Talisman (59 page)

Stunned
by the sternness of her candor, I straightened myself up (
again
) to a more focused and serious stance.

My bad.

Beatrix let go of the sword, and I
carefully
lifted it up to my chest.

“
Excellent
.  Now, you must be aware of your surroundings and size up your opponent. 
Never
underestimate them
.  Once you’ve done that, engage them by keeping your eyes on your enemy and direct your sword towards their head or throat.  Personally, I prefer the
eye
,” she announced with a sassy wink.  Beatrix positioned my arms accordingly and announced, “
Perfect
…Now you’re ready. 
En Garde!
”

Beatrix spent the rest of the morning guiding me through her instructions.  We worked on my stance, balance, reflexes, and she even gave me a pretty lengthy list of do’s and don’ts.  She told me to relax, but
to be on my guard.  Conserve your energy, but you must be aggressive.  Hold your stance, but that I needed to move around more.  Stay engaged, but keep my distance.  Always expect the unexpected.  A single strike will take down a foe, but combination strikes were much more effective.   Stand your ground, but you must retreat to fight another day — if necessary.  Don’t attempt any fancy footwork, but keep your legs moving because they’re “an easy target”.  You need to have a strong offense, but a stronger defense will keep you alive.  She even swore if she ever caught me trying any “foolish nonsense” like crazy acrobatic moves or twirling my sword while I was in a fight that she would hunt me down and “run me through” herself.  I think my favorite was, “
Expect to be cut
, since anyone who uses a sword has most likely had it dipped in diamond-dust, which guarantees that their blade will not break.”
Yeah, that one really gave me the warm & fuzzies
.

The most disheartening thing about my “practice session” wasn’t my skills, not in the least.  Even Beatrix was impressed with the inborn talent I p
ossessed.  My problem was my heart.  I was still struggling with the idea of actually taking someone down.  Though Beatrix was a great cheerleader, I thought the home team needed more of a confidence booster.  Admittedly, I felt like a scared little girl, even Beatrix sensed it — but I swear I would never tell Tanner Grey that!

Midday had arrived and Beatrix announced, “I think we’re at a good stopping point.  Let’s break for some lunch, shall we?”

I eagerly agreed.  I had run out of the house this morning in such a panic that I’d forgotten to eat breakfast.  Beatrix reached for something behind a large cluster of rocks.  It turned out to be a picnic basket.

She proudly toted the wicker basket up the stone stairs and turned to ask, “Aren’t you coming?”  I nodded and followed behind her. 
“Bring the swords,” she added.  “I’m going to see how much you’ve learned after lunch.”

I gathered up the two wooden swords and
followed her up the stairs.  Beatrix held on to the wall of the cave as she hobbled at a snail’s pace up the steps.  I followed patiently behind her.  It dawned on me that maybe she’d been chosen to train me because I was probably no match for Tanner Grey.  Surely, Beatrix’s physical abilities were better suited to my novice and limited skills when it came to sword fighting.  I thought, as any respectful young adult would,
I’ll take it easy on her
.

Once outside, Beatrix waved her
hand and sealed the entrance.

“Do you know how to get to the old mill in Babcock?”
she inquired.

The m
ill she was referring to sat beside Glade Creek in Babcock, West Virginia.  It was southeast of Fayetteville, where Tanner and I had been yesterday morning.

“Yes
.  I’ve been there before.”

“
Good
.  Then you won’t have any problems finding your way.  I think it’s the ideal place for a fall picnic and to work on your balance.  We’ll put some of those moves you’ve learned to use. 
Practice makes perfect
.”

I quietly sulked,
Great…More water
.

“Would you mind toting the basket
, dear?”

I happily obliged her.  There I stood, play swords in one hand and picnic basket in the other.  I was curious why she wanted to know if I knew how to get there. 
Is it possible she’s faster than Tanner, or is she just being more considerate?
  He was prone to, without warning, make a quick exit.

“Since I know where we’re going,
this time
…Do you want to lead, or should I?”

“Oh, you’ll get t
here before me,
without a doubt
,” she chuckled.  “But Shiloh, dear…I
don’t
run.”

Beatrix swiftly threw her arms out and transformed into none other than my feathery little friend,
the falcon
.  Amazed, I watched her altered form soar high into the sky with effortless grace.  Once the shock had subsided, I held on tightly to the load of items I was to carry and prepared to head off through the mountains to rendezvous at the old mill thinking,
Sneaky old bird
…

She was right.  I arrived about five minutes ahead of
her, but that allowed me to lay down the blanket and divvy up the food.  The scenery was spectacular.  The fall foliage was at its peak and the trees circling the old grain mill were exploding with autumn colors.  Not only did the steady rhythm of the churning wheel as it passed through the water sound soothing, but it visually lent our venue a picturesque and peaceful air.  The birds were chirping and the sun was shining.  It was another absolutely gorgeous day.  It would have been
perfect
…if my father could have experienced its beauty too.

I was
skipping on the scattered rocks that lay alongside the creek, working on my balance, when Beatrix finally arrived.  In one swoop, she landed and changed back into the elderly woman’s form I’d known for years.

“I’m sorry to run late
, dear,” Beatrix apologized.  “I took the
scenic route
.”

“How did you
do THAT?
” I asked, still amazed.

As we walked over to sit down on the blue
& white-checked blanket, she revealed, “The topaz is an air element, dear.  I don’t necessarily have to turn into a bird to fly, but I enjoy doing so.  When I’m in my regular, human form it may seem like I’m flying, but I’m actually controlling the air around me.  I make it give me a
little boost
.  Tanner’s a water element, so he can manipulate water in the air and change into his misty, vapor-like form.  You really don’t need to rely on the elements when traveling.  The strength of your legs will carry you fast enough.  One day, you’ll even catch up to Tanner and beat him.  Please tell me when you
do
,” she said with a grin.  “Though I’d love to see that,
in person
.”

“But how did
you change into a falcon?  That was
incredible!
”

“
The topaz is a very unique stone that represents
change
.  It not only allows the stone to take on various colors, but its same energy enables me to alter my appearance as well…though I’m limited to creatures of flight.  Since I can ‘fly’ and have an affinity for fowls, I choose to be a falcon.   They’re incredibly agile creatures and excellent hunters.”  Bea laughed and pointed, “Plus, I don’t have to worry about any other bird attacking me when I’m up there.”

“Can I change my form
with the golden topaz?” I asked eagerly.

“
No
,” Beatrix announced regretfully.  “I’m sorry to say that the same type of defensive power that won’t allow the diamond to pass on your body’s invincibility, also prevents my topaz from sharing its shape-shifting power with any other Talisman.  It’s a precautionary measure, but a necessary one I’m afraid.”

As we sat down for lunch, Beatrix grinned and added, “
However
… Adamas
could,
but that power he drew from another stone.”  Beatrix could tell by my expression that I was more than intrigued.  She explained, “Shiloh, the diamond is the only stone that reigns as a storm element.  That is what allows you to draw some of the powers from the four earthly elements of air, water, fire, and earth.  It’s why Adamas could claim more than one origin stone.  No other Talisman can.  Adamas was the first, and only one to ever do so.  Granted the diamond wand was officially his first
‘birth-stone’
…he actually had four other stones that spoke to him and ‘sought him out’.  Each one of them represented one of the earthly elements.  That, my dear, is another reason
why
your diamond wand is such a popular ‘prize’ to be acquired.”

Casually, Beatrix began pouring our drinks and continued, “You see, Shiloh, an origin stone, or
birth-stone
, which is its more
ceremonious name
, is the stone that the cosmos bestows upon you when you’re born.  It calls out to you, whispers in your ear at night, and warms your soul.  Just like my golden topaz called out to me when I discovered I was a Talisman, and like Tanner’s amethyst did to him.  The diamond wand has been calling out to you for years now.  You just weren’t ready to hear it.  Your birth-stone will only reveal itself when
you’re ready
.  It’s the one stone that allows its powers to flow through your body at all times without the need to carry it around with you.  It’s also the only stone that can be born from your flesh.  It knows your thoughts, feelings, and desires.  It even harbors your
memories
.  It knows you inside and out.  Like I told you before, that’s why the diamond hasn’t released itself to you…
It knows, dear
.”

“I’m getting a little worried
that I may never be ready, Bea.  This is all so much in such a short amount of time.  Don’t get me wrong.  It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, but it bears a lot of responsibilities and
burdens
…Ones I’d never dreamed of in a million years.  I’m not one-hundred-percent sure right now, if I can actually
do this
… Be a
Talisman?
”

“I have faith in you, dear,” Beatrix proclaimed as she patted my hand.
  “The wand does, too.  Personally, I think it’s just giving you some space.  They tend to have minds of their own sometimes, just like we do.”

“How can you or the wand be so sure when I’m not?” I asked skeptically.

“Because, Shiloh…it
is
your destiny.”

My Talisman lessons didn’t stop just because we were about to eat lunch.  Beatrix informed me that Lazarus’ stone, the lapis la
zuli, reigned as an air element — the same as her topaz.  However, since he wasn’t the first to claim it, his powers were quite inferior to hers.  Beatrix knew the
original
owner of the lapis lazuli.  She was quick to let me know that he was nothing like Lazarus.  His name was Gahiji.  I thought it sounded rather exotic and by the way her face lit up when she spoke his name, I could tell they were more than just “acquaintances”.

Beatrix revealed there were only two ways to claim another living Talisman’s stone. 
One way was if they
willingly
surrendered it to another Talisman, which she assured me “rarely ever happens”.  Since Adamas surrendered his powers back to the diamond wand itself, that act allowed me to bear the full fruits of the wand’s powers, so I could “rightfully” claim it as my “origin” stone.

The other way was
by dying at the hands of another Talisman.  This, she avowed, was the more commonly practiced tactic.  Even if they successfully claimed another Talisman’s stone by killing them, they still couldn’t consider it a “true” origin stone, because it was not bestowed by the cosmos as their birthright.  It was obtained by force, hence, it would only exude half of the stone’s intended power and could not be born from their flesh.  Beatrix did mention that if I were ever to claim another Talisman’s stone by killing them, where my diamond’s power magnifies all other stones, I would be able to summon the stone’s full power.  However, the acquired stone could not be born from my flesh either, because the diamond’s powers would never allow it.

The only way for a stone to be “officially” reclaimed as an origin stone was if a Talisman died naturally, by chance of fate, or was killed by anyone other than a Talisman.  The Talisman’s origin stone would lay
in wait for the cosmos to produce its next heir.  Apparently, that’s how Gahiji died, so his stone went unclaimed for centuries, allowing it to be rightfully claimed as an origin stone by the next Talisman born unto to the earth.  And that birth-stone right was unfortunately bestowed to Lazarus Xcavare when he came along.

Beatrix confirmed that Lazarus was the one responsible for the freak blizzard
on the night of Daddy’s death.  Where his lapis lazuli possessed a great deal of psychic abilities (similar in nature to mine, but not in strength) his emotions could generate snowfalls.  She said that Lazarus’ blue powder, which he had inflicted my father with, was a poison he could conjure at will.  She said its effects were horribly dreadful and fatally potent.  She also took great delight in revealing that even though he could manipulate the air around him to some degree, he couldn’t use it to fly.  That ability was granted to only a select few air elemental stones, ones of more formidable power, which
his
was not.