CHAPTER 33: A LONG EARNED HOLIDAY
“Hello Mister Whittaker,” Elly said into the cellphone wedged between her right shoulder and cheek. She stood in the kitchen with Caleb and Emily, busily cleaning the last of the breakfast dishes, while James and Alora lounged on the couch playing with Jinx. “I am just letting you know that we have decided to end our lease next week.”
There came a loud, irritated mumbling response from the other side, which James could not discern, but assumed it wasn't the answer his mother had expected.
“I'm sor—I'm sorry Mister Whittaker. Please give me a moment to explain. Look, I understand your stress with finding a new tenant. Especially with the amazing state of the place.”
James and Alora snickered behind cupped hands. Their mother's sense of humour had not changed.
When the call ended—after a few more back-and-forth between an angry, threatening landlord and a calm and cool Elly—Rowan came through the front door hoisting his leather jacket on. “Get ready, we are about to leave.”
“What about all our stuff,” Alora cried, “and Jinx!”
“You can take the cat. As for the rest of your belongings, just pack what you need. The rest will be sealed up in the house until we get a chance to come back and repair all the damage.”
Caleb sighed a sigh of relief. Brushing a strand of sandy blonde hair out of his face he said, “I thought we had to hit the 'ol bucket and mop now that you guys buried all those... bodies.”
Rowan shook his head. “No, we don't have time. If the Revenant come back in force, we might not get a chance to leave. And we need to send word to the Library.”
“Cellphone?” Caleb asked, suggestively.
“Yes, we have called and left messages with the lore-kin in Alexandria. No one has answered, which is worrying me. Now we have to move.”
Jai then stepped up beside Rowan. His bare, tattooed chest was visible under a jacket he had scavenged from one of the dead Revenant. “We're ready to go,” he said, moving his eyes to everyone in the room.
“What about... Arajasta?” James asked, looking up at the silent roof.
“The Azlazarani is going with Jai and the Eye of Gha'haram,” Rowan answered. “Back to the safety of the Trident Academy.”
The boy nodded, then leaped to his feet, making for the door. “I suppose there's no more wasting time.” Alora and Caleb trailed after him.
Rowan looked to Emily and said wearily, “This is going to be a long ride. We have to get to Paradise Airport and find a flight to Egypt. I can't leave Jack alone in a war zone if Kaelan is moving against the Library.”
The blue-haired woman smiled and wrapped her arms around him comfortingly. “He will be okay,” she whispered in his ear, stroking his long, black hair. “Mathias is with him.”
“I know,” Rowan said, closing his eyes for a moment to find solace in the chaos.
Rowan and Emily mounted the Suzuki Intruder and waved to the faces in the Chevy and the Grey's family van before speeding away down the long, dirt road into the trees.
“Alright,” Jai said behind the wheel of the van, “are we all ready to say goodbye to Willow and Mount Spire?”
“The sooner we can get out of here the better,” James said in his serious voice. He sat in the back next to his sister and mother. “I am feeling really anxious just being here.”
“Gee,” Caleb yawned from the passenger seat next to Jai, sticking his elbow out of his window, “what fond memories I'll be leaving behind. Vampire-like creatures that want to eat me.”
“Come on, Caleb,” Elly said with a soft smile. “Aren't you going to miss your mum and family?”
“Well, yeah of course. I called mum and said we'd drop by this afternoon to explain my change in universities. Said that I made a mid-term transfer—even though that is a ridiculous thing. She won't know. Mum and dad are always half-interested in what I do anyway. They'll believe anything I tell them. They said, 'as long as you come visit us every weekend.' We'll see. If this Trident Academy is as cool as Jai says it is, I'll probably visit once a month.”
Elly shook her head and laughed.
“Good to see there is some humour left after that ordeal,” Jai said, tilting the rearview mirror so he could see the Grey family—what was left of them. “Consider this... your long earned holiday. Rowan told me you guys wanted a holiday, well this will be it. Arthur and I will take good care of you.” He smiled his charismatic smile, then winked. “I promise.”
“You better,” Caleb said half-jokingly. “A lore-kin's promise cannot be broken... I'm guessing.”
After a brief stop in Willow for Caleb to say goodbye to his parents, the Chevy and van left the small town under a clear sky—the storm had fully passed, and the summer sun sat radiant amongst the fluffy clouds. The sandy blonde-haired teenager did not tell his companions much of what was said, only that his mum wanted him to call her when he got to Paradise. He had said that Rowan—whom his parents had met several times with Jack—was simply letting him stay with Emily and him, and that Jai was their other flatmate. The vague story seemed to work, especially when they saw Mrs Grey waving from the van window; however he had made a quick exit when they asked if he could bring everyone inside for a cup of tea.
James and Alora slept—the girl huddled against her mother with Jinx on her lap—while Caleb, drummed his fingers on the top lip of the passenger window, silently watching the trees whipping passed, lost in his own thoughts.
Arthur drove the Chevy ahead of the van, keeping at an even speed. He had taken up vanguard in case of ambushes; but the long stretch of road, the Torrent Highway, that descended Mount Spire was empty. Even Jai's sensitive telepathy found nothing of significance. A mire of animals thoughts that appeared as fuzzy, indecipherable noises filled his mind when he pried with his power. They had only spotted two cars on their descent, and the Kratoth was confident they had escaped the net of the Revenant's territory.
After twenty minutes had gone by both vehicles reached the bottom of the mountain and the road levelled out into flat country, where the trees were sparse and large square cornfields and farms stretched as far as the horizon. They had passed several farm houses close to the road when the highway split into two; a new road called Paradise Way veered to the left, while the Torrent Highway kept on towards a cluster of buildings in the distance—the town of Halifax. The black chevy and the van kept on towards Halifax.
“A few more kilometres and we'll stop for fuel and stretch our legs,” Jai said to his passengers that were still lulled into half-sleep.
“Which way did Rowan and Emily go?” James murmured, his throat was croaky from lack of water.
“Paradise Way,” Jai told him. “It will take them to the airport. We will turn onto that road further down, after we refuel in Halifax.”
It wasn't long before Arthur pulled the chevy into a dusty old fuel station by a small paddock of cows. Jai parked the van next to the rusted husk of an old wheelless car, and everyone got out. James and Alora ran for the fuel station's outhouse, while Elly hobbled with her walking stick into the building to buy snacks and supplies for the trip. Caleb sat on a log fence that barricaded the car park, checking his cellphone for a signal.
“There won't be much coverage out here,” Jai said, walking over to the teenager. “You might be forced to enjoy the company of real, living people for awhile.”
Caleb sighed and tucked his phone away. “You know, I knew for years there was something up with Jack.”
Jai raised a brow. “How so?”
“I don't know... I can't really explain it. I mean, at first, I thought I was hallucinating. Maybe my dad's whiskey that we nicked was making me see things; but I swear Jack did some freaky stuff when we were still in high school. Like making me levitate to the ground when I fell off a bed once. Or reading my thoughts and saying them before I had a chance to speak.”
Silence passed between them for a moment before Jai sat next to Caleb. “Jack must have discovered his powers early in lif
e.”
“Maybe,” Caleb said.
“I suppose he tried to hide it the best way he could, so he wouldn't hurt his loved ones or put them in danger.”
Caleb nodded, then dropped his head down below his shoulders, hiding his face underneath his hair. One shoe tip carefully drew a line in the sand at his feet..
“He was also probably just as scared of it as you were.”
“I was never scared,” Caleb said, lifting up his head and brushing his hair out of his face. “I trust Jack with my life—sounds crazy, I know. But we have been through everything together. Girls, bullies, almost flunking school. I just knew that something was up, and I wasn't going to make a big deal out of it if he wasn't ready to tell me.”
“You're a good friend.” This time it was Arthur's voice. Caleb saw the lore-kin plodding up to them, holding a bundle of service station junk food in bright coloured packaging. “He couldn't have asked for anyone better.”
“Maybe,” Caleb laughed. “Art, do you think I can become a great lore-kin at this school? I mean, I did a Bachelor of Arts back in Willow because it required the least credentials to get accepted. Man, I just used a portfolio to get in. My grades at school sucked.”
“You will do just fine, kid.” Arthur smiled, freeing one hand to slap Caleb gently on the back. “From what I've seen, you can handle a glaive just swell.”
“Swell,” Caleb echoed the word with a sly smile. “Who even says that these days?”
Arthur laughed, put the food on the van's bonnet and grabbed the teenager in a mock headlock.
“Okay, okay, obviously people as awesome as you, Man Dragon.”
The lore-kin let go of Caleb and turned to Jai. “I suppose the boy will have to choose an Order once we get back to Paradise.”
“Order?” Caleb asked seriously. “What are they?”
“The Trident Academy is a great project and vision we have put together—its aim is to restore the Four Orders of Lemuria. The Gaianar, Orgonar, Auralar and Kratoth.” Elly, James and Alora walked over to them and Jai waited until they were seated on the log fencing before continuing. “Gaianar use the power of Gaia the earth—however there is only one Hierarch left, Mathias Cane.”
“What is a Hierarch?” Alora asked, raising her hand as if she was in class.
“It is the highest title in the Four Orders, below the Emperor's High General. There was five Gaianar Hierarch left when the Lemurian came to our time; but after the War of Avalon, only Mathias, Thomas and Kaelan remained.
James flinched at the mention of his father's name, but said nothing. His stern eyes locked on Jai.
“Kaelan betrayed the Order, so he has been striped of his honours. His armour and weapons however are still in his keeping. And with the passing of Thomas—may he rest in peace—Mathias is now the last of the Gaianar Hierarch. He is also the Emperor's High General.”
“Tell us of the other Orders,” Caleb asked, breaking the solemn mood that was on everyone's faces after the mention of Thomas.
“Auralar are prominently from Hy-Bresail. William, one of Mathias' students, is a Auralar Adept. They use echokinesis in their fighting, and have build amazing structures with their technology. The pyramids were the craftsmanship of Auralar.”
Caleb's jaw dropped. “So... it really was aliens!”
“Not really,” James rebuked softly. “If you think about it, the Lemurian are our ancestors.”
“Well, you know what I mean.” Caleb nodded to Jai to continue.
“Obadiah Windgate is the Hierarch of the Auralar.”
“No way!” Caleb exclaimed, leaping to his feet. “You mean, my history lecturer is a Lemurian?”
Jai nodded, grinning at the teenager's excitement. “He is, and he uses an illusion band to live and work among us. Without it, his stature would cause some heads to turn.”
“That's unbelievable,” Caleb laughed. “I owe Professor Windgate a history assignment. Now I know his secret, I wonder if he'll let me pass.”
“Doubtful,” James counted. “If he is a lecturer at Willow University AND a lecturer at the Trident Academy, I doubt he would be lenient in the slightest.”
“I can try.” Caleb put both hands behind his head and leaned against a tree that was inches away from the fence behind him. “I'm good at blackmail.”
“That isn't an honourable trait for a lore-kin, Caleb.” James' stern expression showed no amusement at the other boy's antics.
“What are the other Orders?” Elly managed to squeeze in, shushing Caleb and James with the wave of her hand.
“Orgonar: Nysaean warriors who use their own life-force as a weapon. Very dangerous, but very powerful if mastered well. They believe in the purity of the soul and its ability to achieve great things without the aid of Gaia's spirit. Those who do not learn how to use it well can easily drain their very essence... and die.”
There was a few gasps, and Arthur yawned. “Amateurs and the foolish,” the rotund man said casually. “And we don't accept either into our academy. No one can hurt themselves with our staff.”
“Then there is the Kratoth,” Jai continued, “And I am the current Hierarch. My father took the position originally, then he retired it to me. I use his vis-vereth which gives me the strength of many men. The bands are made from vigorium, one of the Three Great Metals from the ancient times. Where Orgonar use the spirit as a weapon, the Kratoth use the body.”
“So...” Alora said slowly, “we get to choose which Order to join?”
“First you must take a few tests,” Jai answered. “Then we figure out which Order would suit you best. You can make a request for a particular Order, but it will be up to the Hierarch to make the final decision.”
“I wonder what I'll best suit?” Alora looked contemplative as she wound a blade of grass around one finger.
“Lets figure that out when we get there,” Arthur said, “we can't linger here while there could be more trouble about. Gha'haram has spies in most of these towns, I'll bet.”
“Art is right.” Jai nodded to his companion and made his way back to the van. “We better leave while we still have light.”
Everyone murmured their agreement and followed.
It was another hour on the road when Arajasta woke.
Why am I in this vehicle? Where are we going? Where is Rowan?
“We are taking you to Paradise,” Jai stated, grinning at the awakening presence which filled the car. He felt a prickly sensation on his skin like static electricity as the Azlazarani stretched its invisible essence into every fibre of the car. “I believe we may have some relics in the Ancient History department that may help with freeing you from the Reflecting Cube.”
That would be... I would forever be in your debt, Jai Absolom, if you could do such a thing. There was gratitude and subtle excitement in the tone of his mind-voice.
“I'm sure its possible. We have a lot of pre-Fall technology that still works.”
Good. Then wake me up when we get there. After that battle with the Revenant, I feel like I could sleep another year or two.
“Not a good idea,” Caleb pipped in. “You come in handy when things get hairy.”
Things get hairy?
“It means... never mind.” The teenager shook his head and leaned back in his chair, trying to find a comfortable spot. Then he slowly closed his eyes. “I'm getting some shut eye, so maybe keep your telepathy down. If you don't mind.”
I don't mind.
“Thanks.” Then Caleb's snoring followed almost as soon as he stopped talking.
James huffed at the sound and kicked the back of Caleb's chair to silence him. There was a pause in the snore, then it continued as if nothing happened. “This is going to be a long ride,” he said broodingly.
The others laughed much to the chagrin of James.
The girl ran through the trees like a woodland sprite. Her nimble feet gliding effortlessly over the rugged rocks and jagged brambles. Her tangle of blonde hair that were once braids flapped b
ehind her like a golden flag rippling in the wind. Cold blue eyes, like sapphires, sparkled in the lowlight under the canopy, filled with insanity and dark desire. Pale pink lips contorted in a sneer that occasionally let bubbly laughter escape them.
I will now be the master! Her mind raced. I will bring all the servants of Gha'haram to me!
Cassandra Veil knew where her dead master hid the Doom Stone. Her and her alone. She had hidden from his scrying vision when the resurrected Lemurian created a new hiding place for the great cluster of black crystals.
Caught in her own musing thoughts of grandeur, Veil didn't see the smooth rock sticking out of ground in her wake...
Slipping backwards, Veil yelped, throwing her arms out to balance her impending fall; which was stopped when she grabbed onto a nearby low-hanging branch. Two booted feet landed in a muddy puddle that splashed up the sides of Veil's legs and onto the hem of her skirt. Turning disgustedly at her soiled stockings, the girl brushed down her black skirt onto her legs with both hands. But that only seemed to spread the mud.
Like a banshee enraged, Veil's shrieked into the air, scarring a murder of crows to take flight. Her previous amusement gone from her pale, beautiful face.
“Why couldn't Gha'haram keep the Doom Stone somewhere a little cleaner. Perhaps somewhere in town! Curse his rotted carcass!”
Then her soft innocence returned, smoothing the creases in her face.
“Never mind, a little dirt is a small price to pay for ultimate power.” She laughed to herself, then began to walk cautiously towards a land rise several feet away, shrouded by a thick clutter of trees. She had stepped between two large oaks, when her eyes found what she was looking for. A dark opening to a cave in the side of the wall of dirt and rocks. Her blue eyes suddenly blackened to pools of midnight as she crept eagerly inside.
“Rebuild, rebuild, rebuild,” she kept repeating, as her feet cautiously tapped the ground before her, searching for safe footing. When hard rock was all she felt, the Revenant moved forward at a confident stride. “Need to rebuild everything Meztor had planned for this world. Share the Unending Life.”
Suddenly a large puddle of water appeared ahead of her, under a shaft of light coming from a hole in the earthen roof. Tapping her nose, the girl slinked around its girth against the wall, sidling to the dry ground beyond. However she paused for a moment when she caught a reflection of her face. A gasp of air escaped her lips, and a hand shot up to her cheek. A small hole had begun to appear, tissue tearing away under the plumpness of her left cheek. Her hunger had already begun. Black eyes tightened, and her frown returned.
“Sick of this eternal hunger. I need... I need...” Then she paused, and it was if a voice echoed from the far depths of the cave to her.
Find the Obsidian Escutcheon! The voice cried fervently in her mind. Find the Obsidian Escutcheon!
“Obsidian Escutcheon,” Veil hissed. “Yes! That is it!”
Scrambling on all fours, she climbed up an incline in the floor and dropped her chin on a jut of rock, her eyes peering over the ledge at a glow at the back of the cave.
The Doom Stone. Black crystals growing out of a large slab of rock that looked like coal. The glow came from the crystals, and a persistent ringing echoed with it. Ringing inside Veil's mind like a swarm of crickets.
Find the Obsidian Escutcheon! It cried.
Veil laughed, and reached out to touch the black crystals...
“So pretty!”
THE MAKER'S HAND
BOOK 2 OF “THE BRIGHTEYES CHRONICLES”