Chapter 27
Unfathomable Reality
Everything around Echo dissolved--all the people, the elves, the fae, her family and friends--all vanished. She could see nothing but her name written on the wall as Keebo’s words resounded in her head, “You are Kavalah!”
Echo’s fingertips tingled before numbness enveloped her. Everything grew darker before someone shook her and a voice commanded, “Breathe, Echo!”
Echo took in a long breath as the people and surroundings flooded back to her senses. Dorian had her by the shoulders, looking at her with concern. “Are you well? Do you need to lie down?”
Without answering, Echo lowered herself to the ground and sat. She didn’t trust herself to speak. Her mind was buzzing too loudly for her to think clearly. How was this possible? It just wasn’t! It had to be a mistake.
Finally finding her voice, Echo said, “This can’t be right. I’m human. And the Kavalah disappeared centuries ago. They don’t exist anymore.”
Dorian gave a slight nod to those around them and the crowd dispersed. Echo’s family, Keebo, and Dorian remained close to her. Echo’s dad knelt beside her. He wasn’t attempting to hide his excitement. “Echo, the Kavalah do exist and they are human. Our ancestors fought in the doon wars alongside Azura. Just think of it!” He squeezed her hand and gazed up at the story wall. Kiani remained standing, her face a strange mixture of concerned excitement.
Mari beamed at Echo and said, “I helped decipher the runes. Do you want me to tell you what happened after the wars?”
Echo nodded vaguely, and then sat quietly as Mari chattered about the Kavalah story. “We know what happened up until Azura and Belzac vanished in this blast of light. After they were gone, there was a period of mourning and celebration.” Mari trailed her finger along the paintings as she spoke. The figures shimmered and moved as she touched them.
“No one really knew what happened to Azura and Belzac. They found Dylarian on the ground where Azura had struck the final blow. But the sword was broken. All the pieces were gathered and hidden. We haven’t figured out where they all are yet.” Mari gave Echo a curious glance and then continued. “The Kavalah thought they were safe, but new dark lords--sorcerers and shadow dwellers--kept coming for them. Word of their power had spread and this here,” she pointed to a section of runes, “says that the sorcerers wanted to drain the Kavalah of their energy in order to give themselves more power. Those that believed Belzac had somehow survived wished to use that energy to bring him back.”
Echo shivered. The story was dark and depressing. “So,” Mari continued, “They made an agreement with the elves and fae that they should go into hiding. They wrote Azura’s story on the scrolls and entrusted them to the elves. Woodland fae were given the entire story, keeping it only in their minds because they’re professional secret keepers.” Keebo puffed his chest proudly.
“But, the Kavalah wanted to make certain no one would find them for a very long time. So, a young elf offered to cast a spell that would hide their identities from those around them. The same spell would hide the Aleniah, the winged horses. Anyone looking at them would see only a horse--no wings.” Echo and Shimmer stared at each other. Could Shimmer be...?
Mari interrupted Echo’s thoughts, “The Kavalah scattered all over the globe, even into the Other World. But something went wrong with the spell. Not only did it hide the Kavalah’s identities from others, but they began to forget as well. Even the elves and fae began to forget. See,” she said excitedly and pointed to the runes again, “The writers and painters were losing their memories on the subject, too. They wrote quickly to explain what was happening before they forgot.”
Echo looked at the writing on the wall. It did seem less fluid where Mari pointed, as if it had been written in haste. “So,” Mari continued when Echo remained silent, “after naming all of the remaining Kavalah and Aleniah, they put a spell on the wall so that it would keep track of the descendants through the years. But they didn’t want just anyone to find it, so they hid it. It’s been here ever since. About three thousand years.” Mari gazed at the paintings that were bright enough to have been painted just hours ago. “Absolutely incredible,” she whispered.
After a long silence, Echo’s dad spoke, “Echo, there is more. Let me show you.” He helped her to stand and held her hand as she walked shakily to a section of the wall half hidden in shadow. Her mother, Mari, and Keebo remained where they were. Shimmer’s breath against Echo’s neck told her that the horse was keeping close.
Echo focused on the shaded wall. The silhouette of a figure with one thick strand of hair flowing in the wind was painted there. The figure held a pulsating star to the sky, its bright light fending off a fearsome shadow.
Echo was almost afraid to ask, “What does this one mean?”
Her dad squeezed her hand again. “Does anything in the painting seem familiar to you?”
Echo’s eyes went directly to the star. Her dad held up his other hand in front of her with his fist closed. Echo looked down at it. The missing fingers of her dad’s hand revealed that he was holding something. Echo’s heart drummed in her ears as Oran slowly opened his fingers. Resting in his palm was her crystal. A strange, throaty sound came from Shimmer.
“It’s you, Echo,” her dad whispered. She gaped up at him as his eyes welled with tears. “The painting is you.”
This was more than Echo’s mind could handle. Shadows started to close around her vision. But she remembered to breath. In fact, she began to hyperventilate. Between gasps of breath she said, “I-need-to-sit!”
Echo’s dad helped her to sit down. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the frightening shadow that loomed in front of the silhouetted figure on the wall. She knew it was Belzac. She was vaguely aware of Dorian approaching and kneeling beside her, and Mari, Kiani, and Keebo came and stood beside Oran and Dorian. Shimmer rested her lips on Echo’s shoulder, trying to lend her strength, though Echo could feel that her horse was just as shaken as she.
No one spoke for a long while. Echo finally shook her head slowly and spoke with a quavering voice, “I don’t understand. How can that be me?” She didn’t want it to be her. If she was seeing this painting right, it said that she would have to fight Belzac!
Dorian’s soothing voice answered, “We believe that one of our ancient seers foresaw this. They had the image painted before it could fade. It is you, Echo. There is no doubt. You are the one who must stop Belzac. But,” Dorian said quickly, “you will not face him alone. We are already gathering our forces for the emanate battle. I know this is hard to take in, but you must understand that time is of the essence. You see,” he said and gave Echo a piercing look, “three days ago, Ayden Green--with the help of many allies, including the dragons you and Song released--slew Degus the sorceress. The shock wave and earthquake you and Keebo felt while coming home was a result of her death. Belzac nearly has his army.”
NO! NO! NO! Echo shook her head back and forth as the words screamed in her brain. This could not be happening! It was all her fault. She hadn’t helped anything with her quest up the mountain. In fact, everything was now much, much worse!
Echo leapt up and spun around. She wrapped her arms around Shimmer’s neck and buried her face in the horse’s silky-soft mane. She closed her eyes, but images from the wall assaulted her vision. Shimmer offered more positive images. Flashes of riders on winged horses.
Winged horses! Echo jumped back and gazed into Shimmer’s orb-like eye. After they shared a thought, Echo turned to the concerned faces of the people surrounding her. “Is Shimmer an Aleniah? And, if she is, how do we release her wings?” She thought of Keebo’s clover leaf salve. Did he have more? She looked at him expectantly.
“I don’t think the salve will work this time,” Keebo said.
Echo turned her eyes to Dorian. “I believe you are the only one who can release her,” he said.
Echo’s d
ad approached and held out her crystal. She took it tentatively. The cool weight pressed against her palm as she gazed into the shining stone. Oran spoke, “We think this is one piece of Dylarian, the broken sword of Azura. It won’t do anything for any of us…”
“We believe it has chosen you,” Dorian finished the sentence.
Dorian led Echo back to the larger story wall and pointed to the sword in Azura’s hand. “Do you see that spot in the center of the hilt?”
Echo squinted up at the painting. The intricate design on the hilt of Azura’s sword was incredible. Two horses’ heads, bent away from each other by powerful, curved necks, touched opposite sides of the hilt with their chins. Jagged arches above the horses’ heads indicated wings. And between the horses’ necks was a diamond shape in which a jewel was imbedded. The jewel was the exact shape and color of the crystal Echo now held in her hand. “It is called ‘The Sun’s Heart’. It was also dubbed ‘The Shadow Thief’. It holds the energy that gave the sword its power, though I don’t believe the energy came from the crystal itself,” Dorian said.
Echo looked at her palm again. “I don’t understand. None of this makes sense. Why would this crystal work for me?”
“Because you are Kavalah; you were destined to have it. And because you possess the brightest inner light of any of us here. We believe the crystal was drawn to you for these reasons,” Dorian explained.
This was all sounding so ridiculous. A crystal that could sense things? The brightest inner light? Echo couldn’t help chuckling. The others raised their brows at her. “I just can’t believe this. It’s not possible for a crystal to know who it wants to be with. And what light could I possibly posses?” she asked, feeling as if everything she’d touched had been tainted with darkness.
“It may seem strange, but it is so,” Dorian stated.
“But I don’t know how to use it. I mean, it helped release the dragons on the mountain, but Song had to use some strange words for it to work. And it shone slightly just before I killed the last snow scorpion, but I think that was just a fluke. The sun burst through the clouds at the right moment and hit it just right.”
Dorian kept his eyes on Echo. “What were you thinking about when the sun hit the crystal?” he asked.
“I don’t really remember. Why?”
There was an uncertain silence, as if no one really had an answer to that question.
“You could test it again,” Keebo piped as he gave Echo a wink.
“What do you suggest?” Echo’s dad asked.
Keebo was still grinning at Echo. “Use it to release Shimmer’s wings.”
Before Echo knew what was happening, she and Shimmer were ushered through the sandstone maze away from the story wall. They were asked to wait as three elf guards scanned the open area with their sharp eyes, making certain no unwanted company was watching. Then, Echo and Shimmer were led into the sunlight. The brightness nearly blinded her after being in the cool shadows near the story wall. Meadowlarks and killdeer sounded warning calls, and a firm but gentle breeze tickled the wispy grass at their feet.
Once everyone had made a semi-circle around Echo and Shimmer, Dorian spoke, “Try to remember what you were thinking on the mountain before the sun struck the crystal. I believe your thoughts at that precise moment may be the key to using the crystal.”
Echo closed her eyes. She couldn’t ask Shimmer for help--they’d been separated on the mountain. She shuddered at the thought. Shimmer nudged her encouragingly.
As soon as the memories of that moment rushed in, Echo wanted to open her eyes and forget again. Images of the Fate screaming and attacking with an icy tornado, the snow scorpions with their slicing tales and ear-splitting screeches, the blood--her blood…
Echo forced her mind to focus on the moment she needed to remember. She’d been desperate, grasping on to one last hope. She’d hoped for the crystal to give her some sort of power, some magic that would help give her strength. She searched her heart. That feeble hope couldn’t have been what caused the crystal to work, could it?
Then it hit her. She’d been thinking of Brecker and how she’d failed him. Her heart stung with guilt and pain. Tears escaped from her closed eyes as she remembered that moment with awful clarity. She opened her eyes. “I was thinking about Brecker. I was telling him I was sorry for failing him.” Another tear left the corner of her eye, leaving a silvery trail on her cheek.
No one spoke. Echo’s mom hugged her and whispered, “It’s not your fault.”
Echo couldn’t bear to hear that. She couldn’t believe it, either. She pulled away from her mom and said sarcastically, “So the crystal works on guilt?”
Dorian touched her shoulder and gently turned her toward him. His eyes were more tender than she’d ever seen them, melting some of the ice away from her conscience. “No, Echo. Do you not see? Your love for your brother is what caused the crystal to react. The energy, the power, the magic that lives within you comes from love. The crystal absorbs that energy, stores it, and releases it as needed or commanded, just as a prism stores and releases light. In fact, love and light are closely related.”
That was too easy. Too convenient. “Then it should work for everyone. Doesn’t everyone have love? Mom and Dad love Brecker as much as I, if not more. Why won’t it work for them?”
“Echo,” her mother spoke this time, “sometimes we just have to accept things as they are, even if they don’t make sense.” She took Echo’s free hand and squeezed gently. “You have been given a great gift. A gift that could save your brother and Thildin Valley. I won’t lie and say I’m not terrified of what is to come. But I can’t deny what these paintings say.” She gestured toward where they’d come from. “And I can’t deny what I see in you. I believe in you, Echo.” She kissed Echo’s forehead and stepped back.
What was she supposed to do now? All eyes were on her. She suddenly felt drained of energy. “Okay,” she said wearily. “If what all of you are saying is true, how can I use all of this to release Shimmer’s wings?”
Keebo was beside her, his eyes shining. “Hold it in the sunlight.”
Echo did what he said. The jagged edges of The Sun’s Heart sparkled brightly, but nothing else happened. Keebo touched her arm, “How do you feel about Shimmer?”
Immediately, Echo felt her love for her horse. The crystal pulsed once and was still. A gasp rippled through the semi-circle. Keebo continued to hold Echo’s arm. Echo’s dad came beside her and touched her other arm. Kiani and Mari stood behind her, placing their hands gently on her back. Dorian grasped Keebo’s shoulder.
“Everyone, think of your love for one another. Echo, focus your attention on Shimmer,” Dorian instructed.
Echo’s heart pounded. She was daring to hope this was real, that they could make this magic work and reveal that her beloved horse truly had wings. She looked into Shimmer’s eyes and shared images with her. All of their memories together--from the morning Echo saw Shimmer take her first step the day she’d been born to this moment. Memories flooded their linked minds and emotions filled their hearts. Their love for each other was undeniable. They understood each other in ways no one else could understand.
Echo’s eyes streamed with tears as a burst of energy shot through her arms and back where everyone touched her. Powerful love overwhelmed her. The crystal sparkled brightly.
Shimmer snorted and stomped her feet as the crystal pulsed. The horse tossed her mane and reared, striking the air with her hooves. As she descended, the crystal burst with light--not blinding, but bright enough to cause everyone to jump and squint their eyes against it. Light streamed from the crystal to Shimmer’s back. It seemed to strike something, sending showers of tiny, sparkling stars cascading down the horse’s sides.
Shimmer sounded a triumphant whistle as the light faded away, revealing a set of creamy-white wings. Echo and all who were with her stared, frozen in wonder. Shimmer arched her s
wan-like neck proudly and unfolded the wings. The enormous, feathery appendages stretched to her sides like angel’s wings; and then she pulled them up toward the sky, creating the most breath-taking moment Echo had ever experienced. Shimmer was so regal, so divine!
The wings were long and wispy, like the clouds that stretched across the upper levels of the sky. They were delicate and graceful, yet full of strength and power. As Echo stroked one of the feathers, she noted how sturdy it was. Each feather was covered in a layer of fine hair. The hair was as soft as Shimmer’s coat and specks of light reflected from the tiny strands like gold. Echo felt Shimmer’s joy--it filled her up until she found herself laughing. She longed to jump onto Shimmer’s back and ride into the clouds.
A voice touched Echo’s ears. “Shimmer must practice flight alone at first. Once she finds her wings—again--you must learn to ride,” Dorian said. The elf’s visage was vibrant.
“When? How soon can I ride in the sky?” Echo asked eagerly. All her dreams of flying were going to really happen!
“It has been an extraordinary day. Let Shimmer test her wings as we make our way back to Thildin. Then we will have a better idea of how soon you can begin your new training.”
Shimmer squealed as she pumped her wings, sending strong gusts of wind against everyone. Echo laughed, sensing Shimmer’s eagerness to take flight.
“We still need to be careful,” Echo’s dad said, blinking out of his shocked state. “Belzac is still on the hunt, and his leeches could be watching.”
Coldness rippled up Echo’s spine at the mention of Belzac. Her subconscious regurgitated the image of the painting on the story wall, that horrid painting foretelling her worst nightmare. She had a sudden loss of interest in learning to ride her newly winged steed--the sooner she learned, the sooner she’d have to face Belzac. Then again, maybe it wouldn’t matter if she rode in the sky or not. After all, the painting had shown the figures standing on the ground.
A soft muzzle brushed against Echo’s cheek. Shimmer’s whiskers tickled Echo’s skin as she stroked the giant disk of her horse’s jaw. I know. I’m not alone. Thank you for reminding me.
Shimmer nickered and then stepped away. She stretched her wings again and Echo marveled at their vastness. Each wing was at least as long as the horse to which they were attached. Maybe longer. The thousands of feathers glistened in the sunlight as Shimmer pumped them with astonishing strength. The grass and sage at the horse’s feet bent against their power as if bowing to the angel horse.
“Let us begin home,” Dorian stated. Then, he looked to Shimmer. “You may attempt flight, if you wish. Keep your senses open to danger and return to us if anything threatens you.”
The horse bobbed her head briefly, and then half-reared and shot forward into a gallop, taking Echo’s breath as she went. Echo and the others stood immobile, watching with tensed anticipation as Shimmer boldly ran toward a cliff. The horse pumped her wings in time with her hooves and Echo’s heart. If she didn’t get into the air… Echo shuddered and pleaded for her horse to be airborne before she plummeted to her death.
Hooves, hearts, and wings pounded as Shimmer’s form raced forward at blinding speed. Just as Echo was about to yell in fear of her horse’s life, Shimmer rose above the ground in one graceful movement as if she’d found an invisible path that led her to the clouds.
Through their connection, Echo could feel Shimmer’s exhilaration. Those on the ground cheered. Longing to be in the air with her horse formed a lump in Echo’s throat. She kept her moistened eyes to the sky, trusting someone to lead her over the uneven ground as they walked toward Thildin.
Shimmer was doing well, better than Echo could’ve hoped. Her horse had to pump her wings furiously every so often to keep aloft, but then would find a current and spread her glorious wings, allowing the hands of the wind to carry her.
The journey home was a mixture of joy and frustration for Echo. She couldn’t deny Shimmer’s pleasure of flying any more than she could deny her frustration at being forced to walk home. Everyone with her chatted excitedly about the day’s events and marveled at Shimmer’s grace and beauty. Echo only caught bits and pieces of the conversation. She was too focused on keeping her connection with Shimmer. If she couldn’t ride this flight, she would experience as much as she could through her horse.
Echo stumbled as she watched the sky, even after Shimmer’s form had vanished from her sight. The group emerged from the badlands near the Winia River to the north of Thildin Valley. They were about to veer southward, toward Thildin, when several in the group suddenly drew their weapons. Echo tore her gaze from the sky, her senses suddenly alert. She gave Shimmer a quick thought, “Danger!” Shimmer would be with them in moments.
A lone figure stood by the water, his dark cloak dripping. Echo breathed a sigh of relief as Dorian ordered the others to lower their weapons and explained to those who didn’t know--mostly the fae--that Cage was an ally. Echo was suddenly aware that Keebo was holding her hand; he’d been the one leading her to Thildin. They both quickly let go, avoiding eye contact, as Cage spoke her name.
“Echo, so glad to see you still in one piece. You can’t say I didn’t warn you about the Fate,” Cage’s voice was taunting, but Echo thought she saw genuine relief in his eyes. Keebo stood closer to her as if he were afraid Echo would leap into the river at any moment.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, Cage. But a lot has happened since then,” Echo said. For some reason, she was eager to tell Cage all about the story wall and her heritage and destiny, but not while everyone was watching and listening.
“More has happened than you know,” Cage said. “Belzac is recruiting shadow dwellers quickly now that Degus is out of the way.” In spite of his dark news, the wraith seemed more relaxed than usual. He gave a smirk and continued, “That’s why I’m able to come speak with you. I don’t even have to worry about being punished for it. Belzac has so many followers now that he can’t focus on all at once.” Cage’s smile spread wider, but Echo’s stomach dropped.
“How many does he have, exactly?” Echo asked in hushed tones as if it would cushion the impact of Cage’s answer.
The wraith’s smile dropped. “More than I could count.” A nervous tension rippled through the group gathered around Cage. He shrugged and said, “But then, I can’t count very high. Only to a thousand.”
A thousand? Echo felt all her blood drain from her face. Shimmer bugled her arrival, causing everyone but Echo to jump. The horse landed a little roughly, gouging the earth with her hooves before sliding to a stop. She flapped her great wings twice and then folded them to her sides and came alongside Echo.
Echo momentarily forgot her worries as she beamed at her horse, and then looked at Cage. “I was able to release her wings,” she said.
Cage stared at Shimmer for a long while, his face a mixture of fear and excitement. Finally he spoke, “So, you have wings, too. I’d heard rumors of the other one flying, but I didn’t really believe them until now.”
“Which other one?” Dorian asked.
Cage looked seriously at the elf. “Brecker’s horse.”