Discovery at Nerwolix (8 page)

Reid grips me tight, his focus going all
around. Panic sets in again and I don’t know what to do. Reid
stiffens, one arm clasping my waist to his and the other holding
out his Traxpire, aimed but not firing. The Vermix stand and watch,
keeping us locked here, secluded from everything else. Like the
Arizal Dofinikes.

Where are they?

But then, just past the green gate of
Vermix, a short blue blur stirs in the distance. But I can’t be
certain. I’m too focused on the Vermix who have started to close
in. Reid grips me even harder and that’s when half the Dofinikes
start dropping one by one. They collapse to the white ground,
seeping pools of red around them, dampening the snow. I’m not sure
I’m seeing right but it must be happening. It must be because a
pale blue tidal wave washes over the north end of the circle, the
same tiny blades in their skinny fingers as they climb over the
Vermix bodies. Screams and snarls erupt again, but only from the
north. The Vermix from the south are still racing ahead, ready to
tackle us and Reid is firing his Traxpire on them.

But there are too many.

The Pweboles are slaughtering the north half
of the Vermix and we can’t handle the rest. We’re about to be
overrun. There’s no way we can get out of this. Ignoring the
slicing pain on my cheek, I grip Reid, preparing for the assault.
But then, thunderous blasts ring out behind the storming Vermix.
They trip to the ground and suddenly, Reid and I are in the middle
of a white, blue and red battle as orange fireworks shoot around
us, hitting the Vermix still trying to advance.

“We have to get out of here!” Clarence
calls, blasting through the barricade. He’s bleeding from his snout
and shoulder and racing toward us with a slight limp.

“What about Sampson?” Reid sweeps me up.
“And Jothkore?”

“They’re right behind us,” Clarence grips
his shoulder. “But we need to go.
Now!
”

An orange explosion flies past him and
everything starts to fade. Just as it does, an army of short blue
fuzz envelops the green and white landscape, screams crying out.
Then the purple fog washes over it all and everything goes
silent.

Are you injured
?

Clarence’s face is etched with concern as he
pegs me with an intense stare. He’s still in his true form, the
green strands of his beard billowing below his chin instead of the
usual blondish-white hair whipping above his head.

Her face has cuts and her wrists are
still tied
, Reid frowns at me.
It looks like they were
rough.

Overall,
Clarence’s mouth remains
sealed,
you are relatively uninjured?

Yes,
I hear myself answer.

Good.

You’re sure Sampson and Jothkore will be
okay?

They’re fine. We were prepared—we knew what
we were walking into.

How?
I ask.

His eyes hold mine.
You told us.

The lavender cloud evaporates and I’m in
Reid’s arms again, cradled against his chest with Clarence behind
us, already transformed to his human facade. It’s night, and we’re
in the middle of the Zingfinold forest. It’s the same place I’ve
been before, the same scene when we came to Nerwolix in search of
the Nhazual, except this time, it’s only the three of us.

On cue, Sampson and Jothkore appear a few
feet ahead. Both fully exhausted, they let out a sigh of relief at
the sight of me in Reid’s arms.

“Do they know?” Clarence makes his way
over.

“No—Reuzkimpart wasn’t happy to see us go,
but I think his disappointment lies in the mystery of our
whereabouts. Fallon,” Sampson turns to me, “we’re going to take you
back to your tree-home. We’ll apply some Vilbrees but please, tell
me, are you—”

“She’s fine,” Clarence nods. “A few
scratches and bruises… but… no worse for the wear.”

“Thank goodness…” Sampson releases a
satisfied sigh. “Everyone will be glad to know.”

“But how did you know—”

“Let’s get you up to the city and healed
first. All will be answered,” Sampson turns to Reid. “You’re
good?”

He nods. “I’ll take her by lift.”

“We’ll see you up there.”

Carrying me toward a tangle of low-hanging
lime leaves, Reid sets me on my feet. “I’m going to hoist us up,”
he grips a leaf. “But once we’re there, I’ll pick you up again,
okay?”

I nod.

“Hold on,” he wraps his free arm around my
waist. We ascend in seconds, flying past the dark canopy until the
night glows with the familiar golden specks. I forgot how beautiful
it is. I still have my head pressed against Reid’s neck but I can
see it all—the entire city of Zinnollo lit up with jars of
oversized fireflies illuminating the bridges and homes. We’re
slowing, approaching a branch and Reid pulls us onto it. “One more
swing, okay? Then we’ll be a bridge away from your home.”

“Are you staying with me?” I whisper into
his ear.

“There’s nowhere else I’d be,” he replies
softly. “Until you ask me to go, I’m with you.”

I grip the back of his shirt and we take off
again, flying through the air until he reaches solid ground. He
scoops me up and starts carrying me, and with my face pressed
against his chest now, it’s hard to see anything. Or anyone. But I
don’t want to see them. Not right now. Not looking like this—with
talon marks still freshly etched into my skin. Maybe tomorrow I can
face them, face Pratt and Mae, but definitely not now.

We pass a red curtain and a soft, golden
light emits from over Reid’s shoulders, painting the wooden walls
in a warm glow. He sets me down on the bed but comes with me, my
arms still wrapped around his neck. Gently releasing himself, he
pulls back long enough to cross the room.

“You’re going?” It sounds whiney—terrified
even—but I can’t stand the thought of him leaving me.

“No,” he shakes his head, his soft voice
reassuring. “I told you, I’m not leaving until you ask me. I’m just
getting a knife to get that,” he gestures to my bound wrists.

I let out a relieved sigh, leaning back into
the red cushions.

Reid returns and, sitting on the bed next to
me, he gently places my hands in his lap. Carefully sliding his
blade between the folds of the rope, he pulls it clean and the
restraint falls off. Wincing in response to my red wrists, the same
fury pours off of Reid as a hard lump rolls down his throat.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Picking up each hand, he softly brushes his
lips against the sore skin, closing his eyes as he moves his mouth
the full rotation. “How does that feel?”

“B-better,” I stammer, heat uncoiling in the
pit of my belly.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers.

“Why? You came back for me.”

“You shouldn’t have been taken in the first
place. When I saw you weren’t…” he shakes his head, a long, silent
moment passing. “I demanded we go back immediately. I nearly
attacked Sampson, made him take me back—” he’s cut off by the red
curtain flapping open.

Sampson, Clarence, Jothkore and Blovid are
here, all in their human form. They glance fleetingly at our
positions, Clarence carrying a small bowl in his hand as he sits by
my side.

“Sampson made some more Vilbrees from the
Tregmint,” he softly cradles my chin. “Let me see your face.”

“Fallon, dear,” Blovid shakes his head. “I
am so sorry.”

“Thank goodness we got you out alive,”
Jothkore says. He takes a small step forward, a worrisome frown
etched into his smooth white skin. “When they called me—”

“Yeah,” I glance between all the Dofinikes
with confusion. “How did that happen? Where have you been?”

I haven’t seen Jothkore since Harrizel,
since we overtook the Castle prior to the Vermix returning. He had
been our ‘inside’ man, posing as a guard but feeding information to
Sampson and supplying the Rogues when he could. And when the time
came to revolt, he secured Jeb and Ergiloff so we’d be able to
access the weapons and defeat the rest of the guards. Jothkore was
a crucial part in the takeover. But he disappeared after we
liberated our memories, and according to Sampson, he was off
handling some request for him.

It was a shock seeing Jothkore on Larupip.
When Reid said his name, I didn’t place it at first. There was too
much going on—too many Traxpire blasts and Dofinikes scrambling up
the walls to question his sudden reappearance. We just had to get
out of there. Fast. But now that we’re here, I’m curious why I
haven’t questioned his whereabouts.

“Jothkore was with King Thias in the
northern region on my request,” Sampson explains. “We knew we
needed additional assistance to reclaim you. It wasn’t smart to
bring Blovid, although he eagerly volunteered. Repeatedly.”

“She is too important to be left in the
Vermix’s hands,” Blovid says.

“And so are you.”

A cooling sensation runs the course of my
cheek, instant relief flooding me. I turn to watch Clarence dip his
fingers into the bowl again, smoothing the mixture down my jaw.
“Feel good?”

I nod.

“Looks like he got you pretty good,” he
winces, trying to fight off a frown. “What uh…what happened? Do you
remember?”

I nod again, focusing on the last hour.
“When I came to, they had me tied up,” I present my wrists and
Clarence motions for them. I lay them in his lap and he starts to
gently smooth the bluish- green lotion around their sore skin,
carefully avoiding Reid’s Callix. “It was only a few at first… then
someone called the Supreme came in. I couldn’t see him. He was
surrounded by a huge group of Vermix and…” I stare off, trying to
remember everything I heard, “…he was talking about bringing me
back to Dellapalania. And same with you two,” I glance between
Sampson and Blovid. “Said he wanted to execute all of us for the
Vermix. Said it would be easier with you out of the way for the
invasion—”

“Invasion?” Sampson interrupts me. “What
invasion?”

“I-I think he means Nerwolix. He mentioned
the Floating Ruby,” I gulp, trying to replay everything. “Said that
once he had that… they would head back to Mybyncia for the Shadow
Bag and end the prophecy,” I look up. “Is that what this is all
about? Ending the prophecy?”

“Yes…” Sampson nods, pacing the small bit of
space. “I’ve had this idea for a while. He’s collecting the Gifts
for a reason. At first we believed it was simply to eradicate the
Arizals—end this rebellion. But…I think he wants to take it a step
further,” Sampson looks around the room with a deep inhale. When he
speaks, his voice is powerful and strong, commanding like his
presence. “I believe Reuzkimpart wants to change the fate of the
Dofinikes. Do away with the possibility of the human war
altogether.”

“How?” Reid’s head snaps up. “Undo human
existence or something?”

“Possibly,” Sampson shrugs. “I’m not sure
what his exact plan is.”

“He has always been terrified of this
prophecy,” Blovid shakes his head, strumming his chin, “like a
little child. He never should have looked into the Glass
Chamber.”

“What’s that?” I glance around. “The Glass
Chamber?”

Clarence moves to a stand. “When the Lost
Princesses delivered their Gift to Dellapalania, they bestowed it
deep in the mountains as a cavern of mirrors—The Glass Chamber was
a sacred space never to be used or viewed.”

“But,” Sampson says, “even as a child,
Reuzkimpart could not tame his curiosity. He learned the location
of The Glass Chamber and entered it. In there, he saw what he calls
‘the fate of the Dofinikes.’
Sullio Pf ticrocki
gagazinoff
—images of the war, of
Humans slaying
Dofinikes
.”

“But you can’t be sure that’s what he really
saw?” I ask.

“No. There is no way of knowing for
certain,” Sampson shakes his head. “No one was allowed entrance
into it. He told the Leaders what he witnessed and they had no
choice other than to believe him. They figured, perhaps he was
somehow chosen to find it and deliver the message of the Prophecy
to them.”

“But he could be lying,” I say. “If he was
the only one who saw it—”

“Doubtful,” Blovid shakes his head. “I
remember when he told us. I was a new Leader at that time—the
youngest appointed,” he glances to Sampson. “Theon was still on the
council then,” he looks back to me. “I remember Reuzkimpart telling
us what happened—what he saw. He was scared beyond all
conception.”

“How long ago was that?” Reid asks.

“Hmm…” Blovid strums his chin, thinking, “it
must be a little over two hundred years ago.”

“Is it still there?” Reid asks. “The Glass
Chamber?”

“No,” Sampson says. “It was destroyed.”

“How?”

“After Reuzkimpart told the Leaders what he
saw and they declared it a World-endangering prophecy, many were
angered. The Glass Chamber was not to be entered, so how did a
child make entrance?”

“Huge riots erupted,” Blovid goes on. “If it
was not off limits, they wanted to see their
own
futures.
Hoards stormed the kingdom, looking for its whereabouts and sooner
or later, the location was leaked and after that…”

“Some wanted to protect it. Others wanted to
use it. In the process,” Sampson sighs, “it was destroyed.”

“The whole thing?” I ask.

“Well,” Blovid shakes his head. “Not
everything
…”

“It was the last time the Lost Princesses
appeared,” Qippert stands in the archway, the red curtain pulled
back. “They said we were not mature enough to handle our Gift. They
destroyed nearly everything that was not already shattered. All
except
one
piece.”

“What happened to it?” I ask.

“They took it—hid it somewhere on
Dellapalania or one of her moons. They said they would return it at
the time it was needed, to the one who could handle using it.”

“Who?” I glance around the Dofinikes.