Wizard's Call

by Luna Lais

  Makren after hearing his brother's words left the room to send a man to Lissandra while the others continued reading reports.

  Alli noticed that neither Molly nor Karegh were reading. Not wanting to embarrass them by announcing to the room neither could read she instead began quietly reading them aloud to them.

  Once Makren returned he sat in the chair next to his brother at the table. He was quietly looking at the others as they read. "Brother," Makren whispered softly to Darien. "Who else do you intend to seat on the council?"

  "Lissandra and a friend of mine named Eranen if he is willing. A smarter man we could never find. There is also a young girl I saved from our cells below just be before you." Darien said loud enough for the others to hear.

  "Who are they?" Makren quietly asked again pointing at Alli and Cate.

  "Friends from Hokaren," Darien said realizing that Makren was not going to sit quietly and allowed him to finish reading. "Alli, Cate" Darien called drawing their attention. "I still require your assistance and I have an oath to you as well. Would you please serve on this council with us and perhaps we can work on both situations at the same time."

  "Yes, we will serve." Alli looked to Cate to see if he had any objections. "However, we can not serve forever. Circumstances will eventually force me to leave." She casually looked at Makren. She had a feeling he was one of the ones she sought.

  Darien caught her starring at Makren and frowned. When she noticed she quickly averted her eyes. "I would appreciate any help you can give until those circumstances occur."

  "Makren," Darien said quietly. "Have the Castle gates closed. When you return, we will be ready to begin." When Makren rose to leave the room this time Alli stared after him.

  Chapter 17

  "You are getting better at this," Eranen said as he gently kissed Lissandra.

  "Thank you," she said as she press her lips back to his, "so are you."

  Eranen laughed, "Not with kissing, but at controlling your powers."

  "Does that mean we have to stop doing it all the time," she asked nibbling on his ear.

  "No," he smiled, "We just have to find another excuse," he took her lips firmly with his own once more.

  "I really need to go tend the fields today or I will have nothing but weeds left to harvest," he said sitting her aside.

  "Do you want me to help," she asked hoping he would say yes.

  "No, I would only end up spending the day kissing you and I could just stay here and do that." He smiled at her. "Perhaps you should work on wind today, it's your weakest."

  "Alright," Lissandra pouted, "but if I blow the barn down just remember you were the one who suggested it!"

  "It will be fine. You are getting very good with wood manipulation; you can just put it back together." He was still laughing as he turned and walked out of the barn. Lissandra watched him go. Their time was running out, harvest was coming soon. When he had first kissed her she had hope things would go quickly, but he had yet to do anything else. It was time for her to speed things up a bit she thought smiling.

  Lissandra stirred the pot over the fire and then sampled just a taste with the wooden spoon. She then went to the shelves and took down two plates, which she sat on the table. She glanced at the little blue vase with yellow flowers she had placed in the center of the table and swirled her finger above them, causing them to gently sway back and forth. "There I practiced!" she said smiling to herself. Everything was perfect. She was wearing her silver dress from the Temple. It was sleeveless and still separated high on each side. She had not intended on wearing it tonight, but when she was trying to pick a dress for this evening she noticed the dresses Eranen had bought her did not even reveal the smallest glimpse of skin.

  She had spent most of her day cleaning the old dress trying to restore its former beauty. She had been able to remove most of the spots were dirt had marred it on her journey to Eranen's farm. Now silver satin glistened in the light of the lanterns. Tonight she did not wear her hair up in ribbons; instead she had brushed it to a shine and let it fall free to her waist. She took a deep breath. If what she had been taught about men from her sister in-law Maureen was true he really had know no chance.

  Eranen had noticed the set table when he first entered the barn through the small door near the fireplace. He noticed Lissandra's dress as well, but he did not mention change. He assumed Lissandra was use to better than life in the barn offered and it was only natural she would want to make it more comfortable. Even her nervous behavior did not arouse his suspicions. His first clue that Lissandra had something on her mind came as he was taking his first bite of the stew she had prepared. She was next to the fireplace putting the lid back on the pot now that both their plates were full.

  "Make love to me Eranen," she whispered softly turning to look at him. He began choking and she rushed to pat him on his back until he could swallow the food and breathe normal again. Once it appeared he would recover she sat down in the chair in front of her plate at the table and waited anxiously for his response.

  "By the Gods Lissandra, you're a princess you should not be spouting out things like that." He said once he could speak again.

  "Why not?" she asked confused. She thought he would have been pleased and kissing her by now. "You do not want to?"

  "Want is not the issue," he said moving his eyes down her figure and shaking his head. "A lady should not just give herself over to someone without the benefit of marriage, unless her ambition is to be a lady of the night!" Thinking his explanation sufficient he turned his attention back to the stew and began enjoying his dinner again. Lissandra watched him unsure what she should do next. It appeared as if he considered the conversation over.

  "Then marry me Eranen," again he choked on her words, but she did not go to help him.

  "Are you sure you are from Calandoria?" he smiled at her, "That is a question a man should ask a woman, not the other way around."

  "You do not want to keep me?" Her face looked perfectly innocent as she asked.

  "Is that a trick question?" Eranen was beginning to grow uncomfortable.

  "No," she said. "I demand to know your intentions. Am I just a diversion or something more?" She was starting to get upset. He was supposed to be ravishing her by now, not making excuses as to why he couldn't.

  "You are more than a diversion Lissandra, but I do not believe a few weeks, albeit pleasant weeks are enough for love and that is what I will have to feel for the woman I marry. If lust was enough, I would have married long before now." He knew his last words were a mistake before he had finished them.

  "And just how many others before me were there?" The hurt look in her eyes almost made him agree to her proposal. He could hear the wind outside already starting to pick up ahead of the coming storm.

  "Do not change the subject," Eranen said. He was not going to have that conversation with Lissandra, ever.

  "Things are more complicated with you than they would be with another woman, Lissandra," Eranen said not wanting to hurt her. "Even if I was in love with you the length of time we have known each other would have to be considered in a decision like this. Is three and half weeks really enough time to know if you want to bound yourself to a man in marriage. I have been worried maybe it was too much to be kissing as much as we do." He saw her features relax some and took it as a good sign that she was going to be reasonable. "Your abilities are part of this as well. I am not sure how I feel about them or if I would want the responsibility of the burden." Eranen heard no protest from Lissandra so he continued. "Then there is your rank to consider. You are a princess. I am a farmer. Your station demands you marry a wealthy nobleman that will improve the strength of your kingdom. Then there is one last factor, which I think you should take much more seriously if you care about me at all. Your brother, I am sure is going to kill me when I see him again and that is just for kissing you."

  Eranen took her hands and looked into her silver eyes. "I need more time." He could see tears filling her ey
es.

  "I care for you Lissandra. I can honestly say that, despite the length of time we have known each other. Not a minute passes during the day that I am not thinking of you, but is it a enough to face the obstacles that lie ahead if I take you as my own." No longer hungry and not knowing what else to say to make her hurt lessen, Eranen rose from the table and left the barn despite the ragging storm outside.

  Lissandra watched him go. Thank the Gods she was not acumen or she would be dead by now. She obviously had no skill in seeing prophecy fulfilled she sighed.

  Chapter 18

  "I am for attacking now," Cate said.

  "I disagree," Alli interjected. "I may not be a general, but I think they would be expecting an attack. If we wait they will lower their guard."

  As soon as Makren had ordered the castle gates closed, a sure sign to the people of Calandoria that things were not well in the kingdom, he returned to the council room. Darien immediately began explaining his plans for the Order of Colondone. They had now been discussing the plans in depth for two days and Makren was becoming more and more frustrated with them all.

  "I think you are all mad," Makren announced. He had been listening to each of them give their opinions on when and how to attack Colondone. Not one of them had spoke as he thought. The Order of Colondone could not be touched. "The people will rebel if we destroy the temple, the Moon Arts would be lost to them forever. That is the very purpose Rachel's death was demanded!"

  "Which is exactly the reason we must destroy them," Lawwe said.

  "Makren," Darien said. "Calandoria will survive without the Moon Arts. I will not sit by when a member of my family has been slaughtered. I will exact my revenge on those responsible."

  "Pardon, sire," Karegh spoke for the first time since being asked to join the council. His voice was shaky and his eyes diverted from the others at the table. "How can we defeat them with the Arts on their side?"

  "Please Karegh, you are my equal here. Speak your mind without fear." Darien said softening his tone at the boy.

  "How can a soldier defend against a blizzard or a tidal wave?" Makren chuckled softly at the boy's question. Karegh look at Makren and nodded.

  "You have been listening to Fairy Tales, Karegh," He said amused. "The Order of Colondones power is not like that, it is not that strong."

  "No power is that strong." Molly added in a superior tone letting Karegh know she thought of him as a child, while she was considered herself an adult. "If powers were that strong there would never be any droughts or floods. The Order would prevent them before the disasters could begin."

  "I do not fret much about the Arts," Darien stated flatly. "It would take twenty of them concentrating hard to make even a decent rain storm.

  "If it was the Sun Arts I might worry more," Cate added. " A little fire can go along way when used as a weapon."

  "We will have the Sun Arts on our side," Darien stated as he looked at Makren.

  "Brother my powers are of the weakest kind. I can barley light a candle and even that I can only do every once in a while." Makren said. "I can not use the Art if I am under any sort of distress the power will not flow."

  "Then you will practice." Darien ordered. "I think it would be wise to also delay an offensive against the Order until Lissandra returns. She possesses the ability of both the Sun and Moon Arts and she is very strong in both. She also knows the layout of the Temple and can aid us much in our preparations."

  "How long will it be, before she returns to Rorgrim?" Alli asked.

  "She could be here in as little as two weeks if she leaves as soon as Makren's letter reaches her," Lawwe thought out loud.

  "No," Darien stated. "She can not leave Hokaren until after the harvest. What I mean is she can not leave the company of a man named Eranen Palek until after the harvest. Since he is a farmer I doubt he would want to lose the price of his crops to bring her home sooner. An Acumen has declared that her life is only safe in his presence until harvest." He added the last to explain why he had left her with the man in the first place.

  "You never told us this prophecy?" Alli questioned.

  "It did not seem relevant to any of our previous conversations." Alli glanced at Makren. She felt Lissandra must be a part of her own vision, as well as Makren.

  Darien paused when he noticed Alli's glance towards Makren. She spent a great deal of her time looking at him during their meetings. "We will attack the temple and lay waste to it. No stone will be left standing. We will plunder its valuables and annihilate any who stand in our way." Darien said harshly as he stared into Alli's eyes.

  "So you will rid the Moon Arts from the world," Alli said uncomfortable under his steady gaze. "The Moon's Soul will prevent it. Even discussing this we risk the wrath of the God."

  "Then let the God come down and stop us." Darien rose from his seat and began pacing the room. "I would like to seek vengeance upon this God for my sister's death as well."

  "If we wait for Lissandra, that will give us one month to plan," Makren said ignoring his brothers pacing.

  "Then we are in agreement that we delay the attack for one month?" Cate asked.

  A sudden knock came at the door. Molly quickly rose to answer it. A soldier wearing the traditional black uniform with the Raven crest across his chest entered the room and stood before Makren. " My lord, we have apprehended the man as you asked," the guard said standing at attention.

  "Darien", Makren said causing his brother to stop his pacing. "I ordered the guards capture the man who used his sword against our sister. They have found him and he now sits in the cells below. What would you like done with him?"

  "The sentence is death." Darien said without pause, "for the illegal execution of a subject of Calandoria without the benefit of trail or King's consent."

  "Very good, my Lord," The guard said saluting both Makren and Darien with a fist to his heart, before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

  "Enough for today," Darien said suddenly very tired. "We have all been through quite a bit these last few days and need to rest."

  "Perhaps we should not meet again until after the midday meal tomorrow," Makren suggested and everyone nodded in agreement.

  "Lawwe, would you please take Molly and Karegh and find them new quarters within the castle appropriate of their new stations. Then send dispatches to their families informing them of the change so they do not worry when the children do not come home. I think it would be best if we all remained in the castle as much as possible." Darien then turned to Makren. "Makren, I would like for you to check on the girl that was brought up from the cells. Going forward I will trust you to her care." Makren merely nodded before rising to do Darien's bidding.

  "Cate, please send dispatches to the old council members letting them know their services are no longer needed. Make arrangements to have sums settled on each so none become bitter and turn against the House of Raven." The rest of the group began to rise and leave the room to follow Darien's orders, all except Alli.

  "And what would you have me do?" she asked.

  "Sit and speak with me for a while." Darien answered smiling at her.

  "What would you like to discuss?" She move from her chair to the one Makren normally sat in, next to the head of the table.

  "About Hikirian spies in the North, your prophecy and why you keep looking at my brother with so much interest." Darien said his temper slightly on edge.

  Alli considered Darien a moment. He seemed so different than the man she had met on the road only two weeks before. Now he dressed in royal attire, not his simple traveling clothes. It was almost as if the clothes had changed his personality. She could not imagine this Darien sitting on a log by a fire laughing at jokes and trading war stories with Cate. It seemed so long ago that they had laughed together on the road to Rorgrim.

  Darien watched her as she studied him waiting to see if her eyes would betray her thoughts to him. She was always careful not to reveal more than she intended. "It is said that on
ce an Acumen receives their pinnacle prophecy they will know their soul mate on sight." Alli's eyes rose to meet his. It was a question, not a statement.

  "Yes. An Acumen's skin will burn upon seeing their soul mate and tingle with electricity when they are near." She answered not sure what had prompted his question.

  "And how would you know if you received a pinnacle prophecy?" He asked relieved that this was a subject she seemed willing to discuss.

  "The vision itself is different." Alli said looking at her hands. She was fidgeting under his gaze and forced them still. "An Acumen will go into a deep trance where the very thoughts of the God's will be burned into the Acumen's mind. I have been told that it is extremely painful to bear and many Acumen do not survive. This trance will last until the entire message is delivered." She looked back at Darien. " When you wake from such a trance your skin will be tinged with blue and your skin will be as cold as ice to the touch."