The Crystal Keepers: Shadow of the Gray Death

Map of Talmoria

image [https://jmarlen.pubsitepro.com/images/jmarlen/map.png]

This is the sequel to an already published novel that was released on Amazon two years ago. This is a Work In Progress (WIP) There are bound to be minor changes made later once the book is finished to make the story more clear to first time readers.

Chapter 1. A New Beginning

Blue flame twirled and leaned in unseen winds within a dark chamber. Around that dark chamber was a rim of more blue color–an iris–in eyes brimming with wonder and fear, shining like liquid glass. The face around these eyes was cocooned in blue hair, hair that hung gently around a girl’s cheeks, barely lower than her ears. When this girl was born her hair had been black, like her mother’s and father’s, but in her hand had been placed a magic stone, a Crystal–an age-old wonder from a time long forgotten–and all that she had been born as was burned away. She became a tool, a weapon, an item, with no more will than the same stone that now never left her hand. And everyone around her wanted that power for themselves.

But now a different hand reached out and held the blue-haired girl’s face, drawing a smile across her cheeks. “I’m glad we’re together again,” Veronica said as she wiped blue hair out of her sister’s eyes.

“Me too, Vee!” Manie said excitedly. “It gets so boring in my tower. Alaya is the only girl Dad lets me talk to anymore, and all she wants to talk about is hair and clothes.”

“I know, he told me…” Veronica’s eyes dropped. “But that’s why I’m here. Because you and me are going to have the best day ever.”

Manie felt warm inside. She hadn’t seen Veronica in almost a year. Just before Manie broke her arm was the last time. Her father had decided it was best to keep them apart until things could settle back into normalcy. Veronica isn't like everyone else. She cares about me, not the Crystal.

“Will Dad let you come visit me again, now?”

“We’ll see. He’s really worried about you after what happened with Mom. How’s your arm, anyways? Father said Teekstra wrapped it in plaster.”

“Yeah, it’s better now. I couldn’t believe how itchy it got. After they opened the cast I thought I was going to scratch off my own skin.” Manie said. “What’s going on down in the square? I saw all the kites from my tower.”

“It’s a celebration of summer called the Gathering of First Sun’s Light. They’ve been doing it for a few seasons now in Half-Moon Landing, but this year father invited them to Denengear. They have all sorts of cool stuff that gets brought in from across the sea.” Veronica jumped back and waved her arms high in the air. “Secret artifacts with magical powers that can make a fat man skinny, a short girl tall, or even turn a woman into a man! Some of the lost artifacts are thousands of years old.”

Manie giggled in embarrassment.

Veronica leaned down and put her face close to Manie’s, whispering, “Strange and horrible creatures that could give even the bravest man nightmares.” She slapped her hands against her cheeks. “Oh no!”

Manie rubbed a hand down half her face, trying not to smile.

Veronica dropped to her knees and held up an invisible platter, sniffing the air above it. “Mmm, and enough delicious food to make even Chef Longladle burst his belly, long before he took his first bite.” Veronica roared like a Renjin and shot out her fingers, tickling Manie under the arms. Manie tried to resist the urge to giggle, but couldn’t manage, and broke into laughter.

Veronica reached up and tousled Manie’s blue hair. “So how about it, Little Lightning Bolt? Are you ready to go out there and see the world?”

“Always!” Manie shouted.

“That’s my sister.” Veronica stood up and put out her hand. When Manie grabbed her fingers, Veronica bent her elbow and knees, pretending to be in pain. “Oh, oh, your magic powers are so strong! I’m no match for you. I think I’ve been struck by lightning!”

Manie laughed as Veronica stood up straight again. “Even though I lost my Purple Crystal?” Manie asked.

“Pshh, you don’t need that worthless rock. The power’s in your heart. But I’m sure it’ll turn up someday. It can’t stay lost forever. Okay, anyways…enough silliness. Where should we go first, huh? It’s your choice!”

“Let’s go see the kites. Alaya said they’re the biggest ones to ever fly in Talmoria.”

Veronica snapped up her hand and pointed down the white, stone roads that wound into Denengear: the city of gold and glass. “Great choice, little sister. Let’s go!”

Veronica led Manie down the white stone path, going between marble statues of powerful mages and forgotten kings. They came to the gates where the Royal soldiers were standing and went into the city. “Keep safe out there,” Markus said as they went by.

“Oh, we will!” Veronica twisted back and waved.

“I wasn’t talking about you,” Markus said with a bite. “You keep your sister safe, or you’ll be answering to me. You’re on a short leash.”

Veronica paused, her lips frozen open like she was fighting to keep them from revealing the thoughts in her head. “You got it, Markus. I promise I won’t let the goods get damaged.”

“Good. Because her life is worth far more than yours is.”

Veronica’s smile melted and her brow deepened.

“No, it isn’t,” Manie said. “Veronica’s my sister.”

“We’re going to a festival, not a hillside brawl,” Veronica said. “She’ll be fine.”

“I guess we’ll find out,” he said.

Veronica shook her head and turned away. “Come on, Manie. Let's go have some fun.”

The slap of their shoes on cobblestones followed them as they went. Manie twisted her neck in all directions to see the massive city rising around her. It was never as fun to see it from above in her tower as it was below. Down here in the streets she felt like a pebble in a valley of boulders and mountains of stone. She was so small, and the world so big. They descended into the Cloud District, which was the part of the city where all the wealthy families lived.

“Come on,” Veronica said. “Let’s go this way.”

“But that leads through Copper Lanes,” Manie said. “Isn’t it dangerous?”

“It’s a shortcut. I promise we’ll be fine, I go this way all the time. Don’t you trust your big sister to keep you safe?”

Manie sighed. “If you say so.” She followed Veronica down a set of long stairs. As they got closer to the bottom, the stink of garbage grew stronger. “Oh, gross.”

“Ahh, the stench of freedom,” Vee said. “You get used to it after being down here for a while.”

“Is this where you’ve been all this time?” Manie asked. “I thought you died. No one talks about you in the mansion.”

“Well, that hurts my feelings. Yeah, I’ve been stuck down here with Molly and Dylan. The most exciting thing we’ve done all month is break into a scrap shop and steal a bunch of ancient technology no one knows how to use.”

“We have all the gold in the world, Vee. Why didn’t you just buy it?”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Manie couldn’t hide her laughter. “I wish I could be like you. If Dad found out I stole something he’d never forgive me. He’s always saying, you’re a princess, Manie. You have to set a good example for the city.’”

“Well, then don’t let him find out,” Veronica said with a laugh. “I’m a princess, too, remember? You only get to be young once. Don’t waste it trying to be perfect. No one’s perfect, not even Dad. I’ll teach you how to have fun.” Veronica snatched an apple off a fruit cart right in front of its owner as she walked by.

“You pay for that!” the fruit seller demanded as he grabbed her arm.

“Not likely,” Veronica said back, embarrassed. “You better let go of me right now. Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, actually I think I do,” he said. “You're one of the rats that ripped off Ivan’s shop.”

Veronica’s eyes snapped open.

“Tonila, I just found the rat who’s been causing all that trouble you’ve been having!”

The fruit seller grabbed a whip off his cart, letting it unroll across the road. “That’ll be two coppers. And Ivan wants his stuff back.”

From the shadows of an alley where a campfire was burning came a woman with green hair and tattoos on her arms. “Vee. So nice to see you again.”

Manie locked eyes with Veronica. What are we going to do now?

Veronica turned and slapped the apple into the fruit seller's face, making blood pour from his nose. He released Veronica’s arm and bent over, holding his face as he grimaced. “Filthy gutter rat! You’ll pay!”

Veronica turned to Manie and screamed. “Run!”

Manie’s heart jumped into her throat. Veronica grabbed her arm and turned, leading her down a wide alley between tall towers.

“After her!” The fruit seller roared. “She’s the one who ripped off Ivan’s shop!”

Manie ran as fast as her legs would move. They came to a staircase and Veronica danced down the steps. “Quick, Manie!”

Manie tried to skip the steps like her sister had done but her feet got tangled up and her legs buckled. Manie hit the ground and sprawled out across the stones at the bottom of the stairs, coughing and spitting grass.

“Manie, get up!” Veronica ran back and grabbed Manie’s elbow, tossing her back to her feet.

“We know you tried to sell that scrap you stole, Veronica!” Tonila accused. “The Pocketmen want it back!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Veronica shoved Manie down a dark alleyway. “Find us a way out, I’ll hold them off.”

“Great,” Manie complained, afraid. “Why are they so angry?”

“It doesn’t matter, just go!”

Manie ran between tall buildings to the end of the alley and found a door. She slammed into the entrance with her shoulder and grabbed the handle, pulling back with all her strength, but it was locked. She felt panic rising up her throat, choking her. No, no, I can’t do this.

“If Ivan wants his stuff back maybe he should come get it himself,” Veronica said. “Why go through all this trouble for a guy like that anyways, huh?”

Tark’s blonde hair was framed by a square chin. He slapped a fist against his hand as he came towards Vee. He was one of Darko’s new hires she’d heard about in The Forge. “Because Ivan pays.”

Tonila came around the corner and down the stairs. She slipped a knife from her ankle sheathe and held it down at her side. The third to arrive was Gob–greasy, black hair bouncing with each step.

“How's it going back there, Manie?” Veronica called.

Manie gasped and turned to the locked door. “I’m trying!” She threw out her hands and snapped an arc of lightning against the door, creating a burst of sparks, but all it did was make a small patch of soot across the wood.

“I’m not strong enough,” Manie shouted back.

“You can do it!” Veronica called. “You just have to believe in yourself.”

“Believing in myself isn’t going to make this door unlock!”

“Then find another way!”

Manie twisted back and searched the alley, but it was clear of anything except garbage and shattered chunks of stone.

“Come on, Vee,” Tark implored. “How about you just give us the scrap back? I’ll even pay for the apple. That way we won’t have to make an example out of you for all the other rats in the streets.”

“You know, you really oughta call us something other than rats if you want to negotiate.”

“What’s to negotiate?” Tark laughed. “You want to barter over which one of your fingers I’m going to break first?”

Manie looked up from the shadows of the tall towers and saw ropes and ladders running up the side of a building on the next level of the city. The stonework on the corners was being repaired, and a giant bucket of white bricks was hanging from the ropes, swinging in the wind.

I can use that. “Hold on, Vee!”

“Don’t take another step,” Veronica threatened.

“Or else what?” Tonila asked, flipping green hair out of her eyes. “You’ll call for daddy? He can’t hear you down here.”

“I’m warning you,” Veronica said again.

Tark looked back at his friends and laughed. He turned to Vee and took another step. “Or else what? What is a tiny little thing like you gonna-”

A blast of wind erupted from Veronica’s palms and slammed into Tark's face. He somersaulted backwards into a pile of garbage near the opposite wall, then rolled onto his shoulder and turned back to Veronica, shaking a rotten banana peel off his forehead. “Get that little shit!”

Manie climbed a small ladder that was leaned against a wall to get a better view of the bucket, but she still didn’t have a clear shot to the pulley the bucket was hanging from. She turned back and saw a few bricks extending out of the side of the building she could stand on. Manie pushed herself up and leaned back against the wall, shimmying along the edge of the stonework. She found more bricks and grabbed on, climbing even higher.

The stonework crumbled and Manie lost her grip. She gasped and spun back, looking down at the ground far below, then up, to the bucket of bricks hanging over her head. From here she could see the wooden rail the rope was hanging from. I can do this.

Tonila rushed Veronica and knocked her to the ground. She flipped Vee onto her stomach and pulled her arm behind her back. Veronica coughed in pain as Gob planted his boot against her neck.

“Now, you’re gonna take us to that stash and return what you stole, or I’m gonna give you an extra joint,” Tonila threatened.

Veronica gritted her teeth and spat. The rage built on her face until she screamed and twisted to her side under Gob’s boot. Vee pulled back her leg and snapped out her heel against Tonila’s knee. Tonila shouted and fell, knocking Gob’s boot off Veronica’s neck as she came down. Veronica rolled away and got back to her feet, but Tark stepped into her path, reeking of rotten fruit.

“Thought it was going to be that easy?”

Tonila grabbed Veronica’s foot and yanked her leg out from under her. Veronica slammed face-first into the stones below. Dazed, she leaned up and wiped blood from under her nose. “Mother f-”

Manie reached out, hanging by one hand, and shot a streak of blue lightning into the sky. The bolt snapped up and exploded against the pulley with a loud crunch of shredded wood, making the supports tear away and fall, and the bucket of bricks went with it. At the end of the ropes slack the bucket jerked away and swung forwards, slamming into the locked door, breaking it completely off its hinges. The shock traveled up the wall and shook Manie’s hand off the brick she was hanging from, and she fell, landing in a pile of rotten fruit and discarded papers below.

“Vee, it’s open!” Manie looked down the alley and saw that Veronica was surrounded. She crawled out of the garbage and ran.

“You really should think about going back to your dresses and gemstones, Princess,” Tark growled. “The Coppers don't seem to agree with you.”

Veronica felt the anger boiling inside. “Let go of me!” She turned back and kicked Tonila as hard as she could in the face, making the woman release her leg. She then blasted Gob with a burst of wind that made him flail back and roll down the next set of stairs. Veronica got to her feet and raised her fists to Tark. “Get out of my way!”

Tark bent down on one knee and grabbed Tonila’s blade off the ground. Veronica unsheathed her own.

“Put it down or I’ll skin you alive!” Tark rolled his lip and bared his teeth like a rabid wolf.

“No you won’t!” Manie screamed.

Suddenly Tark was convulsing and shaking as blue lightning webbed across his body. The knife fell from his hands and he dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.

“I told you to move,” Veronica said.

Tark’s eyes rolled back and he tipped over sideways, slapping into the stones unconscious. Veronica saw Manie at the end of the alleyway, both her hands extended. Manie wobbled from foot to foot and grabbed her forehead, reaching out for balance.

“Great job, Manie!” Veronica shouted.

Manie’s panting melted into a smile, but then it coiled again in surprise. “Look out!”

Veronica ducked as a fist swung through the air above her head. She twisted away and saw Tonila and Gob right behind her.

“You’re dead in this city after this!” Tonila shouted, her lip bloody. “When Darko finds out what you did, he’ll have Brenna and me break your legs! King’s daughter or not!”

“You’ll have to catch me first!” Veronica turned and grabbed Manie, pushing her into a run. “Go go go!”

She and Manie ran for the broken door at the end of the alley and slipped inside. She could hear Gob and Tonila’s footsteps closing in. There was a shelf stacked with bags of flour just near the door. “Help me with this!” Vee and Manie grabbed the edge of the shelf and pushed until it tumbled over and collapsed into a mound of bags that blocked the entrance.

“Will that stop them?” Manie asked, sounding frantic.

Tonila came to the doorway and shoved an arm through where the sacks hadn’t piled high enough to cover. “Don’t move!” She shouted.

“Nope!” Veronica decided. “Come on!”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

She grabbed Manie’s arm and turned to the stairs at the back corner, circling a flour mill up the middle of the tower. When they got to the top, Veronica slammed into an old wooden door, blasting through and out onto a rooftop high above the city. Denengear stretched away before them like a jungle of high stone towers and rivers of cobblestone streets, all dressed in gold and glass windows, reaching high above wooden hovels and clay structures centered around the outskirts of the city. The giant kites from the festival were everywhere, like wooden ships sailing across the sky, riding the wind.

Footsteps pounded up from below. Veronica grabbed the door and slammed it shut behind her. She turned and saw that the roof of the mill ended in a deadly drop in all directions. No other towers were near enough to make the jump.

“What do we do now?” Manie shouted, panic in her voice.

Veronica searched everywhere she could see for some kind of escape, but there was nothing: no ladders, no doors, no stairs to descend. They were trapped. She went to the edge of the building and looked down, feeling Manie’s arm wrap around her waist as a flock of birds erupted from the rain troughs below.

The door burst open behind. Veronica and Manie twisted back to see Gob and Tonila standing in the entrance. “Nowhere left to run,” Tonila said with a toothy smile.

“You know, someone could really get hurt up here,” Veronica said. “Why don’t you just give this whole thing up? It’s just a bunch of worthless junk from across the ocean.”

“That’s what you think,” Tonila said. “But Darko knows better. You really want to see your sister get hurt because of your mistake?”

“Leave my sister out of this,” Veronica swept her hand to the side.

“That’s not how this works, Vee. I’ll give you one last chance to end this peacefully. And then I’m going to take a few fingers–from both of you.” Tonila held out her knife and pressed her eyes almost shut. “You know I don’t want to.”

Manie gasped and squeezed Veronica’s waist. “Vee, do something!”

Veronica looked up and saw one of the giant kites sailing towards them. It must have escaped from the Sky District. The kite’s rope was dangling below, low enough to reach.

The kite wafted over the roof, rope slapping the buildings as it came. Gob turned around just in time for the knot at the end of the rope to smack him in the mouth. “What the fu-?”

“I’ve got a better idea!” Veronica shouted. “Hold on tight, Manie!”

Veronica pulled her sister’s arms around her waist. The rope dragged past them and fell from the mill’s roof. “What?!” Manie screamed.

Veronica dove off the roof and grabbed the rope with both hands. The added weight jerked the kite into a freefall, but it quickly nosed down and the wings caught the wind, quickly swooping back up.

Tonila and Gob ran to the edge of the roof and reached out to catch the rope, but they were too far away. “We’ll find you, Vee!” Tonila shouted. “And when we do, you're dead! You can’t hide from the Pocketmen. This was your last chance.”

Manie turned back and stuck out her tongue as they glided away. Veronica reached up and grabbed the kite’s wooden frame in both hands, one under each wing. She steered them down between the high towers, Manie dangling from her waist. “That was too close,” Veronica said.

“That was amazing!” Manie shouted. “Did you see the look on their faces? They thought we were screwed!” She burst out in uncontrollable laughter.

Veronica laughed with her. “Can’t run forever, huh? Don’t need to run when we can fly!”

Veronica twisted the kite down an alley and turned out over the roofs. Denengear opened away beneath them. The city flowed down from the hill from where her father’s mansion was perched like a wide river of stone and glass. There were people everywhere, on roofs, in streets, filling the open square’s. The city was dressed in flowers and strings of lights like it had turned into one of the Torch-Wing forests. Fireworks were bursting into colorful sparks between peoples’ feet while others shot high into the sky on rockets, exploding into incredible beasts and giant structures. One rocket burst into the shape of a giant, green dragon that spread its wings across the entire city and swept down across the roofs, screaming into smoke as it roared over Vee and Manie’s heads.

“Did you see that?” Manie asked in excitement.

“I sure did, Little Lightning Bolt. You know what else I saw?”

“What?” Manie asked.

“I saw you kick some serious butt back there! No one’s ever knocked Tark’s sparks out before. I think he pissed his pants.”

Manie laughed. “Why did they want that stuff back so bad?”

“I don’t know,” Veronica said. “The guy who set up the job said it was just a bunch of scrap, but I’m beginning to think he was lying. I’ll have to ask some questions when I get back to The Forge.”

“The what?”

“It’s a meeting place in the lower part of the city. It’s like a Tavern, but with more fights. It’s where most of the jobs in Denengear get bought out. It’s where I found the scrap job for Ivan’s shop. Except now my buyer has disappeared, and apparently Darko knows it was me trying to sell the stuff I clipped. I’m guessing Tonila had something to do with that.”

Veronica leaned to her right and made the kite veer out over Copper Lanes. “See that place on the corner down there by the canal? The one with the red candles on the balcony?”

“Yup,” Manie said. The crowd around the canal split to let a group of four men go through the front doors of the building.

“That’s The Forge. I’m going back there tomorrow night to meet Molly and Dylan for another job. You know, after seeing you handle yourself, I think you might be ready to come with us. We could really use someone like you to watch our backs.”

“You really think so?” Manie asked. No one had ever asked her for help before.

“Of course. You're my sister.”

Manie pulled herself up and squeezed her arms tighter around Veronica. “What other places are out there?”

“Let me show you.” Veronica veered the kite in the opposite direction from the long stone walls surrounding the edge of Copper Lanes. They came to a place where there was a row of long towers. The one in the middle was an old clocktower, gold and dirty and dressed in burning candles, and just beside the small-hand locked to the six was a hole in the stone wall. “That’s our secret hideout,” Veronica said. “It’s where I stashed the stuff Tark and Tonila were after. Molly and Dylan are probably there now.”

“Wow! In the clocktower? How’d you get up there?”

“There’s some stairs inside…or at least I guess you can call them stairs. The clock is broken now, so no one ever comes to check who lives behind the six anymore. Dylan found the spot about a year ago.”

“Tonila and Gob won’t find it?”

“Tonila and Gob couldn’t find an arrowhead if they were locked in a fletcher’s workshop. They got lucky today, that’s all. Probably heard I was going to visit the king and set up an ambush.”

“Nothing like that ever happens in the mansion,” Manie said.

“No, of course not,” Veronica lamented. “Everyone up there is too busy with lying and scheming to be bothered with actually getting their hands dirty.”

Manie could feel wind blowing through her hair. Even though she was scared, she’d never felt this alive before. She was free. She’d left behind the girl from the mansion and become something new. She could forget about the Crystals and their power and become someone else, just like her sister.

“What else is out there?” Manie asked.

“Well, over there is Ivan’s shop. See the one with the spiked roof?”

Manie looked and saw a building with giant spears coming off the top, like the tips of a King’s crown. The streets outside were dirty and cluttered with garbage. “I see it.”

“Anything worth finding in Talmoria passes through that shop. It’s the first place you’d go if you were looking for some magical gizmo or ancient device that’s been lost for thousands of years. I even heard that a Crystal passed through Ivan’s sticky fingers not too long ago, but no one knew how to use it, so he ground it into powder and sold it as pixie dust.”

“What an idiot,” Manie said with a giggle.

Veronica smiled. “Yeah, Ivan’s pretty dumb. He got robbed by a bunch of kids, so…”

Vee and Manie laughed.

“Look again,” Veronica said. “Just a little down the street from Ivan’s. See the big guy standing guard beside the braziers with the purple flames? That door behind him leads to an old church under the streets. People used to worship the Crystals there, but now Darko runs his smuggling business out of it. Him and Tonila make most of the big decisions in Copper Lanes now. They kinda run the place.”

“But Dad’s the king of Talmoria–how can they be in charge of anything?”

“Not in the Lower City. It’s more complicated than you think. Copper Lanes is kind of its own little world down there. Tark and Gob are new to the Lanes, but Tark is already proving to be a real pain in the ass for Flyers like me.”

“Why did they call you a rat?” Manie asked.

“That’s what they call the Flyers who take low paying jobs. We don’t get much respect, but that’s where the action is if you want it.”

From the city center erupted a cloud of paper balloons, flying off into the sky. They were lit from inside by little candles. Veronica twisted their kite down between them, knocking a few out of their path as they swooped down into the lights of the festival. “Hold on tight!”

Veronica dove the kite down and veered between the buildings. The frame shook as they sped up. “We’re gonna crash!” Manie screamed.

Veronica released the frame and let the kite smash into a stone wall ahead. She and Manie fell, both screaming, and landed into a pile of dirty clothes behind a washer’s hut. Veronica pushed a vest and some pants off her head and crawled out. “Manie?”

Her sister popped up from the garments with a crusty sock draped across her face. She shook it off and rubbed dirt from her blue hair. “Gross!”

Laughing, Veronica helped Manie crawl out. “You okay?”

“I think so–other than the sock.”

“You’ll survive.” Veronica grabbed Manie’s hand. “Ready to have some fun?”

“Ready.” Manie winked and smiled.

“Mmm, do you smell that? I think they’re cooking crickets!”

Manie made a face like she was going to throw up.

Veronica tittered. “Come on, let’s go see.” Veronica helped Manie jump the fence, then she leapt over after.

They stumbled out into the streets amidst a crowd spilling towards the edge of the city where the delicious smells were coming from. They were surrounded on all sides by people streaming to and from the festival. Some children near Manie lit candles beneath their paper balloons and sent them skyward to join the rest. Manie put her arms out and twirled as they rose around her. A boy threw a lit string of fireworks into the streets, making an exploding stream of crackling pops and red sparks fly out in every direction.

On the sides of the stone pathway were food vendors cooking exotic foods. There were pans of vegetables hissing steam as chefs swung and dipped pans over reaching flames; chicken stew; Nightling steak on sticks; roasted crickets; cooked grubs with onions, peppers and cheese. One woman had a cart exclusively of pastries with pink and yellow frosting that caught Manie’s eye. “Ooh, those look good.”

“Pink or yellow?” Veronica asked.

“Pink.” Manie decided.

Veronica went to the woman running the food wagon and said, “Did you know that someone down by the gates is reselling your pastries for double the price?”

The woman raised her eyebrows. “Where?” she said, turning to look down the road. Veronica snagged a pink pastry off the cart and hid it behind her back. “I don’t see anyone?”

“Hmm, maybe I was wrong,” Vee said. “Oh well, what can you do?”

Veronica tossed the pastry behind her and Manie caught it in both hands. She quickly hid it behind her back and smiled as the woman turned around. Act normal.

“Ehh, off with you little rascals! Can’t you see I’m trying to work here? Shoo, shoo!” She waved her hands and Manie and Vee like they were pesky alley cats.

Veronica pushed Manie and helped her keep the pastry hidden until they were well out of sight.

“After what happened earlier and you do it again?” Manie whispered.

“At least we didn’t get caught this time,” Veronica said.

Manie held up her prize and took a giant bite, cherry jelly spilling down her mouth. “Mmm, it’s really good! Want some?” Manie asked.

“Why not,” Veronica said. Manie tore off a chunk and handed it to her sister. Veronica ate it down in two bites. “Oh, that is really good,'' she said with a mouthful of cherry.

Manie laughed and threw the rest of the pastry over her shoulder. Music quickly filled the air, and a crowd formed below a crude, wooden stage ahead. Lute players, flutists, and drummers started to play their instruments, creating waves of soothing music that washed into Manie’s ears like rivers of gold. “This is amazing! I haven’t heard the bards play this song since the banquet when Markus threw a muffin at Alaya’s head.” Manie giggled.

“This one’s your favorite, huh?” Veronica showed a wild smile, then rushed at Manie and grabbed her by the arms. She pulled Manie in tight circles, spinning her into the crowd as they both laughed. Veronica floated from one edge of the stone square to the other, swinging Manie between the other dancers and turning her with the music. Vee let go of Manie’s hands and waved her hands in front of her face like wriggling eels. Manie burst out laughing.

The flutes blasted and everyone screamed in excitement. “Come on, this is the best part!” Veronica spun back in Manie’s direction, taking her hands again.

Sparkling colors and smiles were all around, twisting into a magical blur. Manie was dizzy with excitement. The smells, the sights, the sounds, the warmth and energy. It was like she’d fallen into a dream. Veronica let go of Manie and rocked her hips and feet with the beat, dancing back until she was just at the edge of the crowd.

Manie had never seen her sister dance like that before. Veronica broke out into hysterical laughter when she saw Manie’s face. She grabbed Manie’s arms and dove off into the city once again, escaping the lights of the stage. “Let’s go see what else is out there!”

Reflection’s of candles, fires, paper balloons and bursting fireworks sparkled across Manie’s eyes. The sun was gone and the darkness made the lights glow even brighter. She smelled delicious food, heard laughter, felt the warm breeze on her skin. I wish this night would last forever.

“Look at this, Manie!” Veronica went to a glass case containing a large branch covered in moss. Inside was a spider’s web sparkling and shimmering with unnatural light as the spider crawled across. One Spider ventured to the tip of a branch and jumped into the air, popping a parachute made of web from its back that glowed a bright blue in the night. “Woah!” Manie gasped. The spider hovered across the cage and landed in the bark where it started to weave a glowing web.

“It’s called a Comet Spider,” Veronica said. “They're found in the Forest of Forgotten Dreams.”

“I’ve never seen one before,” Manie said, remembering her books.

Next to the Comet Spiders was a tall glass cylinder filled with butterflies that shed glowing dust as they flapped their wings. A wood sign called them Fitterflies. Manie turned to the other side of the path and saw an owl that had a long brown beard hanging off its chin. “The Bearded Owl,” Manie read from the sign below where it clung to a perch and laughed at her. Beside it was another bird with black and white feathers. It spread its wings, showing it had two sets instead of one. “A Four-Winged Typsy. Hmm.”

“They’re beautiful,” Veronica said. “I’ve seen some in the wild that were gold and orange.”

Further into the market Manie saw a large cat-like animal with tall ears. The eyes were glowing purple like a fire was in its pupils. As the owner stroked its black coat, the fur also shimmered purple. “What’s that one called?”

“That one is called a Jynx,” Veronica said. “Those come from a place called The Jade Valley far across the oceans to the south.”

“They’re so cool,” Manie said.

There was a commotion of snorting and banging metal bars down the street. Manie looked and saw a man jabbing a metal rod into a cage behind some stalls and clay houses. A pair of deer with black fur and glowing horns and spots were inside: an adult male and female. Manie recognized these, they were called Nightlings, found only in Talmoria. Every time the animal handler struck the Nightlings with the rod, they grunted in pain.

“Why is he hurting them?” Manie asked. She’d never seen anyone act so cruel before.

“Look at this one, it only has half a rack anyways,” the animal handler complained. “I didn’t sell one stinking fawn today! Am I supposed to have these monsters shipped all the way back across the sea to Korsa? I can’t just let them go.”

“Just slaughter them and sell the meat,” said a man in a bloody apron. “I’ll buy it from you for a good price. That way at least you’ll get something for your trouble.”

“Whatever, yeah, do what you want. I’ll go find the key.”

Manie gasped. “They’re going to kill the Nighlings? Why don’t they just let them go?”

“Because they’re worth gold,” Veronica said, sounding disgusted. “Nothing worth gold is ever truly free. But we’re going to help them.” She crouched and turned back to Manie. “People like us have a responsibility to protect things that are small, Manie, no matter what form they come in. We’re the ones with the power to make things better. Even animals need our help.”

Manie nodded. “How do we help them?”

“We’re gonna break them out of that cage,” Veronica declared.

Manie smiled and made a fist. “Yes.”

“See those bars? They aren’t very thick. If you grabbed one and used your lightning on it, I bet you could melt the metal in no time.”

“Okay, I can do this,” Manie said.

Veronica smiled. “Of course you can. You’re my sister.”

Manie smiled at Vee, feeling courage rise up in her heart.

“You wait here while I distract him. Once he’s not paying attention–melt the bars.”

Manie shook her head in agreement. “I will.”

The animal handler cursed and grumbled as he searched through a tall cabinet filled with keys near the back of a clay building, a lantern above him projecting orange light and shadows across the wet stones in the alley. Veronica went over beside his shoulder and leaned in. “Excuse me, are you the owner of the animals in that cage?”

He stopped searching for the keys and stood back, looking at Veronica from head to toe. “I might be,” he said, incredulous.

“Well, I just so happen to be in the market for two beautiful specimens such as those. I overheard the problem you’re having with transportation and I couldn’t help but feel inclined to offer a solution.”

Manie looked at Veronica from far away and saw her sister return a sharp look over the animal handler’s shoulder, signaling it was time to begin. Manie ran up to the cage and looked in, her blue eyes lighting the inside. The animals were cowering in the back corner as far from the bars as they could get. The horns of the buck were glowing gold like freshly forged swords, and the doe had spots of blue light covering her fur like constellations in the night sky.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here to save you.” It made Manie feel brave to help something gain its freedom. “Okay,” she let out a quick breath. “I can do this.” Manie wrapped her fingers around the iron bars and closed her eyes, squeezing as tight as she could. Manie let out a tiny scream as she forced her lightning into the metal.

The animal handler shook his head, “I’m sorry, do I know you? You look oddly familiar.”

Veronica blinked a few times. “I’ve been told I have a familiar face! I have connections in Korsa across the sea, you see, and they sent me here to scout out some new species for an uhm…for a circus! Yes, a circus: with animals and net-jumpers and barrel-riders! I‘ve never seen anything like those strange dark deer in the mainlands. They truly are incredible. I’d love to see them in our show.”

The animal handler scratched his head and smiled at her. “Aren’t you a little young to be so far from home?”

“I look younger than I really am. It’s a common mistake, really. My name’s Valery, pleased to meet you.” Veronica put out her hand like a lady, with her knuckles turned down.

“Valery, eh? I’m Ruckus the wrangler. Nice…nice to meet you.” he took her hand and squeezed her fingers between his rough calluses.

Manie bit her lip until she tasted blood. The bars were turning red between her fingers, twisting and bending more and more the hotter they grew. The pain in the back of her skull grew stronger the more she pushed. I can do this! She yanked back and ripped the bars out of their sockets in a flurry of red sparks. She threw the metal bars aside and let them roll across the ground. The sleeve of her shirt caught fire and began to burn.

Veronica looked over Ruckus’s shoulder and saw Manie near the cage, rolling in the dirt, slapping at flames on her wrist. Veronica’s heart was pounding so fast she thought it was going to stop. The animal handler seemed to notice her reaction and began to turn around.

“Sir, sir, sir! I have to say, these are the finest animals I have ever seen! Truly!”

He snapped back to Vee, looking confused. “Well I can show 'em to you if you’d like. I was just about to find the key.”

“There really is no need,” Veronica said, sounding breathless. “I saw all I needed to through those sturdy bars. They really are magnificent creatures.”

“Sure.” Ruckus turned back and looked at his cabinet. He reached out and grabbed a silver key, holding it up in the candlelight. “Ahh, here it is.”

Shit! Veronica looked over his shoulder and saw Manie lean forward and grab the bars of the cage.

“Thank you for your cantor,” Ruckus said with a bow that was more of a tilt. “Your compliments are most appreciated, young lady. However, I’m leaving the island tomorrow morn’. I’ve already accepted an offer to purchase the Nightlings from the butcher in this very town.” He raised his shoulders. “I’m afraid they’re already sold.”

“You can’t be serious,” Veronica said, doing her best to sound heartbroken. “I came all this way, traveled thousands of miles–first by wagon, then by boat, then horse– and now you’re telling me I have to go back empty handed? How can you do this to me?”

Ruckus raised his eyebrows. “Now now, I didn’t mean to upset you. I apologize if I came across harshly. It’s simply the way of business. Maybe your father would have taught you more about the trade had you been born a son–sadly, you’re just a girl. The way of the world can be harsh at times, I agree. But it is simply the way things are.”

Veronica stood there with her mouth hung open, unsure of what else to say. Suddenly she burst out crying, tears rolling down her face. “You can’t, Ruckus, please! I’m so scared. My husband will make me go back to the kitchens if I return with nothing, and I’ve never been a good cook. Oh Ruckus, everytime I even try make a bowl of stew I cut myself on all the knives and break dishes because I’m just so clumsy, and it always tastes horrible just to spite. I don’t know how to do anything without a gentleman there to guide me! I just want to make my husband happy, like a good wife should.”

Ruckus nodded and rubbed his chin in understanding. “I see. Your husband is a very lucky man. Not many women have the kind of fortitude you do, to be so loyal in the face of such adversity. I want you to know that I think you are quite a flower, even if you seem a little young.” He reached out and wiped a tear off Veronica’s cheek with his calloused finger, making her bite her tongue to stop from throwing up. Hurry up, Manie.

The Nighling grunted and danced away, bouncing from foot to foot in the corner of the cage. The doe was behind the buck, resting her head on his back behind the golden horns. “You’re almost free.” Manie told them. She grabbed the cage and sent lightning into the bars once again, until tears were coming out of her eyes. The metal turned red, then white, then began to blister and pop like magma. Manie bent the next set of bars and yanked back, flinging them across the cobblestone streets, padding out the rain of sparks that showered over her chest.

As soon as they saw their chance, the Nightling charged through the opening. The buck lowered its nose, facing its glowing horns at the few people wandering around the edge of the festival, then charged through as they split to let it pass. The doe Nightling dove through next, following the buck to freedom.

They went to a break in the fence at the edge of the city, and once they reached the grasslands, the buck stopped to turn back and look at Manie. For her it seemed like time stopped. She met eyes with the strange deer and its glowing golden horns, remembering her lonely tower reaching high above the city. Manie was a prisoner just like they had been, but in a different way. At least she’d been able to save them, even if she couldn’t save herself. “You’re free now,” Manie said. “Run away and never come back!”

Ruckus smiled down at Veronica. “If you come with me, I can be your new husband,” he said with a soft voice. “All I ask is a foot rub once a night when I get back from cleanin’ the animal stalls. I’ll even do the cookin’. Maybe I could teach you a thing or two, huh?” he laughed.

Veronica saw the Nightling rush off through the opening in the fence, towards the forest outside Denengear. Great job, Manie. She turned back to Ruckus. “Actually, on second thought, how about you rub your own feet!” Veronica kicked Ruckus between the legs with a heavy thunk. He doubled over himself and fell to the ground, hands locked to his crotch. His face was red as a cherry.

Veronica looked up and saw the butcher run to Manie. He grabbed her by the wrists and shook her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I was going to make a lot of silver off that meat, you little brat!” He slapped Manie’s face.

“Hey!” Veronica ran to help, but before she could get to her, Manie screamed in fury and a burst of lightning coiled across the butcher’s body, painting the dark buildings around him in dancing, blue light. The butcher screamed in pain, shaking violently in Manie’s grip. A sudden crack exploded between their hands and a shower of blue sparks erupted across the streets. The butcher flew back and hit a wall, never to move again.

Oh shit. “Manie!” Veronica ran to her sister and helped her off the ground.

“He hit me,” Manie said, bloody tears spilling from both her eyes.

“I know,” Veronica said. “I don’t think he’s going to be hitting anyone ever again.” She looked back and saw smoke rising off the butcher’s body. Ruckus put a hand on his knee and rose to his feet. He pointed at them and shouted, “Magic! Bloody girl’s a sorceress!”

“Come on, time to go,'' Veronica said, squeezing Manie’s shoulders.

“Where?” Manie sniffled, smearing blood across her cheek with an elbow.

“I know a secret place where no one will find us. You have the Blue Crystal, right?”

Manie felt dizzied by the question, remembering the fury in her mother’s eyes the night she tried to take Mikhail’s Crystal. It’s okay, it’s Veronica, Manie told herself. She nodded. “Yes, I have it…”

“Good,” Veronica said, sensing the fear in her sister’s eyes. “Let’s go see the Torch-Wings.”