Chapter Two, part one, Strangerfriend

~*~

The one with pure intentions
‘Tis for you to embrace
A stranger in all their innocence
Is a friend you do not know
/On the word “Kast’am“ as written in Poems of Conduct, the Old Ways Reborn. Though one can question many of the virtues of this book, the research behind some of the entries appears to be genuine. (Reference on other sources in the Index part at the end of this book.)


Nick rose from lying down to a semi seated position and cursed.
“This fucking headache is killing me. I swear I’ll never drink another drop of champagne again for as long as I live.” The following moment he was dead quiet, looking around with narrow, confused eyes. Where the hell was he, anyway? After a few wobbly attempts and a few more curses he was finally standing on his feet. He was standing in a small clearing somewhere in a forest. That much was obvious. But, somehow this whole thing seemed wrong. Surprised he then noticed that it was the wrong season of the year. The trees around him where all dressed in their brilliant autumn dresses. It was like he had slept all through summer and awoken sometime in September. The ground around him was covered in green moss, but only a few steps away he could see grass growing dry and yellow. What exactly was going on here? Why was he here? Where was here? The cloudy feeling in his brain slowly started to clear up and his mind started to return to normal capacity. He had to have had an accident of some sort. He had to have suffered from amnesia.

Worried hands traced every part of his body, but Nick couldn’t find anything physically wrong with himself. His deep blue eyes went down to his boot clad feet, they felt ok. His hands traveled over his black pants over trimmed muscles, there seemed to be nothing wrong there either. Further his hands explored, a black sleeveless jacket covered his torso that seemed to be in perfect condition as always. His arms where bare, but other than that there was nothing strange about them. His neck felt fine too, however it did feel like something was lying on his shoulder. A…cape. His hands touched with fascination the rich fabric hanging down his back. How could he not have noticed that right away? That thought made him suddenly aware of other strange things about his attire. Like the silver broche pinned over his chest. A sword surrounded by thorns. Reminded him somewhat of a tattoo he had been interested to get last year. Also there was a very different feeling of weight on his head, the feeling of cool metal on his forehead and his, shoulder length, (what the fu…) brown hair hanging unkempt around his face. He did not have shoulder length hair anymore. He had cut it just a few months ago. This was really starting to freak him out.

Maybe I drank too much, maybe I’m hallucinating… Nick could do nothing but smile at his own pathetic attempt to force his thoughts into some sort of order. No, he was not hallucinating, that much was for sure. But then what? Something had to have happened. He took some hesitant steps towards a large pine tree. Except for a slight nauseated feeling coming over him, he did not feel anything a miss in his body, both his legs and his sense of balance seemed to be fully operational. Well, that at least was a blessing cause her sure couldn’t stay where he was all day. People had to be searching for him by now. Though for all he knew he could have decided to sleep out and just wandered away from the camp. Yes, that seemed to be most credible. But then, what about his clothing? Well maybe he was the victim of some elaborate practical joke or something. Though if it was a joke he couldn’t hear anyone laughing but himself. All right, so maybe Leo had finally been able to convince him to take part in one of those strange roll plays he used to talk about. Come to think of it, that made more sense than any of the other things. So he had simply been roll playing for a bit and had some kind of fainting episode or something. The other roll players where sure to be around then , he just had to search for a bit that’s all.

"Well then sir Galahad, time to start walking.” But where should he go? He searched with his eyes for anything similar to a trail, but there was nothing of the sorts, of course he wouldn’t have been so lucky as to have gotten lost right by a hiking trail. That would have been too good to be true obviously. Most woods were just woods and showed little or no sign of habitation so why should this wood be any different simply because he had been stupid enough to get lost in it... Silly thought. But he had to go somewhere. Squinting he gazed up to the sun overhead. It looked to be late afternoon. The moon was up. A sudden feeling of dread and surrealism slowly spread its way trough his body as he saw a sight that just couldn’t be for real. Slightly below the sun to the left there was a small, white moon. Completely normal. But below and to the left of that he saw something highly unexpected. Something, impossible. A red sphere, a red, giant sphere hanging in the sky. Had he not known better he would have thought that it was a second moon, but that was impossible. Had to be. He knew that.

Nick closed his eyes and slowly counted to ten. When he opened them again the sphere would no longer be there. It would be the middle of June. The leaves would be small and green and he would be standing in his apartment looking out of his window up on a big, lonely sun in the sky above. After ten, long seconds he opened his eyes again.
Yep, he was still in the woods. Nick gazed up once more to that red thing he thought he had seen before. It was still there. This isn’t real he, thought to himself desperately. This is impossible. “Impossible, you hear me!” He yelled out his frustration at the moon. “You’re fucking impossible!” But the moon refused to listen. The moon was red and would not change, would not leave.

Nick then began coursing through the woods. Straight ahead he ran without looking either left or right. Long tree branches grabbed for him as if they where the fingers of some nyad trying to snatch him. But he pulled himself away and furiously continued forwards. He had run maybe half a mile, when he stopped. Panting he leaned against a tree and then continued sinking down to the ground with the tree trunk at his back. This was madness. With tired eyes he gazed up to the sun once more, it had almost sunk behind the trees. The warm rays caressed his face, but Nick shuddered. He had to think. Just calm down and think…

What was the last thing he could remember? He had dragged Leo home and then crashed into bed. So far so good, but then what? He had had a strange dream. Something about a city… Nick stretched his memory capacities to their limits, but the only thing that resulted in was a pounding headache and a pressing feeling that said something was wrong. That and something…un-intangible lurking in the corner of his mind. Just out of reach. Something having to do with…blood and some words. But then it was all gone. With a sigh he sank his head down on his arms that were resting on his knees. At least he was home… That thought made him pause for a moment. Why had he thought that? He wasn’t at home at all, he was nowhere near home, for all he knew, something that started to become increasingly probable in his mind, he could be in a whole new world.

Chapter One, part eight (for real) and final.

Queen of Souls

~*~

One cannot hide from her eyes

Old or young it is the same

Your soul will reveal all truths

When she calls on you to come

/Verse 9 from the Prophecy of es Evenih'das (for reference see chapter one, page 2 of this book). This is one of the more disturbing and puzzling parts of the prophecy. It is hard to read if this is friend or foe, the only thing you can really discern is that this is a woman of power. It may not even be a Promised, but rather a goddess. (If you are to believe that such beings exist, but if prophecies and magic, why not gods?) This may also be the person who is the catalyst of the prophecy, the one that calls the heroes into being, in whatever way they will…become. Intriguing, I must say. I cannot glean more from this verse.

When the fire had gone out Sarah stood alone on the crystal plate. For a moment she had thought that she had seen 6 shapes, three women and three men, whirling around her. Faster and faster until she could no longer bare to watch and then they had disappeared. Everything felt a bit hazy. Her memories were slowly returning to her though and she knew what she had to do next. The first part of her mission had been completed. Now remained the most painful part: her own crossing to Atirien. The land and the world she had once called home.

She turned and went to the innermost part of the cave. There she drew a symbol in the air and a door opened before her. She entered another cave. This one was not lit by any crystal plate. The dark was total. With a shiver she refrained from calling light. Knowing she could, but not willing to do so. No, she would not make things any easier for herself. She deserved no reprieves. She continued further into the cave, further and further inside. Every step was painful, but this was what she had come to do. There was no other choice, she had known it then and she knew it now. Of course there had been a choice of sorts, she had chosen the hard way and they had had to pay.

Now she stopped. With a calm that was not born of courage, but the simple knowledge and acceptance of what had to be she raised her hand to the ceiling.

"I call on you loved ones. Conjure with your names. The star will come together one last time.

Mir, do’vina di tren e’lovo. Love, from life to death and beyond."

A pentacle of red fire was created around her, she stared hard at the first of its five points.

"Tyrnion," she said. "Magician of Tiembra, you who made a star of my tear..whom I loved with every beat of my heart."

There was a flicker in the flame and suddenly there was a man. He was dressed in a grey cloak, as grey as the sky on a rainy autumn day despite the fire burning around its frame. His hair was black as the night sky and his eyes were burning with the fire.

"Temina, beloved," she whispered. He said nothing and did not move. She had to remind herself that he was not much more than a ghost, but it still hurt. Her eyes reluctantly wandered onwards and she spoke once more.

"Setron, warrior of Ti’a miriv, you who protected me, when life was on the line…whom I loved with my body.” A darkhaired man in black appeared. On his head glittered a silvercirclet with a tir. His eyes too burned with the fire.

“Temina, beloved.” He did not either show any sign of having heard her plea. She turned once more.

"Liamon, prince of Litia, you who loved me despite my dark gift…whom I loved with my dreams.” Suddenly Samuel stood before her. No, not Samuel, his brother. Hair like gold, dressed in a green silk costume and a red cape. It pained her that she could not see his eyes, but they burned with the fire.

"Temina," she begged, but the darkness and the flaming fire absorbed her plea. There was no use in crying or apologizing she knew that. But she did just the same. At least that much she could give them after all this time.

"Merdion, bard of the songs of night, you who sang the Stardustballad for me…whom I loved with every breath.” He looked so alive. The shoulder long hair seemed to be moving in a slight breeze. His colour was blue and around his head he wore a leather band.

"Temina, beloved."

The last point now…

"Zedmenon, thief of the heart, you who showed me all the secrets to living…whom I loved with my life.” He was clad in brown. No mischievous grin this time. His face was solemn like the others. Oh, how she wished she could see his smile, hear his laughter. But it was dead and gone now, as was he, as were they all since many centuries past.

"Life for life. Trust for trust. Love for love. Death for what lies beyond the border.

With blood and tears I call on thee. As it has been said so shall it be. Take me across, then you are free…”

This time as well, the world started to spin. Or was it just her? Faces whirled around her, faces of men that she had loved and led to destruction. Men that had given their lives by her hand. She would never forget them, she knew that, but all the apologies and regrets in the world could not change or make up for what she had made them do. She had bound them to her with an oath that defied time and space. Held them between life and death until this day, when she would need them once more.

"Cross can thee both time and space, but memories can be erased. The truth has lost its silent voice, now everyone will have a choice.

Dare to stake a life is strong, but something else may still go wrong. Blood for blood beloved friend, guess what happens then!"

What was that? She should have been across by now. With startling clarity she knew what had gone wrong, that taunting voice. It was a blood-curse… She should have seen this coming; she should have known that Xish would stop at nothing to defeat her.

With her last strength she called upon the spirits of the between world. At first they did not heed her, but then she felt a burning pain in her right hand and warm winds started to caress her body.

"Beloved. The gift is paid for. Precious. Even are we."

"Wonderful. Exquisite. Good”

"Never call on us again!"

A dire feeling of grief and regret filled her chest. She had never meant for them to have to pay for her help, for her love.

"We know…”

Trian’ Rivana who for the past years had been known as a young woman named Sarah on planet Earth, could feel her consciousness starting to slip away from her. She tried to stay focused for the crossing, tried to defy the pull of her archenemy’s spell. But she was to drained by the crossings. It was a blood-curse and there was nothing more she could do. Now everything lay in the hands of the spirits.

 

Chapter One, part seven

Virgin

~*~

Such strength there be in purity

Of body, of mind of soul

She who will give for love alone

Is one who is truly blessed

/Verse 8 from the Prophecy of es Evenih'das (for reference see chapter one, page 2 of this book). If one is to speculate over the usefulness of the Promised what use would there be for a true virgin then? Just a thought. I do believe each person of this prophecy has a role to play and as all should be aware after that deal with Golemast -prophecy doesn’t always say exactly what it means, nor does it reveal everything that you might need to know. Prophecies are tricky, that’s why we research them. Otherwise we’d just read them and follow the instruction. For a more in depth study into the Art of Prophecy, please read my book with the same name (tomb 11).

What Annelie thought about this little party could easily be summed up in one word: pointless. Or if you wanted to be absolutely fair then totally pointless. That her parents were more interested in the interesting guests they had invited than her own apparent wish to be somewhere else was painfully obvious. Executives, handsome, young, rich men… Her parents had meant well somehow, she knew that. As always… Oh well, 20 minutes more of this and she could finally be on her way to the castle and her long yearned for ball. Albeit alone, unescorted and more than fashionably late, but that all had a bit of a Cinderella thing going on. Besides, there was no way she was going to miss the opportunity to dance in a real banquet hall, without a chaperone, then her parents could be as well-meaning as they pleased.

Finally, was her first thought as the limousine drove up to the castle.

"Should I wait?" the driver asked while holding the car door for her. Annelie flinched in her mind. Such mindless dedication was typical for the sort of people her father hired. He would sit there the whole night if he had to in order to please le Patron.

“No thank you Pierre, I’ll call you when I want to go home. D’accord?”

”Oui mademoiselle.” He closed the door and was on his way over to the driver side of the car when he turned around for a moment. “Thanks, mademoiselle”

He was paid to be at hand at all times, but to sit out in the car, perhaps the whole night was nothing that any sane person would want. She tilted her head and smiled.

“Go grab some coffee at a café or something, Pierre.” She turned around and blessed her lucky star that the storm had blown over so the rain wouldn’t ruin her dress. She had been afraid of that earlier while at home. With that thought and a deep breath she gathered her skirts and headed up the front stairs.

By the door stood a guy in black and blue uniform, 25 or so of age. Pretty good looking, but not really her type. He gave her an appraising smile that she hardly noticed while brushing past him, she was used to being gawked at.

When Annelie stepped in to the banquet hall she felt for a moment as though she had just stepped in to a costume drama of the 17:th century. The torches burning along the stone walls gave the scene a magical feeling. She sighed happily and steered towards the bar.

"Would the lady like to grace me with a waltz?”

Annelie turned and met a pair of midnightblack eyes and an even row sparkling white teeth. Tommy Lindberg. They had been something of an item for a while last year. He was a charming devil, but lacked any conscience whatsoever. Oh well, he was a good dancer so what the hell.

"I like it when guys are polite. I could suffer through one dance…”

He laughed.

"Same good old Annellie, no ordinary ’yes please’ from you.” He put both arms around her waist and looked deep into her eyes.

"Disappointed?” She decisively moved one of his arms away and put her hand lightly into his.

"Now I am…” He laughed again and spun her out onto the dance floor.

With Tommy’s muscular hands on her the reasons why they broke up were becoming fuzzy in her mind, but Annelie could never accept anyone stepping on her and after catching Tommy in the act with another girl there had been no other solution possible for her. Of course he’d said that it had been a mistake, that it didn’t mean anything, that it was just sex, all the usual excuses. They meant nothing of course, the trust was gone and without trust they had no relationship. Maybe, maybe she might have been able to forgive one slip-up if he had really thought himself to be in love. But to risk everything they had for a lousy one night stand just because she’d wanted them to hold off from sleeping together just yet…That was unforgivable. No, you know what, she thought, meaningful or not it’s still cheating and he can go to hell!

So why did her knees feel so weak and why was she suddenly imagining that they were dancing on small, fluffy clouds…?

She was dancing on clouds. Round and around and around and around and around….

She is dancing around and around in a firm embrace. Strong arms and eyes looking for her eyes and not her clevage. She sighs delightedly and leans against his chest. He is wonderful. Wonder if he is the one she has been searching for… She leans her head back and locks gazes with her cavalier. She can almost imagine giving this man her virginity. The only question is; is he worth it? She had decided before arriving at the castle earlier that day that she wasn’t going to do ‘that’, but… If he really was the one… Then she had better look, just to be on the safe side. It was for a good cause after all. It’s not selfish. She would be doing it for him too. What if they were meant to be, then it would be unforgivable for her to simply let him walk out of her life, without having been given a proper chance… Yes… She leans against him once more and puts her ear against his chest, right above his heart. There are the heartbeats and she calls on them, becomes one with them and…she is in.

With a hasty pull she retreats from his thoughts and a strong feeling of repulsion makes her push away the totally unaware and very unsuspecting man.

"A bet,” she hisses between clenched teeth. “You’ve got some nerve! Get your sorry ass out of here tonight or I’ll make sure your father is made well aware of the dealings between you and your…stepmother!”

He freezes and grabs her roughly by the arm.

”Listen you little shrew. I don’t know what you think you know or who in Moski’s name you think you are, but you’re keeping your mouth shut. Got it!”

She goes cold all over and once more calls for his heartbeats. In his mind she plants the image of him and his father’s new wife in bed together and a dark shadow standing in the doorway. He lets go of her as fast as he would a burning stick and leaves hurriedly without uttering a word or glancing back once.

Another spin and she is back.

"Are you allright?” Tommy sounded concerned. She pulled herself together and smiled.

"I didn’t know you cared.”

"Of course I care…” Odd, but he sounded very sincere.

A sudden impulse. Maybe she was still a bit out of it after that, thing…whatever it had been, but Annelie mimicked the movement in her, dream…and leaned softly against his chest. For a moment she held her breath then she called on his heartbeats. At first she felt nothing. Not so much as a whisper, but…hang on a minute…yeah. There was actually something there. She could feel his heartbeats, his breath, the internal rhythm of his body and…she was in.

"Damn it I should never have let her go… Of all the stupid, boneheaded, idiotic things to do… She hates me now. But I love her so much. To throw everything away for a night of meaningless sex. That girl wasn’t even that good looking. Drank too much, way too much. But it was her fault too, letting that guy feel her up like that. Idiot! The only one to blame here is you. Wonder if she is ok? Maybe I should ask if she wants to go sit, but that might be insulting. Probably the last time I get to see here too, with France and everything…”

The semi subconscious voice continued on with its rambling accompanied by a constant bombardment of images and memory flashes that weren’t even related to the topic in question. Annelie felt sick, this was god-awful. Like riding a rollercoster while spinning on your head in pulsing light. Good gods she was loosing her mind. How the hell did you control…? Oh Christ she needed to get out. How do I get out?!! The feelings of panic were almost overwhelming, but she braced herself and made one last attempt…and was back.

She grabbed Tommy’s shoulders and made him stop in the middle of a spin.

"Sweetie…stop… I’m getting dizzy.” What did she say? Sweetie?

He gazed down on her with a worried look in his eyes.

"Do you want to go and sit down for a while?”

Yes, what did she want? Her brain told her to run as fast as she could in the opposite direction from him and not look back, but her lips seemed to be of a dissident opinion.

"No,” she mumbled against his chest. “Just hold me, Tommy. Just hold on tight.”

Perhaps it was something he had whispered or maybe it was the remains of the bond she had created, but when he released his hand from his sheltering embrace she thought she heard something.

“I will never loose you again.” The words sounded so familiar somehow. Like a promise made, a long time ago. She could feel tears burning behind her eyelids. So many tears, she mused, so many tears… And all was darkness.

~

It’s cold, freezing cold and wet. She is forced to lift her boot-clad feet high above the covered ground and every time she puts her foot down it sinks deep into the new fallen snow. Just an hour or so ago the sky was clear and lighted by two of the three moons. Now giant snowflakes are falling from the sky, so many that she can hardly see the hand in front of her. But that’s good, she thinks grimly. If the storm makes it hard for her to find her way it will also keep her pursuers from tracking her. She needs all the advantage she can get.

Something is tearing in her hair. The feeling of panic threatens to penetrate her iron hard mental control before she understands that it is only a tree branch. She has finally reached the forest. As soon as the feelings of panic settle, though, a new and more resilient feeling of unease takes its’ place. It has almost stopped snowing. She turns around and hopes against hope that her latest footprints have at least been covered, but that is not the case. Her lips curve in a bitter smile. That means that her pursuers could be at her tail any moment now. Since the fortress that Kas’h’ta had held her captive in was situated in a pass there had been only two ways out of there; east or west. Kas’h’ta had enough men to send people in both directions. She could only hope that they had figured that she would take the stone bridge rather than travelling through the dense Ko’lir forest.

Well, she has a small advantage. She is on foot and should be able to penetrate the thickest parts of the woods where the horses cannot follow. That gives her a small chance. A howl pierces the night and she starts running. Hopefully it was only a wolf. A wolf she might stand a chance against. Gods, if she just had her sword or a spear. But of course if it were Kas’h’ta’s dogs that wouldn’t help. -It hadn’t the last time. Not that the dogs would hurt her, they were better trained than that, but they would lead their masters to her and then, all was lost. But, if she could somehow lure them further in to the woods and make them leave their horses behind, she might be able to take them out one by one. If they split up… Whatever the case with her pursuers though she now had to hurry as much as possible through the woods and try to find some sympathetic soul, if there was such a thing out in the badlands. If there were even any alive souls out there…

The howling grows stronger the further into the woods she goes. Well, then at least it’s not Kas’h’tas men. A good sign…perhaps… And out of the woods in front of her comes a running wolf. She stops. Moment of truth… The wolf sits down in the snow with its tongue hanging out. She can’t help but smile a little.

"Are you laughing at me you little beast?” She looks down at her torn silk dress, her worn out boots, knitted mittens and the cape she has stolen from one of the soldiers.

"I guess I look pretty silly, don’t I?” Why was she speaking to a wolf? He didn’t give a damn about how she was dressed. Besides it was a wold. Wolves were dangerous, at least if you met them alone in the woods at night. This one didn’t look too dangerous though.

“You’re not going to jump me are you? Because, I have to tell you, I think that would be a very bad idea. I smell horrible and I am so thin. Almost no flesh left on my body. I probably taste bad as well.”

She gently takes one step forward. The wolf retracts his tongue but still stays in its position. She takes another step. He whimpers, but does not move.

She keeps on walking until she can almost feel the warmth of his breath. Then he sniffles her dress and nudges her gently with his nose. She laughs and scratches him behind the ear.

A spin and she is gone.

It’s springtime. The birds are singing and she is waiting for her beloved. Li'stia, her youngest sister steps forward with small, hesitant steps.

"Isn’t it time to give up your waiting? You cannot keep coming down here every morning. It’s not healthy. He is not coming back. Don’t waste your youth on one such as him. Tiron has to be free. You can not be together.” Big words from such a small child.

Spin…spinning…

"I will never loose you again.” Tiron’s strong arms. Tiron’s dark, wild voice.

Spin. Spinning, spinning faster.

Fullmoon. A wolf howling. A running shadow. One second a man, the next…a wolf.

Tears falling down.

"You can not be together.” Such a small child…

~

Annelie was awakened by her own agonized scream. In a strange room in a stranger’s bed. For a moment she thought she saw a silver white wolf lying by her feet. A sudden impulse made her turn around in the bed. There, above the pillow hung a dream catcher with the medallion in its centre. With a shiver she raised her hand and touched the bloodred stone.

"Do'vina di tren e'lovo. From life, to death and beyond. Blood for blood, beloved.”

Chapter One, part six

~*~

Who can but love the young lover
Whose laughter is like silk
And hands tread like waterdrops
Upon the soul of humans

/Verse 7 from the Prophecy of es Evenih'das (for reference see chapter one, page 2 of this book). Though some find the mention of a courtesan in the prophecy somewhat offensive I would have to say that for one thing there is nothing overt stating that this is even this person’s profession, nor is there any reason why a skilled lover couldn’t have other uses outside of the bedchamber. For those who doubt that this lover, of whatever gender could be of use in the final battle, it might be prudent to remember the Immortal Companions. Not the way we usually see (or rather saw them considering how reclusive they’ve been as of late) the Companions, soft and thoughtful, but rather the way we know them to have acted in the past as both warriors, bodyguards and rulers. One shouldn’t be too quick to judge these things is all I’m saying. This mysterious lover might be the one that will weigh the scales to our favour in the end. Who doesn’t want their soul at peace after all…

This was without a doubt a very stupid idea, Richard though as he roamed around in one of the many cellars of the castle. Why the hell was he down here anyhow? He should have waited for the electrician, but no…he just had to go down to the basement and prove that a mere power outage was nothing to him. It smelled damp in the stone corridor and the small flashlight that was attached to his key chain resulted in a very ghostlike sheen on the walls. Ghosts, he continued on that thought, there was nothing ghostlike about that, only lots of dust whirling up from the stairs. I bet this floor hasn’t even seen a broom for at least a century. Finally, there was the circuit box, thank the gods. And then all of the sudden the flashlight started to blink. Feeling a bit panicky for some reason Richard hit it on the palm of his hand. "Don’t go out now damn it!” His whisper seemed to echo through the dark room. “Don’t go out, don’t go out…”

~

It is dark here as well. The torch that had been in his hand had gone out on the very last step of the long stairway. Now there is only he and the dark. The cold penetrates his bare skin and every step that he takes is urging him to turn back. This may seem hard, but somehow others, generations before you have tread this path and lived and therefore you too will live. He repeats the words to himself over and over in his mind as he has a thousand times before. They are his only means of comfort, them and the thought that when all this is over, he will be a new man. Another shockwave of pain crashes over him, mother earth had a fever and it had…

~

Richard stumbled forwards and suddenly he could feel the outlines of the circuit box with his fingertips. With a sigh of relief he opened the box and lit a match. ”Yep, there you are…” he muttered to himself and quickly flipped the failing circuit switch to ’on’ once more. A snapping sound was heard and light flooded the cellar. He gazed around and sighed heavily. A pool table, a sofa, two lounge chairs, a table and a bar counter resided in the ‘ghostlike’ cellar.
“You really can’t trust anything nowadays.” He sighed once more and traced with reluctant steps his way back to the banquet hall and his awaiting, well probably, waiting date. On the last step of the staircase he paused to turn off the light and then, in the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow flicker behind him. It looked like some kind of a bird, a hawk. No, he shook his head and laughed self mockingly. “You’ve got too vivid an imagination Richard, really. And if you didn’t know you’ve never seen an eagle in all your life.” With a quickened paste he continued on to the banquet hall.

Inside the great hall he gazed around surprised. It was still dark, had he missed a switch? Then he saw the burning torches and the dancing couples and understood.
“Richard, darling…there you are. I have to introduce you to Samuel. He is sooo grateful to you for fixing the light even though it wasn’t needed… Right Sammy?”
"Very grateful indeed,” the man before him stated and offered his hand. ”But tell me, how did you know where to find the circuit box?”
"Oh, your mother showed me, charming lady.” When he grasped the hand offered to him by his host he got a chock. In his eyes he saw the image of another hawk and when Richard tried to retract his hand the young count immediately took it in a firmer grip, as if he somehow could read his mind. Richard frowned. He didn’t know why really but there was something about this guy that just didn’t sit right by him.

"Excuse me, count…I have to leave.” Once more he tried to retract his hand and on his third attempt he succeeded.
"Anna, are you coming?” The girl in question avoided his eyes and instead gazed down on her fan. Ridiculous to bare a fan when it was storming outside, but Anna was a real drama queen. “Well, actually, Richard, I thought I might stay the night. Samuel offered me a suite so I don’t have to get up so early in the morning, to prepare for the hike you know…”
Richard smiled. The hike, huh? Yeah that would be the day, she just wanted some more time with that blueblood. Well, that was just fine by him. He really didn’t want to spend any more of the night than absolutely possible with that, thing… Only reason he’d brought her with him in the first place was because she had taken the matter up in front of his parents, that little manipulative… Ah well, anyhow, he couldn’t care less. For all he cared she could bed the whole royal court if she felt like it.
"Well, how nice for you Anna. Of course you didn’t bring anything for the hike, but I’m certain that our gracious host here will have no problems fixing that for you.” He noted an irritated glare from behind the fan, which of course had been placed so that such things would be hidden from the count’s eyes.
“Thank you for understanding love,” she said in a sugar sweet voice and gave him a cool kiss on the cheek. Richard avoided the eyes of the count as he bid him a good night and quickly headed for the doors.

Outside of the castle the servants hurriedly produced his car and Richard tore off without a second glance towards the ancient building. Why had the count pushed his buttons like that? They didn’t know each other, had no previous past. That Anna preferred his company was no reason, more so the opposite. And what about that, thing in the basement, when the flashlight had gone out and those strange memories had surfaced his mind?

It wasn’t really memories though he corrected himself. It couldn’t be, but…it had felt so real somehow. Just thinking of it now made him relive that pain that went like needles throughout his body and the feeling of longing that threatened with implosion. What had been supposed to happen that time? However hard he tried he just couldn’t remember any more. What more? There was no more. It had only been a daydream, a hallucination, whatever. An overactive imagination and the darkness had played tricks on him.

Well, anyhow, he couldn’t remember what had been supposed to happen in the depth that time so there was really no reason to ponder over it any longer. But then there was that hawk that he had first seen in the cellar and then again in the eyes of that count type. Constantly his thoughts wandered back to their mysterious host. ”Damn him and damn Anna and damn this whole fucking night to hell!!” And to top it all he could feel the starters of a momentous headache descend on him. Funny, he never drank… Hadn’t been drinking this night either despite everything. Probably the flue…

Richard too returned to an empty home that night. His parents had gone on another cruise and he had given the help the night off. He looked around in the big, empty front lounge and with a sigh walked out on to the side terass. He figured he needed a bath to cool himself off a bit and was just about to strip when his head started spinning. With a painful grimace he steadied himself on one of the sun chairs. Christ what a headache, it was definitely the flue. No swimming tonight in other words. On legs that had suddenly started to shake he went back into the mansion. He more or less dragged himself up the stairs to his room with the help of the banister. It was in times such as these that Richard wondered why he just had to have his room on the upper floor. Finally he had reached his room and crashed down on the bed, moving no more.

~

"Do you love me?”
A beautiful face turns to him and he sighs deeply. Always the same question…
"Yes I love you Tami’dak." Of course he does. He always loved the one he made love too, for him it was the only way to be. All the women, and men for that matter that he has spent his nights with he had loved, but he never stayed. Perhaps she thinks that this time will be different, perhaps she though that he would stay for her. He gives her a kiss and she lowers down on top of him ones more. Finally, he thinks with a grin. But, then she rises her head up and locks gazes with him. He meets her eyes reluctantly and in them he reads the unspoken question. So that was it then; two weeks and now she wanted to stand Ta’kin’lir.

He kisses her one last time and rises from the bed.
" I have to go," he says, nothing more. She rolls over on her back and looks at him again with those questioning eyes. Reproaching, no, Tami’dak would never reproach any one. But she is hurt, he knows that.
"I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” she says. ”But for some reason I thought that maybe…”
He feels a stab of pain in his hearth. Maybe, maybe not. When he says nothing she gives him as mall, sad smile.
"Oh, well…You never promised anything. ‘Give and take we both did the same, when love is done there is no one to blame.’ As Than’i’el said. Will I see you again?”
He does not answer but simply shrugs and gives her a smile. However much he may love her Tami’dak is from this night on a finished chapter. If he stays without committing to her she will grow to hate him and he does not want that to happen. It is better this way. Anyway, it’s time to go to the coronation of the Throneguardian in A’ti’limina. Perhaps when he returns from there she will have found someone else to direct that questioning look at.

The world spins and he stands in the royal suite of A’Lir’kin. The past year has had a dire effect on the Troneguardian in waiting. His expression is solemn and his eyes unreadable.
"I loved you once,” says the future king.
"I love you still, but I also love Tami'dak and Rivana….”
The grim face breaks up into a smile.
"Everyone loves Rivana.”
"How is your future wife?”
"I’m sure that she is doing wonderful, wherever she is.” Now his face is if possible even more solemn.
"She will be at the coronation, right?”
"I should think so, it’s really rather ridiculous when you think on it. Why do I need and heir? Why can’t Rivana marry me? Why aren’t you a woman?”
He laughs.

"That’s a lot of questions you’ve got there. You need to have an heir because it’s your responsibility. Rivana can’t marry you, because, well frankly I don’t think she wants to, just imagine her cooped up in a castle all day. Furthermore I don’t know if that is even legal. And I can’t be a woman because; well if you haven’t noticed I was born a man. It’s basic logics really. Besides none of us was made for monogamy.”
“I very well will have to be monogamous now...” the king in waiting pouts.
“Yes well, it’s only for a few years…” He turns around to leave.
“Where are you going?”
"Oh, I thought I’d find me a nice lady to talk to for a bit…”
"Talk to? Of course… But no more than one lady, please? There are becoming a bit too many broken hearts at my court so take it easy… For me?”
He laughs once more.
"For you, no problems…As long as I don’t stay here for more than two weeks. That seems to be the time limit for everyone nowadays before they want to stand Ta’kin’lir."
"Really? You should talk to Ja’lo och Ku’r’in about that. I swear those men are like cream and sugar. Two days after they’d met they stood Ta’kin’lir. Unimaginable. Have people never heard of the two year waiting?"
"You’re old-fashioned…” He laughs one last time and exits the room.

~

A bright, white light shone around him and Richard wanted to close his eyes, unfortunately for him they were already closed so he opened them instead. Then when he thought he was going to faint he heard the sound of a thousand silver bells and all went black. He started to think that maybe he had died anyway when the outline of a triangular medallion with a red stone emerged out of the darkness before him. In the centre of the stone he could make out the images of seemingly hundreds of people and he could feel the taste of salty tears on his lips.
"Do’vina di tren’e lovo…"

Chapter One, part five

The gods themselves in glory
Their smile be forever on her
Such a wilful, skilful lady
Her arrow never missed a mark

/Verse 6 from the Prophecy of es Evenih'das (for reference see chapter one, page 2 of this book). There have been some discussion whether or not the mention of gods in this prophecy should be taken literally or if the use of these mythological creatures is done in the proverbial sense only. If you believe the old stories the gods were actually present in everyday life in the old days, but as everyone knows legend and myth has a tendency to be as much about story telling as actual facts and therefore I feel that a healthy dose of scepticism is called for. However, since we are talking about prophecy...well, if we believe telling the future could be possible, why not gods and any other basis for the myths of old. The woman in this verse is obviously a hunter of some sort which speaks highly against the coming heroes siding with the Scalers in any way, shape or form. Something that the esteemed council of the University might want to keep in mind during the upcoming election.


"How’r you feeling sweetie, wanna sit this one out?"
Elisabeth gazed up at her boyfriend.
"Luke, I’m fine, really I am.”
"Are you sure, we could go out for some air if you want?”
She gently placed her head on his shoulder and sighed. Then she looked up into his eyes and smiled. "Stop worrying so much, Luke. I’m not made of glass. And if you haven’t noticed there’s a hurricane a blowing outside. Or maybe you would like me to fly off like Dorothy.”
Luke’s arms tightened around her.
"You know I don’t want that.” He spoke in a solemn voice and Elisabeth immediately felt a pang of bad conscience creeping up on her.
"I’m sorry,” she said. “I know you mean well, but if anyone asks me how I’m doing one more time, I think I might have to scream. I’ve been recovered for almost a month now, you need to stop worrying so much…”
"I need to do no such thing. You were sick for over a month you know.”
"I know, I know…I was there, remember…” She nuzzled into the nook under his chin and laughed. “And now, darling. I just want to have a good time, ok?”
"Well, if you’re looking for a good time…” He picked her up from the floor and spun her in the air making them both laugh once more.

"Wait! Wait!"
He stopped, dead still in his track.
"What’s wrong? Are you ill?"
"My head…I feel sick.”
Luke looked around for a chair. With a determined grip of his girlfriend’s waist he escorted her over to a table.
"I’m so sorry, you never used to react badly to spinning like that. Should I get you some water?”
Elisabeth, only managed to grimace, to nod seemed too painful and answering did not feel like an option.
"Aspirin," she finally managed to choke out. She hardly noticed when Luke ran to find her the medicine.
Damn, what a splitting headache, it felt like that time she had been hunting in A’nakra forest and had been subject to the wrath of the forest deities. What? Did she have a fever? Could you hallucinate in your mind?

The world blackened around Elisabeth and suddenly she could see a burning arrow searing through the dark.
"Did you think I had forgotten about you?”
That voice… A man stood before her, no not stood, he floated some two feet above ground. He was beautiful, no doubt about that. Skin tone alabaster white with a hint of green. Green hair that shifted to brown. Green eyes, brown eyes, green… Tall and lean. Over his shoulder hung a wooden bow and by his waist a horn. She should know who this man was, but the only names she could come up with were Herne and Pan. He picked her up from the chair and kissed her and then spun her around while laughing the most beautiful laugh she had ever heard.
"What, do you not remember me?”
When he stopped spinning her she looked confusedly upon him. Then the smile vanished and he was serious.
"I suppose that this was a bad idea…Temina, huntress,” he whispered. Another burning arrow flew through the air and then he was gone, as suddenly as he had appeared, without a trace.
He was gone, but not her headache.

When Luke returned, Elisabeth was sitting and gazing out into thin air with empty eyes. "Come on honey,” he said with a tender smile. “Let’s go home.” She merely nodded and arose with the movements of a sleepwalker.

At home in her appartment Elisabeth did not have any strength left for niceties.
"Luke…thanks for bringing me home, but I really need to sleep now. Alone, if you don’t mind.”
A hurt look met her eyes.
"Of course you should sleep, Lissi. I’ll make me some coffee and stay here to watch over you.”
She sighed.
"Just help me with my dress and then you can go Home, I’m not going to die during the night,” she added the last with a smile.
"Well, if you’re sure…” He sounded doubtful so Elisabeth managed another faint and hopefully reassuring smile. She even gave him a small kiss before pushing him towards the door.
"I love you sweetie, good night. Drive safely.”
"I love you too. Good night…”

When the door had closed behind her boyfriend Elisabeth retired to the bedroom. Without ceremony she stripped and left her clothes lying on the floor and dove into bed with a satisfied sigh.

~

"I win, lovely! 10 pigeons. Beat that if you can!”
She was walking in stealth mode, her eyes constantly darting from side to side, her ears peaked, her feet hardly touching the undergrowth of the forest. She was trying to pinpoint his voice, but knew it was probably to no avail.
"10 pigeons you say? You’re getting old, I’m probably up to 15, but who’s counting…”
"Really?” The voice originated from about three feet behind her.
She turns around with a grim smile on her lips.
"Schalock! Do you remember that we talked about this popping up from nowhere? Didn’t we agree that this competition should be on equal terms?”
The green deity looked a bit guilty, but he was soon grinning widely.
"I will try to remember that next time. Now give me the pigeons!”
She removes her long ashen bow from her shoulder and presents the score of white birds that she has been carrying from her quiver since her last kill.
"Beautiful, ” he says appreciating. “Heartkills all 15 of them. You may keep one to eat, the rest I want back.”
"You don’t have to give me one of your birds…I can eat when I return to the castle.”

"Huntress…" Suddenly his voice takes on a terribly mild tone and his eyes are sparkling dangerously. She realizes her mistake and humbly and ashamedly lowers her head.
"I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to…”
"No…” His voice returned to normal. “Take her…she will be proud to nourish you. I will give her the body of an eagle next time."
"Ashana… Thank you…” She bows her head once more and accepts his gift with both hands as a sign of respect. He smiles once more, but still does not seem like his usual self.

"I’m sorry…” She starts once more while silently cursing herself in her mind. Why could she never learn manners when dealing with gods? Her impertinence would kill her one of these days if she wasn’t careful.
"I know, but I also know that this might be the last time we hunt together for a long time to come. Perhaps…the very last time…"
A wave of fear runs through her at those words. What had she done now? However she does not let any of her worried thoughts show but answers with the calm that suits a woman who has hunted with gods.
"The forrest is, unrestful. I have felt it too.”
"Yes…” He nods, then he releases the pigeons from the snare and lays them on the ground, one by one.
"Fly, my loved ones!” In that same moment the pigeons start flapping their wings and rise from ground. They fly in a circle higher and higher until she cannot see them any longer.
"Thank you,” she sighs.

He kisses her then and she is just about to course her fingers through his hair when he briskly pushes her away and lifts his head. His eyes are glazed over and suddenly he starts to fade away before her sight.
"Wait!” Startled she tries to catch some part of him, but her hands go straight through him.
He is only thin, thin shreds of fog when he gazes down on her one last time and whispers: “Temina…”

She remains standing there in the meadow for a long time. Waiting for him to come back and taunt her for falling for his joke. Still she knows somehow that this time will be different. The grass where he stood shows no sign of him ever being there, non at all except for a big, red flower standing in its loneliness. Bloodred. She is almost certain that it had not been there a moment ago, before he disappeared. For a moment she considers picking it up, but she decides not to. It looks so peaceful there where it stands, moving slightly in the breeze. A memory of their time together, for now she doubts that they shall ever meet again.

~

The fourth of the seven was still fast asleep when the summoning came, but her subconscious mind still answered the call with the words of the ancient promise.
”From life, to death and beyond…”

Chapter One, part four

Holy is the great goddess of life

Holy be her Server of light

The strength of boundless faith

She holds within her soul

/Verse 5 from the Prophecy of es Evenih'das (for reference see chapter one, page 2 of this book). Reader beware that there have been some issues regarding the translation of this part, in particular the phrase: Asan’su rin, though the more common meaning of this is said to be -servant of Light. This author believes the correct term to be Server of light or Server of Light, server of Light, one of those. Though the difference in this translation may be miniscule I still feel it is an important distinction to make when dealing with such delicate matters as prophecy.

"Is there any specific reason to why we’re here instead of at the ball?"

Erika looked around said place and shrugged,

"I had this planned since before that card came out of nowhere, didn’t think you’d mind not having to waltz around in fancy clothes all night.”

"Well…” He locked gazes with her and smiled broadly. ”I certainly don’t mind. Anywhere with you is fine by me.” His grin got wider as he slowly stroke her right cheek with his thumb. “So, what did you have in mind with this evening?”

"Well, it starts out something like this, she said while catching his hand and kissing his palm.

“Mhm…” He mumbled something incoherent and nuzzled in her hair.

”Firstly. Firstly though…” Erica said and pushed him a few inches away. ”You have to light a fire.”

“Sure thing, babydoll, come closer and I light your fire allright…”

She pushed him away once more, a bit more roughly. “First, a fire.” A no nonsense tone in her voice.

”You’re serious?” He asked incredulously.

”I’m always serious, Adam.”

“Fine, “ he resigned and shrugged his shoulders. “Guess I’d better go and gather some wood then.”

“You do that.” She smiled and turned her back on him. Adam stared at his girlfriend’s back for a second before turning away with a sigh, lightning his flashlight and heading for the nearest trees. Girls…who could ever figure them out?

Erica waited until she could no longer hear Adam’s footsteps on the grass before going to her backpack and kneeling there, slowly unpacking the things she had brought for this outing.

“Hope you like my surprise love, “ she mumbled while producing two blankets, a food basket and a small bag filled with a pink powder. “This will definitely be a night to remember.” Humming slowly on some tune she couldn’t really recognize she started gathering up and arranging stones for the fireplace.

"An armful of wood sticks for my lovely wood nymph.”

She could hardly see his face behind that pile of wood he had gathered.

“Well done, sweetie. That should cover us for a while at least.” She laughed.

”For a while?” Adam panted as he released the sticks beside the fireplace. “Just how long are we staying out here?”

“Why… I was thinking all night, would that be too long?”

He quickly shot an incredulous stare at her before returning his gaze to the work in front of him, that of building a campfire, which he hadn’t done since ninth grade.

“No, that would be just fine, love. I’ll just light this and then I’ll go and gather some more logs, okay?”

“Would you like me to come with you?” Erica asked all of the sudden feeling guilty about letting him do all the hard work.

“No…” He smiled one of those incredibly sweet smiles that just made her want to eat him. ”You just sit by the fire and get all comfy and lovey-dovey for me…”

She was just going to ask what fire that might be, when the orange flames started shooting up through the air.

“My hero,” she said and cocked her head flirtatiously. “Don’t be gone for too long now, and no messing with the fairies.”

“Why would I want fairies, when I have you?” He smiled that smile again and returned to the trees.

Erica lingered behind until she could no longer discern his frame from the shadows around him. Then she spread out the blankets, one on top of the other, at sat to stare into the blazing flames. There was a faint smell of magic in the air and she stared deeper and deeper into the fire until she was all but blinded by the light. Then she heard, from a distance far away, the tones of a strangely familiar melody, slowly hummed by the happy voice of a young woman.

"Dreams in the fire

dance in the night

sparks flying higher

Above Redbridge, such a sight

Competes for the heavens,

were love once went

Fire burn brightly, give me life

Borrow your light from the Starsent"

"Erica…"

Hon looked up when she heard his voice. “Hm..?”

”You’re not sleeping, are you?”

She gazed on him with the fire still burning brightly in her eyes, making them twinkle like the stars above. “Sleep? When I have you here all to myself? I don’t think so…”

Her face burned from the heat of the fire, but her blood was boiling as well and she went to kiss him, fiercly, passionately. The flames had awoken something inside her. When she had been gazing into them, just before the woman’s voice had faded out she had for a moment believed her self to be someplace else. Below a different starlit sky, gazing into another fire…

“I love you” Adam mumbled when she removed her lips from his.

“I love you too,” she answered and opened the small bag she had brought, which had been clutched in her hand the whole time. She took a pinch of the content and threw it into the fire. The flames grew higher and a sweet, wonderful scent spread through the night air.

~

"Adam…" the naked man beside her gave no response. She threw some more logs onto the fire and watched in fascination as red sparks danced through the night. Then she opened her small bag again and threw another pich of the pink powder into the flames. The fire caught her then and suddenly she was dancing a dance with memory as her cavalier.

~

So many years have gone by since she visited the temple last. So many sorrows and so much joy have passed.

“K’lama, you have returned. ”

She gratefully accepts the welcoming kiss from Lisha. “Not with good tidings I’m afraid. More bad rumours than good travel on the roads these days.”

“Ah, but that is always the way, my dear. It is always so. What matters is that you have returned to us.”

“Hm…I’m grateful for your warm welcome, but…”

“Come…” Lisha takes her under the arm. ”I’m sure the High priestess will be anxious to meet with you.” Suddenly the older woman drops her arm as if it had burnt her. “If it be your will of course, K’lama..?” There it was, that insecurity, that small hint of fear. It hurt when the other person was the woman who had practically raised her from childhood. Struck with a pang of bad conscience she smiles and picks up Lisha’s arm once more before letting her escort her in to the main temple building. What she had to say might as well be said to the High priestess directly.

In the temple, all things look more or less like they always have. Time moves slowly behind these walls. But, it’s quiet. Noticing this she sends a quizzical look to the older woman.

”Why’s it so quiet Lisha?”

The old woman looks up, but then she gazes down on the floor and mutters something under her breath.

“Lisha, stop muttering. Out with it!! Why is it so quiet?”

Lisha looks up once more, reluctantly.

“After your departure, there have been some…changes…in the Moonlight Temple.”

“Changes?”

“Yes, High Priestess has forbidden singing and laughing within the inner walls. Only time there is to be singing is during Majahana.”

"I see…."

She hurriedly steers towards the Hall of Summoning, there are a bundle of women of varying ages there, all dressed in white and silver. The crowd parts when she approaches, but barely enough for her to get through without touching anyone. Up front, by the great fountain stands a woman, dressed in a thin, barely covering dress with a silver-circlet around her head.

"Lakami’vaz, what is going on here?”

The High Priestess turns around with a smile on her lips.

"K’lama, what an honour.”

"Yes, isn’t it so, daughter?” She raised her hand in an expectant jesture. The other woman’s smile grows strained, but she still takes the offered hand and moves it to her lips and forehead.

"We are just finishing our preparations for the Cleansing. Perhaps you would like to grant us the honour of your company?”

She casts a longing gaze on the great fountain and its many pools of silvery water, before shaking her head slightly.

Where there stars whirling around her?

~

No one had ever really told her what it meant to be K’lama. ”Eye of the Future.” Much good that did her. What was the point of being able to see the future if you couldn’t control the ability or stop all the bad things from happening. She had come to A’ti’limina in time for the Throneguardianoath. Full of strenght that came from her believing that she could really prevent this tragedy. And what had happened? She had arrived at the palace, been granted audience with Trian’ Rivana. Everything had gone so smoothly, she should have had a premonition. Rivana had headed her warning and then dismissed it. It was not because she doubted its credibility, on the contrary, she had listened to the prophecy with an open mind and had accepted it, but it just didn’t matter. The oath was to be given and that was the way things had to be. K’lama had hardly been able to grasp what had befallen her at that moment. Had to be? Didn’t Rivana understand what she had just told her in as plain words as there ever was, there would be dire consequences if the Throneguardian Coronation day was not postponed. Rivana had simply given her a sad little smile and had shaken her head. “Maybe one day you’ll understand K’lama, Saniva. But as a reward for you giving me the warning, I will grant you a gift.” Rivana had laughed biterly. Well, some would call it a gift, others a curse, but if you really do want to save Atirien this is the only way.”

Full of bad premonitions she had accepted the medallion.

“You will take an oath, in the name of the Stars and of Navina’. Do’vina di tren’ e’ lovo.”

Fully aware of what an oath like that would apply, she had taken it. ”Do’vina di tren’ e’ lovo.”

“Now you are part of the circle…Saniva. Temina.”

~

Back in the temple once more. It is desecrated, crumbled, burnt. Slowly she walks through the crumbling walls to a body stretched out by the fountain in an unnatural position. She kneels by the limp body and gently turns its head to face her. It s a young novice.

”I will avenge you, my daughter” she whispers and places a tender kiss on the young girls forhead. ”Do’vina di tren’ e’ lovo I have sworn and from life, from death and beyond I will come and I will avenge you.

~

Shaking from fever Erica woke from her sleep. Atirien… Hardly aware of what she was doing she searched around her neck and found the medallion.

”Bring me home, Rivana.” She whispered into the night. “Do’vina di tren e’ lovo.”

Chapter One, part three

He walks through time and all times

He sings the hidden fates within

When all see nothing, hear nothing

His song will be sung still

/Verse 4 from the Prophecy of es Evenih'das (for reference see chapter one, page 2 of this book). The Nivida speculate that the man talked about here is an actual time traveler. I am not so certain since there would be no reason why he couldn’t have come around sooner if this was the case. Though the weavers do make the patterns as they please, as the saying goes. I am more interested in in the bard aspect of this promised one. I believe that ways could be devised to find him if more research was put into collecting and above all transcribing and sorting the old melodies from Before the Fall.

"What’s with everyone tonight…" Toussel tapped his foot on the floor in an annoyed manner, but no one had the energy the care.

"Oh, come on, Toussel. For peace’ sake! We’ve been dancing all night, give it a rest already…”

"A rest? Give. It. A. Rest. It’s a god damned castle banquet, you can’t just sit around looking like you’re all at bowling court, boring yourselves to death"

“Mhm…so what if we do. What’s it to you, you’ve hardly danced once this whole evening.”

He turned to Lexi with a sarcastic remark on the tip of his tongue, but decided against it. No, no more cursing…no more sarcasm and what not. He would be damned if he couldn’t behave like a god damned gentleman for a change. He didn’t know what was with him tonight, he had been walking around with twisted nerves this whole past week and for some reason all his pent up anger and frustration seemed to have culminated on this banquet thing.

”Well then my lady, then I would like to beg you for this next dance.” He bowed…well…tried to bow… Did a not half bad imitation of a bow… at any rate.

“Lexi, don’t just stand there like someone just dumped a cat in your lap. Curtsy and say: if you please good sirrr….” Tanja’s nifty remark resulted in a deep crimson blossom on Lexi’s cheeks and believe it or not, she actually did curtsy and, to Toussel’s surprise, quite gracefully at that. Then he grasped her hand lightly and moved her out onto the dancefloor.

"Wow, you’re actually not such a bad dancer…Jonathan.”

Jonathan, or Toussel as he was called for some reason or another, looked on Lexi with a puzzled expression and then he looked even more puzzled when his gaze travelled further down and landed on his feet. They seemed to be living a life of their own. How strange… Well, he sure weren’t going to tell her he had hardly taken a walz step in all his life.

”Oh, Alexia…” To honor the ocation he used her full name. ”How you wound me. Did you really think I couldn’t dance?”

Lexi sighed and despite the fact they were supposed to be waltzing she let her head drop against her boyfriend’s shoulder. This thing with him actually knowing how to dance, did amaze her somewhat, but she would never admit that. All that mattered, anyhow was that the music was heavenly and that she was dancing with Jonathan.

Jonathan on the other hand was not feeling the same contentment because his eyes had just landed on someone on the other side of the banquet hall a young, redheaded woman in a blue gown. He didn’t know why that seemed like such a special combination of colours, but when he suddenly got a look at the woman’s face as a reflection in one of the mirrors of the room he couldn’t help but gasp. It felt like the whole world had suddenly come to a halt. He knew her…in a different time…

”You’re not honestly suggesting that you would be able to beat me in a staff fight?”

“Well I don’t know…feels like it. You’re not afraid are you?”

“Of you, beloved…I think not.”

They circled each other.

“If this is supposed to be a fight, it had better be done properly.” Rivana had sneaked up on them without a sound. “I guess I’ll have to sacrifice myself and act as a referee.”

The three of them had all laughed together.

“On one condition,” he said. “You treat the winner and the guest of their choice to a dinner.”

“So you think you can scam me into making a homemade, culinary meal for you? Oh well, since you’re so cute together…”

"Jonathan, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you moving?”

"Huh?” He looked confusedly at the woman in his ams. “Oh, sorry Lexi, guess I was lost somewhere…” He traced his eyes over the great hall, but the redheaded woman had disappeared. He shook his head in dismay, too much wine, much too much wine.

As they went to sit with their friends once more Jonathan felt a feeling of reverie creeping up on him unbidden. Somehow he felt like things were drawing to an end, were starting to change… Wonder if I’m turning into one of those pathetic types who can’t take some alcohol without going all teary eyed on you… He gave himself a mental slap, but for some reason, the feeling wouldn’t go away.

"Hey, how about we get the hell outa here now? I feel like this tie is choking the flood to my brain.”

“Excuse you…” Stepho sounded incredulous. ”Just a moment ago you wouldn’t walk out of here for all the gold of the lepricons.”

“So what? A guy’s prerogative. Anyhow, I think you will just have to make it through the rest of the night without me. I’ve got to hit the sack. Feel totally out of it. Must be the flue or something…”

That was more or less the honest truth except for that last sentence. He really was feeling out of it, even if he doubted that he could contribute that to disease. He just needed some space.

“Fine, do what you please.” His friends seemed a bit put off, maybe, but at least they were smiling. Tanja even offered a warm: “Feel better.”

"If you want, I could drive you home first?” He sent a begging look to Lexi. He wanted to ask her not to be crossed with him. But, as had been his behavior this whole week, he kept the apologies to himself and simply awaited her response. Awaited and dreaded it. She had every right to be upset with him. This was after all a banquet and for people like them such invitations did not exactly drop in every other week. It was a special night for her, he knew that. Girls sometimes seemed to be totally smitten with all things related to royalty and what not and he knew that Lexi was not an exception to that. She had probably been having gold brimmed dreams about this forever and then he just goes and messes things up. He expected her to get mad, but to his astonished joy she just gave him a cute smile.

“That’s okay, you can go. I’ll hitch a ride with Tanja later.” She even grazed him with a small kiss good bye. No more than a peck on the cheek really, but a kiss non the less.

”Thanks sweetie, you’r a treasure. Night everybody and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…” They laughed at the old joke and he left the party with a light heart.

Outside the castle, at last, Jonathan started to ease up a bit. Come to think of it, maybe he had just imagined all that strange stuff that’d been going on inside him while dancing with Lexi... But the new feeling of ease would not last long for all of the sudden he felt a bolt of electricity run through his body, it felt lika lightning had just struck him, but without leaving any physical marks. Without even noticing Jonathan started jogging through the husky summer night and what started out as a light jog soon turned into veritable racing speed as his feet picked up the paste while his mind was busy elsewhere.

Having reached his apartment building Jonathan halted and let out a painful exhale. He had raced for over a mile. Why hadn’t he just taken the car? He didn’t even like running. Oh, never mind, his head was pounding and he was pretty sure his pulse had reached far above 200. He found himself so faint from the strain on his body that he had to punch the computer lock digits three times before he finally remember what the code was. For once he took the elevator to his second floor apartment and only the light thud when the elevator started and stopped almost made him collapse on the floor. He staggered out and slowly made his way to his door, he produced the key without further ado and opened. The last steps through his home was pure agony, but finally he reached his bed and crashed down upon it without even removing his shoes and immediately fell into a comatose-like sleep.

A’ti’limina had fallen that much he knew for certain. Whether he was to blame or not was a matter of discussion. Perhaps he could have found a way prevent it, perhaps he could somehow had made a difference. But the fact remained that he did share at least some of the guilt. Ach, this agonizing pain. The prophecy had been proven right once more. Not in the way that people had believed it would, no things had gone way beyond that. When Tirinen had asked for his Tamoi he had first thought of refusing the soon to be king, but of course he couldn’t do that. It was the way things had to be. Rivana had said that he didn’t have a choice and as usual she had been correct. The reading was part of the Throneguardian ceremony and could not be removed any more that the oath it self. Tirinen had to make the choice. Him and no one else. She had stood there beside him in her blue dress, watching, waiting. Whatever happened next she would not interfere. Tirinen picked his card. It was. Gods no, not that one… He could already see it before Tirinen had turned it over. A glance to Rivana confirmed his suspicions. She knew as well. Perhaps she had always known. Tirinen grimaced and then flicked out the card in the air for all to see.

K’mevalan… He had stood frozen on his mark following the floating card with his eyes. A curse or a blessing depending on your view. Only one Throneguardian had ever received that particular reading and that had been Tomasi Kmalek over 600 years ago, right before the “Great War” that had left the country sundered and drenched in the blood of its children. A twoedged prophecy at best. It was hard to know its true meaning of such a reading, but it was all too apparent what Tirinen thought and what the people saw in that one card. Misfortune, death and destruction was all they could read and could he really blame them?

He stands before the crumbling Redbridge och gazes out over the city. It is ablazing, not with the red gold of the setting sun, but with true fire, hot, unforgiving, all consuming fire. Mi’k’vekash’ had not waited for a minute to strike. Without a Throneguardian the country was vulnerable and with the Mage Council fighting amongst themselves and Ti’ a ‘miriv devided into two camps the citizens of A’ti’limina had not stood a chance. So many dragons that they blocked out the sun and then the slaughter had begun. He had fought without rest for two days until someone came and took him away.

When he awoke again all had been quite. He had risen and walked out onto the Sunset Terass. Once lovers of all ages had come to that place to watch the sun set over the blazing, legendary city. Following with their eyes as the last golden rays further and further away over the houses ’til the whole city lay in momentary darkness and the sun went to rest behind the bridge. But that, was indeed a different time. Now all that remains of the bridge are its two white foundations on either side of the river. All of the sudden he feels the burden of many years more than his own lying heavy on his shoulders. “The raindrop falls, glittering in the first rays of the rising sun. The tears of God over the long lost land.” With teary eyes he bids a fnal farewell to his beloved city and the country of Atirien, maybe for the very last time. Then he turns and starts on his walk to the well hidden hall below ground that now was there only hope for salvation and…redemption.

Jonathan also awoke with a start this night. Horrified he felt tears filling his eyes. He did not like this night, did not like it at all. In the dim light of the lamppost below his window he could see an amulet hanging in mid air. Ah well, ‘tis time, he thought with a sigh. He reached out he right hand and after a moment’s hesitation he grasped the amulet and kissed the red stone in its center.

"Do’ vina di tren’ e’lovo." And thus the second of the seven was on his way.