They sat in silence for a while. Kainan took a deep breath and sighed. “Arweyn, if you do not want to trust me that is fine. I understand.” A change came across in his voice, he was sad, disappointed. She turned to him. He sat hunched over with his elbows on his knees, his back to her. She reached out and pensively touched his shoulder.
“Kainan, I do trust you. It’s just all my life I have had to keep this a secret. I have had it drummed into me since I was able to talk, that I must tell no one and that my very life depended on my silence. It is difficult, that’s all.” Turning back around, her frightened eyes came to his. Suddenly he felt terribly guilty that he had pushed her too far.
“Arweyn I’m sorry, I didn’t mean,” he sighed, looking at her scared face. “Whatever you tell me will not pass my lips to another soul without your permission I promise. I want us to be open with each other,” he smiled at her. “I just want to know everything about you.” She broke off another piece of stick and threw it into the fire. She looked at him and smiled. She wanted to know everything about him too, she always had. Taking a deep breath she began.
“My mother….” she hesitated, wetting her lips with her tongue, she lowered her voice to barely a whisper. “My mother is a Faerling.” Kainan sat up straight and his eyes widened, that was not what he was expecting to hear.
“A Faerling?” he whispered back in surprise. She nodded, taking in another deep breath. She could see the surprise in his eyes, and it scared her. She was frightened that he would push her away now he knew what she was and how powerful she could become.
“I am only half Faerling Kainan, my father was a Groundling. I have inherited my mother’s magical abilities, powers if you like. I don’t really know what they are yet,” she shrugged her shoulders. “I am only just developing them now and I have not been trained how to use them.”
Now he understood her fear of being found out, why she didn’t want to tell anyone. In the wrong hands she could be made to use her powers for all the wrong reasons.
“My father and mother told me that I was never to tell anyone, and that one day after my eighteenth birthday I would be sent away to the Faerlings to be trained in how to use the magic, but until then I must keep my secret. You see, I don’t know how strong I will become.” She looked at him searching his face for his response. “I didn’t want you to be afraid of me.” A tear escaped from her eye. Giving her a big grin and leaning towards her, he used his thumb to wipe the tear away from her face.
“I’m not afraid of you Arweyn; it just makes you even more special that’s all. I thought that you just didn’t want to trust me.”
She shook her head and smiled. “I wanted to tell you on that very first day, but I couldn’t, I was bound by secrecy. Even my uncle does not know about me.”
“What happened to your mother Arweyn?” She turned her face away. She could feel tears brimming in her eyes.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to upset you. If it is too hard for you to talk about it, it can wait,” Kainan apologised, placing his hand briefly on her knee.
“No it’s fine; I want to tell you everything. She was taken,” her voice trembled. She stood up straightening her skirt, and then stared deep into the fire, at the flames as they licked high, crackling and spitting.
“Taken?” Kainan frowned, placing his bowl next to him. Nodding, she looked down at him.
“My mother and father went through the portal to Zyon. They were going to collect medicine that only grows here, on Zyon. A dragonere appeared from nowhere and took her.”
“What is a dragonere, I have never heard of it?”
“A dragonere was thought to be created by the Gorzars. Although many say they are not clever enough and that some other magic must have been involved. They were supposed to have taken the last of the dragons and bred it with a shape shifter. It is not as big as a dragon, but it is very fast, can fly and can be controlled by its keeper. Some say it can take the appearance of a Groundling or whatever creature it wishes. They were all supposed to have been killed in the Great War. Somehow this one must have survived. My father was killed trying to save her.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “When they did not return, the King sent Drew and some of his men to look for them.” She raised the back of her hand to her mouth as she remembered that painful day. “They found my father dying, he managed to tell them what had happened to my mother, but he died before they returned to Malgar. They searched for my mother but could find no trace of her. The King thought it highly unlikely that she would have survived if she was taken by a dragonere. I am sure that is why my uncle didn’t want me to come with you; he is terrified something will happen to me. But I cannot spend my life hiding away Kainan.” She looked at the moonlight. “I was fifteen. I suppose I still hope we will find her alive, one day.” She sat back down next to him on the fallen log, shifting herself about until she felt comfortable, and then continued her story. “My father met my mother in the forest quite by chance. She was about my age.” She held her hands to her chest. “Curious of Groundlings she would watch my father with his parents when they came to the surface to look for herbs. Then one day my father was out by himself on Zyon and he fell off the rocks. My mother saved his life and from that moment they were in love, and used to meet secretly.” She sighed, she could still remember her parents telling her how they met, and the sparkle they used to have in their eyes for each other when they told their story.
“The Faerlings found out and were not very happy at first, but when they met my father they could see that he truly loved her. They gave her permission to leave on the condition that she kept her secret; no-one was to know who she really was. She joined with him and they lived on Malgar. There is no-one on Malgar except the wizard Marton, who knew who she was or who I am. The wizard could sense the magic around her, but he has a binding which will not allow him to speak unless there is a great danger to either one of us.” She paused for a moment. “I am sure she is still alive Kainan, I can still feel her.” She pulled her hand to her heart and breathed deeply,
“I’m sure she is Arweyn.” Kainan took hold of her hand and squeezed it. “Look at me; I came back from the dead after all this time.” He searched her eyes. “I’m so glad you found me.”
“So am I,” she whispered back. She was so relieved that he now knew everything, and they had no secrets from each other. Reaching her hand forward, and placing her palm over the wound on his face, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, and began chanting quietly. He closed his eyes as he felt the warmth and the tingles of magic from her hand flowing into him, healing his wound. He opened his eyes as she finished, she was looking at him, smiling.
“Thank you,” he sighed, as her smile melted his heart. He felt the side of his face, the wound had completely healed.
“Excuse me, am I interrupting something?” Drew asked nervously. Kainan looked up and smiled shaking his head. “No my friend, what do you want?” Drew looked over at Rufas who was chatting merrily away to Pernash.
“Well let’s just say I am now feeling slightly comatose from Rufas’ stories and I am humbly seeking refuge.” He held up his bowl of stew. Kainan laughed.
“Then my dear friend you may seek refuge amongst us, please have a seat.” Kainan indicated to the space next to him.
“Thank you kindly my Lord.” He bowed his head. “My Lady.” Plonking himself next to Kainan they all laughed together.
“So, is everything all right?” Drew whispered, giving him a nudge and raising his eyebrow at Arweyn. Kainan grinned as he watched her dunking her bread into the hot stew, and nodded, his grin wrinkling his nose.
“Perfect.”
The stars were bright that evening; twinkling like an array of diamonds in the clear black night sky.
“Arweyn do you have a sleeping mat with you?” Kainan asked, as they began settling down for the night. She nodded, opening her pack and pulling out a neatly folded sleeping mat. He smiled at her.
“Why don’t you take th
at space between the fire and the cavern wall? You should be sheltered there.” She glanced warily to Tolwein who was unravelling his blanket.
“Okay,” she replied, before turning back to Kainan and asking.
“Where will you sleep?” He grinned and pointed.
“Right next to you honey. Don’t worry you will be safe.” She smiled back, relieved. Remaining fully clothed, the small party bedded down for the night. Rufas took first watch.
Thirteen – Lord Porlock
The room was silent, the morning sunlight, although dim trickled through the stained glass window of the large throne room. A huge round consulting table sat in the middle, and elegantly carved chairs were placed all around it. The King and Queen’s thrones sat at one end of the room, slightly raised on a platform. A large tapestry hung behind on a golden spear depicting a dragon with green wings battling a black dragon in front of a green forest.
King John gripped the arms of his throne, and then began to tap impatiently with his index finger, his brow creasing with the throbbing in his head. Wizard Marton stood by his side, his old gnarled hands grasping his staff tightly. Then through the door Lord Porlock appeared, a man slight in stature but muscular and sturdy. He was dressed in the King’s colours, of black battle trousers, green tunic, and a black chest plate with a dragon with green wings emblazoned across the front, he walked towards them. The King rose from his throne as Lord Porlock approached them, and kneeling down on one knee he bowed his head, his right hand gripping his sword.
“My King you wish to see me.”
“Yes Porlock, my cousin.” The King took Lord Porlock’s left hand and grasped it tight, placing his other hand on top of it, held it for a moment then released him.
“Porlock I have a mission of great urgency that I need you to do for me.” Lord Porlock rose to his feet.
“Yes my King, what do you wish me to do?” Porlock’s face set in a frown as to what the King wanted with him.
The King took a deep breath and looked across at Wizard Marton, almost it seemed for reassurance. Marton bowed his head encouraging him to continue.
“Porlock I need you to go to the Gardinel City. Our envoy Lord Meleze has just returned and Queen Adara has sent worrying news.” The King clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing.
“She has told us that the Dark Elves have joined forces with the Gorzars and are planning an attack on Kainan and his men.”
“Dark Elves?” Lord Porlock stared at the King, blinked, and then stared again, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “How is that possible?”
The King swallowed hard. “The magic is failing Porlock. All around us our barriers are coming down; soon we will have no protection at all. All I can think is that the Faerlings magic holding the Dark Elves has failed as well. How they have been in contact with the Gorzars I have absolutely no idea.” He shook his head as he turned back to Lord Porlock, his face was set in a frown of true concern.
“You have to get to Kainan and warn him, or he and his men will have no chance. Kainan must survive Porlock. It is imperative that he and the Crystal get back to Malgar before the end of the week.” The King averted his eyes to the ground, and then looked up sharply. “It’s not just the Gorzars or even the Elves Porlock. The boundary is failing.”
“The boundary?” Lord Porlock questioned. “What will happen if the boundary fails?”
The King turned. “If the boundary fails then whatever it was that the Groundlings fled from all those years ago will be free to attack us.”
Lord Porlock raked his hands through his hair. “And what is it that you are saying, that you do not know what is out there?” The King shook his head.
“No I don’t. All memories and scrolls of that time have been lost or never existed, I just don’t know.” The King began to pace again.
“How long do we have?”
The King looked towards Wizard Marton. The old wizard stepped forward.
“About five or six days I would say before it has gone completely, but we are not entirely sure.”
“But for all we know there could be nothing out there at all anymore?”
“That is a possibility Porlock. My father would never allow anyone through the boundary as he believed it was too dangerous. There was no way of knowing whether once you went through you would be able to get back.”
“Surely there must have been someone willing to go?” The King nodded.
“Oh yes there were plenty of soldiers who volunteered. But we always thought it best to remain this side of the boundary. Nothing has ever tried to get through to us, and sending men through may have alerted them to our presence. We, I mean my father, decided that the risk was too great. We were happy as we were here in our own part of Malgar, we were safe, and the people were safe.”
“And now?” Lord Porlock questioned. “Should we perhaps send troops through to see what we can expect?”
The King shook his head. “No I cannot Porlock, I will not. Whatever it was that sent our predecessors to escape to Zyon must have been horrific, they would never have abandoned their lands otherwise. We are not strong enough and there are not enough of us anymore. You have to get to Kainan and ensure he gets the Crystal back.”
“And what if we do not get back in time?”
“Then we will have to evacuate as many villagers as we can. The large portal on the other side of the forest has already opened with the magic failing. Lord Detaine has sent a battalion of men to guard it, we are already open for an attack; I will send out a message to warn the villagers to start preparing to load the wagons ready to leave. Queen Adara has already said that we can take refuge with the Gardiners in the mighty caverns in which they live. It will be difficult but for now it is the safest option we have. Until we know what and if anything comes through the boundary.”
“How am I going to reach Kainan, he is days ahead by now. How will I find them?”
“Queen Adara has information of Kainan’s last whereabouts and as for reaching them.” The King placed an arm around Porlock’s shoulders and he began walking with him. “She has told me she has allies with whom they share the great caverns. Even I knew nothing of this race, Porlock. I have been told that they can travel with immense speed, and that deep in their caverns they have tunnels which run underneath Zyon. One of which can take you close to where Kainan was last seen.”
“Shame we didn’t know of this before we sent the Prince on his journey.” The King sighed and nodded his head.
“Yes I know, but we cannot undo what has been done. Besides these creatures do not like to reveal themselves. It is only with great desperation and plea from the Queen that they have agreed to help. They do not wish the Gorzars to return or for the Elves to take over either, any more than we do. The Queen has sent her most trusted adviser Freelander with the Runners and he will guide you back to the Gardinel City and take you to find Kainan; they are waiting for you in the courtyard.”
Lord Porlock bowed his head. “Then I shall leave at once, with haste,” and turned to leave.
“Wait, Porlock! Here take this, it is Kainan’s.” Wizard Marton stepped forward and held out Kainan’s old, blood-stained shirt. “The Runners are also excellent trackers; it may help you find Kainan when you get there.”
Porlock nodded his head taking hold of Kainan’s shirt.
“Great speed Porlock and good luck,” the King offered as Porlock left the room. The King turned to Wizard Marton. “Do you think they can do it?” The old wizard nodded.
“Don’t worry Sire, Kainan will not fail us.”
The King sighed with a heavy heart. “How can you be so sure Marton that the Dark Elves will not get to him first and kill him?”
“Because I still believe this is not the full prophecy. I still believe Kainan and Arweyn are meant for something more, and I fear it is to do with the boundary, not the Gorzars.” He walked over to the King.
“John, my memory is not what it used to be since the great battle.” The King pla
ced a comforting arm around the old man’s shoulder.
“Marton what you did to save us will never be forgotten. Our race and so many others will always remember your sacrifice for us.”
“Yes I know, and I would not hesitate in doing it again. But my magic is not strong anymore and I am of no real use to Kainan. But there is something I am not seeing, something to do with the boundary, something I should know.” The old man shook his head in frustration. “I really need Prince Gareion back, to help me with this scroll. He is a natural at reading the old language, I am sure he would see what it is I’m missing.”
“Then we have to hold on to hope that Kainan or my men will find him and that we get both Gareion and the Crystal back in time.” The old wizard nodded, hope, that was all they had now.
After grabbing a few supplies Lord Porlock stepped out into the courtyard; the sky was heavy and dark. He shook his head; things were getting really serious; Malgar was in deadly trouble. There in front of him stood two guards. Their eyes were locked, staring at something in front of them, Lord Porlock followed their gaze.
“Bloody hell!” he muttered under his breath as his eyes spotted what it was they were staring at. Swallowing hard, he walked forward cautiously; the guards momentarily diverted their eyes to him and watched as he proceeded forward. Waiting in the centre of the courtyard stood Freelander, the Gardiner. He was a small but feisty man of no more than four feet in stature. He was dressed in mostly green, apart from his dark black boots and his black hat. The Gardiners he understood were distant relatives of the dwarfs and had fled, along with the Groundlings, when their lands were taken over by the darkness. Their numbers were few, but they were a strong tight-knit community that kept themselves to themselves whenever possible. For them to be seen in Malgar showed the desperation and fear that was spreading through the outlands.
Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan Page 30