The Land of Yesterday by K. A. Reynolds

Author:K. A. Reynolds
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The Caterwaul of the Land of Yesterday

Cecelia’s ears rang with the quietest quiet. Her hair floated north, reaching for the faraway stars. The night skies no longer seemed haunted. Thanks to the daisy cocoon, and Trystyng and Phantasmagoria’s protection, Cecelia’s paper limbs and torso had not been damaged in the crash. A white sickle moon loomed overhead, coating everything in a glow of mystery.

In the distance, an old English-style castle stood alone on the windy horizon. Four tall and thin towers, twisting like licorice spires, rose toward strange constellations; flags snapped from each peak, all bearing a griffin clutching a snake eating its own tail. It glowed like a radioactive beast at the horizon’s edge. The castle’s stone shimmered in shades of mazarine and lit the black sand like neon. Stars clustered around the turrets and seemed to be whispering, Come, Cecelia, come . . .

Her mother had to be inside.

Cecelia scanned the black wastes for the gnomes. The hot-air balloon lay crumpled in the shadows to her right. Directly beside it, two small still shapes had collapsed in the sand. Trystyng and Phantasmagoria!

When Cecelia readied to race toward them, an explosion burst from the crash site. Cecelia blew backward. Fire shot into the sky. The Dröm Ballong’s basket, half buried in a drift of black sand, billowed with flames.

Without a second thought about her paperness, Cecelia sprang to her feet and ran as fast as her parchment leg would allow toward the inferno. Trystyng and Phantasmagoria leaped up and dashed toward her, shouting in the blustery way they did, as the Dröm Ballong blazed behind them. The trio met in the middle and crashed into a hug.

“Are you all right?” Cecelia asked while brushing debris from their vests.

Both nodded. Trystyng licked his fingers and extinguished a burning thread on Phantasmagoria’s hat. Phantasmagoria hugged Trystyng extra tight. To Cecelia’s surprise, Trystyng smiled sweetly. They seemed as vigorous and wonderful as ever.

“Good. Because you’ll need to be in tip-top shape to navigate the castle. I’ve read about it. Amytheria Nox, the famous warrior hermit of Mount G, wrote in her book, Guardians of Legend and Lore, that this fortress, known as the Castle of Never More and Once Again, was the most perilous castle in the Multiverse. I never knew if it was real until now, but there it is.” The gnomes rubbed their hands together, entranced. “Amytheria stated the fortress itself would do anything to trap the living within its walls and steal all their tomorrows.”

The gnomes gave Cecelia thumbs-ups.

Scared, but undeterred, she nodded. “Let’s go.”

Finally, she would see her mother. She would hand her the letter, written with her miraculous pen filled with her equally miraculous tears, and gain her forgiveness for her part in Celadon’s death. Her mother would know how to handle Widdendream and rescue her father, and they would be a together family once more. Cecelia warmed at the thought, but her happiness faded fast.

Lost and forgotten things littered the glittering onyx desert. Cecelia stepped over each object with care.

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