home!”
“I’m with you, Jake!” Conner said as he threw a fist in the air.
“Count me and Seneca in too!” Shayna cheered.
“Yeah, what she said,” Seneca added with a smile.
“I am pleased to join you in this quest,” said Wren as she approached with the four familiar arions flanked on either side. Keene Ardara stepped around her and bowed low as he removed his hat.
“Keene Ardara!” Conner shouted. He grinned and bowed awkwardly in return.
Shayna and Jake waved to the cluricaune and made their way to Wren with Conner trailing close behind. They had already discussed the expectations when approaching the majestic winged arions and the proper greetings required. Seneca hung back to gather her composure. Since she was not assigned to ride an arion, she saw no need to rush. Her focus was on the pint-size fairy.
“You must take along some of my offerings for your journey!” Keene Ardara shouted in his familiar grousing tone.
“Thanks, Keene Ardara!” Jake yelled over his shoulder. “It’s great to see you!”
Keene Ardara scratched his massive beard and pulled his hat back into place. He started briskly sorting satchels from a gunnysack. The sack’s contents appeared to weigh more than he did. Each satchel was bursting at the seams with supplies. He piled them in a heap as he grumbled incoherently.
Seneca remained motionless and eyed him from a distance. She was so thrilled to see him that she couldn’t hold back any longer. She sprinted across the lawn at full speed and threw her arms around him, nearly toppling over upon impact.
“Calm down, indigo child. Calm yourself,” he grumbled.
“I missed you, Keene Ardara!” Seneca said joyfully. “I have so much to tell you. So many things have happened!”
“Yes, I am quite aware of how busy you’ve been since your arrival,” said Keene Ardara. “It’s been captured quite nicely in the countless scrolls, my dear precious one! The Dominion of Four is keeping me quite busy. I will soon need more shelves to hold the mounds of parchment that are piling up.”
“Are you feeling a bit crowded in your home?” Seneca asked teasingly.
“Well, I like it quite cozy. I would change nary a thing! The more shelves the better, I believe. Especially with the most recent release of Cassandra’s prophecies.”
“You’ve said that name before. Who is she?” Seneca asked.
“You shall soon find out. Now, my dear, you must listen closely,” he said with a tender tone that she was accustomed to hearing. “You will come to a crook in the road that is not normally traveled. It will be your choice to brave it or seek another path.”
“You mean this metaphorically, right?” Seneca asked, although she knew the answer.
“I don’t know the meaning of your fancy words, but what I do know is that when the time comes, you must choose your way selflessly, as your decision will set the course for the others,” he said. The familiar gruffness eased back into his tone.
He rocked back on his heels and twirled his cane in the dirt in contemplation. He rubbed his ruddy beard and sighed. When he raise
d his head, she saw pools of water gathering in his wide eyes. Seneca was motionless as his words swirled around in her thoughts. She cast her eyes away to avoid the expression of sorrow etched on his broad face. She couldn’t look at him for a moment until she gained her composure.
“Oh, Keene Ardara, I will be okay,” she whispered. “Don’t worry, please.”
“Yes, yes, indeed, no worries,” he muttered as he wiped his sizable hands across his face.
Seneca hadn’t witnessed any tears fall, but the gesture reflected his sadness. Her heart fluttered as she resisted wrapping her arms around him. She knew he wouldn’t want consoling. She shoved her hand into her pocket. The stone warmed beneath her fingertips. Her mind flashed to the moment he’d given it to her. He had followed the request of her parents and kept it. It had saved her life once, and she wondered if it would have the same effect when she came to the crossroad Keene Ardara had described.
“It still responds to your touch as it should,” he said flatly. “You must call upon it when it is best to do so. You will know when, my dear indigo child. You will know exactly when.”
She nodded and forced a smile. She wanted to say something, but the words would not form. She decided to bow, and he returned the gesture.
“I must now do my duty. I am not convinced your friends will be diligent in greeting the arions with their due respect!” he roared, and he marched away. His large feet stomped with authority in the direction of the others.
Seneca smiled demurely. Keene Ardara continued his lecturing and rants to the others while kicking up dust with his well-polished boots. His ruddy beard was braided, which was a vast change from the last time they had met, but his attire was completely unchanged. The large buttons on his jacket were still shiny enough to reflect the sunlight, causing her to squint. She had missed him terribly. A queasy sensation washed over her suddenly as she realized this could be the last time she saw him. As she continued to watch Keene Ardara make his rounds while issuing countless demands and repeated warnings, she realized the ill feeling was more of a knowing. This would definitely be the last time she saw him. She released a slow breath and allowed her wings to appear. She examined their glorious coloring. They were more brilliant and defined since her transformation. They appeared fragile, but she knew that appearance was deceptive and actually added to their beauty.