Enaya: Solace of Time (15 page)

“Look at you,” Ramiel said, staring at Norcross through his black hollow pits. “You are evil.”

And Norcross knew he was evil. He knew what he was doing, but he wasn’t allowed to think about it. The magic was consuming him. He was giving in to the darkness. They were becoming one, marrying into each other to do only one thing: rule over the power. As Norcross stood there, the magic pumping through this heart and through his veins, he started to fall in love with the darkness.

Chapter 22

Ashera

Nile was sitting on the balcony of the Ancrya, blaming himself for what had happened with Dywnwen and Roland. The balcony was oval and had white concrete railings around the edge of the oak wood floor. Plastic vines were decorated along the railing that reminded Nile of home. He slumped on the bench, with his feet extended out and crossed in front of him. Across from him was another bench, and over in the corner was a large table, bolted to the floor with four chairs around it.

Nile blamed himself for everything that had happened. He replayed the events over and over in his mind, each time his heart sinking deeper into his chest. The thought of everyone dying fell heavy on his shoulders, and for a moment he wished he were dead. He struggled to tell himself that it wasn’t his fault and that he didn’t know.

The stars glimmered across the night sky. They must have been exhausted with all that they had seen tonight. He placed his arms across his chest, his hands rubbing his shoulders, and he hugged himself, thinking of
her.

He closed his tiresome eyes, missing Dywnwen and the way her long hair waved in the wind or the way she would whisper into his ear. He opened his eyes, and standing before him, as real as could be, was Dywnwen, wearing her white chemise with dirt on her feet and a smile that made all men, especially Nile, weak to his knees. He smiled back, and she faded in a sudden breeze that swept through.

“I love you,” Nile whispered.

The balcony door opened and Nile sprung forward. Leo walked out onto the balcony with a blanket wrapped around him. He handed Nile another blanket, and Nile weakly covered himself up.

“Thanks,” Nile said.

“Don’t mention it,” Leo replied, sitting across from Nile, his jaw chattering. “How are you doing?”

“I’m alive,” Nile said. There was a pause for a second, then Nile chuckled and Leo followed him.

“I couldn’t sleep, but Locklin is in there snoring up a storm,” Leo said, bringing the blanket tighter around his body.

There was another pause.

“You know, Nile, I loved Dywnwen just as much as you did.”

Nile just looked at him.

Leo gulped. “Yes, as a kid she would always tell me how much she loved you, and that she was going to marry you someday.”

“Go on,” Nile replied.

“We three were always gettin’ into trouble. She was just as much my best friend as she was yours,” Leo said, tears now watering behind his eyelids. He closed his eyes and tears rolled down his face. “I guess I just haven’t had time to cry.”

“It’s fine,” Nile smiled. “I’ve cried a lot.”

“Yes,” Leo said. “I believed that you and she were meant to marry.”

“Now she’s gone,” Nile said.

“Now she’s gone,” Leo whispered.

Nile swallowed; his throat was dry. “Are you scared?”

Fear filled Leo’s eyes. “Yes.”

“Me too,” Nile replied.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Nile jumped to his feet. Bright purple and orange lights were lighting up the forest beyond. There was a large airship way out in the distance, firing something into the forest below.

“Do you think they see us?” Leo asked.

“We’re too far away, but it’s only a matter of time. Go wake Locklin.”

Screams echoed through the forest. Nile watched as the sky and the forest illuminated with blue, green, and red light. He stood there, his heart pounding against his flesh. He heard the balcony door shut; Leo was gone.

Leo rushed through the hall, dropping the blanket off his shoulders. He nearly tripped over something, but managed to find his footing before he kissed the ground. He pushed open a door and flipped on the lights. Locklin was still asleep.

“Wake up!” Leo yelled.

Locklin rolled over, squinting his eyes.

“They’re here,” Leo said.

Locklin’s eyes quickly widened. He flung the blankets off him and he jumped out of the bed, rushing past Leo and flipping on the inside lights so he could find his way to the cockpit. He jumped in his seat and began flipping switches. Leo watched, confused at the knowledge he held for this contraption.

Nile was standing outside as one of the lights came on, blinding him. He dropped his blanket, rubbing his eyes. The door opened and slammed shut, and he heard footsteps coming toward him. He squinted and saw Leo.

They watched as two large airships ascended over the mountains and fired white lights into the forest below.

“What village is that?” Leo asked.

“I don’t know where we are,” Nile said.

Another bright explosion went off, this time closer, but it still had to be several hundred yards away. The explosion came up from the forest like a mushroom cloud and swallowed the night sky. Two airships flew out of the cloud of smoke and continued firing.

“What is Locklin doing?” Nile asked, frustrated that the airship hadn’t taken off yet.

“I’ll go check on him,” Leo said. He rushed back in the Ancrya.

Nile leaned on the railing, watching the lights brighten up the darkened sky until something else caught his attention. Something ran out of the forest, like a mouse running against a baseboard. It was a she, and a very beautiful one at that. Her long brown hair curled at her tips and her round face was illuminated by an orange light, highlighting her cheekbones. She had a dark green cape that fluttered like bird wings and a red leather sleeveless vest that tied off around her neck, with a white shirt under it. She had a strap of brown leather that tied around her waist, and a brown skirt that stopped just a few inches above her knee. Brown tethered boots covered her shins. She was also carrying something, but Nile couldn’t make it out.

She looked up at the Ancrya and ran harder.

“Stop! Stop! Wait!” Nile screamed, signaling for her, but she only continued to run.

Nile leapt over the railing and ran after her, disappearing into the forest. Branches smacked him in the face as he chased after her. When he finally got close enough, she spun around, and slammed a long wooden staff into Nile’s face. He fell backward.

“Stop following me,” she said, holding the staff at Nile’s throat.

“I’m not one of them.”

She lowered her staff, studying Nile closely. He wasn’t dressed like one of
them.
Instead, he was wearing a black jerkin, a white tunic, black pants and boots, and he had no weapon. He looked normal enough to her, so she twisted her staff in the middle and it came apart. She brought the staff over her head and placed them in a sheath on her back, hidden under her cape.

“Sorry,” she said.

Nile licked his lips. Something wet pursed his tongue.
Blood.
He reached his hand up and rubbed his lip. Blood smeared across his fingertips. He wiped it on his britches and he got to his feet.

“I’m Ashera,” she said.

“Are you a wizard?” Nile asked. “I just noticed the staff.”

“Yes, our village is being attacked so I have to go,” Ashera turned and jolted through the forest.

“Wait!” Nile yelled.

Ashera stopped and looked over her shoulder.

“Come with us,” Nile said. “It’s me and two others. We’re in the same situation.”

Ashera looked at the Ancrya beyond Nile. “Whose side are you on?”

“I’m on yours.”

“Then why that?” Ashera asked, pointing toward the airship.

“That thing can get us out of here quicker than our feet,” Nile explained. “Trust me.”

Ashera looked over her shoulder, deeper into the forest as the trees glowed with small balls of light. “I suppose.” She jogged to Nile, and he led her onto the Ancrya. Leo rushed out onto the balcony and stopped abruptly to see Ashera. Leo looked over at Nile and raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Who are you?” Leo asked.

“Ashera, you?”

“Leo Connell.”

“Nile Whitman.”

Ashera forced a smile at Nile and nodded in thanks. Nile glanced at her teeth and saw that a small corner of her right front tooth was chipped. “Thank you both.”

“You’re welcome,” Nile said, touching his lips to see if the bleeding stopped.

A neon blue light flashed in the sky. The lights were dying down and the airships were disappearing over the mountaintops.

“They came into our homes and dragged us out. They asked us if we wanted to join the Lucian Empire,” Ashera said.

“That’s the same thing that happened to us,” Nile said.

The Ancrya lifted off the ground, and Ashera stumbled. She caught her balance and rushed to the railing, peering over it to see the ground get smaller and smaller. She looked up and around, mesmerized like a little child. When the stars seemed to become reachable, she dazzled at them. Ashera looked back over the railing. They were higher now. She looked up again, and now the clouds separated around them as the Ancrya rose above them. She looked at her feet and slowly stepped back as the clouds dispersed across the deck and seeped over the edge. They were now hovering over the trees and clouds. Ashera smiled and laughed, then the airship shot in the opposite direction from where the explosions had gone off, and the wizard stumbled but caught the railing to hold her balance.

“Pretty impressive, huh?” Nile asked.

“This is incredible,” she said in amazement.

“I thought so too,” Nile said, touching his sore lip. .

Ashera winced when Nile touched his lip. “Sorry about that. Let me get it for you.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not,” Ashera said, reaching for Nile’s head. Her long fingers massaged against Nile’s temples and she brought his head forward. She blew on his lip. She pulled back, eyeing the wound, and it was gone.

“Thanks,” Nile said, touching his lip with his tongue.

“I’ve never seen a female wizard,” Leo said.

“He’s never seen any wizard before,” Nile said.

“This is true,” Leo mumbled.

She turned to face her home, the dread covering her body. The lights were getting dimmer and dimmer now. Smoke was rising into the night sky, the screams became scarcer and as they flew away, Ashera dropped her arms in defeat.

“Why were you by yourself?” Nile asked.

Leo sat down and leaned forward, eager to hear her side of the story.

“I’m an orphan,” Ashera said.

“Any loved ones?”

“I lived with my uncle Coelbeorht for the longest time, but I hated it over in the east so I fled. I found myself here in Emberlice. I had only been here a few weeks with no real attachments,” Ashera explained.

“They attacked us early tonight,” Nile said.

“I’m sorry,” Ashera said.

“Is there anything we can do?” Nile asked.

“I am a bit tired.”

“We have beds, please go rest,” Nile said, pointing toward the door. “Leo, would you take her?”

Leo’s eyes widened and he smiled. Nile knew that smile. Leo was going to try something, or at least he was thinking of trying something. This weasel of a friend could never pull anything past Nile. Nile knew him better than he knew himself.

“Leo, go take her to the cabins,” Nile said, wanting to giggle.

“Certainly,” Leo said. He walked to the door and pulled it open for the young woman, allowing her to go in. He whispered to her, but Nile could not hear. Leo shut the door and then walked back to Nile. “Does my breath stink?”

“Leo, what is wrong with you?” He turned Leo around and pushed him toward the door. “She’s had a rough night, let her sleep. Don’t romance her to death.”

Leo laughed, and then winked at Nile. He opened the door and slid in like a thief.

Ashera was standing in the hallway, rubbing her hand on the carvings. “Where did all this come from?”

“The future,” Leo said, smiling.

“You must be the court jester.”

“No,” Leo said, smiling from ear to ear.

Ashera smiled too. The marble floor and the walls both cast an innocent shadow upon Ashera as she studied the foreign environment around her, engaging in the beauty of this new technology.

“Where to?” she asked.

Leo jumped in front of her and pushed open a door. “Here.”

Ashera walked in. Two beds had already been slept in, so she walked to the one that was the closest and the neatest. She fell on her back, her arms extended outward, and she stared at the ceilings that arched and long ceiling fans spun around above her, breathing cool air.

“What is that?”

“I don’t know,” Leo said, looking up at it.

“It feels good,” she remarked.

“I know, I thought the same thing.”

Silence swallowed the room and then after a moment to think, Leo heard her sniff. Her sniffs became moans of pain, and the moans became giant sobs of heartache, but she never took her eyes off that fan. Leo leaned against the wall and watched her. Ashera pulled herself up, facing Leo.

“I’m sorry,” she said.