Deragan Sword Prophecy: Book 01 - Kainan

by Rosemary Lynch

  “Now my precious granddaughters, hold the book close to your heart with your left hand, and hold this wand with the other.” The Queen passed Arweyn the crystal wand. It was quite plain but it twisted round and round, like the horn of a unicorn. Arweyn was puzzled she had no idea what was happening, but assumed it was part of her training.

  “Now close your eyes. Do not worry you will not feel any pain,” the Queen assured her looking at her worried face.

  Arweyn closed her eyes nervously.

  “Ready?” her grandmother asked. She nodded, she was ready, but she didn’t know what for.

  “Elspetha relato spelldara!” The Queen began to chant a spell. “Elspetha relato spelldara!” All of a sudden the book began to illuminate and vibrate. Arweyn gasped, she dared not open her eyes even though she could feel the book and the wand shaking vigorously in her hands.

  The Queen continued, “Spedero elscara melentha.” As she did, magical whispers of spells and enchantments began flowing all around her granddaughter, sparkles of white light began flickering and swirling around her body and up around her head. “Spedero elscara melentha!” Her grandmother finished. The crystal wand glowed for a few more moments and then gradually began fading until it was no longer visible in her hand. The Queen stopped and smiled as she looked at her granddaughter. Finally after all these years she was now a true Faerling.

  “You may open your eyes now,” she said in a soft voice.

  Arweyn opened her eyes; they were wide with excitement and her body was charged with energy.

  “Wow that was incredible,” she said gushing excitedly. Not really knowing how to put into words exactly how she felt. She felt so different, so alive!

  The Queen held out her hand, helping her to her feet. Arweyn then looked down at her hand, the wand had gone, it had completely vanished. She started to place the book of spells back into her bag.

  “Arweyn you will not need that book anymore, here let me take it for you.”

  “Not need it, but my mother gave it to me,” she replied, reluctant to hand over her most treasured possession even to her own grandmother.

  “I know my darling but it has served its purpose. Now take a look at the pages.” Opening her book she could not help but gasp out loud as she began flickering through the pages. There were no spells or enchantments; in fact there was not even one word left written on a page.

  “Your mother’s book is now part of you my granddaughter; as it had once been part of her. It is held in your memory, in your subconscious. Your wand is also now part of you.”

  “Part of me, I don’t understand?” She shook her head confused and frowned.

  “Watch Arweyn, I will show you.”

  Pulling back the sleeves of her gown so that Arweyn could see her long fingers were empty.

  “Elarta emporia!” she whispered, flicking her hand suddenly forward. As she did so her wand appeared by magic in her hand.

  “Wow that is incredible! How did you…...” She stopped before her grandmother had a chance to answer. Looking at her grandmother she raised her eyebrow questioningly.

  “I can do that?”

  “Yes,” she replied agreeably, nodding. “And with some practice you will learn to cast spells and enchantments without having to summon the wand at all. Now why not try and see what you can do?”

  Arweyn nodded, pulling back the sleeves of her cloak. Taking in a deep cautious breath, she hesitated.

  “Grandmother how much magic will I have? I am part Groundling.” Her grandmother smiled.

  “My darling you are now pure Faerling. You are of Royal Faerling

  blood; you will have full Faerling powers. It makes no difference that your father was a Groundling; your bloodline is too strong. Faerling magic will take over.” Arweyn swallowed, full Faerling powers. What did that mean?

  Her grandmother smiled. “Now come along let’s see what you can do.” She raised her eyebrow at her encouragingly. Arweyn nodded and took a deep breath remembering the words that her grandmother had spoken.

  “Elarta emporia!” she whispered, flicking her hand forward, and as she did so her wand appeared in her hand.

  “Oh I did it! This is just so unbelievable,” she shook with excitement.

  “Now my granddaughter watch carefully, to put the wand back.”

  The queen held out the wand.

  “Retracto emporia!” And with a flick of her wrist the wand was gone. Arweyn’s eyes stared in disbelief. Never had she seen such magic, and magic which she was now able to do.

  “Now you darling.” Her granddaughter nodded and held out her hand, coughing nervously.

  “Retracto emporia!” and in an instant the wand was gone. Arweyn jumped about excitedly. The Queen smiled at her, she was indeed promising in the arts of magic.

  “Now come along Arweyn you still have a lot to learn. You need to cast some spells.”

  “How will I know them, I have only read some of mother’s spells.”

  “The spells are buried deep into your subconscious now.” She tapped Arweyn’s temples with her finger. “It will happen do not worry.”

  She nodded, hoping her grandmother was right.

  “Now watch this. I will not speak the spell, as with time you will be able to cast spells with just your mind.”

  The Queen turned to the table. Raising her arm and without warning she flipped the table over. Arweyn screamed and jumped back shocked.

  “Now,” she said, walking over to the table and picking it upright. “It is your turn.”

  “I…. I cannot do that.” Arweyn panicked, stuttering.

  “Of course you can Arweyn, all you have to do is think what you want to happen and I promise the spell will come to you. Now see if you can knock the table over like I did.” The Queen laughed quietly at her worried face.

  “Okay, I will try.” She took a deep breath and looked at the table. She thought hard and as if in a trance, she raised her hand “Elarta emporia!” The wand appeared in her hand. “Blastara separate,” and with such a force that she not only did she knock the table over but she blasted it across the room as well.

  “Retracto emporia.” she finished, taking a deep breath as the wand retracted back into her.

  “I did it!” she yelled in excitement, turning to her grandmother.

  “You certainly did my dear,” her grandmother replied, looking at her slightly puzzled. “I have to say you have a very strong force within you. Show me your wand hand.” Arweyn pulled up her sleeve and showed the Queen her hand. The Queen reached forward and took it turning it over, palm facing upwards. She stared at the mark cut into her hand. Slowly she took a deep breath and smiled. “Now follow me we shall go and practice some more.”

  “Grandmother, can I ask you. When we were in the forest Kainan was attacked by a wolf and somehow I blasted the wolf back. How did I do that, I didn’t know how to cast that spell or have a wand?”

  “My dear you have years of Faerling breeding within you, it stands to reason that you would naturally have the ability to cast spells without the Book of Chants.”

  “What did you say?”

  “What do you mean, dear?”

  “You called it the Book of Chants; I thought it was a spell book.”

  Her grandmother stopped and turned. “No my darling, you had the Book of Chants all along.”

  “What! The Book of Chants, the one we have been searching for. So what did the old man have that the Gorzars took?” Her grandmother smiled.

  “It was a decoy my darling, purely a book of inconsequential spells.”

  “A decoy, but grandmother the old man died. That means he lost his life for no reason.”

  “No, that was just a body, Belsere is a seraph.”

  “I don’t understand?” She raised her hands to her temples; her head was beginning to ache. This day was beginning to get even more confusing.

  “He is from the spirit world. He was sent to help us all. He cannot die because he does not live, he just is.�
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  Arweyn shook her head, she didn’t understand at all. The Queen put her arm around her.

  “My darling, there are a great many beings as well as Groundlings and Faerlings whose lives are in danger. These Gorzars and the creatures that help them have been our enemies for many centuries.”

  “Then why did we go to the Keeper’s cottage? It was a complete waste of time, some of us nearly died?”

  “No Arweyn, all things have a purpose. There was a reason why you had to go through what you did; it is the only way you can learn.” She looked deep into her eyes, deep into her soul.

  “Arweyn, you have a great love for Kainan don’t you?”

  Arweyn nodded, that was one thing she was certain off.

  “Things have to happen the way they do for a reason. It may not make any sense to you now, but it has brought you and Kainan together, and each day you have grown closer, stronger. If you did not experience this journey together you may not have joined.”

  “But how did you know?” Arweyn blushed, embarrassed by the thought of her grandmother knowing her most intimate secret.

  “Arweyn what you just did with the wand was amazing, far beyond any normal ability at such a young age.” She took hold of her wand hand and turned it over. “Look.” She nodded to the cut on her hand where they had joined. Arweyn looked and shrugged her shoulders.

  “It is just a cut.” Her grandmother shook her head.

  “No my love it is not just a cut, you joined with Kainan using the Deragan Sword didn’t you?” She nodded. “Clear your mind Arweyn and look again, look beyond what is there.” Her granddaughter frowned, it was just a cut. She lifted her hand closer and stared. Then her eyes widened with disbelief; she could see quite clearly a dragon entwined with a unicorn.

  “Grandmother what is it?” She cried, shocked and scared. Her grandmother took hold of her hand and held it tight.

  “You joined with the Deragan Sword.” Arweyn nodded again. “Why did you do that?” She looked down at her granddaughter.

  “It is what we had to do grandmother. I have to be joined with Kainan.”

  “And you knew exactly what to do?” Arweyn nodded. Her grandmother smiled. “I knew it was going to be you, I just knew it.”

  “Knew what, what about me?”

  “You and Kainan have a power so great that all evil creatures will learn to fear you. I know this is a lot to take in but believe me in time you will both learn how to use it. You were destined to be together since before you were even born, it has always been known. History speaks of such a prophecy. It speaks of the great ones returning to free the lands of the darkness.”

  Arweyn stared at her grandmother as if she were mad. The great ones; what was she talking about?

  Suddenly her grandmother stopped and stared as if in a trance. She began to breathe deeply, turning to Arweyn and raising her hand to her face, her voice became shallow and fast. “Arweyn listen to me and remember. Just because he appears to be dead it does not mean there is no life. You must take the bad soul and turn it into good.”

  Arweyn stood bemused, “Grandmother what do you mean? Are you all right?” she asked concerned. Reaching her hand forward she held her grandmothers arm, but her grandmother shook her head, “Mean? Mean what dear? I didn’t say anything. Now Arweyn come, I want to show you something.” Arweyn frowned and let her go. What was that all about? Puzzled by what the Queen had just said, she repeated her words over in her mind as she quietly followed her out of the room.

  As they walked along the corridor they passed statues of knights on pedestals dressed in fine amour with great swords and shields. Arweyn was still contemplating what the Queen had just unknowingly said when suddenly one of the knights jumped forward raising its sword towards the Queen, Arweyn screamed.

  “Grandmother!”

  Her grandmother turned. Arweyn looked around her; quickly she grabbed a sword off the wall and swung it high. The knight attacked. Arweyn swung low; she jumped and somersaulted in front of her grandmother to protect her. Raising the sword she swung and lunged time and time again. Then with a force so strong she plunged the sword into the armour but the suit was empty, and the knight fell crashing to the ground. Arweyn dropped the sword, turning to her grandmother.

  “Grandmother are you okay? What was that?” she panted, as she regained her breath. Her grandmother smiled, and with a wave of her hand the Knight stood up and flew backwards until once again it stood on the pedestal, still.

  Arweyn stood in silence, suddenly realising what she had just done. Normally she would not have even been able to lift a sword, yet alone fight with one. It had been a test.

  Her grandmother smiled and ushered her with her arm.

  “Please let us continue our walk. You see my darling, not only do you have your own magical skills but by joining with Kainan using the Deragan Sword…..” She smiled as she looked at Arweyn’s reddened face. “You have combined your powers. You have taken some of his strength and abilities as a swordsman.”

  Arweyn smiled, she knew she had been right about him from the moment she had set eyes on him in the market on Malgar. She looked at her grandmother, gently whispering.

  “Does that mean he will be able to do magic?”

  The Queen nodded. “Oh yes my darling. I do not think he will be as powerful as you in magic, but his strength and physical power will be great. Together you will be a force to be reckoned with.”

  Arweyn grinned, what will Kainan think when she tells him he can do magic?

  “But Arweyn, be warned.” The Queen interrupted her thoughts. “You are not invincible. You have a lot to learn and you will not have full power to fight the Gorzars, power and strength will come in time. You will need to learn how to harness your powers together.”

  “Why us, I don’t understand. People keep talking about this prophecy. You said we were meant to be together, but what is it we are supposed to do?”

  Her grandmother shook her head.

  “My darling I do not know. All we have are rumours and stories. When the people fled Malgar and came through to Zyon we, the Faerlings, were there to help them settle and to find lands of their own. The old Wizard who came with them, Santora we believe he was called, was old and confused. He brought with him the Deragan Sword, the sword Kainan now has.” Arweyn listened intently. The Queen took a breath. “It is believed that the Deragan Sword held a great magic, an enchantment and that no matter what or whose life must be forfeited this sword must remain safe and in the hands of the Groundlings. For one day the great ones would return and join using the Deragan Sword which would release their powers, and in doing so together they would rid their world of the great darkness and free their people.” She sighed. “In their rush to leave Malgar I believe they left all the old scrolls behind them. No-one anymore seems to know why or who these great ones were. Or what the darkness is, only that the Sword must be kept safe at all costs.”

  “But why do you think it is me and Kainan, why us?”

  “My darling, you have joined using the Deragan sword. Why would you do that? No-one knows how that is done?”

  Arweyn’s brow creased and she looked up at her grandmother.

  “Because I had to, both Kainan and I knew. We both knew what to do; we spoke the words together as if we knew them.” She shook her head.

  “I don’t understand any of this. I certainly don’t remember a past life.” She sighed and then looked up at her grandmother. “Except that….” She hesitated.

  “Go on,” The Queen urged.

  “I know it sounds mad, but I do know Kainan. I feel as if I have been with him already, like we have met before somewhere or some other time.”

  “My darling I know this must be hard for you to understand or to even contemplate, but you and Kainan are destined for a greater purpose.” She took hold of her hand and turned it over, looking at the swirling dragon and unicorn in the palm of her hand. “This is yours and Kainan life force. You are bound together, even beyond thi
s world. These are your souls joined together. Wherever you are he will always be able to find you and vice versa, in this world or any another.” Arweyn swallowed hard. She knew she was meant to be by his side, to fight the Gorzars. But was there something else, something greater, something far worse than the Gorzars?

  “Grandmother I will not pretend I understand any of this, but as long as I am with Kainan and whatever we must face we do together then nothing else matters. When I had my dream I felt that there was something else waiting for us at Mennock Mountain. Do you know what it is?”

  “Alas my darling I agree. There is something else there, but whatever it is has the power to block my visions. I cannot see through into the mountain, and therefore I am unable to guide you.” They entered the room where they had first arrived.

  Sharlinger was there looking at her crystal ball, she looked up and smiled.

  “Hello Arweyn how is the training going?”

  “Very well thank you.” She smiled at the Queen. As she did she began to unbutton her cloak.

  “Oh no my darling, you must keep this cloak, you will need it.”

  “But my mother’s….” She looked at her mother’s cloak lying on the chair.

  “I will keep it for you. Now I will bid you farewell as I believe you will soon be on your way.” Leaning over she kissed Arweyn’s forehead.

  “Be brave my granddaughter and you will succeed. I love you and will see you again.” With those last words the Queen turned and left the room.

  Arweyn watched as she left the room. Going? But she had only just arrived; surely she had more training, more to learn.

  Sharlinger waved her hand across the crystal ball.

  “Arweyn,” she called, glancing over to her. “Come here quickly.”

  “What is it Sharlinger?” Arweyn replied, walking quickly over to her.

  “Your friends they are in great danger, you must return to them at once.” She looked up; her face was full of fear.