2017/ 214 p.A.
Zeriphath
Lex stood, frozen, with Jana’s arms around his neck.
“Marcus!” Jana’s breath grazed his ear as she embraced him. “You’re alive!”
A flurry of glimpses scattered through Lex’s mind, dragging emotions in their wake. He reached up, peeling her hands from his shoulders. “No. I’m not...”
“Jana, dear!” Nigel interrupted, clasping Jana by the shoulders and turning her to face him. “It’s so good to... but how are you here? You’re dead! Did you get trapped in the Worldforce, too?”
Jana stepped back. “Dead? Of course I’m not dead; I got sent back to—wait, trapped in the Worldforce?” She turned to Lex. “Is that how you’re—but no, it’s impossible. I saw you die. I’ve spent the last seven years thinking you’re dead.”
“What?” Acarius asked, moving toward her.
Jana shook her head. “No, I remember. I was lying there, dying. My energy started draining out, then something pushed it back in. I couldn’t move, but energy was returning to me. I was sure it was Marcus doing it, but then he...” She paused and took a shaky breath, glancing at Lex before continuing. “He exploded. And I got kicked back to my world.”
Acarius turned to Lex. “What? How did you—“
“Don’t look at me,” Lex answered. “I have no idea.”
“What do you mean?” Jana stepped toward him again. “I was there. I saw you do it. You saved me... don’t you remember?”
Nigel placed his hand on her shoulder. “He doesn’t, dear. You’re lucky he remembers you at all.”
Jana blinked. “What?” Then her gaze moved beyond Lex, catching on something behind him. “Wait,” she growled. “You!”
Behind Lex, Amelia stammered. “I’m so sorry; I didn’t...”
Lex spun, taking in Amelia’s startled face and Jana’s angry one. “Wait. You know each other?”
“No,” Amelia said at the same time Jana said, “Yes.”
Amelia sighed. “This is the woman whose house the dream led me to. I... took the console from her attic.”
Lex turned to Jana. Woman? She looked a little older than Acarius, and several years older than himself and Amelia. Of course. If Jana and Marcus were the same age, and she had been alive this whole time... She’s nine years older than me. It had been seven years since he died, but he died at nineteen and came back as seventeen. That was confusing, but it wasn’t the main problem at the moment.
Lex stepped forward, ready to defend Amelia. “Let me ex—“
But Jana’s anger had melted. She was staring at Amelia in surprise. “A dream led you there?” Then her curiosity vanished, and she shook her head. “No. No. You need to go back home. Now.”
Amelia stiffened. “Why?”
Jana shook her head again. “It was all over the news. The police are convinced you’re a runaway, but your dad has been campaigning for people to help search for you. He thinks someone kidnapped you. He’s worried sick, he’s been...” She paused, and took a breath. “You need to go home.”
“I can’t,” Amelia answered, her voice soft. “I’m stuck here.”
“Oh,” Jana said, looking surprised.
“You have powers too, right?” Amelia asked, stepping forward. “What are they?”
“That’s not important right now,” Jana answered. “I came here for a reason.” Her gaze lingered on Lex before she turned to Acarius. “We have to go to Arcalon,” she said. “Malleck Dross has your sisters.”
Acarius let out a short laugh. “That’s impossible. Malleck Dross is dead.”
Jana narrowed her eyes. “Really?” She shook her head again. “Well, then it’s someone else who was working with him. But believe me, we need to...”
“You’ve been missing all this time, they thought you were dead, and now you show up with this news?” Lex interrupted. “Why should we believe you?”
Jana blinked. “You realize I’m not the only one who vanished for seven years and was presumed dead, right? Please, we’re wasting time. I need you to listen!”
Acarius stepped forward. “No, he’s right. You showing up right now is too much of a coincidence. How do we know you’re telling the truth?”
Jana sighed. “We were friends, Acarius, remember? Things didn’t end well, but you trusted me once. Please. Your sisters need us. Liz sent me a message; she told me I’d find you here. Please, you have to believe me.”
“Liz?” Acarius asked, his forehead creasing with concern. “Why would she send you a message instead of me?”
Jana sighed. “I don’t know! It came to me, like a dream. I was in my home, on Earth, and suddenly heard her in my mind as clearly as if she was standing in the room. She told me someone had taken her and your other sisters, and that I needed to come get you and the others and bring you to Arcalon to help them. She’s getting stronger, Acarius, if she can breach the worlds like that. Or the boundary between our worlds is getting thinner. Either way, it exhausted her before she’d even finished explaining. She seemed... weak. Her voice sounded tired. She could be sick, or injured. And they’re all in trouble. We have to find them. Quickly.”
Acarius spun to Lex. “It might be true,” he said, his eyes wide with fear. “If it’s true...”
“Don’t worry,” Lex said. “We’ll get them back.” He turned to Jana. “Tell me what we need to do.”
“We need to go get them,” Jana said. “Her message cut out before she explained, but they’re in danger, and she said they were in Arcalon. We need to hurry.”
The door to the room swung open and Lytira strode in. “The guards sent for me, saying there was a disturbance. What was—“ She stopped, her eyes going wide. “Jana?”
Jana smiled. “Hi, Lyt,” she said. “It’s really good to see you.”
Lytira stepped forward. “You’re... alive.” She pulled Jana into a quick embrace.
When Lytira stepped back again, she was smiling bigger than Lex had ever seen her smile—not that he’d seen Lytira smile much. The sudden warmness in her voice and posture was a shocking contrast to her usual, reserved behavior.
Lex glanced to Acarius. “What’s happening right now?” he whispered.
“They were friends,” Acarius shrugged. “Are friends. Best friends.”
“Really?” Lex whispered.
“A lot happened when Jana and Marcus were here before,” Acarius answered, keeping his voice low. “Lytira and Jana... bonded.” He smiled. “It was good for Lyt. She’s never been great at making friends. She didn’t see the use for them.”
That sounded more like Lytira. But as Lex watched them interact, joy surged through him. There was a part of him that had once been close to Jana, and that part was immensely relieved she was safe, and also happy to see Lytira more relaxed and excited than he’d ever seen her. It made Lex want to smile, too.
Amelia’s energy spiked hot beside Lex. He glanced at her to find she looked uncertain.
Lex swallowed, discomfort building in his chest as he realized what Amelia must assume from him gaping at Jana, grinning like a fool. He turned to her.
“Lytira looks happy,” he said. He gave Amelia a smile and reached for her hand.
She hesitated a moment, then returned his smile and took his hand, but her energy was still sharp.
“It’s really good to see you,” Jana said, “but I wish I were here for better reasons.”
Lytira’s brows furrowed as Jana explained about Acarius’ sisters, then Lytira turned to Acarius. “We should leave immediately.” She turned to the guard by the door. “Please go ready our supplies and tell Baram to come at once. We need to leave Zeriphath as soon as possible.”
The guard bowed and rushed away.
Another guard from the hallway stepped up to the door in his place. “My queen,” he said, bowing.
“Yes?” Lytira asked.
“Should I send someone to ready your guests’ horses?”
“Yes, please,” Lytira answered. “And the donkey as well.”
The guard nodded and spun away, heading down the hall.
“Don’t touch his hair,” Nigel called after the guard. “He’s very particular about his hair!”
Jana turned to Lytira. “Queen? Does that mean – “
Jana let out a soft gasp as Lytira explained what had happened in Zeriphath, the battle—the death of her father. “Oh, Lytira. I’m so sorry,” Jana said, reaching out to take her friend’s hand.
Guilt flooded Lex as he felt Marcus’ feelings overtake him again. What have I gotten into? he wondered. It wasn’t his fault—the emotions weren’t his—but he still felt like he was somehow betraying Amelia. As soon as he got a chance to talk to her alone, he would explain. She would understand. Right?
A guard popped in, bowing to Lytira. “My queen, the preparations are almost complete.”
I guess we’re really leaving Zeriphath today, Lex thought. Leaving was their original plan, but Lex had expected it to take longer to prepare. But now that Acarius’ sisters were in danger, things were more urgent. “Where are we headed?” he asked, turning to Acarius.
Acarius eyed him, surprised. “To Arcalon. That’s where my sisters were supposed to wait for me, and Jana thinks they may still be there. Even if they aren’t there now, it’s a place to start. Hopefully someone there will know what’s going on.”
“Oh yeah, right,” Lex said, embarrassed. Acarius’ sisters were in danger, and Lex was daydreaming about relationship problems. “Okay,” he said, meeting Acarius’ eyes. “Don’t worry; we’ll find them.”
“I will ensure we have a spare set of clothes for everyone,” Lytira said. Her expression grew sad. “With all the deceased from battle, there should be plenty of extra clothes to go around.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jana said.
The two of them left the room.
Acarius glanced at Lex as though he wanted to say something, but when his eyes fell on Amelia, his expression changed.
“Nigel,” he called. “I need your help with that... thing. In the hallway? Come on.”
“Now?” Nigel said. “But I haven’t even had my coffee yet!”
“Is that the drink you’re always whining about? I don’t think they have coffee in Zeriphath,” Acarius said, ushering Nigel from the room. “Or even in Arameth. When was the last time you had coffee?”
Their voices faded away as Acarius shut the door behind them.
Nervousness rushed in as Lex turned back to Amelia. “So...” he said, then paused, struggling to figure out what to say.
Amelia stared at him, her face expressionless. But her powers couldn’t lie; they were spiking erratically.
“So Jana’s back,” Amelia said flatly.
Lex paused, wisdom telling him to use caution with his reply. What did Amelia want him to say? Had she detected his feelings for Jana? Be honest, he told himself. No more secrets. “Yes, she’s back, and I...” He stopped, realizing halfway through the sentence how idiotic it was to lead with an admission that he was feeling affection for Jana. He’d intended to follow with an explanation that the feelings weren’t his, but that wouldn’t be enough to compensate. He backpedaled, redirecting his words into something more compassionate. “I know it may have made you uncomfortable for Jana to—“
“I don’t want to talk about this right now,” Amelia interrupted. “I need time to think.”
Confusion rose again, but Lex knew not to push. “Okay,” he said gently, giving her a smile. “But when you’re ready to talk, please tell me. I want to explain some things.”
Something like fear passed over Amelia’s face, but it vanished in a moment. “Okay. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
Acarius’ voice called out from the hallway. “Lex! Lytira says for everyone to meet at the barn. We’re getting ready to leave.”
Amelia headed down the hallway.
Lex ran one hand over his face, trying to stifle his frustration. He took a long breath, then followed after her.
Lex envisioned the journey ahead of them. They had to ride through The Fallows to reach the port where they would board a ship for Arcalon. He sighed. The Fallows and upcoming boat ride would be daunting enough, but surviving it without being thrown overboard by one woman or the other might prove the real challenge.
Fifteen minutes later they were all at the barn, animals saddled and packed with supplies.
The small remnant of Sephram in Zeriphath gathered in the courtyard, where Lytira announced she was leaving. The people seemed pleased with her appointment of Baram as leader in her absence, and many of them expressed approval of Lytira’s active pursuit of the enemy and her decision to aid Acarius. They considered him a hero after his brave defense of their city.
Lytira thanked the people and bid them a warm farewell, but Lex noticed the hesitation in Lytira’s eyes as she returned to the barn after her speech.
“I hope they’ll be alright,” she said.
Acarius glanced over, concerned, but then Jana spoke.
“You’re doing what you think is best, Lytira,” she said. “The people see that, and so does the Worldforce. You’re a good queen; you’re protecting your people as best you can. That’s all you can do.”
Lytira whispered, “Is it?” But she smiled. “Thank you.”
Jana smiled back.
Lex glanced over to see Acarius looking forlorn. “You look like you wanted to say something,” Lex whispered to him. “You still can.”
Acarius glanced to him and shook his head. “It’s better if I keep my distance.”
“Better for who?” Lex asked.
“Whom,” Acarius answered. “And everybody. Trust me.”
Lex opened his mouth to argue, but Acarius glanced behind Lex, then gestured with a nod. “I think you have your own problems to worry about right now.”
Lex looked over to see Jana walking up to Amelia.
Oh no. Lex moved toward them, trying to seem casual.
Jana reached Amelia first, giving her a warm smile. “We’ll mount once we get outside the city,” she said. “But there are only two horses and the donkey. How should we divide up the riding?”
Amelia looked up at Jana. “What?”
“No one rides the donkey but me,” Nigel barked from across the barn. “He doesn’t like strangers.”
“Okay,” Jana laughed at Nigel, then turned back to Amelia. “Lytira said she can run, so do you want to ride together?”
Lex rushed up, planting himself beside Amelia. “I—she’ll ride with me,” he said. “We’ve ridden together before, so it will probably be more comfortable for her.”
“That’s alright,” Amelia said, shrugging as she turned back to Jana. “I would like to ride with you. That way, we can talk. There are things I’d like to ask you.”
Jana watched Amelia for a moment, but then she smiled back. “Okay, sure.” She glanced to Lex. “Is it alright for you and Acarius to ride together?”
No, Lex’s mind shouted. No no no. The two of them riding together? He cringed to think what they might talk about.
“Yes, sure,” Acarius said, brightly. “Mare can carry us both. That will be fine.”
Lex cut his eyes over to him, trying to communicate his panic.
Acarius smiled back, and there was a touch of mischief in it.
What are you doing? Lex wondered. He narrowed his eyes at his friend. Traitor.
“We’re ready to leave,” Lytira said. “Let’s get the animals out to the main gate.”
“It’ll be fine,” Acarius whispered as he moved back past Lex and out the door of the barn. “You’ll see.”
Lex wasn’t so sure.
Lex and the others exited the city with their horses and donkey, and the guards shut the gates behind them, or tried, since the battle the day before had ruined the gates. Large sections of the city wall were now little more than piles of crumbling stone from Malleck’s attacks.
Lex and Acarius mounted Mare. Anxiety swept in at Lex as Amelia climbed up behind Jana on the other horse.
Beside them, Nigel clambered onto his donkey.
Lytira moved in front of them and looked up at Acarius and Lex. “I’ll walk. No need to bother with shifting in and out of clothes unless I must.”
She turned away, heading over to speak to Jana.
“Won’t she get tired?” Lex leaned forward to ask Acarius.
Acarius shook his head. “Sephram don’t tire easily. As long as we’re not going too quick a pace, she’ll be fine. If she gets tired, I can always take a turn walking, and she can ride with you. Or she can ride with Jana, and Amelia can ride with you.” He glanced back, smirking. “Of course, by then Jana and Amelia may be best friends and not want to be separated.”
Lex narrowed his eyes. “It’s not funny,” he whispered. “I think Amelia might hate me now, and if she doesn’t, she will by the time Jana finishes telling her about how close she and Marcus were.”
Acarius’ smile changed to a look of compassion. “It will be okay,” he said. “Jana is nice. She knows this is a weird situation, but she wouldn’t say anything to upset Amelia... not on purpose. You can trust her.”
Can I? Lex wondered. He felt he could, but then again, that was Marcus talking. Lex didn’t even know Jana. He fought back another groan.
An archer appeared on the wall from inside the city. “Everything looks clear out in The Fallows, my queen,” he said. “May the Worldforce speed you on your journey.” He bowed his head.
“And may it protect you and our home, in my absence,” Lytira answered, tipping her head as well.
Something rustled in the forest beyond the wall. The archer’s head snapped up, his arm sweeping an arrow from his quiver and loading it to tension on his bow in one smooth motion. “Step back, my queen. Something approaches.”
Lytira turned to the forest, tilting her head as though listening. “A pippit,” she said, turning to Acarius. “It’s heading this way.”
Acarius drew his sword. “Watch out. Move back.” He eased Mare over between Lytira and the edge of the forest.
“I’m not running from a pippit.” Lytira stepped back in front of him and planted her feet in the sand. “Who do you think I am?”
Acarius sighed. “I think you’re Queen of Zeriphath and that you shouldn’t be the one standing in the path of a rabid fluffball.”
The branches of the forest rustled in the distance, the sound coming nearer.
Lytira turned to Acarius. “I can handle a pippit.”
“Of course you can,” Acarius said, “but that doesn’t mean—“
“My queen.” The archer’s deep voice echoed from atop the wall. “Let me.” He aimed his arrow at the forest.
Lytira sighed, but moved back out of the archer’s way.
Lex glanced up at the archer. There were few of them left, after what the battle had taken from the city. Too few. But surely one pippit wasn’t much of a danger; the archer should be able to handle it easily.
Nigel called out to Jana. “You have good hands, don’t you? Maybe you can... uh...”
Lex looked over to see Nigel struggling with one strap of his donkey’s pack. The whole satchel kept slipping around and under the donkey’s belly.
Jana slid down from her horse to help him.
Acarius stiffened on Mare, drawing Lex’s attention.
“Everything okay?” Lex whispered.
“Fine,” Acarius said, his eyes on Lytira. He tilted his head toward the forest. Mare’s ears swiveled, listening.
The trees rustled more.
Amelia eased the horse up near Lex. “What’s a pippit?” she whispered.
Lex turned to answer, but his eye caught on Jana a few feet over, still helping Nigel tighten the pack straps on his donkey. She turned her head toward the trees, a strange look on her face.
“We need to go,” Jana declared. “Now.”
No one moved; everyone stared at her.
“Jana,” Lex said, “What...“
A dull rumble beneath the horses interrupted Lex. Small pebbles on the ground skittered, and the sand below them quivered. Lex looked up. The forest was vibrating.
“What’s hap—“ Amelia began, but Lytira spun to face them, eyes wide.
“It’s a stampede,” she said. “Run!”
Jana helped Nigel onto his donkey.
“Run!” the archer shouted, aiming his arrow at the trees. He turned and called something into the city, and an echo of shouts drifted back in response.
“Jana, hurry!” Amelia reached down a hand to help her onto the horse.
But Jana stood unmoving in front of the gates, her eyes on the forest. Lytira dashed up to stand beside her, and Acarius moved Mare up to join them. Amelia followed, taking a stand beside Lex and Acarius.
Lex’s mind raced as he played through the scenario. The pippits would tear through their defense, then break through the remaining gate easily. Once they got inside, it would be catastrophic. The Sephram people were still recovering from battle, many of them wounded, exhausted from trying to sift through the rubble and care for the orphaned children. They couldn’t fend off an attack of hungry pippits as easily as they once might have.
The stampeding steps grew nearer, the trees quivering. Lex turned to Jana, still on the ground beside Lytira. She would be the first to be trampled. “Jana! Get on the horse!”
She still didn’t move, frozen in place.
Lex squeezed his eyes shut, reached for the darkness inside him and tugged a tendril from its small cube of safety, then sent his mind outward, grasping for the pippits’ energy.
Nothing happened.
“What is it?” Amelia asked, easing her horse closer. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t feel the pippits,” Lex said in a rush. “When I try to sense them, there’s nothing to grab onto; my powers won’t work.”
“That’s because there’s no dark energy in them,” Jana answered, still not looking away from the forest. The sounds were growing nearer, the trees at the forest’s edge rustling violently. “Pippits are purely innocent, one of the few creatures left in Arameth who are.”
“Innocent?” Acarius retorted. “That’s not how I’d describe them.”
“No, she’s right,” Lytira said, “they’re gentle creatures at heart. The Fallows changes them, but they’re still only operating on instinct. They’re just trying to survive.” She turned to Jana. “But the pippits are moving too fast; something must have panicked them. In this state they’ll destroy everything in their path.” She paused, looking sad. “They can’t be saved.”
A bear’s roar resounded inside Zeriphath’s gates. Baram was coming, but even with him and the other uninjured Sephram who remained in the city, it wouldn’t be enough. Not with this many pippits.
“They can. I can feel it,” Jana said. She ran out toward the trees.
“Dear, I don’t think...” Nigel called after her. “Too late,” he shrugged. “She’s gone.”
Lex groaned. “What’s she doing?” Now they had to save Jana and the city, Lex thought, frustrated that he didn’t have his own horse. Acarius hadn’t urged Mare forward to help Jana, he was just standing there, and Jana was about to be trampled. Lex braced himself on Mare’s back, preparing to jump off and help. “Why aren’t we going?” he yelled to Acarius.
Jana stopped a few feet from the trees just as dozens of pippits poured out of them, snarling fluffballs the size of wolves with wide, black eyes and overbites displaying sharp front teeth. Jana held her spot in the path of the oncoming pippits and reached outward, as though feeling the air.
Lex gaped at the others. “Why aren’t we moving? Jana will be trampled!”
Acarius looked back at him. “Give her a minute.”
What? Lex fought back his panic. Had everyone gone crazy?
Amelia glanced over at him, her eyes wide with fear.
The archer on Zeriphath’s wall loosed his arrows in rapid succession, but taking out one pippit at a time barely made a dent.
Lex swung a leg over Mare, about to jump down, but inches from Jana the pippits slowed, seeming confused.
Acarius grabbed Lex’s arm. “Wait.”
Lex started to argue, but the pippits stumbled over each other — avoiding trampling Jana — as they slowed to a stop around her, then went still. Lex stared as the cloud of sand dust settled around the pippits, who were now glassy-eyed, staring and swaying.
Jana stood in the midst of them like the pied piper of pippits, murmuring to them. “That’s it,” she soothed. “Calm. No one will hurt you.”
The pippits blinked back at her. One of them even yawned.
Lex’s jaw dropped. “Did she—“
He looked to Acarius, whose face had spread into an amused grin. “Yes, she did.”
“But how—“
“Later,” Acarius whispered.
Jana glanced back at them. “See?”
Lytira smiled at her. “It’s good to have you back.”
Jana returned Lytira’s smile, then sank to sit cross-legged on the sand as the pippits continued to sway in front of her. “You’re alright, babies,” she cooed. “You’re safe.”
Babies? What just happened? Lex wondered.
The broken gate swung outward, and Baram appeared. “All is well inside, my queen,” he said, bowing to Lytira with a smile. “The people were preparing to defend themselves, but mistress Jana saved us that trouble.” He turned his smile on Jana. “Thank you.”
Jana glanced back only a moment, her attention still focused on the pippits. “Of course,” she said, giving him a quick grin before turning back to the pippits. “Off you go,” she murmured to them. “Calm. Back to your homes. That’s it; good babies. Calm.”
The pippits turned and ambled back off into the forest, the trees rustling as they moved into the distance.
“That’s all?” Lex asked. “Won’t they come back?”
Jana shook her head as she stood. “Something startled them; they didn’t mean to attack. They’re calm now.”
“Let’s get moving,” Lytira said, as though Jana’s explanation were reasonable. She turned to Baram. “Thank you,” she said, her voice carrying unusual emotion. “You don’t know how much it means that you are willing to stay and watch over my people.”
That’s it? Lex marveled. No one is freaked out by what just happened?
“Yes,” Baram said, meeting Lytira’s eyes. “I do.” He tipped his head in a bow. “I am happy to serve, my queen.”
“You do not need to call me that,” Lytira said. “We are friends.”
“Yes, we are,” Baram answered, “but you are also my queen, and deserving of the title. I will not rob you of that honor.”
Lytira’s smile grew wider. “I owe you a great debt, Baram,” she said. “For this and many other things.”
“You owe me nothing, my queen, though if you wish to repay my service, return safely. That is all I desire.” His eyes met hers with sincerity.
Lex saw Acarius stiffen, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword—whether consciously or unconsciously, Lex wasn’t sure.
“I will try,” Lytira answered, reaching out to squeeze Baram’s hand. “Thank you again, Baram.” She dropped his hand and stepped back.
Baram nodded, then turned and went back inside the city, the gates creaking shut behind him.
“Let’s go,” Lytira announced, turning to the others.
“Yeah,” Acarius grumbled. “Let’s go.”
Lex glanced at Acarius’ tense posture, then at Amelia, who stiffened as Jana swung back up on the horse in front of her and gave her a smile. This is going to be a long trip.
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