Everflame (33 page)

Tomas stared up at the Ancient, slightly trembling and gazed into the creature’s eyes. Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light. The group rubbed their eyes and readjusted them upon Tomas and Tenturo. “Now, Tomas, take your bow and shoot that bird from the sky.” Tenturo looked upward and Tomas followed his gaze. So did the others, but as Evercloud, Riverpaw and Ben looked into the sky, they were unable to see any bird. Tomas, however, took his bow
in his hands and shot an arrow straight up into the air, so far and fast that it disappeared from their sight. Moments later, a large condor began to fall from the heavens. When it landed near them, upon the snowy mountain, the bird disappeared as if it had not existed at all.

“That’s amazing,” said Tomas. “It’s as if I can see forever. Thank you, Tenturo.” Tomas bowed to the gri
ffin and returned to the group.

Then Evercloud stood. “My name is Evercloud, son of Eveneye, and I am from the Kingdom on Gray Mountain.”

“You live among the bears by choice?” asked Tenturo.

“Well, yes and no,” replied Evercloud. “I was abandoned by my human guardians when I was too small to remember. The bears took me in
, and have raised me as their own. They do not keep me against my will, they are my family.”

“Interesting,” said Tenturo.

Evercloud continued. “I, like the brothers Floyd, am also on a mission to find and free those who created the creatures of this world. However, my mission varies in some regards. I have been told stories, by the bears upon Gray Mountain, that long ago, there were powers bestowed upon man so that he could act as a protector of peace for the world. I wish to reclaim those gifts, once given to men, so that I may work to unite the creatures of this world harmoniously.”

“Looks like we’re not the only ones with secrets,” Tomas whispered to his brother.

“That is quite a request, Evercloud, son of Eveneye.” Tenturo gazed down at the young man as if his eyes could see through him.

“Even so, great Tenturo, I have seen that creatures of different kind can exist together, and I see it as my responsibility to promote that for the betterment of the world.”

Tenturo nodded. “Is that the only reason you wish to reclaim these powers, Evercloud?”

Evercloud considered saying yes, but something inside of him told him that it would be a mistake to lie to the Ancient. Something made him feel that Tenturo could see into his heart.

“No,” said Evercloud, “there is another reason that I wish to have these powers. I also wish to rid this world of the Great Tyrant. I want to use these powers to defeat him.”

This statement came as a shock to everyone in the group, even Riverpaw, but if it had surprised the Anci
ent at all, he did not show it.

“And wh
at if you fail?” asked Tenturo.

“I have sworn to myself that I will not.”

Tenturo hummed, thinking. “And would you swear to me?”

Evercloud’s response came quick. “No, Tenturo, I would not. I do this for my own motivations and it would be a lie to pretend that I act in your interest alone, or in your service alone.”

The jaws of the other three travelers dropped wide, in horror, sure that Evercloud had just made a fatal error in judgment.

But Tenturo smiled. “Maybe there is hope for this world yet.” The travelers stared at Evercloud and Tenturo in wonder. “I shall grant your request, Evercloud. Please come forward.”

Evercloud stood in front of the great Tenturo, alone in the cold air. The Ancient closed his eyes, deep in concentration, and then, Evercloud was enveloped in a silvery light. His body tingled all over as he felt the power surrounding him, the hair on his arms standing up. A mighty wind came and lifted Evercloud off of his feet, suspending him in the air. It swirled all around him, brushing against his arms and his face like gentle hands. Evercloud opened his mouth in surprise, and as he did, the light rushed inside of him, filling him with its power. His eyes grew wide as he could feel strength surging through every fiber of his body. His senses became acute, as if fear had filled his body with adrenaline, but there was no fear, only joy. Unimaginable happiness and serenity washed over Evercloud and then, the wind ceased and Evercloud’s feet returned to the ground.

“W
hat was that?” asked Evercloud.

“You have been given the power of the wind, Evercloud. It is the only power that I can give to you. In order to obtain the others, you will have to find the other Ancients.”

Evercloud stood up from the ground. “I feel amazing,” he said. “I feel strong.”

He walked over to Tomas and picked him up with ease, hoisting him above his head.

“Hey!” yelled Tomas. “Try your power on somebody else.”

“I feel strange,” said Evercloud, setting Tomas back onto the ground. “I feel like running.” Suddenly, he took off like a bolt across the snow, moving so fast that he seemed to be a blur. He came to a stop in front of Tenturo and bowed to the griffin. “Thank you.”

“I do not give this gift to you lightly, Evercloud. I fully expect that you will fulfill your oath. You have been given great power because you wanted great responsibility. Do not forget that.”

“Yes, Tenturo.” Again Evercloud bowed and then returned to the group.

Now Riverpaw stood in front of the Ancient. He looked hollow and broken, like the ghost of a bear, but he stood resolutely in front of Tenturo with swollen eyes and asked for the only thing in the world that he wanted.

“My name is Riverpaw, son of Whiteclaw, and I want you to bring my father back.” Riverpaw stared at the ancient creator, unyielding, desperately afraid that any sign of weakness might cause Tenturo to reject his request.

Tenturo looked down at the bear and slowly blinked his eyes. In all of the ages of his existence, through that vast expanse of time, he had never felt the wrenching pain upon his heart that he felt now. He bowed his head and accepted the fate of this sobering moment, and then he gave his answer to Riverpaw.

“I am sorry, Riverpaw. I cannot.”

“That is not true,” said Riverpaw, no longer able to stop the emotion from cracking his voice. “The Earth gave new life to the Tyrant. It has been done.”

Tenturo softly shook his head. “It is not an existence that you would ever wish upon someone you loved, Riverpaw. Resurrecting the dead is an evil magic; it is no simple act of healing. Your father would be changed, Riverpaw, he would be incomplete. Do not wish for this.”

Riverpaw dropped his head, too tired to fight any longer. The pain had won, and tears flowed freely from his eyes. “What would you have me do?”

“I would have you honor your father’s memory.”

Riverpaw looked back up. “Then I wish for the power of the wind. I, as well, wish to use it to create peace between bear and man. That is something that my father had worked toward. I wish to continue that work alongside Evercloud.”

“Then yo
u shall have it,” said Tenturo.

And like Evercloud, Riverpaw too was enveloped by the wind and silver light. When the process was over, he stood to his full height
, and without knowing that it was possible, launched himself into the air. He was flying. He soared through the air, above the mountain, diving and ascending again, making loops and rolls and finally, crashing into the rock wall of the alley. The mountain shook and Riverpaw stood from the ground where he had fallen, unscathed and smiling. A Riverpaw-sized chunk of rock had crumbled away from the wall where the bear had hit it.

“He’s like a…like a…what do you call them?” asked Evercloud.

“A cannonball,” said Ben.

“Yeah, he’s a cannonball.”

Riverpaw returned to the group and looked at Ben. “You plan to travel to Felaqua for clues to freeing Chera?”

“Yes,” Ben answered.

“Do you mean to travel alone?” asked Riverpaw.

“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to,” said Ben with a grin.

Riverpaw turned to Evercloud and Evercloud nodded at him.

“I’m in as well,” said Tomas.

“It’s settled then,” said Ben. “An alliance.”

“What of you, Tenturo?” asked Evercloud. “What will you do when you reach your home in the Green Mountains?”

“That has yet to be determined,” he said. “However, I believe that it is time for me to be going.” Tenturo walked over to Whiteclaw’s body and lifted it, in one massive paw.

“Please, tell my mother that I love her,” said Riverpaw. “And tell her that I will return to her.”

“And please, tell my parents the same,” added Evercloud.

“Of course,” said Tenturo. “Oh, and one other thing before I go. Which one of you was it that passed the Padre’s test?”

Evercloud shyly raised a hand, still embarrassed for his being singled out. Then, suddenly, Tenturo touched his mind.

Anytime you should need me, Evercloud. No matter how far I am from you. You can always find me this way
.

Evercloud nodded at the Ancient.

“Just wondering,” said Tenturo. “Goodbye to you, and my thanks.”

The griffin spread his giant wings and began to beat them against the air. The travelers had to brace themselves to prevent the draft from knocking them over. With one final push, the Ancient thrust himself into
the air and began to fly away.

I will return to the mountain
, Riverpaw said silently to his father as he watched Tenturo carry him toward the horizon.
I will see you again. I swear it.

The travelers watched Tenturo fly in the distance, not quite knowing how to feel. Things were different now;
they
were different now. In the matter of a few hours, it had seemed as if the entire world had changed.

“There’s something Tomas and I need to tell the two of you,” said Ben to Evercloud and Riverpaw as he watched the Anci
ent disappear over the horizon.

“Excuse me,” came a voice from behind. “But I was told that I might find the brothers Floyd up here.”

The four travelers spun around to see a man holding a chain with a small, white stone hanging from it.

“Who are you?” asked Tomas.

“Me?” said the man. “I am a messenger.”

Chapter 31:
Confusion

The Messenger tossed the necklace at the feet of the newly formed alliance.

“What have you done with Esteban?” asked Ben.

“
I
do nothing,” said the Messenger. “I am what people do to themselves.”

Ben was not in the mood for riddles. “If you don’t tell me what you have done with Esteb
an, we will force it out of you, and trust me, you don’t want that.”

“That, Ben Floyd, would be a ridiculous waste of all of our time.”

“And why do you say that?” asked Ben in confusion.

“Because, I’ve already killed Esteban.”

All of their jaws dropped in disbelief. Tomas cried, “Why?”

“Come, come, Tomas. What is it mothers always say to their children? There’s no use crying over spilled milk.”

“I’ll show you what crying is for,” said Ben and pulled his blades from their sheaths.

“I wouldn’t get so aggre
ssive if I were you,” said the Messenger. “Your sister wouldn’t approve.”

“No,” yelled Ben.

“Well, first, let’s be sure I have the right girl. Big, blue eyes, flowing, red hair, soft, pale skin, gets very upset when you kill her father.”

“You monster!” screamed Ben.

• • •

Iolana was laying on the top step of the passage that led to the to
p of the mountain. The Messenger had continued to paralyze her, repeatedly, since the desert. It had been a nightmare. Unable to even close her eyes as the Messenger killed Padre Esteban, the small man never standing a chance to defend himself against such a foe. She wished that she had just agreed to follow him while in the desert. Then, maybe, just maybe, she would have been able to stop him.
What is this man after,
she wondered?  When they had entered the darkness of the passageway, she again had thought she would die. He had dragged her along the cold, rock floor, paralyzed. Her body being cut and bruised as they went along. After hours of moving, she had realized that he must need her for something, most likely to use against her brothers. A bartering chip. As she lay upon the freezing steps, she wondered if the man had found her brothers.
He could be fighting them now. If only I could move.
And then in her frustration and anger, her finger twitched. She tried with all her might to make it happen again. Two fingers twitched this time, and then her foot. The magic was wearing off. Minutes later, she slowly rose to her feet and hobbled out into the snow. And then she heard a man yell.

“Ben,” she called. “Tomas.”

With his blades raised, about to attack the Messenger, Ben heard something and turned his head to see Iolana, stumbling in the snow.

“Run,” she called out. “He’s going to kill you.”

“Iolana?” said Ben.