by Willan Ellis
‘I am now resolved to the idea that the so-called one does not exist – I will never in my lifetime find her. I am not happy to finally admit this to myself – but there is nothing further I can do. If you are reading this, please learn the truth – learn the way – all hope will rest on your shoulders… Remember what I have discovered; remember that the solution is easy – its finding the correct path that is going to challenge you’
Teanne looked up from the journal. Why couldn’t anyone just simply say what they meant? Frustrated she closed the journal and sunk back against the wall – she looked over to the candle and smiled as she wet her fingers and extinguished the flame. She had read all night – and had yet to learn anything apart from what she already knew – someone to reunite the roots to activate the elements – what were these elements – there were no clues about what she was to do in the journal.
Teanne pulled herself up and stretched her body – she had to get out of here.
The door to her cell suddenly opened, and she turned and smiled as Lin entered the room. Nodding to the guard that it was all right to leave, Lin waited until she was sure the guard had moved away.
‘How are you’? Lin asked looking around the small cell. Teanne moved toward her friend and hugged her tightly.
‘I am well; it is so good to see you. Are you all right?’ Lin stepped away and smiled. She moved and sat on the bedroll, and gently stroked the cover of the journal,
‘Was this any help’?
Teanne crossed the cell and sat down next to her friend, ‘Not really – it’s just the ramblings of an old woman on her own quest’
Lin smirked and sighed deeply, ‘Pity’.
Teanne looked at her friend questionably. Lin seemed nervous,
‘Are you all right? You seem a little odd’ Lin shrugged her shoulders, ‘how are you here?’ Teanne grew suspicious ‘Without being arrested?’
Lin moved to stand but Teanne pulled her down. Lin suddenly broke down into tears her face falling into her hands,
‘I’m sorry Teanne. The Mother Sovereign asked me to watch over you, and to report anything unusual.’
‘You... you betrayed us. How... why...?’ Teanne couldn’t quiet the rage growing inside her.
Lin wiped tears away from her cheek ‘Teanne I’m sorry, I was so confused.’ Lin looked up to Teanne pleadingly who turned away from her, ‘she told me about Empe – and how she was a traitor to Luia – I was so confused. Everything the Mother Sovereign told me about Empe, and her beliefs challenged everything I believe in – I had to do my duty.’
Teanne moved to the other side of the room turning to look at Lin in disgust,
‘You swore an oath to me and Empe, Lin’ Teanne almost spat at her friend
‘I swore to do my duty to Luia not you Teanne’ Lin responded angrily and stood wiping the remaining tears from her eyes ‘I do believe in you. But I can’t get my head around the idea of the lands being united. It makes no sense. Everything was fine, everything made sense…’
‘Until I arrived’ Teanne interrupted.
‘That’s not what I meant’ Lin added sadly
‘Does she know about me?’ Lin looked up and shook her head ‘so what now – are you to go back and report new findings?’ Lin shamefully lowered her head, and didn’t respond. Teanne moved and stood directly over her, ‘well’?
The anger in Teanne's voice made Lin flinch, ‘I am to return to her and report any findings from the journal – it is to be used against… Empe’
Teanne couldn’t believe her ears – this woman cowering before her was the epitome of morality and strength, everything she strove for, she tried to calm herself. Nothing would be a good result by reacting in anger. She put her hand over the Estrus that was burning her to respond.
‘I think you should leave Lin, you have done enough’ Teanne paused and turned away from her friend ‘tell her that I am remorseful and scared – can you do that at least?’
Teanne heard Lin shuffle to her feet and move to the cell door, ‘Teanne I truly am sorry.’
The sound of the door closing made Teannes anger grow. She had trusted Lin completely, and thought that they were sharing the experiences, but Lin had chosen. She had chosen to betray her to the Mother Sovereign. Teanne looked down at her wrist – she had never seen the Estrus glow so brightly – she spread her fingers open and called the power – the surge through her arm made her wince. She stepped back in shock as a large ball of flame hovered above her open palm. She had seen many of the sisters practice this before but the redness of this flame shocked her – she thought of Alexander and Empe -both now victims – the ball grew in size. Teanne looked deep into the flame – it swirled at a fantastic pace, and its beauty captivated her. Relaxing her hand, and looking at the Estrus – Teanne watched as it seemed to dance beneath her skin. She jumped as a flame began surrounding her hand.
A tingling sensation filled all her fingers and began to shoot up her arm. She lifted her arm, and the flame began swirling around her arm, its glow making her squint. She stretched her fingers out; the flames licked the end of her fingertips. Teanne giggled at the sensation, the flames almost tickled her, it was intoxicating. Pulling her hand into a fist -a large bolt of flame shot across the room scorching the opposite wall, and slowly moved up toward the ceiling. Almost in a trance Teanne watched as the wall was consumed with flames. Instinctively she lifted her hand again and opened her fist trying to control the flames, but the flames did not subside. Panic filled her; she had lost control.
All of a sudden the familiar voice of the man in black whispered to her.
‘Relax’
Relaxing her arm she brought her wrist up again and opened her hand. Taking a slow steady breath, Teanne called the flames, and slowly they pulled away from the wall, hovering and forming a tornado that seemed to tease her. She smiled and lifted her wrist higher, and reluctantly the fire obliged and drew itself back into Teanne, she felt her hair lift as the flames extinguished with a jolt, leaving her panting.
Teanne was elated, the surge of power had left every nerve twitching, every hair standing on end – she needed to learn how to control this gift – she laughed to herself at calling it a gift and wished Empe had just seen what had happened.
