Iviana thought a while. This certainly hadn’t been the question she’d expected, but she couldn’t help feeling relieved. “I will think about it.”
–
It wasn’t until the following day that the messenger Iviana had sent to Nimua and Necoli returned with news that made things abundantly clear: Necoli was severely ill and had been since the day Iviana and the others had left.
In Nimua’s note, she mentioned how even the forest was ill and Iviana gathered the colder months had come upon Kierelia much sooner than they usually did. Likely, if Necoli had not anticipated this on their outing and the evening had grown cold, he had done what he could to keep Nimua warm and neglected himself.
A part of Iviana blamed herself for not waiting for them to return before she’d left, but from the sounds of it, they had gotten lost and had not returned until nightfall. Besides, so long as Iviana could get there, she knew she could more than handle things.
“We’re coming with you,” Darist said as he and Marquen entered her hut where she was throwing a few provisions together.
“Very well,” she replied. “We will have to use the door to Jaela’s Cavern, then. Her letter mentioned a dark dragon attack nearby, which means people will be on the lookout. I don’t want to endanger ours.”
“Will we just end up slowing you down?” Darist asked.
Iviana shook her head. “It will be fine. I’d like you with me.”
So, the three swiftly made their way to the portal and sprinted through Jaela’s Cavern. Upon exiting the tunnels, they were confronted by an older man waiting with three saddled horses, two brown and one a black stallion, all from Sir Retrom’s estate. Iviana was speechless. Not only was it unexpected, but it began to remind her of a dream she’d had some time ago, when she’d fallen asleep outside the Council Hall.
“Lady Laurel had a dream. Said you’d be needing these,” explained the stable-hand. “I didn’t expect you to actually be here.”
Iviana thanked the man, but her mind raced as the three started toward FairGlenn. Not only did she suspect Flynn’s sister was either a Seer or even a Dream-walker―which she would need to conceal more carefully living in Kierelia―but the dream she had recalled was coming back to her in full. At first, her stomach clenched so tightly, she thought she would burst with it, but the power that had produced the river was still inside of her, churning to life even now.
She had been correct in thinking the cold had come early, but she had not expected winter. As Nimua had never been in such a cold climate, Iviana hoped she had not grown ill as well, but she would not borrow trouble. Instead, she followed the leading of the power within.
And so it was, when the three drew into the village and were met by a young man who informed them her friends would not be at home, but were out in a nearby field, attending Necoli’s funeral, she did not quake with the news.
“Iviana, I’m so sorry,” Darist began with wide, teary eyes.
But Iviana silenced him with a movement of her hand. She would accept no pity. Instead, she turned her steed in the direction of the golden plain that sparkled with the early morning frost. At one point, she looked to Marquen and was met by a reassuring smile, as if he knew very well what she intended and had full confidence.
Before long, they caught sight of a group of mourners clothed in black. As the gathering noticed their approach, Nimua rushed to Iviana in tears. She was wailing something, but Iviana could not make out her words. Only the sound of her own heartbeat played in her ears as she recognized the urn in Nimua’s arms.
Leaping from her horse, she embraced her friend. “Nimua… Nimua, hush,” she soothed.
Nimua looked up into the face of her friend and took notice of what had caught Iviana’s attention: the urn. “This is... him,” she moaned pitifully. “He’s gone…”
Iviana took hold of her shoulders and said with confidence, “No, he’s not.”
The tears in Nimua’s eyes halted a moment as she studied Iviana. “You have changed,” was all she could seem to say.
Iviana nodded. “Would you... would you mind pouring out the ashes for me?” she requested with compassion, knowing what it must seem she was asking.
At first, Nimua looked as if she would refuse, as if Iviana had asked something obscene. But then she peered into Iviana’s eyes and studied them. Iviana watched as a number of thoughts played through her mind. Nimua had not been there to witness the glory-river; there was no reason for her to trust her, except that she knew her—knew her better than almost anyone. Therefore, she did as she was told, opening the urn and spilling the ashy remains of her love into the frigid air.
As the wind caught them in its clutches, tearing him far from them, Nimua’s sobbing became guttural. But Iviana lay a hand upon her shoulder. Halting her wailing, Nimua listened as Iviana called them back in the name of the Anointed One and it was not long before the ashes returned in black swirling tendrils, gathering themselves into a blurred form.
“Iviana, wh-what is happening?” Nimua asked breathlessly, the tears frozen on her face.
“Sorry, brother,” spoke Iviana to the ashes. “We’re not done with you just yet.”
As the ashes completed Necoli’s form, his color and solidity returned with a sudden inhalation of breath. Fervently, Nimua fell upon his feet, weeping loudly.
Iviana could hardly believe what she had done or, rather, what the Great One had done. She’d followed the leading of her dream from some time ago, as well as the urging in her heart, but she had moved as if possessed. Now it had actually been fulfilled, she wanted to fall upon his feet and weep as well.
Necoli appeared more than a little confused by the appearance of the would-be mourners, but it was obvious his most significant concern was reaching down to comfort the emotional woman at his feet. Iviana could only imagine he had some small inkling as to what had occurred, but doubted he truly understood.
She made ready to explain what the Great One had done for him, but at the sight of not only a dead man’s ashes returning to life, but that very life actually moving and breathing, those who had attended the funeral swarmed Necoli, Nimua and Iviana. Overcome with excitement, they pulled Iviana this way and that. It was only Darist’s strength and Marquen’s words that rescued her.
Once the people were settled, Iviana requested they keep the matter quiet, especially as she did not yet fully comprehend the situation herself. But by the rate at which they flew toward the village, she understood their intention. In truth, Iviana could not blame them. Though she had seen the marvelous power of the Great One in that glorious river, she had not yet anticipated it was capable of doing such a thing through her.
Once they were alone, Darist could only stare into her face with wide eyes, forcing Iviana to truly face what had transpired. She had taken the ashes of a dead man and spoken life back into them. It should not have happened and it would not have had it not been for that dream. Ultimately, it was altogether surreal.
“We have a lot of work to do, haven’t we,” said Marquen, both stunned and thrilled, “if we are to accomplish feats such as this.”
Iviana nodded. The Great One was revealing Himself as not only powerful, but loving. For whatever reason, He was not finished with her brother and what a mercy it was. She could not have born losing him before revealing the truth about their connection. The Great One had already done so much for her in so many ways, but the result of her obedience had blessed her further. For, had she not returned for the prisoners, she would not have discovered Necoli’s parents were alive and learned she had family. It was all a wonder to her, filling her heart with such love for the Ones who had made it all happen.
–
By the following day, Iviana had returned to the Greater Archipelagos with her companions and reunited not only Nimua with her mother, but Necoli with the parents he had believed dead. That reunion had been more touching than even she had imagined, for not only had he thought them lost, but they had not parted on pleasant ter
ms, each regretting their share. Since then, the Great One had worked in the three of them, creating room for a renewed bond.
As they heard the story of how Necoli had actually died and been cremated only the day before, they smothered him with renewed affection, as well as Iviana, who had been used to raise him. Of course, they had been there that day on the cannibal island, but they had not realized the extent of what Iviana yet held within her. Indeed, she was only beginning to understand herself.
Necoli and his parents continued to make their apologies and promises and filled one another in on their time apart, making plans for the future. All the while, Iviana sat back, waiting. She knew it was not her place to tell him the truth of their parentage, for he yet believed the parents before him his birth parents. It must be they who revealed their secret.
Even so, it overjoyed her to watch as he introduced Nimua to them and then revealed they were engaged. The room was full of warm embraces with this news and Shynn and Japha happily surrounded Nimua, asking her a variety of questions, attempting to learn all they could of the delightful young woman who had helped to heal their son’s heavy, rebellious heart.
As the sun began to fade, plans were formed for the day of the wedding as well as the days that would follow. Though Iviana had hoped Necoli and Nimua would join her on the quest to travel the world and further disperse the Great One’s glory-river, she soon learned she would be parted from them for a time. For Shynn and Japha meant to return to Kierelia once again, to continue their mission, and Necoli and Nimua shared their desire to go along, their part sharing their knowledge of the Anointed One’s sacrifice with the Kierelians.
Then, of course, Naii, Shynn and Japha relayed to the two all that had happened on the cannibal island, of the great river of glory and its affect, describing just how Iviana had appeared as she stood as a vessel for the great power that was affecting their planet.
Nimua and Necoli revealed they had already begun to feel a great presence filling them as they sat in that room with the four who had been there―how it seemed to be leaking from them, working its way into their spirits.
At last, the room grew quiet, and Iviana caught Shynn looking between hers and her brother before, “Necoli... your father and I have something we wish to speak to you about.”
Quietly and rather more slowly than Iviana preferred, the two unfolded the tale they had told her and awaited his reaction. Amazingly, though it was a shock for him to learn they were not his birth parents, he revealed it had often felt as if it must be so. He could not say just why, that it was only a feeling. Finally, he asked who his birth parents had been.
Iviana caught her breath, nervous for the moment they would reveal all. Catching this, Necoli peered up at her questioningly, as if guessing the answer.
“Ivi, girl,” he said. “Won’t you tell me?”
Iviana felt she was ready to cry as she said, “They are my own, Redden and Tasia.” Once finished, she held her breath, awaiting his response, but Nimua beat him to it.
“Iviana, you have a brother? How could you have let us sit here and talk all day without saying anything? No wonder you’ve been so quiet!” Silently, she took hold of Iviana’s hand, as if sensing her nerves about Necoli’s response.
As Necoli sat staring into Iviana’s face, a few surprising tears fell from his eyes. “Well, that is rather wondrous. In the lowest moment of my life, the Great One led me not only to Nimua, the love of my life, but to my very own sister... and I have always wanted a sister.”
“It’s true!” Nimua shouted. “He told me he always dreamed of having a sibling to share good times with as a boy!”
Iviana finally allowed a small portion of her tears to fall as these two lost souls met truly for the first time.
“Won’t you come back to Kierelia with us?” he asked, almost desperately, as if he, too, had only just found his family, though he had always had loving parents who were, after all, his own blood.
“I cannot,” she admitted regretfully. “I have other plans―plans I had, in truth, hoped the two of you would help me with. However, I see clearly the Great One had plans of His own. He has called each of us to missions equally important, though, for now, in separate worlds.”
21
Iviana
Early the following morning, Iviana was busy packing for the journey ahead when Darist knocked on the wall from the back patio.
“Who is it?” she called.
“Your worst nightmare, I suspect,” he replied easily.
Chuckling, Iviana invited him in and stopped her packing to sit on the swing that hung from her ceiling to offer her full attention.
“Have you come to say goodbye, then?” she asked, secretly hoping this was not so.
“You know, you have not even told me yourself what it is you plan to do,” he said congenially, though she could tell he was hurt.
“I haven’t? I had not realized. How stupid of me. The Great One has called me to travel the whole of the Greater Archipelagos and pour that river all over it.”
“Well, that sounds spectacular,” was his genuine reply.
Iviana nodded. “There’s a fire started here, but there’s a whole world that needs to be reached.”
“And when you’re finished here?”
“Kaern.”
“And after that?”
Iviana grinned. “Who knows? I found out there was a world outside Kaern, in another dimension. Who knows how many more there are... waiting.”
“So, you plan to go on until there’s nothing left to reach?”
“Sure. Or until the Great One leads me into something else. Who knows?”
“I hear Marquen and Era are going with you.”
“Yes, Era asked to come a few days ago and Marquen inquired the day before yesterday.”
Darist smiled, then appeared on the verge of something before he finally blurted, “You, uh... you open to more company?”
“You mean you? Oh, no, thank you.”
“Oh, that’s all right, I just thought―”
Iviana could not resist laughing as she said, “I was only joking! Honestly, I was hoping you’d come.”
“Honestly, I believe I’m supposed to. I think I was always supposed to; it’s what I’m called to because... you know, who knows?” he said with eyes sparkling with mirth.
Iviana replied with a sparkle of her own and sent him off to pack.
–
Iviana was late in appearing on the beach where she and the others were to depart. When she arrived, all her friends―those traveling with her and those there to bid them farewell―were already waiting. The sight of them nearly drew happy tears from her eyes, for she remembered her childhood days when she had known and loved but one person and now she had friends and even family who loved her and would be there for her through thick and thin, whatever was to come.
“Iviana!” called Nimua when she spotted her coming toward them.
At that moment, everyone turned to shower her with a variety of greetings, cheers and smiles, their warm welcome and affection giving her goosebumps. Oh, how sweet the Great One had been to her.
“Iviana, my dear girl,” said Old Man Waymith, taking hold of her hands. “What can I possibly say to you, young woman?” He shook his head. His eyes, that had formerly been blind, were filled with emotion. “To think I had no idea who the little girl force feeding me would turn out to be.”
Iviana laughed at this, recalling the sweet times they had shared before he’d been taken away from her. “Not only have you given me my own daughter back, but you’ve given me yet another, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
Iviana laughed and wiped the sudden tears from her eyes. “I don’t mind one bit,” she admitted and surrounded him with a warm embrace.
“Thank you, dear girl,” he said, “for saving my life, for providing the river that gave me the use of my eyes and legs and for giving me a second chance worth living for.”
Jaela nodded. “I thank you as well
and so would all those who were imprisoned if they could be here. You have given us great hopes for the future. I think Jaela―the Jaela―would be pleased by what you have done for the world that had been a precious gift to her.”
This was growing to be almost too much for Iviana, so she pleaded, “Oh, please, no more of these wonderful words, you two. I really cannot bear it and there are too many people here to see me cry.”
She warmly embraced each of them before turning to where Nimua stood with Naii, Necoli, Shynn and Japha. By these, she was drenched in kisses, hugs and tender words. Her aunt and uncle, it seemed, having missing out on adopting her along with Necoli, meant to do so now as much as they could and treated her as if she was their own.
And, of course, Naii had long been a mother-figure, offering unwavering support. Doing no different now, she pulled Iviana aside and offered her words of encouragement, making Iviana promise to return to the Isle of Dragons as often as she could so she could catch glimpses of her courageous girl. The mention of that nickname reminded Iviana of what Naii’s own mother used to call her. Telling Naii so, the woman broke down in tears, making room for Necoli and Nimua to step in while she gathered herself.
“You’ll remember our deal then, won’t you?” Nimua said to her.
“Deal?” Iviana asked quizzically.
Nimua pulled her close. “You’re supposed to come around so often my husband will tire of you. Of course, now he’s your brother, I don’t suppose he’ll mind quite so much.”
Iviana turned to Necoli with a smirk. “He’d better not. We’re parting so soon, we’ll have plenty of catching up to do.”
“Like building tree-houses and playing knights and rogues, not to mention stealing chickens and raiding storehouses.”
Iviana raised a brow at him. “We obviously had very different childhoods, pirate.”
“Oh, yes, there’s that. We’ve got to run away and join a crew of pirates. Though, since I already did, I suppose it’s your turn.”
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