The Aurora Stone (7 page)

It had been nine days since Maximus had spoken to them, and during this time Eve and Caleb had explored the tree- top city. There had only been one incident in which Caleb had managed to become an unwilling participant in a fight with a rather scary looking resident by the name of Nex. Caleb was still nursing some bruised ribs and three broken fingers from that encounter. It turns out that the riders do not like being referred to as mice. Not only was he beaten up by a giant rodent, it was also an extremely public spectacle. The incident took place in the Dome. The Dome a covered area where the food market and other trades were based. It was located on the mid-level of the City. It was the only part of this sprawling treetop metropolis, that was always full of activity.

Caleb had been waiting in line for lunch at one of the most popular stalls in the Dome; when he’d managed to accidently stand on the tail of a female waiting in line ahead of him. Unfortunately for Caleb, this happened to be Nex’s little sister Zoe. Nex was well known for his short temper and violent outbursts, he was the kind to lash out at the slightest misdemeanour, some of which were his own perceptions and not actual slights against him. As on every occasion where there was a possibility for Nex to dish out some punishment, he demanded that as part of his apology, Caleb purchased Zoe’s lunch for her, which Caleb agreed to. It all would have ended there had Caleb not muttered, “this mouse is touchy, too much cheese before bedtime.” Nex heard him. The next thing Caleb knew, he was being tackled to the ground by a very angry, three-hundred-pound rodent. “We…are…not…mice...ignorant …witch!” Each bellowed word was punctuated with a kick to Caleb’s ribs. Picking Cal up by his collar, Nex held him up so his feet were off the floor. The enraged rider glared into Caleb’s bloodied face and snarled. “We are Miscurts, fearless aerial warriors, Death dealers from above. You would do well to remember that, witch.”

That was three days ago. Today, Eve was going to visit the Owls or Protectors as Jericho had informed her they preferred to be called. Preparing to make her way to the lake, she was buzzing with excitement. Since her first and rather a scary ride, she had learned that the protectors were not pets of the Miscurts; they were a race in their own right. Jericho had spent an entire afternoon with Eve in the city library, explaining the history and alliances with the protectors. It answered many of her questions but also created plenty more.

“So, why did you steal the star shine roots from Clear Water Valley?” Eve asked Jericho, as they sat in the library. “Caleb said there was a great battle many years ago.” Eve couldn’t help it, the question just popped out. Laughing a hearty belly laugh, Jericho wiped the tears of mirth from his black eyes and answered the inquisitive young maid.

“There was no battle, Eve. That is the story the witches tell their young to keep us, the monsters and them away from our borders. We came to an agreement to stop digging up the roots in exchange for our own crop,” Eve was confused.

“Yes, but why did you want the roots in the first place. Are they magical?”

Jericho had wondered away from her to return the volume they had been looking through.

“No, they just taste nice;” he answered over his shoulder. It was all too much for Eve; she burst out laughing. She couldn’t wait to tell Cal.

“Good morning, Evangeline!” Called Dexter as he exited the healer’s quarters. He had taken a fist to the snout when trying to get Nex off of Caleb and it was still a bit swollen and red. Waving as she passed, Eve called to him.

“Hello Dexter, your nose is looking a bit better. I’m off to meet Jericho, he is introducing me to the protectors.” Eve skipped down the last staircase and ran the short distance to the edge of the lake, where she could see Jericho waiting.

“Finally!” Jericho grunted. It felt like he had been waiting for half the morning. Eve arrived at his side, eyes sparkling like she hadn’t a care in the world, “I was wondering where you had got to,” he stated. Smiling sheepishly and fiddling with the ties of her new leather chaps, Eve apologised.

“I am sorry, Jericho. I was up late last night reading.” Huffing, he retrieved his curled reed to alert the Protectors that they were needed. A few moments passed and then Jericho raised his paw in greeting. Eve looked in the direction he was waving and saw two Protectors gliding over the lake. They landed before them, the morning sun bringing lustre to their feathers and fire to their jewel- like eyes. Keisha, the Protector Eve had met before, as she had been the owl Eve had ridden on her journey here, observed Eve with Smoky quartz eyes. Then spreading her bronze wings, her midnight blue primary feathers catching the light Keisha bowed gracefully. Amazed that yet another creature was welcoming her in this manner, Eve curtsied to the majestic bird.

Clearing his throat and hoping that none of the shock he was feeling came through in his voice, Jericho gestured to the other owl that had accompanied Keisha. Eve turned her attention to the other Protector waiting quietly on the shore. This owl was white with black flecks on her breast. Its feathers were not as striking as Keisha’s but then Eve looked into the bird’s eyes; they were sapphire blue. Never had she seen any creature with eyes such as these.

“This is Sapphire,” Jericho introduced the Protector.

“Named for her eyes no doubt,” Eve whispered stepping to stand in front of the snowy owl. Eve looked up into her blue eyes, smiled and dropped into a curtsy. Sapphire clicked her beak and instead of bowing, as both Eve had expected, she brought her snowy head down and placed her forehead against Eve’s.

As soon as the contact was made, Eve experienced a rush of images. A house, her brother and her birth parents. The house must have been her home with them. Then the darkness appeared, it slithered into the house in the dead of night. The darkness entered her room but shied away when it touched her. Eve then saw it enter her brother’s room and do the same. When it reached her parent's room, it began to circle their bed faster and faster, until it was a blur of black. Her mother woke and just as she opened her mouth to scream, both her parents and the darkness vanished.

Eve could feel tears rolling down her cheeks, upset by the images she had just witnessed. She tried to pull away, but a gentle voice that came from within her head whispered.
You must see it all, dear one.

Eve knew it was Sapphire she had heard. Taking a breath, she prepared herself for the rest.

It was the early hours of the same night. Eve was asleep in her crib, thumb in her mouth. Eli was crying in the room next door, but no one came to sooth him. Just as the sky changed to the pearly colours of pre-dawn, two men entered the house. They looked much like Caleb, though their features were more pointed and they had gossamer wings folded against their backs. They entered Eli’s room, picked him up and left as quickly as they had arrived.

“Nooooo!” Eve moaned, as she dropped to her knees, the connection lost. Jericho just stood there not understanding at all what had just taken place.

“I know where my brother is. Jericho, I need to find Caleb.” She rushed her words, tears still streaming down her face. Confused he picked her up and was about to run back to the city when Eve reached out to Sapphire. Taking her closer, Jericho watched as the great bird rested her head on Eve’s hand, and watched a large tear fall from the owl’s beautiful eye.

“Thank you, dear friend. Please wait for me to return, I won’t be long,” Eve whispered to her new friend. Sapphire nodded her head in an assurance that she would indeed wait.

“Amazing!” Jericho breathed.

They were back at the lake ten minutes later. Eve running and Jericho carried Caleb, much to his displeasure. On arriving, Eve very quickly explained to Caleb what had happened. Caleb stood and listened until Eve was finished before he spoke.

“So the owl…” There was an angry screech from behind Caleb. “Sorry! I mean Sapphire, shared this information with you?” Eve nodded, while Jericho was becoming even more confused. Eve then explained her quest and the prophecy she was destined to fulfil.

“So let me get this straight. You are on a quest to find this Aurora Stone and your long lost brother? Caleb is one of your three companions and you can communicate with Sapphire? Wow! I need a moment.” Jericho moved away from the group and sat on a boulder, looking out onto the tranquil lake. Eve turned to Caleb,

“We are going to have to explain at least part of this to Maximus; it will look really suspicious if we suddenly have a pressing urge to leave.” Not happy with it but knowing that sneaking off would never work, Caleb agreed. Though he also made it clear that Jericho was to be there as well.

Whoosh! a large book missed Eve by a hair. Maximus was enraged. He knew there was more to these two than he was being told. Picking up a glass paperweight he launched it across the room, the orb ricocheted off the bookcase and embedded itself in a rather large portrait of his grandfather.

“DECEIVERS, I KNEW YOU WERE LYING TO ME! “he bellowed, the pinks of his ears turning purple.

“I can prove what I am telling you to be true, just please calm down.” Eve pleaded from behind Jericho. This seemed to cause Maximus to reach new heights of fury. His breathing was becoming shallow and fast, eyes wide and ears flat.

“You shouldn’t have told him to calm down,” moaned Jericho as he watched his leader knock over three chairs and tear up a large map.

Eve stepped back and reached for the door handle; if she could just get to her room, she could retrieve the box, and hopefully begin to prove her story to be true. Unfortunately, the Miscurt leader saw her. Picking up the cane that a moment ago had supported his prized cheese plant he came crashing towards her.

“Where do you think you’re going?” raising the cane, Maximus was about to bring it down on Eve’s shoulder, when he caught his foot on the rumpled rug and fell, Miscurt and cane flew in opposite directions. Maximus came to land with a thud against the end of his desk with the wind knocked out of him. Maximus was about to spring to his feet when the ink blotter that had been on the edge of his desk fell off and struck him between the eyes, knocking him unconscious and leaving a smudge of blue ink in its wake. Caleb, who had been watching from the chair he had been too scared to vacate, looked at the now still Maximus.

“Is he...dead?” Caleb whispered eyes wide. Rushing to his side Eve placed her ear to the mighty rodent’s chest.

“No just knocked out, he will be alright. I will make him something for the pain.” Leaving the room, she asked that Jericho bring Maximus to her burrow as discreetly as possible. Sighing, he went towards the great leader and hauled him over his shoulder.

“I hope you know what you are doing, Eve; Maximus is not going to like this when he wakes up.” However, he was addressing the closed door, as she had already left.

It was a tense few moments when Maximus came around. At first, he was ready to tear the burrow apart and throttle the lot of them. However, realising this was physically not possible and that Eve had been tending to his extremely sore head, Maximus did something he had not managed since he was a child, Maximus listened.

“I have never seen a stone of prophecy in all my years; you must guard it well, there are those who would destroy it,” Maximus warned Eve, as he carefully handed back the slab of moonstone.

“Destroy it? What good would that do? The prophecy has been heard,” Caleb interjected. Maximus trying hard to keep his temper explained that the stone is also a key and without it, the prophecy cannot be completed. This was news to Eve; Reena had not mentioned anything more about the stone apart from to keep it safe and activating it for her.