Ordinary Joe and the Mark of Four

Although they travelled for only a handful of days, to Joe it felt like months, even years. Journeying south, the landscape changed, bleaker by the hour, a cruel mirror for his worsening condition. They left Junn on the first day and beyond the forest’s shelter the world froze. The wide stretch of moorland they entered had no warmth or colour, and the fields rolled on forever under a steel grey sky. The rich exotic smells were gone too, replaced by a sour stench drifting up from the deep grass. Overhead, Avis, the King’s messenger, glittered in the air, her shrill cries guiding them on.

Each day Joe grew weaker, forcing himself on, ignoring the aches in his legs nagging him to stop - to rest - to sleep. Reece and Kinga took turns to help him but even together they struggled to maintain a decent pace.

Maven scouted ahead, whistling or humming, and producing snacks and treats from the secret hollows of his coat to keep their spirits up. On the first night he taught them how to dig for water, before disappearing into the darkness to return soon after with a few skinny rodents he managed to trap. There was barely any meat on the creatures, but he boiled them up to make a thin, bitter soup, which to their hungry stomachs tasted like a feast.

Each night was colder than the last, forcing them to huddle together, close to the fire, and in the mornings they woke to frost. Sleep did not refresh Joe much. He ached to his bones. Reece, on the other hand, grew livelier with each passing day, talking endlessly about home and school. Normal things. Sometimes Joe forgot about the pain and found himself smiling with his friend.

Kinga trailed them silently, scouring the plains for predators, and when it was her turn to help Joe they walked without a sound. Reece mumbled to himself behind them and her mouth tightened whenever his cackle reached her ears. Majia crackled on her skin, faint and barely visible in the pale light of the day, but dancing brightly when the night arrived. She muttered to herself when it grew fierce, but did not complain, pushing on with a grim determination on her face. She didn’t speak to Joe at all and answered any questions he dared ask with grunts and nods. During those hours only the thought of being rid of the Majiak kept him on his feet.

By the third day the land rose and fell, flat fields giving way to rolling hills of green and grey, dotted at first with shrubs and small trees, but growing denser as the day wore on. By late afternoon they travelled in a sparse wood slowly thickening around them and Avis swept through the trees, leading them to a small glittering stream she saw from the air. They were glad of the cool, fresh water, and after drinking and refilling their bottles, followed its path until it led them to the banks of a thin river. The canopy swelled overhead and Avis dropped into the trees, flitting from branch to branch, calling out for them to follow, and through the forest signs of life appeared. When night fell, and they made camp, the sound of the night’s creatures was a comfort after the deathly silence of the past three days.

“Why do you do that?” Reece asked laughing. Maven was crouching by the fire, cutting into pieces three small rat like creatures he caught for their supper. Preparing the meal, he spoke a few words, thanking them for the food they provided. Reece found this hilarious.

“They died so we can eat,” Maven answered. Reece pulled a face,

“So when you get a Maccy D, you say thanks to the burger?” Joe smiled. It did seem silly, but looking at the small, skinned bodies Maven was gutting, it was hard to forget they were running around in the forest less than half an hour earlier. He wondered if they had families worrying about where they were and quickly pushed the thought away. His stomach growled hungrily and he knew he had to eat. Under his breath he thanked the creatures as well. Kinga, wrapped in a blanket, only her petulant face sticking out, gave a snort,

“Do not explain. He does not understand.” Reece gave her a murderous look,

“I get it. Just seems weird, alright. If you care so much, why aren’t you a veggy?” Kinga shrugged,

“Like meat,” she said simply, “Not pretend. Not like you.”

“I don’t pretend,” Reece said, getting angry, “I know where meat comes from. I’m not thick! Pigs and cows right? I know that.”

“But eat dog? No. Eat cat? No. Why some okay?” Kinga asked, “Some pets. Some food. That weird.” They carried on squabbling and Joe wrapped his blanket tighter and sat beside Maven, who was heating oil in a small pan over the fire.

“How are you feeling?” Maven said, dropping small cubes of meat into the pan, where they quickly sizzled.

“No change,” he lied. In truth he felt worse than ever, but there was no point moaning about it. He glanced to Kinga and Reece and dropped his voice to a whisper,

“I remember a castle.” Maven turned the meat, letting the pink flesh turn white under the heat,

“You lived in Hatriila until you were three. I’m sorry, it must seem strange to you.”

“No stranger than everyone calling me the bearer of four, or the chosen one. I know you believe in this prophecy, but it must be wrong. Really, look at me. How am I going to save anyone?” Maven shared the meat onto small tin plates, already prepared with small white vegetables he dug from the ground. He called over Reece and Kinga and they sat by the fire and ate together.

“The prophecy has served as a guide in Antigol since the time of the Parting,” Maven said, “Some believe its words are a premonition and others a warning. A lot of Antigolians live their lives by it. There are arguments over its meaning, but it is heresy to doubt it around the Council.” Joe ate slowly, though he was so hungry he could easily finish the small portion in seconds. The longer it took, the larger the meal seemed.

“After the parting came a long era of peace, but the prophecy foretold one would rise to lead Antigol against Earth.”

“Avarat,” said Reece through a mouthful of food. Maven nodded,

“He would be opposed by a chosen warrior. He would bear the mark of four.” Kinga snorted,

“Warrior. Hah!” Joe ignored her, cursing his birthmark for all the trouble it caused him.

“Some believe he would also bear the four Majiak and make them whole again.” Joe sat back and laughed,

“I couldn’t hold four! Look what one does to me! Let’s hope we get to the King soon, he can have it, he can have all four.” Reece shook his head,

“I can’t believe you want to get rid of it, you’re like a superhero!”

“Yeah, look how powerful I am.” Joe was covered in sweat. The slightest movement made his head spin.

“I wish I had it,” Reece said, “I wouldn’t care about being sick.”

“You do have it,” said Maven. Reece goggled at him,

“What?” Maven waved his hand at the forest around them,

“All life contains Majia. Even on Earth. The shades have just forgotten how to use it.” Reece stood up, tipping his empty plate onto the floor. “Can you teach me?”

“Well, it takes time Reece, we have other priorities for now.”

“Please!” Kinga snorted and shook her head. Reece stepped across to where she sat and glared at her angrily,

“What’s your problem?” She jumped up, poking the scar on his face, and he stumbled back with a yelp,

“Ow! What’d you do that for!”

“Power dangerous,” Kinga said, “Lose control. Hurt people.” He scowled at her and turned back to Maven with a pleading look on his face,

“I’ll be careful. Please. I’m sick of being useless. I could help if I knew how to use it!” Maven gave him a measured look and held up his hands,

“Why not?” Reece whooped and Kinga stalked away into the forest in disgust. Reece didn’t care. If he grinned any wider his face would rip.

“When can we start?” Maven was still chewing his meat,

“Can I finish my supper first?” he said.

When the supper things were washed and packed away, Maven taught Reece about Majia. Kinga returned, still looking annoyed, and sat against a tree watching sourly. Maven pulled down a low branch and turned a large, pale leaf towards Reece,

“Touch it,” he said. Reece reached out eagerly, letting the tiny sparks run across his fingers. “Look at it closely,” Maven instructed, “See the darker veins breaking the leaf into segments. Each is a separate part. Try to feel the Majia inside it, follow it down.” Reece concentrated, eyes glued to the leaf, and grinned,

“I can feel it!” he said, “It’s pulling at something.” Maven nodded,

“Good, you can feel it drawing up water, all the way from its roots.” Reece jumped but kept hold of the leaf,

“I can!” he said, “I can feel it digging into the ground. This is amazing!” Maven stepped back smiling. The Majia ran faster over Reece’s skin, glowing brighter, spreading over his fingers until a ball of light covered his hand completely. Gently he let the leaf slip away and curled his hand into a fist. The ball of light circled it, crackling lightly. He looked up with a grin, but instead of congratulations he found his companions were staring in horror. Kinga rose slowly to her feet and Maven lifted a hand,

“Everyone stay calm,” he said in a quiet, soft voice. Reece laughed,

“Oh yeah, that’s right, I got the power!” Maven gave a slight shake of his head,

“Reece, listen to me carefully, I want you to walk slowly towards me. Do you understand?” Reece pulled a face,

“Cool it people! I got this!” He grinned at Joe, but Joe wasn’t looking at him anymore. He was looking behind him.

“Don’t turn round,” Maven hissed. Reece turned round.

In the trees, perched on a thick branch, sat an enormous black wolf. Its eyes were locked on the glowing ball of Majia around Reece’s fist. On its back two leathery wings spread out and flapped lazily. It sniffed the air and let out a long, low growl.

Kinga was already in front of Joe, her sword drawn. She pushed him back and he felt a slight shock from the Majia crackling across her hand.

“Reece!” Maven said, “Keep calm and back away. It’s drawn to the Majia. Come to me, slowly.”

Joe wasn’t sure Reece heard Maven’s words. He stood fixed in place, staring at the wolf in horror. His hand trembled, becoming a shake, and the movement spread along his arm. Reece screamed and the Majia smothering his hand flared, painfully bright, leaping at the watching wolf. The blast knocked it from the tree and it fell snarling to the forest floor. At once it regained its feet, turning back to Reece with a roar.

From the trees more wolves appeared; stalking across the ground and springing from the branches. Others hovered overhead, wings beating, sniffing the air. Joe slipped from his blankets and watched them carefully. The Majia faded from Reece and the wolf ignored him, sniffing the air, searching, stepping past him towards Kinga. Majia was breaking across her in bright white explosions.

“Sense Majia in me,” she hissed at Reece, “Told you, dangerous.” Maven drew his wand.

“Kinga, keep it controlled,” he said calmly, “We can handle this. Everyone just stay still. No sudden movements.” Slowly he waved the wand and the air shimmered. Suddenly Joe felt incredibly relaxed, his aches falling away. His eyelids dropped and he let out a long yawn.

The wolves halted their approach. They sniffed the air again, long snouts twitching, and slowly, amazingly, turned back towards the forest. At the edge of the clearing the largest wolf paused, sniffing again and turned back to Joe. In the light of the fire its eyes grew sharp.

“It’s not Kinga,” Joe said, “It’s the Majiak. It can smell the Majiak!” The large wolf howled, Maven’s spell broken and the other wolves snapped round, confused and angry, creeping back towards the camp. The largest slunk low, eyes fixed on Joe, and stalked towards him, lips drawn back from its glistening fangs. Kinga blocked its path, fighting to hold her own Majia in check, her sword shaking in her hand and the wolf pressed down on its haunches, ready to spring.

“Kinga! Wait.” But Maven was too late. The wolf leapt with a roar and Kinga could hold the Majia no longer. It burst from her in a blinding flash, lifting the beast from its feet and sending it spinning into the trees. More blasts of energy spat, setting the forest ablaze, slicing flaming scars across the trunks of trees. The wolves scattered, scrabbling to escape, their terrified howls fading into the distance. When the Majia faded they were alone again, surrounded by burning trees.

Kinga staggered back, shuddering, and turned to Joe. He lay in flames, coat torn open by the Majia and a long dark cut seeping blood across his chest. She cursed and ran towards him, but then something hit her hard in the stomach, hurling her across the camp. She rolled, grunting in pain,and sprang back to her feet, astonished.

A pale thread of light appeared around Joe, like pink smoke, curling around his chest. More threads appeared, of different colours, blue, and purple, yellow and red. They swirled, growing brighter and thicker, criss-crossing in a slow, graceful dance. Joe watched in amazement,

“What’s happening?” he said.

“The Majiak!” Kinga yelled, “Protects him!” The curling energy coiled around Joe’s body, washing over his burnt skin and drawing the edges of the cut on his chest together. Blood vanished before his eyes, the torn flesh knitting and meshing and healing, until there was no sign it had ever been there at all. The energy quickened, flashing around Joe in a blur.

Maven had not moved,

“The Majiak,” he whispered. He was hypnotised by it.

“Will kill us!” Kinga screamed, “Run !” She was moving fast, already at the edge of the camp, dragging Maven with her, but Reece’s shout stopped her,

“Wait! Look!” Joe was standing in the centre of the dance of light. His eyes were closed and his face was calm, and around him the spinning streams were beginning to slow. The energy drew in, fading until the final wisps vanished like cobwebs. Joe opened his eyes. For a few seconds everyone stood completely still and watched him. Finally Maven broke from his daze,

“Are you alright?” he said. Joe smiled,

“No, I feel awful. But what’s new?.” Reece poked his finger through the ragged hole cutting through Joe’s coat, jumper and t-shirt. The skin underneath was unmarked.

“That was well weird,” he said, “You had all this crazy light around you.” He looked at Kinga who was approaching them cautiously, “She said it was going to kill us, but it didn’t look dangerous to me.”

“It was,” Maven said, “All it cares about is Joe. It should have killed us all.”

“It’s alright,” Joe said, “It’s gone back inside now.” Maven looked at him intently,

“Yes, but why?” he said.

Joe answered with a smile,

“Because I told it to.”