6

“I told you,” Javan loosened his hold on her slightly, “magic that powerful can’t be destroyed, not against a low-level creature like this.”

Low? The thing had killed her mother and was holding its own against whatever talisman her father was using and Raissa.

“Get the book, it’s the only thing that can stop the Greviol.” Javan released her. “Use your magic, call the book to you.”

Taking a breath to calm her terror, she focused her mind, tried to quiet her tremors, and pictured the book in her mind as she had done with the oak tree.

The creature shrieked a deathly sound before she opened her eyes.

In Eden’s hands, the pages of the book glowed. She done it! Raissa broke free, rushing over to her and Javan.

Her dress sizzled from where the flames had touched her. Eden gasped, slapping at the flames with her hand to put them out.

“Hurry,” Raissa whispered at her elbow. “The creature won’t hold long.”

This had been her mother…taken care of her…loved her. Look at what it had turned her other into…Eden’s gut twisted. “Can’t we kil-destroy it?”

“No one knows how.” Javan dusted off pine needles from his tunic and trousers. “At least none of the Damned.”

“Eden, go.” Her father strained against the creature. “You all aren’t safe here. Leave now!”

“But Father—”

His face colored and twisted into a grimace. “I never want to see you again. Go before I change my mind and release this beast.”

He didn’t mean that. Couldn’t. Her heart splintered into a thousand pieces. She took a step forward when he shook his head.

“Get out of here now, Eden. Don’t make me tell you again.”

Javan snatched her arm, drawing her away. “We need to leave. The council will send others after us.”

Raissa nodded. “Does your family own horses? They will help us travel faster.”

Eden continued to keep the book open as they raced away, her gaze drifting back to her father. What would happen to him? Would he lie to the council and tell them she forced him to let them go? What about the Grievol? Would it overpower him and kill him?     

Worried that closing the book would seal away the magic she kept it open. “Nay, but our neighbor over the hill has a dozen horses. He allows me to ride them sometimes.”

“Let’s go,” Javan said, holding out a hand toward Eden. “With a sniffer on our trail, we shouldn’t use our powers too much.”

“Sniffer?” Eden fell into step with him, but she kept the book open. Somehow she’d buy her father time to get away from the creature and if that meant keep the book open all night, then she would. Once she got Javan and Raissa to safety, then she’d return for her father. No matter his words she couldn’t leave him like that. Doing so gnawed at her insides.

Javan feel in quick step beside her. “Yes, that’s what we call one like Mi’kal. He has enough ability to smell magic. And from the display at the Council's initiation hall, I suspect he’s gathered powers over the years from the other Damned when they reached of age.”

“How is that possible? I didn’t even know the Damned had magic until today.” Or until she bought this book that now felt like a weight in her hands.

“That’s the point.” Javan yanked a crumbled leaf from his black hair. “Magic is dormant without someone or something to unlock the powers by their eighteenth birthday and Mi’kal can snatch up their gift before they are aware they even have one.”

She didn’t know whether to cry or shout. If the Damned learned about magic early on, she could’ve prevented this. Or was it the book’s fault for unleashing her magic and wreaking havoc in her life. Gods, her mother was dead and her father was…who knew what would happen to him. She turned to go back but Raissa blocked her path.

“Don’t. He made a sacrifice to protect you, don’t waste it.”

She nodded, her throat raw. Get her friends to safety then she could go back and help him. For nearly a mile they ran, then their pace slowed down while the three of them panted to catch their breaths as they hiked.

“What failed? I mean for the council not to be able to draw on our magic?”

“Several things.” Javan kicked a stone which hit the back of Raissa’s boot. At her glare, he shrugged. “First, my cousin Raissa, and I grew up together. We had one of the Damned, who was lame from being whipped too many times by the council as a child for stealing bread, as our friend. Don’t know why they didn’t kill him for it. Maybe they felt pity or he used magic to gain their sympathy to at least keep himself alive. He showed us a few things, enchanted things before we went to the passage rights. Second, they didn’t count on the fact of your book awakened some of your magic. And third, they never expected Eleta to sacrifice herself and make that portal for us to escape.”

Tears welled in Eden’s eyes at the thought of the girl. Even though she didn’t know her, the girl’s freckled face froze in her mind. Everyone was dying or coming to harm around her. Was this the price of magic? Losing her mother and now possibly her father?

Her throat clenched and she walked in silence until the pain lessened. She grasped the book to her but did not close the cover, pressing the open pages to her chest.

“And you truly believe the book awoke my abilities?” Maybe the pages had a curse on them. Bringing misery to any who opened and read it.

“Tis you that has the magic, not the book.” Raissa chimed in front of them. Her dagger was still out and she seemed to be surveying the area before them.

“What’s she doing?”

“Scouting ahead.”

“Shouldn’t you do that?” She nearly dropped the book when she went to swat a mosquito on her arm. In society, only the males had access to weapons, fought battles, and protected their families.

“She’s better at it. Besides, her gift is stronger in this area.”

“What area? Scouting and fighting?” Eden would love to know how to fight. Maybe then she could’ve helped her father destroy the Grievol. Fresh grief burrowed in her chest. Or better yet, learned how to protect herself and family and her mom wouldn’t have been killed.

“Raissa’s good at reading signs, people, magic so that’s how she knew what you did against Mi’kal. Her power warns her of danger…that’s another reason why she hid her knife when we arrived. But what could we do? We didn’t think of running until it was too late.”

Eden thought…no, running away from home had never entered her mind until today. Why? Was it something to do with the book?

Over the crest of the hill, smoke billowed out of Cramer’s stone fireplace. Perhaps he’d invite them for a meal? She’d not eaten since this morning.

“What is your magic?” Eden asked Javan as they defended down the hill.

He winked. “Tonight, I’ll show you if we’re still alive by then.”

At Cramer’s door, she knocked three times. Her signal that it was her. For some reason, he didn’t get along with anyone else that she knew of.

“Come in,” he answered.

She pushed open the door. “Cramer I brought two friends with me.”

“Friends of yours, but not sure if they’re friends of Cramer yet.”

Raissa stiffened, but Eden put a hand on her arm and she lowered her dagger.

“He’s blind?” Javan whispered.

“Blind, but not deaf thank you,” Cramer snipped.

“Please, we won’t trouble you for long.” She licked her lips. “We only need some horses.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you…or you may get hurt.” Too many had already been injured or killed because of her. Somehow, she had to right this.

“The Council?” he said the word as if the members were lurking in the cracks of his wood.

His cabin revealed no light shown except the fire bubbling a pot of stew.

“Hungry?” He flowed to the fireplace around a table and two chairs as if not blind at all.

“Yes, thank you.” She knew not to push Cramer when he had his mind on something else. If she did, she’d never get his agreement. The man was stubborn like that and most things had to be his idea. He’d let an apple pie rot if she told him to have a bite.

“What about the horses?” Javan asked and she kicked him with her heel.

Cramer set out four bowls of steaming stew. The scent of lamb made her stomach growl.

“Don’t have enough chairs, but me and Eden can sit on the edge of the table.”

Following his idea, she sat down on the table, left the book propped open to her left and began eating.

“Good isn’t it?” Cramer asked with stew dripping down his gray beard.

“Yes.” She mumbled. Raissa sat at her left, and Javan to her right.

After they ate second helpings, Eden helped Cramer wash and dry the bowls. She knew better to demand the horses and flee. Cramer would only move slower if she persisted then come up with more work that needed done. When she had put the dishes back in their place, the sun painted the sky orange.

Soon it would be dark. Was her father alright? Had he gotten away from the Grievol or was he now suffering the same fate as her mother? She clenched her fists in the folds of her crimson gown, pushing aside the feeling that barbed wire was piercing her heart.

“Cramer, about the horses…”

“Stay awhile, you don’t need any horses. You’re momma come looking for you soon.”

She shivered. Did he know something she didn’t? Was her father already dead and the Griveol coming after them? “We need horses.”

“I will need more information?”

“I told you, it’s too dangerous for me to explain why.” Please let him go along with her request, they didn’t have time for dozens of questions. They’d wasted so much time already.

“Don’t tell, then no horses.”

“What does a blind man need horses for anyway?” Javan leaned against the edge of the table.

“Good question, good question.” Cramer laughed. “Tell me what does three younglings need horses for and I’ll answer your question.”

Cramer would not let them have their way if they continued to ask questions and not answer his.

“Cramer,” she pleaded, touching his hand lightly.

“The boy asked…he asked.” He shook off her touch, wrapping his hairy arms around himself.

“Did I say something wrong?” Javan looked from Cramer to her.

She shook her head.

“Aren’t you going to tell Cramer why you need horses?” The blind man shifted his feet.

“Only if you promise to give us three of your best first,” Eden said. Might as well get the fastest ones he owned. She could take one and ride back home. Find out if her dad was still alive. If he had escaped the creature’s grasp.

Cramer flopped down in a vacant chair and pouted. His grey hair crept onto his shallow cheekbones again. She should have brought her scissors so she could cut it for him again along with his beard. Both seemed to grow within days of her shearing them.

“Right-right. You can have them.”

“When can we leave?”

He huffed, “Soon but not before.”

“We are searching for the Lost Damned.” What if the Grievol came here? Or the council discovered he’d helped them? She wished she could just bring him on their journey so he wouldn’t get hurt. “But bad people…things, hunt us and I fear we’ve put you in danger.”

His laugh surprised her. “Did you believe all this time that I wasn’t aware of you? That I couldn’t see you and what you are?”

“W-what do you mean?” Was he a Council spy? Collecting and selling material to the council for a price. Panic washed over her like someone had thrown a cold, wet blanket over her.

Raissa flicked her dagger into her hand.

“Calm-calm…Cramer not hurt.” He scratched his cheek. “But Cramer not the only one blind.”

“What do you mean?” Eden asked.

“None but you and your friends see Cramer.”

“Yes, you don’t have visitors often.” What was he getting at? She hoped he wasn’t working for their enemy.

He shook his head. “You the only one. Cramer hide from everyone else. Even the Council don’t find him.”

“How?” What he said was impossible. The council knew everyone from birth until they died. And Cramer’s chimney was visible from the road. There was no way they didn’t know about him unless—

“Magic.” He winked. “But the horses are ready for their ride. They’ll kick me if I delay any longer.”

Grabbing her book, Eden allowed him to shuffle them out of the door. How was it he had magic—and never told her? “Cramer…” she licked her lips, “do you have magic?”

He winked but didn’t answer her question.

Outside, three bluish-grey mares waited. Somehow, they were already saddled. Strange, she didn’t remember these horses and she had ridden each of Cramer’s horses a dozen times or more. “Are these new?”

Cramer didn’t answer but checked the ties on each saddle that held a rolled up blanket, a canteen, and a pouch.

“How did you—?” Raissa asked.

“No time, no time.” He rubbed each of the horse’s noses in turn. “Find bread and jerky in the packs, and a pear for tomorrow morning.”

“But it’s nearly dark.” Javan frowned.

“These my best horses as promised. They’ll carry you safely if the sun’s shining or not.”

“Thank you.” She kissed Cramer on his cheek. “Stay safe.”

“Oh, after you be leaving here, I won’t stay.”

She propped the open book on her lap and then adjusted the reins.

“Can’t ride like that.”

Before she opened her mouth to protest, he snatched up the book and slammed it shut.

In the distance, a howl of rage bellowed from behind them. Her heart stuttered in her chest remembering her father’s sacrifice.