Yo!
I just realised that when i posted this that i didn't have any note! How stupid of me. :P
Well, News, my birthday is coming up! WOOO! Joy to the world. When my Nana asked me what i wanted, do you know what i said? It was probably the last thing you could ever think of... a pocket watch. You know those old fashioned ones, well, i wanted an engraved pocket watch. I think it is such a cool present.
So, topic of the Chapter, the weirdest present you have ever asked for OR have ever been given. I'm sure there was a time when you grandparents gave you a woolen jumper that just looked so bad...
Fly On...
Heart of Diamond
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo
The Legend of the Seraph
Chapter 8: Memories
"So, let me get this straight," Iggy said, placing his wooden spoon in his second empty bowl of beef stew Kate, Iggy's mother, brewed up.
"You're the Seraph, The legendary Seraph from the bedtime story. You really have wings and powers and a sword named Audacity. You have a destiny to kill the king and so far no one knows you exist except for us four, Ella, the Eraser you killed and Ari."
He paused. "And of course, Akila."
Iggy ruffled his daughter's curly brown hair. Akila giggled, stew all over her mouth.
I winced slightly at the word kill though. Fang gave me a flick of his eyes, but he seemed to be the only one that saw it.
"That pretty much sums it up," I said hesitantly.
Iggy snorted. "No pressure."
I rolled my eyes. "None at all."
Iggy, Kate and Fang chuckled lightly.
I glanced at Jeb and choked a laugh. He was pretty much inhaling his food, his mouth barely an inch from his bowl.
Kate walked over to Jeb. "I'm glad you're enjoying my stew Mr. Batchelder."
Jeb gave a hum in response.
Jokes were passed around, as were stories and laughter. I laughed along, half the time only laughing because everyone else was laughing. But I hardly touched my food. I wasn't hungry.
I just had so many things on my mind.
Mum. The dead Erasers. My destiny. And Ella. I was worried sick about Ella. Was she ok? What was Ari doing to her?
I hoped… no I prayed to all the spirits that she was alright.
I felt someone tap my foot. I brought myself to reality and met Fang's eyes.
He nodded to my untouched bowl and mouthed, 'Are you ok?'.
At first I didn't say anything, I just looked away. But after a while, the laughter and smiles started to get to me.
Why couldn't I be happy like them? Why couldn't I laugh and tell stories with Kate, Iggy and Jeb?
"I'm going to go outside," I said abruptly.
The laughter died. I watched as their eyes turned sad. They were sad for me. For what I've been through.
I didn't want them to feel my pain.
I pushed the chair back and without a word made my way towards the front door. I closed it behind me and paused for a second. After about ten seconds, the laughter resumed and I sighed with relief.
I walked across the porch and leant against the railing. There was no way I was sleeping tonight, even if I tried.
I stared up at the stars, but my moment of peace didn't last. I heard the down creep open and I turned my head.
Fang stepped out. There was a small smile on his face. "Hey."
I smiled back. "Hey."
Fang walked across the porch soundlessly. He seemed a lot less threatening when he wasn't wearing his jet black cloak.
He leant against the railing beside me and both of us slipped back into silence. We stared at the stars. If it wasn't for Fang's steady breathing, I would have sworn he was a statue.
"Thinking about your mother," Fang whispered.
I didn't say anything for a few seconds. "Yeah. I was just wondering…" I stopped myself.
Fang turned to me. "It's ok."
I looked at my hands. "I was just wondering if it gets any easier to remember."
There was silence again.
"Eventually," Fang whispered.
I looked at him. He sighed. "Before I came to the Brotherhood, I used to live in The Ice Lands. My parents were head councillors in the town and when the Eraser came, they stood up against them."
He paused.
"Suddenly, they just disappeared. I was only 6 at the time and I just woke up to find they were gone. Just like that. No evidence of struggle or resistance. They had just vanished. It was a whole day before someone found me. I was taken to the Brotherhood of Shadows when one of the towns' people saw the strength of my power."
Fang sighed looking down at his hands before glancing up at me. "It does get easier Max. Soon you'll start remembering all the good times you had with your mother and those memories will over throw your bad ones."
I breathed in and out, blinking so the tears didn't fall from my eyes.
I needed to change the subject.
"How did you get the book?" I asked suddenly.
Fang frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, how did you get the Script of Itex out of Lord Garth's castle? What made you different from any other person trying to get it?"
Fang smiled. "I can turn invisible."
Oh, that's nice… wait…
"You can turn invisible?" I said shocked. "How…? Why can…?"
I was seriously lost for words.
Fang chuckled and looked at the stars. "Every once in a while, a Shadow develops a unique power, but it's rare and random in who gets it. As far as I know there have been no Shadows with invisibility before. I guess we used it to our advantage."
There was more silence.
"Why did you come here to the Northern Lands?" I whispered.
A sad sigh escaped Fang's mouth. "Ari and his men tracked me down. I guess I wasn't covering my trail as much I should have. I was blocked off from heading home and cornered at the boundary. I heard rumours that a Master Wizard by the name of Jebediah Batchelder was in the Northern Lands. I thought that I could possibly hide the book with him. He is one of the last Master Wizards left."
I frowned. "Is Jeb really that great?"
Fang's eyes widened ever so slightly. "That great? Jeb is a genius! In all my years, I have never seen a wizard who can hide a whole house not only by sight, but by sound, smell and touch too. There are some power wizards on the rebellion, but Jeb is incredible."
It was strange. Fang spoke with passion in his words. I frowned slightly. I didn't really take him for the guy who talks a lot.
Fang laughed slightly. "At first I thought Jeb was a coward. Why was he here in hiding while others were dying trying to fight Lord Garth?"
Fang glanced at me. "And then I met the almighty Seraph."
I snorted. "Yeah, yeah, I get the rest of the story."
Fang chuckled. "Let's just say I now consider Jeb quite the hero. Protecting the Seraph."
"Ok, Fang, I get it, I'm some amazing hero who will abolish all Evil in the Southern lands," I said rolling my eyes.
The sarcasm bled from my mouth.
Fang stared at me for a few seconds. I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You really don't understand how important you are?" Fang whispered.
I frowned and turned away. Fang remained quiet obviously waiting for an answer.
I breathed in and out when the tears threatened to come out. My heart clenched and my throat tightened.
I turned back to Fang, biting my lip. "What sort of hero am I if I let my mother be murdered and my sister to be kidnapped?"
My voice cracked halfway through my sentence. I turned away as the tears fell from my eyes.
"I want to show you something," Fang whispered.
I wiped my eyes quicker than lightning, blinking the last of my tears back. Fang unclipped on of his small draw string pockets and opened the little bag.
There was some sort of stuttered murmur in the pocket. I frowned. I couldn't make out the language.
Suddenly a yellow light flew out and danced around in the air. It was no bigger than the length of my thumb. I was glowing so brightly that I couldn't actually see its form. Circled in the air flying right up to my nose and landing on it. I stared at the little light with crossed eyes.
Fang chuckled lightly. "She likes you."
The light jumped off my nose and zoomed around Fang. Fang held out his hand and the little light nestled in it comfortable giving out a purr like hum.
"What is she?" I asked.
Fang sighed. "Her name is Sheena and she's a Firelight, a species that lives in the Southern lands. I rescued her when her hive was destroyed in one of the many wars, she lost everything. She was barely glowing when I found her, but I managed to take care of her."
Fang pulled out a small cube of meat from another one of his pockets and placed it beside Sheena. Sheena circled around the small cube before engulfing it in light. The cube disappeared.
I couldn't help but smile. Sheena was such a cute little thing.
Sheena jumped off Fang's palm again and floated in the air giving off happy murmurs and hum. She circled around me and I spun around trying to follow her, laughing slightly.
"But Max," Fang whispered laying his eyes on me. "Sheena is just one of the thousands of Southern landers that have no home. When a town can't pay their tax, the Erasers just come in and take everything. They destroy the houses, murder people who fight back. They take children to be slaves and burn livestock and crops."
I stared at him. Were things really that bad in the southern lands?
"Max, you may not be able to save your mother, but think of all the thousands of other life you can save. Save children from losing their parents. Save people from losing their lives."
Fang sighed. "Lord Garth is taking over the Northern Lands too. If he has a Wizard working for him, it will only be a matter of months before the barrier is destroyed and a 10,000 strong Eraser army will come charging through and take over the Northern Lands."
He paused. "If you kill Lord Garth, you'll free both lands from suffering."
I didn't say anything. Fang was right on that account.
Sheena flew up to me and pressed against my cheek. I laughed slightly and held out my hand. She circled down to my palm fluttering around it until she was comfortable and purred. It felt like I had a hundred butterflies in my palm.
"Fang?" I whispered.
Fang looked at me, his face blank, but eyes were almost praying that he had said the right thing.
"Thank you."
Fang smiled.
Iggy woke us before dawn the next day. I slept with Akila and Kate in one room. While the three boys slept together in Iggy's room.
I was thankful that Iggy had warmed to Fang. He didn't deserve to sleep outside.
Kate had packed us some waxed cheese, dried beef, a draw string bag of salt cubes along with some dried herbs, vegetables and roots.
To my surprise, Iggy came out to the barn with us and started to saddle his horse.
I frowned. "You're coming with us?"
Iggy grinned. "Of course."
"But what about Akila and Kate?" I asked. I could think of no reason why he would want to leave them.
Iggy's smiled faded slightly. "Max, you're my sister. My best friend. There is no way I'm going to let you go fight Lord Garth by yourself."
I opened my mouth, but Iggy cut over. "Yes, I know you have Jeb and Fang, but you're going to need all the help you can get."
That was it. Iggy had gotten to the stage where there was no fighting against him.
As approached Maya in her sable, her head snapped up. She gave me a whinny as I stroked her nose. I smiled and slipped on her bridle.
My feathers twitched as I felt eyes on the back of my neck. I turned around to see Fang looking at me. Fang was halfway through tightening the straps on Iggy's second horse, Calypso. He smiled as he met my gaze and I couldn't help but smile back.
Suddenly this strange feeling washed over me. I turned away, frowning. What was wrong with me? Was I sick or something? Why did my heart beat rise for that millisecond?
I shook my head and picked up Maya's saddle before throwing it over her back. I tightened the straps and was starting to adjust the strips, when I felt that prickly feeling again.
Annoyed, I turned to face Fang.
He was looked away from me this time, but I could see that amused smile on the edge of his mouth.
I gave him a decent glare before turning my concentration to Maya.
What was the guy doing to me?
"Bye Daddy," Akila whispered hugging her father.
I smiled at the sight. Iggy was an amazing father, throwing his daughter up into the air and catching her again. Akila giggled like mad.
"You be a good girl to Grandma, ok?" Iggy questioned.
Akila nodded furiously. "Daddy's girl."
Jeb chuckled from where he stood beside me. Fang managed a small smile.
Iggy laughed heartedly. "That's right Daddy's girl."
Kate came around to each of us giving us warm hugs. Fang stiffened with his hug. I guessed that he wasn't the touchy person.
He seemed ok around me though.
When Kate came up to me, I hugged her warmly. She withdrew giving me a smile. "I wish you the best of luck Max. I have something for you."
I frowned, but Kate produced a folded piece of good quality navy cloth. I frowned and unravelled it. I couldn't help but gasp as the coth unravelled into a hooded cloak.
"I… I don't know what to say," I whispered. I was gobsmacked seriously. This was the most elegant cloak I had ever seen.
"If you want to remain hidden, you'll need something to hide you're wings," Kate said seriously.
I weaved the cloak over so it swept down my back smoothly before tying the strong navy leather strips around my neck. I couldn't help but admire the beauty in the plain and simple design.
"Thank you so much," I said gratefully. Kate smiled and kissed my cheek before returning to stand with her granddaughter.
Jeb reached his hands up and chanted a few words over Kate and Akila. There was a shuddering wave through the air before Jeb lowered his hand.
"A simple protection spell," Jeb said with a smile. "If danger is coming your way, you will feel it."
Kate bowed slightly to Jeb. "Thankyou wizard."
"No, thank you," Jeb said with a chuckle. "I doubt I will ever taste a better stew."
Jeb called a small meeting as the sun broke over the horizon. He produced four small purple velvet draw string bags. Each one was identical.
"We should each carry our own coins," Jeb said wisely. "That way if we are forced to split up, at least we will be able to survive on coins."
Jeb passed us each a draw string sack. I opened the sack and my mouth almost dropped to the ground. There were more coins in this sack then I could earn in a year.
Fang nodded respectively and turned around to walk towards the horses, his black cloak sweeping behind him.
"I don't want to know how much is in here," Iggy whispered shaking his head and walking away attaching the small sack tightly to his belt.
I looked up, but Jeb's gaze was already upon me. I opened and closed my mouth. Jeb smiled.
"It's ok Max," He said putting a hand on my shoulder.
I shook my head holding out the little sack. "I don't need this."
But Jeb pushed it back. "Take it Max."
I hesitated before sighing and taking the bag. I was about to walk off, but Jeb stopped me.
"Max, when we are traveling, I want you to keep Audacity on you at all time," he said seriously.
I nodded. Jeb continued.
"Whenever you hear or see anything out of the ordinary, I want to grip your sword. The power in the sword will enhance your senses. Holding the sword you'll be able to feel, see and hear more than you ever have."
I gulped, fear rising up in me. "Jeb… when I was fighting those Erasers… I just got so angry… the sword just seemed to take over my actions…"
"I know Max," Jeb said kindly placing his hand on my cloak covered shoulder for reassurance. "The sword feeds off your anger and you feed off its power, but with training and knowledge you'll learn to control it. It's ok Max, I'll teach you everything as we travel."
I frowned. "Teach me?"
Jeb chuckled and lead me towards the horses. "Well, you can't expect to be able to fight Lord Garth without training or learning to fly."
"Fly?" I said in shock.
Jeb laughed harder. "Yes, Max, you need to learn how to fly. Why else do you think you've been granted your wings?"
"I…" I paused.
Of course I needed to learn how to fly. How could I be that stupid? The thought of flying made my heart race with excitement. Flying. Like a bird. I was going to learn to see the world unlike anyone else.
As we climbed onto our horses, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like. Would I touch the sky? The sky seemed endless. What about clouds? Would I be able to touch the clouds? And fly to the highest mountains. Maybe I could fly over the boundary.
Jeb must have seen my excitement because he chuckled again as he gripped his reins. "Patience Maximum Ride, don't expect everything to come to you overnight."
xoxoxoxoxooxxoxo
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