A Nightingale's Tale

Chapter Six

“You slept late,” Roland said sitting at the kitchen table, “The bell is going to ring soon.” Days like this, when he was sober, she could almost see the legendary Guardian he once was. His face was hardened by the years of magical fighting and degraded even more by the excessive drinking. She tried to imagine what he would have been like around her age, but she couldn't see past the man that sat in front of her now. He would have been handsome if the alcohol hadn’t ruined his skin and made him look constantly like he had just woken up.

Lydia set herself in front of a big spread of food, “Where did this come from? I thought our allotment was stolen.”

“I pulled some strings,” he said with a wink.

A woman brought out more bowls of food. Women from around the island often paid Roland in cooking and cleaning for healing services they couldn't afford for themselves or their family members. Potatoes and eggs filled the bowls in front of her. Lydia ate briskly. She hadn’t had a good meal in days it seemed. She almost choked on a potato as she tried to shove more food in.

“I’m going to the mainland today,” she said trying to have a conversation with him.

“Andrew’s group? I figured that would be a group you would enjoy.”

Lydia was shocked, Roland normally protested anything about Lydia being a Guardian.

“Shame about the girl,” Roland said.

Lydia swallowed a thin piece of bread. Emily. Why was he bringing her up? Did he know Lydia was a part of it? Talking about people in reformations was taboo. They were a disgrace to their family so everyone acted like they didn't exist until they came home.

“What about her?” she asked coldly.

“Don’t you think it's odd, someone just going missing?”

“What?” she asked. She looked up to him in disbelief.

“Anna, the girl that went missing. A large group was searching for her last night. I thought that’s where you were.”

“No, I was with Arabella.” More lies, they came easily now.

“Oh, well, one of Elder Brother Samuel’s wives, Anna, went missing.”

“How?” That was unheard of, no one ever went missing. They were either exactly where they were supposed to be, in reformation, or dead.

“Don’t know, they started looking for her last night. They knocked on doors and searched homes. Everyone was in the streets. How did you not see all that last night?”

“We were visiting her mother.” Now she really felt miserable, she needed to go see Arabella’s mother considering how sick she was, all she was to her now was an excuse to tell Roland.

“Good I’m glad you still see Lou, I can’t believe how fast she’s deteriorated. We were friends when we were younger. I tried to help her with healings here but…nothing worked. You can’t fix a mind that doesn’t want to be here.”

Lydia was uncomfortable talking about her like she was already gone. No one speaks ill of the dead, and here the mentally ill might as well be dead. Lydia remembered all too well her episodes, she terrified Arabella often. Arabella would run out of the house to the church in fear of her mother.

“The move to this realm was hard on all of us. Some didn’t handle it very well,” Roland said as he seemed to go somewhere else in his mind for a moment. Lydia wished she could peak in his head and see the place she had only ever heard about, where they all came from, a world of magic, the other realm.

“Done eating?” he asked as he scooped more potatoes onto his plate.

“Yea, I should get going soon.”

Like an omen, the bell rang.

At the morning meeting for Guardians, Lydia didn’t waste any time getting near Andrew. She wasn’t going to let Marcus or Max get in her way today. Marcus sat next to her at the table that Andrew sat at the head of. She pulled rainwater out of her hair, trying to be inconspicuous, luckily everyone else was also covered in water from the downpour outside. Rex took his place at the front of the room in preparation for the day's duties.

“Where were you? I searched everywhere for you?” Marcus whispered to her.

Lydia’s delayed response was, thankfully, interrupted by Rex.

“I appreciate everyone helping to look for Anna last night. Elder Brother Samuel is very concerned about his young wife’s wellbeing. Max your group is going to continue the search for Anna today. Nowhere is off limits, search every home, every business, everything. Dylan’s group is patrolling the wall. Nathan’s group is collecting this week's excise from the businesses and families. Keep your ledger updated and specific. Andrew’s team is going to the mainland to observe movement near the port-door.”

When Rex was finished saying the announcements, and after all the other groups had left the room, Andrew addressed his group. Marcus hadn’t left with Max’s group to look for the missing girl.

“Aren’t you going with Max?” Lydia asked Marcus.

“No, I think I’ll go check out what’s going on at the port-door.”

Which really meant he wanted to keep an eye on her.

“What about the girl who's gone missing?”

“They’ll find her somewhere.”

“How can someone just disappear without the Elders knowing. What if it was a secret reformation or something.”

“No, no one was given the order. We would know. It’s one of Elder Samuel’s wives.”

“Who’s to say she didn’t just run away from him.”

“They’ve been searching everywhere on the island since yesterday. There are only so many places she can go.”

“She might not be on the island.”

Marcus looked at her skeptically. She averted her eyes from his gaze.

“There’s no way off the island unless you’re a Guardian, or you can fly,” he said sarcastically, “No, there’s no way she could have left.”

Lydia kept her gaze away from his stare, so he couldn't see the lies hiding beneath. She didn’t want her growing guilt to be spread across her face for she knew, in fact, there was a way off the island.

“Elder Samuel could have been upset with her and done something with her,” she said.

“The Elders have a meeting about anyone to be reformed. Everyone’s clueless.”

Marcus knew all this information because of his father, of course. That was one reason she didn’t enjoy going to dinner at his house. She always felt like she was hearing information about people she shouldn’t.

“We have a special assignment today,” Andrew started, “There has been a report of people at the port-door.”

Lydia felt like she would jump right out of her seat in excitement, removing her concerns about the missing woman from her thoughts completely. The port-door was their only connection to the magic realm. It was how the coven escaped to this side nearly twenty years ago. Almost all port-doors had been destroyed a long time ago, except for the secret ones.

“Magical creatures have come to this side?” a young boy, who Lydia could hardly believe survived the tournament, said fearfully.

“Magical creatures are always on this side, but they don’t use that port-door. No one is supposed to know about it. It was made by Covet Elders a very long time ago as an escape route. Most port-doors were heavily guarded by the King’s men from Arcaan or destroyed completely. We’re not sure what is by the port-door.”

“It could be the men from Arcaan,” Lydia said.

Andrew looked down at Lydia, he clearly had hoped no one came to that conclusion.

“It could be. That is one reason we are going to see,” Andrew said.

“Won’t they kill us if they see us?” another boy asked.

Everyone at the table was getting anxious, low mumbling started among the men and Lydia.

“This is what you agreed to! You fought for years for this. Why do you think they have hunted us down to almost extinction? Because we are superior to every other creature in every way. If we see them we will kill them before they can kill us.”

The men settled down but were still fidgeting at the thought of battling anything other than another magician. Lydia was the exception, she wanted desperately to see another magical creature. Andrew ended the open discussion of what was out there because no one really knew. It was time for them to find out.

She had stood at the front gate before, but never with the intention of walking past it. Andrew’s group of men, and Lydia, were dwarfed by the massive wooden northern gates. The last time she had seen the gate doors open, Emily was being dragged through them. She tried her best to keep her mind at the endless possibilities that lay ahead of her, instead of what Emily was going through at the exact moment.

Four Guardians, two on each side, unfolded the ropes that controlled the wooden doors which reached as high as the walls. Red rust scrapped and screeched against the metal pully that hoisted the wooden inner gates open. People began swarming to witness the rare moment, the gates were opening, and it was not for a reformation. No one liked to crowd around the gates when someone was being forced out of them, possibly to never return. This was different, exciting, pleasant. Everyone could get a glimpse of the world outside of the walls.

The Guardians, that weren’t leaving the island, created a border with their bodies so people couldn’t get too close. Everyone stood in silent awe as the outer gates began to open. A fresh sea breeze swept through the courtyard as the doors slammed against the wall with a damp thud. The familiar kiss of the sea made Lydia feel at ease. However, the unaltered air was a rarity to everyone else, considering the 30-foot-high walls constricting the ocean breezes, which made the crowds step back with worry and wonder. Lydia knew the smell well but very few people had ever smelled the sea air so uninterrupted before. The waves broke on the rocky shore spilling seawater onto the stone platform that doubled as an entrance, seldom used, and a dock. There were no boats sitting at the dock today. Lydia looked out to the mainland shore, it was farther than it looked, but doable on small rafts, however, Lydia doubted the other Guardians traveled in such a way.

The Elders Brothers, all thirteen of them, walked through the crowd toward the gate. Were they going to make a boat appear? Once they made their way past the outer gate, they all stood on the only sandy portion of the beach in front of them. They began whispering a series of words Lydia couldn’t understand. This was old magic, magic forbidden for anyone else to learn. One of the eldest of the Elders fell to one knee. His Brother held him up and he continued chanting. This type of magic could only be done, my multiple magicians. Lydia wondered what would happen to that magic when they all got to the age where they could no longer perform it? Would the magic die with them or would they finally release their power, so the magic could live on? Unfortunately, she figured they would prefer to die with their power than to give it away. They raised their arms simultaneously and the water before them began to bubble. Black sand rose to the top of the bubbles and broke the surface. The tumultuous sand and water created a long slender line connecting the island to the mainland forming a bridge. They could just walk to the mainland. Lydia suddenly wished she had been barefoot, so she could feel the wet sand against her feet. The Elders said a final few words and lowered their arms.

Rex addressed Andrew, “This bridge will last for twelve hours, that’s it.”

“Yes, Rex,” Andrew said seemingly to already know this.

“Stand before us,” Rex said.

The Elders parted and let the Guardians came out onto the platform. This time only Rex held is hand over each of them and whispered a low spell that only he could hear. Lydia didn’t feel any different, but she knew he had done something to all of them, probably a tracking spell. Lydia had only read about them, among her mother’s hidden books, but from what she could tell, they would now know exactly where they all were. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered how long it would stay attached to her. The Elders started back toward the gates, the elderly man being held by two Guardians now. Rex stood and watched on the platform as Andrew addressed his group with a wave forward.

He led the group down the sand barge to the shore, Marcus followed directly behind him. The walk across the sand bridge was rough and long. Waves crashed over the sides of the bridge making deep puddles every few steps. Lydia looked out to the shore and the bridge seemed to go on forever. Riding on her raft had been much faster. Lydia’s feet sank down into the damp sand with each step. She stepped into one of Marcus’ footprints and sea water rushed around her foot causing her to be stuck momentarily. She wondered the practicality of shoes as she shook the muddy sand off her foot.

The rain had ceased when they were halfway to the shore of the mainland, there wasn't a cloud in the sky left. It was turning into a nice late-summer-day and the wind blew the trees against each other. She looked down the side of the beach, toward Edna’s home, where she had walked only that morning. She berated herself for being foolish enough to stay so late off the island. She had to be more careful and not leave the island as much, no matter how much she wanted to see Onyx. Especially if she were to become a permanent part of Andrew’s group.

When they finally reached the mainland, Lydia looked back at the island. The sand bridge sparkled like a mirage and disappeared halfway between the shore and where the island should have been. The island, and half of the sand bridge, were covered with a glamour that made it seem like they were staring out onto the open ocean. Lydia noticed everyone was also looking out to where hundreds of their friends and family should have been but there was only a calm sea. Everyone knew the island was glamoured but it’s an entirely different thing to see it for oneself.

Lydia looked back down the beach towards the path that led to Edna’s house. She hadn’t thought before about Edna’s house being so near where they were supposed to search. They were maybe half a mile to the entrance in the woods Lydia haunted on quiet nights. All the times Lydia walked through the woods, she never even thought about the port-door being so close.

“Here we are,” Andrew said breathlessly as he pointed to the map. He fumbled with the map in his hands and it fell to his feet. Lydia retrieved it and opened the map. The map included the island and the mainland. On the shore, where they stood, were shining golden dots. Lydia took a few steps to the right and one of the dots moved on the map where she had. To the left of the island, in the middle of the forest, was a bright red dot. She was relieved when she saw the red dot was the opposite way to Edna’s house.

“I’m assuming this is it, so it’s this way,” she said pointing down the beach in the direction of the red dot.

Andrew looked at her with an eyebrow raised, “Yes. I know. I’ve actually been here before.”

Lydia bit her tongue as to not dig herself into a hole she couldn't get out of. Andrew walked in the direction Lydia had pointed.

“Stay close. We don’t know what’s out here,” Andrew said.

“Stay close. We don’t know what’s out here,” Andrew said.

The men scurried behind one another in a single line, like they were in a haunted house, as Andrew moved farther into the mainland. Most of the group were new Guardians, she had trained with all of them. This was there first time off the island and they seemed utterly terrified. She almost giggled audibly at the tough warriors she had trained with huddled together scared of the clear blue sky and soft sand.

She loved seeing the beautiful blue sky unobstructed by a gray wall. The wind was much stronger without a wall and splashed grains of sand on her face. The grit of sand lined her mouth and spread an earthy smell throughout her throat. How could anyone be afraid of this? They were off the island without fear of being caught. Even when she had first left the island fear was far away from her. She left all her worry and grief behind clinging to the island like seaweed on the bottom of the ocean floor.

The group moved away from the shore and started into the woods. The ground became softer and soon their feet began to stick in the mud. They were getting farther into the swamps where the canopy let little sunlight through. Animals jumped through the trees and scurried through the mud while making loud noises to let them know they were there. She thought the mosquitos would suck her dry by the time they got there. When they were up to their knees, anxiety crept through Lydia. She had never been this deep into the woods. Uncomfortable groans and whimpers came from the men behind her as they had now been walking for hours. They were truly terrified and exhausted. If they came across anything threatening she didn’t think they would be much use. Lydia ran through her best fighting spells in her mind. She was reviewing her favorite artillery spell book in her head when she ran into Marcus’ back. She peered around his broad shoulders and saw Andrew had stopped as well. That was when she saw it, a door. She would have missed it completely if Andrew hadn’t pointed it out. The door frame was framed by two willow trees as if the door grew out of the tree trunks. It was beautifully carved with intricate drawings and sat atop a hill which had no vegetation, other than grass and a ring of mushrooms that went all the way around the hill like a miniature wall. It was completely out of place in the swamps of southern Louisiana.

“I always forget how beautiful it is,” Andrew said as he stared it.

Lydia pushed past Marcus and Andrew to get closer to the port-door. She was careful not to crush any mushrooms as she reached the hill. The grass was thick like a blanket and came up to her ankles. She felt like she was drawn to the door. It called her name softly like a lullaby. Dozens of small, intricate carvings in the gold frame depicted different types of magical creatures. A troll stood upon a mountain, fairies flew around the top of door inviting her in, a large wolf with red ruby eyes scowled at her at the bottom and his paws reached the ground helping support the magical door. She reached a hand to the wooden double doors.

“Lydia,” Marcus said while placing a hand on her shoulder. She felt like she had just woken from a dream, she was dizzy and disoriented but elated.

“Could you not hear me calling your name?” he asked.

“Sorry,” she said, “I…”

“What’s that?” someone in the group yelled.

From the top of the hill, Lydia and Marcus could see something the others couldn't. There were dozens of tents spread out throughout the woods near the port-door. Lydia and Marcus returned to the group at the bottom of the hill quickly. The young Guardian that had alerted the group was pointing up in a nearby tree. A black snake wrapped itself around a limb, looking right at them. Lydia noticed the snake looked odd as it had large eyes, too large for its head, and fur on its back. Lydia whispered a quick spell to herself and her eyesight improved, magic her mother had taught her in secret. It wasn’t fur on its back, it was hair, thick, black, curly hair.

“It’s a shifter,” Andrew said, coming beside Lydia.

The snake seemed to drip from the tree and landed on the ground as a person. The girl, that had just been a snake, had black scales that ran up her arms and neck. It was as if she couldn't completely transform from one or the other.

“What do you want?” she hissed. Her teeth were covered in black like she had been chewing on liquorice.

Andrew stepped forward then and said, “We need to speak with whoever’s set up this...camp.”

She made a low noise that sounded like a mix between an angry cat and snakes hiss.

“Eden, enough. You need to speak with me?” a young man said coming through the brush that separated the area with the port-door and the tents. Two centaurs flanked each side of him. Lydia could hardly contain he excitement. She had never seen a centaur before. The one to the man’s left leaned on a cane toward his right side. She noticed burns on his right leg. His counter also seemed to be injured or ill. His breathing was uneven and shallow.

The man that stood between them was handsome and young, too young, around Lydia’s age she guessed. He had bright eyes and light hair with tanned skin like he had never gone inside a day in his life. He stuck his chest forward to appear more masculine, which only made him seem more like a boy. His face still held onto his baby fat in his cheeks. She imagined he was probably younger than her. Surely, someone so young wasn't in charge of this entire camp of magical creatures.

“You’re in charge here?” Andrew said skeptically, he raised one eyebrow condescendingly. Andrew was looked double this boys age.

“What do you want?” he said agitatedly.

“You can’t be here. This is our territory,” Marcus said abruptly. That was his father coming out.

“We didn’t know a coven was near here. In fact, I didn’t think coven’s that used praecants still existed at all,” he said pointing to Marcus’ hand.

“Listen, it’s clear you all are escaping the other realm, as did we.,” Andrew intervened.

“Andrew,” Marcus stopped him.

“Enough, Marcus,” Andrew stepped forward toward him, reminding Marcus of his place in the ranks. Marcus took a step back but was clearly not listening to what Andrew told him to do.

“However,” Andrew said returning to the boy, “We did arrive here first and if we could sense your presence others will be able to also. We came here to assess what was happening with the port-door, you don’t seem like a threat. Are you?”

“No, you’re correct, we just need somewhere to go.”

“Then I’m sure you understand the position you’ve put us in. We don’t want violence especially since it seems like many of you are already injured. But, you just being here puts us at rick and we can’t have that. You’ll have to leave.”

“I understand,” he said diplomatically but clearly unhappy with the terms, “Give us some time. We still have a few more on the other side meeting us here and we will need to tend to the wounded.”

“You need to leave now,” Marcus said moving closer.

Andrew placed himself in front of Marcus. He gave him a stern look. Lydia knew why he was being so peaceful with them. There were only a few Guardians with them and even if most of their people were injured, they were still severely outnumbered.

“Or what exactly?” the boy said.

Marcus still pressed up against Andrew, drew his praecant, pushing Andrew out of his way and went for the boy. One of the centaurs leaped forward and blocked the path from Marcus. The centaur screeched as the praecant burned and sliced his leg. The Guardians readied themselves to attack.

“Stop!” a girl yelled running through the brush. She put herself in between the two facing groups.

Andrew gained his footing and slammed a hand into Marcus’ chest. He turned to face the boy with fire in his eyes.

“We will be back in a few weeks, be gone by then!” Andrew yelled, projecting his rage or Marcus onto them.

“We’ll leave,” she said, “Just go, please.”

“Sofia, get out of the way,” the boy said.

“Killian, stop this.”

She wouldn't move from between Andrew, Marcus, and Killian as they stared at each other daring the other to make the first move. Marcus spun his praecant in his hand. Lydia recognized that move. He wasn't going to back down even with Andrew ordering him. He didn’t see Andrew as his superior, being the next Rex and all. Killian saw what Marcus was doing as well and pulled Sofia out of the center quickly. Andrew was pushed aside again as Marcus swung his praecant back. Lydia jumped where the girl had been and grabbed the praecant with her hand before it could strike anyone. The skin of her hand burned and sizzled. Marcus jerked back suddenly and grabbed her burnt hand. He didn't put his praecant away but pulled Lydia to his side.

“GO!” Andrew yelled to the Guardians. The veins in his neck were throbbing.

“You had better be gone before we return or believe me I will show no mercy,” Marcus said. He spun his praecant dramatically before it went back into the crystal. The group of Guardians began to retreat, following Marcus now more than Andrew.

Marcus cuddled Lydia into him for the walk back, holding her hand in his. Lydia looked back at Killian as he watched them walk away. Marcus tore a piece of his shirt off and wrapped it around Lydia’s burnt hand.

“Why would you do that?” he said. He’s stern demeanor was focused on her.

“You weren't thinking clearly. We can't just attack a group of creatures without the Elder’s consent.”

“Someone with sense,” Andrew said smacking a tree branch out of his way.

“What did you say?” Marcus said. He had always had an issue with other people in charge of him.

“You don’t want to pick a fight with me, no matter who your father is, you’re my inferior and I will take you down as such”

“You’re my superior, for now, and by all means, let’s see if you can take me down.”

“Enough!” Lydia yelled at Marcus.

“Well, if he would have actually done something about…”

“What would you have preferred to do? Kill them all? They were injured, deformed!” Andrew yelled.

“They are putting our safety at risk just by opening that door.”

“Yes, but don’t you think slaughtering a few hundred magical creatures in the human realm would raise up some red flags? Having them leave voluntarily is easiest for everyone.”

Marcus was silent. He knew he was wrong, he had just been itching for a fight.

“When will we be able to return?” Marcus asked Andrew as they hiked through the forest back to Covet.

“We need to wait for Sebastian to return from starting the reformation of that girl, Emily. He’ll be done in four weeks.”

“Four weeks,” Marcus said pleased.