“I think it would great on you, but if you don’t want to wear it,” Bren said, slightly disappointed.
Upon seeing his face, Faye smiled and tried to put the necklace on but fumbling with the clasp. “Can you help me?” She asked, handing the necklace to Bren.
Faye turned around and pulled up her long hair. Bren’s hands shook nervously as he placed the necklace around her neck. It took a few clumsy tries, but he was finally able to work the clasp.
“How does it look?” Faye asked, spinning around in a full circle.
“Beautiful,” Bren replied, suddenly mesmerized by the young girl standing in front of him.
Off in the distance, a soft melody rose into the air and cheers rose up from the gathering crowd of farmers.
“The band is playing,” Faye said, grabbing Bren by the hand and rushing toward where the music was coming from.
Bren had been taught how to dance when he was younger. It was almost a requirement when one was forced to attend as many gatherings as the royal family, but he had never had to dance with many girls of his own age. Most of the time, it was elderly ladies of the court or people that he had known so long they were like family. Now with Faye standing in front of him, everything he had learned seemed to vanish from his mind.
Giggling, Faye put Bren’s left hand on her waist and took his right in her own as she wrapped her other arm around his shoulder. “Don’t tell me that the prince doesn’t know how to dance,” She said, pulling him in close.
Bren’s mouth went dry, as if he had taken a mouth full of what the nurses in the palace passed as medicine. Everything slowed down in his mind as he tried to move with the music. His hands felt clammy and with Faye’s face so close, he was forced to turn his head in fear that his breath smelled bad.
As his head turned, Faye moved in closer with her head nearly resting on his shoulder. Bren could smell her hair and feel the warmth of her body. With each beat of the music, it felt as if his heart sped up. When the song finally came to an end, Bren let go of Faye’s waist and tried to pull back, but Faye wouldn’t let him. Suddenly, Faye’s face rushed in toward him and her lips brushed his. Closing his eyes, Bren felt the warmth of her touch and the softness of her lips.
When Bren opened his eyes, he could still feel Faye’s touch, but he couldn’t see her. “Where are you?” Bren asked confused.
“What?” Faye asked, her voice almost in his ear. “No not now,” He heard her say as he felt her hand pull out of his grasp.
Looking around, Bren tried to find any trace of Faye but there was nothing. Bren had grown up around mages and while he knew that almost everything was possible, he still felt shocked when Faye disappeared. It was just completely unexpected.
Bren continued to look for Faye, but it wasn’t until the music had died down and people started to gather for their respective trips home that he caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eyes. Bren rushed toward her, glad that she was ok. “Where did you go?” Bren asked, breathing hard.
Faye’s face turned a rosy pink color. “I just needed some time alone,” She said, adverting her gaze to look at the ground.
“I can’t believe you can use magic,” Bren said excitedly, but his words were cut off when Faye covered his mouth with her hand.
“Please don’t tell anyone,” Faye pleaded.
“Why? It’s amazing!” Thad exclaimed excitedly.
“You know my granddad,” Faye said, her eyes watering. “He hates mages,” she said with a downcast look.
Bren didn’t understand why she was so worried about her gift, but decided not to press the issue. He knew that it didn’t matter if she tried to hide it, sooner or later she would have to come to accept it. That was if his father’s friends had told him the truth. “Magic isn’t just something you can do,” Bren said, saying the same thing he had been told hundreds of times over during his life. “It is a part of who you are.”
Faye didn’t say anything, instead she pulled away from him and moved toward the small wagon that had brought them. Bren silently followed behind her and when he reached the wagon he noticed Doren’s disapproving glare. The same glare that his mother had given him all too often. He wasn’t sure what he had done to deserve it, but he was sure that he would learn soon enough.
The ride home was uncomfortably silent until Clair asked Faye how the night had went. “I had fun,” Was all she said as she gave Bren a pleading look.
As soon as the wagon stopped, Faye rushed into the house leaving Bren behind with a worried mother who instantly pulled him aside. “What happened that has her so worked up?” Clair asked worriedly.
“I don’t know,” Bren replied, dodging the question.
“Don’t give me that,” Clair said, giving him a disapproving look. “I know something happened and from the way she kept sneaking glances at you, I know you had a part in it. Now, you will either tell me what it was or prince or not I’ll take you out back and blister your hide.”
“I don’t think I should say anything,” Bren replied almost pleadingly. He knew that Faye wanted her secret to remain one, but he didn’t see a way out of the situation without revealing it.
Just tell her what she wants to know. There is no reason for you to be punished for something that you have no reason to hide. They will find out sooner or later and I promise you, it will be better for both of you if it’s sooner.
Thuraman’s words echoed in his mind and while the staff was mostly full of useless advice, this time the words struck home. It was true that Faye couldn’t hide it forever and even if she could, it would only end badly for her. Taking a deep breath and letting out a quick prayer that he was doing the right thing, Bren looked Clair in the eyes. “Tonight Faye used magic. She was really worried about it so please don’t be too hard on her.”
Clair muttered a line of curses and started to pace behind the wagon. “Are you sure?” She asked after a few moments.
“Yes, it was hard to miss at the time,” Bren said confidently. “She was scared that Doren would hate her for it.”
Clair gave him a worried look then after a few moments let out a long sigh. “I can see why she would think that, but as gruff as that old goat is, I don’t think it would sit badly on him, at least not for long. He blames the mages for his sons and brother’s death during the war, but he would never take it out on Faye. He dotes on that poor girl.” Clair continued to pace back and forth for a few moments and Bren was forced to sit and watch, too afraid to move.
Noticing that Bren was still there, Clair gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, this isn’t really your problem. I will talk to Faye and Doren, you just go inside and get some rest.”
Bren did as he was told and went to his room. Looking around, he started to think how much he would miss the place after he was gone. Unlike the palace, this place felt warmer and more like a real home. As he drifted off to sleep, Bren dreamt about what it would be like to spend the rest of his life on such a small farm.
Thad still couldn’t believe that he was sitting and talking with Humanius, the god that had created the brotherhood. The god looked much like any other human with the exception of his silvery skin.
“Why did you try to kill all the mages?” Thad asked bluntly, getting a warm look in return from the god.
“To save the rest of the humans,” The god replied evenly. “You must understand that my sister and I do not come from this world. We come from a world of what you would call gods, though really we are just completely in tune with the source.”
“What does that have to do with killing mages?” Thad asked, his ire stirring.
“Let me start at the beginning,” Humanius said with a placating gesture. “Long ago, our race worked magic the same way you do today, but as time passed, my father’s father who would come to be king of our world learned how to become more than what we were. He learned that if you forced a high amount of magic to course through a child, then it would merge more fully with magic and be able to do much
more powerful things later in its life. Mages, as you know are nearly immortal and live for centuries, but those who have had this done to them become immortal. As time passed, my father, who became king after his father passed, grew ruthless in his rule and a large war started. When it was all over, my father lay dead and those gods that were left turned to me and my sister next. We fled and using our combined strength, we came to your world and the magic came with us. Magic is the only real connection between our world and this one. As long as it flows the barrier between the two worlds weaken. When it falls, there will be nothing keeping my brethren from falling on this land and wiping it clean.”
“But why kill us?” Thad asked hotly. “Wouldn’t it be better to train us and get us ready for what was coming?”
“That is what my sister wanted, but she didn’t see you as I do. She didn’t care how many died in the end as long as she had her revenge on the other gods for driving us from our home. My choices might not have been right and even if they were, they have failed. The veil will fall and your world will come to an end.”
“We can fight,” Thad said again, with more strength in his words. “My people will not simply lay down an accept defeat.”
“Even if they fight, they cannot win,” Humanius said quickly. “If I had let my sister do as she wished, you might have a chance, but then this world would be no different than my own. Magic should be limited, otherwise it will be misused.”
“There must be something you can do?” Thad asked as he thought about his own family. “My children are still babes and I will not see the world come to an end before they have a chance to live in it.”
“Babes,” Humanius responded, waving his hand. A large image appeared, showing Thad a young boy who looked much like him dancing with a young girl. “You have been within the abyss for years, not days.”
CHAPTER VI
That night as Bren dreamed, he found himself drifting in total darkness. It was almost as if he was floating in a large pool of water and being pulled down by an invisible force. Bren panicked, he fought against the pull forcing himself back to the surface of his own mind. The pull didn’t relent, but grew steadily stronger then it was gone, leaving Bren alone in the darkness.
It was peaceful and quiet, but Bren felt as if something or someone was watching him. Looking down at his hand, he noticed the thin silvery scar that now shone brightly on the back of his hand.
Holding up his hand, Bren looked at the scar as a light delicate voice whispered in his ear. He couldn’t understand the words, but he felt comforted by them. Pulling his hand close to his ear, Bren tried to listen but it was such a faint whisper he wasn’t sure that it was really there.
Suddenly, a sharp pain hit Bren’s chest, then another. Looking around for the source of the attack, Bren saw nothing, but the area around him gradually grew lighter. Once again, Bren fought to stay where he was. He wanted to know what the voice was saying and where it had come from, but it was no use.
As his eyes opened, Bren saw as a small fist rushed toward him. Half asleep and unrepaired, he couldn’t stop the blow before it pounded into his chest. The first blow was quickly followed by another and another as Bren scrambled to get out from underneath his attacker.
“Why did you tell her?” Faye shouted, continuing her onslaught, this time slamming both fists into Bren’s chest at once. Bren grabbed Faye’s hands and grimaced as the bruises on his chest ached. “Why?” Faye repeated, slumping down as large tears rolled down her face.
“I had too,” Bren replied weakly. “She needed to know,” Bren said, his words said in more of an effort to convince himself than the distraught girl weeping in front of him.
“What’s going on?” Clair asked, as she ran into the room. Bren started to explain, but Clair quickly silenced him with a knowing look. “Let’s get you cleaned up dear,” Clair said, pulling Faye from the bed and leading her from the room.
When the door was shut behind them, Bren uncovered himself and checked his body. Small red whelps had already started to form on his chest and stomach where Faye had struck him.
I told you that she would be nothing but trouble. Did you listen to me? No and now you have one of the most dangerous creatures the world has ever known after your head.
Bren stifled a laugh as he begun to get dressed. “Dangerous? I think there are plenty of things in the world more dangerous than Faye,” Bren replied, his mind conjuring up images of Faye dressed in armor attacking him with an axe. He tried to make her look menacing, but each time, she would miss and fall to the ground. Bren found himself laughing harder.
You might be laughing now, but we will see about later. I have seen girls no bigger than her take down men three times your size and not with a sword, but with their words. Take my word for it, there is nothing more dangerous than a female who thinks you have wronged her.
Bren dismissed Thuraman’s words and continued to ready himself for the day. As he walked down to the common room, Bren was still worried, though not about what his staff had said, but about his time on the farm. The seeding of the field was finished and now the only thing holding him in place was his own unwillingness to leave. He knew that soon, he would have to continue on to the Mage’s Tower, but he didn’t want it to be today. Any way it went, he needed to talk to Clair about it.
Bren found everyone awake and siting around the table waiting on Clair to place the last of the food on the table. For the first time since he had come to the farm, Faye sat across from his seat forcing Bren to sit next to Joseph. Bren had been amazed when he had learned that the mountain sized boy had only been four years older than him. On more than one occasion, Bren had tried to talk to him, but Joseph was a quiet fellow and tended to answer and question with as few words as could be used.
“Did you enjoy the festivities last night Joseph?” Bren asked, hoping to clear the silence that seemed to hang over the room.
“Yes,” Joseph replied and quickly the silence returned to the room.
Bren found himself tapping his fingers on the table as he waited for Clair. When he saw the older woman enter, carrying a large plate of sliced ham in one hand and hard biscuits in the other, he breathed a sigh of relief.
No sooner than the plates were placed on the table, Bren started to stuff food in his mouth as fast as he could. He didn’t know why, but something in him told him that it would be wise to escape the room before anything happened. After years at court, he had learned to trust his feelings when they told him such things.
“Bren, now that the work is done, when do you think you will be leaving?” Doren asked loudly.
“Too late,” Bren muttered to himself as he swallowed the last bite of food from his plate. “I don’t know sir. A day or two at most,” Thad replied hesitantly.
From across the table, Bren could see Clair’s eyes boring holes into Doren, but he didn’t seem to notice. “If you need an escort, I am sure that Joseph would be more than happy to take you in the wagon. With the seeding finished, I am sure we can spare it for the trip.”
“That is very kind of you sir,” Bren said sounding defeated. “I think I will go get some fresh air and see how Avalanche is doing.”
As soon as he was outside, Bren kicked a small rock that happened to be in his path. Nothing was going the way he expected. “Why am I always the one who gets chased out?” Bren asked, muttering out loud to himself.
Bren found himself walking, not paying much attention to his surroundings. When he looked up, he found himself in a small grove of trees. Standing in the middle of the grove was a large apple tree that looked like something out of a tale. As soon as his eyes found the tree, he knew it was the one Clair had told him about. Placing his hand against the tree, Bren pictured his father standing in the same place he was now.
“This is my tree,” Bren heard a small voice say from above him. “My nest in is this tree. You stay away from my nest.”
Looking around, Bren noticed a small mouse looking down on him from one of the bra
nches. “I didn’t know that mice had nests,” Bren said, as he looked down at the ring on his finger. He had known that it allowed one to talk to animals, but he wasn’t sure why it started to work just then. As far he remembered he hadn’t touched it with his other hand to activate it, in fact he had almost forgot that he had it.
“Of course I have a nest. A nice nest filled with all kinds of shiny things I have found,” The mouse replied proudly.
“You like shiny things?” Bren asked, pulling one of the silver coins from his pouch. He didn’t know why, but he was finding the odd little mouse interesting.
“Yes, I like shiny things,” The mouse said moving closer and looking at the object held in Bren’s hand. “I want that shiny thing, I don’t have one like that.”
Bren chuckled and tried to focus on the mouse. He felt a slight burning sensation from his right hand and then he was looking down upon himself from high above. The coin in his hand glittered in the sunlight far brighter than he had ever noticed before. Not only could Bren see the sparkle of the coin through the mouse’s eyes, he could feel its urge to have it as well as the fear it felt from his presence. He had seen many things like him before, and not all of them had acted kindly to his presence.
Bren reassured the mouse that it was safe and after a few moments, the mouse descended and plucked the coin from his hand. Bren let go of his hold on the mouse and found himself once again looking through his own eyes as the mouse stood in his palm turning the coin around in its small paws.
“I don’t see many other creatures around,” Bren said, looking around the tree for any other signs of life.
“No, everyone else stays away,” The mouse said happily. “They don’t like this tree, but I like it. Its fruit is really good and everyone stays away from it. No one comes to take my shiny things.”
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