Shadelands, p.17
Shadelands, page 17
“Tanni,” pleaded Nia, “you followed your heart here. I wouldn’t be the same if you hadn’t come. I’d be a lifeless shell.”
“But look at me!” Tanni wept, gesturing at himself wildly. “Look at how dark I’ve become. This is all I deserve now. This is all I am, don’t you see?”
“What happened to you does not define you!” cried Nia, suddenly realizing her statement was just as relevant to herself as to him. Stunned, she sat there, momentarily unable to speak. Finding her voice again at last, she stammered, “I ran off into the woods after my Nanna yelled at me. I lost my light too. Does that define who and what I am?”
Tanni’s eyes widened. Slowly he shook his head and said quietly, “I’ve never thought so. I see the point you’re making. You’re absolutely right. But you know, speaking of that, I’ve thought a lot about your story. Do you really think you ran off just because your Nanna lost her patience?”
“What do you mean?” asked Nia, confused.
“Where did your fear of being a burden really come from? Did you already have it when you left for your Nanna’s house?”
Nia grew quiet and reflective. Straining her brain, she could just make out the memory of feeling unwanted even in her own house. But she couldn’t quite figure out why. All at once, it came to her. Drawing in a shuddering breath, she said shakily, “I had it at home too. My mother’s belly was growing bigger and bigger. She kept telling me I’d have a new brother or sister soon. My whole world started to upend. They moved me out of their bedroom, saying they needed space for the cradle. Mom had no energy to play with me. Dad became busier and more distant. By the time Nanna came to pick me up, I was convinced that my parents didn’t want me anymore and were sending me off for good. I guess in a way, they were. They just didn’t know it yet.”
“So, after reflecting on this,” Tanni began gently, “do you still think you’re a burden?”
Nia glanced down at Ease. The sprite looked so peaceful. She wondered if that was how it would be when she was near death. “I don’t know,” she admitted.
Suddenly, Tanni reached out and lifted her chin. Nia’s heart skipped. Looking up at him, she saw kindness reflected in his eyes.
Swallowing to clear his throat, Tanni said firmly, “Nia, let me remind you how sad your family has been without you in their circle. They’ve kept your room exactly how it was when you left it. They celebrate your birthday every year, even inviting family and friends over to grieve your absence. They lay a wreath for you on their remembrance stone and keep your favorite flowers planted there. They’ve taught your sister, Rosa, your favorite tunes. The walls of your parents’ bedroom include drawings of your face. They light candles beneath them and pray to the stars that you’ll come home. The walls of your Nanna’s home are covered with artwork you once drew for her. Let me say this loud and clear: You are wanted.”
The words reverberated through Nia. Pulling away from Tanni, she covered her face with her free hand as bittersweet tears poured from her eyes. Allowing his last phrase to wash over her, it slowly cleansed and liberated her from the lies she’d told herself for so many years. It was as if a spell had broken.
“All these years since you got to the Shadelands you’ve been projecting your belief of being unwanted onto every person you’ve ever met. But you know what?” Tanni said softly. “It’s time to let that go. It’s time to be free.”
Looking up at him through her tears, Nia smiled, “It’s time you were free too, Tanni. You are not a failure.”
“Thank you,” Tanni smiled. “You are not a burden.”
As the two gazed at one another, Pester landed at Nia’s side. His form was brighter than it had been a few minutes before, but his brow was creased in concentration.
“You’ve done an amazing job of keeping Ease alive with your light, Nia. But now I need you to set her down. Once you do,” he said nervously, “both of you stand back. If I get this wrong, who knows what kind of calamity might come upon us.”
Tanni started. Nia turned and saw that his eyes were wide, his face pale. “Who spoke with you just now?” he asked frantically. “Was that your imp?”
“Yes, that was Pester,” Nia admitted, wiping away her tears. “But he’s not an imp anymore. He’s a sprite. I can explain later.”
Tanni scratched his head in bewilderment. Nia looked from him to Pester, who continued to stare intently at the sprite in her arms. Gently she placed Ease on the ground and said, “Here she is. Did you remember your mother’s rune?”
“I think so,” Pester replied. “I hope so. Back up now. Pray I don’t make a mistake and kill myself and Ease in the process—or you both will be in a world of trouble.”
Tanni and Nia backed away several feet, Tanni still visibly shaken. As Nia held her breath, Pester lifted Ease’s hand and drew something on it. Nothing happened. Knitting his brows together tighter, Pester closed his eyes in thought. Nia took a few shallow breaths, praying to nothing in particular that this might work.
Suddenly, a grin spread across Pester’s face. “I think have it!”
Moving to Ease’s forehead, Pester tried the rune again. A brilliant flash of light exploded out of him. Ease stirred and her eyes fluttered. Panting, Pester collapsed next to her. “It worked,” he said between breaths. “It worked, and I’m not dust.”
Several seconds passed before Ease opened her eyes and sat up. The first thing her eyes fell upon was Vex’s crushed form. Her peaceful expression shifted instantly to grief and horror. “So passes Soothe,” she said grimly. “May his light pass to another.”
“Look, Ease,” Pester said with tired excitement, “you’re alive, and I didn’t blow us up!”
Ease smiled at Peter’s enthusiasm and said in amazement, “Pester, you are more than meets the eye.”
“I think that’s been true since the day you first met me,” Pester chuckled.
Happy over Ease’s restoration, Nia was just about to suggest the group get ready to go, when Tanni swooned against her. Attempting to hold him up, she got knocked down under him instead. The two hit the ground hard, and Nia got the wind knocked out of her when his body landed across her back. Sprawled on the muddy ground beneath him and wheezing to catch her breath, she called for help. The two sprites swiftly landed next to her head. But before they could do anything, Tanni came to with a moan and rolled off her without any help.
Ease scanned the area anxiously. “We’ve been in the open too long,” she said. “Let’s get him to the cave. I’ll restore him there. Then, Pester and I will cast wingfoot on the two of you, and we’ll head off to Portal Hill.”
“Portal Hill?” panted Nia, helping Tanni get dizzily to his feet.
“The hill where the Lightkeepers’ camp was,” Ease explained. “I made a deal with The Lumen that I’d alert him when I was ready to come home so he could open a portal for me and any other travelers with me. I can’t do that until we are closer to the hill.”
Nia turned to Tanni, who hadn’t heard his sprite, and explained Ease’s plan. He nodded weakly. With Tanni draped over her shoulder, Nia walked to the cave where she’d spent the night. After Ease restored Tanni, and he and Nia had eaten, Tanni was at last ready to go. Nia smiled to see him glowing again, if only faintly. Tanni slung his pack and Nia followed him out of the cave. Once outside, wingfoot was cast on both of them. Ease took Tanni’s shoulder and Pester climbed on Nia’s. Then, the two children shot off, relieved to finally be headed home.
Chapter 28
It was late afternoon when the group reached the base of Portal Hill. It had been a relatively cheerful run for Nia. Tanni had talked more about his family and about Nia’s sister, Rosa. Nia learned that Rosa liked many of the things she had liked as a child—playing with dolls, drawing flowers, and gathering interesting rocks. The more she heard, the more Nia longed to meet her. Now, seeing the hill where in just a few minutes she finally would, excitement rose in her throat.
“Have you contacted The Lumen yet?” she asked Ease.
“No—not yet,” Ease said. She sounded puzzled and slightly alarmed. “Hold up a bit.”
Nia pulled Tanni to a halt alongside her. “What is it?” he asked.
“Ease,” Nia said to the sprite on Tanni’s shoulder, “what’s wrong? The last time I heard you talk like that it was just before Tanni was recaptured. What are you sensing?”
Just then, Pester gasped and stiffened against Nia’s neck.
“Oh no,” cried Ease. “We’re not safe here. Run!”
Terror surged through Nia. Relaying Ease’s command, she and Tanni bolted from the hill. But after only a few steps, Nia’s legs froze up. She lunged forward onto the forest floor. The impact rattled her teeth and jarred her skull. Tanni flew into the dirt beside her. Several feet ahead, Ease and Pester rolled along the ground. The air become deadly cold.
“So, Vex’s murderers have come to call, have they?” laughed Lord Accuse, appearing in front of the children. “This ought to be interesting.” With a wave of his palm, first Ease and then Pester were drawn through the air and dumped next to Tanni.
Nia watched Lord Accuse raise his hand at her next. Her body responded automatically, and she was made to sit up. Tanni was left where he was.
Lord Accuse stood a head taller than Vex. His features weren’t entirely hideous, but they were dark and twisted by malice. His face was careworn, its expression icy. Teeth chattering, Nia sought any light within the imp lord. She saw nothing. Whatever light he once had was buried and hidden. Cunning filled his eyes, eyes that glared into her own. She squirmed. It was as if he was looking into her soul.
“Selfish girl,” he began softly. “You made your Nanna cry. You wrecked her health and her whole life. You wrecked the lives of all your family. Happy about that, unwanted little burden?”
Nia sucked in a breath, feeling as if her heart had been stabbed. What he said felt so justified. Yes, her poor Nanna. Her poor parents. It was all her fault. She’d caused all of it. Stinging tears started in her eyes. Lord Accuse chuckled darkly and moved on to Tanni.
“You’re an incompetent failure, did you know that? You couldn’t even execute your plan correctly. Now, The Lumen wants nothing more to do with you. Your very name brings shame to the Lightkeepers. You’re the example The Lumen uses to stop other fools from attempting the suicide mission you went on.” As Lord Accuse spoke, Tanni hid his face in the dirt. Soon, the sound of sobbing poured out of him.
Moving on to Pester, Lord Accuse laughed, “Oh yes, the little vermin I once offered a job to. You never were anything to me. I saw your past the moment I first laid eyes on you. You are so pathetic you couldn’t even control the mind of a helpless five-year-old girl. And now, your name will become a byword across the entire Shadelands. We’ll call anything a Pester that’s so weak and utterly pitiful that the only thing to do is put it out of its misery.” Pester squeaked. His head dropped in shame.
Lord Accuse grinned and moved on to Ease. “Oh yes, the dimmest glowing sprite in the Sunlands. You win first place when it comes to losing Starbeams to my realm. That’s got to sting a bit, no? Still, I’ve got to thank you for your generous donations. You stood by and watched those Starbeams go one by one, never trying to stop them. Only when Tanni went through did you finally go too. Guess his grandmother, Ira, wasn’t worth the trouble, huh?”
Ease opened her mouth, but then closed it. She had nothing to say in response.
“Well, after that very touching tell-all, how about we get to the good news,” began Lord Accuse. “None of you will be leaving this spot alive. I thought of killing the sprites first, but now I’ve decided against it. It’ll be much more moving to have Ease and Pester watch their drudges slowly die. I’ll start with Nia.”
At his words, Nia’s blood ran cold. She’d gotten so close to leaving, but now, this was it. She would never get to apologize to her family for the trouble she put them through. She would die an unwanted burden, just as Lord Accuse had said.
As Lord Accuse came up behind her and wrapped a freezing cold, taloned hand around her throat, Nia looked ahead hopelessly, only to catch a glimpse of Wither peeking at her from behind a tree. In Wither’s hand was a pinecone. Nia stared at it for half a second in confusion, before the meaning of it dawned on her. Courage seeped back through her, and she said boldly, “I’m not an unwanted burden, you know.”
Lord Accuse hissed and released her throat. Walking in front of her, he looked her square in the face. “What was that?” he demanded, his icy glare boring into her.
“I’m not an unwanted burden,” she said calmly. “Those who love me most would agree.” To her surprise, she felt and saw her hands light up in her lap. She hadn’t even realized she’d stopped shining.
“What, you mean the ones you’ve led blindly into a trap?” Lord Accuse sneered, rubbing his chin. “The ones you’ve just betrayed?”
“You’re the betrayer, Truth!” Nia said, her eyes flashing. “You betrayed the entire race of sprites in your pointless little rebellion. Because of it, no one loves you. I’m sure that hurts a bit, doesn’t it?”
Lord Accuse back handed her, and she landed painfully on her side, her ears ringing. As she lay momentarily stunned, something came between her and the imp lord. A spell from Lord Accuse fizzled out right in front of her eyes.
“Impossible!” he breathed in fury.
A strange peace washed over Nia. Truth comes to those who look for it, said a voice which echoed in her mind. At first, she was confused. The only sprite she’d known to go by that name had been Lord Accuse himself. But then, she thought she understood. Somehow, by increasing her light in Lord Accuse’s presence, she’d awakened the truth that was hidden within him, and now Truth was standing invisibly between her and his twisted, deadly form.
The invisible something touched Nia’s head and understanding was infused into her mind. Everything Lord Accuse was hiding was laid bare before her. Filled with wonder, light flared up within her and the holding spell broke. Cursing under his breath, Lord Accuse stepped in front of her, another spell sparkling in his hand. At this, adrenaline surged through Nia. Without thinking, she grabbed his wrists and forced him to shoot the spell into the canopy. Ease, Pester, and Tanni gasped in surprise.
Lord Accuse squirmed in Nia’s grasp. His icy skin froze her to the core, but her hands felt like they were on fire. In spite of this, she remained calm. Looking into his cold, black gaze, she said quietly, “You’ve lost the power to hide the truth, Truth. I know your past. I know your pain. You’ve spent all this time tortured by frustration and rage. You entered the Realm Beyond with the firm belief that your glow, unhindered by Starbeams, would grow brighter than the sun. Instead, you found only darkness and despair.”
“Let me go!” Lord Accuse demanded, kicking and spitting in Nia’s face. But his strength was like that of a tiny child’s. Even with her hands going numb, Nia managed to hold on.
“You spent your days firm in the belief that you were the most intelligent and cunning of all creatures that ever lived,” Nia continued fiercely. “But there’s one thing you refused to know. You refused to discover where a sprite’s light truly originates—Starbeam joy. You are but a mirror of my light. You feed off this light and shine it back to further increase my happiness. But the system you’ve been using is unsustainable. Your light is almost gone. Someday it’ll burn out altogether. You’ve neared the end. The clock is ticking.”
“Liar! Useless, pitiful, worthless child! You bring harm to everyone you see! Must you burden the entire world?”
“The past you’re using to shame me holds no power over me anymore,” said Nia, her light growing brighter by the moment. “I’ve died to it and new seeds have grown. You’re too late. You can’t trap me anymore with your lies. They’ve been exposed for what they really are. I’ve come back to the light where no darkness can reach me. I am already free!”
At the word free, Nia’s skin blazed forth with sudden and unequaled fury, sending a scorching jet of light straight from her heart through Lord Accuse’s chest. The light blasted him from her hands into a nearby tree. The sound of thunder reverberated across the sky. To Nia’s astonishment, shadows fled as trees and dirt began to glow. The ground beneath her feet trembled. Nia saw the bonds on Pester, Ease, and Tanni break just as Wither wailed and threw herself onto the shining forest floor. Then, all around Nia portals started opening.
Drawn to the portal nearest her, Nia started walking toward it, but she felt something latch onto her ankle. Looking down startled, she saw Lord Accuse feebly holding onto her, his chest singed and smoking. “Save me,” he whimpered piteously.
At that moment, a tall, brilliantly glowing man stepped through the portal in front of her, the emblem of a pinecone embroidered on his tunic. The radiance of his form was so great Nia could barely look at him. At her feet, Lord Accuse yelped.
“Nia, I presume?” the man asked. Nia nodded as several more Starbeams walked through behind him.
“Well done, Nia. Well done.” The stranger sounded amazed and proud. “And Tanni,” he said, looking past Nia, “thank you for ignoring my command. The Realm Beyond is only free because of you.”
“You’re The Lumen?” asked Nia. The stranger didn’t answer, but responded only with a knowing, gracious smile. Glancing down at Accuse, she said, “The lord of this realm just asked me to save him. What should I do?”
Peering with eyes like the sun at the imp lord, The Lumen said firmly, “It’s over, Truth. Release your hold on this realm so it can be restored. If you refuse, you and all the imps beneath you will come to a swift and terrible end.”
