Chap. 19
Serenity glanced up to see who was walking toward her. The figure stepped out of the shadows and Serenity recognized it as a young girl. The girl looked a few years older than Serenity, had blond hair that was almost white, and wore a light blue shirt and was carrying a bow. Upon closer inspection, Serenity saw that the bow that she was carrying was her bow.
The girl walked toward Serenity and bent down to touch her arm. She spoke, her voice soft and light. “Serenity, are you okay?” The girl bent down farther and started inspecting Serenity’s arm, looking for injuries.
Serenity scooted back at the girl’s touch. “Who are you?”
The girl did not answer and instead went over to Esmera and undid the net that was binding her. Esmera nodded at her once the bind on her was off. The girl then went to sit down by Serenity. She took off the bow that was on her back and gave it to Serenity. “Here, this is yours. You left it back at the camp when you ran away from the Malks when they started the fire.”
“How do you know that?”
The girl didn’t answer, again, and looked straight ahead at Esmera. Esmera seemed to know that the mysterious girl’s eyes were on her so she got up and walked over to Serenity. What do you think of her? She asked quietly.
Serenity pondered over this, and then answered, I seriously do not know. However, we should give her our thanks. She did save our lives. I wonder where YoKo is.
Esmera stayed silent, not answering Serenity. Finally, Serenity scooted near her savior and tried to create a conversation with her. “Hi, thank you ever so much for saving me and my dragon. We are forever in your debt.”
The girl looked over at Serenity with gratitude in her eyes. She shook her head. “No, never. That was just something I had to do. You don’t need to thank me.”
“Please, what were you doing before you came here?”
The girl hesitated, but then continued with a nervous breath. “I wandered over to your camp, saw the fire and put it out. Then I saw the bow and I picked it up and followed your footprints to this spot. I used some of your arrows and killed the Malks that were about to kill you.”
“Please tell me about yourself,” Serenity begged.
The girl sighed, and then spoke. “I know that you are planning to journey through the Kothari Mountains to save someone you love very much. I also know that you do not have someone to guide you. I will stay with you and help you get through the mountains. After that, I will help you get to Mirthira.”
Serenity’s eyes slanted at those words. Serenity never told her that she was planning to go through the Kothari, or that she was planning to go to Mirthira. Should we trust her? Mused Esmera.
I want to know who she really is and why she knows so much about me.
Try to trick her.
That’s a good idea, Esmera.
“So, what did you say your name was?” Serenity asked.
The girl changed the subject like last time. “So, Serenity, do you want me to guide you through these mountains?”
“How do you know my name?”
Again, she changed the subject. “Is that a yes or a no?”
Frustrated, Serenity stood up and glared at her. “I am not going anywhere with you if I don’t get my answers answered first.”
The girl just sat there, looking up at her. She sighed, as if solving a very difficult problem. “If I just tell you my name, will that help?”
“I want the whole thing.”
“Take it or leave it.”
Say yes, Serenity, Esmera advised.
Serenity sighed and sat back down before saying, “Yes.”
The girl looked sad, as if she didn’t want to tell Serenity her name. Then, realizing that she had no choice, she came out and said it. “Serenity, my name. . . is Islaria.”
A thousand questions whirled through Serenity’s mind. What did Isabella say about Islaria when Serenity asked her who she was? That they were like best of friends but then one day something happened. Thinking of Jason made Serenity wonder how he was. Serenity took out the necklace and glanced at it. The necklace seemed dimmer, which meant that Jason was injured in some way. “Jason!” Serenity cried, and Esmera and Islaria looked at her with worry.
“Serenity! What’s wrong?” questioned Islaria.
“Jason,” Serenity gasped. “The necklace, it’s dimming.”
What! Esmera shrieked.
“Wait, I’m lost. What necklace?” asked a very confused Islaria.
Serenity wanted to tell Islaria about everything, but a sudden thought popped into her mind. This could work as my advantage, she thought. She quickly told Esmera her plan, and she agreed.
“Islaria,” Serenity said, “How about we make a deal? I will tell you everything you want to know, in exchange for some information.”
Islaria looked shocked, but then managed regain her features. “You are a very smart girl, Serenity. I normally wouldn’t approve of this, but I think I can make a little exception in this case. I want to know more about Jason in exchange for some information on me. But not everything. Some things I will reveal only in emergencies.”
“Deal,” Serenity agreed, and the two girls shook hands.
“You first,” Islaria said.
Serenity nodded, and then told Islaria everything from when they left Albyra. She told Islaria of how Jason had given her a necklace with a chip of the Firestar in it, and it told what condition Jason was in. She told Islaria about how Jason was captured by Malks and she was racing against time to save him. She also told her about YoKo, and where she was at this precise moment. After she was done explaining, Islaria looked interested. “Where did Jason get the chip of the Firestar?”
Serenity pondered, struggling to remember what Jason had told her. “He said that a friend gave it to him, and she or he chipped it off herself.”
Islaria didn’t say anything but looked and stared ahead. “Islaria?” Serenity asked, “It’s your turn.”
Islaria seemed to snap out of her trance and said, “Oh, yeah. But you said you only wanted some information, right?”
Serenity nodded.
“Such as?”
“I want to know why you know so much about me. That’s it, for now.”
Islaria sighed, and then looked at Serenity straight in the eyes. “Serenity, I was always with you, you just didn’t know it. I was with you when Jason and Shinku vanished, I was with you when you learned that you had to go through the Kothari instead of around it, and I was with you when you and Esmera were ambushed, again.”
Serenity looked puzzled. “You were spying on us?”
Islaria tipped her head and laughed, then turned her head back to its original position. “Oh silly Serenity,” she chuckled, “Don’t you remember anything? Who was with you all that time besides Esmera herself?”
Serenity still looked puzzled, but then something clicked inside her head. “No, it can’t be.”
“Yes, Serenity, now you’ve got it. I am YoKo.”
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