Ebby Flint and the Sword of Sorrows (Book 1 in the Artis Trilogy)

What the...Puck?

Chapter Four - What the... Puck?

I am screaming, plummeting through the air like a cannonball. I knew this wouldn't end well. Magic powers? What is the cat on?

"Ebby, just stand up," a familiar voice says to me. "You're literally on solid ground."

I peel one eye open to see Naeri standing above me with that stupid bow still in tow. "Urm, so magic powers are a yay then?"

"A what, then?" she asks.

"A...whatever it doesn't matter, then."

I move into a sitting position only to have a head rush. Groaning, I let my head fall into my hands as I sit cross legged.

"Don't move too fast, Eboni. This is the first time you've used magic, so this is to be expected. Your head will hurt for only a little while longer," Bartholomew purrs from in front of me.

Ignoring the loud banging in my head, I get to my feet and walk over to the edge of the cliff. The other side is total mayhem. Over twenty trolls are yelling in anger. Some have even taken to fighting each other. Others are trying to get across, but only ever end up falling to their death.

"Wait, did I just fly across?" I ask astonished. "Is that my power? I can fly! Wow, Marcus is sure going to be jealous about this."

"Fly?" Bartholomew laughs. "Where on earth did you get that idea? Witches can't fly. You teleported, of course."

"Witches, teleported?" I ask more to myself than anyone else. "I'm a witch. Okay, Ebby, calm down. A lot of people are witches. Like Nicole Kidman from Bewitched. You're basically Nicole Kidman. Nothing to worry about."

"Do you have any idea what she's talking about?" Naeri whispers to Bartholomew.

"Not a clue. Coping mechanism, I suppose?" he answers.

"You guys have some explaining to do. I'm not going any farther until I completely understand where I am, what I am and who I am," I say.

"Of course, Eboni, all your questions shall be answered. But I prefer we answer them a little ways away from the trolls." Looking over at the trolls who look like they're having a temper tantrum, I nod in agreement.

"Naeri, you lead the way. I'm sure you know where the Temporis Falls are?" Bartholomew questions. Naeri nods and takes the lead.

We make our way into the thick vibrant forest. Even through, I've only taken a few steps into the forest, I'm already emerged in a whole new environment. The other side of the forest is much different than this side. While the other side resembles more of a deciduous forest, this side looks like a rainforest. Although, I've never been in a rainforest, I can only imagine that this is what it's like from the pictures I've seen.

Vibrant green leaves the size of my head hang from the trees. They form a canopy over our heads, and even though I'm looking straight up I can't see the sky. On the ground, there are flowers of every colour. I don't recognize any of the flowers and that could be because I'm on a totally different planet, or because I never went to the fancy gardens my foster mom, Terri always went to. Most of the plants on the ground look alive; like they have small, pointy teeth. One flower in particular looks like some kind of scary sea creature. It's circular in shape, and it has layers of sharp pointed needles all the way from the from the outside to the centre of the plant. I shiver when I notice the plant move, and I end up walking a little faster.

We walk deeper into the forest. Even though, I have so many questions boiling in my head, I decide to hold my tongue until were farther away from the trolls, and whatever other dangers lie on this side of the forest in the night.