Race to Pardes

By Erika Birkenes

Race to Pardes is the second novel in the Ireistis series. Ireistis, Lorenna, and Mikael return to Teranna for yet another grand adventure - this time, to recover a second priceless treasure. Even through many hardships, they courageously overcome challenge after challenge in their search for a mythical haven in a race against time. Their only guide is a mysterious crystal, and they are not the only ones who know about it. If they succeed, their world will remain safe and protected. Should they fail, however, everything they know and love will be thrown into turmoil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781105490781

Book preview

Race to Pardes

Race to Pardes

By Erika Birkenes

Copyright

Race to Pardes

Copyright © 2011 by Erika Birkenes

Self published through Lulu.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronically, mechanically, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author, except as provided by the USA copyright law.

Cover Illustration: © Samuel Farinato

Edited by Jennifer Birkenes

ISBN 978-1-105-17956-3

~//~

To my father,

for always being there for me.

You could never know how much you inspire me.

~//~

Prologue

Mike sat on his bed hoping he had everything he needed. He had just finished sorting through his belongings and packing what he thought mattered into the two duffel bags that lay at his feet. The sides of the red nylon packs bulged from their contents and lay awkwardly with their tops zipped open. It was strange to think his whole life and all he considered truly important could be condensed into those two bags.

Clearing off his shelves and evaluating each of the assorted items he had haphazardly collected over the years, many of which had sat untouched since he had first unpacked after his family’s move from San Francisco over three years ago, had kicked up dust enough to fill the air of his room. Mike watched as the particles drifted slowly through the air and he resisted sneezing as they tickled his nose. Afternoon sunlight filtered in through his curtains and highlighted the little particles swirling around.

As he sat there thinking and watching, Mike’s three year old brother, Johnny, waddled into his room and plopped down on top of one of the bags. He held a toy in one chubby hand and clutched a chocolate chip cookie in the other.

Daddy’s ready. His words were muffled by the bite he had in his mouth.

Crumbs covered his cherub-like face and were falling all over the place, including into Mike’s bag.

Mike smiled and chuckled under his breath at his brother’s antics. He hadn’t been there when Johnny was born, but he had spent every moment since he had returned home trying to be the best big brother possible. This would be the first time they had been apart for more than a week, and the thought of not seeing his darling brother made his heart ache.

Not wanting to show it, though, Mike stood up casually, slung his packed backpack over one shoulder, and tousled Johnny’s light brown hair.

Then let’s go! He said cheerfully, picking Johnny up in one arm, zipping closed and picking the bags up with the other.

Outside, Mike’s mom and dad waited by his car. Mike had worked hard all summer and had finally saved up enough money to buy his second-hand car. It was old and one of the doors was a different color than the rest of the peeling paint, but he was proud of it.

The passenger seat had springs popping out of the cheap upholstery and there was foam spilling out of a tear in the ceiling. The back seat was covered in so many stains that its original color could not be found, and the previous owner had left a collection of trash in the back, leaving behind the lingering scents of stale fries and rancid milkshakes. Even with all these faults, however, Mike could not be convinced to give it up.

He dropped his bags on the gravel in the driveway and set Johnny down next to them.

Mike bent down to Johnny’s level and whispered in his ear. Could you go get me a cookie?

Johnny nodded happily and ran back into the house. Before Mike knew it, his mom was hugging him and crying.

It’s OK, mom, I’ll be back from college before you know it. He reassured her as he hugged her back.

He felt her nod against his shoulder and then let go. She took a moment to re-compose herself before speaking.

I know. She said, still nodding. Just be careful, OK? She smiled with bleary eyes.

Mike nodded and lifted his bags into the trunk.

I will. He said.

A door slammed and they all looked to see Johnny running back out of the house holding up a chocolate chip cookie with a bite out of it. He scuttled down the porch stairs and held it up to Mike with a big, toothy grin that was stained with chocolate.

Mike picked Johnny up again and accepted the cookie, trying not to laugh.

Thank you. He said.

Johnny replied with an emphatic nod and a big, sticky kiss on the cheek.

Mike’s dad came to take his turn to say goodbye. He gave Mike a firm shake of the hand and looked him squarely in the eyes.

Study hard, go to all your classes, and don’t do drugs. He said in a strong voice.

OK, dad. Mike said. I’ll do my best to make you and mom proud.

We already are, son. His dad smiled. You’ll do great.

I packed you some food, honey. His mom wiped her eyes and handed him a large, brown paper bag.

Thanks mom. Mike took the bag and handed Johnny to her.

He picked his backpack up off the ground and leaned over to set it in the passenger seat along with the lunch bag. He straightened up, gave everyone one last hug, got in the car, and slowly backed out of the driveway.

Mike could see his family waving goodbye to him as he turned the corner and drove away. As he waved back one last time, he realized how strange it felt to leave them so soon after coming back. It had been three years since returning home, and yet it felt like no time had passed at all.

His memories of his time in Teranna were beginning to become blurred and vague. Sometimes he wondered if he had simply imagined the whole thing, but then he would look at little Johnny and regret missing the first few months of his brother’s life.

As Mike drove along, following the road’s winding pathway through the forest, he reflected on everything that had happened to him over the past four years. Everything from the move from San Francisco, his time in Teranna, Lorenna, returning home, and the three wonderful years he had spent back home.

He was so lost in thought that, at first, he barely registered the odd sound the engine was making. As the problem got worse, the car began losing momentum. Within a few minutes, it had died completely and wouldn’t start.

Great. He moaned sarcastically.

Mike climbed out of the car and popped up the hood. Hot vapors rose into the air and something smelled like it was burning. He tinkered around with the engine a bit, but couldn’t find the problem.

Frustrated and now smeared with oil from the engine, Mike put the hood of the car down and went back to the driver’s seat, shivering slightly from the cool fall air. He closed his door and rubbed his hands together, thinking of what he should do next. Mike had not even left the forest yet, which he knew meant his cell phone didn’t have any signal. He checked anyway though, just in case, and was met with the same result as every other time he had tried to use his phone in the forest: no signal.

He looked at the time and saw he had only been driving for about twenty minutes. That meant that he was just far enough from home that it would take a long walk to get to anywhere. After a few more moments of sitting in his dead car and trying to start it a few more times, Mike dug his jacket out of the back seat, grabbed his backpack and food, and went outside to start walking back home.

Chapter 1

Lorenna tried her best to keep from tripping over the bushes and shrubs as she followed Ireistis through the forest.

Hurry up!She heard Ireistis’s voice in her head.

I’m trying! She called out with a laugh.

T’link hopped over a bush and continued through the brush, leaving Lorenna in the back of the odd procession.

The forest was thick and the leaves on the trees swayed in the early afternoon breeze. Enough sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves to see by, but it was quite dim. Birds sung in the treetops, adding to the surreal affect that the woods had and adding life to the otherwise silent forest.

Lorenna’s skirt nearly got caught on a bush covered in thorns, and she was very grateful she had decided to wear a shorter skirt today. Her dress, which usually brushed the floor gracefully, had been altered to have extra fullness for mobility and to go only a little bit past her knees. One of her favorite spells was one that allowed her to alter her clothing to meet whatever need she had, and she used it daily.

Her dainty slippers had also been changed into a pair of sturdy boots that went up to her knees to protect her legs. In addition to shortening the length of her dress, she had decorated it in emerald green with small, white flowers embroidered along the neckline and sleeves. Her long hair, which was black tinted with the same green hue as her dress, was pulled back into a thick braid.

Are we close? Lorenna called up to Ireistis.

Ireistis was flying overhead, leading them to her newest discovery but refused to say what it was.

Almost, just keep walking. Lorenna heard Ireistis’s twinkling voice in her thoughts.

Almost. Lorenna told T’link.

Lorenna and Ireistis had lived with T’link in her village for over two years, and they had all become familiar with the pattern of translation. Because Lorenna was the only one Ireistis could mindspeak to, she had to act as a translator for the rest of the world. They had all become so accustomed to this form of communication that T’link no longer had to ask what Ireistis said; Lorenna would automatically tell her.

You two are so slow. Ireistis complained exasperatedly.

That’s easy for you to say, Lorenna replied mentally. You don’t have to deal with all these bushes and thorns.

T’link chuckled and Lorenna looked over at her curiously.  Sometimes she wondered if T’link could understand their conversations, although she could think of no reason for her to pretend otherwise. Lorenna could not ponder this for very long, however, because she was interrupted by a soft chirping from above, accompanied by Ireistis calling loudly in her mind.

There it is! She exclaimed.

Before Lorenna had a chance to respond or translate, Ireistis darted forward and left Lorenna and T’link behind.

Let me guess. We are close? T’link laughed.

Lorenna laughed too. How did you know?

Come on, hurry! Ireistis called anxiously. You are taking forever.

Lorenna and T’link continued muddling their way around the trees and bushes as Ireistis hounded them to go faster. They finally made it to a large pile of stones and were able to stop. The light was shining down where there were no trees growing and made Ireistis’s emerald scales gleam. She sat on top of the pile of stones waiting for them as if she had been patient the entire time.

As soon as Ireistis saw Lorenna and T’link emerge, she flew up into the air and swooped down to land on Lorenna’s shoulder. She was almost too big for Lorenna to hold her like that anymore, but it was not very easy for Ireistis to get rid of that habit. Lorenna laughed as she tried to fix her now tousled hair as well as balance Ireistis’s weight.

It’s over there. Ireistis said, hopping slightly in her excitement.

Where? Lorenna asked, seeing nothing but the large pile of stones surrounded by more trees.

On the other side, come see. Ireistis hopped off Lorenna’s shoulder and glided around to the other side of the odd pile.

It’s on the other side, I guess. Lorenna said to T’link.

Before she had finished speaking however, T’link laughed and started to hop her way around the stones.

Wait for me! She called after Ireistis happily.

Lorenna giggled and followed them around to the other side. Once there, she saw a small opening just large enough for a person to squeeze through and into what appeared to be a hollow space underneath the stones.

It’s a cave, T’link exclaimed. What fun.

Have you gone inside yet? Lorenna asked Ireistis.

Ireistis shook her head. I wanted to wait for you.

She was waiting for us. Lorenna told T’link.

How did you find it? T’link asked, stepping up to the dark hole and peering in.

Ireistis proceeded to explain how she had spotted it from the sky while flying over the forest one morning. Lorenna translated every few sentences and then a thought occurred to her once the story was finished.

Why were you flying this far away from the village by yourself? She asked suspiciously.

Lorenna knew Ireistis went out exploring every morning, but this was very far away from the village. Much farther than Lorenna thought was safe.

I saw something shiny and I followed it here. Ireistis said distractedly, very anxious to go into the cave.

You followed something shiny? What was it? Lorenna asked.

I don’t know, I never found it. Ireistis shrugged.

She doesn’t know. Lorenna answered T’link’s glance.

Can we go in now? Ireistis asked, hopping up and down unpatiently.

I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to go in and take a peek. Lorenna conceeded.

Even though  the matter of how far Ireistis had gone from home was not over yet, Lorenna was still curious. After how far they had come to see this, Lorenna decided they might as well explore the cave and see if there was anything inside.

Ireistis went in first, followed by T’link.  They both slipped in easily due to their small size, unlike Lorenna. Lorenna climbed in last, ducking to avoid the low ceiling. T’link had her globe out and it was hovering in the air, casting enough of its pale blue light to see by.

No matter how many she had seen, the sap globes of the Nanus still fascinated Lorenna. In accordance to the Nani customs, T’link had made it for herself during the ceremony in which she was publicly proclaimed to be an adult of the tribe. Because everyone made their own, no two globes were the same; the colors and sizes varied slightly, making each one very personal to the Nanus who had made it.

What’s this? T’link asked as she examined the cave wall.

Lorenna and Ireistis came over to where T’link was standing and they all studied the curious drawing on it. It was a crude drawing that appeared to have been scratched in with a sharp stone. It depicted a large garden filled with trees, bushes, flowers, and animals.

The most interesting part of the drawing, however, was the small circle in the very center. It hovered in the air like one of the Nanus’ globes and the rest of the drawing was centered around it.

What is it? Ireistis asked.

I don’t know what it is. Lorenna answered. But it must mean something.

Let’s keep looking and see if we find anything else. T’link suggested.

All three of them proceeded to search every square inch of the small, room-like cave. They found no other drawings, and were about to give up when Ireistis started chirping excitedly at the back wall. T’link instantly jumped up and joined her.

What is it? She exclaimed. Did you find something?

I found something in the wall.

This confused Lorenna greatly.

In the wall? She asked.

She came and knelt down on the other side of Ireistis.

Right there. Ireistis nudged a loose rock next to the wall.

It’s only a rock, dear. Lorenna said, and picked up the melon size stone to prove her point.

Behind the rock was a small cavity in the wall where a rough, burlap sack had been stuffed. Ireistis jumped and twirled in the air, chirruping with glee. T’link pulled out the dusty bag gingerly as Lorenna set the stone down.

Ireistis came back down and landed on Lorenna’s lap. With the bag in between them, T’link and Lorenna carefully opened the sack to reveal a small, gilded box.

What do we do with it? T’link asked in a hushed whisper.

At the appearance of the strange box, everyone had fallen silent. Even Ireistis wasn’t making a sound as she watched intently. Lorenna stroked the aged wood of the box and tentatively picked it up for a closer look. It wasn’t very