The Strange Adventure of Maria Mercado (9 page)

             
“Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here to perform a spell that will forever change the course of the kingdom. We will show our other brothers and sisters that we are not a team to be messed with. We will show the ones loyal to them also that we are the real ones in charge here.  After this spell has been performed, we will be in possession of the most powerful potion to ever be created in this kingdom. This potion will convince the human girl to choose us - our side - the only side that matters.

Our magical powers have gotten stronger in the last 50 years that we don’t even need our original abilities to restore us to our former glory. It is something that we can do for ourselves and that we can be proud of. We will show our dear brothers and sisters in the palace that we do not need to be like them in order to take the kingdom. And we will show our father, King Astanfe, that it is no longer his will that matters, but ours!”

The speaker looked around him as the others were all looking at him in approval, nodding their heads. One of them began chanting, “Long live Prince Amir!” as the others echoed.

Prince Amir looked around them, pleased with what he is hearing. He motioned for them to stop and they did. “That is no longer the case this time brothers and sisters. We are all together in this and all of us will be glorified and will be the new rulers, not just me. I realize now the power of family, especially all of you who stood by me all these years and I know the value and strength in numbers. Brothers and sisters let us begin!”

              They each chanted words that neither Meeka nor Jasper could understand. As they did, they started dropping the ingredients in the cauldron. From Jasper’s point of view, he could see different animal parts being thrown in. Then there was some form of liquid mixture and finally some plants. He let out a tiny gasp when he saw the final part of the potion being thrown in.

             
It was the Diamond of Astanfe.

CHAPTER NINE

“Are we there yet?” Maria asked Jonas. For a moment there, she felt like she was 5 again, asking her dad if they had arrived at the ice cream store.

              “No, but we are not too far,” Jonas replied. “Another few hours or so or maybe even a day. It all depends on how fast we go.”

             
“I am starving! Are you hungry at all? You don’t seem to be getting tired.”

             
Jonas laughed. “I could use some food, he said. My body can usually handle it but it’s been a very tiring journey.” He looked around to see if there was something to eat. “Over there,” he pointed to a nearby plant. “You can eat those, they’re good for you.” Jonas thought of how Maria reminded him of a girl he once knew, someone who was also young and innocent. His cousin Taya was about Maria’s age when she was killed during the Great War. She was barely old enough to decide her place in life but she was full of conviction and was influenced by the rest of the tribe to fight against the Royals. She wasn’t ready to fight and was ill equipped for battle. The result was the tragic loss of a young life. Jonas shook his head. This was yet another reason why he is currently questioning his loyalty to the decisions of his Elders.

             
Maria walked over and picked a couple of leaves. She smelled them and then put them in her mouth. They taste like sweet blueberries. “They’re actually not bad,” she said. “Do you want some?”

             
“Yes please,” Jonas said as he snapped out of his flashback. He continued to look around, wary of his surroundings. He knows that someone is chasing after them. It could be Reeza. Or it could also be the Unknowns. Jonas is skilled but he knows that even he can’t take them on by himself. They’re much too powerful and sneaky and would definitely use magic against him.

             
Maria noticed him being edgy and looking around. “Do you think we are being followed?” she asked. “You’re making me just a little nervous.”

             
“We definitely are. But don’t you worry about that. Just eat your fill of the plant and then we can be on our way. We need to get to the palace as soon as possible.” He threw an inquiring glance at her. “Are you afraid?” he asked.

             
“Ummm, well, no, not really. I just feel like this is all a dream and that I would wake up any time,” she replied. “Why? Should I be afraid?”

             
Jonas cleared his throat. “Well being afraid is not a bad thing. I learned that when I was young; that it can actually help protect you sometimes. In this case it could help us too. The Bostavs, they have the ability to sense emotional changes in the kingdom. Reeza was using a potion to mask your emotions from them when you were in her captivity. But now that you are not, well, if you were afraid then the Bostavs would be able to detect it and they can come find us.”

             
“Ohhhhh I see,” Maria said. “Well, I’m sorry I’m not afraid. But if I see that Reeza girl again then for sure I will be! Not that I’m hoping to see her again of course, because then you will have to fight her.”

             
“I know what you mean little girl,” Jonas said, as he looked at her with affection.

“I remind you of someone, don’t I?” Maria said. “You’ve been looking at me like I remind you of a sister or something. Even the way that you took care of me and rescued me from her.”

Jonas just looked at her and smiled, but he didn’t answer her question. Instead he said, “Come, let’s go and keep moving. I do not want to be found by either Reeza or the Unknowns.”

             
Maria got up from where she was sitting. She stared at Jonas and can’t help the warm feeling that is developing inside her.

Maybe, just maybe, I like him a little. But I think he is too old for me, although he sure doesn’t look like it!
 

She was about to follow Jonas when he motioned for her to stop. He could hear someone approaching. “Quick hide in the bushes,” he instructed Maria and went to hide with her. They can now both hear footsteps approaching and it sounds like more than one person. And they are coming fast too. Jonas became a little nervous. Maria was now afraid.

              Suddenly, the footsteps stopped directly in front of the bush where they were hiding. Jonas looked and saw that the new arrivals were Bostavs. Relieved, he came up from hiding and went towards them.

             
“I am very glad that you have arrived,” he said.

             
One of the Bostavs went towards him and said, “Where is the girl?” His spear was geared towards Jonas, and the pointed edge was uncomfortably close to his face.

             
“She is over there,” Jonas turned around slowly to point at Maria. Before he can say or do anything else however, the Bostav had taken a hold of his arms and is holding them over his back while another Bostav bound them together.

             
“Wait! What are you doing? What is the meaning of this?” he said, as he struggled to free himself. The Bostavs proved stronger though and managed to keep him in his place. It didn’t help him that their spears are incredibly deadly and are pointed at him. One of the Bostavs then approached the bush where Maria was hiding and saw her.

             
“Come out Maria,” he said. “We are here to escort you to the palace to meet our kingdom’s rulers, the Royals.”

             
Maria came out and felt less afraid. She didn’t say a word but went and stood near the Bostav who was speaking to her. “My name is Gadik,” the Bostav said. “I had been searching the kingdom far and wide for you, every since your friend Meeka told us that you were taken.”

             
“Meeka! Yes my friend!” Maria felt happy now and is looking forward to seeing the little twig.

             
Jonas spoke out. “You have to let me go,” he said. “What did I do to you?”

             
Gadik left Maria’s side for a moment and walked over to him. He looked the Meston in the eye and said, “Jonas, Meston of the South, you will be taken to the palace as our prisoner and face trial for the kidnapping of the human girl.” Before Jonas could protest, Gadik said to one of the other Bostavs, “Take him away.” He grabbed him and along with another Bostav, started to drag Jonas to the palace.

             
“Wait its true!” Maria said. “He helped me escape!”

             
Gadik turned back to Maria. “Do not worry little girl. If what you say and what he claims is true, then it will all be sorted out in the palace, in front of the Royals,” he re-assured her. He looked at the remaining Bostav with him. “Come, let us go,” he said, as the two of them escorted Maria along the woods, on their way to the palace.

***

Reeza opened her eyes. She is in some sort of dungeon. She tried to move her hands but they are bound together in shackles that are attached to the ceiling. Her legs are also shackled but to the wall. Reeza looked around, hoping for a sign of Ankar, but they must be holding him in another cell. She looked towards the door. There are two Bostavs posted there.
I guess they are not taking their chances with just one this time,
she thought. She tried to break her arms free but the shackles are holding on well. Even the ones holding her legs are just as strong. She needs to get to Ankar.

             
Ankar had always acted as a father to Reeza. Her own father perished in the Great War when Reeza was still in the womb of her mother. Ankar had made sure that they were well taken cared of and treated them as his own family. He thought Reeza the ways of the tribe, as he did all the other children. They learned the history of the kingdom from him. Reeza doesn’t remember Ankar bad-mouthing the kingdom or the Royals but she did remember his voice beaming with pride whenever the Unknowns were mentioned.

             
Reeza was a little awkward as a young child. She was smaller than the other children her age and had to work twice as hard as they did just to be able to accomplish the same things. But she was persistent and did not give up. She knew in her own little heart that she can do just as well as the others, if not better.

             
Ankar saw potential in young little Reeza. When the children were all performing their physical education exercises on the fields in the south, he noticed the young girl fail tests but kept coming back to try again. Her dedication was unwavering and Ankar knew that she has the makings of a great and loyal warrior. When Reeza was of age to choose her desired way of life, she did not disappoint Ankar when she chose to be a soldier. The Southerners trained the majority of their tribe’s members in security and self-defense.

             
She was sent off with the elite members of their tribe’s defense unit to be trained as a spy. This involves spending months in the woods, exploring parts of the kingdom in unknown territories and passing several combat and survival tests. As expected, Reeza came out on top, performing better than the rest of her fellow trainees and members of the advanced unit, except for the one called Jonas.  She had never defeated him, but neither did he ever defeat her; in fact every time they would spar, it would last so long without either one coming out on top that their comrades would just break it off and tell them to stop. 

             
Reeza thought about Jonas. She had sent the Bostavs after him under the false pretense that it was he who had kidnapped Maria. But Jonas can handle himself, if he chooses to fight them. If he don’t then Reeza was certain that she would see him here in the dungeons shortly.

             
She looked at the ceiling but it was made from the same wall material as the room where she was previously held. She looked at the surrounding walls but they were the same. The Royals have really upgraded the security of the palace since the Great War, to ensure that no other creature gain entry the same way the traitor did; the same traitor that they never caught.

             
Reeza doubts that the Bostavs would be visiting her in the cell anytime soon. After the trouble they went through with her earlier, she is positive that they would just be keeping an eye on her and not risking her near them. They now know how skilled and resourceful Reeza is.

             
She finally realized that there is nothing she could do but wait. Wait for Ankar to do something, to give her a sign. Wait for the Unknowns to infiltrate the palace walls. Wait for another one of her comrades to free her from the shackles. Wait for Jonas to be brought in so she can convince him to help her.

             
Reeza must wait.

***

              Meeka came down from the tree slowly. Each step he took was given careful consideration. His arms were strategically placed on the climb down. He does not want to draw attention to himself, especially from the Unknowns. Those creatures appeared scary and do not seem to have any regard for life, as evident with all the animal carcasses lying about. He slowly made his way to the bush where he saw Jasper hiding. Careful not to step on anything that would produce any noise, he took his time to get there. Finally he reached it, and the two of them continued to observe the Unknowns silently.

             
After their long ritual, the potion that they were cooking is ready. Satisfied with their devious work, the Unknowns retired to their sleeping shelter. Performing the spell seemed to have taken all of their energy and it wasn’t long before they all drifted off to sleep.

Jasper turned to Meeka. “We should go now,” he said. Slowly, the two of them got up and started to make their way around the camp and to the other side where they originally came from. Meeka stopped, and stared at the cauldron in the middle. Jasper looked at him and shook his head, because he has a feeling of what Meeka wants to do.  Meeka disregarded Jasper’s warning. He looked towards the shelter and counted five still figures. He then slowly made his way to the middle. He grabbed hold of the wooden spoon that they were using to stir the potion.  It was taller than he was, so he took a nearby rock and stood on it. He stirred the pot, took some of the potion out and kept stirring until he got what he was looking for. The potion was still hot and so he tipped the item over out into the ground. He blew on it to help it cool down. He looked around and saw some discarded fabric under a nearby tree. He took a few pieces out and used it to touch the item. He wrapped it under the fabric and then he took his new prize and ran back towards Jasper. He unwrapped it and showed it to him.

              “The Diamond of Astanfe!” Jasper exclaimed in an excited whisper. “But why would you take that?”

             
“Well you don’t want them to keep it, do you? I mean they can use it to kill the others,” the little twig replied. “But it’s much too big for me to carry. I have to use all four arms and it makes me awkward. Here, you hold on to it.” He handed Jasper the dagger. Jasper looked at it, then reluctantly took it from him and put it on his belt, inside a pouch that was meant to hold a knife. He then motioned for Meeka to follow him as they successfully made their way off the campsite.