Gaia's Secret (30 page)

Alex pushed the blade towards the man’s
throat, creating a dimple. “Answer me before I kill you.”

I started. Alex? Kill someone? “Alex.” I
touched his leg. “I think this man helped me, before you came.”

His blade didn’t lower. “Then explain what
you’re doing here.”

The old man smiled. It was a smile that made
you feel like you could tell this man anything in the world, and he
would protect you. “Our aims aren’t so different, Alexander Del
Conte. Like you, I want only her safety.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know my
name?”

“I know many things about you, dear boy, but
I must admit that I don’t particularly enjoy friendly discourse
when one has a sword at my throat.”

Alex lowered his sword, but his eyes remained
fixed on the man.

The man rubbed his neck and turned to me.
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Tell me your name before I change my mind,”
Alex said.

The old man gave a slight bow and his long,
white hair hung in a curtain around his face. “Tran Chiton, or more
commonly known as the Black Bard.”

I couldn’t believe it. Thad hadn’t been
telling stories.

“That’s not possible,” Alex whispered.

“I assure you, it is.”

“You’re real, then?” I asked.

The man laughed, a light melodic laugh. “I
certainly hope so.”

“Thank the elements she’s safe!” Cicero
arrived out of breath with Sonya sprinting through the forest right
behind him.

They both stopped in their tracks and Sonya
looked like she’d just seen a ghost. “Master Tran?”

Alex studied his mom. “You know this
man?”

Sonya walked to Tran with a light in her
eyes. She stopped a few feet before him and threw her arms around
him.

“Careful, dear Sonya.” The man chuckled. “My
bones aren’t what they once were. My spine upsets easily these
days.”

Sonya backed away, the smile of a little girl
spread across her face. Alex looked between his mom and the old
man; Cicero stood back just as baffled.

“I can’t believe it’s you!” she said. “You’re
really—“

“Now, now, there’s time for this later. We
must see to the girl.” The man stared at my ankles like he was
deciding what ankles were used for.

Sonya looked down at my legs. “What’s
wrong?”

“I think her ankles are broken,” Alex
answered for me.

Sonya crouched at my side and placed a hand
gently on my ankles. She took a deep breath and looked back at me
with a frown.

“There was some kind of root wrapped around
them,” I said. “I don’t think they’re broken, just sprained.”

“We’ll see about that.” She pressed gently on
my ankles and I cried out in pain.

“And what, exactly, were you doing out here?”
Cicero asked.

Everyone was studying me and I looked away.
“I don’t know what happened.” I couldn’t tell them what that
creature said. I was still sorting it out myself. “I went…for a
walk, and— “

“It seems Daria was lured away,” the old man
answered.

I studied his wrinkled face. “How do you…know
my name?”

He smiled, waving a withered hand. “I’ve
followed you for quite some time, and those pariahs have been
following your trail ever since you entered the Arborenne. They may
be cursed but they’re not fools, being outnumbered by such a
talented escort. They tried luring her away from your protection to
take her to Gaia knows where. I’ve been waiting for them to do it.
Would have had them too if they weren’t so skilled at that
‘vanishing back into the earth’ act.” His brow furrowed in
frustration.

Tran stepped past our group and knelt beside
a pile of ashes—all that remained of the creature. His brow
furrowed as his hands sifted through the debris and he stopped.
Inch by inch he drew out a golden chain until it ended in a round
metal object. It was a medallion.

Strange symbols were engraved on the surface,
like the medallion the Del Contes had used to transport themselves
to my home in Fresno. Was that only a few days ago? It seemed like
ages.

“A magical device?” I asked.

“Yes, and your intended transport, I
believe.” The man gazed at the object, deep in thought. “Here,
Aegis Cicero, I believe I will leave this in your possession.
Perhaps it will aid you in your investigations.”

“Shouldn’t you keep it?” Cicero asked. “With
your power, you could destroy the problem now.”

Tran rubbed his chin, head tilted as he
studied the object. “No, I doubt this will lead us straight to our
man. Better just keep it safe for now. Once we know more, you can
use it. Until then, it isn’t safe and your lives are too valuable
to put at such risk—especially hers.”

Everyone seemed to agree with that
answer.

“Thank you, Master Tran.” Cicero took the
medallion and tucked it in his pocket. “I’ll wait and see what
Alaric thinks we should do with it.”

Tran nodded in agreement.

“There were two of them. Where’s the other?”
Alex studied the shadows.

“I’m afraid he got away.” The old man stood
to his feet. “Which means whoever—or whatever—they serve will soon
be aware of my existence, which is rather unfortunate. I do enjoy
having most of the realm thinking I’m dead.” He grinned, glancing
into the night. “But come. Currently, my home isn’t far from here,
and I insist you stay with me. After so many years, I know there is
much to discuss.”

“I’m sure there is.” Cicero glanced at his
wife.

Sonya smiled, nodding. Whatever doubts Cicero
had about this man’s true identity, Sonya’s complete confidence
swayed them. But they didn’t sway Alex’s. His grip was still tight
on my shoulder, so tight, in fact, it was starting to hurt. “She
still can’t walk.”

“Right, right,” Tran said, fixing his eyes on
my legs with a frown. “Skinny things, I’m surprised they get you
anywhere really. We’ll have to fix your ankles at the house.
Terribly young to have such health problems. Alexander? How about
carrying our invalid?”

Not this again. “I don’t need anyone to—“

“To do what, child?” Tran asked. “Carry you?
Did that root wrap around your brain? You can’t walk! No, no, let
Alexander be a gentlemen. I’m sure he doesn’t get much of an
opportunity with a spirit like yours.”

Well, if he was trying to gain Alex’s trust,
it worked. Alex’s amusement was already filtering through me, but
at least his grip on my shoulder ceased.

Thunder clashed overhead and the breeze
stirred.

Calyx. He would be furious if I left him
alone in this. “What about the horses?” I asked.

“Grool will fetch them for you,” Tran
answered.

My hearing must’ve been affected during their
fight with colored laser beams because I thought he said “drool.”
“Who?” I asked.

“You’ll meet him soon enough. Come, come, the
rain will be here any moment. You can’t come down with a cold on
top of broken bones. Then our dear Alexander would have to
spoon-feed you, and I know how much you would
love
that.”

Alex raked a hand through his hair and Tran’s
smile spread from ear to ear. I suddenly wasn’t sure if I liked
this old man.

Alex crouched beside me and slid one arm
around my back and his other beneath my legs. “Ready?”

“Do I have a choice?” I mumbled.

He smiled. “Seems fate is bound to make a
damsel out of you.”

I scowled. “You’re not helping.”

He lifted me off the ground, as if I weighed
no more than a feather, and held me tightly against his solid
frame. I was acutely aware of him, the scent of pine and musk and
woodsmoke on his skin, the feel of his arms around me. I felt safe
and protected, like any
friend
would feel, right? Except I
liked being in his arms more than I thought I should.

“Shall we?” Tran asked.

We followed Tran Chiton, Master Tran, the
Black Bard—whoever he was. The very man I had been set on not
finding. The very man I had thought Thad lied about. As it turned
out, Thad was the only one telling the truth. Mostly.

I
couldn’t see
anything beyond the golden halo of Tran’s lantern. Not the trees,
not the ground—not even Cicero and Sonya, even though I knew they
were close. I could hear them talking. I couldn’t hear what they
were saying, but I knew it wasn’t bad because I could feel their
surprise and disbelief, unlike Alex, who was unusually tense—even
for him.

And it wasn’t that he had a problem carrying
me. In fact, he almost seemed to be enjoying himself. He just
didn’t like having his sword-hand occupied.

What did he think Tran was going to do? Wag a
finger and make me grow a fifth limb? Alex’s parents didn’t seem
too worried, and if there were anyone besides my dad that would
overreact, it would be Cicero. Besides, Sonya somehow already knew
the man. He was like Gandalf’s hippy brother, the one that was full
of all goodness and magic and wisdom, but probably spent a little
too much time behind the pipe—and no telling what he put in it.

But none of that seemed to matter to Alex.
His grip around me was tight and protective, and his eyes remained
fastened on Gandalf’s forgotten, slightly deranged twin.

“Tran Chiton is dead.” Alex’s deep voice
reverberated through his chest and in my ear.

His statement was so simple, so confident, I
was surprised to see Tran grin in response.

“I am sorry to disappoint you, dear boy, but
life hasn’t chosen to end my time yet. I suppose Gaia still has
need of me. However, I’m sure once I’ve fulfilled my purpose, you
shall most definitely have your wish.”

Rain began whispering on the treetops and
cold drops splattered on my skin. Alex pressed me tighter against
him and I was grateful for his warmth.

“I don’t wish that,” Alex continued. “It’s
just that everyone says you died. Years ago.”

Tran wagged a bony finger, and to no one’s
great surprise, I still had only four limbs. “And it is that which
has kept my life intact. Ironic how it works out, don’t you
agree?”

“But people say you were…are evil,” I said.
He didn’t need to know by “people” I meant Thad.

“Do they?” The old man chuckled. “Oh, my. I
suppose it depends upon whom you ask. If I’d destroyed your life,
you would think me evil. But if I’d destroyed the life of your
enemy, I would be quite the hero by your standards.”

Suddenly, Tran stopped, and we were saturated
with rainwater.

Alex adjusted me in his arms and I could tell
he was poised to reach for his sword.

Tran moved the lamp forward and an old wooden
door appeared, right in front of us. Windows popped into view, the
golden light behind fuzzy and distorted from the thick film that
covered them. I couldn’t see the rest of the home because trees and
overgrowth concealed it. Even though the house just appeared out of
nowhere, it looked like it had always been there. Like it erupted
from the ground and nearby foliage gathered around to form walls
and a shaggy roof.

I heard a soft creaking, and we were guided
through the door.

The interior was not what I expected. It was
carefully constructed, with wooden beams and perfectly laid
stone—no traces of forest. A fire blazed in one corner and the air
smelled sweet and yeasty, like freshly baked bread. There were
thick rugs decorating the wooden floorboards, a comfortable looking
sofa and a couple well-kept chairs. Sort of what I expected a Bed
and Breakfast to look like. Minus the location and Gandalf’s
twin.

Along the far wall was an enormous bookshelf.
Half of it was lined with shimmering glass vases and the other half
was stuffed to the brim with thick, worn books. And beside that was
a wall of macabre-looking metal objects, like hooks, pickaxes, and
warped rings with barbs sticking out all over.

Okay, so maybe Bed and Breakfast meets
Frankenstein’s lab.

Who—or what—is this man?

“Please,” Tran said. “Make yourself at home.”
He started to turn away from us when he paused. “Great mages, I
almost forgot!”

He placed his hands on Alex and me. The water
in our clothing began gathering into little beads. Larger and
larger they grew until they looked like glass marbles and fell to
the floor in a single shower. The beads rolled along the wood,
soaking into the grain until they disappeared completely.

I gasped. “How did you do that?”

Tran smiled, patting my arm. “No spoon
feeding for you this evening. Alexander, would you lay our invalid
down on the sofa? I’ll return shortly. I’ve got to ask Grool for
the medicine.”

That name. So my ears weren’t malfunctioning.
He didn’t say “drool”, he said “grool.” Who in their right mind
would call themselves something that sounded like rotten food?

Assuming that person was in their “right”
mind…

Tran went over to Cicero and Sonya, dried out
their clothing, then disappeared down a narrow corridor.

Alex carried me to the couch, very carefully
set me down, and placed a hand on my leg. I winced.

He searched my face. “You okay?”

I took a deep breath, pushing back the pain.
“How’s your arm?”

A creature suddenly appeared, about half the
size of any normal person. His skin was tinged a light brown and
scraggy tufts of hair were piled between two prominent pointed
ears. His eyes looked like two black marbles, glaring at our group
like we just ruined his life. A potato sack covered his scrawny
frame with holes cut out for his head and gaunt, knobby arms, and
he had two brown stilts for legs supporting it all. A dark leather
belt hung at his waist filled with sharp, maniacal looking tools,
similar to the ones on the wall.

Little Frankenstein scuffled right towards
me, pushing through Sonya and Alex until he was at my side. A glass
jar was in his hand, filled with something black that looked like
tar and smelled like ammonia, only worse. And I thought growing up
on a farm was bad.