“Yes I think I will, thanks Rufas. Wake me when it is my shift.” Rufas agreed with a huff and sat himself down next to the fire, his sword lying across his lap. He was ready if any more of these creatures returned. He looked across at Drew.
“Well go on then, get some sleep,” he badgered, pointing to where Kainan had gone to lie down.
“Okay!” Drew surrendered, raising both his hands and shaking his head at him. Rufas was a strange man. There was a lot of banter between the two of them, but only in a friendly non-threatening manner. He got up and followed Kainan, and finding a fairly clear space he then kicked at the ground to remove any lumps. Opening his pack he pulled out a blanket and threw it down, and then looked over at Kainan, who was checking on Pernash.
Tolwein sat quietly on the other side of the fire. He pulled his dagger free of its sheath and began fiddling with it, polishing the long narrow blade continuously on his sleeve. He had been watching Kainan and Drew; but he couldn’t hear what they were saying much to his annoyance. Then something caught his eye, and he looked down at his pack. Inside he could see a glowing light, quickly he looked over at Kainan, but he was not looking. Reaching forward he grasped at his bag.
“Er my Lord,” he called.
“Yes Tolwein?” The young Prince asked, looking over to him as he shook his blanket out.
“I need to, er, you know.” He indicated into the wood.
“Oh right okay. Let Rufas know when you are back. Do not go too far, we do not know what else may be out there.” Rufas looked up upon hearing his name and nodded at Kainan.
“Be quick Tolwein.” Rufas yelled after him.
Tolwein nodded. “Yes thank you Rufas, my Lord.” With that he scurried off into the trees.
What a creepy man, Kainan thought to himself as he watched him scurry off. There was definitely something weird about him. Sitting himself down on the blanket he scratched his head and yawned. He was really worried about Pernash. He had just checked on him and he was not looking so good, he was a ghastly colour and had lost a lot of blood. He knew there was a good chance that he may not even make it through the night. This journey was not starting on a good note; without him it would take them days to find the Keeper of the Book. Wrapping another blanket around himself he looked up into the darkness, at least the rain didn’t seem to be penetrating through the tops of the trees, hopefully they would stay dry. He closed his eyes, he was absolutely shattered and it didn’t take him long at all to fall asleep.
Halfway through the night they changed shifts, Rufas swapped with Drew, and the burly man sat his watch, sword in hand.
Eleven - Prophecy
“Lord Detaine, I am sure she will be fine,” the King assured, trying to calm the man down. They stood in the Great Room; it had only been a few hours since Kainan and the men had departed. The King had been sitting in his great chair by the fire enjoying a quiet tankard of beer, desperately wishing he had not had to send Kainan away, especially with Gareion still missing. So much had happened in the last two days and he felt sure that there would be much worse to come. He felt a bad stirring among the magic, something was very wrong. Why would the Deragan Sword have chosen Kainan? The his thoughts had been rudely interrupted when Lord Detaine had burst into the room; his eyes blazing with fury.
“Fine your Majesty!” he bellowed. “She has run away and is probably out there somewhere with that boy, I need her here.” Lord Detaine’s blood was boiling. The little minx had tricked him. How, he didn’t know. How she had got out of her room after he had clearly locked her in he had no idea. Waving her note he flapped it about in front of the King.
“See here! She has gone to be with him. Goodness only knows what will happen to her.” The Lord paced up and down the room; he was extremely agitated.
“For goodness sake man will you calm down and have a drink.” King John walked over to a large drinks table on top of which stood a large brown barrel. Turning the tap he poured Lord Detaine a tankard of beer and handed it to him. He knocked it back in one swift sharp move and slammed it down hard on the table.
The King shook his head at him. “Allaine you know where she has gone, and please do not refer to my son as that boy. I am sure by now she is safely with him and the others. If they have not travelled too far I am sure he will bring her back.”
Lord Detaine huffed. He most certainly would not, that he was sure of. He had seen the way he had looked at her at the banquet. Lord Detaine stopped his pacing and stared hard at the King, gritting his teeth.
“He may be your son Sire, but you do not know him. You do not know that he will not turn against us. How do you know he had not planned all this as some kind of revenge, some way to take your crown? He probably got rid of Gareion, has got the Crystal and now he has her as well.”
“ENOUGH OF THIS!” the King boomed angrily, for even his patience was now at an end. “How dare you, even for a moment, think that I do not know my son! And that he would be capable of such terrible things. For your information, Allaine, he has been given the Crown of Knowledge. If he was a liar or an impostor and his heart and soul not clean and pure he would not have survived. I took this chance on him because I believed in him, I know my son.”
“Ahem.” A voice coughed nervously from the arched doorway. Turning around sharply Lord Detaine stared. It was Wizard Marton.
“You’re Highness, my Lord.” The old man bowed his head.
“What do you want Marton?” Lord Detaine growled, giving him an evil stare, daring him to speak. He flung his cloak back behind his shoulders in anger, his sword clearly visible as he placed his hands upon his hips.
“Allaine. What is the matter with you? Let the man speak if he so wishes,” the King ordered, looking at Lord Detaine and shaking his head. What was wrong with this man, he was acting most out of character.
“I am sorry my Lord.” Wizard Marton said, addressing Lord Detaine as he shuffled in the room leaning on his staff. “But I think the King should know about the prophecy.”
“Prophecy?” The King looked confused. “What prophecy?”
“My Lord Detaine I am sorry, but you cannot prevent destiny. It was in the child to find her own way back to him. You cannot stop them.” The old wizard twiddled nervously with his staff.
“Allaine, what is he talking about?” the King demanded, shooting him a sharp look.
“This cannot be Marton, I will not allow it. We have to find her, she must stay pure, I will not have him take her.”
“Allaine, Marton what are you talking about?” the King demanded, becoming increasingly agitated. Wizard Marton stepped up to the King. “Your Majesty. I have found a scroll hidden within another scroll. It dates back, I believe, from even before the Great War. I am certain it was among the very few things that survived when the Groundlings moved on to Zyon. It is a prophecy that foretells of two Groundlings, souls of the past that have a great power. It says that they will join in the way of the old and save our world from a great evil. I believe it is Arweyn and your son, Kainan, your Majesty.” Wizard Marton bowed his head to the King.
“Ha, save our world. What total and utter nonsense Marton. You are insane! I have told you there is nothing great about Arweyn, she is just a child.” Lord Detaine retorted. King John turned and began walking angrily towards Lord Detaine.
“Allaine, is this true? You knew about this and said nothing, why was I not told?”
“Your Majesty, what he speaks of is nonsense. I didn’t think it was necessary to tell you.” Lord Detaine retorted. “You have enough to worry about. Besides it will not happen, he will not join with Arweyn.”
“And what grieves you about my son Allaine? Do you not think he is worthy to be with Arweyn?”
“She is promised to my son!” he spat out before thinking, glaring at Wizard Marton.
“Promised by whom? I know nothing of this. You want Arweyn for your Lothar. Is that what this is all about? You know this is not possible. I am sorry to have to remind you Allaine but your
family was dishonoured, you cannot marry royalty for five generations.” Lord Detaine turned looking hard at the King. He didn’t need reminding and he did not need the King’s permission. He felt his hand reach down to his sword, and then he thought better of it.
“Your Majesty, there is something you need to know about Arweyn. It is difficult to explain. You see Arweyn has a special power,” Wizard Marton interrupted nervously.
“What do you mean?” demanded Lord Detaine, his nostrils flaring angrily. He should have gotten rid of this old fool years ago, now what nonsense was he going to tell the King?
“Allaine let the man speak,” the King ordered, looking at Lord Detaine. His forehead creased in a frown as he shook his head at him.
“Please Marton continue,” the King said, turning his attention back to the old wizard. Wizard Marton fidgeted and looked warily at Lord Detaine. If Lord Detaine’s stare could have killed he would have been dead where he stood, but the King had to know.
“Well get on with it then,” Lord Detaine huffed, daring him to speak.
Wizard Marton swallowed nervously. “Lady Arweyn is half Faerling.”
“What!” The King exclaimed surprised. “How could this be?” He ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. He knew this day was going to get worse and rubbing the brow of his nose he waited for the explanation.
“Her mother Lady Elanor was a pure royal Faerling your Majesty.”
“You knew this Marton, but did not think as King, I had the right to know who was living within my castle? Did you know she was Faerling Allaine?” The King turned to Lord Detaine.
“No,” Lord Detaine replied sharply.
Wizard Marton looked at his eyes. He was lying that was for sure, but how could he possibly have known? Arweyn would never have told him. She knew how dangerous it would be for her to reveal her true identity. He turned back to the King bowing his head.
“My King, I was sworn to secrecy by the Faerlings. The Faerling’s magic is mighty powerful and until this very day I have not been able to speak of it. It is only because I fear for the child’s safety that my bond has been released and I am able to speak freely.” His face was fraught.
“My King if I could have told you before you know I would have.”
The King looked at him and nodded. “I believe you Marton; I know how powerful a Faerling spell can be. Now tell me about this prophecy, how can the children save us?
“This I am not entirely sure about your Majesty. From what I have been able to read and understand, it is to do with the coming together of their power, and for this they will need to join.” He looked a Lord Detaine sheepishly, his eyes flickering nervously waiting for the explosion that he was sure was to follow. And sure enough Lord Detaine snorted disagreeably and his voice rose even louder.
“She cannot be joined with that boy, I will not allow it!” he yelled angrily.
“And what gives you the right to make that decision Allaine? I understand that you have been her guardian these past few years but it is a decision they must make. My son is pure and of good heart and he will prove himself. I know he will protect Arweyn with his life without even giving it a second thought. He has taken the power of his ancestors and will use it when the time is right. There is nothing you or I can do, they are of consenting age. My son would never take her by force; if they join it will be because they both consent. If Marton is right about this prophecy, then I think we should all hope that they are successful, for the sake of the city and all our people.”
“Oh!” mumbled Wizard Marton, fiddling again with his staff.
“What do you mean oh!” demanded Lord Detaine angrily, staring at him.
“Well, maybe now I understand the meaning of the scrolls. Kainan has taken the Crown of Knowledge so there is a good chance he has obtained some of the powers of the ancestors.”
“Yes that could be possible. It has never happened fully yet, but Kainan is different.” The King knew there had been something special about his first born son that was why he had taken him to the Chamber. He knew deep down that Kainan would be destined for greater things.
“And Arweyn is half Faerling.” He looked up at the King. “If they were to join in the way of the old, their powers would be combined. Each would take on the other’s power as well as their own; creating an extreme power.”
“How could they join in the way of the old, no-one has ever done that. It is just rumours and old stories. No one knows how that old magic works anymore.” Lord Detaine interrupted. “Anyway he would need the Deragan Sword and that was lost after the Great War. What kind of power does Arweyn have Marton?” Lord Detaine asked sharply.
The King stood silent, rubbing his chin, he knew Kainan already had the Deragan sword but thought it best to keep that to himself for now.
“I believe she already has a strong magical energy, maybe enough to stop the Gorzars. I do not know for sure. It depends how much she inherited from her mother. It is difficult to tell as she is not a pure Faerling. She may have only inherited some or she may have it all.” He hesitated. “But if she was to join with Kainan and Kainan had received the full power from the ancestors, even if she only received half the power of a Faerling, their power together could be incredible; especially as Kainan would have the Deragan Sword.” He turned and looked at the King. “If she inherited all the power you’re looking at something that only happens once in thousands of years, something legends are made of.”
“But they would need the sword, so it could never happen could it?” Lord Detaine queried, raising his eyebrow.
Wizard Marton shook his head. “No never. Not without the sword. It is the only way two powers can be joined.”
“And that was lost, in the great battle. Is she aware of the power she has already?” Lord Detaine asked, in a very low voice.
“I do not think so my Lord,” Wizard Marton replied shaking his head, and turning to the King he added. “Although she did heal Kainan as if she were an advanced healer. What she did was way beyond her years. She knows she is Faerling and will one day receive her magic, but I do not think she realises that her mother was Royal and that she already has her power. She thinks she has to go to the Faerling city for that, and with her mother and father gone she has no way of knowing where the Faerlings are or what she should do to find them. Sire, what should we do?”
“Nothing,” Lord Detaine interrupted again. “It does not matter if she has this power. My concern is to get Arweyn back here safely before anyone can take advantage of her.”
The King turned about abruptly. “Your concern Lord Detaine as head of security is to find Gareion, or have you forgotten that my other son is still missing. At least we know where Arweyn is, and that she will be safe with Kainan.”
Lord Detaine stopped, taking a deep breath. Maybe it was not such a good idea to anger the King any further.
“Yes your Majesty of course you are right. I am just concerned, as her guardian, that she is safe. I have not forgotten Gareion. Lothar has sent his men up to Zyon to search for him your Majesty as we believe he may no longer be on Malgar.”
“Why did he not attend with them himself?”
“He felt it would be better for him to remain here, with the second army Sire. In case Kainan is not successful and the Gorzars get through. I did as you commanded and Lothar has sent a battalion of men to guard the portal by the edge of the great forest in case it breaches.”
“Ah, yes perhaps you are right. I feel the power is already fading. I fear the spell will not hold even now.”
“You think the Gorzars could get through already?” Lord Detaine questioned.
“Yes I am afraid so. You are right to keep Lothar here. I am sorry to have questioned your decision Allaine. Things are getting a bit heated around here, perhaps we all need to calm down.”
Lord Detaine bowed his head. “It is understandable my King, you are worried for your son and for the Kingdom. Believe me I have it in hand and I apologise if I have spoken ou
t of line. May I now take your leave Sire, as I must speak with Lothar at once?”
“Of course Allaine, and please feel reassured Arweyn will be fine. Kainan will take care of her.” Lord Detaine nodded, that was what he was afraid of. He began to walk out of the room.
“Allaine,” the King called after him. Lord Detaine stopped, and turned around bowing his head.
“Yes my King.”
“Warn the villagers, they may need to evacuate to the Castle. Tell them to listen for the bell.”
“Yes Sire.” Lord Detaine affirmed, and left the room.
When he was sure Lord Detaine had gone the King turned to confront Wizard Marton. “Marton there is something you are not telling me.” He knew the old man well, for he had been his teacher for many years, since he had been a small child. He had taught him how to control the powers that he had and how to rule wisely.
Wizard Marton nodded glancing behind at the door. “Sire, the scroll reads of a great evil, and I am not sure that it is the Gorzars.”
“What do you mean?”
“I do not know for sure as Lord Detaine took the scroll from me, I need to study it further as the writing is in old text. But there is something else I am sure, something that is not on Zyon, but here on Malgar beyond the boundary and deep into the dark lands. I am certain that the prophecy speaks of Kainan and Arweyn, but I think there is more, something worse than the Gorzars.”
The King sighed, he had felt it to.
“Marton, I have felt there was something wrong now for a while.” He shook his head. “I just cannot figure out what it is. We need to get that scroll back.”
Wizard Marton nodded. “Yes sire, as soon as possible. Although if they have not got the Deragan Sword, I am not certain how they can even fulfil the prophecy.”
The King looked at the door, then lowering his voice he placed an arm around the old wizard’s neck and whispered in his ear. “Kainan has the Deragan Sword.”
Wizard Marton stood frozen to the spot, his eyes locked onto the King’s.
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan Page 24