by K. Dzr
* * * * *
Dinner was served according to schedule. Demetrius tried to steer the conversation to lighter topics; he was always eager to share stories and reminisce about the days of yesteryear with friends. But it inevitably turned to the reason they were all there: Stonehenge.
“Stonehenge?” The King asked, looking quite baffled. “Those ancient rocks? What do they have to do with anything?”
“Well, everything really. The stones serve as a magical prison; for hundreds of years they have kept great evil at bay. But nothing, my friends, and I do mean nothing, lasts forever.” A sadness passed through Demetrius’ eyes that none of them quite understood.
“Soon, twelve powerful, ancient wizards will be released upon the earth,” Alexander continued. “Those ridiculous friends of yours Ellic, serve as a warning. As the time for The Twelve to awaken draws closer, they will descend deeper into madness. As they are still sane; annoying but sane nonetheless—we still have perhaps a year before The Twelve are freed.”
“Wait. Why can’t they just be kept locked in the prison?” the King asked. “Why do they have to be freed?”
“These wizards are very powerful, and it takes very powerful magic to keep them imprisoned,” Demetrius explained. “The power of the Dracara wanes. We cannot keep them locked away forever.”
“How can we possibly defeat not one, but twelve wizards of that caliber? I’ve no idea how to defeat one wizard!” Gavin exclaimed in disbelief. “I knew you had some plan laid out for me when you sent Tahir and Oraden to me, but if I had any idea it would involve something like this, I would have had no part!”
“Which is precisely why he didn’t tell you,” Kraven answered with a smirk.
“Besides, I do not expect any of you to defeat twelve wizards. That is preposterous,” Demetrius said. “You only have to defeat one.”
“Well, Oraden and I have been training everyday; I’m pretty good with my bow, and Gavin said I’m doing much better with the sword,” Tahir offered.
“A bow and arrows against a wizard? Not likely!” Gavin scoffed. “And what of the other eleven?”
“Just as there are twelve wizards that need to be destroyed, there are twelve chosen to do the destroying. We, Alexander and I, have been given the task of assembling a band of brave warriors in defeating Artemisios, the most powerful of The Twelve. He considers himself a god, and if we are unsuccessful, he would be their leader. We have spent hundreds of years studying, learning and planning our attack.
“Gavin, you have done all that we expected of you; I do not wish to put you in Artemisios’ path. Meelix, my small friend, you have done well; even with your big heart, this will be more than you are ready for. Ellic, you have just learned who and what you are; you are hardly prepared to battle a wizard. Your Highness, whether we fail or succeed, your country needs you; we wouldn’t dare put you at unnecessary risk. As for you Tahir, I know you have been searching for your purpose, for your destiny; but this is not it.”
“So, none of us are ready? What about Oraden?” Tahir asked.
Demetrius and Alexander both shook their heads.
“Then who does that leave?” Tahir asked, frustrated that he was getting left out of the biggest adventure of all.
“Me,” Destiny answered softly, gazing down at her empty plate. She slowly looked up to see everyone staring at her. “That leaves only me.”
“Out of the question!” King Robert erupted. “I will not have my youngest daughter march to her death to fight a wizard! I will not have it! Demetrius, you may rule in a land of fairies, but I am King here! You will not march into my castle demanding my daughter for whatever plans you may have. If there are evil beings in my land, I will have my army defeat them. Francis is undefeated in battle. We have the strongest army in the world. This Artemisios will cower before England!”
Demetrius allowed Robert to finish his rant. He sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap. When he was done, Demetrius leaned forward in his chair and spoke calmly.
“Do you honestly believe that?”
“Your Highness, Artemisios will not be defeated without Destiny,” Alexander matter-of-factly explained. He had far less patience with human emotions than most. Raised by Dracara, he learned long ago to do what needed be done. He did as commanded, whether by his instincts or by his elders; emotion had little, if anything, to do with it. “We can take her for a year, far from here. Teach her all we can, prepare her for what is to come, and she can fight beside us to defeat Artemisios. Or, after we are slain, and Artemisios is free to reign over your land, she will be killed, enslaved or whatever else he decides, along with everyone else. You can make the right decision, or we can make this decision for you. But that which needs to be done, will be done.”
“Alexander! Is tact still a foreign concept to you after all these years?” Demetrius scolded.
Kraven chuckled to himself. He much preferred Alexander’s direct and often aggressive methods than all of Demetrius’ empathy.
“Leave us, all of you,” the King commanded, never taking his eyes from Alexander. Although he considered Alexander to be his friend and they typically treated each other with the utmost respect, he did not take ultimatums lightly, nor did he appreciate his authority being challenged by a dog. Alexander stared back with his piercing blue eyes. Even in human form, his eyes could not hide his true nature; he stared into Robert as if he were prey. He had no intention of letting centuries of planning be foiled by an overprotective father with an ego problem.
Everyone else silently filed out of the room, leaving Alexander, Demetrius, Kraven and the King to talk. Demetrius stood up and walked around the table to Alexander. He scratched the sides of his human ears and the top of his head in the same way most would their dog, diverting his attention from King Robert.
“Peace, Friend,” he said, wanting to keep the situation from turning ugly. Alexander returned to his true form and leapt down from the chair. He paced the room looking for a comfortable spot. Finding one by the wall, he lay down to observe the rest of the conversation. Demetrius moved to the seat closest to King Robert so they could speak in a more personal way.
“Robert,” he began with a sigh. “I understand your concern for Destiny. I know you only want to protect her from harm, from shame. I know what she is and more importantly, I know what she can become, if guided. There are many that would have had me take her long ago, to teach her and mold her. Out of respect for you, and our friendship, I have waited until the last possible moment. There is much at play that you cannot understand right now; perhaps you never will. But believe me, you cannot hide her from this world; you cannot hide her from herself. She already knows what she is. She has been experimenting in secret for years now. It is only a matter of time.”
“Demetrius, I only want what is best for her. I want her to have a good life, to marry a wealthy prince and be taken care of, like Grace. I never wanted her life to be so complicated…”
“No one ever does. I’m sorry, Robert, but she will not marry a prince, she will not be wealthy, she will not be taken care of, nor will her life be easy. She will fight, she will know pain and suffering, and she will be the one to take care of others. She will spend many years alone; but she will be happier doing that than she ever could be in any castle. She will be a powerful, powerful wizard, one whom we will all come to depend on. We must also keep in mind, many a wizard left unguided, unlearned, without a teacher to show them the way, have become the very beings you fear. I will not force you to do anything Robert. She is still your daughter; this is still your kingdom. The choice is still yours. But at some point, she is going to have to decide for herself if she is going to be what she was born to be. It would be far better for her to make that choice while we still have time to teach her.
“Tahir, Meelix, Oraden and Ellic will be leaving in two days’ time to attend a school to study for one year. Although I told them they are not ready now, they soon will be. You have until then to decide Destiny’s
future. I would like her to go with them. It would be good for her to learn who and what she is, as well as how to fend for herself against Artemisios and others who would do her harm. I suggest you talk it over with her. She is nearly an adult; she knows where her heart lies. We did not come here to cause problems, Robert. This is not some elaborate plan we created. We did not tell Destiny’s mother to deceive you. We too, are but pawns in a larger game.”
“Alexander, Kraven, let us leave the King to his thoughts.” Demetrius rose from his seat. The two followed his command and also rose. As they left, Demetrius paused at the wall where Alexander had been lying.
Little did Robert know, Destiny sneaked back into the room and listened to the entire conversation. Cloaked by magic, she was invisible to the eye, but the three wizards knew she was there. Magic flowed so strongly in her veins that they could feel her very presence.
Her heart pounded. Demetrius’ cloudy and unfocused pupils bore directly into her eyes. How was it possible that he could see her when she couldn’t see herself?
You know what you must do, she heard him say. Or did she? Did she imagine it? His lips did not move, but she heard his voice as clearly as if he were speaking aloud. Was that possible? After an instant that seemed to last hours, he gave her a knowing smile and turned and left the room. She looked over at her Father, who still sat at the table. He held his head in his hands and slowly rocked his head. She knew he had much to think over, as did she. She left the room as silently as she had entered.
Once outside on the balcony, she resumed visibility and looked out into the dark sky. Through all the confusion came an overwhelming clarity. She knew. She knew exactly what she had to do. She opened the cape she wore day in and day out, and untied the custom-made constraints she’d worn for as long as she could remember. For the first time in her life, she stretched her entire body.
Long, leathery, dark wings arched out from beneath her clothing. They felt weak and stiff from being bound for so many years, but after giving them a good stretch and a few practice flaps, she could feel strength and coordination flowing through them. Gusts of wind billowed around her face with each flap. From the balcony’s edge she watched the clouds dance around the moon. She smiled broadly and ripped the veil and pins from her hair, tossing them to the ground. After taking a deep breath she leapt into the air with her wings and arms fully extended.
For a moment she was a bit shaky and unable to guide herself in quite the direction she wanted. Gradually she became more comfortable, and with that comfort, came confidence. She swooped and soared, cackling with delight in the night sky.
Below her, Tahir was relaying the conversation between the wizards and the King, to Oraden, as promised. Hysterical laughter above them interrupted his story.
“What was that?” Tahir asked as they searched the sky for an answer. Beyond the garden a dark form skimmed the treetops.
“Do you see that?” Oraden neighed. “Come on! Let’s follow it!”
“Are you sure? The last time we did that we got more than we expected.” Tahir wasn’t sure if he wanted to risk intercepting yet another mysterious creature.
“Oh, come on!” Oraden yelled, and took off at a gallop toward the cackling, flying creature. Tahir ran to catch up. They raced through the woods, kicking up dried leaves and leaping over fallen branches. Oraden found the run invigorating. Lately he’d been reduced to babysitting crazy magicians and dragons, or waiting for people to finish conversations he couldn’t understand. He welcomed the chance to stretch his legs and run in the night.
The creature glided back and forth in no apparent pattern. Whenever they seemed to be gaining on it, it changed directions. They were still running when they realized that they lost sight of the mysterious creature. Tahir slowed to a jog as Oraden darted back and forth, trying to determine which way it went. They were just about to give up when they reached the riverbank where they first all plunged into the chilly waters from the large rock. High up on the ledge, Oraden spotted movement.
“There, Tahir,” he whispered, “Do you see it? It looks human.”
Tahir quietly moved closer to Oraden to get a better look.
“That’s because it is human. That’s Destiny. Come on.”
“What is she doing out here by herself?”
“Let’s find out. Whatever that creature was, it’s gone now.”
Oraden and Tahir climbed toward the ledge where Destiny stood looking over the water.
“Lady Destiny!” Tahir called out. “What are you doing out here?”
Destiny was startled. She pulled her robes and cape tightly to make sure her wings were properly concealed. Her thoughts raced as she searched for an excuse.
“What? I was just…Never mind me. What are you doing out here?”
“Did you see that flying thing?” Oraden asked, eager to talk about their sighting. “It wasn’t a dragon or a bird, but it had huge wings and made a strange laughing noise.”
“I never saw anything like it in Elysi or the desert. Not huge, but bigger than Smokey…I mean Ellic, like…umm…”
“It was big as Tahir if Tahir had wings—big dragon wings!” Oraden chimed in. “You had to have seen it!”
“Yes, yes, of course I saw it,” Destiny agreed nervously. “You didn’t see what it was, did you?”
“No,” Oraden answered with obvious disappointment in his voice.
“No, it’s too dark,” Tahir added.
Tahir and Oraden stood in silence, looking into the sky and reflecting on what they’d seen.
“What are you doing out here, anyway?” Tahir asked Destiny. “You shouldn’t venture out into the woods by yourself at night.”
“I needed some time alone to think,” she explained.
“Tahir told me what Demetrius said to you. He wasn’t nearly that direct with us; you must be pretty important. I can’t believe you get to fight a wizard and we don’t.”
“Do you know what your magic is?” Tahir asked.
“I thought I knew, but I think there’s more.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I know I can turn invisible; I’ve been doing that since I was a small child. And I can understand you, Oraden, as well as Meelix and Ellic. And I think I can hear thoughts, but I’m not sure. I know I heard Demetrius’ voice but his lips didn’t move.”
“Coolyah,” Oraden and Tahir whispered in unison.
“What else?” Tahir asked as they sat down on the ledge with their feet dangling above the water. Oraden knelt beside her.
“Well, sometimes I get this feeling I don’t really understand; like someone is there, like I’m being watched. Other times, I can feel my entire body overcome with a tingling sensation, especially my hands and eyes. I keep expecting something but nothing happens. When I was a child—if I became very angry, sometimes bad things would occur; things would break or catch fire.”
She stared at the ground, remembering incidents in her youth when she let her temper fly. Her father still carried the scar from a severe burn on his arm after one of her temper tantrums.
“I’ve learned to control my temper since then,” she said, choosing not to tell that story. “That does not happen anymore. But sometimes it’s difficult, especially when dealing with a certain squire from Africa who tries to tell me what to do,” she narrowed her eyes at Tahir and smirked.
“Oh, and I can kill insects with my thoughts. Now, that is particularly useful. I cannot remember the last time I was bitten by a bedbug,” she said proudly.
“You’re a wizard, aren’t you?” Oraden asked in a whisper.
“No, I don’t think so,” she shrugged and rested her chin in her hands. “Maybe,” she sighed.
“Destiny, what did you mean before, when you said you were ‘repulsive’?” Tahir asked.
Destiny buried her face in her hands—one last moment of concealment before she released the secret she’s been forced to keep her entire life.
Oraden cocked his head as if to ask
, ‘What’s going on?’ Tahir shrugged. They waited patiently for her to speak.
“My mother,” she began, “was not what she led us to believe. She disappeared when I was very young, so I have few memories of her. I do remember her being very beautiful—an unnatural beauty. And she called herself a ‘goddess.’ No one understood what she meant until it was too late. I think she was some kind of ancient being, a sorceress who took human form. I don’t know. Maybe she was some sort of goddess. I read of them in mythology. I do know that she married my father for riches, for a life of luxury. After a few years of playing devoted wife and mother, she became bored with England and…left us. I have not seen her or heard from her since.”
“But, there is no God but God. She couldn’t have been a goddess,” Tahir reasoned.
“So, you are half-goddess,” Oraden concluded. “Why is that so bad?”
“Because there are no goddesses, Oraden, only fallen angels.”
“Fallen angels? You mean demons?” Tahir asked.
She nodded shamefully. Oraden and Tahir stared at her in disbelief.
“How do you know this?” Tahir finally asked.
“Before she left, she gave me a book that explained it all. When I became old enough, I started to read it. I asked my Father about it, but he burned the book before I could finish and forbade me to speak of it again.”
“If she deceived you once, it could all be lies. How do you know that you aren’t just a regular wizard? Demetrius has lots of magic, but I don’t think he’s a demon.”
“But I’m different.”
“How do you know?” Tahir asked.
“He’s right Destiny, there are plenty of wizards,” Oraden explained. “Some people or creatures just have a bloodline with more magic, that’s all. It doesn’t make them a demon.”
“How else can I explain this?” she cried as her wings snapped open and she flew off the ledge. They gasped and quickly rose to their feet. “Look at me, I’m a monster!” she said between sobs. “Can you honestly look at me and say that I don’t look like a demon?”
“It was you! You were the creature?”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Oraden asked.
“What was I supposed to say?”
“I don’t know, how about, ‘Look at me, I can fly?’” Oraden suggested.
“Sweet fairies! I really got the short rope.” Tahir threw a rock down into the water. “You can fly, turn invisible, hear thoughts, and all I can do is talk to animals! Oh, and turn invisible. Big pixie sticks!”
“Ha, you sure did!” Oraden laughed. “Seems everybody can become invisible!”
“I’m supposed to rescue you? How on earth am I supposed to do that?”
“Rescue me? From what?” she asked, gracefully landing back on the ledge.
“I don’t know,” Tahir shook his head. “In all the stories of great knights, they always rescue a damsel. When I met you, I guess I just kind of thought—I would get a chance to rescue you from something.”
“Really?” Destiny smiled, though her face was still wet with tears.
“Looks like you’re going to have to rescue Tahir!” Oraden burst into laughter.
“She’s going to have to rescue you from me, if you don’t shut up!” Tahir yelled.
Oraden just snorted and kept laughing and prancing about. “Oh I can see it now! Oh, Destiny, please help me!” he teased in a mocking voice. “Smokey is going to get me! Help me, Destiny, help!”
Destiny and Tahir started to giggle. It was probably true, but it was still a funny idea. Tahir learned long ago, that it was often easier, and more fun, to go along with Oraden’s teasing rather than get upset about it. He scrabbled up a nearby oak tree and pretended to be stuck.
“Help me, Destiny! Help me!” he squealed.
Oraden roared with laughter and Destiny was thrown into a fit of giggles. Oraden galloped to the tree, reared up and pawed at it. He tried to make growling noises like the big cat that chased them through the desert years ago. But in reality, a unicorn just can’t sound very menacing.
“Roar-r-r!”
“Oh, help me Destiny! Ouch! Hey, cut it out, Oraden!”
“I’m not Oraden. I’m an evil, horned monster! Roar-r-r!”
She laughed as Oraden poked and stabbed at Tahir’s rear end with his horn while Tahir kicked and squealed, dangling from the tree.
“I’ll rescue you, Fair Damsel!” she shouted in her deepest voice. She grabbed a long stick from the ground and swung it at Oraden as though it were a sword. The two of them danced around, pretending to fight, while Tahir continued to scream and throw small branches at Oraden. When Destiny managed to get one clean poke into his belly, Oraden toppled over; kicking his legs through the air in the most dramatic display any of them had ever seen. He rolled on the grass and gasped and sputtered, moaned and groaned, and then lay still with his tongue lolling from the side of his mouth.
Destiny posed over the slain ‘beast’ with her pretend sword held straight overhead and one foot on Oraden’s side.
Tahir and Destiny sat side by side against a large oak tree. Oraden knelt beside her, resting his head in her lap. It comforted her to run her fingers through his mane while she explained how it was to live smothered in shame. If the church found out about her ‘condition’, as her father called it, she would be excommunicated, her family disgraced, and her life endangered. She could never marry; never let her emotions unfold freely. And, of course, she must always cover her skin, her hair, and especially those wings, lest her deformation be revealed.
Although Tahir and Oraden had never been the least bit restricted in their lives, they sympathized with her predicament. Such a life would be worse than death for two adventurers. Tahir reached into his tunic and fumbled with the talisman around his neck. He held it up in the moonlight so Destiny and Oraden could see it.
“My father gave me this the day I was born. He said it would protect me, and told me to never take it off,” he explained, letting Destiny hold it and run her fingers along its intricate ridge. “I suppose it worked: I survived my village and the lion attack. I’ve never been injured in battle. I’ve fallen from trees, rocks and Oraden’s back and never gotten anything more than a few bruises and scratches. Even when we were attacked by hyenas, I didn’t get any infections and my wounds weren’t too serious. Do you think it is magic Oraden?”
The unicorn’s horn emitted a yellow glow. Tonight it was brighter than a candle and he used the light to better examine the round piece of metal with strange markings.
“I’ve definitely heard of medallions giving magic to people. I can’t read what it says and I’ve never seen one, so I don’t know what they look like. You have been pretty lucky; maybe it is magic.”
“I have few things left from my village. It’s the only thing I own that may have any real value. It may be worthless, too. I just don’t know.”
“No, no, it is beautiful,” Destiny said, tracing the engravings with her fingertip. “I believe it is gold. Someone went to great trouble to create all these designs. And look,” she scraped at the center with her nail. Bits of corrosion, sand and gunk flaked off. “See? It even has an inlaid stone, perhaps a gem of some sort.”
Tahir watched her face as she spoke. Her beauty radiated in the soft glow of Oraden’s horn.
“I want you to have it,” he finally said.
“This is a family heirloom….” She looked up at him in surprise.
“It’s yours,” he said, removing the cord from his neck and putting it around hers. “It’s the only thing I have worthy of giving you.”
“Tahir, you have given me so much already.”
“Maybe it will bring you good fortune and protection when you battle Artemisios. I’m sorry it’s so dirty. I can find an artisan to polish it for you.”
“Do not apologize. It is an antique. It has traveled across the world and has been aged on the chest of the man who has won my heart. The dirt adds to its charm. Thank you, Tahir.”
Tahir watched her hair rise with the breeze. He’d never seen her hair before; she always wore a scarf, not unlike the women in his village. Her hair caught the moonlight in purple waves where it danced around her face. He started to say something, but then changed his mind. Instead, he reached out and ran his fingers through it; he pulled her head toward his and pressed his lips to hers. There, under the filtered moonlight, they shared their first kiss.
“Tahir! Thou art bold this evening.”
“I’m so sorry,” He quickly pulled away, shaking his head and cursing himself. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Your only wrongdoing has been taking so long. I hope I will not have to wait another year for my next kiss.”
“That’s a mistake I won’t make again,” he said as he leaned in for another kiss.
Oraden remained content as long as Destiny stroked his mane. She petted him in a manner that no one ever had before and he loved it. Tahir would occasionally pat him on the head or neck. The sprites petted him lovingly; particularly the females, but he could barely feel their tiny hands. Destiny, however, stroked his neck, played with his ears and completely spoiled him. As soon as her hands left his mane for Tahir’s chest, he became annoyed. He watched them kiss for a few moments before nudging her and trying to force his nose under her hand. Tahir pushed Oraden’s face away, never taking his lips from Destiny’s. Oraden snorted and stomped away to graze, swishing his tail in their faces. They laughed and wiped at their faces to stop the tickling sensation.
“Alright, alright,” Tahir said, rising to his feet and helping Destiny up. “Let’s get you back home.”
He helped her secure her wings under her cape and covered her purple hair with her hooded scarf before lifting her onto Oraden’s back and then jumping on behind her. He held lightly to his mane as the unicorn cantered through the woods back to the treehouse.
Upon returning, they found Ellic and Meelix talking by a fire.
“There you are!” Meelix shouted. He and Ellic jumped up and ran to greet their friends. “You won’t believe this. Look!” Meelix pointed excitedly at the flickering flame.
“It’s fire, Meelix. We use it all the time. You know that,” Oraden said, unimpressed.
“Yes, but Smo—I mean, Ellic made it!”
“I sure did. Watch!”
Ellic turned away and took a deep breath. Then she blew with all her strength; a pile of leaves and sticks burst into flame. Oraden neighed and reared up in surprise while Destiny and Tahir both stumbled backward.
“Pixies! How did you do that?” Tahir exclaimed.
“I saw some Dracara’s, Dracaree—something like that—on Iltrepidore do it. So I just tried and tried until I could do it, too. When I was small, I could make little puffs of smoke, but I never knew I could make fire!”
“Wow, this is turning out to be quite a night of surprises.”
Destiny’s glare warned Tahir not to tell her secret. Oraden saw it, too, and understood.
“You’re right, first evil wizards, and now Ellic can make fire!” Oraden covered.
“Hey, if you can make fire now, maybe you can help fight the wizard!” Tahir said.
“Really? Imagine that!” Ellic jumped up and down. “Darios would be so proud of me!”
“You’re going to be a hero, Ellic!” Meelix shouted.
“Hey,” Destiny whispered, motioning for them all to move closer. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but I overheard Demetrius tell my father that he was sending us all to a magic academy.”
“All of us? Even me?” Meelix asked.
“Yes, all of us.”
“A magic academy. Coolya!” Meelix said.
“I bet I’ll be the first unicorn to go to a magic academy—what’s a magic academy?”
“Yes, what is an academy?” Tahir asked.
Everyone turned to Destiny for an explanation. She had to remind herself that she kept strange company. She had no reason to think her new friends would understand what this meant.
“It is a place where people go to study and learn about things.”
“I already know about magic. What are we going to learn at an academy?” Oraden snorted.
“Do you know how to fight a wizard?” Tahir asked sarcastically.
“They can teach us that?” Oraden looked hopeful at Destiny.
“I’m not sure, but if Demetrius thinks we should go, there must be a lot for us to learn there.”
“Is your father going to let you go?” Meelix asked. “He sounded pretty angry at dinner.”
“This time, I will not let him stop me.”