(William)

After Zuzu’s departure, William continued to practice Advanced Levitation with the others. They trained for a few hours before finally taking a break for lunch. It was time to get some real food.

Across the table from him, Mary’s ears perked up. William noticed that she was eavesdropping on the discussion between Lisa and Rose at the edge of the forest. He was obviously missing something interesting. He adjusted his ears with a partial shift and turned his attention toward the distant conversation.

“They should arrive soon,” said his aunt. She looked up and scanned the horizon.

“Yep, anytime now,” Rose replied.

“Does anyone know who is coming?” Mary’s question startled William.

“Just eat your food, Mary,” John chided. “You’ll find out who’s coming when they come.”

She crossed her arms. “Pfft, admit it.” She huffed. “You want to know who is coming as badly as I do.”

“Nah, I don’t care.” John shrugged. “I’m not a nosy booger like you.”

Claire jumped in before things escalated between the twins. “Hey, I know one of the people that’s coming.”

“Tell me… tell me.” Mary leaned closer. “Just whisper in my ear, so no one else can hear. Ha… that rhymed.”

Claire leaned over and whispered. Mary grinned broadly and gave her brother a smug, satisfied look. The twins continued to dish jabs at each other as they ate their lunch.

For his part, William was happy to stay on the sidelines. He was sitting too close to Mary to pick on her without repercussions.

That girl can punch better than most of the boys I know.

Claire was the first one to notice the approaching birds. She pointed in the distance and cried out, “They’re coming… they’re coming!” She squealed with joy. Everyone looked up. A hawk, a seagull, and an owl flew toward the clearing. They were moving fast.

William took advantage of the quiet moment and started to tell a joke, “A hawk, a seagull, and a duck entered a tavern…” Mary and Claire shushed him.

“Aww,” William said with a crestfallen expression. “Your loss, that joke would’ve quacked you up.” John snickered and Lin groaned.

The hawk was the first to reach the clearing. It transformed into William’s favorite librarian, Drake Grey. After all, he was the only librarian that he knew. Drake waved at everyone and walked purposefully toward Lisa.

The owl landed away from the group and transformed into a gangly middle-aged man that William had never seen. The tall man ignored the people in the clearing, as though they were not there. He turned his head left and right as he sniffed the air around him. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he stalked into the forest.

The seagull transformed into an older woman. She had snowy white hair and wrinkles around her eyes. Despite her age, she exuded strength and vigor. There was something unnatural about her sky-blue eyes and William wondered if she was using a shift to enhance her vision. She looked like a warrior. Her mahogany leather cuirass had an emblem of a flying fish and some military insignias.

William recognized the emblem right away.

That must be the person that Claire knows. She’s Mirish. And she looks like a royal guard. This must be the woman that visits Toby and Claire every few months. What was her name?

“Lady Yana!” Claire rushed over to her, and they embraced.

Claire had told him that Lady Yana was like a second mother to her. The older woman was the Shield Warden of Mir, the Prime Protector of the Clearwater household. She had brought Toby and Claire to Scar about eight years ago.

William knew that the resistance brigade under Lady Yana’s command had been a thorn in the Shadow Lands’ side for years. Her forces used guerrilla warfare.

He tried to recall a story that Toby had shared with him. During an ambush, her fighters had captured an enemy warden. The captive had confirmed that Lord Clearwater and his wife had been moved to the Chasm Mines, north of Mir. They had been imprisoned in the lowest section of the mines, the Pits of Thanshi. The infamous pits were formed by interconnected caves, winding tunnels, and narrow trenches. The prisoners mined geodes that produced rare umiat crystals. The warden had confirmed that despite their prolonged imprisonment, their parents were in good health.

“Look at you!” Yana shook her head and smiled. “You’re sprouting like a honeycomb bamboo.”

“I hope not.” Claire pouted. “I’m already taller than most of the boys my age.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Yana smiled reassuringly. “Boys tend to be slow with everything, but at least in height, they’ll eventually catch up.” She winked at Claire and the two of them laughed.

William stopped paying attention to Lady Yana when Rose and the strange man emerged from the forest. The man acted like something had spooked him. He kept looking over his shoulder. The longer William watched him, the weirder he seemed. His eyebrows were so bushy that a bird could use them as a nest. His nose was so thin that it could probably slice a loaf of bread. His ears were so big that even a rabbit would be jealous. The oddness did not end there. He dressed like a beggar. He wore a dark green tunic roughly patched together with mismatched pieces of fabric. The knees of his lumpy woolen trousers were reinforced with crudely stitched brown leather.

Scraps, he’s so odd and twitchy! William thought. Rose knows the most interesting people. I need friends like him.

The strange man talked to Rose while ignoring everyone else. They stood some distance away from everyone, closer to the edge of the forest. They looked like they wanted a private conversation, so naturally, William adjusted his ears to listen in.

Besides, if they really wanted to have a private talk, they’d use the Cone of Silence. William justified his decision to eavesdrop.

Rose placed an arm around the weirdo. “It’s so good to see you, Uncle Birk.”

Whoa, that’s Rose’s uncle.

William remembered not to stare continuously at them. He was still new at the snooping business, but he was a fast learner. I wish Mary and John were not so loud. I can barely hear Rose and Birk over this background noise.

The stern expression on Birk’s face melted into a smile. “It has been a while, little one.” Birk embraced her carefully, barely touching her recently injured shoulder. “Let me look at you.” He stepped back. “You look exceedingly well, considering your recent mishaps.” He waggled a finger at her and narrowed his eyes. “What am I going to do with you? You’re always getting into scrapes. So, how is the shoulder?”

Rose wrinkled her nose. “I’m not even going to ask how you found out about my shoulder.” She shook her head and smiled. “You and your secretive ways.”

“There is no secret this time. I just asked Yana how you were doing, and she told me.”

“So, you didn’t know that I was hurt until you spoke with her.” Rose looked surprised.

“Oh-ho, I knew.” He chuckled. “I have many eyes that see afar, even into the middle of nowhere, if that is where you are.”

Oh, this is getting good, William thought. The old geezer has secrets.

“That’s more like the Uncle Birk that I know,” Rose replied and squeezed his shoulder. “To tell you the truth, I’m fortunate to still have both arms.”

“Rest assured, I would’ve been here sooner, if things had been worse.” Birk smiled at her. “In any case, I have something for you.” He stuck his hand inside his pocket and rummaged around. “Ah, here it is.” He pulled out a vial filled with a bright yellow liquid. “I fetched you some leach root sap. It will speed up your healing. I should warn you, though. It does have some minor side effects. It might make you a little younger and it might change the color of your hair.”

Rose’s eyes widened.

“Don’t worry, I gave it to you once before when you were a sproutling. Last time, it only changed the color of your eyes.”

“Wait! What? It changed my eye color.” Rose gaped. “Is that the reason I have dodgy eyes?”

“No-no-no, you had wonky eyes before that,” Birk assured her. “Your eyes used to be lavender and hazel, instead of silver and blue. They look great now. Let me tell you, silver and blue are quite stylish.”

Rose arched her eyebrows and scrutinized Birk’s outfit. “Oh, yeah. You’re definitely the authority on fashion and style.”

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“Bah!” Birk waved his hand. “Being comfortable never goes out of style.” He nodded sagely.

“Where did you read that?” Rose deadpanned. “Drifter’s Daily?”

Birk chuckled. “Ah, kiddo, you always had a way with words.”

William noticed that Rose and her uncle started moving toward the other adults. They were moving close to him, so eavesdropping was easier.

Rose thanked Birk for the leach root sap and tucked it away. “So, how have you been? I haven’t seen much of you this year. Honestly, I didn’t know if Lady Yana would be able to find you at the location that I gave her. I would’ve come myself, but the Prime Healer has me on lockdown.”

“Actually, I didn’t find him.” Yana joined in the discussion. “He intercepted me like a bird of prey the moment I reached the base of the Raven Summit. I even lost a few feathers.”

Birk looked at Yana apologetically. “I’m sorry, fledgling. I didn’t know you had a message from my little Rose. That area of the Old Mountains is a sacred place and I thought you were an intruder.”

“Did you just call me a fledgling?” Yana tilted her head. “Hmm, I’m not sure if I should feel vexed or venerated. I’m probably old enough to be your mother.”

“Older than me?” Birk threw his head back and laughed merrily. “Yana-Yana-Yana… I knew your father when you were just an acorn.”

Yana crossed her arms over her chest and her right brow shot up in disbelief. “Oh, really? I find that hard to believe.”

“Absolutely,” Birk continued, ignoring her skepticism. “Your father’s name was Randal Perch. A few of his lady friends called him Lightsong for his deep melodic timbre. He loved to sing and dance.”

“Ha, I had forgotten that ridiculous nickname of his. The last time I heard it, I was just a girl.” Yana narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “Sooo, how exactly did you meet my father?”

“That’s enough jibber-jabbing.” Birk ignored her question. “I’ve got things to do, so let’s get this summoning out of the way.” He stroked his beard and muttered, “Even though time is on my side, I don’t have much time.” He shuffled his feet and scratched his head. “Hmm, I’m not supposed to interfere. But neither is the mutineer, so that much is clear. But I’m already here, so I’ll interfere.”

Scraps, what does that mean? William thought. He got up and moved closer to the group.

“Elder Birk, sounds like Lady Yana has already explained why we need your help,” Lisa remarked.

“She did, little Waterlily. You need another experienced conjurer to summon an Earth Guardian.”

“That’s correct.” Lisa nodded. “Hmm, I’ve never heard anyone call a Stone Giant an Earth Guardian.” She paused. “I kind of like the way that sounds. Well, the summoning stones aren’t far from here. We just need to unearth them. We can take you there.”

“There is no need. I know exactly where they are. I helped my father erect those things all over the place after the war.” The old man grimaced, mumbled to himself for a moment, before adding, “Bah, I’ll see you there.” He shifted and zipped away.

Wow, he’s so fast. William gaped. He shot away like an arrow.

Yana turned toward Rose. “Who is he?” She tilted her head and pressed her lips together. She stared after the rapidly departing owl.

“What was he talking about?” asked Lin. “The summoning stones predate the Nature Kingdom.”

William waved his hand. “Yeah, who is he? I wanna know too.”

“I don’t really know.” Rose shrugged. “He likes his privacy and I like to respect his privacy. I think my parents might know more, but they don’t talk about him. Birk has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. He’s like family. He has been there for me over the years. After I was poisoned by a hex howler, he visited me every day. He brought rare herbs from the Black Forest to speed my recovery. He spent time with me, telling me stories and reading books.” Rose paused as if recalling something from her past.

She smiled and continued, “One night, when he was reading the History of Alaras, he corrected the author’s account of the construction of Scar. He told me that vast parts of the underground city were already there. The previous denizens had abandoned the area after the hot springs appeared and the water in the caverns receded. He talked about the events from that time as though he had been there. So, I think he’s really old.”

“He can’t be that old,” Yana objected. “Lord Alaras lived many centuries ago!”

“Light casters tend to have the longest reported lifespan,” Drake chimed in. “Alena Restic lived to one hundred and seventy-eight. Shifters are also up there. Poppy Winterbark was a Nature caster and she lived to one hundred and fifty-one.”

“What about animals?” Mary interrupted. “Which one lives the longest?”

“Well, some species of jellyfish can live over five hundred years,” Drake replied. “The stargazer whale has been reported to live over three hundred.”

“What about atoll turtles?” Claire asked excitedly. “How old are they?”

“I’m not going to link facts and science with mythological turtles that supposedly eat molten rock and are the size of an island.” Drake shook his head.

“But if they were real what do the books say about them?” Claire persisted. “What’s their lifespan?”

“Well, the Dragon Orb Chronical by Geveta does mention their age.”

“Well?” Claire prodded.

Drake adjusted his enchanted spectacles and sighed. “It’s over 9000!”

“Come on, everyone.” Lisa waved. “Let’s move. We don’t want to keep Birk waiting. We finally have enough people for a primordial summoning. You can continue this discussion later. Follow me.”

(Birk)

Birk sat on the ground at the edge of a large meadow surrounded by redwoods. He had already unearthed the stone pillars at the center of the clearing. The ten pillars were spaced in a large circular pattern. The stone columns rose twenty feet off the ground and each one of them was crowned with a sphere of obsidian.

Birk examined the summoning stones and nodded to himself. They had not aged in over a millennium.

They don’t build them like we used to. He chuckled.

Narture and he had worked diligently to craft, place, and test the summoning stones on the continent.

He leaned back against a redwood and crossed his legs. He plucked a frond of wheatgrass out of the dirt and stuck it in his mouth.

Rose looks a little pale. He frowned. I wish I had been able to come sooner and bring more healing sap. Trouble follows her like a colony of seagulls follows a fishing barge.

His mouth quirked into a smile as memories of little Rose flitted through his mind. She reminded him so much of his daughter. Both had curly raven hair and a sprinkle of freckles across the nose. Just like Lena, Rose’s eyes were different colors. Lena’s had been hazel and lavender, while Rose’s eyes were now silver and aqua.

He smiled wistfully and allowed himself a moment to reminisce. He still had some time before the others reached the clearing. Few shifters could outfly him.

A yellowtail landed on the branch above him and began preening its feathers.

Birk chewed on the wheatgrass and fixed his gaze on the summoning stones that had been built so long ago.

That William boy had different magical auras, just like father, he mused.

Birk pondered the motives of his father. Narture had always been unpredictable. Still, imbuing a child with his magic was stupefying.

Dad has never chosen a champion or marked anyone before. Why now? He narrowed his eyes. The answer was obvious.

Sháte!

Things did not bode well for the future. During the last conflict between the elders, one continent had been scorched and melted, and another had been frozen solid.

His thoughts were interrupted by a squawking sound. A motley group of birds descended toward the clearing. It was a funny flock of feathery flappers. Four falcons, two ravens, a stinkbird, a rhinoceros hornbill, and the ugliest owl he had ever seen landed nearby.

(Lisa)

Lisa walked up to Birk, turned around, and examined the clearing. Her eyes widened. “For Cea’Nia’s sake, how did you manage to unearth all of the pillars in such a short time?”

He must possess immense magical power! she thought.

“Practice is the mother of learning,” Birk replied sagely.

“Well said.” Lisa nodded.

It’s unfortunate that Birk won’t be able to help us with the defense of Stoneridge. We could’ve used another talented caster. Rose had told her that Birk liked his solitude and preferred to stay away from the affairs of the kingdoms.

“Scraps!” William exclaimed. “I’ve seen sketches of a summoning circle, but I didn’t realize that it would be so big.” He placed his hand on one of the columns and it responded with a humming vibration. Startled, he snapped his hand back.

“That’s normal,” Birk explained. “Each column is a magical conduit that is used to activate the portal. There are runic symbols on each pillar that siphon and amplify magical power. After all, summoning a primordial is not the same as summoning a mere demon hound.”

(William)

William encircled the nearest column but did not find any runic symbols.

Maybe the symbols are hidden, he thought.

“Birk, thanks for getting everything ready for the summoning,” said Lisa. “We’re truly grateful for your help.”

Birk shrugged. “You’re welcome.”

“There are ten of us and ten pillars. Everyone, choose a column and stand behind it.” Lisa moved behind one of the pillars and waited until everyone was in place.

“By touching the pillars, the runes on the summoning portal will draw and guide your magic. This allows even novice casters to assist in a summoning.” Lisa looked around and made sure that everyone was in their place.

“You’re going to feel a tingling sensation as soon as you touch the pillar. As magic is siphoned from you, you’ll start feeling a bit hungry. It’ll feel just like you’ve cast a whole bunch of spells. Don’t worry, we’ll have a second lunch after the summoning.”

“Yay, second lunch,” William and twins cheered.

Lisa described the events that occurred during a typical summoning and asked if anyone had questions.

We’re about to summon a Stone Giant. This is so awesome!

“Everyone, step forward and place your hand on the pillar,” Lisa instructed.

William eagerly placed his hand on the stone column. The humming vibrations from the monolith slowly intensified into loud buzzing. It sounded like a swarm of bees had descended on the clearing. The hair on the back of his arms stood straight up.

The obsidian spheres atop the pillars rose and hovered for a moment. Then, they started to spin. They spun faster and faster.

It was just like Aunt Lisa had explained, William noticed. First, the boulders spun in place and now they’re rotating around the center of the summoning circle.

The obsidian orbs heated up, leaving a fiery trail behind them. They looked like tiny comets hurtling through the sky. The blazing tails of the comets merged into a violent column of swirling fire. The fire tornado touched down at the center of the summoning circle and liquified the ground. The earth boiled just a few feet away from William. To his surprise, he could not feel the heat. He gawked. In a flash, the fiery twister winked out of existence.

The ground shook and a surge of golden sand rippled from the heart of the summoning circle. Waves of sand smashed against the stone monoliths.

Something enormous began to rise. William stared in disbelieve as a massive creature emerged. The spinning obsidian boulders were already slowing down.

Scraps, it’s like the earth is giving birth… He gawked open-mouthed.

As the dust settled, William craned his head up and gaped at the titan. The body of the Stone Giant was made of haphazardly piled chunks of bedrock. For the most part, it looked humanlike. It had an oversized head, two arms, and two legs. Jagged stalagmites rose from its upper arms and shoulders. Bulging veins of lava ran through its whole body, giving it an amber glow. Spiky crystals protruded from its torso. The giant carried a massive hammer.

“Summon reason?” the Stone Giant rumbled in a gravelly voice.

“A battle is coming,” his aunt replied. “We need protection if a dragon is summoned.”

“Duty bound,” replied the giant. “Sentry function activated. Target dragon.”

Without another word, the Stone Giant sank into the ground and disappeared.

“That’s it?” John asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” Mary replied.

“We did it!” Claire cheered.

“Scraps, that was something, but now I’m hungry,” William announced. “Where’s that second lunch? I hope it’s bigger than the first one.”

“You can eat as much as your heart desires,” Lisa replied and clapped William on the back. “You all did a great job. I’m so proud of you.”

Birk bid them goodbye and flew away.

The rest of the casters chatted about the summoning, while stuffing their faces with food.

William smiled. They had a trick up their sleeve if the Shadow Lands summoned a dragon.