Chapter 7

The Eye of the Lion

James Staples hadn’t taken the news well. When he woke to take his turn on watch, Parker and Alexia had told him about the death of his wife. Mr. Staples hadn’t said a word. He’d merely nodded and said they should get some sleep. That had been four nights ago, and he’d barely spoken since.

Alexia had decided to stay with Parker and Mr. Staples for a while because she wanted answers and she didn’t know what else to do. She needed to find her mother and save her friends. But she had no idea how. I’ll go soon enough, she thought, but first I want to know a little more of what my birth father is really like.

It was well past midnight when Alexia woke for her shift on watch. The enemy could sense the Poet’s Coffer, so they had to be vigilant.

“I’ll take watch now,” Alexia said.

Mr. Staples didn’t move. A few minutes passed, and Alexia began to wonder if he was sleeping.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I’ve been moping. Your news wasn’t something I expected.” He turned and met Alexia’s eyes. “I didn’t think anything could kill that woman. She was twice as fierce as any lion and infinitely more stubborn.”

He has a kind face, she thought. “I spent a few days with her before … She was amazing. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

“I have no doubt they were some of the best days of her life,” Mr. Staples said. “Giving you up was the hardest thing we ever had to do. We love Parker.” He glanced at his sleeping son. “I couldn’t imagine life without him. But you were always in our thoughts.”

“Why did you send me away?” Alexia asked. She didn’t feel sad about it. She loved her parents very much. But she did want to know. “You sent me away, but you kept Jack. Why?”

“I wasn’t there the night you were born,” he said. “Until four days ago, I’d never laid eyes on my daughter. I wasn’t even sure you were still alive. We heard about your parents and feared the worst.”

Alexia was glad for the night. It hid the wetness on her cheeks.

Mr. Staples glanced at the sky. “Did Megan ever show you your star?”

“No,” Alexia said. “What do you mean?”

“There.” He pointed toward a circle of seven stars.

“You mean the Lion’s Eye?” she asked.

“You know the constellations?”

“Yes, my father taught them to me.” It felt a little funny talking to her birth father about her father. “The Lion’s Eye.” She pointed. “The Serpent’s Tongue.” She moved her arm again. “The Dreamer’s Tree. Father and I spent many nights looking at the stars.” Alexia squinted at the sky. “But the Lion’s Eye looks brighter than I remember it. Is that possible?”

“It is indeed. In the very center of the eye, there are two stars. Most people think there is only one because they are so close together. But if you look closely, you’ll see it.”

Alexia nodded. She’d never noticed the second star before, but now she could see it.

“The center of the Lion’s Eye was dark; it was just a ring of seven stars. At the moment of your birth, your star was born, and it blazed so bright, it outshone the moon.” He shook his head wonderingly. “I knew you’d been born, and I was desperate to get back to Ballylesson to meet you. As I journeyed home, the star faded. And by the time I returned, it was gone.”

“What do you mean it was gone? It’s right there.” Alexia’s eyes strayed to the star.

“The star was a sign of your coming. The Child of Prophecy had been born, and anyone who knew the signs could see it. But I was with Mrs. Dumphry on a mission of great importance. We’d traveled to the Forbidden Garden to meet with Time. When we saw the star, we were still weeks from home. I knew Megan was the Chosen One, but when your star faded, my heart was gripped with fear. What did it mean? Had you really been born? Had something terrible happened?”

Alexia was mesmerized. Hearing about the night of her birth, learning that a star was born to herald her coming—there was something magical about it.

“When I arrived at the house, I was relieved to find that everything seemed normal. I held Parker in my arms, and when Mrs. Dumphry and I looked into his eyes, it was obvious he was not the Child of Prophecy. It was only after Mrs. Dumphry left that Megan told me what happened.”

Mr. Staples pulled a chain from around his neck. At the end of the chain was a small black stone streaked with blue veins. “Do you know what this is?” He held it up to the moonlight. The veins flickered as the stone caught the light.

Alexia nodded. “It’s a Memory Stone. I’ve used them twice before.”

“This was Megan’s. She gave it to me the morning Parker and I left with the Poet’s Coffer. It contains her favorite memories and has made the days away more bearable.” Pain passed over him again. “I’m sorry,” he said. “It still doesn’t feel real.”

Alexia waited. After a moment he shook his head and handed her the stone. “If you want to see what truly happened on the night you were born, hold the stone and think on the memory.”

Alexia’s hands shook as her fingers closed around the small stone. Mr. Staples offered a warm smile and nodded encouragingly. She took a deep breath and formed the thought in her mind as the world shifted.

 

Alexia was in Jack’s bedroom back in Ballylesson. Megan Staples lay on a small bed. She was soaked in sweat and screaming as Elion knelt beside her. The Sephari’s eyes sparkled like diamonds as she patted Megan’s forehead with a wet towel.

“You’re nearly there,” Elion said. “Once more, and your baby will be here.”

Megan squeezed Elion’s hand as she screamed again and gasped. Alexia stood by her side, watching. It was surreal, being there at the moment of her birth. A moment later, Elion lifted the baby, cradling it in a thick blanket.

“It’s a girl,” she said. “And there is no doubt. She is the Child of Prophecy.” White light exploded through the window as Alexia’s star was birthed; neither Elion nor Megan seemed to notice.

Elion’s eyes turned sunset orange as she handed the baby to Megan.

“I have entered this memory a thousand times.”

Alexia turned to see Mr. Staples. She hadn’t realized he’d come with her. All of his attention was given to his wife and newborn daughter. “It is my greatest regret that I wasn’t there the night you were born. I only wanted to hold you.” Tears shone in his eyes.

Megan Staples held baby Alexia close. Elion sat beside her and smiled happily.

“But why? Why was I taken away?” Alexia asked.

Mr. Staples waved his hand, and the world shifted once again. They were in the same room, but Megan was standing by the window cradling baby Alexia. “This is only a few hours later,” he said.

Baby Alexia had a full head of raven-black hair and a small dimple in her cheek.

“Alexia,” Megan said through teary eyes. “Her name is Alexia Staples.”

“It is a beautiful name,” Elion said. The Sephari had donned her Atherial Cloak. She was almost impossible to see.

A look of anguish crossed Megan’s face. “It’s not fair. She’s less than a day old!” she said. “She needs her mother! I can’t give my daughter away before her father has a chance to meet her.” Megan sighed. “How can you ask this of me, Elion?”

“And you think you can keep her safe from what’s coming? You think you can stop him?”

For a moment Megan looked as if she was going to argue; then she began to cry. “But this is my child. She is mine!”

“This is the Child of Prophecy, and you know as well as I do that he is coming. If I don’t take her now, all will be lost.” She turned her gaze to the cloudless sky. “We are not the only ones who can read the stars.”

Alexia stood beside Megan and Elion, and all three women looked up at the sky. At the center of the Lion’s Eye was a mammoth star that was indeed brighter than the moon. Though it should not have been possible, the star looked to be directly above the Stapleses’ house.

“Mother, what’s going on?”

Elion spun as Megan shielded baby Alexia with her body.

In less than a heartbeat, Elion had drawn her sword as colored mist rose from the floorboards. “Who are you, boy?” she demanded. “Speak now or die!”

“What?” Alexia breathed. Jack Staples was standing in the doorway.

Elion’s eyes blazed. Jack stood with his mouth agape, staring.

“Mother, it’s me, Jack! What’s going on?”

“Look at his eyes!” Elion stepped closer.

“What do you mean?” Megan took a cautious step forward.

“Come here, boy.” Elion lowered her sword and offered Jack her hand. He took it, looking as if he were trying to wake from a bad dream.

Jack must have time traveled here, Alexia thought. But not on purpose, or he wouldn’t look so confused. Megan stepped closer, gazing into Jack’s eyes. “What does it mean?” she whispered. And then an impossibly bright light exploded through the room. Jack disappeared in a burst of wind.

For a long moment, neither Megan nor Elion spoke. Alexia and Mr. Staples also stood silent, watching the memory.

“This changes everything,” Elion whispered.

“I don’t … I don’t understand,” Megan said. “He called me ‘Mother’!”

“The only explanation is that you are his mother. And by his eyes it is clear. He is the Child of Prophecy.”

“What?” Megan sat in the rocking chair next to the window. “Look at her eyes, Elion! Alexia was born without scales.”

Elion’s eyes became a swirl of color. “It does make sense,” she said. She gazed toward the sky once again as a small smile crept onto her lips. “Look at Alexia’s star.”

Megan stood and looked up. The impossibly bright star at the center of the Lion’s Eye was already fading.

“There are two children,” Elion said excitedly. “Male and female, brother and sister. I have told you before that you humans are unlike anything the Author has created. In all the worlds, of all the creatures, beasts and beings, you are special. You are like the Author himself. He has woven himself into your very souls, and his blood runs in your veins.”

Elion lovingly stroked baby Alexia’s cheek. “Yet the Author is neither male nor female.” She began to laugh. “I can’t believe we didn’t see it before! Two children—it’s the only thing that makes sense! If the Child of Prophecy has any chance of destroying the Assassin, the child must fully represent the Author, male and female!”

Alexia’s mind turned somersaults as she listened.

“You must tell no one except James,” Elion said. “There are those who would betray this information to the Assassin. We must keep Alexia a secret for as long as we can.” Elion looked at the moon again. “My guess is her star will fade until your son is born. One child is simply not strong enough to stand against the coming darkness. But when Jack is born, his star will reflect hers, and together their light will grow.”

Elion placed a hand on Megan’s shoulder. “I know what I am asking of you is impossible, but if you keep her, Alexia will be in grave danger. If we can hide her away, the world will never know the first Child of Prophecy has been born. Yes, they will still come, but they will think they misread the stars. Only when I’ve made the switch will she be safe.”

Alexia blinked as the world shifted again.

 

Alexia was back on the mountainside with Mr. Staples. For a long moment, she didn’t speak. She held tight to the stone and tried to understand. “But why wasn’t Jack sent away?”

“When Jack was born, his star also burned brighter than the moon. And within hours it, too, faded. Then your star and Jack’s began to reflect each other, each star’s light feeding the other. And they will continue to grow brighter the closer you come to fulfilling your destiny.”

Mr. Staples stood and scanned the valley below. “The Child of Prophecy had come,” he continued, “and there was no hiding it. But this time we were ready. We knew Jack’s star would point toward his birthplace. So we placed Blinding Stones around Ballylesson and took other precautions. Ballylesson was as safe a place as any to—”

Mr. Staples stiffened, looking at the valley below. “There.” He pointed toward a large grouping of trees at the foot of the valley.

At first Alexia didn’t see anything, but after a moment, she realized the trees were … moving! What? At least thirty large trees were gliding up the canyon. They were moving quickly and would top the rise within minutes.

“We need to leave, now,” Mr. Staples said. “Wake Parker and gather your things.”

Alexia didn’t waste time with questions. Parker’s eyes shot open the moment she knelt beside him. “We need to go,” she whispered. “The trees are”—she wasn’t sure how to say it—“coming.”

Parker nodded and began gathering his things. Mr. Staples grabbed them from Parker, then placed a hand on his shoulder. “Be safe,” he said. “We’ll see you at the top of the rise.” He turned to Alexia. “Follow me.”

“We’re leaving him here?”

“Trust me,” Parker said. “You don’t want to be anywhere near what’s about to happen.”

“There’s no time to explain,” Mr. Staples said. He turned and ran into the darkness. Alexia waited only a moment. Parker offered a roguish grin that reminded her of Wild. Boys, she thought irritably, then rolled her eyes and followed Mr. Staples.

They sprinted up the icy slope, and by the time they reached the top, they were sweating despite the snow. He stopped and turned his attention back down the slope. Alexia found Parker quickly. He stood atop a large boulder, bathed in moonlight.

“Why did we leave him?”

“Just because there is a battle to fight doesn’t mean you are meant to fight it. Parker’s Soulprint is what is needed here.”

The trees were close now. She squinted, wishing for more light. Besides the obvious, there was something different about these trees. The branches stretched farther than should have been possible, and long, spindly vines whipped ahead to strike into the ground and propel them forward.

Alexia watched in horror as the enormous things surrounded Parker. Vines wrapped his body, lifting him into the air. He didn’t even try to fight back. He’s going to be torn to pieces. “We have to do something!”

“Just wait.” Mr. Staples’s voice was tight. “All we can do now is wait.”

The vines pulled Parker inward as the trees swallowed him up. Alexia balled her fists, itching to run down and help. She was at home in the trees. Surely she could do something. She glanced at Mr. Staples and saw both fear and pride in his eyes.

The trees continued forward at a rapid pace. Alexia searched behind, looking for any sign of Parker, but he was gone. “No,” she whispered. Suddenly a piercing … something erupted from deep within the trees. It was a terrifying keening that made Alexia want to claw at her ears. The trees thrashed about as something rippled through the length and breadth of their trunks. They lurched to a stop as their limbs dried up, turning brittle. The vines and leaves withered and dropped to the ground.

Alexia pressed her palms hard against her ears in an unsuccessful attempt to block out the sound. Thick trunks crumbled. The sounds faded into nothing, and the world became eerily silent. Standing in the center of the destruction was Parker. His clothes were torn and he was covered in dead vines, but other than that, he seemed perfectly fine.

“What did he do?”

“I’m not sure,” Mr. Staples said. “And neither is he. I’ve seen a single tree take down a hundred Awakened before it was finally destroyed. Parker’s Soulprint allows him to fight back.” Mr. Staples breathed a sigh of relief. “In truth, this is the first time Parker has fought more than three at once. His Soulprint has grown strong this past year.”

“There were a least thirty of them! If he’s only ever fought three, how did you know he could win now?”

“Because he had to. Each one of us has been born with a very special and very specific purpose. The Author has given each of us abilities that only we can express. Not everyone has powers like you or Parker or myself. For some, the Soulprint is an extra helping of wisdom or kindness. But whatever it is, there will be a time in everyone’s life when only he or she can do what needs to be done. Tonight was at least one of the reasons Parker was born. This is one of his many gifts. You and I could have stayed and fought, but we’d most likely have died without ever slowing the trees.”

Parker was still ripping dead vines from his body when he reached the top of the rise. When he saw Alexia, he grinned. “Impressed?”

“Yes. Very,” she said.

Mr. Staples patted Parker on the back. “You did well.” He scanned the canyon. “I’m afraid the Shadow Souled have discovered our trail once again. We need to go before something worse comes.”

Arthur realized his mouth was hanging open. “You can’t be serious!” he gasped. “This must be some kind of bad joke.” He stood in the Council Tent alongside Honi, King Edward, and Sage. “I don’t even turn twelve till next month!” He wished Jack were there to back him up, but his best friend had been asked to wait outside.

“It is not age that brings wisdom,” Honi replied, “but experience and humility. And though you are young, you are rich in both. This is no joke, Master Greaves; Mrs. Dumphry would not have passed her seat to you unless she was absolutely certain. She is wiser than anyone on earth, and it is her right to give away her seat.”

“Arthur, I’m only thirteen,” Sage said. “Do you think I should not be a member of the Council?”

“Of course not! But you’re wise and beautiful and obviously know a lot about a lot of things, and I bet you’re a proper hero. But I’m just a boy from Ballylesson. Surely there must be others you could ask!”

“Of course there are,” King Edward said. “But we are asking you.”

“There’s so much I don’t know!”

“Although your scales fell off less than a year ago, you are no child,” Honi said. “Is it true you once tackled a Shadule just to save your friend? And was it you who rescued Mrs. Dumphry and the others from the arena in the City of Shadows? Oh, and there was something else …” Honi tapped his temple with his finger. “Am I remembering incorrectly that it was you who stole the Poet’s Coffer?”

“Well, yes,” Arthur said. “But I didn’t do any of that stuff because I was brave. I just did what had to be done, that’s all.”

King Edward burst out laughing as Sage smiled.

“Most of all, you deserve this position precisely because you don’t want it,” Honi said. “It is character that unearths greatness, not power. Everything pales in the light of character.”

He was sure they were wrong. He knew he would make a terrible Council member. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t even know what a Council member did, other than sit around in Council meetings. But there was no point in arguing further.

“Will you accept the offer? Will you join us on the Council of Seven?” King Edward asked.

Arthur nodded. Honi smiled as King Edward clapped his hands and Sage grinned.

“It will be good to have your wisdom as we prepare the Awakened for the Last Battle. Please,” Sage said, “take your seat. There are a great many things we must discuss. But first let us speak of battle strategies.”

As he sat down, Arthur Greaves wanted to cry.