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I wanted to howl. This has happened to me more than once in meetings at the Secret Stone Circle but never for this reason. Usually I was bored because of the moralizing lectures. This time, it was because no one around me understood me.
Usually, druids and Soul Riders agreed. We had common enemies that had to be defeated: Mr. Sands, the Dark Riders and Garnok, who we have been particularly focused on recently. The only problems we encountered were in executing of the plans. Mine, Alex and Evergrey's ideas were often spontaneous and Lisa and Linda often agreed with them. Fripp, Avalon and Elizabeth had other ways of achieving their goals. Several hundred years of experience had taken away their willingness to take risks and they planned each step more carefully.
However, we always came to an agreement in the end because we knew that although our visions did not fully match, we were fighting for a common cause. That was until this afternoon, when the topic of Ydris was brought up.
The owner of the tent on Nilmer Hill was not who he initially claimed to be. He was actually from Pandoria. It took us a long time to see through his intentions, as well as to get into the tent he had cleverly covered in illusion. Then we made the mistake of trying to weaken the magician with Big Bonny's cosmic clock. I broke the device into pieces and Ydris finally made Garnok retract his tentacles back into the other dimension, at least for now. Later, in a rather perfidious way, I freed Concorde and the girls from the Bobcats club.
The Pandorian didn't seem particularly offended though. He thought about it for a while and then decided that he wanted to see me back in the circus tent.
In theory, I could never go back there. But I wanted to.
I loved the atmosphere of this place, with the colourful lights and a hint of mystery. I loved the little colourful butterfly race that the rather quiet clown, Xin, put on for me. Every moment I admired the majestic and intelligent mare named Zee was another happy memory. However, I enjoyed the moments with Ydris the most. Every time he showed me new tricks or put on a show just for me, I felt enchanted. I gave him a genuine smile when he inserted French words into his statements, although I never had any idea where he knew them from. In my bag I still carried a miniature mascot of his mare from the fashion festival. I saw how he treated his companions and they seemed like family. Maybe crazy, mysterious and with secrets but still. Interestingly, he started to include me in the group, even though I came only occasionally, not doing much since helping with setting up the tent.
I was aware that the Pandorian was powerful but I didn't think of him as a bad person. He escaped from his endangered world. He also predicted doom for ours, claiming that one or both dimensions would perish. But it didn't change the fact that he helped us last time. Even if he didn't believe there was a way we could save Pandoria and Earth, I felt he deserved our trust.
Unfortunately, the druids had a different opinion and said it was high time to make me realize how harmful meetings and interactions with magicians are. A slightly different view came from Linda, who was with me on the hill when I destroyed the clock and managed to get to know Ydris's behaviour a little better. The other girls approached it completely differently.
We became very close, especially during the search for Anna, still missing.
I tried to argue my point, despite the vein already pulsating on my forehead. However, everything I presented on the forum was immediately contradicted or caused a lively and loud discussion to break out, turning into a quarrel between two parties. I couldn't listen to it and, dryly saying goodbye to everyone, I jumped on [Name of horse/mare] before anyone reacted. I rode out the portal to cool down among the huge old Valedale oaks.
— Are we going back to Moorland? — asked [Name of horse/mare].
I sighed, staring at the cheerfully jumping red birds.
— I don't want to. The girls will be looking for me there — I muttered.
— Pffft...— I was indignant at this equivalent of laughter. — I know exactly where you want to be now.
— It's not funny. In fact, why weren't you and the other horses allowed to speak?
— My dear, I don't have that much to say.
— You have to have your own opinion — I insisted. — And I want to hear it.
This was an opinion that mattered a lot to me.
We had a treasure, that kind of bond between horse and rider that was born once every hundred years. A unique and extraordinary kinship that allows us to understand each other and do amazing things that most of the inhabitants of Jorvik have already forgotten about.
— You know I'm on your side. As long as you're happy and safe, I don't mind. So how about going to Nilmer's Hill, dear?
— You only live once!
I scared away half of the birds of the Hollow Woods and galloped along the main track.
Soon, a pink and purple tent appeared before my eyes.
I got off [Name of horse/mare], stroked its face and let him go to Zee, a beautiful northern Swedish mare. Apparently the horses also had things they could only talk about together because soon there was a faint neighing sound heard.
However, the owner of the colourful stall was nowhere to be seen. Only Xin showed me a small tent that I hadn't seen before. There I found a black-haired Pandorian, surprisingly without a top hat, placing various items on the already cramped space.
— Ma chère, it's interesting to see you today. I present to you the new specialty of our circus. From now on, the future will no longer be one big unknown. The wonderful Ydris will foretell what awaits you! — He pointed to a large, pink glass ball.
— You'll tell me of the future later. For now, I'll help you unload these boxes.
The magician, now almost a fortune teller, looked at me with piercing eyes and pointed to the appropriate boxes.
It was not uncommon for me to take the initiative to help. But I had never come to the hill at such a late hour. This time I mainly wanted to occupy my mind with something other than arguing with the druids.
There were quite a lot of different accessories in the boxes. I looked through tarot cards, fringed tablecloths and even some ancient gray hat with a four-leaf clover. Only when I almost fell into the tent did Ydris finally decide to speak.
— Put it down.
— Don't panic, I'm alive — I said.
However, one snap of his fingers left me without any ballast.
— You never come at this hour, my dove. There's something going through your head. — He crossed his arms over his chest.
I quickly analyzed the situation. The circus owner knew more than me on a daily basis anyway, so trying to avoid the truth was pointless. I wasn't even sure if he didn't already know the whole truth but just wanted to hear it from me.
This was one of my longest conversations with the eccentric Pandorian so far, although it looked more like a monologue with his occasional interjections:
— I haven't changed my mind. I still believe there is no chance of saving two dimensions.
I felt anger rising within me. It wasn't directed at anyone in particular but the emotions accumulated that day were starting to find a way out.
I gave everything I could. I was training. I tried. I meant well. Except it wasn't enough. No one even wanted to consider my option.
Who needs a hero if they are powerless?
— But if anyone could do the impossible, it's you, little dove.
This sentence made me freeze. I never expected it because he always declared that he would write everything off. I didn't know how to respond to this confession, so I grabbed his hand.
I needed to feel that someone was next to me.
I was probably the first and last person in Jorvik to even come close to a Pandorian.
His hug was gentle and warm and he smelled of cotton candy. He didn't seem surprised by my behaviour either.
I felt safe. For once.
We stood on Nilmer Hill behind the circle of light falling from the circus tent. Above us stretched the Jorvik sky with a million stars and in front of me I could see the colourful flowers of Silverglade Village. In the distance, I heard the faint neighing of [Horse Name], who was obviously still having some sort of chat with Zee. The crisp, summer air carried the scent of stables from Moorland.
I wanted to stay with him forever at that moment and be able to revel in it.
I think I could use that space clock right now.
— So what? Care for some foretelling? — he asked, taking the back of my hand. — The great Ydris will show you what awaits you — he said with a trademark smile.
— For me, prophecies are rather empty promises but so be it.
That's what I've always thought. Every time I went to fun Jorvik festivals, they were not taken seriously. For example, Midsummer's fortune telling, which forced me to spend several days galloping in search of seven different flowers.
— If it doesn't work out and your world ends, I can promise you that I will hold your hand just like I do now — he whispered.
His multi-coloured eyes sparkled and I was sure he would keep his word.
— Maybe divination does make sense sometimes — I replied with a smile, watching the slowly rising dawn in Jorvik.
Sometimes it doesn't take much.
For me, this night was enough for a thousand others.