Phoenix Gift

Chapter Eighteen

Silence returned to the forest. The raven returned to its perch as Alexis’s fears slowly faded. The bird watched her stand. Distantly, bird songs drifted back to them and the forest seemed to sigh. Alexis stared at the bird as it studied her. Eja barked and ran in tight circles as if trying to get it to play. Around the raven’s neck hung a clear, brilliant opal, clutched in a silver talon.

“Zikomo, cay berton,” Alexis thanked the large, black bird. “That was very kind of you.”[1]

The raven blinked, tilting its head to one side. Alexis looked around her. Shadows deepened as the suns sank below the mountain rim. Sunset came early to this place and the trees suddenly seemed strange. Turning, she could not find her path back to the cave. The forest was nothing like the ones of Milagros. Above, the sky blazed with color as the suns set.

“Miss Raven, it’s getting dark. I do not know which way to go. Can you help?”

The raven cawed and flew to another tree. There it paused, waiting for her to follow. In this way, it led them down a game trail to a cottage tucked in the middle of the forest. The suns had already set by the time they reached the small grove. The raven landed on the cottage’s windowsill. It looked back at them, still huddled in the tree line before it disappeared through the broken window.

Alexis hesitated. An owl screeched somewhere in the deepening night. Whimpering, she ran to the cottage. She pushed open the door and the dragons followed her inside.

Cobwebs stretched from nooks, corners and rafters. A table and chair lay crippled on the floor. Bare cabinets clung to decaying walls and a wooden bed box sat half-filled with moldy straw. A rusted pot hung in the cold stone hearth and everything was gray, covered in a thick layer of dust, except the large black bird perched on the leg of an overturned chair. A lamp sat in the middle of the floor, providing the only source of light and heat in the little cottage. A stale loaf of bread, a plate of berries and a small piece of meat lay near the lamp next to a mug of water.

The dragons attacked the uncooked meat but left the bread and berries for Alexis. Kneeling, she nibbled on her meager meal and sipped from the mug. The raven watched. It did not stir or eat. After the humble meal, Alexis sat and studied the cottage. It reminded her of Rhi’ana’s home in the South Garden, only much dirtier.

Looking at the raven, Alexis found that it had not yet moved, perched as still as a statue, though its eyes were bright and calculating. Watching the bird, Alexis felt the distant beat of Milagros throbbing in her head as it had the day she and her mother last visited the swans. The cottage darkened, except for the raven, and its amulet glowing with silver light. Alexis blinked away the vision and the warm glow of the lamp returned.

“Why are you here, Miss Raven?” Alexis said, inclining her head to one side.

“I have always been here,” the raven spoke after a pause. “What are you doing here, Princess?”

“We’re looking for Centaur Valley.”

“And so you have found it. What you heard in the forest was a centaur. If it had found you, it would have killed you and most likely eaten you.”

“But I thought centaurs were nice. Sagi and D’casia have always been nice. They don’t come out of the forest usually, but they are always nice when they do.”

“Indeed. That is fine on Milagros, I suppose, but here they are wild and dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Perhaps I should tell you a story. Would you like that?”

“Yes, please!” Alexis situated herself as the dragons curled up beside her to sleep.

“Once, a long time ago, this valley was ruled by a great king of centaurs. He brought enlightenment to his people and all respected him. Then, a dark wizard came, seeking to conquer the centaurs and make them his slaves. But the centaurs would never submit to him. The Dark One killed the king and meant to destroy the valley. And with it, all centaur kind.

“He would have succeeded if it was not for a sorceress. She was very powerful, possessing a talisman that many sought. In anger, and by trick, the Dark One meant to kill her, but instead the sorceress merged with her talisman. The sorceress was no more and the Dark One left to conquer other lands. The few centaurs that survived gradually became wild. Only a magic spell keeps them contained in this valley.”

“Maybe, if they were allowed to leave, they would become smart again,” Alexis said after the raven stopped speaking.

The raven tilted its head as if intrigued by the idea. At length, it said, “You should rest, Your Highness. Tomorrow, I will lead you out of the valley.”

“What if the centaurs come when we’re asleep?”

“Do not fear, Your Highness. This grove is enchanted. I will watch throughout the night. You are quite safe.”

Comforted, Alexis curled up on the floor between the two dragons and fell asleep. The raven brushed the opal around its neck with one of its wings. The opal glowed, and the lamplight burned brighter. Watching the sleepers, the raven wondered how they found the entrance to the valley. They were the first visitors since the gypsy woman and her dragon came and left twenty years ago. Since then, it remained hidden from the rest of the world. When the moon was high, the raven flew up the chimney and perched on the roof, watching the night and remembering.

* * *

“Alexis, it’s time for midday meal,” Natalia called, but Alexis did not answer.

Natalia sighed, crossing her arms. The men argued over the best way to conquer the impassible mountain all morning. She was not in the mood for the child’s antics. She praised Phoenix that her own son was nearly grown as she searched for Alexis. Natalia’s son was seventeen summers old and possessed an interest in ships. He was aboard the Reen Dorema, learning to sail. She was happy he chose not to become a knight like his father. Natalia sighed and stepped into the royal tent.

“Alexis, time to—” Natalia stopped. Even a quick glance revealed that the young Princess was not there. Maybe the horses.

Natalia turned and hurried out of the tent. Her apprehension grew despite her silent assurances that her Highness was safe. If anything happened to Alexis, she would never forgive herself.

She made her way to where the horses stood in the sun. The Milagrian horses refused to eat the gray grass, finding suitable feed was a chore for them. It was just as well that they could live on fewer rations for extended periods compared to other horses. Only their rented horse suffered and begrudgingly grazed. The animals moved as she approached.

“Alexis, are you here?” she called. “Please say you’re here. Alexis!”

Only the horses’ snorts answered her.

“Oh, no,” Natalia muttered, searching for any sight or sound that Alexis was near. Natalia ran back to the camp where the men sat in silence, their debate at an impasse. She tried to catch her breath as she said, “Xavier, Alexis has disappeared.”

“What?” he stood up in surprise.

Her announcement pulled the others from their own thoughts.

“I can’t find her or the dragons,” Natalia shook her head. “They’re just gone.”

“Alexis!” Xavier called.

“She wouldn’t have gone into the desert, would she?” a knight asked. They looked at the desolate landscape. The sky was clear, except for the usual mist. There was no sign anyone started across.

“No, she wouldn’t do that,” Natalia shook her head. “Alexis hated crossing the desert.”

“Find her, now!” Xavier ordered, before rushing off to search for her.

The knights scattered in different directions. Some headed for the supply wagon while others searched the tents. Those remaining spread out to search the area. Aldous, finally dry, flew along the edge of the desert, searching for any path she might have taken. Tavel called for Eja, certain the dragon would answer. Night descended all too quickly for the searchers and hope of finding Alexis dwindled as they slowly gathered at the campfire.

Xavier returned to the horses in desperation, but only Pegasus Wind answered his call. He rested his head against the stallion’s neck, breathing in the warm scent of the horse as the last of the three suns slowly disappeared beyond the western horizon. Neither dragon returned. Alexis remained lost.

“Akina, I failed. I do not know what to do. Alexis, where are you?”

“She’s quite safe,” a voice unexpectedly answered.

Xavier raised his head and looked around him. He was alone among the horses. No, not alone.

“Artac? Show yourself!”

“It is not I whom you seek.”

“Where is she, Artac? Speak, if you know!”

“She is in Centaur Valley.”

“What? How?”

“She climbed the sunlit stair.”

“Artac, no riddles,” Xavier looked around him, desperate to find the invisible speaker.

“I do not have any games to play. I led her to it myself and saw her safely to the top. I provided her with a midday meal. Even now, she sleeps in the home of Merrille, the sorceress.”

“Why tell me these things?”

“So that you understand she is safe, and you need not worry.”

“If you wish to help me, show me the way to the valley. Bring me to my daughter.”

“It is much too dangerous a journey to take at night. The centaurs are wild. They will kill you if they find you. The sorceress will protect Alexis and see her safely returned. Fear not, Your Majesty.”

“Artac?” Xavier asked after a moment. The voice did not answer. He knew that the being was gone.

Stunned, Xavier fell to his knees and wept long into the night. Feebly, his mind reached for the comfort Akina was always able to provide, but felt nothing. He was truly alone. When his tears finally ceased, he remained as if rooted to the ground. Pegasus Wind nudged him, but Xavier could not be stirred, and he did not sleep.