The Secret of the Stone
Chapter 8

The next morning we woke up early to prepare for our journey to Enin. Census and I without discussion had mutually decided to avoid one another. I helped Cordum and Nayr organize the supplies while he was in the kitchen conferring with Igil. Cloud watched the two fairies to make sure they didn’t try to escape but even he had succumbed to their charms as they laughed and joked cheerily. I had put on another one of Celestia’s outfits. This one was a light pink dress with a dark pink apron and matching trousers. I wore the same boots. I was carrying a row of blankets at the same time watching Temy show Cloud a card trick. I had not tied the apron properly and suddenly I tripped over one of its loose cords. The folded blankets flew into the air and landed in an untidy pile. At least Josili and Temy paused to make sure I had not hurt myself before they roared with laughter. They were all the way across the room but I knew they had something to do with it.

“Oh you think that’s funny.” I shouted at them shaking my fist in the air. They just laughed even harder. I refolded the blankets as Cloud came over to help me.

“Don’t worry about them.” He said loud enough for them to hear. I was about to respond when there was a heavy knock at the door. Everyone became very still. We had not expected anyone to come by. Igil motioned us to proceed to the kitchen. When the rest of us were safely inside, he answered the door. I put my hood over my head. No one moved as we listened carefully from the other side.

“Yes, what can I do for you?” We heard Igil say dryly. There was no answer instead we heard the bustling of footstep rushing in.

“Where are the men traveling with the white rabbit?” We heard a loud abrupt voice.

“How dare you come in here questioning me?” said Igil. “You have no authority here? I am the magistrate of this town.” We could hear the Yar soldiers coming closer. “Wait a second, here!“ Igil protested.

“You had better tell us where they are, now!” One of the soldiers threatened him. We then heard a loud crash. They had shoved him to the side of the room knocking over the table and continued toward the kitchen. Census who was watching through a crack in the door rushed out with Nayr and Cordum following. As they opened the door it hit one of the Yar soldiers and pushed him back into the wall.

“Here we are! What do you want with us?” Census demanded.

“You are to come with us,” replied the lead solider. “We have some questions to ask you.”

“We are not going anywhere with you!” replied Census as he and the others drew their weapons and surrounded the soldiers but the Yar never give up without a fight. They took out their own weapons. The Yar where humongous and incredibly strong even though they were outnumbered, they were more that a match for the Nevelians. The lead solider lunged at Census but he was agile and quickly dodged him. The Yar soldier came at him again and their weapons clashed. Census’s awkward shaped sword hit the Yar soldiers’ staff and the battle began. Igil and Nayr began to fight one of the remaining guards and Cordum the other.

“Now is our chance. Let’s get out of here Temy!” cried Josili but Temy hesitated.

“You two are not going anywhere!” said Cloud. He grabbed hold of the chain that was around them that hung on the floor.

“Temy what are you waiting for, these flightless fools are going to get captured by the Yar and they are going to get us captured too!” Temy seemed preoccupied. “Let’s go! Forget the plan! It’s too dangerous now.”

“Plan, what Plan!” I demanded to know what she meant. Cloud continued to hold on to their chains.

“I should have known that they were up to something,” said Cloud.”You’re not going to get away from me!”

“You’re a fool, if you think these chains can hold us?” Josili clapped her hands together and blew out a flash of light that temporarily blinded both Cloud and I. When the light disappeared the chains had disappeared from the arms of the fairies. The two fairies took to the air. “Did you forget we are fairies!”

“You have powers?” I asked astonished.

“Of course!” Josili laughed. Then in a blink Josili placed the chain on Cloud. “Now that is where a chain belongs.”

“I have a better idea now,” said Temy. “Let’s take the rabbit. He may prove to be profitable to us if we sell him to the Yar.”

“No!” I cried lunging towards them, but Temy quickly used a spell that slammed me to the floor.

“You’ve got more guts than I thought!” said Temy. Cloud untangled himself from the chains and began to sprint around the room so fast that the fairies could not lock on to him with their spells. I crawled to the door while they were distracted.

“Census! Help! The fairies are trying to kidnap Cloud.” I cried.

More Yar soldiers had entered the room. Igil was near the kitchen door he gave his opponent a final blow before rushing into the kitchen. Two Yar soldiers ran in after him. One grabbed Igil while the other lunged for Josili she fell to the ground.

Temy shot a bolt at the one that had caught Josili by the leg that slammed him into the wall. The Yar solider pressed a button on the bracelet he was wearing on his arm that shot out a clamp like device that wrapped around Temy. Then he jumped up and grabbed his spear running towards him to strike him.

“No!” I yelled. I pointed my finger at the soldier and a purple and white flash flew out and hit the Yar solider in the back. He lunged forward in shock by the blast. “What!” I looked at my fingers in disbelief. But the blast was not enough to stop the Yar guard he turned around and headed towards me and grabbed me by the collar, lifting me off the ground. Josili hit him with a bolt and we fell to the ground. The solider was knocked out. I took the bracelet off his hand and released Temy from the Yar device just as Cloud and Igil finished off the other Yar solider.

“Violet you…?” Cloud said in disbelief, still astonished by the flash that he could not finish his sentence.

“Let’s go!” said Igil. The five of us ran into the other room where Census and the others were battling the Yar. There was no way out we had to go through the back. Temy and Josili used their power balls to knock the Yar soldiers back while we ran back through the kitchen with Census, Nayr and Cordum.

“This way!” yelled Igil. We ran out the back door and into the crowded streets. The Yar soldiers followed us but Igil led us to a secret passage and we disappeared from their sight. We ended up in an underground tunnel, we continued down the tunnel for what seemed like forever before we stopped to catch our breath were the tunnel parted in two directions.

“Well, my friend,” said Igil to Census. He locked arms with Census. “I am afraid the time has come that we must now go our separate ways.” He pointed to the tunnel on the right. “If you take this tunnel it will lead you out of the city. “I must get to the king quickly. I fear the Yar will make their move very soon.”

“I understand and good luck, my friend!” said Census “we will meet again in Nevele.”

Igil nodded to the rest of us before he rushed off down the other tunnel. We didn’t waste any time as we headed down our own corridor. Census, Cordum and Nayr were in front. Temy and Josili were in the middle and Cloud and I in the back.

“Wait!” I yelled. Tem and Josili turned around to see what was the matter. I still had the Yar soldier’s bracelet. I pressed the button and I shot the clamping device one time for Temy and another one on Josili. They stumbled forward as the device caught them by surprise. Census, Nayr and Cordum turned around to see what the commotion was.

“Why you little!” Josili threatened me.

“What’s going on?” asked Census.

“These two can’t be trusted. They tried to kidnap Cloud during the fight.”

“Yes,” added Cloud “and they were talking about some plan to betray us!”

“And they have powers but somehow these clamps can block them.” I added.

Census shook his head in agreement. “Good work, I’m glad you were able to neutralize them before they set their plan into motion!”

“Uh, thanks!” I said surprised that congratulated me.

“We will keep an eye on these two,” said Cordum directing them to the front. Temy laughed smugly and Josili gave me a dirty look. I ignored them and walked with Cloud as we continued down the tunnel.

“So Cloud did you see how I shot that magical ray at the Yar soilders?” I beamed.

“It was quite impressive!” said Cloud.

“Violet, you figured out how to use your powers?” asked Nayr.”How did you do it?”

“You should have been there.” Cloud bragged. “It was amazing, with the instincts of a nevesian totterbunk, that Yar solider didn’t know what hit him.”

“Is that right?” smiled Nayr. “Well I’m glad.”

“Violet, you will be a master in no time,” added Cordum. Census pretended not to notice but I wasn’t going to let him off so easily.

“Well what do you think of that, Captain?” I had to ask.

“Well, I hope it’s enough to defeat Julian.” He replied dryly.

“Don’t make me laugh!” Josili chuckled. “You barely tickled that Yar solider.”

“It was quite pathetic,” added Temy.

“That’s the thanks you get Violet for saving their lives.” Cloud growled.

Temy laughed again. “Okay, I’ll give you that. You did save me. I am in your debt Violet.”

“I plan to collect on that debt too!” I replied. “Hey, maybe you could teach me how to really use my power.”

“Is that all?” He said.

“No actually. You can really help us replace the first piece of the crystal casing.”

“I have already told you where that is.”

“And why did you tell us?” I asked suspiciously.

“Like I said, even the captain knows it’s a suicide mission going into gnome territory. They are evil little creatures and they feed on fairies, rabbits and men.” Cloud gulped and my heart began to sink.

“Cloud, how dangerous are these gnomes?” I asked him privately.

“From what I’ve heard he’s right.” Cloud confirmed.

“Have any of you ever met a gnome?” I asked.

“I saw some once and I was lucky that they didn’t see me,” said Temy. “When the tourmaline ring was released from the crystal casing the force split the casing apart, sending the pieces hundreds of miles away. It looked like something of some value so I followed one of the pieces, but some gnomes got to the sight first and they took it away. I flew away as fast as my wings could carry me.” He reminisced. “I have one question how did you know I’d seen it?”

“Your friend Jailan told us,” replied Cordum.

“Jailan.” Temy laughed. “Still in the dog house is he? Yes he was looking for the crystal casing and offered a substantial reward for anyone who had information about it. I had set up a meeting to collect the reward but his brother found out, that he was trying to replace the casing and he cursed him to Obscuria, Jailan’s favorite mountain. Jailan was friends with the hounds there so he made him king of the dogs.”

“He can’t leave the mountain?” I asked.

“No, he can leave but only in canine form until the curse is broken.”

“That’s terrible. Jailan just wanted to put the tourmaline ring back.” I said.

“Don’t think Jailan is so innocent!” said Nayr. “He has done many terrible things.”

“Well, why didn’t he use the ring for himself?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but I am surprised he didn’t, I didn’t buy all that talk that the ring is too dangerous.” said Nayr.

“Me either, he and his brother went looking for the ring!”Cordum added.

“There is always a line that shouldn’t be crossed.” said Temy. “I’ll tell you what. Josili and I have been discussing your ridiculous plan to get the casing from the gnomes and I do owe Violet for saving me from the Yar. If you free us I will help her with her powers but you must let us go before you get to Enin.”

“You are not going anywhere until we know that you’re telling us the truth.” said Census.

“Well, at least let Josili go, she never saw the casing. Don’t let her die too, you can’t succeed.” He pleaded but the captain was determined to bring them both along.

We walked through the tunnel that led to a cave in the mountains. The cave led us into a thick forest. We continued to walk until night fall before we set up camp. Nayr built a fire and Cordum and Census went to replace food in the forest. Cloud helped set out the mats. I watched the prisoners. I spoke with Tem while Josili took a nap.

“You really care about what happens to her, don’t you?” I asked Temy.

“Friends look out for each other. I would die for her and I know she would do the same for me.”

“That’s a real friend. I never really had many friends like that.” I hadn’t had any at all I thought.

“What about the rabbit?” asked Temy.

“Oh, Cloud,” after Cloud had set out the mats he curled up in a ball on the other side of the fire. “I guess.”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

“I’m just here helping with something.” I replied shortly. Sensing I was uncomfortable, he changed the subject.

“Have you been practicing your magic?”

“Yes, but I can’t get the magic to work again.” I sighed.” I tried to make my hands do something but nothing helps.

“You’re not focused. What are you afraid of?”

“The only thing that I am afraid of I guess is not being able to go home.”

“Well why wouldn’t you be able to go home?” I didn’t know what to say. He did not know that that I was not from this world. When I didn’t answer he continued. “You have to let go of your fear. Embrace your power the power you have inside.”

“I wish I had someone to teach me.”

“I would be happy to teach you what I know, but unfortunately this clamp prevents me. If you could free me from this clamp, we could start immediately.”

“Nice try Temy.” I smiled. “But, it’s not going to work.”

“Call me Tem, well I tried.”He grinned.