Prophecy's Quest

by A. S. Hamilton

  Sariah was not the only person he whose health worried him. The other from The Prophecy, whom he had pulled from the battlefield in the valley, still had not regained consciousness. He had the may-en-ghi helping with that, Sala was seeing to her healing and Baschia was overseeing her protection. Brynn sighed. Somehow he had to convince her that, despite his actions that day, he was not someone to fear. And what if, after whatever explanations he gave, she continued to reject him? What would he do then?

  In an attempt to find answers, he had reviewed the vision Toormeena had shown him of The Prophecy and the information in the amulet she gave him to find Eirra-ghi. He had also gone over his memories of everything she had told him. But so far all he knew for certain was that they needed to connect. They had connected, briefly, and he had terrified her by using the power that connection had given him to gain the upper hand against Malithorn's forces. When she had broken their link, he had been devastated, but there had been no time to take it in. What if she would not agree to reconnect? Had he already failed?

  The entire rebel forces expected him to lead them to victory. Him. Without her, he had almost lost the battle in the valley. And there would be many more battles just as bloody and vicious before they won their country back. More so, because now that he was revealed, Malithorn would draw in his forces and make concerted attacks against the rebels.

  Placing the cane to one side where it would not roll off, Brynn carefully lay back and squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to cry, to scream out his frustration, to hide, to run away to some place where they had never heard of The Prophecy and where he could be normal. Just for a day or two. But there was no running from this responsibility. Brynn could feel his panic rising. The thought of all the lives that had been lost. As well as the ones that would be lost in upcoming battles. He had not even been able to save his grandfather and he had been right there. With all his talent and training and a sword that was imbued with the will to kill, he had still not managed to save Riqu. The pain in Brynn's side flared up. So much so, that he found himself breathless.

  'Stop,' he murmured to himself as he opened his eyes to stare up at the bright, blue sky.

  Inhaling deeply, Brynn let the breath out in a slow, controlled stream as he lay down. He needed to clear his mind and deal with one thing at a time. This time when he closed his eyes, he did it not to shut out the world, but to concentrate. The method he used to clear his mind this time was to focus his attention on the smells and sounds around him. The smells of the plants and flowers. The sounds of birds calling to each other. The technique eventually succeeded. The pain subsiding and allowing him to rest.

  When the young mage opened his eyes again, his eyelids felt heavy and he suspected he had ended up sleeping a little before the sound of someone approaching had woken him. Gingerly, he pushed himself upright. The sun-drenched rock may have been pleasantly warm, but it had left him feeling stiff and achy. Slipping off the rock, he grunted with the effort. Between the rest and gentle exercise, he was moving better, but he still had quite a bit of recovering to do. He picked up his cane, the metal sculpted into the dragon-shaped handle was warm against his palm having been heated by the sun. Looking towards the shadowy forest near the meadow, he tried to identify the person he had heard moving nearby.

  'Well now, it seems I finally have some competition in the looks department. The colour suits you, by the way.'

  The voice brought a smile to Brynn's face and he laughed. 'Sarre!'

  Sarre emerged from the shadows of the trees. Taking up his cane, Brynn met him and gave his friend a hug. The archer dropped a small pack to return Brynn's hug.

  When he stood back, Sarre slowly shook his head with disbelief. 'By the realms, it was one thing to see it on you as an infant, but now you are truly the image I have fought for these past forty-odd turns. Just the sight of you will give people hope.'

  Brynn leaned back on the rock. 'No pressure, thanks!' Then he added, 'I cannot put into words how happy I am to see you.'

  'I am very grateful myself that Nathan never got the chance to catch up with my alter ego.' Sarre said, referring to his undercover role as the human mage, Regen. 'I think he would have done a lot worse to Regen than you did to Nathan.'

  'I could not let that happen. Although I would not go so far as saying you are any kind of direct competition as far as looks go.'

  Sarre grinned as he gave Brynn a playful cuff before collecting his pack and climbing up to sit on the rock. 'Cheeky pup.' He patted the rock next to him. 'Now, I am starved of news and eager to hear the full details of your journey!'

  Brynn grinned at the impish twinkle in Sarre's golden eyes as he carefully lifted himself back on the rock to sit next to him. The archer probably knew all the news. His friend would have already spoken to Keysjhon and had probably been in constant communication with Kassan as soon as he left Ancoulan. He just wanted to find out how each person perceived their experience. Sarre's main role for the rebellion was to gather intelligence, and it was a skill that came naturally to him.

  'Do you want the biggest news first or a chronological relation of events up until now?'

  Sarre opened his pack and drew forth two escala. He tossed one to Brynn. 'Hmmm, a quandary, let us start with the highlights,' he decided as he started to peel his fruit. 'We never did get much time to catch up in Sal-Cirus.'

  'I beat Kassan for the first time about a sennat after you left.'

  Sarre chuckled. 'Funny how she never mentioned that. Now we both have ammunition with which to jibe her. What of your journey, I see you found Eirra-ghi after you left Sal-Cirus.'

  'I coordinated the release of Akileena and his family.'

  'I saw Andarin and Lea-ryn, I guessed Akileena must be close by.'

  'He is tortured from within and keeps to himself, yet I think his spirit will heal. At least he has friends who will encourage him out of his despondency. Sariah's brother Sentary is keen to learn what he can of talent. He seems to instinctively know Akileena needs a positive focus and he's persistent in engaging him. '

  Sarre smiled sadly to himself. 'A good child, that one. They both need the distraction. I think in the end Akileena will learn to let it go, for his daughter's sake. Sariah got you into that one, I heard, did she not? How did you end up crossing paths with her?'

  'When I was cornered on my way to Sal-Cirus, she rode in screaming like a banshee. She was blind, and yet she took down several soldiers with unerring accuracy.'

  Sarre gave a low whistle as Brynn shared his memory with him. 'That is some strike she has, there is a lot of anger for Kassan to train out.'

  Brynn grinned. 'So Kassan will take Sariah as a student!' He had asked Kassan whether she would consider taking Sariah on as an apprentice.

  'Ah, no, I did not say anything of the kind!'

  Brynn laughed. 'I promise, seeca, I will not tell her I found out from you. Besides, I have mind-hear remember?'

  Sarre snorted. 'I would not tell her you scanned her thoughts, she will give you a rap with that staff of hers for doing it without asking.'

  'Ahhh, I am just a young, inexperienced mage, a child no less, who cannot help these innocent mistakes.'

  Sarre laughed. 'You see! This is why no one ever believes me when I tell them that you are not all pretty, blue eyes and innocence.'

  Brynn started to pull his escala into segments. 'Not yet, at least. And there is one person who would believe you.'

  Sarre tilted his head, the gold eyes narrowed as he assessed Brynn's tone and demeanour. Kassan had said he needed a friend and he suspected this was why she had sent him to Brynn's side after only a brief greeting.

  'It is whispered she is found. I take it you mean the one mentioned in The Prophecy.'

  'She has, and I do,' Brynn confirmed softly.

  'And yet, you are apprehensive?'

  'She reviles me, Sarre.'

  'Are you sure it is not fear rather than revulsion?'

  'I may know there is difference in the meaning of those
two words, but it feels the same.'

  'Have you spoken to her?' he asked hopefully.

  'Nay. I have the may-en-ghi seeing to her, they are the only ones who can hide her from Colnba and Nisari. Sala is seeing to her health. Starved to the point of expiration, she almost died even as we rode from the battlefield. Her bones are brittle, her energy, almost non-existent. So she rests. And she is...'

  'What?' Sarre watched Brynn intently.

  'She is not what she seems.'

  'And what is that?'

  'She is human.'

  Sarre smiled, his eyes crinkling. 'Since when has that bothered you?'

  Brynn recognised the expression on his friend's face. 'You knew!' he sputtered in disbelief. 'How did you get by the may-en-ghi?'

  Sarre's smile turned into a grin. 'This is me we are talking about; my charm works on elvan and may-en-ghi alike.' Sarre's expression sobered. 'She does not hate you, Brynn. She does not know you. Place yourself on her path — one moment she is a slave and the next Riqu drags her out of her cell and she is running for her life. Then she goes through a mage-riddled battle... Brynn, even Kassan is left shaken by mage-led battles and she has been through a fair few. Imagine what it was like for her.'

  'I do not have to,' Brynn told him sullenly. 'I felt it. Then I took it from her and used it to strike at Malithorn's mages, it is no wonder she used the last of her strength to break from me.'

  'You connected?'

  'Aye,' Brynn sighed, 'for a moment.'

  'And what happened?'

  'It was... It was not as I expected.'

  Again Brynn sent Sarre his memory, the connection, the opening of planes, the clarity of them, the feeling of completion and then the loss of it. Sarre winced when he relived her disconnecting from Brynn. Kassan was right, he needed a friend. He must have felt bereft when she broke the connection, to the elvan it was the most extreme kind of rejection.

  Brynn's voice became distant. 'Belon told me not to venture out of the valley the day I ended up saving Baschia. If I had simply made myself invisible the day Sariah joined me in that fight, I would never have met her. Akileena would be dead because Nathan would have killed him. I had to kill Nathan, first. I had to get close to him and make him believe I was harmless. Riqu...' Brynn's voice caught. Sarre remained silent, letting the young elvan say his piece. 'Riqu may not have died had I not been over confident. And now this... her... I do not think I managed to stumble on the right decision, this time. This unity of which The Prophecy speaks is not something I think I can achieve.'

  Sarre leaned back and finished swallowing the last of his fruit. 'You cannot. Not on your own. The whole of The Prophecy is about returning the balance in leadership and in the lands, and thus, logically, you will need to achieve balance in yourself to return it to the realm. You will need to work together for that. This is more than just finding her,' he continued, 'more than just making her like you. It is about combining a spirit that was separated.' Sarre met Brynn's gaze. 'You are supposed to be daunted, Brynn. Just as you were the first day you met Kassan, or the day you left Ancoulan, or when you went to Baschia's aid.'

  Brynn gave Sarre a grateful smile. 'Anything you ever want, Sarre, it is yours.'

  'Right now, I want that memory of the battle in the valley. By Kassan's account it was awesome and when I rode by it looked like a pair of dragons had a disagreement of colossal proportions. I saw evidence of lightning strikes and mage fire and someone, I am guessing you, managed to use their talent to raise an entire plateau in the middle of the valley as well as create a lake. I do not wish to diminish the loses such a battle incurs, but it must be acknowledged that the feats I describe indicate extraordinary achievements on a talented level.'

  'Yes, well, Kassan probably already mentioned that Belon does not see it quite that way.'

  Sarre shrugged. 'Admittedly, there was something said about the thoughtlessness of mages breaking the commitment they made to maintain and restore balance. But from what I heard Belon did not lay the blame at your feet.'

  'No, she never does, but I know I am included. When I am recovered I will restore the valley. It will require extensive work though. What we wrought in such a short time may take a lot longer to repair. Although I was thinking of putting in a memorial to Riqu and Diannra, perhaps statues of a raven and a silver-backed kite.'

  Sarre considered it a moment, then nodded. 'Both birds would represent them well. Riqu went by 'the raven's guardian' for the entire time he led the rebels, so he will be more easily recognised by that symbol and I believe Diannra had a silver-backed kite as a companion, rode on her shoulder much like Kaydyr does with Sariah.' Sarre smiled at Brynn. 'But I am guessing you already knew that and that is why you thought of a kite to represent Diannra.'

  'I did. I wondered though, do you think Riqu chose a hawk companion for Sariah because it reminded him of his rahn and her feathered companion?'

  His question made Sarre smile nostalgically. 'I am certain of it.'

  'There is no need to mention it to Belon though, I usually do not tell when I restore battle- damaged areas.'

  'Why?'

  'It was what I was taught as being part of the responsibility of having talent, just as Belon says.'

  'No, I mean, why not mention it to your mother?'

  'Oh, well, I never tell Belon because she is never happy with it. I will have done it too well. It will be too perfect.'

  'Do not have concern for Belon's words, it is how she shows you she cares.'

  Brynn groaned. 'So you and Keysjhon have said before, but sometimes I really wish it would not always result in a lecture. What of you? What do you think about it?'

  Sarre considered him. 'You mean, do I disapprove of how you made use of your talent to use nature as a defence? Definitely not! Why train you and then tell you not to make use of it? Would I regret the destruction of the valley? Yes, like you, I would seek to restore what I could. Would it make me hesitate one millisecond next time?'

  Sarre shifted back to a sitting position so he could meet Brynn's gaze straight on again. The burgundy flecks in his golden eyes flared, reflecting the intensity of the emotion in his voice. 'Never let it make you waiver, not when lives can be saved. You can replenish the soil, nurture nature, and make up for the brief turmoil you released upon it. A lifeless body cannot be nurtured back to life, not once the soul has departed. You know, Brynn, you know that in battle there is not the time to pause and save each life, so if it takes an unnatural storm, a flood, a reformation of land to save those precious lives — never hesitate.' Sarre leaned back again, 'Now, think no more of it. Although, I will say this, when you are recovered enough to fix that valley, I think you should show Belon and Keysjhon the raven and kite statues, they would appreciate the honour you give to the memory of Diannra and Riqu. Sariah, too, for that matter.'

  Brynn shook his head with wonder. 'I am honoured by your friendship.'

  'So, you will dress down when we are together?' Sarre quipped, making Brynn laugh. Sarre looked up at the sky then. 'Ah, time to return, Kassan has bid us to join her for our meal.'

  Brynn looked up too, and was startled to realise the day was half gone. He climbed down from the rock with Sarre's help, but despite his friend's aid, pain still seared through his torso and he found himself leaning on the cane.

  Sarre supported him. 'Take your time. Recovery should not be hurried. I am surprised Belon has let you out of bed.'

  'She did not,' Brynn responded, his voice strained.

  'Ah. I do not envy the lecture you are bound to get when she discovers your absence.'

  'Already had it… Twice.'

  The archer chuckled, 'Never could keep you still for long. Do not answer. Just breathe, give it a chance to settle.'

  Leaning against the archer, Brynn waited for the pain to subside again, before signalling he was recovered enough to walk.

  As they started back Sarre said, 'You have been sharing your news with me, now it is my turn to relate some for you.' />
  'Oh...' Brynn responded with genuine curiosity.'

  'Oh, indeed. For the news I have heard is significant. On my way here, I heard that the dwarven might finally settle the throne.'

  'Really?' Brynn almost forgot to walk he was so surprised, who would have thought it would be so soon? 'How much truth do you think is in this rumour?'

  'After fifty-eight turns of debating? I have heard it several times already, but Banarron has presented both ancestral records and her heirship papers.'

  'Banarron?'

  'Ahhh, she returned just four turns ago from where she was heading an expedition in the Kanya-beyan Islands, where my people come from. That is how I found out. A family friend trades with the dwarven and uses our home in the Tiengara Ranges when travelling between the islands and the continent. He just visited the Tiengara Ranges recently and told the news to some dwarven I have employed to protect certain items of importance I have hidden within the ranges and they got a message to me,' Sarre explained. 'They said Banarron came down from the Elon-kay-li Mountains to get new supplies when she heard news of the vacant throne. She returned immediately. The messenger sent to bid her the news all those turns ago must have been waylaid — by murder or distraction, no one knows. Either way, Banarron never got the message. She had to unpack and search her entire estate to find the necessary paperwork, but it looks as if no one can contest her right.'