The Prophecy

by Karen MacLeod-Wilkie

  “All priests have magical ability related to rituals, especially the Ceremony of Choosing when we seek a new monarch. Azran’s priests are selected because they have an additional magical gift—the ability to open the portal. For the most part, our time is spent simply guarding it, along with the Elite Guard.”

  “How is a priest selected for the crossing each decade?” asked Brigid who noticed Treena examining a painting on the wall which depicted the portal.

  “Anyone who wishes to be considered for that job notifies the High Priest. The High Priest is responsible for making the choice from amongst all the applicants. My great-grandfather once had the privilege of making the crossing.”

  “Who were the priests who crossed this year? Were they your friends?” asked Brigid.

  “Seán was the first to cross,” said Evander. “He’s Tristan’s grandson.”

  “That explains the extra tension I sensed in him,” Brigid said.

  “He masks it well, but his normally gregarious nature has been greatly affected by his concern for Seán. It’s exacerbated by the fact that Seán lives with a rare blood disorder. It’s managed by a special herbal supplement he takes daily. But Seán only took enough supply for two months.”

  “How serious is his disorder?”

  “From the way Tristan described it to me, Seán’s white blood cells begin to increase if the herb isn’t present. The result can be painful rashes on his skin, tumors, nausea, weakness, and things like that.”

  “We’ll need to find him soon,” said Treena, turning from her perusal of the painting.

  Brigid felt additional pressure added to their mission with this new information.

  “Can you get a message to Tristan, requesting information about the herb Seán usually takes?” she asked. “And, what about the others?”

  Evander replied, “Yes, I can check with Tristian. Fiona was the second priest to cross. I knew her and Seán, but not well. Dark was the Guard who accompanied Fiona.”

  “Dark MacCallum?” said Treena, putting her hand to the wall.

  Evander nodded.

  Brigid grabbed Treena’s arm. “Do you know him?”

  “He was my mentor in my second year of training. Whenever I came this way, he always took me out for a meal and wanted to hear how I was doing. He’s a good man.” Treena pushed herself off the wall, clenched her hands, and strode forward.

  “How did you get to be the Scroll-Bearer?” Brigid said.

  “When Fiona didn’t return, and it was believed the prophecy had been enacted, every priest was tested for the task.”

  “Tested how?”

  “We were assessed on our physical strength, emotional stability, mental agility, and spiritual capacity. Those who tested high in all areas were then asked to grip the box containing the Scroll of Prophecy. As Tristan passed it to each one, it burned in their hands and they couldn’t carry it. I was the last to try. It remained cool in my hands. Thus, I was chosen.”

  They arrived at the door of Brigid and Treena’s room.

  “I guess we should trust you then,” said Treena, lightly punching him on the arm as they entered the room.

  “Thanks for telling me,” said Brigid. “The more we know about each other, the better we’ll be able to carry out this mission.”

  Evander extended his hand to clasp hers and the golden sparks flew again. His blue eyes smiled at her.

  “To trust,” he said.

  Brigid reluctantly pulled her hand free and turned into her room, pulling the door closed behind her. Treena reclined on her bed, watching the expression on Brigid’s face.

  “What’s with you and the newly hunky Evander?”

  Brigid kicked off her boots and climbed onto her bed. She looked over to Treena.

  “I don’t know for sure. From our first meeting at the Council, every time we’ve come into contact in any way, I see golden sparks between us and feel them too. I thought it was confirmation of our mission. I tried to ignore any feelings of attraction because I thought he was, like, over a century old. Now? He’s certainly not hard on the eyes and he’s been nothing but kind to me as we’ve traveled.”

  “Nothing like a little sexual tension to make you dance your way into danger,” Treena teased.

  Brigid tossed a pillow at her and rolled over.

  “Get some sleep! We’ve got a mission to prepare for.”

  Surprisingly, they did nap for a while. But time marched along quickly. Their supplies and clothing were delivered, which meant they had to sort their packs. Supper flew by with many of the priests and guards speaking to them, offering words of encouragement and support. The crimson rays of sunset gleamed through the dining room windows. They returned to their room to brush their teeth and do a final check. Hefting their packs onto their backs, they stepped into the hallway.

  Evander strode toward them, his pack on his back. “Time to go,” he said. “They’ll be waiting for us at the Vault.”

  The Vault was a building that extended over the cave entrance where the portal had been established by Azran. After he had ascertained the land was habitable, containing only vegetation, animal, bird, and fish populations, Azran had initiated the migration. It was through that cave that the original population of fairies had crossed over. To prevent unauthorized use of the portal, the Vault was built. Guards kept constant watch round the clock.

  Darkness was full upon them with only a few bright stars glistening in the night sky as they approached the Vault. It was nearly three hours since sunset. Guards nodded to them and they continued deeper into the Vault. Queen Amethyst, Finn, and Tristan were inside the cave.

  “Evander will establish a dimensional portal, which is different from a time portal; the time should be aligned, and it should be dark as you arrive on the other side,” said Tristan. “Hopefully, that’ll provide some protection for you. Keep your cloaks tightly around you, so you can melt into the night.” He handed them a small tub of paste. “Smudge this onto your faces and hands. It will blend black and grey, which mimics the nighttime shadows and will keep your faces disguised. Blessed be.”

  To Brigid, he offered a small bottle, and he said, “I commend Seán to your care.”

  “I’ll do all I can.”

  “These knives were specially forged for the Elite Guard. They’re easy to hide in boots and clothing as extra protection if needed. May you fare well,” said Finn as he handed them each two five-inch sheathed knives which they tucked into their boots.

  Queen Amethyst stepped forward to clasp each of their hands. As she did, she placed a small amethyst into each of their palms. “These stones will help protect you against any negative energies and will strengthen your spiritual purpose. May your way be clear and your purpose strong.”

  To Evander, she said, “Report back within two weeks so we will know you survived.”

  The three leaders stepped back. The three travelers stepped forward. It was time.

  ***

  The Crossing

  “Treena, place your left hand on my right shoulder, so your sword hand is free,” said Evander. “Brigid place your right hand on my left shoulder. Don’t let go, we must maintain connection until we’re on the other side.”

  They followed Evander’s instructions as his hands began to weave complex signs in the air before them; his voice hummed with a low chant. Brigid could feel power swirling around them and a forcefield building in front of them.

  “Now!” Evander commanded.

  They stepped through the portal. Blackness swirled with purple and white streams of pulsing light, confusing the eyes. Their cells hummed and their limbs felt disjointed as they passed through the space between.

  Darkness greeted them on the other side. Before Brigid could speak, she felt the tingle of Evander’s finger against her lips, cautioning silence. They remained in place, until their eyes adjusted to the gloom. Faintly, they could see the outline of an earthen cave extending around them. A slight glow flickered about forty feet ahead of the
m. A murmur of voices was barely discernable. Using a light to guide them was out of the question. Cautiously, they edged forward. One step at a time, they scanned the earthy terrain for tricky dips and stones that might create a disturbance if tripped over or kicked.

  Halfway to the opening, Treena’s arm extended in front of Brigid and Evander to halt their forward motion. She hunkered down to examine the floor. Moments later, she stood and guided them to step sideways to the wall. She pointed upward to a net that had blended into the cave’s ceiling—a trap!

  Brigid worked to control her rapid breathing and heart rate. Treena gestured to follow in her footsteps and to avoid touching the cave walls. Carving a strange figure eight path, around and forward, Treena led them to the cave’s entrance without mishap.

  The next test was before them. There were definitely voices ahead. This time, Brigid put up her hand and mouthed “Wait”. She rubbed her forehead, then closed her eyes in concentration. She could feel brainwave patterns beyond the glow. From her healing practice, she could tell that they didn’t feel like those of fairies—there was no magical pulse. Could they be humans? Would they respond to her healing the same as fairies did?

  Carefully, she extended her energy to each one. She sent pulsing delta wave patterns into their minds. Gently, they slipped into a deep sleep. When Brigid opened her eyes, she lifted four fingers to Evander and Treena, and mimed someone sleeping. Treena raised her eyebrows. Brigid gestured and they crept forward. The glow they had noticed came from low lighting in a large room, much like the Vault in their dimension.

  That was where the similarity ended. Along one wall were spartan-looking bunkbeds. A second wall had a small kitchen area, an open door revealing a toilet, and a closed door. The third side was loaded with electronic devices. Four people dressed in camouflage clothing were slumped in sleep around the room: two had been playing cards at the kitchen table, one was seated in front of some sort of machine, and the other lay on the floor where she’d been guarding the cave entrance.

  Evander looked at them and at Brigid. She nodded.

  Treena whispered, “Hoods up. Keep your faces covered. These look like guards—human guards, because they don’t have pointy ears. We don’t know who or what else we may encounter. It’s time to start melting into the shadows.”

  Cautiously, they crossed the room to the door. There were no windows to check what was on the other side. Again, Brigid rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. This time, no brain waves were evident. She looked at the others and shook her head. As Evander reached for the door handle, Treena frantically stopped him. Her continual surveillance had picked up an intermittent red beam flickering around the door. She suspected that if they opened the door it would set off an alarm if they didn’t disarm it first. The three of them scanned the door looking for any hint of what to do next.

  Brigid glanced at a small mirror next to the door and tilted her head to look in it, wondering how the paste from Tristan looked on her face. But the mirror didn’t reflect her face; rather, it displayed a faint outline of a hand. Brigid pointed it out to Treena and Evander. Treena looked from the mirror to the guards. With a grim look, she marched over to the woman slumped near the cave. When Evander realized what she was about to do, he rushed over to help her drag the woman to the door. He held her up, while Treena placed the woman’s hand over the mirror, matching it to the outline. A click sounded, and the red beam disappeared. Evander gently propped the woman against the wall. Brigid turned the handle and stayed behind the door as she opened it.

  Treena pressed herself against the wall so she could peer out to assess the environment. In the dark, she could make out a small copse of woods on the other side of a large clearing. Two strange-looking vehicles were parked outside the entrance. Treena led the way and they quickly scooted past. Evander drew out a flashlight and they moved deeper into the woods. Ten minutes later, they felt it was safe to take a break and speak aloud.

  Evander spoke up first. “Nothing from my previous briefings about the portal indicated a set-up like we encountered. Priests who have reported back from their crossings in former decades described the cave, the clearing, and the wood. Our first contact should have been a fairy family who lived in a cabin nearby. This building and human guards are new.”

  He turned to Treena. “How did you know about the trap in the cave?”

  “As I was watching the ground, I noticed a slight indentation. When I bent down to examine it, I perceived the dirt was evenly dispersed over that area. There were no small rocks such as we encountered on the ground all around it, yet rocks should have collected in a depression like that. It reminded me of hunters’ traps back home. Sure enough, when we moved to the side, I spotted the net above. I’m not only gifted with a sword, but a lesser magical gift I’ve always had was the ability to find the safest path on which to travel. I tuned in to it to lead us through the cave.”

  Treena poked Brigid in the side. “But enough about me. What’s this sleep trick? Very cool! I didn’t know you could do that.”

  Brigid offered a slight smile. “Over the years, I’ve strengthened my mind-soothing ability. It helps when people have severe injuries and need extensive and painful healing work. It seems it also works in this type of situation—not that I’ve ever tried it like this before or with so many at once.”

  “Well done, Brigid. You got us through a risky spot without any conflict,” Evander said. “So far, the three of us make quite an effective team.”

  “I can lead us safely through the woods, but I’m not sure where we need to go from here,” said Treena as she peered ahead to where two paths could be faintly discerned.

  “Tristan gave me a map, but it’s ten years old,” said Evander. “Fortunately, time moves the same in both our worlds. It’s difficult, though, to say how many changes we may come across.”

  “I notice they use a lot of technology and machines, here,” Treena said. “We learned a bit about the Human World in my studies for the Protector’s Force, but I have no idea what all that stuff back in the cave was.”

  Evander nodded. “I studied up as well, in case I was chosen to cross over,” he said. “I know those things on the walls are called computers and, outside, that was a jeep and a helicopter in the clearing. When our Realm was settled, our fairy forebears decided not to be overly dependent upon technology. They preferred to keep the environment clean. We have solar- and wind-powered electricity, and small devices like listening discs and flashlights, but our Realm didn’t go the route of computers, motorized vehicles, and the like. We’re a much smaller population than the human race, so travel can easily be accomplished on horseback or on foot. When needed, we fairies can fly. The fairy focus has always been on developing each fairy’s magical gift. On the Human Earth, such gifts were regarded with superstition and fear. The human race valued technical ability over magic and grew to rely on the development of machines and technology.”

  “I know nothing about that stuff. Is there no horseback riding here?” asked Brigid.

  “I was told that horses are used for racing and entertainment, not travel. We’re going to need to work at blending in,” said Evander, squinting at the map. “The map indicates the cave is on a mountaintop. In the woods, we should come across the cabin I mentioned. Further on, there’s a road leading to a small town where we have more contacts. It’s about ten and a half miles away. The temperature here is a little cooler than back home, but once we start hiking, we’ll warm up.”

  “Time to get moving. We’ve got some territory to cover before dawn,” Treena stated. “I’ll lead us along the safest route, but keep that map handy in case we have to make a detour.”

  Brigid, then Evander, fell into line behind Treena. Brigid strained her eyes trying to see their surroundings. Were there other differences from the Realm? When her foot caught on a tree root, Evander had to grab her to prevent a fall. Brigid decided she had better focus on hiking. Evander’s touch suffused her body with a pervasive warmth, b
ut there was no time to think on that either with the mission before them.

  About half an hour into their hiking, they came to a small clearing with a cabin in it. There were no signs of life. The remnants of an overgrown garden lay in front. One step appeared to be broken. Brigid searched forward with her mind, but she couldn’t pick up any brainwaves. Treena started forward to look in the windows and then stepped back.

  “My cells are vibrating with the message that this place isn’t safe,” she said. “I suggest our best route is to go around the clearing and on to the town you mentioned, Evander.”

  The others listened to her caution. They took occasional breaks to drink from their water bottles and munch a few snacks. It took two hours to traverse the woods. Arriving at the edge of the forest, they climbed down a slight incline and up a ditch onto a solid black-topped road with painted lines. Much easier on our feet, thought Brigid, as they briskly hiked along.

  The next thing they heard was a loud rumble. Light swept over them and a loud blaring sound prompted them to leap into the ditch. A large vehicle sped by.

  “I guess the road isn’t for walking on,” said Brigid, dusting off her clothing grumpily.

  “I wasn’t paying attention or I would have known it wasn’t safe,” said Treena “Sorry guys. Is everyone okay?”

  Brigid and Evander assured her they were fine.

  “That was a truck, I believe,” Evander said. “Let’s keep to the side with an ear open for any other vehicles. I wouldn’t have thought anyone besides us would be out at night.”

  Four other trucks swept by over the next few hours. One slowed down; the driver rolled down his window. “You folks all right? Kinda late to be out hiking these hills. It’s dangerous with the wildcats, you know.”

  Evander spoke up, but they kept to the shadows and avoided getting too close. “We appreciate your concern. We haven’t far to go.”

  “Morristown’s over the next ridge,” replied the driver. “No hostel for hikers, but they have a decent motel and diner—great burgers and beer. Enjoy your hike.” With a wave, he drove off.