Arrival

  The noise grew to a deafening thunder and finally Jane opened her eyes.

  “Oh,” she gasped, rocking on her feet.

  Fern smiled, his eyes bright with triumph.

  They were standing at the edge of the mountain in a clearing that overlooked a massive cascading waterfall, several hundred metres high. Jane was frightened, for they were so close that she only really needed to take a few steps and she could have reached down and touched it. The cool spray drenched them both.

  From this gap in the trees, they had a clear view. Grassy plains stretched to the left and a dense green rainforest stretched out to the right. The waterfall below them turned into a river, and wound through tiny hills and plains for kilometres. It was all fairly flat terrain and she realised that they were standing on the only real mountain in sight. Towns and houses were dotted over the land, but she could not see any larger cities.

  Fern gestured for them to walk a few steps away so that they could hear each other speak.

  “Congratulations,” she said wryly. “You have caught me off guard—you must be pleased.”

  He looked at her for a moment, then turned away. “This was not ... I wanted to share this with you.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said softly and saw him turn back to her. “It’s just that I hardly know you.”

  He seemed to accept this, for he nodded and said, “We stand on the northern side of the Cliffs of Amara. What you see before you is the countryside of Cynis Witron. Far in the distance is the capital city of Sitadel, where King Cornelius lives. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Jane could only nod.

  “I could come here just for the view.”

  “Why did you come up here?” she asked absently.

  “There is a wise man who lives at the top of the mountain. I wanted to speak to him about something.”

  “What could be so important that you’d climb all the way up there?”

  “Ah, now, that is nothing for you to worry your pretty head over,” he said. “This is the highest mountain in Paragor and the point from which you can see most of the country,” he said to change the subject. His tone was warm and Jane guessed that he had been here many times.

  “Do you want to know why this place is so special?” he asked with a sly grin.

  “Why?” she asked warily.

  “Because I can do this.” And before she could ask him to explain, he launched himself off the cliff and into the air. Jane gasped as Fern dived like a bird into the water. He was so far below that she didn’t hear the splash. It had to be at least a forty-metre drop.

  “Fern!” she yelled, but doubted he could hear her. He waved and motioned for her to dive. She stared down at him, trying to steady her thumping heart.

  She could not dive from this height!

  She looked at the path and saw that it curved out of sight. It would take hours to walk to the bottom. More to the point—she didn’t want to want to chicken out.

  Jane took a deep breath, vowed that if she died she was going to come back and haunt Fern for the rest of his life, and jumped off the edge of the cliff. The fall was far enough that she had time to get herself into what she hoped was a good diving position, and also far enough for her to fall out of that position so that she hit the water on her back and head.

  The surface of the water knocked her senseless for a moment. Fern must have realised, for she opened her eyes underwater to see him swimming towards her. He pulled her up. Jane surfaced and tried to ignore the throbbing pain in her back and head and concentrated on pulling air into her empty lungs.

  Fern still had his hands under her arms, holding her afloat. Jane was filled with the desire to punch him.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “You idiot!” she screamed.

  “What?” he asked innocently, his mouth widening into a smile.

  “Why did you make me do that? I could have been killed!”

  “Don’t be so melodramatic. You’re alive aren’t you?” he said as she swam to the edge.

  “This water is probably infested with piranhas or some water-borne disease that eats away your flesh!” she raged. “For all I know it could be eating away my brain right now!”

  “I think it must be.” Fern smirked.

  “Fern! This isn’t a joke. Don’t you realise how dangerous that was?”

  “Why did you do it, then?” he asked, and she did not reply as she was climbing out.

  “It would have taken too long to walk,” she said, knowing that she was losing the argument.

  “I would have waited.”

  Jane could think of nothing to say, and he laughed at her. “Jane, you are much too serious.”

  “I’m not the one with the problem, Fern!” she snapped. “You’re reckless and irresponsible! Life isn’t all singing and dancing! You can’t be laughing and smiling all the time!”

  “Why?”

  “Because you can’t!” she snapped.

  He shook his head slowly. “Why are you so threatened by me?”

  “Threatened? What are you talking about?”

  “You refuse to be nice to me. You refuse to let me make you smile. It’s as if you see me as the enemy, and every time I laugh or sing, or dance,” he said pointedly, “I think you wish you could do the same.”

  Jane looked away from him, her heart thumping. She had never been so angry before. “I don’t know where I am, Fern. I don’t know where my friends are. I don’t know anything.”

  “You are right,” he said gently, treading water effortlessly. “I am sorry. But we will find them, Jane. We are heading towards the city. I will keep you safe. And you are allowed to have a little fun every now and then.”

  She felt her anger slip away. He grinned and she couldn’t help but smile herself.

  “Good, then,” he said.

  “But no more trying to get me killed!” she said.

  Jane sat down on the bank, aware of how her wet clothes clung to her skin. She pulled her knees up to her chest, and hoped that she would dry soon. Fern climbed after her and lay down.

  “Oh no! What about the horse?” she asked after a minute.

  “She will make her own way down. There is only one path.”

  They lapsed into silence, but had not been drying for long when a sharp cackle came from the bushes next to them.

  Jane started in fright, but Fern turned to face a little creature standing near them, next to a bush. It was almost like a little man, but savage and dirty.

  “Do not even think about coming near us, you piece of filth,” Fern said in a low voice.

  But the creature did not flee—it only moved closer, rubbing his bony hands together. Before it could take another step Fern pulled a knife from his boot and threw it with a sickening thunk into the creature’s forehead.

  “Fern!” Jane yelled.

  “Ogres,” he spat. “Save your pity for those that deserve it.”

  “Why?” Jane asked.

  “They seek out travellers in the night and slit their throats while they sleep.”

  “Why?” she asked again, shocked.

  “They have a thirst for blood, and like to loot.”

  There was a silence then Jane said, “I think you need to tell me a little more about Paragor.”

  Fern looked sideways at her. “It can be dangerous here,” he agreed. “But I will...”

  “I know,” she interrupted him with a wry smile. “You’ll keep me safe.”

  Fern blinked and then smiled slowly, shrugging. “There are three main countries, Cynis Witron, Uns Lapodis, and Lapis Matyr. They were discovered by three brothers back when the world was still young.

  “Uns Lapodis was the country of the eldest brother, and so it was named the High Country. He became the High King of Paragor, and that tradition was carried on for hundreds of years. But then things changed. It was decided that the three countries joined by the brothers’ treaty should have equal say in how things were run, though old ways do not die easily, and Uns L
apodis still holds more sway in Paragor than the other countries.

  “Tirana and Frescana are outside the jurisdiction of the treaty countries, and they are both smaller. All five countries trade fairly and prosperously.”

  “Only five countries,” she murmured. “It’s tiny, isn’t it?”

  “How many countries are in your world?”

  “A lot more than that,” she smiled. “Hundreds and hundreds. But this means, for us, there are always wars.”

  He shrugged. “It is my hope that Paragor will remain peaceful but dark times are ahead, I fear. There is always something to fight over, it seems.”

  Jane looked at Fern’s troubled expression, and wondered, not for the first time, who he was. She decided it would be easier not to ask. It would not be long, surely, before they would have to go their separate ways. She could not expect his protection forever.

  “Have there been other Strangers, like me?” she asked instead.

  “There have always been those with the gift of true sight.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “The power to see the portal and jump through it. There have not been any Strangers for a long time. Do not worry—your kind has always been treated with utmost respect. Like royalty.”

  “Well, in that case I think I’m going to like it here. Paragor sounds like a paradise,” she said.

  “I have not told all, Jane.” Fern sighed heavily and told her the dark tale of Leostrial, the conqueror who came from across the sea to change the world.

  “I need to find my friends,” Jane said when he had finished. She shivered at the thought of such a tyrant. “It isn’t safe for us here.”

  “Then we will go to my home,” Fern said and paused to grin. “I shall take you to the land of the Elves.”

  Chapter 5

  Well, Harry, you haven’t answered my question—what are you doing in my bedchamber in the middle of the night?” “We demanded Satine.

  Harry stammered, “I don’t know. I woke up here.”

  She stared at him. Maybe the boy was slow? She spoke slowly. “What do you mean you woke up here?”

  “I think this must have been where I landed when I crossed over.” Harry shuffled uncomfortably.

  “What are you talking about? Explain yourself, or I will summon the guards.”

  “Guards? No, don’t! I’m not a criminal or anything. I’m from ... somewhere else. I found a portal to here—wherever this is—and this is where I woke up. I don’t know much else. I can’t remember.” He shrugged and looked at Satine’s horrified face.

  “You must leave here at once—they’ll kill you if they find you!” she exclaimed.

  “Who is going to kill me?” Harry asked.

  “The king!”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re a Stranger.”

  “But—?”

  “Enough. This is ridiculous. You have changed everything. I cannot stay here,” she whispered to herself. “There is no time for this. We must leave immediately. Your questions can be answered later.”

  Satine grabbed the scrolls and put them in her pack. Then she took the ivory hair comb that had been a gift from her father and hesitated before finally packing the ornamented quill Leostrial had given her last year. She had no idea what possessed her to do so—she would certainly have no use for a quill where she was going!

  Satine paused a moment and looked around at her room. It was over. She could finally leave and be free of all this deception and hatred. She felt a sudden rush of sadness with the knowledge she must leave—Burmia was her home, despite everything. And what had she accomplished? It was almost too hurtful to think about—she had yet to discover what Leostrial was up to. Then she thought of where she would be taking Harry, and her heart leapt.

  She told Harry to turn around and quickly changed into some travelling breeches. They left the room quietly, sneaking through the silent halls. Harry was behind her breathing heavily and treading loudly.

  “Try to relax,” she whispered. “And keep the noise down.”

  “Sorry,” he hissed, his eyes wide with excitement.

  Satine gritted her teeth and led him out into the dark night. The twin moons were shining brightly enough for them to make their way without a lantern, but also brightly enough for them to be spotted if anyone happened to be about. The stables were not far away, and it was easy to pick the door locks.

  “Can you ride?” she asked him.

  Harry shook his head mutely, staring at the huge stallion before him. Satine swore under her breath and set about showing him how to saddle a much smaller horse. They were nearly ready when out of the moonlight ran a dirty little stable boy, pausing in shock to see them.

  “What are you doing? You are not to leave at this time of night,” he exclaimed, staring at them with eyes full of fear.

  Before they could say a word, the boy ran from the stables and towards the castle to sound the alarm.

  Satine helped Harry to mount his horse and then leapt atop her own, leading them onto the cobbled streets.

  “We can’t open the gates by ourselves so we’ll have to go to a place in the side wall where we can jump over,” she said and they raced their horses around the fence line, Harry using every bit of concentration to stay on the horse.

  The wall was the same height all around. Finally, after two circuits, they decided that no place was better than any other, so Satine chose a spot and ordered Harry to back up. People were pouring out of the castle behind them, including soldiers with weapons.

  “You go first,” Satine commanded.

  “What? I don’t know how to jump over a wall!” said Harry.

  “Sit forward,” she told him quickly. “Hold the reins nice and tight. You have to have confidence, or the horse will scare. Kick her hard and ride straight at the wall—she will do the rest.”

  Harry looked at Satine, and then the wall. “Christ, I don’t think I can...”

  “Go Harry!” Satine yelled.

  He kicked his horse and it leapt into a gallop. Harry bounced around in the seat, unable to hold himself steady. The horse neighed loudly, scared by the clumsiness of her rider as she leapt the wall. Harry gasped aloud with pain as his head snapped back, clacking his jaw and he nearly fell from his mount. Sheer terror kept him gripping the reins and he managed to right himself and pull the horse to a rearing halt.

  Satine was right behind him, clearing the jump beautifully.

  “Well done,” she breathed. “Now we must ride!”

  Harry raced after Satine as she galloped across the plain, rattling around painfully in his saddle, unable to tighten his knees to keep himself in place. His neck ached from the whiplash.

  Leostrial’s horsemen were in close pursuit. They raced for the trees where they were able to lose their followers momentarily. Harry gratefully slowed to a canter, but kept going. Satine called out to him, “We have to go through the marshes, Harry. There’s no time to go around. We have to make it into Uns Lapodis as fast as we can.”

  When they came to the marsh, going fast was easier said than done. It was a wide expanse, as far as the eye could see, of muddy, foggy ground. So foggy in fact, that they could only see a few feet in front of them. The horses had a terrible time, for their hooves slipped in the mud with every second step.

  “This is disgusting!” Harry groaned, wiping mud off his face.

  “It will get worse,” Satine assured him grimly.

  And with that it began to pour with rain. Soon, there was a raging storm all around them, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring. They were soaked through instantly, and Harry didn’t think he could imagine anything more miserable. He started to think of home. This was certainly not the romantic notion he’d had of exploring a new world. This was the worst idea he’d ever had!

  They walked through the marshes in the rain for two days. Their horses had long since been left behind, as they could not travel fast enough through the mud, and Harry and Satine were coming to
the last of their strength. Without food they could not keep going.

  On the night of the second day, they huddled together against the cold, exhausted. The rain lashed at their faces, and they could barely see each other. They were at the edge of the marshes and by the next day they should make it out. Satine was starting to feel sick with worry—Uns Lapodis was across a span of water, and she had no money to pay the ferryman.

  “It will be all right, Satine,” Harry said.

  She looked at him in wonder. “You’re the most optimistic boy I have ever met,” she said. “This whole time, you’ve never once complained.”

  He shrugged. “I can’t complain when I have someone as amazing as you to get me through this.” He blushed as he said the words. “Who are you, Satine?”

  She smiled recklessly and shook out her long blonde hair. “I am no one but the woman put in this world to deliver you to safety. If I do nothing else in this life, I will get you out of here alive, Harry.”

  He stared at her, a lump coming to his throat, thrilled by her intensity. She looked like a warrior goddess, the wind and rain lashing at her face.

  “Why though?” he managed to ask. “Why all this trouble for me? Why am I important?”

  “Because you’re a Stranger!”

  “I don’t understand what that means,” he sighed. They shivered under their wet clothes. “But I know I’ve never had anyone put so much belief in me, whatever the reason.”

  She looked at him. “What do you mean?”

  He shrugged again. “I’ve never really been good at much, I guess. But I always knew there was something else out there. And I suppose I was hoping that when we got here, maybe things would be different, you know? Maybe there would be something for me to achieve.”

  Satine smiled slowly. “Harry, my friend, if I can get you away from here, I guarantee you will have a huge task ahead of you.”

  Harry looked at Satine in surprise, but before he had a chance to ask what she meant, the sound of nearby beating drums sliced through the rain. Satine’s eyes widened and she hissed, “Leostrial! I thought we had lost him. Come on, we have to keep going.”

  They struggled on through the rain and mud but almost immediately, Harry’s foot became stuck.