by Peter Wacht
"Yes, it could," said Rynlin. "But I don't think it does. Look at the next line: Stands on high. It's a very vague reference. However, it could be speaking about two critical parts of your life. When you become Lord of the Highlands, it has traditionally been known as standing on high. And, when you join the Sylvana, you will be standing on high as well. In fact, you will be standing on the tallest peak in all the Kingdoms. I think the double reference to the Highlands and the Sylvana serves as added confirmation."
"You think I will join the Sylvana?" Thomas' excitement momentarily conquered his rising concern.
"Yes, but we'll get to that in a moment."
"What about the rest of the prophecy? What else applies to me?"
"All of it I think. We just won't know for sure until each event takes place. But I believe the last six lines refer to your battle with the Shadow Lord."
"Wait a second," said Thomas, rising from his seat. "You think that because two lines of the prophecy might apply to me, I'm going to fight the Shadow Lord?"
"Yes," said Rynlin.
"That's absolutely ridiculous. How can you come to a conclusion like that?"
Rynlin held his hands up. "Hold on, Thomas. Let me start over."
Thomas stopped pacing, not realizing he had begun. But he didn't want to sit down. Things were moving too fast. Yes, he knew that he was the Lord of the Highlands, at least in name, and as such, he had certain responsibilities. But this as well? He was supposed to fight the Shadow Lord? It was all just a little too much for him. He was beginning to feel lightheaded, and he realized he had stopped breathing. Taking a slow breath, he told himself to calm down.
"Allow me to explain," said Rynlin. He got up from his seat on the root and began pacing in between Thomas and Rya. He always thought better on his feet.
"Let me repeat the lines of the prophecy that I think apply to you, and I'll give you my reasoning. Admittedly, the prophecies are all very obscure, and we really won't know if you are in fact the Defender of the Light until some later point in time. But, if you are fated to meet the Shadow Lord in combat, then it will happen. There will be no way you can avoid it. That's why I'm telling you this now. I want you to be prepared for that possibility. But I think it's more than just a possibility.
"Also, keep in mind that the prophecies have never been wrong, and though there are several different ones that vary in certain places, they are never very far off when it comes to the important events. For example, all the prophecies correctly predicted the appearance of the Shadow Lord would appear in the world, and that we would defeat him at certain points in time. Now, this is the interesting point." Rynlin was almost jogging up and down between Rya and Thomas. If he kept going at this pace, he'd be three feet below ground before he finished his explanation.
"Before, the result of what would happen was always predetermined, meaning that the Great War was fated to occur, and it was expected that we would successfully push the Shadow Lord and his Dark Horde back into the Charnel Mountains. Of course, we didn't know this until the Great War ended and we went back to look at the prophecies. Then we were able to decipher what had largely been unintelligible to us before.
"At that time we looked ahead and saw that a battle between the Defender of the Light and the Lord of the Shadow would take place sometime in the near future. Of course, when you're dealing with the prophecies the near future could be a hundred years, two hundred years or more. Anyway, the interesting thing—"
"Frightening thing," said Rya.
"Yes, that's probably the better word. The frightening thing is that that's where the prophecies end. That's as far as the Seers of Alfeos went in their forecasts — to the actual battle between the Defender of the Light and the Lord of the Shadow."
"What do you mean? They stopped seeing the future?" asked Thomas. He had understood everything up to this point, but he still wasn't sure how he fit in to it.
"I mean that the prophecies end during the battle. The seers foretold nothing more beyond that point. They just stopped, and no one can explain why. Listen to the last six lines:
Swords of fire echo in the burned rock
Balancing the future on their blades.
Light dances with dark
Green fire burns in the night
Hopes and dreams follow the wind
To fall in black or white.
"Swords of fire echo in the burned rock. That's a clear reference to the last battle, a point that is no longer debated by those who have studied the prophecies, some for hundreds of years longer than I. The battle will take place, and most likely somewhere in Shadow's Reach, or rather Blackstone, as it's known today."
"So the Defender of the Light has to fight the Lord of the Shadow on his ground."
"Exactly, Thomas. Certainly not an auspicious beginning for the contest. Another reference, Balancing the future on their blades, gives us a hint to what comes next. The prophecies end with those six lines. Why? Because this battle will determine what will happen next. That's what the last line confirms: To fall in black or white. In the past, throughout the millennia since the Shadow Lord came to be, the victor of the battles between good and evil was always foretold. We have always been able to hold back the Dark Horde. But not this time. The result will not be known until the battle is fought. There is nothing telling us what to expect."
"So this battle will determine the future?"
"Yes, it will."
"And if the Defender of the Light loses?" Thomas had a feeling that he already knew the answer.
"Then the Kingdoms have no future at all. The Shadow Lord and his Dark Horde will reign supreme, and humanity will face the possibility of extinction."
It was almost too much for Thomas to take in at one time. His grandfather's argument was logical. Logical enough for Thomas to believe it. A part of him wanted to deny it, hoping desperately that Rynlin was wrong. The attack by the Nightstalker suggested otherwise, however, and he knew that his wish was simply that — a wish.
"And you think I'm the Defender of the Light? Just because a few lines seem to apply to me?"
"Yes, we do." Rya nodded her agreement. "You are a child of life and death. You are expected to stand on high, at least once, when you return to the Highlands. And it also seems that you may become a member of the Sylvana. If you succeed, at the time you join the Sylvana, you will be standing in the Circle on a rocky promontory that sits atop the highest peak in the Highlands. The highest peak, in fact, in all the Kingdoms, even taller than those in the Charnel Mountains. When you are raised to Sylvan Warrior, much like when you become Lord of the Highlands, it is called standing on high. Another line seems to apply to you as well — Green fire burns in the night. You know, as well as me, what your eyes look like when you're angry, and especially during the night."
"I think green fire is a very appropriate description," said Rynlin.
"That may be," said Thomas. "But your argument is still quite flimsy." Why? Why did they have to do this to him? Didn't he have enough to worry about as it was?
"I know," said Rynlin, "but I still think I'm right."
Thomas looked at his grandfather. Rynlin watched him with a quiet intensity. He had never known his grandfather to be wrong, and he didn't think he would come to these conclusions without a great deal of thought. Thomas still wasn't sure if he believed it all himself. Nevertheless, as his grandfather said, it was better to be prepared for the future, rather than surprised by it.
"When will I know if I'm the Defender of the Light?"
"You will know when you know."
"That doesn't help me very much," said Thomas, irritated by the response. “You sound like a Seer of Alfeos.”
Rynlin had responded to some of his questions during his lessons in much the same way, and it had never failed to get under his skin. He didn't like asking a question and then not getting an answer. He wanted to know. It's what he didn't know that bothered him, because just like in a battle, that's often what got you killed.
/> "Rynlin probably didn't give you the best response he could have," said Rya, rising from her seat and patting her grandson on the shoulder. "We don't know if you are the Defender of the Light, but all the evidence points in that direction. The Shadow Lord is stirring. When will the battle take place? We don't know. It could be a year. It could be five years. It could be more. We do think, though, that when the time for that battle arrives, you will be the one in Blackstone, fighting for the future of the Kingdoms."
"No pressure at all, really," joked Thomas. It was the only way he could respond without laughing hysterically. His mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions as he struggled to grasp what he had just learned.
CHAPTER FOUR
A Calling
Rynlin laughed and came to stand by his grandson too, slapping him on the back. "None at all."
"So we won't know if I will be the one until some time in the future."
"That's correct," said Rynlin.
"Well, there's no point in worrying about it now," said Thomas, sighing. Nothing ever was easy in life, and his only seemed to be getting harder with each passing day. "I've got enough to worry about as it is." If he tried to take in everything his grandfather had told him all at once, he’d probably lose his mind.
"Your obligation to your father's family?" asked Rynlin.
Thomas nodded. "To my other grandfather," he said. "Not to my father's family. My father’s family wanted nothing to do with me. I promised Talyn during the fall of the Crag that I would return to the Highlands and retake what belonged to him; belongs to me now, I guess. It's kind of funny. I'm doing it because of my grandfather, and because of who I am, yet no one except my grandfather cared about me when I was growing up there. I've got to do this for people who thought something was wrong with me, like I was tainted, and now I'm supposed to help them."
Rya listened to her grandson. She was proud of him, prouder than he would ever know, and not because of his ability with the Talent or some other skill. She was proud of him because of the person he had become.
"A strange world we live in," said Rynlin. "This is what's bothering you, having to do that?"
"Only in part," said Thomas. His life had just become immeasurably harder thanks to his grandparents. He was tired of carrying everything by himself. If his grandparents could burden him with these additional responsibilities, he felt the need to be rid of some others. There was no better time than now.
"Sometimes I dream about my mother." Thomas walked a short distance away from Rynlin and Rya, gathering his thoughts. He didn't want to hurt them by talking about his mother, their daughter, but he had to. It was the only way to explain.
"I know she died when I was born, but I can see her clearly in my dreams — the sharp green eyes, the dark brown hair. I know it's her." As Thomas described Marya, an ache formed in Rynlin's throat. It happened every time he thought of his daughter.
"Dreams are very powerful," said Rya. "More powerful than most people know. The world of the living and the world of the dead are clearly segregated when we are awake. When we sleep, and we dream, the borders of the two sometimes mesh, and spirits can walk in your dreams."
"What was Marya saying to you, Thomas?" Rynlin was intensely curious. He wanted to know if it had anything to do with what they were discussing. He was certain of what he just said, that Thomas was the Defender of the Light, or at least would be. Some added confirmation never hurt.
"She keeps calling to me, saying that I must do something. She's always standing a long way off, beckoning to me with her hand, as if I'm supposed to follow her. Whenever I see her, I feel as if I'm missing something inside." He pointed to his chest with his hand to emphasize his point. "At first I thought it was the fact that I don't have a mother. That would be the simplest explanation. Now I'm not so sure. It's more like I'm not complete as a person, and the hole that's there remains when I wake. The only time I feel it filling up is when I use the Talent and draw on the power of nature. That's when I feel complete. But as soon as I let go of it, I feel empty again.”
"Do you follow her?" asked Rynlin.
"I try to, but I can only take a few steps. She disappears and then I'm standing in this huge valley of long green grass with mountains all around."
Rynlin looked at Rya and saw confirmation in her eyes. He knew what this was about, and it did apply to the prophecies very much in the way Rynlin had expected.
"When you're in the valley, do you see anything else?"
"Yes, a unicorn. A black unicorn, in fact."
"What is the unicorn doing?" he asked.
"Calling to me, as if he's waiting for me."
"How often do you have this dream?" asked Rya.
"Almost every night," he replied. "At first it was once or twice a month, as I mentioned before. For the past few weeks it's been every night and much more vivid than in the past. When I wake up in the morning, I have an intense impulse to find this valley. I know I can find it. All I have to do is start walking, and eventually that's where I'll end up. But I’ve resisted it so far. Isn't that kind of strange?"
"Actually, it makes perfect sense," said Rynlin. He smiled broadly.
"Then what does it mean?" asked Thomas in exasperation.
"Thomas," said Rya, giving her husband a sharp look, "please ignore your grandfather. He's not very good at explaining things sometimes. It must have something to do with his age. They say the brain begins to go after a time."
"What?" asked Rynlin, confused.
"Rynlin," said Rya. "Please be a dear and let me explain now. Things will move along at a much faster pace."
Rynlin went back to the tree root and sat down in indignation.
"Thomas, it's time for you to join the Sylvana. That's why in the last few weeks we've been spending so much time going over the history of the Sylvana, and a few other things that relate to them."
"It's time? How do you know?"
"I know because you know, in your heart of hearts, that that's what you should do." Rya took hold of his hand and made him sit down next to Rynlin, who gave his wife an angry scowl. She simply ignored him. "That's how it's been done, ever since the Sylvan Warriors first came together. The people who were chosen would see a unicorn in their dreams. The dreams would appear more and more often, until they occurred every night. As the frequency of the dreams increase, so does the urge to go to the valley where the unicorns reside. Now it's time for you to go. If you hadn't told us about the dream, in a week, maybe less, you would be on your way to the valley by yourself."
"That would have been a problem," said Rynlin, "because then we'd have to find you."
"So that's how you know? The dreams?"
"Yes," said Rya. "They will inexorably pull you to the Valley of the Unicorns so you can overcome the challenges."
"The challenges? What challenges?" Thomas was extremely tired of tests.
"You don't have to worry about those yet," said Rynlin. "We'll tell you more about them when we get to the Circle."
"When will we be going?"
"In a few days," replied Rya. "We need to give the other Sylvan Warriors time to arrive before us. Some are likely already on the way."
Thomas sighed again. His life was becoming more difficult.
"You know, I can tell you one thing that might help you," said Rynlin.
"What's that?" asked Thomas.
"I believe that you will pass the challenges, and when you stand on the mount, you will know then for a fact whether you are the one who will fight the Shadow Lord."
"Well, at least that will answer one of my questions." Thomas was both excited and fearful. Joining the Sylvana had long been one of his hopes. He wasn't sure he wanted to know if he was the Defender of the Light. To be honest, he really didn’t want the added responsibility.
"Yes. Then again, the Shadow Lord will know for a fact that it is you as well. Up until now, he has only guessed that it will be you. He hasn't known for sure. That's why only one Nightstalker was looking for you.
Once he is certain of his challenger, he will likely take several more steps to remove that threat from the game before it's time to begin playing in earnest."
"Wonderful. Just wonderful. You certainly know how to make someone feel better." Thomas got up from his seat on the tree root and walked toward the house. It had been a long day already and he was hungry. He could worry about all of this after lunch.
"He will have a difficult time with all of this," said Rya, watching her grandson go.
"Yes, he will. But we will be there to help him, as will others."
"At least one thing is certain."
"What's that?" asked Rynlin. He knew what that expression on Rya's face meant. It was the same one she wore when she rode into battle during the Great War — a look of determination, and purpose, that would not be denied.
"With everything Thomas must do, if anyone can handle it all, it is he."
CHAPTER FIVE
A New Skill
"Are you ready?" Rya settled her dark blue cloak around her shoulders and stood by the door, tapping her foot impatiently. Thomas’ anticipation of the coming journey increased as the appointed time for leaving drew closer. His grandparents now felt much the same way. Outwardly, they remained calm, but as the last few days had passed, their normal reserve disintegrated, exposing the nerves beneath. "And don't forget your cloak."
A biting cold covered the Isle of Mist, a cold foreign to the early fall, a cold reminiscent of darker times. Rya’s instincts as a grandmother were out in full force this morning. She insisted that Thomas dress warmly. He wore his brown woolen breeks and a heavy linen shirt, and over that a dark green cloak.
"As ready as I'll ever be." He kept the irritation from his voice, knowing it would only antagonize his grandmother. Thomas had barely slept the last few nights, the excitement of what was to come getting the better of him. The excitement, and the worry. What challenges lay before him? None of the history books explained exactly how you became a Sylvan Warrior, and Rynlin and Rya repeatedly evaded his questions. Their uncharacteristically tight-lipped behavior worried him.
