Balmythra

Chapter Seventeen

  In Search of a Mordach

  "So that's that," I said. "Meeting adjourned. Where are the kids?"

  Before we could split up and look for them, I spotted Brady and the others at a public fountain in a plaza a few yards away. They sat on the stone rim surrounding the pool and appeared to be mesmerized by the spray, which arched in a different pattern every few seconds.

  "Are you really and truly going back?" Ashley sounded worried as we walked the short distance to the plaza.

  I gave her a sidelong glance. "Yeah. I need more information if I'm going to protect my people."

  She frowned. "But aren't you scared? Mad Matilda was acting just awful to everyone and Raine and Skye are still there. What if they catch you? What will your people do then?"

  Good question. "Believe me, I won't stay any longer than I have to. With luck I'll be okay."

  We reached the fountain. Brady immediately waved to catch Kenny’s eye. "Did you ask her?"

  I saw all the Pringle's kids, including the older ones, exchange glances, sure indication they'd talked among themselves when Matt and I left them to follow Jor earlier that morning. I guessed they now had something to say. I wasn't wrong.

  "We elected you to as spokesman, remember?" John pushed Kenny to the forefront of their group.

  Kenny squared his shoulders, cleared his throat, and stared me in the eye. "We were...um...just wondering what's going to happen to us."

  "Nothing's going to happen to you," I said. "You're perfectly safe now."

  "That's not what I mean." Kenny peered over his shoulder at Jeremy Fowler, who nodded encouragement. "We want to know if we can live here forever."

  "Oh!" Wow. Hadn't seen that coming. I now realized that their wondering that shouldn't have been a surprise. I'd be doing the same thing if Pringle's were my real home, and it was obvious the poPs loved it here...well, most of them, anyway. "Why ask me? I'm certainly not the boss of you guys."

  "But you're the boss of Balmythra, aren't you?"

  My stomach lurched at the very idea. "Oh no. Only of my people, sort of, though, at the moment, I'm on leave of absence." In truth, I'd only been in contact with one Ionian since my arrival: Rocc. Once the others realized how ill prepared I was to lead, they might not even want me.

  "So who do we talk to, then?" asked John.

  "No one. Visitors have always been welcome in Balmythra."

  "But we don't want to be just visitors," said Kenny. "We want to live here, go to school here, work here...all that stuff." He appeared to have finally accepted his role as spokesman of the poPs. "We want to be Balmythrans, just like you and Rocc and Tirafalen and Jor."

  "But what about your families…" I'd never have said that if all my doubts about Jor weren't flooding my brain again, making it hard to think. I could barely concentrate. As a rule, we poPs didn't bring up family matters since they were usually nonexistent, painful, or both. And me having loving parents—even MIA—just made things worse. "Well, um, since there's no immigration or nationalization laws that I know of, I'm thinking that anyone who wants to can consider Balmythra as their home. Welcome to my world, poPs." I flung my arms open wide.

  "Rad!" Kenny exchanged a high-five with Jeremy. "Will we live at Goodpringle's, then?"

  I frowned. "'Goodpringle's'?"

  Kenny nodded. "There." He pointed to the huge building Mandaus had modified that morning to accommodate them. "Ashley wanted to call it The Castle. I thought that Hall of Lorgan would be cool. Ginzy had the best idea, though. She wanted to call it Goodpringle's because it was so different from Badpringle's. "

  I smiled. "Great idea. I think all of you will be able to stay there until we come up with something else. We'll work all that out when I get back, okay?"

  Their excitement touched me. Only Ashley appeared reluctant, but I knew that she'd quickly get over that after meeting more Balmythran guys of the hot variety.

  I choked back the lump in my throat. "Now I've really got to go. Matt, are you with me?"

  "One-hundred percent." He gave me a cocky grin.

  I felt a tug on my T-shirt and saw Julie.

  "Will you get my blanket while you're there?" The six-year-old's dark brown eyes pleaded with me.

  "Yes, I will."

  "And my horse?" piped up seven-year-old Katie.

  I pictured the stuffed animal in question. "Um, sure."

  "And my parents' picture?" asked John. "It's under my pillow."

  "I'll try." I abruptly realized how badly the kids must miss their personal belongings. Though few in number, most were treasured items, given by a parent who'd died or a caring church group or charity. My gaze took in the group, and I guessed they all had requests. "I just hope I can carry everything."

  "I'll help," said Matt.

  "And me," added Kenny.

  I whirled on him. "I thought you weren't going."

  "Changed my mind."

  That made me smile. "Awesome. Now let me find something to write on so I won't forget this stuff." My gaze slipped from one poP to the next. "You guys do realize I might not be able to get anything. I mean, if things get rough or something?" They gave me solemn nods. "Okay then. Paper. I need paper."

  Matt dug into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece, which appeared to be a stub from one of his meager pay checks.

  I patted it flat on my knee. "Anyone got a pencil?"

  Ginzy, whose red hair clashed with her mauve hoodie, dug into my old bag and found one.

  I thanked her with a smile. "Ready."

  "Write down my camera," said Kenny. "I've gotta have some pictures of the theater."

  "And just where will you get them developed?" asked Ashley.

  Kenny's smile vanished, resulting in laughter all around.

  "Never mind," I said. "We may not have a one-hour photo, but we do have our little tricks. Next?" Immediately the kids bombarded me with requests. I counted them when I finished writing—twelve. "I'm going to need a big box."

  "We’ll find a plastic tub when we get there. Or maybe we can put everything in pillow cases or something." Matt frowned. "Will all that stuff survive a dip in the Xephyr Stream?"

  "Yes, and speaking of which, we’ve really got to get going. We have to find a mordach so we can locate it and then—"

  "A what?" asked John.

  "A mordach," I answered absently, most of my attention focused on the problem at hand. "They can always find a Stream. Or maybe I should try a nexus. If it works, that would be simpler and save time."

  "What in the heck is a mordach?"

  "Do you know what a chupacabra is?"

  "Same thing as a goatsucker, right?" John blinked. "You mean they’re real?"

  "They're native to Balmythra, actually." I wished I had time to give my friends more than a quick explanation. "You know how dogs seem to have a sixth sense? Well, Balmythran animals are no different. And some of them—mordachs are best at it—routinely use the Xephyr Stream to visit Nodyra. That's why you sometimes hear about this or that animal being spotted out of its natural habitat."

  "Like alligators in the sewers?" Kenny playfully elbowed John. "I told you that wasn't an urban legend."

  John just shook his head.

  Matt caught my eye. "What’s a nexus?"

  "It’s a sort of mental conference call. Guardians have nexused for centuries. I'd like to reach out, but I’ve never initiated one before or actually even listened in. If the Eniywan has really started, I should be able to do it, though."

  "All right then." Matt cleared his throat a little too loudly and gave his wide-eyed cohorts a thumbs-up before meeting my gaze again. "Do you need a phone booth?"

  I laughed at the thought. "In theory, I can do it anywhere. Here, even. You guys go on with what you’re doing. I’ll just be a minute." At once everyone glued their gazes to me. My cheeks began to burn, but I still closed my eyes so I could concentrate on the all important question I needed to ask.

  It wasn’t easy. I'd faile
d twice already, which didn't exactly inspire confidence. And the whispers of the kids distracted me as much as the splash of the fountain. There was also the matter of the Sairons who milled about the square. Luckily, most of them seemed to be keeping their distance, perhaps out of courtesy to their visitors. To further complicate things, when I tried to visualize a mordach, I pictured Katie’s stuffed horse.

  Frustrated, but determined not to reveal it, I remembered my one and only experience with a nexus. Four or five years old and too nosy for my own good, I’d sneaked into my mother’s library to watch her connect with some friends. I recalled that she'd occasionally laughed and even talked out loud like people I'd seen in Wal-Mart using a hands-free cell phone. Too bad I'd missed the beginning of my mother's "call" and wasn’t exactly sure how to get things started.

  Feeling really silly, I closed my eyes, focused on the immediate area, and softly spoke: "Hello? Anyone out there?"

  A blast of Ionian responses resulted. I clapped my hands over my ears as if that would tone down the mental onslaught. Bombarded by their relief, jubilation, and curiosity, I wished I'd been a little more cautious about announcing my presence. I honestly couldn't imagine what would've happened if I'd called on every Ionian in Balmythra instead of just those nearby.

  "One at a time, please."

  With a gulp of remembrance, I opened my left eye a smidgen and saw just what I expected to see: ten poPs gaping as if I’d lost my mind. Not at all sure I hadn’t, I turned my back on them, shut my eyes, and tried again. At once a single voice rang loud and clear inside my head, just as I'd requested.

  We've wanted to welcome you before now, but Jor advised against it.

  "Well, things have been a little hectic lately," I said, wondering if Jor had done that to keep me from my people.

  When can we expect your greeting?

  "My what?"

  When will you formally address your people?

  My stomach sort of swooped. "Oh, um, soon. I promise. I called today because I need a mordach. Has anyone seen one?"

  Why do you need a mordach?

  Surely you’re not going back to Nodyra.

  Not when we need you here.

  I tried to defend my decision. "But I’m no help to you at all. The Eniywan has barely started. I have no one to mentor me. I don’t know what to do next."

  Your presence gives us hope.

  "How could it when I’m hopeless, myself?"

  Be patient. You will learn the Guardian ways in time.

  "We don’t have any time. Things are in a terrible mess now." I sighed heavily. "Look...I have to do this, okay? I promise I’ll be quick and careful, and when I get back I’ll have a clearer picture of our enemy and more of an idea how to lead you."

  I saw two mordach yesterday at Afallange. Do you know that waterfall?

  "Yes, yes I do." Thank goodness no one was going to argue further about my plans, forbid my departure, or bring up the obvious solution—find a Sairon. I pictured the waterfall in question. I remembered that it had a cave hidden behind it. Perhaps the mordach slept there.

  Take care, Guardian.

  "I will. I promise. Thanks for directions to the mordach."

  "And we need one because...?"

  I nearly jumped out of my skin. Whirling, I found myself face to face with my big brother.