Birth of a Wizard

by MJ Schutte

  Finally, when he was out of breath, he stopped and leaned on the sword.

  ‘I don’t know how you’re doing this, but it is incredible,’ Peter said, breathing heavily.

  Lilian and Adri came around the corner of the house.

  ‘I wonder what this is all about,’ Lilian whispered.

  ‘I don’t see any anger or hatred in either of them. I think they are just practicing,’ Adri whispered back.

  Lilian looked at her closely and said, ‘Do you mean see, like what we spoke about in the forest?’

  Adri nodded.

  ‘This talent you have could turn out to be very useful,’ Lilian commented.

  Brac spotted the two women and walked closer.

  He gave Adri a little kiss and said, ‘I missed you.’

  Adri smiled and kissed him back.

  ‘So, what is going on here?’ Lilian asked.

  ‘Peter is teaching Brighton hand-to-hand combat,’ Brac replied.

  ‘Is he going to take part in the Warrior Trials?’ Lilian asked carefully.

  ‘It looks like he might be interested in it,’ Brac said.

  Lilian walked over to Brighton and greeted him, Peter and Nicky.

  The twins spotted the basket she was carrying and immediately tried to wriggle out of Nicky’s arms.

  ‘It looks like they know exactly what is in that basket’, Nicky laughed.

  She put the children down, took the basket from Lilian, and started handing out sweet berries.

  Turning to Brighton, Lilian said, ‘It looks like Peter is teaching you one-on-one combat.’

  ‘There is not much I can teach him,’ Peter commented dryly.

  Brighton laughed and said, ‘I’m thinking of entering the Warrior Trials.’

  Lilian was not happy about this at all but decided to speak to Brighton about it in private.

  Later, in the afternoon, Peter and Nicky decided to take a walk in the forest while everybody else was relaxing on the porch. The twins were taking an afternoon nap for which Lilian was grateful.

  ‘They are getting to be a real handful,’ she commented.

  Brac addressed Brighton, ‘What do you make of the story Peter and Nicky told us about Lady Jaclyn? I can believe some of it since we all know what you can do, but the part about a light shining from her when she was born sounds a bit strange. I’m also wondering about Robyn, the witch who can see the future.’

  Brighton didn’t answer immediately.

  Softly Lilian said to him, ‘Tell them.’

  Brighton nodded and said, ‘When I was born, a light was shining from my body. The people who helped my mother left us in the woods to die because they were scared. I survived by getting energy from the surroundings for eight days until Clarissa, my adoptive mother, came back for me.’

  For a few moments, there was only silence.

  Pensively Brac said, ‘So you are this other god that the witch, Robyn, spoke about. But how did she know you and Jaclyn would be born?’

  ‘I’ve thought about it a lot and I have a theory. No one can see the future but some people can make accurate guesses based on history. Robyn is most likely a Dark One, perhaps even a cousin or half sister to Lilian, who came across the boundary many years ago. If this is true, she obviously knew that Evangeline and Robert were born on the same day and simply made a guess that some special people will be born again. It is not really a big leap. If it happened once, it could, and most likely would, happen again. I would love to hear the actual prophecy. It’s probably a very vague prediction with a lot of room for interpretation.’

  Brac scratched his chin and said, ‘Yes, that makes sense.’

  ‘What do you think happened to Robyn?’ Adri asked.

  ‘Remember Peter said that Jaclyn is one of only two humans who have been inside the elf forest. I’m guessing Robyn is the other and she is still living there,’ Brighton speculated.

  ‘We can ask Peter when they return,’ he added.

  ‘What about the Warrior Trials? Are you really going to enter?’ Lilian asked.

  ‘Yes, I think it might be a good idea. I really don’t care about winning anything but if it gains us a few friends, it will be worth it. Peter did say that anyone who takes part is respected. We can use that to our advantage to set up some trade relations between the Dark Land and the Mountain Kingdom,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘I think it is too dangerous. You can’t use your talent and some of those warriors are extremely brutal according to Peter,’ Lilian countered.

  ‘I won’t use my talent to attack, I will simply feel the energy of their attacks and react like I did with Peter earlier,’ Brighton answered.

  Brac chuckled.

  ‘He was certainly surprised that he could not get through your defences! I have fought many battles and I would not have been able to withstand an onslaught like that! Brighton will be fine in the Warrior Trials, I’m sure of it,’ he assured Lilian.

  Lilian started to argue but suddenly kept quiet and turned her head sideways.

  ‘Something is wrong, I can hear someone screaming in panic,’ she said.

  Brighton immediately used his sense.

  He jumped up and said, ‘Peter is running this way. Nicky is not with him.’

  He let his sense go further outward.

  ‘Oh no! Nicky is in the forest. She is hurt badly!’ he exclaimed

  Brighton broke into a dead run towards Peter with the others following.

  ‘What happened?’ he shouted at the old man.

  ‘Nicky is hurt, we need help!’ Peter shouted back.

  Brighton raced past Peter.

  He knew exactly where Nicky was, he could feel her fragile hold on life slipping away fast. Gathering energy from his surroundings, he ran as fast as he could. Nobody could keep up with Brighton. When he reached Nicky, he dropped down next to her. She was lying on her back, her breathing shallow and ragged. There was blood everywhere.

  Quickly Brighton inspected her body. A deep gash ran across her throat, blood bubbling out of it with every breath. She also had numerous cuts on her arms and face. Brighton felt the last of Nicky’s energy slip away.

  ‘No!’ he shouted as his talent connected to the forest.

  A thick lightning bolt jumped from a nearby tree into his body. Brighton put his hands over the gash in Nicky’s throat and let healing energy flow. The old woman started breathing easier immediately. The thick lightning bolt remained between Brighton and the tree; he was drawing an enormous amount of energy from the forest to heal Nicky’s wounds.

  Nicky opened her eyes.

  Brighton severed the energy link to the forest but continued to let small amounts of healing energy flow into Nicky.

  ‘Brighton?’ Nicky said in confusion.

  ‘Shh, don’t speak. You are hurt but it’s not serious,’ Brighton whispered to her.

  ‘Am I not dead?’ Nicky asked in a ragged voice.

  ‘No, you’re not. Just lie still and do not speak, Peter is coming,’ Brighton answered.

  As soon as he felt that the others were close, he stopped giving Nicky energy and retracted his sense. He helped her sit up.

  Brac was the first to appear. He stopped and looked at the two people sitting on the ground.

  Calmly he walked closer and said dryly, ‘It was obviously not as serious as we thought,’ although he could see the truth in Brighton’s eyes.

  Peter and the two young women reached them. Peter dropped down next to Nicky, eyes wide.

  ‘I thought you were seriously injured. I saw the injuries! Are you alright?’ he asked softly.

  Nicky didn’t answer; her eyes were fixed on Brighton.

  ‘Nicky, are you all right?’ Peter asked again but still the old woman’s eyes did not leave Brighton.

  Self-consciously he got up and walked over to Lilian and Adri.

  ‘She will be fine; it was just a few minor scratches. It looked a lot worse than it really was because of all the blood. I think that’s why Peter panic
ked so much.’

  Slowly Nicky lifted her arm and pointed at Brighton.

  ‘You’re an angel,’ she whispered.

  ‘What?’ Peter frowned.

  Nicky looked at him and, still pointing at Brighton, said, ‘He is an angel, just like Lady Jaclyn.’

  ‘No I’m not,’ Brighton quickly denied.

  Brac, realising that this was dangerous territory, quickly said, ‘Let’s all go back to the house. I’m sure Nicky would like to get cleaned up and I’m curious to know what happened here.’

  Peter and Brac helped Nicky up. Leaning a little on Peter, Nicky started walking, still not taking her eyes off Brighton. They reached the house without incident.

  Adri and Lilian took Nicky inside to help her clean up while the men sat down on the porch.

  ‘Brighton, why did Nicky say you’re an angel like Lady Jaclyn?’ Peter asked.

  ‘I don’t know. Maybe she was just in shock,’ Brighton shrugged.

  ‘Perhaps, but while we were walking back here I had some time to think. Something is not right. I saw Nicky’s wounds. They were very serious. How did you know exactly where Nicky was and how is it that her wounds were healed when we got there?’ Peter asked suspiciously.

  ‘I…uh…I followed your trail and maybe Nicky’s wounds were not as bad as you thought. Is it not possible that you saw a lot of blood and panicked?’ Brighton replied uncomfortably.

  Peter started talking again but Brac cut him off.

  ‘What happened?’ he asked hoping to distract Peter from his line of questioning.

  ‘We were attacked by two black panthers. I managed to scare away the one that attacked me but Nicky was almost completely defenceless against the other one,’ Peter answered.

  Brac shot a quick, worried look at Brighton but the younger man shook his head. He could not feel Mischief’s energy anywhere near them.

  ‘Now tell me, how did you get to Nicky so fast and how did her wounds heal so quickly?’ Peter asked firmly.

  ‘I don’t know,’ was all Brighton could think of.

  ‘You’re a terrible liar,’ Peter accused.

  The two men looked each other in the eyes. Peter could see there was a big secret Brighton was keeping, and he was determined to find out what it was.

  The women came out of the house.

  ‘Nicky, show me the wounds please,’ Peter asked.

  ‘I don’t have any, just a few marks that look like old scars,’ Nicky answered.

  Peter turned to Brighton and said sternly, ‘Talk young man. I want to know everything.’

  Brighton was still reluctant to tell the two old people the truth.

  Nicky came over to him, put her arms around him and said, ‘You saved my life today. We will never do anything to harm you or betray your confidence. I remember what it felt like when Lady Jaclyn healed me and today’s experience felt the same, just much stronger, more intense.’

  She gave Brighton a tight hug before going to sit down next to Peter. Brighton looked at Lilian who gave him a slight nod. Slowly he started talking.

  ‘I have a talent for feeling and manipulating energy around me. I can take, give, or influence all forms of energy. When I saw the extent of Nicky’s wounds I did not think, I reacted. I connected to the forest, drew energy from the plants and let it flow into Nicky. This is what healed her wounds,’ he explained.

  Nicky’s eyes were wide but Peter sat stone faced.

  ‘What do you mean when you say “energy”?’ he asked.

  ‘All around us there is energy or life force. All living things need it to survive. I have the ability to tap into that life force,’ Brighton replied.

  Nobody spoke so Brighton went on, ‘From what you’ve told me, it sounds like Lady Jaclyn has the same ability.’

  He was reluctant to tell the old people about Lilian’s ability but she started talking, not wanting to keep any more secrets.

  ‘I have a similar talent but not nearly as powerful as Brighton’s. I can also feel energy but, unlike Brighton, I can only take. I can not give or manipulate,’ she said.

  Turning to Adri and Brac, Peter said, ‘And you two?’

  Brac laughed and said, ‘No, we are just regular people.’

  For a moment, Peter saw an uncomfortable look flash cross Adri’s face. The young woman looked at Lilian with a question in her eyes. A smile from Lilian reassured her that her secret would not change the way anybody felt about her.

  ‘It’s not entirely true, Brac. I also have a talent that could be considered special,’ she started.

  Brac smiled at her and said, ‘I know. You are very beautiful and a wizard in the kitchen.’

  Adri knew he was trying to lighten the mood but she had decided to tell the truth and pressed on.

  ‘Thank you, my darling, but I’m serious. I have the ability to see people’s intentions or feelings,’ she revealed.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Brac asked with a frown.

  ‘It’s a long story,’ she said uncomfortably.

  ‘We have time, please tell us about your magical power,’ Peter prodded.

  Adri smiled and said, ‘Magic does not exist.’

  Turning to Peter and Nicky, she continued, ‘When we came across the boundary, Brighton and I got infected by something called darkweed. Brighton tried to heal us but it did not work. The only way he could save us both was to first kill us, and then bring us back from the dead. Something happened to me when he brought me back. I can see people’s feelings, emotions and intentions. At the moment you, Peter, have a feeling of complete disbelief in you, where as Nicky has accepted everything we’ve said as the truth.’

  Peter’s eyes went wide.

  ‘How did you know what I think?’ he stammered.

  Adri also saw fear in Peter but did not say anything.

  ‘I don’t know what you are thinking but I can see your emotions. You are having a hard time believing what we’re telling you,’ Adri replied.

  Before Peter could say anything more, she turned to Brac.

  ‘Does this change how you feel about me?’ she asked.

  Brac was about to say no, but then had a thought.

  ‘You can see my feelings, you tell me,’ he answered instead.

  Adri smiled and said, ‘I only see love coming from you when you look at me.’

  ‘There is your answer,’ Brac smiled at her.

  Brighton, who had been silently listening to Adri, turned to Lilian.

  ‘You knew about this, didn’t you?’ he said.

  It was not an accusation but rather a simple statement of fact. He knew the two women were close.

  ‘Adri told me this morning in the woods,’ Lilian replied.

  Peter shook his head in disbelief.

  ‘I can’t believe that three out the four people who came across the boundary are wizards,’ he whispered.

  ‘Please do not be scared Peter,’ Adri said softly.

  ‘I’m not scared,’ Peter said defiantly but Adri knew better.

  ‘Peter, we will never harm you or Nicky, I promise,’ Adri tried to reassure him, but still his fear remained.

  ‘Perhaps we should tell you why we came across the boundary,’ Brighton suggested.

  ‘Does it matter? All the rumours of demons and wizards living on the other side of the mountain were obviously true. Our only defence against this magic is Lady Jaclyn. This was Robyn’s second prophecy,’ Peter stammered.

  ‘We are just people, Peter. We are not demons or wizards and magic does not exist,’ Brighton replied.

  He was burning to ask about Robyn but knew they had to win Peter’s trust first.

  Nicky placed her small hand in Peter’s and said, ‘If they wanted to hurt us, don’t you think they would have done so long ago? Brighton saved my life. This should tell us all we need to know.’

  Adri could see Peter’s fear fading a little, replaced by acceptance. He still did not trust any of them but he trusted Nicky’s words.

  ‘I wanted to ask abo
ut Robyn’s prophecy, if you don’t mind,’ Brighton asked carefully.

  Peter nodded and said, ‘What do you want to know?’

  ‘Do you know the exact wording?’ Brighton asked.

  Peter thought for a moment and then said, ‘This is what Robyn said according to three priests who were with her at the time: The almighty father and mother will come to this land. Accept and serve them, resistance is futile.’

  ‘Is that all?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘Yes, that was the first prophecy. Numerous priests and scholars have analysed it. Almost everyone had a different interpretation but when Lady Jaclyn was born, the meaning became clear,’ Peter answered.

  ‘When did Robyn make this prophecy?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘Roughly three thousand years ago when she first came across the boundary,’ Peter answered.

  ‘Why were her words deemed to be a prophecy?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘At first nobody took notice but when the priests realised she was a witch, they documented her words and started believing it to be a foretelling or prophecy,’ Peter answered.

  ‘Why did the priests believe her to be a witch?’ Brighton pressed on.

  ‘The story is well known throughout the three kingdoms. When she came across the mountain, the first people she met were three priests. They decided to bring her to Fenton. The only thing she said on the journey was “The almighty father and mother will come to this land. Accept and serve them, resistance is futile”. The priests took her in since she had nowhere to live and, until Lady Jaclyn’s birth, she lived in the temple in Fenton. The priests, who found her, noticed that she did not age and started documenting this. Every few years an artist was brought to the temple to draw her likeness on a piece of the temple wall. There are hundreds of drawings of Robyn on the walls and in every one, except for the drawings of the last sixty years, she looks like the young woman who came across the boundary. Today she looks like a woman of about eighty,’ Peter explained.

  ‘How do you know she came here three thousand years ago?’ Brighton asked.