Celestia's Tales: The Lybiria Scales
Page 22
The only thing that glowed in the stormy sky was the volcano peak on Nepta in the far distance. The sea had become rougher as they approached where the mers no longer ruled and the psyrens owned the sea. Rain had beaten both the ship and its crew for most of the two-day journey, so much so that Bri had taken the decision to drop anchor at the Isle of The Face.
It had taken much convincing to land at the desolate island. It was an island reputed to be haunted by a heartbroken princess, from back when the Celestia was young and because of its position it had always been unclear who owned it. But then, so fearsome was its history, nobody wished to claim it either. However, today, they had no choice. They could not sail through psyren waters in a storm, because they would sink within minutes.
The land was almost barren as they stepped off the ship with just a few trees and plants. All that stood out from the sparse greenery was a small cottage with a smoking chimney, high upon a rocky hill.
'You're kidding,' Xander said. 'Even I have heard stuff about this place.'
'Well, we are not going anywhere ‘til this storm passes. What’s the harm in just going and having a look?' Bri smiled.
Everyone looked at her, not convinced. That is everyone except Orlson; he had taken himself below and out of the way since they had left Hades and now he stood with her, he wished not to look her way.
'Well I'll go alone,' she said finally.
Clues and Decks remained on the ship as the others trudged their way through rocks and mud begrudgingly. Orlson keeping to his oath had no choice but to follow.
He and Bri had not spoken since boarding and he had decided keeping clear of her was the best thing. The way she had spoken to him had made him see her in a different light and coupled with the recurring dreams of darkness and Bri’s horror-filled face, his mood was not getting any better.
Surrial, as they walked, stepped back a little from the group, enabling him to watch every one of them rather than just the prince. During the argument between Briganti and Orlson, Briganti had let her internal wall fall slightly and he had managed to read her. She was in deep turmoil, her inner grief was immense and not just for the death of her father, but there was a deep tug of war between her duty to her kingdom and who she really wanted to be. She was a free spirit and Surrial feared that if captured before she was ready, she would either explode or implode. She was a time bomb waiting to go off. Yet, whereas before he had little time for her, he now understood her guarded nature and had no doubt that she would become a great queen, but not married to Xander.
Eventually, after what had seemed miles and miles of wild woodland they arrived at the base of the hill and saw a swamp was blocking their path, with no obvious way across. The Trio started to turn back.
'Oh, what a shame, it looks like we have to turn back,' he mumbled.
The others began to follow his lead clearly relieved.
'Wait!' Bri stopped them. 'Xander, I know you have not mastered earth magick yet, but try and summon some rocks.'
'What is the point?' Xander argued. 'Let’s go back, this place gives me the creeps and I am cold and hungry.'
Bri went to him and linked her arm with his, smiling as she saw Orlson turn his face away from her.
'Please try,' she flirted.
Xander sighed and went to the edge of the swamp. Surely, he thought, the principle was the same. Just think rocks. He closed his eyes and for a moment nothing happened. He could feel the eyes of the others on his back and it made him even more nervous. But then, just as he was about to tell them not to stare at him, a rumble underfoot made them nervously step away from where Xander stood. It was false alarm. Nothing rose.
‘Just keep trying,’ Bri urged.
Everyone sat where they could waiting for Xander to summon something. The drizzle had seeped through their clothes on to skin and it hadn’t taken them long to huddle closer for warmth. It felt like hours, but Bri insisted that they wait. She wanted to prove a point and get to the other side. She knew Xander could do this and even if they had to spend the night then so be it.
Xander sat alone on the bank shivering in the cold rain trying with all his might to get something to rise, but nothing seemed to be happening. He wanted desperately to give up, but Bri’s faith in him kept him going. He just needed to concentrate. Closing his eyes, he tried again. One last time.
Suddenly, something began to rise from beneath the swamp and Bri clapped him on the back with a smile. He had done it. Rock after rock came up giving them stepping stones to the other side. They hopped along the slippery stones unsteadily holding each other steady. Once on the other side they began to climb the hill to the cottage.
Exhausted and wet they finally reached the gate. It did not look as sinister as it did in the distance. It even had a certain morbid charm, Bri thought as she made her way up the path. Its stonework had been painted, but the stormy climate had caused it to dull and peel. The whole building had a battered feel to it.
'Welcome.'
Bri gave a short scream as a face was staring at her smiling. There was no body not even a head, just a face, a girl’s face at that.
'I did not mean to scare you. It’s just been a while since I last had visitors,' the face continued.
'Who are you?' Xander asked nervously stepping forward.
The face turned to him. 'I'm sorry, my name is Alaina, well what is left of her anyway.'
'So you're like Alaina's face?' the Trio sniggered.
'Of course,' she answered as though it was perfectly normal. 'Come inside out of the rain.'
They looked at each other uneasily as she disappeared through her door like a ghost.
'Well I'm game if you are,' Bri said opening the door.
The others followed her inside and were surprised to find it like any other cottage inside, the kettle was brewing on the fire and an empty plate sat on the table. How on earth was she able to do these things with no body?
Alaina’s face floated amongst them encouraging them to sit and they soon found out how, as by magick the kettle began to pour itself out into cups for each of them.
'I'll talk to each of you in turn,' Alaina’s face said.
'What do you mean?' Bri said, leaving her drink.
'You came here for your fortunes, did you not? That is the only reason people come,' she said hovering between Bri and Xander.
‘We have just stopped here to avoid the storm,' Xander said.
'It doesn’t matter. Call it my gift. But I will not do the angel or Hecate's child.'
'Hecate's child?' Xander asked.
'You can go first, I'll tell you later,' Bri said.
Surrial frowned as Xander followed the face into a curtained area. So that was the Trio’s secret, he was a child of the Goddess. However, that would make him near on immortal as the goddess. Hecate had left Celestia thousands of years ago, and it would also explain why Briganti insisted on him being on her side, she was very clever, very clever indeed.
The room that Xander had followed the face into was filled with burning incense, and dead stuffed animals hung on the wall, glaring at him with their beady dead eyes.
'So, what do you want me to do?' he asked nervously playing with his hands.
'Nothing, your aura tells me everything,' she said as she settled opposite him, as though she was sitting. 'I will not tell you the obvious, why your heart is full of grief. But I will tell you, you will make your parents proud. You will rule Celestia with a level head and a good heart and your children will be born as fae. However, it will not be your firstborn who takes your place. Your daughter will be responsible for bringing the gods back to us and hence be the greatest queen that has ever lived.' Xander looked at her gob smacked.
'What do you mean born fae? I am to marry Briganti,' he said.
'That is all I will tell you. Send in the orphan,' she said.
He looked at her puzzled until he realised she meant Orlson. He got to his feet. His daughter would be
the greatest queen, but why would his firstborn not take the throne after him? He stepped out where they were waiting and told Orlson to go in.
'But I don't want to,' he said sulkily.
'Stop being difficult,' Bri snapped. 'She is offering and it is rude not to accept.'
Orlson pushed his chair back abruptly and made his way behind the curtain. Alaina watched him with her grey eyes; he was surprised that she had ears that held large thick golden hoops that jangled when she seemed to move.
'Sit,’ she demanded so harshly that he sat straight down.
He could feel her eyes boring into him and it made him nervous, as though he was afraid she might find something that was supposed to be hidden.
'You are an orphan,' she stated rather than asking. Orlson nodded, although it was not a rare thing to be. 'Once you cross this boundary tonight, your life is going to change forever. But you will need to choose the path you’re going to follow. Path one, you will cause the death of a queen. Path two you will be the death of a princess and you must choose, your choice will either save us or doom us.'
Orlson stood up with such force he sent his chair flying. 'What sort of crap is this? How can I cause the death of a queen? We do not have a queen with us and the princess... I would never put her in danger.'
Alaina’s face tossed her face with indignity. 'I tell it how it is.'
'Well it’s lies,' he muttered storming out of the room.
Briganti gave the Trio a concerned look as she saw Orlson’s distressed face. Satisfied that the Third was dealing with him she pulled the curtain back and stepped into the room. She saw Alaina smile and noticed that she now glowed, not brightly, but enough for her to see. Frowning, she sat down and waited for her future to be told. Alaina looked at her steadily for some time before she began to speak.
'Take off your hat,' she said suddenly.
Bri pulled off her hat allowing her hidden hair to fall and she caught a flinch pass through Alaina’s eyes.
'Have you ever noticed you are the only one in Celestia to have that colour hair, the colour of blood?' she said cryptically.
Bri shrugged her shoulders. 'It is something I have never thought about,' she replied.
Alaina smiled thinly. 'Your hair is a sign that you are cursed by blood. When you defeat the alchemist, you will never be the same again. Celestia will lose a great queen.'
'Are you saying I'm going to die?' Bri asked.
Alaina kept her face even. 'You will go in as princess and leave as a queen, but one with a great weakness.'
Bri stood up and began to wander around the room. 'You used to be a princess did you not?' she saw from the corner of her eye the face’s lips tighten. 'A beautiful and powerful princess at that.'
'What is your point?' Alaina asked.
'I'm just wondering whether jealousy clouds your gift of sight?' Bri answered, as she eyed up the dead animals upon the wall.
'Nothing clouds my judgment princess, unlike you,' Alaina hit back with a sweet smile.
Bri began to laugh. 'Well I can assure you of one thing, I will not die at this battle.'
'From one cursed princess to another I hope you are right.'
Bri looked at the face and sighed. 'Ah this blood curse you told me about.'
A thin smile formed on the lips of the face. 'The blood curse is one thing, it can be cured, and the other you have placed on yourself, just as I did.'
'And are you going to tell me what it is?' Bri asked, beginning to tire of the whole charade of curses.
'I have told you enough, now you must leave.'
Bri eyed Alaina evenly. There was something strange about her, something Bri could not place. It had been almost as though she and her crew had been expected, and that made her nervous, very nervous. She had to wonder what she meant by Celestia losing a great queen, yet she would not say that she would die. One thing Bri knew for sure and that was she would defy anything this bitter princess predicted.
Chapter Nineteen