Wizard's Call

by Luna Lais

  "Well naturally it would be expected that a female would be taught different than a male, but when would a princess have cause to cook?" He asked before taking the tea and tasting it.

  She buttered a piece of warm bread and handed it to him. "It seems to be coming in handy now," she lifted her eyebrows and began buttering more bread.

  "Point taken," He said before shoveling the bread into his mouth. "What would you like to look at today?" He asked as he chewed. Lissandra turned her head to hide her frown.

  "I have an idea," she said putting a smile back on her face and turning to look at him. "Let's spend the morning going over the books of prophecy you have been hoarding and this afternoon I will instruct you on the courtly manners you will need when we arrive in Rorgrim."

  "When did I agree to go to Rorgrim?" he questioned.

  "It is on the way to the Northern Mountains, Darien would be upset if we did not stay a day or two so he could see for himself that I am safe." She answered sitting down at the table to enjoy her own breakfast.

  "I do not remember ever saying I was taking you to the mountains with me," Eranen said offended at the thought.

  "Well I am going with or without you," she replied. "If there is a nine hundred-year-old man in the mountains I plan on seeing him. You are not the only one who is curious. I remember the story from when I was young and I would like to see what truth lies behind it. Besides if you do not take me with you and I did go on my own that would just irritate you more than me tagging a long in the first place." She smiled triumphantly at him.

  "I will take you as far as Rorgrim where you will be back in your brother's care. I doubt he will let you out of his sight, so I will not have to worry about you striking out on your own." He told her, knowing Darien would never allow her to leave Rorgrim on such a silly journey. "Besides, he would never permit you to travel with me alone." Eranen said rising from the table.

  "And a week ago who would have thought he would let me live alone with you, but here we are, " she said heatedly. In Hokaren women were supposed to be treated fairly she thought, but since she arrived she felt more oppressed than ever. Eranen's protectiveness was ten times that of Darien's. She was never to leave the barn without him. If he was working in the fields she would either accompany him or lock herself in the barn. She had gone with him only once to work the field. When he refused to let her help and made her sit on a blanket he had spread on the ground for her instead she had been upset. He did not want to be responsible for turning a princess into a field hand, he had told her. She sat in the heat all day bored to tears wondering why men always assumed her to delicate or brainless for anything other than decoration. Of course Eranen and Darien were the only two men she knew. She began tapping her foot in annoyance.

  At that same moment the ground began to vibrate and gradually started shaking harder. The breakfast dishes bounced off the table and shattered as they hit the floor. Hot logs rolled form the fireplace. Lissandra quickly doused them with water, and then put out the fire so no more would roll out and cause a fire.

  The whole episode lasted only a few minutes, but it had been strong enough to knock the buckets off the wall and scare the Stallions enough they tried to kick through the doors on their stalls.

  "Did you feel that?" Eranen asked excited, "It has been many years since that has happened. How long would you say it lasted two or three minutes?" Lissandra just stared at him.

  She was terrified out of her mind. "This has happened before?"

  Eranen looked at her, she was obviously afraid. Lissandra always seemed to have the opposite emotion he had about things. "Every few years or so, it was only an earth shake. Are there no earth shakes in Calandoria?" he asked her.

  "Not that I know of, " she answered. "What is an earth shake?"

  "Well," Eranen said putting on his scholarly face. "There is much debate on the subject. Some believe that the land and sea float on rivers we can not see and occasionally bump together causing the ground to tremor. Others believe they are caused when a star falls and hits the ground. The surrounding land vibrates from the crash. The ancients believed that the Terra's Soul caused them to show displeasure to man." Lissandra smiled at him; she could not help herself even though she was frightened. He looked so endearing when he was being a scholar.

  "What is Terra's Soul," Lissandra asked having never heard the term before.

  "You have not heard of the Art of the Terra?' Eranen frowned. "The Terra's Soul is a long lost religion in which those gifted by the God could manipulate all things that come from the ground; rocks, sand, wood and such." Eranen explained.

  "What do you believe causes these earth shakes?' She asked.

  "I favor the first two theories as they have some evidence in nature to support them. However, I have found some books on the Art of the Terra, so I must concede that at one time some sort of ground magic existed along with the Art of the Moon and the Art of the Sun." He watched her to see how she would take this revelation.

  "Is there anything you do not know?" she asked softly still smiling at him.

  "Yes, " Eranen admitted. Her smiles were getting harder and harder to ignore. He walked towards her and enveloped her in his embrace. "I do not know how I am going to live with you for two more months without driving myself mad," he whispered gently in her ear.

  Lissandra moved her head so her lips were just a breath away from his, "Who said you had to?' she asked breathlessly.

  That was all the encouragement he needed to pull her tighter and kiss her. Once again the ground began to tremor. With his lips still on hers Eranen whispered, "If you do not stop doing that the barn is going to fall down around us."

  "Doing what?' she asked pulling back slightly so she could look into his eyes.

  Eranen could only smile, "Making the ground shake. I am flattered of course, but I fear touching you when even the thought causes your emotions to unleash one of your powers."

  "You are being ridiculous," she said. " I do not have the power to make the ground shake."

  "You do whether you realize it or not. I would also suspect that you can control wind as well. It is working on your ability to control it that you should focus on." Eranen lifted one of his hands and ran it down the side of her face, along her jaw while staring into those silvery eyes. "For now I would very much like to continue kissing you, if you think you might be able to control yourself."

  "I suppose it will be something I will need to practice at," she smiled before adding, "a lot. You know just to make sure I have mastered it."

  Eranen gave a little chuckle and lowered his lips to hers. It began raining inside the barn. "Do not stop," she said against his lips. "I can not figure out how to control it if you stop."

  He deepened the kiss causing flames to shot out of the fireplace. Luckily the rain extinguished the sparks before they could cause any damage. Eranen turned to look at the fireplace.

  "Can you please continue, "she said breathlessly turn his face back to her. "I almost have it figured out."

  "Take all the time you need," he said smiling as he seized her lips again.

  Chapter 14

  "Rachel," Makren said as he walked into her room and sat down in the chair next to hers. She had fallen asleep reading the reports from the different groups of soldiers they had sent out to search Calandoria for Lissandra.

  "What time is it?" She asked stretching.

  "Late," he said solemnly, "Too late."

  Rachel looked at Makren he looked weary from their efforts to find Lissandra. "Do not give up Makren, we still have eight hours. We will find her." Rachel said reassuringly.

  "No, Rachel our time is up. The Holy Mother is on her way to the throne room as we speak," Makren said softly.

  "I will not lose you," Rachel said with conviction. "I have just gotten you back. There must be another way."

  Makren reached out his hand and took hers. "I love you, Rachel. I never told you before. I know you knew, but that is not the same as hearing me say
it."

  "Makren, do not give up. We will refuse." Rachel pulled him to her and hugged him fiercely. "It is what Darien would want us to do."

  "Rachel if we refuse the people will turn on us and the House of Raven will fall. Darien will return to find his kingdom in civil war, or worse under the control of the Order." Makren said still clinging to her.

  "He will be more upset to return and find his brother dead," She said pushing back enough to see his eyes.

  Makren shook his head at her words; "I have been dead to him for so long he will be able to bear my death."

  "I will not be able to bear it," she said tears beginning to roll gently down her cheeks. "We can flee and wait for Darien's return."

  "We can not," Makren said letting go of her and standing. "Even if we want to we have no men to take with us and defend us should the need arise. We sent every man to search for Lissandra. The only soldiers left in Rorgrim are a mere handful of newly enlisted recruits who share a mind with the people rather than the army."

  He held his hand out to her. She rose and took it leaning up against him to steady herself. She was terrified for him. "It will be fine Rachel. My death will preserve Calandoria and though it my not seem so now it will help the other kingdoms as well." She could only nod at him before they walked from the room hand in hand.

  Together they walked through the castle, stopping only once on the way to the throne room for Rachel to wipe the tears from her eyes. The Raven's would not appear weak before the Order. Makren paused before opening the double doors to the throne room. He gave Rachel's hand a tight squeeze and then opened the doors so they could continue. They walked the entire length of the room to the dais where the five thrones were located together. Rachel took the center and Makren sat to her right.

  Rachel had never seen the room so packed with people. Less than ten soldiers were in the room all standing behind the thrones. Once Makren and Rachel were settled the doors to the room opened once more to allow the three Mothers into the room. They walked purposely towards the dais giving no bows as they approached the thrones.

  "Regent, it is apparent that the traitor will not be found in time," Claudette had not waited for Rachel to acknowledge them, but instead immediately began talking.

  "There is only one way to prevent the loss of the Moon Arts from leaving us all forever." Claudette smiled, it was time for the Order to do as instructed from the Gods and rid the kingdom of Ronans. She studied Makren; he would be the only one spared. The Gods had there own plans for his demise.

  "We are aware of the requirements of the Moon and we are prepared to meet the price for the people of Calandoria." Claudette was momentarily taken back by Makren's words. Of course, they really had no choice.

  "You do realize the Moon demands the blood of one of the House of Raven for appeasement, it must be a blood relative." At Claudette's words the crowd began to stir. "Take them" a voice from the back of the room called. "Save us from the Moon's wrath," another shouted.

  "Please, " Makren shouted quieting the crowd only a little. He stood before the Mothers. "We are aware of the dictates. I am prepared to take Lissandra's place."

  "Seize him," was shouted from around the room. "Save us Prince Raven," followed. Several of the guards rushed forward and secured Makren's hands behind his back. He did not fight them. He was prepared to do his duty. By taking Lissandra's place he was not only saving his family and preserving the crown, he was preventing the Descartes from rising to power.

  Claudette waited until she was sure the guards had Makren bound securely before she spoke again. "Wait," she called to the guards before they began leading him from the room. The guards turned to look at her and the crowd who had been encouraging the guard's actions quieted to hear Claudette's words. "It is noble of you to sacrifice your life in Lissandra's stead, but the Gods will not accept you."

  At her words Makren struggled against his bonds and tried to move forward, but the guards held him in place. "I will die for Calandoria, kill me and spare the people from the Moon's wrath," he shouted above the noise of the crowd.

  "I can not, " She replied. The crowd was growing loud again fearing they were doomed. Worried mummers had spread through the room and now many were wailing with despair. "You have been touched by the Sun, your blood would be poison to the Moon." Claudette said leveling her eyes on Makren, daring him to say otherwise.

  "I have not turned to the Sun. I do not know what you speak of," Makren screamed at her.

  "Acumen prophecy has warned the Order of your past in the Realm of the Sun. You have been tainted. Do you deny knowing the Art of the Sun?" Makren did not know what to say in response, what she said was true.

  Claudette pointed at Rachel, who had been quiet as she watched her brother give himself up. She had been trying to stay the tears that needed to fall. "Seize her, she is the only Raven here the Moon will accept."

  Makren struggled to free himself and get to Rachel, but he could not break free of the guards who held him. Other guards surged forward and grabbed Rachel. "No, Rachel." Makren called to her.

  "Makren," she screamed at him as the soldiers grabbed her and pulled her from the throne. "Makren, help me please," she called when the guards began dragging her off the dais. The other Mothers, Abby and Norah followed the guards as they pulled the struggling princess towards the doors. "Makren," she grasp, "Help me!" One of the guards tired of dodging her kicks picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder carrying her out of the door. Makren could see frightened tears streaming down her face before she was lost from his view. The crowd followed the guards and Rachel in a rush from the room.

  "Let her go!" Makren shouted over and over his own tears falling. He was still struggling against his captors. Claudette motioned to one of the guards and the man hit Makren over the head with the hilt of his sword knocking him out.

  Claudette spoke to the guards who held Makren's limp form in their arms. "Put him in the cells below the castle until after the execution, we can not allow him to interfere." She looked down to Makren's unconscious face and whispered. "In time you will see that this was the only way." She turned back to the guards, "Release him in two days. This will give us time to return to the Temple of Moon's Soul."

  The guards who had taken Rachel did not wait for Claudette to follow. They took Rachel as quickly as possible to the executioner's block that stood on a platform in the middle of the city. It was raining lightly, but the drizzle did not hide the tears falling from her face and the noise of the surrounding crowd did not smother her screams for help. Once they arrived at the block the guards forced her to her knees and tightly secured her head to the block leaving the bounds around her hands. Rachel struggled with all her might to prevent their actions, but she was no match for the soldiers. Tears flowed freely from her face onto the block, her eyes frantically searching the gathering crowd for anyone who might come to her aid.

  "God of the Moon's Soul," Mother Norah spoke, quieting the crowd. "Please accept this offering from the House of Raven as appeasement for Lissandra Raven's trespasses against you."

  Mother Abby spoke next, "Let her blood flow as the Art of the Moon flows through us. Drink your feel and have mercy upon us who have remained loyal to you mighty Moon's Soul."

  The crowd began cheering for Rachel's blood, demanding it. Abby nodded towards the soldiers. Rachel closed her eyes and whispered softly, "Forgive me Darien for not having your strength. Forgive me Makren for lacking your courage." One of the guards stepped forward and drew his sword causing the crowd to cheer louder. She closed her eyes still whispering her pleas to be released. Then Rachel whispered no more.

  Chapter 15

  Darien had risen early that morning to prepare for the last few hours ride before reaching Rorgrim. Alli had been amazed at his transformation. Gone was the simple brown tunic and britches he wore. Today he dressed in the finest black silk shirt she had ever seen. He wore form fitting leather pants and his black boots shone. Clasp to each of his shoulders by sil
ver clasp was a blue cape the same as the Raven colors. Around his neck he openly wore a gold medallion engraved with the family crest of the moon with three daggers piercing it. It was a symbol only a Raven wore or one the family trusted absolutely. Anyone wearing such a medallion had the same authority of the king. His silver sword hung loosely at his side making it clear to any that saw him that he was not above using the weapon if needed. Unlike Moraken's, Alli thought, Darien's sword was for more than decoration.

  Sitting atop Nog, the finest white war-horse she had ever seen the man looked like a king.

  Alli felt inferior to him and Cate who was wearing his silver mail with the Forstar crest proudly proclaimed on his chest. Her clothes were clean and of good quality, but simple travel clothes. How she wished she had her own mail to wear into Rorgrim with Darien.