by Jacob White
“You have magic? Why didn’t you mention this to us?”
“I'm afraid that was my doing, King Bryson. We weren't sure if he had it. I had him training with Anna to see if it was enough to be used.” Master Hor said from the back of the room.
“And, can it?” Bryson asked as an obvious question Hor should have answered.
“It would seem so, my King, based on his stories.” The prince’s nostrils flared trying to get more air to calm himself.
“I'm sorry, Weaver, but how can we believe this? The god Liam is waiting for you? Torturing my sister?”
“Well, I—”
“Do you doubt the word of your sister or princess for that matter?” Laila said firmly as if she was already a queen.
“Laila, that’s not—”
“I'm well aware of what you said, brother. Without Weaver, I would be broken beyond belief. I would not be standing here before you as I am now. The actual question is, would you rather I not be here to tell you this? Or for me to be broken and battered by a deceitful god?”
“You damn well know the answer, it's just so much. How can it be true?” Aden’s conviction lessoned with every word.
“Even unlikely, I’m sure they speak true. Even if we aren’t able to comprehend it.” Master Hor added to the conversation.
“Liam wants my stone, so he cannot be challenged by his sisters and brothers.” He is still currently asleep, but apparently, he has gained in power. I should hope even with this sad turn of events, that we would continue on our current path.” I looked around the room for any signs of disagreement. “Now, I know I missed a lot of time regarding my training, but I would like to resume as soon as I am able. But I wouldn’t want to stretch my magic thinner than it already is.”
“Just let me know.” Anna said. The king bellowed warning to any objectors.
“We have all seemed to forget the honor Weaver has done for this family. I know this isn't the time, but a ball will be held in his honor for saving my daughter's life.” Bryson pronounced.
“Papa, I think that’s a fantastic idea. Hopefully, it can give the people strength in our confidence as their leaders.” In truth, it wasn’t a bad idea, but I'm not sure I was up to it. The prince shared my opinion.
“Father, with all due respect I do not think this is the correct time for this. There are many preparations to be considered. Training for We—”
“Enough. This is my will, and you will obey.” Aden knew the conversation was over and bowed deeply.
“Of course, my king.”
“Now leave him to rest in the hands of my daughter. All will be well.” They all bowed and allowed the king and queen to leave first after embracing their daughter. Everyone including Ralph came over to offer me condolences. Les and Anna were the only ones to stay behind.
“Anna, would you please give my love and I a few moments?” Les asked. Anna’s eyes pleaded to mine to let her remain.
“Anna, it's all right, we will be back training before long.” She left without saying goodbye. “Les, you don’t need to be too harsh.”
“Harsh would be cutting off her feet, and make her eat them. She kissed you under the impression I wouldn’t find out about it. She is lucky I have left her alone in respect for you. I will continue to do so as long as she understands her place is no longer at your side intimately.” Les stated.
“Okay, thank you. But please don’t forget, she is still my friend.”
“Trust me, it tortures me enough not to forget it. But enough of this.” She came to my face and kissed me so deeply I became red knowing the Princess was still in the room. I popped an eye open only to see the princess staring with a look of interest as she studied us. She saw me looking and quickly turned her head becoming red. Les stopped and buried her head into the crook of my neck.
“Weaver, I was so worried.” I then felt her tears on my cheek. “Once again you come back to me, I love you, please stop leaving me behind.”
“Well, I don’t want to take you with me,” I said with a chuckle. She stood back up, wiping her face.
“Princess, do you mind if I stay with him? Until he can be moved back to his chambers?”
“Les, I am fatigued just as you are. So maybe we can take shifts ensuring he eats and regains some strength.”
“Thank you, Princess. For everything.” Les impressed on the Princess.
“Please, just Laila, I insist. I mean we all almost laid together, I think we should be on a first name basis.” She smiled as Les.
“You all laugh… I'm the one who is going to die to a mate-less sacrifice or something.” Les bends bent down to my ear.
“You don’t have too. Say the word and I will no longer wait. For I don’t want you to pass on in that manner either.” I smiled back at her and kissed her on her lips.
“Soon, I promise.”
“Don’t tease a girl.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” The princess cleared her throat to politely let us know she was still there.
“Is it alright if I take your chambers? Also, Les, if you wouldn’t mind having the first watch?”
“Oh, of course, Pr— Laila, take anything you might need. None of it is mine anyway.” Les said with a playful smile. After Laila had gathered some clothes she walked out shutting the doors behind her. I was once again alone with Les. She climbed into the bed with only her slip on. She took my head and placed it on her chest and all its glory, telling me to sleep.
When I woke up, the room was quiet, and in the middle of the night, Les had rolled to the other side of the bed. She was sleeping harder than Liam is. But even I doubt he was sleeping with his legs wide open along with her mouth. I looked around the room again to find Dirk silently sitting on the stool causing me to gasp. He pressed a finger to his lips and asked me to follow him. He stopped just before the door and started to whisper.
“I'm glad to see you, safe, Weaver. You have no idea how bad Anna was bothering me every day to see if I knew anything. Thanks to my keen intuition one day I lied to her and told her you woke. Luckily you did the next day.”
“You are full of shit.” I laughed. “Did you really?”
“I did, and I will deny until my death bed that anything other is the truth.” He winked at me. “There is a more serious matter on hand we need to discuss. Your training.”
“I know it has been on my mind as well.”
“We have only a month before you leave. We need to start as soon as we can, agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“I thought you would say that, so I went ahead and let Anna know since I risked my life and all getting her the previous information. She agreed that we could share the mornings and somehow tie the two pieces of training together. Sound good?”
“No… it sounds horrible. But I suppose if you think it’s best.”
“Good, it's settled then. Now there is one more thing I must know. In your dream, were they naked at all?”
“Dirk… I just woke up.”
“Just tell me if you did anything… I mean I did save your life with Edmund.”
“If you're referring to the blocked door, well you have my thanks for ruining Edmund’s furniture.”
“Weaver… please. I will wake her up if you don’t tell me.”
“I'm already awake with you to whispering like some drunk men.” Les groaned at us as we heard a knock at the door.
“It's just Anna and me. We have some things we would like to discuss.” Laila said at the door.
“Come on in!” Dirk yelled, going to sit back in his chair as the two ladies walked in. I went back to the bed and saw Les stand up on the other side looking for her dress.
“There's no need.” Anna said to her directly. “I know a lost cause when I see one.” Les pushed her hip to one side and stood there measuring up Anna.
“Okay then. I forgive you.” She strolled over to Anna and kissed her right on the mouth. They angled their bodies, so I could see them passionately kissing each other. As the ot
hers were kissing, the princess decided to once again become nude.
“Oh wow… so this is what it was like.” Something was off, I looked to Dirk as he stood and walked to the three of them.
“Dirk, wait! It’s not them! It’s the fa—” then as Dirk was looking back to me I saw a black sword pierce his eye. The blade came clean as his lifeless body hit the floor.
“I told you we would see you soon. Did you honestly think we couldn’t reach you here?” I watched them transform again. I cringed at the sound of breaking bones in the legs and witnessing the hair falling out. Once again all three eyeless heads stared me down. “Your parents are still suffering as we speak, do not worry, you will see them soon enough.” I felt a burning sensation, and I looked down to see the same blade that killed Dirk inside of my chest. I walked backward, but the sword just drove deeper eventually pinning me to the wall. The blade filled me with pain but also ripped my soul from me. It made me feel thankful for my death as all hope was ripped from me. I tried to scream, but no noise would come out.
“I can't wait until our next meeting.” Then a slimy tongue filled with boils licked across my face then I awoke.
I scrambled into a sitting position and looked around the room. Les was hanging in midair. I heard her choking on water as I took in the shifting water holding her neck and entering her mouth suffocating her. I realized it was me as I cut off the magic that held her.
“Dear gods, Les, I am so sorry.” I rushed to her side, but she scrambled back. “Les… I'm sorry. I had a nightmare…” Her breaths were ragged.
“Please… I'm fine… Just go.” Crushed, I stood and left the room.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Gibi's Oasis
Not knowing where to go, I just walked. I found myself in a garden. I sat in the middle clearing that led to other pathways to admire the beautiful arrangements.
“What have I done… Gibi, please tell me you are there. I need you… what do I need to do!” But there was no answer. Hours passed, and now I could see the sun starting to rise. It made me appreciate the beauty of the garden even more. I stood and walked back a few steps when I heard the rocks shuffling behind me.
“Weaver, be calm. It is just me.” I looked at Laila, but at this point, I felt as though I was losing my mind.
“How… can I be sure? Just, please, stay back. It's not safe around me.” I soon realized I was crying. I sat down on the patch of pebbles. I looked up as I felt her walk closer.
“May I touch you? Gibi told me to come, he said he tried to reach you, but your magic might not be strong enough yet.”
“I almost killed her… Les. I had a nightmare…”
“It's okay, now your awake and all is fine.” Laila said.
“No! It's not! I have no idea what I'm doing… People keep getting hurt around me, and I don’t know how to protect them.”
“Weaver!” Laila raising her own voice to interrupt me. I yelled at the top of my lungs.
“You don’t understand!” We were both quiet for a time. “I left out a part of my story. I didn’t know how to tell everyone, so I thought it best to hide it.” I looked back to Laila. She just sat in front of me with her knees pressed to her chest.
“When I was with the fates, among the mountains of skulls… the fates told me something. You must understand Laila… I wanted to say it.”
“Weaver, it is okay. I'll even make a deal with you. If you tell me yours, I will tell you mine.” And once again I looked at her beautiful face that was filled with a soft smile.
“The fates… They told me I will fail. That every possible future there is, no matter what choice I make, will end everything. I know I shouldn’t believe them, but deep inside me… I know it to be true. Gibi chose wrong to give me this task, by the end of it I'm so afraid that even if I do somehow manage to fix all this, or whatever I am supposed to. I will still be alone surrounded by lifeless bodies. That Liam will take everything from me.” I then felt her hands around me embracing me.
“I understand your thoughts. When Liam was trying to take my life, he kept telling me I was wrong. That you would never come for me. I believed him, and what Gibi said to me before I met you meant nothing. It hurt me more than he knew knowing I wouldn’t be able to help you, to know you as you are.
“Before you met me?”
“Here is my secret, Weaver. Gibi came to me in my dreams several years ago. He spoke of a man who would be faced with terrible choices and never-ending danger. That I was meant to guide him and in return you would help me in my task. To love him and do whatever I can, to make sure we both finish this with our minds intact. Later Gibi came back the night before the dinner we first met. He told me without a doubt you would fail if I did not give you his blessings, that our fates are tied together. But it made no difference, ever since that day I loved that man he told me about, the man who would be faced with those choices none could comprehend. My dreams were filled with you, only missing a face. Night after night I promised myself, that we would save this world. I did not even know your plight until recently, but I knew. I knew I was looking at a man who could charge into a battle of whatever kind. I would be there to help him mend his wounds physical and emotional no matter the cost. Gibi told me this was our duty to one another. I accepted it with all my heart. I will never doubt you again as I did with Liam. He and his followers are what darkness is made from. The darkness that hides evil, lures the innocent, and hides from the light.” She pulled back and placed her hands on each side of my face.
“Weaver, we are that light and sometimes you will feel that light dim. That hope float away in extreme situations. I will be there to help you remember as I do now. The people of Ellipsis will fight for that light with you. You are not alone.” So much warmth pushed into me that, it almost broke me. I could feel it battling the doubt, the nightmares, and the fear inside of my head. I welcomed it with all that I had. She let go and was still smiling at me.
“Thank you, Laila, I was about to steal a horse and just ride. I thought eventually I would be captured and killed so this nightmare would end. Then I realized, I have no idea how to ride a horse.” We both smiled and let out soft chuckles.
“Then eat, and dress for a ride. Because today you have your first lesson with me. I think it would be a good time for it considering neither of us feels the need to be locked away here.”
“That sounds wonderful. But… could you get me some clothes? I'm not sure I'm ready to see Les again. When I left, she feared me, wouldn’t let me explain. I don’t know if I can handle that look again.”
“Of course, I will return soon with clothes and a pack with food. We can have breakfast at a place very special to me. Would you like to see it?”
“Nothing could make me happier. Thank you.”
“Then it shall be so.” She stood, and soon the crunching of rocks was gone as I waited for my first lesson with a horse.
* * *
“These horses are beautiful, Laila.” She smiled that someone had seen her hard work in caring for these animals. We continued to walk through the stables, well a section of the stables. The stables were made up of several buildings, this one must have been the royal stables since stable boys were doing all the work.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to use one? I can just take another. I would hate to ruin a royal horse.” The clothing she brought me were the leathers from my room as well as the two knives. She wore leathers as well that had separate shoulder guards that went to her elbow. They were intricately designed with vines that were all reaching for a globe in the center which I assumed was the sun that provided warmth to our world. I never have been religious or sent thanks to Gibi. Even now I’m still not sure about everything. But looking on her leathers, I could see Laila confessing every night in the places of worship around the city.
“It will be all right. Here, grab this and this.” She handed me a small thick blanket, and I tossed it over my shoulder. The next seemed to be the leather seat that I have seen
on other horses before. It was made from a hard leather with long straps in the front and back. A small back brace no bigger than my hand, then a small leather-wrapped handle in the front. With cloth and saddle in hand, I followed her to the largest horse I’d ever seen. Her mane matched the color of her body that shined a deep, dark black. The only amount of color on her was on each leg, surrounded by white hair as if she had been walking in snow.
“Princess, not to sound scared. However, is there anything smaller? Because I am scared shit-less.” Laila laughed.
“Do not worry, this is my horse Fraza. I'm going to show you how to place everything on her without being killed. This is a war charger that my father had bought Aden and me when we were young. That is why it's so big.”
“I knew that.”
“Of course you did. Now watch carefully, then I will take you to yours.” I nodded and placed the heavy saddle down to pay closer attention. She started telling me if a horse is not used to you, there are some important rules to follow.
“Okay, what's next?” Where's the horse I'm going to use?” I said confidently.
“There is more you need to see before she is ready to ride.” She jumped over the stall door with grace and called a stable boy over. He was bringing over multiple straps that made no sense to me. She then explained as she took the items from the horse. There we numerous details that I couldn’t possibly remember dealing with finger lengths and how it is positioned on the horse. She opened the stall door taking me off guard since I was standing on it. I had to jump off to avoid being crushed as they came out.
“If you have the time, you need to walk the horse around a bit to see if it can breathe normally. This is how you know if the saddle or any other adjustments that might be needed.” She smiled at my shocked face as my head came up to the lower part of the saddle.
“Okay then…”
“I already made the changes I needed. Let's go find yours.” I picked up my belongings and followed her a couple of stalls over. My horse wasn’t as tall or majestic as Fraza, but it still had a gorgeous brown body and thick, stable shoulders. The best part was it wasn’t near as big as Fraza. For that I was thankful.