Whispers of Time

by Gwendolyn Ilimaris

  Her mother’s eyes widened with worry when she saw her daughter’s appearance. She hurried over to her and grabbed her by the shoulder. “Rilaeya, what in the worl--?”

  “Luaera, impatient as always, I asked you to wait for me, my dear. I wished to be here when Rilaeya entered the well.” A well-dressed elven man said with a strained smile as he stopped beside Rin’s mother.

  “Fath…” Rin could not bring herself to say the word father as she backed away from him and moved to stand beside Ronin. He and Riku had walked up with Kilvari, their smiles slipped when they noticed how shaken Rin appeared.

  “Ril…” Her father trailed off when he watched her flinch at the sound of his voice. Ronin also noticed, and he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. She peeked up at him and a shiver ran down her back.

  “Ronin,” she whispered.

  “Do you plan to ignore your father?” Kilvari asked before she could say anything else. His voice was filled with impatience.

  Rin’s head snapped up and even though she was trembling she forced herself to make eye contact. “You are not my father.” Her voice started to shake when she said the word father.

  “What did you just say?” Concern flashed across Kilvari’s face as he took a step in her direction.

  “You are not my father,” Rin said, her voice getting louder. “You murdered him.” She struggled to remain in control of all the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

  Kilvari made a quick lunge at her and tried to grab her by the arm, but Ronin shifted forward enough that he stood between the two. His face was confused but he could tell something was very wrong. Kilvari glared at him before he looked back at Rin, “You must be unwell. Come with me, I shall return you to your rooms.” He again tried to grab his daughter, so he could take her down the hallway away from everyone, but Ronin stayed in his path.

  “I am not unwell,” Rin cried, her voice taking on a hysterical edge. “The well showed me everything. You murdered him. You killed Lord Kanamae.” She once again grabbed the sides of her head as she struggled to accept the truth. A grimace crossed her face when she got a sharp pain in her head and a strange power started to build inside of her.

  Kilvari’s face went ashen as he listened to her. “Rin, you must calm down. You cannot…” He tried to reach for her again.

  “No! Do not touch me!” She hastened to back away from him again. Her eyes were wild with panic as she stared at everyone gathered around her before she spun and bolted down the hallway.

  “Rin no!” Kilvari yelled. He moved to follow her when Luaera grabbed his arm.

  “Kilvari, what does she mean? What did the well show her?” she asked.

  He looked down at her and his mouth opened but it took him a moment before he could formulate a reply. “I am uncertain what she could mean. She must be unwell as I said before, I shall go and find her.” He slipped his arm out of her grasp, but it was apparent that she did not believe him.

  “Is it true?” Ronin’s angry voice caused Kilvari to look over at him. “Did you murder my father?” His hand strayed to the katana strapped to his waist.

  Kilvari shook his head, “As I said, Rin must be unwell. I shall be happy to discuss things with you later but right now I must find her. If we do not stop her powers from awakening not only our world will be at risk.”

  Ronin’s brilliant green eyes burned with anger as he stared back at Kilvari. He could tell that the elf was not being truthful with him, but after a few tense moments, he nodded. Without waiting on Kilvari to say anything further, he spun and grabbed Riku’s arm. They headed down the hallway in the direction Rin disappeared.

  “We must find her first,” Ronin whispered to his brother. “I do not trust him.” His brother glanced at him and nodded.

  ***

  Rin raced through the palace frantically looking for an exit. Her home for the last four hundred years now seemed foreign and dangerous. In her frantic state, her thoughts were so scattered that she took a wrong turn and ended up in a dead end passage. Spinning in place several times trying to decide where to go, she just turned and ran back the way she came.

  Without taking any turns, she ended up running into the palace’s enormous kitchen. Skidding to a halt, she narrowly managed to keep from crashing into one of the kitchen maids. She turned to the right and pulled up the long skirt enough that she could leap over the large open cooking fire. It was in a huge stone hearth in the middle of the room. Once she was over the fire she continued to sprint toward the door at the far side.

  When she reached the door, a tall lean young man with silver hair appeared beside her. He shrugged out of the embroidered light tan coat and dropped it on one of the counters. The katana strapped at his waist was now visible and he could move freely. His sharp grey eyes were filled with concern when Rin ran past him and jerked the door to the outside open.

  “Rin,” he called as he ran out the door after her. It only took him a few strides to catch up with her since he was so much taller than her. “Rin, what is wrong?” He kept pace at her side and waited for her to speak to him.

  She glanced at him a couple times. “Did you know about my father?”

  “Know what?”

  “That… that Kilvari is not my father? He murdered him.” Her voice cracked.

  With a sudden quick movement, he grabbed both of her shoulders and brought them to a quick stop. “Tell me what happened.”

  Rin started shaking her head. “I cannot explain it all now. I must get out of here.”

  He looked around them, his manner calm and collected. “I am here.” His voice was soft when he could sense her panic and fear. Rin took a deep breath when she looked up at him. A sense of calm washed over her as the calmness he exuded started to ease her anxieties without any real effort on his part. “I shall transform, and we shall go.”

  “Kaedin,” she started but shouts from the palace caught her attention. Glancing back, she saw Kilvari and Ronin racing across the clearing toward them. She stepped away from Kaedin and raised her hand.

  “Ksāetras,” she said. As soon as the word was out of her mouth, the advancing men ran into an invisible wall.

  “Rin, you cannot run,” Kilvari yelled as he raised his hands to dispel the wall in his way.

  Knowing she was at a disadvantage, she looked up at Kaedin. He moved closer to her and put his hands on her shoulders again. “Go, I shall keep them from following and catch up to you.” She hesitated, and he gave her a soft push. “Go.”

  She started to step away before she half jumped into his arms. He wrapped both arms around her and held onto her for a few seconds before he released her. “Hurry.”

  “Be careful,” she whispered. Once he nodded, she closed her eyes. “Ēlipor ntāera.” A split second later, she disappeared.

  Rin looked around the clearing she just teleported to as she struggled to get her bearings. She never ported without a destination in mind and had no idea where she ended up. With a shake of her head, she chastised herself for how dangerous and careless that was when she realized she could have appeared in a different realm or ceased to exist.

  She sighed before she started to walk around the outside of the clearing. It did not take her long to figure out that she was somewhere in the Okukumo Forest. Adjusting her course, she headed toward the mountains when bright colors caught her attention. She looked over and saw a small well-kept flower garden. Her curiosity piqued, she moved closer and a faint smile crossed her face. Reds, yellows, oranges, blues, purples, almost any color imaginable were present in one species of flower or plant. She continued walking deeper into the garden as she wondered who the garden was for, it had to be someone important to be so well tended. Her face fell when she came upon a huge headstone in the center of the garden. She slowed and approached with cautious steps. The stone was carved from a large slab of obsidian into the shape of an elaborate obelisk that stood a little more than double her height. Delicate silver lettering carved into the obelisk stood out in stark
contrast to the blackness of the stone.

  Rin drifted closer to the stone so that she could read what was carved into the surface. It only took her a few minutes to realize it was a poem, but it appeared like it was a letter from the person laid to rest.

  Storm clouds gather

  blotting out the sun.

  Fear rises.

  I have fallen.

  Never fear. I am here.

  Fight the falling tears

  do not mourn for me.

  You are safe.

  I have fallen.

  Never fear. I am here.

  Blessed child of mine.

  Grow proud and strong.

  Do not give into revenge.

  I have fallen.

  Never fear. I am here.

  Rin felt a strange tightening in her chest after she read the final lines of the poem. A sense of overwhelming fear gripped her heart when she shifted around the stone. Her eyes fell to the various runes of protection that were carved along the bottom. She paused just before she reached the front and she swallowed hard before she moved enough to see who was buried here.

  Kanamae Silvaerin

  14.27.959047 – 13.26.964780

  Beloved king, father, friend, protector.

  Our thoughts are with you always.

  Rest well my friend.

  -Kilvari Rilavaenu-

  The tightening in her chest grew worse when she saw the name on the stone. Unbidden tears filled her eyes as she stared at the beautiful carving of a silver dragon below the writing. It depicted a massive elder dragon, sitting in a dignified manner on the clouds, looking down over the world below him. She tried to stifle a gasping sob when she reached out with a trembling hand and touched the name on the stone.

  “Father,” she whispered before she sank to the ground in front of the stone. Tears streamed down her face. Why had the spell brought her here? Could everything she saw really be true? What should she do now? These thoughts whirled through her mind while she struggled to make sense of everything that was happening.

  Rin did not know how much time passed when a loud crack of thunder brought her attention back to her surroundings. She glanced up just in time to see the skies open with a torrential downpour. Her head dropped, and her hand slipped off the wet stone.

  “Rabāenhi ravi,” she whispered, and a single sunflower appeared in her hand. She laid it at the base of the stone before she stood up. After taking one last look at the name on the grave, she turned and started walking toward the mountains. She hoped that she would be able to find a place to take shelter from the rains. Once she reached the base of the cliffs it did not take her long to find the entrance to a small cave. She quickened her pace and hurried just inside the entrance. After she was out of the rain, she just sat down and watched while the storm passed overhead.

  “What do I do?” She muttered and dropped her head onto her knees. Only a couple minutes passed before she raised her head with a deep frown. She was shivering when she looked down at her rain soaked, muddy dress. Her frown deepened as she wished for her normal rider gear. At least then she would have the flint she needed to start a fire to warm up. Shaking her head, she stood up and looked around. She decided to see if there might be supplies inside the cave she could use. Looking around, her head tilted when she caught sight of strange runes running along the entrance of the cave. She could tell that they were some sort of spell runes but could not make out what they said. Her brows furrowed as she turned and looked closer at the rest of the cave walls. Another carving on the right side of the entrance drew her attention. She walked over to it and studied the lettering.

  The language it was written in was unfamiliar to her and she grew concerned. She studied many forms of magic as well as multiple languages, so it was rare she came across something she did not recognize.

  She turned to walk away when she paused and looked back at the letters. A sudden feeling that she should know them washed over her. After staring at them for several long minutes she sighed and forced herself to turn her attention back to trying to find a way to start a fire. Peering deeper into the cave, she moved forward. Once she made it a few steps she paused and looked up at the ceiling. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw a strange blue rock that glowed in the dark. She raised an eyebrow as she wondered what kind of stones those were to provide light. Pressing her lips together in irritation, she again turned her attention back to where she was going. It bothered her not to know something.

  Following the stones, she walked along the only path in the cave until it ended abruptly in a small room. She hurried over to the stone tables that were carved into the walls. Her frustration only grew when she found all of the tables were empty. There was nothing in the room other than a circle carved into the cave floor. It was lined with the same type of runes she saw around the entrance. She studied them for a while before a sudden shiver caused her to look up. A strange energy was radiating from a large archway etched into the wall. Rin stood and moved a little closer. Beside the archway, there were six stones embedded into the wall. Three on each side of the arch and all six were a different color from the rest.

  Feeling an unexplainable pull, she took an involuntary step toward the arch before a sudden noise in the cave broke through the feeling. Her hand reached for where her daggers should have been, and she cursed under her breath. She patted her clothing and her eyes widened when she remembered the small dagger concealed under her skirt. Once she removed it from its scabbard, she crept toward the entrance of the small room. She crouched by the wall and waited.

  A few minutes passed before a tall elven man walked into the room while shaking water off his traveling cloak. Rin waited until he passed her unnoticed before she sprang at him. She kicked him hard in the back of the leg, dropping him to his knees, while she twisted his arm behind his back.

  “Who are you?” She demanded.

  The man did not move but he chuckled. “Lady Rin?”

  “Londar?” She asked, her voice surprised as she released him and stepped back. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes were filled with suspicion as she regarded him.

  He did not appear to be in a hurry as he got back to his feet and stepped away from her. Rubbing his arm, he turned to face her. “I could ask you the same question, my lady. Are you not supposed to be attending an important ceremony?” His voice was filled with innocence as he avoided the question.

  Rin’s eyes narrowed when she heard his tone and her distrust grew more plain on her face. “Plans change.”

  He shrugged as if he was not interested before he moved closer to her. Using the tips of his fingers, he lifted her chin, so she was looking up at him. His brown eyes studied her face. “Will you not reconsider my marriage proposal? Your father supports our joining.”

  “I shall not,” Rin snapped as she smacked his hand away. “You care nothing for anyone other than yourself. The people deserve better than that.”

  “And the dragon would be better?” His face filled with disgust at the mention of Kaedin.

  “He is more caring and in possession of many favorable qualities that you do not.”

  Londar’s eyes flashed with anger before he smirked, “Yes, yes I know, it really is most unfortunate that you will not reconsider my offer.” He paused and pushed his dark brown hair out of his face. “I must now resort to less pleasant methods to achieve my goals.” His voice grew icy before he gave her a sudden hard push.

  Unable to keep her balance, Rin stumbled and fell into the rune circle on the floor. She leapt back to her feet and tried to move forward but when she came to the edge of the circle it was like she ran into a wall. Taking an unsteady step back, she raised a hand and let it rest on the magical wall.

  “What is the meaning of this? Release me at once.” She started to probe the wall with her magic while she watched Londar stalk around the circle. He inspected each rune to be certain that it was activated. Once he was satisfied they all glowed, he looked up at her.

  “
I am most pleased that is holding,” he said. “It took months to get that strong enough to hold you.”

  Rin glared at him before she closed her eyes in concentration. “Entījikatrāes.” Her hands began to glow with a faint yellow light. She pushed more magic into the spell and waited until the light was so bright it was almost blinding before she touched the wall. Instant concern flashed across Londar’s face when he saw the runes glow diminish, but a moment later they regained their glow. Rin glared up at him as she breathed heavily from the exertion of the massive spell. She rested her hands on the wall before resignation crossed her features. She was trapped.

  “Quite clever to use an anti-magic spell, unfortunately, not quite strong enough.”

  “You did not do this on your own. I know that you are not that strong.”

  Londar smirked at her again as he started to flip through a small book in his hand. “You are correct, however, that is not something that you need to know.”

  Rin glanced at the book before it caught her full attention. It appeared to be ancient black leather with a small silver willow tree on the cover. Inside she saw the book was written in the same strange lettering she found at the cave entrance.

  “You do not recognize this, do you?” He asked when he noticed her gaze. When she did not reply he chuckled. “You really should.” Her eyes filled with suspicion causing him to laugh. “I am not lying this time.”

  “What are you planning to do?” She asked ignoring his last comment. “You cannot keep me here. Kaedin will find me.”

  “I am counting on it.”

  The cold smile on his face caused Rin to shiver and she turned her attention to Kaedin. She could sense that he was on his way to the cave. Glancing back at Londar, another deep shiver ran down her spine and she tried to will him not to come to her.