Bliath: Shattered

by Theresa Caligiuri

  It took him a good half hour to get back to the main barn, he hadn’t realized how far he had run. The lights were still on and that was not normal, he proceeded within. Everything seemed normal, then he heard Oren whinny. Vance jogged down to the end and rounded the corner, prepared for anything, but what he found. There in front of the massive horse, was the tiny princess Larin, giggling. Vance slowly walked over to them. Larin looked up like she just noticed Vance was there, “Vance, Oren is so funny and sweet, he ate my cookie chef gave me, but it was worth it, he tells me stories about Fera.” Vance’s eyes got really big he looked from the girl to the horse and back. “What do you mean Oren is telling you stories, you mean like a game of pretend?” She laughed like Vance was the crazy one of the two of them, “No, silly like I talk to him out loud and then hear him in my head. Like I can do with the other horses, but Oren is the smartest horse ever, OOHH and Leo’s icky slobbering dog he always just wants food or for someone to throw the ball….. throw the ball……throw the ball, but no one believes me, they think I am just making it up.” Vance suppressed a laugh, looking at the small girl with scowl on her face and a hand on her hip. “Larin, I believe you.” She beamed and threw her arms around Vance. “Larin, what kind of stories is Oren telling you?” She rattled on for a while about the adventures Oren told her about and their special midnight rides. How worried he was when she started to get sick, but also how he reassured her that Fera would be fine. Then she looked up at Vance with a puzzled expression, “Vance, I am supposed to tell you that she is his, and not yours.” Then she shrugged. “Larin, can I tell Oren a secret and you can tell me what he says?” She jumped up, and nodded, she was happy someone believed her and she could help. Then went back to Oren’s stall, Vance leaned in and whispered, “Ok, I know who she is, and I think you do to, since you're an Elven horse, she won’t be safe here for long, and I think in a few days, I can have her ready to go, so when it is time to go, you will cooperate and go the way I lead you? Vance didn’t take his eyes off Oren as Larin spoke “He said you are not going with them.” “Oren, the way I see it you cannot defend her like I can, she needs help, you love her, so I know you will tolerate me to keep her safe.” Oren snorted and pawed the ground. Larin sighed “He said fine, but he doesn’t have to like you.” Vance nodded, and turned to walk away. “Vance, where are you going, and why wouldn’t Fera be safe?” Vance froze, he forgot that Larin understands more than you would think for someone her size. “Ahh Larin, we just need to, um, take Fera to see her grandfather and the world is not a safe place.” He was not lying to her. “Oh that will be nice for her, you know Vance, I don’t think Oren is a horse.” Before he could ask her what she meant, Leo was in the door.

  “Larin there you are, when the storm hit mother was worried when she could not find you, so she has me and half the staff looking for you.” Larin skipped over to her brother, Vance’s eyes met Leo’s, Vance put on his best business face and in a non-emotional tone asked how Fera was doing. He said no change really but the fever was staying down, and she mumbles every so often. Then Leo scooped up his little sister and headed back to the castle. Vance went back into the tack room, and no sooner then he sat down, he fell asleep.

  Chapter 10

  Vance woke in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. He had not had a nightmare since he was young; he couldn’t remember what exactly was hunting him, but the eyes glowed and the world around him got cold. Trying to shake it off, he deiced to go back in the castle and check on his mother. He turned to the corner on the way out of the barn, to find Oren sleeping sprawled out in his stall. Vance muttered what an odd horse and headed for the Rose room.

  Once inside the front hall, his excitement picked up, he could at least tell Fera he had a plan, and that was good news. Vance peeked his head in the Rose room the find Leo asleep holding Fera’s hand, and his head leaning on the bed. He was not liking Leo hanging over her so much, but what could he really do, right now her survival was in the hands of those protecting her and he was doing just that. Desree, was sitting in the corner knitting, what looked like mittens. She looked up and whispered, “I taught you better than lingering in doorways, are you better?” Vance crept in the room. “Mother, is it safe to go back into limbo, I have an idea and a plan.” “It isn’t the smartest idea right now, Leo is just asleep, not drugged, what is this idea of yours?”

  Vance explained his using energy theory to Desree, she thought it made perfect sense, but now was not the best time to try it because of Leo. Vance got a slight pained expression, “Mom, the other part is, I have to go with her when she leaves, I can’t explain it, but I just know, please forgive me.” He dropped his head. “My dear boy, I knew you could not stay with me forever, don’t get me wrong, I would love to have you always near, but I knew from the moment I helped bring you into this world, this day would come. Where are you going?” Vance went over to the only open chair and sat down, on the opposite side of the bed from Leo, and ran his hand through his dark hair, “The Northern Dwarf Clan, she is the granddaughter of the King, the Mountain is safe and I think she is not a pawn to them.” Desree nodded, “I understand, but why do you think she is a pawn?” Vance sighed again, “Well, her uncle hunts her. My assumption there is because he wants her dead to wipe out the competition, or use her to bargain with her grandmother, the High Queen. Again, assuming of course, the Queen wants her for an heir and will use her against her Uncle and possibly the Dwarfs, being a first born, she can challenge for the crown there, giving her power over all races. She is a dangerous weapon to them all I guess.” Desree beamed at him, she knew he was a smart boy, and could piece everything together, but some of the pieces were missing and not in the right order, but she knew he would get there. “So, when are you leaving?” “As soon as I can get her to stay conscious enough to ride, her horse knows and will for the most part cooperate, so in a few days?” It sounded more like a question, then another thought popped into his head, “Mom, did you know Larin can talk to animals?” Desree laughed, “Yes and if you paid attention you could have picked up on it sooner.”

  Fera delicately moaned, snapping Vance’s attention on her, he went to grab her hand but stopped himself. “Mom, if I go to limbo can you pull me out if I am not back and Leo starts to stir?” Desree nodded. Vance felt slightly embarrassed and nervous about crossing into limbo with his mother sitting in the room, but he knew this was the only time he might get with her, while someone having his back. He gently took her hand and the pull eased him into limbo.

  The meadow was still intact, but it was no longer sunny, it looked more like a haunted forest, he thought to himself, this can’t be good, he called out for Fera but no answer. He turned around, and saw her, curled up into a ball and the ground. He went over to her, kneeling down in front of her, he gently put a hand on her shoulder, thinking she might be asleep. Her eyes opened and fixed on Vance. He saw the dark lines under them, her whole frame screamed out delicate. “You”, she whispered venomously to him. Vance couldn’t figure out where this anger was coming from, he didn’t do anything wrong. So he put up his hands showing he meant to harm, “Yes me, I told you, I would be back, I am sorry it took a little longer than I hoped, but...” Fera cut him off “You left me, I begged for you to come back, I screamed for you until my voice left me, I don’t understand I am so tired, and I can’t sleep, and I feel hunger, but I can’t eat, and you left.” Her eyes were burning holes into his. Guilt rolled over Vance like a heavy fog, he helped her to sit up. She was clearly waiting for an explanation. He sat in front of her with her hands in his. “You remember when I said you were in limbo,” she nodded, “Limbo is a state of mind, right now your body is sick and trying to deal with your magical bindings breaking that your mind sort of sent you here to be safe. I am not sure why I can visit you here, but I get pulled back, either by me willing it like the first time or my mother pulled me back the last time, I didn’t mean to leave you.” She mouthed Oh, and then asked, “Why would my mother want my magic
bound?” “I am not sure, but I think you will find out in the near future, I have a plan, and the first part involves getting you out of here.” She weakly smiled at him, not completely trusting him she asked “Really?” He nodded and her smile brightened. Vance slowly reached out and touched her face. “Ok Fera, first I think I need to explain things a little better, once you understand, I think you won’t be so fearful when I have to leave again. After all, knowledge is the key to open any door.” Fera laughed a little, “Ok Vance, you sound just like my tutor Markus.”

  Vance spent a while teaching her the properties of magic, how she could hold the energy, and let it go to change things, to conjure things, explaining to her how he thought if they used that energy how it might help her wake up. She shyly looked up under her eyelashes “Vance, you will be there when I wake up right?” She slightly blushed, but when he looked at her she felt like butterflies were dancing in her stomach. “Yes, I just hope you still remember me when you wake up.” He blushed back. “If I don’t remember, make me, I mean remind me but something tells me I will know you.” They both laughed.

  “Ok, Vance, what should I do, what do you want me to create, or change?” Vance walked around the meadow, and turned back to her, “Make the sun come out.” Fera was having trouble collecting the energy, Vance stepped up behind her, putting his hands over hers, helping her draw it in, he heard her gasp again, “I know over time you will get used to the slight sting. Are you ready to let it go?” Fera closed her eyes, she pictured the warm sun, how it felt inviting and like an old friend, she let go of the energy, even before she opened her eyes, she could feel the warm glow it the sun kissing her face. She let out a squeal of pure joy, and spun around in Vance’s arms and threw her arms around his neck. He laughed at her joy, “Do you always react like this when you do well I once of you lessons or did you just have a sudden desire to touch me?” She gave him a playful scowl, “No, or I would never stop squealing, because I’m a genius.” She stuck out her tongue at him and laughed, ignoring the touching him comment on purpose. “Ah there you are, I knew you couldn’t be so sullen and serious all the time.” He laughed with her. “So dear Princess, how does magic feel to you?” “Well I have to say good, really good, like breathing, or I don’t know natural, I feel happy and scared and excited and about 20 other things all at once.” “Well, you were made for magic!” He beamed down at her. “Funny thing is, I just thought I wasn’t that special, up until a few days ago, I didn’t know my mother was well, who she was, and my dad is only half dwarf, so I figured there wasn’t enough magic in my veins to even fully talk to animals. One word answers or feeling is all I could ever get from them. I could understand Oren best, but I am around him a lot. Is he doing ok?” Vance was still trying to process the fact that she thought she was common, even before he realized she was who she was, or even how much magic she had or didn’t have, she was not common to him, anything but common, he chortled in his head. He read a fairytale to Larin one night and in it, the Prince told the poor village girl that nothing mattered because her soul was made of the same stuff his was and sang a song only for him. At the time he thought how absurd is that, but now he was pretty sure he knew what that prince in the fairytale was talking about. “Hello Vance……Vance, this village needs it’s idiot back…Vance, come back.” She thought a second and a Cheshire grin graced her face, she pulled a little energy and gave him small static like shock. He snapped out of his daze, “Did you just call me the village idiot?” “Hey, in here it is a village of two, and I already told you, I’m a genius, I asked how is Oren and you went to la-la land?” Vance couldn’t help but smile at her even when she was teasing him, it felt so right being with her. “Oh your cookie thieving horse is fine, but I know he misses you.” “Cookie thieving?” she raised her eyebrow at Vance “It would seem the Kingdom of Nevire’s princess can talk to animals and has taken a liking to Oren and he has taken a liking to the fact she is seven and always has sweets.” Fera laughed at that.

  “Fera, I will have to leave soon, so let’s take another crack at magic?” She turned back around in his arms, and he put his hands back on hers, this time he let her do most of the work pulling the energy in. Before he could give her a suggestion, she flipped the switch, flowers started to bloom everywhere, lilacs, roses, and daisies. This time she didn’t squeal, but she spun around and faced him beaming. “Amazing” Vance whispered, “I know right, I love flowers, they can brighten anything up!” Vance was not talking about the flowers but he just shook his head in agreement. “Ok Princess, I should go, but I will be back, but you have homework, see if you can create a rainbow, or a storm, or surprise me when I come back, ok?” “I can do that, thank you.” She bounced up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, and whispered see you later, to which he replied not if I see you first, and faded out.

  Chapter 11

  He blinks his eyes back into focus, his mother was still in her corner knitting what looked like a different pair of mittens, and Leo was stirring a little but not close enough to waking just yet. “I was just about to get you out, you were gone a while and then this just happened, care to explain?” Desree asked with a smirk and gesture around the room. Vance took a second look at the room; there were purple, red, and white flower petals everywhere. Vance’s mouth fell open, she was having a slight effect here outside of limbo too. “Wow, mom, I mean uhhh, I don’t know what I mean, can we get this cleaned up before anyone sees?” Before she could answer, Larin burst in the room, Vance quickly stood up. “Holy meatballs! It snowed flowers in here!” Larin bellowed, waking up Leo. He sat up, wiped the drool off his face, he looked at his sister who now was throwing the petals up in the air and letting them fall down around her. Larin noticed Leo awake, “Good morning brother, she isn’t awake yet, aren’t the petals beautiful, she will love them when she wakes up.” Leo is bewildered just looking around the room, instead of asking he assumed his little sister brought all the petals into the room, he looked at her face so carefree, and it was clear in his head that she did it for Fera, so he could not yell at her. Larin climbed up in Leo’s lap, and touched Fera’s hand, and she let out a tiny gasp, and looked at Desree, “She is awake, and tired, and hungry, but happy.” Larin smiled, Desree and Vance’s eyes grew wide. Before anyone could say anything, the little girl hoped down and stated to no one in particular “I am going to go ask cook to make her some broth, she will be up for a little bit today.” And with that she skipped out. Leo looked at Desree and Vance, they just shrugged back at them, “Well I love my little sister, but sometimes she is downright odd.”

  Desree stood up, stretched, and turned to Vance, “Oh thank you dear for bringing me my red yarn, I know you have things to do, so I won’t keep you, but maybe after bit, you can bring me a cup of the special tea you make that I love?” He caught on to what she was saying, “Yes, of course mother.” He gave Desree a kiss on top of her head, giving Leo a slight bow he left. When he closed the door behind him and turned to leave the castle, there was Larin staring up at him, “After lunch, yeah, after lunch, come back, she will want to see you.” Then she skipped on down the hall. Vance was not sure what was going on, but he thought thank the fates that little girl liked him and the hours of playing pony, or rather being the pony, were not in vain.

  Vance made a detour through the kitchen and much to his relief, the cook was not paying attention and he nipped three sweet rolls. He ate one on the way to the barn, and knew exactly where the other two were going. If the horse had a sweet tooth and an unbreakable bond with Fera, he would have to make some sort of peace.

  When he got to Oren’s stall, he saw him awake and pacing in a circle. “Good morning Oren.” Oren let out a huff, “Now Oren is that anyway to greet someone who has brought you breakfast?’ With that he produced the two sweet rolls, and that got Oren’s attention. Vance put them in the feedbox, and he was pretty sure Oren didn’t even chew them. “You know she is better today. She used energy magic, on her own, well practically on her own and it
was amazing.” Oren did not like what he was seeing in Vance’s expression or tone, so he did the only thing he could think of and bit him, not hard, but with enough of a sting to it. Vance yelped and swatted at Oren, not that Oren minded his point was made. Vance glared at Oren “I get it, you two have a special bond, but buddy, you’re a horse, and she is human, well Elven, hmm Dwarven…not a horse, that is what she is, someday she will get married, have children, and you will have to share her, better learn now.” There was fire in Oren’s eyes, he kicked the side of his stall.” Vance saw he got his point across, he smiled to himself, and walked off to tend the other horses in the barn.