Page 129 of Akarnae

“Not really,” Alex said. “He was pleased, I guess. And from what he said earlier, it was then that he knew for sure that I was Chosen. All I know is that he tried to drag me down the stairs but the librarian interrupted him, saying he wasn’t allowed to be there.”

“Did the librarian tell him anything else?” D.C. probed.

Alex racked her memory, thinking back. “He just said Aven could only go where he wanted if I gave him permission to enter.”

“And you thought that meant he wanted to go to Freya?” D.C. asked. “Where you’re from, right?”

Alex ignored the question about her origin and answered the more important one. “I overheard a conversation between the librarian, Jarvis and Maggie. What they said made me believe that somehow I could open the door for Aven to get to Freya, and if I did, it would have terrible consequences.”

Alex paused, thinking about how she’d misinterpreted the conversation. “I was completely wrong.”

“Not completely wrong,” D.C. murmured. “You’re right about him needing you to open the door, and you’re right about the terrible consequences. It was just the destination you were wrong about.”

“So he really does think there’s a doorway to Meya down here?”

“He must, if he’s here,” D.C. answered.

“What’s so bad about him finding it?” Alex asked, and then she repeated her earlier question that Aven had ignored. “And why does he even need a door to get there? Shouldn’t he know where his own city is?”

“Aven Dalmarta is the Rebel Prince,” D.C. said, “so it’s not really his city anymore.”

“Prince?” Alex spluttered. “What’s with everyone suddenly becoming royal?”

“I’m not suddenly anything, thank you very much. I’ve had my title since birth,” D.C. said. “As for Aven, he lost his royal status when he was banished.”

“So he needs the doorway because…?” Alex asked, still confused.

“Because he’sbanished,” D.C. repeated. “The city disappeared after his rebellion and he has no way of finding it again. Not without your help.”

“The city vanished thousands of years ago,” Alex said, doubtful. “I think you have your story wrong.”

“Aven isMeyarin, Alex,” D.C. said. “He’s immortal, ageless. He might look young, but he’s been around for millennia. And he’s been searching for a way back to Meya since its disappearance.”

Immortal. Ageless. Alex’s head hurt just thinking about the two words, let alone everything they implied.

“If he’s banished, what does he stand to gain by going back?” Alex asked, pushing aside the idea of living forever.

“I’d say he plans to try his hand at rebellion again,” D.C. said. “And if he succeeds, the consequences will be deadly for us all.”

“Why?”

Alex heard D.C. sigh in the darkness, no doubt irritated by her lack of understanding.

“Medoran History 101,” D.C. said. “In a nutshell, Meyarins are a peaceful race, which is fortunate since they’re also very powerful. Back when Meya was still accessible, they had strict rules about their interactions with humans. There was always a divide between the two races, even if there was no animosity. We humans knew better than to arouse their anger, and the Meyarins were careful to keep their power from becoming corrupted. It was a peaceful alliance between our two races, even if it was clear that we benefited from trading more than they did. I imagine they saw us as little children to be humoured rather than an actual threat to their society. And they were right, we weren’t the threat. Their threat came from within.

“Aven was the second son born to King Astophe and Queen Niida. His brother Roka was the golden child—always faster, stronger, better. Aven sought to be worthy of the attention his brother received, but he was never quite good enough.

“It’s said that one day a delegation of humans entered Meya for trade purposes. Aven had never been around humans before since they rarely ventured into Meya and he’d never left the city or its surrounding forests. But that day he happened to witness their arrival and his curiosity led him to meet them.

“When he saw how primitive their trade products were he became outraged. For years Meya had provided technology and medicine to humans, helping to advance our society. In Aven’s mind, his own race had received nothing of worth in return. He stormed back to the palace and demanded that his father end the alliance since the Meyarins were earning nothing and losing everything. But his father dismissed him, saying that one day he would understand.

“Now, Aven was very young then, for a Meyarin. Young, but convinced that he was right. It was a dangerous combination. He started to meet with other Meyarins in secret, forming an anti-human society of sorts that later became known as the Rebels.”

D.C. paused and Alex could imagine the other girl scrunching up her nose at the unoriginal name.

“At first they were only a small group of young Meyarins intent on changing the laws, but when no one would listen to them they decided to take action. The next time a human trading delegation entered the city, they killed them. All of them.”

Alex gasped. “No!”

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