if daring him to think otherwise.
Talis bowed his head, giving in. He had never been to the Sej Elder chambers and wondered what it would be like to finally set foot inside. His father was a leading member of the Elders, but had refused Talis entry until he came of age. He was about to head downstairs when he stopped, realizing the problem. There was no way they’d let him inside. Especially now that the Elders were debating on how to respond to the Jiserian attack.
“Who’s going to listen to us…we’re just kids.” Talis glanced at Mara. “Even if we went, they won’t let us in. It’s forbidden.”
“Find a way around…let’s sneak inside.” Mara’s eyes glittered dangerously.
“The entrance is heavily guarded-by multiple soldiers and wizards and at different levels-especially now we’re at war. And my father isn’t popular these days. His seat at the head of the Elders is at risk. If I did something crazy like trying to break in and see them, he’d be furious.”
“Talk to Master Viridian.”
“He’s in chambers with them also! We should just wait for them outside.”
“Wait? Do you think we have time to wait? This is directly related to the war. Whether we like it or not we’re part of the conflict now. This could mean everything to our struggle!”
“I know, I know. Okay, let’s just go and talk to the guards…”
Two burly guards stood at attention outside the tall gate surrounding the Sej Elders Chambers. More soldiers marched out front. The city was priming itself for war.
“Mind your own business, young master.” The larger guard frowned at Talis as he approached.
“Watch your tongue,” Mara said, and glowered at the guard. “Do you know who you’re speaking to?”
“A young whelp and his sassy lassie.” The guard laughed stupidly with his fellow.
“You happen to be speaking to Talis Storm, son of Master Garen Storm.” Mara whistled like the guard was in trouble. “Didn’t plan on that, did you? Are you okay? Your face seems pale suddenly. Now be a good guard and go fetch us the runner, we demand an audience with the Elders.”
“Demand an audience?” the other guard said, “aren’t you a little tart. Even if he is who you say he is, I can plainly see he’s still a young master, not reached his time yet. If he wants to see his daddy, tell him to wait until supper!” With that, both guards slapped their thighs, as if amused greatly by some wonderful joke.
“This is urgent…you do remember we’ve been attacked? He’s carrying something very important that the Elders need to see-”
“Just hand it here, I’ll see they get it.”
“In person.” Talis scowled. “I need to deliver it to the Elders in person.”
“Need to deliver what?” Master Jai said, a teacher at the Order of the Dawn. He pulled a black cowl off his head and sauntered over to them.
“Can you vouch for these two?” the guard said.
Master Jai waved them away. “Of course, can’t you see the boy’s signet ring? Fools. Now what do you need to deliver to your father? Speak.”
“I carry a sacred map-of utmost importance to our struggle-given to me… I cannot speak more now, it must be spoken only to the Elders.”
“Then come inside now.” He looked at Mara. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait outside. Your parents would be furious seeing you associating with young Talis. I cannot get involved in Royal House politics.”
Mara was about to speak when Master Jai raised a finger, as if ending all conversion. He motioned Talis through the gates and led him inside. Talis glanced back at Mara. She had already turned and was stomping sullenly away.
The entrance to the chambers wasn’t like he’d expected. A worn sandstone archway and a rough oak door supported by iron slats. Inside, the damp air smelled of mold and rot. A runner greeted them, carrying a lantern as he led them further inside. They marched down a long, dark corridor then followed stone steps sinking deeper. Wavering shadows bounced along the glistening ceiling. Talis could feel his skin flush, hot with anticipation for how his father might react.
The runner rapt three times on a heavy, oaken door. Another guard opened it and peered through. He waved them inside once he recognized Master Jai. Four more guards stood at attention along a waiting corridor, glancing suspiciously at Talis. Once Master Jai had set his hand on Talis’s shoulder, leading him on, they looked away. Finally, the runner opened a set of doors, crafted of intricately carved mahogany. He called out in a nasally, high- pitched voice.
“Announcing Master Jai Nomellius, and young Talis Storm.”
Talis’s heart dropped as he glimpsed his father sitting at the head of an enormous table surrounded by the other thirteen Elders. Hundreds of candles lined the stone walls, casting inky, flickering shadows on their faces. Grave expressions, as if they’d been told of a loved one’s death. They were staring at Talis like they were irritated he was here. His father glared at him. Talis felt he’d made a mistake coming here.
“Master Jai, what’s the nature of this? Why have you brought my son here?” Garen Storm rubbed his shoulder.
The door slammed shut behind them and a soldier bolted the door. Talis felt trapped, deep in this underground maze. He noticed four champions standing uneasily in each corner of the room, gazing at him as if taking in a new threat.
“Your son holds something in his hands, something he claims only the Elders can see.”
“What is that…a map case?” Elder Vellar Lei, Mara’s father, leaned forward, his beady, sunken eyes staring at the map. His wrinkled lips moved as if chewing on his own tongue.
Talis cleared his parched throat, and withered from all the intense stares.
“Speak up, boy.” His father scowled.
“Last night we were attacked-”
“What’s inside the map case?” Elder Vellar boomed, “we don’t have time for stories.”
“Let the boy talk.” Master Viridian stood. “I sense something powerful in his hands.”
“As I was saying, last night…on the temple walls, we were attacked. M-” Talis stopped himself from saying Mara’s name. “Attacked by sorcerers, one came directly at me, chasing us to the Crypts.”
“The Crypts? Whatever for?” Elder Vellar said.
“For the last time, let him speak!”
Talis glanced nervously around. “Trapped we were…in the Crypts…two sorcerers. One tried to take me through a portal. I thought I was doomed. Mara”-Talis coughed, latching eyes with Elder Vellar’s cold stare-“she prayed to the Goddess Nestria…and the Goddess heard her cry. A fallen champion, Master Baribariso, rose to slay the sorcerer.”
“ The Legendary Master Baribariso who rests in the Crypts?” Master Holoron said, his head shaking.
“No longer. He slumbers in the Crypts no more. He is gone to the Immortals…” Talis stared at Holoron, and flicked his hand towards the sky. “Here, I hold his gift…before the champion left, he gave me this, saying the Goddess Nestria hid this for a time like this, a time where the world needs the power of the Goddess Nacrea.”
“The Surineda Map!” Holoron said, rising to his feet. “Is it true?”
Talis nodded and sighed. He held out the map case and twisted open the latch. The Elders gasped as Talis unrolled the map, and displayed it to them all. In that instant, the candles were extinguished and the map shone in the darkness. He experienced a wave of dizziness as the map blazed, flickering fragments of the Goddess’s face, an island forgotten by time, forgotten by civilization, a wrinkled face veiled by smoldering fumes, a broken city nestled in a graveyard.
A snapped finger, flame returned to the candles, a deathly pallor on the Elder’s faces. They had seen it too. The vision.
“Behold!” Master Viridian said, “the Surineda Map. Spoken of in legend, and here before us now. Given by the Goddess for the time when needed most.”
“I saw the Goddess Nacrea!” shouted an Elder.
“An island.”
“The city covered in ash, the temple shattered and in ruins-”
“No the temple stands! I saw it!” shouted another. “You saw the old temple. I saw the true one, in a grove, hidden away. The doorway to it…unseen.”
Master Viridian raised his arms, standing. “Now, now, quiet now. We all saw different visions, that is clear
