it.”
The trio continued their journey in silence. The desert sand stretched forth as far as Mia could see. The travelers finally arrived in a small village that was dotted with straw huts. The air grew chilly as Krollia’s sun dipped below the horizon. The only light came from torches that were mounted on poles beside each hut. Mia saw villagers cooking food outside their homes. The aroma of the different dishes mixed together and caused the girl’s stomach to churn.
The other villagers wore similar clothing and were the same height as Pinto and Jola, and Mia felt awkward as she towered over them. Some curious residents approached them. Pinto stopped and raised his hands to quiet the crowd. He spoke loudly. “The Second Savior is here!” he said. The villagers clapped and cheered. A few stepped forward to shake her hand.
After the crowd dispersed, Pinto led Mia to a serving table. She saw meats, vegetables, breads and cups of water on it. She tentatively picked up a bowl and looked over the selections. Pinto smiled at her. “You may have whatever you wish,” he said. “Here we share everything. Everyone works and everyone eats.” He took a bowl and filled it with food before picking up a cup of water. Mia did the same. She followed him and Jola to a table.
Mia was nearly finished eating when a boy approached her. He sat down beside her with a confident smile and placed his bowl of food on the table. “You are very tall,” he said, in a squeaky voice. Mia frowned without speaking. The boy laughed. “I guess we must seem small to you,” he said. “We may be, but we are large in heart.”
“I can see that,” said Mia. She turned to face her bowl, hoping the boy would leave. Instead he began eating. She glanced at him and saw the bulging muscles of his arms and the lean shape of his legs. His hair was light-brown and he had grey eyes. He caught her looking at him and he smiled again.
Finally, he offered a hand. “My name is Crey,” he said. Mia shook his hand. “My father was a great warrior named Soren.” He paused and ate some food. “He led the initial rebellion against Rol and his troops.” The boy drank some water from his cup. He lowered his voice. “He was killed in an attack on Rol’s palace.”
Mia shrunk in her seat. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. Crey nodded and continued eating. “My mother died last year. And my brother died just a few days ago.” She stopped and thought about them both. She wished she were home with them right now.
Crey gave her a strange look. “Your brother is not dead,” he said. Mia dropped her food, which landed in her bowl. She glared at the boy. Crey glanced at Pinto. “Our latest reports say that he is still a captive. Isn’t that right?” he asked. Mia rose and stormed away from the table. She stopped near one of the torch stands and wiped tears from her eyes.
A moment later, Crey stood beside her. “I’m sorry if I upset you,” he said. “I thought you already knew.” He moved his right hand toward her shoulder, but quickly pulled it back. “Your brother arrived just a few days before you did, as our ancient texts said he would. But the emperor’s men got to him before we did.”
Mia leaned toward the boy and shouted. “No! My brother is dead! He was electrocuted in our attic!” Her weeping intensified. “He’s dead. We had a funeral for him. People brought food.” She stepped away from Crey. “Stop saying these things. He’s gone and he’s not coming back.” She began to run, blindly, into the desert night.
Her lungs burned and her legs hurt, but Mia kept running forward. She ran for nearly a mile before she collapsed onto the sand. She pounded the ground and wailed. Soon she realized that someone was behind her holding a torch. She turned and saw Pinto’s face in the dim light. Mia shot to her feet. “Is it true?” she asked. “Is Jake here?” She grabbed Pinto’s shirt and began shaking the old man. “Is he here?”
Others appeared behind Pinto, most carrying torches. Crey slipped between Mia and Pinto and the boy freed the man from Mia’s grip. “It’s ok, son,” Pinto said to Crey. The old man nodded at the girl. “Yes, your brother Jake is the First Savior. And he is still alive.” Pinto rested his hands on the girl’s shoulders.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
The old man sighed. “Would you have believed me?” he asked. Mia looked down at the ground. She kicked aside a clump of sand by her right foot. “I wanted you to know, but I had to let you adjust to all of this first. It is quite a lot to deal with,” he said. “Especially for someone so young.” He gently raised her chin with his right hand. “Will you help us?” he asked.
“I don’t believe any of this,” she said. She wiped her eyes again with her right sleeve. “I saw his body. We buried him. He is dead,” she insisted. Everyone around her remained quiet. “It’s not possible. It must be someone else.”
Pinto gently touched her right hand. “I don’t have the words to explain it. But Jake is here and he needs your help. We all do.” Mia looked at his face and saw that he was not lying. But she couldn’t deny what she saw with her own eyes. The funeral. The mourners. The casket lowering into the ground. That was all real. Too real.
Another Narland then stepped forward. “I think I know what happened to you and your brother,” said the stranger. Mia looked over at him. He was a chubby man not quite as old as Pinto. “My name is Brax,” he said. “I am our village’s doctor. I’m also an expert on natural and supernatural events. What was the last thing you remember before arriving here?” he asked.
Mia pressed her lips together. “I was standing in front of an old mirror,” she said. She squinted, trying to remember every detail. “I touched the glass and I felt hot all over.” She shook her head. “Then I was here, on the ground.”
“What can you tell me about the mirror?” asked Brax.
Mia shrugged. “Not much. It was in our house for years.” She paused as a faint smile crept onto her lips. “Jake used to sit in front of it and read.” Her expression quickly soured. “That’s where we found his body. In front of the mirror.”
Brax nodded. “As I suspected. The mirror is the portal which brought you both here. Undoubtedly, your body was also found in front of it.”
Mia gasped as the horror of that statement struck her. “You mean everyone back home will think I’m dead too?” she asked. Brax folded his hands and nodded. Mia dropped to her knees. “Then there is no way to get home,” she said.
Brax offered his right hand and helped Mia to her feet. “You let me worry about that,” he said. “I have many talents and problem solving is among my best.” He looked around for a moment. “We should get back to the village. It’s getting too cold to stay here and the sand rats like to feast at night.” He led her back toward their home and the others followed.
Pinto set up a cot for Mia to sleep on in the hut he shared with Jola. The teen pulled the lone cover up to her chin, leaving her feet exposed. She heard Jola snoring but assumed that Pinto was still awake. “Pinto,” she said softly. He responded quietly. “Even if Jake is alive and I can help you rescue him, how are Jake and I supposed to free you from Rol?” she asked. “We are not warriors. We’re just kids.”
“That is true,” said Pinto, in a low whisper. “That is why your training will begin in the morning,” he said. She sat up and asked him what he meant. “Our ancient texts tell us that the Saviors are peaceful people who will need to learn our combat ways,” he said. “We are prepared to teach you everything we know. You will make a fine warrior.”
“But why us?” she asked. “Why didn’t the mirror bring you experienced fighters? Why two kids?” She lay back down and fussed with the blanket. Whatever force was guiding her and Jake’s destinies didn’t seem to make any sense. They were the last people to lead a revolution.
Pinto cleared his throat. “Our religion is based on faith. We do not question what is written. We only follow what we have been taught.” He yawned and rolled onto his side. “No more questions now Mia,” he said. “It’s time to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
The teen closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but her
mind continued to race. The thought of leading a rebellion terrified her. She was not a hero. She was just a kid. Mia had never even been in a fist-fight. All of this was ludicrous but everyone else seemed to believe in her. She sighed. Still, if there was even a chance Jake could still be alive and she could bring him back home, she would do whatever it took to make that happen. Mia couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her father completely alone. He deserved better than that. Mia vowed not to fail him or Jake.
After shivering through the night under the light blanket, Mia woke up sweating from the new morning heat. She was alone in the hut, so she ventured outside to find the others. She found Narlands eating at the tables, chattering and laughing with an ease that surprised Mia. She expected more tension from those who would soon launch an offensive against an overwhelming force. She realized that they may have just been burning off nervous energy.
Mia scooped some food that looked like oatmeal into a bowl and picked up a cup of water. She saw Pinto and Jola eating together, so she moved toward their table. They looked up at her and smiled. “How did you sleep?” asked Pinto.
The girl shrugged. “Ok, I guess,” she said. She sat down and began eating. It wasn’t quite oatmeal but the texture and taste were