“Yes.” Efae confirmed. “By blowing this horn it will call him from the depths of the lake where he lives and he will take you to your people.”
“And where would that be exactly?” Kainan asked. She shook her head.
“Unfortunately I do not know, but tomorrow I shall take you to the great Ash where it is said that a map to Ophidian is hidden within it.” She smiled and then rose to her feet. “Now I hope you shall join me for dinner?” Rising to their feet, Kainan took Arweyn’s hand.
“That would be most welcoming, thank you Efae,” he said tucking the box under his other arm. She dipped her head and with a quick smile turned around, and they followed her into the giant Oak. As they entered through the large double oak doors, they found themselves in a circular reception area and fanning out from there were five other doors. She walked over to one, opening the door she entered, leading them into a dining hall. A large oak table sat in the centre laid with plates and cutlery, wine and goblets. She turned smiling at them, waving her hand toward the table.
“Please have a seat. I do hope you like fish,” she said, before taking her seat, they both nodded as they sat down. Rennab appeared from the doorway, along with another woman and they were both carrying trays. They placed a large tureen on the table, along with a dish of vegetables and potatoes.
“Thank you Rennab, Arkalia,” she said, with a nod of her head. They bowed and then left.
“My Lord would you mind serving the wine?” Efae asked.
“Of course, and please just call me Kainan.” She dipped her head at him.
“Smells wonderful Efae,” Arweyn said approvingly, as the Queen of the Elwins dished the fish stew onto her plate.
“Thank you. We only eat fish. The Elwins are not meat eaters.” She dished some onto Kainan’s plate and they helped themselves to vegetables and potatoes.
“You like?” Efae asked them both, as she watched them eat. Kainan and Arweyn nodded simultaneously before saying how nice it was.
“I noticed you have homes out on the lake,” Arweyn remarked.
“Yes, Elwins are originally from the water. A thousand years ago we lived within the seas on Earth,”
“Earth,” Kainan repeated. That is where Meladrom had said his other mother had come from originally.
“You remember this place?” He shook his head regretfully.
“No not a true memory. My dragon Meladrom, told me that my mother of five hundred years ago came from Earth.”
“That is correct she came from earth with Elrone the great wizard and joined with the Prince of Malgar, your father.” Kainan frowned. He had had so many fathers he was starting to think he needed to number them, father one, two, and three so he knew which one people were talking about.
“They were, I believe, fleeing from Gemini, the dark lord. He was your grandfather’s twin brother.” Kainan put his fork down and looked at her sharply.
“Gemini is a relation?” She nodded.
“He would be your …..” she hesitated as she looked at his startled face. “Great uncle,” she clarified. He looked at his wife and she placed her hand on his.
“I have to kill my own Uncle?” Efae nodded.
“Kainan, do not hold a bond to this man, he is pure and utter evil. He has done such terrible and unspeakable things to hundreds if not thousands of innocents, including children. He may be your great uncle by blood but he is nothing like you, and you must never forget that. He killed the King of Albion, your grandfather, his own twin brother in order to become the dark lord and he will not hesitate in killing you. Hopefully Ophidian will be able to unlock your memories so that you will recall what he did to you and your people.” Kainan stared into his plate, how could he have killed his own twin. He thought of his own brother Gareion. He could never ever contemplate the thought of killing him in fact he knew he would die in a heartbeat in order to save his brother.
Efae studied him intensely as he sat in deep thought. He was not as she had imagined him to be, but then she was not entirely sure what to have expected. She had never seen a Groundling before. Since the closure of the portal, they had only ventured back into Malgar to check on Gemini once every five years and she had never been herself. In fact, she had never thought that it would have been in her lifetime that the great one would return. If she was being honest, she had actually disbelieved the entire story. Although sworn to remember everything just in case and to hand down the information should he not come within her lifetime. He was and so was she for that matter, so different to the Elwins. Their skin for a start was a strange colour it was not silver like their own, and their physical appearance so different from their own straight and lean bodies. He smiled at her, and she realised she was staring at him: She smiled back sipping her wine, before looking away from him.
After dinner, Efae walked them back into the central reception area and then through another one of the five doors. They climbed a spiral stair further up into the tree, and then along a short corridor.
“This is your room for the night, I hope it pleases you,” she said, opening the door. They both thanked her and entered the room. Bowing her head, she closed their door, and then entered the room next door.
Kainan and Arweyn stood just the other side of the door. It was a small room, with a bed in one corner, a chair, and dressing table with a mirror in the other.
“I wonder what is in there.” Arweyn said, pointing to another closed door. He shrugged.
“Go and have look,” he replied. She walked over to the door and opened it.
“It is a bathing room,” she said, smiling and looking at the rather large and inviting bath. He stood behind her, his arm leaning on the doorframe.
“Wow big bath,” he said. He gazed at her. “We could share it?” She gazed back at him.
“Yes we could,” she whispered, before his kissed her. She ran the bath.
Efae sat on her bed, but she could not stop thinking about him. Standing up she walked over to the far wall of her chamber. On the wall was a small cover, she slid it open and peered into the chamber next to hers, her gaze hidden behind a large landscape painting of the forest and lake. Her eyes widened as he walked into view. Having bathed he wore a towel around his waist. She stared at his lean but muscular form, at the strength that was within his arms and the firmness of his stomach. She felt her heartbeat rise. He was so different to an Elwin male. Arweyn walked in wrapped in a towel, with her hair piled on top, wet strands stuck to her neck where she had just bathed. She watched enviously as he took hold of her and kissed her, her hand began caressing his back and he toyed with her hair. He removed her towel and she stood naked against him. Efae frowned she was so different to her own form. Arweyn removed his towel and Efae watched as her hand lowered to his tight bottom, and as they became aroused by each other’s touch he lifted her up into his arms and carried her, still kissing to the bed. Efae touched her own flat chest; Elwin females did not have curvaceous bodies like hers. It came from a time when they as a species, lived within the seas, bred to be slim and agile so they could glide through the water. Over time, they had lost the ability to transform their legs into fish-like tails. The only remnant of their previous way of life was the tiny mark behind their ears where their gills had been. It had never bothered her before, but she was suddenly envious of the Queen as she watched his mouth glide over her, and his hands caressing her gently. She wondered what it felt like, as they both seemed to be enjoying it so much. Their species mated, as and when required in order to breed, not for pleasure. For them there was none of this touching and caressing with hands and mouth. She watched as the Queen moved down his body, at the ecstasy in his face as her mouth explored him. Her eyes widened in shock, the way they mated was so different.
For a moment she closed her eyes and felt her body tingle as she imagined herself lying between them, having him kiss her and caress her like that. She felt a sudden need to have total control over them both, she took a few deep breaths, and for a moment, she clos
ed her eyes at the thought. Centuries ago the Sirens, as they were, on earth, just took a man if she wanted him. Maybe this is what it had felt like, this uncontrollable desire?
She opened her eyes. As a species, they had rejected that part of themselves when they had migrated to the land and left the earth for their new world of Darco. That desire and need bred out of them all except for those like her, with pure royal blood. They still held onto the power, but they swore a sacred vow never to use it unless there was a risk to their people and way of life. Her sisters, there were three of them, lived in their own Kingdoms in the other three corners of the lands of Darco and none of them she knew had ever used the power, there had never been any need to.
She stared at his sweating body, it was a vow she could not break….Could she? Maybe this was why they had chosen not to live among the Groundlings but to stay within their own world, amongst their own kind. Maybe the power and the urges were too strong to resist. She watched with both jealousy and desire as they made love. What if he did not have the power that he thought he had, what if he could not resist her? She stared at him as he pulled Arweyn into his arms and held her close. She smiled smugly as she looked at the Queen, if she could control him, she could easily have her too. She closed the cover quietly. What a risk though, if it did not work he may kill her. She wandered back to her bed and climbed inside, pulling the sheets over herself. If it went wrong, she could pretend she was trying to make sure he was who he said he was, a test of some sort. He seemed genuinely kind, not the sort of man that would kill a woman for the sake of it. She took a deep breath she would sleep on it.
At first light, Queen Efae knocked on their door. They were already up and dressed. They followed her back downstairs to the dining room and sat down at the table, laid with breakfast.
“I hope you slept well,” she said, glancing up the table towards them
“Yes thank you, it was very comfortable,” Arweyn replied, taking a bite of toast. Kainan nodded at her with a slight smile. He had a bit of an un-nerving feeling this morning about Queen Efae, as they had opened the bedroom door to her; something about the look in her eyes was different from yesterday.
“Good,” Efae replied, taking a deep breath and giving a slight dip of her head. She stared at him intensely and he could feel it. He looked across at his wife seated opposite him, but she seemed oblivious as she tucked into breakfast. He glanced back down at Efae, she smiled at him, and for a moment, his eyes locked onto hers and he smiled back.
“Kainan can you pass the coffee,” Arweyn asked. Distracted Kainan looked away from Efae and as he looked at his wife, he smiled, passing her the coffee. She always looked so incredibly beautiful and his heart juddered as he gazed at her. Efae frowned annoyed; she would have to try harder.
“If you are finished, we had best get a move on,” she said abruptly. Arweyn quickly drank the coffee and nodded before wiping her mouth with a napkin. Kainan rose from his chair and walked around to her, and he took her hand as she rose from her chair.
“Please follow me, and bring the box my King,” Efae said, standing up from the table. “I shall take you to the old Ash.”
They followed her outside and she led them through the meadow of pink and purple flowers, towards a forest that lay ahead of them. Leading them down a long narrow path, they wound their way through the forest. The sun was high and it shone down through the branches of the trees, flicking its light upon the forest floor. The trees opened up and a giant ash stood massive and alone at the far end of a clearing, the branches stretching an unbelievable distance in every direction.
“Please come.” With her hand outstretched, she guided them through the clearing. Breathing in the sweet fragrance of the wild flowers as it wafted in the warm air, Kainan swung Arweyn’s hand as they walked in hopeful anticipation towards the tree. Soon they stood before the giant ash and gazed up, feeling tiny in comparison, as they were shadowed under its giant branches. The tree was ancient, two maybe even three thousand years old and it held many secrets.
“It is said that the giant ash holds a map to the hidden sanctuary, a map which will show you the way to Ophidian, protector of the people.” The Queen stepped back. “Only one of you will be able to find it.” She watched as Arweyn and Kainan approached the tree. She stared at him, completely obsessed with the thought of owning him. He was truly, as the legend had told handsome, powerful, commanding. She had the power to command men, to draw them to her and she knew the King’s guard would be down, as he did not remember who she was. She had been thinking about it all night, and the more she thought, the more she wanted to control the King of Malgar, and make him her own.
“What are we looking for? Arweyn asked, glancing at him, but he shrugged.
“No idea, a scroll maybe, hidden within a hole.” He looked to Queen Efae.
“I am sorry Kainan I do not know. All I hold is the knowledge that somewhere on this tree is the map to Ophidian,” she replied softly, lifting her eyes to his. She just could not help herself. Her bright emerald eyes suddenly pierced through him like a dart, her face shone and sparkled under the sunlight. He found her strange beauty quite bewitching and for a brief moment, he lost his focus as she continued gazing at him. It was almost as if she was singing to him, although her beautiful mouth did not move. The sound drew him towards her and as he approached her, she breathed him in deep. She glanced briefly at Arweyn but she had her back to them studying the markings on the bark of the tree. She raised her hand to his face and touched his cheek. Her tongue ran across her lips she wanted to kiss him, as Arweyn had done last night. Her other hand slipped inside his shirt and she felt the firmness of his chest under her long slim fingers. Looking back into his deep dark eyes her heart sang to him, but there was something about him, an aura of power that she could not penetrate or control and her eyes widened fearfully as his locked into hers.
Something inside him seemed to trigger and he frowned at her. Removing her hands sharply, she stepped back, startled.
“Kainan,” Arweyn called to him, her hand running down the bark of the tree. Turning away from Queen Efae, he called to his wife.
“Yes.”
“Come here and look at this bark,” she replied, with enthusiasm in her voice. He wandered over to her, glancing briefly over his shoulder back at Efae, before looking to where she was pointing. The bark crazed with a network of shallow ridges, was different to the rest of the trunk.
Queen Efae took a deep breath and shook. She held no power over him; his power was far too great. She suddenly felt very afraid and terribly ashamed of what she had tried to do. She had broken her sacred vow, for a thousand years her kind had resisted the urge and she had failed them, because she had been weak.
“This part of the trunk is different to the rest,” Arweyn said with excitement.
“You are right, however did you spot that?” He grinned at her.
“It just seemed to stand out to me. I think I may know a spell which will help me see it more clearly.” He nodded. “Hold my hand and I will try and project what I see to you.” She reached out to him and he took hold of her hand. “Ready?” He nodded. Taking a deep breath Arweyn thought hard and began to recite her spell.
“Isara, melacara, visionar, reveal to me your secrets,” she whispered, repeating the verse repeatedly. It was as if the bark itself came to life, it began swirling and rearranging itself.
“Can you see it?” she whispered.
“I see it,” Kainan replied. As before them, the map to Ophidian revealed itself within the bark of the great ash tree. For a moment, they studied it in silence, memorising every detail and then it was gone.
“Well done,” he praised. Holding his hand to her face, he kissed her. “You never cease to amaze me.”
Queen Efae stepped forward towards them and she smiled nervously.
“You have found what you need?” she asked, trying to avoid his eyes. Kainan turned to her and nodded.
“Yes Efae we have.” He stared
at her for a moment, wondering. She bowed her head to him. Turning to his wife, he smiled at her.
“I need to ask Efae something, is that alright?” She looked at him.
“Of course it is, why is there something is wrong?” He shook his head.
“No, I do not think so just something bothering me. I want her to clear it up.” Walking over to the Queen, he stood facing her.
“Efae what did you try and do to me?” His hand rose to his hip, lightly touching his sword. She smiled uncertainly at him.
“I am sorry.” She lowered her head to him. He eyed her distrustfully. “I am an Elwin, descended from the Sirens of earth.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Our people once lived within the seas and could at will sing our songs and lure a man to us. We chose a different path and separated from the Sirens a thousand years ago. My people are no longer able to control the will of a man except….” She hesitated for a moment. “It is within my power as Queen to still control a man if I want him.” He swallowed hard as he stared into her emerald eyes.
“And you wish to control me, to have me?” he questioned sharply. She gazed back at him, into his dark eyes, at his strong determined face. She lowered her head shamefully.
“No,” she lied. “I was curious of you. I wanted to test you. To see if you are truly as powerful as they say.”
“And?” Kainan questioned.
“I was not able to hold you within my power,” she confirmed. He nodded, not believing a word of it. Leaning towards her, he whispered.
“Efae, you are without doubt a beautiful and enchanting woman but my heart belongs to my Queen and it always will. Do not ever try that on me again, do you understand?” She nodded. “Efae, you cannot force a man to love you, it is wrong. What would you have done if I had not been able to resist you?” She raised her eyebrow at him, her chest rising and falling sharply as she looked across at Arweyn who stood watching them.
“I do not know. I, I have never tried my powers before. We are sworn by a sacred vow not to use them.”
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 02 - Meladrom Page 18