Chapter 8
Chapter eight
Lenna
The gargoyle straightened and stretched out its wings, motioning for Lenna to walk into the portal.
Lenna took two steps towards the pulsing light and paused, opening her mouth to speak–the gargoyle’s paw shot out, gently shoving her through.
There was a brilliant flash, and Lenna braced, screamed, and closed her eyes against the unknown.
Next to her the gargoyle chucked. “Open your eyes, Oracle. We have arrived in the Opal Kingdom.”
Lenna warily opened one eye, taking in the scenery around her.
She was curled in the fetal position, summer air and a beautiful cloudless day greeting her.
The forest of dense trees she was in just a moment ago was gone, with no evidence of rain or lingering mist. The field of grass she lay on was soft and warm under her, brushing gently in the breeze.
She exhaled, her gaze bouncing around her surroundings, until she looked back for the stone-like monster from the forest, and surprise dropped her jaw.
Where the gargoyle had been seconds before now sat a tall and very muscular man.
He wore all black from his pants to his loose cotton shirt, save for the broad grey belt wrapped around his middle, showing off a large sword sheath.
Lenna could barely make out a set of small wings crested in blue stones at the top of the pommel.
She scrambled up and away, instinct taking over.
The man let out a rough laugh, his dark brown eyes cautious but pleasant.
Lenna’s gaze shot to the large grey wings protruding from his back, and the slate hued horns that swept out above his shaggy brown hair.
“I told you I looked much better in a land with magic.” He was sitting next to her in the grass, arms wrapped casually around his knee, watching her with wicked amusement as she backed away.
His tanned skin shone almost bronze in the sun, and five thick, black, tattooed bands wrapped around his right forearm.
Standing with a grunt, ignoring the fear in Lenna’s face, the man stretched.
“After being a Sentry for weeks, it’s weird being back on two legs.
” He dusted off his pants and extended a hand to Lenna.
“Merrick,” he said as a way of greeting.
A grin was flashed, his teeth, now pearly white, and much less pointy, save for two sharp looking canines, made Lenna relax a fraction of an inch.
Lenna gingerly slid her fingers against his callused palm.
He towered over her by a foot. “Lenna,” she breathed as Merrick shook her hand, practically holding her up.
She may not have been the best judge of character in Doortan, but as she appraised the man in front of her, it was his kind eyes that she focused on, reminded her tensed body of.
“Well, Lenna, it’s nice to formally meet you.” Merrick released her hand, stretching his wings out. They looked similar to the wings on the gargoyle from the forest. Grey, leathery, yes–but with intricate scales like a snake. The membranes of the wings caught the sun and seemed to almost glow.
“What are you?” Lenna asked cautiously.
Merrick smirked, another good sign to Lenna that he was not reconsidering eating her.
“A gargoyle,” he admitted. “That part is true. But in your land with stifled magic, humans can only see me when I am in my Sentry form. The stoney-looking beast that you had the pleasure of meeting is what I shift into when I enter the Slate Kingdom. In the Opal Kingdom, this is my true form, since there is magic in these lands. I must say, I prefer it here.” Merrick looked around, taking in the surroundings.
“Well, it looks like we made it to Spinella. Let’s go, much to do. ”
Lenna stayed where she was. Crossing her arms, her red hair glistened like fire under the summer sun, the curls starting to frizz as they dried from the rain she left behind in Doortan.
Not even bothering to ask where or what a Spinella was, she faced the man.
“You said you would explain more if I went with you. I went with you–so, explain.”
She watched a muscle jump in Merrick’s jaw, and he sighed roughly, pushing his dark hair out of his face.
If she was now truly annoying him, she didn’t care.
She just uprooted everything she knew in life on a wild whim and wasn’t sure yet what else to do but stay with this towering man and hopefully get some answers.
Answers from a mythical creature.
Lenna still had half a mind that she may have gone mad.
Doortan felt a million miles away in her brain, and this new mysterious land called to her soul in a wicked and wild manner.
It may have been the overwhelming emotional toll, or the easing of her mind that she was someplace new, that caused the delirious giggle to escape from her throat as a tingling sensation spread from the tips of her fingers, up her arms, until her body erupted into goosebumps and she doubled over, gasping for air as she laughed at the absolute absurdity of this entire situation.
Merrick pursed his lips, staring down at Lenna as she coughed, her fit of hysteria subsiding.
“I’m going to give you the gist of it–when we get someplace safe.
” He scanned the horizon. “We need to get into town. I have a friend there that is waiting on us.” Dryly, Merrick added, “He won’t eat you either, before you ask.
Unfortunately, he’s much more refined in a lot of ways. ”
“How is this place not safe?” Lenna questioned, throwing her arms out wide, fascinated with the nature around her.
There wasn’t a soul to be seen in the field of tall, green grass.
It was serene. So peaceful. But under the surface, her heartbeat hammered in her chest. The breeze blew gently, wafting the scent of freedom through her.
Her giddiness overwhelmed any sort of common sense.
Free.
Overwhelmed, nervous, unsure, but free. She stared in wonder at the gargoyle, so still and rigid next to her.
Her small jolt of joy crumbled at his fierce expression, leaving unease to grip her tight, a whiplash of emotions churning through Lenna as she blew out a shaky breath. Deciding on a course of action, she settled on the path to obtain solid answers.
A growl reverberated out of Merrick’s throat, and Lenna knew she was getting under that bronzed skin, but though she surreptitiously relaxed her shoulders, she noted her own irritation growing and coiling in her belly with his half-truths and the later talk.
Maybe she hadn’t made the right decision to go through the portal–the portal that conveniently disappeared the moment Merrick had introduced himself.
No way back now.
The thought rang through her. There was no room for indecisiveness.
Merrick interrupted her contemplation. “Let’s put it this way–the previous Oracle didn’t just die, he was murdered.
Every royal with half a brain cell or a fraction of skin in the hunt for power wants you on their side.
Oracles win wars, more than any sword or magic.
You have the one thing all royals desire–the ability to see the past. The one who controls the Oracle, controls the view of history. ”
A tidal wave of fear crashed over her. With every sentence, Lenna had more and more questions, more uneasiness. “Did you just bring me into a war?” Lenna blanched. Her thoughts turned dark. The portal was gone. Did she leave Doortan willingly? Yes.
So, why did she now feel trapped?
“It’s not that cut and dry yet… But maybe?
” He shook his head, a muscle in his jaw feathering.
“Again–we have got to go.” Merrick shot his eyes skyward, his features unreadable as he scanned their surroundings again.
“I swear I will explain more soon, but we are very vulnerable out here, and there are certain fights I cannot win.”
With that, and the fear Lenna heard in Merrick’s gruff voice, she relented.
Once again crossing her arms, she trailed behind the gargoyle as he stalked through the field, looking to the horizon and the sky as he went, his hand never straying from the pommel of his sheathed sword.
Even though she had no idea what he was watching out for, she found herself doing the same.
After hours of walking, with Merrick slowing only when Lenna lagged to let her catch a breath, a small cluster of cottages came into view beneath the last of the rolling green fields.
Lenna’s legs burned with every step further from Doortan.
Every step reminded her she had no clothes, no money, nothing but the cloak on her back.
She didn’t let her mind go past that. Didn’t want to think of what was happening in Doortan, where Marlo and Orla were, what Leon probably thought.
Lenna gleaned little as they walked. Merrick explained that they headed towards the town of Spinella, how it was the safest place for her to be right now, and that his friend also had her best interests in mind.
Lenna tried reading between the lines, but Merrick said with no uncertainty that he still was not sure about her, and he did not want to give her more information until he could trust her better.
So, Lenna, between gasping breaths from their hike, filled the silence with her life’s story.
If Merrick cared or was even listening, was hard to say.
No responses or follow-up questions were aimed in her direction.
He seemed to miss a step and stumble slightly when Lenna told him about the black gargoyle from her dream that tried to attack her, but with no other reaction, Lenna chalked it up to him tripping on one of the scattered rocks in their path.
Their feet met with the crunch of dirt, leading them to a road large enough for a carriage to meander down. They followed the well-worn trail for another half hour before reaching the first of the cottages.
From certain angles, Lenna could make out a sheen of something covering the homes.
When she asked her quiet companion, he grunted out that it was protection magic the townsfolks had recently enacted since they lived outside the hustle and bustle of the city limits itself. And then reminded her to keep walking.
Lenna didn’t see any of the cottages' inhabitants, save for a few cows grazing in wooden pens. And one very large rooster. The beastie would have come up to her hips if she stood near it. Between feathers of reddish brown, bright gold plumes dotted down its back, mirroring its curved golden beak. And almost as if the rooster could feel her stare, it turned and scowled at her. Lenna quickened her pace, almost tripping on Merrick’s heels to put as much distance as possible between her and the unnaturally large bird.
“It won’t eat you either,” Merrick chuckled tightly, as the massive beastie hopped over to the slatted wood fence, giving Lenna a defensive glare. “Fire Chickens only eat fleas, grass, and the occasional rabbit. No taste for Oracle flesh.”
Before Lenna could ask why it was called a Fire Chicken, the beastie let out a hoarse croak and a spurt of flame shot out of its beak.
Lenna did collide with Merrick this time, but it didn’t knock him off kilter an inch.
Merrick shot Lenna a bemused look as she struggled to righten herself.
“I’ve seen your scrawny roosters in the Slate Kingdom, and honestly, I can’t believe you eat those things. ”
“You don’t eat Fire Chickens?” Lenna asked, as the beastie and its yard disappeared around a bend in the road.
“No, Fire Chickens are the best guards for a house to have. If you raise them from chicks, they will defend your home until their last breath. That one’s been there for decades. Sometimes, it will even follow its owner into town and hiss at people who get too close.”
“You live in Spinella?” Lenna looked around.
The peaceful cottages had ivy curling up their stones, wooden doors that showcased intricate carvings of plants, vines, and animals, carefully painted in vivid hues.
Colorful ceramic pots filled with budding flowers nestled between garden patches, and eruptions of well-maintained foliage were planted lovingly in yards next to the dirt path.
It was very much the quaint country life.
She couldn’t imagine the hulking man with grey horns, deadly looking wings, and the muscled body of a warrior fitting into this place.
Merrick sighed, “I did, a very, very long time ago. I like to come back and visit now when I can. It’s peaceful here usually, and I have friends that still live in town. It’s definitely not as big as where you came from, but still has always been a home for me.”
It was Lenna’s turn to give him a chuckle back. “A very, very long time? You don’t look older than twenty-five.”
White teeth flashed in another wicked grin. “Thank you. I’m actually one hundred and twelve.”
Lenna almost sat down in the dirt. “You’re joking with me,” she said flatly, looking him over again. The tanned skin, the lush brown hair, the beard just long enough to begin curling–no flecks of grey, no wrinkles–just muscle on every inch of his body and youth in his dark brown eyes.
“Nope.” Merrick shrugged. “In your land, humans age differently because there’s no magic.
Here, once we hit a certain age, we don’t age past it for centuries.
I’ve looked more or less the same since I was about twenty-five.
” He raised his eyebrows and side-eyed Lenna.
“It’ll be the same for you, if you stay in a land of magic.
I’ve seen humans reach five hundred. Granted, they’re wrinkly old crones once they reach three hundred, but it’s just the way the magic works.
And magic affects everyone differently. With you being the new Oracle, too, who knows.
The last Oracle was over eight hundred years old before his untimely death. ”
Lenna’s knees did give out at that, and she did end up plopping down in the dirt.
“Eight hundred,” she whispered, “I could live that long?” Merrick glanced down the road and then back at Lenna.
Her hair had come unbound, and her curls framed her face.
Gripping the edges of her cloak tighter to her body, she fought through her panicked emotions.
Lenna wasn’t sure whether it was pain, or grief, or something…
disbelieving, hoping. “I’ll be fifty-two in a month,” she finally said.
Her eyes locked on Merrick as he stood over her.
Merrick snorted out a laugh, offering her his hand. “Then I’d say you are a very young lady.”