Talamh - Book Two (Guardian)

Book one is Tripped

Books one and two do not have to be read in order due to the fact they take place at the same time.

I would be pleased if you read this and give me feedback. This story is in progress and I will try to update it regularly.

WARNING: I have printed out a copy of this story and sent it through the mail to myself. This is a legal way of proving that I wrote this story before posting it online and before anyone who might copy my work. Plagiarizers out there you have been forewarned.

 

2: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I look at the book before copying the words down again, trying my best to memorize the symbols exactly. Today is the day I finally put the practice to work. Why am I up at five in the morning writing strange symbols into my note book? Well it all started last summer when I turned fifteen. My Uncle Alastar finally decided to tell me about my father. 

He told me that he and my father came from another world to this one. That my father was an activist trying to put the rightful king back on to the throne, and during one of his missions he went missing. Alatstar told me that he believed my father was either dead or locked in a prison somewhere. Needless to say this wasn’t the explanation I expected.

See my father disappeared from my life when I was five. Over the years my mom has refused to talk about it. Oh, she talks about him like he never left, like he could at any moment walk in our front door. For the most part I didn’t miss my father, mainly because of Uncle Alastar. Alastar has always been there for me and my mom. He spent a lot of time with me as a mentor and teacher. I learned martial arts from him. For a time I wished he would marry my mom so he could be my dad.

 So over the years I could only guess at where my father was. Jail, maybe living with a new family, with half siblings I would never meet. Those were some of the possibilities I was waiting to hear. So when Alastar finally told me the truth about my father it came out of left field to me. Well to be completely honest I thought he was BS'ing me. Hey, who would have taken the story at face value?

It wasn’t until Alastar took me to the library and opened the portal that I finally started to believe him. How could I not? Seeing the laws of science crumble before me.

That is what I am doing now, practicing how to open the portal, because this summer I am going to Talamh, my father’s world. The book I am reading now is basically a beginner’s guide to the world of Talamh. Alastar gave it to me after dropping his biggest bomb.

He told me how it has been my family’s duty to protect Talamh’s royal family. A duty that my grandfather and great-grandfather had failed at. Alastar told me that it would be my responsibility to take over my father’s task, to put the rightful king on the throne, and if I don’t the people of Talamh will suffer.

BOOMB and now my life will never be the same. I’m not even sure I want to do this, but I have to at least try right? Alastar told me I would begin my Journey after I graduated high school. But things changed and now it was necessary to go this summer. They couldn’t tell me why oh no! I will find out more when I’m in Talamh.

Alastar is already in Talamh. And I have to open the portal by myself this time. Well not completely by myself as I will have Myrna with me. Oh, another thing that pisses me off! Myrna, ten year old Myrna already knows about Talamh, in fact she has always known about it, and she has been there multiple times!

        “Just a puppet on a lonely string

        Oh who would ever want to be king?

        I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing

        Roman Cavalry choirs are singing

        Be my mirror, my sword and shield

        My missionaries in a foreign field”  

         Coldplay’s Viva La Vida roars through my alarm clock telling me that it is time to get ready for school. I quickly grab the t-shirt and jeans neatly folded on the drawer and put them on. I put my PJs into the hamper, before searching through my closet for my new hoodie.

Next I make my bed, then I gather all of my books and things back into my backpack. As I leave my room I look around at it. My bed is neatly made, the floor is clean, and all my things are exactly where they should be. My best friend Dylan calls me a neat freak, but can you blame me for not liking being in a pigsty? I mean Dylan’s room smells like a moldy locker-room.

Looking at my empty room from the door I think of my mom’s room. How all of my dad’s things are still there untouched by the passing of time. His clothes are still hanging on his side of the closet. Random work is still scattered across his desk, and I wonder. What happens if I don’t return?  Will my room stay the same years from now gathering dust? Will my mom come home to this house year after year quietly waiting for the return of her husband and son?

I shake away the depressing thoughts as I make my way down the stairs. It wasn’t going to happen. I won’t do that to her. No I will be back in a couple of months ready for school to start.  The smell and sizzling of bacon tells me my mom is in the kitchen.

My mom is making breakfast. She only does that for special occasions. She is wearing a yellow sun dress and a simple white apron. Her blond hair is pulled back into a ponytail. Hearing me come in she turns towards me and gives me a smile, but the smile doesn’t reach those sad blue eyes.

“I always knew this day would come, but I was hoping it wouldn’t be so soon.” She says as she motions me to sit down. I sit in my chair and watch her graceful practiced movements as she cracks eggs into a skillet and flips over the pancakes and bacon. 

Before long there is a piping hot plate of pancakes, eggs, hash browns and bacon before me. For one I am not hungry but I force myself to eat it. My mom sits across from me with a plate of her own.  Mom doesn’t eat, but shuffles the food from side to side. Funny, she used to get after me for doing that when I was little.

“You know your father hoped to return Talamh to its former glory. Our plan was to move to the capital when he finished and raise more kids. It’s strange how quickly plans change.”  She looks up from her plate at me with that sad smile. “It looks like the dream passes down to you. I want you to be careful for me, Okay?  And please come back to me.”

My mom is crying now. Her tears making tracks on her face before dripping into her plate. At this tears make their way burning in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall.

“I will be back mom. You don’t have to worry about me. Uncle Alastar will keep me in line you know that.” I decide to forget the food and make my way to her. I give her a hug. She clings to me like a life preserver in the middle of the ocean. Finally she lets me go, and gives a sad chuckle.

“Look at us,” she says as starts to gather the plates. “Acting like it’s the end of the world.”

“I will be fine mom. I will be back before you know it.” I tell her.

“I know I’m being ridiculous.  Oh, look at that clock! We have to go now if we are going to have any chance at all of getting you to school on time!”

3: Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I tune out Mr. Zorger’s words as he further explains our summer homework assignment. Why? Mr Zorger is normally one of the cool teachers like Mr. Yee our science teacher. He wants us to journal our vacation.

 Yeah, I went to another world and made the first step of putting the rightful king back in power, so believable. The curses of going to a small school! My cover is that I am going to camp for the summer. So do I just make up a bunch of camp BS? Man, I am not looking forward to this summer at all!

The Lunch bell rings, freeing us from the class room. The already crowded hallway parts for me. Boys and girls shuffle to get out of my way. It’s one of the benefits of being popular. I meet up with Dylan as he leaves his math class. Dylan has sandy blond hair and brown eyes. Today he is wearing his letterman jacket.

“Hey Dylan can you believe Mr. Z is giving us an assignment for the summer!”

“Yes, I already heard, and Whitmore is following his lead! She gave us all a four page worksheet to complete over the break!” He tells me. “Front and back! Can you believe it? Well I’m telling you I’m not going to do it! I refuse to infect my summer with math!” 

Math homework for summer vacation! Could my life get any worse? I hate Mrs. Whitmore! Dylan is still complaining about Whitmore as we join the lunch line. Luckily today is pizza day, in honor of it being the last day of school.

I feel arms wrap around me from behind and hands cover my eyes as a pair of boobs slowly press against my back.

“Guess who” Brittney’s annoying voice asks me. Why won’t she leave me alone? How many times do I have to tell her I’m not interested? 

“Could you please get off me Britt?” I respond as I try to wiggle out of her hold.

“Oh come on Quinn don’t be like that! I was just playing around. Why do you have to be so mean to me?” Brittney whined as she pouted her perfectly pink lips. Brittney is a beautiful blond with a banging body, and beautiful hazel eyes. Unfortunately she has a heart of ice and a personality as fun as wet paint.

I made the mistake of dating her earlier this year and those were the most miserable two months of my life!

“Oh, come on Britt when will you ever take the hint?” Dylan Asks her. “He’s just not in to you!”  Brittney sends him an icy glare.

“Is he the reason you don’t want to date me anymore Quinny?”

“As if,” I roll my eyes at her. Thankfully Dylan is now next in line to get his tray. I follow him gabbing myself some pepperoni pizza to eat, before making my way two our table.

Unfortunately Britt was still following us and sat beside me as we sat down.

“I can’t believe you are going to summer camp this year!” Dylan whined having apparently decided to ignore our tagalong. I look at Britt and see her weal turning.

“Quinny, you’re going to a summer camp too? It just so happens that I am too! What is the name of the camp you’re going to? Maybe we are going to the same one wouldn’t that be fun?”  Britt asks. As fun as shooting myself in the foot. Her plan is obvious to me; she wants to know where I’m going to camp so she can get into the same one last minute.

“What? Brittney you’re going to a summer camp this summer.” Loren one of Brittney’s friends asks horrified confirming my suspicions. 

“Yeah Daddy thinks it will be a good learning experience for me.”

Britt tells Loren. “So Quinny what camp are you going to?”

I quickly swallow the piece of pizza in my mouth as I think of a believable lie.

“Well I know I’m going to a different camp than you because the one I am going to is an all-boys camp.” I lie through my teeth. Not a bad lie if I do say so myself.

“Oh, really?” Brittney asks disappointed.

“I didn’t know they had camps like that.” Loren puts her two cents in.

“Yeah, well the camp I’m going to is for young marshal artists. It’s kind of like going to a football camp.” Wow, I amaze myself with my quick wit sometimes. There isn’t a single person in this school that would doubt my going to a camp for marshal artists since I am the only one who competes at tournaments regularly.

“Wow, Quinn you didn’t tell me that!” Dylan exclaims, “That is so cool!” I have been trying to teach him martial arts for the last year. He is getting better but has a way to go.

 Dylan is a secret geek who is obsessed with comic books and manga, although I am the only person in school who knows this.

“Hey look the yearbook club looks like they are getting ready to pass out the yearbooks.” Britt interrupts leans over to grab my arm. I instantly pull it a way. “I can wait to see your photo. Will you sign my yearbook for me Quinny? She asks as she runs her hand through my hair. I move away from her as fast as I can, bumping into Dylan and causing him to gag on his food. 

“Sorry dude,” I apologize to Dylan as he regains his breath.

“Hey, Britt I can’t wait to get the yearbook so that I can draw all over your ugly photo!” Dylan replies. Yes it isn’t the cleverest remark but he tries.  Brittney just laughs at him; her annoying giggle fills the room.

“Oh, Quinny your little friend is so funny. Were dis you find him the zoo?”  I have to say her comeback is also lame. I roll my eye at her and Give Dylan my can you believe this S#@T look. Dylan just shakes his head.

 “So what are your plans for this summer?” I ask Dylan.

“Well I was able to join that dojo you recommended so hopefully I will be closer to your level when school starts up again!”

“That sounds awesome.” I encourage him. Honestly I haven’t been able to teach him much with all my other activities. It is nice to know he will be learning from someone who knows what they are doing.

“Yeah, it will be a lot of fun. Now if only we didn’t have that stupid worksheet from Mrs. Whitmore.” He replies. I groan.

“Why did you have to bring that up?” I ask.

“Hey Quinn have you seen your year book photo?” James a friend from the team interrupts.

“No I haven’t, why?” James shows me his year book. I find my photo but it isn’t what I expect to see. I’m in some weird outfit with a sash and a crown.

“What?” The wheel’s in my brain stop moving as I struggle to figure out what is going on.  The people at my table break out with a burst of laughter “I can’t believe they photo shopped my picture!” I rise from my seat and charge to the table the year book club has setup shop. Oh someone has hell to pay.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

It’s already been twenty minutes and I still fill badly for making Katie cry. I let out another sigh.

“Oh get over it Quinn. I’m sure those were crocodile tears anyway. Katie is one tough cookie.” James assures me. I hope he is right I can stand it when girls cry!

“Hey, maybe we should start heading to the principal’s office and fix your yearbook problem. He got to be out of that meeting by now right?” Dylan suggests.

“Okay, let’s go.” James agrees.

“I’ll beat you guys there!” Dylan challenges and takes off in a run. James and I are just catching up when he runs into a girl knocking her off of her feet. The girl looks up at Dylan. James’s sister Ann is right behind her. Ann is a beauty with the same coloring as her brother, dark brown hair with amber eyes. 

“Dylan?” She asks.

“Do I know you?” Dylan asks confused. “Are you new?” The poor girl starts crying. Ann sends Dylan a glare.

“Don’t be silly Dylan.” I interrupt. “Just because we don’t have any classes with the girl doesn’t mean she doesn’t go to school here.” The girl’s cries become sobs at my words, and my heart plunges. Ann brings the girl to her in a hug.

 “Idiot Quinn, Kota sits right next to you in history!” James scolds. At least he knows my name. Crap I’m a jerk! “Girls I believe we made birthday plans at the mall.” James says sending me a glare. “I’ll call you later.”

“Sorry Kota!” I shout as I watch James and the girls leave.

I try to think back to history class and who sits next to me. I know Dylan sits to my right but I don’t recall who sits to my left. Strange, usually I am very observant of my surroundings. Apparently it is the tall mousey girl named Kota. I will have to apologize to her when school starts up again.

4: Chapter 3

Chapter 3

An award silence fills the car as mom drives me to the library. This sucks I hate this, our relationship isn’t normally like this. We are close. We understand and watch out for each other. Yes, we have our fights and mom grounds me from time to time, but I know why. I also know she loves me.

I want to say something, to lighten the mood, but I am afraid too. Mom looks like she could burst in to tears at any moment. My mind is blank I don’t know what to say to make things better. I have already seen too much crying to day so I let the painful science continue. 

Looking out the window I watch as the light rain slowly floods the world around me. How miserable and fitting it is. It is like the sky is reflecting the chaos of my life at this moment, shedding all the tears I refuse to let out. The car ride feels to slow and yet too fast at the same time. Before I know it we are parking in front of the library.

“Well we’ve hit the end of the road.” My mom replies her voice hoarse. I don’t respond still unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry all of my worrying has sucked the excitement of out all this for you haven’t it. I know I am over reacting and that Alastar will take care of you but I can’t seem to control myself today.” She looks me in the eyes as she says this in a apologetic tone.

“Mom, you don’t have to apologize!” I protest. She laughs at me but soon the chuckle is replaced with the tears I knew I would have to face.

“I’ll be fine I tell her.” The empty words have no effect. Mom leans over to give me a hug. Normally I would strongly protest such affection in public however today is not a normal day. I pull my mom closer to me, and promise myself once more that I will make it back to her. After a moment my mom puts away.

“You should probably get out now, before this rain gets any worse.” She tells me. I grab my umbrella and bag and open the car door. With haste I open my umbrella and get out of the car before looking back at my mom. “I love you Mom” I tell her. She smiles at me, a real smile this time.

“I love you too.” She tells me as the car door closes. I run to the library. Once I am inside I look back at the car. Mom gives me one last wave before driving away.

As I enter deeper into the library my cellphone starts to ring. Crap! I have the ringtone up as loud as it can go. I scramble through my bag in search of it. I find it at the bottom of my bag, and only after several loud rings.

“Hello,” I whisper into the phone as I gather my things back into my bag. I look around at the nearly empty library and find two elderly ladies sending glares my way and the librarian shaking her head. I send them a apologetic smile.

“Hey Quinn,” James voice greets me.

“Hi James,” I greet back quietly as I make my way through the aisle to an even emptier section of the library. “Look James I am sorry about earlier with Kota.” Did I remember that correctly? That is the right name, right? “I have no excuse I still can’t really remember her being in my classes.”

“Well you aren’t the first to forget her.” James tells me. “Can you believe the yearbook club forgot to put her into the yearbook?”

“What? How is that even possible?” Crap, now I feel like an even bigger jerk. I only made the poor girl’s day even worse.

“Yeah the probably spent too much time photo-shopping the photos of other students.” James comments with a humorless laugh. “Any ways she is the reason I called. Ann and I plan on giving her a makeover when we return before school starts. I was wondering if you could help watch out for her when school starts back up. Seeing as you are in the same grade.” I consider it; it would make up for me making her cry.

“Okay I’ll help you.” I tell James. “I hope your summer vacation goes well.” James is spending his summer at his dad’s for the first time.

“I doubt it. After all these years of him barely having time for us and, now we need to drop everything to spend time with him?  I’m going to give him hell.” Funny how I thought my dad would end up being like his. Instead I get another world to deal with and a mystery.

“When you put it like that, it sound like you will have fun.” I joke.

“Only a little,” James jokes back. “Look the girls are done at the register I have to go.”

“Bye, have a good summer”

“Ditto,” he replies before hanging up. As I look at my phone I find a missed text from Lacy, Myrna’s mom, saying they were running late. Well that just great. I make my way to the library computers. I guess I’ll waste some time on Facebook.

I look over to find Myrna watching me. Her arms are folded across her chest. Her foot is taping the ground as she sends me an impatient look, such a typical girl move.

Myrna is a cute ten year old with bright green eyes and long curly blond hair. Her mom dresses her in so many ribbons and ruffles that she has the appearance of a china doll.

“I’m logging off now.” I inform her as I exit Facebook.

“Good, I can’t wait to get to Talamh. Grandma and Alastar will be waiting for us.” She says as she begins to walk towards the back of the library.

So this is it I’m going to travel to a different world!  What would it be like? What would it look like? Other than having the spell to travel between the worlds, the book that Alastar gave me read as a history book on the royal family and the government of Talamh. It gave no indication on what Talamh would look like. Would it be like earth or would it be like going down the rabbit hole? Wait, what if there are dragons?

Something hits my shin and trips me. I try to gain my balance by grabbing on to a shelf only to have it tip its contents on to me as I fall. Shit! Is a good thing Alastar wasn’t here to see that! He would be on me like butter on toast.

‘Where did your training go Quinn? I thought I taught you better than that! You must always be aware of your surroundings. Know where people are, know what is around you and pay attention to where the exit is!’ Alastar’s scolding voice echoes through my mind.

He would be even more disappointed about how easily I lost my balance! I pick myself up as the brat beside me giggles hysterically at my expense. Well at least she is trying to muffle them, and I’m sure I must have looked ridiculous.

“Oh come on!” I whisper to her trying to ignore her insistent giggles. After a few moments she finally gains composure but the look on her face makes me doubt how long it will last.

“Now where do we go from here? I’ve forgotten.” I ask. I really haven’t but the question may take her mind of my embracing spill from earlier.  

“Just two more shelves and the staircase will be to the right.” She answers.  I pick up the pace and in a matter of minutes we are standing in front of the mirror.

The Mirror looks relatively normal but for its massive size, at seven feet high and five feet wide, and the subtle foreign letters that cover the mirror. I place my hand against the markings and only feel smooth seamless glass.  I pull a sharpie from my bag and replicate the symbols I was practicing just this morning. Thankfully I find no trouble replicating them again.

I feel almost in a trance as magic flows from the mirror. I finish drawling the symbols and begin the chant. With  Myrna chanting with me I am not afraid of forgetting the words.

The marking in the mirror start to glow and the mirrors surface begins to liquefy we reach the end of the chant then tell the mirror where we want to go, Talamh. Just as I was about to enter the mirror I hear a light sneeze.

What? Is someone here? Quickly I look around and find no one. I want to do a search of the room, but I see Myrna enter the mirror. If I get separated from her what would happen? I quickly jump through the mirror. It feels like jumping into a pool of oil.  I find myself in the hall of mirror Alastar showed me on my birthday.

The mirrors were like windows that led to our world and the world of Talamh. Behind me were lined up neatly were the mirrors that led to earth. In front in an equally strait line were the mirrors that led to Talamh. Most of the mirrors looked into rooms. The mirrors shuffled like cards on a string as Myrna thought of our destination. It’s how the mirrors work. You think of where you want to go, and the mirror move until the mirror you need is in front of you. The mirror that stops in front of us shows a large marble room with a girl siting in a chair as its only occupant.

“Come on!” Myrna urges me. “It looks like she’s been waiting for us for a while.”

I quickly follow Myrna into the room and the cool oily filling leaves my body. The sitting girl jumps from her seat.

“Oh my God, you’re here! You are finally here!” She cries out looking at me. “You don’t know how great of an honor it is to meet you Mr. O’Sorra ! I’m Roisin by the way.”

“I’m pleased to meet you Roisin” I tell her extending my hand like I was taught. Roisin grabbed my hand and squealed as I shook it. Yes she squealed, like I was some big celebrity.

“What am I chopped liver?” I hear Myrna mumble under her breath. “Quinn I’m going to go to my grandma I’ll see you later!” Myrna tells me in a louder voice.

“Wait I’ll go with you!” I call after her. Myrna stops her race to the door and looks back at me.

“But, I was chosen to give you a tour! “ Roisin pouts. I send Myrna a please help me look. I do not want to spend any more time with this girl! Myrna smile turns evil and I know I am doomed.

“Oh, Quinn poor Roisin has been waiting for you to come it wouldn’t be very nice of me to steal her from you. Besides you can meet my Grandma later.” She lets out an evil laugh at my glare and disappears out the door leaving me with my new ‘friend’.