Children of Destiny

by Nicole R. Stevens

For when you wake

  The road you will take

  Shall lead you home

  Chapter Seven

  Destiny

  “Will you let go of me already?” Screamed the boy as he lunged forward into the house. Aaron grabbed him by the back of his green shirt collar. The boy was not very tall and his hair was a mess of a mop.

  He could not be older than 11-years old; his face was bright red from his anger. The boy jerked his collar away from Aaron’s thick hands. “Thank you.” He spat.

  Aaron rolled his eyes, “Welcome to your new home.”

  Owen and Phoebe sat at a small wooden table in the corner of their loft. They exchanged concerned looks as they stood from their spot.

  “Where did you find him?” He asked, pointing to the boy.

  A bright pink blush took over the boy’s face starting at his ears, working its way over to his cheeks.

  “You want to fight me?” He yelled.

  Aaron grasped his collar again and dragged his body behind him, “I was in Keyla this morning talking to the weaponsmith there. Wanted to get a good quote on that gladius for you, and I wanted to stop by and see if there were any new bounties out. As I was heading to the bounty board when I came across this boy wandering the street outside. He says his name is Brian.”

  “It’s Bra-ian!!” He cried.

  “And let’s just put it this way, not even the adoption house wanted to keep him.” He mumbled. The boy peeked from behind him, before shuffling over to the other children with his fists up, his thumbs tucked under his fingers. His fingers wound his so tight that his knuckles paled.

  “I’m not sure if he is trying to fight you or protect his face.” Phoebe whispered.

  “I’m Owen, and this is Phoebe.” He said. “I don’t want to fight you. Even if you threw a punch at me, you would break your thumb. To throw a better punch, you need to leave your thumb on the outside.” He grabbed one of the boy’s fists and pulled the thumb out from its hiding spot, guiding it over the top knuckle of his fingers.

  “What Owen is trying to say is, welcome home.” She smiled as she placed her hand on top of their hands.

  “Home?” He asked.

  “Yeah,” Aaron said. “Welcome home, Braian.”

  * * *

  The wood snapped as the last of the fire pushed through the linen clad bodies. Engulfing them in dancing flame. The flame that would send them to their eternal resting place.

  The four had watched over as one by one the fire took their comrades. Now they were nothing but ash. Phoebe and Owen walked towards their ruined ship leaving Adriana and Braian sitting next to each other.

  “He wouldn’t want us to be sad,” he said as he ran his fingers over her forearm. “He always told us he wasn’t going to be around forever. Remember how he would scold us and say one day he wasn’t going to be here pull our asses out of jail anymore.”

  “I know, but I don’t think he would mind us being sad. Just for one night at least.” She whispered.

  “You know what he would say in this situation?” Braian laughed.

  “What would that be?” She asked.

  “For the Gods! Why are you four loafing around? Isn’t there something better you could do?” As he spoke, his voice got lower and gruff. This imitation of the man made a smile grow across her cheeks. “There. I made you smile. My work here is done.”

  Adriana let out the breath she had been holding onto for what felt like hours.

  “Come on now. We need to figure out how we are going to get to Belleza from here,” Standing from the dirt Braian wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into an embrace. “It will be okay.”

  “I know.” She whispered. Braian’s clothes smelled of dust, and the dirt. He had always had an earthy smell to him. To her it smelled like comfort. Running the tips of his calloused fingers across her upper arm his breathing was steady. Soon her breathing changed to meet the pace of his. It had felt like an eternity since he had held her close like this.

  Owen’s voice echoed through the forest startled them, “Keylaran Soldiers.” Running towards the ship, they found him leaning against a thick tree trunk. Harsh breaths caused his chest to rise and fall.

  “What happened?” He asked.

  Owen looked up at them. “They took her.” Braian grabbed a hold of Owen and pulled him up. “Soldiers from Keyla came and arrested her for thievery. I tried to fight them off, but they had a conjurer with them. His magic bound us to the ground. They took her with them and only when they left was I let go.”

  Screaming red marks ribbon over his scaly skin. “You idiot,” Adriana said. Owen gave her a scornful look. “You fought against their magic and now you’re hurt again.” As he fought against the magic, it had left his wrists and forearms bleeding.

  “I wouldn’t have fought so hard against them if they hadn’t been kidnapping Phoebe.” He whispered.

  “Do you think you can heal this?” Braian asked.

  “I was never good at the healing part,” She said. “There is a type of moss down by that clearing we passed that should be good to use as an antiseptic if we could pack the wounds.”

  “I can get that. First thing first, we need to clean you up. Go get that prince; he might be of use to us.” He said nudging his head towards the ship. Adriana nodded, leaving the two of them together. “You can’t catch a break today can you?”

  Owen let out a groan as he rolled his shoulders back trying to stretch out the pain.

  * * *

  Her footsteps were heavy. Each strike of her heel reverberated throughout the hull. Members of the crew instinctively turned away from her and walked in the opposite direction. The door of her quarters had become unhinged in the crash. Someone had leaned it against the frame, leaving just enough room to walk in and out without having to bother with it.

  Peering into her room, she found him lying on the bed.

  “Something wrong?” He asked, recognizing the hardened look on her face.

  “We were attacked by Keylaran soldiers. They took Phoebe with them and did a little magical number on Owen.” Adriana explained.

  “Okay and what does that have to do with me?” He asked.

  “We will go get her back, of course, but we’re going to need your help.” She said.

  “My help?” As his voice left his throat, his breath caught at the end.

  Adriana dropped a sword with a steel blade and a gold hilt onto the bed. “Take it.” She said through closed teeth.

  “Do I not get a say in this?” The request caught him off guard.

  “I suppose not,” She crossed her arms. “It’s not the most fancy of swords, but she’s pretty balanced. Got her from a blacksmith back home.”

  “Looks like a fine sword.” He stated picking up the sword, holding it up to examine the blade, pressing his broad thumb over the blade. “I’m sure this wasn’t part of the original plan.”

  “The original plan went to hell as soon as you followed me onto this ship, your highness.” She spat at him.

  “Why should I help?” He challenged, scowling at her.

  Adriana took a few steps towards him, her ice blue swirls forming daggers as she leaned towards him, “Because if you don’t I will let Owen have you. You should know he is very protective of Phoebe. You could say after the day he has had, he won’t be very good at making good, emotional decisions. He will have a few choice words for you, and some choice punches. If you’re lucky.”

  “I am just an unwilling participate in this. Frankly, for someone who wants to be known as a famous thief you should just do it yourself.” He spoke as he walked up to her. Towered over her small frame, he pushed the sword handle into her hand.

  “Because I know better than to let an emotional man run into a dangerous situation halfcocked without at least someone to give a sense of reason.” She said, pushing the sword back in his hands.

  He stood there, his hands loosely holding the hilt o
f the sword. Her eyes locked with his. “I’ll help you, since you’re being so nice. I have one request. That I get a ride back to Eskorgan.”

  Adriana turned on her heel, walking out of the door. “Deal.”

  Corbin watched as her tail twitching behind her as it disappeared behind the doorframe. Picking himself up off the bed, he followed her into the dining hall. Standing over the table were Owen and Braian.

  Pointing to a piece of parchment, Owen whispered to his brother, “I think this is the best way through the forest. We can enter Keyla on the other side of the city. No one would be the wiser that we came from the forest.”

  “You’re asking for a full day trek. Maybe half a day if we don’t run into trouble.” Braian said.

  “And you two always ask for trouble.” She interrupted.

  “Speak for yourself.” Braian muttered. “Is he in?” He pointed to a chair for the man to sit in. “Have a seat and we’ll go over the plan.”

  “I prefer to stand.” He said.

  “Fine by me.” Owen stated. “Right now the plan is simple, we need to rest and heal.”

  “That’s fairly anticlimactic.” Adriana whispered.

  “We cannot do this tonight; it will be too dark to see soon. It will be a no moon night so leaving now would be pointless. Thievery isn’t something that warrants a lynching in Keyla so it is safe to say that Phoebe will still be alive tomorrow. We will regroup in the morning. We may have to travel farther out so we can enter the city from a non-forest side. Once inside, Corbin will tell the guards that Phoebe is a wanted criminal in Eskorgan. If they don’t release her into your custody, Owen and I will take care of them.” Braian punched the air when Owen said ‘take care’ to show what they meant.

  “What about me?” She asked folding her arms across chest, right below her breasts. “What do I get to do?”

  “If all else fails, we trust you to get her out.” Owen said.

  She cocked her head to the side, “Why the sudden burst of trust?”

  “It’s about time we trusted each other.” Owen said. “Now, everyone, go to sleep. I need to talk to the crew. Maybe they can salvage pieces of the ship.” Braian and Owen made their way to the deck.

  “I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you all work together.” Corbin said.

  “You haven’t been here long enough.” She muttered.

  “Is it always like this?” He asked leaning back onto the wall.

  “Sometimes it’s worse.” She walked away. “You should see a good day. You will sleep in Phoebe’s quarters tonight; it’s the one past mine.”

  He turned his head back to watch her as she walked away, “Sleep well.”

  She laughed before taking a turn down the hallway. He heard her take in a deep breath and with its release said, “Right.”

  * * *

  Sitting on her bed, she examined the smooth emerald as it sat perfectly content in her necklace. As her finger ran over the circumference, she remembered running through the palace corridor, the sound of the onyx clicking against the prongs, trying to free itself from them.

  “If you keep staring at it, maybe it will do a trick.” The sudden voice in the room startled her. Looking up she saw Corbin leaning against the doorframe.

  “Get out!” She barked.

  He walked into the room. “I was lying in bed and realized that I couldn’t sleep and then I realized you were probably not sleeping either.”

  “I don’t care if you can’t sleep.” She snapped.

  “You should.” He reasoned. “After all, if I’m going to help you, you might want to care just a bit more.” In silent agreement, he walked into the room and sat down on the bed next to her.

  Together they sat quietly, he watched as she did her best to ignore him by continuing to play with the necklace.

  “Why did you want the staff so badly?” He asked.

  Her breath hitched, escaping through her lips. “To be honest, I’m not sure. Our father asked us to get it.”

  “Well, there is no price value associated with the staff.” Adriana looked at him. He continued, “It wasn’t real gold, just gold painted glass. The emerald was the only thing of any value.” He reached out and touched the necklace, his fingers ghosting over the jewel. “My father would say there is only one reason people would ever want the staff, and it wasn’t for money.”

  “What was the reason?” She asked.

  “He said it was for people chasing a fairy story.” He snorted. “I would ask which one and he would wave his hand at me and say it wasn’t one I needed to know. Then he would walk out of the room, which was my father’s way of saying, ‘I’m done with this conversation.’” Corbin said looking out the broken window.

  “I guess if you are the king you have that right.” She remarked.

  “If that was his excuse he uses it frequently.” He smiled as he spoke.

  “What about your mother?” Adriana asked.

  Corbin’s expression became a void of emotions and his grey eyes deepen in color, “I don’t remember ever having a mother. No, I shouldn’t say that. I only have one memory of my mother. When I was only a few years old, she sent me to live with my father. I became his only heir. No one speaks about her. I can only assume she is dead.”

  “A child born out of wedlock and you got to be a prince. Some bastards have all the luck.” She said.

  “What about you?” He asked. “What about your family?”

  “My only family is here.” She said breaking eye contact to glance down at the necklace. “I wish I knew why this emerald fit and the onyx didn’t.”

  After she spoke the words, the necklace glowed with a bright green shine.

  “What in the hell!” She cried out.

  “What’s going on?” Corbin grabbed her arm, trying to shield her from the glow and the smoke as it poured from the gemstone.

  “You think I know?” She spat. Try as she might to pull the necklace over her head, the chain would reach above her neck before the pendant would slam back down onto her chest. “It won’t come off!” A trail of green light flowed from the necklace, billowing into a large cloud.

  He reached out to touch the cloud, but it moved back from him.

  “How odd.” He whispered. “It’s like it has a mind of its own.”

  A woman emerged from the cloud, her skin was pale green and her hair was striking color of purple that spun in long waving curls around her. She wore a white skirt with a slit up the left sides. This opening revealed there were no legs under the skirt just a column of smoke. Above her waist was a white band that barely covered her breasts. She twirled the smoke around her fingers. The woman’s voice escaped from her mouth. Raspy and dry as if she drank nothing but dust for years.

  “It only works when two become one. It only works when two become one again.” When she opened her eyes, a yellow glow brightened the room. A small smile crossed her thin pink lips as she descended to the floor. Sprouting two sculpted legs out of the smoke, she took a step forward. “Well, well, well. Never thought I’d see this day.” The sprite bowed in front of the two. “The children of destiny have finally come together.”

  “Children of what?” Corbin inquired.

  “Destiny.” She answered as she floated up to the ceiling; she gave off a shrill laugh as she danced in circles above them. “It only works when two become one!”

  “What the hell are you doing on my ceiling? Get down!” Adriana growled.

  The girl stopped and glared at Adriana as she floated down. “I have a name.” She said as she came face-to-face with Adriana.

  “What is it then?” She asked.

  The prince elbowed her in the side, “What she is trying to say is that, we have not been properly introduced. I am-”

  “I know who you are Corbin. Or should I say, your Highness Prince Corbin Pryce of the Kingdom of Eskorgan. What they say about your kindness and manners are true.” She turned to Adriana’s scowl. “Y
ou are Adriana, taken from your home and adopted by Aaron Larsen. Your lack of kindness and manners are legend.”

  “How do you know so much about us?” He asked.

  “My name is Lyla, I am an oracle. I have seen all that has been, all that is, and all that shall be.” She spoke.

  “It’s an honor meeting you, Lyla.” He said, dipping his head in a polite bow.

  “No, it is I who is honored.” She curtsied. “Knowing the children are together fills my heart with joy.” She wiggled her toes and laughed. “Even my feet are excited!”

  “Can you tell us what you mean by ‘children of destiny’?” He pressed.

  Lyla stopped laughing, “I don’t know if I want to anymore,” She pursed her lips and crossing her arms, “Maybe when one child is in a better mood I’ll be willing to play.”

  “I apologize if I am not in a playing mood.” Adriana said, hoping a change to her tone will yield better results.

  “Right now, might not be the best time, but I will tell you one thing. Both of you are about to go on a journey, one that will lead you to a place of death and rebirth. A journey where people find themselves.” The oracle stared directly at Adriana. “It only works when two become one.” With one last shrill laugh, the sprite dissipated into her cloud and then disappeared.

  “Now what?” Corbin asked standing up.

  “You leave me alone so I can sleep.” She whispered.

  “But what about what the oracle said-” He pressed.

  “What do you expect me to say?” She pushed him out of her room. “After we get Phoebe tomorrow, you can go back to your precious kingdom, your highness!” Sliding her broken door to the side, she prevented him from entering her room again.

  “She’s a pill isn’t she?” He turned to see Owen, smoking garish leaves. His eyes were bloodshot. The prince could not tell if it was from crying or from the garish.

  “Between you and me, I think I am breaking down her walls. Or at least I can get a brick down as she tries to build it higher.” He remarked.