Immortal (10 page)

“Let’s just go face this ogre so we can get on with things, Jasper.”

“Of course,” Jasper replied.

The Son of Cove

The wind had begun to blow and the Dandelion stems blew in the air. A chill blew through Staysia’s hair. She wasn’t annoyed by the cold. It was more of a refreshing feeling.

How could I have lost Isis?
She thought to herself. She knew the immortal was to blame for this. His cruel intentions could not just be waved away anymore. Though in her mind, she had ignored every word that the beastly immortal had told her—in reality, it had to be dealt with, and the absence of Isis wouldn’t let her brush it off.

The perfect plan would have to be put in place. There was no way out, but there had to be a way around this mess. Obtaining the map was inevitable.
Where is the map
? She thought.
Is it back home in Caydence?
It was much too late to turn back now. But how could she go on without Isis? Not knowing where her unicorn was, or how it was being treated would weigh heavy on her heart. It would soon become unbearable.

“You look very sad, Staysia.” Jasper said. “It is a beauti
ful day, the sun isn’t too hot—flowers abloom. Have you noticed the butterflies? Have you heard the birds? It is a beautiful day.”

“That’s easy for you to say, all of your friends are at home, safe and sound underneath the bridge.” She shook her head and sighed. “I’m sorry. I know you are just trying to help. It’s just that Isis is gone now. She is all I had left.”

“I know it is difficult. Have you forgotten about the Mother? She is here with us every road we travel. These troubles we have encountered have not gone unseen. She knows about Isis and Gabriel, and she will not let us get in over our heads.”

Staysia’s jaw dropped as she turned to face Jasper. “I am impressed. I never thought I would hear an appropriate word come out of your mouth concerning the fairies.”

“I don’t imagine you would. I reckon they are alright,” he said.

“You do, do you?” Staysia had to laugh.

“Aha! I can make you smile!”

“Not only did you make me smile, but you made me laugh. Thank you, Jasper.”

“Eh, it was my pleasure. You know, it could’ve been the ogre who took Isis. They can become quite venturesome when it comes to magic.”

Staysia bit her lip. “There is something I need to tell you. I imagine I should, we are becoming close friends, right?”

“What is it?”

“When I arrived at the Grandfather Tree before, the moment I reached the Golden trees, an immortal confronted me,” Staysia began.

“What do you mean by immortal? There are many immortals,” Jasper said.

“Well, we have always called the gods immortals,” Staysia answered.

“Gods?” Jasper asked.

“Jasper, have you never known?” she asked in shock.

“Ah Staysia, I know who you speak of, but they are not known as gods to me. I have never had any business with them. I have never seen one. They will not so much as speak to a castaway such as myself. I am much too petty to bide their time. My question to you is: how can they be gods if they have never had any sort of effect on me for my entire existence?”

“Well, that is a good point, Jasper. You know there are a lot of good gods too, ones that will protect us. I do believe one of these days they will help all of you trolls if y’all would try being less cocky! You have been a great friend and I bet the good gods are smiling down on you. Somehow this evil god has some kind of business with my father because he had a map. It was a map to the Sea Child. This evil god told me that the Sea Child holds the key to immortality. He instructed me to find the map and bring it to him. He said if I do, he will grant me eternal life himself.”

“Yes well, it would be great if you would join me in eternal life, Staysia. You’d be an elf and . . .”

Staysia didn’t let him finish. “What do you mean I would be an elf, Jasper?”

“Unless you get eternal life directly from the Sea Child himself, you would have to become an elf, unless of course you would rather be a troll!”

“Jasper, I do not wish to become an elf or a troll, no offense, but I would like to stay just as I am.”

“Maybe you should just do as he asks of you, Staysia.”
“Why would a god like Nox need
me
to get the map for him? I just don’t get it. Why can’t he get it for himself?”

“Well if you think about it, it served a purpose in your father’s hands. Nox does not want that purpose fulfilled. He knows your hands are the safest place for it. If he makes a deal with you for the map, it is an agreement. No one can argue with that, can they? Then he can do what he wishes with it, which is probably to destroy it entirely.”

“Wow, you are brighter than I thought, Jasper!”

“Aha! You thought I was a thick headed troll, didn’t ya?”

“Ha!” She shook her head. “You just surprise me sometimes.”

Just then the sky grumbled. A gray cluster of clouds thickened above them. The forest darkened. The beastly immortal peered from the center of the clouds and said, “Staysia! If eternal life is not what you wish, then stay the way you are! No one can give you eternal life as a human, not even me, not even the Sea Child. Do you understand the words I am saying to you?”

A heavy gust of wind blew hard on Staysia and Jasper. Jasper was nearly hurled from his buggy. Staysia put her head down and held tight to the horse she sat upon. When the wind subsided, Staysia spoke. “I do not want to be anything but what I already am! What I want is my Isis. That is all. Give her to me and I will bring you the map.”

A white cloud slowly formed. Inside the fluffy white was Isis. She had her head down, as she lay staring at a stream. She looked sad. She looked like she missed Staysia.

Staysia jumped off of the horse and ran toward the cloud, but before she could get to it, it was gone, as was the dark cloud and the immortal’s face. Staysia dropped to her knees and threw dirt where the immortal had been. “Isis!” she screamed.

She turned, nostrils flared, her face was brave and determined. Her fists were balled. Staysia was angry and ready to fight for her unicorn. She threw her leg quickly around the stallion. “Let’s get past this ogre and find that map!”

No words were said between Staysia and Jasper until they were outside of Death’s Grip.

Staysia halted the horse. “We have reached Death’s Grip.” She drew her sword and held it out in the air. “You stay back!” She kicked the sides of the horse and left Jasper behind. She entered into Death’s Grip and called out to the ogre. “Come and face me, ogre! I am ready for you!” her voice echoed.

The stallion kicked his front legs and neighed as the ogre came into vision. Staysia jumped off of the horse and held her sword out in front of her. She was ready to fight.

The ogre was dirty and smelly. His clothes of leather were torn and falling apart. He was tall and buff and hairy. Around his neck he wore the tooth of an ox. His nose was his largest feature. His voice was deep and raspy.

“Why have you come to Death’s Grip? You know I am the only one who resides here. See these mountains behind me? They belong to me! This road your horse galloped down, it is mine! Do you wish to brawl with me?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact I do!”

The ogre waved his large and heavy sword out in front of him. Staysia did not lose her bravery. She walked closer to the ogre.

“Are you sure you wish to battle with me? You know you do not stand a chance!”

Staysia moved her eyes across her sword, starting at the handle in her hand and ending at the tip. “Do I look like I am sure?”

“What the hell are we waiting for, then? Sword to sword!” They clicked the tips of their swords together and commenced their battle. “You humans are certainly homely!”

A bee began to buzz around her face. She watched it land on her hand and wiggled her sword. When the ogre caught sight of this, he quickly swung his sword at her and barely missed her head.

“You got lucky!” he snorted.

Staysia made her first move. She struck her sword at him, but missed him by a hair.

“You are a senseless fighter! A pig! You remind me of what I had for dinner last night! “Ha! Ha! Ha!” His deep laughter echoed through the forest.

He held his sword high above his head, and took three heavy steps toward her. She looked up at him, at his eight foot height. She stared at his heavy sword.

“Any last words?” he growled.

As Staysia kept her eye on the sword, she noticed something in the tree, just above the ogre. It was a man, but it was not Gabriel. He put his finger over his lips to hush any immediate reaction she may have.

Staysia shook her head at him. She wanted this battle to hersel
f. The man’s eyes widened, obviously stunned that she wished to battle the giant by herself. In reality, Staysia was amazed with
herself
. She normally would have never tried something like this.

All the anger inside of her boiled her blood. In her mind, she was battling death, because death had had a grip on her. She watched the ogre swing his sword at her, and she rolled on the ground beneath her, dodging the strike. She came to her feet and smiled. She couldn’t believe she had done it. Now it was time to make her move.

She took another look at the man in the tree. He shook his head at her.

“Look ther
e! It’s a unicorn!” she shouted; pointing, to cause the ogre to become distracted. She knew that ogre’s were obsessed with magic. Her plan had worked.

“Where?” he asked dumbfounded
, as he looked in the direction she had pointed.

Staysia made her move. She struck him on his shoulder with her sword, and when he grabbed at his wound and dropped his sword, Staysia went for his sword, but could hardly lift it.

The man jumped from the tree and helped her lift the sword. He moved it away from the ogres reach. The man grabbed a rock, and Staysia clutched her own sword tight in her hand.

“It’s over with, ogre! Let her through!”

“Where did this fool come from?” the ogre grumbled.

“Don’t worry about it! You are going to let both of us through,” the man replied.

The ogre looked at the rock and Staysia’s sword, Staysia’s sword and the rock again.

“Go!” he shouted, knowing he had lost.

“Um,” Staysia studied the man’s face. “I have a friend back there,” she said, pointing behind her.

“Uh,” the man looked at the ogre and back at Staysia. He sat the rock down for a moment
, and pointed at the ogre. “Don’t move a finger!” he warned. The man stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled. Staysia was very pleased when she saw Jasper in his tiny buggy coming down the road, followed by the creeper.

“Staysia? Are you alright?” Jasper asked
her. “I was going to come, but I uh—” He scratched the top of his head. “I—uh,”

“It’s okay Jasper!” Staysia laughed. “I understand.”

“Who is this?” he asked concerning the man.

The man extended an arm to Jasper, holding tight to the rock in the other.

Jasper looked up at the ogre and waved his hand. “Hello!” he uttered.

“Grr,” the ogre growled. “Away with all three of you!” he shouted.

The three of them made their way out of Death’s Grip. “We did it Staysia! I mean
you
did it!” Jasper exclaimed. Staysia laughed, and took another look at the man who walked beside her.

He had a handsome face. His hair was black and shoulder length. His nose was straight and came to a point at the tip
. His jawbone was a bit squared. He looked at her with his deep blue eyes, brushing his hair away from them, as he did. He smiled, showing his perfect teeth.

He was dressed in white and blue. A white collared shirt half-hidden beneath a light blue jacket. His black boots met his white pants at the calf. His dressing was
quite impressive.

“Do you have a name?” Staysia asked, finally.

“My name is Tristen. And you are?”

“Nice to meet you, I am Staysia. Are you headed to Gnome Hills as well?”

“Yes I am, I have some business to tend to in Gnome Hills.”

“Yes, so do I, where are you from?”

“I am from Peppermint Pond. Ever been there?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact I have. My father used to take me there when I was younger. We fish there—before—I mean. He’s dead now.”

“I am sorry to hear that. You know, Gnome Hills is kind of in a riot right now. Are you sure you wish to show up in the middle of all that?”