by Susi Wright
He thought of his own children, his mischievous daughter and the newborn son he had not yet seen, and his beloved Fralii, wondering how long it would be before he saw them again. His senses, as good as they were, gave him no time frame for their reunion. Apprehensive that it might not be soon, he couldn’t shake the feeling that had nagged ever since the battle. All is not as it should be, with Espira! He was torn yet again, between wanting to rush home to tend to his family and staying to fulfill his duty to those in need here. One did not need highly-developed Perception to see that Prince Rolin, despite his bravado and his father’s training, was young and totally inexperienced. Whether the boy-prince would admit it or not, he needed Luminor’s help to bring the realm of Lealand to its feet again.
Luminor shook off his ruminations and turned back to see Melu had begun to mingle fearlessly in the crowd; he had instructed his bodyguard to stand down, since there was no real threat here. Luminor smiled to himself at the Morvian’s intrepid nature, his own wistful mood lifting; he applauded the positive reception given by so many to one of such strange appearance. He felt more than confident that the wise and diplomatic Melu would make a superb communicator for the Alliance. Quite a queue had formed to meet him personally and ‘hear’ his story, hoping to get their turn for some mental pictures before the feast began.
A row of tables at one end of the square was being loaded with culinary offerings from the best the combined food stores could provide. A half-dozen kegs of honey-mead had been found in the cellars, spiced and watered down to go a long way. Larders were boosted by the meat from the hunt, yams and dried fruits, including pekunis and citron, brought from the Capital, and flour from the palace store; the increased supplies had enabled the kitchen staff to produce a feast with commendable flair. The long tables groaned under the weight of several large cuts of roast rak meat, garnished with citron slices, honey-basted yams and fresh panna. Stewed pekunis berry pies and chunks of tasty labno cheese finished the array of delicacies that most ordinary folk would at any time, consider to be fit for a king, a prince or any lord! The majority, who had been hungry for so long, could not believe their eyes at such a spread, even though helpings would be small, considering the numbers that had to be fed. The occasion was befittingly serenaded by a troupe of minstrels who were overjoyed to be singing and playing their instruments once again to such a large and happy crowd.
Prince Rolin was eyeing the food with no less enthusiasm than any individual there, having been on the road and hungry for days. With a wide grin, he turned to Luminor, pointing to the feast. “Come, Lord Luminor, be my guest – as much as I seem to be yours!”
“After you, your Highness!” deferred Luminor, returning the smile.
There were of course, a few doubters, who having observed the goings-on in the square with cynical eyes, had been watching the apparent rapport between the two leaders and did not trust it. Even after the meal, they frowned with lingering suspicion but they were largely ignored by their peers – left to their own thoughts or an occasional seditious whisper to a reluctant ear – while everyone else threw themselves into the evening tide of merriment!
CHAPTER 48
The Telling
“What are we to do?” Fralii paced the living room, rocking the newborn Ardientor in her arms. She worried at her lip, throwing an exasperated look at Aleana who had stayed with her since the birth. To one side of the room, Serafina had slumped quietly on the sofa, weary and unable to supply any further wisdom to the problem at hand. A few days ago, she had been as surprised as the others at her developing abilities, but it had taken a great deal of energy and had left her feeling a little drained. Nevertheless, during the retrieval and healing, she had formed quite a bond with Espira and the child had cried and pleaded for her to stay on at the villa when, the morning after the birth, Shimbu had to return to the care of her own children, offering in her kind matronly way to take Serafina with her. Bowing to Espira’s wishes, here she had stayed, but there were limits to her new skills.
Only half-listening to the exchange between Fralii and Aleana, Serafina had been lost in her own thoughts, thinking as she so often did, of Xandor, doing his duty in far-off Lealand. She was certain that he survived the battle. She had seen him coming to Luminor’s aid. She had seen him – but he had not seen her, and perhaps it was better that way – even though at the time, she had a strange feeling she could have reached out and made herself known to him. She wasn’t sure whether it had been pride or wisdom that had prevented her from doing so. She was still certain beyond a doubt, they were connected. . .He loved her and would return to her!
Serafina’s attention was drawn by Aleana’s movement as she stood and, smiling kindly, approached Fralii to take her turn rocking the fretful baby. Dependable as always, Aleana’s calming influence would make sure the child slept soon.
“Do not worry, Fralii. He will sleep – your anxiety is making it worse, you know!” she admonished, beginning to hum a few lines of a Gaian lullaby.
“Mumma!” Fralii always used this pet name for her mother-in-law, though crossly now. “You know I do not refer to Ardi, but Espira! What are we going to do about her incessant tantrums? I fear she has brought some demon back with her! Is that possible? Thank the stars, she is deep asleep with exhaustion right now!”
Aleana paused her humming, to speak in that kind instructive tone she had. “Every child, Gaian or human, is born with a sleeping demon, deep inside. Careful training from the start of life helps to calm the demon if it wakes, reducing tantrums or other erratic behaviour and eventually transforming it into an angel. At least – that is what should happen!” For once, she had a slightly doubtful expression.
Fralii sighed heavily. “But we all know – Espira is not normal – that’s what worries me! How I wish Lumi was here. He can control her!”
“Indeed, much of this has to do with the fact that he is absent! He and Espira have a special Link. He is her first, and best, tutor in these matters. This is the first time they have been separated and Espira does not understand the pain she feels. She misses him to distraction! It is what caused the mischief of her exploration into mystical things beyond her training, allowed the seeing of such evil and death. This, I believe, has stirred the demon to unnatural wakefulness, and she now battles it constantly, with infantile weaponry!”
Aleana pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I have already summoned her entire band of tutors. They will be here before she wakes. Between us, we will try to fast-track her training and bring her back to some equilibrium, so she can cope—so we can all cope – with this new challenge!”
She looked down at little Ardi, an absolute cherub, now peacefully sleeping in her arms. She wondered about the many challenges they would encounter in his education, and smiled wryly. “Fralii, I am the grandmother and you are the mother of two unique, hybrid children. We are only just observing that, far from the expected dilution of traits by Gaian-human unions, the genetic nick, where the Link also exists between individuals, intensifies all characteristics and talents of both races in their offspring. None of us can imagine where it will lead! We must be vigilant enough to provide for their special needs. . .I think we can both see and must accept, that our lives will always be very interesting, to say the least!”
Two hours later, the five Gaian tutors arrived and there was barely time for a short conference with them before a scream echoed through the villa. Espira was waking in the throes of another nightmare which, if the previous day was any benchmark, would inevitably lead to a lengthy tantrum involving damage of property or worse. All eight people in the room leaped to their feet in unison and hurried down the corridor. Half-way, Aleana paused tensely, conveying with her eyes an unmistakable warning to the elders of the group. She put voice to what they they all had intuitively guessed. “We have no choice. If it becomes necessary – for her own safety – we must pool our mental energies. . .do what we must, to restrain her!”
Fralii witnessed Espira during several
such episodes the previous day, doing a great deal of damage to the garden and bruising herself badly in the process, when she caused a dangerous landslip at end of the garden and threw boulders around haphazardly in a whirlwind. Fralii was unsure what role she, a mere human, could play, having no mystical talents in what seemed to be a world fast-becoming full of it. Nevertheless, she squared her shoulders along with the other seven, a small army, prepared to enter the lair of the demon child!
Dak and Troyan had struck up a lively conversation which had started about the merits of the bow and arrow over the sword; they now discussed, between mouthfuls of juicy rak-meat and yams, the benefits of consuming watered-down mead as opposed to the full strength beverage. They agreed, without doubt, everyone would suffer much less for it in the morning! After a short while, Troyan easily confided to the brotherly Dak, “ ‘Twas imbibing of strong ale and too much pride, that once put us in irons!” Laughing now, he filled in the details of his part in the drunken brawl that had seen Xandor, as the ringleader, and the rest of their group thrown into the Capital gaol a few short years ago.
Dak listened, making no judgements. Only his raised eyebrows showed some surprise to hear the shadier parts of Xandor’s past. What he had seen of the young warrior in recent days led him to believe, unequivocally, that Xandor was a born leader and was maturing into it. The business with his sister had been resolved. If she was making her own decisions, he was happy for her. He had taken an instant liking to Sumar, sensing straight away his genuine, respectful character and his honest intention to woo Saria. Dak was too perceptive for even an Elite like Sumar to fool. He wished him luck in his quiet pursuit!
Luminor ate his portion quickly, eager to catch up with Melu, but his friend clearly seemed to have assumed celebrity status. A constant stream of people clamoured to find out his story of escape through the Impossible mountains, enthralled by his unique and eloquent explanation of the ideals of the Alliance. Of course, Melu could show them vivid mental pictures of a wonderful future, they had previously imagined lost to them. Luminor was concerned that Melu looked drawn and tired, having eaten nothing for many days. As resilient as he was, it had not been that long ago when the Morvian had been discovered by Churian, seriously injured and he had taken little rest, and even less food, since.
The palace gates had been left open and more tables had been set up outside the walls to feed the Baramese soldiers. Their celebrations remained for the most part in the camp area, because the square was packed with people already, but some of them were allowed to come and go. A few, who hadn’t had a chance to meet Melu in the short time he had been in the Capital, took their opportunity now for a brief encounter, joining the line with the others.
Finally, people drifted away to find meals before all the food was gone and Melu shuffled over to join Luminor and the prince at their table. They had reserved a seat for him to rest his tired legs. He smiled widely, nodded to Prince Rolin and Luminor and promptly plopped down with a sigh, tucking in to the plate of food Luminor had pushed in front of him. Luminor and Rolin studiously left Melu to finish his meal without interruption, while they chatted together about their respective cultures, about Gaian talents and how such magic should only ever be used for good.
During their conversation, Luminor had time to assess Prince Rolin openly, just as the prince was doing his human best to weigh Luminor’s measure as a man. Despite Rolin’s youth and inexperience, Luminor found, from their first meeting, that it was impossible to think of him as a mere boy. Young, yes, but his soul was as old as the hills and valleys over which he now reigned!
To prove his honour and respect, Luminor made a promise to the prince. “Your Highness, I shall not address your people directly about this. I wish to demonstrate that I have no wish to conquer or coerce them. You probably have an inkling that I could do just as Xian did – if I wished. My offer is unconditional! If you need my help in any way, you have it, regardless of your choice. There is an army ready and waiting to roll up their sleeves. They are human and, by their own choice, part of the Alliance. You need not fear them. You may question Commander Stolis. Any Gaian loyal to me will also lend their talents to the task, if invited. I ask only one thing – that you do not let pride cloud your judgment in this. I will leave you to decide what is best for your people!” In a wisely-restrained manner, Luminor went on to outline how the Alliance was working in Baram and how, not necessarily his own leadership, but the ideals could transform the Known World for the better.
Luminor expected the flurry of questions that followed, as the intelligent prince tested his his counterpart’s credibility. Luminor answered every one with concise candour, until finally, having exhausted his armoury of challenging queries, Rolin announced quietly, “Lord Luminor, I shall, as you suggest, speak to Commander Stolis this evening. I have yet to ask the opinion of my head guardsman. Rendel was also my father’s right-hand man. Then, I shall think about all this, and give you my answer in the morning.”
Leaving the prince to search out Commander Stolis, Luminor turned his gaze to Melu, with a question of his own. How fares our friend, Churian? He guessed Churian had not regained consciousness, but the endearing Morvian had some news, surprising for two reasons. Firstly, to demonstrate his excellent learning skills, Melu articulated some of it in human dialect. “He. Better!. .At sun-up . .he do this – ” Then, almost comically, he closed both eyes and opened one, closing it a second later, to mimic the breakthrough that Churian had opened one eye, albeit only briefly, before lapsing back into the coma.
Luminor chuckled, touching Melu on the shoulder, grateful for his loyalty. He gleaned from the contact, a vague suggestion of Churian’s eventual physical recovery, if they could get him back to the Capital. But when Melu turned his soulful black eyes on Luminor, he saw in their depths a certain knowing sadness. Would Churian ever be quite the same as before the attack? It was a serious brain injury. Only time will really tell, thought Luminor, clinging to hope that most of the man and mentor he knew would recover!
The music swelled and the minstrels called out loudly, encouraging those who wished to participate in some dancing. Melu, an uninhibited lover of a good bare-bottomed jig, replete from his meal and feeling inordinately merry from the unfamiliar potency of honey-mead, even in its dilute form, did not have to be asked twice. He surged enthusiastically to his feet, sweeping a willing dance partner into a heady whirl around the square, though he did wisely refrain from throwing off his clothes!
When the dancers had twirled, jigged and roundelayed enough to finally exhaust themselves, they went to find chairs or floor-space to sit and rest; several Gaian warriors made their calls to Lord Luminor for the much-anticipated Telling. The Lealanders were not familiar with the Gaian tradition, but there were cheerful chants of, ‘Tell! Tell! Tell!’, from the Baramese soldiers. They had taken on the tradition around many a campfire, enjoying a Gaian Telling much more than their own because it always entailed magic of some kind! A Baramese soldier amicably elbowed a Lealander standing next to him with some friendly advice. “You will surely be missing something, my friend, if you do not listen to a gaian tale!” The keen ones climbed to the parapets on top of the wall and squeezed into any other nook and cranny within earshot, their eagerness convincing the other Lealanders that they were about to hear a jolly good tale. They all settled themselves into a position to listen.
The guest table became the focal point. Quiet descended on the square and its stately surrounding walls. The people were waiting. The attentive silence was broken only by the scratching of the chair as Luminor stood to address the audience. Every eye was fixed on the tall Gaian lord, the one who had defeated Fire with Fire, with his vivid emerald eyes and long white hair that sparked as it caught the moonlight; the lustrous obsidian feather air-cloak around his shoulders lifted and swirled lightly as if caressed in gentle invitation to take flight by the delicate evening breeze. The air became lighter, rarified, crackling with pervasive new energy. Strange suspense.
The night seemed filled with magic, enlivened by his presence. One could imagine hearing the powerful beating of a warrior’s heart, his breath as he drew it to speak. A moment of ceremony suspended in time.
“Prince Rolin, people of Lealand, new Gaian brothers and sisters. . .and my brave warriors and troops – with your permission – ” Luminor glanced at Prince Rolin first, who was nodding enthusiastically, then scanned the crowd for dissent and found nothing dangerous. Tonight, even the doubters were curious to hear the story with all the rest, faces shining alike in anticipation.
“Brothers and sisters all, this is the Telling of the Battle of the Fires. . . . . .”
And so it went. . .into the wee small hours, this tale of a different kind of dance: Of warriors and weapons, courage and survival, life and death, of the Fires whose names were Destruction, Healing, Despair and Love; and of the Lord of Fire and a small dragon, who won the day. This was the Telling that would become legend, of one momentous victory over the eternal Battledance between the rival sisters, Love and Power.
CHAPTER 49
Questions
Something smashed against the door, just before Aleana and the others entered.