Orenda (9 page)

“If you're going to practice, it'd be best to do that in the arena.” Arianna ducked the second time Lil pulled out the sword.

“Sorry,” she apologized before stepping out of the small weapons closet.

“Send the boys in to suit up!” Arianna called loud enough for Hudson, Rawlie, and Jamie to overhear.

Ten minutes later, they were descending into a dark chamber, following the dimly lit path away from the sanctuary. Arianna led the team of five through the tunnel.

Lil glanced over the stone walls. “Protection markings?” she guessed, remembering the walls inside the sanctuary.

Hudson walked behind Lil, keeping an eye out behind them. “These tunnels lead into Eilith's land. We mark them to keep her out.”

“And it works?” she asked, full of wonder. “Then how come we don't bring the marks into her kingdom? We could drive her out.” Lil's eyes widened with excitement. “And if we did that, it’d be easier to safely rescue Willow and Bray.”

Rawlie walked in front of Lil, shaking his head in dismay. “It doesn't work like that. Her walls are made of dead pixies.”

Lil stopped walking.

Hudson bumped into her. “Sorry,” he said. “Come on.” He nudged her on the back to insist she keep moving. It was a long journey on foot.

“Dead pixies? Really?” She caught up with Rawlie. “Why wouldn't it work around dead pixies? Are they your kryptonite?” Lil guessed.

Rawlie turned around, glancing over his shoulder at Lil. “I don't read comic books.”

“Not saying I do.” Lil held up her hands. “It's a movie where I live. Hey, wait.” She laughed. “You wouldn't know what kryptonite was unless you read about it.” Lil became lighter on her feet, happier, with a reason to tease him.

“I may have borrowed a copy or two when I went to
your
world for supplies.”

“You’re a thief?” Lil asked.

“Don't be too mean to him,” Hudson whispered as a reminder. “It's a tough day for him.”

“And it isn't one for me?” Lil shot back, glancing over her shoulder.

“Come on,” he said. They kept walking through the chamber, for what seemed like hours. Lil was grateful they'd eaten a decent breakfast before leaving, though already her stomach rumbled. “Here.” Something nudged her back, and Hudson handed her a canteen of water.

“Thanks.” She took a sip before handing it back. “You didn't put any water from those sacred springs in here, did you?”

Hudson laughed. “Worried?”

Lil shook her head. “No.” She kept walking, keeping up with Rawlie in front of her. Jamie followed Arianna. She wondered how well he had trained for today. He was so much smaller than the rest of them, but there was no convincing him to stay behind. After all, it was his sister he was trying to save from Eilith.

Lil slowed down. She could feel Hudson's presence behind her. “What's Jamie's special power?”

“What do you mean?” Hudson asked. “Oh, because Willow and Rawlie have abilities, you thought Jamie does too?”

“He doesn’t?” Lil asked. “Don't
you
have one?”

“I've never had the need to use my power,” Hudson said. “Whatever it is, I have no idea. I guess I haven't ever desired anything enough to be granted one. Besides, I prefer to be normal. Isn't having a chip in my hand enough weird for you?”

“You said it, not me. Weird boy.”

Hudson came to stand beside her as the passageway widened. “Am not.” He grinned. “I am highly trained, even if I don't have any magical powers. I'm one hundred percent capable of beating Eilith in an arm-wrestling contest.”

“Sure.” Lil rolled her eyes, doing her best to hide a smile. “If she offers that up in exchange for Bray, you just might be the bait.”

Hudson held an arm up over his heart. “Oh ouch. Exchange me for your not-really-a-boyfriend friend.” Lil reached out and punched Hudson in the arm. “Owww. Keep your hands to yourself,” he sulked, and moved to walk behind her once again.

“Quit being a baby,” Lil said over her shoulder. “So what is Jamie's special power?” she asked Rawlie.

“He doesn't have one yet.” Rawlie glanced back at her. “We never took him to the sacred springs.” Rawlie shut his mouth, not offering any more information.

“Okay.” Lil took a step back, falling in line with him as they continued walking along the stone tunnel deep beneath the land of Orenda.

“Time to get up.” There was no alarm clock; servants woke them. Bray groaned as he heard the door to their bedroom squeak open. It was still dark outside, but that didn't matter to Eilith.

“We'll be up and ready in ten,” Willow said, sitting up in bed.

Bray wiped the sleep from his eyes and gestured for the woman at the door to shut it behind herself. The servant slammed the door and huffed away. “Last night.” He swallowed nervously. “Do you remember the food?”

Willow nodded. “We were drugged.”

“Do you know why?” Bray asked, climbing out of bed. He was surprised to find a clean change of clothes tossed on the floor. They no longer looked clean, considering the floor was filthy. Bray brushed the grime off the clothes. He preferred shorts in the summer and jeans when it was cold. It was spring back home and it seemed to be spring here, too. Either would have been sufficient, but instead he found himself being given black bloomers and a forest green shirt that looked little more than rags as he tossed it back down onto the ground. No way. Did the servant think he was a fool? He eyed the gown left on the floor for Willow. It was ivory and light pink. It looked thin.

Willow stood up, toeing the cotton gown and refusing to pick it up off the floor. “No idea why she'd drug us. How about we wear our clothes from yesterday?”

“Fine with me. Where are my shoes?” Bray asked pushing the rag-like clothes around on the floor. “My sneakers are gone.”

“Maybe Eilith liked them and wanted a pair.”

“Not funny, Willow.” Bray wasn’t laughing.

“Bray.” Her tone held a hint of fear. “There’s a bruise on my arm.” In the crook of her arm, a needle mark left a bruise the size of her thumbnail. “Why would she want our blood?”

Bray looked down at his arms, finding the same mark on his skin. “Why would she want
my
blood? I’m not even from here! What do you think she wants with us?”

“I can travel to
your
world, Bray, and you’re not from Orenda. It’s possible she’s trying to make a potion that can help her navigate between both worlds on her own.”

“She can’t do that already?” Bray asked, relieved.

Willow sat back down on the cot. “She can if she knows where the soft spots between our worlds are located. She hasn’t found them yet, and it’s my responsibility to protect the gate. With me locked up in this place, she can find it a lot easier.”

Once Bray and Willow left their room, Eilith escorted them down to the grounds and outside. An armed guard leaned against the castle walls, watching their every move. “You will cut down one of the trees and chop wood.” She stared at Bray. “Willow, will carry the wood inside. Tonight, she will be responsible for stoking the fire, keeping it warm.”

“You need something to keep the castle warm? Try the heat coming from the hell you’re spawned from,” Willow said under her breath.

Bray shot her a quick look, silently warning her to be careful. He had no idea what the punishment for insolence might be.

This time Willow was louder, more abrasive. “You don't think I can cut down a tree?” The anger she harbored found its way out through her voice. Her fists bunched at her sides and her face was steaming.

“If you insist.” Eilith snapped her fingers and a second axe found its way to the ground at Willow's feet. “Be my guest.” Another snap and she vanished in a veil of smoke.

“No bone crushing today?” Bray asked, surprised.

“We should start on this tree.” She eyed the armed guard. He hadn't budged from his place against the wall and didn't seem to care about Bray and Willow, so long as they didn't start a revolution on his watch.

“Sure.” Bray didn't argue. He didn't know the first thing about chopping wood. When he'd gone camping as a young kid, they'd gather fallen branches from the woods, or scavenge it from abandoned campsites sites. Chopping wood was new to him.

Eilith had decimated the entire forest surrounding the castle. The land looked burned, touched by death; the grass was brown and brittle. Nothing grew. The trees that had once sprung to life were black and bare of leaves in the middle of spring. For as far as Bray could see, the land looked dead. It made it easy to choose a tree; all of them were ready to come down. Willow chose the one closest to the entrance. She lifted her axe and took the first swing.

“You don't have to do that,” Bray said. “You can save your energy.” Willow glared at Bray and he let her take another swing at the tree in the same manner. Perhaps this would let her get her anger out; it was better she swing at the tree than at him. “Let me know when you need a break,” he said. He eyed another nearby tree, but opted against cutting it down. It would be easier for them to work as a team.

The guard kept a close watch on Willow and Bray. Willow stopped swinging the axe and wiped the sweat from her brow. “You want a swing?” She offered up the axe to the guard and he shook his head no. He didn't speak, at least not to the two of them. “Then quit staring at me like I'm dinner.” The guard mumbled something beneath his breath. Willow stepped aside, letting Bray have several turns while she rested her arms. “Bray.” Her voice caught in her throat and her eyes widened in horror.

With Bray's next swing, the tree creaked and thudded hard into the castle walls. It wouldn’t be moved anytime soon, at least not by ordinary means. Willow cursed under her breath, pulling Bray backwards and behind her.

Out of nowhere, Eilith appeared. A haze of smoke followed her. “You did this!” Her eyes glowed dark crimson like a ripe cherry. Her arm shot out, lifting Willow off her feet, until she was gasping for air.

“Put her down!” Bray yelled.

Willow's face turned red, and then blue, as her lungs ran out of fresh air.

Eilith threw Willow against the castle wall like a rag doll. A loud crack sounded when her head hit the stone. Her body fell limp in a heap. Eilith's eyes never left Bray. “You, boy.” She narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. “You have no one here to protect you.”

From a distance he saw the blood drip from Willow's forehead. “She's important to you. If she wasn't, you'd have killed her already.” Bray wasn't an idiot. There had to be reason she was keeping them both alive.

Eilith turned to face the guard. She gestured toward Willow, lying motionless on the cold solid ground. “Pick her up. Bring her inside.” She moved back on her feet, facing Bray. “Get that off my wall, chopped up, and inside before nightfall.” With a gust of wind, she vanished.

The Rescue

Chapter 6

At last, the group of five reached the farthest point of the tunnels from the sanctuary. Deep beneath the ground, the inside walls changed from red and copper brick to cobblestones.

“Be careful,” Hudson warned from behind Lil. “Don't touch the walls.”

“Okay,” Lil said. “Dead pixies?” She remembered what they'd briefly told her.

Rawlie slowed down as they grew more cautious along the path. “We don't know how much is used in the walls. Metal surfaces—like the locks—have it mixed in when they're formed. At the very least, it will permanently burn your flesh.”

“What about door handles?” Lil asked. “Or the windows?” She wanted to be prepared. She didn't want to touch something that might scar or kill her.

“Maybe you’re different,” Hudson said. “You’re not from Orenda. Either way, I’d be careful.”

“How often do you go up against Eilith?” Lil asked.

Rawlie said, “We try to stay as far from Eilith as possible. A few times we've sent scouts out; usually they don’t return.”

“So you've never fought her?” Lil asked, surprised. They were going into a battle that they weren't sure they could win, in enemy territory.

Hudson took offense. “Every day we fight her to stay alive. She’s poisoned the land and water, destroying our food supply. She’s enchanted creatures that we’re forced to face in battle.” They slowed to a standstill. Light pierced the edge of the tunnel. No one was ready, not really.

Arianna stayed at the front, leading the five of them like an officer marching her small army to victory. “Quiet and follow me,” she said. “We’re not far from Eilith’s castle.”

If they spoke too much or too loudly, they risked Eilith or her guards finding them. It wasn't a risk worth taking at the moment. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed as they climbed uphill. No matter how hard they tried to be quiet, their feet pounded the ground with their weapons weighing them down. Arianna groaned in protest. She hoped no one was standing on the other side of the entrance.

A gloomy, gray mist blanketed the forest. Arianna stepped out first. Seeing no sign of guards or Eilith, she gave the hand signal for them to arise from the underground tunnel. With the cover of fog, they inched forward, using dead trees to hide behind. Lil hated being fourth in line, but understood her place. Everyone except for Jamie was better trained and prepared for whatever Eilith would confront them with today. Lil edged closer. The mist made it difficult for her to see Rawlie just a few feet away, but she heard Hudson's feet crunch on the dead grass behind her.

Closer to Eilith’s territory, the fog lifted. It wouldn't be long before there wasn't any cover left. Lil edged as close as possible to Rawlie. Hudson was on her heels. From behind a giant tree, she peered to the side, wanting to see where Eilith lived. The beige-brown stone walls towered above her. The six-story mansion was old but in remarkable shape. Lil expected it to look like a haunted house. It looked more like a castle.

Side-by-side, they broke through the fog and haze, seeing a tree on the ground and a boy chopping it to pieces. “Bray!” Lil tried not to squeal, but her eyes widened as she rushed over to him.

Bray put the axe down, hearing her voice. “Willow?” he asked, turning. Lil wasted no time, running toward him, throwing her arms around him in the biggest hug. “Is that you, Lil?” he whispered into her ear.