*
The temperature became noticeably hotter as they passed through Grandis Canyon. It was like a maze of yellow sandstone dead ends at every turn. Annora and Avery got so lost they had to pull out the old atlas Annora packed.
“Okay, the atlas says to go straight, take two lefts, a right, then we’re at the desert,” said Annora, pointing to the atlas.
Avery silently nodded and trotted slowly behind on his horse. He’d been really quiet since Annora’s angry outburst. He only said the occasional “Yes” and “Thank you”. Annora slowed down to meet his pace.
“Hey,” Annora said softly, trying to gain eye contact. “I’m really sorry about what happened at the village. I was worried and scared and I didn’t want to lose you like I lost …” Her voice cracked on the last word. The thought of her mother was too painful to think about.
Avery kept looking down, avoiding Annora’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, too,” he mumbled. “It’s just that … The thing is, that the cloak was the last thing my father gave me. On the morning Zander attacked us, there was a special ceremony held for me. My knighting ceremony. Once I was tapped by the Sword of Purity, the sword my father uses to tell who shows pure loyalty, father handed me that cloak and, for the first time in my life, he said he was proud of me.” His voice shook. “When I lost it in the lake, I was worried I’d lose the memory too. And then I woke up in the village and you started yelling at me, and it reminded me of how much Father shouted at me, telling me how much of a disappointment I was.”
Annora was astounded.
“I-I had no idea.” She felt so guilty for yelling at him now. Her stomach was churning and she felt sick.
“I still feel like a disappointment,” Avery continued. “I ran away from the castle because I was scared. Instead of finishing the job myself, I went to find someone else to do it for me. I am not deserving of this cloak.” He held up the cloak. “Or this sword.” He unsheathed a sword and showed it to her. “This is the Sword of Purity. I took it from the castle when I fled to defend myself.” The prince looked distraught.
There was a long awkward pause. Then Annora spoke. “There is nothing wrong with being scared,” she said. “It is normal to be afraid. But instead of running away from your fears, you should face them. You are doing that now. We’re going to defeat Zander, aren’t we?”
“Hmm, I guess,” he said, finally meeting her gaze.
There was another long silence, but the atmosphere was a lot less dense now. Finally, Annora broke the silence.
“It’s getting dark,” Annora said, as the sky faded from peach to purple. “We should set up camp for the night.”
*
They stopped under the shelter of a small cave with a wide mouth letting all that remained of the light inside. It didn’t take long to throw the canvas over a tipi of sticks. As the sun went down completely, the campfire flames danced around, casting flickering orange light on the cave walls. Annora and Avery sat around the fire, gathering the warmth as the air became chilly. They chatted happily away as they roasted fish on the open flames. Annora laughed hard as Avery told her a story about his sister when she was little and how she thought a mushroom was a gift from a magical kingdom far far away.
“Well, I better go to bed,” said Avery, overexaggerating a yawn. “Big day in the Waste tomorrow.”
“Okay. Goodnight,” Annora said, looking up at the clear night sky. It was dotted with stars and the moon was almost full. It had been ages since she’d seen a night like this.
Avery shuffled to his tent but stopped at the entrance.
“Thanks for the advice you gave me earlier,” he said. “I really needed it.”
Then he ducked into the tent and Annora was left alone.
It didn’t take them long to reach the Waste the following morning. There was not a single breeze or mishap, so they navigated the canyon easily. The Waste was just a desert. A plain desert with not a single oasis, plant, human or river system. It was just heatwaves and sand.
“Come on,” said Annora determinedly. “Let’s move.” They strode through the desert on their horses.
*
Annora was sweating. It felt like she was in an oven, slowly cooking her. Avery looked just as hot. His face was red like a tomato and beads of sweat dripped down his neck.
“More … water …” he panted.
Annora reached into her pouch and pulled out a flask. It felt light and nothing sloshed around inside. She opened it and then looked at Avery, worried.
“There’s no water left,” she said, panicky.
“Nooo!” he moaned. “We’re going to die.”
“Nonsense!” Annora replied, although there was still a hint of panic in her voice. “We will reach the temple and it will be cooler there.”
They rode up one more sand dune and below them was the temple standing tall in the sun.
“There it is,” said Annora fearlessly. “The temple.”
They galloped towards it and stopped at the entrance. It was made of white sandstone bricks with lots of pillars and interesting architecture. They tied the horses to one of the pillars and prepared to go inside.
“Let’s go,” said Annora, as she stepped inside.
Avery didn’t answer but instead whimpered and quickly ran after her inside. The inside of the temple looked almost exactly like it did outside. The only difference was that it was a lot darker and cooler, and in the centre of it was a pedestal with a velvet cushion with long golden tassels, but that wasn’t the thing that caught Annora’s eye. On top of that cushion was a large scarlet gem. It gleamed like a normal gem but at the centre was something dark. It made Annora feel a bit uneasy. She stepped towards it, reaching out to grab it. Her fingers lightly touched it and then she yanked her hand away shrieking with agony. The gem had severely burnt her.
The temple rumbled and Annora saw a look of horror strike Avery’s face. He lifted a shaking hand and pointed to something behind her. She turned around, and what she saw was enough to make the bravest warriors flee. It was a monster much like a scorpion with three poisonous barbed tails and many spiky legs. It shrieked, twitching its antennae, and charged for them. They dived out of the way and hid behind a pillar.
“W-what is that thing?” said Avery, his voice wavering in fear.
“It’s a Corpsus,” panted Annora. “They are an ancient Lestarian creature. They use their antennae to see, hear and smell. Its body is covered in a thick shell except for a small chink on its chest directly below its heart. The plan is to cut off its antennae and then stab it through that chink. It’ll kill it and we’ll be able to receive the gem.”
Avery looked at her wide-eyed. “How do you know all of this stuff?”
“I read a lot,” Annora said proudly.
Avery unsheathed the Sword of Purity and Annora pulled a pocketknife from her pocket.
“You distract it and I’ll climb on top of it and cut off its antennae,” said Annora. The prince nodded in agreement.
Avery jumped in front of the beast, brandishing his sword. The Corpsus’s focus was all on him. Annora climbed on its back, avoiding its striking tails, and reached its head. She held its antennae in her hand and, with one swift swipe, they went dropping to the floor. The creature went berserk. It twitched and screeched and stabbed its tail in random places.
“Annora! Now!” shouted Avery, sliding her the sword.
Annora caught it and slid under the agitated Corpsus. She saw a small, star-shaped chink on its chest and thrust the sword through it. The Corpsus’s knees buckled as Annora crawled out, dragging the bloodstained sword behind her.
Avery sheathed the sword again. “Nice job Annora!” he said cheerfully.
“Thanks,” replied Annora, handing him the sword.
Avery reached for the stone.
“Careful! It’s hot!”
“Don’t worry! I’ll wrap it in my cloak. It’s made of dragon skin so it’s flameproof.” He grabbed the stone with the cloak and pocketed it.
They strode out of the temple with the gem, feeling proud of themselves.
“Ugh! We have to go through the canyon and the woods again, don’t we?” complained Avery.
“I don’t think so,” said Annora, pointing to an opening in the canyon leading to a vast open field.
“You’re telling me that was there the whole time?” said Avery. “I can’t believe we could be so stupid! I mean, we had an atlas literally showing us the shortcut!”
*
Annora and Avery reached the field in no time. They sat against the trunk of a tree, puzzled. They were trying to figure out where to find the legendary sword.
“So, you said in the old Lestarian legend that the sword was forged where hot and cold were perfectly balanced to the point of purity, right?”
“Yeah,” replied the prince.
Hmm, Annora thought. Where could that be? She watched Raven play with Avery’s steed in the grass. It reminded her of Norville.
Norville …
“What about Norville Lake?” she said excitedly. “It fits perfectly! They’re the purest waters in the whole of Lestaria!”
“I think you’re right!” said Avery, meeting her gaze.
“Wait! No,” Annora said, with disappointment. “Every day since I was about six I’ve been down to collect water for Father. There can’t be a sword in there. It would spoil the purity.”
“Dang it!” growled the prince.
Annora kept thinking for several minutes until she came up with an idea.
“You know the Sword of Purity that you have?” asked Annora,
“Yeah, what about it?” replied Avery.
“Where exactly did your father get it forged?”
“He didn’t get it forged. He retrieved it from somewhere in Norville Plains …” His voice trailed off.
“What was the reason your father called it the Sword of Purity again?” asked Annora.
“He said it was to find those of pure loyalty to the royal guard, but what if there was another reason?” Avery had made the same connection as Annora had.
“Can I see it, please?” Annora stretched out her hand.
Avery handed her the sword. She took and examined it from its bloodstained tip to its crossed hilt. There was a hole where the blade met the hilt.
“Look! There’s a hole!” she said, pointing to it. “That must be where we put the gem!”
“You’re right!” shrieked Avery in delight. “Look there are engravings, too! It says, ‘The key to drown darkness is to bring the light.’ What could that mean?”
“I don’t know, but it must be important.”
“Give me the sword. I’ll put the stone in it.”
“No!” shouted Annora. “What if we can only use it once. Then we’ll have no hope in defeating Zander.”
“Okay then. Pass me the sword and I’ll sheath it.”
Annora handed Avery the sword. He put the stone in his pocket and they mounted their horses.
“Let’s go beat Zander!” said Avery confidently.
