by D L Colon
“I know Commander.” Noryad says with a grin. “You can’t deny that I have a price to pay for all the ruckus I caused in your house.”
Nohar laughs. “Yes you have, Milord. Where are we heading now?”
“I’m hoping to head to my room and see what kind of shape it’s in.”
“Follow us, Milord.” Nohar says, and the souls of the dead escort Noryad to his room. What’s waiting for him at his door is quite unexpected.
Chapter 4
Coral is in her room watching Noryad through her sphere. She watches Noryad arrive at the library and open the warding on the door. She wants to help him when she notices ten undead are in the room, but she sees the souls of the dead going in to protect their King. While she’s watching him there’s a knock on her door.
“Who is it?” She says absently, never taking her eyes off Noryad.
“It’s Bryan. May I come in?” Coral knowing Bryan, her longtime friend who decided to stay with her when she became Goddess of Fate, would never interrupt her unless it was important, responds, “Of course, Bryan. You know you can always come in. You don’t have to knock on the door, we have been friends for centuries.”
Bryan smiles sadly as he enters. “Yes, we have been friends for the last six hundred years. Thanks to your powers I have been exactly the same for all this time, but I still haven’t found the one meant for me.”
“I know dear friend, but she is out there and she feels the same way you do; sad, lonely, an outsider, but you will meet her if you join me on this journey I have to make.”
“Where are you going? You only have one year before you have to marry Albert, the asshole, unless you have found your one true mate.”
“I don’t know if I have found my true mate, but I know of someone that can change everything in this place. If I don’t act soon he will become another shooting star that passes my way. I am heading to the Caribbean, my dear friend.”
“Why are you heading to a group of islands no one cares about? No one wanted to help the King Family when they were facing destruction by Raphael, Commander of the Destroyers, and no one wants to help the islands that are crumbling into the sea now. The only reason anyone would go there is if the one true King has returned. That’s it isn’t it? The one true King has returned to claim Excalibur from King Tyrone, or King Arthur reincarnated in a new body.”
“The Caribbean, in this moment, holds greater importance than the war happening right now. Yes, the King family was slaughtered to the point of near extinction, and if it wasn’t for King Trez sending his youngest son, who was the strongest and most capable of reclaiming the throne and Excalibur despite only being four years old, the King blood line would have been eradicated. They were caught by surprise while celebrating Noryad’s fourth birthday, and that’s something everyone should keep in mind, because if they had been prepared they would have never been almost destroyed. Raphael will pay for what he did to Noryad’s parents.”
Bryan raises his hands in defense at Coral’s outburst. “Hey, I’m not the enemy. Everything you just said is true. I am sorry Coral, it wasn’t my intention to upset you. Noryad must have really gotten under your skin if you’re ready to strike me down for just mentioning his return. Are you sure you only saw him two times?”
Coral quickly hides her embarrassment at Bryan’s observation. “I am sorry, dear friend. I have been on edge lately because this war is putting everyone in a difficult situation, but I know how it is going to end already so I’m not worried. What I am worried about is that I cannot see Noryad’s future. Before you ask, no, I’m not trying to look for it, but you are right, he has caught my attention. His future is not stable; it is constantly changing. That has never happened in the many centuries I have been in this position. I am concerned that my powers as a Goddess are failing.”
“There is nothing wrong with your Godhood,” Bryan reassures her. “Everything is ok. Is it possible that his fate is not for us to predict, or the God of Gods is stopping anyone from seeing his future?”
At the mention of the God of Gods Coral feels a shiver run down her spine. “Okay Bryan, let’s drop the subject there. Make sure Albert doesn’t follow me please. He wants to keep me here all the time and I am the Goddess. He hasn’t gained God status yet, and he won’t until after the wedding, so he has no say in where I go or what I do.”
******
Albert, who is behind Coral’s bedroom door, has heard enough. He steps back from the door and snaps his fingers. Instantly one of his lower ranking officers appears. Albert sneers at him for a second before he asks, “What is your name and can you move stealthily?”
The officer bows slightly before answering. “My name is Blake and yes, I can move stealthily.”
“Good. What can your powers do to the souls of the dead?”
“Sir, my powers enable me to capture the souls of the dead.”
Albert, with a malevolent smile on his face, nods, “Good. I want you to follow Coral to the Caribbean and capture as many souls of the dead as you can. Make sure no one sees you. You are to deliver messages directly to Noryad King, and no one else, when souls are captured.”
Blake looks at Albert with a worried expression. “Are you sure, Milord? I will be following your future wife, a Goddess, you’re sure you want to do this? It might backfire on you.”
Albert looks at Blake lethally, “If you do your job well Blake, you will be rewarded accordingly. But if you fuck this up I will have you eliminated. Do you understand?”
“Understood, Milord.” Blake responds before giving another slight bow and leaving Albert alone again.
******
As Albert is talking to Blake, Coral is gathering some things so she can leave. She gets her clothes, a black t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes, which she didn’t even remember she had, and transports herself to Noryad’s room in his Kingdom. When she arrives she sees his room has been completely trashed, which lets her know he hasn’t been there yet. She snaps her fingers and the room is instantly like it was when the Kingdom was in its most prosperous days. When she’s satisfied with the way it looks she exits his room and waits for him just outside the door. Just a few minutes later Noryad walks up the hall with some books in his arms and a castle guard escorting him.
Chapter 5
Noryad is surprised to see Coral standing outside his old room. Once he is close to her he asks the guard to give them some privacy, but to remain close in case something were to happen.
Noryad says to Nohar, “Give my regards to Liand. Tell her I hope I get to see her soon.”
Nohar bows and replies, “As you wish my King.”
Noryad opens the door to his room and to his surprise he finds the room intact, like the attack on the Kingdom never happened.
Coral, who has followed him inside, looks at him and says, “I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty of inviting myself in. I was the one who restored your room back to its original state.”
Noryad looks at Coral, hiding all emotion from showing in his hazel eyes, and says, “I don’t mind, Coral.” After he speaks he really looks at her and notices she is not wearing her usual clothes that distinguish her as a Goddess. Instead she is wearing normal clothes, jeans and a t-shirt. He can’t help but admire her figure. The way her silver hair flows to her waist, her beautifully expressive aqua eyes, her full lips and pert nose, the way her clothes caress her body. He has to bite his bottom lip to keep from groaning allowed as a scorching heat rises within him.
Coral sees the way Noryad is looking at her. She sees the fire in his eyes that he is trying so hard to hide, and it makes her body burn with need. She needs to put an end to this burning desire she has for him, but when she sees him bite his bottom lip she knows she’s in trouble. A fire ignites within her and she needs for him to look at her without that fire evident in his eyes. She clears her throat and Noryad snaps out of the semi-trance state looking at Coral sent him into and returns to himself. All the emotion that was in his eyes is now gon
e and the blank, emotionless face of a King is in its place. She hates how a feeling of emptiness rises within her and extinguishes the fire that was inside her just moments before.
Disappointment flashes in her eyes and Noryad, not being able to tolerate that look in her beautiful eyes, approaches her. With his glove-protected hand he caresses her cheek. The instant he makes contact with her fire and passion sizzle through them both like an electric current. A hungry, needy sensation runs from one to the other, but there is an incredible, all-consuming sadness there, too.
Even though Noryad is wearing his gloves he is able to perceive her age and how many times she has tried to change the course of history, but failed. No matter how much she tried, history always repeated the same mistake. Eventually she stopped trying to change the world and focused on seeing things from the background.
Noryad drops to his knees, sweating from the scenes that bombarded his mind and the onslaught of emotions Coral emitted at his touch. Coral touches him and the moment she makes contact Noryad’s eyes go completely blue and white smoke starts streaming from the corner of each eye. With a strong, commanding voice he starts speaking; The King of Death is the one you seek Coral, Goddess of Fate. He is your fated mate, but also the strongest entity alive. His fate is not decided and he doesn’t answer to anyone. Heed my word Coral, danger approaches you. Only the King of Death can stop it, but the King of Death hasn’t been chosen. Look for the one whose power can be stronger than any other. He is close and ready to fight, or he isn’t; only time will tell….
He closes his eyes and when he opens them again he looks at Coral, who has a shocked expression on her face.
“What happened?”
Coral looks at him in confusion. “Don’t you remember what happened when you touched me, the words you spoke?”
“Yes, I remember the emotions and the knowledge I got from touching you, but nothing else. What did I say to cause that expression on your face?”
“You gave me a prophecy about my future.”
Chapter 6
Noryad, surprised by what Coral is telling him, and despite the fact that he can’t remember anything from it, knows what she is telling him is the truth. “Can you tell me what I said to you?” Coral repeats the words he said and when she’s finished he asks, “Can you put those pieces together and figure out what it means?”
“I can’t, Noryad. For the first time in my life I feel like I don’t know anything.”
Noryad looks at her with a sad expression in his eyes, “I don’t know anything about it either. Coral, what brought you here?”
“I came to see how you were doing. I am sorry to bother you. I will leave you to your training now.” Coral says and turns to leave. Noryad grabs her by the hand to stop her and the same sensations that assault them moments ago, come back like a raging tornado. This time he perceives another emotion from Coral, rejection. Coral turns back and sees a pained expression on Noryad’s face. She looks down at his hand and then up into his eyes. She immediately knows that, even though his hands are securely encased within his gloves, his powers are reading her. She instantly gathers her powers and puts up a block on her mind.
Noryad instantly relaxes as sweat pours down his face. “I apologize, Coral. I don’t know how that happened. I wasn’t looking to get details of your life, it just happened the moment I touched you. Could my gloves be losing their ability to shield people from me? I think it’s over for now, what did you do?”
Coral looks at him with astonishment in her eyes. “Your gloves are working perfectly fine. Your powers continue to increase and they’re surpassing the limits of your control. I think it’s time you train harder than you ever have before.”
Noryad sighs and looks at her with sad eyes. “Let me read these three books tonight. I need to have the knowledge of my birthright, whoever the King of Camelot is and what happened during The Battle of Camlann before I can truly control my powers.”
“Are you sure you can read all three of those books in just one night?” Coral asks before she notices that Noryad has started to read and has completely blocked everything else, including her, out. She smiles and turns to leave. Once she is at the door she turns around to see Noryad one last time and is surprised to find him standing right behind her. Her breath catches in her throat at the close proximity of Noryad to her. Their powers are attuned to the each other and electricity sparks between them.
Noryad looks at her with a powerful look of desire in his eyes and says, “Yes, Coral, I will read all three books tonight before the sun sets.” Then he closes the door, but opens it again, and says, “You are welcome to stay. There is plenty of room in the Castle.”
Coral smiles at him and says, “Oh I’m staying, Noryad King. You can count on that,” and walks away.
Noryad watches Coral walk away before he closes the door and sits in the center of the room. He puts his hand on the middle of the floor and makes a small hole in it, then he puts his staff-sword in it to keep it in a stable position. He then puts the three books on the floor in front of his staff-sword, takes off his shirt and gloves and stretches his hands to each side, making his power rise to form a sphere around him, the staff-sword and the three books, where time is not altered but everything outside of it continues unchanged. His eyes turn completely blue, as the pages of the three books start rapidly turning. Noryad’s power is enabling him to read the books faster than it should be possible, but the downside is that he has to rest for eight hours after he is finished.
After leaving Noryad, Coral heads to the kitchen. She knows that she is being followed, but she doesn’t mind considering they are merely curious about the new found visitor to their Kingdom. She smiles to herself before she speaks to them. “You may show yourselves. I know Noryad gave you all the power to make yourself seen and move at will like you did in life.”
The first soul shows himself and Coral immediately recognizes Nohar, but the beautiful woman beside him is unknown to her. By the closeness she sees between Nohar and the woman she assumes she is his wife. “Goddess, pardon my bluntness, but what brings you down here with us?”
Coral smiles at him before answering. “I was once human, Nohar, and just because I’m a Goddess doesn’t change where I come from. Walk with me and bring the others, I know they are close.”
The souls follow Coral to the courtroom. Once there, every soul reveals itself to her, even the royal family, who haven’t even shown themselves to Noryad yet. She turns to address them all in an authoritative voice, “Noryad King has returned, just as I said he would. He is here to train and get everything he needs for the war that approaches. He is not only your King, he is also a valuable asset to the Lost City and we cannot afford to lose him. I have a feeling there is danger within the castle walls, so be vigilant. I will help in any way I can.” She snaps her fingers and Bryan appears beside her. “Bryan, please bring the people to the kitchen. We need it restored to order because we need a place to eat. Please make sure everything is back to normal, but if someone does not want to do it they are within their rights. I am not going to force anyone to do anything, it is voluntary help I seek.”
When she finished Bryan disappeared. Once Bryan is gone the royal family looks to Coral and one of the members speaks, “Thank you, Goddess of Fate. Please watch over him.” Coral nods and everyone cheers.
Four hours later
Noryad’s sphere starts to dissipate and his eyes return to normal, but he is quite surprised that he doesn’t feel tired or drained like he usually feels after this. His powers have restored his body, not letting him get tired. He puts his gloves back on, gets his staff-sword, stands up and heads to the kitchen, knowing he isn’t going to find anything. When he walks into the kitchen he is truly surprised to find that it’s back to normal, which was what he had been planning on doing. When he sees that there is food he instantly knows it was Coral who did this. He smiles as he prepares himself something to eat, while his head processes the new knowledge found during his r
eading.
Chapter 7
When Noryad is finished eating he decides to head to his room. Before he can make it two steps down the hall the old mage passes him again. Could it be Merlin, he wonders to himself. But how could he be alive after all this time?
Noryad decides to follow the old mage and when he sees him again he is already heading out of the Castle and toward the catacombs. Noryad thinks that’s weird, but decides to follow him despite the fact that his powers are screaming a warning at him the closer he gets to the catacombs. Once he is five feet from the entrance two warriors step in front of him, blocking him from entering. When he makes another move toward the entrance the guards attack him.
Noryad is able to evade the attack by stepping back. He isn’t sure he can take them both at the same time, but he gathers his power and grabs one of the warriors. As soon as he grabs him the other warrior runs to attack, forcing Noryad to evade. Evading the attack, Noryad manages to stab the warrior, piercing his armor and cutting his flesh, but not doing enough damage to bring him down. The warrior grabs his staff-sword and throws it back to him. With a sneer on his face he looks at Noryad and says, “You are weak, Mr. King. Get stronger and come back to face us, but be sure to destroy the ten undead you ran off from the library first.”
Noryad smiles wickedly as he realizes just who is controlling the warriors. “You are right, Merlin, I am weak, but I will get stronger once I find the Sword of Kings.”
There’s a disturbance in the air as the warrior returns to his position at the entrance of the catacombs, his eyes no longer alive. When Noryad turns around and leaves Merlin peeks out to watch him and sees the Armor of Kings lining itself around Noryad. He is shocked because the Armor of Kings was never created. It was supposed to be a myth, but then again, so was magic and look what happened. Merlin knows now, without a doubt, that King Arthur will soon be able to rest in peace. Merlin turns with a smile on his face and heads inside the catacombs to talk to Tyrone.