Chosen, p.23
Chosen, page 23
“This place smells great,” Zuri said. “My stomach just growled something awful.”
“My brain just growled, I’m so hungry,” countered Evrik with a grin, and they laughed.
“Well, go on and help yourselves.” Itvin gestured to the tables heaping with food. “I’ll secure that spot over there.” He pointed to a scenic place by some tall windows.
They all split, hurrying off. Zuri grabbed a plate and started loading up—fruit slices, vegetables, breads, what he knew to be fish, something that looked like a bean and rice mix. His hand reached for a delectable little pastry, but the thing floated up and away, hovering over the table. Three more little cakes followed it, and all four bobbed and danced in a circle in the air.
“What the…?” Zuri stared at the display. His vision lowered and spotted a strange girl across the table.
She was as tall as him with skin the hue of creamy peanut butter, springy reddish-brown hair, dazzling green eyes, and wore a light green sash. Her beautiful face held a joyous smile, and her hands were lifted before her, working slowly to magically control the floating cakes. For a moment, Zuri forgot about his plate. He couldn’t stop staring at the girl.
Then her green gaze dropped from the pastries and settled on Zuri. Realizing she had an audience, she let a blushing smile slip free. Her concentration broke, and the floating cakes dropped from the air, splattering over the floor and table.
“Miss Starkbliss!” snapped a voice.
Both Zuri and the girl snatched their eyes to the woman who’d spoken. She had two sets of pointy ears. Her silver-blue hair was pulled up in a bunch of coils, atop which sat a small, stylish hat that matched the pants suit she wore. And on top of the hat rested the squishy remains of a miniature cake. Her lavender eyes peered down at the girl.
“How many times have you been told not to practice your powers in the dining hall?”
“Oops. I’m sorry, Miss R’vlyn. I won’t do it again,” said the girl, hands clasping at the small of her back.
“Hm,” Miss R’vlyn studied her closely, looking rather comical with the cake on her head, “you’ve said that before. Next time there will be disciplinary actions, young lady.”
The girl’s cheeks reddened lightly. “Yes, ma’am.”
Miss R’vlyn smirked softly, shook her head, and walked off.
Zuri and the girl watched her go, then turned their attention back to each other. For several seconds, neither of them said anything, only smiling. Zuri cleared his throat and hurried around the table to stand before her, still holding his plate.
“Um…hi. That was pretty cool.”
The girl blinked at him. “Cool?”
“Er…funny…you know, how the cake was on her head…” Zuri trailed off. He had to remember that the only people on Kambia partial to Earth slang were his companions. He thought quickly, recovering. “I’m Zuri.”
“My name’s Helmli.”
Helmli Starkbliss. That was an unusual but pretty name, Zuri thought. “Nice to meet you. So, you’re a student here, eh?”
“Yes. Third level.” She smiled, giving a soft tug on her light green sash, while noting that he lacked one. “Are you a student here?”
“No. I’m…visiting.”
“You have family here then?”
“Um…kind of…yeah.” Zuri figured Helmli didn’t need to know much about his reasons for being in Veergastaad just then; they’d only recently met after all. “I’m here with friends actually.”
“I see.” Helmli nodded.
Zuri cleared his throat, remembering the plate in his hands. His stomach growled to remind him of how hungry he was. “So…are you here with anyone…I mean…here in the dining hall?”
“No. I usually sit by myself.”
Zuri perked. “You can sit with us if you like.”
“Okay.” She smiled broadly, quickly filling a plate with a few things.
Zuri led her to Itvin and the others by the windows. The two of them received curious and amused looks.
Evrik’s gaze went from Zuri to the girl. He was grinning at them. “So, who is this?”
“Everyone, this is Helmli. She’s a third level student here. We…um…just met at the food tables.” Zuri took that moment to stuff some food in his mouth, chewing while his eyes roamed to each person.
They all expressed that it was nice to meet her, and Helmli returned the greeting.
“How are your studies going, young miss?” Itvin asked, then popped a piece of fruit in his mouth.
“They’re going well, sir,” she beamed, then bit at her lower lip, smirking, “though I did manage to misplace my power last week and caused a fellow student’s hair to fall out, head slick bald. But they’ve been fixed and now have their hair back, and it’s even thicker and longer than it was before I…well…yeah.”
Helmli blushed.
“What do you mean by you misplaced your power?” Zuri wondered.
“Misplacement is when you lose concentration, directing it somewhere other than where you intended,” she answered. “Someone caused a small explosion out in the training field, and I got distracted…”
Zuri chuckled. “Oh, well it can happen to anyone.”
“I’ll make a mental note to stand well and clear when you’re practicing,” Phenyo joked, issuing a small smile.
Everyone laughed, including Helmli. The lovely girl was still blushing when she and Zuri met eyes.
Forty-four
After an hour of sitting in the dining hall for lunch and talking with Helmli, Itvin led the Chosen to the Council Chamber. They took a lift as high as it would go, getting off on a level with a shiny black stone floor and pillars all around supporting the ceiling that loomed a couple of stories above; the ceiling was the underside of the Council Chamber. They walked out from beneath the support structure to one of several staircases leading up into the Chamber.
Itvin talked over his shoulder to them.
“Now, just relax going in here. The Council is composed of four wizards, including myself. Genfril is the lead speaker, though each of us is about equal when it comes to our power; he is the one with the platinum hair. Fezaan is a Neuwt. Loziq is the last. It will be much like the first time you went before Empress Zalira, no doubt.”
Zuri took a breath and he, along with the others, followed in Itvin’s wake. There were passages left and right, leading up to the Council floor. The same kind of mysterious, glowing crystals used for illumination throughout the Tower were set into the walls to either side and lent an off-white light. They exited a passage through an archway, slipping into a large, open room. Rows and rows of empty benches lined the circular wall, a huge glass dome capping the chamber. A raised platform stood in the center of the room, and they steadily moved towards it. On the platform were three individuals, their high-backed chairs situated in a semicircle. There was an empty fourth chair.
Zuri easily picked out each wizard due to Itvin’s descriptions. Fezaan was female, her seafoam-green hair pulled up and back elegantly from her aged but beautiful face. Her eyes were the same shade as her hair. The one named Loziq had short black hair with two matching white streaks starting at each temple and zipping back through it. His golden-brown eyes held a hardened edge. Last was Genfril, unmistakable with his flowing platinum hair that was pulled back in a tail at the nape of his neck. Each of the higher-level wizards was dressed as Itvin always did—fine and stylish. They watched in regal silence while their fellow wizard and the youth approached.
Itvin nodded to them, and they did the same.
Genfril was the first to speak, his wizened face holding the shadow of a smile. “It’s good to have you back, old friend. I trust your travels were well.”
“Well enough, though I will say I’m in no hurry to get on another ship any time soon.”
“That’s understandable,” Genfril said, then turned his eyes to the teens. He continued smiling. “It is with great honor that I finally welcome you all. I never thought I’d be around for the time when the Chosen were deemed.”
“Nor I,” spoke Loziq quietly. Zuri thought he looked somewhat snide up in his chair peering down at them.
“Honored youth,” Genfril continued, his eyes appearing quite young and bright within the confines of his old face, “I will not bore you with talk of The Prophecy. No doubt you’ve all heard it time and again since you found out your role in it. For the past few months, you’ve been training and”—his eyes flickered over Zuri—“learning to hone your power. And while I’m sure you’ve all been working hard, you still have quite a way to go before you’re strong enough to face your ultimate enemy, the Overlord.”
The four teens listened intently to him, glad that he’d skipped right to the heart of the situation. They knew enough about things that they didn’t need to have all the facts regurgitated.
“To strengthen yourselves,” Genfril said, “you’ll need to be less dependent on those who have aided you up until now. That’s why the Council has decided to send you on a small quest.”
A quest! Zuri’s heart raced, and his stomach dropped. Excitement mixed with anxiety. They were getting sent on a quest already and they’d just gotten to Veergastaad. Zuri’s eyes trailed off in thought and he gulped. The other Chosen exchanged looks. Evrik grinned broadly, clearly happy about the quest.
Even Itvin was surprised about the announcement but said nothing. Genfril and the others were right. There was a lot riding on the Chosen. They needed to build up their experience to be ready to face the Overlord.
“What is the quest?” Itvin implored, something Zuri and the others were dying to know.
“They will retrieve the Scepter of Kieldron.” This came from Fezaan, her lovely, pale face sitting tall on her long neck.
Itvin immediately stepped ahead of the Chosen, standing right before the raised platform. He looked worried as he watched the Council. “Perhaps it is too soon to send them on this task. Their skills are novice level, and the domains they’ll have to travel through to get to the scepter are certainly too hostile.”
The teens heard Itvin clearly while they stood behind him. Evrik took a step forward, face carved in a mask of unhindered certainty. He looked from Itvin to the other Council members. “Dangerous it may be, but I know we can handle it,” he said.
Itvin smirked over his shoulder, his expression saying that Evrik should shut his yap. Evrik only shrugged at the old wizard.
Genfril chuckled deeply, lifting a brow.
“Your confidence is promising, Evrik, and I do not doubt that you and your fellow adventurers will succeed in retrieving the Scepter of Kieldron.” His eyes leveled on his fellow wizard. “It is decided, Itvin. They will depart in one week, and you will be the one to provide details, supplies, and the map for them, along with whatever else they’ll need.”
Itvin nodded. He knew it was on the Council’s agenda to send the Chosen for the scepter, but he thought it might be a little later. “Very well.”
Zuri sighed, and his stomach lurched nervously. He didn’t know if he was ready to be without Itvin. He would give it his best though. He just had to remember the basics of what he’d learned from Ezra. The strange wizard told him during their lessons that the key to controlling his power was concentration. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be any mishaps like the one Helmli had, causing a fellow classmate’s hair to fall out.
Fezaan’s sea-foam eyes flashed down at Zuri, then she smiled softly at him and the others. “You’ll do well, Chosen. I have great faith in you.”
Zuri got a distinct sensation of warmth from her. She reminded him of his Aunt Lacy, Victoria’s older sister, very kind and welcoming.
Genfril suddenly went more serious, his face losing any touch of a smile it previously held. He and the other high wizards settled eyes on Itvin, Genfril serving as the speaker. “Have you heard what happened to Tian?”
“No, I haven’t. What?”
“The city was destroyed by the Overlord,” answered Genfril gravely.
Itvin’s brow lowered, serving as a dire hood over his deep-set eyes. He sighed greatly at the news. “When did this happen?”
“Almost a month ago. The damage was devastating. He left his usual mark on the land, the ground burned and blackened, all plant life dead, the very terrain poisoned. Any people detected by his forces were killed.” Silence settled like a heavy blanket over the chamber and those within, then Genfril spoke again to Itvin. “The Overlord’s power grows with each passing day. He has attacked small towns and villages up until recently, never cities as large and thriving as Tian or Udelphia. There was a time when he could be held at bay by the united Watchers of the Prophecy, but that time has passed, and only the Chosen can stop him now.”
His eyes rested on the teens, lingering a moment on Zuri.
It was a gaze that made the hair on the back of Zuri’s neck prickle. He rubbed at the spot.
*
Going before the Council of Veergastaad was easier than Zuri imagined. It was nowhere near as intense as meeting Zalira for the first time. Itvin took them to an apartment on the same level as his quarters. It contained three bedrooms. He left Phenyo in charge then went to talk more with the other Council members about Tian and the Scepter of Kieldron.
The teens settled in their temporary quarters, and even though Evrik made it quite clear that he wanted to go off wandering the Tower, he didn’t leave. He instead found a place by the windows and shined his prized ebonwood mini crossbows. Phenyo and Ra-siamun picked through the vast array of provided literature.
Zuri lounged on a couch, head propped up on some pillows. He decided to utilize a book quite differently from Phenyo and Ra. His hands twirled slowly, maneuvering the book so it hovered in the air above him. He was only partly concentrating on his powers then. The other half of his mind dwelled over the strange and beautiful girl he’d met at lunch. Helmli Starkbliss. A smile touched the corners of his mouth…and the book picked up speed, spinning furiously. Zuri didn’t notice until the book suddenly whisked across the room, crashing into a vase.
The others jerked eyes to the destroyed vase, then to Zuri.
“What the heck was that?” Phenyo lifted a brow at the 13-year-old.
“That,” Evrik started with a tilted smile, “was smashing…literally.”
Phenyo smirked at him. “Oh, hush.”
“Well, it was.” Evrik winked at her. His brown gaze slipped to Zuri. “Thinking of a certain girl?”
Zuri sat up, clearly embarrassed. “No…I wasn’t.”
“Poppycock. I saw that look on your face right before the book went sailing. You most certainly were thinking of her, little buddy. Helmli, wasn’t it?” Evrik chuckled and went back to polishing his weapons.
When Zuri didn’t answer but only blushed further, Phenyo and Ra chuckled a bit as well.
Itvin returned a little later to take them to the dining hall for dinner, and all the while Zuri kept looking around for Helmli. However, she was nowhere to be found. After dinner they went back to their quarters. They had an early day tomorrow and a busy week ahead of them in preparation for their quest.
*
The great and regal chamber of the Council of Veergastaad. Zuri’s dreams took him there, only in the dream everything was misty and surreal at the edges. The boy approached the raised platform in the center of the chamber. When he reached the bottom of the ramp, Zuri halted and stared at the walkway ahead of him. The long, three-foot wide expanse was the only thing connecting the platform to the rest of the chamber. The floor was simply gone, only a deep, shadowy chasm in its place. From the darkness rose a constant warm air that was pungent with the odor of sulfur.
Zuri looked up and saw that the sky beyond the glass dome was tinted red. His eyes flipped to the raised seats on the platform, and his breath caught in his chest. There sat Arkannon Goldsley. Well, rather three of him, each version of the Overlord fashioned after Genfril, Fezaan, and Loziq in their own way and wearing the same outfits the high wizards wore yesterday. Genfril-Overlord leaned forward a bit, his hand reaching out to beckon Zuri closer. Fezaan-Overlord and Loziq-Overlord merely peered down their noses at the boy.
Zuri lifted a brow at Fezaan-Overlord, with his sea foam colored hair piled elegantly on his head and lips painted lightly of the same shade. Loziq-Overlord sported jet-dark hair with a white stripe streaking back from each temple. Zuri had shared a few dream-visions with the Overlord, and each time he’d felt uneasy. This time was no different. He feared the man (if he could even be called a man), but he was drawn to him all the same.
Again Genfril-Overlord beckoned, smiling slimly.
Zuri slowly started over the stretch of stone walkway across the abyss, stopping before the council of Overlords.
“My, it seems that you’ve grown since the last time I saw you, Tauzuri,” spoke Genfril-Overlord.
“It wasn’t so long ago,” said Zuri, and indeed it hadn’t been. During the journey from Wangaipangea to Northwestland, the Overlord had visited Zuri in his sleep twice. “But you might be right.”
“And how are your powers coming along?” This from Fezaan-Overlord.
“They’re fine.”
Fezaan-Overlord smiled and nodded. “Yes, of course. You are my son after all. Such things will come easy to you.”
And here Loziq-Overlord cut in, long fingers gripping thoughtfully at his chiseled chin. “Though you have much to learn. And if you came to me, I could help you unlock the exponential power you have inside you.”
Zuri’s eyes narrowed. “You still haven’t told me just why you want me to find you, to join you.”
“We are linked through a bond stronger than any you’ll ever know, son,” said Genfril-Overlord, chuckling, his platinum tail of hair shifting down his back. “We have plenty of time for you to figure out just where you belong.”
“My place is not with you.” Zuri’s hands balled into fists at his sides.
All three versions of the Overlord broke into resonant laughter, the sound bouncing and bounding through the chamber. Over their dark mirth, Zuri heard something else. He spun around to see that the singular stone walkway had begun to crumble, cutting off any chance of retreat. His eyes widened, and he backed up until his foot slipped at a sharp edge. He flung around and gasped. The Overlord council was gone, as was the platform upon which they sat. There was only a perfect edge leading off into the seemingly bottomless pit that belched up sulfurous air. Then, there was nothing beneath his feet, and he was falling, screaming in terror as he zoomed down into the darkness.
