Chapter Two
A Journey
Resteir was the greenest land in all of Corafeldon. The forest was thick and dense, and the foliage grew rich and fragrant as far as the eye could see. Until the great drought came, and she watched the grass turn brown and then drift away into dust. She saw the river and lake, dry up and crack like broken clay pots. Listened to the once deafening sound of the tree frogs turn mute as their homes turned to nothing more than overgrown sticks in the dirt.
Resteir was her home and soon it would be nothing more than a desert, empty and barren. It was no wonder her mother was in such a hurry to leave with all the other villagers. Most everyone had already moved on in search of more inhabitable surroundings. Their well was almost dry, crops would no longer grow, and there would be nothing left to sustain them if they stayed.
“Ryhan! Come and help please.” Her mother called to her.
She had packed her bag two days before and was impatiently waiting for her mother to finish gathering the things she considered useful for their journey. Where they were going, she was not certain. Her mother had changed her mind about their destination more times, than she could count. Most everyone they knew were heading closer to Breckenshire.
In hopes, that being close to one of the King’s cities would offer more opportunity for food and work. There wasn’t much point of staying in Resteir. It had become nothing but a wasteland. Ryhan wished that she had some sort of idea where they might end up. It wasn’t as if it would really matter, she had never even left her small village. Barely worth the pen stroke on a map, just a small corner of the country where a few hundred villagers decided to settle,
Corafeldon was the largest island of the three main islands that made up Watreon and she had never even seen more than a day’s journey of it. Sighing heavily, she shuffled in to the house her father built for her mother when they were first married.
Small did not even begin to describe it. At times, it seemed completely suffocating. Standing off to the side of the room, her mother was staring at one of her most prized possessions. A ten-inch oval mirror hung on the wall, to help ward off evil spirits supposedly. The idea was that the spirits would be so frightened of their own reflection that they would run away and never return.
Ryhan wasn’t sure that she believed in such tales, but her mother cleaned it every day, and would often say things like, “Thank goodness for that mirror or those devil faeries would have put out our fire today.” or “If that mirror hadn’t been there I’d have never gotten rid of that pesky gremlin that’s been hanging about.”
Mostly, Ryhan and her father would just make a joke or give her a little laugh and move on, but her mother really believed in the power of that mirror. Ryhan walked over to her and placed her arm over her mother’s shoulder.
“Are we going to take it with us?” She asked.
“Better not, I couldn’t bear to see it broken.” Her mother said and hung her head, tears filling her eyes.
She could tell that her mother was reluctant to leave it. They were already carrying so much that she didn’t try to convince her to bring it. Catching her reflection in it was always an odd feeling for her, but on that day, something seemed different. Reaching up, she twisted her dark auburn hair back behind her head.
Staring hard at the girl in that other world, she tried to see what it was that had changed. Giving up she let go of her hair and it fell in long waves around her pale and freckled face the way it always did, and her deep blue eyes stared back at her intently. On a good day if the light filtered in to the room just the right way, you could see little flecks of red in the blue color of her eye. It was her favorite thing about her appearance.
It obviously was not a good day.
She had a nervous feeling in her stomach. Every day that she got closer to sixteen, the more she felt like something huge was going to happen. She just couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Ryhan was about to head back outside to wait on her father when her mother grabbed her hand and motioned for her to sit in the chair next to her.
“Did I ever tell you about the night you were born?” She asked.
Ryhan just nodded in reply, she had been retelling the event like a bedtime story for as long as she could remember.
“I know you think that it is just a story that I have created for you about magical stars that fall from the sky, in faraway lands. However, it is all true. All of it. What I have never told you is that…I was not alone. About half way through my pregnancy, an unbelievably beautiful woman came here and told me about a war that was coming and how my child… you darling, was destined for great things.
“She asked me to accompany her to Bastriean, to a meeting between leaders of the magical community. I’d never even left Resteir, but something in my heart told me to go.” She said.
Her mother sat on the edge of her chair looking troubled and confused. Ryhan waited for her to continue, but she watched as she stood up and started pacing the room back and forth.
Suddenly she rushed to her side and whispered in Ryhan’s ear, “There is something I have kept secret from you and your father. Something very important, so you must listen carefully.”
Her mother was worried, more worried than she had ever seen her. It caused creases in her once beautiful face, which had become aged from the sun and hard labor in the field. Every now and then, when she let her hair down, her blue eyes would shine. When she really laughed, her whole face lit up and her beauty returned, even if only for a few moments.
“When Ava came to me I knew he would never allow me to go, so I left, against your father’s wishes. There were four other expecting mothers, who journeyed with us. We became very close. It was strange, as if one heartbeat connected us all. And when we arrived, tired and very largely with child, we gave birth the same night, at the same time.
“The most wondrous thing happened. As we were giving birth, a star crashed right through our ceiling. They took the pieces away before I had a chance to look at them more closely, but it looked as if some sort of blue stone resided in the middle. Three of the mothers passed due to difficult childbirth and I felt as if I had lost three sisters. A deep pain and ache that has never left me.” She paused, caught up in her story, and looked as though she was thinking intensely about something.
Ryhan placed a hand over hers, “Mother, what is it you’re trying to tell me? This doesn’t make much sense to me.” It really was very confusing and a sense of foreboding washed over her.
Her mother continued, “After you were born, they told me that you had been blessed with some sort of power. A gift of the elements. They wanted to send you away, to raise you in some distant land. I started to panic. Ava told me it would be the best thing for you, that you would be well trained and taken care of. But… I just couldn’t let you go.”
She began crying hysterically and Ryhan wrapped her arms around her hoping to be of some comfort. Unsure of what she could say, or how to process what her mother was telling her, she just sat with her while she quietly sobbed. The stress from having to leave their home must have been affecting her mother terribly. Ryhan thought she should probably go and find her father, he would know what to do.
Assuring her mother she would be back soon, she walked outside and took in large gulps of air. Her lungs exploded with pain, she felt as if she had been holding her breath the entire time her mother was talking to her. None of it could be true, how could it be, falling stars and magical powers. What powers? She had never experienced anything that she would consider magical.
Taking off towards the woods, she hoped she would find her father out doing some last minute hunting before they left. It was doubtful that he had any luck. Most of the animals had left long ago and there wasn‘t much left to the forest but dead trees, so she didn’t worry about how loud her steps were.
Just as she entered a clearing, she saw her father walking towards her with another man. She did not recognize him at first and then realized it was Roger. He was a stabl
e hand that lived next to them. They had grown up together and she considered him a friend, despite being extremely annoying. He used to be a lot of fun until he started trying to join up with the Centermerge.
The Centermerge was the king’s army of highly trained soldiers, and not very nice ones at that. Word traveled fast in Corafeldon, and they had all heard several stories of how brutal and unkind the king’s soldiers were, but the Centermerge was a completely new level of filth. She could not understand why such a nice person like Roger would be so keen on enlisting with such ruthless men.
She had an inkling that it was her father’s influence, he had been a soldier for the Imperial Guard before the old king died, and Axiom took the thrown. King Axiom was nothing like the ruler his father had been. While Ryhan was born during the old king’s rule, it was King Axiom’s reign that she knew, his reign that she lived, and she knew with her whole being that it was only going to get worse.
It was no secret that her father wanted them wed. With her sixteenth birthday approaching, she had a feeling Roger was trying to prove his worth by joining the army. She hated to think that all that she had to look forward to when she turned sixteen was getting married, and having children. There had to be more out there waiting for her.
It was not that Roger would make a bad husband, but she wasn’t in love with him and she had told him so, many times. She rarely saw him because he would go to town and wait around all day to see if one would happen to pass through recruiting. Idiot.
Thoughts pausing for a moment, Ryhan looked up to see her father and Roger heading her way. Roger was waving his hands up and down trying to catch her attention. He looked rather silly and she could not help but laugh a little. Good thing he was not within hearing distance, she didn‘t want him to know he had any effect on her at all.
Running towards her, smiling his big goofy grin the whole way, he excitedly said, “Ryhan, there you are, I’ve been looking for you all over!”
She replied, “What is it now? Dragons in the forest? I don‘t have time for your nonsense stories right now, I need fathers help with mother.”
Ignoring her statement he said, “I came to tell you something. Something that is actually important.”
She waited impatiently and when he did not speak, she shouted, “WELL? Are you going to make me guess?”
There was a slight breeze, which made the dried up grass in the field blow against her bare feet. It felt nice and scratchy at the same time.
“I’ve enlisted! I leave tomorrow morning for Breckenshire to start my training.” He said.
Breckenshire was so far away. It seemed like it was all the way across Corafeldon.
“You moron. Why would you go and do a stupid thing like sign yourself up to get killed?”
He looked down at his feet and kicked the dirt around a bit before looking back into her eyes. The wind was starting to blow harder, kicking up a lot of dust in the air, so he moved to the other side of her to shield her from the worst of it. She had assumed he would be following her family out of Resteir. It never occurred to her that he would not be coming with them.
Ryhan did not like to admit how nice it was, as frustrating as he could be, to have Roger around. He kept her from realizing how lonely she really was. Underneath it all, he was her best friend. He was her only friend really.
He spoke to her softly, “Ryhan…I need to do this. I cannot expect anyone to want to marry me as a stable boy! I need to start a life for myself. Besides, Corafeldon hasn’t seen war for nearly a hundred years.”
She had to admit that he was right about that. Not many people alive could tell recall the last war or what started it. What was all that talk about marriage? She knew her father must have been pushing the issue. Catching up to them her father greeted them and smiled gently.
“Father, mother is talking a bunch of nonsense, she’s very upset, and I couldn’t calm her.” He nodded at her and jogged ahead of them to reach her mother quickly.
The sun was no longer visible, and Roger took her hand to lead her home. She let him, hesitating slightly, not wanting to give him false hope, but glad for the comfort. When they finally reached her door, Roger took her other hand into his.
He looked deep into her sapphire eyes and said, “I always knew you’d come around. Your father said I’d just have to be patient, so I waited. And now finally we’ll be together the way I always wanted.”
Ryhan could not breathe. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought she was going to have to pound it back in her chest. MARRIAGE! He wanted to be married, to her. He could not possibly think that she would say yes. She was speechless.
“Roger,” She said pausing as she pulled her hands away, “I thought I was very clear, I don‘t love you. I can‘t marry you.”
“But your father said you agreed and he’s already consented.” He said confused.
She could feel her anger rising. What could they possibly be thinking, they had no home anymore, they were about to venture out into world their futures unknown, and her father wanted to consent to marriage. Where would they live? How would she survive while he was off playing soldier boy? She was about to express this to Roger but before she could utter a single word, her father and mother rushed out to greet them both.
“Alright boy, you didn’t waste any time! I knew you had it in ya. I told ya she would say yes!” Her father seemed ecstatic, but her mother just stood by him with a worried expression on her weathered face.
This could not be happening, she had to say something before they had her handfasted and pregnant.
“Wait! You knew?” She asked, looking at her mother. Her mother gave her a sullen nod and shrugged her shoulders.
Turning to Roger she simply said, “Roger, this isn’t what I want. I am so very sorry, but I have no interest in marrying you. Moreover, you are all crazy if you think this is even a remotely good idea. There are important things to think of right now more than marriage. With that said, Roger please don’t go off to train and get yourself killed.”
She embraced him quickly and ran into the house before he could say another word. She didn’t like to deal with emotions. They made her feel helpless and out of control. Her father followed her in quickly.
“YOU GET BACK OUT THERE! He deserves something better than that from you.” He was screaming.
She didn’t turn around, just grabbed a bundle of wood to start a fire, it was already dark, and so they would not be leaving that night. He took her arms from behind and spun her around to look in her face.
“Don’t you turn your back on me, now get out there, and talk to that boy.” He demanded. She broke free from his grasp, and yelled back.
“I DON’T WANT TO MARRY HIM. I do not love him. And you can‘t force me to.”
“The hell I can’t. What does love have to do with anything? You think your mother loved me when we were wed? The only reason I got her father’s permission is that I gave him the fattest pig. But the lad loves you, what more could you ask for? I already gave my consent, and I do not go back on my word. YOU WILL marry that boy. End of discussion!” He finished as if there was nothing else to say.
“And what do you get out of it? He doesn’t have a fat pig to offer you. No, all he has is his employment as a soldier and all that guarantees is that I he will leave me alone by myself for most of the year. Are you so eager to be rid of me? Am I that much of a burden to you?” Her whole body began to shake with fury.
How dare her father demand such a thing from her? All her life she had met his expectations, and never questioned him. She was not a noble, she was just a simple farm girl, why should it matter that she wanted to wait to fall in love? A pain erupted behind her eyes, crippling her to the floor. Just then, her mother rushed in the door and to her side.
“Ryhan, what is the matter?” She asked.
Ryhan couldn’t answer, the pain was excruciating. It moved from behind her eyes down the back of her neck. She felt it creep down her entire spine then dissipate through
the rest of her body. At the same moment, the kindling in the hearth burst out in enormous flames. They licked the ceiling before dying down and smoldering out. Her father jumped across the floor screaming. If she had not been watching the whole thing, she would have never believed it happened.
During the event, she had heard her mother’s soft voice call out, “It can’t be time yet, she’s just barely sixteen.”
It didn’t make much sense to Ryhan. However, not much of the afternoon had. What had been a nice autumn day, had taken a strange turn of events, and left her emotionally and physically exhausted. When she finally found her bed that evening, it had only taken moments for her to drift to sleep. It was a fitful rest, full of strange dreams about magical meetings and a beautiful white haired woman that had come to take her away somewhere.
She woke with a start; a figure was sitting on the edge of her bed.
“Ryhan, it’s me.” Her mother whispered.
Relieved, her breathing steadied.
Her mother sobbed, “I am so sorry. I probably should have let them take you, at least then you would have been more prepared for what you’re facing.”
“What do you mean, what I’m facing?” Ryhan asked confused.
“You must leave us and go to Fishien. At first light, Roger is leaving for Breckenshire. I have spoken with him and he has agreed to accompany you to Fishien, since it is only a day’s journey out of the way.”
“Mother, what are you talking about? I’m not going anywhere.” Ryhan said flatly.
“This isn’t a negotiation Ryhan. Your life is in danger. If you don’t go now, I don’t know what will happen to you, but I can’t protect you any longer.” Her mother said fearfully.
“Is this about what happened earlier? You can’t really believe that had anything to do with me?” Ryhan asked skeptically.
Sighing, her mother asked, “Did you not feel the power within you? I saw what it did to you. You can’t deny that you felt something.”
She started to protest, but thought back to that evening. Convincing herself it was just a coincidence had been too easy. Perhaps she didn’t want to face the reality that her mother might not be crazy.
“Mother…I am so confused.” Ryhan stated.
“I’ll answer anything I can, to the best of my ability.” She said.
“What exactly did you mean when you say I have a power?” Ryhan asked.
“Well, I don’t know much about it, but I was told by a seer that you would have the elemental power of Fire.” She replied.
Thinking back to how the fire had grown when she was angry, she wondered if that could have been her doing.
“How is that possible?” Ryhan asked.
“I don’t know. There are so many things in the world that I do not understand, but magic exists all around us. And you my sweet girl became a part of that world before you were even born.” Her mother said, brushing back the hair from Ryhan’s face.
“What am I supposed to do when I reach Fishien?” She asked.
Her mother replied unsure, “I cannot tell you, I only know that is where Ava told me to send you when I felt I was ready to let you go.”
“What is the purpose of all this, the story that you told me of when I was born, and my power, what is the point of it all?” She asked.
“I can tell you only what I was told, that you and four other girls were born to help defeat a great evil that will come to our land. I don’t even think I understand the purpose of it all. I only know, as I have always known, that you are destined for great things. I suppose the rest is left for you to determine.” Her mother said.
Ryhan sat very still trying to take in everything her mother had told her. She had always felt drawn to something, an indescribable feeling of magnetism that pulled at her, as if trying to lead her somewhere. A feeling that had been getting harder to ignore with each day that passed.
It was a bit overwhelming and no matter how frightening, she was excited to make the journey. Her mother kissed her goodnight, and left her to ponder alone. She did not think that she would be able to sleep at all, but it crept up on her and before she knew it, she was dreaming fitfully.
Images of magical quests, and evil soldiers flashed through her mind. There was a man who kept laughing, who had something of hers, something she wanted back badly. He had piercing ruby eyes. His menacing laugh echoed through her mind. It seemed to resonate through her whole body, paralyzing her. Screaming, she woke herself from the horrible nightmare.
She tried to get back to sleep, but could only lie with her eyes closed, for fear of dreaming of the evil man again. Light was appeared over the hillside, and she quickly gathered her things and headed out to meet Roger. Her mother had said her goodbyes the night before, but she still felt a bit saddened at having to leave without saying a word to her father, even if she was angry with him.
Roger was waiting for her under a huge tree; the few leaves left were brown and falling. She had sat with him many days under that tree. Sometimes they would have a midday meal, but mostly they just sat and chatted. He was her only friend; it was not hard to imagine why he would be interested in marriage.
Although they fought like cats and dogs, they were mostly friendly about it. As annoying as he could be, he always apologized for his stupid boyish behavior. Smiling at the young man barely a year her senior, she felt badly that she could not begin to feel the same way about him. He was like a brother. She wasn’t sure what to say to Roger as she approached him.
He was leaning against the trunk of their tree, with his arms crossed over his chest. She smiled at him again, the best she could manage, and looked down at the ground. She thought he was about to say something, but no words left his mouth, he simply grabbed his bag and began walking toward where the river used to be.
Taking the hint, she followed him quietly and wondered how long he would make her suffer in silence. Once they found the dried up river bed they walked along side it. Ryhan did not know where they were going, and hoped that he knew, because she had never been farther than a few miles from home.
“Roger, about how far is it to Fishien?” She asked sweetly, hoping that it would start up some conversation.
Unfortunately it did not work, because he did not even turn to look at her when he replied, “It is a three day journey there, and another day to Breckenshire.”
Three days. She didn’t think she could honestly walk for three days staring at the back of his head.
Fated Volition: The Sapphire Star Saga Page 3
