A loud thunk awakens Sotet. Opening one eye, he looks straight at Zorobo. Two larger shrikes, adorned in green robes, flank Zorobo on either side.
“Time to go, Sotet. Wake the human,” Zorobo commands without a hint of formality.
_
_
The main gates to the city center
Horotic, Master Guardsman, turns at the sound of many talons on stone. Horotic is easily the largest shrike Adahlia has seen so far. Completely decked out in bronze helmet with green feather; bronze shoulder pads; bronze breastplate with emerald studs; double-strapped bandolier, and sword— Horotic has a definite air of command.
Horotic’s steps are slow and measured. He knows there is no hurry. Zorobo, on the other hand, is overcome with chaotic energy. He approaches Horotic and bows respectfully.
“Master Horotic, the prisoner Sot…” Zorobo begins. Horotic raises a wing to silence him.
“I know who he is, Zorobo. Thank you,” Horotic states calmly and matter-of-factly. He takes a step towards Sotet and Adahlia. “You are relieved. Your duty here is done.”
Zorobo opens his mouth as if to speak again, but decides it is better to remain quiet. Horotic takes another step closer to the exiled pair. He stares down at Adahlia, and then moves his eyes to Sotet’s face.
“You will receive supplies and any other needs once we arrive at the Cave of Wildere. Enough to sustain you for a single world cycle. Here, take these,” Horotic says. He removes two small green tablets from a bottle inconspicuously tucked into the pocket of one bandolier. “You will experience temporary blindness. None who are led to the Cave of Wildere are permitted to see the way. Don’t worry….There are no lasting side effects. Your vision will return as good as—if not better than—before.”
Adahlia and Sotet take the tablets from Horotic and reluctantly swallow them down.
“They will begin to take effect momentarily. I would recommend you be seated when they do,” Horotic explains. “Bring forward the two mobile stretchers, Radamaji…Besysh.”
Zorobo still stands in the background—watching the exchange carefully. Sotet and Adahlia sit upon the stretchers; waiting for the tablets’ effects to kick in. Horotic turns swiftly in Zorobo’s direction.
“Did I not say you were relieved?”
_
_
Cave of Wildere
The mobile stretchers are guided towards an antechamber of the cave by Horotic’s soldiers. Horotic crosses to a table and retrieves two goblets. Reaching into the second bandolier, he removes a silver vial and pours a small amount of a pale pink liquid into each cup. He goes first to Adahlia and then to Sotet—handing each of them a cup.
“Now, drink this,” Horotic says softly. “Your sight will be restored soon. In the meantime, get some rest. I will wake you in a couple of hours.”
-
-
Mrs. Highstreet is seated on the couch watching old digital home videos. In the video, Adahlia’s father throws her up into the air and catches her; before twirling around and making airplane noises. Mrs. Highstreet glances at her phone. The display is dark and the phone is completely silent. Adahlia’s mother picks up the phone and presses the power button. The screen immediately lights up, displaying the time. Mrs. Highstreet sighs deeply before replacing the phone on the coffee table.
“My baby,” Mrs. Highstreet states softly. She presses a fist to her mouth and tries not to cry.
_
_
The gang of older girls are hanging out near the creek; splashing water at each other and acting every which way of obnoxious. Modesty flops down, stomach flat on a rock. She wriggles her feet in the water, and stretches her arms forward, playing with the small rocks barely within reach of her fingertips.
“So where do you think the brat went?” Modesty inquires with a tiny laugh. “Don’t think she did something…Stupid…Do you? Like hurt herself or run away?”
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Nancy crinkles her nose and rolls her eyes. Gathering her wet hair atop her head in a messy bun, Nancy offers Modesty a noncommittal shrug. “Who cares? I’m just angry she didn’t finish my essay first. Crazy wimp. I wasn’t gonna hurt her much. Just remind her of why it’s important to respect your elders.”
Nancy’s weak joke solicits laughter from her flunkies. Modesty holds out her hand in Nancy’s direction.
“Help me up,” Modesty exclaims through her laughter.
Nancy shakes her head and looks over at one of the other girls. “Help her up, Elaine.”
Elaine grumbles and continues lying on her spot near the creek. She closes her eyes and turns her nose up at Nancy. “Why do I have to help her up? You’re closer.”
“Cause I said so. And I’m the one having the pool party next Saturday. And you won’t be invited if you don’t. Catch my drift? It’s not that big of a deal, Elaine.”
Elaine is obviously not happy with Nancy’s threat, but gets up to help Modesty anyway. Nancy tosses her head with a satisfied grin. As she does so, she catches a glint of green light in the far tree-line. Nancy emits an almost inaudible gasp and stares hard in that direction. The glimmer of light does not reappear, but Nancy’s countenance remains resolute. She is sure she saw something. Thing is; the other girls didn’t see it. So, no reason to bother mentioning it.
_
_
1 hour and 57 minutes later
Cave of Wildere- Shretonia
Horotic sweeps into the wide central chamber. Motioning towards Adahlia and Sotet, he speaks in a commanding tone to his subordinates.
“Wake them! It is time to head for the Portal of Constants.”
Radamaji and Besysh immediately move to awaken Adahlia and Sotet. Once they are awake, and it is ascertained that their full vision has returned, the group heads into the heart of the cave.
After about fifteen minutes of travel, they approach a large central chamber. A giant glowing orb floats above a platform made entirely of chiseled emerald. Horotic steps with purpose towards the orb and his wingtips fly over a console situated off to its right side. An explosion of light bursts from the orb, tendrils of energy joining it to the emerald platform beneath. The energy tendrils begin to branch off and whip through the air— cycling through every color in the spectrum.
“The Portal of Constants brings into alignment the passage of time between two worlds. Namely, this world and the desert world we call the Wandering Sands,” Horotic explains mostly to Adahlia. He continues speaking to her in a soft, yet official, tone of voice. “While it is all a bit technical, all you need to know is that when you return, no more than six world cycles will have transpired in either world.”
Radamaji and Besysh step forward, laden with packs of supplies. A third shrike enters the chamber riding a hovering craft, while carefully guiding another. These, too, are laden with supplies. Horotic takes it all in before returning his attention to Adahlia and Sotet.
“We’re not barbarians, you know? I have no intention of sending you into the Wandering Sands with no hope of survival. The hover carts contain fuel for cooking or staying warm; food; hydration packs; items for cleanliness; and other such things. The other packs contain seed cultures and cryogenic pods for creating fish populations. If you use everything you have been given in a wise and conscientious manner….I see no reason why you should not be able to survive this sentence. Is there anything you would like for me to tell Kotoro, Sotet? Besysh has informed me that Zorobo forbid you to see your wife and young ones. This was not part of the Monoch’s judgment. But since Zorobo is head of prison security; I dare not bring it up. I do what I can from my own station. I can take her a letter, if you wish? But you must be quick, and you must be brief.”
Horotic turns to Adahlia, his eyes brimming with tears. “I am sorry that I cannot help you, sweet child. I am sorry that you must share in this exile.”
Adahlia shrinks back a little, tucking her face into Sotet’s side. She speaks in a soft whisper. “It’s not your fault.”
Sotet responds to Horotic’s offer with a grateful smile. “Yes. I think I do wish you to give Kotoro a letter for me.”
_
_
Nancy is lying on her bed staring up at the One Direction poster on the ceiling. A perplexed expression is plastered on her face. She bites her lip and then flops over onto her belly. After another moment, she jumps up from the bed and runs to her dresser. Wrenching open a drawer, she retrieves a flashlight. She turns in the direction of the window.
“Tonight, then— “Nancy whispers softly.
_
_
Horotic takes the letter from Sotet and rolls it up. He places it in a slot on his second bandolier. It disappears from sight.
“Now, we must hurry. Step forward, Sotet…And you, child. You may choose to enter the portal one at a time….That is your choice. But you may also choose to hold hands….It might add some comfort to the journey. It is only a matter of increasing the power to the device to send more than one subject at a time. As I said, it is entirely your choice.”
Adahlia smiles widely and offers Sotet her hand. Sotet returns her smile and engulfs her small hand in his much larger wingtips.
“I think I want to go through the portal with my new friend,” Adahlia bravely states. “It will make the journey a lot easier.”
Horotic nods with a faint smile of his own—having expected exactly this answer. He adjusts the power to the machine only slightly. “As you wish.”
Adahlia and Horotic step closer to the orb and it’s tendrils of energy.
“Place your free wing—hand—upon the orb. Do not remove them. The transition from this world to the next will make you feel as if you are covered in Fria bugs…Both inside and out. It will feel unnerving. It will make you want to draw back. Do not. The consequences of such an action can be fatal. At best, you may be severely injured. Trust me when I say this. I do not wish to see either of you hurt.”
Taking another couple of steps, Adahlia and Sotet reach into the energy orb. The tendrils whip outward and ensnare first the proffered appendages and then other parts of their bodies. Adahlia and Sotet are now locked in place. Fear twists Adahlia’s face and she squeezes Sotet’s wing.
“I’m scared, Sotet,” she whispers.
Sotet is prepared to respond but the energy tendrils completely engulf the pair. They disappear into the portal in a brilliant flash of light.