The Fall of Brackenbone
Author: Roy Huff
Date: 2015-05-02 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Fantasy; Young Adult; Time Travel; Science Fiction; Fiction
Description: Two very different worlds, Easton Falls University and the magical realm of Everville are in dire need of a hero. Owen Sage embarks on an epic journey of monumental proportions to save these worlds all while fighting to keep the world within himself intact. This quest is not for the faint of heart nor is it for the weak of mind—only the bravest will succeed. Discovering the well-kept secret of The Fourth Pillar of Truth is only part of the feat. Owen will have to outwit the ever-powerful villain Governor Jahal and overcome countless other challenges along the way. Amongst all of the dragons, g

This book is fiction. Any resemblance to real names, events, persons, or organizations is purely coincidental.

Edited by Ocean’s Edge Editing.

Cover by Damonza.com

Copyright by Roy Huff All Rights Reserved.

Published May1st 2015 by Roy Huff

ISBN: 978-0-988936-46-1

Visit Roy Huff on the World Wide Web at
www.owensage.com
www.goodreads.com/evervillefans

This book is dedicated to family members of those
suffering from bipolar disorder and other mental illness

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Fortified 1

Chapter 2: New Beginnings 17

Chapter 3: Jacob 27

Chapter 4: Governor Laveda 34

Chapter 5: Second Semester 44

Chapter 6: The Hunt 54

Chapter 7: The Waterfront 64

Chapter 8: The New Normal 73

Chapter 9: Happenings 81

Chapter 10: The Second Pillar 94

Chapter 11: The Truce 105

Chapter 12: Advancing Armies 115

Chapter 13: Secrets 126

Chapter 14: The Fourth Pillar 138

Chapter 15: Memories. 151

Chapter 16: The Return 164

Chapter 17: Desires 177

Chapter 18: The Fall of Brackenbone 189

Chapter 19: Rivers of Stone 201

Chapter 20: The Return Home 214

Chapter 1

Fortified

In a realm surrounding Everville, beyond the land of the Fron, Rathlar the dragon made Brackenbone his home. He was no ordinary dragon, he was an Alarian, a shape-shifting species from an alternate universe, and he was capable of great feats. He stood tall like a sulfur-tinged mountain, and strong like the roots of an ancient oak tree. The scales on his body shimmered like an emerald with a thousand facets, and his wings held the power of countless soldiers.

Brackenbone was the perfect home for such a magnificent beast. Its city walls were smelted from the ore found beyond The Walls of Vermogen, and its villages rivaled even those found in Vortmore during its prime.

Hidden behind the rear city gates, Rathlar stood guard over all the land. Should any power-hungry foes attempt to charge The Walls of Vermogen or capture the powerful element stored within, Rathlar would be there to stop them.

The sun hung low on the horizon, dusk about to smother the fading light. This was Rathlar’s cue to depart the city and make his journey to Vermogen. He rested, nestled by the gate in a curled position, calm but alert.

As Rathlar was about to embark on his daily trek, two small figures crept up behind him. Beads of sweat dripped from their faces. Step by step, they made a slow and deliberate approach. They eyed the dragon’s position and timed their motions to coincide with the turns and departure of the massive creature. Armed with a cache of special tools and weapons, they inched their way toward the back entrance of the city, hoping to secretly enter.

Despite their stealth, Rathlar caught a glimmer of the two soldiers in the corner of his eye and sprang into action. He used his powerful legs to thrust his body high above the ground then spread his massive wings, turning in midair to face the trespassers and let forth a deafening roar and a fiery breath that scorched the clothing of those who were too close, filling the air with the smell of ash.

Rathlar lunged towards the group of Ubaloo soldiers and used his shape-shifting power to make the most intimidating face and fiercest growl any of them had ever seen.

Several of the Ubaloo warriors’ knees buckled as they shrieked in fright and fell to the ground. The dirty water raced up the soldiers’ legs, soaking them completely, washing away the stink of sweat and replacing it with the smell of wet mud. In that instant, terror seized the Ubaloo and for a moment they forgot why they were there.

Rathlar calmed his frightful face and allowed his features to melt into a genuine smile. His impenetrable leather skin lifted over his large sharp teeth as the broad grin morphed into a hearty chuckle.

The dragon’s sudden transformation mesmerized the Ubaloo soldiers, who had frozen in place. A chorus of cheerful laughs soon followed.

“Excellent, Rathlar!” shouted the officer in charge of the dragon’s training. “I don’t think any creature stands a chance against such a mighty dragon.”

Rathlar had begun his training right after he’d parted ways with his former master. Now fully mature, he was an expert of his shape-shifting and fighting capabilities.

Although the notorious Mallory had trained him for the last great battle, Rathlar no longer possessed the immense power of the element that had once occupied his body. It was necessary to train again—taking into account his new limitations and the unique needs of Brackenbone and its inhabitants— protecting the city built around the Ubaloos’ small stature, and defending The Walls of Vermogen. It was The Walls of Vermogen that prevented the element from falling into enemy hands.

Several small Ubaloo soldiers walked behind Rathlar and stared up at him, allowing the dragon’s presence and immense stature to comfort them. Rathlar’s training with the soldiers had been extensive and long. It lasted years in Everville time, but it wasn’t until today that the Ubaloo general felt satisfied with the dragon’s training.

“Break off. Time to eat,” one of the officers said in the distance after an exhausting day of training, smelling of sweat and satisfaction.

Hundreds of miniature Ubaloo swarmed around Rathlar, waiting for their hefty rations of food. He welcomed their presence as they all rested and feasted upon the spoils of a hard fought day.

“It’s hard to believe that not so long ago our people barely staved off the occupation of this great city,” Faine said to Asher, his friend and fellow Ubaloo soldier whom he’d fought alongside in the last great battle.

“I know,” Asher said. “It’s amazing to think that Them and the Alarians almost destroyed Brackenbone and the portals. Now The Walls of Vermogen and the portals once again stand as gates, protecting us from invaders.”

“It is a lucky turn of events,” Faine replied with confidence. “I can’t imagine anyone who would want to fight us now, or what harm they could possibly inflict given the current state of affairs.”

“The tide has turned, but we mustn’t forget that the threat of war looms hidden just below the horizon. The enemy strikes the instant arrogance blinds you to the threats that cannot be seen,” a captain in the generals army said.

Shortly thereafter, Felix, Faine, and Asher passed through the rear gates of Brackenbone’s capital. The city was dense, dotted with a few large brick buildings intermingled among tightly-packed thatched homes, the roads and walkways all cobblestone. Two massive gates protected the city’s front and rear. There was, however, no moat, no castle, and no king.

With the help of a general from each land, The Keepers reigned as wise oligarchs over all the realms surrounding Everville, including Brackenbone. The inhabitants of each realm stood as their own militia and gained help from the army of giants whenever a threat grew too menacing. With a truce among the enemy, and the Alarians now allies with Everville, those who resided in the area were content that the surrounding realms were safe… for the time being.

A short while later, after the trio of uncertain heroes, Felix, Faine, and Asher, made it through the city gates, they heard a great commotion.

“Heads up!” shouted an Ubaloo soldier off in the distance.

A massive stone meant to help fortify the great wall surrounding the city slipped from its harness and raced towards the ground.

“Get out of the way!”

The huge rock gathered momentum and as it neared the walls, those in the area scrambled away in fear. Several Ubaloo children fell to the ground in terror, powerless to get out of its way.

Rathlar, unaffected by the general panic, transformed into a shifting black vapor, an eddy of smoke that made its way towards the plunging boulder, and as quickly as the boulder had escaped the grip of its harness, a reassuring hand emerged from the cloud and pulled the giant stone up the hill and back into its holster.

Rathlar made sure the stone was safely secured before he resumed his dragon form. After which, the sound of cheers greeted him, and the Ubaloo responsible for the slip breathed a huge sigh of relief. The mistake, however, did not go unnoticed by the general.

After the commotion settled, Rathlar rested against the ground. Felix, Faine, an Asher all saw how the incident had weakened him. His power had limits. It was not like before when the element coursed through his body, as it once did for of all the Alarians who’d fought alongside him in the last great battle. Great force was needed to change shape, and without the constant power the element provided, the dragon would lose strength whenever he transformed. Regardless of his new limits, Rathlar was a hero in the eyes of the citizens, but the general knew well that Rathlar was not invincible. Brackenbone was vulnerable, even with a powerful dragon as its ally.

Later that evening, the Ubaloo general, Randore, met with the military leaders in their most fortified building to discuss the current state of affairs. The fortress had seven stories of pepper-colored stone stretched out one-quarter of the city’s width and served as the city’s final place of refuge.

General Randore wore full military gear, his dagger holstered on one side and his sword on the other. The oldest and strongest among them, he stood a full inch taller than all the other Ubaloo, each of whom stood little more than that of a large housecat. The general’s countenance was that of an undefeated warrior, yet somehow peaceful, as if quieted by resolute determination.

“I am very pleased that our people have maintained the truce and that we have enjoyed a prolonged peace,” the general said, feasting on the food spread out on a large table.

“Rathlar is a great asset to the land of Brackenbone, and we have made great strides in repairing the damage to both The Walls of Vermogen and much of our city. Cleary, though, Rathlar cannot be in two places at once, and he is unable to shape-shift without getting weaker. Therefore, we must fortify our great city and The Walls of Vermogen even more heavily fortified than they are now.”

“I agree, General,” said one of the captains. “We have already used the special ore from the cave behind the walls to construct the brick for the buildings. What do you suggest we do now?”

“We can add another layer of stone and position more soldiers behind the city gates and alongside The Walls of Vermogen. We could also dispatch spies in each of the realm along the network of portals.”

“I’ll call up a contingent of soldiers at dawn to carry out your orders, General,” the captain replied.

“Excellent. We must always be prepared for war, even at the height of tranquility. We need to ensure that this fleeting peace does not lull our land into a sense of complacency.”

Meanwhile, in the earthly realm across the vast expanse, it was the last day of winter break, and Owen Sage was once again about to embark on his journey as a college student. He was rested and eager to embrace the new experiences that awaited him at Easton Falls University; his only regret was not having more time to spend with his dad, Lucas.

Owen’s father stood in the living room, a nostalgic look on his face, as if he were pining for something from his childhood. “You know, I wish I said it more often son, but I love you,” he said.

“I love you too, Dad,” Owen replied.

Lucas stared upon Owen’s face, which now possessed an ageless wisdom and a calm serenity well beyond his years.

“I wish we’d had more time to catch up on things, but I promise we’ll talk more next time you’re here.”

“I’d like that very much. I’m glad things worked out so we can have you back again. I know Mom is happy,” Owen said.

“Before you go, I just wanted to tell you that there’s still a lot we should talk about,” Lucas said just as Owen’s friends pulled into the driveway. He paused for a few moments after he had regained Owen’s attention, and it was obvious that he had thought long and hard about whatever was on his mind.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t have the opportunity to spend more time with you when you were younger, and I’m glad that I’ve had a chance to reclaim some of that lost time.”

“I know, Dad, but you’re here now, and that’s the important thing,” Owen replied with sincerity.

Owen’s mom, Amelia, walked over, wrapped her arms around Owen and gave him a smothering hug. She smelled like crispy bacon mixed with orange-scented dish soap. From the table she picked up a covered package. “Your dad made this for you. I forgot how well he can cook,” Amelia said, glancing at her husband with an affectionate grin.

Lucas smiled with genuine pride, an emotion that he had denied himself for as long as he could remember.

“What is it?”

“It’s your dad’s specialty. Just be sure to heat it up again before you eat it. It tastes best warm.”

Amelia handed him the wrapped container. It was neatly sealed, but the smell seeped through the cracks. It had a comforting, hearty aroma, with hints of beef and cheese. Owen would have eaten it right then and there if he hadn’t had a very large meal just moments before.

“I hope you like it, something to remember your dad by.”

“If it tastes as good as it smells, I’m sure I will. Thanks, Dad, Mom.”

“You’ve grown into such a handsome man. You look just like your father,” Owen’s mom said as she placed her hands on his shoulders.

Owen was taller than the both of them. In the last few months he had grown his final two inches and now stood an even six feet tall, an inch taller than his dad. They looked like brothers, just a few decades apart. Owen was now more muscular, but they shared the same look of intensity. Owen’s smile, though, he’d inherited from his mom.

After a few more prolonged hugs, Owen left for school in Anika’s car, along with Dante, both of whom waved at Owen’s parents as Anika drove away.

After returning to Easton Falls University and unpacking, Owen spent the second half of his day planning out his schedule and meeting up with friends. It was time now, though, to meet with Cleophas, one of his old mentors and the leader of the Echo Club. His best friends, Anika and Dante, joined him on the journey.

“I can’t believe how cold it is,” Dante said as he shivered beneath the midnight-black goose down coat that covered his body like a second skin.

They had all bundled up in a heavy winter garb, but Dante had on a few extra layers on him. The coat nearly reached his knees, and he had donned two pairs of long underwear for extra warmth.

“It’s really cold, even for the middle of January in New England,” Owen replied.

A bone-chilling wind howled just as the words escaped Owen’s lips. The tree limbs that lined the sidewalk sang a melody as they rattled against one another. Soon, a prolonged gust of air joined the chorus and blew directly at Owen and his friends, nearly knocking them over. As they pressed forward, a whirlwind of fallen leaves flew by and pelted their already chapped skin.

They walked closer together to conserve warmth, and in spite of the thick snow managed to muddle through the ocean of white flakes. The snow covered up much of the subtlety of the school’s Gothic architecture, but the overall shape of the spires and gargoyles remained. Just as it was time for the sun to set, the snow finally stopped falling from the overcast sky. Barely then end of the afternoon, it was getting dark fast, and the fading blue-grey light that bled through the thinning high clouds cast an even colder impression on the campus.

“These are the times I question my decision to come to this school,” Dante struggled to say through chattering teeth. “Maybe I should have gone to a school in Florida or Hawaii.”

“Well, at least the cold makes it easier to get homework done,” Anika replied.

“How was your winter break?” Owen asked.

“I slept a lot and watched television. It was a much needed rest,” Dante muttered through his shivering lips.

“What about you, Anika?”

Anika sounded nonchalant yet eager. “Nothing exciting, thankfully. I just sat around the house by the fire and read a bunch of good books, took a break from all the drama.”

“Why does it seem like this walk is taking longer than normal?” Dante asked.

“Well, I guess it’s because it is, with all the wind and thick blowing snow. Maybe we should try to pick up the pace,” Owen suggested.

After another ten minutes, they approached the Echo Club headquarters. As they walked in, Cleophas stood behind the door with a huge smile on his chiseled face, towering over them with an air of assurance and familiarity. The wind gave one last gasp before it slammed the door shut with a loud bang as they entered.

“It’s so wonderful to see you all here again, healthy and safe!” Cleophas said with a smile.

“I think we’re all happy to see you as well, and in better condition,” Owen responded.

“Well, yes. For that I have you to thank, Owen, though all of you played your part in helping to win the last battle against Mallory and restore order both here and in Everville. I’m glad to say that I have once again taken back the leadership reins here at the Echo Club, in large part due to the fact that the doctors gave me a clean bill of health.”

“That’s awesome! How are things with your wife Dala?” Anika asked.

“They couldn’t be better,” he said as his face beamed.

“Come with me. There are some people who I’m sure will be glad to see you.”

Cleophas led them through the inner room of the club. Upon their arrival, all the other current members of the Echo Club, who had been talking amongst themselves in the center chamber, greeted them cheerily.

“Care for some hot chocolate?” one of the club’s eager new male student helpers asked while looking at the three of them.

“Sounds great,” Dante said, while the others nodded yes.

Dante rubbed his hands and took off his coat. The old brick fireplace warmed the room, and his extra layers of clothing were making him sweaty.

“Well, a lot has changed since we all met here the last time,” Cleophas said as he began the informal meeting. “Owen’s success in finding The Third Pillar of Truth and in helping us win another great battle in Everville has had vast consequences. Those of you that your fellow schoolmate, Jacob captured and sent away have returned, and all those who were forced into a coma have regained their lives, including my wife Dala.”

Cleophas stopped speaking for a moment, his masculine voice giving way to fragility, his eyes beginning to swell. He fought back the tears that tried to escape before he finally regained his typical stoic appearance.

“Zee’s father, Professor Samil, returned as well. And one more thing… Jacob doesn’t go to this school anymore. He no longer has a wealthy adoptive family. I think you should take a trip to see him for yourselves.”

“Serves him right,” said Anika, “after the way he treated you and after what he did to all of us. I’m not sure I want to see him.”

Cleophas thought back to the time before the new timeline, a time when Jacob had deceived him. The memory was still very fresh in his mind. He remembered the exact moment, and as he did, he heard Jacob expel the words as if they had just escaped his lips.

Jacob took his free hand and grabbed Cleophas’ throat. He pressed down hard and listened while Cleophas gasped for air.

‘Listen. Do you hear that? That’s the sound of an old man who’s already close to death wondering if this is the moment he’s going to die.’

Cleophas was not afraid of death, and he had come to terms with the pain that he had experienced over his very long life, which was now well beyond retirement. It had given him the courage and strength he needed to face even more challenges, to work in the capacity of a mentor in The Echo Club. Now that Owen had changed history by defeating Mallory, Cleophas could enjoy what was once lost and still have the prudence that is earned through hardship.

Cleophas put the words and memory out of his head before he spoke.

“I understand your feelings, Anika, but you should never wish ill on anyone, even the most evil among us. Jacob is not the same person he once was. He still wields potential for great power, but at this moment he is weaker than all of us.”

“I don’t know, Cleophas. Why shouldn’t we be thrilled at Jacob’s demise? He certainly deserves it,” Dante chided.

“Cleophas is right,” Owen said. “Victory is important, but there is no benefit in enjoying the suffering of others, even if they merit it. As corrupt as a person may be, there are often circumstances beyond our knowledge. We risk letting negative consequences consume our souls in allowing hate… or in reveling in the pleasure of someone else’s misery.”

“Those are wise words, Owen,” Cleophas said.

“I guess you are right,” Anika said. “I mean… if you can get past what he did to you, then I suppose we could at least give it a try. But still, is there a reason for us to meet up with him?”

“I think you all need to go and find out on your own.”

“Where is he now?” Anika asked.

Cleophas hesitated before saying, “I’ll take you to him.”

“Can we rest a bit before we go? I’m still freezing my butt off,” Dante responded.

Cleophas smiled at Dante. “Ahh, well, yes. Here, have another cup of hot chocolate.” Cleophas said as he motioned to one of the helpers to bring over another toasty mug over to Dante.

Chapter 2

New Beginnings

In the land of Everville, the happy hairless Fron were busy carrying out their usual carefree tasks. The ground in Everville had the vibrancy of a thousand rainbows, and the hills contained the promise of infinite lifetimes. The multitude of creatures that resided in the peaceful land enjoyed its abundance. It was an Eden restored from a vanquished evil and the Fron did not hesitate to enjoy it. Time continued to march forward, and those that resided there were most joyful.

Below ground in his workshop, The Keeper, a bastion of wisdom and fortitude, gazed across the portal to Brackenbone. He stood tall and motionless, with a firm grip on his staff. His dark robe hid his full height, but the expression on his face and the creases that lined it revealed a glimpse of his thoughts.

“What’s bothering you, Keeper?” Toe asked.

“Our land has been restored, Toe, but an important task was left undone. I fear that this could be our undoing.”

“What task?”

The Keeper did not reply for a few moments. Then he said, “Complacency is a great evil. It fools people into thinking that all is well until the enemy is about to strike… but that is not what bothers me the most.”

“Owen Sage was victorious,” said Toe. “Our land is safe. The truce with Them has been in place for some time. Must there always be a foe waiting to pounce?”

“It’s not an invading army that worries me, Toe. It’s a short memory combined with good intentions that is the most troublesome. Many great realms have fallen before us. Complacency and arrogance are usually the culprits. Complacency leads to arrogance, and arrogance tempts its victims to repeat the sins of the past.”

“What is the task you speak of? What was left undone? Do you think those that reside in The Other In Between are going to break their truce? I was hoping, and many among us believe, that it will remain permanent.”

“Many tasks were left unfinished, but you will find out soon enough what troubles me the most.”

“Should we warn our people? What can I do?”

“Go spend time with your family. More needs to be uncovered, and time must pass before your help will be required. Make the most of this respite while it lasts. Vigilance is always needed, but so is enjoying the peace and plunder of a hard-fought victory. Just keep a watchful eye. I fear this tranquility may soon transform into a luring calm before the onset of a great storm,” The Keeper said.

Toe heeded The Keeper’s words and a short time later returned above ground to his home in Everville. The land of the Fron, like all other realms in the region, was not bound by the same laws of time and space as Earth. Years had passed since the last battle in Everville, but only weeks had elapsed at Easton Falls University. Toe’s children were now adults, but his wife, Nissa, remained as beautiful as an undying statue colored by the silhouette of the hills and sky.

Just after twilight, Toe settled in with his family and sat at the dining table, ready to devour the bounty of food that was in front of them.

“Pass the wine, please,” Malibore said to his brother, Levar, as Toe and his family began to feast.

“Get it yourself, you lazy fool!” Levar exclaimed.

Levar had the disheveled look of an aging, single Fron combined with the ignorance of a child. He was just a few years older than Malibore, but acted much younger.

“That’s no way for a Fron to act. Apologize to your brother,” Nissa said.

“Why? It’s true.”

“I don’t understand you, Levar,” Nissa said in frustration. “We are a family again, and you are an adult. Every Fron I know in the land is happy except you. Why is that? You have no troubles. You should be happy like everyone else.”

“Come on,” objected Levar. “He’s my brother. What do you expect? I’m just giving him a hard time to toughen him up a little. He needs it.”

Toe listened and watched as his forehead and hairless head wrinkled with dismay. Toe was used to Levar’s antics, but The Keeper’s words had rattled him. His wife and sons took notice of his distress, and Malibore’s eyes widened.

“What’s wrong, Dad?”

“Nothing, Malibore. Let’s just enjoy dinner. This is a great meal that your mom has prepared.”

Nissa rubbed Toe’s arm and smiled. “Well, I did use the spices from the village plot by the Babbling Brook. Everything that grows there is most flavorful.”

Toe’s redirection proved fleeting.

“Something is bothering you, though. What is it? What’s wrong?” Nissa asked, after realizing the purpose of Toe’s compliment.

“I’m not sure yet, just something The Keeper said has got me thinking, but nothing for you to fret about. Let’s just keep eating this delicious meal.”

Toe finished eating the food on his plate, and grabbed an ale. He took Nissa by the hand and led her outside and sat down, overlooking the rolling hills that stretched out in front of them. Nissa snuggled next to him, holding his arm with both her hands and resting her head on his shoulder.

“We are so fortunate to be back home with you. Things have been going so well, and I’m so grateful we’ve had this time to be a family again, especially after having to take part in the last battle. I know Levar’s had a hard time adjusting, but I think he’ll come around. He just needs more time.”

“I hope he will, but he’s almost a grown-up now. He’ll soon find a wife of his own. I just hope he finds enough strength and serenity before then. I’m a little concerned about his restlessness, and I worry sometimes that he will take the wrong path.”

“I remember how you were when you were his age. You had the same restlessness, but that changed when you got a family. I’m sure it will change with him as well. The time he spent trapped in The Other In Between robbed him of life lessons a Fron his age should have by now. Malibore’s recovered quickly, but Levar is just taking a bit longer. He’ll get there, though. Don’t worry.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am,” Nissa said, just as she stole a kiss before Toe had a chance to take another sip of his ale.

Toe returned her affection, and then sighed as he attempted to put his concerns out of his mind and focus instead on the vivid colors of the land that surrounded him. He took in the aroma of the vegetation and gazed across the sky at the creatures flying in the air. One in particular caught his eye, a gleaming translucent insect called a Flarax. It was just one of many magical creatures of Everville that fed off the goodwill that flowed through the land.

It was said that the Flarax possessed a tiny amount of the element, just enough to open a portal to the other side of its spherical wings.

Everville and The Other In Between were opposites, connected by the element and the lands’ inhabitants. The darkness of The Other In Between resided in Them, but through trickery and lies a few Fron sometimes allowed a path for the darkness to creep through. It was during one of those occasions that Them had gained sufficient power over Everville to take the souls of a multitude of creatures and hold them hostage in the purgatory where Them resided. That time, though, had passed.

The serenity of the flying Flarax and the vibrant colors of the land reminded Toe of the beauty and peace that was lost when the enemy snatched away his family. It was a feeling which deeply troubled him.

Toe looked at Nissa and said, “We’ve never really talked about what happened when you and the others were in that place, in The Other In Between. I didn’t want to bring it up back then. I was just so happy to have you back, but now that some time has passed I would like to know. What was it like in there?”

She looked at him with a countenance of both sadness and joy.

“You know… I don’t remember much. There were a few moments of clarity, but most of the time there was just blackness. My only real memories are feelings, timeless moments of misery, loss, and dread. Those times I was aware… it was like my mind and soul had been taken over by something else, and I was just standing there, lacking control over myself. It was as if I was possessed by an infinite number of souls, yet somehow all alone. I wish I could tell you more, but that’s all I can remember.”

“Well, Nissa, I’m glad you have little memory of what happened and that your time there felt shorter than it was. For me, it felt like an eternity. I missed you so much, and I blamed myself for you being there and for not being able to save you. It’s a miracle you’re back, and I’m just so happy for that.”

“I’m happy too, and I’m glad our children will have the opportunity to grow old and have families of their own,” Nissa replied.

“Yes. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve missed the lasting peace here in our land,” Toe responded while he stroked his bald head and pondered The Keeper’s words.

The next day Levar woke up early to travel to the Babbling Brook. He left in a hurry but made sure he did not wake anyone on his way out. Once his sandals touched the grass outside his family’s home, his stride quickened to that of an impatient child. He felt invigorated by the fresh air and brilliant colors along the way, but did not slow down to appreciate the rustic scenery. He ran and ran until he arrived at his destination.

Levar stopped in the middle of The Deep Woods, which was divided into two distinct halves. The side closest to the land of the Fron had gentle rolling hills separated by slow-moving streams. The other half had steeper terrain punctuated by periodic rivers that grew larger with each subsequent hill. Two large trees marked the spot he was impatient to reach. The trees spread taller and wider than any other trees in the surrounding area, and their trunks met at the edge of a tranquil stream.

The multitude of sounds and colorful variety of plants dwindled the farther away from home he traveled. After his arrival to his meeting spot in The Deep Woods, he sat down on a dry bed of leaves, fiddling with twigs while he waited.

The leaves rustled behind him and he turned and saw nothing. A gust picked up a few leaves in front of him, and then the noise returned. He turned back once more to see what was causing the noise, but nothing was there except a few dead leaves blowing in the wind.

He felt something warm press against the side of his face. It was lips of a young maiden who lived in the woods.

“Brea!” Levar exclaimed as he leapt up from the ground.

“What took you so long?” Brea asked in a soft, teasing tone.

“I came here as fast as I could,” Levar said.

Brea had a devious grin on her face, though her countenance was modest. Levar examined her and grabbed her hand, drawing her closer to him. “I missed you.”

“I missed you more, and look what I brought.” She revealed a basket that was poorly hidden behind her back. He plopped back down on the ground, waiting for her to empty the contents.

“Biscuits and cheese my mother made from scratch, just the way you like. Oh, and wine made from grapes grown on the ponds behind the hidden caves.”

Levar’s mouth watered while she showed him more treats she had scoured for him. He had just eaten, but the appetite of the Fron is never satisfied.

“So thoughtful,” he said, as he helped her make a place for their food on the ground.

“So, have you given much thought to what we talked about earlier?” she said after they’d had their fill.

“Absolutely,” Levar said.

“Well?” Brea asked.

“Tell me first about this cheese. It’s clearly the best in all the land. What’s the secret?”

“I’ll tell you… after you answer my question.”

“Alright then. I’ve decided on a clear strategy, but you’re going to have to wait just a bit longer.”

“That’s not fair. Why can’t you tell me now?” she asked while she moved closer to him and picked up his hands.

He swallowed. “All in due time,” he said.

Chapter 3

Jacob

Cleophas’ old rusted car struggled to carry the extra weight of the added passengers, and belched out the smell of rotten eggs while he searched for a place to park, out near the outskirts of Easton Falls.

Anika and Dante looked around and watched as grungy-looking figures passed by. The putrid odor of back-alley urine stench filled the air. Dante’s face revealed what his stomach was feeling.

“Come on, Dante. You better not hurl,” Anika said emphatically.

Dante did his best to regain his composure after a few more close calls. A short distance ahead they saw a group of people huddled around a large, rusted metal drum filled with garbage and other trash used to keep the fire burning. Those near the drum were rubbing their greasy, blackened hands over the fire. A lucky few wore gloves to cover their chapped skin.

As they approached the burning embers, an object cast a faint but large shadow over them. The rustling of leaves grew louder. They heard noises from the alleyway getting closer and more frequent. Second by second and inch by inch, something advanced. A growing echo, resembling footsteps surrounded them, and then…

“Hey! That’s my spot,” grumbled the shadow that took human form, pushing Dante out of the way.

Dante lost his balance and nearly fell on the ground, but he quickly regained his composure and hoped no one had noticed. “Go ahead. Take it,” Dante said to the disheveled figure who had appeared from the alley.

“Why did you bring us here? It stinks and all I see are bums everywhere,” Dante asked.

“Look closer,” Cleophas replied.

“Okay. Well, I see some children, and a family, an old rusted-out drum being used as a campfire, and… hey! Is that…?” Dante asked in disbelief.

“Yeah. That’s him, isn’t it?” Anika joined in.

They all looked at the young man. His face was crusted in dirt, and his hair looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks. It was matted down by filth. Tattered slacks hung loosely on his legs, and an old woolen striped shirt clung to the upper half of his body.

Jacob looked up as he heard the commotion. He pretended to ignore them and continued to warm his hands over the fire. He wasn’t one of the lucky ones. He had no gloves, no coat, and he was trembling.

“Jacob!” Dante shouted.

Jacob ignored him and tried to move out of view behind a few other people who were huddled next to him.

“We know it’s you, Jacob. Why don’t you come out from behind there?” Anika responded.

“I would, except for the fact that I’m freezing my butt off. Oh yeah, and did I forget to mention that I don’t have a place to stay or a family for that matter. All thanks to you, Owen,” Jacob said defiantly.

“Wait a second. You’re the one who tried to kill Cleophas and take over the world. I don’t think you have a right to get mad at us,” Dante added.

“I see you came here to gloat. Why don’t you just go back to where you came from and leave me alone?”

“We’re not here to taunt you Jacob,” Owen replied.

“Really? What purpose could you have other than to enjoy my temporary suffering—and it is temporary, I can assure you.”

“We didn’t know you were like this, Jacob. We just found out,” Owen said.

“I’m sure the old man over there knew. He brought you here, didn’t he?”

“Yes, I did Jacob,” Cleophas said with confidence. “And in spite of all that you’ve done, you deserve a second chance. You shouldn’t be out here. No one should.”

“I don’t want your charity, and I don’t need any second chances. I’m going to do things my way, just like I’ve always done. I’m going to get back what’s mine, and when I do, you’ll all be sorry.”

Jacob started coughing uncontrollably. A homeless person who was huddled next to him held him up as he lost his strength and stumbled.

“Don’t be a fool, boy! It’s cold out here. Listen to the old man,” the bum standing beside him said as he helped Jacob regain his footing.

“Listen, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll figure things out on my own. Now go away!”

His words were unconvincing. He was broken, just enough to let a glimmer of fear and uncertainty seep through the filth that covered his face.

“Come on,” Dante said to the others. “He doesn’t want our help anyway. Let’s just go.”

“I’m not giving up on you,” Cleophas said to Jacob.

“Whatever. Just leave me alone. I don’t need your stinkin’ help. Go back to your stupid school and your dumb friends. I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone!”

After the conversation degenerated into more insults, Cleophas agreed to take the rest of them back.

Upon returning to the club, Dante and Anika expressed their opinions.

“I’m trying really hard to understand what it is that you want us to do, Cleophas,” Anika said, shaking her head. “But I just don’t get it. I mean, he doesn’t even want our help. He tried to destroy us once, and he sounds more than willing to try and do it again. I guess I get that we shouldn’t let what happened control our thoughts, but we owe him nothing, and even if we did, he doesn’t seem very inclined to accept any kind of help.”

“Think about it this way, Jacob did an evil thing, but a lot of good has come from it. I was very angry about what he did—I had every right to be, just like all of you. If he had won, there’s no doubt the world would have greatly suffered, but his evil act paved the way for Owen’s victory, which in turn has led to many great things, things like my wife, Dala, and Zee’s father, Samil, returning from the brink of death.”

Dante wasn’t convinced “Yeah, but—”

“Listen,” said Cleophas, “failure is a great teacher, especially if your failure is rooted in evil. Jacob succumbed to evil, but his failure can be used to change his perspective on things. Give him a little more time. Let him wallow in his own self-pity and maybe sooner than you think he just might come around.”

Anika interrupted, “Wait. Hold on a sec! What you said just now is true, but that part before about his act resulting in something positive has nothing to do with his decisions or what he’s thinking about right now. That’s not even the end justifying the means. It’s a good outcome following a resounding defeat, of which he was on the wrong side.”

“That’s my point, Anika. He is stubborn, but it’s my hope that the reality of his situation will teach him that he was on the wrong side. It may take a while, but we all have within us the wisdom to learn from our mistakes.”

Dante was still unconvinced, but after Cleophas made a few more points, Dante relented. The gang stayed at the club a while longer, catching up on the last few weeks, but it was getting late. Soon, only Cleophas and Owen remained.

Cleophas stared down at Owen with a look of a wise sage and said, “You know, you have accomplished a great deal, but your toughest tasks are ahead of you.”

Owen listened intently.

“You have demonstrated that you possess courage, humility, and patience, all of which will be required in great abundance. I do, however, believe that this is just the beginning. From my knowledge of Everville and my limited interaction with The Keeper, I know that the remaining Pillars of Truth will prove more elusive and require even greater character. I just don’t know what those challenges will be or what those characters are…”

“Where do you think Jacob fits into all of this?” Owen asked.

“I’m not sure yet, but we need to do what’s honorable and just, no matter what his part is. Sometimes the truth has a way of revealing itself after hard choices are made. Jacob will ultimately decide what happens to him, but, if we’re lucky, we might just be able to nudge him in the right direction.”

“I agree, Cleophas, but we’re going to need some help. He was clearly not in the mood to hear what we have to say.”

“You’re right, but I think I may have a method to remedy that. We shall see,” Cleophas said

Chapter 4

Governor Laveda

Meanwhile, in the land of Brackenbone, an important dignitary had just arrived. A large line of soldiers paraded behind the special guest’s gold sedan chair towards the city’s rear gate. The transport chair itself was being held by teams of what appeared to be human helpers.

“It’s a mystery, a mystery!” exclaimed Felix to his Ubaloo friends, Faine and Asher.

They watched until the guest was escorted through the center of the capital city.

“Indeed,” Faine said.

“I don’t think those are humans,” Asher said to Faine.

“Humans, humans!” Felix said, with the face of an uncertain simpleton.

“No. I said not humans,” Asher replied.

“Do you think it’s bad news? Do you think it’s something important?” Faine asked Asher.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

The escort continued through the city until it reached the residence of General Randore. The soldiers trailing the dignitary fell back behind the sedan chair, and those carrying it helped the person inside to the entrance of the general’s home. One of the soldiers opened the front door for the governor and introduced a sophisticated yet humble governor of the Alarian race.

Those of the governor’s people who remained on the distant moon remained in their native shape. In their natural form, their color was midnight black, the kind of black one experiences in a closed room in the center of a building with all the lights off. The Alarian body was divided into three sections, all of which had alternating holes and hilly protrusions. They had three arms on each side of their torso and seven legs that extended out from their lowest segment.

Governor Laveda, like all Alarians, could take any shape she desired, but after the last great battle, it was the human form that she and her followers took while they were in Everville and the surrounding realms. That is, except for Rathlar, who kept the shape of a dragon while guarding Brackenbone. In human form, Governor Laveda towered over the general, so out of respect for the general, she and her entourage chose to transform to the size of an Ubaloo, just over one foot tall.

“Governor Laveda, it’s great to see you again. Please, come in.”

She stood before him with beauty and grace, but not so much so as to be a distraction. Her jet black hair projected a nurturing acceptance of truth, and her posture exuded a hopeful resignation.

“Thank you, General. It’s great to finally meet such an esteemed warrior.”

“Likewise, Governor. To what business do I owe this wonderful encounter?”

“Owen Sage gave our race the opportunity for redemption. He gave our children the possibility of a future, something we thought was lost with the initial destruction of The City of Worms. I realize that our people, especially Governor Jahal and his minions, have inflicted much distress upon you and others in your realm, and for that any apology would be inadequate, but I have a great favor I need to ask of you.”

“Please let me show you around, and then we can discuss the matter more fully over a delicious meal,” the general responded.

“Thank you for your hospitality, General.”

General Randore instructed the servants to set up a massive feast. In the meantime, he showed the governor around his residence. After a brief tour of his dwelling, the discussion turned towards the city.

“Governor, the only way you’re going to know this city like I do is if you see it from up above. I know you don’t like to use your remaining energy to transform into large creatures, but as a general I do have certain privileges. One of them is having access to a small stock of the element, which we are able to use at our discretion. Its container, composed of rare minerals found beneath Everville, allows it only to be used for good. I’m offering a single container for you, so you can replenish some of your lost energy and transform into a dragon or a bird and fly over the city.”

“Please save your element. I do thank you very much for the offer, General, but I think I may have a better idea.”

Governor Laveda leaned over and whispered something into his ear.

“That sounds perfectly reasonable to me,” the general replied.

A short time later, both the governor and the general arrived at Rathlar’s position of guard behind the rear city gate.

“Well, Rathlar, Governor Laveda has asked if you would be willing to show her the layout of the city, and then take a trip behind The Walls of Vermogen and deep into the distant cave. I’ll accompany her for the ride.”

Rathlar signaled his cooperation. He rose from his resting position and bowed his head in submission, allowing both the general and Governor Laveda to climb upon his back. Once they were comfortable, General Randore gently rubbed Rathlar’s neck.

“Go!” the general shouted.

The dragon used his tremendous strength to soar into the air. Higher and higher they climbed until they were hundreds of feet above the ground, the air cloudless and clearer than the general had seen in some time. A blanket of pure blue covered the city, interrupted only by the beaming white sun that was quickly sinking towards the horizon.

The general grabbed the reins of the handmade collar that adorned Rathlar’s throat, tugging it in the direction he wanted to go.

“First I’m going to take you around the perimeter of the city walls,” the general said as he pulled left on Rathlar’s enormous neckpiece.

The governor inspected the wall at the edge of the city as they flew high above it. “Can you take us in closer?” she asked.

“Certainly,” the general replied as he tugged on the dragon’s collar, initiating a steep dive. Down they dove with tremendous speed. The force of the air contorted the skin on their faces, and during the descent their shouts could not be heard.

Rathlar slowed his pace to a smooth glide. The coolness of the air and the beauty of the city momentarily made the governor forget the reason for her visit.

As dusk approached, candles lit up the windows of the city’s homes. A flicker of light turned into a river that flowed along the canopy of the city’s rooftops. It followed the terrain down the hillside, where the city rested, bound by forests below on both sides and an ascending plateau above the rear city gate.

They continued following the edge until they reached the front of the city, which was also its military base. The entire city formed three fourths of a circle, which was visible only from a position high above. The Ubaloo were a fraction of human size, and their buildings were similar in scale. Brackenbone, however, was massive. It housed millions of Ubaloo warriors, male, female, and children alike. Its height notwithstanding, it rivaled that of any medieval human city.

From the city’s entrance, they ascended once again, flying directly through its center until reaching the great hall. Hints of smoked wood and lamp oil greeted them as they flew closer.

“That’s our place of refuge and the place where we will feast upon our return,” the general shouted over the wind.

“It’s a lovely city, and very strategic,” she responded.

“Higher!” the general shouted.

Rathlar climbed further upward without delay until they were several thousand feet high. The buildings shrank in appearance to size of insects, but the lights remained and glowed like gold ore against the pink backdrop of the fading sunset.

They traveled above the plateau in the direction of The Walls of Vermogen, which was some distance away. The plateau steepened until they reached the walls, where it turned mountainous as they flew north. Rivers and waterfalls cut into the mountains, and a misty spray decreased their visibility.

“Over there!” the general shouted.

Governor Laveda ducked her head as they careened towards a solid wall of water flowing down a steep cliff.

Rathlar was too large in his current form to fit inside, so he hovered just outside the base of the cave entrance, which was hidden behind the waterfall.

“Take my hand, Governor,” the general said, and he guided her into the hidden cave’s entrance. “Here we are. This is where all the madness begins. Elemental power from the far corners of the multiverse collects here. It once flowed beneath the river and into The City of Worms. Now it’s channeled into the portals, which border all our lands surrounding Everville. It’s been collecting there since Owen Sage defeated Mallory,” the general said.

“Well, we’d better get moving before the soldiers get too hungry and eat the food that’s being prepared for us,” the governor said.

The general helped her exit through the shrubbery and mist from the nearby waterfall, and onto Rathlar’s back. The sun was now well below the horizon, and darkness had taken hold over the land. Once they found their position on the dragon’s back, Rathlar launched away and accelerated, flying with tremendous speed. Blackness began to overtake the remnant sunlight as they flew in the direction of the city.

Minutes later, Rathlar descended towards the Great Fron Hall and slowed his pace as they approached the ground.

“Here we are, Governor.”

Several Ubaloo soldiers escorted them both towards the hall entrance, and Rathlar returned to his position behind the rear city gate. After several minutes of preparation, they took their seats at the table.

“What are you waiting for, men? Drink up.”

The table was massive, every space taken up by mounds of food piled on large plates and in small tubs. Large and numerous extravagant gourds containing all colors of wines and ales stood between the different dishes.

“I hope you enjoy our food. I know Alarians do not need flesh to survive.”

“That is true, General, but flesh can still provide us with small amounts of energy, just not enough to provide all our needs.”

“That’s good to hear. It’d be a shame for this delicious food to go to waste,” General Randore replied as he tore off the roasted leg of a large bird that rested at the head of the table, stuffing it into his mouth.

“Now, tell me what is this favor you wish to ask of me?” General Randore asked Governor Laveda.

The feasting went on for a couple of hours. The general and his soldiers had their fill, emptying crate after crate and gourd after gourd, and during that time the governor explained her request in detail. The general was receptive, but he would need to discuss the matter with The Keeper, who would be the ultimate decider.

The following day, Governor Laveda prepared her entourage to leave the city and await word from The Keeper.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Governor.”

“The pleasure was all mine, General Randore.”

They embraced in gratitude and then she departed. The general gave her a well-deserved sendoff as her sedan chair made its way through the main artery of the city. When she reached the rear city gate, the dragon and fellow Alarian, Rathlar, grunted in acknowledgement of his fondness for the governor—and with desire for future collaboration in protecting Brackenbone.

Back in the heart of the city, the general called for Felix, Faine, and Asher.

“Listen carefully. You may not be the strongest, bravest, or wisest Ubaloo, but you have my trust. Your actions from The City of Worms are legend, and I need some reliable spies to monitor any rumors about the treaty. I assume you have a network of friends embedded within the surrounding realms. Alert those in The Dark Forest, The Valley of Darkness, and beyond. Get word back to me immediately if you hear anything.”

“Yes, General. We’ll let you know what we find,” Asher responded.

Meanwhile, in a forgotten part of the city, several creatures who had been watching Rathlar fly overhead gathered in an alley of a rundown neighborhood.

Brackenbone was one of the borderlands next to Everville, which meant that—though it was still shielded by most of the darkness from the distant realms—darkness had a way of creeping in. A few unsavory creatures blended in with those of good intentions, waiting for the opportunity to assert themselves. Still, the aura that surrounded those from outside the realm required that they remain hidden while in the city, but like all major cities, there were many places to hide.

“Find out what they are up to,” the figure in the shadows said to one of its followers. “The Alarians have maintained their distance for some time now. For the general and the Governor Laveda to show up like this must signal something important.”

“Yes, master,” replied one of the creature’s minions.

Chapter 5

Second Semester

Owen, Anika and Dante entered the Campus Cafe, a favorite hangout of Owen’s and just about anyone else who knew anything about Everville. It was almost like a home away from home, and when they walked through the door they saw many familiar faces. Professor Samil’s was one of them. He was the epitome of an aging hippy, from his long flowing hair and beard to his multi-colored sweater and brown sandals.

“Professor Samil, it’s really good to see you again!”

“It’s good to see you too, Owen. I’m glad I ran into you, because there are a few things we should talk about. Come by my office later and we’ll discuss them.”

“Alright. I’ll stop by sometime after classes tomorrow.”

“What was that about?” Anika asked after Owen joined them at their table.

“He wants to meet with me later to discuss something,” Owen replied as he took a sip of coffee.

“My guess is it’s probably about Jacob,” Dante suggested.

The following day, Owen and his friends arrived at the classroom for Art History II.

“Good morning, class, and thank you for braving this crazy cold weather to join me today. I see a lot of familiar faces from Art History I, and I’m sure that all of you completed the required reading and museum visits which were listed in the syllabus.”

Most of the class listened in silence, but a few whispered among themselves that they weren’t prepared.

“This week’s lesson will focus on two distinct topics. The first will be Keith Haring, a social activist and graffiti artist in New York. The second will focus on the modern Polynesian navigation vessel, the Hokulea.”

Professor Samil continued his lecture and displayed different works by Keith Haring and various paintings of the Hokulea. He discussed several murals related to both topics and explained their significance.

Owen sat in his chair and, after focusing on one picture in particular, let his mind drift. It was an image of the Hokulea, a painting of an impressive double-hulled canoe with two sails, both of which resembled large triangles. They looked like orange flames rising from an immense blue ocean. He could feel the motion in the painting, and the movement and form made the image come alive. thoughts wandered until his mind took him inside the painting.

“Where did you come from?” asked one of the navigators on the vessel.

“Easton Falls University. My name’s Owen, Owen Sage.”

“Sit down!” shouted the captain of the vessel.

Owen looked over the side of the canoe and saw an immense bulge in the ocean. The canoe was resting on the trough of a giant wave well over a hundred feet high. As the ocean lifted the canoe toward the crest of the wave, Owen wondered if they were about to topple over.

Fortunately, the wave didn’t break, but it did smack the canoe around as it surfed down the receding wall of water. Several of the men on board worked to balance the craft, while Owen just sat there, as though tied down, and tried to stay out of their way. After working tirelessly for several minutes, the vessel stabilized itself, and a couple of the men approached Owen.

“It really is an amazing vessel. You’re lucky to ride in it,” the captain said to Owen.

“Where are we going?” Owen asked.

“Our course is already set, but yours is yet to be determined.”

Owen stared at the glistening ocean a few moments longer before he shook himself from his daydream. He spent the rest of the class taking notes and listening to the professor.

After the class had finished and the last student had left, Owen sat with Professor Samil in his office.

“I fear darker elements have gained a foothold in the school,” Professor Samil said to Owen. “The Echo Club and Art Club were both at the heart of the connection between Everville and Earth, but since the last battle things have changed. You need to stay on guard.”

“What do you mean exactly? What have you seen?” Owen replied.

“People have changed, and it’s not so much what I’ve seen as what I’ve felt, but there is something else. I sense that Jacob will play a very important role in your next task. Ages ago I had a connection to Everville too, but I failed. I failed because of my arrogance and the inability to learn from my mistakes.”

“So you must have spoken with the head of the Echo Club, Cleophas. Do you think Jacob can be convinced to help with whatever it is we’re going to need help with?”

“I have spoken with Cleophas, but I don’t know what Jacob will ultimately do, Owen. Everyone makes their own choices, and ideally they learn from those mistakes. Jacob is suffering right now—all he has ever known is suffering. Sometimes kindness can be enough to awaken someone wallowing in their own misery. Other times, more is required. Regardless, Jacob has strong connections to both good and bad. He has the power to influence many things. I suggest you seek more guidance from The Keeper.”

Owen reflected on what Professor Samil had said before deciding to transport himself to The Keeper’s Workshop.

“Owen!” A smile broke through The Keeper’s usually well-guarded expression. It was a smile bigger than Owen expected from the stoic figure. He no longer saw Owen as a human to mentor, but instead as an equal with whom he could discuss the secrets of his realm and the mysteries hidden outside its borders.

“It’s great to see you again,” Owen replied.

“What brings you here?”

“It’s about Jacob. I’m sure you already know about Jacob’s situation and how the timeline changed after the last battle. Cleophas and Professor Samil think that certain people in the administration are working behind the scenes at Easton Falls, and somehow Jacob may play an important role—possibly for good if we play our cards right.”

“I have sensed something similar,” The Keeper replied. “I have seen subtle changes in the land and sky, and there has been suspicious behavior exhibited by many in our realm. I’m not sure how much longer the truce with Them is going to last. Movements are in place to fortify our positions in all the realms of Everville. I suspect elements in all camps are watching closely and preparing for any sudden changes. Jacob’s former allegiance to Mallory, and Jacob’s connection with Everville, no doubt will give him an important role to play in whatever unfolds.”

“I get that, but I’m just not sure how I can bring Jacob over to our side. He doesn’t seem interested in enlisting our help in his current hardship, and he seems even less likely to want to do anything good.”

“That may be so, Owen, and in the end it may be his decision to make, but stay open to the possibility. Darkness has dominated his life, but if you can find a way to help him, it might convince him that tranquility can be found once he relinquishes all his hate.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Owen replied.

“And don’t always take no for an answer. Sometimes people need a little extra encouragement, if you know what I mean.”

“I’ll try my best. In the meantime, do you have any idea of how to find the next Pillar of Truth?” Owen asked.

“I can’t help you any further than I already have. You have the knowledge and wisdom within you to recognize clues when they present themselves. You might want to start, though, by revisiting The Second Pillar of Truth. Beyond that, use what you already know.”

“That is already a big help, and I think I have an idea. Thanks, Keeper.”

Owen vanished, transporting himself Jacob’s location, in the urban slum that Jacob had made his home. His arrival startled two homeless men nearby. One of them took a swig from a clear glass bottle of vodka.

“Did you see that?” one said to the other.

“I didn’t see anything, man. That craziness is all you, bro. I’m not going back to the funny farm, and I suggest you keep your mouth shut before they take you back too,” the other man said as he chugged on his own bottle of booze and watched Owen approach Jacob.

“What are you doing here?” Jacob asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Owen replied as he placed his hand on Jacob’s shoulder.

Before Jacob had time to object, they were both in The Keeper’s Workshop, and Owen pulled both of them through the portal the second they arrived.

“What the…? Hey, I’m going to make you pay for this, Owen!” Jacob yelled.

“Maybe later, but right now we’re going on a little road trip.”

Moments later, they arrived underground, in the land of the giants. Owen’s appearance caught the giants that guarded the portal by surprise.

“Owen! Glad to see you again.”

“It’s good to see you too, Borak,” Owen said to the tallest of the giants.

Owen did not feel the same sense of dread that Borak evoked among his enemies. Instead, he saw the honor and courage that he embodied.

“And who’s your little friend here?”

“He’s not my friend, and I’m not going to listen to either of you,” Jacob shouted.

Borak’s deep laughter echoed a great distance. His stance was that of courage.

“Well, if you’re with Owen, I’m not going to smash you into bits, but you stink worse than I do. Let’s go clean you up.”

Jacob’s feeble attempt at resistance was pointless. Borak picked him up by the back of his shirt and dropped him feet first in a small pond in the hopes the water would rinse off some of the grime.

“I swear, when I get home you’re really going to regret this,” Jacob said as he saw Owen arriving with some clothing.

Jacob dried off and changed into the clothes. Still, the exchange did not change his petulant demeanor or aura of immaturity.

“These rags don’t even fit.”

“Sorry, Jacob, but Fron garments are the only things that were lying around. Be grateful you have anything to wear. We’ve got some traveling to do.”

“If you think I’m going anywhere with you, you’re crazy,” Jacob replied.

Borak turned to face Jacob and gave him a look that pierced right through him. “If Owen says you’re going on a journey, then you’re going on a journey, and I’m coming along with you just to make sure of that.”

“Thanks, Borak.”

“It’s you that should be thanked. All of us here owe our lives to you.”

Jacob rolled his eyes. Borak picked up both of them and placed them each on one of his shoulders.

“So, where are we going?” Borak asked.

“We’re going to The Second Pillar of Truth. Hopefully, The Second Pillar can provide me with some clues to find The Fourth Pillar of Truth. The Second Pillar lies between The City of Worms and the entrance of the portal separating it from Brackenbone.”

Borak bent his knees, pushed off, and lunged hundreds of feet into the air towards one of the great monoliths that stood off in the distance. After a few more ground-shaking leaps, they arrived at the monolith.

Just before they entered the monolith and crossed into the portal, Jacob grabbed onto Borak’s chainmail and scurried in the other direction.

“Nice try,” Borak said, as he reached over and grabbed Jacob and continued towards the portal, which shimmered and moved like ripples on a transparent vertical pond of diamonds.

“Let me go, Owen.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll get back home… just as soon as I visit The Second Pillar of Truth.”

“Take me back now! I mean right now!”

“Not going to happen, Jacob. Just be patient. It’s not any worse than where you were when I picked you up.”

“Any place is better when you’re not around,” Jacob snarled.

“We shall see,” Owen replied.

Borak walked through the portal carrying both of them. They emerged on the other side, in a massive desert that extended beyond the horizon, suspended in an eternal twilight.

“Which way?” Borak inquired.

“Over there,” Owen replied, pointing.

Borak bent down. His clothes crinkled and the ground shook. He then leaped high into the air in the direction Owen had instructed. Leap by leap, they drew closer to the spire that housed The Second Pillar of Truth. Finally, they could see its spire rising from below the horizon, gleaming with shimmering light, casting a glistening shadow on the ground surrounding it. Borak watched in anticipation as Owen stepped through the threshold. A few more leaps and they were at its entrance.

“Jacob, you’re coming with me,” Owen said.

“I’m staying right here,” he replied.

“Enough of this nonsense,” Borak said.

The giant gave Jacob a little thump on the back of his head and knocked him out cold. Owen carried Jacob as best he could over his shoulder across the threshold leading to the entrance of The Second Pillar of Truth.

Chapter 6

The Hunt

Back in the Deep Woods, Brea was returning home from her rendezvous with Levar when she heard twigs breaking and steps that did not match her own. Once she noticed the movement, she stopped. The noise continued, though, like a soundtrack that was a little slower than it should be.

“Who’s there?” she asked as the rustling around her fell silent.

“I said who’s there?”

“Well, looks like you found us out, fair maiden,” replied the tall, slender creature stepping out from behind a tree.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Brea asked, slowly backing away from the menacing figure.

Ewan, the former leader of the mountain dwellers continued to approach. “Now now, there’s no need to fear. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to talk with you—not a long talk, just a little talk. A tiny calm talk, the kind that doesn’t hurt anyone.” He stood there with a slither of a grin, a lanky looking figure with the demeanor of a snake.

“I recognize your kind. You’re a mountain dweller from the Valley of Darkness. What do you want with me? I swear if—”

“No need to panic, young lady. I’ll be very gentle with you,” Ewan replied.

Two more mountain dwellers revealed themselves, along with a ferocious Fwaylan. She tried to run but they were blocking her way.

Ewan stepped forward and reached for her face with his long fingers.

“I said leave me alone!” Brea shouted.

Ewan’s companions grabbed her arms, allowing Ewan to stroke her cheeks.

“Why so fearful?” Ewan asked. “No harm is going to come to you. My friends and I just want to talk, a kind talk, a gentle talk, a talk that would not offend a young damsel such as yourself.”

“Why won’t you let me go? What do you want from me?” Brea asked, trembling.

“I told you, I just want a few moments of your time for a gentle, kind talk.”

“Yes, a kind talk,” one of Ewan’s followers smirked.

“As for who I am, I was once dead, now I’m not. That is all you need to know. Now, let’s get down to business.”

“Why should I help you with anything?” Brea asked.

Ewan sighed and forced a smile. “Just be quiet for a moment and listen. All I want you to do for me is to tell me what is happening. You may think you know your friends, but they are deceivers, so I just want to know their deceptions, their plots, their twists, their little whispers and secrets. That’s not so bad now, is it?” He caressed her face with his fingers.

“Don’t touch me! I don’t want to have anything to do with you, and I’m not going to be your spy,” Brea said.

“Now now, there is no need to get all huffy and puffy. I can make things worth your while. I know what you desire, and I can give you what you want, I promise you, and I don’t need many whispers, just a few whispers, a whisper or two here and there, nothing excessive,” Ewan said.

“What can you possibly give me?”

“Ah, yes. What can I give? Well, I can be very persuasive. I am talented at convincing people to do things. Don’t you see? I’ve been watching you. I know who you want and what you desire. All I need is a few whispers, just a few, one or two, that will do.”

Brea studied Ewan and the others. She looked at the giant canine-like Fwaylan that towered over the others, spilling generous amounts of drool from its chin. As her attention remained transfixed by the Fwaylan’s intimidating manner, Ewan gently took her face in his hand once more and inspected her face and neck.

“I’ll visit you again, lovely young miss. Just a few whispers, that’s all I ask, nothing more.”

After he spoke those words, he vanished from view and left Brea to rush back home frightened, but without interruption.

“Master Ewan, what whispers do you think she will tell us?” one of Ewan’s followers asked as they watched her disappear back into the woods.

“Why, her heart belongs to Levar, the son of Toe, that wretched creature. She wants Toe’s approval above all else. Emotions of the heart will lead us to the reason for Governor Laveda’s visit to Brackenbone. We will share Governor Laveda’s secrets with Them or the followers of former Governor Jahal, whichever one suits our needs at the moment, or any moment, good or bad, whatever feels right at the time,” Ewan said.

“Very sneaky. Me likes it,” one of Ewan’s followers replied.

“She has a little flame of desire in her, a wanting for something. She will give us what we need. I can sense it, feel it, taste it, eat it, like a drop of nectar falling on my tongue,” Ewan said.

Meanwhile, back in Everville, General Randore arrived through the portal in the underground catacombs to pay The Keeper a visit.

“General, what brings you here?” The Keeper asked as they both took a seat at one of The Keeper’s long, wooden study tables.

The Keeper’s office, which was larger on the inside than it was on the outside, also had closets that once opened continued on without an end. Everything imaginable that a Keeper could ever need was there. The Keeper had special chairs for each and every one of the species that existed in Everville and the surrounding realms, and the Ubaloo were no exception. Upon General Randore’s arrival, The Keeper brought out a wooden chair perfectly sized for the diminutive general, allowing him to sit across from The Keeper at eye level.

“Governor Laveda has asked a big favor of me,” the general said.

“Ah yes, the governor. She has my admiration. What is it that she’s asked of you?”

“Now that The City of Worms has reverted back to its original state and the eggs of the Alarians remain in the ground there, she has asked me to find a way to siphon some of the element to feed the eggs until they are fully grown. She has promised to take them back to her planet just as they are about to hatch. She wants to have only a limited number of eggs mature at a time to allow for a steady birth rate of children.”

“I see.”

The Keeper paused and deliberated on the proper course.

“Well, this is something that will require a tremendous amount of effort, even though her cause is a just one. I can foresee many complications. There is great danger in this. It will need to be handled with an abundance of caution. I’ll need to discuss it with the other Keepers.”

“I completely understand, and a discussion is all I ask,” the general responded.

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention, General.”

“I appreciate that, Keeper.”

“Now tell me, I hear you have sent Felix, Faine, and Asher on a mission.”

“Yes. I fear the truce may not hold. Even if it does, we need someone to keep a lookout for the comings, goings, and plottings of those sinister elements in the surrounding realms. Forgive me for saying so, but even The Keepers of the portals cannot see everything. Even with special devices and powers, things sometimes remain hidden.”

“I, too, can sense that the balance of power and the truce are in flux,” The Keeper said. “I have no doubt that your trio of helpers will prove as valuable to you as they have to me. I can see, though, General, that we are also being watched. The formal leader of the mountain dwellers, Ewan, has his own network of spies. And that is not all. I hear whispers from Them and the followers of the former Alarian governor, Jahal, that they are up to something. I see movements. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power to see what Them are up to, but I fear They are waiting for the right moment.”

“Well, I can assure you that I am doing everything I can to fortify the city, and we have Rathlar.”

“Yes, General. I fear, though, that even the Alarian dragon Rathlar will not be able to protect you if you are attacked from multiple flanks. You should prepare yourselves for the worst possibility.”

“And what of Owen, Keeper?”

“Yes, Owen. Well, he will do what is necessary, but sometimes what is necessary does not prevent the inevitable. He is the only being that possesses the character to satisfy each of The Seven Pillars of Truth, but before that eventual end, there may be a few battles that are lost.

“I will call the other Keepers and see what can be done about the element, but rest assured, this is exactly the kind of thing our enemies will be watching for. A just reason often invites evil deeds. Before you go, though, General, won’t you have a meal with the Fron?”

“Of course,” General Randore replied.

After the general left, The Keeper contacted the other Keepers and generals from each of the surrounding realms through the portal. He then thumbed through the manuals on his bookshelves and instructions that he had collected throughout the ages, searching for the answers and responses to whatever plans were being forged against them.

When he grew weary of the search, The Keeper opened his door to the underground catacombs that lay below the land of the Fron. He looked at the torches on the walls that lit up the surroundings, and gazed at the dirt ceiling that rested a hundred feet above. He marveled at the number of diverse creatures that scurried to and fro, and he pondered, just for a moment, if he had done everything he could to protect them and the land that they inhabited.

The day was half gone before the Fron finished preparing an epic feast, the biggest gathering and assortment of food ever prepared in Everville. The celebration began in The Keeper’s Workshop, spilled throughout the entirety of the maze of underground passageways, and continued above ground in all the brick and thatched-roofed buildings across the meadows. It bordered the entrance of the Deep Woods, and it touched every residence. Such a gathering signaled the knowledge of a great victory or an impending doom; one could not be certain which.

Aromas of every kind filled the air and filtered across the land: meats, ales, desserts, and everything else that could be consumed filled the air. Colors and textures excited the eyes and smells forced mouths to water.

Every living creature, except for the simplest of critters, was present. Every space was filled, every soul accounted for.

The spectacle opened with announcements of upcoming and recent events: marriages, births, and victories. Each round of rowdy applause lasted longer than the previous. By the time the great feasting was about to commence, those who possessed wisdom began to understand that the gathering had a deeper importance than one might expect.

The Keepers began to sing and the Fron joined in.

Well beyond the familiar darkness old

Two lands between and others told

We break away, beyond the day

With friends and giants strength to hold.

Our Fron at play told many tales,

Of creatures grey and hard as nails

In mountains steep, in oceans deep

Beyond the shores flew mighty sails.

It comes from far beyond the sky

To down below in caves it lies

A power strong, its uses long

The weak it tempts until they die.

The vanquished souls they did hoard

Our rising armies failed to guard

But one bright day, our hero fought

Restored the lost as his reward.

Yet darkness grows beyond the pass

Defeated evil returns alas

Must fight once more, to restore

The heart of truth in spires of glass.

The lasting fight we must transcend

Our brave and pure the truth defends,

Yet some delight, uncertain plight

‘Til time does prove a victorious end

It was a feast rivaled by none, a joyous celebration that spilled into the night and continued the following day and the day after that. Like all great gatherings in the land of the Fron, the celebrating ended only when all the food and ale were consumed. This one just took longer than most.

Chapter 7

The Waterfront

Owen and his companions had just arrived at the spire in The City of Worms, once the home of The Second Pillar of Truth. The wind picked up the parched ground as they got closer and hurled millions of loose particles at them, chafing their exposed skin as they came closer. The air tasted like a beach made of dry rust.

“Be careful,” Borak said as Owen crossed the entrance with Jacob over his shoulder. Borak’s chainmail ruffled in the wind, and his face warped with each new gust.

The door leading to the spire was missing, and Owen struggled to hear Borak’s final words as he stepped across the threshold.

Owen walked through the center of the structure, looking for any sign of The Second Pillar of Truth. There was nothing in front of him except the other side of the spire, which was also missing a door. The spire was hollow, an empty shell of its former self. The wind blew in from outside, and there didn’t appear to be any barrier from keeping anyone out who desired to enter.

Before Owen could make any sense of this place, the spire melted to the floor into clumps of flowing ooze. The glass and dust that surrounded them reconstructed itself, transformed into a vast ocean, and they plunged into a raging sea.

The liquid magic that swallowed them silenced the wind’s cry, the ocean’s womb engulfing them. Owen inhaled the salt water deep into his lungs. A peaceful calm overcame him as he opened his eyes beneath the surface. He could see a fluttering light, like a faint glimmer of sun beaming through a thick stained glass window just before sunset.

Instinct took over, and Owen managed to kick to the surface and expel the water that had invaded his lungs, but it didn’t hurt like Owen remembered it should have.

Once recovered, he turned his attention to Jacob, who was flailing nearby. Owen did his best to grab onto Jacob’s arm, but Jacob thrashed about in a failed attempt to keep his head above the surface —and he kept pulling Owen under-water with him.

Jacob could taste the salt with every dip below the water’s surface. It collected in the back of his throat and sinus cavity.

I can’t swim!” Jacob gurgled during one of the brief moments Owen was able to keep him above water.

The struggle went on for several minutes until Owen saw a piece of wreckage floating a few dozen feet away. He managed to get close enough to see that it was a broken raft made from wood and string woven from leaves.

“Jacob, look over there. Let’s move in that direction.”

Jacob was still delirious, but Owen was able grab on to the raft and hoist Jacob on top of one side, and then he pulled himself on the other side as a counterweight. Exhausted from their struggle, Owen and Jacob passed out.

Several hours later, the trembling of the raft and occasional splash of salt water woke Owen from his slumber. His face was blistering red from sun exposure, and his mouth was bone-dry from dehydration.

There was no land visible, only the thrashing of the ocean and the vast sea of celestial bodies that pierced the veil of darkness in the night sky.

Owen gazed at the ribbons of stars and the constellations they formed, the Big Dipper and a few more he recognized, which were all familiar but just a little out of place. The Milky Way stood out to him. It was brilliant, undiluted by the light pollution typical of his New England home.

Owen watched the sky until the sun began to rise and Jacob finally woke up from his deep slumber.

“Where are we? What happened?”

“I don’t know, but I think The Second Pillar of Truth has transported us to the middle of the ocean.”

“This is your fault, Owen!” Jacob shouted. “You did this. You brought me here. Now take me home!”

“You can shout all you like, but I’m just as much in the dark about where we are as you. The Pillars of Truth always have some reason for what they do. We just have to wait it out and see what happens.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re hiding something. I think you know how to get out of here. Now get me out of here now!”

Jacob stood up, destabilizing the raft in the process.

“Sit down!” Owen shouted.

Owen and Jacob did their best to balance the raft and prevent it from overturning, but Jacob came at Owen once it was leveled again.

“Listen, Jacob, you’re going to make us fall overboard, and then what will you do? I don’t know how to get us out of here. The only thing we can do is just rest and wait.”

Jacob relented, exhausted and out of ideas. Owen, too, was searching in his mind for the proper course of action. In the meantime, the sun rose higher in the sky. The sweltering heat forced each of them to periodically splash their face with water from the ocean. The lack of food and potable water was making their stomachs uncomfortable.

The hours continued to pass, while their hunger and thirst grew more unbearable. Still, there was no land in sight, no pure water to be had, and no tools to capture fish to eat. The hours grew longer, and with it they approached their limits of dehydration.

“Look! I think I see something up ahead,” Jacob said, breaking the monotonous hours of hunger, silence, and mental reflection.

Owen gazed at the surface of the water. At first he saw nothing, then slowly ripples appeared. The ripples got closer.

“I think that’s…” Owen started to say.

“Shark!” Jacob exclaimed.

“Listen, just hold on as tight as you can to the top of the raft. It’s probably just chasing some fish. Sharks don’t attack humans unless they’re confused,” Owen said.

“Well maybe it’s confused!”

“If it is, that’s all the more reason to stay calm and hold tight,” Owen replied.

The shark came closer, faster, and was circling just a few feet away from their position. Jacob clenched his teeth and grabbed the fibers holding the raft together. Just as it looked like the shark was going to strike, its fin disappeared beneath the water.

“Where did it go?”

“It’s under the raft,” Owen replied.

Seconds later, the creature erupted from below with its jaw open, revealing multiple sets of teeth. The raft completely flipped over, and Jacob was barely able to keep hold of the raft underwater. The shark had sunk its teeth into a monk seal, and in the process killed several other fish and overturned the raft.

Owen swam from beneath the raft and grabbed Jacob’s hand, tugging at him from below until they were both topside. The raft was able to float regardless of which side it rested, and after a couple of minutes they were able to lie safely atop.

“Hey, look over there!” Owen said.

“Yeah, I see it too,” Jacob replied.

“Come on. Let’s see if we can maneuver the raft to get closer,” Jacob continued.

Both of them used their hands to paddle closer to fish floating on the surface, those not lucky enough to escape the wrath of the shark. Once they were close enough, both of them started grabbing fish with both hands, five of them in all.

“Thank God!” Jacob said in relief.

“Well, this should last us for a day or so,” Owen replied.

Both of them stared at the fish for a while, not exactly sure how to skin or eat them with no tools. Hunger and thirst, though, motivated them to just dig in. After scraping as much skin, scales, and bones off as possible, they put the first pieces of raw fish in their mouth and started eating.

Jacob quit talking, and both of them spent the next twenty minutes scavenging every piece of meat off the bones of their fish.

The quiet was short lived. Soon after they satiated their hunger, Jacob resumed his banter.

“We still have no way to get out of here. Why don’t you just do whatever you did to bring us here and get us out?” Jacob asked.

“It’s not that simple. I have no control over where I am. We’re just going to have to wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“Wait for The Second Pillar of Truth to reveal himself. We need answers for what’s about to happen,” Owen said.

“We need answers? You mean you need answers. I don’t care about any stupid answers. I have nothing to do with you. Just take me back.”

“Like I said, we’re just going to have to wait.”

In frustration, Jacob shoved Owen, knocking him overboard. Owen quickly recovered and climbed back aboard the raft.

Owen sighed, “Look, why did you have to do that?”

“Just take me home, already,” Jacob replied in frustration.

“Take you home? You don’t have a home anymore, Jacob. That’s why I took you with me in the first place. In spite of everything you’ve done, it’s still possible for you to change. There’s nothing back for you on the street. Why don’t you stop with the tough guy act and just wake up to reality. Quit feeling sorry for yourself and do something about it.”

“Don’t lecture me, Owen. You’re not my father, and I don’t care about your little intervention here. I don’t like you, or any of your friends for that matter. I still feel the same way I always have. I’ll find a way to get back what I’ve lost, even without Mallory and without my past life,” Jacob said.

“So Mallory’s not talking to you?” Owen asked.

“Just get me out of here.”

Owen said nothing, and used the next few minutes of silence to collect his thoughts and ponder his next course of action. After a few moments, Jacob noticed movement around them. The water began to spin, slowly at first, but it soon accelerated.

“What’s going on?” Jacob asked.

Owen looked around them. A funnel formed near their position as the spin accelerated.

“We’re being pulled into a whirlpool,” Owen said after a brief pause.

With each passing moment, the whirlpool picked up speed. Its immense size had at first made it imperceptible, but now the rotation of the ocean grew noticeable as they came closer to the center of the funnel. They could now see the other side of the vortex, which was at least a thousand yards across. It was as if they were tiny fleas being flushed down a bathtub drain.

“This thing isn’t going to make it. We’re going to topple over at any moment and drown!” Jacob exclaimed.

“I can see you’re frightened, but let’s just hold on tight and stay calm,” Owen said.

“Yeah? Well first of all, I’m not frightened. I’m not afraid of death, but you can’t really make any promises about our safety now, can you? You’re just as much in the dark as I am. That’s what you said, isn’t it?”

“True, but The Pillars of Truth have never done anything to hurt me,” Owen said.

The weather had also taken a turn for the worse. The ocean took the shape of a giant bathtub drain, and they had just started to fall in from the top, and by the time they began their descent, they were being battered by tremendous amounts of wind and rain.

“We’re not going to make it!” Jacob shouted.

“Just hold on,” Owen replied.

Those were the last words they spoke for a while. The howl of the wind was joined by the sound of the water sucking them down to the bottom of the ocean. The whirlpool tossed the raft down the center of the funnel with both Jacob and Owen holding on for their dear life. It would be the last thing they remembered before they blacked out.

Chapter 8

The New Normal

At Easton Falls University, the top school administrators were about meet in a large conference room. Officials were streaming in, was among them Dean Swifthouse.

Mr. Hughes, the former adoptive father of Jacob, stepped in front of the dean, preventing him from entering. In his prior life, Mr. Hughes had been rich. Now, he was almost as poor as Jacob, which was the reason he was unable to adopt Jacob in the current timeline. He did, however, maintain a posture of dignity and a face of motivation.

Mr. Hughes lived a necessarily meager existence in his new reality, a reality that was created from a new timeline born from the last great battle in Everville against Mallory.

“Mr. Hughes, what can I do for you?”

The dean stood tall and thin, with defiant black hair. The canyons on his face kept his pale skin from being washed out by his formidable black suit and dark grey tie.

“Mr. Hughes, what can I do for you?”

“What can you do me for? How about returning back to me what’s mine?” Mr. Hughes replied.

“But that’s just it, isn’t it? It’s not yours,” the dean said with a smirk.” I realize you have lost nearly everything, but why don’t you just make do with what you have like everyone else?”

The dean tried to maneuver around Mr. Hughes as well as others that continued to arrive. Several of the officials already inside gave Mr. Hughes stern looks and motioned for security.

“I know something is going on here, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it,” Mr. Hughes said.

“I must warn you that whatever you find, it won’t make any difference. We have consolidated our influence here, and we will continue to use that influence to press forward with more progress. Now move along before you find yourself in real trouble,” the dean said firmly.

Mr. Hughes did his best to listen to the conversations occurring behind him. Most of the chatter was directed at the current confrontation, but he did catch a few words, some of which just might be useful.

Two security guards approached the doorway, not the kind of guards that had more belief than ability but the kind that could do some serious harm to those who ignored their warnings.

“Please move along, sir, or we’ll be forced to escort you off the premises,” one of the guards said

“Keep your hands off me,” Mr. Hughes replied as the guards came closer.

“I don’t care who you are, you can’t be here. I’ll say it one more time before we have to physically remove you. You need to leave right now.”

“Well, Mr. Hughes, are you going to listen to the sound advice of this gentleman here, or are you going to continue to make a fool of yourself?” the dean asked.

With the confrontation almost over and the arrival of the guards, those in the room felt more comfortable and began whispering about the topic of the meeting. Mr. Hughes did his best to catch every last word.

“This isn’t over,’ Mr. Hughes answered as he pushed off the guards who were reaching for his arms. “I’m going to find out exactly what you did to change things—and about whatever you are planning—and I’ll tell whomever I need to tell!—listen, I’m going already.” Mr. Hughes said to the guards as he turned to walk away. “You keep your sweaty hands off me.” Mr. Hughes said as he turned to walk away.

“Before you go, Mr. Hughes, let me make something crystal clear,” said Dean Swifthouse. “The situation you find yourself in is not because of us, it’s because of you. Things change, and instead of adapting, like we have, you chose to do nothing about it. You can’t blame us because you find yourself on the wrong side of things. We took advantage of the situation, as did most people that had knowledge of both timelines, but you didn’t. It’s as simple as that. You need to find a way to deal with it, and move on.”

Mr. Hughes walked away, escorted by several guards until he was off school grounds.

After Mr. Hughes left campus, the remaining school officials filtered into the room and took their positions. The dean shut the door.

“Now that we have that out of the way, let’s move on to business,” he said.

“I have had the pleasure to meet again with our benefactors. They have assured me that all is going according to plan, and I must say that based on what they have already done for us, I see no reason not to move forward,” the dean said.

“That’s true, but how certain are you that they will continue to uphold their end of the bargain?” one of the officials asked. “I mean, I don’t care that most everyone else considers our benefactors unpleasant. I don’t mind that at all, but the real question is, how do we know they won’t betray us?”

“I think what they have done for us in the past has been beyond any of our initial expectations,” the dean said. “And quite frankly, we don’t really have anything to lose. We have the foresight, and without their help we no longer have that advantage. I can assure you that a strategy is in place and it will begin soon. Once it does, no one will be able to stop us. The only real question is what do we do with all that power?”

Those in the room smiled and laughed.

“What would our founders say?” one of the administrators asked with a big grin on his face.

“The game has changed, and so have we,” the dean replied with a grin. “We’ll do whatever it takes to achieve our own ends. I think the founders would applaud our efficiency.”

All but a few in the room joined in the laughter.

Meanwhile, the moment Mr. Hughes’ feet were off campus grounds, he was confronted by the bitter wind that nipped at every inch of his exposed skin. The short winter day continued to wane, and Mr. Hughes had no choice but to retreat to his meager home or else succumb to the harsh elements.

Mr. Hughes walked into his kitchen and opened the door of his tiny pantry. A small solitary can of chicken soup stood in the center of the single shelf. He picked it up and stared at it, knowing it would be his last meal for some time to come.

He opened it up with his aging can opener and emptied its contents into his only pot, warming the soup up over the rusty stove. He poured the soup into a small bowl and then sat down on his old cushioned chair and lapped up the warm soup until the bowl was empty. It wasn’t until then that he picked up the phone and made the call.

“Cleophas.”

“Yes.”

“This is Mr. Hughes. We need to talk.”

The following day, Cleophas called a meeting of his own with Anika, Dante, and a few others from the Echo Club. Concern was written on Cleophas’ face as he spoke.

“I want all of you to be alert. I have noticed something very peculiar on campus. Others have noticed it too, and I’ve spoken with a few people regarding those occurrences.”

“What kind of occurrences?” Anika asked.

“Well, for one, school officials are hiding something. They’ve been scurrying to and fro like little children, lurking in the shadows, watching passersby until they are alone, setting meetings at odd hours, and whispering among themselves. But there’s more…” Cleophas said.

“What else?” Dante asked.

“Well, I received a call last night from Mr. Hughes.”

“Mr. Hughes… as in Jacob’s former adoptive father before Owen altered the timeline?” Anika interjected.

“Yes, that’s right. Mr. Hughes, like Jacob, has been negatively affected by the new timeline. Everyone who had a connection to Everville before the battle against Mallory retained both sets of memories. That includes a few people in the administration. Mr. Hughes thinks that his current bad luck is more than just being dealt an unlucky hand. And I must admit, there is something odd about Mr. Hughes’ loss of power and wealth. The Third Pillar of Truth would not have had such a negative impact on a single family while bestowing more power to the school administration,” Cleophas said.

“Yeah, but isn’t that how fiddling with time works? You know, the Butterfly Effect. It seems completely plausible to me,” Dante added.

“You must understand, Dante, that there are forces beyond our understanding, those forces that affect change beyond what we can know. The Pillars of Truth are part of that force. They are not gods, but they, like The Keepers, have the power to change time and mold it like a piece of clay, or paint an image like oil on a canvas.”

“So you think something or someone else is making other changes as well?” Dante asked.

The room rattled.

“Do you feel that?” Anika asked.

Everybody looked at each other, and then they looked around, shutting out other distractions from their mind. A feeling of unease and dread blew through the walls and extinguished the warmth inside the inner room of the club.

“Yes, I feel that. I think we all do,” Cleophas replied.

“We’re being watched, aren’t we?” asked one of the members.

“I believe so,” Cleophas said, “and that can mean only one thing. Our special objects and the powers they contain are being used against us. We need to find out to what end, but I suspect it may be related to what has been happening.”

“Should we tell Owen?” Dante asked.

“He may already know. He went back to The Second Pillar of Truth to gain insight on what will be required of him on his next quest. In any case, keep a lookout for suspicious happenings while we get to the bottom of things. A good place to start looking might be the office in the Campus Cafe. Bo staves and other relics forged from the element found in Everville are stored there. If the administration has taken a dark turn, it’s likely we can find something out there.”

Chapter 9

Happenings

Back in the land of the Fron, the feasting was coming to an end. The day was almost over, and many had already left for their homes. Those who remained sensed a chill. The multi-colored sky faded to black as storm clouds grew near the horizon.

The Keeper stood up and looked at those in the Great Fron Hall and spoke: “So it has begun.”

The other Keepers stood up as well and rushed towards The Keeper’s Workshop.

“What has begun?” Toe asked.

“There has been another incursion,” The Keeper replied.

“Does that mean the truce has been broken?”

“I don’t know,” The Keeper responded with a furrowed brow and a look of urgency.

Before The Keepers could make their way out the door, there was a commotion just outside. The Keeper led the others towards the door, clutching his staff. An echo of growls broke out, and then the growls grew louder.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Toe said as he walked behind those approaching the door.

The Fwaylan revealed themselves.

“Get back!” shouted The Keeper.

The Keeper stepped forward and lifted his staff. The other Keepers fell behind him, making a barrier in front of the others in the room.

One Fwaylan entered, followed by another, and yet another. In a very short time, a group of ten beasts blocked the front of the room, with an unknown number standing just outside. Each creature was over eight feet long and six feet tall, their coats of grey fur matted like they had already been in a great scuffle. They growled, saliva streaming down long, sharp teeth as they stood taut yet limber as if waiting for some cue.

The Keeper raised his staff high and channeled the element stored within. The other Keepers did the same and created a force-field preventing the Fwaylan from coming any closer.

“Go back to The Valley of Darkness where you belong!” The Keeper shouted.

More Fwaylan entered and pushed up against the force-field. Light emanated from The Keeper’s staff to reinforce the field. The Fwaylan kept on pressing, but they were spurned each time they lunged towards the Fron and The Keepers.

“I said return back to where you came from!” The Keeper shouted once again.

The Keeper approached the Fwaylan, and the other Keepers followed, but the Fwaylan did not retreat. More of the creatures entered the room, surrounding the force-field. Frustrated, they tore apart everything in the Great Fron Hall—pictures that decorated the walls, chairs and tables; anything not protected was torn to shreds. They howled, and bone chilling shrieks penetrated the hall and could be heard all over the surrounding area and beyond the exterior of the walls.

The typically cheerful Marmooks, along with many other smaller creatures in the room, winced in fear as they made their way towards the center of the space and huddled next to the Ubaloo warriors and Fron.

“This is deeply troubling,” said The Keeper.

“Yes. I concur,” replied one of the other Keepers.

They shared a moment of understanding among them, nodded in agreement, and redoubled their efforts to push back the Fwaylan, but to no avail.

“Toe, I need to ask something of you.”

“What is it, Keeper?”

“I need you to go to my workshop and grab some items from my closet. I’ll send one of The Keepers with you. He’ll guide you on what to get and protect you along the way.”

“Yes, Keeper. Whatever you need.”

One of the other Keepers stepped aside and Toe followed. The Fwaylan attempted to block their exit but were prevented by The Keeper’s staff. The Fwaylan grew more enraged. Some of them left the hall, looking for anything in the vicinity they could tear to bits. Soon, there were only a few Fwaylan left in the Great Fron Hall, but they persisted in attacking the force-field.

A short time later, Toe arrived at The Keeper’s Workshop. He located the closet and looked inside.“What exactly am I looking for?” Toe asked.

“Any round container that shimmers.”

Toe fumbled about and eventually located a few of the containers and gathered them in his arms.

“Is this enough?” Toe asked.

“Yes. That should be sufficient.”

In about the same time it took to get there, Toe and the other Keeper returned back in the hall with the containers of stored element. The Keeper opened the containers and poured the element onto his staff. He lifted it high once more, as did the other Keepers.

“Good riddance!”

The power from the staff grew, and the ferocious beasts growled and hissed. They opened and shut their large jaws, aiming their anger and noise at The Keeper, and then they vanished, sent by The Keeper back to The Valley of Darkness.

A few short hours after the rubble was removed, The Keepers, Toe, and a few trusted advisers met in The Keeper’s Workshop. The Keeper who guarded the portal to the land of the Fron began the meeting.

“There are two issues here, and I think we can all agree on the first.”

He grabbed two items from his desk and held them up. “See this here, and that. I have analyzed them in every which way. We are between here and there, yesterday and tomorrow, and yet, and yet.”

“I see what you mean,” another Keeper said in agreement.

“Yes, I agree wholeheartedly,” still another Keeper of the portals spoke.

“And yet, there is an imbalance. We have seen an imbalance before, but not like this. This new breach is something wholly new, something that is reducing both the amount and the effectiveness of the element contained in Everville—within our catacombs, and within the walls of my workshop. I think we all know what that means.”

“Those were my thoughts exactly,” one of the other Keepers stated.

“What does it mean?” Toe asked. “Is there anything we can do to stop it, and do we know who is behind it?”

“I suspect the usual culprits, though we can’t be for certain, but there is something more troubling here,” The Keeper replied.

“More troubling?” Toe asked as the color left his face.

“Yes, much more troubling. Let me show you what I mean.”

The Keeper picked up two of the small containers and tapped it twice with his staff. He tapped the other three times.

“Now look closely.”

“One is brighter than the other,” Toe said to The Keeper.

“Yes, that’s my point. What is done to one must be undone to the other. What is hidden here must be revealed there, and what is lifted up someplace will be pushed down in another—and that brings me to the second point. The Ubaloo general has brought forth a request by the Alarian Governor Laveda to share some of the element that flows beyond The Walls of Vermogen in Brackenbone. Given the current situation, I think it brings the possibility of restoration and balance.”

Those in the room gave nods of agreement to The Keeper, though Toe was unclear why.

“Toe, when tomorrow’s sun rises, I want you to journey to Brackenbone and relay what we have discussed with the general. Tell him we should begin as soon as possible, and take this just in case.”

Toe reached out and accepted a few containers of the element from The Keeper’s hands.

“You know as much as anyone how dangerous this can be and what could happen should it fall into the wrong hands. Spies from other lands are moving this way and that, and those that have been… seek to be again. Be careful, lest you give them the opportunity.”

“I understand, Keeper. I’ll guard the containers with my life, and I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

“Good, and take one or two of the cheerful Marmooks with you. They often prove very useful in these instances.”

Toe returned home in the hours of night that followed. It was only a short distance from Toe’s home, but the evil that seeped through the cracks of the surrounding realms made the journey seem much longer. The wind howled and the ground rumbled. The trees shook and the creatures of the night sounded oddly foreign. Toe stepped forward, and a large thud echoed back.

“Who’s there?” Toe asked.

Only silence responded, but he was almost home and quickened his pace.

The sound returned.

“Who’s there?”

Again, nothing replied back to his call, but then he felt cold hands on the back of his neck. He jumped, and then turned around.

“What’s wrong?” Toe’s wife Nissa asked.

“Oh, you scared me. Let’s talk inside.”

Nissa got Toe comfortable, removing his outer garments and bringing him a large bowl of stew.

“Smells delicious,” Toe said as he let the warm vapors enter his nostrils.

Toe caressed the warm bowl with the palms of his hands, and then dipped a large spoon into its center, lifting it to his lips. He savored the flavor and made noises attesting to that fact.

“You’ve really outdone yourself, Nissa. This satisfies my tongue and warms my stomach.”

After finishing his meal, Toe told her the news: “The Keeper has asked me to visit the general in Brackenbone.”

“What about?” she asked.

Down the hall, Levar listened in on their conversation through his bedroom door, which he’d opened a crack just after his father had returned home.

“Something is amiss, and The Keeper thinks that granting Governor Laveda’s request to share some of the element behind The Walls of Vermogen may somehow prove useful. I leave in the morning with my little friend here.”

Nissa looked down, “Hi there,” she said, just realizing she had overlooked the Marmook’s presence. The round ball of smiles looked back at her, hopping up and down, and then licked her face.

The following morning, Levar paid close attention to his father’s movements as he prepared for his journey. After eating breakfast and making sure Toe was well on his way. Levar took a trip of his own to the same spot in The Deep Woods where he had previously met the lovely maiden, Brea.

“There you are, Levar! Something frightening happened to me.”

“What is it, Brea?”

“It was a mountain dweller and some of his slimy friends.”

“Did they hurt you? If they did, I promise I’ll drag them back to the concave cliffs and push them off myself!”

Brea’s cheeks turned the shade of a ripe plum, and her lips lifted in a smile.

“No. I’m fine, but they asked me to do something for them, and if I did they promised to give me what I want.”

“What did they ask?”

“Aren’t you going to ask me what it is that I want?”

“Okay then, what do you want?”

She let him think for a moment before saying, “You, of course, silly!”

Levar smiled, losing his train of thought, and then she kissed him.

“They want me to spy for them, or I should say, tell them if I hear any news of something out of the ordinary. I don’t know how they could give us what we want. I mean, how could they get your parents’ approval of our marriage? And those creatures don’t seem very trustworthy. What do you think I should do?”

“Well, I do have some news. I overheard my father telling my mom that The Keeper is going to share some of the element from behind The Walls of Vermogen with the Alarian Governor Laveda and her people in order to hatch some of the eggs.”

“Really? I’m sure those slimy creatures would love to get their hands on this information. What do you think they would do if they knew?” she asked.

“I think they might try to stop them, or at least stir up some anger over the power sharing plan.”

“What do you think about the plan?” Brea asked.

“Well, I was imprisoned in The Other In Between by those who opposed us. It was precisely to keep away others from having this power that caused the wars among our people. I can think of many in the surrounding realms who would do whatever they could to stop this. I know The Keepers think they know what is best for our lands… but maybe they don’t. It didn’t stop my family or others in our lands from an almost endless suffering in The Other In Between. Were it not for Owen Sage we would still be there.”

“What do you think we should do? Surely the mountain dwellers only want to use the information to suit their own devious schemings, and what of your father? Won’t he be harmed if this knowledge gets out? I don’t think that would help at all in getting their blessing for our future.”

“I hate my father, and I hate my grandfather equally as much!”

“Why?”

“He was stupid and let himself get tricked by Them and those that reside in the opposing realms into giving Them a foothold in our world. It led to our imprisonment. Still, in spite of my misgivings about my family, I don’t think we should risk this information falling into the hands of the mountain dwellers. Who knows what they might do with the information. It might even result in the collapse of the truce.” Levar said.

A tall and slender-hooded figure stepped out from behind a cluster of trees and laughed. “Too late!” Ewan said with a smile. “You’ve already spilled your little secret now, boy, and a tasty little morsel indeed!”

“You are your father’s son. Yes indeed, secrets are spilled, fun little secrets, short ones and tall ones. A traitor just the same you are. He will be so disappointed, but maybe not. He is a traitor too, just like you,” Ewan said to Levar.

“Hey, listen to me, you slimy piece of filth,” Levar said. “I’m going to stop you right where you stand, even if I have to kill you myself.”

“Have a little fight in you I see. Good, but it won’t help, not one bit.”

Several more mountain dwellers stepped out of the woods, along with a couple Fwaylan. Brea trembled in fear and clutched Levar’s arms.

“Oh dear. There is no need to fear. It’s just us mountain dwellers. You know, friends from The Valley of Darkness. We’re not that bad, just opportunists seeking some fun. It’s The Keepers you should worry about. I once thought they possessed wisdom, but I see now they are just fools, fools with rules, overly optimistic and naive creatures who The Pillars of Truth have befriended. You know, though, that even The Pillars of Truth are not the sole possessors of knowledge or power, and neither are Them. There are others, some who you have already met, like the Alarians. They can be more fun.”

“What is it that you want from us?” Brea asked.

Ewan stepped forward and placed his hand on her face.

“Leave her alone!” Levar demanded, approaching Ewan.

“Oh, I’m not going to hurt her. I keep my promises, unlike some people I know. I’ll give you two sentimental creatures what you want. It’s good to know that you are just like your father, and your grandfather. I’m sure both he and The Keeper will be sorely disappointed when they learn that it’s you who spilled the secret.”

“You just said you will give us what we want!” Brea snapped back.

“There is more than one way to skin a Fron. I’ll do it in my own time and my own way,” Ewan said, smiling.

Ewan and his entourage slipped back into the woods. Levar and Brea stood motionless, waiting for them to be gone.

Off in the distance, in the land of Brackenbone, Toe had already arrived. He met with General Randore and told him what had transpired in the Great Fron Hall.

“The land of the Fron is not the only place that has felt the incursion. We have felt similar happenings here, but those responsible remain in the shadows, fearful of the dragon Rathlar. I’ll contact Governor Laveda and tell her the news.”

“Any news of the truce?” Toe asked.

“I am not certain, though I fear plans and plottings have already been made. Word has come from the surrounding lands that both the armies of the mountain dwellers and Them have been amassing at the borders of different lands. War looms, and we must ready ourselves,” the general warned Toe.

Chapter 10

The Second Pillar

Jacob and Owen awoke in uncertain surroundings, dimly lit with no sign of the ocean, or water of any kind for that matter. All they could see was the ground beneath their feet and a few steps in front of them.

“Hello… is anyone there?” Owen called out in the darkness.

Jacob sighed, “Just take me home already, Owen.”

“We’ll get there soon enough.”

They continued walking for several minutes until the darkness receded. The light revealed lush greenery and vegetation. There was an ocean off in the distance behind them and tropical mountains in front.

They came upon a small village of people with mocha skin and tribal tattoos.

“Where the heck are we now?” Jacob asked.

“Hard to say… it looks like the South Pacific maybe, Tahiti or some other Polynesian island, but judging by the color of the sky, I think we may be someplace else,” Owen said.

There were many young children, as well as men, women, and a few elders. They did not act surprised or interested by the arrival of visitors. Those in the village continued working, pounding a thin cloth out of plant bark. Others wove soaked plants and spun them into thread. Owen and Jacob looked closer at the surroundings. The sky was clear, but instead of blue it was a teal green. In the distance they could also see that the ocean was not blue, but a light purple.

“I think we’re wherever The Second Pillar of Truth wants us to be,” Owen told Jacob after having the opportunity to look around more.

“Unfortunately, The Second Pillar of Truth no longer possesses this space,” said a man who had approached them from behind. He was Polynesian, middle-aged, and around six feet tall. He had a thick build and wore traditional clothing, with a bare chest and tattoos.

“What does that mean exactly? What happened to him?” Owen asked.

“I think you already know the answer to that question,” he replied.

Owen thought that it must be a result of new timeline. Owen’s father used to be The Second Pillar of Truth, but now he was back at home with Owen’s mother.

“Ah, yes, but is there a new Second Pillar? I came here to see him and ask about The Fourth Pillar’s location. The Keeper has sensed evil has returned to Everville, and it might be a good idea to seek it out.”

“I see. Well, your friend must stay here for a while. I will need to teach him our ways for a hundred years or so.”

Jacob turned to the man with a look of shock and condescension.

“A hundred years? You must be out of your frickin’ mind, old man. I’m not staying with you for a hundred years, a hundred days, or a hundred seconds for that matter. Now get me out of here!”

A young boy dressed in similar traditional clothes came up behind Jacob and struck him on the back of the head with a large gourd, knocking him out. Jacob fell to the ground and the boy giggled before returning back to his activities.

“Your friend has much arrogance in him, but in order for the location of The Fourth Pillar of Truth to be revealed, you will need to trust him. Before you can do that, he will need to learn our ways. It will take time. Petulance and anger must be whittled away through hunger, hardship, and cooperation. Self-reliance can only work if you first are willing to accept the charity and advice of others when you yourself are in need. It’s a lesson you must both master for your next task.”

“So who are you exactly? I mean, if The Second Pillar of Truth is no longer here, are you helping him? Will a new Pillar arrive later?”

“The new Pillar has not yet been chosen. I am filling in for him for the time being. I do not yet possess all the virtues needed to take his place, but I was chosen by the others for this single task.”

“If Jacob stays here, what will I be doing?”

“You will be with him of course. I just didn’t feel the need to hit you in the back of the head in order to get your cooperation. When the time comes, I will release you both to the ice planet where Mallory trained the dragon, Rathlar. Assuming, that is, you are able to learn mutual respect and trust. There is knowledge you require that only Jacob can give, but it’s a simple knowledge, a simple truth. If he shares that information with you willingly, the location of The Fourth Pillar will be revealed to you.

“There is a double-hulled canoe just beyond the shore. We are going on a long journey, tracing back the history of my lineage. There is much you can learn from our ways, including tolerance, value, and respect. Now come, follow me. I will teach you how to fish.”

Owen followed the Polynesian man to the beach. Jacob remained unconscious on the ground. Several of the women and children gathered around him, pointing, until a few large adult men picked him up and carried him on their shoulders in the direction of the vessel.

A while later, Jacob awoke on the canoe in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight. He looked around until he spotted Owen, but before he had the opportunity to confront him, Jacob was approached by the boy who had rendered him unconscious.

“‘Ai,” the boy said, holding up a piece of fish.

“What?”

“‘Ai,” the boy repeated.

“He’s telling you to eat,” Owen told Jacob.

Jacob snatched the piece of fish out of the boy’s hands.

“The next piece of food you eat, you will have to earn yourself,” the Polynesian man told Jacob.

The journey lasted several weeks. Jacob had no choice but to learn how to fish and participate in other traditional activities. It wasn’t easy, and he often resisted, but hunger usually won out, though his complaining remained a persistent nuisance.

After the initial journey, Jacob and Owen followed the others to different islands. They learned the ways of the elders and of the necessity of relying on each other. Weeks turned into months. Months turned into years, and years turned into decades.

By the time the century of waiting came to a close, Jacob and Owen had become quite skilled in Polynesian traditions. They were both expert fisherman and navigators. They’d learned how to make their own cloth and live off the land.

Owen was still unsure if Jacob had relinquished all the bitterness in his heart, but it was clear that they relied on each other and on those in the village for their mutual survival. They had not aged, nor had anyone else in the village. Time stood still, but they had gained the wisdom and experience of living a hundred years in the wilderness and subsisting off the fruits of their labor.

“A hundred years has passed, and I am releasing both of you,” said the man who was not the Second Pillar. “Once you find the knowledge you need on the ice planet, I will impart to you, Owen, the location of The Fourth Pillar of Truth.”

There was no elaboration or discussion. Jacob and Owen were instantly transported to the frigid, barren planet where Mallory had once trained the great Alarian dragon, Rathlar. Covered in snow and ice, only a few spots of gray rock were visible.

“We need to get moving if we’re going to survive,” Jacob told Owen.

Jacob led the way. His memory of the planet remained as fresh as a hundred years ago. He thought back to when Mallory had trained the dragon within his lair. They continued on the trek for several thousand yards, but not before Owen succumbed to the elements. The bitter wind and cold were too much for his human body to handle, in spite of his excellent physical condition.

Jacob picked up Owen and continued for a few hundred more feet to the location of Mallory’s former lair. Mallory and the dragon had long gone, but there were several large blankets and cloth coverings in the cave. Jacob maneuvered Owen to one of the more sheltered sections of the enclosure, away from the blustering wind. He sat down next to Owen and covered both of them in the blankets before collapsing into a deep sleep. They slept well and woke the next afternoon.

“Good morning,” Owen said to Jacob.

“Morning, I’m going to go outside to melt us some ice to drink.”

“Jacob.”

“Yes?” Jacob said.

“Thanks for saving me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Jacob left the safety of the lair to gather ice and take stock of their position. He looked around and inspected their location for anything that might be helpful. He saw several rock features in the distance, but nothing else besides the grey sky and the remarkable blue-tinted ice.

“Here,” Jacob said to Owen as he handed him a small ceramic cup filled with melted water.

“Do you know if there is any food around here?” Owen asked.

Jacob pointed to the distant brown and black rock features near the horizon. “Over there. I think those are caves. I know there are small creatures that live in some of them. If we can catch them, we can roast them. It’s already late in the afternoon, so if we are going to go, we should probably move quickly.”

They gathered some cloth coverings and wrapped themselves up as much as possible, then they left the lair and set out to the next pass.

Owen wondered if he had left too soon. His fingertips were nearly frostbitten from the night before, and the fierce wind showed no signs of abating.

“Just keep moving, Owen. We’ll be there before you know it.”

They quickened their pace, but with the slippery ice and jagged stone that peppered the ground they had difficulty increasing their stride. A half hour more passed, and Owen started to feel like he was about to pass out.

Jacob assured him as he saw fatigue setting in on his face: “We’re almost there, Owen.”

Owen took a deep breath and pushed on. Within a couple of minutes, they arrived in the shelter of another cave, smaller than the lair where they had just left, and with the company of a few creatures.

“Look out!” Owen shouted to Jacob.

Jacob removed the stone dagger, crafted from the heart of an ancient volcano, and thrust it into the neck of a creature which had leapt out of the darkness. It was a hairy beast with a thick covering of white wooly fur. Its face resembled a cross between an albino raccoon and a miniature saber-tooth tiger. Its claws were razor sharp, and it had a small curled-up tail. It was small but menacing.

Two more of the creatures lunged after them, one at Jacob, the other one at Owen. Jacob successfully killed the second creature, and Owen fought off the other until Jacob could put it down with his blade.

“Looks like we have food for the next few days at least,” Jacob said as they both gathered themselves after the attack.

Jacob grabbed a pouch from his side and tethered two of the small animals to it. With the remaining animal he proceeded to skin it with his blade. Owen helped gut the animal and set up the small pit for cooking. From the Polynesians they’d learned various salting and roasting techniques. It would have to do, because salt was the only spice they had. Owen set the flame, and when it was ready they feasted on the roasted animal.

“Tomorrow, I think we should set out before dawn,” Owen said while chewing on the cooked meat. “We have to find whatever secret is hidden here before we can return home.”

“I agree. Whatever we are supposed to find may lie beyond the next pass, just over those rock enclaves about a half mile to the east,” Jacob replied.

The next morning, they left the small cave. The wind was just as cold, but the extra day had helped them adjust to the frigid weather. They had also better fastened their coverings to their body. They hung low to the ground now, using the white fur of the animals to better camouflage themselves with their surroundings.

“Look over there,” Owen whispered.

“Yeah, I see it too. Let’s move around the corner and see if we can see just how many of them there are on the other side.”

They walked to the side of the large cliff. At the bottom of the valley below the cliff stood tens of thousands of Alarian soldiers, followers of Governor Jahal. But in the midst of the army rested thousands of rows of Alarian eggs; above them flew hundreds of juvenile dragons.

“They’re raising a dragon army,” Jacob said, louder than he should.

“They must have somehow managed to remove some the eggs from The City of Worms,” Owen said. “I wonder if Governor Laveda knows about this.”

“There is something else that’s also a little strange. I mean, even though the eggs belong to the Alarians, and even if those outside Governor Jahal’s camp are aware that they are here, there still is the question of how they hatched the eggs without the power of the element.” Jacob said.

“That must be the secret we were meant to find… it must be.” Owen said.

In that moment, the Polynesian man transferred the location of the Fourth Pillar of Truth directly to Owen’s mind.

“I understand now. I understand all of it. We need to get back to Everville. I need to see The Keeper. He must be warned!”

The Polynesian kept his promise. Owen and Jacob vanished from the ice planet and were transported back to The Keeper’s Workshop.

“Owen, you’re back, and I see you’ve brought Jacob with you,” The Keeper said with a smile as he stroked his long beard.

“Yes, and we have a lot to discuss,” Owen replied.

Chapter 11

The Truce

Ewan ventured back to The Valley of Darkness. He had the knowledge he required, and now the mountain dwellers needed to decide what to do with that information.

“To whom do we share this morsel of truth?” Ewan asked his fellow mountain dwellers.

“Perplexing indeed,” one of Ewan’s followers said. “Them are weakened, and so is Governor Jahal. Why don’t we keep it for ourselves?”

“That will do us no good. We benefit from tangled alliances, concentrations of power which allow us to align our support to the side that can give us what we want. This truce will not last, but so long as it does we gain no advantage. We need to do what we have always done and sell the information to whichever group will give us the most benefit. In this case, it’s Them. With a little help, we can gain access to a permanent source of the element. It makes the most sense,” Ewan said.

Ewan and his followers were unaware that they were being spied upon. Felix, Faine, and Asher had snuck into the cave with cloaks of invisibility provided by General Randore. Prior to their arrival, the three had devised a series of signals to communicate. After listening to the mountain dwellers conniving, Asher tapped on the shoulders of Felix and Faine, signaling them that it was time to leave.

Despite the small size of the Ubaloo, the entrance to the mountain dwellers’ cave was difficult to exit, especially with all the comings and goings of other creatures Ewan was conspiring with, but after careful maneuverings the spies managed to escape undiscovered. Now they just needed to get home. The mountain dwellers were accompanied by a large herd of Fwaylan—but what most concerned the Ubaloo was that the mountain dwellers were breaking off into two camps.

The first camp was heading off in the direction of the concave cliffs towards The Other In Between. The second was staying behind, protecting their cave and camp, and sealing off the entrance to the underground river flowing from the land of the giants. That was the Ubaloos’ only way out.

After they gained enough distance from those around them, Asher whispered to the others: “Let’s split up until we get to the river. We’ll head to that first large container in the distance. The mountain dwellers are planning on taking it to the river’s entrance. That’s where we’ll get off.”

“Split up, oh no. No split up. Run, run, the other way,” Felix replied.

“You’re an Ubaloo soldier. It’s time to act like one,” Faine said to Felix.

“Soldier and a spy, soldier and a spy,” Felix said.

“Wait until we all arrive,” Asher instructed. “We’ll sneak onto the container and hitch a ride to the river’s entrance. From there, we’ll scale up the walls enclosing the underground river until we get to the land of the giants.”

“Yes! Giants, giants, my favorite, giants.”

“Giants indeed,” Faine said to Felix.

“Well then, let’s get on with it,” Asher said.

Being only a foot tall presented some unique challenges to the Ubaloo, namely being able to see around obstacles, such as tall grass. There were only patches of shrubbery near their location, but enough to reduce the Ubaloos’ sight beyond a few hundred feet. In order to see farther, they needed to find patches of high ground and map out a path until they reached each of those regions.

Felix looked around and took the path farthest from the nearest Fwaylan. Faine took the most efficient route, and Asher took the path he thought would have the highest chance of success.

Felix memorized the route in his head, and then he covered his eyes, running as fast as he could. Usually he was on the shoulders of a Fron when he closed his eyes, but this time he was alone, at least until he reached the river.

“Eyes closed, no peeking. I can make it, I can make it…” Felix whispered over and over again. He couldn’t resist, though, and opened his eyes to peer through the loose draping of his fingers. “Oops. Keep them closed, Felix, or the Fwaylan might appear,” he said to himself.

Felix tried again and continued along his planned route, and this time he succeeded in making it to the first outcrop of rocks.

Faine was the second to leave. He kept his eye on the next outcrop of high ground and moved with care and precision. Faine was close behind Felix and was making excellent progress, but Asher had some difficulty.

The invisible steps of the Ubaloo made impossible motions in vegetation with each stride.

“I know you’re there!” shouted one of the mountain dwellers who’d been watching footsteps form in the grass near Asher.

The mountain dweller rode on the back of a Fwaylan, and from Asher’s perspective looked like a giant. The hairy beast upon which the mountain dweller rode growled and hissed. The mountain dweller that rode upon its back carried a long skinny metal spear and swung wildly on each side of the creature in the hopes of intercepting Asher.

Asher stopped all movement and let them pass. The mountain dweller slowed after Asher stopped, but continued moving forward in the direction of where Asher had last been detected.

“Don’t think you can hide from us, whoever you are. We will find you and kill you.”

Asher kept silent, but Felix was shaken by the noise.

“Keep running, just keep running! I’m almost there, almost there, almost there,” Felix kept saying all the way to the river.

Faine stopped at a second outcrop and looked at the container and calculated his distance from it. He could see and hear the mountain dweller and the Fwaylan upon which he rode. They had almost caught up with him. He mapped out a new position in seconds, then he advanced.

Faine made it to the container and whispered, “Felix. Felix. Are you here?”

“Felix is here. Felix is here. Who are you?”

“It’s Faine. I think Asher is still on his way. We need to wait.”

“I don’t like to wait, not with those scary and hairy Fwaylan chasing us.”

“Asher won’t be long,” Faine whispered.

“I hope he hurries. More creatures come out when the light disappears.”

Asher looked at the position of his foes and saw that more mountain dwellers and Fwaylan were closing in. He couldn’t wait any longer. He took one last look and ran as fast as he could. He felt confident that the arrival of the others would mask his noise, but he had to act quickly in order to avoid being detected if the mountain dwellers arrived at the container before he did. So he ran.

Asher slowed his pace as the container came into view. He wanted to make a silent entry to avoid detection. He looked back, and then he climbed into the container at the rear.

“Ouch!” shouted Felix.

“Shhhh. Quiet down,” Asher whispered.

“Is that you, Asher?” Felix asked.

“Yes, it’s me. The mountain dwellers aren’t far behind. I saw several of them from their camp headed in this direction. I think they’ll be catching a ride on the container and heading for the river’s entrance soon. Let’s just stay quiet and wait until they arrive. Once the container reaches the underground cave leading to the land of the giants, I’ll give the signal for us to leave.”

The wait lasted longer than expected. The light vanished and gave way to total blackness. Flying creatures from The Valley of Darkness echoed in the dark skies overhead, circling over small water serpents that slithered and splashed in the river.

“I hear something,” Felix whispered.

“Shhhh. The mountain dwellers are almost here. I can see the flame from their torches. We’ll be leaving soon,” Asher assured Felix.

Several mountain dwellers entered the container, pushed off into the river and began rowing upstream. A short time later after arriving at their destination, the mountain dwellers anchored the floating container next to the river cave and set up their position.

Asher gave the signal and the other Ubaloo tiptoed out of the container, climbing on several wooden crates in order to reach the ropes that were strung on its side.

“Alright, let’s walk quietly up the side of the cave until it opens up in that large space over there,” Asher said, pointing in the direction he wanted them to go.

Felix, Faine, and Asher continued their journey, careful not to speak or make any unnecessary noise. The path along the sides was narrow until they reached their target, so they stepped with care. Still, there were several near slips and a few pebbles they inadvertently knocked into the river. Fortunately, they had traveled some distance and the mountain dwellers were not alerted to their position. In time, they arrived without the suspicion of those guarding the cave entrance.

Asher removed his cloak, and the other Ubaloo followed his lead.

“Thank goodness! Glad you could join us,” Faine said in a soft voice.

“It should be easier from here on out. The giants are not too far above our position, but we should still be careful,” Asher replied.

The Ubaloo continued on their course until they reached the land of the giants. From there, the giants escorted them to the portal leading to Brackenbone. A day later, and after a much needed feasting and rest, the Ubaloo spies completed their journey and returned to the company of General Randore.

“Please come in,” General Randore said.

“General, it’s good to see you again. We have news from The Valley of Darkness,” Faine said as several servants brought food to the table for the general and the spies.

The general gave Asher a heavy pat on the back, and then he pulled a leg from the stuffed roasted bird and plopped it on his plate.

“Eat up, men. Let’s feast over discussions of a quick death to our enemies.”

Felix was the first to dig in. He took a slice of bird, and some caramelized vegetables that decorated the same plate.

“So tell me, what did you find, friend?” General Randore asked Asher.

“General, Ewan has taken a contingent of his followers and is headed towards The Other In Between to inform Them of The Keepers’ plan to share some of the element with Governor Laveda.”

“I see. Well, I had no doubt you would be successful in finding out some useful information. There have already been rumors of armies advancing in the lands beyond the portals, and based on this new information, it may be time to advance our own.

“I don’t know how Them will respond once they learn of our plan, assuming they don’t already know, but we will take steps to speed up the process of redirecting the flow of some of the element to The City of Worms at Governor Laveda’s request. I’ll enlist the giants to assist us in recreating some of the old channels beneath the hidden cave, and I’ll alert The Keeper and the others.”

After the general dismissed the spies, he contacted The Keeper to tell him the news.

“Keeper, we have discovered that Ewan has learned of our willingness to send some of the element to The City of Worms for Governor Laveda. He plans on telling Them. I think we should speed up our effort.”

“I agree, General. I’m still waiting to hear back from Owen, but extending our goodwill to the Alarians can only help us in our weakened state. If the armies of Them push beyond The Valley of Darkness, we’ll do the same. I’ll contact the giants myself and have them begin construction and ready their army.”

The general was quick to inform The Keeper and giants of the situation. Less than a day passed before the giants were already preparing their army for war and had sent a few of their best soldiers to assist the Ubaloo in the changes required for the sharing of the element to the Alarian followers of Governor Laveda.

Chapter 12

Advancing Armies

Meanwhile, in The Valley of Darkness, Ewan led his contingent of followers beyond the concave cliffs and to the mountain ridge, heading in the direction of the advancing armies in the lands ahead.

For several days they traveled tens of miles along the top of the treacherous mountains and icy cliffs. Finally, they came upon a massing army, one possessed by a dark force.

Smoke flowed and billowed through every orifice of each individual soldier’s grim faculty. The army had long given itself over to the malevolence that now drove their every move, like a parasite.

They were animated by the souls of Them.

An overpowering stench of rotting eggs emanated from every orifice that leaked the essence of Them. The more dedicated and experienced soldiers only had the form of smoke. The others still had rotting flesh that oozed with sores and decaying skin.

Ewan and a few of his followers broke away from the rest of the mountain dwellers and headed towards the leader of the soldiers of Them.

“What brings you here, Ewan?” the leader, Bonespeed, belched up in fits and starts of billowing smoke.

Bonespeed’s physical form was the ever-changing smoke and vapor that occupied the fine set of armor that adorned it.

“I see my name precedes me,” Ewan replied.

“Don’t get too full of yourself, mountain dweller,” Bonespeed said.

“I have information.”

“What kind of information?” Bonespeed’s head almost fell off his shoulders. He had to reposition it with care, using the flimsy armor to hold it in place.

“The only kind that matters. Now, what is it worth to you?”

“That depends on what it is,” the soldier asked.

“I can assure you that you want to know this. It has to do with The Keepers and the Alarians.”

“Ah… do tell.”

“First, I want your assurance that you will help us when the time arises,” Ewan said. “You understand… we need protection from the new threat, and in return we will give you whatever information you need.”

“We are always happy to accept your help… if it suits our interests. Just be sure you don’t betray us. If you do, you won’t live long enough to regret it.”

Ewan looked past Bonespeed’s shifting face in front of him and gazed at the multitude of soldiers behind Bonespeed. They had the presence of doom and an air of uncertainty, yet their sickness and despair gave Ewan comfort.

The infantry had grown by miles just in the fragment of time Ewan had spent talking with Bonespeed. The battle axes, clubs, and longswords wielded by the soldiers had grown too numerous to count, and it assured Ewan of Bonespeed’s ability to carry out his threat.

Ewan retreated and ordered his followers to begin their long journey back home. Bonespeed stood on high ground, above all the souls in the army below him. He turned to face his followers, raised his metal sword high, and screamed a defiant roar that echoed down the rows of creature soldiers. They copied the gesture and hoisted their weapons high above them, chanting the names of the realms surrounding Everville.

“We will destroy The Keepers and their realms,” Bonespeed shouted. “We will squash the puny Ubaloo soldiers and weak Fron. Even the giants and the giant of giants, Borak, will not stop us. That pathetic human boy, Owen Sage, will not stop us. The Pillars of Truth will not stop us. No one will stop us!”

Back in The Keepers’ Workshop, Owen and Jacob had just returned from their discoveries on the icy planet.

“Take a seat,” The Keeper said as he pulled a book from his shelf. “Now tell me, Owen, what secrets have you learned?”

“Governor Jahal is raising an army of dragons. He somehow managed to take some of the Alarian eggs from The City of Worms, and they’ve hatched. It can only mean that he stole some of the element to use for energy. I don’t see any other explanation. The only question is how did he get the element? Maybe someone is working for him in Everville.”

The Keeper opened his book and pointed at the characters written in an ancient language. “You see this here. It says that all truth in the universe is destined to reveal itself over and over again. We must look to history to make sure we do not repeat our mistakes.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s true. It makes plenty of sense, but I’m not sure what that has to do with our current situation,” Owen replied.

“Think for moment. Where do we find ourselves right now?”

“I guess we’re probably looking at an invasion by a dragon army, and not just any dragon army, but an army of shape-shifting dragons,” Owen said.

“This is true, but what is also true is that like with every other situation we have faced before, we have an advantage. We have something that they don’t. We have the wisdom of time and space, the knowledge of each other, and an understanding of the weaknesses of those who seek to destroy us. They have only hubris and a lust for power that will lead to their eventual doom.”

“So what you’re saying is that we should use that knowledge and their arrogance against them. How exactly do we do that, and what knowledge do we use?” Owen asked.

“That’s what you need to find out from The Fourth Pillar of Truth, Owen. The infinite truths you discover from The Fourth Pillar will reveal the answer that you seek. Am I correct in assuming that you have discovered its location?”

“Yes. It’s in a place called Vortmore.”

“Ah, Vortmore, the land of the infinite eagle. In that case, I know just who should accompany you.”

“Who?”

“Toe, for one. He has traveled through that realm numerous times before. Follow me,” The Keeper said as he closed his book and led Owen and Jacob out of his workshop.

Owen inspected the familiar underground catacombs as they left The Keepers’ Workshop. Hundreds of Fron, Marmooks, and other creatures were running about in a panic.

“What’s going on?” Owen asked.

“Look closer.”

At first, Owen’s eyes were transfixed on all the commotion in front of him, the movement of those running to and fro, and the urgency all the feet carried with them, but then Owen shut everything else out of his mind.

“It’s the walls.”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“Something is wrong with the walls. They seem dimmer. Their sparkle is almost gone,” Owen said.

“That’s right. I didn’t know why it was happening at first, but now it makes sense. Governor Jahal must be siphoning the element from the walls of the catacombs. The Fwaylan tried to attack us, and with the diminished element they almost succeeded. I guess the only question is how. That’s what you’ll need to find out, and you need to hurry. The element is vanishing at an astonishing rate. Soon, Everville will be left with no protection. Our collectors will be empty and the portals will be left unprotected and open to anyone who chooses to pass through.”

The Keeper picked up a faster stride, so much so that Owen and Jacob struggled to keep up.

“Where are we going?”

“Why, to find an infinite eagle, of course,” The Keeper replied.

Owen followed The Keeper’s zigzag down the endless corridors and hidden paths. The Keeper opened one door only to walk through another. It was a never-ending maze of doors and tunnels, caverns and caves.

“Great to see you, Keeper,” an Ubaloo said as they passed through another room.

Owen followed The Keeper through mirrors and portals and walls, dungeons and studies and halls, but they never appeared to be making any progress.

“Don’t be concerned, Owen. The path that you seek lies not on the road most traveled, but on a course visible, yet hidden out of sight, obscured by the trivial stresses of life that blinds you to the truth.

“Ah… here we are.”

Owen looked at the room. It appeared to be the same room he’d seen just one hall down from where they started.

“Looks can be deceiving, Owen. The infinite eagle rests behind the hidden crevice of time, tucked away in plain sight, invisible to all but those who trace the correct path to truth.”

Owen looked up. High above him rested a magnificent bird, perched on a solitary cedar beam. It piped a haunting squawk, a call that fashioned an understanding of the situation without having to be told.

“The bird will be your eyes where you cannot see and your ears where you cannot hear.”

The bird swooped down with one stroke of its wings, and then hobbled alongside Owen and Jacob as they followed the Keeper.

The Keeper tapped on the cave wall with his staff and walked through. Owen and Jacob and the eagle followed close behind.

Later in the day, The Keeper brought Owen to Toe’s home.

“What brings you here?” Toe asked after The Keeper’s arrival.

“Owen will need some company as he journeys to The Fourth Pillar of Truth in Vortmore.”

“I see. And I’m assuming he’s coming along as well,” Toe replied, looking at the bird.

“Indeed, and so is Owen’s classmate, Jacob, from the earthly realm.”

“So what do we need to do?” Toe asked.

“Owen tells me that Jahal is raising a dragon army. He must have found some way to siphon off the element from beneath our catacombs, but I don’t know how. Time is of the essence. I need you to guide them along the way. Owen knows the location, but you are more familiar with the surroundings and can alert them to unseen dangers. The eagle will help as well.”

Toe’s wife, Nissa, embraced him. “Be careful. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“It’s I who lost you, but don’t worry. I have no plans of staying gone long,” Toe said.

The Keeper turned to Nissa with a look that communicated both concern and certainty. “I have every confidence they will make it back safe. I’m more concerned about what happens here if they don’t hurry. The element is vanishing with every moment that passes by, and armies from other realms loom just beyond the horizon.”

“Then we better get going,” Toe said.

“What about me?” Jacob asked. “I’ve already fulfilled my purpose in helping Owen. Is there anything that I’ll be contributing by tagging along?”

“I don’t know the answer to that question, Jacob, but you’re here now. I’ll take that as a sign there is a purpose in your presence.”

Nissa gave Toe one last hug before they left, and his sons Levar and Malibore bade him farewell.

“Soon I will no longer be able to help you, Owen,” The Keeper said after they arrived back at his workshop.

“What do you mean by that?” Owen asked.

“I have heard from other Keepers that the last few Pillars of Truth cannot be revealed by another. You will have to find them on your own without the help of someone who has gone before you.”

“Well, I guess I’ll have to figure that out when the times comes. At the moment, my only concern is finding out what truth The Fourth Pillar can provide.”

“Yes, but don’t let any lesson go unlearned or any moment go unnoticed. Everything that you face, everyone that you see, and every choice you make might reveal the secret that you will need to unlock those Pillars that lie just beyond my reach.”

“I’ll pay as much attention as I can, though I don’t know about remembering everything. I have to spend hours studying to get good grades on my final exams.”

“When the time comes, you will recognize what’s important, and you will remember. I have faith in you, Owen. I believe that you were chosen for a reason, and like the other Pillars of Truth have already told you, the reason you were chosen is because within your heart you possess the character that most have lost.

“From the ancient words written in this book, to the symbols that you found on the bowl of fruit when I first pulled you into our realm, to the marks on the bo staves of each member of the Echo club connected to each of the surrounding realms in Everville, there is meaning. It’s the same meaning which describes the contempt of those who seek to destroy us. It is the same meaning which has kept our land from being overcome by doom. It is the same meaning that separates optimism from cynicism and truth from lies. It is the same meaning that has imparted on the sensitive boy that blushed at the thought of his predestination. Yet here you stand, strong and sure.”

An unsettling noise took up residence in The Keeper’s Workshop. The ground trembled and the walls shook. Dust from the cavern walls muddied the air.

A deafening horn blew an eerie sound that put fear in the eyes of The Keeper.

“What is it?” asked Jacob.

“Nothing good. Now hurry!”

The Keeper shoved Owen and the others towards the portal. “There’s no time. You must leave now.”

Owen walked through the portal that led to the entrance of Vortmore. One after the other, they passed through the opening. It shimmered and rippled after each of them walked across the threshold. After the eagle’s final wobble across the brink, the portal vanished.

Owen stood at the precipice, on the spot just beyond their way back home. He stood tall and strong, just as The Keeper described him, full of intent and purpose, full of clear focus for his task.

“Let’s get going,” Owen said, and they began their journey.

Chapter 13

Secrets

Back on campus at Easton Falls University, Dante and Anika sat in Dante’s dorm room studying for their Art History II class.

“What is going on here?” Dante asked.

“There has to be something more we can find out at the Campus Cafe Anika said. The only question is, who is on our side anymore? I think it’s time to practice our breaking and entering skills.”

“You think we should ask Drusilla and Zee to help?” Dante asked.

“I’m not sure yet. I don’t know who we can trust. I’m not even sure if I trust Professor Samil,” Anika replied.

“You think he’s in on this too? No, it can’t be. I mean… he’s with us.”

“Probably, but we can’t take any chances until we have a better idea about what’s going on. I think we should come back by the cafe after it’s closed and see if anything suspicious is going on. We’ll keep our distance at first, and then sneak in from the back when no one is looking.”

“I don’t know. What if we get caught?”

“Dante, you of all people should know there is something bigger at stake here—you know, like the fate of the entire world.”

“Yeah, I know. I just want to be careful and be smart about it, and I was hoping to delude myself a little longer into believing that everything was back to normal and for good this time,” Dante said.

“I get it. I do. And we’ll be careful, but we can’t just sit back and let whatever is happening behind the scenes take over. We need to stop whatever plan is being put in place before it gets any further. If we don’t do something now, we may not be able to stop it in the future.” Anika said.

Dante put his textbook down and stood up to go to the window. He looked off in the direction of Campus Center and the cafe, which was obscured by the buildings in front of it.

“So when do you suggest we execute this plan?”

“Tomorrow night. Let’s see if you hear anything else about what’s going on. I’ll need time to take a closer look at the back entrance. We should head over there today after getting some coffee.”

“We better get going,” Dante said. “It’s getting dark already and they’re closing in a couple of hours.”

Later in the evening, they sat at their table sipping from their coffee mugs and took turns staring at each other and glancing at the walls around them, afraid to even whisper.

“So, this thing we were talking about, how is it looking now?” Dante asked.

“Oh, I think it still looks great.”

“Do you see anything that worries you?” Dante asked.

“Nope,” Anika said, in a veiled attempt at hiding their true motives of looking for suspicious activity.

They stared at the walls more often than not, as if they were hypnotized by every crevice of stone and every painting or decoration that livened up the room.

Anika walked by each of the paintings while listening in on any conversation she could overhear. At the same time, whenever an employee opened the door to the back, she tried to see if she could get a glimpse inside.

The next evening they both arrived near the back entrance of the Campus Cafe. It was already dark and they were careful not to be seen. They stood motionless beside a building nearby that was close enough to give them a good view.

“Let’s go,” Anika whispered when the last employee left.

Dante followed Anika right up to back door. She took a lockpick out of her pocket and stuck it into the keyhole.

“Where did you learn how to do that?” Dante asked.

“Don’t worry about that right now. Let’s just get done what we came here to do.”

After a few seconds they heard a click, and a warm bit of wind blew through the opening of the door.

“We need to hurry. There’s no telling if someone will be back soon. If the administration is using this as a meeting place, they could arrive any time. We just need to see if we find anything suspicious, and then get out as quickly as we can,” Anika said to Dante.

Dante was about to flick on the light switch before Anika slapped his hand. “No, silly. What do you think the flashlight is for?”

“Sorry, I forgot.”

Anika pointed the light around the room. One wall was covered in bo staves. A few paintings were stacked on the floor against one of the walls. There were a few shelves filled with half full containers and short stacks of books.

“I don’t see anything here,” Dante said.

“Quick, someone’s coming,” Anika said as she shoved Dante behind the back of a couch.

It was a large sofa recliner that had its back at just the right angle to allow Dante to fit snugly behind it. He did his best to conceal his entire body, but he was convinced that at least the tip of his foot was visible. He did the next best thing by making sure he didn’t move a muscle. If his foot was exposed, they might not see it if he was careful not to move.

Three people entered, one employee and two older men. One of them turned on the lights. Anika recognized Dean Swifthouse, but the other two she didn’t recognize. Dante was unable to see anything.

“I’m really not going to mourn the loss of the Echo Club, Cleophas, and all the others that have stood in our way,” Dean Swifthouse said.

“I couldn’t agree more,” the other administrator said. “I’m sure you’ll make good use of all of his prominent research, Odious.”

“I used to envy his artifacts, but not anymore, not with what we have now, thanks to Jahal,” the dean said.

Dante’s eyes were about to pop out of his head. He wanted to shout. It was one of the toughest exercises in self-control he could remember; it took every ounce of discipline to stay still.

Anika balled up her fists and twisted her face. She wanted to pound on Dean Swifthouse and this man, Odious, right there if she could.

Dean Swifthouse walked towards Dante’s hiding place.

As the dean approached Dante’s position, Dante stiffened up. He was sure the footsteps coming his way meant they had spotted him. His mind raced with thoughts of which way to run. Maybe if he made a mad dash for the exit they would lose him in all the commotion? But what about Anika? No, he would have to stay and fight, and hope. Dante and Anika were outnumbered, but they were younger, faster, and in much better shape.

“What do we have here?” the dean asked.

“Oh yes. I recognize that little fellow,” Odious said. “Just the perfect specimen to take out some of my aggression. I’ve had a long day, and after Carmine Hughes, that pathetic washed up old man, confronted us, I’ve really wanted to release some of my anger.”

Odious inched forward. His voice was threatening, but his appearance was no more threatening than an overripe piece of fruit.

That’s it. We’ve been discovered! Dante thought to himself.

Odious stepped closer. Dante felt the sofa press down on him.

He’s going to suffocate me, and I didn’t even get a chance to run, Dante thought. The couch was pressed up against his chest, pinning him to the ground with no space to spare. He was certain there were only a few moments left before he was crushed. He wanted to let out a gasp, but even that wasn’t possible. His thoughts went to Anika. If he was dead, she would stand no chance against all three of them.

Anika watched through the sliver of space she had available in the closet as Odious kneeled on the couch and rolled his rotund body onto it while reaching for the bo staff hanging above it on the wall.

“Grab one for me too, while you’re at it,” the dean said.

Odious grabbed two of the bo staves without falling on his plump face. He used his knee to gain some leverage, and Dante felt every bit of it.

“Here we go,” Odious said, handing the larger of the two staves to the dean.

The pressure on Dante’s ribs vanished. Dante exhaled so much that he was certain they heard him, but after a few seconds, he realized they hadn’t.

“You see this here?” the dean said as he pointed to the markings on the hard wooden shaft he held in his hand. “This is our future. This agreement we have with Jahal will give us all the advantage we could ever want.”

Dean Swifthouse lifted his staff as high as he could and then struck the ground. Blue sparks flew from the base and a wave of electricity emanated from the rod.

Odious struck the ground as well, and with more force, but nothing happened.

“No, like this,” the dean said as he showed Odious the markings on the staff. “You have to press down on the top symbol and then think hard about whatever it is you desire when you strike.”

Odious thumbed the symbols, and then he hit the ground with such force that the rod vibrated and almost pried his fingers open.

Windows in time opened up in front of them, revealing possible futures. The dean thought to himself of his deepest desires. He imagined himself moving from one position of authority to another. He thought of all the ways he could bring misery to those he hated. He thought of every manner possible to enrich himself.

“You have to isolate one thought, you see.” Dean Swifthouse narrowed his desire on one image. “There. See it?”

Different images appeared, jumbled at first, and moving too quickly make any sense out of them.

“Now let it take you back,” the dean said as he guided Odious.

The portal through time ran backwards, showing each moment leading to the next.

“Right there,” the dean said, as Odious’s image in his mind stood still.

“I just have one question. With all his power, why does Jahal need us?” Odious asked.

“Our relics and instruments were constructed with a very special element from Everville,” the dean said with a smile. “And our connection to that world gives us unique access to it. The free flow of energy between our world and the other taps into the element that Jahal needs to raise his army. Without that connection he has no power, and without his help we wouldn’t be able to see glimpses of the future. The element allows us to change the shape of time and space any way I see fit.”

“You mean any way we see fit,”

“Yes, of course,” the dean replied.

“What else can this thing do?” Odious asked, as he fondled the symbols on his staff in a random order.

“Be careful with that,” the dean said loudly, grabbing the rod before it made impact with the ground.

“Leave that to me. Jahal has entrusted me with the knowledge we need to achieve our goals. I don’t want you or anyone else screwing it up. The staves are just a vessel through time and across worlds. The symbols give it definition, but the power flows through us.

“Now, I’ve laid the foundation for complete control over the university and much of Easton Falls. Soon, anyone who can stand in our way will be dealt with, and no one will be able to stop us.”

The dean raised his staff thrust it to the floor. Sparks and burning embers lit up the room.

“It’s just a matter of time now. See how the energy flows both ways, back and forth across realms. Only small nudges are possible now, but Jahal assures me that once his dragon army has enough of the element, more of the extra power will be available for us to make bigger changes in the timeline, and more quickly.”

The following day, Anika and Dante met up with Cleophas and the rest of the Echo Club.

“We’ve got to do something, and fast. Dean Swifthouse is working with the Alarian governor, Jahal, to get more of the element,” Anika said.

“That’s not possible! The only collector of the element was destroyed by Owen.”

“I saw it with my own eyes,” Dante added. “The dean and others in the administration, along with some help from the employees at the Campus Cafe, are using the symbols and the bo staves to channel energy between themselves and Jahal.”

“That still doesn’t make sense. The energy is either being created or stolen from somewhere. It doesn’t just come from thin air.”

“The dean mentioned something about using their connection to Everville to help channel the element,” Anika said.

“Then my guess is that they’re stealing it from Everville, but that still doesn’t explain how.”

“It gets worse. They were using the staves to create windows in time. They were able to see what actions they needed to take in order to set certain event into motion. The dean is planning on using knowledge of the future to take over the school and the rest of Easton Falls. He said that they’ve already made some progress, but at the moment they’re only able to nudge things a little. Once they get more power, they’ll be able to make even bigger changes and much more quickly,” Anika said.

“Then that must be how they were able to become so wealthy,” Cleophas said. “And why Carmine Hughes and Jacob are so poor now. I think it was deliberate. They stole Mr. Hughes’ wealth and Jacob’s knowledge of the artifacts using the window of time.”

“Jahal must have figured out that Jacob had a connection to Everville and reached out to the dean when he figured out he had a connection too,” Dante added

“But why just stop at the school and Easton Falls?” Anika asked. “If they can see the future, they can get whatever they want. Why bother with the school?”

“Anika, Easton Falls University, as well as the relics within it and its founders, have a very important connection with Everville. Whoever controls this school has access to that connection, and with it wields tremendous power. My guess is that Dean Swifthouse does have ambitions that go well beyond Easton Falls, but this is just his first step,” Cleophas said.

“We’ve got to tell Owen and The Keeper,” Anika said.

“My guess is that they already know,” said Cleophas. “If they are getting the element from Everville, then The Keepers of the portals must already be seeing effects in their realm. More importantly, we may not be able to contact them if too much of the element is being drained from the portals. Owen is already searching for answers from The Pillars of Truth. It may be up to him to figure out what’s going on.”

“Shouldn’t we do something, though?” Anika asked. “Maybe we can just steal their bo staves and relics. It worked before.”

“What about Professor Samil?” Dante asked. “He has the paintings, and his son Zee has some relics of his own. Maybe they can get a message to The Keeper. At least we should try to give them a warning. If The Keeper and Owen know what’s going on here, I’m sure they can use that information to and at least come up with some plan to stop Jahal.”

“I think you’re right, Dante. I’ll let the professor know right away.”

“Do you think we can trust him?” Anika asked.

“I don’t think it matters at this point,” Cleophas said. “If he is working with them, I doubt his knowing that we know would change much. He’ll either be able to help us or he won’t. I’ll do what I can to contact The Keeper.”

Chapter 14

The Fourth Pillar

Owen and Jacob, along with Toe and the eagle, arrived unharmed across the portal and into the surrounding realm of Vortmore.

“So why is he called an infinite eagle?” Owen asked Toe.

“When I was younger and working as an apprentice to the Fron leader, Sako, we were sent on a mission here in Vortmore. We were instructed to find a relic hidden somewhere in the Library of Possibilities. The library was in a distant village, beyond an ancient city of men not too far up ahead.”

“There used to be humans that lived in Vortmore?” Jacob asked.

“Not just here, but in all the surrounding realms of Everville. By that time, though, all men had vanished—or were sent away, I should say.”

“Why?” Jacob asked.

“From what I understand, humans, Fron, and all of the other creatures in Everville and the surrounding realms, had lived together for thousands of years. Humans, though, tended to build small towns in each of the realms and congregate amongst themselves. A few other creatures lived with them, Marmooks and such, but for the most part they preferred doing things their own way.

“One day, one of the tinkerers in the town started blabbering on about how he had figured it out, the answer to everything, the solution to all knowledge, and that he was going to be rich and powerful.

“It turned out that he had just captured one of the eagles, and not just any eagle, this eagle, the same eagle that stood watch over the Portal of Infinite Knowledge, which was housed in the Library of Possibilities. The tinkerer wasn’t able to pass through the portal, but he knew that the eagle had been there since the library was first constructed.

“After a while, one of The Keepers learned that the tinkerer had captured the eagle, and had been torturing it and forcing it to use his beak to chisel bits of knowledge onto slabs of stone. The tinkerer was using the information to learn novel methods, build devices and contraptions, and then selling that expertise to other humans in each of the different realms for a price. All but a few of the humans took part in the deception, in the profit and torture.

“A group of humans told one of The Keepers. They were allowed to stay in whichever realm they chose. All other humans were transported to Earth, near the Mediterranean Sea. It was said that those who were banished initially made great changes to the human way of life, but without the constant help of the knowledge from the Portal of Infinite Knowledge, that knowledge was lost over time due to war, drought, disease, and superstition. Their fall gave rise to what became known as your Dark Ages.”

“And the people that remained behind?” Owen asked.

“Well, some of them lived and died, leaving their own descendants. Some of the more distant children became corrupt themselves. Many of them were banished as well, each time bringing with them periods of great progress and great evil to the world.

“Owen, your father was the last remaining human to live among us, but he decided to go to Earth of his own free will in order to prevent his future children’s descendants from becoming corrupted. He felt that the secret to all knowledge was too much of a temptation for humans. It held too much power and would corrupt anyone who had access to it.”

“So that’s why he left Everville and met my mom in Easton Falls?”

“Yes, but not before he was called back by one of The Keepers to do a favor.”

“What favor?”

“That, I don’t know. You’ll have to ask The Keeper.”

Owen was so engrossed in the conversation that he had ignored his surroundings. He stopped dead in his tracks. A look of awe overtook him as he saw what could have been the beginnings of human civilization. The village hearkened back to a simpler time of stone and smelt and wood. In the midst of ashes stood ancient ruins that looked as if they’d come straight out of a history book about the Iron Age. Most of the buildings were complete rubble, but a few remained intact.

Owen and Toe walked around the rubble for several minutes. Jacob remained silent but picked up an occasional artifact and inspected it to see if it would reveal some hidden meaning.

“We better get going,” Toe reminded Owen.

“The library is over there.” Toe pointed in the direction where the infinite eagle had been watching.

“I’m going to stay here for a while and see if I find anything interesting,” Jacob said.

“Are you sure?” Owen asked.

“I might as well. The Fourth Pillar of Truth is your quest. I’m going to look around and see what else I can learn. Maybe I’ll find something we can use.”

“Just be careful,” Owen replied as he quickened his pace and started moving away from the rubble towards an ivory building several hundred yards up ahead.

The structure was massive, ancient, but looked as if it were built yesterday. Perched high upon a plateau and connected with several smaller structures, the entire complex was protected by a great wall. Owen wondered when the wall had been constructed. Was it before or after the tinkerer captured the eagle?

After a short trek through some thick shrubs, they approached the arch of a gate leading to the main structure.

“This way,” Toe said.

The eagle flew to the top of the gate, and then he descended to the steps of the front entrance.

Owen and Toe had to climb up the arch, being careful not to plunge dozens of feet below. It wasn’t too difficult. The wall around the structure had alternating bricks protruding from its surface. Owen and Toe were able to use them as steps.

“Ouch.” Toe ascended too quickly and lost his grip before they were halfway up.

Owen rushed back down to make sure Toe wasn’t hurt.

“I’m fine. Just a few scrapes is all,” Toe said.

“Please be careful. Would you prefer to wait while I scale the wall?” Owen asked.

“No. I’ll be okay.”

They headed back up again, this time with no fumbles.

When they reached the top, they could see ornate columns of marble standing at the corners of the structure, unmovable and demanding attention.

“This looks like something from Ancient Greece,” Owen said.

“Well, many of the Greeks got their knowledge of architecture from those who used to reside in our realm.

Owen lifted up the large metal loop attached to the door, pulling with all his might.

“There, I think I got it.”

Toe gave Owen a hand prying open the immense double doors. The eagle swooped in as soon as there was enough space.

The creaking of the door echoed through the boundless chamber. When the doors stopped moving, the sound abated and they were greeted with absolute silence. Ancient books, dusty and stained, filled thousands of bookshelves in an immense hall that extended farther than they could see.

Owen picked up several of the books, recognizing the familiar symbols and etchings of the ancient language he had seen before.

“What’s the purpose of this library?” Owen asked.

“It’s a decoy. The real library is beneath us,” Toe replied.

The eagle flew towards Owen and landed on a handle that rested at the edge of one of the shelves nearby. The eagle activated a series of levers and pulleys that began lowering them, along with the first segment of shelves, on a platform beneath the surface. The sound of each drop and click had a rusty mechanical feel that reminded Owen of a massive auto shop.

The platform picked up speed as they descended, so much so that Owen grew concerned. At first they descended through a narrow shaft, but after several thousand yards the space expanded. A mile beneath the surface, the platform stopped. The moment they halted, a glow lit up the space around them. The intensity of the illumination grew and Owen recognized the familiar aura as the same light he once saw beneath the caverns of Everville. Soon, the room they occupied came into clear focus.

Owen had thought the library above was enormous, reminiscent of how he imagined the Great Library of Alexandria, but the actual Library of Possibilities was more like a city unto itself, something that might be found among the monoliths in the land of the giants.

“Here, I’ll show you,” Toe said as he rushed down one of the many aisles of books.

The eagle flew past them, knocking clumps of dust that had collected over the eons down onto Owen’s face. He was too slow to get out of the way and ended up breathing in a sizable chunk.

The chamber hall smelled of disintegrated cobwebs and dried insect droppings. The dust tasted equally as bad and formed a thin coating of mud as it mixed with Owens saliva when he coughed it out.

“He’s flying towards the Portal of Infinite Knowledge.”

“Is it still there? Does it still work?” Owen asked, spitting.

“There are still a few doorways that work, but the relic I was asked to retrieve shut down most of the pathways. The Keeper used the element to drain most of the knowledge and store it in the learner device, which The Keeper stores in his workshop.”

“What about the books?”

“Well, the books themselves were scribed by The Keepers of the portals in the distant past. They looked through the portal and described what they saw with each image that was revealed. Under the direction of The Pillars of Truth, they were careful not to record certain bits of information, things that would lead to corruption.”

“It looks like they wrote down just about everything. How many books are in here?”

“At last count, there was about fifteen trillion, and just one copy of each.”

“Fifteen trillion and only one copy each!?”

“That’s right. That’s more than 100,000 times all the books ever published by mankind, and with so many books, there was only space for one of each. Ah, here we are,” Toe said.

The eagle landed on the tip of a giant stone wheel. The speckled disk was connected to a large door-like portal with grooved cogs and a smooth stone cylinder. The bird used its talons to nudge the wheel ever so slightly to the left.

An image appeared before Owen: a long narrow path extending from the entryway, sided by an endless sea of sky obscured by clouds.

“I think that’s what you’re looking for,” Toe said.

The eagle squawked and flew through the portal.

Owen could smell the scent of minuscule cloud droplets that wafted across the doorway. At the end of the pathway he could see a distant spire, a pillar that extended high above the heavens.

“I’ll wait here. You better get going.”

With Toe’s urging, Owen walked through the doorway towards The Fourth Pillar of Truth. As he did, he felt a jolt. The path shook, and so did the library and everything in it.

The doorway shimmered, and then in a puff of smoke the window closed. Behind him, where the doorway once stood, Owen could see the path extending forever in the other direction. There was no way back. The eagle had already traveled so far that it was reduced to the size of a speck of sand. Owen stepped forward and made his first stride towards the spire, toward finding the solution to their immediate problem.

As the window closed, the ground jerked around and toppled everything that wasn’t nailed down. Several of the bookshelves fell like dominoes on top of Toe, books spilling onto him, creating a mountain of words, hidden on perpetual pages, attached to innumerable spines.

Back in The Keeper’s Workshop, the shaking came to an abrupt halt. The Keeper hustled about, picking up books and artifacts that had fallen to the floor.

“Oh, look at this mess,” The Keeper said as he picked up and brushed off one of the timeworn books that the shaking had flung across the room.

Several Marmooks entered the workshop. The boundless balls of joy went to work bouncing up and down, grabbing every book that had careened off the shelves and placing them back on their rightful resting places.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, my reliable little friends. In the heart of despair lies a glimmer of hope, ready to break through the mask of darkness. A dreadful time is upon us, yet out of those remnants will rise the invincible truth that is our land, our time, and our people.”

In the midst of the cleanup, Sako, the quiet leader of the Fron, entered the workshop.

As would be expected in such a situation, the Fron were shaken but hopeful. Sako, though, had one simple task, to inform The Keeper of any impending threat, and with great haste.

“Keeper, word has gotten back from the giants that the dark army is upon us. Bonespeed leads the infantry with the assistance of the mountain dwellers. The portal to our realm will soon be overrun with Them. It’s a mystery how they arrived so fast. They even managed to elude the giants. There is only one that stands between the army of Them and our people.”

The Keeper gripped his staff and turned towards Sako. “Borak,” The Keeper responded. “I wish the army of Them was the only concern, but we have a greater threat that looms.”

“Jahal’s dragon army,” replied Sako.

“Indeed. Whatever enchantment he has used to siphon the element from our land has weakened our defenses, but even at full strength we are no match for a dragon army of shape-shifters.

“We need to get word to Governor Laveda and hope that Owen can find a way to stop Jahal after his quest to The Fourth Pillar of Truth.”

In the brutal desert, just beyond the gateway leading to The Keeper’s Workshop, stood Borak, tallest and bravest of the giants, but they were all tall, and they were all brave.

Bonespeed led his army at an inhuman speed, faster than Borak thought possible. Borak used his colossal strength to leap forward high into the air, and met Bonespeed on the battlefield along with the rest of the dark army. Borak opened his arms as if to embrace them, and then crushed every soldier that still had a physical form. For those who had no body, Borak was intent on squashing their armor and letting the smoke that once possessed it roam free.

The soldiers came in waves, rows at a time. An ocean of creatures washed up on the shore of Borak’s mountain of muscles. The blades of axes and swords and spears made little impact by themselves, but in large numbers, they took their toll.

The soldiers kept coming. The spirit of the dead would reshape the bits of armor that lay strewn on the battlefield. Borak held the line, but every so often he lost ground, not by much, just an inch at a time. The army, though, was relentless.

The rest of the giants were too far away. Their monoliths were drained of power by Jahal, and it would take too long for them to arrive at Borak’s location on foot. Borak stood alone.

Back in Vortmore, Jacob continued to rummage through the ruins of the human village. He searched every standing structure he came across.

He found many curious stone artifacts, but with no context or explanation it was impossible to decipher their purpose. Not knowing how much time he had, he tossed aside those objects in the hopes of spotting something with an obvious meaning.

One road after another, and one village after the next, Jacob sifted through the rubble until he came upon a small dwelling. It wasn’t much to look at, but it was left untouched by time and drew his eye.

He looked in each room, all empty except for the last. The final room held a stone table, and on the table was a large open book made of thin granite pages.

Jacob looked at the book, and on the stone tablets appeared the face of a man. It looked at him as if it were about to speak, but instead the image shifted to a scene in time, a moving snapshot of the history of Vortmore. He suspected this must have been one of the books made from the knowledge the tinkerer stole from The Library of Possibilities.

The single page illuminated the story that Toe had told them earlier. Jacob flipped back a few pages to see what had happened before. Each page told a story about a period of time, from humans’ first settlements in Everville to Owen’s father’s final departure.

What Jacob saw startled him. It turned out that Owen and Jacob’s fathers were brothers. More than that, Jacob’s father was the tinkerer. The book showed that long after the tinkerer was banished, Owen’s father decided to move back to Earth on his own. Since time flows faster on Earth, he arrived at a much later time. For some reason, the tinkerer’s infant son got stuck in the wheel of time and landed in the same era as Owen’s father. That’s how Jacob ended up at the orphanage as a child and why he had a similar connection to Everville as Owen.

Chapter 15

Memories.

The eagle circled high above as Owen approached the entryway to The Fourth Pillar of Truth. The top of the crystal structure extended so far into the heavens that it was obscured from view.

Owen walked across the threshold and the eagle flew in with him, perching upon the shoulder of the figure that appeared before Owen.

The Fourth Pillar of Truth possessed the stature of an infinite flame bound by flesh. The fire contained by his soul had long ago turned the hair on his head and the strands of his long flowing beard pearl white.

His body displayed the motion of the complete history of man and beast. Owen caught glimpses of it every so often in the milky shadows of his translucent skin.

“I see it’s the one who seeks the truth,” The Fourth Pillar said with his eyes closed. “Tell me, one who seeks the truth, what truth do you seek?”

“The Alarian shape-shifter, Jahal, has somehow managed to get enough of the element to raise a new dragon army on the ice planet. The element in Everville is vanishing, and soon those in the surrounding realms of Everville will be defenseless against all their enemies. I need to find out how Jahal is getting the element and stop him before it’s too late.”

“There are bits of knowledge here and there, scattered across time. For the one who seeks the truth, they can be useful, but beware… that which enlightens can also destroy. Knowledge without wisdom leads to envy and jealousy. Information without temperance has long toppled the most powerful rulers and kings.”

“What do you suggest? If I don’t stop Jahal, Everville will be destroyed and so will Earth. Everyone I love will be destroyed. All the good people, the Fron, The Keepers, and everyone else will be at the mercy of the dragon army.”

“Look at me,” The Fourth Pillar said as he grabbed Owen by his wrist and opened his eyes.

“See this?” he said as he pulled Owen close to his face. “The flame of wisdom has singed my own eyes, lest I be consumed by my own imperfection.” The balls of sight that rested in his sockets were covered over in white, like an elderly man with cataracts. “My knowledge will kill you.”

“But didn’t you just say that there were bits of truth here and there that I can use?” Owen replied.

“Yes, but that’s your truth. I cannot reveal any new truths.”

“My truths?”

“That’s right. Hidden within the deep recesses of your mind lies the insight of a near infinite lifetime. Somewhere in there resides the answers to what you hope to find, but that is not my truth to reveal. It is your own.”

“So what do I need to do?”

“Are you sure I can’t talk you out of it?” The Fourth Pillar replied.

“I don’t see what other choice I have.”

“One always has a choice, even the one who seeks the truth. Sometimes it’s wise to remain ignorant. It’s often easier to live a life free from the constraints of knowledge. Some of the happiest people in our realm are the most ignorant.”

“Maybe, but I don’t have that luxury. Earth needs me. Everville needs me. I’ve got to find the answers. Please just do whatever it is that you need to do.”

“The Fourth Pillar of Truth is prudence, and if you possess it you will find the answers that you seek.”

The Fourth Pillar grabbed Owen’s head with both of his hands. Images of time ran across The Fourth Pillar’s face and flooded Owen’s mind.

Those images were his own, and yet they were not. They flowed backwards from the present to the past, too fast at first to capture any one scene. They were out of context, just emotions detached from events.

The weight of the world was crushing Owen’s soul. He felt fleeting moments of impossible grief, hope, anger, and relief. He was overcome by an uncharacteristic feeling of loss and resignation. He didn’t understand it.

For a split second, he wondered if he had made the right decision. Maybe The Fourth Pillar of Truth had tried to stop Owen for his own good. He allowed himself the moment of doubt, and just before the sentiment overtook him, he was distracted by memories, crystal clear images in complete detail. The first one was of his first encounter with the Alarian dragon, Rathlar.

He remembered communicating with the mind of the juvenile dragon the truths that led to their victory against Jahal’s dragon army during their first battle with Everville. The details, though, didn’t make any sense.

He recalled earlier memories, impossible ones. He was not himself. It must have been a past life, but somehow it wasn’t. For whatever reason, those around him were calling him Alvaro.

Owen remembered living on a long-dead planet in a long-dead universe, one parallel to his own. He was an Alarian, at least in the memories of his past life.

An unexpected bit of honesty seeped through. He’d lived eons upon eons, billions upon billions of years in this other world as an Alarian, the ancient dying race of shape-shifters that had arrived through the cracks of time and space in a wormhole made of exotic matter.

There it was, at least for a brief moment—he saw a piece of what he needed to know in order to answer his question. He was drawn back to the time just after The Third Pillar of Truth threw him into the Alarian world. After the flood of memories filled his brain, he was able to grasp a few important events in his life as an Alarian. He isolated them and reflected back on those events. A few came to mind:

“Okay class, what do we know about our universe?” the Alarian professor asked in a sequence of musical clicks that made up the Alarian language.

The audience was alien, more abstract than words could describe, yet their emotions and uncertainty were just as human, if not more nuanced and studied. The differences from human culture made the similarities all the more striking.

Numerous hands in the classroom shot up, but they were not human hands. He was remembering a university classroom of young adult Alarians in their native form, and he was in this classroom.

“Well, according to the latest theory, our universe is one of an infinite number of universes, like a bubble in an infinite pot of boiling water,” one of the students said after being called on by the professor.

“And what about you there?” the professor said as he pointed to Alvaro. “Tell me about this infinite pot of boiling water.”

Alvaro was a soft-spoken leader, much like Owen was on Earth. “If I’m correct in my understanding of it,” Alvaro said, “when two of the bubbles or universes collide, matter is created. The net energy is still zero when you add up all the matter and antimatter, but the existence of it in any form allows for the existence of particles, and atoms, molecules, and biological matter alike.”

“Your understanding is correct,” the professor said.

Alvaro remained stoic in his elemental form. He did not waiver from his natural color of midnight black, but he did feel grateful to have the opportunity to grasp a piece of knowledge that was so important to the basic understanding of existence.

More memories continued to take up residence in Owen’s head, his memories of being an Alarian, all ten billion years of it.

Later in the same day, yet billions of years ago, Alvaro met up on campus with his girlfriend and future wife, Chesna. Most of the other girls that Alvaro knew were friendly enough, but Chesna had that special quality, the kind that made him feel as if they’d known each other their entire lives.

“You know, I had the strangest thought today,” Alvaro said.

“Oh yeah. What was it?” Chesna asked.

“Our professor was asking us about the universe, and I thought to myself why anyone would not want to understand everything about it.”

Chesna thought to herself for a minute. “I think maybe some people are afraid they won’t understand. Maybe it’s easier to think about simpler things than to be confronted with a reality that puts their life into perspective. Maybe if they do understand, they’ll feel insignificant and have to deal with the emotional pain of spending too much time on silly things instead of what’s important.”

Owen’s life as an Alarian continued to flash before him. He remembered centuries later working as a physicist and thinking about new theories developed by the Alarian society. Many of them were novel and perfect, and some of them were built upon his existing understanding of human scientists, from Newton, to Einstein, to Planck and Feynman.

Bits and fragments started to piece together. He remembered the concept of the element and how it was the opposite of chaos, and how energy formed as a natural part of the passage of time as a byproduct and opposing force of entropy.

Millennia passed and Owen’s life as Alvaro came into clearer focus, and along with it a basic understanding of what he believed Jahal was doing in order to get more of the element to train his dragon army.

A million years passed, then a billion, and ten billion. Owen was back to where he started, from his first memory as Owen Sage to his last memory as Alvaro, and back to the point of losing his memories.

The knowledge and wisdom of his past life changed him, but his century of wandering the oceans of Polynesia made this new knowledge just bearable enough.

His mind quieted, and The Fourth Pillar of Truth released Owen from his grip.

“I see you found what you are looking for.”

“Yes. I know now how Governor Jahal is getting the element, and I know what is happening because of it, and I know how to stop it.”

Owen exited the glass spire and walked along the path in the sky that led back to the Portal of Infinite Knowledge.

He forgot how long it took him, and grew concerned when it didn’t materialize. He didn’t have to wait long, though. He only needed to travel a bit further before he could see the window back to the Library of Possibilities.

It was a small speck at first, but soon its full form came into view. As he came closer, the eagle flew off the shoulder of The Fourth Pillar of Truth and caught up with Owen.

They walked through the Portal of Infinite Knowledge and arrived back at the library.

Owen looked around.

The place was a wreck. Books were piled in a giant heap right in front of them.

“Toe!” Owen shouted.

The eagle flew to the top of the heap and picked up a couple books with his claws, dropping them nearby. Owen started pushing off as many books as he could.

Owen heard nothing, not a peep. He was almost to the bottom of the pile, and grew more concerned. At last he caught a glimpse of the garb worn by his short bald-headed friend, Toe. Still, there was no sound.

The eagle squawked.

“No. It can’t be.”

Owen held the head of Toe in his lap and wiped off the residue of dust that had piled up during the short time Owen was gone.

“Toe, Toe, wake up!”

He sat there several minutes longer trying to revive him, but there was no movement and no sound. Owen couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t leave, but he had to. The Keeper and others needed him, and he had the answers.

Owen waited for several more hours, still processing the flood of billions of years of memories and the loss of his friend, and then he had to turn away.

Owen walked towards the platform that led to the decoy library above. That’s when he heard the eagle call to him, but this time it was different. It almost sounded like it had a voice.

Owen turned around.

“You weren’t just about to leave me, were you?”

“Toe! I thought you were…”

Toe stood before him, a silhouette of defiance and charm. He was the epitome of all Fron, a cheerful contradiction.

Toe’s legs failed him and he collapsed onto the floor.

Owen rushed over to prop him up.

“Maybe we should rest some more. You’re injured.”

“This is true, but I’ll survive. Everville needs us. My people need us.”

Owen helped Toe limp onto the platform.

The three of them rose into the tunnel. They had the knowledge they’d come for. Still, Owen looked across the great library. He hadn’t read any of the fifteen trillion books that stretched for miles in The Library of Possibilities, many of them now toppled from his visit to The Fourth Pillar of Truth, but he wondered what secrets they held. He felt a yearning for them and great loss at their separation.

His memories of living as an Alarian for over ten billion years provided him with a great amount of knowledge, but he was not so arrogant as to think he knew even a fraction of what mysteries were scribbled onto the recesses of the most faraway books, on the farthest shelf, miles from view, at the most distant end of the hall.

The Fourth Pillar’s warning came to his mind. “Information without temperance has long toppled the most powerful rulers and kings.”

Prudence, the ability to reason, to look at all of the available facts and see the truth, was required. He saw now that time and context allowed for the slow acquisition of knowledge. Experience informed wisdom, which was required when confronted with new information.

Those reading the books in the great library would have to read them one book at a time, in the proper order, and those who sought instant knowledge and power would be destroyed by their own hubris.

His memories and experiences over the billions of years in three different lifetimes were not a burden, they were a gift. No other living creature, except perhaps The Pillars of Truth, had had the opportunity to have so much knowledge and experience in the proper context.

Owen refocused his mind on their current situation as they ascended towards the library above. When they arrived at the entrance, it looked much smaller.

They walked through the large ivory doors and past the corners of the ancient façade. They scaled the wall that surrounded it, but it took significant effort.

Toe’s injuries were not life threatening, but he had a broken leg and a bad limp. Owen had to get help from the eagle, who gripped the cloth around Toe’s neck with a firm yet gentle tug. Owen thought about running ahead and getting Jacob to help, but he doubted they had enough time.

They rested at the top for a moment, catching their breath. Below them they could see the rubble of the human encampment.

The eagle flew to a nearby tree and grabbed some fruit for them to eat before they started their descent down the other side.

Owen took a bite of the fruit. It was the same Owen had seen when he first arrived in Everville. The sweetness rolled down the back of his throat as he chewed. It had hints of watermelon, grape, apple, and something Owen couldn’t quite place. The fragrant smell invigorated him and restored his much-needed strength.

“You think Jacob found anything useful?” Owen asked.

“Doubtful. Those ruins are relics and not protected by the walls of The Library of Possibilities.”

After a short rest, Owen started his way down, positioning himself below Toe. With the help of the eagle, they were able to make it to the bottom without any problems.

Toe wanted to speed up, but his leg constrained him. When they finally arrived at the ruins, Owen wasted no time calling for Jacob.

“There you are,” Owen said as Jacob appeared from behind one of the village walls. “Let’s get going. We have what we came for, but we better get moving. I’m not sure in what state Everville is in,” Owen said as Jacob appeared from behind one of the village walls.

Owen looked over at Toe. “Jacob, come over here and give me a hand with Toe. He’s injured.”

Jacob rushed over help Toe.

“Did you find anything useful?” Toe asked Jacob.

“Maybe. Hold on a second. I’ll be right back.”

Jacob ran off behind one of the half-standing walls and out of view. A bit later, he came back with a large wheelbarrow-like contraption with iron handles and stone wheels.

“I think we can use this to carry Toe out of here. Help me get him up.”

Toe limped over, and Owen and Jacob helped him slide onto the apparatus. “Ouch! Careful. My bum’s not injured, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Sorry about that, Toe,” Owen replied.

With a little more positioning, they situated Toe as best they could with some extra clothing placed below his rear end for extra padding.

Owen and his friends headed off in the direction of the portal leading back to The Keeper’s Workshop. Every so often, Toe let out a whimper as they sped along, hitting occasional bumps along the way.

They had come to the end of their journey in Vortmore. They crossed the threshold back to The Keeper’s Workshop and not a moment too soon.

Chapter 16

The Return

High above the land of the giants, in the unforgiving brutal desert, Bonespeed and his army of soldiers continued to punish Borak. Their relentless onslaught allowed Bonespeed’s army to make up half of the ground it needed to reach the portal. Bonespeed was relishing in the moment.

“The mighty Borak, the legendary Borak, giant of giants, hero of heroes. Pathetic!”

Bonespeed coughed as Borak crushed his protective covering once more. Smoke rose from the shredded armor that Bonespeed once possessed, and bits of black metal rose high into the air. Charcoal-colored smoke pulled the pieces back together. Within seconds, a brilliant and shiny dark suit took form, once again inhabited by the soul of Bonespeed.

“You can’t kill me or my army! You can only slow us down,” Bonespeed bellowed.

Borak lunged forward and gripped Bonespeed by the throat, squeezing him until the armor splintered into thousands of tiny shards of twisted metal.

“That’s all I need,” Borak replied as gravity overcame the now lifeless metal, sucking it down to the ground.

Miles below, well past the caverns and caves, a rumble born from a familiar realm took shape. The ground trembled and shook with great movement and intensity. A maze of connected holes and muddy pathways echoed what was happening near the distant monoliths constructed by the giants.

The leader of the giants, General Varrick, was on the move and leading every last soldier at a breakneck speed.

There was clarity in his presence. He was tall, rugged, and sure, seasoned with war and scarred by battle. There was a slow, yet deliberate thinking about him.

The giants had constructed the largest underground structure that had ever existed in the surrounding realms, entire cities beneath the soil, stretching for hundreds of miles in every direction. Everything about the cities told the story of its residents—from their mammoth size to their need for boundless amounts of food and weapons.

The giants had stocked up for such an occasion. They were flesh, from their last drop of sweat to every sinew and fiber of muscle that built their fearless foundations. What they faced, though, was not flesh or bone. The army of giants was ascending above the surface to meet squadrons of dead cloaked in metal, and beyond their realm lay an army of fire-breathing, shape-shifting dragons led by the Alarian Governor, Jahal.

This did not matter to General Varrick. They had beaten back the dead before, but it was the uncertainty that troubled him. They could only focus now on the threat above the surface, the army of Them led by Bonespeed, which was now pummeling the mortal skin of his army’s greatest fighter, Borak.

“Pick up the pace,” the general said as he leaped high above the underground surface. Divisions of soldiers followed just behind him, their stride overcoming gravity with their infinite muscle.

It was a sight to behold, tens of thousands of rows of soldiers leaping hundreds of feet over and over again, clothed in military garb and weapons. They took everything with them, from the sharpest blade to the heaviest iron ball and chain.

Beyond the land of the giants and across the portal, Owen, Jacob, and the eagle arrived in The Keeper’s workshop.

“Owen, you look different,” The Keeper said.

“I am different,” Owen said, his face showing the wisdom that came with age.

“Tell me, what secrets have you uncovered.”

“Many, but what about here? How is everyone holding up?” Owen asked.

“There have been incursions in every realm and across every portal. Fwaylan, mountain dwellers, soldiers of death from the armies of Them, all have been coming across. The Ubaloo and Fron have done their best to fight them back, but the enemy’s numbers keep growing. Bonespeed leads the army of Them just beyond the portal, with only Borak between us. I fear we will soon be overcome.

“Any news about the army of dragons?” The Keeper asked.

“None. Did you find out how Jahal has been acquiring the element?”

“Yes, and there is not much time. We need to call together the other Keepers, and have them ask everyone else wait outside for instructions.”

The Keeper opened the door to his workshop, and Owen was stunned by the commotion. Marmooks, Fron, Ubaloo, and even some creatures that he had yet to be introduced to him were running about every which way, grabbing things, knocking on doors, emptying shelves and storage facilities. All manner of relics and contraptions were being collected. Every last ember of luminescent insects was being scraped from the cavern walls. Vials of the element in special containers were being stacked into boxes and hauled away. Someone was even shaving off the symbols that were etched on The Keeper’s portals. The Keeper’s Workshop was bare, as was almost everything else that was in plain sight.

“Keeper,” Sako said. “I just got word that the army of Them has pushed back Borak to the edge of the portal. The rest of the giants are still a ways off. What should we do?”

“Send every last woman and child above ground, and send all the men to guard the portals. Call The Keepers, and tell them to come quickly. Owen has some news for them.”

In the brutal desert, Bonespeed had made up most of the distance he needed to reach the portal. “It won’t be long now, Borak. Just admit defeat and give up. You can’t stop us. Save yourself the trouble.”

“Never,” Borak howled.

A river of sweat rained down from his salty skin. His muscles grew more tired with every wave of soldiers that he put down, but he was getting a second wind. He stretched his arms wide and powered through their ranks, pushing the enemy back a hundred feet.

It was a seesaw of positioning. He held the line, but then the enemy made up lost ground. He would push them back, but then the soldiers would inch closer again, each time getting ever so closer to the threshold.

An ocean of flesh and bone, metal and wood, flowed through the soil beneath them.

In a great hall, the meeting of The Keepers was about done.

“Are you sure this is the best course of action?” one of the other Keepers asked.

“It’s the only course of action,” Owen responded.

“And will Governor Laveda go along with it?” The Keeper replied.

“She’ll have to. If not… then it’s over.”

“Then go now. Alert General Randore in Brackenbone,” The Keeper told Owen.

Owen walked towards the portal. The Keeper took his staff and turned the dial until the walls surrounding the city came into view.

Even in Brackenbone there was a heightened sense of urgency. The dragon Rathlar was no longer dealing with drills, he had real villains to fight.

“Soon, the last of the element will be gone. Cross over the portal now.”

Owen walked across and hurried to alert the general.

Bonespeed’s army pushed Borak back to the edge. He could no longer keep the dark forces from crossing the portal. He used his massive body to cover as much space as possible, but the soldiers of Them seeped through, dozens at a time.

The last of Borak’s strength gave out, victim to a thousand cuts. Bonespeed toppled the mighty giant. Borak lay there exhausted, powerless to stop the onslaught.

The rest of the giant army was still nowhere to be seen; they were racing towards Borak’s location, but for the moment, they were unable to stop the flood of the army of Them.

“Sako, grab a sword!” The Keeper shouted.

Bonespeed crossed through the portal and led the charge against the Fron.

The Keepers formed a line and used the last of the element in their staffs to fight back. The Fron followed right behind, with Marmooks and Ubaloo warriors interspersed between them.

“The truce is over, Keeper. You think you can just give away the element freely to Governor Laveda? Well think again. I never liked the truce to begin with. Now I can do to you what I’ve wanted to do since the arrival of those wretched Alarians.”

Bonespeed swung his axe at The Keeper’s staff, breaking it in half.

“Not as mighty and powerful as you thought, Keeper, are you?”

“You won’t prevail, Bonespeed,” The Keeper said. “You will be defeated, just as you have been time and time again. You will not succeed.”

“Perhaps, but your time has come now, Keeper,” Bonespeed said. He swung his blade at The Keeper’s throat. But Sako’s sword blocked Bonespeed’s axe before it made contact.

Bonespeed kicked Sako, knocking him across the room. Bonespeed took another swing, but this time was blocked by one of the other Keepers.

More soldiers flooded in. The entire cavern was being filled with the army of Them.

Sako panicked. “They’re going to make it to the surface soon, Keeper. What should we do?”

“Keep fighting,” The Keeper replied.

The Keepers retreated to the entrance above to try to stop Bonespeed and his followers from reaching the surface and attacking the women and children. Wave after wave entered. They had smashed everything in sight. The army of Them had hollowed out the underground catacombs. Only a solitary portal remained. Everything else was rubble.

All of the creatures were now fighting for their life. Even the friendly Marmooks grabbed whatever weapon they could find and bounced around until it made impact on one of the soldiers’ heads.

“Your time is up, Keeper,” Bonespeed said.

“Think again,” a commanding voice sneered behind him.

It was General Varrick. The rest of the giants had finally arrived. General Varrick caressed his blade and slid it between Bonespeed’s shoulders. Bonespeed fell again. This time he didn’t bother to reassemble his phantom body and armor within the catacombs.

The army of Them didn’t want to fight alone if they didn’t think they could win. They decided to exit the portal back to the brutal desert and wait for the reinforcements from the mountain dwellers.

“General Varrick, it’s good to finally see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, Keeper. Sorry it took us so long. The army of Them must have used some unknown conjuring with the help of the mountain dwellers in order to arrive ahead of us.”

“Well, you’re here now. What of Borak?” The Keeper asked.

“He is badly injured and being tended to by the healer,” General Varrick replied.

“We are in his debt, and I’m sure he will heal quickly.”

“Thank you, Keeper. I see that Bonespeed has made a mess of things down here.” General Varrick looked around the once impressive catacombs beneath the land of the Fron.

“That is the least of my worries. The element is vanishing quicker than it can be replenished and it will soon be depleted. That brings me to what I need to ask of you.”

“Anything,” the general said.

“We need to evacuate the Ubaloo and the citizens of Brackenbone, as well as the Fron and those that reside in Everville, to the land of the giants.”

“Of course. You and your people are always welcome in the land of the giants, but why do you wish to abandon Everville so easily?” General Varrick asked.

“Jahal and the army of dragons.”

“But they have made no movements. I have seen no dragons.”

“Owen has discovered something. He is in Brackenbone right now talking with General Randore and Governor Laveda. There is no time left. We must evacuate everyone from the surrounding realms, from the land of the Fron above us, to Brackenbone, Vortmore, Lillymore, and beyond. Soon the portals will be useless. If we don’t leave now, our people will be stranded. At the moment, your protection and your land are the only chance our people have of surviving.”

“Whatever you need, Keeper,” General Varrick replied. “I’ll alert the soldiers and we’ll spare nothing to get everyone out.”

When the giants returned to the monoliths with Borak, Consilium, who was the smallest of the giants, helped to carry Borak to the healer. Borak had once saved Consilium’s life, and the thought of losing such a dear friend was not acceptable in his mind. Carrying Borak was the least he could do.

“What have we gotten ourselves into this time?” the healer asked as Consilium lifted Borak onto the table.

The healer was much smaller than the giants, but taller in her wisdom.

Borak was bloodied and bruised. She could see nothing was broken, but his entire body was cut up. She took a bucket of water and mixed it with several drops of herbs and liquid made from the element, which had been collected from the catacombs of Everville.

She lifted the bucket above his body and allowed the water to trickle over him, rinsing away the blood, sweat, and dirt that covered him. The tonic in the water had the effect of knocking him unconscious, which was necessary for him to heal. When he was clean, she took special care to bandage his chest, torso, and limbs. She sealed it with a special glue of element and herbs.

“He’ll be out for a couple of days,” the healer said to Consilium.” In his condition, he’s lucky you brought him in when you did. I’m almost out of most of my medicine. He’s used up the last of the elemental ointment.”

Moments later, The Keeper arrived with Sako. General Varrick had The Keepers escorted to the heart of the monoliths ahead of everyone else. The Keeper overheard the healer’s conversation and saw the lack of medicinal supplies she had to work with.

“Here, you can have this,” The Keeper said as he walked through the door.

Sako handed the healer a large box filled with vials and tubes. She didn’t recognize most of them, but they were all labeled, so she could figure it out later.

“Thank you. If more of the giants return in the same shape as Borak, we’re going to need every bit of it.”

“Use it wisely. This may be the last of it for a while,” The Keeper replied.

The healer looked at him in complete understanding, yet her calm demeanor did not conceal her regard for their plight or her concern for Borak. The small box would be used up if just a few injured soldiers needed tending to. She would have to save it for only the gravest of injuries.

The Keeper exited and allowed the healer to tend to Borak’s wounds. The Keeper, like everyone else there, was at the mercy of the giants. All the portals fell silent and only the most protected vials of the element held any power. His staff was broken, and the other Keepers’ staves were just as useless.

Several days passed. The giants moved with breathtaking speed to organize the movement of all the inhabitants of Everville and the surrounding realms to the underground land of the giants.

Sako’s attention was diverted by the stream of refugees that flooded into the land of the giants.

The monoliths became great beacons of reference for the inhabitants of each realm, each carrying a symbol of a surrounding realm. They had been constructed as portals to each land, but with the element being depleted by Jahal’s dragon army they now stood as monuments of the lands and villages once occupied by the new arrivals.

Millions of creatures streamed in, walking in rows side by side.

“Keeper, this sure is a sight, isn’t it?” General Varrick said.

“True. Everville has never been evacuated, but then Everville has never faced such a dire threat. Our people are resilient, and we are grateful. In time, we’ll grow to make this as much a home as my people have come to know.”

“You think they’ll be here that long?” General Varrick asked in amazement.

“One never knows, General, but we’ll be prepared either way.”

“Let’s hope our rations last that long. We are hungry people, and I have feasted with many Fron. They can put down almost as much as my soldiers.”

The Keeper chuckled. “That is true, but I’m sure we can figure something out.”

Sako, Toe, and his family gathered around The Keeper.

“Do you think Owen was able to convince Governor Laveda?” Toe asked.

“I have faith in Owen.”

Chapter 17

Desires

At Easton Falls University, Dean Swifthouse continued to make use of his newfound alliance with Jahal by taking advantage of his knowledge of the future.

“You know, I could get used to this,” Odious said to the dean as he kicked his feet up on the most luxurious recliner he had ever seen. It was made of satin and gold thread. Everything about the dean’s mansion was excessive. It was postmodern and chic, but it lacked a female touch. Each room was stylish, with artwork on the walls. The art, though, was cold, as was the rest of the décor, as if all the emotion had been sucked out and replaced with symbols of status, detached and without meaning.

“Why don’t you invite others in the administration to come over and share in the fun?” Odious asked.

“I’m going to tell you a little secret,” the dean said. “I have no intention of keeping my promise to the others. Once they serve their purpose in the coming days, they will be disposed of. We have all that we need right here. I have the relics and the cooperation of Jahal. I have access to the portal of time, and we can make our future together. We can nudge the present to make use of the future.

“In the meantime, we’re going to enjoy ourselves. We’ll have the most beautiful women, the most expensive cars, the best food. We’ll have more money than we could possibly ever use.”

He didn’t say it, but Dean Swifthouse was growing tired of Odious as well. The truth was that he planned on doing the same thing to Odious, but the dean needed Odious for the moment to help keep the rest of the administration in place until he finished putting his plan into motion.

The dean touched the symbols on the small staff he’d taken from the Campus Cafe. Odious insisted on keeping the larger one, but it didn’t matter. It was only a vessel. It connected the power of Everville and Jahal.

Odious wondered if there was some secret to the order of the symbols. Each time he had seen the dean activate one of the rods, the sequence was different.

A window to the future opened up in the dean’s expansive home, a running image that fluttered about, skipping along in moments of time.

“Show me more,” Odious said.

The trick was to think about something while holding one of the symbols. After that, a sequence of symbols had to be touched to see some of the things that had to happen in order for it to come to pass.

The dean was careful only to show Odious up to a certain point. He had run the simulations so many times he had memorized them. Each time he ran them, he saw what each of the administrators had to do in order to fulfill their deepest desires. In each of them, the first action was always the same. They could only achieve whatever it was they wanted by getting rid of the dean, and he wasn’t about to let that happen.

Dean Swifthouse pressed on the symbol and thought hard about images of Odious in different scenarios.

Odious grew anxious of waiting and tried to grab the staff. The dean grew more irritated, but he let Odious take it. The dean knew only he had knowledge of the full sequence needed to trace back the required events in time.

Odious pressed the top symbol on the staff and thought hard about being respected by everyone, his deepest secret desire. Images kept appearing, but none of them that he liked. He could be rich, but not loved. He could be powerful, but would be despised. It soon became clear that in the end he could not get everything he had hoped.

“Why, why? There must be some way. I have to find it. Why can you have everything but I can’t? We have the future right here at our fingertips. There must be a way.”

“Listen!” the dean shouted.

He’d had enough. Dean Swifthouse walked over to his new kitchen bar like a junkie who had to get his fix. He grabbed an expensive crystal glass from the cabinet and set it on the table. He picked up a set of sterling silver tongs, opened a cylindrical porcelain ice chest from behind the bar’s mini-fridge, and plucked out two square ice cubes.

He dropped the ice cubes one at a time, letting them clink against the crystal glass. He pulled out a thousand dollar whiskey that was stored in an equally expensive crystal and began to pour it over the perfect pair of ice cubes. He admired the cubes of ice for their purity and matte finish, but thought they looked lonely. He tilted the bottle and watched as the caramel liquid squelched the tiny vapor clouds that formed above the frozen water.

He took a large sip, letting half of what he had just poured trickle down until his throat started to tingle and burn. He licked his lips, placed the glass on the table, and rested his fingers around it, which was now dripping wet with condensation. He paused for a moment, not saying a word, just tilting the glass in his hand and feeling its moisture.

“You know what your problem is, Odious?” he said as he picked up the glass and walked towards him.

“What?” Odious asked, retreating backward a couple of steps.

“You think people will like you because of that ridiculous suit you wear, but people see right through you. You’re so naive! I used to watch my father come home every night from a long hard day at work, dressed nice. He made a decent living compared to most people, but my mother despised him. She never said it out loud, but I could see it in her eyes. I knew it. He knew it. Everyone knew it.

“I watched how friendly my mother was to the young men that lived in the neighborhood when she thought no one was looking. I watched how all the pretty women drooled over the athletes, even though most of them lacked any real intelligence, or at least pretended to. That’s when I realized that the only thing people care about, what they really care about, is how you look, how much influence you have, what you can do for them, how you make them feel.

“Over time, I really grew to hate people who think they can just let themselves go and cover it up with a cheap suit. What I hate even more is people who think they’ve figured it all out, but still haven’t.

“You see, it takes more than money. You have to make an effort to give people what they really want—not what they say they want but what they really want. People say they want you to be honest with them, but that’s a lie. What that fat, ugly, old wife really wants you to say to her is ‘Yes, honey, you look great in that dress,’ even though she knows she doesn’t. Any guy who says otherwise is lying.

“Not only that, but they want you to look good for them. You see those extra pounds around your waist and that receding hairline of yours? You think people will like you looking like that? No. No, they won’t like you at all, and that’s your problem. You may be able to get a few other fat friends without much effort, but to get this town to like you, to get the world to like you, you need to look the part and tell them what they want to hear.

“I realized a long time ago that I could buy people off with money, but to really get them to like me I had to do other things—you know, like working out at the gym, laying off the jelly donuts, telling women how good they looked when, in fact, they actually looked like fat pigs. Flattery and lies, along with money and looking the part, goes a long way, but all you have is a cheap suit.

“Not only that, you have to recognize an opportunity when you see one and not get too worried about bending a few rules or getting your hands dirty. That’s why when Jahal first came to the administration with his new plan to use our artifacts to get him more of the element, I pushed my way through and asserted myself before anyone else had the chance. If you don’t act fast enough, someone else will take the opportunity. Now the only way for them to get want they want is to go through me. That’s how you do it. You make yourself indispensable.

“That’s why I am the perfect person for this. I know how to seize an opportunity and I know what people want. I can read people better than anyone. When it comes time to take over the university and then Easton Falls, the people of this school and this town will give it to me on a silver platter, and they’ll do it because I will promise them what they desire, and they will beg for it.

“All people are alike, greedy, selfish and superficial. They pretend to be deep or moral, and convince themselves they believe it so that at the end of the day they hate themselves a little less, but the truth is that they only care about what benefits them, so why should you care? We will have the money and power. Let them say what they want behind your back. It makes no difference.

“We will be the gods of our own time. The people that know and despise you will eventually die, but in the future we will be immortalized, remembered in history as great thinkers and planners.”

“I guess… I guess you’re right,” Odious replied.

“I am right, and you should listen to me more often. You have to trust me. I know what I am doing. You want people to like you more? Start acting like you care, and recognize an opportunity when it presents itself,” the dean said.

Odious faked an unconvincing smile, oblivious to his future irrelevance.

Meanwhile, across the chasm that separated both worlds, Jahal’s army of dragons was nearing completion. He, along with his remaining followers, continued channeling the element that flowed across the barrier each time Dean Swifthouse activated the window of time with one of the relics.

All of the eggs they transported from The City of Worms had hatched. They were training the last batch of newborn Alarians to take dragon form.

The lessons rendered most of the planet uninhabitable, burned to a crisp. It took a while for the dragons to gain control of their breath. Alarians were typically trained over decades, but they couldn’t wait that long and had to cut corners. The dragons would be a little rough around the edges, but they would have to do.

“Alright, Jahal,” Wrug, one of his eager loyal followers said, looking over the army of dragons. “That’s the last of them. It’s time.”

Jahal lifted his arm above him, changing its shape into a spire pointing into the heavens. Bolts of lightning struck it, filling it with energy. He took his other arm and pointed it towards the thousands of young dragons in the valley beneath him.

The dragons and the ice planet itself sucked up the element that flowed through him.

Back at Easton Falls University, Cleophas noticed something peculiar in the inner chamber of The Echo Club. He called Anika, Dante, and the other members into a meeting.

“Something odd is happening. Take a look at this,” Cleophas said as he took one of the relics used for training off the shelf. Cleophas held the relic in his hand and closed his eyes. Nothing happened at first, but then it started to disappear. Soon, it vanished into thin air.

He grabbed one relic after the other, and the same thing happened each time.

“What does it mean?” Dante asked.

“I don’t know, but something is very wrong,” Cleophas replied.

“It must have something to do with Dean Swifthouse and his newfound powers to see through time,” Anika said. “That’s not normal, and I can’t believe Jahal would give him that much power.”

“You’re right,” Cleophas said. “It’s too easy. There has to be a catch, and whatever that catch is, I fear it will have a dire impact on us all.”

Dante and the other members of The Echo Club tried to hold the relics too, but each time the object vanished, and with greater swiftness.

“Were you able to contact The Keeper?” Dante asked after watching the spectacle of the vanishing relics.

“No. We just have to hope that they are aware of what’s happening and that Owen can find the answers he seeks from The Fourth Pillar of Truth.”

Back at the home of Dean Swifthouse, Odious had been practicing with his own bo staff.

“Something’s wrong. It’s not working anymore!” Odious said to the dean.

“Here, hand it over. I said you have to press the top symbol first.”

“I did, I swear. Something is wrong.” Odious said.

The dean took the staff from Odious and tried to get it to open a window into the future, but Odious was right. It wasn’t working. The dean tried every combination, and then he tried with his own staff. He tried with the other relics he had as well. Still, nothing was working. That’s when he saw the pulsating green glow coming from his closet.

Odious followed him into his room to see what was going on.

The dean opened the closet door and saw that it was the relic Jahal had first used to communicate with him.

He picked it up and pressed on the symbols, as he had done so many times before. At first, nothing happened, but then an image appeared. He could see across the vast expanse to the ice planet. He could see the energy flowing through Jahal and into the dragons.

“What’s going on? Why isn’t the portal through time working?” the dean called out.

“It is working, just as I said it would,” Governor Jahal said.

“No it isn’t. It’s not working at all.”

“Listen, you stupid fool. That’s why I picked you, because you believe your own lies. You are of no use to me anymore.”

“What?” Dean Swifthouse exclaimed.

“I needed you for one reason only. I wasn’t siphoning off the element from Everville, I was using your connection and the special quality of the element beneath the caverns of Everville to fashion my own tool.

“I knew of relics that could hold the element and transfer it, but that wouldn’t be enough to insure that my people could live forever in this universe. I needed to be able to create my own element, but in order to do that I needed some place to dump the waste product. Where better than your pathetic human university? You see, every action has a consequence. When I used your relics to make more of the element, I needed the connection with Everville to mask the true nature of how I was forming it. So long as some element remained in Everville, I sent the entropy there. The entropy ate up the element until it was all gone, but now that the element beneath the land of the Fron is depleted, any new entropy created will be channeled to Easton Falls and destroy it in the process. Your accessing the power of the element by using it to see through time will now draw the entropy straight to the relics.

“But it doesn’t matter now,” Jahal said with a smile as he continued sending more of the element to the dragons. “Within moments, so much entropy will be created with the formation of all this new element that it will rip apart the fabric of your world.”

Jahal’s image vanished, and as it did, the dean’s closet imploded and started sucking up everything around it.

Odious left the room and never looked back. He ran as fast as his awkward body would let him.

The dean stood there, stunned. He ran into the kitchen and poured himself another glass of whiskey. This time he didn’t bother with the ice. He chugged it down, and then he poured another.

For a brief moment, he entertained the thought of letting himself get sucked up, but at the last second he chickened out and ran outside in the same direction as Odious. When he got far enough away, he looked back at his house and saw that a giant hole had formed and kept growing bigger.

On campus, several holes had opened up as well. Everywhere there was a relic, more holes formed.

Cleophas managed to get everyone out before anyone was injured from the club. The administration was safe as well. Everywhere on campus, people were screaming as they ran for their lives. Giant holes engulfed large sections of the university and showed no signs of stopping. Car and moped sirens went off. Giant clumps of the main walkway fell into a massive sinkhole. Panic gripped everyone.

Chapter 18

The Fall of Brackenbone

The great realm of Brackenbone was now empty. From the legendary Walls of Vermogen to the city’s center of refuge, it lay desolate except for Rathlar, a skeleton of an army that was just for show, and a few brave souls. The giants had evacuated everyone else at the behest of The Keepers.

Mountain dweller spies made it through the portal to Brackenbone after the evacuation. They watched as Owen Sage and the general met with Governor Laveda.

“No, wait!” exclaimed Owen as the governor stormed out.

“I cannot do what you ask. Listen, I despise Jahal just as much as your people do, but I will destroy Brackenbone before I let your armies destroy our offspring.

“Jahal may have taken the eggs from The City of Worms without my approval, and he may have stolen the element from Everville to raise his dragon army, but the dragons are still Alarians, still my people. You promised to give me some of the element to help raise them, and now you want to use the same element to destroy them. I can’t let you do that. I will destroy you first!”

“Governor, be reasonable,” General Randore pleaded.

“Reasonable? I’ll tell you what is reasonable. I’ve let Rathlar protect your precious city and your realm. With my help, The Walls of Vermogen have remained safe from the army of Them and those who seek the same ends. I have used the last of our precious energy from our dying race to help protect you. A race, I might add, that has survived tens of billions of years and the death of our own universe.

“We came here using the last bit of our energy, wanting to live out the rest of lives in peace for just a few million years and then raise the rest of our children to grow old with us, a small amount of time for our race. This world’s energy could not sustain us like our own universe had. We were content to survive with just our memories and each other for just a blink of time, but now you want to destroy the last of our children? I won’t let you do it. Rathlar will follow his own people. I will destroy you and your precious city, as well as The Walls of Vermogen, before I let you touch a hair on the head of a single one of my children.”

“No, Governor, don’t. Please wait!” Owen begged.

“My decision has been made.”

“I won’t let you do it, Governor,” General Randore said.

“Then you will die with the rest of your army.”

Governor Laveda transformed. Her flesh disintegrated into a cloud of smoke that grew larger and larger. The fluid mass of white and grey filled the sky above them, larger than the great refuge where they stood.

The cloud started to reform. It molded itself into a giant beast, black with impenetrable skin. Governor Laveda arched her wings wide and took off towards the direction of The Walls of Vermogen.

“No!” Owen shouted.

It was too late. Governor Laveda had made up her mind and there was no stopping her. She flew past the villages, the walls, and the brick and stone that had been forged by flesh and bone. She breathed fire and turned the gardens and flowers that lined the balconies and courtyards to ash.

“Quick,” the general said to one of his captains, “alert the remaining soldiers to get to the portals.”

“Yes, General.”

The army retreated to the position of Owen and the general.

“We have bravely fought against the dark forces and misguided ones. I have seen blood spilled many days and many a nights, but not senseless blood, not blood just for the sake of not giving up. I have no problem in dying, or sending my soldiers to their death, if there is any chance that the battle can be won, but this is not one of those fights. We are no match for Them alone. The element is almost gone, and any attempt to stop Them will only result in our senseless destruction.

“We’ve lost, Owen. It happens to even the best of us. We need to hurry and get the rest of the army through the portal before it’s depleted completely. We need to inform The Keeper and the rest of our people that the war is over. My soldiers tell me that the army of Them still loom on the horizon. The army of giants cannot be in two places at once. Brackenbone has fallen, and darkness is at its doorstep.”

Ewan and his band of spies watched in glee. He was the most opportunistic creature in all the realms of both Everville and The Other In Between.

“Yes. This is what we have been waiting for. I knew I made the right choice. The Keepers and Fron with all their eatings and smilings, it makes them weak. But we, we mountain dwellers have musings and plottings. Much better, I think. Schemings and waitings, thinkings without blinkings, and it will soon pay off.”

“We will alert the armies of Them to our new unexpected fortune. When Governor Laveda and Rathlar have destroyed The Walls of Vermogen, we will swoop in and steal as much of the element as possible, and then we’ll make a new camp there,” Ewan said.

“Not if our armies get there first,” said one of the spies in Ewan’s camp that was working for the dark army. “What do we need you for anymore?”

“But I was the one who told you about the governor. We had a deal.”

“So? I don’t care about your stupid deal. I’m going to tell Bonespeed and we’ll beat you to it. We will keep all the element for ourselves and you will get nothing. You, like all those before you, have served a purpose, but you are just as naive and stupid as all the other creatures in Everville. Why did you think you could ever trust us? Now that you are no longer needed, what purpose do we have for you?”

“We’ll just have to see who is faster,” Ewan said as he thrust himself upon the back of a Fwaylan that stood next to him. In a matter of seconds, those in Ewan’s midst bolted in different directions, each group following either Ewan or Bonespeed.

Meanwhile, Governor Laveda had caught up with Rathlar. They flew over every square inch of the city and set it ablaze. The city walls took a while longer to pulverize since they were fortified with the element, but after enough effort, they too fell.

When the twin dragons were finished with the city, Rathlar rested upon the large stone that had fallen out of place. He thought back to when he had grabbed a hold of it after it had fallen, racing towards the Ubaloo villagers.

Rathlar thought back to how proud he had been when Owen Sage had communicated with him the very first time. Owen had shared the memories of his life as an Alarian for all those billions of years, had convinced Rathlar to turn away from Mallory.

Rathlar had pounded away at the city walls once before, but he hadn’t succeeded in destroying them. General Randore had entrusted him with the fate of the entire realm, but now with his hands and his breath he was helping to destroy it.

What choice did he have? He was still but a teenager among his people. Governor Laveda was honorable. She was the leader of the remaining Alarians, and in all that time since they had defeated Mallory, he had never known her to be unjust. He may not have agreed with her actions right then and there, but he had to follow her.

A solitary tear rolled down his face and fell towards The Walls of Vermogen as they flew overhead. The Alarians were his people, but Brackenbone was his home, and now it was gone.

On both edges of the realm of Brackenbone, Ewan and Bonespeed hurried to prepare their armies to fight each other. The mountain dwellers might have been outmatched in strength, even with the help of the Fwaylan, but what they lacked in strength they made up for in cunning and trinkets.

After all, it didn’t matter so much who won the battle or killed the most soldiers. What mattered most was who was able to get to the caves behind The Walls of Vermogen and began collecting the element first.

Ewan knew, though, that it wasn’t as simple as just getting there first. He would also need the right kind of collector to store the element. If he didn’t, he would be destroyed, or worse, go mad. Either way, he still needed to get there first, or at least avoid detection. Otherwise, the soldiers possessed by the armies of Them would never let him pass.

Ewan had already met up with his followers, and they were headed towards the walls. Once the walls fell, the mountain dwellers would scale the mountains leading to the great waterfall that hid the legendary cave where all the element pooled from all regions of the universe.

Still, he didn’t trust anyone to collect the first batch of element, not even his own people. His plan all along was to collect it for himself. With the Fron and The Keepers now gone, all he had to do was retrieve a solitary container from his cave in The Valley of Darkness. He would use a cloak of invisibility, which was also in his cave, to sneak past the dark army on his way back to beyond The Walls of Vermogen.

“Ewan thinks he’s so clever,” Bonespeed said to one of his soldiers, “that slippery one, the conniving one. He may be quick and clever, but I have been dead for longer than he has been alive. Take a few of my men and follow him. Whisper like the wind, unseen. Keep your armor hidden. I know what he is looking for and what he needs, what we need.”

“What do we need, master?”

“We need one of Ewan’s collectors. Follow him and take it, then kill him.”

“Ooh, this is going to be so much fun,” Bonespeed’s soldier hissed.

Meanwhile, Rathlar and Governor Laveda reached The Walls of Vermogen in their dragon form. They split up and took opposite sides of the walls, first breathing streams of fire at them and then ramming their tons of scale-covered muscle and bone at the stacks of brick.

It was tougher than he expected. The Ubaloo army had anticipated and planned on a surprise attack from the armies of Them, and since the arrival of the Alarians the Ubaloo couldn’t take any chances.

Again and again Rathlar and Governor Laveda pounded the walls, but the element that flowed in the mortar and stone that cemented each brick protected it from their battering and their flame.

Governor Laveda took the form of a human, and so did Rathlar.

“This isn’t going to work. We need to choose a different form, one with the shape of a giant spiked ball and chain made from the toughest metal from our world,” she said to Rathlar.

She morphed again, and he followed suit. Both of them began beating the wall senseless. After the first few batterings nothing happened, but soon the first cracks began to form. Smash after smash and beating after beating, the wall began to crumble.

They kept at it, not giving up until the final stone had fallen.

“That’s it,” the governor said. “The city, the wall, and everything else that’s in it is destroyed. The only thing left now is the hidden cave and the element that flows from within its walls down to the river that feeds The City of Worms.”

“But why, Governor? I don’t understand.”

“You’ll understand soon enough. Just follow me.”

Rathlar looked back on the city behind him. He could still see the flames and smoke coming from the rubble, from his home. His friends and everything he knew was now gone.

They flew higher and higher above the lush, green-covered mountains and valleys, until the green gave way to grey rocky stone and brush. Higher still, and snowcapped peaks greeted them.

Hidden behind the majestic peaks flowed a river of rapids. Rathlar and the governor followed its twisting path. Over the hills and stones, valleys and bones, the waters of the realm spoke to Rathlar. Like a twinkling hymn, a magical song enchanted by some unknown force, he yearned to drink from its banks, but it was too late.

The cave was too small for them to fit in their current form, so Governor Laveda took the shape of a smaller, yet equally fierce creature, a mountain troll known to wander the purple fields of Lillymore.

Giant metal clubs formed in her hands as they entered the cave. They hurried to the back of the hollow den. It was illuminated by a solitary drop of liquid seeping from a crack where the wall met the floor. Rathlar was entranced by it. He wanted to look at it sparkle for a while longer, but Governor Laveda wasted no time.

She clenched the club and smashed at the corner until her stubby mountain troll legs were half covered in muddy debris, making sure there was no trace of the small drop. Then she exited the cave and pulverized it from above until it collapsed in on itself.

The more the mountain crumbled, the more she tore at it. Rathlar joined her, but his heart wasn’t in it. She violated it from every angle, like a schoolyard bully who beats up disabled classmates two grades his junior just to get lunch money.

Rivers of mud flowed down the mountain. The sparkling stream turned muddy brown with chunks of rock and stone, boulders and branches, sticks and thorns, until the entire side of the mountain destabilized, causing a colossal landslide, as if tons of explosives lit up at the same time under the entire mountain chain.

After a day’s journey, Ewan arrived back in his cave, deep in The Valley of Darkness. He grabbed his cloak and a couple receptacles. A couple was all he needed.

“Not so fast there. Where do you think you’re going?” asked one of the soldiers of Them.

Ewan was quick to put on his cloak, but he wasn’t quick enough. The soldier swung in the area where Ewan had stood and ripped off his cloak.

“Now now there. You thought you could just sneak off and steal our element with your tricks and trinkets.”

Before Ewan could do anything, the semi-solid soldier swung his spiked club at Ewan’s torso. He fell to the ground, bloodied and unconscious.

The soldier took Ewen’s cloak and containers and ran before the Fwaylan that accompanied Ewan had time to attack.

Back at the edge of Brackenbone, the armies of Them and the mountain dwellers collided. Bonespeed would not wait for his spies to return; he had to crush the mountain dwellers.

Rows of smoke-possessed armor with axes and swords, clubs and knives, met an army of oversized canine-like Fwaylan with razor sharp teeth and claws. Upon their backs rode the mountain dwellers, who were skilled with the arrow. Even in the absence of their leader the mountain dwellers were able throw volley after volley. Sharp-tipped metal and stone spears pierced the heart of the beasts who were still alive. The armor of those who were there only in spirit were pulverized by the jaws of the Fwaylan. It was the final battle between those who sought the power and permanent control of the element.

Chapter 19

Rivers of Stone

The battle continued unabated between the armies of Them and the mountain dwellers, but the sea of blood and bone was soon met by the river of mud and stone that flowed from beyond the rubble where The Walls of Vermogen once stood. The soldiers stopped and watched as the mountain of liquid dirt slowed just as it met their feet.

Bonespeed pulled the reins of his horse, realizing that it was going to take a lot more effort to get to the element now that it was buried under a mountain of mud.

The clanking of metal and wood quieted, as did the motion of the soldiers. Maybe they would have to put aside their differences and work together again until they could free the element from all the rock and soil.

Out of the pile of rubble, tiny bubbles formed near the surface as if it were being boiled. Millions of the bubbles broke free from the surface. The soldiers of both armies stood there hypnotized as millions of the bubbles hovered and broke free from their mud-cased shells.

Soon Bonespeed saw that the bubbles breaking free were the insects he had seen from the land of the Fron, the Flarax, rumored to be born of the element and capable of flying across realms through tiny portals on their wings.

The flood of flying insects grew until the entire sky was filled with them, scattering the light of the sun by acting as millions of prisms raining multi-colored light as far as the eye could see. Then, without warning, they blinked out of sight. They were gone, and so was the sea of mud that had washed up on the feet of the soldiers.

Across the solar system, on the ice planet, Jahal continued to feed the energy to the dragons, but the energy soon stopped. The element he had been channeling quieted, and he stood there bewildered.

“No… no,” Jahal said. “What has that pathetic human, Owen, done?”

“He hasn’t done nothing,” Governor Laveda said in a series of musical tones in the Alarian language as she descended from the sky and took her native form next to Jahal.

“Owen learned from The Fourth Pillar of Truth that you were making new element, and he knew that it would eventually destroy both Earth and Everville. The only way to stop it was to break the connection you had formed with the element in the catacombs of Everville by your duplicitous dealings with Dean Swifthouse. In order to do that, we had to break free the Flarax from their nests beneath the cave behind The Walls of Vermogen, so Owen hatched this plan.

“We couldn’t risk your spies finding out, so I fed them a lie. I could only do that if the armies of Them thought I had other motives, otherwise you might have figured out our plan was nothing more than a ruse. With the Flarax released, they sucked up all the element in Brackenbone and sealed off the doorway of the element that once seeped through the cracks of the cave wall. The rivers of element that once flowed are no more, and along with it your ability to make new element,” Governor Laveda said to Jahal.

“Do you know what you’ve done? Now our children will not live their full lives. They will die a shortened life, all because of you. You did this to your own people!” Jahal shouted.

“Don’t you understand? You have been doing this for billions of years, from before our race crossed through the wormhole. You have been taking what doesn’t belong to you to extend the life of those who haven’t earned it. You’ve wasted the resources that could have been better spent appreciating the treasures of our people and our culture.

“Instead of living a just life with our race, you have squandered that opportunity. You have brought war upon our people and our new home. You have harmed others. You have committed genocide all in the name of our long dead planet, Alaria.

“This war that rages in Everville, between the armies of Them, the mountain dwellers, and the Fron, was born when you first laid down our progeny in The City of Worms. You have turned man against beast, sister against brother, and species against species. Is this the life you want for yourself and our remaining offspring?” the governor asked.

“Look down there at our people,” pointed Jahal, “at the glorious dragons that breath fire upon the barren wasteland of this ice planet. Are you telling me you don’t want to fly with them to victory as they conquer this world and live out billions of more years? We have the means to do whatever we want. Even with this setback, it is still possible if we work together. We hold the secrets of a billion lifetimes and near infinite universes.”

“And with all that knowledge and experience, you still possess less wisdom than the juvenile dragon Rathlar. Before this day is out, more of our people will die. Worlds have been shaken, lives have been irrevocably altered, all thanks to your arrogance and greed. Our race is a noble one. Our history and our people are precious, yet one life is no greater than another. Your life is no more valuable than that of Toe or any one of the cheerful Marmooks. You have no right to steal from them. You have no justification to use up this world’s energy and cause it to die before its time,” the governor said.

“Who’s to say what is my right Jahal said. “My right is whatever I claim it to be. I will put you down right here and right now if it suits me, and I will take my dragon army and find a new way to take the element from this universe. When this universe dies, I will travel to another and then another. I will live forever—my people will live forever. When we need something we will take it. When we hate something, we will kill it. When something irritates us, we will get rid of it.”

“You are a perversion!” Governor Laveda said.

“And you are a fool. I’ve had enough of this. I will kill you where you stand.”

Jahal signaled to his young followers to take down the governor.

“Stop this, Jahal. Don’t waste the precious remaining element on a battle between our people. I will leave you here on this rock, but I will not let you destroy another soul.”

Jahal ignored her pleadings. His young dragon army rose from the valley beneath them and prepared to destroy her.

“I cannot allow this to go on any longer. I will not let you put blood on the hands of the last of our children.” Governor Laveda called forth the remaining Alarian citizens whom she ruled over on the moon circling the planet. They used part of their remaining energy to transform and fly from their moon and descend upon the ice planet, thousands of them, many ancient mothers who longed for children of their own to raise.

“We will take back our remaining children from you. We will retrain them and teach them both respect and restraint. But you, you have to die.”

Governor Laveda changed shape once more, this time into the orange and red flame of a fiery phoenix. Her shape was both just and mournful, staid and true. She arched back her wings, blocking the view of her action from the youthful dragons.

She reached into his chest with the flame of her claws, burning him from the inside out. His final look was one of contempt and disgust. His flesh faded into black ash, blown away by the winds stirred by the dragon army, but they were too late to save him from the fate that he had seeded long ago.

The multitude of ancient Alarians flew between the governor and the flock of children that Jahal had twisted into a misguided rage. They took the same shape, but the elder Alarian form was one of understanding and wisdom. With it, they subdued their offspring and took the first step in the final journey of the Alarian people, returning back to the moon that circled above them.

In the underground land of the giants, The Fron had already taken to feasting. In the midst of uncertainty and despair they always managed to find a way to make the most of their situation, and it almost always involved food and drink.

The Keepers joined the Fron by the monolith that stood as a symbol of their land. The inhabitants of the lands surrounding Everville were now all there. They were uncertain about what the future held… if they would ever be able to return to their home.

From some distance, Toe and The Keeper watched as the giant of giants, Borak, approached. He was covered in bandages, and his skin still needed time to heal, but he was alive and on the mend.

He sat down at the edge of the table next to Owen, Toe, and The Keeper, who were eating and talking. The table was made for giants, but it was still too small for Borak. When he sat down, his end sank and the other side lifted, propelling one of the Marmooks into the air. Borak grabbed him and set him down before he fell to the ground.

Plates of food and drink slid to the other side of the table, but Toe and the other Fron were quick to grab their plates.

Borak took a nibble from the roasted leg of the massive bird that arrived on the tray that landed in front of him. To Borak, though, it looked like a single chicken wing, hardly enough to make a dent in his kingly appetite. He washed it down with a chalice filled to the brim with red wine.

“Borak, it’s great to see you again. Our people can never repay you for your sacrifice or your realm’s hospitality,” The Keeper said.

“I could say the same to you. It’s just our time to return the favor. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to prevent the destruction of your caverns.”

“That’s not of your doing, Borak. In any case, evil has a way of finding its own atonement,” The Keeper replied.

The land of the giants was lit with an artificial light, ever since the cave insects that had once illuminated them lost their element. General Varrick and the giants had constructed hundreds of torches and posted them by each of the monoliths and encampments. Still, darkness held its grip on the underground land of the giants ever since Jahal began creating his own element.

As they were speaking, the Flarax reappeared and Rathlar was in their midst. They swarmed towards the monoliths and the millions of refugees that now made them their home. Owen and the others stood from their table and dropped whatever food and drink was in their hands.

“You succeeded, Owen. You did it!” The Keeper said.

“We did it,” Owen replied.

The Flarax used most of their element when they transported from Brackenbone, but it was part of their cycle of life. They flew to the walls well beyond the monoliths and dug into the dirt. Their multi-colored spherical wings fell off and blew towards the multitude of creatures in the underground realm before disappearing.

They laid cocoons in the walls, which would one day give birth to a new crop of Flarax. The element was gone, except for just enough to feed the cocoons and provide the gift of light to the land of the giants.

“Our world is about to change. The arrival of the Flarax means that the element no longer flows beyond The Walls of Vermogen,” The Keeper said.

“What do you mean?” Toe asked.

“Owen’s task was to have Governor Laveda and Rathlar destroy the hidden cave and release the Flarax, which would consume the element and seal off its connection to Brackenbone forever,” The Keeper replied.

“So that means…”

“That’s right. We are stuck here. The portals lay dormant, and the element will no longer replenish our receptacles. Without the element, even Owen is unable to transport himself back to Earth. Only the Alarians can use the element within themselves to transport, but that too is limited and will use up their remaining life force.” The Keeper said.

At that moment, Rathlar flew down beside Owen and transformed into a human boy the same age as Owen’s physical appearance.

“I’ll transport both of you,” Rathlar said to Owen and Jacob.

“No. I can’t let you do that. You need all the element you have to live as long as possible.”

“But I don’t deserve to live. I betrayed you and your people,” Rathlar said.

“What are you talking about? If it wasn’t for you and Governor Laveda, we would have never won. Jahal would still be able to create more element, and everything on Earth and in this realm would have been destroyed by the entropy bi-product,” Owen said.

“Yes, but I didn’t know that, Owen. Governor Laveda kept that from me.”

“Of course she did. She needed the deception to be convincing to make sure Jahal wasn’t tipped off.”

“Maybe so, but I didn’t know that. What does that say about me that I blindly followed her and helped to destroy Brackenbone, the only real home that I knew?”

The Keeper interrupted. “Rathlar, there was nothing blind about it. You knew the heart of the governor. You knew somewhere within you that she would not lead you astray.”

“But how can you be so sure, Keeper?”

“We’re here, aren’t we? We succeeded in defeating Jahal and saving those in our realm and on Earth from certain destruction. That should be all the convincing you need.” The Keeper said.

“Still, Owen needs to return to his people, and Governor Laveda has already returned to the moon surrounding the ice planet. I am the only way for him to get back.”

“Save your strength, Rathlar. I can make this my home just like all the rest who have had to make a new home for themselves,” Owen said.

“Don’t let your temperance and humility make you forget that there are others that need you, Owen,” The Keeper said. “Your memories of Earth may have receded with the passage of time during your visits to The Pillars of Truth, but Earth still needs you, if not to save it from certain destruction, then to make sure that mankind stays on the proper course.

“The fate of your world is still very much in doubt. Forces from your realm are in constant flux, and they have the power to do both great evil and great harm. Remember, you are no longer just one man. You hold the knowledge and wisdom of an entire race. That alone could be enough to change the course of mankind, and with it the fate of the entire universe,” The Keeper said.

Back at the edge of Brackenbone, Ewan had escaped the jaws of death and crawled back through the portal leading to Brackenbone, just before the last of the element gave out. He was dripping in sweat and blood, but determined to return to the battle and get to the element first. After his attack, he returned to his cave and found another container for the element, but he had no cloak. He would just have to rely on his soldiers to get past the army of Them.

Ewan stumbled through the rubble of Brackenbone. He grabbed whatever food he could find and did his best to ignore the pain of his injuries. He bandaged the wounds, but they were still bleeding through the flimsy cloth covering. Still, he could not rest and had no time to spare.

Smoke obscured his view until he was well past the city walls, and up ahead he saw both armies motionless.

He limped his way to the edge of the mountain dwellers’ encampment and managed to pull himself up on the back of a Fwaylan.

He rode as fast as he could until he saw the familiar blade and armor of Bonespeed.

“Ah, I see you are still alive. I guess I’ll have to kill my soldier for failing to make sure you were dead, but no matter.”

“What is this? What have you done to my followers?” Ewan asked.

“What have I done? I had nothing to do with this madness. We have Governor Laveda and Rathlar to thank for that. They destroyed the hidden cave and river where the element flowed. She released a horde of glowing insects that devoured all the remaining element, then she and the disgusting little creatures vanished from this world,” Bonespeed said.

“So all of this was for nothing?” Ewan asked.

“Not for nothing. We may have lost the element, but we now occupy Brackenbone. The Fron and Ubaloo are stuck in the land of the giants with no way back. A great chasm separates the land of the giants from the surrounding lands of Everville. With the portal no longer active in the brutal desert, they are cut off. For the first time we have full control over Everville and the surrounding realms, and without the element you and your entire race of mountain dwellers can do nothing to stop us from claiming our prize. Brackenbone and Everville are ours, and I will make all your people our slaves.” Bonespeed picked up Ewan in the grip of his metal armor and squeezed the last bit of life out of him.

Chapter 20

The Return Home

Owen and Jacob gathered their belongings and prepared to return home.

“I won’t forget your bravery and sacrifice, Owen,” The Keeper said.

“And you stay out of trouble, Jacob,” Borak said with a stern look.

Owen and Jacob took one last look at the land of the giants and the multitude of creatures that now occupied the expansive realm. They climbed on the back of Rathlar, who had transformed back into the majestic dragon that he had grown accustomed to.

Rathlar soared high above The Keepers and the giants, flying higher and higher until even the monoliths receded from view. Only the lasting glow of illumination from the cocoons of the Flarax remained, and in a flash Rathlar returned Owen and Jacob back to Earth. They arrived in the home of Cleophas, out of sight of anyone who would have found a glimpse of a dragon disconcerting.

They slid off Rathlar’s back, who now took the shape of a boy once again.

“My time is almost up,” Rathlar said.

“What do you mean?” Owen asked.

“Transporting you here took the last of my remaining element. I can no longer keep up the form of a dragon, and soon this form will take too much energy as well.”

“But why didn’t you—”

“Owen, you heard The Keeper. Mankind needs you. I was never supposed to live anyway. My first breath of life came from the element stolen from your realm by Mallory. It was an honor just to have the chance to live the life I had and spend it with the wonderful Fron and Ubaloo in Brackenbone.”

“Maybe there is some way…” Jacob added.

“No. My time has come and gone. I have come to peace with it. I am grateful for my life, for your friendship, and your charity.”

Owen put his hand on the shoulder of Rathlar and let a tear escape from his eyes. “I’ll miss you, Rathlar,” Owen said.

Rathlar’s body shrank down to a large crystal, just small enough for Owen to pick up and hold in the palm of his hand. It was heavy and looked like a large milky quartz, the kind that he used to look at in the hobby shop when he was a kid.

Owen placed the crystal on the table in Cleophas’ living room just as Cleophas returned.

“So what did we miss while we were gone?” Owen asked.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Cleophas replied.

A few days later, Owen returned to the campus and met up with Anika and Dante in his dorm room.

They were all looking out the window across the university. So much of the campus was reduced to a hole in the ground, and there were still a few places they could see smoldering through the patches of snow that were still left on the university grounds.

“I can’t believe it. Half the campus is gone and school is cancelled for the spring and summer sessions. What are you going to do, Owen?” Anika asked.

“I honestly don’t know. I guess I’ll go back and spend time at home with my parents until I figure it out. Things are so different now.”

“Yeah, about that… what happened in Everville? How did you end up stopping Dean Swifthouse and Jahal from getting more of the element?” Dante asked.

“Where do I begin?”

“How about at the beginning?” Anika asked with a smile.

Owen went on to tell them of his voyage to The Second Pillar of Truth and his travels through the oceans of Polynesia and how he’d lived there for over a hundred years with Jacob, learning how to hunt and fish and live off the land. He explained how Jacob grew from a petulant arrogant boy to a grown man who was helpful and kind. He told them how he’d learned about Jahal’s dragon army, and explained how the Second Pillar and Fourth Pillars of Truth were connected.

He told them of his journey across Vortmore, across the ancient village of men and how the tinkerer once stole the infinite eagle that guarded The Portal of Infinite Knowledge. He told them how the ancestors of Earth were influenced by those sent away from the villages by The Keepers.

He explained how they scaled the wall in Vortmore to get to the library, which was housed above the actual Library of Possibilities. Owen told them of the fifteen trillion books and how there was only copy of each and that it exceeded the entire written word of mankind by over 100,000 times.

He finally got to The Fourth Pillar of Truth and how he’d restored Owen’s memories when he lived as an Alarian as a part of the test in his prior quest.

“You know,” he said, “I lived for over ten billion years, and those memories feel like they happened to me yesterday. I went to school at a university. I learned about the secrets of the Alarian world and their universe, which at a basic level was very much like our own. I fell in love, got married, and I had children. I lived what would be over a hundred million lifetimes on Earth.”

“What? That’s just crazy,” Dante said. “Why are you still here? How are you handling that right now? Tens of billions of years?” Dante asked.

“Tell me about this wife and kids of yours,” Anika said. “What happened to them? Do you miss them? How long did you stay married?”

“Her name was Chesna. I met her in college—the first university I graduated from, I should say,” Owen said.

“Man, that’s cool. You’ve already earned a college degree. Too bad you can’t use it here. What would you write on your resume—degree from Planet Alaria?”

“That doesn’t really matter, Dante. I don’t need a piece of paper. I have the memories right here in my head.”

Dante thought to himself for a second. “Yeah, that’s right, isn’t it! You could probably invent some pretty cool stuff, huh, like cell phones from a billion years in the future? I’m sure you could be the richest person on the planet,” Dante said.

“That’s just it, Dante. I can’t do that. I mean, I can but I won’t. Remember what I told you about the tinkerer? If I start inventing stuff before Earth is ready for it, who knows what could happen. The Fourth Pillar of Truth said that Knowledge without wisdom leads to envy and jealousy.”

“Yeah, but you got lots of wisdom. You lived for ten billion years!”

“It’s not me I’m worried about. The Keeper said that the human race can be a force for evil or a force for good, and if I unleash too much information in such a short amount of time, there’s the very real possibility that we could end up on the wrong side of it.”

“You’re a better man than me, Owen. I don’t know if I could resist the temptation.”

“Let’s get back to this wife of yours,” Anika interjected.

“Well, we stayed married until our universe died.”

“You’re telling me that you stayed married for over ten billions years and you outlived the universe? That’s some serious love!” she said.

“And pain.”

Anika realized he was right, and so was Dante. It was a miracle that he was able just to sit and talk to them about it.

“The Alarians knew their world was dying. Most of them were so old they didn’t feel the need to live beyond the death of the universe. A few though, like Jahal, and others not as malevolent, found a way to use exotic matter to build a wormhole to our universe. They traveled to a moon circling an ice planet, and that’s where they are today.”

“I really don’t know what to say to that,” Anika said.

“You don’t need to say anything. For the moment, I’m just glad that you guys are safe and no one got killed here. I can’t say the same for Everville. Rathlar gave his life to bring Jacob and I back. Then there’s the Fron, and The Keepers, and everyone else from their realm who are stuck in the land of the giants, but I guess it could have been much worse. With the element gone from Everville, I can’t transport back there. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back.”

“Speaking of Jacob, what happened with him?”

“Well, Cleophas and his wife, Dala, said they were going to take him in. They said they would do what they can to help him get into school here.”

“He still wants to go to school too after living a hundred years?”

“You’re never too old to learn, Dante. Besides, I’m sure he wants to start over and see some familiar faces.”

“He’s going to have to work hard to get them to like him, though, the way he’s treated everybody.”

“I know, but that will be up to him,” Owen replied.

Meanwhile, at the temporary location of the school administration, Odious was meeting with all the school officials, except for Dean Swifthouse.

“Listen, the dean told me that he had planned on betraying all of you. He was going to use you to set his plan to take over the school and the city in motion, and then he was going to break all of his promises.”

“Why should we believe anything you say either?” asked the vice-chancellor, Rosemary.

“In case you haven’t noticed, the school is in ruins and the dean hasn’t followed through on any of his promises to since.”

“But what do you have to offer?” Rosemary added.

“I’m glad you asked. It’s true that I didn’t get to see everything that the dean did, but I was smart enough to use the relics to see some very important events in the future. Before the relics lost their connection to Everville, I took one of the staves and thought of dozens of different ways I could make money and gain power. Dean Swifthouse didn’t trust me with the steps to set certain things in motion, but he himself was too stupid to realize the obvious, and I figured it out.

“Now, I’m not going to share everything with you. That would give away my advantage, but if you want to be filthy rich, then you have no choice but to go along with my plan.”

“You still haven’t given us any reason to trust you,” she said.

“Is this reason enough?” Odious asked as he lifted up a large gym bag filled with cash. “One of the first things I did was check out the stock market during different dates in the future, starting with last week.”

Odious unzipped the bag and tossed each person in the room several stacks of ten grand each.

“Now, this is how it’s going to be. You’re going to follow my plan or I won’t tell you anything. I’ll keep paying you in cash as long as you stick to the plan. The longer you follow along, the larger the payouts will get. The first order of business will be to appoint me as the new dean.”

“And how do you propose we do that with Dean Swifthouse still in position?”

“I’m glad you asked. This is what we’re going to do…”

A few months passed, and things were getting back to normal. The school was in the process of being repaired, and it had a new dean, Odious.

“Hey you’re that guy on the news, Odious, aren’t you?” asked an attractive young twenty-something woman in designer workout attire.

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

“Oh, I’m Candy.”

“Well it’s nice to meet you, Candy,” Odious said as he reached over and shook her hand and then ran his hands through his full head of thick hair, which he had just purchased from the best men’s hair clinic in the Northeast.

He smiled as he rode away on his stationary bike in his specially made sneakers, which gave him a few extra inches in height without being noticeable.

“Say, did you know that guy? What’s his name, Dean Swifthouse?”

“Yeah. I just can’t believe he set off all those bombs at the school. You think you know somebody and then they go and do something crazy like that. I’m just glad nobody got hurt.”

“I know, right?” Candy replied.

A few days later, Odious paid the former dean a visit in the state prison.

“Mr. Swifthouse, you have a visitor?” one of the prison guards said as he opened his cell and escorted him to the visiting area.

Mr. Swifthouse’s time in prison showed on his face. He hadn’t shaved in several days and hadn’t bothered to color his gray hair. The Botox had worn off, and in its place he had several scrapes and bruises from his new position as the prison punching bag.

“What do you want, Odious?” Mr. Swifthouse said on the phone that connected them through the prison glass.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing. I mean, I still can’t believe what you did at the school, but I thought you must be lonely in here. I figured you could use some company seeing as how you probably aren’t getting any other visitors.”

Mr. Swifthouse tossed the phone at the glass and walked away, then called for the guard to take him back to his cell.

Meanwhile, at the home of Cleophas and Dala, Jacob was adjusting to his new life.

“You know,” said Cleophas, “I just made some calls to Easton Falls University. I had been waiting for them to get back to me. They said that when schools starts back up in the fall they would be willing to give you a provisional admission. You would need to successfully complete a few courses before you’re fully admitted, but at least you’ll be able to start right away,” Cleophas said to Jacob.

“That’s great. I really appreciate all your help in taking me in. I know how rude I was to you, and all the terrible things I did before.”

“Think nothing of it. We all deserve a second chance. You were a big part in helping Owen, and you certainly have proved your worth during the few months we’ve had you as a guest. Hasn’t he, Dala?” Cleophas asked.

“Oh, absolutely. My vegetable garden hasn’t looked this great ever, and the dishes are always clean before I even get a chance to look at them.” Dala said.

After dinner was over and Jacob helped Cleophas and Dala clean up the table and wash the dishes, he went back to his room.

Owen had taken the crystal of Rathlar to remember him by, but Jacob never told them that he and Owen were cousins, or how he had found that out.

Jacob opened the bag where he had stored the book he had taken from the village of men in Vortmore. At the time, he didn’t get to finish looking through all the pages and images. Owen had interrupted him before he’d had the chance.

Jacob had been thinking about it for a while. He wanted to start a new life and put everything else behind him. The life with Owen had changed him. Jacob was a different person, but when he was in Vortmore the book had called to him. How could he not take it? It was a connection to a father he had never known, a father he had always been curious about.

What could it hurt? After all, the element was gone. There was no chance that Jacob or Owen could ever make it back to Everville without the element.

“Just a little peek,” Jacob thought to himself, and then he opened the book.

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