When Emily was not on Ammolite, she spent much of her time with her mother walking through the elf forest and meeting elven relatives. She also spent time with her friends from Bashan—Cameron, and Keaton, hoping she would see them when she next returned to Acacia, but knowing in her heart this was probably their last meeting.
* * *
“Is everyone ready,” Dr. D asked the group from Earth. They were standing next to the shores of Portal Lake.
“I’m not quite ready for you to go.” Elaina wrapped her arms around Emily, Hadrian, and each of Emily’s friends in turn. “Before you go, I wanted to give each of you a gift.” Crittenden came forward and handed the queen a leather bag, which she opened. “Greenstones are very rare. They have many properties including healing. These were found in my forest.” The queen presented each of the girls a polished emerald-cut greenstone set in a necklace of tiny stones. “The greenstones can accelerate healing if they’re placed next to an injury and they’ll augment healing spells. Additionally, these stones are tuned to me and will alert me if one of you is ever in mortal danger.” She pulled out the last two necklaces and handed them to Hadrian and Luke. “My gem-smith worked to carve these into the shape of a dragon-tooth.”
Emily studied her necklace and realized small diamond shards were worked into the jewelry. “It’s beautiful.” As her finger contacted the greenstone, she realized this stone was a part of her mage-stone set. She only needed three more stones, a blackstone, a silverstone, and a goldstone to complete the sextet. She pulled her radiant redstone ring and Cadux, her oval-cut bluestone staff out of her leather pouch on her belt.
“They match.” Elaina gasped while fingering the three stones.
“What do you mean?” Anna ran her finger lightly over Emily’s stones.
“A mage-stone set consists of six stones that somehow match or belong together,” Elaina began. “Each stone will have its own properties, but when a magician puts together a perfect set of six, they can perform a powerful spell revealed only to the bearer once the set is formed.” She got a far-away expression on her face. “I once knew an elf magician who formed his own set of magestones.”
“Who?” Luke stared at the magestones twinkling next to each other.
Queen Elaina looked pensive for a moment and then began to speak. “His name is Shadoe. He’s an orange magician, extremely skilled with the power of prophecy. He’s the most powerful elf magician I’ve ever met. Shadoe and I were engaged before I met Andrew. He now lives in the Dothan Forest.”
Emily slowly put her magestones away. “I promise I’ll return to Acacia soon.” She gave her mother a long hug.
“Perhaps someday I’ll journey to Earth” Elaina gave Emily a warm wink.
“Not if I can help it,” Crittenden warned. “I don’t want you to leave the protection of the forest. Even this area is way too far from our home.”
Dr. D opened his backpack and began to organize some items in leather bags. “We need to put a little more money in the bank to keep scouting Earth for more ‘visitors’ and for more portals, so I brought back a few more gemstones.”
Emily went to Ammolite and wrapped her arms around her dragon-bondsmate. I’ll miss you. She delved deep into their mind-link, sending all her emotions and feelings across their connection.
I think I’ll occasionally go through the portal that’s in my volcano in the Black Mountain, Ammolite thought back. I won’t reveal myself to your world, but I hope our mind-link will function when I cross to let us talk. I also want to test my flying on Earth. Who knows if I might have to go there one day. Maybe I’ll have to rescue a poor princess captured by an evil prince.
Emily could easily sense Ammolite’s pain through her teasing words. She had lost her mother and was now losing her bondsmates. “Perhaps one day Earth will need a visit from my dragon.” Emily caressed Ammolite’s snout. “Until that time, I think you better stay away from the machines and weapons of Earth.”
Dr. D rubbed his fingers absently through Dax’s fur. The otter was perched on his shoulder. “Link hands while going through the portal. We need to go together in one group.” He was the first to dive into the crystal-clear waters, but they all remained close. Dr. D made a mark and they swam through.
Exhausted in the new atmosphere of Earth and soaking wet in the subbasement of the hospital building in Austin, Texas, Emily looked around at their bedraggled crew and began to cry. Her sobs set off the rest of the group and they hugged each other, with tears rolling down their faces, only just realizing all they had lost.
“Everything is so muted,” Isabelle’s voice was full of sorrow. She sadly rubbed her temples.
“My hearing is horrible,” Anna added, brushing away the tears from her eyes.
“I feel so weak.” Luke clenched his hands into fists.
“It’s what I imagine a drug withdrawal feels like.” Emily whispered.
“I’m wheezing again,” Elizabeth murmured in a hushed voice, glancing in the direction of the portal. “It makes me want to return to Acacia.”
“After a few days, you’ll get used to it.” Dr. D sighed as he adjusted his pack. “The memory of what we once had will begin to fade.”
“I don’t want to forget any of it.” Luke reached out, interlacing his fingers with Emily’s hand. “Before we go home, do you have the energy to sear all the events into our memory?” Emily nodded. She used her magic to fix the memories of all that had occurred on their trip into each of her friends’ minds forever.
“I don’t think I have to say this, but I will anyway.” Hadrian’s face was solemn. He shouldered his own backpack. “Keep all of this to yourselves. Don’t ever email or write any of it down or talk about it on the phone. Only talk about it when one of our group is with you.”
“Kind of like a secret society,” Elizabeth’s eyes were still brimming with tears, but she forced a smile on her face. “Maybe we should have a cool name for our group?”
“Well, as you all essentially became knights, why not Acacean Knights, or AK for short?” Dr. D’s words were warm, but Emily could sense how tired he was beneath the mask.
“I like that,” Emily answered in a soft voice. She started toward the exit. “I’ll plan out the first meeting of the Acacean Knights.” She pushed the button for the elevator. “Now let’s go see our families.” Hadrian and Dysis left in their car, while Dr. D shoved everyone else in his Range Rover with Xena in the rear of the vehicle. Emily sat next to Luke and put her head on his shoulder. Luke gently stroked her hair and she closed her eyes. She lost track of time, only able to focus when she performed a group hug as each of her friends slowly left the car. Each departure made her feel as if a small portion of her heart was being taken way.
“Hadrian’s heading back to D.C. to track down the last loose ends, searching for the people Samil was working with. I wonder what he’ll find.” Dr. D had a faraway look in his eyes.
“I wish I didn’t know about Iscar,” Emily spoke in a hushed voice. Why did Droth exit the battle? Where was Iscar?
If Iscar’s on Earth, he could be any age, depending on the time he crossed through Samil’s portal, Xena whispered.
“It’s not over … is it?” she asked her father. Unanswered questions continued to swirl in her mind.
“No, it’s not over yet,” Dr. spoke in a weary tone.
Glossary of Characters
Aamon, Abadd, and Abatu – Samil’s sons
Achcat Tat – Overlord of the Javan
Aderyn – Falcon, Keaton’s bondsmate
Adrienne - Dryad, half-dead created by Emily
Amana – Saber-toothed tiger, Rios Esteppe’s bondsmate
Amanda Baker – Potential Stargate Project member
Andrew Dalton – Doctor, pediatric surgeon, Emily’s godfather
Anna - Emily’s friend, martial artist
Apache - Emily’s horse at the Henry stable
Arach – King of the dragons in the first dragon war
Argos
- Isabelle’s horse at the Henry stable
Ashignis Angel – Gold Magician, Professor of the elements
Bronte - Emily’s warhorse
Cain – Vampire, half-dead created by Samil
Calumnia Funk – White Magician, Alitis, Professor of illusions
Cameron – Blue Magician, orphan
Caroline – Swimmer
Chimalli – Captain of Achcat Tat’s guard
Claire –Blue Magician, orphan
Crittenden Quercus – Elf, Captain of the guard
Cyril –Red Magician, King of Ekron sector
Dax –River otter, Dr. D’s bondsmate,
Delores Quadmire – Bully in Austin, Texas
Doeg Quadmire – Delores’ father, trainer
Dracul, Drago, and Drakkon - Dragons of the Black Riders by Portal Lake
Drakus – Black Magician, Drogor’s ancestor, fought in first Dragon War
Drogor – Wraith-spirit - dead grandfather of Samil, magician, black magic
Droth –Black Magician, Samil’s general on Earth
Duke – Boxer, Hadrian’s bondsmate, nickname for Orthus
Dysis Hoshi - Blacksky lieutenant
Elaina – Elf queen
Elizabeth - Emily’s friend, swimmer
Emily – Blue Magician
Fang – Saber-tooth tiger, Suci Abaddon’s bondsmate
Ferdinand Maurer –Yellow Magician, Professor of auras and magestones
Finnur Haukur – Captain of the Elisabet
Flamescale – Red dragon of Eusebius
Fred Wernli – Pulmonologist
Gavone Gassone – Red Magician, leader of the Cat Clan
Ginger Mero – Brown Magician, Professor shape changing
Goldenmoon – Dragon of Eusebius
Hadrian Simara - Blacksky Commander
Ian McClinton – Medic who found Hadrian in Hawaii
Isabelle - Emily’s friend, horse rider
Iscar - Magician
James Moss - Doctor that trained Dr. D
Jon – Magician, Green Magic, crew of Elisabet, longbow expert
Keaton –Blue Magician, orphan, Alitis
Kelcey –Black Magician, Elf, sister of Shadoe
Kwan Tat –Gold Magician, Javan, crew of Elisabet
Mors – Vampire, half-dead
Mr. Jesse Gunlock - Attendant at the animal shelter
Ladon - Dragon of Angkor
Lampos - Horse merchant of Angkor
Loff Retz - Indigo magician, nexus, wraith spirit
London Belafsky –Indigo Magician, Professor of bondsmates
Luce Levi Laadah – Lacerta warrior
Luke - Emily’s friend, fencer
Maaca – Vampire, half-dead created by Samil
Magog – Saber-toothed tiger, Suci’s bondsmate
Malachi Hughes – President’s son
Marcus Tate – Yellow Magician, Samil’s assistant
Marie – Swimmer
Medens Force –Green Magician, Professor of healing
Milo – Red Magician, Droth’s assistant
Nathan Ezer- Fisherman who gave Cyril a water cobra
Nicos and Yorgos – Twins, crew of Elisabet
Nox – Horse, Cameron’s bondsmate
Oliver Tseng - Sensei of martial arts
Pendon – Angkor Castle director
Richard and Jean Whayne- Emily’s adoptive parents
Rios Esteppe –Red Magician, Cat Clan
Roseanne Reese – Orange Magician, Professor of Dragon lore and the history of magic
Ross – Elf warrior
Janishka Rumanovah – Violet Magician, Droth’s girlfriend
Sak – Gray dragon of Citlaltzin
Samamune – Javan Swordmaker
Samil - Black Magician
Scott Henry - Owns the stables where Emily trains
Shachal – Black tiger, Gavone’s bondsmate
Shadoe – Orange Magician, Elf
Skyler – Black dragon, Samil’s bondsmate
Stacy Stevens –Silver Magician, Professor of psionics
Steele – Captain John Steele, Elf warrior
Suci Abaddon –Violet Magician, Professor of potions
Tebah – Blacksky agent, close friend of Hadrian
Tertius Kline – Captain of pirate ship
Tiamat – Queen of the dragons on Acacia
Tonalli – Javan warrior, trained Hadrian
Ullr – Shade, half-dead created by Samil
Vadimas – onetime head of the magical academy on the Island of Bashan
Val Vincere –Red Magician, Professor of offensive magic
Victor – Fusion of mermaid and Acacean, crew of Elisabet
Wennogle Wall –Blue Magician, Professor of shields
William Hughes – President of the United States
Wuldur – Shade, half-dead created by Samil
Xander, Xanthus, Xeno - Xena’s littermates, Droth’s dogs
Xena – pronounced Zeena, Doberman, nickname Z, Emily’s bondsmate
Yannis – Water Cobra, Cyril’s bondsmate
Yotan – Javan King during Hadrian’s youth
Zara – Innkeeper of the Flotsam
Glossary of Magic
Aneoxa porta - Open
Aranea Textura - Weave a web to search for others, or scan for items
Ardesco - Fireball
Armus – Communicate with animals
Ater – Purgatory, the spirit world
Consigno – Seal a message in a mage-stone fragment
Defigere – Enchant an object
Dream-link – A spell to communicate
Fegkos fulgar - Fire
Fulgar makria - Turn off lights
Glacies – Freeze spell
Ianitorus - Spell to open doors
Ki (Pronounced “key”) - Inner voice, inner magical power
Madai – Name for someone who has no magical ability
Mage-field – Force field around an object to prevent magus use
Mage-lock – A lock on a door allowing limited magician entry
Magus – (pronounced “may-jus”) - Inner magic
Makria - End a spell
Medicor - Heal
Memoria – Memorize, commit to memory
Mind-link – A mental link between bondsmates
Mouwe – Camouflage spell
Mutationem – Mutate to another shape
Oath-bound – Samil’s dragon-oath bound warriors
Propero - Move
Pulsus – Psionic spell, push, moves an object
Remedio bestia – Healing spell for bondsmates
Somnio - Sleep or meditation to begin to send across a dream-link
Thyreos o – Shield spell
Ukcabala – The process of pulling across a spirit from Ater
Vinculum – The process of bonding with a bondsmate
Zambi – Formation of a Mavet raa
Glossary of Time
1. Earth prime age: starts from the day one first arrives on Earth
2. One day on Earth is equivalent to one year on Acacia
3. Traveling from Acacia to Earth: No change in age. Earth prime age begins. Weakening in magic, senses, agility. A tolerance can be built over time or adaptation occurs with spells that promote rejuvenation
4. Traveling from Earth to Acacia: Travelers from Earth to Acacia undergo a heightening. Agility, strength, intelligence, senses and magical ability all increase, greater based on years on Earth. Heightened abilities decay slowly over years spent on Acacia
5. Traveling from Earth to Acacia and back to Earth:
- For each year spent on Acacia, one day passes on Earth.
- Age will revert upon a return to Earth based off Earth prime age plus one day for each year spent on Acacia. Cheating time.
- Retain skills and memories from a trip to Acacia upon a return to Earth
&nb
sp; - Weakening upon a return to Earth - greater depending on the amount of time spent on Acacia
Examples:
1. Born on Acacia. Leave Acacia at 30, arrive on Earth. Earth prime age begins at 30. Weakening. Tolerance will build. Remain on Earth 10 years. Will be 40 Earth years. Return to Acacia. Will stay 40. Heightening. 3,650 years will have passed on Acacia (365 x 10). If remain on Acacia 10 years, heightening decays. Will be 50 years old. Return to Earth. Weakening. Only 10 Earth days will have passed for the 10 Acacean years. Revert to 40 Earth years plus 10 days. Cheat time. Will retain new abilities, memories. Tolerance begins
2. Born on Earth. Earth prime age begins at birth. At 14, travel to Acacia
Heightening. Live 10 years on Acacia, will be 24 years old, heightening decays. Return to Earth. Weakening. Revert back to 14 years of age plus 10 days. Cheat time. Will retain memories and skills learned. Tolerance begins
3. Twins born on Acacia. Twin A leaves at birth to Earth. Weakening. Earth prime age begins at age 0. Tolerance begins.
Twin B lives 10 years on Acacia (10 Earth days). Twin B goes to Earth. Weakening. Earth prime age begins at 10 years. Tolerance begins. Twin A will be 10 days old, Twin B 10 years old. Discrepant age based on Earth prime day.
4. Born on Acacia. At 50 years old, travel to Earth. Earth prime age begins at 50. Weakening. Tolerance begins. If stay one day and return to Acacia. One year will have passed on Acacia. Mild heightening. Stay on Acacia ten years - 60-year-old. Return to Earth. Weakening. Revert back to 50 years plus 10 days. Cheat time. Stay one day on Earth, return to Acacia. One year will have passed on Acacia. Will still be 50 years plus 11 days. Cheat time. Mild heightening.
Glossary of Locations
Acacia – Parallel world to Earth
Achrace - Adjacent city to Citlaltzin in the Javan lands
Angkor – Sector in Acacia
Aquatine River – Flows into the Atitlane Sea
Atitlane Sea - Many islands in the center, including the Black Mountain and the Island of Bashan