MORNING BROUGHT AN END TO the storm, leaving trees soaked with rainwater. The river almost overflowed with a rush of nature’s music.
Anwen stumbled out of bed much like a zombie might. She narrowly managed to avoid hitting the wall on her way to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. Looking in the mirror, she noticed sunken eyes with light shadows around them.
When she opened the curtain, bright sunshine saturated the room. Birdsong filled the silence, on top of the occasional ping of dripping water from the roof. Everything looked pristine from a good washing of rain.
After brushing out the tangles, and putting on a fresh pair of clothes, Anwen headed down to breakfast. Hoping she hadn’t slept past the serving hour, she made it just in time and helped herself to a bowl of cereal and a muffin.
There were only a few others in the dining area, mostly locals, so she chose a table well back in the corner where she could eat in peace.
Thoughts of the previous day invaded Anwen's sluggish brain. She ended up paying more attention to them than she'd originally intended. It was had to not think about the various misadventures she'd participated in since arriving.
Perhaps it would be better to give up and just back home.
Carrying over a plate loaded with pancakes and sausage, Tyler made his way to her table. “Mind if I join you,” he inquired, interrupted her thoughts.
Subconsciously, Anwen moved over to make room, not sure if she wanted the company or not. It wasn’t like he didn’t have a choice of seating. Almost the entire dining room was empty. But he appeared so friendly that she couldn’t help but forgive him for his little interrogation from the day before. “I guess.”
Tyler slid in beside her and pulled a milk carton from his pocket, setting it next to her bowl. “I noticed you forgot to get some,” he commented, then turned his attention to his plate.
Anwen stared at him. Just what was with this boy? He noticed things about her that no one else seemed to notice. He was hot and cold around her. Sometimes he behaved as though they were the best of friends. But then he'd turn around and act like she was some undesirable thing he had to deal with. It was unnerving and more than a bit confusing. She was too tired to deal with it.
Images from her dreams flashed behind her eyes. Headlights sweeping the parking lot. Her father gripping her hand. Running across the pavement. Hearing the shot echo with the blinding light as her father fell to the ground. Staring in horror as her father lay there, lifeless.
“You awake?” Tyler leaned closer, his head tilted to one side as he looked up at her face. He noted the circles under her eyes and wondered if she'd slept at all.
Anwen started, coming from her reverie. “Huh?” She blinked a few times to try and clear the images from her mind. It took some effort as the image of her father's lifeless body refused to budge from behind her eyelids.
Having regained her attention, Tyler sat back in his chair. “I asked if you wanted to visit some of the other local areas of interest,” he smiled. His eyes sparkled from the natural light entering the room. “It’s a gorgeous day. And, after a storm like last night's, Lake Wyvern will be amazing. How about it?”
Anwen returned his smile with a bemused one as she looked down at her cereal bowl. “Another non-date?”
She rubbed the back of her neck, catching one of the chains with her fingers. If Tyler wasn't willing to give up on her, maybe she shouldn't either.
“If you like,” Tyler admitted. “Or, you could consider it another part of your tour. Either way works for me.” He rested his chin on one hand, gazing at her with a mischievous smile. “I promise there won’t be any sheer drop offs this time around.”
Anwen laughed at that admission, dispelling any further thoughts of that fateful night. “With an offer like that, who could refuse?”
Tyler slapped the table enthusiastically. “Very well, Miss Post, shall I pick you up in about half an hour in front of City Hall?”
Anwen bit her lip. “Sure. Gives me a chance to finish breakfast and maybe even freshen up a bit.”
“Good. Wear the boots,” he advised. Picking up his plate, he disappeared through the open doorway to the main lobby.
Anwen shook her head after him and finished her cereal.
Exactly thirty minutes later, Anwen stood in front of City Hall. Her boots were laced, with her carryall hanging from one shoulder. Looking down the far end of the street, she tried to see if Tyler was coming from that direction. When he suddenly appeared behind her, she couldn't help but jump.
“Don’t do that!” she admonished as he came around with a roguish grin.
“Don’t do what? Startle you? Somehow I doubt that’s something I can control,” he chuckled and led her towards a moped scooter parked a little ways down the street. “Your chariot awaits." He gave her a sweeping bow.
Anwen raised an eyebrow at his antics, choosing not to comment as she climbed on. He took a seat behind her, placing both hands around her waist so he could reach the steering column.
“You have a license for this thing?” Anwen asked with a quick glance around. She'd never ridden on anything with only two wheels, except for the bicycle she'd had as a child. She found the idea a bit unnerving.
Tyler just laughed. “And if I don’t?” But he didn’t give her time to answer as he revved up the engine and shot off down the road, heading in the same direction as the day before.
Without a lot of traffic, they were able to make good time. The roads had dried, thanks to the late morning light. Despite that, there was still plenty of mud on the shoulders.
When they neared the turnaround with the picnic tables, Tyler didn’t even slow down. Instead, he continued on down the road, passing the protrusion hiding the lake from view.
“I thought we were going to the lake!” The wind whipped Anwen's hair. She wished he’d offered her a helmet, not that he had one on either, but it would have made her feel better about everything. She knew her mother would kill her if she ever found out about this. Her father, on the other hand, probably wouldn't have minded.
“We are,” he called back and geared down as they rounded a bend in the road, taking the sudden decline in stride.
After another mile or so, he slowed down. The peak they’d paralleled came to an end, letting the lake show once more around the solid stone. He pulled up against the guardrail separating the road from a thin stretch of land and helped her off the bike.
Running fingers through her hair, Anwen tried to get out the tangles caused by the breeze. When she looked towards the sparkling water, she realized they’d come around to the far side.
And if she looked down, she could almost make out what looked like a natural dike spanning the end. It separated the lake from the cascading waterfalls further down.
“Wow.”
Tyler leaned back against the guardrail and soaked in the sunshine, letting her admire the view. “Beautiful, isn’t it. I like to come here when I need time away from everything. Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?”
Anwen just shook her head. “That’s an understatement.”
Letting her gaze travel back towards the other end of the lake, she focused on the island in the middle. It looked more like a giant turtle shell sticking up from the water. There was a smaller island pointing away from it, making up the dragon’s tail. She couldn't see the head from her vantage point, but the view more than made up for the slight disappointment.
The sapphire water sparkled in the light, reflecting back white sparks, almost as if from a precious jewel.
“Why is the water so blue?”
Not bothering to move from his position against the guardrail, Tyler watched her. “Some folk say it’s just a reflection from the sky, which, you have to admit is quite lovely this time of day, with nary a cloud in sight. The weather here can be that different from day to day, especially under the Dragon Moon.
"Of course, there are others who believe the blue comes from a certain type of crysta
l sometimes found washed up on the shore. When someone finds one, they usually throw it back in, though. Supposed to be good luck if you do.”
Anwen turned to him, hands on her hips. “And are all the people here so full of superstition?”
Shading his eyes, Tyler gazed out across the water-filled valley. “Civilizations are built on legends, or so I’m told.”
Anwen let out an exasperated sigh. “There you go again, being enigmatic. Do you do it on purpose, or are you even aware that you do it?”
Looking at her against the backdrop of deep blue and forest green, he admitted the colors made a nice contrast against her skin. “Do I often talk that way on purpose?” He looked thoughtful. “I suppose in a way I do. After all, it doesn’t hurt to be careful. Sometimes it’s better to be enigmatic.”
It was hard to not press the subject, but Anwen pursed her lips and decided not to, realizing she’d only get back the same kind of response. Instead, she turned back to the lake, admiring the natural beauty before her. “It’s quite a nice view,” she admitted. “Is this what you wanted to show me?”
Tyler pushed away from the guardrail and stepped behind her. He pointed to a trail, which started behind a clump of weeds and tall grass. If he hadn’t pointed it out, she would have missed it. “No, it’s at the other end of that trail. And, as promised, there are no sudden drop offs."
Looking at the path, Anwen shook her head, feeling a bit dizzy. "No sudden drop offs, but nothing to keep me from falling either," she retorted.
"Come on," Tyler encouraged. "I won't let you fall.” He grabbed her hand and started down the path.
Anwen had to quicken her step to keep up and not fall in the red-brown mud. “Hey! Not so fast! My legs aren’t quite that long!” She was pleased when he slowed as requested, though not by much. And as long as she didn't focus on the side nearest the lake, she felt more comfortable with the whole situation.
Rocks skittered under their feet. Even though this was indeed a trail, it seemed little used. It consisted of mostly hard-packed mud, with a few weeds growing around it. But, true to Tyler’s word, it did not drop off. Instead, it gently meandered downward.
The path bent back on itself as they descended, moving closer and closer to the lake. Finally, after about half an hour of stumbling down the crumbly slope, Tyler pulled to a stop. He had to break Anwen's sudden increased speed from the last drop by pulling her into his arms. Pointing ahead, he let her go as soon as she'd recovered herself.
Anwen took a few tentative steps towards what looked like an abandoned fishing village, a small one at that. A stone dock jutted out into the rippling water. A few structures with caved in roofs lined the single pathway leading to the water.
Looking back up the way they’d come, she realized why she hadn’t seen this from above. Part of the peak reared up, likely hiding the small village from the road above them. It was certainly convenient, she decided. She turned her attention back to Tyler as he began to speak.
“It’s not the Ruined City, but it is part of the original settlement,” Tyler explained as he moved towards one of the low buildings. “Only a handful of people remember it exists. Those who do stumbled upon it by accident. As you can see, it’s not exactly noticeable from up top.”
Anwen followed him. Taking in the adobe structures, she tried to imagine what it would have looked like back when people still lived there. She was so caught up in trying to picture what it had been like that she didn’t realize what he was doing until she looked up once more.
Tyler pulled a small boat from the building, probably more canoe than anything. She watched as he dragged it into the water, making sure to tie the mooring line before tossing in two paddles.
“I hope you’re not afraid of a little water,” Tyler said as reached out a hand for hers, one foot in the boat to steady it.
She took a step back. “You mean these aren’t the ruins you were talking about back in the village?"
It wasn’t that Anwen was afraid of water. She just wasn’t sure what she thought about him yet. And being trapped in a two-person boat with him for who knew how long wasn't exactly on her list of top dates. Not knowing how to swim definitely didn't help either. She found herself wishing she'd taken classes all those years ago.
“Of course not.” Tyler reached for her hand and took it, smiling the entire time.
“'The Mountains rise majestically all around,'” he began to quote. “'The sapphire blue waters of Lake Wyvern shimmer across the way, keeping sentinel over the Sacred Island.'”
Anwen almost stopped breathing, refusing to move any closer as she stood in shock. “How did you know that,” she breathed. “No one could know that. No one.” Unless he’d somehow snuck into her room while she wasn’t looking and read her great grandmother’s diary.
Tyler looked at her as he dropped her hand, one foot still in the boat, sensing her confusion and fear. “'Across the shore. Down the Consecrated Hall. Past the tombs of the immortals, lies the gateway to the Stone City, home to those who dwell with us. And further still, the Gates of Eternity that lead to Tarragon, home of all dragonkind,' from A History of the Keepers.”
Hearing the name Tarragon coming from Tyler’s lips, Anwen’s hand reached for her hidden pendant. She managed to stop herself at the last moment. As far as she knew, he didn’t know about it and she wanted to keep it that way.
“If you believe in such things,” Tyler continued with a shrug. “After all, it’s just a story the locals tell their children at night.”
Once again, Anwen found she wanted to smack him but refrained. Instead, she stepped into the boat, making it wobble enough that Tyler had to hold to the gunwales, trying to keep it from capsizing.
“Hey now!” He managed to settle the boat as she took a seat, arms folded, glaring at him. “If you’re not careful, you’ll sink us both. This shore isn’t a gradual one. You’ll drop us right down a good dozen feet if you keep that up.”
With a look of annoyance, she turned away from him. “Well then, are we going to sit here all day?” She did not offer to take up a paddle.
Tyler rolled his eyes as he picked up his paddle. Women. With a push against the dock, he sent the boat skimming away from the small jetty.
After several minutes of silent paddling, he let the boat glide. “If you helped, we might get there before nightfall,” he cajoled.
“That’s not my problem,” Anwen retorted, refusing to uncross her arms as she continued to look away from him.
Tyler shrugged and dipped his paddle in the water once more. Alternating from one side to the other, he let water drip into the boat. Every now and again, he splashed the liquid up in Anwen’s face, just to see how she'd react.
“Maybe not,” he finally replied, “but it’s never good to be out on the lake after nightfall. Trust me on that one.”
Raising a brow at that, Anwen grudgingly took up a paddle. Soon they were moving smoothly over the water, heading towards the largest of the three islands.
After about an hour in the boat, the sunlight reflecting back at them, Anwen was more than ready to get back on dry ground. She wished she’d worn sunscreen to protect her fair skin.
“Not much further,” Tyler assured as he pulled strongly on his paddle to make them turn.
They now headed parallel to the shoreline of the central island. After another couple of minutes, a stone jetty came into view. This one protruded from where the body would have joined the neck. If it weren’t for the water covering the rest where it dropped down like giant stairs, the two would have connected.
Anwen pulled her paddle short, following Tyler’s instructions to bring them alongside the dock. The boat scraped on the stone just a little before he jumped out with the line and tied them off. She took his offered hand up onto the jetty, feeling a bit unsteady on her feet after being on the water so long.
“Whoa!”
Steadying her with a hand, Tyler held her by the shoulder until her legs returned to a more stea
dy state.
“Welcome to the Sacred Island,” he said. “It's also sometimes called the Dragon Island. And believe me when I say no other person, aside from myself, has set foot here in a long time.”
A well-worn path began where the jetty ended. The walkway cut across the slight valley before disappearing behind a bend, following the contour of the land.
“I thought you said there were ruins out here,” Anwen commented.
Tyler laughed and pulled out a pack he'd tucked under his seat. “There are, but first we have to take a bit of a hike.”
Anwen groaned. Her legs were already stiffening from sitting in the boat too long, but she knew walking it out would be the best thing for her. Even know that, she still didn’t like the idea. “Fine, gallant knight. Lead on.”
Tyler shook his head at her weary tone, pleased she hadn’t outright refused. After all, he would soon have the ultimate proof that she was who he thought her to be. And until he knew for sure, he couldn’t pursue what he’d been waiting so long to do. “It’s not too far,” he promised in amusement as he started up the path.
Walking with the curve of the island, Anwen followed her guide higher and higher. It was almost as if the path was some kind of spiral leading to heaven, but she dismissed that notion as ridiculous. There was no such thing as a stairway to heaven.
One thing for certain, she had not bargained for anything like this while on a search for her past. But she was grateful for the trees shading them from the afternoon sun.
“Almost there,” Tyler assured her some time later. His breath came a bit heavy from the exertion as he paused to wipe some sweat from his forehead, then continued on. They were moving more uphill now, getting closer to the summit of the island.
Anwen hoped Tyler was right. She was more than ready for a break. Sweat poured down her back. And even though it was cooler in the shade, it was still muggy, which didn’t help matters. This wasn't her idea of a nice hike, though the company wasn't unpleasant, even if he was a bit frustrating.
The island was bigger than Anwen had thought and she wished she had a walking stick of some kind. It was hard to resist the urge to over-dramatize how tired her muscles felt. She'd never felt so tired before, at least not in a long time.
Tyler glanced back with a chuckle. “Only a few more yards,” he commented as he pressed forward. The trees screened him from view as he rounded a bend, making it seem as though he'd disappeared
Not having energy to rush after him, Anwen continued at her much slower pace, only to pause once she turned the corner. She noticed the path led off to a paved circle, which enclosed the top of the island like a giant ring.
A copse of trees rose inside the ring, unlike any she’d ever seen before. Their smooth bark was almost silver in color. The trunks and branches rose almost regally upward to an emerald canopy that crowned the island.
“Makes the whole climb worth it, doesn’t it,” Tyler asked as he stood beside her. “Remember those branches used to make the lattice over the tombs heading towards the Ruined City? This is where they came from.”
Anwen did a double take. “Wait. What? You mean--” She stared at him like he’d just sprouted a third eye or a tail.
Tyler’s smile widened. “That’s exactly what I mean. When I told everyone it had been lost, I was lying. It’s been here the whole time, in plain sight for anyone who knew what they were looking at.”
Looking on the strand of trees with this new perspective, Anwen couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. She was standing on the Sacred Island, just outside the Sacred Grove. How much weirder could things get?
“Come on,” Tyler urged, stepping across the boundary line. “I want to show you something inside.” He turned back to her, one hand held out in invitation.
Anwen’s eyes went wide, contemplating what he was asking her to do. Not really a religious person, she had still been taught to respect the religion and sanctity of other cultures.
Was it all right for her to be there? Especially in the condition she was in, dirty from climbing, sweaty from the heat, and not expecting this outcome? She felt unprepared on every level.
“It’s all right,” Tyler coaxed, guessing at her hesitation, “I promise. It’s what you hold inside that matters, not the outward appearance.”
With increasing uncertainty, Anwen slowly walked towards him, quoting her mother under her breath. “A pure heart is your greatest ally.”
Anwen felt something unusual the moment she crossed over the boundary. It felt as though an electric current had passed through her body. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, but most definitely an unexpected one.
The sensation left her feeling as if every hair on her body was standing on end. Looking down, she noticed a faint glow surrounding her, like a well-fitted glove.
“What in the world?” she asked as she moved her hand. Trace amounts of blue and white energy trailed behind her movement, like eddying snow.
Tyler smiled, taking her hand and pulled her further into the grove. “The Circle sometimes manifests the energies of one’s soul,” he explained. “It magnifies them to a visual plane. It reflects the intents of your heart and the base of your character.”
Smiling a bit at this revelation, Anwen couldn't help but think it sounded more like something a guru might say. She took Tyler's hand, noticing something interesting happen when she touched him. The blue and white energy swirling from her skin was joined with red and gold.
The two energy trails interacted off of each other in a mesmerizing dance of light. She was so caught up in watching this display that she didn’t realize he’d led her to the center of the shrine. Looking up, she noticed a circular altar made from the same stone found in the Consecrated Hall. The altar stood in a large circle of grass, apart from the trees around them.
“This is what I wanted to show you,” Tyler said as he let her hand drop from his, causing the red and gold energies to fade. The blue and silver also faded from view.
“It is said that the Ancients came here for wisdom and knowledge. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to see if the shrine could offer up any insights into your own quest. Since we’ve seen a faint glimmer of your destiny, it never hurts to ask for clarification.” He gave an almost sheepish shrug.
Chances were good nothing would happen, but he wanted to be sure. He'd contemplated the images the vision dust had shown them for most of the night. He'd been unable to reach any conclusions, except that her destiny dealt with dragons. But it was entirely possible there was more to it than he was willing to admit.
She was a Porter. That much was certain. But what about the potential of her being something more?
Anwen walked towards the shrine, noting a sort of decorative script on top. As she moved, she mentally traced the intricate symbols intertwining with each other. It was as if they were repeating the dance she’d just seen between Tyler’s and her own energy.
“Why are you so concerned with my future? Before this week, you didn’t even know who I was, let alone that I existed. Everything you've said or told me doesn’t make sense, like you’re purposely spouting riddles. Who are you?”
Closing his eyes, Tyler let his hands rest at his sides. He clenched then unclenched his fingers. “That’s not important. What is important is who you are. I knew the moment I saw you walking off that train that you were here with a purpose, a quest, if you will. I also knew it was not of the ordinary kind, that your past drove you, for whatever reason.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “You were watching me? The whole time? Every moment?” It became harder to breathe. Images of that rainy night filled her mind. She could hear her father’s voice, his final whispered words echoing in her ears as she knelt by his side.
"Never forget who you are, or where you came from.”
Anwen had promised to find that place. Her head was spinning as she realized what Tyler was saying. “But why?”
Tyler opened his eyes, which were no longer blue but a liquid gold in col
or, almost like cat eyes. “I can’t afford to be wrong about you,” he continued. His voice was soft but held a hidden hardness to it, almost like desperation or failed hope.
To Anwen, it seemed as though she was trapped in a room with no air as she swayed like a mirage in a desert.
“But--” She blinked a few times, trying to inhale and failed. “I don't--” Spots swam before her eyes.
Her eyelids closed as she crumpled to the ground, her head hitting against the edge of the shrine, her face paler than usual. She had flung one hand out towards the dark circle next to her, fingers brushing the glistening stone that now cradled her head.
Tyler rushed to her side and felt for a breath, one hand reaching to feel for a pulse. Relieved to find both, he took her closest hand into his own as he knelt on the soft grass, eyes closed, face turned towards the sky.
He began to chant softly, speaking in a language not used in many years.
eight