Balmythra

Chapter Twenty-Six

  An Unexpected Visitor

  She wore an off-the-shoulder yellow dress perfectly suited to the Civil War period, complete with tight bodice and wide hoop skirt. I could easily picture her at a Tara barbeque hosted by Scarlett O’Hara. That was almost as shocking as her sudden appearance.

  "Prancing peacocks!" A broad grin of delight spread across Matt's face. I jabbed him sharply in the ribs with my elbow to prevent further colorful comments.

  "This isn't correct?" Tirafalen's rapidly darkening gray eyes anxiously searched my face.

  "It might be just a little fancy for Pringle's. Maybe we should go inside." It would be difficult enough to explain Tirafalen's decidedly exotic looks without the frilly, ultra-feminine costume.

  "Cool." That came from John, clearly transported by Tirafalen's antebellum beauty.

  "No." Kenny seemed a little dazed, himself. "Way cool."

  I just shook my head and led the way back, a little unsettled since I wasn't sure why Tirafalen had popped in. "Is Rocc okay?"

  "That is part of why I came."

  I braked. "Has something happened?"

  "Not exactly. He is...disturbed. That's the correct word, I think?"

  "Probably." I breathed a huge sigh of relief and pointed to the back door of Badpringle's, which we'd left open. Tirafalen tried to enter the house, a struggle that ended with the front part of the hooped skirt compressed and the back part flying up over her head. I instantly grabbed the voluminous garment, but not before everyone saw ruffled white pantaloons. The guys clearly loved the view until my glare settled them back down. Even Matt seemed a little dazed.

  Once inside, Tirafalen caught sight of Ashley, now descending the steps with a make-up case in hand. She wore low-riding jeans and a short top that showed off her slim midriff and fake bellybutton ring. Instantly, Tirafalen closed her eyes, and, right in front of us, sort of drew the yellow dress inward until she wore the exact same outfit as Ashley, belly ring and all.

  "Way, way cool." John had apparently forgotten the rest of the English language. And his eyes actually appeared a little glazed. Ashley flicked all the guys a look of disgust before glaring openly at Tirafalen.

  "So what's going on with Rocc?" I asked.

  "He believes you killed Jor." Tirafalen's intense search of my face made me very uncomfortable.

  "That's because—" I swallowed hard and braced myself for the poPs' reactions"—I did."

  Ashley screamed and sat down hard on the bottom step as if near fainting. The guys exchanged looks of disbelief. Katie burst into tears.

  Matt automatically reached for her. "That’s not completely true."

  I frowned at him. Possessed or not, I had killed Jor. There was no point in lying about it now.

  "Matt's right." Tirafalen's words ended my protest before I could make it.

  "But you weren't even there," I said. "How could you possibly know?"

  "I know that you didn't kill Jor because I know he's alive."

  It took a moment for me to find my tongue. And when I made eye contact with Tirafalen again, mine were tear filled. "Are you sure? Are you very, very sure?"

  Tirafalen nodded solemnly.

  "But how...?"

  "I'm a Sunsanean healer. It's difficult to explain, and even Rocc does not understand, but I know when there is existence and when there isn't. I still feel Jor."

  "Oh thank God." I almost strangled on a sob of relief. "C-can you tell me if my parents are still alive, too?"

  "No." Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I never met them."

  "You mean you know if a person you've met is dead or alive without seeing them?" Clearly even sci-fi buff Kenny struggled with the concept.

  "Exactly. When I think of a person I've met, I know instantly if that person exists. I have said this to Rocc already, but he believes the Sairons aren't lying when they say nothing could live in the void. He cannot accept the truth of my words."

  "But Sairons can lie." I thought of my conversation with Cadrow. "I've heard them, myself, at the Gilmarden Void."

  "The what?" Ashley rose from the step. Her cheeks had regained some of their natural blush, but she looked as shaky as I felt.

  Tirafalen briefly explained the black abyss, as she turned to me. "Cadrow honestly believes everything he has said to you, Guardian Alleana. That means his words are truth to him. Rocc believes Cadrow, which used to be a wise thing to do, but this time is not."

  Hope welled up like a spring inside me. I desperately wanted to believe the Sunsanean. "But how can Jor be alive when I as good as pushed him over the edge?"

  "I don't know. What I can tell you for sure is that Rocc is hurting." Tirafalen’s worried frown revealed her deep concern. Her gray eyes had now turned almost black. "He's angry at you because he thinks you killed Jor, of course. But he is also distressed because he loves you so much."

  I sighed. "Why can't he just believe you?"

  "Because I'm a healer." Tirafalen shrugged and smiled. "It's difficult for me to say things that may hurt someone, and Rocc knows this. So he assumes that I tell him Jor is alive just to ease his pain." She reached out and clasped both my hands in hers. "I swear to you—to all of you—that Jor lives."

  Matt punched the air with his fist. "Yes! Now let's go rescue him." He faced Tirafalen. "Have you told the Sairons he's alive? We may need their help."

  She shook her head. "There hasn't been time. With so much discord on Balmythra, the Sairons have actually called council and sequestered themselves to decide the fate of their world."

  "I'm not sure I like the sound of that." Matt flicked a worried glance at me. A quick look around revealed we weren't the only ones concerned.

  "I'm afraid the Dagonel will use our confusion to cause more destruction," Tirafalen said. "They gather forces as we speak, intending to leave Vannarius and attack other villages of Balmythra."

  "Can we stop them?" Kenny asked.

  "Oh sure." Ashley rolled her eyes. "Seven teenagers, six rug rats, and an aqua-haired copycat will be a huge threat."

  Tirafalen ignored her. "We can try, Kenny, but Jor needs to be rescued first. That will put all of you in Sairon favor again."

  "You can find the Xephyr Stream, right?" I asked.

  "Yes, but it isn't easy for me to travel it. In the Stream, my form tends to..." Clearly struggling for words, she twisted one hand over the other.

  "Scramble your molecules?" asked Matt.

  "Exactly." Tirafalen beamed at him. "Sunsaneans aren't like Nodyrans or Balmythrans."

  "You can say that again," John muttered.

  Ashley stared daggers at the teen, who used to be her biggest fan, and then rounded on Tirafalen. "Do you always dress like a southern belle when you travel?"

  The blonde's acid tone appeared to be lost on Tirafalen. "Are you referring to my clothing? I needed more than a tunic to keep myself from exiting the Stream in some other form. So before I came, I studied one of Rocc's books for a picture of Nodyran clothing and picked something that I liked."

  "That book may have been a little old." I tried to keep my face straight.

  "Yes." She frowned down at her jeans and skimpy tee. "I guess these are more modern. I mean I see similar garments in Balmythra every day. I don't like them as well, which is why I chose the dress."

  Ashley bristled visibly. "Let me clue you in, sister. On earth it’s really rude to cop a girl’s personal style then criticize it."

  "Ashley!" I put an apologetic hand on Tirafalen's shoulder. "Please ignore her. She can be so shallow."

  Tirafalen smiled. "That's all right. I seldom understand her anyway."

  While I laughed, Ashley scowled. "Well, excu-use me." She stomped her way up the stairs, pausing midway to glance back. "If we're heading to Balmythra, I'm changing clothes again." She climbed two more steps before turning once more. "And if you're thinking I'm fighting the Dagonel—even to save Jor—you can think again. I'm not a soldier, and I'm not crazy."

  The
next second, a rush of young orphans nearly bowled her over as they shot down the stairs, all their belongings in hand. They greeted Tirafalen with enthusiasm, but let me take her aside while everyone else got together the things they wanted to take.

  "Where can the children stay while we rescue Jor?" I asked. "I want to keep them safe."

  "I've thought about that already, and decided I should take them to the Nayderloest in Porfyrrindor forest."

  That word rang a bell with me. I searched my bank of memories for more info, but received only jumbled, rather mysterious images for my trouble. I zoned in on Tirafalen. "You know the Nayderloest?"

  Kenny walked in at that moment carrying a banged-up suitcase. A camera dangled from a strap that hung around his neck. "The whatzilost?"

  I turned to him. "Nayderloest. All I can remember is something about them being elementals that live in the forests and are rarely seen. I believe some Balmythrans actually think they're just a legend and not real at all."

  "Oh, they're very real," Tirafalen said, "and they're my friends. The children and Ashley will be quite safe with them. Even the Sairons won't know they're back."

  That settled it as far as I was concerned. Within minutes, the children stood at the ready, having packed their personal treasures and the few clothes they each had. So grateful that Matilda had not shown up, I followed Tirafalen to the shed. "I don't understand why the Stream is so stationary. I mean, isn’t it unusual for it to be in one area for so long?"

  Tirafalen nodded. "Rocc told me that this has been happening more and more lately and that Balmythran scientists have been discussing it. Unfortunately, the Dagonel have proved to be a distraction." She gave me an apologetic smile. "Now, of course, everyone thinks our enemy is Nodyran."

  "I wish I could convince them that it's not that simple." I thought of my talk with Matt. Had we flushed out some of the Dagonel secrets?

  "So do I." Tirafalen nodded and then vanished into the Stream.

  I motioned for everyone else, including Ash, to do the same before I stepped into it, myself.