Crossroads and the Dominion of Four by C. Toni Graham
“Slow down, you guys!” Jake chuckled as he surveyed the other offerings on the table.
He decided on a hearty slice of beef from the roast just to his right and added garlic-seasoned red potatoes to his plate. He scooped up a slice of a meat pie that was prepared in a semicircle. It had bits of steak, potato, and large pieces of onion and turnip beneath the flaky dough. After one bite of the tender pepper-seasoned beef, he chewed and swallowed quickly and then gorged on it.
“This is the best—no joke!” Jake proclaimed. “I’m gonna get some more of this. It’s so good.”
He took two slices of bread, made a sandwich out of the sliced beef, and added various other items from the table. He smashed it down enough to fit into his awaiting mouth and took a generous bite. “I’m not kidding—this is the best!” he said as he wiped the drippings from his lips.
“It’s about time you recognize it!” Conner bellowed. He leaned across the table, pulled the platter of beef over, and piled several slices onto his plate. “A sandwich is a great idea!”
Seneca nodded in agreement. She nestled into her seat and closed her eyes. She had consumed enough food to keep her satisfied. She sipped the green beverage and realized it tasted familiar. It was similar to the tea her mother made on warm days. She let her body relax as she enjoyed the sensation of being full. She patted her slightly bloated stomach and grinned. She looked around and noticed Shayna wasn’t seated. She was standing at the window, staring off into the distance. Seneca pushed her chair away from the table and made her way across the room. She could see Shayna’s eyes were filled with tears.
“Hey, there’s plenty of food. Come sit down and eat,” said Seneca. She stroked Shayna’s arm softly and slid her hand into hers.
“It’s just so hard to accept all of this,” Shayna said. Her voice was airy and soft. “It’s just not fair that I never got to know her.”
“I know it isn’t fair,” Seneca said. “None of it is. We’re all feeling lost.”
“I didn’t even have a chance to ask where she lived or her favorite things to do. I don’t even know what she wanted me to call her—Dreya or Grams or maybe something else,” Shayna said softly. She wiped away the tears that were now flowing steadily.
“I’m sure that whatever name you came up with would have been fine,” Seneca replied. She knew her words were just filling the silence and not offering much comfort. She didn’t know what else she could do. She had never met her own grandparents or lost anyone close.
“Do you think Celestia knows?” asked Shayna. Her eyes were glassy and wide as she turned toward Seneca. “Do you think they attacked her too?”
“I’m sure she’s fine, and the way word gets around in the Otherworld, I bet she knows about it.”
“Probably, and I’m sure that hag Brigara knows too,” Shayna sneered. “I can’t wait to make her pay for what she’s done. No way is she getting away with it.”
“And her evil minions are going down too,” Seneca added.
“That’s good to hear. However, you will need to have more than just your raw emotions if you are to defeat her,” Rileau said abruptly.
Shayna and Seneca jerked around and eyed their mentor. He had entered the room and overheard their conversation without detection.
“Oh, hi—I mean, we didn’t hear you come in,” said Shayna. She was startled, and the heat on her neck rose to her cheeks; she felt embarrassed. “I hope I didn’t say anything wrong.”
“Stating your intentions is encouraged in these surroundings,” he said. “You do not have to be on guard or mince your words here.”
“You’re saying I have permission to rage?” asked Shayna.
“It is just one facet of your complexity and is just as much a part of you as your laughter or sorrow,” he replied.
“Well, you can scratch laughter off the list—that’s nowhere near what I feel for Brigara,” Shayna said adamantly.
“If you insist, but humor can be off-putting for those who do not expect it. It can be a divisive maneuver when dealing with an adversary,” Rileau said. He smiled at Shayna. “Be prepared to use all your talents, even those that are dormant.”
“Oh yeah, like the powers of persuasion? That didn’t do me much good when we had to fight off those acid-spitting fairies,” Shayna said with a scowl as she twisted her lips into a pout.
“Knowing when and how to use your powers to your advantage will be mastered soon,” he said.
“I can’t wait to figure out some mumbo-jumbo hex-popping stuff. Then I can kick some major Brigara butt!” she grumbled.
“Excuse me, but she can’t do that on an empty stomach, right?” Seneca said. She could see that Shayna was overwhelmed, and the grief of losing her grandmother was the only fuel she was living on. Her loss was turning to pure anger. Seneca surmised that a good meal would probably settle her down, at least temporarily.
“Yes, this is true. Please take a moment to eat,” said Rileau. “We have much to cover when the sun rises, and you will need your strength.”
“Fine. I will eat—if there’s anything left,” Shayna said. She exchanged a forced smile with Seneca as Rileau led her across the room.
“I know you think I’ve eaten enough for the both of us.” Seneca laughed.
“I am pretty sure you’ve eaten enough for all of us!” Shayna retorted.
Conner nearly choked on a nugget of beef as he laughed. “You’re right on point with that one. Even I’m having a tough time keeping up with her.”
“I’m just packing it away for battle,” said Seneca. She sighed and patted her slightly protruding belly. “I’m good to go!”
“That’s a relief! I can finally slow down. I thought I had to keep up,” said Conner.
“I gave up as soon as I saw her practically inhale that whole loaf of bread!” said Jake. He laughed boisterously until his sides ached.
Seneca tried hard not to laugh, until she couldn’t hold back any longer. She glanced at Shayna to see if she’d jump in too, but she merely shook her head and smirked slightly. She was not in the mood to engage in the frolicking. Seneca watched Shayna’s expression change and had an urge to push further to read her thoughts. Insinuating herself into her mind would be easy but also a violation of privacy; she knew she should resist. She bit down on her bottom lip and concentrated on the pain to shift her focus.
Rileau pulled out Shayna’s chair and filled her bowl with stew.
“Thank you,” she said softy. She stirred the oversized spoon slowly as she took a whiff of the comforting smell. She inhaled the aroma before scooping up a generous portion. She liked the warmth of the food as it slid down her throat. It was what she needed at that moment. She wiped away the streaming tears as she listened to Jake and Conner debate which dessert had the most chocolate.
“These are called hermit cookies,” Jake said. “My mother baked them all of the time.”
“No way! They’re spiced raisin cookies!” Conner retorted. “My grandmother practically invented them.”
“Who cares? Just eat them already, and pass three my way!” Seneca said, and they turned and stared blankly in astonishment. “What? Did I say something wrong?” She reached across the table, slid the tray to within reach, and grabbed a handful before plopping down in her seat. She bit into the warm cookies and closed her eyes to savor the various flavors.
“You have a bottomless stomach,” said Jake. He was only partially kidding. He was amazed that someone so small could wolf down that much food.
“Hey, I just feed the hunger.” Seneca smiled and closed her eyes again.
They continued light banter and kept the conversation flowing without further mention of their surroundings or the mission that awaited them. They were careful to keep the mood calm. Although it was unspoken, they knew a tumultuous storm was brewing, and the levity of that moment would likely be their last.
Rileau remained fairly quiet, but his presence was felt and contributed to why they kept the conversations generic. He stood at the far end of the room. He had taken Shayna’s place at the window and stared off into the distance.
“Do you think he can see in the dark?” whispered Conner near Jake’s ear. He gestured to Rileau and finished off his last bite of dessert.
“If he really is a dragon, you’d better believe he can,” said Jake.
CHAPTER NINE
The Perplex
The room was brightly lit and alive with laughter. The dining room had the smell of warm cinnamon rolls. The breakfast offerings were simplistic, but the flavors and amounts served weren’t compromised. They all had consumed several helpings and were feeling content.
Rileau entered the room, allowing the door to slam behind him. The conversations in the room came to an immediate halt. They sat up in their seats with discipline. Their eyes were fixed on him. No one was surprised by his arrival, but they hadn’t anticipated his entrance to be so alarming. Conner gulped down the last of his breakfast without chewing. He wheezed slightly but resisted reaching for his drink.
“I hope your sleeping quarters were satisfactory and that you have found the morning meal to be suitable,” said Rileau flatly as he patrolled the table. He resembled a drill captain conducting an inspection.
“The food here is totally excellent!” Seneca howled as she wiped her mouth and tucked her napkin beneath her empty plate. She sat up straight and grinned. Before he had entered the dining room, she’d been preparing to confiscate a stack of bannocks; there were only a few remaining, and she was eager to drench them in honey. She sighed heavily. She knew the meal was over.
“My bed was heavenly.” Shayna beamed. She thought about the large beds that were raised on platforms well above the floor. Stepstools were placed bedside to assist, but even with the added boost, she still had to climb to get in. She and Seneca shared quarters, as did Jake and Conner at the other end of the hall. She had pulled the thick down-stuffed quilt up to her chin and nestled her head into the fluffy feather pillow. Unable to relax, her mind had raced through all they had encountered. She’d tried to imagine what they would face in the coming days, but that had caused her even more anxiety. Her body had been exhausted, and she’d been mentally drained. She had looked across the room and noticed that Seneca had dozed off fairly quickly. She’d listened and heard a whisper of a snore. Shayna had found it comforting, and she’d focused on the soft rhythm of Seneca’s breathing, which eventually had lulled her to sleep. Her dreams had carried her to places she’d never seen and encounters with people she’d never met. When she’d finally awakened to Seneca’s chattering about the morning’s cuisine, she’d felt as if she had only been asleep for a few minutes. She had somehow made it down to breakfast before Seneca and Conner devoured every morsel of food, but she had barely taken a bite, when Rileau made his entrance. She tried to muffle a yawn, but she caught him glaring and adjusted her posture to show she was attentive.
Rileau cleared his throat and moved farther into the room. He was wearing formal battle attire beneath his hooded cape. His tail fanned across the floor as he moved past each of them. He stopped once he reached Seneca.
“Have you enjoyed your morning thus far?” he asked.
“Yeah, it’s been great. We really should thank your staff, but we haven’t met anyone yet,” said Seneca. “Are there a lot of people here?” She had been wondering who roamed the halls and kept the castle cleaned and stocked.
“That discussion is for another time. There are greater issues at hand.”
“Okay,” said Seneca softly.
“The four of you have not formed the necessary bond to secure the dominion,” said Rileau. “To enhance the properties of the elements you have consumed, your energy must be weaved.”
“That makes sense,” said Jake. “We need to be cohesive like any team if we’re going to win.” He pushed his plate aside and leaned across the table.
“That sounds like something a coach would say,” said Conner excitedly. “I’m on board with teamwork.” He reached for the platter of cinnamon rolls and shoved two into his mouth. He licked sticky frosting from his fingers.
“As long as you don’t expect me to be cheerleader,” said Seneca defiantly. “I draw the line with the rah-rah stuff.”
“Hey, cheerleaders are a team too!” said Shayna. “Besides, you’re so tiny; you’d make a great flier from the top of the pyramid. Or maybe a mascot.”
“A mascot! Not in this realm or any other,” snarled Seneca. She rolled her eyes and balled her fists.
“Enough! I demand your attention,” Rileau snapped. “We must proceed. Come along.”
His green eyes glowed. Without hesitation, they followed him to the stairwell at the end of the corridor. They climbed down the winding stairs. After only a few flights, they stopped at a gilded iron door. Jake stared at it; he hadn’t noticed it on their climb to the dining room. He wondered how he had missed it but rationalized it had likely been cloaked from detection.
“What we will need is in the solar room,” said Rileau as he pushed open the door.
The space was small yet large enough for them to sit comfortably. A fire was lit in a small fireplace. It flickered and crackled. The room smelled of chamomile and was decorated with aged colorful tapestry. The furniture was sparse. The few pieces were spaced close together, making a comfortable arrangement for conversations. Two cabinets made of thick oak painted in bright reds and greens lined the walls. The chairs were covered in heavy velvet with heraldic designs coordinated to the design on the heavy rug that took up most of the floor space. The room was lit with well-placed oil lamps, but most of the lighting came from the wide window at the end of the room. Shayna sat on the window seat and looked out to the garden below. She exhaled slowly and took in the majestic beauty.
The garden was a mix of blood red roses and lilies. Perfectly manicured and maintained. Shayna wondered if they were kept pristine by magic or a skillful groundskeeper. Rileau hadn’t addressed Seneca’s question about the staff or others that lived in the castle. She wondered if he had reason to keep secrets about who prepared their meals, dusted the tapestry and swept the floors. Surely, there had to be others.
“Shayna––are you paying attention?” Rileau asked, snapping her from her daydream. His voice resonated loudly in the tight quarters.
“Yes, I am.” She decided to keep her response simple.
“We are about to discuss what will be needed to strengthen the bond you share,” he said. “Please join us.” He smiled slightly and gestured for her to come closer.
Shayna sat in the chair next to Seneca. Rileau crossed the room and opened one of the cabinets. It was filled with gold goblets and various vials and canisters. Jake locked eyes on Seneca and she shook her head in response. Rileau selected one of the vials and emptied the glowing onyx contents into one of the goblets. He took long strides until he reached the window. He raised the goblet to the light and waved his hand across the opening. Sparks shot silently into the air and cascaded over the goblet before dissolving.
“It’s like the fourth of July, except without the kaboom and finale,” whispered Conner. Jake nodded in agreement.
“What I hold before you is the Oil of Animation Perplexity. It is enchanted to create a primitive perplex,” said Rileau as he looked into the cup with admiration. “It is in its purest state for consumption.”
“Consumption? You mean like for drinking?” asked Shayna.
“Yes, and I believe you are the one who should indulge,” he said. Rileau extended the goblet toward her.
She put up her hands in protest and leaned back in her chair. “Why do you think I should drink it?” she asked with fear and confusion.
“It was you who destroyed the portal and prohibited Bri
“Maybe if you told us what it is and what it does first,” said Jake. He stood next to her chair in a protective stance.
“Yeah, I think Jake’s got a point. What does it do?” asked Shayna as she slid closer to Seneca and gripped her hand.
“The perplex is a vortex of mystic energy that allows one to be suspended between realms. It does not sustain a living entity for extended periods of time,” said Rileau. “It is the closest charm to banishment.” He spoke calmly, as if it were an everyday occurrence. He did not retract his hand as he held the goblet steady and within Shayna’s reach.
“Well, if you can banish people with it, does that mean it’s dark magic?” asked Seneca.
“It is not dark magic. And banishment is not its purpose,” he said. “In the purest form, it is intended as a temporary suspension in an animated state. The elder druids have used it to enhance their abilities and strengthen their connections with other druids.”
“Is it like the spell they used when they tried to send Brigara to the Inbetween?” Jake asked.
“No, it is not of the same properties. The spell they chose had origins from ancient charms. Their attempt was thwarted because of interference,” replied Rileau. Smoke escaped his nostrils and made a small cloud at chest level before evaporating.
“That’s what Keene Ardara was trying to explain too. We found out that Shayna’s mom helped her escape—no offense, Shayna,” said Jake.
“None taken. I’m sure Celestia—I mean my mother—was doing what she thought was right,” said Shayna.
“The heart can be used as a weapon, and Brigara is an expert at seeking weaknesses,” said Rileau grimly. “Now let us continue with the perplex.”