Istuffed myself on the strange selection of food. For the most part it was really good, much better than Mom’s or Sam’s cooking for sure. Still, I was probably better off not knowing what I was eating. Most of it was unrecognizable but I figured as long as it tasted good I really didn’t care what it was.
My only disappointment was in having to listen to the constant jabbering of the white-haired old lady sitting on my right. Her name was Gabby Goodsmith and she had nearly burst with excitement to find herself seated beside a “newcomer.” She was nice enough and all, but spent considerably more time talking than eating.
“Why, aren’t you just a blessing to us all,” she said in a sweet voice. “It’s so good to see young’uns your age finding their way out of the Veil. I mean, so many of them are so wrapped up in themselves now-a-days they don’t have time to take a second look at what they’re wasting their lives on. Take my grandson for example. We hardly see him anymore; he’s so into his video games and what-have-you. He could sure use a friend like you. You’ll have to meet him someday. I’ve tried more than once to tell him about the way things really are but he won’t have anything to do with it, just treats me like a senile old lady. Can you imagine? No respect, I tell ya. That’s the thing, you know, kids these days don’t respect their elders as they should.”
The one-sided conversation droned on and on, to no end. Her husband, Gerwyn, sat beside her in silent contentment, gumming his food slowly as she babbled on about the state of the Veil and how foolish her children were for ignoring the warnings of the book. Every so often she would end a thought by turning to her husband and saying, “Isn’t that right, dear?” which gave her surprisingly enough time to snatch a quick bite from her plate as he looked up, smiled and nodded in agreement.
The feast was over now but Gabby showed no signs of slowing down. The table emptied with the exception of a few remaining groups scattered here and there. During one of Gabby’s “isn’t-that-right-dear” moments Hope was able to gracefully pull me away from the endless conversation.
“We really should be going, Hunter,” she said.
“Thanks,” I whispered after we were a safe distance away.
“Don’t mention it.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the Temple. The Commission of Captains will want to meet you.”
We traveled across the courtyard to an elaborate structure built mostly of wood. The closer we came, the larger the temple seemed to grow. The intricate carving incorporated many detailed symbols and markings—the largest and most recognizable were the interlocking Vs hanging above the main entrance. The roof line was shaped like a gigantic A-frame that covered the central structure and extended far enough beyond it to create a covered walking path supported by thick square pillars on all sides.
We entered through the main doors and into a grand hallway at the front of the room, where the six captains were already seated around a large triangular table. Evan was there as well, telling a story with animated gestures and a wide grin. I could tell from the expressions on their faces it must have been a good one.
Commander Petrov was the first to greet us. “Ah, Hunter, you’re just in time. Please, find a seat. Evan was just telling us how he found you locked in the dumpster.” The room was still warm with laughter from the recent telling. My face grew suddenly red. I glanced nervously around. Hope disguised a smile behind her hand. My string of bad impressions continues. Thanks, Evan.
“Yeah, that wasn’t one of my finest hours,” I shrugged, choosing a seat next to Petrov.
“As a matter of fact I’m reminded of when I first met Petrov,” Evan started.
“Oh, don’t tell that again,” the commander tried to stop him.
“And why shouldn’t I? It’s a great story.”
“Yes, tell us!” said Leo, the youngest looking of the captains. “I don’t believe I’ve heard this one.”
“No? Well then, that’s settled. I remember it well,” Evan continued. “I had returned to the Veil in hopes of finding the young lad. You were about…what was it, Petrov, nine? ten?”
“I was fourteen and you know it,” Petrov closed his eyes in embarrassment.
“Oh yes, that’s right,” Evan continued, pretending to have forgotten. “You see, he was rather small for his age.”
Sam interjected with booming laughter, “Sure, but it didn’t stop him from tryin’ to drive his father’s car, did it?”
“Hang on, now. I was just about to get to that part. You don’t want to spoil the story for everyone do you?” Evan said with a wink.
I glanced over at Sam whose face still held a wide grin.
“Forgive me; it’s just that this is one of my favorite stories about Petrov. Go on!” He motioned with his hand for Evan to continue.
“So, I was looking for the boy on his family’s farm and just as I come walking down the driveway a car bursts out of the barn and heads straight at me. I could barely see the boy’s head above the steering wheel. It was Petrov and he would have run me right over if it weren’t for my quick thinking.”
Petrov couldn’t pass up an opportunity to clarify the situation and jumped in the conversation. “What he means to say is that he panicked and ran like a little girl. Didn’t you end up on the roof of the car, Evan?”
A fresh round of chuckles began.
“True enough, but it was the only thing on the farm you couldn’t hit.” Evan didn’t hesitate with his comeback, much to the delight of the rest of the group.
“So there I am on top of the car, hanging on for dear life as Petrov single-handedly destroys the farm. Crashing clear through the pigpen and into the pasture, he apparently didn’t know how to stop the car. You should have seen those poor cows getting out of the way as fast as their legs could carry them. It’s a wonder he didn’t hit any of them, really.”
“Oh this is good,” Ephriam said, as we all tried to imagine Commander Petrov as a fourteen-year-old boy.
“Ah, but that’s not all,” Evan continued. “Before I could steady myself and reach in to help the boy, Petrov opened the door and jumped out on his own, rolling across the meadow, and managing to cover himself completely in cow manure.”
This time the room exploded in laughter, even a little chuckle from Petrov.
Eventually the commotion died down and Petrov, his smile fading, took the opportunity to direct the conversation to more serious matters.
“So Hunter, on to more pressing matters! We have been looking for you for quite some time. You have questions I’m sure, and now is the time for some answers. But before we continue I have to ask, do you want to know the truth about who you are?”
The question was not one I was expecting. Who was I? Only a few days ago I had thought I was just your average kid with lower than average grades, and a slightly higher than average chance for getting into trouble. All of that had changed with the discovery of the book and the reality that the world I had known was not what it seemed. Whatever the truth, I had come too far to go back now. I wanted to know everything.
“Yes, I’m ready,” I said, not really as sure as I sounded.
Petrov knelt to look me straight in the eyes, measuring my ability to understand what he was about to explain.
“I hope you are. We don’t want to lose you to the Shadow.” He walked back toward the table and placed his hands on the back of his chair. “Tell me, Hunter, how much do you know about the realm of Solandria?”
“Not much,” I acknowledged.
He rolled out a map covered with a scattering of various-sized islands too numerous to count.
“Solandria is a shattered world comprised of a series of floating islands, or shards as we call them, in the midst of a great void. In case you are wondering, we are currently here, on the Shard of Sanctuary,” he explained, pointing his finger to one of the smaller islands near the right edge of his map. “Solandria exists on the other side of the Veil, which is the only world you knew until now. The two realms are connected, linked if you will, like opposite sides of the same page. One cannot exist without the other.”
“The book Evan helped you recover is very important. It offers glimpses of truth from the very hand of the Author himself. Do you have it with you?”
I nodded.
“Bring it here; I want to show you something.”
Evan gave a nod of approval and I reached into my bag to remove the book. It seemed even heavier than before as I struggled to hoist it up to the table. Pulling the key from my pocket, I set it down beside the book. Petrov moved to my side and placed his hand on the cover.
“For many, the truths in this book are a burden that will become too heavy to bear. Some think them to be fairy tales or obsolete stories, but once you understand them and take them to heart, they will change you in ways you cannot possibly imagine.”
“You mean the Code of Life!” I said bluntly, surprised by my own boldness.
“Very good,” Petrov said, raising an eyebrow in shock, “you must have been listening to Sam!”
Sam beamed with pride. “What can I say? I’m a good teacher!”
“Indeed, the best,” Petrov responded, matter-of-factly. “Yes, the Code of Life is the order of all things and the way by which we must live if we want to fulfill our purpose.”
“This book,” he continued, “is the Author’s Writ, our only connection to the Author himself. It is the best place to start in order to understand who the Shadow are, why they are here and more importantly, what they want with you.”
My heart raced when I remembered that I was wanted by the Shadow. I clasped my sweaty palms tightly beneath the table to keep them from trembling.
Petrov unlocked the book and spoke to it in a confident tone. “Tell us the origin of the Shadow!”
To my amazement, the book flipped open of its own accord, stopping about a third of the way through at a blank page. A few seconds later the handwritten text began to appear.
“Ah, here it is,” Petrov exclaimed. “I think you’ll find this selection to be very enlightening.” He read the passage out loud in a commanding voice for all to hear.
Keeper of the manuscripts,
The Author’s trusted scribe,
Betrayal grows in darkened spaces—
toward the one who places—The light inside your eyes.
Into a world ‘twas not your own
You entered uninvited
To seek a knowledge yet unknown—
a sacred stone—
With secrets locked inside it.
A sudden flash, the gift of sight,True knowledge you acquired
And shattered in that poisoned act—
The life that you desired.
A curse of death became your prize,
Your gain, a fataL loss.
You chose a wide but darkened path—
a way of wrath—
A broken bridge to cross.
Shadowed one, O fallen one,
Go gather all your kind.
You aimed to take the Author’s place—
your death embraced—
With a throne that could not bind.
Banished to a world you broke,
Still blinded by your power.
The Author’s will moves forward still—
your role fulfilled—
Until that final hour.
So now you live in hosts unknown
To rule what is not yours;
They follow you with veiled eyes
and silent cries—
Behind your prison doors.
Together you are bound as one
United by the curse.
Forever held between two worlds—
Until death finds the first.
Betrayer, do you know your name?
Do you see what you have done?
You will never be the same—
A Shadow you’ve become.
He closed the book and looked up at me, ignoring the obnoxious snoring of Saris who had fallen asleep during the reading.
“As Evan has surely explained already, the Shadow are an alliance of the most vile creatures imaginable. In the Veil they remain invisible to human eyes. Sometimes referred to as ghosts or Shrouded Ones, they carry out their devious intentions through the manipulation of the mind. They inhabit the hearts of men, using them as their hosts to carry out their wicked plans.”
“But why?” I asked, “I mean, what is it they hope to accomplish?”
“What indeed?” he replied, “That, Hunter, is why I have shown you this passage. It details the intentions of their master—the first to be called a Shadow—the most despicably wicked being that has ever existed. Even the Shadow fear him, for he is a terrible master of darkness. His name is…Sceleris.”
Sceleris. The mere mention of that name sent chills up my spine as though it carried an unspeakable curse. As Petrov continued, the mood in the room grew increasingly somber.
“All who join the cause of the Shadow have pledged their souls to serve Sceleris. He despises all that is good and claims to offer true freedom to those who oppose the Author’s will. He hates the Author and anything to do with him, which is why he has committed himself to erasing all knowledge of the Author from our worlds.”
Petrov paused a moment and I nodded eagerly, acknowledging that I was following his every word.
“According to the Author’s Writ, Sceleris was once a powerful scribe. He was a trusted friend of the Author himself, even given a position of great honor as the keeper of the Author’s manuscripts. As such, Sceleris would have seen the Author enter these books on many occasions. Perhaps he was even invited to visit them from time to time with the Author. Whatever the case may be, at some point, his desire to control a book of his own grew unbearably strong. Simply being the Author’s scribe wasn’t good enough anymore—Sceleris wanted to be an Author himself. So, without permission, he entered the unfinished pages of our world, hoping to steal the Bloodstone and alter the story to make it his own.”
“What’s the Bloodstone?” I questioned, recognizing its importance.
Sam replied first, “The Bloodstone is the sacred stone the passage was referrin’ to,” he stated plainly. “It’s what holds the secret of the Code of Life.”
“Yes,” Petrov resumed the conversation. “Sceleris believed that possessing the Bloodstone would give him the power he needed to control our story, but he also knew the Author had placed a curse on anyone who took the stone. So, using his powers of persuasion he convinced another to take it for him. The stone was shattered, sparing the life of the one who took it, but spoiling the stone’s power for good.”
As they explained, I sat in stunned silence, recalling the imagery of the boy in the garden and the stone that had shattered. I had seen this all before, exactly as they were telling it now.
“Of course, Sceleris’ plan did not succeed. The Author discovered his betrayal, and as punishment for his crimes he bound Sceleris to our world—written into the very story he had once longed to control. No longer would Sceleris be able to return to the Author’s library in the realm beyond our own. His life-force was broken and Sceleris became a shadow of his former self. Only his spirit remained. He is now forever tied to our story—the spirit of evil at work in our world.”
“Naturally, his hatred for the Author only grew as a result. And to this day he is alive and active, seeking revenge for what the Author has done.”
“But, what happened to the Bloodstone?” I asked, curious to know what occurred after my vision of the garden thief had ended.
“That, I’m afraid, remains a mystery. We know that Sceleris is unable to command its power for himself because he is only a spirit. Instead, he has used others throughout history to accomplish what he cannot. The Bloodstone has been passed from generation to generation, finding its way into the hands of many Shadow warriors who have claimed its power as their own.”
Under the gentle gaze of Evan I felt a sudden urge to come clean about what I had seen in my vision of the garden.
“I think I’ve seen the Bloodstone before,” I said aloud, much to the shock of the other captains in the room. “When I read the first pages in the book I touched the words and the story took me into a garden where the Bloodstone was kept.”
“What did you see?” Petrov asked curiously.
“A boy approached the tree and some kind of bright being called him there. The boy stole the Bloodstone and it shattered in his hand. That was all it showed me,” I concluded.
A few of the captains exchanged looks and muttered to each other. What I had said apparently caused a stir. A sense of excitement was growing in the room but Petrov pretended not to notice, his emotions hard to read.
Evan quickly approached Petrov. “You see? It’s as I said. He has the gift; his vision confirms it.”
“So it would seem,” came the response. Petrov narrowed his eyes and examined me again.
“Confirms what?” I asked, aware that I appeared to be the only one who didn’t know what they were talking about. The room grew eerily quiet, all eyes on me. They knew something about me, something important.
“You have been given a gift. A vision such as this is rare. Indeed, we have not had one from the Veil speak such things before.”
Petrov’s words left the room silent.
While I never much cared for what others thought of me, being singled out like this was a bit unnerving. I might be a little more comfortable with the attention if I wasn’t completely ignorant. The question had to be asked.
“What does the vision mean?”
“I don’t know.” Petrov paused briefly, giving weight to his words. “But what is clear is that Aviad called you here to accomplish something of great importance. The vision is evidence that you have been chosen. Even if we knew the vision’s meaning, it would not be for us to say. Aviad will explain this to you, and we will do everything in our power to get you to him, when the time is right.”
Aviad. The name rang with importance, but I knew so little of him. He was the one Evan had mentioned before, the one who could supposedly help free me from the Shadow.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but who exactly is Aviad?” I asked. “I mean, why is he so important?”
Evan answered first. “That is a question with many answers. Some have called him a mighty warrior, some a sage, while still others have written him off as simply a fool. As Codebearers, however, we believe he is the son of the Author himself, the true ruler of the twin worlds of Solandria and the Veil.”
Sam proudly added, “Ya see, Hunter, Aviad was the one who freed our ancestors from the Shadow’s lies. He established the Resistance and taught them how to employ the Code of Life, how to use it, and more importantly, how not to.”
A thousand new questions leaped to mind, ready to be asked, but a commotion from the back of the assembly stole the moment. An armor-clad man stumbled in, holding his side and limping his way to the front of the room.
“Commander, I bring an urgent message,” the man announced, breathing heavily. “If you would permit, a word with you in private?”
The mood shifted from excitement to a nervous buzz surrounding the arrival of this tall warrior. I found something oddly familiar about him—black hair, dark green cape. He seemed injured and out of breath.
Though he calmly remained seated, Petrov’s eyes betrayed a deep concern. “Captain Faldyn, the council would hear your message. What is it? What happened to you?”
The captain shook his head. “My men and I were on our way here, but there was...an ambush...agh!” He held his side in obvious pain “...an ambush prevented us. We fought to a man, but only I remain.”
Shock rumbled through the room as the news struck. Petrov stood quickly to steady the swaying captain. “Faldyn, take my chair. You must sit, brother.”
He fell into the seat and drank greedily from a cup Sam held for him. The liquid eventually seemed to ease his condition enough to speak again, though with a heavy spirit.
“I couldn’t save my men, but let it be said, I would have fought to the death if not for the enemy’s design for me to deliver this message.” Faldyn slowly removed a snakeskin scroll from his belt, handing it to Petrov.
“All were lost?” Petrov’s voice had lowered to a stunned whisper. He broke open the scroll and read it silently to himself. As he read the concern in his eyes overflowed to etch itself deeply in his brow.
Looking back at Captain Faldyn, Petrov resumed his commanding calm. “Who sends this threat?”
Faldyn did not answer immediately as he sifted through his memories. “Venator.”
Upon hearing the name, I suddenly remembered my last dream. The boy from my dream was Venator and this man was the fallen captain. Every detail of Faldyn’s report raced into perfect alignment with what I had already seen the night before while sleeping.
Faldyn continued, “His skills in the forbidden arts have grown, I’m afraid. He had a power the likes of which I have not encountered before!”
“He comes for the boy.” Petrov’s voice addressed the council after reading the message.
I didn’t need to ask who “the boy” from the scroll was. The answer was clear by how quickly all eyes darted back to me. Short-lived as it was, Captain Faldyn’s arrival had provided me a temporary escape from the spotlight. A chair clattered to the ground as Leo stood quickly to address the council.
“Commander, in light of this new information shouldn’t we take measures to move the boy tonight? Hunter will not be safe until he has reached Aviad.”
Petrov diffused the sudden outburst with a calming gesture before he answered. “No, that will not be necessary. We remain here until Aviad sends word of where Hunter should meet him, just as we were commanded. Remember, everything in his time and place.”
Leo wasn’t convinced. “But we risk the security of this hideout as long as he is here. You know as well as I do what danger the camp would be in if the Shadow found out. Surely we cannot afford to...”
His words were cut short as Petrov forcefully broke in, “I know full well the risks, Leo. The truth is we cannot afford to act on our own outside of Aviad’s orders. No doubt the Shadow will enlist every resource they have to find us, but we must not respond in fear.”
Fear. The way I figured it fear wasn’t something you just ignore. Sure, you can downplay a misguided fear, like when those creaking and popping sounds at night start messing with your mind. You talk yourself down from the initial scare when you figure it’s “just the house settling.”
But then there’s the fear like I was feeling now—the very real fear of knowing there were ugly, evil creatures hunting for me this very second. That would be one of the reasonable fears that you listen to and act on. I for one couldn’t help but express my opinion.
“Um, excuse me, Commander. I was thinking that maybe getting a head start on this ‘meeting Aviad’ trip wouldn’t be so bad. ’Cause, uh, sitting around here and waiting for the Shadow to find me isn’t sounding so great.”
Petrov respectfully gave a few seconds pause before answering with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Who said anything about sitting around? You’ll have your work cut out for you learning the art of war.”
War? Was I hearing this right? They were crazy if they thought I was going to fight in a war. Dispirits were bad enough, but from what I had seen in the forest there were creatures far worse than that working for the Shadow and I didn’t want to meet up with them.
“Whoa, you’ve got the wrong guy. I came here to get away from the Shadow, to find out how I could get rid of them, not to get involved in a war,” I said.
“Listen to him,” Tyra burst out, her eyelids flickering wildly as she spoke. “It’s worse than I thought; we found the boy too soon. He’s not ready. Why, he’s so full of fear the Shadow will smell him a mile away.”
With that the room erupted in arguments over whether or not I was indeed ready to go. Each captain was talking over the other in disagreement, except, of course, for Saris who was still soundly snoring in his chair. This went on for several moments.
“Silence!” Petrov shouted at last, putting an end to the commotion and startling Saris from his sleep with such a jolt that he fell off his chair. I would have laughed at the man if the tone of the room wasn’t so tense. Petrov ignored Saris as he clambered back into his chair, wondering what he had missed.
“Aviad thinks he is ready to be here, and I am willing to trust his judgment. The boy stays with us. All we can do is wait.”
Looking around at the warriors surrounding the table I couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place. Evan must have sensed my insecurity and took hold of my shoulder, looking me straight in the eye.
“If I know Aviad, then you have much more to offer than you think. Who knows, you might even be the one who will turn the tide of this war.”
The words he spoke weighed heavily on my heart. Could it really be that I was part of a bigger plan to restore this world? Me? The goof-off who had barely passed gym class? What good could I possibly offer to help win the war?
“But why me? I didn’t ask for this. It’s like I said before, you’ve got the wrong guy. I don’t even know the first thing about fighting in a war.”
Petrov raised his eyebrows. “I’m afraid there are circumstances in life we have no choice in. You can’t run from the Shadow, Hunter. Like it or not, this war has come to you. You can decide either to fight, or try to avoid it and let the Shadow have their way with you.” I was at a loss for words.
Looking me in the eye Petrov concluded, “You have been called for a purpose, Hunter. Aviad does not make mistakes. He will confirm his plan for you. So what do you say? Will you join the Resistance and learn the ways of the Code?”
All eyes were on me again. What did I want?
“I’d like to go back home for awhile and see my family first, if that’s alright. You know, let them know I’m here and safe. Maybe if I had more time…”
Petrov spoke firmly, “Unfortunately, time is something you do not have. The Shadow already know you are in Solandria, which means your window of opportunity is closing quickly. Turn back now and they have already won. There is no promise of a second chance. You may never return.”
Fear gripped me by the stomach and took control of my mind. Then, to make matters worse, that hideous voice spoke again in my mind. Cold and divided—the same one I had heard in my bedroom just before I opened the book.
Don’t be a fool.
My head began to throb and I placed a hand to my temple to try and relieve the pressure.
They do not care for you. They will use you and leave you to die. Go back home and leave them to their own demise. This is not your war.
I closed my eyes and tried to weigh my thoughts. The idea that someone had chosen me was hard to believe, I had so little to offer. Still, my quest would not be complete without at least a visit to Aviad.
I swallowed hard. My fears began to subside slowly. My decision became clear. I would seek the truth.
“Okay, I’ll give it a shot,” I said at last, the words escaping before I could think twice. The weight of the decision had been lifted from my shoulders—I was committed. Evan released an audible sigh of relief. Sam grinned widely with pride. The others appeared mildly encouraged.
“Very well,” Petrov nodded, his voice solemn with importance. “You’ll start first thing in the morning! Sam will continue your training, I assume, as it seems he has already begun.”
“With pleasure,” Sam replied, “and you’ll want to be sure ta get good and rested tonight for what I’ve got planned.”
I could only imagine what that beast of a man had in mind when he thought of training. Oh man, what was I getting myself into?
“Then it’s settled. We’ll make arrangements for you to stay with the Goodsmiths. They have a spare room that is available if I’m not mistaken.”
Oh no, not Gabby! I winced.
Hope cast a knowing smile my way that seemed to say, I’m sorry! The meeting quickly adjourned and the captains broke into conversations amongst themselves. Hope found her way back to my side.
“You did well,” she offered.
“I’m glad you think so. I’m not so sure I’m ready. I mean, I still have so many questions.”
“Questions are good, Hunter; they make us hungry for truth. Just be patient, the answers will come in time. Come on!” she nudged me. “I’ll show you the way to the Goodsmith’s cottage if you’d like.”
“Do I have another choice?” I pleaded with a smile.
“Oh stop!” she laughed. “Gabby isn’t all that bad. Besides, she probably tires out early at her age. She and Gerwyn will enjoy having you spend some time with them. You give them something to smile about.”
“I suppose so,” I thought aloud. Old people had never been my favorite. They were just so, so...boring. And they smelled funny too.
Together we wandered across the courtyard and into the woods beyond the fortress walls. A brisk walk down a winding path and over a cobblestone bridge brought us to the base of a rather large tree. A spiral staircase was wrapped around the trunk and led upward to a large two-story home nestled high in the roost of the great oak.
“Cool! That’s their place?” I gawked.
“Yup, and you thought they weren’t any fun,” Hope teased, leading me up the stairway.
Gabby, glowing with an enthusiastic smile, answered the door and was more than willing to entertain me for the duration of my stay. She pulled me inside and had me sit on the couch, sneaking a cup of tea into my hand before I even knew it was there. It was going to be a long evening.
