Without hesitation, the group marched out of the empty market and out of Illusia altogether. They ventured into the field across the road and stopped under some trees to compare notes.
“What’s the deal with Meen?” Cateran asked, pulling a roll out of her coveralls. She looked from the roll down to her stomach and back up to the roll again. A strange chill ran through her and she had no idea why. Closing her eyes to calm herself, Cateran bit into the roll and ripped off a large piece. With satisfaction, she chewed and swallowed it.
“Illusians are best kept at arm’s length,” Aliyah advised her little sister. “No offence, Doctor.”
“None taken,” replied Doctor Deathbrain, who rested his back on the trunk of one of the trees. “I try not to get caught up in politics. I’m a scientist, remember.”
“Phantasmine was acting rather strangely,” Raj put forth. “I thought you guys were better friends than that, Vex.”
Vexyna was sitting, knees at her chest, with her arms wrapped around her legs. Gently, she rocked forward and back. “I guess Phanta got what she wanted and had no more use for me… uh… us.” There was a faraway look in her eyes. “She wanted me to do something for her. I can’t remember what.”
“If she wanted you to do something for her, why did she just kick you out of her castle?” Aliyah asked.
“I don’t know,” Vexyna had to answer. “There are so many things I just don’t know.” She rested her chin on her knees and continued to rock.
Aliyah walked over to Vexyna and bent to rest her hands on Vexyna’s shoulders. “Phanta has her own agenda. The Crystals of Change are cursed. They are stained with Dacreel’s pure essence. Even Exuthron couldn’t completely purify the Heart of Sin. Within Phantasmine lurks another incarnation of Dacreel.”
“It makes me wonder what sort of pawn Phanta is in the games of Nogard,” the doctor mused.
“Pawn, Doctor?” Vexyna asked.
“By now, you should’ve realized there is a conflict going on between Illusia, Nogard and the Vag,” Deathbrain clarified. “No details are necessary at the moment, but the people of Nogard have been known to manipulate people and events to their own ends.”
“And the Illusians have never done that sort of thing,” Aliyah shot back sarcastically.
“People of all cultures on this continent seem to be guilty of subterfuge,” Vexyna commented. “Let’s stick with what we know. One thing I know is that I need to be able to keep better control of my thirst. Doctor, please give me several of those pills filled with the serum you have been using on me. It would be a wise idea if I always kept some of those handy.”
“Agreed,” said the doctor as he went over to Vexyna and handed her some capsules. “It was something I had been meaning to do anyway. I grabbed everything and stored it in this satchel just in case we had to make a quick escape.”
“Speaking of ‘do’, what do we do?” Cateran asked as she finished her second roll.
“We seek out all the different Elemental beings and ask their help,” Vexyna replied.
“Where? How?” Raj raised his hands palms up, his shoulders scrunched at the neck as he waved his hands back and forth in front of him.
“You’re asking?” Vexyna looked at him mockingly. “Mr. Been-everywhere doesn’t know where the different Elementals hang out?” She was now sitting with her legs stretched out in front of her on the ground. She reached up with both hands to touch the tips of her fingers to her breastbone. “I’m shocked.”
“That was a little rough, Vex,” Aliyah said. “Even I haven’t been everywhere. And I’ve seen quite a bit on a couple of continents and a few islands.”
Raj’s eyes bulged. “You’ve been off this continent?” He was dumbfounded. Shaking his head, he added, “Wait. Of course you have. You are the Traveler.”
“So I appear to have been dubbed,” Aliyah responded. “Back to matters at hand. There are three spots on this continent we need to visit. At those locations, we should be able to make contact with the three Elemental groups: Wind, Fire and Water.”
“My impression of the situation is that we don’t have a lot of time,” interjected the doctor. “Without Senomar, I don’t know how we are going to travel.”
“You Illusians are too dependent on your technology,” Vexyna commented.
“Spoken like a true Nogardian,” came a mellow, masculine voice from the trees.
Everyone assembled under the trees quickly changed their positions and focused their attention into the branches above. “Excuse me?” Vexyna asked, peering around. Even she could not spot anyone in the trees.
“You’re a half-breed,” accused the voice. “Part of you is really good. Part of you is really bad. Have you decided which part to use most often?”
“Where are you? Show yourself?” Aliyah had removed her blade from its sheath and held it in a defensive position in front of her.
Leaves rustled as branches shook, but no one appeared. “Ali!” the voice half shouted in a happily surprised manner.
“You know me?” Aliyah was dubious. “Who are you?”
“We’ve met on the continent to the east and on a couple of islands,” revealed the voice.
“I’m still not sure,” Aliyah confessed.
“Think about it a moment,” advised the voice. “So, you’re going to ask the Fire, Water and Wind Elementals for help. I wish you luck with that. You might also consider enlisting the aid of the last Element.”
“Last element? Which one is last?” Cateran was curious.
“Beyond Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, some cultures believe there is another state of being that may be considered an Element,” the voice informed them.
“You mean wood,” Vexyna answered. “Wood is sometimes considered an element.”
“Good,” the voice said. “Now, Ali, can you figure out who I am?”
Whenever Aliyah was concentrating really hard on something, she would stick the tip of her tongue between her front teeth so that it protruded slightly from her lips. Eyes and mouth snapped open wide as she came to a realization. “Pondish? Could it be? Here? After all this time?”
“In the bark,” was the voice’s happy reply.
“Bark?” Raj looked for clarification.
“I thought you were a Vag, not a dog,” the voice shot back merrily.
“Everyone,” Aliyah addressed the group, “I’d like you to meet the Tree of Pondish.” She swept the palms of her hands up into the branches and the leaves gently caressed them.
“Tree?” Cateran was almost speechless.
“Better work on your reaction,” commented the Tree. “The other Elementals aren’t as easy going as I am.”
“Wood as an Element?” Raj mulled the idea over.
“I don’t care too much about whether or not you think of wood as an Element,” the Tree tossed at them. “This world is in danger and you need my help. It’s that simple.”
“After the Great Fire, I thought you only existed off this continent,” Aliyah mentioned to the Tree.
“Only now are my saplings large enough to be of any use on this continent,” replied the Tree.
“Bet you and the Fire Elementals don’t mingle much,” Vexyna put forth.
“Fire isn’t as bold you might think,” said the Tree. “They need wind to survive and can be easily smothered or drowned by earth or water.”
“How the Elements interact would be a good thing to remember,” Aliyah offered. “What we just heard from the Tree of Pondish might be valuable. What else can you tell us about the other Elementals?”
“Earth Elementals are the most caring. I’m not surprised they’re all up in arms at losing a formling,” said the Tree.
“You know about that?” Cateran was impressed.
“Of course,” replied the Tree, “my roots run throughout this entire planet. I’m fairly well informed about most things.”
“Do your roots extend to Nogard?” Vexyna was curious.
“Nogard exists in the space between planes,”
the Tree answered. “It is everywhere and it is nowhere.”
This thoroughly confused Cateran and she had no bones about admitting it. “How can a place be everywhere and nowhere at the same time? For that matter, how can one place be every place?”
“Just think of Nogard as an island and you’ll be okay,” Vexyna calmed Cateran.
Stopping to consider Vexyna’s explanation, Cateran decided it would do for the moment. “I suppose. Which Elemental group are we going to look for first?”
“Any suggestions, my friend from Pondish?” Aliyah asked the Tree.
“Where is Pondish?” Cateran suddenly wanted to know.
“A long way from here,” replied the Tree matter-of-factly. “If you’re all planning on traveling together, I’d suggest you try the Water Elementals first. They’re usually pretty easy going. They can seep into places most folks would forget about. You won’t have time to recruit all of the Elementals. Pick and choose your allies carefully.”
“Where do we find them and how do we approach them?” were the next questions coming from Raj.
“Water Elementals can be found everywhere,” the Tree let them know. “They are friendly, easy going and curious about many things. Intrigue them with your story and they might help you.”
“Can you be a bit more specific than ‘everywhere’?” Vexyna asked.
“Through a pass in the mountains behind Illusia, you’ll find a small lake,” responded the Tree. “No humans go there because they don’t know it exists. Illusia’s transparency illusion covers the entrance to the pass.”
Concern scowled its way across Raj’s countenance. “Lake? I’ve never heard anything about a lake in that area. That’s all just mountains, isn’t it?”
“Like I said,” repeated the Tree with a chuckle, “go to the lake.”
“No one has ever been there?” Cateran was amazed.
“Folks used to gather at the lake all the time,” the Tree reminisced, “a long time ago.”
“Before the Great Fire?” Cateran asked innocently.
Leaves rustled and branches swayed. “Yes, before that time.”
“How much of the events surrounding the Great Fire do you remember?” Vexyna probed.
“Everything up to the searing pain of losing a large part of myself,” said the Tree with slight anguish.
Stepping into the conversation, Aliyah said, “Let’s stay focused on what we need to accomplish. How far away is the lake?”
“It’ll only take you a couple of hours walking,” replied the Tree.
Rumbling spread through the group until everyone turned to face Cateran because she was the source of the noise.
“What?” She looked back at them. “I’m a little hungry; that’s all.”
“Didn’t you just eat?” Vexyna asked.
“Those were only rolls,” Cateran explained. “And I only had a couple.”
“Would you care to try one of these?” Three branches bent down to Cateran. Each presented her with a bounty of fruit.
“Three kinds of fruit from the same tree?” Cateran was beside herself with delight. She ran on the spot for a few seconds before dashing towards the nearest tree trunk. Wrapping her arms around the trunk, Cateran gave it a big squeeze, saying, “You’re the greatest!”
“Can you tell that Cateran likes fruit?” Raj asked, slightly embarrassed.
“So she is Cateran,” observed the Tree. “You look like a miniature version of Ali.” There was a smile in the Tree’s voice. “I somehow knew you would. We got swept up into conversation so rapidly you never did get around to introducing me to all of your friends, Ali.”
Introductions were made all around while the troupe sat enjoying the fruit that the Tree provided.
“I still can’t get over your ability to produce three different fruits from the same tree,” commented Vexyna.
“That’s nothing.” The Tree laughed. “You should see me dance.” The whole grove shook as the Tree guffawed at its own joke. “The fruits all come from different trees. I just helped the branches make their way here.”
“Other than your obvious aversion to the Fire Elementals, what other things can you tell us about the Elementals?” Vexyna asked.
“Water is curious and easy going,” the Tree said.
“You mentioned that,” Aliyah reminded the Tree. “How do we get them to show themselves?”
“Arrive without a lot of noise and you should be able to catch them lounging about the lake,” informed the Tree.
“Use cat-like stealth to sneak up them, huh?” Cateran asked with a crafty look in her eyes.
“How are your shadow techniques?” Aliyah asked.
“Well, they’re…” Cateran started to say.
“Improving,” Vexyna interrupted.
“Your martial arts skills seem adequate,” commented Aliyah.
Shrugging, Cateran said, “It suddenly occurred to me that some of my leaping and tumbling could be used in either a defensive or offensive way. Don’t ask me how it came to me.”
“Phantasmine’s ability to render people invisible would come in handy,” Vexyna thought aloud.
“Not really,” corrected the Tree. “Elementals can sense changes and irregularities in the harmonics around them. They’d be able to tell something wasn’t right.”
“You can’t fool nature,” Aliyah chipped in. “And we’re better off without her for the moment.”
“Phantasmine has to have time to adjust to the sensations available to be experienced,” Doctor Deathbrain slipped in. “It seems perfectly natural to me that she would overindulge in the beginning. Such overindulgences cause massive chemical imbalances in the brain.”
“Her imbalances have been causing me to become unbalanced myself,” Vexyna said. “There must be a way for me to control my thirst without the aid of the treatment. It’s hard to control what happens when I give in to my cravings,” she lamented. “I get lost in the moment.”
“It’s okay to get caught up in the moment as long as the moment doesn’t last too long or go too far,” Aliyah advised. “Try always to remember the consequences of your actions. Determine the repercussions before you act.”
“Head to the lake,” urged the Tree. “Stop wasting time.”
After packing some fruit for their short trip, the troupe took off for the lake. Along the way, Vexyna said, “Doctor, the nanobots inside Phanta have completed their construction of her organic brain. What will happen to them now?”
“Her system will flush them out naturally just as it has with the other nanobots that came before them,” Deathbrain responded. “Many nanobots serve only one specific function and are discarded immediately after that function has been performed.”
“Now we have to get that crystal out of her,” Vexyna stated determinedly.
“Ah, yes,” replied the doctor thoughtfully, “the crystal. That will prove more challenging.”
It didn’t take them long to reach a little tree-laden valley. In the midst of the greenery lay a large oval-shaped body of water.
Two figures stood on the sand and rocks beside the water. Each stood easily three meters high. One seemed to sparkle in the sunlight and almost got lost in the background of the lake. The other resembled more the earth beneath its feet.
The team crept silently closer to the two figures. From their vantage point, the travelers could hear what the figures were saying.
“If you wanted help tracking down one of your kids, why didn’t you come to us sooner?” asked the one whose body surface rippled the shades of blues and greens.
“We are asking now,” replied the one with the dirty brown body.
“Those two are Elementals,” whispered Aliyah. “Earth and Water.”
“It sounds like they’re also looking for the Earth kid,” Cateran piped in.
From behind each of the travelers, large branches rose up and plucked them from the ground. The branches grew and carried all of them from their hiding spots down toward the Element
als by the lake. The troupe was stunned and no one knew what to do.
The branches deposited the travelers gently on the beach before twisting together to form one large thick branch on the end of which a face formed.
Caught off guard, the Elementals waited for the wooden face to provide them with an explanation as to why their private conversation had been interrupted.
“These fleshlings also seek the Earth child,” the voice of the Tree of Pondish told the Elementals.
“Why do you seek the child?” the Earth Elemental asked of the group.
“To return it to you.” Vexyna stepped forward. “We know Din is using the child in order to get you Earth Elementals to do whatever she wants.”
“It is true,” said the Earth Elemental. “At first, we thought she was truly trying to help us in our quest, but now we realize she probably has our child already and is just using us.”
“We must find the child in order to relinquish Din’s hold over you,” Vexyna said.
“Why do you care?” the Water Elemental asked. “Fleshlings don’t usually take an interest in the affairs of the elements.”
“Din is a fleshling,” Vexyna told the Water Elemental. “She seeks to bring about the resurrection of Dacreel.”
At the sound of the name Dacreel, another humanoid form swirled into cohesiveness. It was made of undulating patches of wind. “Dacreel must not come again,” stated the wind form.
“We care not about the plight of the flesh bound,” said the Earth Elemental.
“You mean you don’t mind if Dacreel comes back? Isn’t he one of the only beings around who can control the Elementals and make them do whatever he pleases?” Aliyah asked.
“Let him come. What has it to do with us?”
“No. Idiots. Do you want to stop knowing who you are? Being able to do as you please? No. We, the Water Elementals, will not stand for this.”
“Nor will we, the Wind Elementals. The winds must be allowed to blow free.”
“Now that we all have a vested interest in the events currently happening, you may call upon us when you need us,” the Water Elemental informed Vexyna.
The Wind Elemental caught a glimpse of the dagger tucked in Raj’s sash. “The Tiger’s Eye Dagger. Where did you find the blade that can damage an Elemental?”
“This holy relic belongs to the Sacred Sisters; I am merely its keeper until they desire to make use of it,” Raj told the Wind.
“Such a weapon is dangerous in the hands of fleshlings. You should give it to us,” the Wind Elemental commanded as it stretched out its long arm towards Raj.
“Hold!” Aliyah ordered, stepping between them. She had grasped Cateran’s right hand with her left and was leading her forward. “We are the Sacred Sisters. We claim the dagger as our own.”
Gingerly, yet firmly, grasping the rounded blade of the knife, Raj held it out so the sisters could place their palms against the haft. Raj released his hold the instant the two girls’ had theirs.
Coming from opposite directions, they each managed to touch one side of the handle simultaneously. It was as if they passed right through each other and, when they came out the other side, they had transformed into a new being.
Standing on its hind quarters was a three-meter-tall winged tiger. The dagger dangled as a silver charm in the middle of a black band draped across the creature’s forehead.
Twin voices emanated from the beast. “Vexyna, you have been granted the favor of the Elements. The rest is up to you. We have our own destiny to follow,” their harmonious voices cried out as the massive wings began to beat. Huge paws gripped Raj, lifting him by his shoulders. “Remember the consequences of your actions at all times, Vexyna,” the beast advised her, “and you’ll be okay.” With that, it turned in the air and flew off to the west, disappearing over the hills.
“Doctor, it is also time we dealt with the fogs and mists,” Vexyna said as she turned her attention to the last remaining member of her troupe. “The Wind Elementals should be helpful in spreading whatever is required.”
“First, we need to know what has been used in order to administer the proper antidote,” replied the doctor. “I would have to visit the site in order to make a diagnosis.”
“Ride the wind to wherever you need to go,” offered the Wind Elemental.
“Get the Gargantuans back up in Ninim,” Vexyna said.
Two more Wind Elementals formed around the doctor. “Ninim?” asked one of them.
“I suppose, yes,” answered the doctor.
“Ninim it is then,” said the other Wind Elemental. The two locked hands, facing each other, with Doctor Deathbrain between them. Their forms blurred together until only the doctor held a discernable shape.
Deathbrain was off the ground and speeding away before anything else could happen.
“Somehow, I have a feeling you’ll not see him again,” commented the Water Elemental.
Alone with the Elements, Vexyna sat down on a rock to consider her next move.
Chapter 19: Family Reunion