Chapter 13
The Hunter
Keebo turned on Echo, “What is the matter with you? Do you know what that horse’s name means? It means death! Do you have any idea what that thing could’ve done to you?”
Echo scowled back at Keebo. His face was partially swallowed by the surrounding darkness, but she could still see his furious expression. She thought it best not to mention that Cage nearly had lured her into the water. “I have a pretty good idea,” she said. “But he wasn’t here to hurt anyone. He needs help.”
“Ha!” Keebo’s mock laugh echoed loudly through the air. “That’s what he’d like you to think! He was holding your hand, ready to drag you to the water. Don’t be so naïve, Echo.”
Echo’s annoyance surfaced. That was the second time tonight she’d been dubbed naïve. She replaced her daggers and walked up to Keebo. Shimmer followed her every move, seemingly reluctant ever to be parted from her partner again. Echo looked steadily at Keebo and said, “I’m not so naïve that I didn’t notice you meld with a tree and produce a blazing ball of fire out of nowhere.”
Keebo scratched his hair and cast his gaze to the ground. “Yeah, well, that wasn’t anything. Just a couple tricks Dad taught me.” He looked at Echo. “You know Dad knows a little magic. You’ve seen the stuff in his shop. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? You know how to do magic and you never told me? I thought we were best friends! You’ve been keeping a lot of secrets from me lately, and I don’t like it,” she pouted
Keebo’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Look, I have some secrets. Everyone does,” he said.
I don’t! Echo thought. Then she asked, “How did you find me anyway? Or is that too much of a secret, too?”
“I went to the house to see how you were doing. Your mom was worried because you weren’t home, so I came looking for you.”
Echo felt a twinge of guilt, thinking of her mother worrying over her. She would deal with that when she got home. “That still doesn’t explain how you found me,” she said and crossed her arms over her chest.
Keebo answered, “I heard voices.”
Echo looked around at the thick wall of trees and bushes. Unless Keebo had been near where the stream entered the area, the place where Cage had disappeared moments before, there was no way he could’ve heard them. She gazed up at the trees as their leaves stirred slightly in a soft breeze. She looked at Keebo. “Who’s voices?”
“What do you mean?” Keebo asked nervously.
“I mean, who’s voices did you hear? The trees are thick around this pond. We weren’t talking loudly when you found us.” She looked expectantly at Keebo.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said and then walked away from her toward the stream. Echo grabbed his hand before he could take another step.
“Why can’t you just tell me?” she asked.
Keebo’s eyes pleaded with her. He spoke softly, “Why can’t you just trust me?”
Guilt tapped Echo’s heart. Why shouldn’t she trust her best friend? She stared at Keebo for a while, trying to calm her confused mind and emotions. “I trust you,” she said finally.
The corner of Keebo’s mouth curled up, but then the smile vanished. “Not like you trust your new friend.”
Echo’s guilt was immediately washed away by frustration. “His name is Cage. And he hasn’t kept any secrets from me like someone else I know.”
“NAME? He has a name? You know his name?” Keebo blurted out in an exasperated tone. “And, Cage? What a perfect name for someone who traps people in a watery prison of DEATH!” He shook his head at her, “And how would you know he hasn’t kept any secrets from you? You just met him.” His eyes captured Echo’s as he asked, “Didn’t you? I mean, this was the first time you two were together, right?”
Echo gaped at him. “I don’t know, Keebo. You tell me since you seem to know my every move. And so what if it hadn’t been the first time? What do you care?” She turned and walked toward the stream. Shimmer kept pace with her as they stepped over the water and through the trees.
Echo had expected Keebo to come after her. But when she’d taken several steps and turned to find only darkness behind her, she was irritated all over again. She huffed and turned toward home, then released a screech when Keebo spoke from in front of her. “I’m sorry,” he said. Echo was still distracted by how he’d gotten in front of her so fast. He must’ve used the secret entrance she’d used earlier. She felt a little disappointed. She thought she was the only one who knew about that opening.
Echo shook her head to clear her thoughts. She and Keebo looked at each other for a moment. She couldn’t help giving up her annoyance at the pitiful expression on Keebo’s face. She sighed and said, “Me too. I don’t want to fight.”
A chilly breeze washed over them, and Echo rubbed her arms. It was really dark now, and she was glad Keebo and Shimmer were there to accompany her home. As they walked, Echo recounted what had happened with Cage. She made sure to leave out her own weakened emotions and the fact that she’d been ready to dive into the water after the wraith, if he’d only asked her. Keebo walked silently beside her. She could no longer see his face, but she could feel his tension. He didn’t like her story one bit.
When she got to the part where she’d touched Shimmer and the wraith told her about their unusually bright energy, Keebo stopped in his tracks. “Say that again,” he said. Echo thought it strange that he’d be so interested in that part of the story, but she told him again what happened. And, as she spoke, she could sense Keebo’s mood switch from tense to excited. She heard him scratch at his hair and she could almost see him smiling through the darkness.
“That’s amazing! Things are starting to make sense,” he said mostly to himself. Echo was more confused than ever. “And he was right, you know,” Keebo continued as they walked on. The house was in view now, its windows sending out warm rectangles of light into the darkness. “You are special, Echo.”
Echo felt her cheeks heat. She was glad Keebo couldn’t see her. She didn’t have time to relish the moment, however, as her mother came out of the house, a sword raised in front of her. The shock of seeing her mother wielding a weapon washed away any of Echo’s previous thoughts.
“Who’s there? Keebo? Is that you? Did you find her? Oh, thank goodness!” Kiani lowered her blade as Echo and Keebo came into the light of the doorway. She hugged each of the teens in turn, lingering a little longer in her hug with Echo. “I was worried!”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I fell asleep by a pond and--”
“And I found her still sleeping there. Had a heck of a time waking her up!” Keebo interrupted. Echo cast him a grateful glance. He was right not to tell her mother about Cage. The information would’ve only troubled her more.
“Are the others back yet?” Echo asked, ready to distract her mother attention away from the subject of where she’d been.
“Back and gone again,” Kiani answered. She then told Echo how all three parties had returned, eaten very little, then went back out to continue their search. “I don’t think they’ll find him today,” she finished sadly as they walked into the house. Shimmer nearly followed Echo into the house, but reluctantly strode away to rejoin the herd at Echo’s request.
Mari was at the table, nearly buried in a huge stack of books and parchment. An open book lay at the end of the table where a chair sat scooted a few inches back. Kiani must’ve been reading, too. Mari looked up at Echo as she approached. Her bloodshot eyes took a moment to focus on Echo.
“Where’ve you been?” Mari asked.
“Tell you later,” Echo answered as Keebo told Kiani he’d re-join the search. He and Echo looked at each other briefly before he disappeared through the door and into the darkness. Echo’s heart felt a little heavier. She’d rather Keebo had stayed.
Later, when they were alone, Echo recounted most of what had happened with Cage to her si
ster. Mari’s eyes were alive with romantic excitement at her sister’s story. Echo had to make her swear not to tell anyone. “If you do, I’ll tell Dorian you’re in love with him,” she threatened. Mari agreed it was best to keep Cage a secret for now.
It was nearing midnight when Oran and Dorian finally returned. The hopeful eyes of Echo, her mother, and Mari were greeted with frowns and shaking heads. Oran held Kiani, who was valiantly holding back tears. Echo felt sick to her stomach. Where could they be?
Dorian relayed more surprising information. “Mavel and Moodey are missing, also. The doon may have taken them.”
“But why? What could it possibly want with them?” Kiani asked. Her face was pale and drawn. The lines under her eyes had grown dark and heavy.
Echo was reluctant to worry her mother more, but she knew she had to tell what she’d learned from Cage earlier. She cleared her throat, attempting to muster some courage. “Um, I heard that it might be…uh,” her stomach tightened, her heart beat faster, “that Belzac might be the one who enslaved Brecker.”
All eyes were on her now. Dorian was the first to speak. “Belzac? Who told you? How could they know?”
Echo gulped. Dorian’s eyes bore into her as if to draw out the truth. She couldn’t deny him. “H-He, well,” she shifted uncomfortably, “I heard it from a, well, from a…”
“Just spit it out already!” Mari screamed with exasperation.
Echo jumped and then cast her eyes to the floor as she said quietly, “From a water wraith.”
Echo had never known silence so deafening. The tension in the air seemed as if it were made of solid material. Dorian studied her closer than she cared for him to. She blurted out most of her story, telling how Cage was a victim of Belzac’s dark magic and that he’d asked for her help. “But I think he’s mistaken me with someone else because I can’t fight all that darkness he showed me.” She rambled on, telling them about Keebo showing up and their argument and how he’d been so interested in what the wraith thought of her and Shimmer. When she finished, more silence followed. Everyone was looking at her like she was a complete lunatic, except for her mother, who seemed about to faint.
Finally Dorian asked, “When will you see this wraith again?”
Echo answered, glad that the conversation was going again. “I don’t know. He didn’t make any definite plans. He just sort of rode away.”
“I’ll tell you when she’ll see him again. Never!” her dad blurted out. “I’ve lost one child, I’m not about to lose another.” The fatigue was lined in his face and his eyes were bright with emotion.
Dorian answered calmly. “Don’t be so quick to avoid this, Oran. If this wraith is indeed seeking your daughter’s help, he and other water wraiths could prove to be our allies. They could search for Brecker in places we cannot search.”
Oran studied his elf friend for a long while, contemplating Dorian’s words. Echo hoped her dad would allow her to visit Cage again, especially if he could help her find Brecker. Finally, Oran ran his hand over his face and sighed. “I’ll only allow it if someone is with her every time they meet. I don’t trust him. I don’t want to give him any chances at luring her away.” He looked at Echo firmly. If only he knew!
“Very well,” Dorian said. They discussed a few more plans before Dorian insisted everyone try to sleep.
For the next two weeks, Echo accompanied her father and Dorian into the different villages and the surrounding areas. Other elves were also searching, and Keebo and Jiggers continued to keep their ears and eyes open whenever customers entered the shop. Though business was booming with Jiggers’ necklaces selling like crazy, their news from the villagers was never good. With Mavel, Moodey, and Brecker suddenly missing and elves showing up everywhere, rumors that the elves were abducting people raged like wild fire. Echo even had to defend herself several times from villagers gone mad with fear. The elves’ presence only intensified everyone’s paranoia. Echo and her dad finally had to journey to the villages without their company, leaving the elves to search the surrounding woods, valleys, and badlands.
Archer helped when he could, but with his business faltering, little news came through the inn anymore. Echo’s grandfather even closed The Sleeping Willow on certain days, just so he and his staff could look for his grandson.
Echo and her family moved into Thildin where the elves’ spells gave them protection. They could sleep at night knowing nothing could harm them as long as they were within the borders of the city. Even then, Echo slept very little as the days dragged on with still no word of Brecker.
She’d tried several times to contact Cage, but he hadn’t reappeared. Echo was afraid that he would refuse her company with another person present. Dorian suggested that Belzac might have him off doing his bidding somewhere else in Shae Vale, and they would have to wait until the wraith could get away from his duties. Dorian’s idea didn’t help. Echo’s heart grew even heavier thinking about the horrible acts Cage might be committing. She tried to distract her thoughts by talking with her elf instructor.
“Dorian, if the elves’ protective spells are so powerful, why haven’t you put spells around all of the villages? Maybe then they’d trust you more.”
“The spells won’t work if the slightest doubt is present. And, being a suspicious breed, most humans rarely trust without a doubt. Therefore, the spells don’t work in the villages.” He glanced up at her from a book he’d been reading. “We have tried.”
Two days after this conversation, Echo rode into Ulway for the thousandth time in two weeks. It was a gloomy day with heavy clouds that threatened a downpour. Echo had brought a cloak, in case she needed it to keep from getting soaked. She dismounted and asked Shimmer to wait outside the city. The horse was reluctant. She’d been keeping close to Echo since when they’d met Cage. But she dutifully obeyed, lowering her head to the grass while keeping one eye fixed on Echo’s receding form.
Echo scanned the streets. They were so quiet. People rushed from one building to another, eyeing her warily. Every single one of them had at least one necklace dangling from their throats, trying to ward off evil. Echo shook her head. Dorian had been right about humans. If they’d only trust the right things, they’d have real protection.
Something made Echo jerk her head toward Moodey’s cottage. Even though she, her dad, and Dorian had searched the place several times and found it empty, something moved her toward it once again. She was distinctly aware of the scabbard on her back carrying her daggers. She was ready to draw them in a breath, if need be.
She walked slowly and silently along the cobbled street, closer to the cottage. She was certain now that she heard low voices. Familiar voices. She caught her breath and froze. Brecker!
Echo glided up to the cottage and flattened herself against one of its outer walls. She listened more intently, trying to determine where the voices were coming from. Not from inside. They must be at the back again. Echo swallowed hard. She hated going near the back of the cottage where she’d last seen her brother, screaming and writhing in pain. But his voice sounded again, giving her the courage to move.
Feeling like her heart had switched places with her Adam’s apple, Echo inched her way along the side of the house. Her soft leather boots made no noise as she took care to place her every step. The voices had stopped and Echo was certain she heard something moving away. What if she’d missed them?
Finally reaching the corner of the building, Echo crouched and peered around the edge of the wall. Brecker stood alone, facing away from her. A dark cloaked figure was already in the distance, moving quickly and silently toward Winia, the northern river. Only when the figure was out of sight did Echo dare to approach Brecker.
She stood slowly on shaking legs and emerged from behind the cottage. She took two steps and spoke so softly, she was afraid Brecker wouldn’t hear her. “Brecker?”
Her brother spun around, drawing his elvi
sh sword. Echo’s heart dropped at the sight of him. His hair was as wild as his eyes over which dark brows formed a deep scowl. His face seemed older, darker, more frightening. Echo raised her hands, but did not draw her weapons. “Brecker, are you okay?” she asked stupidly. A lump was already forming in her throat and tears stung her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to rush up to him and hug him, to tell him how sorry she was and that she missed and loved him. His stance and his expression held her at bay.
Brecker’s voice cracked as if strained when he spoke. He kept his blade and his eyes on Echo. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you,” Echo said. One tear trickled down her cheek as a few drops of rain fell to the earth.
Brecker’s face softened slightly. He lowered his sword a fraction as his eyes filled with sadness. He whispered, “You have to leave now, Echo. You can’t help me.”
Echo shook her head slowly. “No, I can’t leave without you! Please, we’ll find a way to break the spell. Maybe if you come to Thildin, Belzac won’t be able to follow you.”
Brecker’s face hardened again. “You don’t think he’s already thought of that? He’s commanded me to never enter the elf city. If I do, I’ll die the most painful death imaginable. And believe me, he can imagine the worst!”
“We have to try something!” Echo cried and extended a hand toward Brecker. Her brother’s face became darker than ever, frightening Echo to lower her hand again.
“You have to leave, Echo. NOW!” His voice came out as a threatening growl and Echo felt it hit her chest as if he’d struck her. She shook her head again, but he spoke before she could. “You don’t understand. He wants me to bring you to him, too. You have to leave. Get out of here! I have to hunt you or I’ll be tortured!” he growled as his face contorted with pain.
Echo just stood there, shocked and horrified at her brother’s words. How could this be happening? What could Belzac need with her if he already had Brecker? She remained frozen until Brecker’s roaring voice jolted her into action. “RUN, ECHO!”
Echo turned and raced madly toward the edge of town, screaming in her heart for Shimmer. The horse was there in a split second and Echo leapt onto her back. They turned toward Thildin and raced away from the village as the clouds burst open, releasing a sudden downpour.
It wasn’t long before Echo heard a familiar sound that had once been so normal in happier times. Now the sound caused terror to erupt in her chest. She screamed as Brecker’s sharp whistle sliced the air as he called his horse. Midnight Sun and Brecker were on the hunt!