The Gift of Volkeye (17 page)

T
eshunua,

Terrible things have happened! For the last six months I’ve been avoiding Felix…he’s found out where we live! He always tries to corner me, so he can do—
things! I was successful in avoiding him for a while, but just recently he’s gotten much worse. He kicked my cat when I refused to kiss him! Papa Zynnie had to do surgery and everything! This morning, Felix threatened to hurt Khyeryn, and that’s when I lost it, giving him a beating that he won’t soon forget. However, I fear the repercussions.

Mom and I are getting out of here immediately, and I’m advising all the others to do the same. By the time you receive this, we’ll be at the Igloo. We’ve had no time to contact Maugrimm, so I guess our visit will just be a surprise. I need you to write a letter to Papa Zynnie, letting him know what’s happened and where to find us. I expect to see all of you soon.

— Bahzee

At the bottom of the letter there were scratch-outs and erases, and Teshunua tried to make out whatever it was that Bahzee tried to say but deemed it unnecessary. After a little straining, he thought it read:

“I miss you like nothing else, and I can’t wait to see you. Please bring yourself to me safely…I don’t know what I would do if I lost you!”

“…
bring yourself to me…if I lost you!”

He was stunned at his obliviousness all this time. For two years now, he’d been
hoping
that Bahzee had feelings for him, but now he knew. He tucked the letter in his pocket, wondering what he would say the next time he saw her.

As he went to grab some parchment, ink, and a featherless quill, Teshunua sighed. He felt very guilty that everyone in Rhameeryla could’ve died, but knowing that Asha and Bahzee were okay was all that mattered to him. He shook his head at his humanity.

When it comes to life and death, we are all so very selfish about the ones we love…yes we are!

Teshunua now sat down and began writing:

Uncle,

Something terrible has happened. Most of Rhameeryla has been destroyed! There are bodies and discarded weaponry everywhere. And, to make matters worse, Jix just told me that many of our people are dead, burnt up inside a cottage! Don’t worry, Asha and Bahzee got out okay. They’re staying at Maugrimm’s Igloo. I’ll join them soon, as I’m leaving as we speak. Keep Jix with you. I’ll see you both when you arrive.

Your nephew,

Tesh

Teshunua rolled the letter up to a size that was as thin as a twig and then tied strings around it, attaching it to Jix’s collar.

“Jix, take this to Zynathian, and fly like the wind! But don’t come back here. Stay with him…I’ll see you both at the Igloo!”

Jix stood on his hind legs in Teshunua’s arms, nestling his soft fur up against him and murmuring.

Be safe, boy! I shall see you soon…good luck!
Jix said. Then he was off.

Teshunua gave a quick walk around the house. Deciding that he didn’t need anything, he kissed one of the pillars in the middle of the parlour and bid his goodbyes for the second time in six months. He could only hope that he wouldn’t be gone as long this time. However, as he lowered the house back into the earth and made his way to the hover, Teshunua shook his head. He knew this was only a fool’s hope. Whatever it was that had happened here, it wasn’t over by a long shot.

This could take years to be resolved!
he thought as he sped through the trees.

Teshunua’s assumption was slightly inaccurate. It wouldn’t merely be years before the issue was resolved. In fact, the very next time he stepped foot inside the ruins of Rhameeryla would be nearly three decades from now.

1

Twelve days previous to Teshunua’s less than pleasant arrival at Rhameeryla, a young woman, suffering from hypothermia, fell through the door of a strange iceberg.

“Mawg, help us with her!”

The girl was barely aware of the gigantic, muscular arms lifting her from the cold, gravel floor. Her eyelids fluttered as she fought the battle to maintain consciousness. The voices were a little farther off in the distance now, but her semi-alert mind still managed to make out the inquiries about whether or not she would live.

She felt herself being laid down amidst a relaxing source of intense heat…a fire, perhaps. As consciousness slipped further away from her, she noticed something heavy and warm being placed atop of her. Soon thereafter, she was swept away into a comfortable, quiet blackness.

**

Sing felt warmth on her face as beams of morning sunlight crept in through the icy windows. She could hear the splatter of water falling from the melting icicles, hanging over the windowsills. However, she didn’t open her eyes until one of the icicles melted away from its base and crashed into the gravel.

As her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room, Sing slowly looked about, examining her surroundings. The room was enormous, and the entrance was so big one wondered about the size of whatever it was that needed to move about this place.

It couldn’t possibly be anything human!
she thought, sitting up in fascination. In addition to its incredible size, she found that the entire chamber, except its few furnishings, was encased in ice! Sing ogled every nook-and-cranny about her.

Hopping from the bed, she knelt over to touch the floor. It sparkled with little crystals, mixed in with the stones and pebbles—perhaps some form of salt, preventing the floor from becoming frosty. That’s why she hadn’t slipped. As she jogged a few paces across the floor, further assuring herself that it was trustworthy, Sing noticed a large cauldron on each side of the bed. They smoked as if their fires had gone out only moments before she’d woken. Upon a table was a large bowl with only a few spoonfuls left of what seemed to be frozen tomato soup.

It was funny, as she couldn’t remember being fed.

Behind Sing, on the far wall of the room, was a large mirror. Its face was defrosting due to the heavy blanket of sun it was receiving. She walked over and tapped it gently, breaking the thin layer of ice from its surface. Sing was curious to see how she looked after her near-death experience.

“Ugh!”
she groaned, grimacing with disgust at her reflection. Wherever her skin wasn’t red and chapped, it was cracked with dried blood resting within the wounds.

She knew she’d passed out during the journey, as she couldn’t remember getting any of the cold sores. Sing did, however, recall locking onto some coordinates with the bike’s navigational system and then setting it to “self pilot.” Shortly afterward, the temperature had dropped to a frightening degree. She’d stopped and put on a pair of thick pants beneath her dress, but still decided not to turn around, knowing she needed to get as far away as possible. That was it. The events that came afterward were surely orchestrated by the hand of God, for Sing knew that she, herself, had been oblivious to all. She shuddered with unease, realizing how close she must have been to freezing to death.

I probably used all my strength just to get through the door of this place!

She then noticed flakes of dried soup on her chin and saw that some had frozen to her shawl. Sing wiped sleep out of her eyes and turned away from her horrid reflection, wanting to find a bathroom before she met her hosts. She grabbed her sack from the foot of the bed and stepped out of the chamber, tiptoeing, not wanting to wake anyone.

Forgetting how bad she had to urinate at the moment, Sing observed the majestic quality of the frozen corridor. The stones beneath her feet were paved to perfection, and the ice upon the walls and ceiling glistened as sunlight reflected off the surface. Suddenly Sing was in a world very similar to that of the fantasy stories she read.

She imagined herself as a rich queen, visiting her very own treasure mine. The immense piles of wealth sparkled as far as the eye could see. With her riches being so abundant, she was able to support entire nations of people, providing food, shelter, education…and, most of all, complete separation from the likes of Phyllamon! Yes, there would be a gigantic wall around the kingdom, and all rich people would be slightly taxed upon entering, as the proceeds would go directly to the poor of the world—of course not excluding her own contribution. All citizens would be taught to love unconditionally, to work for the mutual benefit of all mankind, and to kill any member of the Xyecah family on sight!

How beautiful her world would be!

Sing had come to the end of the hall and saw a door on her left. The room she entered was as beautiful as the last, but the pee feeling had come back to her, and she had no time to acknowledge it in detail. She quickly walked over and pressed a glowing green key, and watched the button become red as the shield slid briskly upward. She entered, and the shield closed behind her.

Sing was quite shocked upon entering. Again, the room was large, tiled with magnificent rocks of all shades. The toilet and washbasin appeared to be porcelain, as did the bathtub, which was so large that a small set of steps was attached to it, as it otherwise would have been impossible to get in or out. The most remarkable aspect of the room, however, was its warmth! There was no ice in this chamber at all, and if one had not already seen the outdoors, they would’ve expected it to be a summer day outside. As a bead of sweat ran down Sing’s forehead, she marveled at the talent it must’ve taken to design a room that defied natural temperature as this.

She undressed and dropped her belongings on the floor. As Sing relieved herself, she glanced to the towel rack on her left and spotted a small piece of folded paper with a happy face drawn sloppily on the back. She picked it up and read:

To the girl with the fire red hair,

Mommy and I have prepared your breakfast and will be waiting for you in the den. Just follow the rooms until you reach us—the whole place is a one large room with different twists and turns. But there’s only one floor, so you needn’t worry about getting lost. Take as long as you need to wash, as we don’t plan on going anywhere. See you soon, and I hope you’re hungry.

—Bahzee

By the way, be careful with the water. It gets hot enough to kill a person. Let the cooling fans treat it before you climb in…once the water is filled up far enough, it should take about five minutes for the fans to do their job.

Oh, we’ve left you some ointment for your cold sores by the tub. It works wonders! We all have to use it every time we venture out here to Maugrimm’s place. It works best if you rub some in before you get in the water, and then wash it out while you’re bathing. Then give a light application after you’re done washing, but leave it on. And don’t ask where it comes from just yet, because you’ll vomit! But don’t worry, it doesn’t smell or anything. Hah hah!

One more thing…I hope you weren’t too attached to your bike, because it’s still outside and frozen solid! We were so frantic when you came through the door and collapsed that we didn’t even stop to think about how you arrived here. Sorry.

Sing was amused at the kindness of the letter and was happy that she knew two of their names now. Bahzee was the daughter of the two women she now remembered hearing, and she recalled Maugrimm’s name as well.

‘Mawg,’
they’d yelled.

Smiling, she got up to start the water.

**

After her bath, Sing dressed and left the bathroom. Skin tingling from her open pores, she pulled her hood over her wet hair. She nervously paced back and forth, wondering how to make a good impression. This was the first time in fourteen years that anyone had cared about Sing. Now that it was time to meet her hosts, she was terrified of being disliked—especially after they saved her life.

Sing began biting her nails, further pacing to and fro. Just when she was about to collapse from anxiety, a voice said, “Hi.”

(Despite Asha’s pleas to let Sing sleep, Bahzee, impatient and curious, had defied her mother. All too eager to acquaint herself with the new guest, she’d taken it upon herself to check on Sing.)

Shocked, Sing turned around. The person before her was strikingly beautiful, and though she could tell that the girl was several years younger than she, there was an inexplicable maturity about her. This had to be Bahzee. Weary from years of fear and loneliness, Sing broke down, running to hug a complete stranger, somehow knowing it was right.

Touched by the tears, Bahzee embraced Sing as if she was someone she had known all her life. The fourteen-year-old played mother to a grown woman of twenty, and it seemed completely natural. As Sing sobbed in relief, Bahzee whispered
‘Shhh,’
gently stroking her hair.

All the while, Sing’s feet dangled two feet above the ground.

2

They entered another large room, which was more of the same except for that there were heavy tables and benches fashioned the same as the floor. Scurrying around was a small cat, draped in a fluffy, wool bodysuit. He ran to greet Sing, wrapping his tail around her leg.

There was something about being able to cry with Bahzee that had encouraged Sing to let her guard all the way down for the first time since her enslavement. As a result, she was quickly getting reacquainted with the child in her that she’d locked away at the age of six—at that age she’d always loved cats!

“That’s Toodles,” Bahzee said, laughing, as Sing picked up the cat and began smothering it with kisses.

“Oh you’re soooo cuuuuute!” Sing squealed.

Bahzee rolled her eyes, ashamed of Toodles’ ability to get what he wanted out of anyone. As Sing stroked the cat’s back, her attention was drawn to one of the tables in the room. She let Toodles down and went closer, inhaling the aroma as she went.

In front of her was a large tray filled with some of the most delectable foods she’d ever seen. There were golden brown bread rolls and a slab of meat from some animal Sing knew she’d never seen before. (No matter—she’d devour it, nonetheless!) Among the meat were mounds of steamed vegetables—broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and potatoes—and a plate of corn on the cob, adjacent to a large bowl of white rice. There was also a mountainous heap of macaroni and cheese (something Sing had never eaten before, but from its look she was all too eager to try it). Topping things off was a double-long loaf of Asha’s banana, chocolate chip bread. Sing salivated at the look of the warm puddle of chocolate and butter, formed at the bottom of the loaf.

The foods rested on a large rotating plate, covered by a clear glass lid with individual slots to attain each dish. Also, there were dials on a control panel attached to the table. They were set to “warm.”

Sing had seen feasts like this at the castle, but of course she was never allowed to indulge. These types of meals were solely for Phyllamon’s family and friends. Now that it dawned on her, Sing realized that the last time she was allowed such good eating was with her parents.

Her stomach growled, and she turned to Bahzee with wonderment. “Wow...can I try everything?”

“Of course, silly! Mom’s a fantastic cook, isn’t she? There’s a lot more where this came from. This is just a small portion of the food that we ran away with!”

Ran away?

Sing was taken aback and meant to inquire further, but then someone caught her attention.

“Ah, sleepy head! You’re finally awake!” Asha exclaimed.

“Sing, this is my mother, Asha.”

Again, Sing ran into a hug. Asha grasped Sing as if she were a long lost daughter, suspecting that she and Bahzee had a new addition to the family. Why not? If this girl, Sing, had one of her own then she wouldn’t have been traveling about these parts, alone, nearly freezing to death, would she?

“Girl, are you by yourself? How did you make it all the way out here on a hoverbike and survive, precious?”

Sing didn’t answer. She was too taken with the wonderful feeling of having people care about her. For the first time in ages, she felt like a daughter again, and it was beautiful.

“You hungry, Sing?”

“Very.”

Asha nodded at Bahzee, telling her to get the utensils. Within a few minutes, Bahzee prepared everything at the table and then called them over.

“Let’s eat!”

**

Two hours had passed, and the three of them had gorged themselves, eating several helpings quick as possible so that the food wouldn’t freeze. They sat sluggishly on the benches, and Toodles was asleep in a corner.

Their tranquility was interrupted by a voice, whose tone bordered between irritated and angry. “Hey, so nobody remembers to feed us, huh?” it said.

“Nope…nobody cares about us lonely little plants over here that are about to starve to death!” spat another.

“What the hell are you guys doing over there? When do we get to tuck in?” said one more, joining in.

“Yeah, we wanna’ eat!” remarked the last.

Then altogether the voices chanted, “Eat! Eat! Eat! Eat!”