Zantalth: The magic is returning Read online

  As she sat on the pig pen fencing watching the pigs eat, more deep in thought than actually watching she felt that Jeb was creeping up behind her. “Morning Jeb,” she said.

  “How did you know it was me?”

  “Dunno just did.”

  “Sometimes Tallia you’re scary.”

  “No, you’re just obvious.”

  “How come you’re early today?” he said as he emptied the bucket he was carrying into the slops bucket.

  Tallia tutted and picked up the slops bucket and emptied what he had just tipped in there into the trough. “Because we are having lunch earlier today.”

  “Why?”

  Tallia rolled her eyes. “Mother needs to go down the ladders today and see someone.”

  “Wow, so is mine. I wonder if they're going to see each other.”

  “Why would they both go all the way down there to see each other? We only live three doors apart.”

  “Oh yeah. That seems odd for them to do that.”

  Tallia rolled her eyes again and gave a little tut. “Come on I’ll walk you home. Don’t want you getting lost.”

  This last comment flew right over Jeb’s head as he was so busy thinking about Tallia walking him home. She really is the prettiest girl in the whole everywhere, he thought.

  “What did you just say?” Tallia said.

  “What? Nothing.”

  “Yes, you did. You said something.”

  “I didn’t, honestly.”

  “I heard you. You said I was the prettiest girl in the whole everywhere.”

  Jeb felt his face getting hot. How could she have known what he was thinking? “I swear Tallia I didn’t.”

  Tallia grew angry and couldn’t understand why he was lying. She glared at him, her green eyes sparkling. “Tell me the truth.” She demanded.

  “I AM” he shouted back.

  This enraged Tallia. Suddenly Jeb flew backward off his feet into a haystack as if someone had pushed him hard. He screamed more in surprise and fear than any pain, scrambled to his feet and ran off still screaming.

  Tallia was utterly bemused and horrified. She hadn’t touched him. She certainly wouldn’t ever hit him. No one else was around, yet it looked like he had been knocked off his feet by someone. Her heart thudded in her chest as she looked in the direction he had ran wondering if she should go after him to see if he was okay.

  Another thing she can’t explain, what is happening? She needed to think, and the only place she can do this is her spot on the wall. She was going to have to miss lunch this was too important, mother will understand, well that’s if she can work out how or even what to explain.

  She ran through the village to her favourite spot looking out over the forest and sat on the wall in the exact place she always sits. Being just there always seemed to calm her and this time was no exception.

  At first, her thoughts jumped backward and forwards over all the strange events of the last couple of days. It was not helping, she was just getting more confused. She closed her eyes and took a long deep breath as she tried to slow her thoughts and organise her mind.

  She decided to try and work backward through the events. What had happened to Jeb? I felt annoyed, no, angry with him, not for what he said, but for lying to me. She regretted getting angry with him. She should not have done. She remembered she was about to shout at him to go away and leave her alone when he suddenly flew backward all on his own and had screamed and ran away. I hadn’t touched him but then again no one else had either. It makes no sense.

  Just before that he had said something to her but denied ever saying it, why would he do that? It wasn’t that bad but guess he was embarrassed. But why deny it so vehemently? Maybe he didn’t say it? But she was sure he had. She then remembered hearing her mother who was sure she hadn’t said anything. Can I hear other peoples thoughts? That’s silly. And shook her head.

  What about the thing with the bird? She was sure she could see what the bird could see but that’s just impossible. This brings her to her dream. A dream that felt so real. What did that ugly old woman say? “For you my dear its time.” Time for what? Time to wake up? Maybe I woke up too soon and missed the last bit. Before that she had said “The magic is returning.”

  Hold on going backwards through it is not working. What did the old woman monster thing say?

  “So, you are the one, I wasn’t expecting a girl and one so pretty. That’s really going to upset the old fools,” She wasn’t expecting a girl. What was she expecting a boy? And who does she mean by old fools?

  “Oh dear me,You have absolutely no idea at all have you? Well this will be interesting.” Why would she say that? Tallia then remembered just before she said that she had felt something moving around in her head, like she was reading her mind, searching for something. Yes she was searching for something in my head. From what she said I guess she expected me to know something, something I don’t know.

  “The magic is returning,” and she laughed. Why would that be funny? And what does it mean? Does it mean the spells and incantations that only the elders can do? If so why would it be returning? They have always been able to do it.

  “For you my pretty one. It’s time.” Clearly she meant me and she was telling me it’s time for something. But what?

  Just then a small bird, the same as the one she saw that morning, landed right next to her and chirped at her. I wonder? she thought and looked into the bird's eye. As she did, she seemed to be able to faintly see herself looking back at her. She closed her eyes and could see her own face looking down at her.

  She fought the desire to open her eyes and continued to watch as the view moved around rapidly and looked out over the forest. As she heard it take flight, she watched as the view changed. It was as if she was watching through the bird's eye as it flew high into the air and turned back towards where she sat. She could see herself sitting on the wall with her eyes closed as the bird swooped past her towards the village.

  It swooped in between the buildings before going up and landing on top of one of them looking down into the street. She saw Jeb, his father and her mother walking along the street. Jeb’s face was streaked with tears, and his father looked upset, and her mother worried.

  She realised which street it was, the one leading to where she was sitting. She opened her eyes and turned to see them coming out from between the buildings heading straight for her.

  Chapter III

  Elder Ruwyn was sleeping in his favourite chair in his private study in the top of the south tower that overlooked the crack and the plains beyond.

  He liked to spend as much time as possible in this chair sleeping on and off, more on than off actually. Not really surprising at being over two hundred years old, or is it three. He really couldn’t remember anymore. He was sure he was the youngest of the elders though.

  He woke with a sudden jolt. “What? — What? — Who’s there?” He looked around the room with bleary eyes but everything was in its place, the door was shut, and no one was there. “How jolly odd,” he said to himself. “Never had that happen before.”

  If Elder Ruwyn had not sat back and drifted back to sleep so quickly he would have felt a much gentler and softer push in the far reaches of the back of his mind where cobwebs had been gathering for a long time in this little-used part of his magical consciousness. Should he have felt it, he would have been very alarmed.

  As for the other Elders, they felt nothing at all, being shielded by the thick castle walls which Elder Stakron, hundreds of years ago, thought it best to cast a shielding spell on them but didn’t actually tell anyone and has long since forgotten about. If he had mentioned it to someone, they may have pointed out that he missed off the windows.

  Jeb’s father strode right up to Tallia and said, “What’s going on Tallia? Why did you hit Jeb?”

  “NO FATHER, I told you she didn’t hit me.”

  “Well push then.”

  “Listen, please father. Tallia didn’t touch me.”
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br />   He turned and glared at his son. “So who did hit you?”

  “No one.”

  “Jeb, you are trying my patience. Either someone hit you, or they didn’t.”

  “I don’t know,” Jeb said starting to cry. “Tallia please help me. I am scared.”

  Seeing Jeb start to cry and his plea for help she felt there was no choice now but to tell them what had happened. “Okay Jeb dry your eyes I will try and explain but is kind of a long tale.”

  “Why can you not say who hit Jeb?” his father said.

  “Because it’s not as simple as who.”

  “How can it not be, you two are just talking in riddles.”

  Eynam put her hand on his arm. “Let her explain it her way. I am sure all will make sense once she has told the whole story.”

  “Fine, go on then.”

  “Thank you mother,” Tallia explained all that happened starting with the dreams of the monsters, then last nights dream in detail.

  “What do dreams have to do with Jeb being hit?”

  “I am getting to that. The dream I had I think is related to what happened this morning with the bird.”

  “Bird?” Jeb’s father said looking confused.

  Tallia told them about sitting here watching the sunrise, the bird and then what she thinks happened with her mother.

  “I thought I hadn’t said anything. Are you saying you can hear peoples thoughts?”

  “Well at the time I didn’t.” She continued the story about kind of knowing Jeb was behind her and then what he said.

  Jeb opened his mouth to protest again, but Tallia stopped him and said, “Jeb I believe that you didn’t say that. But did you think it?”

  Jeb stood there with his mouth open his mind going into a mild panic.

  “It’s okay Jeb, you can tell, I won’t be angry or anything.”

  Eventually, Jeb slowly nodded his head.

  “That’s what I was beginning to work out. Thank you, Jeb. And thank you for thinking I am pretty.” Jeb looked down at his feet and shuffled them feeling very embarrassed.

  “Anyway, I still can’t work out what exactly happened to Jeb. All I know is that I was angry with him, not for what he thought, but because I thought he was lying to me.”

  “After he ran off, I came here to think, and that’s when I started to piece this together. I also tried it again with another bird, which is how I knew you were coming. I saw you walk down the street through the bird.”

  The three of them stood in stunned silence for ages wondering what to say. Eventually, Eynam said, “tell me again what the old woman said in your dream.”

  Tallia repeated the dream word for word.

  “It sounds as though you are some sort of chosen one to have magical powers.”

  “That’s what I am beginning to believe as well, but it makes no sense. Why me?”

  “Only the gods will know that Tallia dear. I think we should go to see Merek. He will know what to do.”

  “Are you going to be an elder Tallia?” Jeb said.

  “I don’t think so Jeb. Elders are men.”

  “Elders are boys chosen at birth Jeb,” his father said. “So I don’t think Tallia qualifies even a little bit. You’re right Eynam I think Merek needs to be told all of this.”

  “If you're not going to be an elder Tallia. What are you going to be?” Jeb said.

  Tallia slid down off the wall and put her arm around him saying. “I have no idea Jeb, and I really wish I did.”

  “So do I,” and he smiled at her.

  Merck’s house was on the east side of the village close to where he leads prayers. His house was larger on the surface than most of the others and around the front door were the symbols of the gods in a repeating pattern. Skaldoz’s had three vertical wavy lines in a circle. Skicedez‘s had four straight lines crossing in the middle to look like a star in a circle. Larknoz‘s had three horizontal wavy lines in a circle. In the centre of the door and much larger than the others was Skasdiz‘s, a circle with a triangle inside it and three concentric circles inside that.

  Merek answered the door to their knock with a look of surprise on his face. “Oh, hello, it’s not every day I get so many visitors at once.”

  “May we talk to you your eminence please,” said Eynam. “It’s very important and rather urgent.”

  “And by the look on your faces something rather serious. You had all better come in.”

  Merek didn’t have enough chairs for them all, so he suggested that the children sat on the floor.

  “I will stand,” Jeb’s father said. “It’s Tallia that needs to explain.”

  “Oh, really?” Merek said looking rather surprised. “That’s most unconventional. I think it would be better if the adults spoke first and then if necessary the child can speak. ”

  “Please your eminence,” Eynam said. “It really will be better from Tallia. It’s all about her, and she seems to have a much better understanding of what has happened. Also, she is now barely a child with her thirteenth birthday soon, and you will find she is very mature for her age.”

  Merek looked at Tallia with one eyebrow raised as he mulled this over in his mind. Eventually, he begrudgingly said, “Well, okay then young lady you better sit down and tell me your story.”

  Tallia thought she had better make this good and suddenly felt very nervous. She sat down opposite Merek and told him the whole story right from the beginning. All the time she was speaking Merek sat there in silence watching her closely without any reaction.

  After she had finished, he just continued to sit there looking at her. Everyone remained silent watching the priest waiting for some reaction. After what seemed like a long time he drew a deep breath and turned to look at Eynam. “And you believe this story?”

  “I have no reason not to your eminence.”

  “Mmmm,” he looked at Tallia. “So what am I thinking young lady?”

  “You just thought, why are these peasants bothering me with this nonsense?”

  Merek went red and coughed at being told precisely what he had thought. “Well, I didn’t use those words exactly.”

  “I am sorry your eminence, but you did. And now you're thinking how she could know that and you're angry at me embarrassing you. Sorry, your eminence that was not my intention.”

  “Humph. Can you hear what everyone else is thinking?”

  “It seems only if I look at them directly.”

  “What about when Jeb tried to sneak up on you?”

  “I didn’t as such hear his thoughts, just, kind of, knew it was him that was there.”

  He stroked his chin and stared at her for awhile and then said, “I need to talk to you more. There is no need for the rest of you stay.”

  “May I stay your eminence please?” Eynam said.

  “No, I think not. It will be better if you don’t.”

  Eynam looked worried and frightened about this.

  “Don’t worry my dear. I will take very good care of her and will let you know what I decide to do,” and tried his best to give a comforting smile but his face wasn’t very good at such things and completely failed to comfort her.

  After they had left, he sat back down at the table and studied Tallia for a moment and said, “Tell me again the whole story, right from the beginning.”

  As Tallia recounted the story again, he kept stopping her and asked endless questions which she did her best to answer.

  After going through it for the third time, Merek arose from his chair and went over to a curved bookcase that was against the wall on the far side of the room. He selected three dusty old leather-bound books and returned to the table.

  Before he opened the first one, he looked at Tallia and said, “I would appreciate it if you didn’t listen to my thoughts.”

  Tallia turned to look out of the window while Merek looked through the three volumes. After a long while, Tallia said, “excuse me, your eminence.”

  Merek snapped his head up annoyed that she ha
d the cheek to interrupt him and was about to scold her for doing so when she added, “the sun is very low, and it’s nearly time for prayers.”

  “Oh, ah, yes, good girl, thank you for telling me. Let's walk to prayers together. Afterwards, you should go home with your mother. I want you to return here as soon as you have had breakfast.”

  “What about my duties?”

  “Never mind those for now. I will get someone else to do them.”

  After the lighting of the torches, Tallia returned home with her mother feeling very exhausted and hungry as she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

  Eynam heated up some of Tallia’s favourite chicken stew which she finished off quickly and went straight to bed. Even though she was worried about having another of her dreams she was so tired she fell asleep almost as soon as she laid down.

  Chapter IV

  Tallia woke the following morning much later than usual, and it was the first night in a long time she didn’t have any of those disturbing dreams. Climbing up the ladder she found her mother sitting at the table and smiled at her. “Good morning sleepy head.”

  “Morning mother.”

  “Since you are up so late I guess you had a good night.”

  “Yeah, very much so. It’s the first night in ages I didn’t have the dream.”

  “Well, that’s good news.”

  “Sort of, yes. I was kind of hoping to get more answers.”

  “Well, maybe Merek will be able to give you some.”

  “I do hope so.”

  “Want some breakfast?”

  “Mmmm yes please.”

  After they had eaten breakfast, they walked round to the priest's house together. As they walked through the village, Tallia was aware of people looking at them and whispering to each other as they passed. She purposely avoided looking at them as she really didn’t want to know what they were thinking, what she was imagining was bad enough. “Seems word has got around,” she said to her mother.

  “Just ignore them Tallia. We'll deal with all that once we know more from Merek.”