Journey

Journey

by S. Labrecque

Published by Shawn Graham

Cover by Bonita Graham

Distributed by Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Serena Labrecque

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-soldor given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and didnot purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

To Kiana, Shawn, Mommy, and Bonita, for making this whole thing possible and always being there to support me. I love you guys so much.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1: Pain

Chapter 2: Raymond and Fletcher

Chapter 3: Archibald

Chapter 4: Fleeing Guem

Chapter 5: Enya

Chapter 6: Leaving Tayne

Chapter 7: Making Friends

Chapter 8: The Road to Laar

Chapter 9: The Secret Trails

Chapter 10: Mogami

Chapter 11: Betrayal

Chapter 12: Hunted

Chapter 13: The Road to the Mountain

Chapter 14: The Swamp

Chapter 15: Crocodiles and Assassins

Chapter 16: The Tunnels

Chapter 17: The Foresters

Chapter 18: Starling

Chapter 19: Lyre

Chapter 20: The Guild of Angels

Chapter 21: The Five Mystics of Angels

Chapter 22: The Resistance

Chapter 23: The Demonstration

Chapter 24: The Mountainside

Chapter 25: Orwen

Chapter 26: Reunion

Chapter 27: The End

Connect with Me

About the Author

Prologue

Elsa’s village in the Gorem forest was alive with life. A tiny field covered in flowers, bees, and dragonflies surrounded it, giving it an almost magical feeling. Children ran through the streets, grownups called friendly greetings to each other as they went about their business, and birds flew overhead.

Elsa walked the happy streets. Her straight blond hair floated freely about her shoulders in the breeze. She made her way beyond the houses and up a small dirt path on the side of the hill. The hill ended in a vertical cliff that overlooked the rest of the forest. From there she felt like she was watching the whole world go about its life. The tops of trees stretched on bellow her, only broken by the rolling hills in the distance. The mountains lined her vision to her right, left, and behind her. She could watch the birds and forest animals run and fly through the trees from her place on the cliff.

She heard the sound of the dirt path crunching beneath someone’s feet as they walked up behind her.

"Honestly Elsie, it’s a lovely view and all, but you couldn’t have picked a place to hang out that’s a little easier to get to?" It was her best friend, Laura. They looked surprisingly alike, almost like sisters, except that Elsa was very light toned with blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin while Laura was dark toned with black hair, brown eyes, and deeply tanned skin.

"If you don’t want to take the walk then stay at home and don’t come complaining to me, Elsa said. You had to climb the hill just to get to me to complain, and that defeats the purpose of complaining in the first place."

"I wouldn’t have to come here to complain to you in the first place if you didn’t insist on disappearing up here, Laura grumbled. Laura stopped a little behind Elsa. What’s so attractive about this place anyway? Elsa didn’t answer. Elsa?"

"The first one has been released," Elsa said in a monotone.

"Huh?" said Laura.

Elsa gave no sign of hearing her friend. Her unblinking gaze never left the view before her. It shall be taken to the hero whose ancestors hid it. The one who has turned shall aid the one who has found, and they shall seek the one who still holds the secrets long forgotten.

"What are you talking about?" Laura demanded.

"To the place where it must be laid, fulfilling what others failed," Elsa said.

Laura started backing up. Right. Well, when you’re done being majorly creepy you can come tell me.

Elsa’s voice dropped down to a whisper. But stolen away, death in its wake.

"It has begun."

Chapter 1

Pain

Balance. That was Joyah Pain’s goal. She stood in the middle of the small martial arts studio and closed her eyes. She concentrated on the crystals. If she could focus her will through the crystals, she could achieve perfect balance. Then she could do practically any pose she wanted.

First she brought her foot up to rest on her knee, her opposite knee facing outward. She pressed her hands together in front of her chest gently, hard enough to create pressure but not hard enough to tire herself out. She didn’t wobble a bit. Stone steady. Concentrate, she thought. Then she moved her hands so they were pressed together above her head. She leaned forward so that her stomach was parallel to the ground and extended her leg out behind her. Her back formed a straight line. Her foot began to wobble. Concentrate, she told herself. Focus on the jewels! Slowly, very slowly, she arched her leg over her back. She was wobbling violently now. She tried to force herself to concentrate on the crystals. Even slower yet, she took one hand and started to move it back towards her ankle. Her knee was buckling.

Come on, she whispered. Almost there. Her hand moved towards her ankle, opening to grab it.

CRASH! Joyah hit the cold stone floor; almost knocking over the pedestal the held the delicate blue crystals.

Joyah lay on her back and groaned.

I was so close! she moaned. She looked up at the ceiling. The studio was very small, about the size of a large pavilion. It looked like a fancy pavilion, too. It was just one circular room with red bamboo poles for walls. The walls were lined with many large, glassless windows. The roof was made from long, flat bamboo poles bent so they formed a point at the top. There was a small hole at the top through which Joyah could see the blue sky.

Thunder rumbled. Joyah groaned again as gray clouds covered the patch of blue sky.

Oh-no. Joyah jumped up. She grabbed the thin blue crystals from the small tower she had formed with them on the pedestal. She ran over to a small bench on which sat a beautiful red silk box embroidered with gold dragons on the sides, and laid the crystals on the soft gold cushion inside. She closed it and tucked it beneath the bench. Then she ran over to a large lever on the wall and pulled it down. A contraption of ropes and pulleys above it moved, and a bamboo mat slid into place over the hole in the roof. Joyah ran out the front arch of the studio, down the stone steps, and past the dragon gargoyles that guarded the entrance as the rain started to come down.

The rain was already turning the dirt roads of Joyah’s village to mud when she got back to her hut. The front sliding door was open. She walked into the hut dripping wet with mud covered feet. Her house was one of the bigger houses in the village. It had the usual mud-and-bamboo walls and straw roof, but it had three rooms, a back door, and a wood floor. It didn’t have doors connecting the rooms like Iglesa’s did (as Iglesa had pointed out a couple years before), just some arches, but Iglesa was the mayor’s daughter. She was bound to have a better house than Joyah. Joyah loved the hut anyway.

Auntie was in the room when Joyah entered. Auntie was the village healer. She was around fifty, but she was still as spry, and much more sharp-tongued, than the younger women. She had a little girl on her hip that Joyah did not recognize. The girl was bound to be a cousin of some sort. There were always cousins, and it seemed like new ones appeared randomly. Joyah memorized most of the multiple aunts and uncles, and that was all that was expected of her.

Auntie glanced up at Joyah.

Joyah, go help the others bring the food in from outside. Our dinner will have to be eaten inside today.

Joyah hurried to obey. The tiny backyard was full of adults and children who were all running to get the food inside. Someone handed Joyah a salad (whether he was a young uncle or an older cousin Joyah wasn’t sure) and she joined the line of people carrying things in. When everything was inside the children picked up the large soggy blanket that they had laid down to eat on and put it in a corner of one of the three rooms.

Auntie looked at Joyah.

Joyah, where are your boots?

Joyah looked down at herself. She was wearing the outfit she often wore to the studio, a loose pink shirt with cap sleeves and red bell bottom pants, but her muddy feet were bare.

Joyah looked back up at Auntie.

Um, I must have left them at the studio.

Auntie shook her head.

Those boots are new; you can’t leave them behind everywhere you go.

Sorry Auntie, Joyah mumbled. Auntie sighed.

You will have to go back for them tomorrow. For now go wipe your feet off on the mat in back, you’re tracking mud all over the house.

The adults gathered around the table in the room with the front door. The children went into the back room to eat. The last room was off to the left. That was where they slept. Joyah knelt at the table with the adults next to Auntie. If someone had looked in at the adults and children, they would have never guessed that they were a family. Joyah sometimes wondered if they really all were, too. Only the children that were known to be siblings looked alike. Joyah and Auntie were the exception. They both had hair with loose, smooth curls that were so dark red they looked almost black. They also had the same thin, pale face, lean frame, and dark brown eyes. Besides their age their eyes were the biggest difference between the two. Joyah’s eyes were narrower and a little more almond shaped than Auntie’s.

When dinner was almost finished, Aunt Elena, a petite woman with long blond hair, spoke above the chatter of the table.

I heard my Rick has completed his Journey and is now settling down in a large city.

Joyah remembered Cousin Rick. He had left on his Journey a year ago when he turned seventeen. He had been friendly to her, but his mother wasn’t.

That’s a laugh, called another woman. How could he settle in a city when he’s from such a small village?

Aunt Elena spoke over the murmurs of agreement.

"Because my Rick has more talent than the average boy. He gets it from his parents."

There was a snicker from most of the people at the table.

You need to stop talking so much gossip, said Aunt Tana.

"You’re just jealous because my children are doing so much doing better than yours," Aunt Elena said.

As soon as Tara gets her feet on the ground she’ll be doing quite well, said Aunt Tana, sounding hurt.

When pigs fly! said Aunt Elena.

With enough thrust pigs fly just fine, Joyah spoke up. The people around the table cracked up. Aunt Elena gave Joyah an icy smile.

Yes, our little Joyah is very witty.

After a little bit Aunt Elena spoke to Joyah.

How old are you, fourteen?

Fifteen.

Fifteen, really? Well, I’d say it’s around time for you to go on your Journey, isn’t it?

Joyah put her chopsticks down and stared at the table.

Don’t be ridiculous, Elena, said Auntie, putting her arm around Joyah’s shoulders. We go on our Journey when we’re sixteen or seventeen. Joyah’s still too young.

My eldest, Eleanor, went when she was fifteen, Aunt Elena said.

Yes, but Eleanor always had a very rebellious heart, said Uncle Don. And we all know what happened to her.

Eleanor had taken a very dangerous path up the mountains and had fallen to her death. Not all the people that went on their Journey made it alive.

Honestly, Elena, said Aunt Tana. Joyah’s still just a child. If she goes too early she might have the same fate as Eleanor.

And yet she sits at the table with the adults, said Aunt Elena. And I hear that she just got her first pair of boots, even though she’s not wearing them now. Not to mention all those times she’s taken on bandits. Why let her act as a grown up if she isn’t a proper adult? We all know you aren’t a proper adult in this family until you make the Journey.

There was an awkward silence at the table.

Is she not a member of this family? asked Aunt Elena. Oh, I know, it’s because she’s richer than my Eleanor was.

Auntie stood.

You shut your mouth right now, Elena! I will not have you speak about my niece this way!

Just because she is better off means that she is above the traditions of this family, Aunt Elena scoffed. I see how it is.

Joyah stood suddenly. She mumbled something and excused herself from the table. She went into the sleeping room and sat down on her mattress in the corner. She did not want to go on her Journey. The thought of the danger she would undergo from traveling out alone did not scare her. She had gotten herself into enough fights and danger over the years to deal with that. It was just that she did not want to leave her home. She loved the hut filled with people and loud voices. She loved the quiet, elegant studio where she practiced martial arts. She loved the stream running near the town and she loved the forest. Most of all she loved the people, especially her Auntie and the few cousins that always lived there. For many of the children of the family, like Eleanor, the Journey was a chance for a new life, but that was not so for Joyah. The Journey would take her away from the people she loved.

That night the sleeping room was filled with cousins and a couple aunts and uncles. Aunt Elena had been thrown out. Auntie had been sure of that. She had personally escorted her to the door. Four small heads were propped up against Joyah. They were the four kids other than Joyah who had always lived in the small hut: Lily, Dan, Charlie, and Molly.

Joyah felt a tiny hand pull on her shoulder. She raised her head. She could see a little head with black curls in the darkness. It was Lily.

I was listening to the grownups today, whispered Lily. Moonlight shone off her canted eyes, making them glow in the darkness.

That’s a conversation I wish you didn’t have to hear, Joyah said, propping herself up on one elbow.

Are you going to leave, Joyah? whispered Lily with a voice that trembled.

I hope not, Joyah said.

I don’t want you to go, Lily said. Joyah sat up, careful not to wake the other children.

I don’t want to go either. I love staying here with you.

After a moment’s thought Joyah reached into the collar of her shirt and pulled out a plain gold ring on a small chain that she had been wearing around her neck. She took off the ring and handed it to Lily.

Lily, you know I won’t always be here.

Lily nodded.

Well, this ring is very special to me. I’ve had it for as long as I remember. Now I’d like you to have it.

Why? asked Lily.

Because you are like a sister to me, Joyah said softly. She meant every word with all her heart. And when you wear this ring, it will remind you of me, and it will remind you that I’m always with you. She patted the little girl’s chest. In here. Lily nodded again. Then she threw her arms around Joyah’s neck. Joyah held her close.

The next morning Joyah put on her brown breeches, loose white long-sleeved shirt, and a black form-fitting vest with a V neckline and headed out back to the studio to get her boots. The day had cleared from last night’s rain, but the road was still muddy. Joyah rolled up her breeches and started down the road.

She was about halfway to the studio when she heard a voice call out, Hey Pain! Joyah stopped and sighed. She knew that voice. It was Iglesa May, the mayor’s daughter. Iglesa had hated Joyah ever since Joyah had sat on her back and rubbed her face into the ground when they were six. Joyah had hated her a lot longer.

Joyah turned and saw Iglesa standing in the doorway of the mayor’s house. She looked very elegant with her white dress and long blond hair.

Well look at this, the goddess had come down to earth to wallow in the mud with the rest of us normal people, Joyah called back. Iglesa smirked.

You’re doing quite a bit of wallowing, Pain. Where are those boots you were so proud of?

I filled them with mud and put them above your doorway so when you step outside you’ll look like the rest of the people out here, Joyah said.

Very funny, said Iglesa. You know what I heard? I heard you’re going on that ridiculous trip you Pains force your kids to go on. What is it, the Journey? Please tell me it’s true, I’d love to get rid of you. How’d she find out about that? Joyah wondered.

No, sorry, she said. You’ll have to live with the disappointment. Iglesa gave a dramatic sigh.

Oh well. Her smile turned nasty and she leaned farther out the door. You’ll have to leave some day, Pain, and when you do I hope you’ll meet the same fate as Eleanor. You may have fought off a few bandits, but there’s bound to be someone out there better than you.

Careful, May, any farther out and you’ll set off my trap, Joyah said lightly. Iglesa jerked her head back in. She gave Joyah one last mean smile and slammed the door. Joyah smirked at the house and continued on her way.

When Joyah got to the studio she did her best to get the mud off her feet on the reed mat near the door, but it was a lost cause. She turned and looked back at the village. She sighed. How could she ever leave this village? It was her whole world, her home. How could she bring herself to say goodbye to the muddy streets and the crowded huts? How could she bring herself to tear her eyes from the faces around her, possibly for good? If that was what her Journey would bring her then she’d much rather stay a child forever.

Joyah’s eyes slowly were drawn from the huts up to the rolling hills covered with forest beyond it. She found herself wondering what else there could be beyond the hills. What life would be like outside of the town she grew up in? What new adventures would she find? She sighed, turned, and walked into the studio. The studio was just as she had left it. She soon spotted her boots lying on the floor near the bench that she had set the box of crystals on the day before. Joyah slipped them on. When she straitened she looked around the studio. She was almost finished with what the studio had to offer her. When she was done with that, what would she do? Was there more to learn somewhere else?

Joyah knew she should go back to help Auntie, but she couldn’t help walking reverently around the small room. The studio was for the public, but other than the woman Joyah had learned her first martial art from no one but Joyah used it. Assorted weaponry hung from the walls. Joyah’s hands hovered above her favorite sword. It was a katana, a sword with a long, slightly curved blade. It was built for dexterity rather than brute strength. It had a beautiful, shining steel blade and a small oval hand guard. Its grip was leather dyed to an elegant bright red. In the middle of the hand guard was a round red crystal.

Joyah’s hand was just resting on the hilt when she felt someone tugging on her pants leg. A young voice yelled, Joyah, Joyah! She looked down to see a dirty and scared looking boy who apparently knew her name. Maybe he was a cousin.

What is it? she asked.

The boy babbled so fast she could hardly understand him.

It’s Suzy we were playing by the bridge and the water was so high we thought we could touch it and then Suzy slipped and she can’t get back up and- Joyah was gone before the boy had finished his sentence.

The bridge the little boy was talking about was really a large tree that had fallen across the water. The children liked to play on it when the water was low. As Joyah neared the river, she could tell from the sound of rushing water that the river was not low.

She didn’t have to go too far into the forest to find the bank of the river. The roots of the fallen tree shot up into the air on her left as she looked at the rushing brown water. All the rain had made the calm stream rise up onto its banks until it was almost like rapids. The bridge was wet from the high water. It was a miracle either of the children could have climbed on it at all. And there, hanging off of it and clinging to the bridge for dear life, was a little girl barely over seven. She was screaming her head off. As Joyah watched she slipped a little closer to the raging water.

Just hold on! Joyah yelled. It was a pretty stupid thing to yell considering that was exactly what the little girl was doing and there was no way for her to hear Joyah anyway, but that wasn’t exactly what she was thinking about at that moment. Joyah looked around wildly. If she climbed the bridge she would most likely end up in the water herself. Even if she did get to the girl, if she took her arms off the trunk she would fall in. Instead she ran over to a long vine. What most people who don’t live in a forest village don’t know is that vines are actually very stiff. She would have never gotten it off if she had not forgotten to put the sword down when she ran out of the studio. She chopped the vine partly off the tree before sticking the point of the sword into the ground. She could wait for a rescue party, but by the time they got there it would be too late. Joyah didn’t hesitate. She held the other end of the vine in her fist and climbed onto the bridge.

She lay flat on the tree with her arms and legs hugging it. Then she inched forward over the slippery bark. When she was close enough to the girl, she took both arms off the trunk and wrapped them around her waist, allowing them both to fall into the water.

For a moment Joyah’s world was whirling brown water tossing her about. The water was freezing cold. Her head broke the surface and she caught a glimpse of the forest trees. Then she was pushed under again. Do something, idiot! She mentally yelled at herself. Or was your plan to drown yourself in the river!? She kicked her feet and broke the surface. The little girl was holding tight to Joyah and screaming wildly. Joyah struggled to keep them both above the surface. The vine tugged in her hand. As the river pulled them, the vine swung them towards shore. It was working! All she needed to do was hold on and keep above the water until they hit shore. Easier said than done.

Then the vine shuddered. Joyah whipped her head around and looked up at the tree it was attached to. To her horror she saw the vine slowly start popping off the tree. Oh tā māde! Joyah held tight and prayed it would hold long enough. Almost there, a little farther! Joyah tried not to think of the last time she had told herself that. The vine popped off the first branch. The shore was only a couple arms lengths away. Joyah was tracing the vine to find the end of it. It was not that far away. The shore was only a couple feet away. The vine was almost off. She could almost reach out and touch the shore, but it was still too far away to properly grab before the current dragged them down stream. There was not enough time. Her foot struck something hard. She looked back. A large rock was sticking out of the water behind her. It would be a close thing, but maybe she could make it. Joyah took a deep breath, and let go of the vine.

Joyah was pushed up against the rock. She hooked one arm over the top and pulled herself up onto its slippery surface. The water still yanked at her ankles, threatening to pull her off, but the rest of her was out. She shifted the little girl in her arms to make it easier to carry her. It would be a close thing, but there was nothing she could do about it now. Joyah took a deep breath, crouched, and sprang towards the shore. She did not quite make it. Her body above the waist hit dry land, but her legs trailed in the water. Joyah grabbed a root of a tree near her for anchorage and shoved the little girl onto the shore. Then Joyah pulled herself up after her. They sat on the bank, breathing heavily.

Joyah heard the sounds of people coming through the woods behind her. She stood and turned to see a group of adults carrying ropes and nets. The little girl jumped up.

Mommy!

One of the women dropped to her knees and folded the girl into her arms. They both were crying.

My baby, sobbed the woman. Thank goodness you’re safe!

A large man that Joyah had seen around town nodded at her.

Good work, Joyah. You’ve saved the day again.

Joyah nodded. There was not much to say. The man turned to the rest of the group.

All right, the girl’s safe. Let’s go back to town and get her warmed up.

The mother of the girl stood, holding the child in her arms.

Thank you for saving my daughter, she said to Joyah. Joyah nodded wearily again.

It’s nothing, really.

As the group fussed around the girl and her mother, Joyah went over to the sword she had taken from the studio and picked it up. It glittered in the sunlight. It was not the only thing glittering in the sun, though. Something red was shining on the bank of the river. Joyah stooped to pick it up. She caught her breath. In her hand was a large red crystal. It was a little longer than her palm and a little less wide. It looked like it has already been cut for something, a necklace or crown perhaps. It was the most beautiful thing Joyah had ever seen. Its red depths looked as vast as an ocean. It flamed in the sun. It held mystery and an almost magical sense around it, which was ridiculous since magic was a lost art. But still, Joyah had the feeling that it was something ancient and special. Joyah slipped it in her pocket, vowing to herself that she would find out what it was, and went to rejoin the group.

The group led her back to town. Joyah was muddy, wet, and exhausted. When they got back to town she allowed Auntie to lead her through the streets and back to their hut.

As she passed the mayor’s house Iglesa sneered, Yes, Pain’s so brave. The little hero of our little village, whatever would we do without her?

Joyah didn’t answer. It wasn’t worth it. She had bigger riddles and problems than to quarrel with Iglesa.

Auntie made her change out of her wet outfit while she made her warm soup. She didn’t bother to scold her or try to convince her to next time leave the rescuing to the adults. It was not worth it. Since Joyah only had her normal clothes, her night dress, and her outfit for training in the studio, she had to wear her studio clothes while her normal clothes dried. The cousins crowded around her asking her to tell them all about her heroic rescue, and people came and went thanking her for saving the little girl. Joyah told the cousins the tale, making it seem exciting to interest them, and shrugged and said it was her pleasure to help when people thanked her. But Joyah’s mind was somewhere else. Auntie was the only one who noticed. She eventually made the cousins go do something else.

That night Joyah sat at the kitchen table by candle light, fingering the sword she had accidentally stolen from the studio. Auntie came in holding a lantern and sat down in a chair beside her.

Don’t sit in the dark with only a candle unless you want to go blind before you reach forty.

Joyah nodded absently. She’d heard that before. Auntie sighed.

Joyah, what’s on your mind?

I think I want to go on my Journey, Joyah said. Auntie folded her hands in front of her on the table.

I thought you didn’t want to.

I don’t, Joyah said. That was bad phrasing. I guess, I feel like it’s time I went on my Journey. Auntie nodded slowly.

What brought such a change in mind? I hope it wasn’t Aunt Elena. Everyone knows she’s a selfish gossip.

Joyah shook her head.

No. I just got this feeling today. I was wondering what life could be like outside this little village. How I would fare in the cities, and what more I could advance in my studies from the books in the big libraries. And then today, when I saved that girl, I… she hesitated before reaching into her pocket. I found this in the river.

Joyah drew out the stone. Auntie gave a small gasp. She put her hand under Joyah’s, drawing it closer to the light.

You say you found this in the river?

Joyah nodded. Yeah. Do you know what it is?

No, said Auntie. But it’s more than a large and expensive crystal. I can tell that by just looking at it.

Joyah hesitated before asking her next question. It was a stupid question, but she had to check.

Auntie, magic is a lost art, right?

Auntie nodded. Yes. There has been no one who has practiced it for hundreds of years. All the books were either accidentally burnt or so badly damaged that they were unusable, and the magic relics were all lost or broken. All the magical creatures went extinct.

That was what she had expected.

I want to find out what this is, in the libraries of a city, said Joyah.

Auntie closed her eyes almost sorrowfully for a moment. Then she stood and took her niece’s hand, leading her outside. She gazed up at the stars.

When I was around your age my mother told me something that our family used to always tell our children. She said, ‘Don’t go on the Journey until you feel deep down that you are truly called somewhere else. You and you alone will know when it is time.’ In the past century the Journey has become something that we force our children into doing. But it used to be something that we felt we must do at some time in our lives.

She looked at Joyah very seriously.

Joyah, do you truly feel that it is time for your Journey?

Joyah returned her gaze.

Yes. It is time.

Auntie nodded.

Then you must leave in the morning. I will pack you a bag. For now, get some rest. You will need your strength. We don’t know when you will have completed your Journey until you do.

Joyah stood in front of her hut, taking one last look at the village she grew up in. Maybe her Journey would be something small and quick. Maybe she would see everything here again soon. She really hoped so.

Auntie was checking her bag. You have an extra set of clothes donated by the tailor for saving her daughter, some food, money, a dagger, medical supplies, and basic camping supplies. Is there anything else you need?

Joyah shook her head. No, I think that’s it.

Various sad looking aunts, uncles, and cousins stood to one side. Joyah turned to the four children who had always been with her, her heart breaking. She dropped to her knees and held her arms out to them. They ran into her embrace tearfully.

I’m going to miss you, Joyah, Lily whimpered. Joyah held them all close as if they’d disappear once she let go. In some ways they would.

I’m going to miss you too, every day. But you know I’ll always think of you, and I’ll never truly leave you. Joyah drew back. Besides, this isn’t really good-bye. I won’t be gone forever.

But what if you don’t come back? Dan said. Eleanor never did.

I’m not like Eleanor, Joyah told him. I know more, and I know this is the time for me. Eleanor didn’t. I’m going to make it, because I’m too stubborn and you all love me too much. She hugged them again. Good-bye for now.

Good-bye, they sniffled.

Joyah stood and turned to Auntie.

Are you going to be traveling alone or in a caravan? Auntie asked her.

Of course she’s going alone! Aunt Elena piped up. No one has ever gone in a group before! Auntie turned a cold gaze to Aunt Elena.

There have been others who went with groups or on wagons before we began to force our children to leave before they’re ready. And I thought that I made myself perfectly clear that you weren’t welcome to my Joyah’s departure. Aunt Elena stood there for a moment. Leave! barked Auntie. Aunt Elena scurried away. Auntie sighed and turned back to Joyah. Well? Joyah thought for a moment, but not for long. She could feel the trees and road calling her, beckoning her onward.

I’ll go alone on foot, at least for now.

Auntie nodded. All right then. You’d best be going.

Auntie handed Joyah her backpack. Joyah threw her arms around Aunties neck.

Good-bye, Auntie, she whispered, fighting tears. I’ll miss you.

I’ll miss you too, dear, Auntie whispered. I will miss you with all my heart. With that Joyah turned and walked off down the main road. People waved good-bye. Some of the women waved handkerchiefs. As she passed through town, people called out parting farewells. Joyah felt like she was in some sort of dream. She did not even react when Iglesa taunted her and yelled out a, Good riddance! Joyah left the town and started down the long dirt road. As her first foot falls on the road fell, she thought, I’m on my Journey. It has begun.

Auntie stood where she was, staring off after Joyah with silent tears rolling down her cheeks long after Joyah was out of her sight.

Chapter 2

Raymond and Fletcher

Three days later Joyah walked through the large stone gates of the nearest city, Guem. Joyah had never seen so much stone in a building before, or so many people. She joined the throng of people going in and out of the iron gates. If Joyah thought the gates were impressive, she was completely unprepared for what lay inside. Joyah stopped and gasped.

Stone buildings lined the streets. The smallest ones had two floors. Two whole floors! On the smallest buildings! The buildings got more and more extravagant until the middle of the town where the town hall and personal mansions of the rich people were. The streets were lined with stalls and merchant’s tents. Merchants and vendors were shouting and waving their products around, people were chatting, and the smell of cooked food and horse manure filled the air.

Joyah came to the realization that the people were trying to push her out of the way since she had come to a stop in the middle of the road. The people were finding it a surprisingly hard task considering she was just a girl in clothes dirty from travel. But she seemed as solid as a rock, and it would take a purposeful shove with both hands to knock her over. They all just gave up and walked around her after an elbow failed. Besides, the girl had the handle of a sword sticking out from under her backpack.

Joyah started walking down the road. It was actually cobblestone instead of dirt! She looked around her as much as she could, at the people and the vendors and the different goods, soaking it all in. It was so much, so new! A vender waved a fur in her face, but she just ducked under his arm and kept right on walking. There was only one stall she wanted to find, she decided, before she found a place to sleep.

She found that stall farther down the road. There was a man dressed in fine black clothes. He had jewelry made with fine stones and gems spread out on a silk cloth on a table. Above him an orange tarp was being held up by four wooden poles.

Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me, Joyah said politely.

The man smiled at her. What is it you want, little girl? Do you wish to buy some jewelry?

No, actually, Joyah said, leaning close. You see, she whispered. I’ve found a large crystal in the river near my village, and it looks important. I was wondering if you could possibly identify it.

Well of course, said the man. Let me see it.

"No, you don’t understand. It’s a really big crystal. I don’t want someone else to see it."

Of course, whispered the man, leaning close. He handed her a cloth. Cover the back with this so that I’m the only one who can see it. Joyah took the red crystal from her pocket and put the cloth on its back. She showed it to the man.

Do you recognize it?

Hmm, said the man. It seems familiar, but I can’t place it. Maybe if you give it to me, Miss, I could take it back to my store and look it up in one of my books.

No, said Joyah, bringing it to her chest. It stays with me.

But of course, said the man. I would not expect a reasonable lady like yourself to part with such a crystal. How about you come with me to my store, then we can find out a little more about it. Joyah shrugged.

Okay.

Hey, Jo, the jeweler said to one of the men helping him in the stall. "I’m taking this young lady to my store. She has a special jewel we need to look up. Run this stall until I get back."

Of course, said Jo. The jeweler bowed to Joyah and gestured for her to come around the table.

This way please, Miss.

Joyah followed the man around the table. They went through a little alley behind it into a side street. Then they went into a longer, wider alley.

How far is it to your store? Joyah asked.

Just around this corner, the man called over his shoulder.

Joyah began to lag behind. Something was not right. The man seemed too eager, too hurried, and too nervous. Plus, this did not look like the part of town that a respectable jeweler would build a jewelry shop in. Even she knew that. She stopped.

You know, maybe I should just go back to the library. She began to turn away. It would be easier to-

Suddenly, a man dressed completely in black dropped down from the top of one of the buildings, blocking her path back to the road. The hood of his coat was pulled up to hide his face. Black dressed figures landed all around her, surrounding her. Joyah instinctively dropped into a crouch, her eyes darting around. These were not just everyday thugs; she could tell that by the way they moved with the strength and grace of people trained in fighting and the confidence of people used to killing. Joyah reached for her sword, but she could not get to it before the figures had all drawn their swords and had them pointing her way.

Give us the jewel, the jeweler growled.

No, said Joyah, her voice steady.

Give it to us now and you can walk away, the jeweler said. By the way the men looked it seemed like they would sooner wear a fluffy pink dress then really let a witness walk away alive.

Over my dead body, Joyah said in a soft, dangerous voice.

So be it, the jeweler answered in the same tone.

Joyah struck out at the first man, catching him momentarily off guard. She struck like a snake, using the crystal as a weapon to crush the man’s windpipe. She dropped again as a knife came whistling through the air at her. It missed her by inches, but there was no time to think about it. She was under attack from all sides. Her forearm came up in a block to a well-aimed punch, brushing it off to one side. At the same time she spun and swept her foot around in a sweep kick, not even completely finishing the move before she was dodging swords that were stabbing at her back. She rolled to one side to avoid being pin-cushioned, and leaped to her feet again to avoid more swords.

Joyah struck out with her hands and feet while she twisted and turned to avoid being stabbed by skilled swordsmen. But there were five of them and one of her, and she was unarmed. Everywhere she turned there was a new threat. A well-placed elbow connected with her nose, and the handle of a sword bounced off her shoulder. A sword came from nowhere, and since she was dodging three other swords at the exact same time there was nothing she could do but snap her arm up into a block for punches to keep it from hitting her head. She somehow deflected the flat of the blade to the side. The handle turned out to be sharper than she expected and traced a cut from her wrist to elbow. This was only a matter on time.

Suddenly someone came flying into the circle of men.

Here! a voice yelled to her. A sword was tossed to her. She caught its hilt. The person pulled her sword from its sheath as he passed by, and then stood back-to-back with her.

Bring it, she told the men facing her.

Joyah was a whirlwind unarmed, but with the sword she was better. She took on three at once as her helper fought the remaining two. She parried the swords coming her way, and then she counter attacked. Some people used brute strength to hammer blows on their opponents, but Joyah’s strokes were full of grace. They formed beautiful lines after hours upon hours in the studio. The last man she faced was the treacherous jeweler.

Joyah swiped her sword across his chest, sending something he had been wearing around his neck flying. He lunged in, planning to catch her while she was off balance. But Joyah had recovered faster than he had anticipated and sidestepped. She brought the hilt of her sword up as he came in. It connected with his forehead, and he dropped like a stone. With all of her side taken out, she turned to deal with the other side. Joyah was surprised to find that her helper was successfully holding off his opponents, and they even bore marks from his sword.

Joyah and her helper finished them off quickly. Joyah knelt by the pendant that she had cut off the jeweler. It was a black square the size of her palm with a symbol of a white thorny vine loosely winding around itself.

Joyah looked up at her helper. He was a boy who seemed around her age and size. He had short black hair that got longer and stuck up when it got towards his forehead, pale skin, and chocolate brown, olive shaped eyes. She could tell from his clothes that he came from a higher class family. He was holding her sword in one hand and had an incredulous look on his face.

Are you crazy? he asked. Don’t you know any better than to go waving that around?! He gestured to the crystal Joyah was still holding in her hand.

I didn’t go ‘waving it around,’ she snapped. "I was showing it to a jeweler for help identifying it. I was trying to keep it hidden from people who might steal it, which is impressive that I knew to do that since where I come from people don’t just attack one another for crystals. It obviously didn’t work since you saw it. How did you see it?"

I was in the stall next to the jeweler’s, he said. I got a lucky glimpse of it. Then I saw you follow him to here. It’s lucky I did, too. You wouldn’t have held out much longer. It’s actually incredible you held them out this long.

There was a martial arts studio where I came from, she said dismissively. Do you recognize this?

She held out the pendant. He peered at it.

No, I don’t. He walked over to the first man Joyah had struck down. I recognize him, though. He’s part of the River Boys. A bunch of these guys are.

Who are the river boys? Joyah asked.

A big street gang, the boy said. No one knows why they picked that name, since there’s no river around here. Anyway, they’re a bunch of thugs. I have no idea how they got so good at fighting like that. The boy looked at the hand in which Joyah held the red crystal. You’re bleeding.

Joyah looked down. The cut from blocking a sword with her arm was dripping blood. She raised it horizontally so it didn’t drip onto the crystal.

Oh, yeah, I am.

Doesn’t it hurt? asked the boy. Joyah shrugged.

I’ve had worse. Joyah set down her pack and opened it. She was careful not to drip blood on it. She took out a bandage and wrapped it around her forearm. She did not do a very good job of it, seeing that she could only use one arm.

The boy sighed and squatted to help her tie it.

You might as well come to my house to get this cleaned and properly bandaged.

Joyah gave him a wary look.

The last person who helped me tried to kill me.

Well, considering I just saved your life I think you can trust me, he said.

Or you could have saved my life to gain my trust so you could take the crystal yourself, Joyah pointed out.

The boy rolled his eyes.

One minute you’re overly trusting and the next you’re paranoid. Make up your mind! The boy stood up and slung Joyah’s pack over his shoulder. Then he started walking away.

Where do you think you’re going? Joyah asked. He glanced over his shoulder.

Home. And you’re coming with me. He kept walking. Joyah sighed and jogged to catch up.

You know, Joyah said as they walked side by side. I don’t even know your name.

I’m Jeffery, he said. Jeffery Raymond, though you can call me Jeff. Everyone else does. What’s yours?

I’m Joyah Pain.

Jeff’s house was in the middle-to-large range for the city, but to Joyah it was huge. Her idea of a large house had been six rooms, a wood floor, and a door for each room. Jeff’s house had big double doors and stone steps leading up. It had two floors and many, many rooms. It was made from gray stone with slate roofing. The windows actually had glass, and they each had a curtain that could be drawn across to hide the room inside.

Jeffery pushed open one of the doors and walked in. Joyah followed. The room beyond had a grand staircase with a blue carpet and shining wood railings. The floor was marble, and the walls were painted white. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Joyah stared all around, her eyes eating up every bit of the room.

I bet you’ve never seen house like this, huh? said Jeff, closing the door behind them.

Well, I’ve got to say my ideas of big and wealthy just went up a lot, she said.

Jeffery? called a woman’s voice. Joyah looked up to see an elegant lady coming down the stairway, one dainty hand resting on the railing. She had jet black hair, like Jeff’s, but hers fell in curls around her shoulders. Her blue qipao was plain by the higher class’s standards, but to Joyah it was gorgeous. It looked like it was made of silk.

Hello, mother, said Jeff. I brought a friend. This is Joyah Pain.

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jeffery’s mother said. I am Mrs. Raymond.

She had reached the end of the staircase and was walking across the floor towards them. Then she stopped.

You’re hurt. What happened?

She was jumped by some of the River Boys and a bunch of other men, Jeffery told her.

Here, come with me, his mother said, holding her hand out to Joyah. Joyah went over to her. The woman put her hand on the girl’s back and propelled her to a wooden door to the left of the stairs. They went down a couple of hallways until they got to a white room. There were cabinets lining the walls and white counters underneath them. A ceramic jar held needles for acupuncture. A mattress covered in white sheets rested on an odd wooden frame. Joyah had heard about something like it from Iglesa; it was called a bed.

Sit here, Jeffery’s mother said, gesturing to the bed. Joyah sat down tentatively on the bed. The mattress was the softest thing she had ever felt. It cushioned her until she felt like she would fall into it and disappear forever. Jeff’s mother went over to a cabinet and rummaged around in it. Jeff, who was still holding Joyah’s sword, leaned on the doorframe.

Tell me what happened, Jeff’s mother said as she pulled out bandages. So, they told her about the jeweler and the fight in the alleyway as she cleaned and re-bandaged Joyah’s arm.

When they were finished she thought for a moment.

That is the crystal they wanted? she asked. Joyah nodded and held up the crystal, which she still had not let go of, so that the woman could get a good look at it. Hmm, she said. "That is a big crystal. You say you found this in the river? Joyah nodded. Well, Mrs. Raymond continued. It’s obviously something special. I’ve never seen it before, but it seems like something come straight out of an old legend."

I was going to go to the library to look it up, said Joyah.

You can stay with us here tonight and go there tomorrow if you’d like, Mrs. Raymond offered. And I’ll contact your father right away and have him go to the alley with his men, she told Jeff. He nodded.

My father’s the Constable of the town, head of the police force, he explained to Joyah. His mother held her hand out to Joyah again.

Come, let’s get you something less dirty to wear.

After taking a warm bath and changing into clean clothes, Joyah wandered the house. She had on a beautiful silk qipao that used to belong to Mrs. Raymond. It was red and decorated with golden dragons. Her red hair was held in a bun with two dainty wooden sticks decorated with red jewels. She suspected they were fake, but it didn’t matter. Joyah had never worn something so fancy in her life, and she found herself loving it.

The house was very large. The hallways were all white with the occasional painting or tapestry. The floors were all polished wood. Joyah found two other staircases, but none as big as the grand one in the first room. She stayed on the first floor anyway. The doors all slid, and they seemed to be made out of paper. This was not new to Joyah, since that was what the front door of her house was made of, but these doors were colorful instead of plain brown. Candles were spaced along the walls in holders to light the way. Joyah passed a couple maids who were lighting them as she wandered. They all curtsied to her as she passed, which made her blush. After conversing with one of them she figured out that there were five maids, a cook, a grounds keeper, and a butler. She discovered that a butler was a manservant who answered the door when someone knocked.

As Joyah passed by one room with a double sliding door she heard voices drifting out. She stopped.

… really amazing, mother. Probably wouldn’t have needed me if she’d been able to get to her sword in time. And she isn’t even formally trained.

Imagine what she could do if she was.

Joyah walked quietly away from the door. She did not want to eavesdrop, especially after they had been so nice to her. Eventually she wandered into the kitchen. It was warmer there, and it had a cheery look to it. She blinked in the sudden yellow light that filled the room. It was a stark contrast from the dim, quiet hallways.

The cook, a skinny, sweaty man with receding white hair, was busy preparing a meal. A young maid was helping him, and she did not look happy about the arrangement. The cook glanced up when Joyah came in.

If you’re lookin’ for snacks like that boy does you can just turn right around, you won’t get any here. And you’d better stay out of the way or you’ll be feeling my ladle on your skull.

I’m just exploring, Joyah said coolly.

Then explore somewhere else and keep out of the kitchen, the cook retorted. He absorbed himself in his cooking again. The maid hustled over to Joyah.

Sorry about the cook, ma’am, he can be dreadful around meal times, she said. If I were to pick any people to work under it’d be kind folks like the Raymonds, but the kitchen is not a place I’d like to be. But we gotta take shifts here. If I were you, I’d go out back. She gestured with her head to a wooden door that looked like it led outside. It’s especially beautiful this time of night.

Thank you, Joyah said. The maid nodded and went back to work.

Joyah pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool night air. To her right was a garden surrounded by a plain fence. It had vegetables and an occasional fruit plant. She assumed that was for the meals. In front of her was a large, grassy yard. A cobblestone path led down a slight hill. At the bottom was flat ground. Taking up most of the space was a beautiful garden. The path wound around through the flowers, flowering trees, and a couple stone benches. In the center was a marble fountain with a stone owl on top. Fireflies danced throughout all of it. Joyah sat on a stone bench at the top of the hill, overlooking the garden.

She heard the soft fall of footsteps. Joyah looked up to see Jeff walking towards her. He paused when she looked up.

I was being quiet. You don’t miss much, do you? Joyah shook her head and looked back across the lawn.

When you’re living in a small village it helps to be able to hear the soft footfalls of a deer.

Jeff sat down next to her. She noticed he was still holding her sword.

This is yours, by the way, he said, holding the blade in his hands. It’s a very nice sword. A katana, right?

Yes, she said. I accidentally stole it from the martial arts studio in my village. It was the best one there.

It’s a little weird, having this sword in a small village, he said. This looks like it would come from a master craftsmen in a city like this one.

Hmm. Must have come with the person who built the studio, she guessed. Jeff handed back her katana.

You know, with some actual training you could be pretty scary.

I thought I already was pretty scary, she said.

Well, you are amazing, Jeff said. But I noticed when you fight you don’t actually do a move beyond one of the basic steps. You sort-of make things up as you go.

Huh?

When you do a move you’re just building upon what you already know, Jeff explained. You’re one of the best swordsmen I’ve ever seen, but other people know a wider range of moves. If you learned some more advanced moves, then you could build on them…

And I’d be even better, Joyah concluded.

Exactly, Jeff said. Joyah absently tested the edge of her sword.

So, who would train me? I won’t be here much longer.

Jeff raised an eyebrow.

And you can tell how...?

I’m on my Journey.

You’re on a journey?

"No. Not a journey, my Journey."

Jeff blinked, took a moment to absorb it, and seemed to take it in stride.

Right, okay.

So, who’s here who would train me? Joyah asked again.

Well… Jeff seemed a little awkward. I could.

Joyah raised her eyebrows. You?

Jeff shrugged. Well, yeah.

Joyah studied him for a moment, making him seem a little uncomfortable.

How good are you? she asked.

I’m not as good as you, but my father says I’m better than most men in his watch.

Joyah stood. All right, you got a sword with you? Jeff stood.

You want to duel me?

Joyah shrugged. Why not?

Umm, you’re wearing a dress.

It has a slit down the side of the skirt, Joyah said, gesturing to it. It won’t interfere with my footing. Jeff raised an eyebrow. She put her hands on her hips. Oh don’t give me that look, I’ll be fine!

Joyah looked at Jeff’s sword as he drew it. It was a different style than hers, but she could tell it was a good one. Its blade was straight, unlike her katana’s curved one, and the hand guards were long and thin. Black leather covered the grip and the hand guards. It was the plainest blade she had seen a higher classman wear, but it