Storybound (20 page)

Chapter 30

P
eter felt like he was racing down a tunnel, faster and faster toward the light at the end. When he got there, he opened his eyes slowly, and pain washed over him as consciousness returned. His shoulder throbbed. He could smell blood, the metallic scent of it thick in his nostrils. Slowly, things came into focus. The stone ceiling arched above him.

Peter wriggled out from under the beast’s carcass and sat up. Magog’s dead body sprawled next to him. The memory of the fight came crashing in. “Sam?” he whispered.

There was no answer.

Peter saw the little body, lying in a crumpled heap on the other side of Magog. He limped over and fell to his knees beside him. Sam’s eyes were glazed over, his mouth bared in a fighting snarl. “Oh, Sam,” he said, the tears falling now. “You fought well, my friend.”

When his tears were spent, he bent forward.
Elton will pay for this.
He scooped Sam’s body up with both hands. That was when he saw the flick of a whisker. Peter leaned in close. He felt a puff of air. He looked at Sam’s chest—was it moving?

Another puff. A tiny movement. Sam was alive.

Una kicked dirt over the remains of the fire. With each vigorous kick she chided herself. It had been stupid to look at the book in the exam. Now, at the very least, the examiners would know she had a book. And if Elton was reading, he would recognize the description and know it was Alethia’s book. He’d probably be waiting for her the moment she stepped out into the Tale station.

The spot where the fire had been was now buried in dirt, and the only light now came from Indy’s travel lantern.

“Very thorough, milady,” Indy said as he finished packing up his things.

Una stopped kicking. Maybe she could hide the book somewhere in the exam. Or disguise it somehow. She had to get it back.

Indy strapped his sword into its scabbard. He was adjusting it over his shoulder when Una came up behind him. “Let me help you, milord.”

Indy’s hands stopped. “Um, that’s really not necessary. Milady.”

“I insist.” Una grabbed the leather strap and wiggled it a bit so it was more in the center of his back.
Now, which pocket did he put it in?

“Forget it. Milady.” Indy’s voice sounded flat. He turned around. “I’m keeping it.”

Una clasped her hands together in front of her. “You don’t get it. If they find that bo—” She caught herself. She had to make him understand without revealing too much to the examiners. She ran over and grabbed a stick from the edge of the woods. In crooked letters she wrote
destroy
in the soil next to the lantern. “Like what happened at the potting shed.”

Indy looked down at her. “How did you know—?”

“It’s not important,” Una said. She underlined the word
destroy
. “But we’ve got to do something.”

Indy crouched down and traced the letters in the dirt.

This wasn’t helping. Maybe if she could get Indy to take the book out, she could steal it back. Una volunteered, “I never figured out how to open it.”

Indy stood and readjusted his pack. “What do you mean?”

Una tried to phrase things so that the examiners wouldn’t understand what she was talking about. “It’s locked. Didn’t you recognize the dragon?”

Indy looked puzzled. “I saw it. So?”

Una didn’t know how to tell him. She scratched
Muse
in the dirt with her finger.

Indy stood up slowly. “You brought one into the
exam
? You idiot!” He began muttering under his breath in another language. He sounded mad.

“Indy,” Una began.

“Unbelievable! We have been seeking them for years. Risking life and limb to beg one of them to return. And some little girl”—Una huffed at this—“brings one of their books into the Talekeepers’ exam. We have got to get it out of here.” He started walking.

“Wait. You want them to come back?” Una asked, struggling to keep up. “You don’t think they’re all dead?”

Indy snorted. “Immortals don’t die.”

Immortals!
Una stopped short and blinked at Indy. He was halfway across the clearing before she found her voice. “Have you found any?”

Indy didn’t look at her. “We haven’t.”

“We?” She doubled her stride to catch up.

He gave her a curt nod.

Una wanted to shake the answers out of him. What else did he know? “What will you do with it now? We can’t open it, remember?”

“
You
can’t open it. I can. My family has passed on the tradition for generations.” Indy scowled back at her. He wasn’t even out of breath. “But there’s no way I’m going to do it in some stupid Talekeeper exam.”

“Show me,” Una demanded. “Open it now.”

“Now? Are you crazy?” Indy asked, but it wasn’t Una’s voice that answered him.

“I think that would be very unwise,” Elton said as he moved into the lantern’s little circle of light. Una spun around to face him, and Indy stepped forward so that he and Una were standing shoulder to shoulder.

Elton’s face was streaked with lines of dirt. He was snugly buttoned into an old-fashioned tweed suit, but the shirt had come untucked and all the fabric was rumpled. Behind him stood three horrible creatures. Their bodies were hidden in the shadows, but they began to growl as they skirted the clearing. Una reached out for Indy’s hand, and he grasped hers firmly.

“Is something wrong with the examination?” Indy asked in a strained voice.

“Something is wrong, yes,” Elton responded, turning to Una. Una squeezed Indy’s hand.

“The book, child. Give it to me,” Elton said.

The creatures behind him were shaking now, scenting the air hungrily. Una didn’t doubt that they were carnivorous. Her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth.

“Give it to me!” Elton screamed, and the beasts went into a howling frenzy. They circled around one more time. The moment seemed to stretch on forever. Then everything happened in a flash. Indy threw something flaming at Elton, which exploded in the air right in front of him.

“Run!” he yelled, whirling Una back around and out of the clearing.

“Elton is working for the Red Enchantress,” she said as they blindly sped up the path. “They’ve been hunting for Alethia’s book.” What did it matter now if the examiners knew what they were talking about? She tried to match Indy’s long strides. “And I think they mean to destroy it.”

“We’ve got to get back to the Tale station,” Indy said, with an even voice that had no strain of the run in it. “The Talekeepers may try to make us hand over the book there, but at least they won’t destroy it. The professors won’t allow it. Edenberry will help us.”

They could hear the sound of pursuit in the forest behind them. Una sprinted on. It was nearly impossible to see anything beyond the ground right in front of her. How much farther did they have to go? They weren’t even close to the exam entrance, and Una was having a hard time breathing. There was no way she could run the entire way. Even Indy was showing signs of tiring.

“Need to . . . rest . . . soon,” she managed, and had to double her pace to make up for the distance lost while she talked. As they sped through yet another clearing, they heard a crashing off to their immediate left, and an animal burst into the path in front them. The unicorn was a hugely majestic creature, and its fur shone with silver light. Una and Indy stopped instinctively and stared in wonder.

“What do you seek?” the unicorn asked, his voice deep and resonant. He was looking straight at Una, as though Indy wasn’t even there.

Una didn’t hesitate. “We are being followed,” she whispered. “By evil creatures. We seek your aid.”

The unicorn looked at her for a moment. “An unusual request,” he said. “What will you exchange for my aid?”

Una’s heart felt like it was going to explode out of her chest. She could hear the beasts’ howls coming from somewhere behind them. They didn’t have time for her to figure out how to manipulate the reality of the exam. Besides, she didn’t know the first thing about unicorns or what they liked. She thought hard.
What could a unicorn want?
But even if she knew, it wouldn’t have mattered.

“I don’t have anything to exchange,” she said simply. Una locked eyes with the unicorn for a moment. She could see green flecks in the golden depths. “If I did, I swear I would give it.” She could hear Indy’s intake of breath next to her, but she ignored it. “Please,” she whispered. “We’re desperate.”

After a long moment the unicorn spoke. “Agreed. We will delay those who follow you.”

The next moment the unicorn bayed, his call one long melancholy note that filled the forest. Even though Una couldn’t understand the cry, she felt it deep in her spirit. The leaves around them shook with the sound. Soon, small noises carried across the air. The forest was stirring. In a very short time, she and Indy were alone in an almost silent clearing.

She could feel him staring at her. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Una couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. “We needed time. I bought us time. We’ve got to keep going, though. Who knows how long they can hold Elton back?” They set off at a slow jog, to pace themselves for the journey ahead. “What
were
those things?” Una finally asked.

Indy’s faced tightened as he answered. “Beasts. Trained fighters. Believe me, you don’t want to mess with them.” He touched a hand to his sword. “Why does Elton want Alethia’s book so bad?”

“I’m just guessing,” she panted. “He’s been helping the Enchantress destroy the Muse books. I read about what happened to Sophia. The Enchantress came for her. And Sophia’s book got destroyed.” It was getting harder to talk. “It’s a long story. But if they capture all the Muses and destroy all their books, they will bring back the Enemy.”

“What Enemy?” Indy demanded.

Una licked her lips. With every breath her mouth was getting dryer. “Fidelus. He broke his oaths. It’s all lies. Everything the Talekeepers have said about the Muses has been a lie.”

Indy snorted. “We’ve always known they were liars. But no one else believed us.”

“But your dad’s a Talekeeper!” It came out like an accusation. “I saw you at the Merriweathers’ house,” she explained.

“The Merriweathers head up the Resistance.” Indy shrugged. “My dad’s part of it. Staying a Talekeeper is a good way to find books and other stuff.”

“Other stuff?” Una managed.

Indy sounded embarrassed. “Stuff about the King.”

Una stopped running.

“I know, I know,” Indy said as he slowed and turned around. “You think he’s not real.”

“No! I believe in the King,” she laughed. “I just don’t know anything about him.”

Indy grinned. “My family says that once upon a time, the Muses were watching for his return. Since the Muses disappeared, we have taken up their watch. Though he left long ago, we serve the King of Story.”

The Servants of the King!
Una knew what she and Indy had to do. And, if they were lucky, it would help them escape Elton as well. “Then open the book, and let’s go find one of the Muses.”

He wiped a hand over his mouth. “What if the book’s just blank inside? Like all the ones in the Vault?”

“Don’t worry about that.” If he would just open it, Una knew it would work. “They’ll take it anyway when we get back, and if Elton gets it first, he’ll destroy it. Do you really know how to do it or not? We don’t have much time.”

In the pause that followed, the silence of the forest was broken by the sounds of a struggle. Una thought she could hear the deep tones of the unicorn. Could that be Elton’s high-pitched laugh? “Something’s happening,” she said.

Indy peered back the way they came as if he could see what was going on. “All right,” was all he said, and he pulled the small book out of his cloak.

In the blackness of the forest, Una couldn’t see the book’s binding, but the blue around the dragon sparkled like some strange jewel. She wanted to touch it. “How do you . . . ?” she began.

Indy shushed her and carefully began running his fingers over the cover. Una’s anxiety returned, and she felt a panicky feeling around her heart. The sounds of the struggle behind them were growing louder. She hadn’t heard the unicorn’s call for a long time now. That couldn’t be a good sign.
Hurry
, she thought madly.
Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

Indy seemed in no rush. His hands moved smoothly and rhythmically across the book’s binding. Back and forth, around to the other side, his long fingers crept carefully, his face furrowed with concentration. Una couldn’t restrain herself any longer. “Come on!” she whispered fiercely.

“Shut up!” Indy said without looking up. “I’ve got to focus.”

Una could hear Elton directing his creatures. What had happened to the unicorn? Her heart jumped as the sound of trampled branches and Elton’s awful voice drew nearer. Una moved closer to Indy and could barely stop herself from reaching out to grab his hand.

“Almost done,” he muttered, pausing to wipe the sweat out of his eyes.

With a shout of triumph, Elton crashed into the side of the clearing, followed by one of the ugly beasts. “Gotcha!” he cried.

Una gasped and grabbed Indy’s hand.

Indy tensed and muttered something under his breath.

There was a loud clash like a thunderclap, and the air flashed with a blinding light. Una and Indy fell to their knees and covered their eyes. She heard Elton cry out. For a moment, everything was chaos. The noise was horrific, filling everything and paralyzing Una. She held tightly to Indy’s hand and screwed her eyes shut. She could see the light burning into her eyelids. Inside her head everything was bathed in a red glow. Then the world began to spin.

Chapter 31

A
fter the noise died down, all was silent. The air was warm and fragrant, and Una felt strangely at peace. She was lying on her back and could feel Indy’s hand clasped in her own. It seemed that the events in the clearing were playing through her mind in slow motion.
Is that really me, crouching in the clearing, clinging to Indy’s hand? Was I really frightened by that grasping Mr. Elton?
The playback in her head was replaced by the soothing quiet around her. Joy bubbled up from somewhere deep inside, and curiosity soon followed. It seemed imperative that Una know where she was, as though it was the most important thing in the world. And whatever else she was feeling, Una wasn’t afraid. She sat up, opened her eyes, and stared about her.

It was no longer the middle of the night, but Una didn’t find this peculiar. She was more interested in the world of Alethia’s book. She was sitting on a soft mound of the greenest grass she had ever seen. Indy lay next to her, his eyes still shut and his hand folded in hers. The grassy hill gently sloped down to the edge of a forest clothed in brilliant colors. Bluebells nodded to one another, while above them purple wisteria trailed on branches of slim trees. Crimson peonies mingled with white daisies, their heads bobbing in the perfumed air. It was quiet, and Una could hear the sound of grasses and leaves blowing in the softest breeze she could have imagined. She didn’t know how long she sat there, soaking up the deep silence, letting the ocean of color and scent wash over her senses. All too soon, Indy stirred.

Una gently released his hand.

He sat up, rubbing his head. “Where are we? I remember opening the book, and then . . .”

“And then this,” Una finished for him. “We actually made it through the Muse book. Isn’t it wonderful?” The compelling curiosity was rising up in her again. They got to their feet and wandered about. Everywhere she looked, brilliant colors soothed Una’s soul. The contrasts were breathtakingly beautiful—the brightest purple violets set against crimson geraniums. Lavender clematis next to the yellowest sunflowers Una had ever seen. She couldn’t help but smile.

Indy was smiling too, and it softened his whole face.
Was he always this courageous and kindhearted? How did I never see it before?

“What a brave, true, noble little soul you have, Una,” Indy said, and looked at her with admiration.

This didn’t embarrass Una. It seemed right that in the beauty of the garden they would only think the best of each other. “When you talk like that, so peacefully, it makes your whole face look stronger,” she told him. She knew it was true as she said it. And the good things in him made her want to be better, stronger, braver, and truer.

Una could have wandered around the little wilderness of color forever, were it not for the fact that she heard the sound of tinkling chimes behind her. Together, she and Indy turned to follow their call. They discovered a charming wooded path at one end of the grassy slope and started off. The path was just wide enough for two to walk side by side, and they strolled into the friendly woods. Under the dappled shade of the trees, they could hear the sound of small woodland animals, birds calling cheerfully to one another and squirrels flying from tree to tree.

Soon the twisty little path crossed a small creek, and they lingered on the footbridge for a while, looking out over the busy waters. The creek curved out of sight, but right before the bridge it hopped down layers of stones.

Indy ducked below and then emerged from under the bridge with a small piece of willow bark that he had cleverly fashioned into a cup. It was full of crystal-clear water. “Have a drink?” He offered it to Una. No water ever tasted so sweet, and Una drained the cup, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. She tucked the little cup into her bag, and they continued on.

Before long, the path opened up, and they found themselves in a valley rimmed by hilly forest. In front of them lay the coziest cottage Una had ever seen. It was cobbled together with bits of stone and brick. A small front garden overflowed with more of the brilliantly colored flowers, and a crooked path tripped up to the round front door. Smoke trailed out of the chimney, and Una could hear the tinkle of the chimes they had been seeking. They made their way up the path and found themselves before a bright-green door with a Cheshire cat knocker on it. Una grasped it firmly in her hand and rapped three times.

In no time at all, the door was opened by a tall boy wearing a brown cloak. He looked familiar, but Una couldn’t quite place him. He bowed low and held the door open.

“Come in,” he said, and Una was enchanted by his rich, smooth voice. He introduced himself as the servant and bid them sit in two squashy armchairs placed at angles before the cheery fire.

They were in a cozy room, pillowed and cushioned with deep reds and browns. Una felt as though they had left the spring of the forest outside and were now ensconced in the beauty of autumn. The servant left them, and Indy and Una sat in companionable silence in front of the crackling fire. Its shadows danced over the walls, which were filled with colorful books jammed into every possible nook and cranny. Una went over to them and ran her fingers over their lovely covers.

The servant reappeared with a sturdy tray filled with a small pot of hot chocolate, two little mugs, and some food. There was a plate of white cheese and crisp apple wedges, which Indy dug into at once. Una helped herself to a delicious-looking truffle and nearly laughed out loud at the taste of strawberry filling melting in her mouth.

“Her ladyship will be with you presently,” the servant said. He looked at Una with his coal-black eyes.

A memory tickled at the back of her mind, and Una peered at the servant’s eyes, but there was nothing strange there, nothing strange at all. He winked at her. Then, he left as silently as he had come. Una turned to ask Indy about the boy but lost her train of thought as she tasted the delicious chocolate. How hungry she was, and how delightful it was to eat good food after foraging in the forest!

As they ate, words came easily to Una’s tongue, always gentle and kind, but sharp with good humor and fun. The air filled with their laughter, and neither noticed how long they had sat there until the servant reemerged to tend to the fire.

Sometime later, they heard the tinkling sound of the chimes again, and Una knew that something was about to happen. She sat up as straight as she could in her cushioned chair and looked expectantly at the windowed doors set amid the books. The doors opened, once again letting in the warm air and the smell of spring. A woman came into the room, and when she arrived, she possessed every part of it fully. She was not a tall woman but stood as straight as a slim birch tree. Her golden hair shone in the firelight, little curls falling about her ears. Eyes of startling blue were set in an unlined, ageless face. She wore a frilly concoction of creamy pink.

Una, who usually hated pink with a passion, thought it the sweetest dress she could have imagined. The lace overlay was embroidered with flowers, and as the lady came into the room, Una felt the warmth of a summer garden. This was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. When she smiled, Una couldn’t help but stand up and sketch a curtsy.

The lady laughed—a tinkling, joyful sound that Una knew to be the chimes they had heard earlier. “You are such dears,” she said. “How welcome you are to my house.” Out of nowhere a third chair had appeared, and they all leaned in snugly around the fire. The servant brought a third cup and refilled everyone’s hot chocolate, and by the time they were settled in, the three felt like old friends even though no one had uttered another word.

“I am Alethia,” the pink-gowned creature said, and Una knew instinctively that it was a fortunate thing they had come to her house. Alethia went on, “I joyfully welcome all those who seek me.”

In the firelight, Alethia was bewitching. In one moment, she seemed girlishly pretty, and in the next she intimidated Una with her beauty. In those times, Una was a bit afraid of her, not with the old, clammy, terror-filled fear, but with the sober realization that here was a real Lady.

It seemed Alethia knew this, and she smiled at Una. “You are right to admire me, my dear. It is not arrogant for me to say so, you know. It is the truth. I am as I am, and many years have I guided the people of Story. My heart’s desire is that they would live in truth and freedom.”

Una wasn’t sure what Alethia meant by this, but Indy was speaking now. “Why have you left us then, Milady Alethia?”

“I haven’t left,” she replied. “I am found by those who seek me. I am everywhere in your world. You see glimpses of me in the beauty of the forest. You meet me in the noble and true actions of a friend. You find me in the hidden places of the heart. I hide myself in many stories, hoping to be discovered and embraced. Yet, in these dark days, so very few seek me,” she added sadly. “But you found my book.” Her face lit up at this, and she looked like a mischievous child. “However did you come across it, my dears? It has been many years since anyone has come to me through my book, and I thought it had long been lost.”

Una was suddenly very glad she had stolen the book from behind Professor Thornhill’s musty old tapestry. “It was hidden away,” she said. “I don’t think anyone knew where it was.” As soon as she uttered what could be called a half-truth, Una felt desperately ashamed. Alethia’s eyes were kind, but Una couldn’t help but think that she knew. “I mean,” she faltered, “I found it in a professor’s study and took it. I don’t know if she missed it, because I didn’t see her after that.” Immediately, Una felt the weight of a guilty conscience lift, and all was right in the little circle again.

“But some of us have been looking for your books,” Indy said earnestly. “Do you know about the Talekeepers, milady? Do you know what some of them have done?”

Alethia shook her head sadly. “Once upon a time I knew all the doings of Story. But I’ve been bound in my book and unable to leave for a long time now. Tell me how Story fares.”

Indy told of the Talekeepers’ lies, and Una filled in what she had learned from Archimago’s confession.

Alethia’s face darkened into a terrible beauty. “The Enemy,” she breathed. “What evil his oath breaking has wrought.”

Perhaps it was the air in Alethia’s house. Or maybe the food the servant had given them. Whatever it was, Una felt brave for once. She knew that it was her time to do something. They must somehow fight against the schemes of the Enemy. She wanted to try and save Story. “We need your help,” Una said.

Alethia looked delighted. “I love it when people ask,” she said. “On my oath, I will help you. But you must tell me what it is you seek.” She turned her gaze to Indy.

He wasted no time. “Won’t you come back with the other Muses?” Indy asked her. “Won’t you return to Story?”

Alethia gave him a wistful smile. “Now that someone has found my book, the people of Story are free to come and go as they please. If I can, I will return to Story. But the others?” She stood and moved toward the wall of books behind her. “We must recover their books first.” She ran her fingers across the volumes as though she might find the other Muse books hidden among them.

Then she turned around. Her brows were knit together in a little frown. “And, Una. What is the one thing that you seek?”

Una had meant to ask all her questions about what had really happened to the Muses. But she didn’t think that was the one thing Alethia meant. What
did
she seek? She wanted to know why she had been Written In, of course. What she was supposed to do in Story. So many questions. And she wanted so many things! She wanted to belong, no longer to be the outcast hiding away in the library or pretending to be someone she wasn’t. She wanted to be brave, to stop being so afraid. But she didn’t know if Alethia could help her with all of this.

Even on such a short acquaintance, Una felt that she could sit comfortably in silence with this woman. They sat this way while Una sorted through her thoughts. Deep down, buried beneath everything, she wanted to know why she had been left alone. A small voice that she never acknowledged wanted to know why her parents had abandoned her. But she seriously doubted that someone in this world could answer
that
question for her.

Una took a deep breath. “Can you tell me why I’ve been Written In? Why I’m here in this world?” she finally asked.

Una heard Indy’s intake of breath as she said the words and realized too late that he now knew her secret.

But Alethia looked anything but surprised. She nodded, as though this was exactly what she had been waiting for. “I can answer part of your question, Una,” she said. “But first, Endeavor must rest.” She waved her hand before Indy, and he slumped into a deep sleep.

“Your Tale is yours to tell,” Alethia said calmly. “But only when you will.” She sat back in her chair and looked sadly at Una. “You’ve been Written In, because once upon a time, I Wrote you Out of this world.”

“What?”

Alethia’s words sounded heavy, as though she was unwilling to say them. “I have often wondered if it was a wise decision. Some of my sisters counseled against it, but the others agreed with me.” She turned to face Una and looked her straight in the eyes.

“Una, you are the daughter of the Enemy.”