Ch 10: Listening

Rvised: May 09/13

Chapter 10: Listening



          Brody needed to clear his mind and staying at home or the antique shop wasn’t an option. He recognized the necessity of solitaire mixed with the wind and nature in order to listen to the Silver Dagger. He left the house and jogged through the field behind his house, away from civilization and traffic noise. He wanted to hear the rapids from Holly River and smell the mossy trees in the forest.

         A coyote yipped. Brody stumbled to a quick stop. He looked around the open field. A cedar fence stood a short distance to the right, and row of cedars behind. A shaggy coyote stalked him. Brody’s heart skipped a beat, wondering how long the beast was at his back. The coyote stopped. Brody watched him. He wouldn’t allow an animal to rage fear through his body. “Calm down,” Brody muttered. “It will run away. I’m not food.” A wolf howled. The coyote turned tail and bolted to the fence line. With one smooth leap, the coyote disappeared through the other fields, toward Berwick Village. “Someone else’s problem.”

         He climbed over a barbed wire fence, headed to maple and oak trees and to his sanctuary. The path leading through the hanging branches tempted Brody. He would find his way through the trees. He would find his magical spot and wait for the voices to come. The foliage brushed against his jeans. Skittering noises of field mice comforted Brody. A pair of rabbits scampered across the path and disappeared through the long grass and bushes. Decaying leaves crunched beneath his feet.

         The darkness off the path appeared mysterious. What lurked among the trees? A scream echoed through the air. He jumped and looked around. An acorn dropped to the ground. Black birds perched from the high branches on oak trees, overhanging the path. Relieved it was only ravens, he sighed.

         He walked down the path, running somewhat parallel to the river to his left, yet bending toward the right and toward the dense forest. The woods of the unknown. He has yet to venture this far from the safety of home. The wind whistled through the higher branches. He jumped. Rustle in the leaves behind him. He spun around, fearing it was the coyote. Nothing. His eyes darted around the bushes and trees. Nothing. He kicked at the leaves, hoping to release a mouse, anything to explain the noise. Nothing.

         Brody sensed something was not right in the woods. He was anxious at the slightest noise. He felt his body tensing. How would he react if he actually heard a voice from the blade? Would it be recognizable or the ancient language the PCFs speak? “No, it’s only my imagination!” He shouted. Birds flew away. “Great I scare birds. How would I ever protect Caleigh?” Brody tried to build up his confidence repeating positive words, like the pictures that hung on his grandparents’ living room walls. “Brave. Courage. Believe. Imagine.” Anything words to build his heroic insights.

         Kiera mentioned that The Seer would know the route, so perhaps the warriors followed him. They wouldn’t have been foolish to allow to be heard.

         He trailed the path, weaving around tree roots, sharp rocks and juniper bushes. The witch had told him to listen. He must control the dagger before he lost control of its magical power. He would not be lost and be overwhelmed by the power surging through the silver blade. He would listen. How would he actually hear the whispers of the knife? He would follow The Light and not follow Lachlan into The Darkness. He had no idea who Lachlan was, but he knew he never wanted to be anything like him. He would never betray his coven. He would never betray Caleigh. He would protect her from death itself. He would slay Scathanna and Lachlan.

         Approaching a clearing, he spotted a cluster of rocks and juniper bushes. Maple trees circled the rocks – magical watchtowers guarded the area. Brody felt the magic tingling in the air. “It feels like Kiera’s back yard. I found my space to begin my training beneath the summer’s sky.” He counted twelve maple trees that grew in a circle.

         Brody climbed the boulder and redrew the Silver Dagger from its leather case. Moss covered rocks sat around the clearing as well as decomposing branches and stumps. He was silent and listened to the breeze in the nearby daisies and long grass.

          Four ravens perched in the branches of a maple tree. One cried out and flew down to settle beside Brody. It looked at the blade and curiously tilted its head.

         A tingling sensation swooped over Brody. First, raven screams scared him and now a raven sat beside him, almost calming him.

          A branch snapped. His heart stopped for a second. What was that? Another branch cracked from the direction of the distant trees. A shadow swayed between bushes, far from the circle of trees. Brody froze. Seconds dragged into minutes. Was it Scathanna? The ravens didn’t fly away. It couldn’t be evil. Certainly, the birds would retreat to the sky for there was no way a raven could battle the demon, unless it wasn’t an earth raven, but an animal sent from the Goddess - protection.

         Thoughts of magic crept through his mind, a soft humming noise. Perhaps the dagger was whispering to him. Brody’s gaze drifted from the dagger to the bird and the outline.

         The shadow fluttered and moved away from the bushes. It crept away from the shelter of the woods into the light of the clearing.

         Brody laughed.

          A lone fox emerged from the shadow, sniffed the air and then slunk closer, without any aggressive behavior. The red fox stopped within a few feet of him and tilted its head.

         Appearing unafraid, the raven stared at the fox. Brody wondered what was happening between the two. Were they communicating? He thought the fox would kill the bird. Or it would frantically fly away. The fox didn’t attack, nor the bird moved. The actions of the fox were very curious to him. The critter approached swinging his tail. Brody noticed the unusual black stripe in the center of its tail. Suddenly, the fox yipped. A wolf, in the distance, responded with a howl. The fox disappeared through the woods.

         The wind whispered.

         “I’m ready.” Brody replied. He watched the raven fly in the same direction of the fox. A blue-black feather fluttered and landed on the boulder. He touched the warm feather and smiled. A gift from the Goddess. She was watching him and wanted him to appreciate she was always near.

         Brody had much to learn about his destiny. He was a warrior. He was ready to receive the power from the dagger - his dagger. He focused his thoughts. He twirled the handle of the Silver Dagger. He would never be without his blade … his power.

         ‘Listen to your heart and to the dagger.’ He recalled the witch’s words. She also told him that he was Caleigh’s personal protector. He wondered who would want Caleigh’s life. His blue eyes reflected back to him from the silver blade as another thought slipped into his mind. Me, a warrior? No way. How am I to protect Caleigh? Why is it my responsibility?

          Ariandagr whispered. “Brody, son of the Dark Loach.”

         Brody wasn’t afraid. Ariandagr’s voice was whimsical and soft. Brody imagined a voice of a mouse.

         “You are the new generation. He lies in wait for you. He will charm you away from the Coven of Solas. The path is twisted with crossroads and treacherous. The way is dense with peril and malevolent. Search within and ask, ‘Who will I trust?” Ariandagr, the magical blade, hissed the question.

         Brody shivered and spoke to the wind. “Who will I trust? I trust myself and the blade. And Caleigh.”

         The warmth of the sun kissed his bare arms and face. Maple leaves swayed in the gentle breeze. Brody focused on his breathing, encouraging his thoughts to be quiet. He couldn’t miss any messages spoken softly by Ariandagr. What a strange Irish word, but it was a strong and powerful name. It spoke to him. He was curious if the blade would draw blood. Would he kill someone? Would it change him? He shook his head, being distracted. “I’ll listen and train.”

         Sunbeams danced and dust motes swirled in the sunlight. He heard the rushing river far behind him. He inhaled the musty woods. No skittering of the squirrels or field mice. No birds chirping. No butterflies or dragonflies fluttering. It was too quiet. A coyote yipped.

         Drip. Drip. Drip. Brody jumped to his feet. That was not a coyote. The mysterious dripping ran chills down his back. This was time to prove to himself that he was a brave warrior and not a little boy. He surveyed his surroundings. No breeze skimming along the long grass or the maple leaves. The magical space was silent. He took a deep breath and walked toward the dripping, away from the maple watchtowers.

         He found the path the fox had appeared, leading to the darkness of the dense woods. Saplings and bushes bordered the animal’s road, beyond scattered adult trees and brushwood. What lurked in the cold darkness? What was creating the strange water-noise? He wished that he possessed a magical gift of his own. Fire balls would be help, but then he didn’t want to be responsible for a forest fire. Flying would get him out of trouble in an instant. He settled for super strength and speed of a cheetah.

         He took a deep breath and moved forward. With the dagger, safely in its leather sheath, he crawled through the underbrush, wiping cobwebs from his face. Twigs cracked underfoot. A bird shrieked. The dripping ceased. A raven brushed against his back. Was it the raven that visited earlier? Brody dropped to the ground, his knees crushed sticks. His heart stopped.

         Low to the ground, not thirteen feet away was a smoky creature, like stretched black, cotton candy, shades of black and gray. He stared at the fluttering strands. Brody noticed, hidden within the layers, a pair of shiny obsidian-black eyes, with only a speckle of yellow. The eyes gazing around as if in search for something only the demon knew.

         Brody withdrew the Silver Dagger. The blade whistled. The eyes halted and then vanished. The dripping began once again, louder, closer, but he held his ground. Brody slowly rose to his feet. He looked around, the dagger in his hand. He could feel the sweat on his forehead and down his back.

         A whimsical shadow, resembling unrolled black, cotton candy, fluttered toward him. It wrapped itself around a tree branch. The creature dangled like primitive vines draping an ancient tree. A single strand reached the ground and slithered toward Brody, almost touching him.

         Brody felt the warmth of the hot summer’s sun on his bare arms. He grinned. The sun will burn the demon. Brody spun the handle of the dagger and a sunbeam struck the blade. A prism of colour rolled off the blade’s tip. The slithering shadow snapped back like an elastic band and disappeared.

         Not releasing the blade, he breathed deeply quite a few times. The sweat trickled down his cheeks. He slumped against a tree. The blade commanded it to leave. Brody wondered if he was not only a warrior but also the Iarrthoir de Scathanna.

***

         The distinct voice of Jim Morrison filled the room as Alexis clicked play on the stereo in the upstairs office. She then held the oak railing, overlooking the foyer and bid her parents goodbye as they departed to The Obsidian for the day.

         She dropped her journal on the desk and her backpack on the floor. Enjoying the sun’s warmth, she stepped to the bay window and pushed it open to welcome the breeze.

         She sunk into the couch and wrapped her arms around her legs, with the pillow settled on her knees. Tears streamed down her face. Few weeks ago, she could not imagine her friend starting fires, but the past couple of days have been bizarre. Her best friend, Caleigh moved firewood and started fires with only concentration and a thought. Alexis cried because Caleigh had supernatural powers and she did not possess any gifts. She was alone for the first time in her life. She allowed the tears to wash over her as loneliness crashed like waves on a beach. She rocked back and forth with her arms wrapped around her curled up legs.

         The wind chimes hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room chirped. The silver stars clink against each other. The soothing noise calmed her tears and mixed emotions. She wiped her face.

         At the desk, she grabbed her journal and flipping pages, she came across a clean, white sheet and then she put the pen to paper.

         Saturday, June 16, 1984 -- Why is Caleigh a Witch? Why can’t I be a Witch too? It’s NOT fair! I’m so alone! She gets to start fires. She moves firewood with a wave of a hand. I do nothing! She gets great marks at school. I’m barely passing. Mom puts all her time into that stupid bookstore. She never has time for me! But she’s there for Jaeden. I hate her! I hate her! Now Caleigh has her own protector. Why does it have to be Brody? Blaine has the crush on her – it’s so freakin obvious. Now she has Brody lookin’ after her and Blaine crushin’ on her. It’s so not fair! I have no one! I HATE THEM!!

         The wind chimes tumbled to the floor and the window slammed shut. She jumped when a picture frame fell off the bookshelf. She ran to the broken picture frame. Carefully, she picked the photograph from the pile of glass. It was a photo of the four of them taken last summer at Willow River, after an afternoon of swimming. She cleaned up the glass shards and wiped her tears.          

         Another memory caught her by surprise and she returned to the journal.

                I found a letter when I was playing a game with Peanut. She was the best at playing hide & seek. I was ten. I loved my kitten. It was sad when she died. I found the letter in mom’s bedroom. She just left it on the chair. I remember the letter was addressed to My Daughter Kristy. Could it be Gramma Kristy? When Mom found me, she was so angry. I’ll never forget her words. ‘Alexis, this letter will never concern you. Just forget about it.’ And then she put it in a box. I still remember the click, when she closed the lid. She made me promise to never go looking for the letter. But now, I know it’s important. I know it!

              Gramma Kristy had visited shortly after my discovery. I was quiet as a mouse, at the top of the staircase. I listened to their conversation. If only I could remember what they had said, something about....’Time will reveal to us’. Mom had been very concerned. I remember mom giving the letter to Gramma Kristy. I remember mom mumbling, ‘Mother should have burned that letter years ago.’

What’s in that letter? I am sure Gramma Kristy knows. It was addressed to her and it was written by her mother. She’d made me promise that I’d never go looking for the letter, but really, I’m almost sixteen. I deserve the truth. I deserve to know what my mother meant by ‘This letter will never concern you.’ If I can find the letter, I’ll show them both to her. She wouldn’t be able to deny me the truth. Would she? Mom would never outright lie to me. I’m certain that letter is my family’s heritage. Could the letter have something to do with my future? My destiny. The letter has something do to with me and my future. I have to find that letter!

         She closed her journal, and slumped over the desk. Mom and Dad would never know.

         Alexis ran down the stairs, jumped the last two steps and crossed the foyer. She opened the door to her parents’ office. She paused at the doorway. She didn’t want to get caught snooping amongst her parents’ private papers and files. Would she find more than the letter? Would she reveal a dark family secret? “Yes, I will find the letter written to Gramma Kristy.” She walked across the room and began searching the desk. All the drawers, empty of any mysterious letters, only notebooks, pens and an assortment of office supplies. “I wonder...” She turned to the bookcase and checked every book on the bottom shelf. No hidden letters. Alexis collapsed into the armchair and hugged the pillow. “Where do I search now?” She threw the pillow across the room. “Time for a walk. Perhaps the river will clear my thoughts and wash away my anger.”

.

         Alexis sat in silence and stared beyond the river. Maple walnut ice-cream melted down the sides of the soggy cone. She licked the ice-cream and wished that her best friend had also been enjoying the coldness of the once frozen treat. More importantly, Alexis wished she also had the gift of magick. She tossed the cone into the trash can and then followed the wooden steps to Willow River.

         Standing beside the dock, she looked out across the water. Memories of her friends flashed through her mind. Alexis and Caleigh sat on the wooden dock, dangling their feet in the water. Along the shoreline, Blaine and Brody gathered firewood. Alexis smiled and then a new image – Caleigh starting a fire, with only a swish of a hand.

         “No fair!” She threw her shoes on the ground and stepped into the water. The coolness soothed her bare feet. She sat at the shore with her bare legs stretched out into the shallow waters. She reached to the bottom of the river and scooped a handful of dark river sand. The grains oozed through her spread fingers. She heard something in the breeze. She focused on the dripping of wet sand and tried blocking the whisperings. ‘I have always known you would be powerful.’ Alexis recalled the words of the witch.

         Angrily, she threw the sand into the water. She picked up a smooth rock, the size of a breakfast egg, and tossed it into the river. Water splashed her face. “I have to find that letter!” She called out. “I’ll be special too!”

         She jumped onto the wooden dock. It shifted beneath her feet. It’s always Caleigh. Now she wants Brody. And she gets whatever she wants. Alexis dove into the water.