Sapphire (11 page)

“Is this ever going to stop?” Shawna whined from
Mira’s back.

They had been traveling for days, and it had been
raining ever since they’d reached a small valley winding between
the mountains. A lovely river capered through it, and every tree
wore its best shade of green. The trees fluttered their leaves
proudly in the gusty wind, but they were the only ones enjoying
their afternoon shower. Lula tried charming the raindrops into
mist, but a small cloud soon formed around them and Mira couldn’t
see. So she tried a different charm. But instead of deflecting the
rain it just turned into pink snow. With a glare scorching enough
to melt her faulty spell, she irritably took refuge in the
backpack.

Antares was the least happy of them all. He kept
lunging from tree canopy to rocky overhang, trying to avoid the
rain. Shawna didn’t realize she was laughing out loud until he shot
a frightening snarl at her. She immediately bit her lip, even
though he looked ridiculous trying to dodge between raindrops,
which of course, didn’t work at all.

She looked down at her sword nestled in her lap. It
was beautiful, clear as water, and light to hold, yet strong at the
same time. The iron hilt was the most amazing part of all. It was
as if Antares, Mira, Capella, and Lula had been shrunk and frozen
into the handle, curling up it in intricate poses. The tiny
life-like reliefs were so perfectly placed that the grip was
comfortable and easy to hold. It looked like a piece of art, not a
weapon. Vine-like swirls twisted between the reliefs, then turned
into spiraling vines at the cross-guard. Even as she was examining
it, something was appearing in the core of the blade. It looked
like dark smoke. She gasped. It was a small perfect carving of
Kryos leaping upwards towards the point. The smoke solidified into
an iron statue of Kryos within the crystal.

She had almost forgotten everything around her
until– “There,” said Mira, stopping a moment to point her horn
towards a dense clump of trees where the ground was fairly dry.
“That’s the best we can do for now until this storm passes.”

All of them were so wet and miserable that anything
seemed better than walking straight into the storm. Antares was
first under the thick canopy and sat shaking and licking his wet
fur. Mira finally kicked a back leg at him and scolded him for
shocking her every time he shook himself. Lula flew off to find
some sweet flower nectar and something for Shawna to eat since
wilderness-survival had not been an option in high school. Mira lay
down, steam rising from her sides, and Shawna huddled between her
hooves against her warmth.

“Mira,” she said.

“Yes?”

She sat up and looked straight into a dark purple
eye. “Tell me
exactly
why I’m here.”

“There is a great task you must do.”

She sighed, exasperated by her continually
un-answered questions.

Mira just looked kindly at her. “Because,” she said,
“by some fate you were born to hold a power stronger than any
other, and you must face that fact whether you want to or not.”

“Why do I have no choice, why is it ‘my fate’? What
if I don’t want to do it? Ever thought about
asking
me?”

Mira tilted her head down, arched her chin to her
neck, and closed her eyes for a moment.

She’s shrugging.
Shawna was proud of herself
at becoming better at reading Mira’s ‘horsey’ gestures.

“Do you want to do this?” Mira asked.

Shawna nearly jumped to her feet. “Wait, you mean I
do
have a choice? I can go home if I want? Right now?!”

“Of course. No one is forcing you to do
anything.”

“
What?
Yes you have! You
brought
me
here. You said we have to do this quest, or whatever.
You
said I’m
needed.
”

“Did I pull you onto my back that night?”

“Yes, well,” Shawna stuttered. “No, I guess not
exactly, but what choice did I have?”

“Exactly. What choice did you have?”

“Go with you or…get eaten by monsters.”

“So you made the best choice you could in the
moment, which is still a choice, correct?”

Shawna glared at her. She hated it when others
talked her into a corner of obvious logic, making her feel stupid,
which then made her feel mutinous.

“Did I also,” continued Mira, “drag you from
Capella’s cottage?”

She was surprised Mira didn’t burst into flames
under her searing gaze.

“No,” she mumbled. “But why would I stay at her
hut
and do what, make tadpole stew?”

“I suppose you could have if that’s what you had
chosen, though I don’t think she likes tadpoles.” Mira’s eyes were
smiling at her.

Shawna frowned back, not because she disagreed with
what Mira was saying, but because she
did
agree. “What if I
say ‘take me back right now’ and give up on this whole thing? Then
what?”

“Then we may all soon know the consequences. Every
choice you make, every path you follow or create, has consequences.
In the end, however, it is always a choice.”

“Not all the time,” she said, refusing to lose the
argument. “You
can
be forced to do things you don’t want
to.”
Like live with loony parents that hate each other and lie
to you your entire life.

“That is true,” said Mira while Shawna crossed her
arms. “Yet, were you forced just
outwardly,
or did you also
relent
inwardly
. Physically forced to do something is not as
powerful as being forced from within. When your mind and soul are
also shackled by outside forces then you have truly been
defeated.”

Shawna rolled her eyes. “So glad I didn’t choose to
climb a mountain to hear wisdom from a guru-corn quoted at me.”

“No, just forced to.”

She tried not to but a little grin played across
Shawna’s face, and Mira pushed her with her nose.

“Geez,” she protested, sitting back up and wiping
dirt off her hands. “A little more gently please. Your head is
huge, you know.”

Mira nodded her head up and down gleefully then
looked at her.

“Whatever you choose, I am here. I would never let
anything happen to you. No harm will touch you while I am by your
side.”

“You’re going to make me puke.”

“Am I?” She perked her ears forward and seemed
genuinely concerned.

“No, no, it’s just a saying.” Shawna waved her
hands. “Never mind. It’s just, why me? Of all people.” She yawned.
“I always thought unicorns were for riding on rainbows, granting
wishes, stupid things like that.”

She didn’t see how much Mira wished that to be
true.

“This just isn’t fair. I’m not special or powerful.”
She laid her head on Mira. “I’m afraid that you’ll all be pretty
disappointed.”

“Are you afraid of disappointing yourself?” Mira
asked softly.

Shawna shrugged. “I don’t know.” She closed her eyes
from exhaustion, and the overwhelming fear of disappointing herself
and everyone else. Mira rested her head over Shawna’s shoulder, and
under the protective warmth, Shawna fell fast asleep.

It felt like she’d been asleep for seconds when
faint noises tugged at her dreams. Like trying to wade out of a tar
pit, she finally opened her eyes. The rain had ceased, but Mira and
Antares were gone.

“Where are they?” she said to the early morning air,
rubbing her eyes and laying her hand upon the cold sword.

Lula flew down from her tree-top perch. “They caught
someone following us.”

“What?”

“He’d been following us for awhile, I guess. They’re
coming here now.”

“That man? The one Kryos warned us about?”

“I think it’s someone else.”

“Someone
else?
”

She heard snarling and soon saw a young man, a
little older than herself, appear and walk into their haven,
closely followed by Antares and Mira. The first thought that came
to her mind shocked her even more than the second.
He’s so
handsome.
She shook her head and gripped her sword.
Shut up!
He could be dangerous.
She mustered all her intimidating
confidence and glared at him as he stopped in front of her. His
dark eyes stared straight back at her, and her confidence felt
feigned. She looked away, strangely hoping he was anything but an
enemy.

“Now, tell us who you are, and of this message you
spoke about.” Mira lowered her horn to his heart. “I will know if
you speak truth,
boy.
”

“Let me speak with her,” he said, staring back at
Mira.

“Speak one more word about her and my horn will be
through your throat
.
You see she exists. Now, answer, boy.
How do you know Capella?”

Capella?
Shawna looked at him, and he glanced
back.

She wondered what he had done or said to be brought
here, and why Mira hadn’t gutted him already.

“
Speak.”

The young stranger with dark hair looked calmly at
death only inches from his chest. A bow and arrow were slung over
his leather attire along with a short sword and a pack of supplies.
He also wore a leather belt laden with pouches, knives, and a
coiled black whip. He smiled at her, and Shawna couldn’t help but
blush.

“My name is Orin. Capella sent me to warn you about
Adhara’s plans and to aid you along the way.”

Mira snorted, but didn’t move her horn. “Do not
lie
.
”

“I do not
lie,
” he spat back.

Shawna admired his confidence and bravery, finding
it even more difficult to dislike him.

“She sent the bat to find me with a
speaking-rune.”

“So you claimed.” Mira’s horn pressed against his
chest. “I have yet to see.”

Just then, there was shrill squeaking. Something
furry and pink swooped under the trees, and everyone looked up in
surprise.

“Sparkle?” said Shawna.

The bat flew down and ungracefully flopped onto her
shoulder, looking terribly pleased. She patted his little fox-head,
now fully convinced of Orin’s innocence. Sparkle squeaked, and she
saw that the symbol on his little rune was aglow.

“Breathe on it.”

She looked up at Mira. “What?”

“Breathe on the stone. It’s a speaking-rune. There
should be a message from Capella.” She lifted her head, but laid
her ears back at Orin. “If he speaks truly.”

Shawna raised an eyebrow, then blew onto the rune
and immediately Capella’s voice floated into the air.

“Is this thing working?” they heard her disembodied
voice say. “Chester, stop croaking, you little turd! The stone
can’t catch my words while you’re making that racket!” The croaking
stopped, and they heard Capella clear her throat and spit. “I hope
you’re all still alive and not ripped into bloody pieces yet
because you might be soon.”

Antares huffed through his whiskers, and red
lightning sparked down his spine.

“That dratted sorceress has sent someone after you
and he means to
Chester!
” There were a serious of loud
knocks and thumps like objects were being thrown around. “What was
I saying? Oh, yes, he means to get that necklace which you better
not have lost, you stupid girl.”

Shawna frowned and glanced up at Lula whose eyes
were tearing up from trying not to laugh.

“Whatever you do, do
not
let him get the
necklace. Dying would be unfortunate, but if it means keeping those
stones out of his hands then by all means do it.”

Tiny snorts of laughter issued from the branch
above.

“You must reach the five realms
first
. If you
don’t—” There was a moment of silence. “Just get there before he
does. If he’s powerful enough to find them, then he’s powerful
enough to give you a
really
bad day. So hurry up, you
spoiled brat. Don’t make me regret giving you my tea!”

There were some more scuffling sounds, one last
croak, then the stone dulled again.

“Why did she send you?” said Mira. “She didn’t
mention you.” Her ears were plastered against her skull.

“To protect
her,
of course.” Orin gestured
towards Shawna, then stared back at Mira.

Shawna was the one who gave a sound of surprise, and
Orin glanced at her quick betrayal of composure. She tried to
pretend she hadn’t been taken off guard by standing up straighter.
He looked away, grinning.

“Adhara knows where you are,” he continued, “and
she’s already sent someone after you; a very powerful sorcerer
named, Gavan. He’s not far behind. It’s my fault for not finding
you sooner.”

Antares stopped swishing his tail as Orin
continued.

“He and one other”—Mira swiveled her ears forward at
this—“I don’t know who the other is. All I know is that they are
trying to destroy the realms before you reach them and, if that
fails, Gavan will try to take the necklace from you.” He looked at
Shawna, and she laid her hand over the single sapphire. “He will
get the stones from you anyway he can, even if it means killing
you.”

She felt sick to her stomach. Kill her? Why was
everyone out to
kill
her? She didn’t deserve that. Then just
as quickly as the fear had flared up, anger overwhelmed it. How
dare
someone believe her life was worth taking! She touched
her throat. The thought of tearing the necklace off, throwing it
over her head, and demanding to go home crossed her mind. She
glanced up at Lula, who smiled back, and she dropped her hand from
the sapphire. She wasn’t alone now, though. There were those that
cared for her, that were counting on her. The necklace began to
grow warm as it had when she had faced Kryos. Everyone, especially
Orin, was looking at her. All the stones started lifting from her
chest like before, but just as she began to tense up, the necklace
floated back down, cool to the touch.

“Why do they do that?” Lula asked.