by Frank David
“Braynard is God, my dear,” Diana answered.
“Then he and Stela must pay for what they did to my parents.” Autumn grabbed her parents’ hands.
“They will, Autumn. You and Alexis will punish Stela’s sons for her actions. I fear you will not be able to face Stela herself. She will be long gone before you are both ready.” Diana smiled. Everything was coming together. The two girls were strong and would make the four realms pay for killing those who she loved.
“When will Stela be punished?” Courtney grunted.
“Her time is coming. She is pregnant. When the child is born, Daniella will lead her armies to Hulsteria. Daniella will silence Stela once and for all. She will then take the throne of Hulsteria.” Diana laughed and was gone along with Courtney and Rupert.
“There is nothing for you in Hulsteria, Autumn. Zabytyy is your new home. I am excited for what lies ahead.” Alexis smiled as the two rushed down the stairs.
Chapter Twenty-Four – Drevniy
Alexis led Autumn to a large room to the left of the stairs. The walls were covered in books. Volumes littered the many tables that filled the space. Autumn could see the man sitting at the back, a pile of books in front of him, almost making him undetectable.
“Carter,” Alexis called to the man.
“Majesty!” The old man stood and walked toward his guests.
“Autumn this is Carter. He was my mother’s most trusted advisor. He is the keeper of our history,” Alexis introduced the two.
“Carter, this is Lady Autumn. She is our guest from Hulsteria.” Autumn curtsied as Alexis introduced her. “I would like you to give her a history lesson. I would like her to understand how we ended up in Zabytyy.”
“Ah,” the old man’s voice was coarse. “You want me to tell her about Drevniy. Very well. Please sit,” the old man gestured to a grouping of chairs by the far wall of the room. The three took their seats.
“Are you familiar with the story of your Declan, Lady Autumn?” the old man asked their guest.
“My father used to tell me the stories about the barbarians. He talked of how Declan forced them from Hulsteria. They were bad people and we had peace once they were gone,” Autumn responded.
“That is the version of the story your people have decided to fabricate. I will tell you the truth about the tensions between our people,” the old man said, getting comfortable. “First let me correct you. We are not barbarians. That is the term your people gave us. We call ourselves Dianites because of our devotion to Diana.”
“Drevniy was the son of Diana. In fact, all the rulers of Zabytyy have been offspring of Diana, or their descendants,” Carter began.
****
She found a small piece of land shortly after God banished her from paradise. It was alive with flowers of every variety and color. The water was cool and fresh. The animals who called the acreage home were docile around the new Goddess. She found the area inviting. It soothed the pain of her outcast. When God discovered she loved the land, he made the seas rise around it, cutting her off from the rest of the world, or at least he believed. She was gifted with the power to travel great distances so His plan to make this island her prison failed. She protected the island from others. It was hers and none would disturb it, or her. She named her home Tearmann, or sanctuary in the old tongue.
She had visited a man from the village of Beag, in the region known as Tormath. It was the land that once connected Uhl to Norland. It has since found rest at the bottom of the sea that now separates the two kingdoms. The name of the man was of no importance to Diana. She only needed his seed. She had amassed many followers in the centuries since her exile. She knew finding a willing man to give her a child would not be difficult. She went to this man and he happily gave the Goddess what she wanted most, a child.
She remained secluded on the island as the child grew within her. She did not visit her people. She did her best to answer what prayers she could, but she would not put her fetus at risk by leaving the safety of her home.
The day arrived that her child was to come into the world. She did not suffer childbirth as other women. She was free from the punishment that God had inflicted on the female gender. Her son’s birth was quick and painless. She held her newborn in her arms.
The voice scared her. “He will not be long for this world, Diana,” it cried out. “The moment he leaves Tearmann, I will find him and end him as I should have ended you.”
She pulled the boy close to her, fearing God’s words. “He is only a baby. Why would you kill an innocent?” Diana pleaded with the formless voice.
“He is innocent now. He will grow and bring much suffering to your people and the people who bow before Me.” the voice increased in intensity. “I cannot allow him to live.”
The voice was gone. Diana knew her child would not be safe with her. She needed to find a way to hide him from God, shield him from the Father’s eyes. She raised the boy for several years on the island with her. He grew strong. Diana worried about his future. She could not keep him with her forever. It would be no life for him alone with only his mother for company. If she allowed him to leave the island, God would end his life.
The boy was about three when she decided it was time for her to send him to be raised by others. She hoped it would protect him from God’s wrath. She clouded the boy’s memories. She removed all that involved the island or Diana. She hoped this would hide his identity from God.
In the cover of night, she took him to the city of Ardenvale in the region known as Raamsfeld. Ardenvale is the city now known as Augustus. She had found a childless couple who she watched for a few years. She needed to know the two would raise the boy well. She came to them in the night and offered her son to them, though she would not tell them the child was hers. She explained he was the son of a couple who had met their end by the swords of the others. The couple thanked the Goddess and took the boy into their lives. They named him Drevniy, or ancient, as they believed the boy had an old soul.
Diana returned to Tearmann. She anguished at the loss of her child but believed he was safe with his new family. She would watch him closely as he grew, ensuring he was safe.
The bright sky of morning became dark as night. The animals took shelter. They could feel his presence approaching. “Where is your child?” the voice called out in the night.
It had been many years since the voice had given the prophecy.
“He is gone!” she shouted out to the skies. “I have hidden him from you and your injustice. He is safe. He will grow strong. He will lead my people to paradise.”
“I will find him, Diana,” the voice seemed to whisper in her ear. “I will find him, and I will stop him.”
“If you find him, I will stop you from any harm you may try to bring upon him. I may not be your equal, but I will show you the power I do possess!” Diana screamed. “I will do my best to stop you, even if it means my own life must come to an end.”
“I will not face you,” the voice sounded disheartened. “I cannot face you.”
“You fear me?” she laughed.
“I do not fear you, fool,” the voice rang out among the trees. “I have sworn not to raise a hand against you.”
“Who are you?” Diana screamed. “If you harm him, I promise not one of your children will find peace. I will hunt them as you do my son. Our two people will never find happiness,” Diana threatened. “I may not be able to harm you, but your followers will feel my pain.”
“You have determined the game,” the voice whispered. “Who shall be the victor in this divine battle?”
****
Carter paused and looked at the girls. They watched him closely as he stood and walked about the room.
“It was God who brought the hatred between our people?” Alexis asked.
“Yes,” Carter responded. “He feared what Drevniy would bring to his own people. Drevniy was the first of Diana’s children. God did not know the powers the boy would possess. Her followers shared
some of Diana’s blood, but this child was hers. He shared more of her than any of her followers. God assumed his power would be great and he would bring about a change; the balance between God and Goddess.”
“The followers of God are bad?” Autumn asked.
“It is not the follower who is evil. The evil lies in the one whom they choose to follow. He is a manipulator,” Carter replied. “Diana has always been honest with her people. The same cannot be said for your God.”
“Go on with the story, Carter,” Alexis commanded.
“Right,” Carter returned to his seat. “Drevniy grew strong. His adopted father was a blacksmith and a skilled swordsman. He trained his young son to be a fine fighter. It would soon be discovered the boy had no need for weapons.”
****
Diana watched her son as he made his way through life with the mortals. She beamed with pride as her son fought other boys of the city, training in the sword. She would disguise herself and visit him. It pained her each time she would leave and return to Tearmann.
During one visit, around Drevniy’s thirteenth year, Diana encouraged one of his playmates to attack the boy while he was unarmed. It was time for Drevniy to learn the gifts tied to his mother’s blood.
The boy charged at Drevniy with sword raised. Drevniy raised his arms to block the attack. As his arms came up a great wind started to build around him. The attacker was held back by the force of the wind. Drevniy stood and watched as the boy struggled. He pushed his arms forward. This action sent the boy flying. Drevniy rushed to his friend’s side. The boy was shaken but unharmed.
One of the other boys ran off to retrieve both boys’ parents. He worried the incident might intensify when the attacker regained himself.
“It would seem you have been blessed by the Goddess, herself,” the disguised Diana said.
“What?” Drevniy looked confused.
“Many of the followers of Diana have great powers, granted to them by the Goddess,” Diana smiled. “When were you given over to her?”
“Never.” Drevniy raised a brow to the woman, unsure of what she was talking about.
“You were never consecrated to her?” Diana touched the boy’s shoulder. “Oh,” she said at the touch.
“What is it?” Drevniy pulled away from her.
“I feel something inside of you. A great power lies quiet, but it wishes to come forth. You cannot continue to keep such gifts locked away.”
Drevniy’s parents were the first to arrive at the altercation. They found the other boy still lying on his back, motionless but alive. They saw the woman talking to their son and approached them.
“Madam, what is it you want with our son?” His father confronted the woman.
“He has exhibited a great power. I was simply asking when he was consecrated to Diana.” She smiled easing the boy’s parents’ concerns.
“We never had him consecrated to the Goddess,” Drevniy’s mother started. His father touched her arm stopping her from saying more.
“I wonder where such power comes from. Do either of you have such gifts?” Diana pushed.
“No. We follow the Goddess but never partook of the blood rite,” Drevniy’s father admitted, lowering his head.
“Protect this child. He holds much power inside of him. I fear there are those that seek to do him harm. He must live so that he may free you from the others,” Diana said as she turned and left them.
The Dianites had a history of battles with the others, those who followed the other God. They had all lived in peace for many years so long as they stayed within their own settlements. If either group attempted to take land belonging to the other, bloody battles would ensure. Other times war was brought for no reason at all.
In Drevniy’s twentieth year, he was out hunting with some of his friends. He worked hard to ensure the city had enough meat to make it through the harsh winters. While he and his group were out gathering game for their stockpile, Ardenvale came under attack. The Dianites did their best to hold off their attackers but the city lacked the offensive gifts of the Goddess. Drevniy was the only person in the city who had these talents.
Upon their return, they found the city still burning from the battle. Drevniy ran through the streets screaming for his parents. He passed many who had fallen to the others. He could feel the anger growing deep within. He continued his search, ending at his home. It was a smoldering shell. He could see the burnt remains of his parents huddled in the corner, holding one another.
He fell to the ground as the tears burned his eyes. The hate inside of him grew. He searched the area around him, looking for any that may have survived the attack. The smoke was thick as the city continued to burn. He spotted a woman struggling toward him. He rushed to her.
“You were meant to protect us.” Her voice was frail but accusing. “Why did you leave us?”
“Who did this?” Drevniy held the woman. He could see the blood flowing strong from the wound in her abdomen.
“The others.” Her eyes searched his face. “You let them do this to us.” He watched as her eyes became distant. He knew she was gone.
He stood and looked beyond the smoke. He saw him, one of the others. He could sense the man was not one of them. Something inside of him screamed of the man’s origins. The man was wounded so he rushed to him.
He could hear words running through his mind. The words were not his own. The words spoke of the plans to rid the lands of the Dianites. Drevniy approached the man. The words became louder.
The man tried to move back as Drevniy neared but his legs were of no use. He tried to use his hands to pull himself away, but he could not move fast enough.
“Why did you come here?” Drevniy screamed as he reached for the man. “Why did you attack the city? We have done nothing to your people.”
“Our God gave the order,” the man whimpered. “He said we must find the boy who would bring destruction to us.”
Drevniy stared at the man. He could not contain his anger. He grabbed the blade at his side. He raised his hand high. The blade began to glow red. Drevniy watched as the flame consumed the blade in his hand. He brought it down and found the man’s chest. The man’s clothes quickly caught fire. He stood and walked away as the man’s screams filled his head.
He dropped the blade, but the fire remained on his hands. He looked at them. They were not burned but the flames continued.
A woman appeared before him. “You can hear them?”
“Who are you?” Drevniy studied her. He was not familiar with the woman. “Why are you here? Are you one of them?” he accused.
“I am not, Drevniy.” She reached for his hand. “You can hear the others?”
He watched as the flames consumed her hand. She was unfazed by the heat, her skin untouched. “I suppose I can, so what?”
“It is a gift I have never had. Their thoughts have always been blocked to me.” Diana stared at him in wonder. “You have my power but not my weaknesses.”
“Who are you?” he demanded.
“I am your mother,” Diana smiled.
“My mother is dead.” He pointed to his burning home.
“She is the woman who raised you, and a fine woman at that. I am the woman who gave you life. I am…Diana,” she said watching his reaction.
“You lie,” he said, pulling his hand away.
“I have watched over you all these years. I visited you on many occasions but never in my true form. I gave you to your parents to protect you. It seems He will never give up looking for you.” Diana’s eyes became heavy. “I fear He will not stop until He has destroyed you.”
“Who seeks to destroy me?” He glared at her.
“God,” Diana confessed. “It is a long story. Just know that God and I are on opposing sides of a long battle. A battle for the people of these lands. He became angered when I decided to have a child. He threatened your life. I had to hide you from him and that is when I brought you to them.” She pointed at his parents.
“Wh
at am I to do now? The city is gone, my parents are gone and most of those who called Ardenvale home have perished.” Drevniy looked at her, his eyes accusing. “Why did you do nothing to help us?”
“I did not know. I did not see this coming. I cannot hear their thoughts like you. I am sorry that I was not here to protect those for whom you care so deeply.” Diana lowered her head. She had failed her people and her son. “You must gather those who still live, send them to the land of Uhl,” she directed. “You must journey the lands. You must convince my followers to go with you. Together you may be able to defeat the others and stop their reign of terror.”
“How will I find these followers?” Drevniy inquired.
“Listen for them. We are connected, my followers and I, therefore you too are connected to them. Allow yourself to hear them. Show them the powers you possess, and they will follow you. You will build a great army to protect my people.” Diana leaned in and kissed him on his forehead. “I must leave now. Know that I will watch over you and do what I can to protect you on your journey.” She vanished as quickly as she had appeared.
Drevniy stood stunned, alone. He knew she was right. They needed to leave the city. There was nothing left for them here. He gathered the few that remained. He helped with the wounded that would survive their injuries. Those whose injuries were too great to survive, he helped to end their suffering. He told the people of what Diana commanded. Upon nightfall the people of Ardenvale began their journey toward Uhl. Drevniy set out to find the other followers and bring them safely to Uhl.
****
Autumn moved in her seat. She enjoyed the story but was becoming bored with sitting. She stood and moved about the room. “Who is the evil one, Diana or God?” she finally asked.
“Neither is all good nor all bad. Both encompass both extremes, but we believe it is Diana who seeks peace between our peoples.” Carter stood and followed the young Imperial.
“Why can the two not just end this battle?” Alexis asked.
“They could, if they wanted to,” Carter began. “Neither wants to give up their power to the other. They are locked in a stalemate and we are the victims of their games.”