“Yes, we’ll take one of those, please. Oh and what about those little lizard looking things?” Victor asked eagerly.
We were in the small town store of The Pass Hamlet and Victor had just bought Timmy a bed roll and was inquiring of almost everything else in the tiny shop.
The store master rolled his eyes and I sighed and put a hand on Victor’s shoulder. “Victor, isn’t that enough? Let’s just go,” I pleaded.
He shook me off.
“No, I want to know what those things are!” he growled back in irritation.
I could tell he was tired and it wasn’t helping his mood that he hadn’t had any ale for a few days. He was starting to act childish.
“Fine.” I turned and left him in the store as the keeper explained how if eaten, the lizards would soak up any poison that lingered in your body and such.
I climbed up onto Shika’s back and waited with Timmy until Victor finally emerged carrying a string of shiny dried lizards and smiling. What a moron.
“Come on, lets go make camp.” Timmy spoke as he took Shika’s reins. I could tell all this exercise and fresh air was good for him as most of his tremors had stopped. Now that he had much better control of his arms and hands I’d started to allow him to guide Shika, even if all she did was just follow Xyle anyways.
“Well aren’t you turning out to be Mister Bossy,” Victor teased as he took the lead and headed over to a well trod path leading to the designated camping area. We picked a spot beneath a large tree. All the fruit had already grown, ripened, fallen, and been eaten by the woodland critters, so unfortunately we had no extra provisions.
For some odd reason Taz instantly fell in love with the tree so took up guard of the trunk and refused to budge. I slid off Shika and started to unstrap the tent from off Xyle’s back but Victor stopped me with a wave of his hand.
“Allow me.” He stood back and raised his hands into the air and flexed them. Closing his eyes, he started to mutter as slowly the leather laces untied themselves. The tent whizzed through the air, barely missing my head as I leaped back and fell to the ground, greatly annoyed by Victor’s carelessness.
The canvas bundle landed in a puff of dust and writhed and hopped around on the ground like a dying animal. Finally it burst open and rose into the air as the wooden poles planted themselves into the ground and the canvas fell on it and secured itself to the poles perfectly. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing after all to have a wizard in the group.
“Nicely done, Victor.” I was quite impressed. Pulling myself to my feet I stood and brushed the dirt from my pants. Victor smiled, apparently proud of his work.
“It was nothing,” he murmured and I nodded, turning to help Timmy off. Together we spread the three rolls out inside the tent while Victor lit a fire and started cooking the three huge eggs we’d purchased for the occasion of our arrival at the Pass. We finished inside the tent and came outside as Victor laid out three wooden traveling plates, then called us over.
“Let us dine!”He was still acting a bit strange but I passed it off as tiredness and took the plate gratefully. The night darkened around us quickly and crickets set about their nightly chirping as we sat close to the fire. I finished my meal quickly and glanced over at Victor appreciatively.
“This is great, thanks, man.”
He shrugged.
“Here, remember to put some on in the morning.” I passed him the vial out of Valsephony’s sheath and he took it gratefully.
“Thanks, Zavier. This stuff really seems to work,” he chuckled warmly, dinner seeming to lighten his mood.
After stretching, I rose and entered the tent. I hurriedly kicked off my boots and lay down onto the bed roll, setting Valsephony next to me.
Timmy joined me in a short while but Victor’s silhouette remained by the fire as the night grew darker. I could hear Timmy’s soft snores and was careful not to wake him as I rose and exited the tent.
“Victor, why don’t you come get some sleep?” I asked, yawning.
He shook his head.
“I feel like someone needs to guard. We’re so close to the other Kingdoms borders, it makes me nervous,” he muttered. I could tell it was something else entirely that was bugging him and I scowled.
“Come on, you need your rest. Don’t make me come over there and drag you in here now,” I urged playfully.
Victor smiled and as he rose the fire disappeared immediately. I felt Victor pass by me into the tent as I regained my vision in the moonlight.
“Taz, come on, time to come in.” I could see the large mutt laying there by the tree trunk. He let out a low whine but didn’t move.
“Fine, be that way!”
He whined again but I ignored him and tied the tent flap closed before returning to my bed. We’d have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.
My eyelids flashed open greeted only by darkness. Everything was pitch-black. I sighed and closed my eyes but then there it was again. A soft scuffle as something moved around inside the tent. Maybe it was just Victor, or perhaps Taz was attempting to join us. My vision slowly adjusted and I could discern a few shapes in the tent as the moonlight penetrated the canvas. The first thing I noticed as my eyes adjusted was that the tent flap hung wide open. I glanced cautiously around and found that both Victor and Timmy were still in bed. And then I saw the intruder, a large bent-over shadow next to Victor’s bed. He was digging through Victor’s bag.
I grabbed Valsephony’s hilt and slowly pulled her free. The binding spell was wearing off though and the blade flashed in the moonlight as it shown through the open tent flap. The intruder turned quickly, dark hooded eyes gazing over the sword. The cloaked figure scampered away and fled.
I leapt to my feet and tripped in my cloak which I had wrapped tightly around myself against the chilly air. I fell to the ground and Valsephony lunged, making contact with the intruder’s leg. The person let out a muffled scream but managed to stay on his feet and run off into the night. I picked myself back up and sheathed Valsephony, racing out after the intruder.
The black shape vanished into the night and though I took a few strides after him I realized it would be useless trying to follow him in the dark. Had my father managed to find us this far? Had he been the sinister stalker at Zoey had seen? I sighed and pushed my way back into the tent.
My first impression was to alert Victor of what had just happened but as my beating heart slowed I realized it could wait until the morning. Both Victor and Timmy were still fast asleep so I tied the tent flap back up and sat down on my sleeping mat. Victor had been right in suggesting a watch. I sighed at my own stupidity. I would guard tonight.
“Morning, Zavier. Why up so early?” Victor yawned as he sat up and I shook off the stupor I’d ended up in. I was exhausted.
“You were right.” I spoke tiredly and harshly as I answered his question. Victor paused mid-stretch at the severity of my voice.
“What do you mean?” He asked in bewilderment. I grimaced.
“There was an intruder in our tent last night. He was searching through your bag. I scared him off though and he hasn’t come back so far...” Victor hurriedly grabbed his bag which lay beside him and rummaged through it. He dumped everything out and sorted through all the little trinkets.
“Nope, nothing is missing. You must have scared him off before he had time to steal whatever he was looking for.” Victor smiled thankfully at me. “Oh well, no harm done. Let’s get Timmy up and leave.”
I nodded and reached over to shake Timmy awake. He rolled onto the ground with a thump as all three bed rolls took off on their own accord and wrapped themselves in a roll quite nicely.
“Victor, you could tell us before you attempt a stunt like that.” Timmy growled, picking himself up out of the dirt and reaching for his crutches. Victor smiled sheepishly and picked up the bundle.
“Everyone best get out before I take down the tent!”
We all fled outside into the frigid winter air as Victor followed us and the tent collapsed before gathering itself into a folded roll and sucked the tent poles up into the middle of the bundle.
“Whew, that was close, Victor.” Timmy wiped his brow in mock fear as he pointed to the tent. “Wouldn’t want to be inside there now.”
Victor smiled and ruffled Timmy’s hair.
“You’re alright, Timmy. For a crazy kid.”
Timmy smiled and I helped him on to Shika’s back. I turned to call for Taz and realized that the dog was no longer laying vigil by the tree.
“Taz?” I whispered, the name caught in my throat. Where had he gone? I immediately knew something was wrong. Taz would have alerted us to any intruders last night... where was he?
“Taz!” I yelled, but nothing stirred.
“Um, guys? I’ll be right back.” I took off through the frozen bushes in an aimless direction calling for the dog.
“Taz! Here boy! Where are you!?” I searched around in the brush for about half of an hour, finding nothing but a large half frozen river past a small gorge behind the camp. I would have kept up the search but Victor finally called me back.
“He’s gone, Zavier.”
I shook my head in disagreement but returned and climbed onto Shika. Timmy urged her forward. I realized for the first time since I’d found him down that darkened alley that I’d become attached to Taz and would miss him greatly.
“You’ll get over it. It was only a dog.” Victor said sympathetically, but to me Taz was most definitely not just a dog, as Victor had put it, but a true friend.
We traveled the short path back to the main road, the winter’s chill had been slightly unexpected and frost covered everything in lacy white patterns. Once at the main road we turned towards the looming Pass to our right. The Pass was the only relatively level way through the Miniature Mountain Range which was where the Diaz and Tarsh kingdom met with ours. Mountains loomed on either side and I realized that the Pass probably got snowed-in during the long moons of winter. I shivered, hoping we would make it before snow-fall.
Timmy decided that he wanted Shika to lead so he urged her past Xyle causing Victor to frown. The Pass was only about twenty feet across but seemed much smaller as we entered the towering walls of rock and a foreboding feeling engulfed me.
“Wait! Please wait!” A loud, harsh voice, only slightly feminine sounded behind us and Victor and I turned around to see a thickly set girl running stiffly towards us and waving her arms. She pulled a brown unicorn on a lead behind her as she limped towards us.
As she neared us I gasped as I recognized the knobby troll-girl. It was Sage. I still hadn’t forgotten how she’d rescued and healed me, nor how she had ignored me at Esmeralda’s house and refused me any explanation in the glen outside of Wayde.
“Come on, Victor. Lets go,” I growled lowly, feeling nothing but repulsion towards the secretive girl.
“But can’t you see she wants us to stop?” Victor asked, obviously confused.
I rolled my eyes.
“Yes, Victor. I can see that plainly. I don’t trust Sage, though,” I muttered darkly.
He looked shocked.
“You know her?”
I nodded as the troll girl neared us, struggling for breath.
“Yeah, she was the one that took off with me and healed me after Earl tried to kill me. She was also there when Sienna, the dragon, broke into the witch’s house in Kingston,” I explained quickly.
Victor looked confused but it was too late to leave now. She was within hearing distance.
“Please wait.” She was bent over as she gasped for breath.
"Sage.”
She looked up at the sound of my voice.
“Zavier.” She looked shocked and it almost seemed as if she wanted to turn back around and leave. The brown unicorn pawed the ground and nudged Sage with her thick ugly head. I realized that her spindly horn had been cut off at the base and only a nub remained.
“Well, what did you want then?” Victor questioned Sage as she caught her balance and shoved the unicorn away.
“Well, I’ve never been through the pass before and I would feel much safer if I was traveling with someone, you see.” She spoke hesitantly, her ugly face filled with worry. I could tell that Victor was slightly repulsed but he nodded despite it.
“Well, can you ride your unicorn?”
Sage looked as if he’d asked her if she could fly.
“Don’t be stupid. She’s much too frail to carry anyone anywhere, especially someone as large as me.” She glared at Victor and he remained silently in thought for a moment.
“Fine, I’ll tell you what. You can come with us on one condition. You ride the mare with Timmy and Zavier and I will ride Xyle-”
My mouth dropped open.
“What!” I demanded.
“Why do I have to ride, I’m a fast walker,” Sage complained.
“Besides, we’re the heavier two!” I added angrily, though not willing to spend any length of time on a unicorn with Sage.
“I’ll walk!”
“Shut up!” Victor growled, staring at the two of us angrily. “It’s going to start snowing any day and I sure don’t want to be stuck in that death trap when it does. I have a plan to get us through quickly but we all have to be on unicorns. Can’t you trust me?” He paused and I glared at the ugly girl. She was ruining everything.
“Fine,” I spat, sliding off of Shika and passing the reins to Timmy. He looked terrified.
“I don’t bite,” Sage offered gently and I was surprised as Timmy seemed to relax and he actually smiled at her.
I sighed then hopped onto Xyle who snorted with distaste at the amount of added weight. At least he was big.
Sage clambered onto Shika and tied her unicorns lead to a leather loop in the back of the saddle.
“Alright people. Hold tight, I’m going to do a little complicated shape shifting. It’s not permanent or anything so don’t worry.” Victor spoke confidently but I hesitated. I was sure he was about to change us all into some type of bird or fast running creature and prepared for the worst as magic gathered around Victor and he called it and welcomed it. He was now master over his immense power and I stared at him in awe.
All three Unicorns straightened up and stood erect with their ears forward and their flanks twitched as if they were going to bolt any second. I looked over at Shika and gasped. Her shoulders and withers were trembling and writhing like they had come alive. I glance over at the small brown Unicorn and saw the same symptoms.
Victor was sweating now as he concentrated. Slowly a small bump grew on Shika’s upper shoulder and flexed and moved. It stretched and grew rapidly and I saw another limb protruding up from her other side. They grew longer and longer until I could see all three unicorns had long arm-like appendages with joints. They were odd looking, like extra muscular limbs or something. I didn’t understand what Victor was trying to accomplish until Shika reared and in a flash of brilliant light the limbs burst with glossy golden feathers. Wings!
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