Shade of Destiny (The Foreseeing)

by Shannon M Yarnold

  “What?” Wynn questioned, feeling self conscious.

  “You were just with Salina?” He replied.

  Wynn lifted her supplies, an obvious clue, “Yes, why?”

  Taien laughed now, not bothering to hide it, clearly very amused, “You should go and find a mirror Wynn, you look decidedly funny.”

  Wynn shifted the supplies to one arm and raised her fingertips to her face gingerly, not sure what she would find. Lifting her hand away she glanced at her fingertips and saw they were pure white. She frowned in confusion, then remembered that Salina had been kneading dough just a moment before and had touched her face when they said goodbye. Wynn flushed an impressive shade of red and could not decide whether to run away or stand and try and wipe it off, either option left the door open for further embarrassment. Taien laughed again, sensing her intentions and emotions. He stepped forward and gently using his thumb, wiped most of the flour away from both cheeks. Wynn’s eyes widened at the touch but she allowed it to continue, unsure exactly how it made her feel.

  He stepped back after a moment, “I cannot get it all off.”

  “Thank you,” Wynn said hoarsely and darted away to pack her things, feeling suddenly wobbly. Men did not touch her so gently; it was not the done thing. Taien challenged everything she believed, men were not so kind and respectful, she was so unused to it that it made her feel quite lost in the world. Griffin, Jareth and Byron had been kind to her, and protected her, but none had touched her like Taien just had, gently and kindly, it was so odd. Everything she thought she knew was all being proved wrong, women were not objects, and men were not in charge, magic was real and she could do what she wished with her life. It was not the Master’s choice anymore.

  She walked a little taller as strode through the halls. When she reached her room she packed the supplies away and lifted the pack to test it. It was heavy, and dug into her shoulder but it was nothing she had not experienced on the way to the Seminary and she would have to get used to it very quickly.

  Arabella knocked on Wynn’s door late that evening, radiating so many emotions that at first Wynn was unsure exactly what was wrong. It was a violent and urgent knock, one not meant to be subtle and Wynn could not help but be concerned. Unconsciously, as she took a moment to collect her thoughts, Wynn surrounded herself in the different feelings, enjoying the sensation. She was around Taien and Irik too much, the silence of their bodies still managed to unsettle her, it was so wrong not to know exactly how someone was feeling, and have that feeling pressed upon you so that you felt it too. Wynn had to take a deep breath under the pressure of the emotions before she could make her way across the room.

  The air blew Arabella’s hair around her face as Wynn opened the door; her face was etched in a frown. Wynn could not help, as she did almost every time she glanced at Arabella, but inspect her. Her soft olive skin and black cascade of hair that framed her face; her brown eyes that reminded Wynn of the many hued tree barks that surrounded the Seminary; her thin and lithe form from years of combat. She was a complete beautify, but now her face was twisted in a frown and she looked tired. Arabella strode into the room, not waiting to be invited and paced across the floor, arms folded across her chest. Wynn closed the door slowly and turned to face Arabella, leaning back on it and waiting for Arabella to calm down and for her emotions to solidify in one direction. Many things possessed Wynn in the time it took Arabella to calm down, anger, which frightened Wynn, her memories of rage were not happy ones and she had to force herself to push the emotion from her body; fear, gut wrenching terror that was so strong that she found it hard to breathe, despite not knowing why she was afraid. Sadness, a sadness that threatened to unbalance Wynn and drive her to sobbing, it was this emotion that was dominate and in the many moments it took for Arabella’s emotions to take a solid path Wynn could hear why. Arabella was practically screaming in her head, “I don’t want to leave you!” Wynn was surprised that Arabella’s emotions and thoughts had taken this direction. Arabella was the one that showed nothing, was unbelievably strong and private and here she was practically pouring her soul out in front of Wynn.

  In the times Wynn had spent with Arabella, she was an unemotional mask, a lifetime of pain had taught her well enough that showing your sadness changed nothing, and revealing anything would be perceived as weakness in the wrong hands. It was safer to show nothing, get close to no one, and carry on life with a blank expression. Knowing this, Wynn understood this moment was too tender for words, and even though Arabella could feel Wynn’s surprise and slip of pity and understanding, it was not enough just to rely on that. She had to say something, so she sent her magic into Arabella’s mind and spoke to her through there, “Arabella, I know how you are feeling, and I can assure that I feel it just as keenly, but tell me, why did you come?”

  Arabella stopped pacing just long enough to cast Wynn a withering look before returning to her frenzied walking, “Wynn, I have never told you this, and if you repeat it I will gladly beat you to death, but I love you and the thought of leaving you kills me. I have seen you suffer and for so long did not know if you could pull through and now you are well and yourself again and we must part. My life has been spent getting close to no one, and it is no secret that when I first met you I disliked you intensely, how did you get into my heart?! I let no one inside but you found a way, I can’t even begin to – I mean – you don’t understand...” Arabella trailed off inside her head and let her feelings and memories flow through the link so that both of them were surrounded. Wynn understood Arabella’s sadness, their friendship was one that had begun on such difficult grounds and yet they had come to love each other fiercely. They needed each other and depended on each other in a way that Wynn had never experienced. She had never had such a friend, save Braelyn, and it was a bittersweet thing. Wordlessly Wynn sent memories back and walked over to Arabella and embraced her. At the touch neither could keep their tears from falling. They fell to the floor, clutching each other and wept until they could cry no more.

  Wynn woke at the light of the dawn, tangled together with Arabella, a mess of black hair and limbs. She sat up and glanced at her friend. How could she knowingly leave her? A friend that was so much more than that, a sister, part of her that could never be replaced, it hurt to even consider it and yet she was walking away from her. It took Wynn a moment to gather herself; she did not wish to cry again. When she was sure she was strong enough she detangled herself and walked over to the window to glance at the grounds. Being on the bottom floor all she should have seen was the curtain wall, but that was now crumbled leaving a view of the grounds. Past the rubble she could see they were still battle scarred and scorch marked, the trees nearest the grounds were scratched and broken, and behind that the forest stretched far into the distance, black and thick and ominous. It was through these woods that she and Taien would venture through, to a land Wynn had never heard of, not that that was a surprise, Wynn had only ever heard of Inlo, and the few towns big enough to be named. What of all those which existed but she never knew about? So much undiscovered because of her ignorance, what would she do without Arabella to guide her?

  “Yes, what will you do?” Arabella said from behind her. Wynn smiled and turned around to see Arabella smiling back, but it was a smile hiding a great sadness and Wynn completely forgot that Arabella had answered a thought instead of something said aloud. It was the unspoken rules of etiquette that one did not answer a thought, and normally Wynn bristled at such a thing, for Arabella had a tendency to do just that, but at this moment it did not bother her, it was hard enough to speak aloud that she welcomed any conversation through her mind. She pondered Arabella’s question, what would she do?

  “I suppose I will have to survive,” she said, her voice suddenly hoarse. It was too difficult to think about, she would have to survive and that was that. Subtly Wynn allowed Arabella’s emotions wash over her softly; Arabella was cold and tired but completely alert. She understood what she had woken to; the morning of
their departure. Neither could say it but it hung in the air, after this morning who knew if they would see each other again? At this thought Arabella stood up briskly and nodded her head before striding from the room. Wynn let her go wordlessly, the moment did not need words, what was emanating from both of them was powerful enough to bring her to tears and she could not have spoken even if she had wished it. None wished for more goodbyes, it was too final. After this morning who knew if they would survive? Sighing Wynn too left the room, locking it, and made her way to the bathhouse for what would be the last time.

  Several hours later they all stood together, Irik, Taien, Nethali, Arabella and Wynn. Each had a pack on their back, and travelling clothes; leather trousers, a thick cotton shirt and tunic, a long cloak with a hood and sturdy travelling boots in varying colours. They stood in the Great Hall in a huddle before the three hundred strong professors, students and servants who all also were dressed similarly. It was a far cry from the clothes of combat which the students had worn as their uniform, the brown clothes of the servants and the smart robes of the professors. Wynn could not stop her breath from shuddering as she tried to ignore the hundreds of thoughts and emotions that swirled around the room. It was something she was getting better at, they did not consume all of her attention they way they used to, but they definitely caught some of it so that it was like a swarm of bees buzzing into her head. She could not work out if it was better.

  Irik finished conversing with Nethali and turned to the students, his arms wide in what looked like an embrace.

  “Friends, students, professors. I thank you for the speed in which you packed and readied yourself. It is a sad time, and a time of great reflection. It is the end of an era, one where we lived peacefully and safely. I know some of you still blame Wynn for what has happened and what will happen and that is your prerogative, but I feel I must defend her once again. She was not of right mind and if you knew her as I do you would see that no matter how much you blame her or how strong her feelings are they are nothing compared to what she feels for herself. Wynn is sorrier than you could ever hope to feel in your lives and I ask that you take that into consideration before you judge her.

  “But Alas I digress; I have not called you here because of Wynn. Today we separate, all in search of something different. Students, you must use all that you have learnt and put it into practise as soon as you step out of these walls, you must drop everything from what you were. You may be noble born and rich, but that will mean nothing when you are starving and begging for work and food. This is not a time for arrogance, when you leave the Seminary you are just as important as a peasant and it will do you good to remember that. I can only help you if by the end of everything you are free to be helped. Be sensible and wary, not everyone is an enemy but not everyone can be trusted.

  “Servants, you have served us all well for years and I can only wish you luck in the future. You are all of course welcome back when things are done. We will try and send word when the Seminary has been rebuilt.”

  Irik turned to Nethali who stepped next to him and grasped his hand, “I can add nothing more than I love you all and hope to see you all soon.”

  The hall was silent as Irik and Nethali’s words sunk in. There would be no more goodbyes, today they left together and none knew what lay ahead. Wynn turned to Arabella, her face was severely blank and she was pointedly thinking of nothing. Wynn understood, she wished she had Arabella’s skill. Beside her Taien was watching her and Wynn had to glance away, this was the man she would be travelling with for – for how long? She knew nothing of what was ahead; it would be the first question she had for him.

  Irik turned on his heel, leading the way. It started, a procession, but to Wynn it was more like a funeral march. She had seen only one in her time at Woodstone, for the Master’s father. The town had fallen silent and not even the birds had sung. Death was in the air and the laments of the singers and their instruments were eerie and tears had pricked in her eyes despite herself. This moment reminded her too much of that funeral march. They all marched to an unknown future, their lives on their back and hope in their hearts. She had only faith to guide her and she prayed it would be enough. They stepped through the door, walked through the courtyard and over the drawbridge. From there they all took a moment to view the Seminary. They clung to each other, the students, servants and professors, regardless of rank or wealth and at that moment they were one in their grief.