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  "Good morning, Mica. Thank you for staying last night.”

  He smiles at me. It’s pathetic—I can’t ignore his crazy good looks, “You are most welcome, princess. How did you sleep?”

  “I slept very well, thank you very much!” I return with a bouncy quip, brushing off my thoughts.

  He laughs. He’s not fooled. I must have been caught looking.

  I continue, “Probably because I knew you and Kino were here to help protect me from the Crafted and the Jessup Cartel. I’ll do better in a few days and not need so much help.” I fill my favorite coffee cup and sit on the sofa in my sweats, putting my feet up on the coffee table. “Well, when do I get to know more?"

  “Now, if you’d like. Kino is about to sleep. Would you like to have breakfast on the roof, so you can watch him change? It’s something we do as gargoyles. I won't have to tell you how the process works if you see it firsthand.”

  We walk up to the roof. They have a table spread with cut fruits, fresh bread, butter, and apricot jam. My favorites. We sit, and they eat with me. “Well, that answers the ‘if you eat and what you eat’ question that I was going to ask.”

  Kino and Mica both laugh.

  Kino's face gets serious; he looks in my eyes. "Edling, you are very important to me. It was my pleasure to save you from the Crafted last night. You need not ever thank me. It is to your credit you did so, but please promise me you will never thank me for me defending you again. It almost broke my heart, Edling.

  I nod my head to let him know it’s a deal. I was a little choked up by his words.

  "The change is painful for a split second, then we rest in a deep way, and as needed, we sleep. There was a time, before the Mage Wars, where the Ceorfan did not turn to stone. They were full flesh and blood creatures. But, ahh, Edling, that is a story for another time.” He motions for me to come over to the edge of the roof, telling me as we go, “This is where I stay during the light of day. At night, I wake and guard you as you sleep.”

  “Well, that's not at all creepy,” I say, half-jokingly.

  The sun is just peeking over the horizon, and Kino lifts his wings to pose the way I usually see him. A pained look comes over his face as he hardens to the shiny red marble I’m used to seeing. I put my hands on him when I see the painful look. It hurts me.

  Mica must know what I’m thinking because he tells me, “We have a word for this. We call it torpification. We heal in this state, as long as no one destroys us, but we are at our most vulnerable in a torpefied state. Many gargoyles have perished while sleeping by having their bodies broken.”

  “But you’re made of stone…” I start.

  He interrupts, “It’s not as hard as it seems when someone takes a sledgehammer to one of us.

  “Kendra,” Mica continues, “if you’re wondering why I’m not stone, it’s because of my gift. All gargoyles have a gift. I was telling you before about the dragons and their powers. They were part of our race, the Ceorfan. Our gifts are all different. Mine is called glamor. I can stay in the sunlight and not be forced to sleep in the daytime. I do have to sleep at least a few hours every day. Otherwise, I’ll get run down just like you would.”

  “That’s wonderful, Mica. Kino looks like a gargoyle and I can understand dragons could also be part of your people. But why do you look like a man? Do gargoyles look like men too?”

  With wide eyes, Mica tells me, “I'll give you the short version.” He starts cleaning up our breakfast. “Again, my gift covers me with a glamor. Humans think this is what I look like, so I can operate in the open, in the sunlight. I can show you what I look like, if you want and if it won't scare you.”

  “Okay Mica. I’m ready.”

  He says something I couldn’t repeat if I tried. The glamor melts off him. He stands still—almost as though if he moves, I’ll scream in terror and run out of the room. Anybody that wasn’t ready would be terrified of him. There’s no telling what would happen, but I’d lay odds it wouldn’t be good. I bet he thinks he might scare me, even though I told him I was ready to see his gargoyle self. I’m way past the ‘fraidy-cat stage. I don’t think anything will surprise me now.

  Mica looks like a man-cougar, as ebony as I've ever seen black. His amber eyes are a sharp contrast to his dark skin. He’s still the huge muscle man I’d figured he would be. He has horns curling back a little behind his temples. I don't see any hair. His hands and feet—or claws—are as jet-black as his skin, but they have some white on them too. He’s absolutely beautiful! Not what I was expecting at all, because of his usual blond, blue-eyed human guise. No wonder we all think they’re just art or statues.

  He hangs his head looking at the ground. "I’ll put the glamor back as soon as I’ve rested. It takes a little out of me. I’m tired. Sorry."

  "What?” As soon as the question is out of my mouth, I figure it out. He must think I see him as an ugly, horrific monster. “W… why,” I stammer. Who could have made him believe that lie? "Mica, you are my friend, and just so you know, I think each of you look like the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen! You have nothing to be ashamed of. Period."

  His eyes spring up to me, surprised. There’s amazement on his face, a look says so much. It says he’s been shamed. Like possibly it would be too much to hope a human wouldn’t think him hideous. I don't like it one bit. I’ve seen that look many times, mostly on the homeless or crippled. I’ve seen it on others also. Anyone who is different from what ‘polite society’ deems acceptable. Polite society—what a crock! I hope to God I build others up and not tear them down, and when I mess up, someone tells me. Starting now—with my partner.

  "I think I prefer you this way. Don't use the glamor around me, Mica—just the part to be in sunshine. Not unless you think you must for your safety or we’re at work. I wish you never had to use it. I wish everyone could feel like it’s okay to be themselves. What do you think, shall we try to influence our small corner of the world toward this kind of behavior, big guy?"

  Smiling at me with a small lift of the corners of his mouth, he says, "I’d like that Edling."

  "Okay, what does ‘edling’ mean? I kinda like the sound. But if you and Kino have been calling me and idiot or dipshit in gargoyle-ese, I need to be able to get you back," I tease.

  Now he chuckles. I hold back, raising my eyebrows as is my habit. Honestly, seeing him laugh would make most people wet their pants. "Kendra, in all my years, I’ve never known anyone like you. To explain Edling, you must think of the warm feeling you get with children or small animals, then add respect. It literally means ‘noble family.’ We don’t use it lightly.

  “I need to return to Navan, the gargoyle city, where I’ll rest. You need to rest too. There’s still stuff I need to share with you. Do you think I could come back tonight?”

  "You better come back! You’re right, though. I feel much better. I think another day would be good. Then I’ll be in a good enough state to move around outside of my apartment."

  "Good, you go rest, I’ll lock up."

  While taking myself back to bed, I almost felt as if I were flying. So many new people I’ve met. The world is so much bigger than I believed. I can’t wait for Mica or Kino to come back. The things I am learning are so exhilarating.

  I’m lost in a daydream of new, previously unknown thoughts as I walk my left shoulder directly into the door jamb. Pain shoots through my torso as I impact the wall. “All right, dummy, watch where you’re going before you hurt yourself,” I chastise, as I make it to bed without any further accidents.

  Mica

  I fly to Navan. It’s my day off from the Park Rangers. I have reports to file for Mega here. I’m going to my ‘goyle-cave’ room, as I call it. I’ve heard my human friends speak of their ‘man-caves’. I laugh to myself thinking, they don’t have any idea what a real cave is.

  As I sit writing out the reports to Mega, I leave him a personal message, asking if I can bring Kendra to Navan this evening. I believe she’s healthy enough, and she’s c
ertainly ready for more revelations. Sometimes, I muse, it’s easier to show someone than tell them some things. That is, if she doesn't take my head off when she finds out I hired an off-duty officer from the National Park Service as a guard during the daytime. One who is at her house right now. We’ll see.

  Pulling out my tablet, I leave a message for Spar. I know he misses his lady, maybe this will help. Message sent, now I’m going to rest until evening I’ve been doing a lot and not sleeping much. When I get back to Cueva Hallow later, I’ll... I’ve got to clear my head and rest. I stand and pose, concentrating on relaxing for the change. I roar. The pain is worse when I am tired. Now, sleep!

  Spar

  "Dad, can you tell me, has the High Guild made any decisions yet?" So strange—sometimes I’m so comfortable calling him Dad. He’s in my heart. Part of me.

  "Yes, I can tell you. We do not keep our plans secret from each other. The Guild has decided to send a contingent to the humans’ Alumbradai to ask for their help. They need to know of the threat,” he tells me, concentrating on his tablet as he types into it. “Do you feel up to being part of the contingent?"

  "Yes,” I blurt out a bit fast and loud. Softer, and under more control, I add, “I want to help if I can."

  Mega smiles. “I have news concerning Kendra, Spar.”

  I stop dead in my tracks, so I can hear every word.

  “Mica has reported she was attacked again last evening."

  "I have to go." I’m going to go and kill someone.

  Mega holds me back, telling me the rest of the story. I feel very grateful for Mica and Kino’s protection over her. Yet, I still feel the need to go to her.

  "Son, Mica has asked if he might bring her to Navan tonight, so she will have a better understanding of our people. The King and I have granted his request. There is a chance she will be ready to see you. You must trust Mica and Kino to know if she can handle the stress or not. Is it possible you can wait, if she is not ready?"

  That’s not what I want. I want to see her and be with her. For her to know I’m still me in this different shape. I want her to be okay—healed and whole, mind, body, and soul. I know Mega can communicate with my mind, but can he read minds too?

  I grudgingly say, “I’ll be okay. I’ll trust them, Dad."

  He nods his head in approval. “I will need you to get some clothes made for the trip. The tailor is about a klick down from the lunchroom. Will you go?”

  I tell him yes. I’ve been wearing old jeans, no shirt, and no shoes. Heck, I’ll bet I can’t get into the lunchroom dressed like this. I wonder to myself, what does a gargoyle wear to a summit meeting with humans?

  Mega asks me, “While you are there, will you please pick up my clothes from the tailor as well? Earlier, he sent me a message informing me they are ready to be picked up.”

  I let him know I will, and he leaves for his business meetings.

  I pick up my tablet and read a message from Mica. He tells me he’s going to be busy and this is a day off for me. That’s fine with me. I’m going to go get clothes anyway. I tuck my tablet into my pocket and take off in the direction of the lunchroom.

  The air is nice in the caves. Nice doesn't describe how beautiful it is here. The formations are lit with lights from the mage jars. Some majestic formations that look like falls are up ahead, close to a circular area of stalagmites with a small pool that follows the wall of this room.

  There are some people laughing close to the edge of the widest part of the pool. It isn't big, maybe only 10 to 12 feet across at its widest, but it’s much longer. So much so that I can’t see the end. The laughing group are throwing something. Well, that can't be good. Working in the caverns, I know how fragile the cave formations can be. They take thousands of years to form, but only a few minutes to destroy. One of the first things I thought after getting here was how beautiful it is. I also marveled at how it had obviously been cared for, since the cave habitat has not been destroyed.

  I better go ask them to stop. I know the Guild wouldn't want our caves trashed, plus I can’t let go of that part of my former life.

  When I reach the group, I verify my suspicion. They are stumbling around, weaving on their feet, shouting. They seem to be drunk, which might be a possibility, because they have beer cans and bottles thrown all over the place. Some of the glass ones are broken.

  My mood is going from good to not so good after seeing the mess up close. A man-sized gargoyle sees me coming and throws his beer bottle at me. I dodge. I should have tried to catch it or let it hit me. It would have made for a better entry. The bottle was full and breaks on the rocks. "Hey, no need for that. I just wanted to know what y’all were doing. Why are you tearing up our home?"

  “Uh, this is not your home, mister. It’s ours and we can do with it as we please. You can leave. We don't want your kind here. What are you anyway? Some kind of freak?”

  Before I can respond, he turns and hits me with a hundred-pound tail, and it’s sharp. “Oomph.” it knocks me back, but I don't fall. I do have a cut across my chest, though.

  "Will you just listen to me for a minute?"

  The guy stops, his eyes wide.

  "I’m Spar. What’s your name?" I stumped him, because he is pausing. The rest of the group is lined up behind him. They’re all listening to what I have to say. So I start by telling them what I’d read. “When we first came to Navan, we had nowhere to go. Our people had been used as slaves, as pack animals, and for sex long enough. We had just won our freedom. Discovering the caves...” Yeah, they’re still listening... “We made them our home. The other races left us alone. They didn't see the beauty in what we had found. The dragons were all gone. Killed. Their heads mounted on human buildings. The big gargoyles, along with some of the little ones. If we stayed here, we didn't have to see the sacrifice our loved ones had made for us by seeing their heads mounted. We could make the most of the freedom they had bought us by making our home city beautiful without killing. We recognized the caves are living, not just stone. We decided we would care for the caves as repayment for the caves shielding and protecting us.”

  The gargoyle who had struck me says, “I remember.” He pats me on the back, telling his friends, “We shouldn't be doing this. Let's go.” Like ghosts, they leave.

  I have no idea why that worked, but I’m glad it did. I go to the lunchroom and ask for some garbage bags. They give me a whole roll. I return to the trashed area and start cleaning.

  When I have the area cleaned up, I take the trash to a recycle enterprise beside the lunchroom. I give the trash bags back to a short gargoyle in the lunchroom.

  Completing my walk to the clothing store, I ask for the tailor. Walking out with a waddle, the tailor tells me Megahir had informed them his son Spar would be coming in for clothes. They introduce themselves and relate to me how excited they are to meet me. I stand while they measure, prod, and poke. Soon, they finish and don't need me anymore; they’ll send me a message when my clothes are ready.

  I shake hands with the tailor then leave. Feeling my tablet buzz against my leg, I dig it out and check my messages. One message from Mega: “Good job passing your third test. Many people wouldn't have even tried to keep the cave from being destroyed. Your respect for the land is a testament to your ideals.” My spirits lift.

  Ten

  Flying

  Kendra

  I’ve read the last chapter of my book three times, and I still don’t remember a single word. It’s time to put it away. I can’t sleep; I can’t read. I don’t want to eat anything. I think I’ll watch a…

  What was that noise? I’m sure I just heard something in the kitchen. As quietly as I can, I sneak my Glock out of the nightstand, tiptoe to the bedroom door, and open it a crack. Sure enough, through the opening I can see a man in my kitchen. Somebody’s about to get shot!

  “Kendra,” I tell myself, “don’t you dare make a mess in that fridge. Wait for him to close the refrigerator door first. That’s a mess you don’t want
to clean unless you absolutely have to.”

  Opening the door all the way, I step into the living room and yell, "Federal law enforcement, dirt bag. Hands up!”

  As the perpetrator turns with his hands in the air, I can’t believe it.

  "John! What in Sam-hill are you doing here?"

  “Your partner, Mica, hired me. He said he had some business to take care of and he’d pay me to guard while he was gone. Kendra, please lower the gun. I promise, I'll put the sandwich back. Just put the gun down.”

  I lower my weapon, put the safety back on, put it back in the nightstand, and then walk back toward him.

  "Sorry, John. I had no idea anyone would be here. You scared the shit out of me! Though, now that I’m awake and not likely to go back to sleep, you can go. I’m fine now."

  John adds, "…After you finish your sandwich? No, ‘Come sit and have some tea with me?’ No, ‘How was your day John?’ Just, ‘Get your shit and leave. I don't need you around.’ Story of my life. See you at work. By the way, I’m glad to see you’re doing so well," John tells me as he walks toward the door.

  "Okay, okay, I get it. Sorry, I'm a little snarky. I just woke up. But I don't need a babysitter. I'm better now. Come over here and finish your sandwich. Tell me what is up at work.”

  He’s his usual silly-self and has me laughing in no time.

  “Ouch! No more jokes, John. Hurts, not as much as yesterday though. Thank you, Lord—I’m getting better. I just wish it was quicker.”

  John and I have a good visit, then he leaves. I’m sure John knows what happened at work. Other than that, there’s no way Mica told him about the Ceorfan, gargoyles, or any other of the odd things I’ve recently come to know.

  I think I’d like to go up to the roof. On second thought, I may be setting myself up to be an easy target. I'll wait for dark.