Emerald Eyes Pyramid: Emerald Eyes Trilogy, #3

Emerald Eyes Pyramid

Ross Richdale

ISBN 978-1-877438-70-7

Book 3 in the Emerald Eyes Fantasy Trilogy

Book 1 Emerald Eyes Destiny

Book 2 Emerald Eyes Mist

Synopsis

In this third adventure, the Emerald Eyes wizards and talking birds find themselves in a land a millennium back in time. Xentrix the dragon is with them and they rescue a flying girl about to be sacrificed on a pyre in front of a pyramid.

She is Kondel a Pyram, a humanoid creature with wings who live inside magical pyramids. The enemy in this world are ancient human priests determined to eliminate all flying creatures from their land. Birds have already disappeared and it appears that Kondel is the last of her species left.

But is she?

Cindy, Sylvia and the others set out to find the truth about the evil priests and search for Kondel's kind. Will their magical powers be enough to overwhelm the priests who appear immortal with the ability to travel through time? And why are the tiny birds so important in this latest quest?

Note, this is a complete story in its own right and can be read even if you have not followed the earlier Emerald Eyes adventures.

*

CHAPTER 1

Even before she opened her eyes, Tulco realized something was different. It was too dark. Usually the floodlights from the gas station forecourt filtered in through the curtains of her bedroom. Everything smelled wrong. There was an aroma of canvas, grass and wood smoke.

Mom! she cried.

Her feet hit the carpet while she was still only half-awake. But it wasn't carpet but cold grass that tickled her bare feet. There was something else. She found herself fully dressed in a gray sweater and jeans.

Oh blast, she muttered and felt around the dark enclosure.

Her fingers found the flashlight she always had by her bed. Perhaps it was one of those vivid dreams she always had before something important. Today it was a two-hour state exam at school.

No, the darkness, smell and grass were still there!

Tulco switched the flashlight on and saw canvas an arm's length above her head. She was inside a tent. Before she had time to do anything else, the flap opened.

Cindy! Tulco gasped. We're back though the void aren't we?

Cindy nodded. Yes.

Tulco sat back down on her bed and discovered it wasn't a bed but only a sleeping bag. Who's here?

Me, said another familiar voice. Cindy's twin sister, Sylvia pulled the flap further back and smiled at her.

And us, a high-pitched voice squeaked.

Two yellow and brown birds were perched on Sylvia's shoulder.

Tulco grinned. Muftin and Maxine, she said. I knew you two couldn't stay away from any trouble. She swung the flashlight around so the twins were bathed in its beam. There's trouble, I guess.

We guess' Sylvia sat on the sleeping bag. Xentrix never told us.

He's here? Tulco's felt excited.

Was, Cindy replied. He flew out an hour ago on some patrol. He said that he'd explain everything when he returned.

Xentrix was a dragon who had helped during their previous adventures together. He had not, for obvious reasons, accompanied them to Earth where the three led an ordinary life away from the magical lands of their birth.

Tulco frowned. And me. What am I?

Cindy didn't laugh at the seemly silly question. Let's look, she said.

Tulco heaved and turned the flashlight back on herself.

What do you reckon, Sylvia? Cindy said. Are those wrinkles across her face and that a gray streak in her hair...

Cindy! Tulco screamed. It's no joke.

Sylvia laughed. You look like someone about to have her seventeenth birthday. You aren't that chubby thirteen year old we met last year.

When they'd met Tulco a year earlier, she was a thirteen-year-old youngster who was later magically changed into a woman in her twenties, the twins' age. On their return to the non-magical Earth, she reverted to high school age.

But I'm not your age?

No, Sylvia replied in a more serious voice. There's something else, too.

The two birds flew down onto Tulco's lap. One looked up with her head cocked sideways.

We can talk so there must be magic in this place, the female bird, Maxine squeaked.

You could talk on Earth, Cindy whispered.  That was your choice, remember. That doesn't prove anything.

I told her that, the male bird cut in, But would she take any notice of me? Oh no.

Hush up, Muftin, Cindy said. Will you see if your magic has returned, Tulco?

The teenager nodded. On Earth, there was no magic. She was an ordinary teenager but here...  She gulped and tried to form a vision of something to change, perhaps make the tent light up. However, nothing happened.

Oh hell, Tulco said. Are Gikre and Simon here?

Gikre was a dwarf who raised her as a child and shared their previous adventures and Simon, Sylvia's boyfriend.

No. I guess Gikre's home with your mom. I've no idea why Simon was left behind.

Tulco rolled her eyes. So how long have you two been here?

A few hours, the same as you, Cindy said. We were in another tent. Xentrix woke us an hour ago but we let you sleep.

Thanks, Tulco muttered.

Well, nothing's happened, Sylvia said. It's not dawn yet. Xentrix said it was safe to light a fire and we've just done that. We've got supplies...

There are always supplies, Tulco grumbled. She saw the others gazing at her. Okay, she relented. I know it's not your fault. It's just that all I really wanted was to be an ordinary Earth girl. Mom and Gikre are wonderful, school's great and I have friends...

And we aren't? Sylvia whispered.

Oh Sylvia, of course you are but, you know... Tulco pouted.

The boys will still be there when we get back, Cindy said

Tulco flushed a bright red, grunted and felt in her pocket for her tiny blue mobile phone. It wasn't there. Oh well, it wouldn't have worked here anyway.

Nothing modern is here, Cindy said. Only the flashlight and our clothes.

Tulco nodded. She found a pair of socks and strong leather boots by her bed. They fitted perfectly but that was to be expected. She put them on and walked outside.

Sylvia's fire flickered in the darkness and white smoke blew away from them in a slight breeze. The sky overhead was dark, it was cool but not cold. There appeared to be just grass that had been flattened around the camp but nothing could be seen beyond the circle of light.

Xentrix said not to walk too far from the camp, Cindy said.

We're in the open, Tulco replied. This fire will be seen from kilometers away. Is it safe?

Xentrix reckoned so and you know how cautious he is?

I guess. How long is it until dawn?

We've no idea, Sylvia replied. My watch says it's six in the morning at home but that's no help.

*

Xentrix arrived with the dawn. His dark green body glided down from the cloud layer and a tail lashed out behind gigantic wings. Smoke poured from his nostrils and teeth gleamed white around a crimson tongue. He hovered above them for a second before he landed beside the tents.

Hi Tulco, he rumbled. I wanted company and asked if you could be here with Cindy and Sylvia. It's just like old times, aye?

It wasn't that long ago, Tulco replied.

Five years, Xentrix blinked a gigantic eye. Okay, how long has it been on your world?

Four months, Muftin flew up and landed one of the spikes protruding above Xentrix's snout. That's ages for Maxine and me.

Xentrix rolled his eyes and turned to face Cindy. Did you read the letter? he rumbled.

Letter, what letter? Cindy asked.

From your old friend from my world, Archwizard Lightshield, Xentrix said.  There's a problem in this world that the old guy thinks might spread to ours. The dragon coughed smoke and almost looked embarrassed.

Cindy glowered at him. What haven't you told us, Xentrix? she said in a serious voice.

It's in the letter, the dragon muttered.

Tell us, Sylvia's voice was as determined as Cindy's was.

We've gone back a thousand years...

What? the three humans yelled. The two little birds squawked.

Why? Cindy asked.

It appears that whatever is happening here will affect all the magical lands in our times if it isn't... The dragon rolled his eyes. He used the word contained but I'd say we have to kick some ass-hole in the butt.

Xentrix! Tulco retorted with both hands on her hips. I see your language hasn't improved.

Yeah well, Xentrix grumbled. Why can't we say what we mean?

Where's the letter, Xentrix? Cindy cut in.

In the pocket of your jacket where you always keep your handkerchief. I thought that would be the first place you'd reach into.

Thanks Xentrix, Cindy reached in a top pocket of the jacket and extracted a small yellow envelope. The back was sealed with a blob of red wax.

While the others watched, she opened it and withdrew a thin hand-written sheet of paper. That's Archwizard Lightshield's writing, Sylvia said. I'd recognize his curly style anywhere.

Cindy spread the page out on the grass in the light of the fire so they could all see it,

*

Dearest Sylvia, Cindy and Tulco,

If my calculations are correct, it will only be a few months since your return to Earth. However, as you are fully aware, inter-void time is an unpredictable phenomenon so it could be anything from a week to twenty years. I do hope it is not the latter, my dearest friends... 

The letter continued on for two paragraphs with personal items but Cindy's eyes dropped down to the information near the bottom of the page.

But I digress. You are reading this letter now because, with my somewhat reluctant agreement, Xentrix insisted that you were the only three who could help. Dotted throughout this land are ancient pyramids and a species of winged creatures that live near them. You must seek them out.  Be careful for the humans are quite primitive and need to be contained. Take care my daughters, my dragon friend and brave wee birds, for things may not be as they appear. Until we meet again.

Love Lightshield

*

He didn't tell us much. Tulco screwed up her nose.

Yeah why didn't he just come out and tell us what's wrong? Xentrix rumbled.

Cindy glanced up at the dragon. You tell us, Xentrix, she said.

The dragon coughed and set all the little creatures, as he called them, spluttering in the smoky air. Sorry, he said, What do you mean, Cindy?

What was the situation when the archwizard gave you the letter?

The dragon squashed his ears back in a frown. He was in the tower library, came onto the balcony and handed it to me, Xentrix said. He's been researching a problem for about six months so I wasn't surprised when he asked for my help. The end did seem hasty, though. He hardly protested when I suggested we contact you three and you know how protective he is? Xentrix turned his head away and coughed more smoke. I came here through the void, set up camp here and you three arrived.

How did the archwizard get us here? Tulco asked.

I've no idea.

And why are we here? Maxine asked.

You can fly in little spaces. I have a feeling it may be necessary, Xentrix said.

Cindy turned to the dragon. Was there anything else besides the letter?

Well, the supplies of course and the scroll...

Scroll?

It's an old canvas map of this world,

Where is it? Cindy said.

At the bottom of the food sack.

Cindy nodded and reached for a large canvas bag. With the others helping, she undid the leather string at the top and shook the contents out on the grass. Food, all neatly packaged and marked in the archwizard's handwriting tumbled out.

Muftin ran inside the empty bag and came out a moment later. There's nothing there, he said.

Turn the bag inside out, suggested Tulco.

Sylvia nodded, pulled the inside out and felt around the bulky bottom with her fingers. Got it, she whispered. There's a zipper.

She pulled out the scroll that she unrolled and placed on the grass.

Oh my God, Cindy gasped. It's written in English.

Sylvia nodded. So there's magic involved, she said. It would have originally been in an ancient language or hieroglyphics. The magic must have been soaked in the skin and converted it to English.

Yeah, yeah, Xentrix muttered. But what does it show us.

Pyramids Maxine squawked and ran across to where a pyramid was drawn.

We have pyramids on Earth. They are burial chambers, Cindy said.

They found three other pyramids marked on the map spread across a continent named Alexandras.

And that's only this continent, Xentrix said. There's the ocean and other lands to the north.  A couple of pyramids are marked there, too.

Tulco nodded. So where are we now? she said.

Here! The dragon tapped a massive claw on the map. In doing so, he just about squashed Muftin who squawked and flew to the safety of Cindy's shoulder.

Tulco leaned forward and studied the map. There's not much showing, she said.

True, Sylvia said. What are those little circles dotted around, Xentrix?

We're on one, the dragon said. Have a look.

The girls glanced up and noticed the eastern sky had turned yellow. The clouds had lifted and a sun peeped up over the horizon. The area in front was a wide plain. Dotted throughout it were dozens of gigantic rocks each with sheer circular cliffs and a plateau at the top.

Oh my God, Cindy whispered. Are we on one of those?

Yeah. We're safe from anyone below us here.

Okay, Sylvia said. But what's down there?

Grass, the dragon replied. The land is as flat as a table until it reaches the mountains.

*

When the sun rose higher, they could see that they were towering above a plain of waving grass. To the north, the color changed to silver. It was probably an ocean and a small line of smoke showed that something lived there. She turned to Xentrix.  Are they the humans? she asked.

Xentrix nodded. Yes, but nothing like you.

"What are they like, then?' Tulco asked.

Probably like your ancestors a thousand years ago, Xentrix replied. They live in crude huts and the only boat I saw was like a canoe with a square sail. They were doing what humans always seem to do.

What's that? Cindy asked.

Fighting, the dragon said. It looked as if the villagers are fighting each other. It's a bit like what happened to you, Tulco.

Tulco paled. When they'd first met, her village had been under attack from an invading army and she had escaped with Gikre the dwarf into the hills.

This lot are more primitive, Xentrix said. They are fighting with swords and shields.

Like the ancient Romans or Vikings on Earth, Cindy said and caught Sylvia's eyes. I have a horrible feeling that before too long we will meet up with these warring tribes or whatever they call themselves.

It's lucky we've got Xentrix, Tulco said.

Yeah. The dragon sighed and blew smoke through his nostrils.

Go on, Cindy said. What else is there to tell us?

There are no flying creatures here, Xentrix said. I saw nothing bigger than a fly. There are no birds at all.