Wizard's Call

by Luna Lais

  "Yes," he nodded. "And you will not find it that way again if you wish to leave." He moved forward and took one of her small hands in his. "I will have some clothes brought to you."

  She quickly pulled her hand back. "Please do not touch me," she whispered. She had said the words so softly he had barely heard them.

  "It is still early. Everyone would like to meet you when you feel up to it." Makren said walking across the room to leave. He paused at the door and turned back to her. "Kiala, you will be safe here." He said softly. She made no reply or any indication that she had heard him. Sighing to himself he quietly left the room gently closing the door behind him.

  Chapter 22

  Darien could not sleep, again. He had been pacing the floor in front of the fire in his room all night. This had become an annoying habit of his. With all he did during the day he thought sleep would be easy enough to obtain. His thoughts were consumed by prophecy and made sleep elusive. There were too many prophecies. Never before had the Gods tried to control man's destiny to such an extent. Everyone he knew seemed to have a prophecy of their own. He wondered what the outcome would have been if he had ignored his own prophecy. Would he have given rise to the pretender by not saving Eranen? Now because Eranen lived the Destroyer was destined to rule all men. What would become of Maeorus, Harold and himself? Were they all destined to die? Then there was Eranen's own prophecy. If Descartes was the Destroyer would Eranen and Lissandra side with him in the war? Darien could not believe that. His growling stomach interrupted his next thought. He stopped pacing and sighed. He had forgotten to eat dinner again as well. Shaking his head he decided to go see what was left in the kitchen rather than call a maid to him. Perhaps just leaving his room for awhile would tire him enough to sleep.

  "Don't hurt me!" Darien drew his sword as soon as he heard the woman scream. He raced down the hall from the door of his room towards the stairs. He stopped when he saw Lawwe standing in the hall about ten feet from a woman curled in a ball lying on the floor. "Please don't hurt me," she screamed again.

  "What did you do to her?" Darien roared at Lawwe. At his words the girl turned a wary eye on Darien and trying to scramble away from both men she flattened herself against the wall. "Please, do not hurt me," she began crying with hard sobs that shook her whole body.

  "I was just retiring for the evening," Lawwe said. "She saw me and started screaming."

  Darien put his sword away and moved towards the woman, but she started screaming hysterically making him halt his progress. "What are you doing to her?" Makren asked shoving Darien aside as he passed him on his way to the girl.

  "Go away, please," she sobbed. "Please leave me alone." Kiala screamed as Makren pulled her to her feet.

  "Kiala," he yelled at the girl, shaking her by the arms. "Kiala, it is Makren." He yelled at her again.

  She immediately calmed when she heard his name and looked at him. "Makren," her whole body was still shaking in his arms as the tears subsided. Makren had to hold her up to keep her from falling to the stone floor. "Makren, please do not let them hurt me," she pleaded.

  Makren wrapped and arm around her shoulders and looked at his brother. They exchange a silent look.

  "Pardon my lady," Darien said slightly bowing in her direction. "Lawwe and I did not intend on frightening you." Darien walked backwards the way he came towards his room moving slowly to keep from scaring the girl further and Lawwe followed his suit.

  "Kiala," Makren turned her face to look at him. "What frightened you?"

  Ignoring his question, she studied Makren's face for a moment, "Makren, you shaved," she smiled.

  "Yes, I shaved," he said laughing. "Let's get you back to your room." He kept his arms around her shoulders as they walked the short distance to her door.

  Ten minutes later Darien answered the knock on his chamber door. Makren entered the chamber and after closing the door took one of the two chairs in front of the fire. Darien lowered himself into the other. "What happened?" Darien asked Makren.

  "I think she is scared of men," Makren said looking at his brother. "She also hates all things Raven."

  Perplexed by his last statement Darien turned to his brother. It would not aid him to have someone against the crown on the council. "What hostilities does she hold against us?"

  Makren gave him a pointed look. "We threw her in prison and then we were going to execute her for merely being present in our sister in-law's birthing chamber. Honestly I can not think of a single reason she might dislike the Ronans." Darien was not in the mood for sarcasm and the look he shot Makren confirmed it.

  "Why did you not tell us of her condition?" Darien asked.

  "I only discovered her fear myself when I found her huddled in the hall between you and Lawwe," Makren said turning to look at his brother. "She wants to leave here and go to Hokaren."

  "No," Darien said quickly then shook his head. "At least not yet. The castle gates do not open until Lissandra arrives. Maybe by then the girl will be less frightened of us and agree to serve as an adjutant. If not I will have to find another." Darien did not know why, but he was compelled to have nine on his council, just as he was compelled to destroy the Temple. He did not try to explain it to Makren. He did not understand the compulsion himself. It was the same feelings that had caused him to spend two years chasing phantom raiders through out the kingdoms in an attempt to save the female acumen, instead of returning home. It was how it was meant to be. Darien shuddered slightly at the thought. Was he fulfilling prophecy he knew nothing about by not returning home? If he only chose eight for his council would he deny another prophecy and thus end all of this nonsense regarding the destroyer? What of the Temple? Why was he risking his crown and perhaps all of their lives for retribution?

  Makren turned from Darien in frustration. His brother was consumed with only one thought; destroying the Temple of the Moon's Soul. Not once since he had returned had he even held court or made an address to reassure the people of Calandoria. With all the power and resources that came with his throne, Darien ignored all the responsibility. He wanted revenge for Rachel's death too, but for the sake of Calandoria he was willing to accept it. He himself had been willing to make the sacrifice in Lissandra's stead. Now that Rachel had been sacrificed and the Moon Arts saved why continue on this path of destruction. Rachel's death would be for not if Calandoria lost the Arts in the end. Makren returned to his chair by the fire determined to have his brother listen to him.

  "The girl's name is Kiala." Makren snapped. "Using it, instead of saying the girl might lessen some of her fear." Darien did not comment on his brother's outburst. Tensions were high for everyone and fighting among themselves would get them no where. Darien said nothing to his attempt at an argument to clear the air, but only continued his silent stare Makren decided another approach might work better. Although he had not intended on sharing more with Darien than necessary, he needed his brother's attention on Descartes, not the temple.

  "Brother, I did not tell all of the prophecy today in the council meeting." Darien did not look at his brother, but continued staring into the flames. "I am sure you had your reasons," he said.

  "Yes," Makren nodded. He leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling. "I am to perish in the final battle." Makren turned his head and looked at his brother. Darien met his eyes. "I wanted to tell you while we were alone, not surrounded by the others." Darien did not know what to say. First Maureen, then Jimreth and Rachel, and now Makren. He would have no family left by the time this war was over.

  "How long?" Darien asked.

  Makren shrugged his shoulders, "Nine months give or take a few weeks if the war goes quickly. It was also prophesied that I would betray you in that battle by giving you over to the Destroyer."

  "Then you will leave Calandoria before the war and when the final battle comes you will be safe." Darien said turning back to the fire considering the matter settled. .

  Makren rose and stood in front of Darien. "We do not know where the
final battle will be? It could follow me. Perhaps my leaving Calandoria would cause the prophecy to be fulfilled in a manner we can not foresee" he whispered.

  Darien rose and walked to the mantle of the fireplace. He looked at the picture that hung there. It was of an empty field of grass with rocky peaks in the back ground. He had never liked the painting his mother had hung there, but tonight it called to him. He could feel the uneasy drive building in him again; casually he glanced at the artist signature TR. He found himself wondering how old the painting was and if the artist was still alive. He would like to visit this place.

  Shaking his head to clear the wandering thoughts he turned back to Makren, "I know that I am still young, but until two years ago I had never heard a single prophecy. Now it seems as if I hear a new one every week."

  "This war must truly be important to the Gods," Makren said thinking a moment. "Or maybe it is a war between the Gods and we are mere puppets being used by them. One God favoring the destroyer, the other God favoring the pretender?"

  "An interesting thought," Darien said nodding in agreement. "If that is the case I would like to see man revolt against the Gods."

  "The only way to accomplish that would be to take their influence over man away. That would mean eliminating the acumen," Makren could not hide the alarm in his voice. His brother's thinking had not been rationale when it came to the Gods lately. "It would mean eliminating Alli," Makren said hoping to sway his brother's thoughts in another direction.

  "I will talk to her," Darien said returning to his seat in front of the fire. "It maybe the only way we can win."

  Makren rubbed his face with his hands; his brother was losing all sanity. "First the Temple of the Moon's Soul and now the acumen. It will give Descartes all the advantages. I can assure you he will not kill the acumen in the Realm of the Sun or wipe out those with the Sun Arts." Makren doubted Darien was listening. He had not listened the last few times he had mentioned the same thoughts during the council meetings.

  "A few years ago all the female Acumen in Calandoria, Hokaren and Pearoandorn were murdered by unknown raiders that matched the description of those who took you to the Realm of the Sun as a boy. I now believe that Descartes was behind the deaths because one of his own acumen warned him that a female acumen would aid us in victory." Darien watched his brother, waiting for Makren's thoughts to follow his.

  "Alli did not die." Makren said turning to his brother wide eyed, having never heard of the deaths of the acumen before now. "No one knew she was an acumen."

  Darien smiled and nodded to his brother. At last Makren understood, regardless of the prophecies, the future was not unfolding as it had been foretold.

  "I am willing to sacrifice all the acumen if need be, except Alli, and I will send raiders of my own to the Realm of the Sun to take care of those Descartes has at his disposal." Darien said turning once again to the fire. Makren was silent in his thoughts staring also into the fire. His brother was not planning to win the war against Descartes, he was planning to drive the Gods from the world of man. Or worst he thought turn the Gods against them all.

  Chapter 23

  Lissandra woke to Eranen trailing kisses down her neck. "Wake up princess," he said between kisses. "I am awake," she purred stretching her arms over her head, but keeping her eyes closed.

  "Good, we have to get home. Prophecies await us," he said.

  Lissandra turned over and stared at him. He had lit a candle before waking or she would not have been able to see him. Glancing to the single window in the room she asked frowning, "What time is it?"

  "It is early, the sun is not even lightening the sky yet." Lissandra stifled a yawn and turned back over. "I think we should sleep a little while longer. I did not get much sleep last night."

  Eranen smiled as his gazed moved down her body now only partially covered by the blanket. Lissandra's face reddened.

  "Come on," he said pulling the covers off of her and walking across the room wearing only his pants. "We have work to do and little time left before we head to Rorgrim." Moaning in contempt she sat up and began scanning the floor for her clothes. For a Hikirian, Eranen was turning out to be a demanding husband.

  "I have search though those books a hundred times," she said pouting as she scooted to the edge of the bed and picked her dress up off the floor while trying to keep her arms across her ample breast.

  "You have not searched the books I have kept hidden from you," he said watching her antics.

  "You hid books from me?" She said looking at him with a hurt look on her face.

  "Yes," he said raising his eyebrows at her. "We do this together remember. You would not tell me your prophecy or let me read your book until you heard from Makren." He moved back over to the bed holding his shirt in his hands and sat down next to her. "Now is the time for puzzles to be solved," he said reaching out to stroke her hair with his fingers.

  "You are right," she smiled at him. "This is how it was supposed to be." She took her hand and rubbed it across his bear chest. "I still can not believe I can touch you whenever and where ever I want," she reddened at her own words. She wondered when the constant blush would go away.

  "I suppose," Eranen said as leaned over to kiss her, "that one more hour in bed really would not make that much of a difference."

  It was almost dinner time when they finally made it home to the barn. While they had been away, Emy Lou had escaped her stall and knocked over the table and chairs. She had also crushed one of the water buckets and eaten a hole in the nightgown Eranen had given Lissandra. "Emy Lou," Eranen moaned, "I told you we would be home today."

  "Has she done this before," Lissandra said staring at the destruction in disbelief.

  "Yes," Eranen said. "She followed me when I went to war for Maeorus. Every time we camped near a town I paid a local farmer to keep her for me. She destroyed every barn she was put in and I woke up every morning with her outside my tent. What can I say," he said with a sigh. "She loves me."

  Lissandra stared at the cow in wonder. "She has excellent taste in men," she said moving towards the brown cow. Lissandra hugged the animal around the neck. "Do not fret Emy Lou, we are home now and we will not leave you alone again. We will even take you with us to Rorgrim."

  "Like we had a choice," Eranen said rolling his eyes skyward.

  After they had cleaned up the barn and had eaten a small dinner, Eranen and Lissandra sat beside each other at one end of the table with a stack of books in front of them. "This is the book I brought with me from the Moon's Soul," Lissandra said as she opened the worn brown book. Eranen noticed that several small pieces of paper stuck out in between the pages through out the book marking the pages for her.

  "What is this book?" Eranen asked having seen no markings on the cover.

  "Have you ever heard of collectors?" Lissandra asked. He raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Of course you have," She should have known, there was nothing Eranen had not heard of. Several hundred years ago the collectors had been constant companions of the Acumen. They recorded not only the prophecies of the Acumen, but also acted as protectors and aids. Over the last few centuries the status of the Acumen had fallen and at some point around two centuries ago the last of the collectors compiled a few books of unfulfilled prophecies and then disappeared completely. Lissandra was in possession of one of those books. There had been others at the Temple of the Moon's Soul she could have taken, but only this one mentioned her.

  "So this is one of the books?" Eranen had spent years looking for the fabled volumes to no avail. He had begun to think they were mere myths, but now one was opened before him. With a trembling hand he pulled the book more fully in front of him, turning to look at Lissandra. "So each of these prophecies an Acumen died for, some only because the subject had not yet been born?" Lissandra bowed her head and gave a small nod as Eranen returned his eyes to the writing on the page that lay open before him.

  The first page of book revealed nothing to Eranen, events were described, but no
ne held any meaning for him. After reading the first page he turned to the next page Lissandra had marked in the book. For now he would look at what she felt was most important, there would be time later to review the rest of the book later.

  Lissandra watched him growing more nervous when he skipped the second page and move to one of the pages she had marked. She wondered if he would still wish to remain married after he read the pages. Would he think less of her for sacrificing her virtue for mere words in a book?

  "Once the daughter of Raven, blessed with the knowledge of all the Arts lies with the wise man the Moon will meet the Sun. This is necessary for the Destroyer to rise as the one and true ruler thus restoring the world to order." Eranen read softly read the words out loud. He did not look at Lissandra. He had suspected all along that her prophecy would be something such as this. He admired the courage it took for her to bind herself to him to see it fulfilled. Of course she knew nothing of his own prophecy which told him to give into his desire before his twenty-seventh birthday or the Moon and Sun would never met. His birthday was only a week away and he desire her above all else. "Once the Moon and Sun meet the daughter of Raven shall kill the Order and bury the Temple proving the God false." He turned to look at Lissandra. She was still sitting with her head bowed looking at her hands resting intertwined on the table before her. No wonder the Order sought to kill Lissandra. They had killed Rachel, but it would not stop there. If the Order believed these words they would continue to seek Lissandra until she was either dead or fulfilled the prophecy. He turned his attention back to the book and seeing nothing more of immediate interest on the page he flipped to her next marker.