Chapter Six

"What!?" I cried. "What do you mean I'm supposed to know where to go? I didn't even know this whole place existed until I got stuck here and was almost executed and eaten!"

"The 'Anela is supposed to know all about the way to peace," Aden shrugged.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You're all crazy, that's it. I'm dealing with a bunch of crazy people."

"The child is right, do not fret. We shall have an immediate council meeting where we shall rule out the possible destination," she said.

"Well what should I do now?" I asked.

"You should rest up for the trip," Aden suggested, "I will take you back to the hospital to get your ribs re-wrapped, and then you can eat and sleep for a while."

I was going to protest, but Anabelle was already pushing us both out of the jungle room as she chattered away excitedly like this was all fun and games, slamming the emerald door behind us as she went off to gather the council. I huffed angrily and followed after Aden, still feeling a little irritated with him for not defending me and helping me get home. He seemed to sense my sudden aggravation towards him because his shoulders slouched as if with guilt and he kept sneaking glances at me out of the corner of his eye.

We walked to the hospital in silence, both probably thinking about the trip. Would he come too, or am I not only being forced to do this, but to do it alone? If I'm going alone, I'm toast and that crown will never be found. Everyone probably knows that already so they'll have to send some protection with me. That thought filled me with some comfort, but not much.

At the hospital, Aden led me down the hall and back to the clean white room I had been in before. It seemed like years ago I had woken up dazed in this small room. The sheets had been stripped and new ones were folded back neatly at the foot of the bed. Aden took good care of me; removing my old wrappings and putting on fresh ones around my midsection. He also cleaned the stitches in my calf from the bite mark Aka had given me, which were somewhat healed from touching that magic orchid.

After I was all freshly bandaged, he had a nurse bring me some turnip soup, some type of cookies with sesame seeds, and a small dish of sweet berries that stained my tongue purple. I ate everything without even tasting it, I was famished.

"How are you feeling now?" Aden asked, sitting down on the side of my bed.

"Fine, I think that plant got most of me healed. My leg's just a little sore still," I said.

"I meant how are you feeling…about all this," he said each word carefully. "I know you are not pleased with being the 'Anela, it is a great responsibility to put on someone."

I shrugged and shook my head. "You guys have it all wrong, I know it isn't me."

"What makes you so sure?"

I looked at my reflection in the silver food tray that rested in my lap. "I just…know. I'm nothing great or special. I'm not brave, and strong, and I'm no hero. I'm just…me."

"You are not a very good judge of your own character, Shelby," Aden said.

"I think I'm pretty spot on. I'm nobody, you guys shouldn't want me to be your savior."

"I don't believe you are nobody," he said. "Believe it or not, you are brave and you are strong."

I tucked my legs into my chest. "You hardly even know me."

"That may be true, I've seen the proof with my own eyes. There is something special about you Shelby, and I believe that you can truly help us."

"I can't even help myself half the time," I scoffed.

He patted my arm. "You may not believe in yourself, but I believe in you. I saw spirit in your eyes when I first found you. Seeing you gave me hope."

I laid down on my side in the bed, facing away from him. "I just hope you aren't disappointed…"

* * *

I later woke with a start, jolting awake and feeling my hair on my clammy face and neck. My heart was throbbing against my bandaged ribs and my ears were ringing. I let my breathing slow, not answering Aden when he asked what was wrong. I couldn't speak; my mind was still whirling around in my nightmare.

There had been this beautiful girl with long, crow black hair and dark almond shaped eyes. She had been afraid, but her eyes showed no fear, just an uneasy calmness as she fell. The girl fell into a hole, deep down into the Earth where no one could hear her scream. I now understood why she had been so calm, she was dead. Her body fell and her eyes were not calm, but they were glassy and blank, seeing nothing. She did not scream because she couldn't. After I heard her hit the bottom, the snarling monstrous creatures turned to me and told me to join her. They threw me in after her, and I woke up before I landed on top of her battered and broken body.

"What is it, Shelby?" Aden shook me lightly.

"I'm fine…just a bad dream." I smiled to reassure him, but I felt like I looked more disturbed than convincing.

"Are you feeling well rested?" asked Aden.

"Yup, I'm just dandy," I said sarcastically. "Do you know where they're sending me?"

He furrowed his brow, "It is not certain yet, but I think they are going to follow my suggestion."

"And what is your suggestion exactly?"

"The dry lands," he said softly.

From his hard expression, it didn't seem like a fun place to be, even the name sounded unpleasant, the dry lands. It sounded even more dreadful a place than Chuck E. Cheese's, where it smelt like kid's feet and pepperonis.

"I wonder what it's like there," I smirked.

He chuckled too. "Well, if you could not guess, it's dry. It's full of miles and miles of sand, no water, no sources of food. I think on the surface you would refer to it as a…dessert?"

I giggled, "I think you mean desert."

Strange how one S could make the difference between a chocolate cake and a sand filled waste land.

"Why there?"

"Well…" he started, "the orchid that bloomed is the orchid of Princess Ha'alele, Adoniia's eldest daughter, and Ha'alele translated into the old language roughly means 'desert'."

This time he pronounced it right. I nodded in agreement, seeing his logic. Besides, if it's the only lead we have we might as well take it.

"I am just afraid of what is at stake if I am wrong," he sighed.

"I trust anything you say," I said, and he smiled bashfully at me. I noticed he had a dimple in his left cheek when he smiled, just like Dominic did.

"We must go now," Aden said, "Are you ready to depart?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," I huffed, studying the golden bracelet on my wrist.

"The others should be waiting for us." He helped me up and made sure I was steady on my feet.

We left the hospital and headed back up to the main section of the palace. A small group was waiting for us in the foyer, and my guess was they were my fellow travelers. There were four birds huddled together amongst the humans whom I guess would be joining us as well. I recognized Ashlynn by her panda-like colors and the flame red bird too. That bright golden dandelion colored bird was here too, looking aloof somehow as he sat apart from the others. The fourth one I didn't recognize, and I know I would have if I'd seen it before. It was bright neon orange with a black crest and tail feathers. Its beak was gold-ish with some black spots along the hard material.

I studied the humans that would be accompanying me as well. Since Ashlynn was here, I knew Aden was coming, which relieved me a lot. I also recognized the woman with the throwing shells and the boy who had been in the royal jury at the trial. I'm assuming he was a cousin or something because he, Adalynn, and Aden all looked very similar, even past the skin, hair, and eyes that everyone down here seemed to have. There was a tall, muscular man who was talking quietly with the shell woman. And then of course Adalynn was here, looking like she was leading us.

"Shelby, meet you our traveling companions," said Aden, gesturing to everyone. "Meet you mine and Adalynn's cousin, Archer," he looked over at the boy, and he gave me a curt nod. "And these are our guards, Angie and Amrit."

They both smiled pleasantly, and I smiled back.

We loaded all our supplies onto the birds' backs. We packed four picnic baskets that held a few weeks worth of food and tons of water. We'd definitely need water since we were going into a desert for who knows how long.

"Shelby, you will be needing this," I heard Anabelle call as I climbed up onto Ashlynn's back. She held out to me a golden bow and a quiver of black tipped arrows.

"Uhh…I don't think I know how to use this," I said unsurely.

I had been terrible at archery in gym class, there was no way I could use this thing to defend myself.

"I think you will find it quite useful," she smiled and lightly patted my hand as she took a few cautious steps back from us. She waved at us in a fancy way like she was wiping a window, one simple streak across the air.

"Remember, at the entrance to the dry lands you will find a guide awaiting you," Anabelle said. A guide made it sound much more of a tour than a perilous journey. "He knows the lands well and will get you through safely. Do not be too quick to judge or underestimate him."

With that, we lifted up through the giant skylight and took off far away. Now we were off to this dry land place, which was who knows how far away. It could be a few hours away or days, any amount of time seeming endless to me as it stood in my way of getting home. I looked back and watched the palace get smaller and smaller in the distance until it disappeared within the mist.

* * *

A smoky smell filled my nose and panic surged through me when I felt a slight heat close by my body.

Fire, was my first thought, and then my eyes popped open.

I sat up and stared at my unfamiliar surroundings. Jumping up so quick made me feel lightheaded and I closed my eyes as the blood rushed from my head and circulated through my body again. When my eyes cautiously opened again, I saw no fire. Well, I didn't see one raging out of control, I just saw a tray of skinned fish cooking over a small one. The smell became less frightening and more delicious as my mouth started to water and my stomach growled.

I slowly crawled over to the little campsite where I noticed there were less people than I had seen when we left. There was only Adalynn, Aden, and two of the birds. Where were Amrit and Angie?

"They are out searching for more fish. We lost one of the baskets in a rough air current," Adalynn said, as I searched for them.

"Where are we? This doesn't look like a desert," I said, studying our jungle-like surroundings.

We sat in a small grove of trees with luscious orange fruits hanging from their branches. They wafted off a sweet scent, and it tickled the inside of my nose and made my mouth water even more.

"We are at the outskirts of the eastern jungle. We should arrive at the entrance to the dry lands by tomorrow where our guide awaits us," said Aden, flipping over the cooking fish with a long stick.

"Who is this "guide" person anyways?" I asked.

"No one knows, Anabelle only mentioned him once as we were departing. His identity is a mystery," Adalynn sighed, staring into the flames.

"Why do you think she told us not to judge him?" I questioned.

They both shrugged.

"We will find out once we meet," Aden sighed, not seeming to be looking forward to the meeting.

Amrit and Angie came back with the big golden bird and the neon orange one with a net full of dead fish. Adalynn and Angie put a few more over the flame and then salted the rest so they wouldn't spoil. As we sat and ate, everything was quiet and it felt like someone was missing.

"Where's…what's his name, Archer?" I asked, not seeing him anywhere.

Everyone suddenly looked up like they'd been unaware of his absence too until I mentioned it.

"I did not notice him wander off…" Adalynn murmured, peering into the trees.

Something suddenly shot through the trees and stuck in the ground right between my feet. I studied it and gasped when I saw it was an arrow.

Great, I thought to myself, we're under attack by a bunch of wild natives now.

Another came out, skewering the shell that Angie had poised between her fingers. Everyone jumped up and drew their swords and daggers as six more arrows soared through the trees, barely missing us. I managed to turn just in time to avoid one from penetrating my arm and Amrit ducked so one wouldn't stick in his head.

Laughter rang out through the jungle around us and everyone's weapons froze mid strike. A human figure emerged from the trees, doubled over in hilarity. Everyone let out annoyed and frustrated groans as we all realized it was just Archer. A snide look crossed his cocky looking face as he strutted over to join us.

"You should have seen the looks upon your faces!" he chortled, "Especially yours, Shelby."

He grinned presumptuously at me and I narrowed my eyes at him. I noticed his pretentious eyes were a bright gold color and I saw a familiar object in his hands.

"Hey, Anabelle gave that to me!" I snapped, pointing at the golden bow and arrows that he held in his possession.

He shrugged carelessly, thinking he was better than me and that he could take my things without permission. Royal brat.

"I am more skilled with it than you anyways," he smirked bombastically, making fury rise from the pit of my stomach.

"It's mine so give it back!"

I tried to grab it from him, but he ducked swiftly out of my way, sending me chasing after him to get it. This was probably the most poorly choreographed maneuver I have ever seen, mostly on my part. Archer was dashing around briskly while I reached out to snag my bow, only finding air gliding through my empty grasp each time. It was like we were in a complicated dance number and I was the only one who didn't know the steps.

"How about a deal?" he grinned slyly, stiff arming me so his whole hand palmed my face. "Whoever can hit the fruit gets to keep it?"

"No!" I growled, pushing his hand away, "No bets, just give it to me!"

"What's the matter? Is the all mighty and powerful 'Anela afraid of such a small challenge?" he grinned coyly, and I wanted to lunge at him and rip the bow from his hands.

He took my scowl and crossed arms as an acceptance to his challenge, positioning an arrow on the string of the bow and tilting his head up at the same angle as his arm. Squinting both eyes, he lined the tip up with a round hanging fruit and he released his grip on the arrow's nock. He skillfully drilled it straight through the center of the fruit, sending it to the ground where he picked it up and took a bite out of his trophy.

He held out the bow and an arrow to me, but when I reached for it he pulled it away and shot me a snide grin. I growled and snatched it hastily from his hands. My heart started pounding inside my chest when I realized I don't know how to work this thing. He made it look so simple, which meant it would be complicated for me.

"Do you require assistance?" Archer taunted.

"No, I don't, thank you very much." I scowled, not looking back at him.

I did need help, but I was too prideful to ask for it. In that way I was like my dad, too stubborn to ask for help or directions, even if they were desperately needed. Archer sat back casually on a large rock, reclining like he was getting ready to watch a good show. I stood frozen, not knowing where to even start as I held this foreign object in my hand. I had a feeling I was holding it upside-down or something because it felt sort of awkward in my grip.

"Stance," I heard a soft voice whisper.

I turned around cautiously and saw Aden standing a few feet beside me. He stood with his feet a shoulder's length apart, so I mimicked him and did so too.

"Nock the arrow."

I rested the arrow against the string and held the end between my thumb and first two fingers. I peeked back at Archer, who seemed unaware of the secret coaching I was being given. He was just casually gnawing on the orange flesh of the fruit he caught, already seeming bored with me.

"Draw your arrow," Aden instructed in a hushed voice.

I peered discreetly at him and saw he appeared to be holding up and invisible bow and arrow of his own. His arm was bent and he left a space between his index finger and the second and middle two, indicating the shaft of the arrow went between them. I did as he did, and when Archer looked up Aden quickly dropped his training position and crossed his arms casually over his chest, making it look like he'd been staring at the fruit tree the whole time. I giggled quietly to myself and I thought I saw him grin out of the corner of my eye too.

"We are waiting all mighty 'Anela," said Archer in a mocking tone.

I acted like I hadn't heard him, glancing over my shoulder at Aden for some more guidance.

He coached me softly, "Aim and shoot."

"Here goes nothing…" I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath and letting the arrow go, causing it to shoot forwards from the sudden release of tension.

As I was about to release, something strange seemed to tingle inside of me. I don't know what it was, it just felt like…electricity. It was like a tickly feeling that rose from my stomach and bubbled up my throat. It left a steely taste in my mouth as a jolt of something seemed to shoot from my heart out to my limbs. I'm not sure what that something was, maybe adrenaline, but whatever it was it coursed through my veins like lava, heightening all my senses. I felt like I could see for miles, hear that nest of squawking birds coming from I don't even know where, and smell something other than the smoking fish.

A ripple seemed to course from the roots of my hair to the balls of my feet and suddenly everything became dull, quiet, and scentless again. It was like returning from an out of body experience as I settled back into my shell the same instant as whatever had taken it over fled. I had to blink a few times and shake my head to clear the hazy feeling away. I could hear my heart beating and feel my pulse in my sweating palms. Everyone was staring at me with shocked expressions, but I couldn't remember why. Oh yeah, I'd shot the arrow.

I probably missed by a long shot, I thought glumly. What if I accidentally hit someone?

I glanced around nervously, not finding any wounded or dead bodies. Instead I saw something much better, something that made me feel the way everyone looked. Sticking diagonally out of the ground was my arrow, and strung along its shaft were three pierced and dripping fruits.