The kingdom that for some time had been in mourning soon had a reason to celebrate. King Rufus married Lady Marissa in a ceremony that lasted three days. Reynaldo now found himself living in the palace, a dramatic change for a boy who grew up on a farm.
Reynaldo could still remember his mother telling him that she was expecting a child and that he would soon have a new brother or sister. In his dreams, Reynaldo still saw his father, the dashing Viranio, with his hearty laughter and rough work-worn hands. His first response to the news of the baby was anger. How could his mother betray his father’s memory like this? It had been only sixteen seasons since his father’s death, his face and voice still so clear in Reynaldo’s mind. How had his mother forgotten him so easily? It was only when he was much older Reynaldo learned you never really forget those whom you have loved, but that life goes on as it must. Even Reynaldo had to acknowledge that he had never seen the Lady Marissa so happy, not even when his father was alive. As the new queen, she exuded an aura of happiness and peace. He began to think about the prospect of having a brother or sister and decided he liked the idea.
By the time that Dariew was born, Reynaldo was as excited as the rest of the kingdom. Reynaldo had known for a long time that his new little brother or sister was automatically the heir to the throne; it was a fact that he accepted without question. Only occasionally did he feel somewhat irritated that one day he would have to kneel down before a younger sibling. Eventually his hostility was overcome as he grew to love his new brother. Dariew was a bright, happy baby with an infectious giggle that echoed through the great halls of the palace.
The bond between the half-brothers strengthened as they grew older and they became inseparable. Together they fished, hunted, competed in archery tournaments and enjoyed playing redagger – a sport played from drallion back where a solid cowl-wood ball was hit through a series of obstacles using long batons. Reynaldo could still hear Dariew’s laughter as he scored from a particularly difficult shot.
However, as is often the case with young men, there was only one thing that could harm a close relationship. It was love. Reynaldo had been exploring the forest behind the palace one day when he came upon a young woman who was crying. Reynaldo could still remember gasping when an extraordinary pair of shimmering emerald eyes rose to his face. Stammering, she told him how she had been walking in the woods when she had stepped into a hole and twisted her ankle. Placing a supporting arm around her Reynaldo helped her to her feet and escorted her home. He knew at that point that he had lost his heart to the beautiful woman with the extraordinary eyes. As they walked, Reynaldo knew that he had fallen in love with the Lady Volanda and that his love for her would last forever.
However, it was Dariew who courted and then wed the lovely Volanda. Reynaldo sometimes felt those remarkable eyes on him as if questioning him or seeking a reassurance that he could not give her. Instead, he had stood up as Dariew’s best man. He had toasted the happy newlyweds. He had smiled as he kissed her cheek. He had pretended he was not dying inside.
Chapter 10
It was not long after Dariew’s and Volanda’s wedding that Largo’s presence began to be felt throughout Walhalla. Rumours of looting, murder and kidnapping began filtering through to Golden City. The main rumour that came to the ears of the Royal Council was that Largo wanted the throne. Largo (the illegiti-mate son of King Artemius and an unknown mother) was extremely ambitious and would stop at nothing to have the Royal Throne of Walhalla. Largo was jealous and possessive of a throne that was denied him when he was just 18 seasons.
Reynaldo felt a sick pain that the woman he loved more than life itself was in danger. He knew that he should be equally concerned about his half-brother but a lifetime of coming second place had taken its toll and Reynaldo knew his love for Dariew was fading.
As he glanced at the young girl who so strongly resembled her parents, a tense fear-riddled conversation ran through his mind.
Volanda stood before him; her belly swollen with child, her beautiful face streaked with tears.
‘Reynaldo, you must help us. Every day Largo’s army grows stronger. It is rumoured that an evil being is aiding him. Some say that because of this he cannot be defeated.’
Reynaldo found himself unconsciously wiping her tears away with his thumbs. His heart ached to pull her into his arms but she was Dariew’s wife.
He could only reply: ‘Volanda, you must flee. Use the charm. It will take you away from Walhalla.’
‘And Dariew?’ she asked, raw pain in her voice.
Reynaldo swallowed and uncomfortably looked away. Volanda seized handfuls of his jerkin and shook him, dragging his attention back to her.
‘Reynaldo, he is your brother. The child that I am carrying will be your blood.’ She hesitated for a long moment her eyes locked on his. ‘This child could have been ours, Reynaldo.’
He carefully moved her hands away from his clothing and gave them a gentle squeeze. He knew he could not cause her any more pain.
‘I will make Dariew see sense. You must both use the charm to flee Walhalla. I will take charge of the army and we will fight Largo.’
Volanda smiled and threw her arms around him in gratitude. Reynaldo stood for a moment enjoying her warmth and he breathed in her scent. He then released her knowing this would be a memory that would sustain him for a long time.
Now he walked beside Dariew and Volanda’s daughter. He knew that he must put the past to rest. His homeland was at stake. Reynaldo had vowed that when he went to find Ariel he would do all in his power to keep this girl, who could have been his daughter, safe; that he would do all he could to see Ariel rise to the throne, as her parents had planned. It was his way of atoning for the death of a king and a brother.
Chapter 11
Snapping his mind back to the present, Reynaldo glanced around at a narrow dirt road as dawn began to steal across the sky. A blaze of orange and purple light flooded around them. The red Walhalla sun crested the horizon turning the sky to molten gold. The surrounding scrub looked ablaze but Reynaldo knew the countryside merely reflected the sky. Reynaldo also explained to Ariel that the odd sound she had heard belonged to an animal called a traiger. He explained that the sound it made was its defence against predators as it was a small, relatively timid creature.
For the first time in her life Ariel breathed in clean air that only contained the scents of grass and earth. She turned her head constantly, gasping in wonder. The dazzling Walhalla sun held her spellbound. It shone like a fiery jewel and made the sun that Ariel had always known, seem no brighter than a light bulb.
Reynaldo watched her reactions and was pleased to see that she was excited and not fearful. Her eyes moved constantly, trying to see everything at once, her head turning at every sound. The early sunrise brought a cacophony of birdsong filling the air with music. Ariel seemed enchanted as she searched branches for the feathery vocalists. It occurred to Reynaldo that her sad, limited life in the orphanage had given her an appreciation for anything unusual. A pang of guilt went through him as he wished he had found Ariel much sooner. He did not realise that her parents had crossed the country after arriving in America. Only now did he know that they were fleeing their assassin. Reynaldo shook his head and admonished himself, realising that he was too old for thinking “if only”.
So much pain and regret had marred the last 24 seasons of his life; he was determined that his grief would not impact upon the girl who was now under his care.
Ariel noticed his stare and turned to speak.
‘Where are we heading?’
As the words came out of her mouth she realised that she was no longer speaking English. The flowing language of Walhalla seemed as familiar to her as her native tongue. Ariel wondered how she could have mastered a language without it being taught. It was only then that Ariel noticed even her thoughts were in her new tongue. The language had a lyrical quality to it, giving her speech a rhythm that could never be possible in English. Ariel thought back to her
memory of a woman’s voice singing to her. She then remembered the strange symbols on the chest holding the Palladox Charm. A revelation occurred in her mind; she realised a part of her had always known that English was not her native language. When Ariel realised this, she knew that Reynaldo had been using this language since they had arrived in Walhalla. She somehow knew the strangeness of her surroundings prevented her noticing this earlier.
Noticing her expression, he replied.
‘We are heading to Golden City, the centre of Walhalla and your parents’ home. You are now speaking Wadish, our language. It is natural to you. Your familiar tongue merely masked what was part of your genetic identity.’
Ariel absorbed this information in silence. Part of her was still marvelling at this amazing change in her life. The fact that she was walking through a world which, before now, she had not known existed seemed incredible. Yet she could feel a soft breeze touching her face and the silkiness of her blouse against her skin; she could smell grass, earth, moss and flowers. In spite of this she kept pinching herself to ensure that she was not dreaming.
‘How do you feel, Ariel?’ Reynaldo asked.
She thought about it for a moment and realised that underneath her excitement a more basic need was asserting itself.
‘Actually, I’m hungry,’ she finally replied and remembered that she had not eaten since the day of her departure from the orphanage.
The thought brought a soft laugh bubbling to the surface as it occurred to her that even in the midst of the wonders now in front of her, she could still think of something as mundane as food. Her own laughter made her stop in her tracks. Laughter was not a common sound in Riverview and Ariel had learnt at a young age that it was unwelcome by the care staff. How extraordinary it was now to have the freedom to feel and react to new situations without fear or restraint. Although she kept remembering Reynaldo’s warnings of the potential danger facing her she could not bring herself to feel afraid of her current environment.
‘Your laugh is so like your mother’s,’ Reynaldo commented, a small glimmer of moisture in his eyes.
Ariel found herself smiling unconsciously at Reynaldo; his genuine affection for her parents inspired feelings of warmth in her heart for this gentle man.
An audible rumble in her stomach brought Ariel’s thoughts back to the present and to Reynaldo’s question. She glanced up nervously when she heard Reynaldo laugh at her obvious sign of hunger. She smiled; for the first time feeling unselfcon-scious about something that would have previously embarrassed her. The food at the orphanage had been consistently bland. Thin, watery porridge was served for breakfast each day. This was followed by weak broth accompanied by hard, dry bread for both lunch and dinner. Years of living on this diet had inured her taste buds and limited her appetite. The fact that she now genuinely felt hungry made Ariel realise that her days in Riverview were definitely behind her. She wondered what kind of food was eaten in Walhalla.
Reynaldo smiled.
‘What would you like to eat?’ he asked.
This was the first time anyone had asked Ariel this question. She felt suddenly both thrilled and confused, unsure how to answer.
Reynaldo repeated his question and waited patiently for an answer.
‘I don’t know; as long as it’s not porridge,’ Ariel answered finally.
He laughed at her bluntness. He could not begin to imagine what her life had been like in the bleak building across from the cottage where he had found Ariel. In his life he had never known a world as drab and unhappy as the place that they had left behind. Although he knew that the dangers in Walhalla were very real, he also believed that Ariel was about to experience a land full of hope and beauty. He decided that this could be the right time to teach her about the ability that she had never known she possessed. Thinking carefully he spoke.
‘Is there anything that you have always wanted to taste?’ he asked.
Ariel thought for a moment and remembered the hot summer days in the park seeing people walk past her eating ice creams. She had often tried to guess what it would taste like, what it would feel like when the ice cream touched her tongue.
‘I have never tasted ice cream,’ she said softly, feeling a little embarrassed.
Ariel thought that she should pick something healthier but she wondered how Reynaldo could provide food when nothing around her seemed edible.
Reynaldo surprised her by nodding.
‘What about an ice cream sundae?’
She stared at him wondering if he was teasing her. She remembered seeing a picture of one on the front of a shop that she had passed when walking to the park. The image filled her mind, scoops of delicious looking ice cream, covered in whirls of thick chocolate sauce and sprinkled with nuts. Unexpectedly she felt a tingle almost like electricity running through her. This sensation was quite different to the feeling that she had when she used the charm. It was somehow frightening and exciting at the same time. It was a feeling of power and even as inexperienced as she was Ariel realised that it could become addic-tive and dangerous.
The sensation travelled through her to her fingertips then the feeling changed. At that moment something cold touched her hand. She looked down and could not believe what she was seeing. Her hand was clasped around a glass dish exactly like the picture that she had seen. She could smell the chocolate topping and feel the chill of the ice cream. A shining small spoon was sticking out of the ice cream. Gasping she stared at Reynaldo. She was surprised to see he was smiling.
‘What you imagine can be yours,’ he stated simply.
Chapter 12
Ariel stared at Reynaldo with her eyes wide from shock.
‘Do you mean I can have anything I want?’
‘There are limitations to your abilities. I am sure you wanted things when you were in the orphanage.’
She thought back to the endless years of wishing for a family.
‘I most wanted to know my parents,’ Ariel replied, her voice husky with emotion. ‘Can I see them now?’
Reynaldo smiled.
‘I wish it were that simple. The ability you have will only work on objects, not people and it is not possible to bring back the dead. I’m sorry Ariel. I wish you had known your mother and father. They were two of the finest people I have ever known and I know that they would have been very proud of you. The gift you have has been passed onto you by your father.’ Reynaldo’s usually mellow voice became rough with emotion.
Feeling tears in her own eyes, Ariel nodded and wondered how she could have never known that she had this gift. She had been presented with so many new ideas in such a short time that she was beginning to feel overwhelmed. A flood of sensations coursed through her from excitement to sadness; she was now as close to knowing her parents as she had ever been. She was filled with both happiness and regret — happiness knowing that she was loved by the people that she had never known, and regret that she would never know them. Ariel had never been prone to tears. It was this feeling that was bringing her emotions so close to the surface.
Quietly Reynaldo watched her.
‘Don’t dwell on not being aware of your gifts, Ariel,’ he said softly as if reading her thoughts. ‘The environment that you grew up in would not have enabled you to understand or use your abilities.’ His face sobered. ‘Please keep in mind that your abilities are limited in that world. The negative energies of that world hinder your power. It would only be under exceptional circumstances that you could use your gift there. I only hope that the situation where this would be necessary does not present itself.’
He gazed at her troubled face for a few moments then added; ‘If it helps, I can tell you that you bear a striking resemblance to your beautiful mother but your amazing eyes are just like your father’s.’
For reasons that she could not explain, Ariel felt close to tears again. It was as though she had received a gift; a legacy from the parents whom she had never known. She began to feel angry with herself. Why was she crying so muc
h? She had spent the first thirteen years of her life stifling and ignoring her emotions and this sudden release added to her confusion.
Although Reynaldo felt Ariel’s pain, he knew that time was short and that he still had a great deal to teach her before they reached Golden City. They had just arrived at a point where a gap in the road-side trees opened to reveal a vista of the surrounding hills. Fields of grain rippled in the slight breeze like a great golden ocean.
Moving with an almost hypnotic rhythm the heavy seed laden heads dipped and bowed in the breeze. She remembered seeing pictures in one of her books of waves rolling onto a beach and it was that picture that now formed in her mind. Spellbound, Ariel absorbed the scene that surrounded her. Reynaldo thought that this would be a good place for their talk so he urged Ariel to sit. Ariel was still holding her untouched ice cream sundae.
Reynaldo gestured to the ice cream.
‘Are you going to eat it?’ he asked Ariel, amusement in his voice.
Slowly, Ariel turned her attention back to Reynaldo and sat down on a nearby fallen log.
Ariel felt a blush heating her face and hurriedly took a large mouthful of the sundae. Her mouth was flooded with the cloying sweetness of the topping and her tongue became numb from the coldness of the ice cream. The first two spoonfuls made her think that she had never tasted anything so good. However, after another three or four mouthfuls, she began to feel a bit queasy and lightheaded. Ariel noticed Reynaldo watching her and suddenly she felt a little foolish for asking for something that she did not really want.
Reynaldo watched as Ariel pushed her spoon back into the ice cream. Ariel wiped her mouth vigorously trying to remove the sickly sweet taste.
‘You have learned a powerful lesson, Ariel,’ he stated. ‘Often what we wish for is not what is best for us.’
She nodded her head in agreement then holding the dish out, she asked; ‘How do I get rid of it?’
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