June 19th, 1996
Elisa was awakened by the cheerful cacophony of birdsong.
She groaned as she opened her eyes. She felt hungover and the light hurt, even though it was the soft golden light of sunset. She ached from head to toe, especially her back and neck, like she had been sleeping for hours in a confined space. She slowly sat up, wincing as she got stiff muscles to respond again and took stock of her situation. She was aboard the skiff, and she'd been sleeping in the narrow space between two of the benches.
"God, my head," she groaned. What the fuck happened? The last thing she remembered was—
Coldstone.
She gasped as the memory hit her, and she looked around the boat. One, two, three stone forms: Goliath, Angela, and Bronx. She breathed a sigh of relief. If they were stone, then they had still been alive when the sun came up.
Had she been out the whole day?
The skiff had moored on the shore of a large lake. She got out and stretched her sore back and aching limbs. It was pleasantly warm here, unlike where they had been before, high up in the Himalayas.
So, where were they now? What had happened after Coldstone, or rather his evil brother, attacked them? Where were Master Dawa and Sangpo? Had Coldstone turned on them, too? How did they get back on the skiff?
She looked around cautiously. The large lake had a pebbly beach that turned immediately into thick vegetation after just a few yards. There were large, flowering trees everywhere whose petals danced lightly in the breeze leaving the air beautifully fragrant. The understory was thick with ferns and bushes covered with some type of oblong, shiny red berry. In the distance she could see tall, craggy, snow covered mountains that formed a crown around the entire area.
She had no idea where they were or how they had gotten there, but the sun was starting to set, and she turned back to witness her friends awakening for the night.
There was a low roar and a shrill cry as well as the growl and bark from Bronx as the three gargoyles cast off their stone skin. There was a moment of confusion as they woke up prostrate on the boat, and Goliath nearly tipped the whole thing over before he braced himself with one hand on the rocky shore.
"Elisa. You're alright!" he said relieved as he righted himself and stepped out of the skiff and stood next to her. Last thing he remembered, Coldstone had his talons around her neck, and he was about to snap it.
"I'm ok," she replied as she gingerly touched her neck, and he frowned at the light bruises that marred her skin.
"We're all still together and alive. How?" Angela asked.
"That is a very good question. I woke up on the boat just a few minutes before you guys did," Elisa replied.
"Strange," Goliath rumbled. "Any idea where we are?"
Elisa shrugged.
"Could be anywhere in the northern hemisphere based on the season, unless we were Rip Van Winkled, and we've been out a hell of a lot longer than I thought," Elisa joked.
"None of the vegetation looks familiar…but it doesn't look strange, either." Goliath mused.
"It's warm," Angela sighed pleasantly.
"Yeah, thank god," Elisa laughed.
"Perhaps we should—"
Whatever Goliath was about to say was cut off by the sound of a woman's loud gasp.
The four of them turned rapidly towards the sound to find a woman staring at them from a stand of trees. She was carrying a basket and appeared to have been picking the strange red berries from the bushes near the shoreline. She was slight and slender with long graying hair that had obviously once been jet black, and her face had the lines of a woman who had spent a life with laughter and joy. She looked Tibetan like Sangpo and Master Dawa which made Elisa wonder if they were still near the monastery, but it was warm here, and the monastery was so high up in elevation that it was still under snow.
The woman stared at them, her mouth agape.
Elisa stepped forward and held up her hands in a non threatening manner.
"Hi," she said awkwardly. "We're...a little lost. Could you tell me where we are?"
"Gargoyles!" the woman said excitedly as her shock suddenly wore off. "We haven't had other gargoyles in Shambahla in hundreds of years!"
Goliath, Elisa, and Angela exchanged a quick look before Goliath stepped forward.
"You know of my kind?" he asked at the same time Elisa said, "Shambahla?"
"Oh, yes!" the woman replied with a broad smile.
Goliath looked back towards Elisa and Angela.
"Don't go anywhere! I'll be right back!" the woman said, and she disappeared back into the forest.
"That was an odd reaction," Elisa said as Goliath stared apprehensively after the woman.
"Definitely odd," Goliath said perplexed. "Her recognition makes me think there may be other gargoyles here."
"Should we follow her?" Angela asked.
"She asked us to stay, but I would wager we won't be alone for long. We should stay near the skiff just in case we need to leave quickly," Goliath replied.
He was right. In a few short minutes, the shore of the lake was completely surrounded.
And not by humans.
About a dozen gargoyles appeared through the trees and approached the beach. It seemed to Elisa that each gargoyle clan they encountered had very different appearances. Some things were largely universal: wings, tail, talons, and digitigrade legs. These gargoyles had all of the standard features, but their wings were beautifully feathered, much like the London clan, and they had slender tufted tails. They all lacked hair, but they had feathered crowns that went down their necks and blended into their wings. They were perhaps on the slight side for gargoyles, but still tall and in addition to their feathers, there was something rather bird-like about them. They all had humanoid faces except that they had broad nasal bridges that made their noses appear flat. They all ranged in warm golden tones from nearly white to a blazing ember.
Standing with the group was a gargoyle beast who watched them warily. Its face reminded Elisa of chinese dragons she'd seen in chinatown, but it was snow white with a turquoise green mane, forelegs, and tufted tail.
They were incredibly striking and beautiful, and Elisa let out a not so quiet, "Wow," in response to their sudden appearance.
The woman who had first greeted them stood comfortably with the gargoyles, as if she was meant to be with them just as much as any of the rest of them. Much like Elisa did within the Manhattan clan.
"We come peacefully," Goliath said as he held his hands up again.
"We don't often have visitors to our valley, and we have not seen other gargoyles for many years," a female gargoyle said. She had cream colored skin and soft, buttery gold colored feathers. She was leanly muscled, but curvier than a lot of female gargoyles Elisa had seen, reminding her of a lot of mid-century pinup girls. Compared to her, Elisa felt almost boyish, her own physique was leaner, and many would consider her figure athletic rather than voluptuous. She wore a teal, sleeveless tunic with a high neck, and high slits at the thighs to allow ease of movement. The other females were dressed in similar tunics, some with sleeves and some without, and in varying colors. The males wore simple loincloths, tied with a sash about their waists, and some also wore loose fitting tunics. A few wore saffron yellow robes similar to the kasaya robes worn by Buddhist monks.
The female who had addressed them stepped forward and pressed her palms together before she bowed to them.
"My name is Tsering, I am second in command of the Shambahla clan," she said.
Goliath returned the gesture.
"I am Goliath. Leader of the Manhattan clan," he said formally.
"Manhattan? As in New York?" she said puzzled. "That is certainly a long way from here."
"It's a long story," Goliath replied.
"I am eager to hear it, if you would be willing to tell us, and any other news you may bring of the world. Like I said, we do not get visitors much," Tsering replied ruefully.
"I would love to learn more about your clan...and where we are exactly," Goliath said.
"Why don't you join us back in the village? We can share a meal and talk more."
Goliath looked back at Elisa who nodded and smiled encouragingly at him.
"We appreciate the hospitality," Goliath replied.
The gargoyles turned and began to walk back through the trees, and the four travelers joined them. They emerged onto a well traveled footpath. Goliath walked in step with Tsering and Elisa and Angela walked behind. Bronx bounded behind the other beast once they had sniffed each other over eagerly.
The human woman moved in line next to Elisa.
"I am sorry I failed to introduce myself to you earlier, I was too excited," she said warmly. "My name is Pema."
"I will admit we are just as excited to see you and the others, Pema. My name is Elisa, and this is Angela," Elisa said, indicating the young female gargoyle. "The beast is Bronx."
"It is a pleasure to meet all of you," Pema said warmly.
"Are there other humans in the village?" Angela asked, thinking of Japan.
"No, I am the only one."
"I would love to hear more about how you came to live among them," Elisa said smiling. "Especially if it's anything like my own story."
"I am eager to speak with another woman, it has been many years," Pema replied, her smile broad enough it nearly split her face.
As they walked and talked, Elisa tripped on an uneven part of the footpath and stumbled, but before she could fall, Goliath reached out and caught her arm, and he helped to right her trajectory. Instead of letting go immediately after, he slid his hand to the small of her back and kept it there to help keep her steady in the dark.
She glanced obliquely at him as he fell back and walked beside her. He looked straight ahead, following Tsering, not outwardly acknowledging that his hand still remained, touching her.
She felt a thrill at his gentle touch, the weight of his hand resting there lightly, familiarly. She had feelings for Goliath that were difficult to articulate, and his constant proximity over the last few months had only distilled those feelings into something deeper and more intense. She wasn't sure if she was imagining it or not, but it seemed like he was finding more and more excuses to casually touch her, too.
There had been times on their journey when it seemed Goliath was about to breach the unspoken agreement they had about not discussing their feelings, and to be fair, there were a few times she nearly did as well, but they were always interrupted, either by Angela or other circumstances, and she wasn't sure if it made her feel relieved or infuriated when it happened. Her feelings for Goliath were confusing and painful as they had no hope of any kind of life together. It was best just to leave that genie in the bottle.
It was easier that way.
For the best, really.
Or so she kept telling herself.
But she was still secretly pleased that he kept his hand on her back.
Pema noticed the way Goliath reached out to keep Elisa from falling...and then didn't let go afterwards, and though she raised a brow speculatively, she said nothing.
They soon emerged through the trees to a clearing about a mile wide, wherein a small village resided. At its center rose a large monastery that glimmered in crimson and gold. It was surrounded by a series of smaller earthen buildings. Lanterns glowed throughout, keeping it warm and inviting, and brightly lit. Gargoyles roamed freely about engaging in typical tasks you would see in any small town.
Tsering led them to a group of hatchlings who were being addressed by a male gargoyle. He was crouched down, distributing some kind of sweet to the children who looked to be around eight or nine years old, which meant they were twice that age. They clambered excitedly around him, and Elisa couldn't help but think of how absolutely adorable gargoyle children were with their stubby tails and chubby wings, though this group was on the cusp of adolescents, and they were starting to lengthen and lean out from their childhood chub.
When the male gargoyle noticed their presence he stood up and looked at them with surprise and awe. He was tall and leanly muscled, like most of the other gargoyles of this clan. None of them were quite as heavily built as Goliath was, though to be fair, not many were. He looked like he was in the early part of his middle years, but it was hard to tell with gargoyles sometimes. A few of his feathers had turned, peppering his crimson plumage with white. His skin was pumpkin orange, and his face lit up in a broad smile at the sight of them, a few lines appearing around his eyes and mouth when he did.
"Pema! You told me you were off to pick goji berries at the lake, and instead you bring back visitors?" he said amused.
Pema left the group and walked towards the gargoyle.
"It's been an interesting evening," she said as she smiled up at him.
The male gargoyle approached them, then he bowed to them deeply, the way Tsering had earlier.
"Welcome to Shambahla," he said in a deep pleasant voice. "I am Tenzin, the leader of my clan."
By now they had attracted a crowd that was beginning to gather around them, and Elisa began to realize just how large the clan here was.
It was enormous. Larger than even the Ishumura clan.
"I am Goliath, leader of the Manhattan clan," Goliath replied with a bow, then he introduced everyone with him. "This is Angela, Elisa, and our beast, Bronx."
"It is a great pleasure to meet you all," Tenzin said, and his words sounded genuine. "You say you are from Manhattan? In New York?"
"Yes, though my clan is not from there originally. What was left of my clan was...transplanted."
Tenzin eyed him thoughtfully.
"I can see that," he mused. "You don't look like any of the descriptions we received of the clans that once existed in North America, and they are long gone as far as we know. If I were to guess...I'd say you look Scottish to me, but of the highlands and lowlands...not the lochs."
"We ran into a clan in London who said the same thing," Goliath said stunned. "How did you know?"
"We here in Shambahla have kept record of the gargoyle clans around the world since the time written language was invented. We thought all of the highland gargoyles had died off. I am glad to see you haven't. Tell me, is your clan a large one?"
"No, only a handful of us remain," Goliath replied remorsefully.
"A pity. Do you know of anything of the other Scottish clans?"
"All long gone, as far as I know, but...I have encountered clans in Japan and Guatemala, in addition to London."
"You must tell me what you know, if you are willing. For our records. We haven't heard from any other clans in a very long time. We had begun to fear that we were the last of our kind."
"Not the last, I am pleased to say," Goliath said warmly.
"You must be weary from your travels. Come, share a meal with me and my mate. Normally we eat communally, but I would like a chance to talk with you before you integrate with the others."
Pema stepped forward.
"Please follow me," she said with a bright, warm smile.
The human woman led them away from the curious eyes of the clan and to the monastery.
Inside there were more of the gargoyles, both male and female, dressed like monks in saffron colored robes. They watched as they passed curiously, stopping whatever task they were in the middle of.
Tenzin spoke to one of the monks, a young male, who nodded and ran off. Then they continued to follow Tenzin until they arrived at a room with a simple wooden door. Tenzin ushered them in. The room was just as simple as it appeared from the outside with a wooden desk, a table with a few stools, and a single window. A few moments later, the monk who had scurried off earlier came back with a few extra stools. He was a pale yellow with orange feathers who caught Angela's eye. She peered at him appreciatively, and he looked curiously back before he hastily looked away and backed out of the room. Another monk, a young female the color of burnt ochre, brought a tray of tea.
"This is my private study," Tenzin explained. "We won't be bothered here unless there is an emergency. I know it is not the most luxurious of accommodations, but please have a seat."
"It's more than fine," Goliath said as he cloaked his wings and took a seat on a sturdy stool.
Pema, who had joined them, poured the tea, and Tenzin passed the cups around. A few moments later, another monk entered with a tray of dumplings whose aroma made Elisa's mouth water.
"Please, help yourselves," Tenzin said graciously.
Elisa felt like she hadn't eaten in days, and she realized the last meal she had was a cup of soup the previous night...or had it been longer? She really had no idea how long they had been drifting on the lake, though she didn't think it could have been more than a day.
She tried to eat slowly even though what she really wanted to do was shove the whole tray full in her face. They tasted just as good as they smelled, the filling was made with some mixture of spiced meat and vegetables, and they were very filling.
"What has brought you and your companions to Shambahla, Goliath?" Tenzin asked after he gave them a moment to eat. He sipped his tea casually.
"Honestly…I am not sure," Goliath replied.
Bronx whined at him and rested his blocky head on his thigh. Goliath patted his head and slipped him a few dumplings from his plate.
Then he looked to Elisa and Angela as he debated how much to tell.
"We have been on a quest to get back home to Manhattan, but the last thing we remember, we were in a different Tibetan monastery, one where only humans resided. We were attacked and incapacitated by someone who is sometimes an ally of ours and sometimes an enemy...and when we came to, we were here."
Tenzin nodded thoughtfully at him.
"We sometimes get visitors here who come from all manner of places. We have no explanation for it, though we suspect it has something to do with the enchantment on the valley."
"Enchantment?"
"A protection spell of a sort. It deters people from finding us. It was cast several centuries ago for protection, though the knowledge of the spell, what stipulations it may have had, has been lost to us."
"Generally when we find ourselves in a new place, we have been sent there for a reason. To help in some way before we move on," Goliath replied.
Tenzin was thoughtful for a moment.
"Sent? By whom?" he asked.
"It's hard to explain...but we were sent by a mystical island. Every time we leave, we are sent somewhere in the world, and then when our task is completed there, we return to the island and try again to find home."
"We have no pressing concerns. I have no idea why you would be sent here," Tenzin replied.
Goliath shared a look with Elisa. Whatever the reason, they were sure to know soon. They'd been down this road many times.
"I thought you said your mate would join us? I don't want to eat all the dumplings if she's coming," Angela said bashfully.
Tenzin laughed as if she had just told the best joke he had ever heard and glanced at Pema, then he put his hand over hers.
"Pema is my mate," he said.
Elisa nearly choked on the dumpling she had just put in her mouth.
"Oh," Angela said simply, and she seemed to accept the information easily and move on, but Goliath and Elisa were stunned, and their disbelief must have been written all over their faces.
"It is no secret here in Shambahla, and though we are aware of the unusual nature of our union and how outsiders may feel about it, if you are unable to show Pema respect, then I would ask you to leave peacefully now," Tenzin said firmly.
"You do not have to worry about any disrespect from us," Goliath said, appeasing him.
Elisa felt Goliath's gaze shift to her, and she refused to look at him.
She was startled and disconcerted by this whole situation. Having an actual example of a relationship she kept saying was impossible be quite possible indeed was jarring.
"How long do you plan to stay here in Shambahla? You are welcome to stay as long as you like, of course," Tenzin continued.
"I am not sure. Most of the time we find out within a day or two why Avalon has sent us somewhere…though, to be fair, I am not sure if Avalon even sent us this time," Goliath explained.
"How is it that you all came to be on this mystical island of Avalon from Manhattan?"
"It may take a while to explain," Goliath said.
"We have time," Pema said as she glanced at Tenzin who nodded.
Goliath looked to Elisa who nodded her reassurance, and then he began to tell them about how it was they indirectly came to be in Shambahla.
It took a while for Goliath, Elisa, and Angela to explain, taking turns to fill in details from their own perspectives. Tenzin also had a lot of questions. He had a very sharp critical mind, and he knew when they were leaving out details.
Goliath did manage to leave out a few things, specifically things that could pose a security risk for the clan on Avalon, like the actual spell to get there.
"What I would like to know is how your clan came to be in Manhattan in the first place," Tenzin asked once he had processed the information.
"That would take another night or two to explain," Goliath replied.
"I will gladly clear my schedule," Tenzin said with a light laugh.
He led them out of his study at that point and took them on a tour of the monastery. There were classrooms where the hatchlings were taught how to read and write by the monks, and a studio where they practiced a form of martial art, but the monastery served an even greater purpose as an archive and history museum of sorts. There were rooms with rows of shelves filled with clay tablets, tomes, scrolls, and parchments; some ancient and crumbling and some only a few years old.
And they all contained one thing: the history and records of gargoyle clans around the world.
In one of the rooms, the largest containing the oldest records, was a large map that hung on the wall. It had been painstakingly drawn by hand, updated by information brought by others to the valley as Tenzin explained no one from his clan had left Shambahla in hundreds of years.
Goliath stared in awe at the vast amount of information.
This was his people's history.
A precious record worth more than any amount of money in the world.
"This is...astonishing," Goliath said amazed as he looked upon the map. There were golden circles drawn in locations where clans had historically inhabited.
Most had red Xs drawn through them.
Goliath examined the area that was his ancestral home. On the western shore of Scotland, there was a red X.
"You'll need to update your map," he said, gesturing to the place where Castle Wyvern once stood.
"Your clan was Wyvern?" Tenzin said incredulously. "We had been told the entire clan was slaughtered by Viking raiders while they slept."
"You knew of my clan? Of what happened?" Goliath said in shock.
Tenzin nodded.
"Or at least, what we were told," he said.
"Not everyone was slaughtered...a few survived. Including myself," Goliath said, his tone was melancholy as he remembered that time.
"You mean, your ancestors survived?" Tenzin clarified.
"No. I meant that I survived."
Tenzin looked skeptically at him.
"That was over a thousand years ago. How is that possible?"
"It's...a long story," Goliath said simply.
"You must tell me. I will beg you if I have to," Tenzin said sincerely.
"Please forgive my mate's eagerness. He is a lover of history and clambers to get even the tiniest bits of information," Pema said affectionately.
"I would be glad to tell you, for your records," Goliath agreed, beginning to wonder if this was the reason why they had been sent there.
"Excellent! You have my deepest gratitude," Tenzin said thrilled, and then he sighed. "But it will have to wait until tomorrow night. Lobsang thinks leopards are getting into the valley again and stealing calves from our yak herds, and I promised I would aid in setting traps. Please, tell me you will stay and relate your history to me?"
Goliath looked again to Elisa and Angela who nodded.
"Though we are eager to resume our journey, we will stay for a little while," he said.
"Thank you," Tenzin said, and he bowed. "Pema, my love, will you show them around the rest of the village?"
"Of course," she said brightly.
Tenzin leaned down and pressed his brow to hers before he left them.
Elisa couldn't help but notice the longing look on Goliath's face as he observed Tenzin and Pema's interactions.
"Please, come with me," Pema said as she led them out of the monastery and back out into the village.
At first glance, it looked like a normal village, but up close it functioned much differently. There were no shops, no one hocking their wares or selling food at market. The gargoyles went about working, engaged in tasks, but it all had a very communal feel. Some engaged in jobs like blacksmithing and tailoring, but everyone pitched in for the betterment of the clan.
The hatchlings who were on break from their lessons, trailed them like a flock of geese, enamored by the visitors, and no one paid them much mind, as long as they were staying out of trouble. There was a dormitory where Pema resided, along with any human guests they might have occasionally, there was a building for ablutions, and a vast hall for cooking, dining, and celebrations. A river skirted the village and monastery, and the valley beyond the temple was used for grazing their sheep and yaks and growing rice and wheat and other crops.
They were the most independent and self reliant clan Elisa had ever seen, even more than the London clan.
By the time the tour was over and Pema had answered all of their questions, it was nearly dawn. They shared a meal with the whole clan where they were eagerly pestered with questions by curious gargoyles who plied them with food and some mildly alcoholic drink Elisa was unfamiliar with, but it left her with a very pleasant buzz. At one point, a burgundy red hatchling climbed into her lap, totally unafraid of her. She found Elisa's badge and played with it curiously.
Goliath smiled affectionately at her as she engaged in conversation with the small child who showed her her favorite toy which was a simple doll that looked roughly like a gargoyle.
When dawn came, they were all exhausted, but high on the joy of being around a large, happy clan of gargoyles. Goliath, Angela, and Bronx joined the gargoyles at the monastery where they gathered together.
"I will see you tomorrow night, Elisa," Goliath said affectionately before he turned to stone.
"Sleep well, Big Guy," Elisa said as she patted his shoulder.
Pema left the stone form of her mate and walked over to Elisa.
"You must be exhausted. I will show you where you may rest during your visit."
"Thank you," Elisa said gratefully.
"If you need anything, please come find me," Pema said as she showed her her own room.
Then they parted ways for the day.
Elisa's room was just a simple room of stone and stucco with a tiny fire pit in the center and a bed that was similar to the futon she slept on in Japan, which consisted of a thin soft mattress piled high with soft woolen blankets. She didn't even bother undressing, she was so tired. She pulled off her jacket and boots and climbed in and slept like the dead.