The Spade Chronicles Book 0: Eagles Rising

I scrambled away as quickly as I could, but I was no match for a mother bear. She ran me against a tree, and I struggled to breath. I could feel her teeth press against the back of my neck, and felt for sure that these were my final moments.

Then I heard the bear lurch away and roar with vengeance. Kyrie had dove down at the last second and ran her talons down the bears face, causing her to draw back, releasing me in the process. The bear swatted at her attacker, but Kyrie swerved and dodged in and out of the bear’s reach. I grabbed my bag from where I dropped under a tree. Then I ran across the clearing and reached skyward with a chain ending in a manacle that closed around one of the higher branches strong enough to hold my weight. Grabbing hold of it and clasping the other manacle around my own wrist I willed the chain to shorten and soared above the bear into the trees. My heart was pounding, and I heard the terrifying sound of the bear crashing through the woods. I saw her run right at my tree. I struggled to go higher, but in my haste my cloak snagged on a branch. I frantically tried to dislodge it, but before I could the mother bear reared, pulled a devastatingly powerful arm back, and raked her savage claws down my left calf. I screamed in pain, but finally I untangled myself from the branch and painstakingly pulled myself higher.

Once my hand hooked onto the branch next to the cuff I’d formed I dissolved the chain and manacles and swung up onto the tree limb.

I was exhausted but safe for the moment and the branches weren’t strong enough to support such an imposing beast. Kyrie perched on the bough next to me.

“I hate to tell you this, but it’s not safe to walk on the ground with a mother bear patrolling. You have to keep moving through the trees, just like when you crossed the river.” Kyrie looked at me apologetically, and though I dreaded it, I knew she was right.

Luckily, the gaps in between the trees were smaller, so I didn’t have to jump between them. More often than not, the limbs from two different trees were side by side. That said, the gash on my leg made walking of any kind excruciating. I dragged myself from branch to branch, wondering why in all the universe I ever considered climbing trees to be even remotely enjoyable. The cuts burned something awful, and I took frequent breaks so I didn’t over exert myself. Belladonna, miraculously, had remained in my bag during the entire bear fiasco and was unharmed. Kyrie had to encourage me several times to get me to move. Eventually, the mother bear returned to her cub, satisfied we were no longer a threat to her baby.

In the end, an hour’s walk turned into a three hour limp through the trees. The moon had almost reached its peak when Kyrie spoke.

“The entrance to Reenaran is just up ahead. You’ll meet the Gatekeepers in a clearing through those trees.”

“There aren’t any bears around are there?”

“No, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Today I nearly fell to my watery death, I was just mauled by a bear and have spent the latter part of my day agonizingly gallivanting through trees. It is completely within my right to be ridiculous,” I proclaimed with indignation as I began to make my way down. I wasn’t sure if my leg was strong enough to ensure a safe landing, so I decided to lower the bag down so it was hanging from the branch I was standing on to make sure Belladonna wasn’t accidentally crushed on landing. Which was probably for the best, because as soon as I was getting ready to swing myself down my injured leg slipped off the branch and sent me tumbling to the ground with a painful thud.

I sat up after a few moments of self pity. All I had was a few hundred yards to go and I just had to hurt myself.

“You know Kyrie, I’m starting to really despise trees.” I grumbled, and I got a chuckle in return.

“I can see why, given recent events. All the same you’re almost there, just beyond those trees. I’ll help you get Belladonna.” She did so by sliding the strap off of the branch while I held the bag aloft. As soon as Belladonna was once again strapped to my shoulder I made the final steps of my journey to the Nation of Spade.

I stepped through the trees to see a massive wall guarded by two men. I couldn’t guess why, given that there was no gate in sight and the smooth black wall behind them towered into the sky that discouraged any notion of climbing it. Both carried swords at their belts and they appeared to be eating a meal.The guards wore black pants paired with blue shirts under a black breastplate. They carried greek swords with triangular blades and their shields lay resting against the wall. My stomach rumbled, I hadn’t had anything to eat since the morning. Apparently, my stomach was so obnoxiously loud that the guards both heard and snapped to attention, swords drawn and shields raised up to their eyes. They scanned the area and saw me. The one on the right lowered his shield and opened his mouth a little, as though surprised to see anything come from the forest, much less a teenage girl and a raven. The one on the left was a bit more composed.

“You new?” He asked curtly, and I nodded.

“My name is Allie Sage and I have journeyed through the Forest of Trials in hopes of joining Kingdom Spade.” I spoke as clearly as I could, but my voice wavered a bit as I mentally considered my claim. Both guards remained impassive, the one on the right struggling to suppress a smile. Again it was the left guard who spoke.

“If that’s the case, come and show us your bracer.” Silence passed. It was then the right guard finally said something.

“We don’t mean to insult you; it’s just standard procedure. To be honest we didn’t expect anyone, Halloween is a slow time for incoming Spades.” I nodded and limped toward them. The right guard’s eyes widened, and after I handed the pendant to the left guard to examine, he spoke.

“By the Blades you look like you’ve fallen from a tree.”

I was not amused by this comparison.

“That’s because I have fallen from a tree.”

“That’s why you’re limping?”

“No, I’m limping because a bear took a swat at me.”

“You fell from the tree only to be mauled by a bear? That’s tough.”

“No, the wound the bear gave me caused me to fall from the tree.”

“That . . . actually sounds worse.”

The left guard finished with the compass and interjected before we could get any further.

“That’s enough Charles, she’s been through enough today. Now we have to get her to the inn, they have a healer in residence.”

Charles nodded. “You’re right of course, we have to open the gate. First, do you have any companions you might’ve met in the forest you want to take with you?” I nodded.

“Yes, two.” I answered, and Charles started.

“Impressive. How’d you manage that?” I told him how I came across Kyrie and Belladonna.

“A raven and a wolf pup. You’ve got yourself quite the entourage.”

The left guard nudged his partner, and Charles straightened.

“Right, I digress, my partner Ishmael and I will open the portal that takes you directly into the town square. There will be a supervisor waiting at the portal waiting to give you directions, though with your injury and bracer they may be able to arrange some transportation. Who knows? Now don’t panic, and try not to vomit upon arrival, that’s always unpleasant for all parties involved.”

With that, both Charles and Ishmael drew their swords and drove their points into the ground by my feet. The next thing I knew I was falling into oblivion.

One moment I was falling and the next I was lying in what appeared to be a massive silk sheet hanging from three of the four corners in a room shaped like a rhombus. It was unlike any room I had been in during my relatively short lifetime. The walls were made of a solid black stone I didn’t recognize. Across the room were a set of silver double doors that were crafted with the image of mountains rising up from the surface, giving the picture a three dimensional effect. From the ceiling hung a stunning chandelier that appeared to contain a glowing blue substance as a light source. It was too far up for me to see what it was, but it cast a soft but strong light around the room. As I slid off the sheet I could see the floors were made out of marble. There was a massive Spade insignia inlaid in the marble. I was so captivated by the sheer beauty of the room I didn’t hear the door open.

“Now what have we here? A new student?” In the doorway stood a tall slender woman with kind eyes and messy hair in a bun. She had ebony skin that had wrinkled slightly with age, but that only made her sky blue eyes stand out even more. She wore a gown of dark purple with blue vines coiled around the bodice and skirt. She smiled encouragingly.

“My name is Sylphia, I’m the caretaker for this year’s Hatchlings. What might your name be?” Her words had a calming effect, her voice provided safety after three days out in the forest. I felt myself open up to her very quickly.

“My name is Allie Sage, and this is Kyrie and Belladonna.” I walked closer to her, and it was then she noticed my leg. Her eyes widened with concern.

“Normally I would go through orientation first but it’s late and it seems you’ll have to spend the night in the infirmary.” Without another word she called in two people into the chamber. There was a girl with asian features wearing a purple tunic and black pants. Her eyes were a shocking shade of green. Next to her stood a tall arabic boy dressed in a loose black shirt and navy blue pants, with a warm set of brown eyes. They were both athletically built, and around my age. The girl was a few inches taller than me but the boy towered over her. The boy seemed to have some sort of reptile sitting on his shoulder and a cat with light grey fur came and sat next to the girl’s feet.

“Daedalus, Atalanta, would you be so kind as to help Allie and her friends to the infirmary. It seems she was injured during her Trial.” Sylphia asked gently, and both Daedalus and Atalanta nodded before walking toward me. As soon as Sylphia left the room Atalanta spoke.

“So how did the Forest of Trials treat you? Apart from your leg I mean.” She inquired, taking my arm and holding it over her shoulders so she could ease the pressure off my bad leg. Daedalus took my bag and carried it as he walked beside us. Together we made our way out the door. The hallway was made of the same stone the room was, except this hallway was lit with a series of orbs filled with what I thought was white sand. What was strange was that it emitted a strong light that illuminated the corridor. We headed right, and on our left was a row of stained glass windows made of blue, black and purple.

“Not well.” I answered. “I don’t think I could have made it without Kyrie to help me.” I shrugged the shoulder Kyrie was on. “She helped me take care of Belladonna too.” I pointed to the bag, and Daedalus peered inside. He grinned when he saw her resting inside, and now that I got a closer look I saw his eyes were very subtly hinted with dark red. I told the story of how I found the wolf pup.

“It’s so cool of you to rescue a wolf pup like that.” Atalanta chimed in as we rounded a corner.

“Not only that but you found a companion to help you along. I didn’t meet Luna until a month after I arrived here.” She continued, motioning to the cat walking beside her. I heard Daedalus snort.

“Yeah you’re lucky you got a helpful creature to accompany you. All I got was a sassy lizard.” He complained, causing the lizard, who I now saw was mostly black with forest green stripes running down it’s back, to whack Daedalus’ cheek with his tail.

“Hey!” He exclaimed in surprise causing Atalanta and I to laugh. They lead me through the door to the infirmary and set me on the nearest bed.

“So,” Atalanta said, “Which world are you from?”

“Um, Earth?”

Daedalus chuckled, “We all come from an ‘earth’ but the people of Ivaline have different names for them.”

“Well I wouldn’t know it’s name then.” I responded.

“Why don’t you describe it for us?” Atalanta suggested, so I went on describing my hometown, the high schools, and basically life in suburbia.

I was just getting around to explaining the concept of elevators to a very confused Atalanta when Daedalus interjected.

“Yeah but what about stairs-”

“Oh wait! Is your world the one with the weird flying machines and frozen coffee?” He exclaimed, and I nodded.

“That’s Pangaea, I’ve always wanted to go there, but that world is barred from anyone who isn’t a native until they are twenty.

“Why?” I inquired, and this time it was Atalanta who explained.

“Pangaea is the only world where the people can’t access their magic naturally, so none of them know about it. I think Diamond sent emissaries over once, and landed in a place called Europe, but they had to come back because they said that people kept trying to set them on fire.”

I listened intently as they told me about their worlds. Atalanta lived in a world named Arcanonia where you had to take a rather difficult physical and mental exam in order to be chosen to go to Ivaline. There it was a big rite of passage to take your first exam, and if you manage to be one of the twenty chosen that year, it meant that your whole family was celebrated and they got to take a year long paid leave to prepare for the child’s departure the next year, usually the family also got a all expenses paid vacation and a reunion.

“Every world has a limit to how many teenagers they can send, and they have to be fifteen or older, any younger and they’re deemed too impressionable to know what they really want. Fifteen is traditionally seen as the time when you’re supposed to make your own choices and deal with their consequences.”

I quieted as Daedalus started to talk about his world.

In Daedalus’ world, apparently, the venture into Ivaline was a bit more anticlimactic. In his world, Druid, trees were sentient beings who could speak and observe the humans in the area, and they took a vote on which thirty kids to send every year in April when they woke up.

“We have to go, but we’ll see you in training!” Atalanta called, and they left, leaving me to wait for the medic. While I waited I took a look around. The walls were lined with shelves that carried jars filled with dried herbs and various liquids. The sands that lit up the room were tinted a soft yellow to light the room with a warmer glow. I sat on the first of a row of beds, each had a curtain that could be closed to give patients privacy. Towards the back of the room a door opened and out came a man.

I felt calm as I was approached by a man wearing half-moon glasses. He looked to be in his fifties and was dressed in blue. He seemed to have been alerted by the noise of the conversation I had when I arrived with Atalanta and Daedalus.

“And what might your name be?” He inquired as he came to a halt at the bed I was resting on.

“Allie, Allie Sage.” I answered quietly as he regarded my leg thoughtfully before looking up at my face.

“Good evening Allie, my name is Galen and I’m the North Wing’s chief healer. Luckily it’s only a superficial cut, so it won’t leave any lasting damage. The main problem is the dirt that has gotten into it. I’m going to need to clean it as soon as possible, which unfortunately will sting quite a bit. I know it has been a long day for you so I will try to work as quickly and gently as I can.” He went to the shelves on the opposite wall and retrieved a rough cloth and one of the jars filled with liquid. He wet the cloth with it and came over.

“Brace yourself, the less you move the sooner this will be over.” He cautioned. I took in a breath and nodded. He started to clean my wounds.

It was agony. Every inch of each laceration seemed to catch fire as the cloth ran down it. It took every fiber in my being not to lash out and kick Galen, but he kept to his word and was done after a few strokes. I sighed and slouched in relief, and he gave me a sympathetic look before going off once again to rummage through the shelves farther into the room. He came back with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. He bade me to drink it as he wrapped my leg. He was done before I had gone through half of the mug in my hands. He straightened.

“You’re leg will be fine, but you haven’t been assigned a room yet so I’m afraid you’ll have to spend the night here in the infirmary. I’ll arrange to have food be brought up to all three of you in the morning, but for now I want you to finish your tea and go to sleep.” He explained, and after a nod from me headed for the door.

“If anything happens during the night, ring the bell.” Inexplicably the lights dimmed, and I felt myself lay back and nod off to sleep.