Atlas Cloud And The Amulet of Thieves (7 page)

“The runes give out a small static energy. This isn’t the first time I’ve travelled this way either.” We head into the tree line. It was darker than before now because of the tree tops. Moonlight still managed to break through leaves, leaving white pillars dotted throughout the forest. This moon was a stranger to me; it was brighter and more invasive. It reminds me of the fact that I’m on another world. Stranded, except for the two guides walking in front of me, both sticking together. Roko showed much respect for Farro I could see that in the way she talked and acted around him. I wonder how they met? Up ahead was the side face of a cliff wall, twenty feet high and blocking our journey.

“Woah.” Eli gasped, standing there in amazement.

“How are we supposed to get past it, we can’t go around it, it looks like it goes on for miles?” Roko questioned.

“We don’t need to cross it or go around it, this is it.” Farro said, smiling at us.

              “Hidden in plain sight.” I muttered to myself.

“Farro, how do we get inside?” Eli said.

“We don’t. Atlas does.” Farro said.

“Me? How am I supposed to open it, I wouldn’t know where to start?”

“Trust your feelings; I must warn you though, time gets distorted in there. It is full of old magic. I can’t even begin to comprehend the power that lies behind that wall.” Farro said.

“What do you mean?” Eli bumbled, getting a little confused.

“Well it could be minutes he’s in there for and to us it could seem like hours.” Farro said. “Or weeks.” He added.

“Weeks?!” Eli and I burst out together, dropping our bags.

“It is not something we can change; we can only hope that you are out soon.”

“Ok, what do I do?” I said reluctantly giving in.

“You’re going through with this?” Eli asked tugging my shoulder.

“Yes, of course, I have to. I probably won’t be long.”

“Probably.” Eli said.

“Well if I am, it gives you plenty of time to get to know our new friends.” I said, with a smirk slapped on my face. Eli gritted his teeth, not happy about the decision, but he knew there was no point fighting the fact. So he gave in.

I examined the rock wall in front of me, brushing my hand across it, to feel the bumps and cracks. It was old, so old; it has lived far longer than this forest. It has seen blood and war. Life and death. I feel a great sense of purpose, a sense of morality that is so true. This is having an effect on me already and I’m not even inside it. It scares me. Nothing happens for a while; we just stand there in silence not knowing what to do. I looked back at Farro for help, but he nods side to side. I have to do this by myself. I leant close to the wall, still slowly caressing the hard outer shell with my hands.

“Please let me in, I need your help.” I whispered.

For a second nothing happens. Then I notice a faint blue light emitting through the cracks, calling me in. Then in a flash the blue light engulfed me, holding me. I felt its grip getting tighter and tighter. I’m scared, the air in my lungs escaped my body. It brings me closer and closer to the wall and then, slam! Nothing. I fall into an open cavern, as if I’m in some sort of cave. The rock wall I first met is what greets me as I turn round. Even though I’m in a strange place, dark and alone, not knowing if I can get out, I’m relieved. I’m relieved that my journey didn’t end with me painted on a mysterious wall. There stand three tall stone runes on a platform. I stepped onto it, noticing a large bowl made of stone on top of a small column. The column and runes had unfamiliar carvings on. I guess I have to offer my Totem to it. I unbutton my top, pulling out a necklace made of string. Hanging off the end of it is my dad’s ring. I kept it around my neck so that I never forget him. I clutched my dad’s ring hard, leaving a mark imprinted in my hand. I held it out; it’s the last thing I have left of him except memories. What happens if it gets broken? What happens if something goes wrong and I don’t get it back? I shun the doubtful thoughts. I have to stay focused. I place the ring into the basin. Nothing happens; I stare blankly at the runes, waiting.

I could hear a tink, tink, tink. The ring fluttered about on its own. It shook and wobbled, and then it leaped into the air, hovering, like an eagle stalking its prey. The symbols on the three runes started to glow, one yellow, one blue and one red. There was a centre circle in the middle of them. The glowing lights all flowed into the centre piece and blasted outwards. Straight at the ring, all three converging on it, I could feel the raw power that was absorbing me, washing over me. Then it all stopped, the ring fell back into the bowl. That was it? I thought I was supposed to be scared? Maybe it didn’t work I told myself. I reach to grab the ring, to check it. As my finger touches the cold brass, images flash before my eyes, too fast for me to digest. High pitch screaming followed. I fell to the floor in agony, the screeching tearing into me. The cave started to vibrate all around. It felt like the Earth was crumbling before my feet. I tried to stand, afraid I might fall into a chasm if the world opens up. Again the Elder runes started to glow, this time with more intensity. Three multi coloured beams, shot out, all colliding with the ring, but this time they combined together and shot out, hitting me in the chest. The energy flowed through me, surrounding me, becoming me. The light was constant it felt as if it would never go out and release me from its vice grip. Crying out in pain, wishing the end would come. In my eyes a glimpse of my father and even my mother appears. I must be leaving this plain. I’ll get to see them soon. But I’m not ready. Not yet. I blackout as the energy wave drops me from its grasp.

10 –JOURNEY FORWARD-

I woke up next to the stone wall, the blue light was gone now, all that was left was the shadow beneath the cracks. I sat up shielding my eyes from the sunlight. Sunlight? Farro said there would be a time difference. I was only gone for a couple of minutes. All their gear was still here, but they were not with it. Where are they? I panic, realising that I’ve been abandoned in this strange land. Footsteps started to approach, coming towards me. I hold my breath, wishing that it wasn’t some ghoul or monster but simply my friends coming back for me.

“Atlas!” a voice cried. It was Eli and the others. Eli ran towards me. A wave of relief engulfed me. “Are you alright?” Eli panted, looking concerned.

“Yeah I’m fine. How long have I been gone?” I said.

“Two days.” He said.

“What? I was only gone for a minute.”

“It’s the old magic, it distorts time.” Farro said while throwing down a large fish. “We were fortunate that it was only two days.”

“What was that burst of light?” Eli said almost pacing on the spot.

“It must have transported me in or something.” I said.

“I was worried after the first hour you were gone, I thought I wouldn’t see you again.” Eli said.

“You can’t get rid of me that easy.” I said punching him on the arm. He smiled but it was crooked. Without me he would have been stuck here on his own. I realise now that I am not the only one outside his comfort zone.

“Did it work?” Roko asked. My fist had been clenched this entire time. I opened my hand, revealing my dad’s ring. It was the same as before except it had a faint glow, the light running through the creases. I slowly started to place the ring on my middle finger, scared that it might attack me again. Nothing happened.

“What does it feel like?” Eli said looking closely at my hand.

“I don’t feel anything.” I said, waving my hand through the air clenching and unclenching my hand.

“Don’t worry, in time you will feel its presence.” Farro said. 

“What was it like there?” Eli inquired.

“Well…”

“No time for chit-chat, they have blessed us with a head start. Let’s use it.” Farro croaked waving his hand for us to get back on the trail. I feel like I am going to fall over I’m so tired, but I can’t slow us down now. Put on a brave face Atlas I tell myself.

“I’ll tell you on the way.” I said to Eli as we joined with the other two. “Head start?” I whispered to Eli.

“Ummm…Yeah apparently sometimes people can be gone for years.” Eli said the words bitter to his tongue. I don’t reply. Years? Now I know why Eli was so scared.

After four or five hours we stop to take rest. Farro said we will continue as long as the sun is above the ground. It looks as if it’s stuck up in the sky, taunting us. We stopped beside a river to fill our drink containers and regain some energy.

“What can I do with this thing then?” I said to Farro pointing my hand around like a gun. He cracks a small smile, which he hides quickly after.

“This thing is now a part of you, your body your soul. It focuses your thoughts and magic, channelling it through you, amplifying your abilities.”

“So I think something… and it does something.” I said.

“Sort of, it’s more emotion and instinct that drives it.” Farro said pointing his staff towards a tree in front of us, jabbing the air with it, light blue embers shoot from the end, striking the tree, scorching the bark as they dissipate into the air.

“Ok, looks easy enough.” I said holding my arm up, I stab the air repeatedly with no success, straining my neck, face and arms to try and force the magic out of me. “It won’t work.” I said getting frustrated. I was being beaten by a tree.

“You need to concentrate.” Farro said.

“I am, maybe the ritual didn’t work.” I said, giving up. Farro was gritting his teeth and blowing his nostrils. He charged at me, wielding his staff like a hammer. I fell backwards, tripping on the log we were using as a camp seat. I held my arm up, protecting my face, bong! After opening my eyes I could see Farro standing on top of me, but he was out of focus and blurry. I was looking through a green glass shield that was now being generated through my arm.

“See, instinct.” Farro said. I pause and examine it. The shield shimmers then dissolves away.

“Woah.”

“Yes, you can do far more than defend yourself Atlas.” Farro said helping me up. I did that, I can’t believe it. Eli and Roko are standing on the side lines, watching over my little training session.

“You need to control it. You won’t always be taken off guard, you need to focus. Try disarming me.” He said spreading out his arms, as if he was being crucified. My heart was pumping double time, magic is real who’d a thought it! I brushed myself off and stared at the staff in Farro’s hand, my own hand shaking. I was determined to succeed this time.

“If you can knock me off my feet, then I’ll call it a day and we can rest for the night.” I was fed up with walking up hills and through forests. The thought of sitting or even sleeping was a reward I couldn’t refuse.

“Sock it to him!” Eli shouted waving his fist in the air. Roko shot him a look that made him regret encouraging me to knock out her master. I took a deep breath, grounded my feet into the stones and the grass. I lunged forward firing a fireball from my hand. The energy coming from my core channelled through my body and out through the ring. The fireball spun and swivelled and then opened up into what looked to be wings. A bird of fire. Farro side stepped the spell with lightening reflexes. He looked old and raggedy but he moved like a cheetah, avoiding my best attempt to knock him over. The winged fireball smashed and melted into the tree behind him, it dissolved into the tree, leaving a red ring glowing inside of it.

“You have to be faster than that.” Farro shouted. I could hear creaking sounds and the smell of fire surrounded the air. Looking past Farro, over his shoulder I could see the tree starting to waver, it was going to fall right on him! Farro’s attention was still on me, not realising the fifteen feet high tree was about to collapse on top of him.

“Watch out!” I cried. Farro looked at me puzzled. Roko noticed it even before I did; she was off like a shot, racing towards Farro like a horse out of the starting gate. Everything felt as if it was going in slow motion. Farro saw the falling death out of the corner of his eye, as he put his hands up to defend himself, Roko dived forwards. Tackling Farro and propelling them both a good ten yards to safety. The trunk crashed into the mud and grit, sending a small shockwave through the ground around us. After brushing themselves off, they both looked at me, not in anger but surprise. Surprise was what they were showing me. I don’t blame them, but something about them unnerved me.

“I think you went a little over board.” Eli said keeping his distance from me.

We settled down for the night, making makeshift beds out of wood and cloth. Farro used an enchantment to assemble all the pieces. He warned us that it may not be the most comfortable but it beats carrying a bed on your back. The river beside us reflected the moonlight, like a natural nightlight. And at the centre was the campfire, keeping us warm and making me feel a whole lot better. I don’t think sleeping in the dark would make me feel comfortable. Eli fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Well, his rucksack. He snored away; it’s as if this is all normal to him. I lay listening to the various night life creatures, croaks and cheeps. It doesn’t sound that different from home.

“Sorry about that.” I said to Farro.

“Don’t even think about it, I was ready for it anyway.” He said his eyes moving side to side. “Once you learn to use your Totem, you will be able to control your power.”