Guardains of Muraycia Chapter 6

Chapter 6







Corriett was beginning to look forward to lessons. Their new instructor was very nice and Corriett liked her even if she was not Cooper. It was one day at training when something out of the ordinary happened. They were practicing in the arena when their synchronized jumps and delicate flips were disturbed.

“Good morning” greeted a voice that was not quite sarcastic but close. The guardians all stared shocked at the feeble little girl whom had entered the arena. Midnight stared cautiously at the six guardians and their trainer.

“What message does your mother send this time Midnight? And I must say it has been a long time since I’ve seen you or your mother,” stated Mrs. Honeysuckle.

“No message,” said Midnight blankly, “I’m here on my own account.”

“Then speak,” Mrs. Honeysuckle had no urgency in her voice and did not seem to think the girl was a threat. This relaxed Corriet, who had been terrified of the little girl and how strange she seemed. She wore all black, a sight seldom seen in Muraycia unless the family is grieving. Midnight took a deep breath and then whispered, “My mother is planning to invade. I destroyed all the swords and shields to delay her. I will try to stall as long as I can but for now you only have three months.” Corriett stared flabbergasted at the girl and at the swirling cloud as black as the deep waters of the abyss that had appeared behind her.

“And by the way,” Midnight added smoothly “if my mother asks, I was not here,” and with that she was engulfed by the funnel of swirling mist. In another moment she was gone and the room was oddly quiet as if nothing had ever existed. Corriett gulped and looked around the room. Everyone else was doing the same.



The castle had been in a panic since Midnight had arrived. The Queen had not seemed at all shocked though thoroughly frightened. The guardians had been ordered back to their cabin and since dinner had never really happened Periwinkle had been kind enough to share some snacks that she had kept handy.

“Thanks,” Corriett muttered bashfully and headed over to sit with Genie.

“Where’s the book,” Corriett asked in a hushed whisper. With out a word Genie reached under her pillow and retrieved the thick leather bound book. It was an ancient thing with papers worn and wrinkled at the edge. Silently Genie and Corriett read and skimmed over page after page of the reed parchment. The two friends were terrified at what they saw, horrifying images of raw black mounds of overturned land that had long since ceased to flourish seared into the minds never to be forgotten, though they could never compare to the real thing. Corriett trembled all through the night. When she did sleep it was only for a short time and full of recurring nightmares. She would wake up panting while colors screamed in her head to the sound of Anna screaming at her and insisting she had been yelling nonsense while she slept. Corriett, however, remembered no such thing.





The next morning the table heaped with pastries of every sort; biscuits piled with marmalade, toast with melted butter just crisp enough to make mouth water, and the list does not end here. There were plenty more delicacies cooked to perfection. Sun beams reflected down through the window smiling upon them and when it came down just right it would bounce from goblet to goblet creating a dazzling display. If only Corriett had noticed. She was too busy thinking for her mind to be any were but with her thoughts.

“Genie,” she said turning her head to the seat next to her. It was only then that Corriett noticed Genie was not there. She directed her gaze across the table at Periwinkle.

“Where’s Genie,”

“Oh, she was a little late getting up this morning. I would have thought she’d be back by now.” She replied in a silvery voice. Corriett was just about to get up to search for her when Genie came literally flying the arched door way. She was still squealing as she collided with the table, slid across taking a few of the porcelain dishes with her, and skidded to a halt on the floor. She jumped to her feet as though nothing had ever happened. She was panting and her cheeks must have been aching the way she was smiling.

“Genie,” chuckled Corriett, “what’s going on?” Mimi, who was tickled pink by this display, burst out great rolls of high pitched laughter. At this Genie’s smile became a frown and her cheeks became a shade of deep scarlet.

“Mimi,” warned Periwinkle patiently. Genie who had forgotten she was mad was made busy by turning the fringed papers of a book even more ancient than the one on Cyn Yan. One by one gasps of amazement and shock echoed each other around the table as they realized what Genie held in her hand. It was the book of the gods. Each god wrote a book of ultimate knowledge. Of all thirteen gods Muraya’s book was the most powerful however that had been missing for half a millennium, the one Genie held in her hand was Ferdinand’s, Muraya’s husband, god of the winds.

“How did you get that!” exclaimed Anna.

“It was in the Queens library” answered Genie impatiently.

“You know you’re not allowed in there!” nagged Anna.

“You won’t be mad when you hear what I’ve found.” Genie was a loner for the most part, and it was no surprise since her parents had died when she was young, because she was so solitary Corriett was greatly surprised to here the arrogance in her voice.

“What did you find Genie?” asked Periwinkle in a misty voice. Corriett was suddenly very interested to hear what Genie had to say.

Genie smiled, threw out her chest and said “The answer, the only way to defeat Vaulda.” There was an odd silence around the table.

“Umm… that’s great Genie would you mind telling us what it is,” asked Corriett eagerly.

“Muraya’s holly amulet,” answered Genie shortly. Anna seemed to think this was rather amusing.

“Haaaaaa!” screeched Anna, “Muraya’s holy amulet right.” At this Genie looked quite hurt. “What?” she asked meekly. The joyful smile had promptly disappeared from her face.

“It’s been missing for twelve century’s dumbbell.” Suddenly tears began to roll down her face streaming down from her eyes like a waterfall in the spring except the tears were not beautiful they were ugly and horrible to watch. Genie sank to the ground as hot fresh tears burned her face sliding down like tiny crystals. Corriett put her arm around her. She hated to see her friend so hurt, and Genie had been looking forward to being the hero. She had felt so proud of finding the key to victory then all at once that was snatched from her.

“It’s alright Genie,” Periwinkle told her friend softly “maybe we could be the ones to find it.”

“It’s been missing for twelve centuries!” she exclaimed.

“Exactly my point,” said Anna smugly.

“Well it’s the best option we’ve got!” snapped Mimi. When she looked up she saw Sinbad had shrunken to the corner and Periwinkle seemed lost for words. Corriett did not know what to do or how to do it but in the spur of the moment she stood up very suddenly and shouted “Yea! She’s right!” and one by one the team began to yell right along with her.

“We can do it!”



After the team was all rallied up, Periwinkle trotted off to tell the Queen about their strategy.

“Nice Genie,” Corriett whispered to her friend. Genie smiled but blushed deeply and handed her the book.

“See what you can make of it, page seventy two,” Genie told her friend. Corriett nodded and turned the book over in her hands. She thought she glimpsed something on the back. When she turned it over she saw it was golden letters etched in the deep leather. The letters were tiny but Corriett had keen eyes.

“M-O-O-N-L-I-G-H-T, Moonlight,” she breathed. Just at that moment she heard a howl that split the crisp morning air. Corriett’s body went rigid she knew what was going to happen if she didn’t get out. Without turning to look she ran for her life. She heard pounding of eight padded feet booming as they thumped the ground behind her. Corriett was strong but not that strong. She relied on magic, which she was very talented at, but the wolves were immune to her tricks.

“Help!” she screamed but she was answered with dead silence. The wolves were gaining then all at once the largest wolf pounced he leapt onto her back and forced her violently to the ground. She tried to scream again but the wolf had knocked the wind clean out of her. Suddenly the wolf stumbled off of her and whined this time an arrow had sunken deep in his ribs a fatal blow. At first she thought Anna had come to her rescue once more but she quickly dismissed that idea for Anna was no where in sight and the arrow had certainly not belonged to her. She had no time to ponder to whom the arrow belonged. She struggled to her feet and dashed off in the way of the cabin. She was half way down the hall when she realized she had forgotten the book, but when she turned around to retrieve it she was just in time to see the other wolf flying away with it and she knew they had come for the book.