by Sanders, Dan
“The Chosen One is on Annwyn.”
“What?”
“I can’t explain now, but we have the prophecy and I am on my way to help the Chosen One decipher its meaning and plan our next steps.”
Sashiel looked as though he had been slapped.
Aldrick continued, “If what you say is true, it’s worse than Magas and I heard. Torek has no bounds. He’s enlisting the support of the Exotics to stop the Chosen One.”
“What is she like?” Sashiel said.
Aldrick laughed. “Not what you expect.”
“Can she win?” Sashiel said.
Aldrick looked at the ground and said, “I don’t know Eostra’s plan, but we must trust her judgement. The Chosen One is special. Magas asked me to look after her.”
“I would like to meet her.”
“She will be at the Gala dinner tonight.”
“Is that safe?” Sashiel said, his hands trembling on his staff.
“With the leaders of the free world at hand? I think so. What will come of the boy?”
“After he serves his apprenticeship to the Melder, Darius intends for his son to be the ruler of the southern lands, the most powerful in Annwyn. I must have faith the boy will still have some good in him at the end of all this. Perhaps I can nurture what good is left for the benefit of Jalpari and Annwyn.”
Aldrick nodded. “Sensible. What will you do now?”
“I’ll go home and try to communicate with the boy. I must do what I can from inside Jalpari. I’m afraid it’s dim, Aldrick. Torek is evil and supremely powerful. Somehow, he has grown stronger. I can’t figure it out.”
They reached the end of tunnel and a wooden door with a yellow crystal knot in the centre. It pulsed with soft light.
Sashiel pulled a pouch from his blue velvet robe. “I almost forgot. This may help you. It has a sibling but I don’t know its whereabouts. They provide insight into the workings of things that cannot be seen.”
Aldrick took the gift from Sashiel’s frail fingers and opened it and withdrew a set of gold rimmed spectacles with a ruby lens in the right rim. He threw his arms around his friend’s neck and whispered, “Thank you, my friend. We have the other. We can now decipher the prophecy. You bring us hope.”
Sashiel smiled and said, “Then my betrayal may have served a real end. Speaking of my hopes, did you and Cera ever…”
Aldrick frowned and said, “No old friend. She is Sabina’s mother and Sabina is my student. Fear has a way of seeping into one’s heart before one knows it. It’s funny. You’re the second person tonight to mention it.”
“Don’t delay. Life has a way of slipping by.”
“Just before I saw you, I’d decided to be bold and declare my affections, after this is over.”
“You deserve peace, Icelander, and so does she. Sabina cares deeply for you and will want happiness for both of you.”
They embraced quickly and Sashiel disappeared back into the tunnel. Aldrick lifted his robes and shuffled through the entrance to the bedchambers of Emily and Lupi.
Chapter 22
Xavier’s Test
Royal Guest Chamber,
CASTLE OF KING GWYNGAD, IBENDARI,
ANNWYN
Theni rushed them into the chamber of the Vodnik Princess. Xavier looked for somewhere to hide but the girl casually flopped onto the emerald studded bed and twirled the red pendant around her neck, singing quietly.
He shuddered. Standing at the foot of the bed he faced the stone door to the bedchamber, gripping his staff. An image of his mother drifted into his mind and thoughts came. He did not know the Vodnik Princess. Did she deserve this? How could he do it? If he ran now he could escape with Sirakon and never look back. Nobody could touch him. He was already too powerful. He lit the flame in his hand and tossed it as nonchalantly as he could. His hands shook. Holding his wrist steady he stared at the round crystal doorknob, waiting for it to move. Nothing.
He glanced at Theni lying on the bed. She lay on her back, watching him while she sang to herself. His heart raced and his throat thickened.
“How can you kill people?” he asked.
Theni said breezily, “It is more than taking a life. I absorb their life force. That is the sweetest taste of all.”
“But why?”
“Because my life is a calling, directly from Gorgos.”
He realised if he kept her talking he could move to the window, wrap her in curtain and TC the ceiling onto her head, preventing her from alerting Blade. “Have you done this before?” he said as coolly as he could.
“Who do you think took care of Torek’s other little problem on the upcoming vote?”
“What problem?”
“You are slow aren’t you? The Queen of Gardsvor.”
Xavier hadn’t given the rumours of the assassination much thought. He had been too busy with his new master.
She sensed his surprise and said, “You find it repulsive, don’t you. You’re weak, like the rest of them. You won’t make it. I told Master that. I’ll be the first woman Gorgos-Melder on Annwyn. The first. But even more powerful because I have this.”
She held up the small red stone she played with.
“This is the Zora Stone, or part of it. Torek has the other piece. We share our power during deharmonisation. I am invincible when we are connected.”
Xavier felt sick. This girl, if he could call her that, was lower than any being he had met, even the Paytah. He thought back to when they first met. Jalpari and Storven were neighbouring nations and although they had political tensions due to their different focus on Fire Lore and Earth Lore, he and Theni had played on and off together from when he was only three years old. It was a wonderful time, before his mother rejoined. He remembered Theni becoming more distant but thought it was just him missing his mother and the strained relationship with his father. Now he connected the dots. Theni was the product of Torek and Gorgos, and that was the cause of her change. If he stuck around, he might end up like her. The time to move was now, before the Princess arrived.
He indicated to Theni that he was getting a drink. As he raised his staff, pretending to TC the tray holding the drink, the door swung open to admit a slender woman, not much older than Xavier. She had intricate carvings etched with diamonds on her blue skin. Her hair reminded Xavier of snow clouds, the way it danced on shoulders that arched from the ocean blue curve in her neck into the wide delicate junction of her slender arms. A gold necklace crammed with rubies laced her neck. He could not hurt this girl.
The Vodnik Princess stared into Xavier’s eyes. Realising the danger, she screamed. Xavier felt her Thoughtshout ring about his head and knew it wouldn’t be long before she had company. The drink she carried smashed on the stone floor.
In a reflex Xavier tried to silence her with his hands but the flame in his fingers caught the power of his staff and exploded in a furnace of incandescent orange, quickly engulfing the blue Princess. She ran into the wall then fell writhing on the floor. Panic slammed Xavier’s mind and he froze. What had he done?
Theni bounded off the bed with glee, ran to Xavier and said, “Finish her off, now. Now… now.”
Xavier was only vaguely aware of what happened next. Theni saw his incapacitation and relished in assuming the task. She commanded the door shut, and used her Reven Lore to fuse it with the wall, preventing intruders. Gripping the red pendant she spoke lovingly to the stone. It erupted under her command and surrounded her in a blood-red glow. She dived onto the blue Princess, protected by her deathly aura, and grabbed each side of the Princess’s head. Tendrils of red flowed into the emerald eyes of Theni’s victim. A deep guttural scream of death echoed off the stone walls. Xavier remembered hearing loud footsteps and yells from the other side of the door; then banging on the door. As the scream died a cackling emerged from Theni’s crazed face and drooling lips.
Xavier remembered Blade’s dark form filled the room and yanked him away through the window. Did Theni come? Probably. What would
his mother say? This was his last thought as he watched the final flutters of life ebb from the pile of blue charcoal as he flew out the window.
Chapter 23
Gala Dinner
CASTLE OF KING GWYNGAD, IBENDARI,
ANNWYN
The two rising moons that introduced the evening of the Gala dinner did so with enthusiastic brilliance. Their blue and white colours cast generous beams of royal formality through the castle windows. Beings streamed in from the four corners of Annwyn and the castle was alive like no other time of the year. Even the Styx, the revered Water Sprites, arrived from the underwater city of Nilawen off the coast of the far south-west ranges.
The ballroom was built in the grand style typical of kings at the peak of their powers, solely with festivals in mind. Its high domed ceiling rested on gargantuan columns of coloured crystal, all exquisitely laced with the exotic flowers and vines that typified Earth Lore nations such as Ibendari. Lining the walls of the ballroom, dining tables and chairs were stacked three tables high, the guests hovering comfortably near the ceiling. At the centre of the chamber King Dralia took pride in showing his very own splendid contribution to the castle. Under his personal supervision he had installed, at great expense, an opulent circular fountain connecting the ballroom to the river directly below the castle. Nobody knew its purpose, but they fell to adoring gestures at the waterfall sprouting in the centre of this grandest of ballrooms.
By the time Emily and her friends entered the ballroom the merrymaking was well advanced. Delicacies wafted rich smells across the hall, mingling with scents of beguiling blooms. Music and dance mixed coloured silks from the various nations. The King was pleased with the effect.
To Emily’s surprise they were seated far from the King’s table, near the exit. Her spirits improved when she saw Magas at the centre of the room, next to Aldrick and the King’s advisor, Zenon Weed. Magas had exchanged his blue velvet robe for pearlescent white silks with gold brocade around his waist. His vine-encrusted staff lay across his lap. He winked at Emily as she hopped onto the seat. She found herself waving a paw and her ears his way.
Sabina was in a foul mood, as the Queen had taken personal interest in her preparations, adorning Sabina in form-fitting silks, jewellery, face powders and perfumes. The final straw came when the Queen styled her silver hair into a horn-like bun on either side of her head, in the manner of Ibendari royalty.
Emily was happy to have her friends around her again. If only she could solve the prophecy and learn what to do next!
The relaxed atmosphere loosened the friends’ tongues, and conversation developed in earnest.
“Why couldn’t we sit at those floating tables?” Daimon said.
Sabina said, “If the rich and royal spent less time on finery, and put their energies into the study of Lore, Annwyn would be the most advanced world of all known realms.”
“I think the Prince fancies you,” Lupi said.
Sabina huffed. “I have seen you two together.”
“Only because we have a bit of history,” Lupi said. “There is nothing between us now. Anyway, I am a different species.” Lupi indicated her blue-veined wings.
“Not that I am interested,” Sabina said, “but the Prince and I also are different species. He is royalty and I am a commoner; a Lorician no less.”
“What’s wrong with the Loric people?” Daimon asked.
Lupi jumped in. “The Loric and the Ibendari have been enemies since the Governor of Loric did the deal with that vicious Water Sprite, Kaleena, three hundred years ago. That’s one of the reasons Loric will never join the confederation. They will remain loyal to the CIS forever.”
“CIS, Kaleena?” Emily asked.
“Ah, so much all at once,” Sabina said. “For now, it will suffice to know that CIS is Coalition of Independent States. That’s what’s really going on here tonight. Sure there is the festival, but with the vote in two days, everybody has turned up to see if the King and the confederation get sufficient numbers to gain a balance of power.”
As they neared the end of their meal, and Emily was about to catch Magas before he was whisked away again on matters of state, the King rang a crystal gong to silence the room.
A yellow crystal disc lifted the King into the air and floated to the centre of the room. He cleared his throat.
“Welcome, my dear guests, from the far flung places of Annwyn. We also welcome the Earthling nation of Werramond. It is with great pride that we come together tonight in recognition of the greatest uniting festival on Annwyn, the Errenor Cup.” The King raised his ruby goblet in acknowledgement of the King of Errenor. Cheers erupted from the gathered monarchs.
“I also have great pleasure in announcing that my only son, Prince Bevan, will lead the Ibendari team to victory for our great nation.”
Friendly jeers rang down from the upper tables. Some called out their own names in response to the King’s friendly gauntlet.
“This great assemblage of royalty will witness the preeminent competitors of their lands compete for the pride of their nation. Raise your glasses. Greatness to Grael!” he called.
“Greatness to Grael,” sang the crowd.
“Although we each have a legion of our finest soldiers in gallant support of their liege, we stand as one, a world united in their connection to the land, their nations, and their allegiance to Eostra.”
Cheers erupted, although fewer than last time.
Lupi twisted a black curl and said, “Wait for it. The old windbag can’t resist.”
“What do you mean?” Daimon said. “It sounds a fine speech to me, such as my master would give.”
“Watch. Especially watch that man over there.” Lupi pointed to a man in a glossy red robe, with fire-red hair resting down the length of his back.
“Who’s that?” said Daimon.
“That’s Darius Morgenstern,” Sabina offered, “Overlord of Jalpari. He seeks to be supreme ruler of Annwyn.”
“I thought Annwyn didn’t have a single ruler,” Noogie said.
“Exactly,” Lupi said smugly. “He is the ruler of the Fire Lore people in the southern Regions. I have it on reliable information that he sent his son, only a few years older than Daimon here, as apprentice to the Dark Melder Torek. Ruthless, he is.”
Sabina shook her head sadly. “But surely people from Elemental Lore nations cannot be Melders. What was his name? Jervier?”
“Xavier. I don’t know about the Melder thing, but nobody has seen him since he was taken during the past lunation. Now watch.”
The King adjusted his bulging waist and wobbled on the floating crystal disc.
“We stand on the threshold in the affairs of Annwyn not seen in two millennia, since the unification of the Silder’s War. We have the opportunity to harmonise the nations in a single confederation and end division.”
The room changed. Jeers and heckles from CIS nations reverberated off the crystal columns. People on both sides of the political affiliations hurled abuse. Only the red robed Overlord from Jalpari was silent in his seat, smiling.
A lone voice among the guests called, “If we are close to unification, why was Queen Rhinffrew murdered only days ago?”
Shocked exclamations answered the question.
“It seems we are further united than before,” another voice heckled in derision.
The King tightened his belt and said, “Please do not disrespect the memory of the great Queen. Gwern was a friend to many of us, and her assassination is a blight on us all.”
From the second tier of hovering diners, a deep-voiced guest stood, hovering without the aid of a seat. “But Dralia, I heard she threatened to leave the confederation and join the CIS?”
He withdrew his hood to reveal a being Emily had not seen before. He was tall, and covered with long orange hair, his long limbs bearing delicate hands clasped at his belly. Emily saw the shape of powerful stately shoulders under his bronze robe. The gold headband enhanced his regal stature.
Daimon whispered to Sabina, “That looks like an orangutan, an animal on Earth.”
Sabina said, “They’re the Ibaloth, from the foot of the Aruso Mountains. The crystal colouring has shaped their physical appearance. They are gentle, long-suffering beings, but fearless. They are the masters of TC.”
“Kefflorn, my friend,” the King said, “I know of no such thoughts. She has always been loyal to the confederation. In any case, she deserved no retribution for her alliance. By the mountains of Terra, we will bring to justice all involved in her demise.”
That turned the tide back in the King’s favour and he continued, “Let us compete fiercely on the Grael fields tomorrow. Let the Queen’s death not be in vain. Let the vote in two days proceed with dignity, with courage and with compassion.”
Tentative applause rose in the hall. Overlord Morgenstern had hardly moved. Only those watching closely detected his disappointment at the return to joviality.
“I’m off,” Sabina said as the dancing began.
“Don’t you like dancing?” Lupi laughed.
Sabina snorted. “We will meet on the other side of this charade.”
“I hoped to ask the lovely lady for a dance.” Bevan appeared and bowed before Sabina.
Emily thought the Prince looked even more regal than at yesterday’s Grael practice. His royal blue silk tunic with crystal lapels and medals made him look more like an adventurer than a soldier. He wore his gold medallion with the Earth Lore symbol of two horizontal wavy lines sitting atop two upright wavy lines. Emily recognised the symbol from the prophecy. A plump woman with a shiny nose and ready-to-please smile followed close behind the Prince.
“What, me?” Sabina said. “I’m afraid not. I do not dance.”
“It’s bad manners to reject a Prince. I can dance well enough for both of us.” The Prince smiled.
“Cocky, isn’t he,” Lupi said to Sabina.
“But…”
“It’s settled, my lady.” The Prince took Sabina’s hand and led her to the dance floor, his gold robe waving victory behind.
She looked back to her friends with terror.