Datha and I were led to a torii gate reminiscent of Earth’s torii gates. I knew the oracle was playing with us again. Beyond was the shrine steps, all eight hundred or so cut into a hundred and a square space to rest. Then up again. Instead of going up the stairs, Atesh knelt before the tori gates.

  “Great Oracle we come before thee with a question. Will you hear us?” he asked.

  The stairs faded to show a small cottage much like Myra and I had visited, except this one was far larger. A familiar woman dressed in a grecian dress of violet and galactic swirling eyes. She smiled at us.

  “I will. Come. Be welcome,” she said. Datha stumbled when the oracle glanced at her.

  “I know your story. You are exempt from the tests unless you wish for me to test you?” she asked.

  “I-I’m not ready. I have awoken from a spell but a few days ago,” said Datha shaking.

  The oracle nodded and turned to lead us to her home. I followed fuming. I was still pissed that she had a hand in our capture and this whole mess. Sure, oracles couldn’t see everything, ok, but she could have seen her sister’s demise or the fire witch’s scheme couldn’t she? My mom saw a lot and even Datha saw many things so why should she, the all-seeing oracle, be limited? I sighed and entered the cottage noticing the similarities to her other cottage. Was her other cottage even real? Or was it all a well-crafted illusion to fool Myra and me?

  “Take a seat and ask your question,” she said, reposing against an armchair and picking her needles and thread. The thread was made of light. Violet light and showed different scenes. It reminded me of my mom’s threads. Did all oracles have to thread their visions together like that? Would Datha have to? I glanced at Datha who watched curiously.

  “Great oracle, what should be done with the otherworlders,” asked Ilias.

  The oracle smiled. “You know what you have to do,” she said, weaving an image with another. I realized the images were part of the same story and as I gaze into the thread images began to emerge before my eyes again. The mountain, Ruckus, Atesh, Niran, and Nero, Myra struggling under the fire witch refusing to cooperate again and being punished for it, a lithe man in purple robes, a slave morphing into a pterodactyl, Myra rocking back and forth, A dark-skinned man with long dark hair smiling and holding a golden orb, Myra dead. It stopped and I blinked.

  “What did you see,” asked the oracle, smiling.

  I shuddered at that last image. “A lot of stuff. A lot of people I don’t know and a place,” I answered, gazing at her. Maybe she could tell me about the place at least?

  “Ice Temple is where you must go,” she said.

  “Ice Temple?” I asked.

  “The mountain you foresaw,” she said.

  “What about Myra? I have to get her out of the council’s grasp,” I said, preferably before she turned into a loon. I had to help her!

  “The easiest trail to the castle shall lead you to rebellion and the temple. Your destiny is set. Myra’s course runs with yours. You shall see her again, fear not,” she said and I growled. I stood knocking my chair to the ground. “I will free her! She won’t become that! She won’t die!” I yelled and stalked out of the cottage. I didn’t know how I was going to do it but I was going to rescue Myra with or without help. Datha followed me out and found me lounging against a tree. I didn’t punch one again. I learned my lesson the first time around. Trees equaled rock around here. I lounged against it instead with my arms crossed.

  “She didn’t mean that you would not save Myra, brother, but that your course was set,” she said as she approached.

  I kicked a small rock. Much softer than the tree and sighed.

  “I know. I saw some disturbing things though and being told that we would meet again like nothing angered me, ok?” I ran my hands through my hair and groaned at the knots I found. I did not like knots!

  Datha giggled. “Same brother. Still hate your hair in knots I see,” she said.

  I took my hand from my hair and turned my nose up. “Of course. I am a prince,”

  She laughed and patted my head. “Come on. The rest are asking their questions. We might as well hear them,” she said.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Nails on a chalkboard isn’t joining us is he?” I muttered.

  She gave me a perplexed look.

  “Ilias. That’s what he sounds like to my hearing,” I said.

  Datha giggled. “Poor brother. What do I sound like?” she asked.

  “You sound like a siren compared to him,” I muttered and she laughed.

  “You sound like the soft voice of the nightingale from where I’m from,” I said smiling.

  “That’s good I take it?” she asked and I nodded.

  “Better than nails on a chalkboard.”

  We joined the group as Niran asked his question, one no one else thought to ask.

  “Why is Ice Temple so important?”

  The Oracle frowned. “Ice Temple holds many secrets, one in which the whole of Sapherine’s existence lies in the balance,” she said.

  “What is this secret,” asked Boulder.

  “That I cannot tell you. You shall find out if you decide to go on this journey,” she said gazing at Nero who had yet to ask his question.

  “What awaits us at the Ice Temple?” asked Ruckus.

  “It is home to many creatures but the deadliest is the Morgan,” she said, causing the group to erupt into an argument again.

  “Atesh, are you sure you still want to go?” asked Niran.

  “Now more than ever. Rebellion is what we need!”

  “I’m with both of you,” said Ruckus ignoring Boulder’s glare.

  “Y'all are crazy,” said Ilias as he paced the small space between the living space and the table and chairs.

  “I agree,” said Boulder.

  Pallas glanced at Nero who was always quiet but seemed deep in thought. Finally, he asked an unusual question. “Will I be needed,” he asked.

  The oracle smiled. “A true question I see. Yes your skills will be needed Nero,” she said and he nodded gazing at Me and Datha and nodded again.

  “Then I wish to join,” he said, surprising everyone.

  I nodded. “The more the merrier,” I said and Datha elbowed me in the stomach.

  “He means you are welcome to join us,” she said smiling.

  “That’s what that means,” I coughed and she glanced at me apologetically.

  “Oops? I thought you were making fun of him,” she said.

  “If I had said it sarcastically then it would have been a barb but I didn’t mean it that way this time,” I said. Geeze she has a bony elbow!

  “Nero! Are you crazy? We can’t go against our patron,” yelled Pallas.

  “If they are involved with treachery I want to know, Pallas,” he said.

  “Nero, you’re like the most level-headed of us and you’re joining a cockamamy group because you want to find out if we’ve been betrayed? Am I getting this right” asked Ilias.

  Nero nodded.

  “After being told the death sentence that awaits this foolish crew, you still wish to join?” asked Boulder.

  “I do not like not knowing something,” he said, shrugging, and Ruckus chuckled.

  “Let him do what he wants. He’s not forcing you to join us,” said Niran.

  “No, but my brother is going into suicide!” yelled Pallas.

  “Then go with me, Pallas,” said Nero but Pallas shook his head.

  “I won’t turn you into our patron since it's likely he already knows but I can’t go against him either. He saved our lives. He deserves utter loyalty!”

  “I don’t doubt him. I doubt everything we've grown to believe, Pallas. I cannot keep following corrupt officials if that is what they are. If that is what I find. I have a feeling something else is going on,” Nero said and the oracle nodded.

  “Sapherine is about to enter some dark times and all that will stand in its way are you,” she said pointing to each of them.

  “I’m out!” said Pallas.

  “Me too,” said Ilias.

  “And me,” said Boulder as he glared at Ruckus.

  Ruckus shrugged and faced the Oracle. “I’m in,” he said.

  “So am I,” said Atesh.

  “If you are then so am I,” said Niran.

  “And me,” said Nero.

  The same people I saw lined up while the other three evaded us. I smirked. An Earth, two Fire, and one Ether Kin. Not bad! We had four of the five elements in our little group. Except for Datha we were all fighters and hunters too.

  I closed my eyes and an image of a forest trail and a lake appeared.

  I opened my eyes. “Alright, does anyone know the way to the lake in this place,” I asked.

  Atesh nodded. “Follow me. We can stop at my house for supplies. My mom is used to us packing for missions,” he said and Niran nodded.

  “I have to pack some extra silk and my amulet,” he said.

  I looked at all the silk he wore and wondered if he knew the interdimensional spell.