Cole helps Violet

  “If you were partnered with a Wayminder, you might be able to travel anywhere,” Harmony said.

  “Can’t they already go pretty much anywhere?” Cole asked.

  “Within Creon they can,” Harmony said. “And from Creon they can open a wayport to just about anywhere in the five kingdoms. Getting back is another matter. Some can manage a wayport from Junction to Creon. But not anywhere else. Ways can be opened to Earth from Junction or Creon, and some have managed it in Zeropolis. Unless the starting point is inside of Creon, Wayminders can’t just open ways from one kingdom to another. Or even from one place in a kingdom to another location in the same kingdom. But partnered with your ability . . . who knows?”

(Additional text cut)

"When do we leave?”

  “Now,” Cole said.

  “Wait, now?” Violet asked. “I just opened a wayport! Your Highness, your missive told me to come here through a way. You know a lot about wayminding. I’m talented, but I’ll need a fair amount of rest before opening another.”

  “I told you to come here through a wayport precisely so your power would be depleted,” Harmony said. “I want to demonstrate what Cole can do. And to test a theory.”

  “He opens wayports too?” Violet exclaimed. “Then why do you need me?”

  “I can replenish your power,” Cole said.

  “Nobody can do that,” Violet said.

  “Cole is extraordinary,” Harmony explained.

  “Ah,” Violet said, finally looking at Cole with real interest. “I see why people might ignore your age. Where are we going?”

  “Necronum, first,” Cole said.

  Violet turned to Harmony and held up a finger. “You know that nobody can—”

  “No Wayminder has ever opened a wayport to Necronum from Junction City,” Harmony said. “Only from Creon. We’re testing another theory.”

  “I can help your power work anywhere,” Cole said. “We should be able to go from anywhere to anywhere.”

  Violet looked from Cole to Harmony and back. “If we weren’t with the queen, I might suspect you were teasing.”

(Additional text cut)

  “Can you attempt to open a way to the Locked Shrine from here?” Harmony asked. “It’s to check on my daughter Miracle.”

  “I’d need a lot more power,” Violet said. “At full strength I can’t even feel for a location in Necronum from Junction.”

  Harmony looked to Cole. “Ready to give it a try?”


  I have to hold your hand to establish the connection,” Cole said.

  “I bet you use that on all the girls,” Violet replied.

  Cole noticed Harmony turning away to cover a laugh. Violet held out her hand.




  “Try not to fall in love,” Cole said, gingerly touching a couple of her fingers.

  Her power was not as brilliant as some, but steady and strong. Cole focused and forced energy into her power.




  “No way!” Violet exclaimed. “I can see Necronum easier than I could ever see Creon from here. Unreal.”




  “I’ve never encountered anyone like him,” Harmony said.




  “I see the Locked Shrine,” Violet reported. “I can open a wayport. I’ve never felt this . . . ready.”

  “Please do,” Harmony said.

  A shimmer appeared in the air in front of Violet, somewhat indistinct, but basically oval in shape, taller than her and almost touching the ground. “I feel like I could hold it open all day,” Violet said.

  Cole was no longer touching her, but he maintained the connection and continued to energize her power. “You could if I keep helping you.”

(Additional text cut)

  “I still feel the connection,” Cole said. “I’ll break it.”

  The shimmering wayport vanished.

  Violet gave a little gasp. “That was abrupt. I went from full to empty in an instant. What happened here?”

(Additional text cut)

  “My power feels dead now,” Violet said. “Completely drained. I can’t see Junction or Creon. I can get no read on opening a wayport. Aren’t you curious to see if we’ll be able to get back?”

  Cole took her hand and forced power into her. It felt no more challenging than it had in Junction.

  “Amazing,” Violet said. “Never leave me, Cole. You’re my new best friend. I feel superb. Like I haven’t opened a wayport in a month. And now I can see other kingdoms better than I could in Creon. I could open a way back to Harmony’s tower right now. From this same spot! It’s usually tough to open a new wayport in a place where another wayport was recently established. Not with you around.”

  Cole released her hand and let the connection to her power lapse.

  “And I’m spent again,” Violet said, slumping a tad. “Like I should be. It should take days for me to open another wayport in an ideal spot. And even with a year to rest, opening a wayport in Necronum would never happen.” She grabbed Cole by the shoulders. “Do you realize all we could do together?”


Chapters 4-5