by Raine Thomas
“And in the greatest display of power ever known, the nine elders united. Volarius, Jabari, Gabriel, Ini-herit, Zayna, Sebastian, Uriel, Malukali and Knorbis. These great Estilorians risked their lives so that humanity could be spared. And it is written…”
“‘The time will come when all Estilorians will face the consequences of our decision to separate the planes. We can only have faith that we made the right choice.’”
The last statement was issued by Leoma. Skye thought it was rather eerie how powerful her voice sounded. Especially coming from such a petite female.
“It was centuries later,” Meda continued, “that archigos Knorbis had his vision. It came to him in pieces and over time. But time is something that Estilorians have never lacked.
“The first glimpse of that future showed him a joining. That joining would occur between an Estilorian and a human, something that had not occurred since the formation of the Estilorian plane. But it was the result of that joining that caused him the greatest shock, as it was utterly impossible. For this joining that he foresaw would create a new type of being.
“A half-human Estilorian.”
Skye’s eyes went wide. It was so weird knowing she was one of the new beings Meda described. She felt the stares of the surrounding Wymzesti and worked to keep her thoughts contained.
“The next glimpse of our future showed archigos Knorbis that the joining would result in not one, but three offspring. They would be female, and all would bring with them the abilities to shape our future. We had only to understand them, something we did not know would be a tremendous undertaking.
“These three half-human females would bring with them their own challenges to overcome. They would be raised as humans, experiencing lives fraught with human frailties and emotions, and would ultimately face the choice of whether to accept their Estilorian halves. And it is written…”
“‘Before there will be greatness, there will be failure. It is how those failures are ultimately overcome that will shape the future of all kinds.’”
“The next glimpse showed archigos Knorbis that this new being would enter our plane as newborns, first out of the womb and then again once fully grown, but with complete ignorance of our ways. These beings would require guardianship and protection, as well as instruction and guidance. And it is written…”
“‘There will be those among us who will be required to engage in instant relationships with this new class of being. These relationships will be both incredibly foreign and incredibly stimulating.’”
“The vision also revealed to archigos Knorbis that some of this guidance would have to occur before the new beings returned to our plane, during their human existence, though how this would be done was unclear. And it is written…”
“‘It will be one of us who serves as the bridge…a guardian with patience and the capacity to learn and then teach that which we have been incapable of learning from the beginning of time.’”
Meda glanced briefly at Amber. “The firstborn of the three, according to the Great Foretelling, would possess great strength. She would need that strength to face the challenges presented to her throughout her lifetime. And she would need it most especially to overcome doubt. And it is written…”
“‘The pieces will come together, a perfect fit…and she will come to understand that she was meant for more than she ever understood of her world.’”
Gabriel ran his hand over Amber’s hair and she exchanged a meaningful look with him.
“Archigos Knorbis then foretold that it would come to pass that one of us would connect very deeply with the firstborn during her lifetime. This Estilorian would guard and protect her, as well as help her learn. And in turn, he would master the greatest lesson of all. But he would face the risk of losing all that he had learned before he returned to our plane. It would be the greatest risk of his existence. And it is written…”
“‘He will face decisions far more complex than those that brought him to this point. For what did he ever have to risk losing before?’”
“Through this Estilorian’s risk and sacrifice and the influence of the three new female beings, Estilorians would come to understand what they had lost over time. The deepest emotions, which we learned too late we only experienced as a result of connecting with humans, would at last return to us. And it is written…”
“‘And so it will be strength, courage, wisdom and faith that bring them to us. But it will be love—that of which we know nearly nothing—that will prove most vital to our future.’”
“So it was foretold that we would instruct and guide the three unprecedented females upon their entering our plane. And in turn, they would instruct and guide us in ways we could never predict. And it is written…”
“‘With their coming, we will welcome a new class of being. One that can guide and teach as much as it can learn.’”
Now Meda looked at Olivia, who flushed. “The Great Foretelling said that the second-born half-human female would possess the greatest capacity to learn. Above her sisters, her mind would rule with logic and sound judgment. Failure would never be accepted by her, for she would always find a solution to succeed. In this way, she would most easily learn what she must to overcome any problem. And it is written…”
“‘She will come to us ignorant of the ways of her father’s kind, but with an unparalleled desire to learn all that she can of them.’”
“But it was also foretold that she would not be able to succeed on her own. She would need her sisters, as well as the protection and guidance of one of us. And in guiding her, this Estilorian would come to understand that he did not truly understand anything. And it is written…”
“‘He will have to overcome our many centuries of distorted knowledge to understand human emotion, and he will find in her the best teacher to do so.’”
“Archigos Knorbis predicted that the more time these three new beings spent on our plane, the more the lives of Estilorians would be impacted. We would ultimately come to realize that our existence was incomplete as we knew it. It would upset many, and free many others. And it is written…”
“‘Through her and her sisters, our minds and our hearts will ultimately be opened.’”
“It would also come to pass that the Estilorian charged with instructing the second-born female would face an almost insurmountable challenge. He would have to overcome his very nature to achieve happiness. And it is written…”
“‘If he denies what he feels, he will fail the greatest test set before him.’”
“This Estilorian would combat his nature as well as incredible external forces in his quest to truly understand the being he was sworn to protect. And it is written…”
“‘He will only learn the true depths of human emotion when he has experienced what it is to lose everything that matters.’”
Now Olivia and James exchanged a glance. Skye smiled when she read the love in both of their gazes.
Meda said, “The second-born’s impact on her Estilorian guardian would be noted by many, as would the impact of her sisters on theirs. Their relationships would generate interest and emotions that had not been experienced on our plane for many centuries. We would then come to understand their worth. And it is written…”
“‘Not only will she and her sisters teach us, but they will unite us.’”
Skye thought of how many Estilorians had joined together in the search for Olivia the month before. It was quite impressive how accurate this Foretelling had proven. Then she realized Meda’s gaze had turned to her.
“The third-born of these new beings would be guided not by strength or knowledge, but by faith.”
“‘She who has the most faith in everything and everyone around her will have to work hardest to have it in herself.’”
Skye felt her face flushing with color as all eyes turned to her.
“She would live her life believing in things that no others believed. And in so doing, she would forge the bond that would ignite
their dormant powers. And it is written…”
“‘Led by faith in each other, the combined powers resulting from the exchange of vows will be beyond any possible belief.’”
Skye rubbed the mark on her inner right wrist and thought back to the day it was made. It had been she who had started the exchange of vows that ultimately bonded her with the five others. Although she hadn’t realized what she was doing at the time, it had been powerful enough to turn part of her hair blue and her sisters’ hair green and gold, and forge the marks on their wrists. While she didn’t see how that could be seen as powers “beyond any possible belief,” especially when compared to something like the creation of the Estilorian plane, it was still in line with the prophecy.
Too weird.
Meda continued, “It was foretold that this unique joining of strength, knowledge and faith among the new beings would serve to help spread the most powerful emotions among all Estilorians. By witnessing the interaction of the three half-humans and coming to understand them, we would begin to experience the emotions they would bring with them. And in time, those emotions would change us forever. And it is written…”
“‘Even those of us who do not know what it is to battle will soon find something worth fighting for. And it will be love, hope and joy.’”
Skye’s eyebrows shot up. She exchanged surprised glances with Amber and Olivia. At the Becoming ceremony right after they transitioned, she and her sisters had vowed to the elders that they would learn, but they would also teach…love, hope and joy. It had become something of a motto for them since then. The words had been completely unprompted by anyone. They had all simply said what was in their hearts at that moment. And it turned out to be yet another accurate portion of the Great Foretelling.
Then she realized exactly what Meda had said. Something worth fighting for.
With a feeling of foreboding, she moved her eyes to Knorbis. He was, not surprisingly, looking right at her. It was then that she understood with perfect clarity why she and her sisters had been training so hard these past months. It wasn’t only to learn to protect themselves, as they had been led to believe.
Meda spoke over her thoughts. “It was foreseen that after millennia of living in a hollow shell, Estilorians would find meaning in their lives. Archigos Knorbis foresaw these new beings promoting the very deepest and most powerful emotions among all. Relationships would be strengthened. Friendships reestablished. And love exchanged where once it was utterly foreign. And it is written…”
“‘At last, doubt will be overcome. And the new beings who had once been considered unworthy outsiders will lead us all to our fates.
“‘We will stand in awe of those we doubted.’”
Skye stiffened at the “unworthy outsiders” comment and noticed her sisters doing the same. Still, those were the least important words that had just been uttered. The new beings…will lead us all to our fates.
She swallowed hard. Only when Caleb covered her hand with his did she realize she had a fierce grip on his knee.
Meda said, “The last vision shown to us, completing the Great Foretelling, was of a threat to our newfound happiness. The threat would come from our own. It would lash out against the three new beings, seeking the end of them and all they represented. And it is written…”
“‘In the end, as it always has, it will come to good versus evil.’”
“And so we have come full circle,” Meda said, looking from one sister to another. “It was the Wymzesti who foresaw your coming, and now you have come. You bring us your strength, your knowledge and your faith. You have worked very hard to learn all we have to teach you. And you have already begun to teach us love, hope and joy.”
She and Leoma bowed deeply. “We welcome each of you.”
And then every Wymzesti standing in the circle around them bowed as one. When they again stood straight and looked at her and her sisters, Skye struggled not to squirm.
“We welcome you,” they all said at the same time.
Finally, Knorbis stepped forward, away from the other elders. He moved in front of Meda and Leoma and smiled.
“Amber, Olivia and Skye, your existence is a true miracle. That beings so young and untried could achieve what you have in only months, it defies everything we have ever known or anticipated. It is an honor to welcome each of you to our homeland.
“To us, you are our future.”
PART II:
Faith
Excerpts from the Great Foretelling:
“She who has the most faith in everything and everyone around her will have to work hardest to have it in herself.”
“We will stand in awe of those we doubted.”
Chapter Fourteen
Caleb imagined Skye was more than a little overwhelmed by the Wymzesti greeting. He had to admit, it was beyond anything he had expected. Her grip on his leg was rather remarkable. She was all but vibrating against him.
But her grip eased when Knorbis stepped forward. After the elder issued his greeting, all three sisters stood at once. Caleb hurried to follow and noticed Gabriel and James doing the same. He guessed the girls wanted to extend their appreciation, as he knew each of them to be unfailingly polite.
Skye and Olivia walked over to flank Amber. The eldest sister said, “Thanks for the welcome. But we could use a minute.”
Frowning in puzzlement, Caleb watched as the sisters moved to walk past Knorbis. None of them had any expression on their faces. While this wasn’t so unusual for Amber or even Olivia, it was notably odd for Skye. The lack of expression looked unnatural on her usually expressive face. When Gabriel, James and Caleb took steps after them, Amber held up a hand, not bothering to look back at them.
“No,” she said.
Caleb hadn’t ever heard her sound so abrupt. So harsh. He looked to Gabriel and saw his leader’s expression. It was somewhere between shock and resignation.
The sisters walked straight toward one of the edges of the circle. He realized that the Wymzesti standing in front of them weren’t making any movements to get out of the way. But the three sisters didn’t break stride.
“Please excuse us,” Amber said in a voice that dared them not to. “The formerly ‘unworthy outsiders’—it is formerly, right?—well, we’d like to pass.”
Caleb blinked in surprise. The Wymzesti parted. Behind them appeared the same white wall that had encircled the room when they arrived. Still, the girls continued on. Skye waved her hand and the wall changed into an open archway. There were a few gasps and murmurs over this and he figured that she had just managed to impress the Wymzesti with her abilities, though he knew that had not been her goal.
Then the sisters disappeared through the archway and Skye glanced over her shoulder. She caught his gaze. He read the hurt and disappointment there and wondered what he had possibly done to cause it. With another wave of her hand, a solid-looking door appeared where the archway had been.
And in true Skye-style, the door slammed shut behind them.
There was stark silence for a long moment. Caleb itched to go after them. He hadn’t been out of Skye’s immediate vicinity for so long that it felt wrong being apart. He looked at Gabriel and James to see what their reactions were to the unexpected display. They both looked miserable.
“I have done this,” Meda said, bringing a hand to her chest. Her long face managed an expression of concern. “They have been offended by our recitation.”
“No,” Gabriel said, shaking his head. “It wasn’t that. Not exactly.”
What’s wrong? Caleb thought toward James and Gabriel. What has upset them?
We have, James thought back.
How? What did we do?
It’s not what we did, Gabriel responded. It’s what we didn’t do. He ran a hand through his hair and stared at the closed door with worried eyes. We didn’t tell them the truth.
About what? Caleb thought, thoroughly baffled.
About the Foretelling, James replied. He looked like someone had kic
ked him in the gut.
Sensing his continued confusion, Gabriel sighed. Then he spoke. “We never told them about the last part of the Great Foretelling. The part that indicates they’ll be leading us all into battle.”
Finally, realization set in. Caleb frowned.
They feel that we’ve misled them, he thought, looking at his brothers. They feel betrayed.
Although he didn’t need the confirmation, they both nodded.
Knorbis stood with his arms crossed over his chest, a troubled expression on his face. Then he glanced around the silent room. “Well,” he said solemnly, “it certainly seems we still have a great deal to learn about human emotion.”
Skye maintained her numb shock as she walked away from the unusual Wymzesti room with her sisters. They walked for a while, not really sure where they were going. The “whiteness” pervaded the environment. A few buildings in shades of purple and gold could be seen in the distance, but it seemed they grew no closer even though they walked in that general direction.
Suddenly weary, she sighed and waved her hand, envisioning a pretty park with shade trees, green grass and a comfortable bench. Without batting an eye, Amber headed right for the bench that materialized and sat down. Olivia and Skye sat on either side of her.
They sat in silence for a long time. Skye was sure her sisters were having very similar thoughts to hers.
How could the guys have not told them? And were Estilorians merely “tolerating” them because of this prophecy?
“This is huge,” Amber said at last. She sounded grim.
Skye glanced at her. She was staring straight ahead, obviously lost in thought. The short-sleeved top she wore was one of the new ones designed for her by the Lekwuesti commander, Caoilinn. It was dark blue at the top and faded to pale blue at the bottom. To help disguise her pregnancy, it had an empire waist, tight through the chest and loose from just beneath her breasts to her upper thighs. At the moment, her hands were resting on the still-subtle swell of her growing belly, defeating the purpose of the shirt’s design.