Awakening Her Soul to Destiny

by Deborah R Stigall

  Scurrying to a deep shadow beside the hearth, Kaitla silently resumed her true form, taking care to clothe herself in black to blend in with the shadows. She gazed at Ravon’s dog just as he raised his head from the floor, silently admonishing him to be still. As she connected with the animal’s mind, she was shocked to find the soul of a man and not that of a dog at all. It was difficult for her to read the beast’s mind, the blanket of the curse muffling the living soul within the form of the dog. Shaking her head in dismay and resolving to solve the mystery later, she concentrated harder on simply communicating with the animal. Once she had the creature’s full attention, she reassured him with the promise of freedom once she’d destroyed Ravon. Slightly inclining his massive head in acknowledgement, he returned his head to his paws never revealing Kaitla’s presence to his master.

  Stepping from the shadows, Kaitla silently unsheathed the dhundare at her waist as Ravon slowly turned to face her. Unsheathing his own dhundare, Ravon allowed a malicious sneer to slowly spread across his scarred face. “Pompous bitch!” Ravon spat as he unsteadily circled Kaitla. “How dare ye come into my realm!”

  Eyes narrowing as she positioned herself close to the open window, Kaitla calmly asked, “Since when is it your realm, Ravon?” As she spoke, the wind began to pick up and churn through the open window. Lightening flashed brightly, surrounding Kaitla’s body in an eerie glow as she carefully stalked her prey.

  Caught off guard by the lightening, Ravon swayed as he shielded his eyes from the brilliant flash. “’Tis always been mine!” he roared, as he irrationally sliced through the air with the extended blade of his dhundare.

  Instinct taking over, Kaitla returned the slash with one of her own, drawing a jagged streak of blood across Ravon’s dark hairy chest. Sobering slightly at the attack, Ravon rapidly countered, marking Kaitla’s thigh with a bloody gash of his own. Stumbling slightly from the pain in her leg, a glance at the wound reassured her the cut wasn’t deep. As though angered by the attack on its mistress, lightening burst into the room, knocking a huge hole in the outer wall. Wind and rain quickly extinguished the surviving torches, the battle now only lit by the fire from the great hearth.

  Startled by the explosion, Ravon staggered back a few steps attempting to collect his wits. Kaitla took this opportunity to quickly separate his arm from his body, noting with satisfaction the look of horror on Ravon’s face as the appendage fell to the floor. His survival instinct asserting itself, Ravon dislodged one of the loosened stone blocks, causing it to fall towards Kaitla. As she rolled out of its path, he attempted another slash, this time catching her across her back.

  Unable to contain himself any longer, Jared burst forth from behind the tapestry, slashing across Ravon with his own blade. “Stay out of this, Boy!” Ravon roared as he cut open Jared’s face and threw him across the room in a crumpled heap. “Ye havena’ got the power ta’ fight me, ye ignorant pup,” Ravon sneered as he suspended Jared high above the stone floor with his gaze then let him fall with a sickening crash.

  While Ravon was distracted with Jared, Macvorn seized the opportunity to rip open Ravon’s back with the tip of his own blade. Whirling upon this new antagonist, Ravon laughed sadistically as he recognized this newest attacker. “Macvorn! I dinna think this was part of the bargain, but I’ll be most happy to kill ye as well!”

  Macvorn dodged the first slice of Ravon’s blade but with the next swipe, he staggered to the floor. Bleeding anew from the wound that Kaitla had once healed, Macvorn was quickly weakening. Able to inflict one last rip across Ravon’s scowling face, Macvorn swayed and fell unconscious to the floor. As Ravon raised his blade to plunder Macvorn’s heart from his chest, his arms froze in mid-air as Kaitla’s blade split his own chest wide open. Reeling backwards from the blow, Ravon’s mouth opened and closed with only the gurgling sound of blood rushing throughout his lungs as he fell to the floor. Jumping to stand over his body, Kaitla cleanly ripped the rotten black heart from Ravon’s chest, holding it in front of his face as the last breath of life slowly left his lips. As she held the heart aloft to the sky, a shower of lightening struck all around her, illuminating the sky around her and vaporizing the evil heart in her extended hand. Closing her eyes and beckoning to her soulmate the wind, Ravon’s body was slowly raised by a steady whirlwind, held aloft high over head. Opening her eyes to gaze fiercely at the suspended body, Kaitla nodded once. A great flash of lightening peeled through the clouds, striking Ravon’s body and disintegrating it into a cloud of dust.

  Throwing her dhundare to the floor, Kaitla stumbled through the rubble to kneel where Jared had fallen. Placing an ear to his heaving chest, Kaitla cried out in dismay at the faint flutter of the heartbeat within. Gently sponging the blood from the wound across his face, Kaitla kissed the cooling lips and embraced his body frantically. Weakened from the battle and the drain upon her emotions, Kaitla’s healing powers barely illuminated Jared’s weakening body, failing to pull him from the rim of death.

  “Kaitla….I can help ye save him…” Macvorn groaned, fighting to the surface of consciousness to find Kaitla weeping over Jared’s still body.

  Dropping to her knees in desperation, Kaitla crawled to the bleeding body of Macvorn. Brushing the rain soaked hair from his face; Kaitla pulled his head gently into her lap. Struggling to open his eyes, Macvorn barely smiled at Kaitla. “Ye canna heal me this time, lass. The wise ones have shown me this is m’destiny.”

  Shaking her head sadly, Kaitla tried to interrupt but Macvorn weakly shook his head. “Hush, ye must hear me whilst I have the strength left ta’ speak…I have wronged ye and also Jared…for that...I am truly sorry.” Raising his hand to barely touch her cheek, “At first, was because I sought power, but later…I grew ta’ love ye.” Smiling softly at Kaitla’s tear-filled eyes, Macvorn continued, “Jared will die if he doesna’ take m’powers from me. He has many gifts of his own…but none so great as mine. I searched his future and saw him with ye. I wish ye every happiness and I beg ye to forgive me.” Dropping his hand to his side, Macvorn winced as pain shot through his body and his sight began to swim uneasily between darkness and light.

  “Quickly, ye must pull Jared ta’ where I can touch him…hurry!” Macvorn whispered urgently. Easing his head to the floor, Kaitla limped over to Jared’s unconscious body. Fearing him already dead, she hesitated touching him, glancing up at Macvorn. “Hurry, lass!” Macvorn groaned, blood now beginning to surge in spurts from the open chest wound.

  Grabbing Jared’s body by the arms, Kaitla was reassured by the fact that his flesh was still slightly warm, although she didn’t think she detected a pulse or any sign of breathing. Gazing intently at his body, Kaitla attempted to resort to her powers to move the body closer to Macvorn. Still in a weakened state, she was only able to lighten him somewhat, then drag him across the bloody floor. As gently as she could, she lowered Jared’s body to the floor beside Macvorn. Barely alive, Macvorn slowly placed his hand in the center of Jared’s chest where it slowly but steadily began to glow. As the bright blue aura slowly spread throughout Jared’s body, Macvorn’s own body was slowly fading and his form beginning to dim. Reaching toward Kaitla with the last of his strength, Macvorn barely mouthed the words, “Forgive me” as he continued to disappear.

  Smiling sadly at the disappearing Macvorn, Kaitla softly blew him a kiss; “I forgive you, Macvorn. Go with God.” Smiling as he closed his eyes, Macvorn’s face was finally peaceful as he vanished completely.

  Almost afraid of what she’d find, Kaitla hesitantly reached out to Jared’s still body. The regular rise and fall of his chest reassured her that perhaps he might be all right. Carefully, she reached out to lay her hand against the rough stubble of his cheek. Eyes still closed, Jared raised his hand to enclose hers, turning to kiss her palm. The events of the past few hours finally taking their toll, Kaitla crumpled sobbing onto Jared’s chest. Taking care not to rake her injured back, Jared carefully circled her with his strong arms, cradling her against his
body. “We’re goin’ ta’ be fine now, Kaitla…’twill be fine now, I promise ye,” he whispered, as he lovingly kissed the tears from her eyes.

  ~*~

  The great hall had been completely destroyed by the lightening and wind, the entire outer wall lying crumbled in ruins. The black clouds darkening the realm for days had gently rolled away revealing a clear moonlit night…stars winking in the distance and shining among the ruins.

  The bright moonlight did nothing to dispel the gloom deeper within the castle, as Jared and Kaitla searched for Etain. Slowly picking their way through the rubble, Jared and Kaitla held their flickering torches high in an attempt to light their way. The long hallways were deserted as the two made their way deeper into the bowels of the fortress. “Where are all of Ravon’s guards?” asked Kaitla, running her hand along the cold damp wall for guidance.

  “I would imagine they’ve finally returned to their homes,” replied Jared solemnly, “Ravon wasna’ followed because he was well loved. He ruled his people with terror.” Drawing Kaitla close to his side, he paused long enough to gently kiss her cheek. “Dinna be afraid lass, ye’ve cleansed the realm of his evil…and all will be grateful to ye.”

  Snuggling close to his side, Kaitla softly whispered, “I love you, Jared.”

  “And I, you…my own,” Jared replied, thankful that all the misunderstandings had finally been swept away.

  Up ahead, the sound of a faint moan barely caught their attention. Freezing in their tracks, neither one moved, afraid of drowning out the sound if it was repeated. Again the cry escaped from a corridor just up ahead. Moving quickly toward the sound, Jared pushed Kaitla firmly behind him to shield her from whatever might be creating the sound. Rounding the corner into a small windowless room, the stench of stale blood, rotted straw and vomit assaulted their nostrils. Holding his torch high, Jared slowly circled the room, finally pausing on what looked to be a heap of rags in one corner. Covering her mouth and nose with one hand, Kaitla followed closely behind Jared, peering cautiously from behind his back.

  Staring intently at the heap in the corner, Kaitla started with a shock as she realized it was actually the tortured body of Etain. Rushing to kneel beside the body, Kaitla gently touched the shoulder of the tiny woman curled facing the wall. Cringing like an abused animal, Etain whimpered and trembled in anticipation of another round of torment. Tears filled Kaitla’s eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she spoke soothingly to Etain. “Etain, it’s Kaitla. It’s safe now…it’s all over.” Etain kept her body turned to the wall but the trembling gradually eased as Kaitla continued talking. “Ravon’s dead…you don’t have to suffer anymore, I promise.”

  Jared knelt beside Kaitla, softly murmuring comforting noises under his breath as he gently lifted Etain into his arms. Kaitla and Jared both stifled gasps of horror as Etain’s swollen blood-streaked face met their eyes. Etain had been beaten repeatedly. Seared blackened eye sockets and oddly angled wrists were among the most obvious injuries to her poor body, bruises and lacerations covered her arms and legs as well. Judging from Etain’s behavior, though, the physical wounds were the least of Kaitla’s worries. Kaitla feared the mental anguish Etain had endured at the hands of her own son might never be able to be healed.

  Holding her torch high to light their way out of the tomb, Kaitla headed for the front of the castle. Moving slowly to disturb Etain as little as possible, Jared carried her as though she were a child, his tight-lipped countenance the only sign betraying the rage he felt at Etain’s condition.

  Finally reaching the edge of the woods, Kaitla stopped, silently motioning Jared to place Etain on a soft patch of moss beneath a tree. Turning back to face the darkened fortress, Kaitla raised both hands to the night, imploring the sky to assist her in one last vengeful act against Ravon. In answer to her silent call, lightening appeared out of the clear sky…repeatedly striking the castle until nothing was left but a blackened hole. As Kaitla continued to gaze upon the ruins the winds whirled about her, gathering up what few ashes the lightening had left; until no trace remained of what was once Ravon’s castle.

  At the sound of faint whining, Kaitla glanced beside her. There sat Ravon’s huge beast of a dog, hesitantly wagging his tail as though begging for friendship. Kaitla smiled at the great black dog and gently patted his massive head, “Your master’s dead and you’re finally free. Go where you like.” She eyed the gentle beast with interest, remembering the mystery of his true identity that she’d resolved to figure out at another time.

  Turning her back on the dog to tend to Etain, Kaitla motioned for Jared to raise Etain slightly to make her more comfortable. Jared sat at Etain’s side, ears deaf to Kaitla’s words as he stared dumbfounded at something behind her. Frowning in aggravation at being ignored, her nerves raw from the day’s events, Kaitla whispered in frustration at Jared, “Jared! What’s wrong with you?”

  Reaching over to shake him, Kaitla’s hand froze in midair as a deep gentle voice behind her replied, “It’s been a long time since the lad’s seen his father.”

  Whirling toward the source of the voice, Kaitla was amazed to find a tall dark haired man, standing where the dog had been only a few minutes before. Gazing up into the gentle face, she could clearly see the resemblance between this man and Jared. They both had the same dark hair and the strong chiseled features with the stubbornly set jaw. Besides the marked graying at his temples and the weathered aging of his skin, this man could almost pass as a twin brother to Jared. The only marked difference that Kaitla could immediately discern was the eyes. Jared’s were a deep gray, where as, the man standing before had eyes as black as coal.

  Finally finding his voice, Jared leapt to his feet and rushed to embrace his father. “Da…we all thought ye’d been lost…traveling…between the realms.”

  Hugging his son to his chest, Lorrigan swallowed hard, struggling to speak through all his emotions, “Aye, lad….that’s what Ravon would have everyone ta’ think.” Grabbing Jared by the shoulders, he held him at arm's length to study the son he hadn’t seen for years. “My Gawd, laddie, ye’ve grown into a man!”

  Grinning at his father’s observation of the obvious, Jared bobbed his head in agreement; “Aye, Da…I’ve grown up and I’ve also found my soulmate,” he said softly, as he extended his hand to Kaitla. Rising to stand beside him, Kaitla smiled hesitantly up into Lorrigan’s face.

  “Ye couldna’ have done any better, lad,” Lorrigan replied softly, his voice tinged with awe as he knelt before Kaitla’s feet, head bowed in submission. Reaching up to clasp her hand, Lorrigan raised his eyes to Kaitla’s face as he spoke, “I’ll be forever indebted to ye, Mistress…I canna tell ye what it means ta’ me ta’ at last be free of Ravon’s evil.”

  Urging him to stand, Kaitla’s heart quickly warmed to Lorrigan. “I’m just thankful it’s all over,” she said wearily, leaning against Jared for support. A slight moan from Etain drew everyone’s attention immediately to the poor broken form on the ground. Kaitla felt a stab of guilt at neglecting poor Etain while she’d been caught up in the introduction’s to Lorrigan.

  Pushing the guilt aside, she returned to sit beside Etain, eyeing the injured woman thoughtfully. Grasping the crystal of the springs hanging around her neck, Kaitla envisioned a cup full of the healing spring water in her hand. Gently lifting Etain’s head, she pressed the cup to her lips, managing to wet her mouth with a few of the precious healing drops. Etain slowly became conscious enough to manage a few sips then weakly laid back against Kaitla’s arm.

  Tearing a strip of cloth from the tail of his shirt, Jared dipped the corner of the rag in the water and gently bathed Etain’s face; carefully soaking the dried blood until it could easily be wiped away. Moaning faintly and turning away from his ministrations, Etain raised a restraining hand silently begging him to stop. Jared dropped the cloth to his lap, shaking his head forlornly at Kaitla.

  Kneeling at Etain’s feet, Lorrigan shook his head sadly. Etain was his grandmother as well as the woman
who had safely seen his son to adulthood. He was appalled at what Ravon had done to her.

  Setting her chin in determination, Kaitla placed her hand lightly upon Etain’s chest. Bowing her head and breathing deeply, she conjured the image of a healed and restored Etain in her mind. As she struggled to keep the image clear, a white aura surrounded Etain’s body. Her bruises and burned flesh slowly began to heal and take on a healthy glow. Her breathing came easier and her troubled face gradually eased into peaceful repose.

  Holding the spell as long as her strength would permit, Kaitla fell to her side, sprawling alongside Etain on the ground. Gathering her into his arms, Jared anxiously searched Kaitla’s face to reassure himself she was all right.

  “Kaitla?” Etain faintly whispered, raising herself up on one elbow.

  Crawling to her side, Kaitla was dismayed to see Etain was still completely blind. “Here, Etain,” she whispered softly as she touched the fragile woman. She gently cradled Etain’s head in her lap, also noticing the once graceful wrists were permanently twisted and crippled. Bowing her head to tears, Kaitla stroked the silvery hair away from the delicate face. “Oh Etain, why couldn’t I heal you completely?” her voice trembled with pain, as she sadly touched the scarred eyelids in Etain’s once beautiful face.

  “Ye’ve healed me more then ye realize, child,” Etain whispered smiling softly. “If not for yer healin’, my spirit ‘twould have left this realm by now.”

  “But your eyes…your arms…” whispered Kaitla. “Why..?”

  “Those wounds were inflicted by Ravon himself. Once he had marked me, so, he spoke his curse o’er me to ensure the effects would be lastin’.” Etain patted Kaitla’s hand reassuringly, “But ye’ve cleansed the realm of his evil and I shall live a while longer…what more could I ask?”