by Morgan Wylie
“Does that mean she can be helped?” Daegan asked from the back of the group with his arms across his chest, his muscles tight and intimidating. Kaeleigh blushed, realizing that she had been staring at him instead of thinking of her next question.
“There is always redemption for those who realize they need it,” Arileas said without hesitation. Halister nodded in acknowledgment of Arileas, but appeared to be distracted.
“Daegan’s connection with Maleina... it’s not broken, is it?” Kaeleigh asked next.
Arileas took a breath as he studied Daegan, taking in everything about him for the next few seconds. “No, not in its entirety. It is severely damaged thanks to whatever it was that you did. I can see the residue of your magic upon the frayed edges of the connection. It is not an easy thing to see or to do for that matter. There is still the tiniest of connections that keeps you tethered to her, Daegan. We must find a way to sever it completely or it will regenerate, I am afraid.”
Kaeleigh felt Daegan’s anger rise at the truth of the matter, just before he consented to Arileas, schooling his features into a mask of stoic resignation.
“Wait, are you saying that Mother did something that connected her to you?” Halister’s voice rose. Daegan looked his friend in the eye and nodded even though Hal knew the answer, having deep down considered such a possibility. Daegan rolled up the sleeve of his long-sleeved, loose-fitting shirt, revealing not only corded tan arms and defined biceps, but the mostly vanished marking of the snake he had had on his upper arm for most his life, since he had entered into the ranks of the Ferrishyn elite training program as a boy.
“When we had these done, she did something. Whether it was with a spell or an actual tracer poison I do not know, but it is how we have been connected, how she could see where I had been or who I had spoken with. How she would always know when we disobeyed her when we were younger.” Daegan lowered his hand, allowing his sleeve to fall.
“I had no idea. I... I don’t know what to say.” Hal looked completely horrified and for a moment, even broken. Daegan clapped his hand upon Hal’s shoulder and squeezed.
“It will be our priority, Master Daegan, to do what we can.” Arileas inclined his head.
There was a moment of weighty silence.
“Let us begin at the beginning, shall we?” Arileas looked directly at Kaeleigh. Her shoulders relaxed as she took a deep breath and smiled at him.
“Yes, please. I have heard pieces of different things, but not enough of anything to make sense of most of it.”
“You have heard of the prophecy?” he asked. Kaeleigh nodded. Just then, Ella approached him and whispered something in her grandfather’s ear. He gave a small smile and nodded his head in agreement with whatever she said. He continued, “I will arrange a time with the scholars to present the original ancient document so you may fully understand.”
“That would be helpful and much appreciated, thank you.” Kaeleigh paused for a moment. “All right, so I understand how the land was created and where you came from, even that there was a prophecy. What I am not completely grasping is why you believe that this prophecy has something to do with me?” Kaeleigh asked, bringing them back on track.
“I believe we will need a demonstration.” Arileas stood to his feet and handed Ella that cup of tea that she had brought him moments before. He walked off to the side of the group. His hand waved off to the side toward nothing, then suddenly it wasn’t empty space. Instead, a beautiful ornately carved sword stood in the corner shining in all its glory. Arileas looked to the sword and then to the group.
Kaeleigh’s eyes were wide with surprise seeing her sword, or what she thought of as ‘her sword’ appearing there. It had not been with her since she last had it in Elnye. She felt its absence, had longed for that connection again since it had disappeared, but she figured she must not have needed it at the time. Plus, she still had the one that Daegan had given her. Kaeleigh started to get up, but Arileas waved her back down. She thought it odd, but wanted to see what he would do.
“Ella, will you please try to wield that sword?” He directed her toward Kaeleigh’s sword.
Kaeleigh frowned but let him proceed. Ella walked to the sword and respectfully bowed to it before she attempted to pick it up. It was heavy in her hands, in fact so heavy Ella wobbled with it and barely was able to lift it high enough to even attempt to swing it. She then carefully put it down.
That’s odd, Kaeleigh thought.
“Finnlan, please can you do the same?” Arileas asked.
Finn walked skeptically up to the sword. He lifted it with little strain, but even with his great strength found it somewhat challenging to swing it. However, he was able to. The shocking thing no one expected was for Arileas to step into the swing with his own sword and block it. Finn recovered quickly and blocked the parry that the Elder sent his way. However, when he used the sword it became almost lifeless and lost its luster.
“Strange. It is very heavy, even for one trained with weapons. However, I could fight with it in a battle if absolutely necessary, but it would not be my first choice. I can feel it fighting against me. It pulls from me. I used it once before and do not recall it feeling like this,” Finn said, confused.
“When you used it, was it to help Kaeleighnna?” Arileas asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, we were trying to save Chel from the Droch-Shúil and Kaeleigh had been knocked down. It still only worked magic with Kaeleigh, but it let me use it in that moment.” Still confused, Finn looked to Kaeleigh, who shrugged as she considered what was being demonstrated.
“Chel, would you like to try?” Arileas gave a small smile, noticing the anticipation in Chel’s face.
“Yes!” She bounced up and moved toward the sword still in Finn’s hands. He handed it to her gently, yet she barely could stand as it fell to the ground. “Well, I guess it doesn’t even want me to try,” Chel laughed, but the disappointment was evident in her eyes.
“Do not worry, Chel, you’ll have your own built-in weapon soon enough,” Hal said with a wink in her direction, to which she smiled a big cheesy, flirtatious smile in return. It totally caught Hal off guard. Daegan even stifled a laugh at his reaction.
“Elder... Arileas, sir,... I’ve been told that the sword only reacts to me, but I don’t seem to entirely get what you’re saying. I’m obviously missing something.”
“Kaeleighnna, would you please come hold Nithylríth, the Orchan sword? Yes, you are aware that this sword is special and has an energy all its own that reacts to you.” Arileas beckoned her closer. “Please take the sword.”
Kaeleigh walked up and took the sword. It felt comfortable and the weight felt perfect in her hands. It balanced well and felt once again like an extension of her arm. She felt at home as the energy of the sword welcomed her own. However... “This still does not explain to me what it has to do with me, specifically. Why me?”
“Why not you?” Arileas countered.
“I am nothing special. Up until recently I didn’t even know I had magic.”
“You have always been special. Think on it this way: perhaps it is more who your parents were... who their parents were. You see, you are not you in and of yourself.” At her confused look he continued, “You are a result of each generation before you. You are a culmination of every choice they made, every seed they sowed, all of their magical energy invested into the atmosphere that has circled its way back to you. As are each of us.” He gestured around the room. “In your case, there were certain investments and sacrifices made that culminated to this point in time and in your particular person. It is not because of anything you can do or anything you can be. It is because of what they have done for you, how they have enabled you for this purpose.”
A lightbulb lit up in Kaeleigh’s mind. This moment held significance. Her eyes glistened. She nodded. Then a moment later, she even went down on to one knee, following her instincts. “Then for whatever I can give, I accept the path that is before me for t
hem... for my parents and my grandparents. I will be who I can be for Alandria.”
“That is all we can ask of anyone: Be who lives inside of you.” Arileas slid a glance to the warrior standing at the back of the room as Arileas helped Kaeleigh up and lifted her chin with his fingers. He moved closer and gave her a kiss upon her forehead like her grandfather had done. Arileas stepped back.
“There are many more questions, answers will follow. There will always be questions, but now it is time to train. Ella, let them in. I am bringing in some of my own warriors to train with you. They are trained as you train your warriors, Master Daegan and Master Halister, but I think you might find their unique style of fighting intriguing. Not only watch and train along their sides, but feel how they fight.”
Finn and Hal stood, helping the other girls up and flanking them with uncertainty as Ella ushered in a group of about ten of their warriors. To all the girls’ delight, there were women in the group of warriors. They had not seen many of these, if any, yet.
“Metrí, I think this is going to be awesome,” Chel whispered conspiratorially to Metrí, who nodded in agreement.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The large room they had met in was also called the Hall of Warriors. It had a short tunnel extension, almost like a hallway, that opened into a much larger cavernous hall. It had the same high ceilings as the entrance into Ehsmia had and the same bright light—though not quite as brilliant. There were also trees scattered about, but the room’s pièce de résistance was its height. There were no openings to other dwellings. This hall was simplistic and functional; it was a training space. An area near where they entered was filled with racks of swords and spears and other long weapons. There was a section for bows and quivers full of arrows. Various medieval-looking weaponry hung from the walls, all shined and begging to be handled. These weapons bore the echoes of ancient times etched upon blade and handle, but they were cared for with pristine guardianship. There were “oohs” and “ahhs” as the group followed the Ehsmian warriors into the room.
The difference in these fighters was immediately noticed by Kaeleigh, and Chel as well. They were also noticeably friendly and welcoming. They explained they would quickly go through basic fighting techniques to distinguish where each of them were at with their skills. Then they would apply various levels of magic. Kaeleigh had fought with Finn a little in this manner to see how she could handle it, but it did not last long. She couldn’t seem to grasp how she could infuse her energy into her sword and still have some to fight with, not only her physical energy, but also her magical.
“Please choose a weapon that you are comfortable with if you do not have your own already,” one of the Ehsmia instructed.
Even though most of them had their own weapons, they could not resist fawning over the ones at their disposal.
“I think I am the only one of us that doesn’t have my own weapon,” Chel stated as she picked up different lengths of swords then moved on to trying out the spears and sticklike weapons that resembled the katana sword.
“Remember, you are a weapon.” Kaeleigh winked at her friend.
“Oh, believe me, I remember,” Chel said with humor even though something flashed across her eyes.
Kaeleigh came up close to Chel so the others wouldn’t hear her. “Chel? You don’t seem okay. What’s wrong?”
“Yeah. I just keep hearing that I’m my own weapon and the skills I should have... but I don’t have them yet. I couldn’t protect myself, or anyone else for that matter, if I tried right now. I mean, I know I have this extra senses thing going on and I can hear the animals, but I haven’t shifted yet, and I don’t know if I ever will, Kaeleigh. Maybe something is wrong with me.” Chel was rarely that honest with her feelings and Kaeleigh was not about to let it pass by.
“Listen to me. You are Chel, my best friend. I know beyond any doubt that you would do whatever you could to protect me or anyone else that was in your vicinity. You are all that matters to me, in any shape or animal. If it is going to happen, then it will happen in the right time. It will be organic and seamless. Don’t force it. You are everything you are meant to be, right here.” Kaeleigh pointed to Chel’s heart.
Chel took a deep breath and wiped a stray tear that escaped one of her eyes. She gave Kaeleigh a bone-crushing hug. “Thanks,” she whispered in her ear before releasing her.
“Now, grab yourself one of those mighty sticks. I can totally see you being bad-A with one of those,” Kaeleigh giggled, but was glad to see the light of hope in her friend’s eyes again.
After they were ready, the warriors of Ehsmia took them to the center. There was some kind of mat area etched out in the ground. There wasn’t really a mat on the “mat area” like in mortal realm dojo, but it was lined out all the same. It encompassed a large circled area.
“When we have sanctioned fights among individuals, you stay within this circle,” one of the woman warriors instructed as she followed the circle area in the air with her fingers. “My name is Líyl. Welcome to our training hall.” She was an average-looking female, Kaeleigh noted, with only a hint of “other.” She stood out among so many of the other Faeries and their ethereal beauty, being the only reason Kaeleigh noticed. She was not ugly by any means, but just not as striking as some of the others. Kaeleigh wondered if it was because she was a warrior—if that meant anything. Líyl was about to demonstrate some of their fighting techniques with one of the other fighters, a man named Gyon that they had met earlier. There is no way I’m going to remember all their names, Kaeleigh thought to herself in frustration but determined she would try. As soon as they began their dance, clashing their swords together, their energies began to emanate outward from them, clashing in a dance all its own, and a glow that only Kaeleigh could see stirred Líyl’s features and practically transformed her beauty. It was there all within her and it shined when she did what she was born to do. Kaeleigh envied the ease and fluidity Líyl moved with and wondered if she would ever have that grace and power within her steps and her movements. She realized for the first time she wanted that: to exude the power of a woman in full glory as she fought as Líyl did. It was enrapturing to watch. So much so she didn’t notice that Daegan was in the back of the room with Arileas discussing something that seemed to be causing Daegan some discomfort. She could, however, practically feel it. The feeling of “connection” she had with that warrior was growing along with her care for him.
✧✧✧
“I need to leave. I am putting you all in danger.” Daegan was adamant.
Arileas stared at him as if seeing into the depths of his soul; perhaps he was. “No, it is not time yet. She needs you here,” he said with the slightest nod in the direction of the center fighting arena.
Daegan stared directly at Kaeleigh sitting on the ground, watching the Ehsmia fight with rapt attention. However, she briefly broke her focus to turn and notice him out of the corner of her eye. She was always aware of where he was, as he was with her. It was unnerving and also comforting. “She will be safe here. There are others that will train her and get her ready.”
“That is not what I mean. I think you know that.”
“I have nothing to give her in this life or another.”
Arileas stared at Daegan once again. “You still are not aware of who you are.”
Daegan leveled the Elder with a look that would have had almost anyone in their right mind creeping low and away from danger, but not Arileas. He simply winked.
“Then enlighten me. Who am I?” Daegan almost shocked himself at how disrespectful he was being toward an Elder, but he was nearly at the end of himself. He knew it was only a matter of time before he led Maleina right there not only to Kaeleigh, but to the whole race of a people that had been able to remain hidden and out of sight for centuries.
“Let us remove your hindrance before your memories surface. It is not yet Maleina’s time to be aware of the enlightenment yet to occur.”
“I do not understand your riddles. Can
you really do what you say?” He placed his hand up high on his left arm where the marking had been slowly reappearing. “I would be forever in your debt.”
“It is not for you to be in my debt. It has already been paid.”
Daegan looked at Arileas with hope and deep questioning. Head cocked, he tried to read the energy and emotions coming off the Elder, but Arileas was locked tight in his mind.
Now go train with the others. I have preparations to make. The Elder surprised Daegan by speaking into his mind once again, obviously aware that Daegan had been trying to use his gifts on him. The Elder smiled.
Daegan nodded in defeated acquiescence and replied mind to mind, Yes, sir. When he turned to give the Elder a bow, Arileas was already gone.
✧✧✧
“We should be protecting her! Not sending her out to fight. We are her warriors. As much as it pains me to say it, it is better there are two of us to keep her safe. This feels wrong,” Finn adamantly growled at Daegan as he continued to throw magical offensive tactics at Kaeleigh.
Kaeleigh rolled her eyes for the millionth time at Finn. This was not a new discussion, but it was the first time all three of them had it together, not to mention while they were fighting and she was trying to focus. She knew Finn meant well, but she had to learn. “Finn, we have been over this. I need to learn. It is better I know how to defend myself in case I need to. I’m getting better and I have to keep learning. These new skills would have come in handy a few times already.”