by Walls, Devri
She looked at Arturo with wide eyes. “Did I do that?” she motioned at the flame flickering away at the top of the candlestick.
Read.
“Right. Sorry.” She walked closer to the candle and held the parchment up:
Solus,
This book is a collection of instructions; it contains everything that you will need to know in order to keep evil at bay. It is valuable both to you and also to Dralazar. He will do all he can to obtain the book. You must be vigilant in preventing this. He is already very powerful, and to add more to his arsenal would be foolishness.
Kiora stopped reading. “Dralazar?” she asked Arturo.
Evil’s master.
“Why haven’t I heard his name before?”
There is much you have not heard Kiora, when we return to the Hollow I am sure we can show you who he is but for now please focus on the task at hand.
Kiora continued reading.
This book has been enchanted by the Ancient One to be used as a tool of training. It possesses things that are both powerful and dangerous to the untrained. It will only show you what you need to know and nothing more. This allows you to learn at a safe pace within the realm of your capabilities. Keep it safe, and it will keep you safe.
Evil has spent centuries trying to gain a foothold in our land. We have now been fighting the evil for five years and I am not sure how much longer this battle will continue. Many lives have been lost, more than I dare count, for I fear the number will be more than I can bear.
I have seen your day and I fear for you and your people. I have seen visions that I do not understand and I worry that the gate may be falling. I do not know if this is a good thing, but I pray that the battle will be short lived. Whatever may come, know that you are capable of whatever you are called to do, you would not have been called otherwise.
God be with you Solus. Fulfill your destiny, follow your path and find those who are placed in your path to help you on your journey. The key to victory is finding what evil does not possess.
Arian
Kiora sat down slowly on the ground her hands shaking. “Five years. He said he had been fighting the evil for five years,” she moaned. Putting her head in her hands, she cried.
On the flight home she struggled with her emotions and chose to deal with it, again, by not dealing with it at all. Instead, she clutched the book in her hand and stared. The sky seemed a little less blue with numbness as her new companion
Kiora, stop it, Arturo demanded. There is much to do and not enough time for self-pity.
“I am not pitying myself.,” she said aloud.
Kiora assumed they were headed for the Hollow, the home of the Guardians. But they flew right over the section of forest that Kiora was reasonably sure it was hidden in.
Blinking she looked around before asking, “Where are we going?”
The Wings of Arian.
“What!” she shrieked, nearly dropping the book. “Arturo, no! Put me down, I won’t go back there. I can’t go back there, especially not now.” The thought of five years worth of fighting was still tumbling around in the back of her mind where she had tried to hide it.
They are waiting for us Kiora.
“I don’t care.” She stopped, “who’s waiting for us?”
Eleana, Aleric and Emane.
She nearly fell off his back. “Emane! What is he doing here?” she demanded.
That is why we are going. To figure that out.
Chapter Two
THE PRINCE
WHEN THEY LANDED IN the meadow where the wings stood, Kiora could see a familiar shock of blond hair splashed against one of the trees. She clenched her teeth. Prince Emane. She found herself wrapping Arturo’s mane tighter around her fingers.
Relax.
Kiora tried to relax, but even the way Emane stood drove her crazy. He casually leaned against the trunk of the tree with his arms crossed in front of him, one leg swung over the other, announcing to everyone that he was supremely sure of himself. It was nearly the exact pose he had pulled right before she had aimed that levitating rock at his head. Her cheeks flushed. Although annoying, it was less annoying than the hysterics he fell into after the rock smacked her forehead instead. There was no denying he was handsome, she had tried, but— he was. His eyes were a stunning shade of blue that pulled you in and threatened to never let you out. He was tall with a lean muscular figure and blonde hair that always fell over his forehead. Everything about him was perfection, his high cheekbones, strong nose, and feathered hair. Perhaps it was his knowledge of his own perfection that made her crazy and not the perfection itself.
She slid off Arturo, still clutching the book, and waited for Emane’s signature cocky look, through half opened lids, but instead saw his blue eyes widen at the sight of Arturo. Smirking, she silently relished the moment. It wasn’t a victory really, but it still felt good to catch him off guard.
Aleric placed a weathered hand on Emane’s shoulder and leaned into him, whispering something in his ear. Aleric was a little shorter than Emane with shoulder length white hair that was receding on the sides, and white bushy eyebrows. His skin was wrinkled with age, permanently carving laugh lines into his cheeks and around his eyes. Kiora loved him.
Emane had unfortunately, regained his composure as they neared, and was now staring at her contemptuously. Kiora pulled the book tighter to her. Aleric, on the other hand looked amused, his blue eyes twinkling beneath his bushy white eyebrows.
“What is she doing here?” Emane asked.
“What am I…?” she sputtered. “What are you doing here?!”
“I am here at request of the king, and Aleric,” he added motioning to her mentor unapologetically.
“I don’t know what good you could possibly do here,” she said lifting her chin higher.
He chuckled. “What’s that?” he asked motioning to the fading bruise on her forehead, cocking his head to the side. “Run into a tree? Oh wait… no. I seem to remember what caused that.”
“That’s quite enough, you two,” Aleric interjected. “We have work to do. Kiora, bring the book with you.”
Emane smugly nodded at her before following Aleric to the four chairs that now stood in front of the dreadfully beautiful wings. She glared at Emane’s back, squeezing the life out of the book in her arms as he sauntered off. She hissed to Arturo, “Do you think I could hit him with a rock? I am sure I could get it right this time...”
No, Arturo thought back. And be careful with that book, it’s a thousand years old.
Kiora started. Looking down at the book she forced her fingers to relax before kicking at a blade of grass. Grumbling, she made her way to the wings.
Emane glanced backwards, “What? The horse gets invited too?”
Kiora stiffened but heard Arturo’s voice resonate through her mind. Perhaps one rock might do him some good, he quipped before spreading his wings and making a quick exit.
Kiora burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Emane demanded.
“Nothing, Prince, nothing at all,” she said sweetly. Satisfied, she sat smugly back in her chair, putting the book in her lap and placing her hands neatly on top.
Emane rolled his eyes before crossing his arms to look at the spectacle before him. “Well,” he asked. “What does it do?”
A voice came from behind, “Its shows us what we need to know.”
Emane turned, Kiora did not. She was focused on Emane’s face, she really just wanted to see his reaction. He didn’t disappoint. As soon as he laid eyes on Eleana, his jaw went slack and his eyes bulged.
Eleana was the guardian of the Guardians, as near as Kiora could tell. She really didn’t know what she was. She had heard the Guardians call her a Protector before, but had never gotten around to asking what that meant. Where the guardians were tiny—hummingbird tiny, Eleana was nearly as tall as Emane and more beautiful than any human could possibly be.
She was also more graceful than Kiora could ever
imagine anyone being. Eleana glided towards them, so smoothly Kiora could scarcely believe her feet were touching the ground at all, and in a gown that looked to be made of nothing more than gold dust, glittering and moving with her like a second skin.
Emane’s eyes moved from her dress to her hair, which flowed down her back in a waterfall of spun copper. This backdrop of gold and copper was a perfect canvas for her eyes, which were an indefinable, glittering blue that exceeded even Emane’s. Eleana looked very much human, yet her beauty was unearthly. It had taken Kiora off guard as well when she had first met her, but Emane was going to need someone to help shut his mouth if it hung there any longer.
“Kiora, Prince Emane,” she said sweetly. “We have details of the prophecy we need to discuss.”
Kiora leaned back in her chair but Emane leaned in closer. “The prophecy regarding the Solus, I assume?”
“Yes.”
“Have we found him yet?” Emane asked.
Kiora choked. Eleana looked surprised as well, and they both looked over to Aleric.
“Um, yes.” Aleric answered, sitting straighter. “The Solus has been found.”
“Excellent. My father will be pleased to hear it.” He looked around expectantly and finally asked, “Who is it?”
Aleric said nothing and instead answered with a sweeping arm in Kiora’s direction.
Emane looked between Kiora and Aleric incredulously. A smile spread across his face. “You are joking.”
“I am afraid not,” said Aleric.
Emane leaned carefully even further forward in his chair, his eyes staying clear of Kiora. “You told my father that she was someone that might be of use during the war and that you were training her while you looked for the Solus.”
“I know your father well enough to know that he would not have been able to look past the fact that she was a girl,” Aleric answered unapologetically.
The smile had dropped off. “Her!” he yelled pointing at Kiora. “You are really telling me that the Solus is her? Isn’t the Solus supposed to be able to actually do magic?! Not just knock themselves out trying?”
Kiora gripped the sides of the chair, her throat tightening.
“I assure you Emane; Kiora is quite adept to the calling.” Eleana said.
“How do you know it’s her? What if you’re wrong?” Emane pushed. “And you lied to my father?”
“The Wings of Arian brought us to her,” Eleana said, motioning to the giant structure before them, deftly moving past the issue of the Aleric’s lie. “I assume you are familiar with the Wings?”
“My father explained what Aleric told him.” He grumped throwing himself back in his chair, “Have they ever been wrong?”
“Never,” Eleana answered. “And I have never seen anybody pick up the needed skills as fast as Kiora has. She has a strength of character unequaled in this kingdom. Her magic is proving to be very strong, and will eventually be a force to be reckoned with.” Emane crossed his arms, staring skeptically at Eleana. “She also has the gift of sight; of visions. She still has much to learn, but the distance she has traveled in the short time she has been here is impressive by anyone’s standards.”
“If she is so wonderful,” he said with an angry flip of his hand, “then why did you send for me?”
Kiora suddenly became very interested. What did they need him for?
“There is another part of the prophecy; a part that I have not shared with anyone until this afternoon,” Eleana explained. “Aleric, would you please explain to the Prince what I shared with you today?”
Kiora and Emane’s attention turned to Aleric.
Before he could answer the void in the wings cracked and turned solid, just as it had the day before. Kiora’s mouth went dry and she clutched the arm of the chair, terrified of what the wings might show.
To her relief and slight embarrassment it showed instead, pictures of her. It showed her moving things with her mind, mercifully leaving out the part where she smacked herself in the head with a rock, as if the Prince needed to see that again. It showed her finding the book, riding Arturo. Aleric showing up on her doorstep to collect her. They flowed in no order she could find, next they flashed up a picture of her sobbing on the ground, watching her parents drive the wagon away for the last time. Kiora looked away, swallowing back a whimper of grief. It showed her hanging laundry as her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed on the ground in the middle of a vision. Her sister paced angrily back and forth in front of her waiting for her to wake. Then it moved suddenly to a picture of Emane standing next to her, holding a sword and shield before it went blank.
It was silent for a moment before Aleric began. “The second half of the prophecy that Eleana shared with me this afternoon...”
“Wait!” Emane held up his hand. “What do you mean, ‘that Eleana just shared with you?’ The prophecy is in the book. You read it, my father read it.”
“We read Arian’s prophecy, that is true.” Aleric clarified, “But he was not the only one with the gift of visions.”
Eleana intervened, “This vision was of monumental importance,” she explained. “This may be the last battle that will require a Solus. As such, the Ancient One, Epona, also received a similar vision and recorded the details, some of which were missing from Arian’s account.
“Who is Epona?” Emane protested. “What is an Ancient One?!”
“Suffice it to say she is a very magical being that has been around for a very long time,” Eleana said with finality. “Aleric,” she said, indicating that he should continue.
Aleric sighed, looking weary. “Epona’s prophesy states that the Solus is not to go this alone. As is tradition a Protector will be assigned. The prophecy gives some clues as to who this Protector may be.” Aleric continued, “It is… unfortunate that I was not aware of that particular part of the prophecy earlier.” He glanced to Eleana with obvious frustration. “It is prophesied that that Protector is to be of royal blood.”
Emane and Kiora seemed to understand at exactly the same moment. They both came flying up out of their chairs.
“Him?” Kiora shouted. Her finger shaking as she pointed.
“You want me to protect her?!” Emane objected. “The only thing she needs protecting from is her own mouth!”
“You’re one to talk!” she shrieked. “You can’t be serious! He would probably push me off a cliff before he protected me!”
Emane turned to her, seething. “How dare you! I would never harm anyone!”
“Really?” she took a step closer to him, tired of him throwing his weight around. “Because all you’ve done since you met me is to make it obvious how much you despise me.” He laughed, stepping in closer as well. “Oh that’s rich! You march into my house like you own the place and then, have the nerve to tell me that I don’t know how to run my own kingdom.”
“You don’t! From the moment I arrived you’ve been mad that I didn’t follow you around like a puppy dog.” Her cheeks flushed at her own boldness.
“I have not…” he stammered, “I don’t need you or anybody else following me around! I was trying to be cordial, my intentions were good.”
“Well, you can take all your good intentions and go back to your castle,” Kiora snapped, “because they don’t seem to be a doing a lot of good here.”
Emane’s head jerked back as if he’d been slapped. “I’ll go back to the castle when I want to go back to the castle and not a moment before!”
“Of course my prince,” she yelled with an exaggerated bow, “We wouldn’t want a lowly peasant girl telling you what to do!”
“You are impossible!” he yelled. He turned to Eleana and Aleric with nostrils flaring. “I’ll do it, I’ll be her Protector.” Looking back at Kiora he sneered. “My duty demands it.” He turned, his sword swinging at his hip, and stomped through the meadow, disappearing into the tree line.
Kiora stared after him, her mouth gaping. “WHAT!?” she finally shouted. Turning, she shoved the book
into Aleric’s hands charging off after Emane.
Aleric started to chuckle. “Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “That went well.”
***
The dark pegasus flew over the valley approaching a land that time had forgotten. He soared close to the earth, hoofs skimming over boulders, and his shadow gliding beneath him. With a quick turn left, he soared into the largest shaft and followed it down deep into the earth.
The rock narrowed inward the deeper he flew, and he was finally forced to land. Folding his wings flat to his back he made his way to a large cavern, where a dark haired man sat upon a stone throne, twirling a large silver ring around his first finger.
The pegasus approached and bowed. My Lord Dralazar.
“Raynor,” he nodded. “What did you find?”
Arturo and Eleana have both emerged. Their threads appear only to disappear again. I am assuming they are hiding in the Hollow.
“Of course,” he said, twirling the ring back and forth with his thumb. “And the Solus?”
I don’t know. Raynor’s head dropped lower, his eyes not leaving his master. I have not picked up anything powerful enough to suggest that they have been found.
Dralazar breathed out slowly, his eyes closed. “Of course they have been found, Raynor. Why else would those two be moving around?” he said through clenched teeth.
I am sorry my Lord.
Dralazar surged to his feet. “Of course you are sorry, Raynor! But your apologies will be of little consequence if we lose this war. If we wait until they are powerful enough to determine which thread belongs to this new Solus it will be too late!”
With all due respect my Lord, they are untrained, surely we have time.
“I will not take any chances!” he yelled. “I thought we had time from the beginning, I thought Eleana had sealed her own fate. But we have failed time and time again.” He punctuated each word stepping closer and closer to the dark pegasus.
Raynor bowed his head, his eyes fixed on the floor. What will you have me do?
Growling, Dralazar swung past Raynor, moving to a pewter basin sitting on a stone table. Running his fingers over the silver snakes that worked their way up the long spindly legs, he breathed out in disgust. The magic was so weak compared to the Wings of Arian, but Eleana had done a masterful job of whatever spell she had initiated to prevent him from using them. That was not the only spell Eleana had masterfully concocted, he thought, and he would hate her for it until the day he died. He was forced to stay here, using this basin. It was weaker, more subject to her blocking spells. He passed his hand over the liquid inside. The snakes ruby eyes peered in as it began to bubble. “Show me the Solus!” he demanded