"But I'm not ready for you to leave." Svana's normally boisterous voice came out whisper quiet.
Melifera faced her. "Leave that!" Melifera commanded. "Keep your focus on what matters, what affects you. There is much you three need to learn, and no one can teach you but I. Oh come now, wipe that gloomy look off of your faces. We're not done here, and I only shared with you in hopes you would begin to prepare yourselves for the tasks that lay ahead. Does that make sense to you?"
The three sisters nodded in unison, but a blanket of heaviness hung over them.
"None of that, we've still much work to do!" She shooed them away. "Back to work, Astrid... you first. Work on your aerial moves. Remember, put your heart into it. If you don't, you will not anticipate your enemies' moves."
"Melifera, I thought you didn't want us to fight unless necessary?” Svana spoke up again.
"Indeed, Svana. I've taught you well... you must first keep what?"
"Our minds sharp," the women responded.
"Yes! Always, always use your wit and wisdom to disarm your opponent. Not your weapons. Why?" Melifera asked.
"Life is precious, and to be valued above all." Astrid said.
"Yes, dear Astrid. Life is precious. Is it permissible to take a life?"
"When one is in danger, and the opponent cannot be stopped by pure wit or will, and their only intention is to hurt or murder, it is permissible to defend one's self." Svana responded.
"If even to the death," Hekla joined in.
"Only as a last resort," was Astrid's final comment.
"Indeed sisters. You have learned well. With the looming battles, it is important to know there will come a time when you will take more life than you are comfortable with. More than you have ever thought possible. There will come a time when the dragons who assist you will take more life than you had imagined. This is when it will become most important for you to hang onto the truths I have taught you. This is when it will matter and why you must keep your heart in it. No matter who you fight, no matter what lies ahead. Do not lose your heart. This is what sets you apart from the kingdoms of men, and the corrupt rulers of Telluris, Caelestis, and Aequoris.”
"It is this corruption that has brought us to where we are today. Never had I thought I would be discussing this with you. Come, sisters, let us sit."
Astrid and Hekla quickly joined Melifera on the grass.
"Mind if I grab those apples?" Svana asked, licking her lips.
"Oh, curse your appetite, Svana!" Hekla teased.
"What?" she shrugged her shoulders, "at least they're already cut up!" She laughed, despite the dark mood.
Melifera nodded her assent, and Svana gathered the fruit before plopping down amongst them and spreading the cut up pieces on the ground.
Astrid took one and nibbled quietly, while Melifera, content they were ready to listen, continued speaking.
"As I was saying." Melifera cast a stern look to Astrid. "The rulers of the three nations that surround the Volcano of Shadows have gone corrupt. Never in all of time, has Verdil seen such a thing. We have had many a leader fall from malicious actions, often due to the desire for power and money. However, to see such evil all at once? It was simply unheard of. Truly the world of man grows darker by the hour, and it is our responsibility, our obligation to save it.”
"I had hoped to spare you for a time longer, but Verdil cannot wait. If we cannot stop this right now, before it gets out of hand, everything we love will be wiped away." A single tear trickled down Melifera's cheek. "I love Verdil, I had hoped to pass to the realm of the Unseen Ones, knowing it would last for centuries to come. Now, I can only wonder if it will last as long as I will."
"Why, Melifera? Why not appoint new leaders?" Hekla asked.
"Your heart is so pure, Hekla, and if only it were that easy." Melifera paused. "Sisters, there is none left. Not a single heart free from corruption. Not a single being in the kingdom of man who could take the thrones of each nation without wanting to fulfill their own selfish purpose. Do you understand, Hekla?"
"Then why? Why bother at all? Why not let them destroy each other? We have the Shadowlands. Do we need the rest of Verdil to live in peace, for us to exist?" Svana asked.
"Svana! You know our purpose was always this, to bring peace when it was needed. It is why we were raised the way we were. Why Melifera taught us what she did. Verdil, all of Verdil is our home. It is our job to protect it, always has been," Astrid chided her sister.
"Astrid is right," Melifera said. "This was always your purpose, I had never thought it would be needed. Now I see I may have waited too long. This is why the Unseen Ones summoned me, it is why you will be given dragon servants. It is why you must take the journey that lies before you."
"You want us to go to the leaders of these nations and fight them? Are we to do the very thing you've taught us not to?" Hekla stood, storm clouds in her eyes. "I will not do it. I do not care who is in danger."
It was Melifera's turn to stand.
"You misunderstand me, child. Yes, you must journey through the world of men to the three nations. Not to kill, but to stop the killing." She sucked in a deep breath before she spoke again. "And to take the throne."
Svana jumped up, her face paling and her scarlet hair whipping about her face. "I'm sorry?"
Not bothering to stand like her sisters, Astrid had begun crawling away. "No, I don't think so. Who am I to rule? I'm not fit to be on a throne... well, anything really."
Melifera rushed toward her, reaching down to grab her arm and yanking her to her feet.
"Astrid, I've had quite enough of your insolence! This is exactly what you have been training to do. It is why I was always on you to sharpen your minds and not your weapons. It is why I have taught you that knowledge, wit, courage, these are who you strive to be. This, over killing, always. I have ingrained it into your head and heart from the very beginning. It is the very reason that you--all three of you are ready to do this..." She tilted her head back as she appraised the young women. "You are ready."
"Melifera," Astrid protested, "how can you know that any of us are ready to rule a nation? We've barely left our island, and even then we stay in the Shadowland, never venturing into the world of man. This volcano--this place is our home." She knew her voice came across as desperate and whiny, but at that moment in time, she didn't care.
"My dear, Astrid, you can never be fully ready to rule a kingdom. Your fear is justified. The moment you believe you are the right person to rule, then you will have lost touch with why it must be you. All of you can do this, but most importantly, you must do this. You must. Verdil will not last much longer without intervention. You may feel fear, but your fear is nothing compared to the destruction that will happen if we don't act.”
"Telluris, our beloved land nation which was once a main resource and food supply for all, now fights for complete power. King Armand has stopped all equal trade with the other nations. It is because of his greed that our nation of sky, the great Caelestis and our kingdom of water Aequoris now go without. Their people are nearly starving from lack of meat."
"That's terrible!" Astrid called out. "How can man do that to one another, surely they see the suffering?"
"Indeed, Astrid. Though it is not just King Armand to blame. King Renault of Aequoris once traded fish and vegetables with the Tellurians, but because of King Armand, they have withheld their share, and now they too suffer."
"And what of our sky kingdom, what of King Bertram?" Svana chimed in.
"Perhaps our most beautiful kingdom of all." Melifera's eyes grew wistful, as she thought of days gone by. "It was such a wonder to behold. As brilliant and bright as the realm of the Unseen Ones. Its beauty was unmatched. King Bertram, is now called 'the heartless.' The king has built several ballista throughout Caelestis, and launches boulders from them to the land kingdom, Telluris, at whim. At the entrance to Caelestis, stand his best soldiers, men ordered to kill if anyone threatens to enter the sky kingdom."
A sense of foreboding descended upon them in unison as Melifera continued to paint a picture of darkness.
"All of this is true. Do you understand why I have asked more of you now? Why I ask you to cast aside what was safe? I need you to accept that the way ahead of you will not be safe. You may never 'feel' right again. No matter, it is necessary. Do you understand?"
The sisters huddled closer to each other, wrapping their arms around each other. A foreboding feeling passed over them as they realized they may lose each other in the days to come.
"No matter what it may cost, I accept whatever you have for me, Melifera. I am pledged to the good of Verdil." Knowing she must set the example for her two younger sisters, Astrid held her head high and her voice steady, even though deeper in her emerald eyes, her heart mimicked breaking.
Svana pushed Astrid away from her, walking off to stand by herself as she studied the green foliage that decorated the side of the Volcano of Shadows.
"Svana!" Melifera called after her, her voice stern.
"With all respect, she just needs a moment. I know she'll come around." Astrid promised.
Hekla ran after her sister, leaving the two women to stare after them as if watching children at play.
"I don't understand why it is even a question." Melifera said with a hint of scorn in her voice.
"Melifera, this... right here, is our home." Astrid did a slight jump on the ground to illustrate her point. "These walls, vast, and beautiful. These waters, and islands. This is what we know. Though you have taught us of the kingdom of men and that it's not just our home that makes up Verdil. We've never seen, nor experienced the world outside this." She stretched her hand out to gesture to the volcano. "Please forgive our hesitation. This morning, we awoke as free women. You've told us to be warriors on our way to be kings. We will work until we've become slaves to the people of the three kingdoms."
Melifera's face looked at the ground, kicking a small stone with her toe. When she looked up, her eyes glistened.
"Then you understand perfectly the burden you have been given. As you work to avert war, the more important you become, the less free will you will have because the more the citizens will count on you. I have tasked you with nothing less than becoming slaves to people you don't know. You should feel disdain for this task, but then you must do it.”
"Melifera, you have been like a mother to me. I understand, my heart understands. There is life outside of here and it deserves saving, but my sisters are younger than I. Not by much, but their perspective is different. I know them, and they will do what is right because that is who they are, but please give them time. That's all. Just a little time."
"I have been impatient," Melifera replied softly. "Events in the three kingdoms have accelerated in ways I never anticipated. There is new urgency. Because of my failure to foresee the timeline, I've created this crisis for you. I cannot expect any of you to understand the importance of what lies ahead until you see it for yourselves."
Astrid reached down to grab Melifera's aging hand.
"I promise you when you return, they will be ready. Just give me tonight with my sisters, let the sun set on our worries and let tomorrow rise with our willingness to serve you and the Unseen Ones, as you have requested." Astrid smiled reassuringly. "You have given us a lot to consider today, you have mentioned your departure and our duties. You have spoken of what is to come, but we are still human and our grief is great. To lose you, even just hearing you speak of leaving--it is no small thing." Astrid looked to the ground, suddenly uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation.
"Oh, dear ones. Soon you will see and understand. That there is so much beyond these walls, so much you cannot comprehend. Forget that I mentioned my departure as it will seem small in contrast. Nevertheless, I understand what you are saying, and I leave you tonight. Tomorrow you will start anew, and the arrival of your dragons will no doubt be a turning point for each of you." Melifera smiled impishly, the corners of her mouth slightly wrinkled.
"Tomorrow?" Astrid could feel her emotions spiraling, it was a marvelous and terrifying thing to imagine.
"Yes, now shhhhh... tend to your sisters, and I will be back in the morn’." Melifera leaned forward and gave Astrid a gentle hug before turning on her heel and hurrying away.
Astrid watched her, but not for long. She had to be the strong one; she had to give the others courage to do the right thing.
"My sisters, rest your hearts and minds for a while. Let us eat and speak of this no longer. I promise tomorrow will be better."
Not exactly what she had promised Melifera, but for the time her sisters needed to rest. The day had held many surprises, and Astrid had no doubt the next day would be no less trying.
Astrid wrapped her arms around their shoulders, and leaving their throwing blades behind, they began their walk home. The sisters remained silent by their own worries of what was to come. The stories they had been told since childhood, now the reality of their new life.
Night descended like a cloak, tucking them into its protective embrace. Something in the air had changed, whether it was the expectation of tomorrow, or the sadness of what was to be lost. The idea of home was growing more foreign by the moment.
"Do you think we'll ever get to come back here?" Hekla asked, her innocence leading her to say aloud the question Astrid and Svana couldn't bring themselves to utter.
Svana sighed with desperation, her eyes looking skyward.
"Of course we'll come home. What we must do is not forever," Astrid reassured her.
"How can you be sure?" Hekla prodded.
"I can't, dear sister."
"Then how can you say that?"
"Hekla, I can only say what I hope for. Hope is valiant, and as long as we are willing to fight, it is alive and well. So I know we will return home because I have hope." At the last moment, she turned her head so Hekla would not see her cry.
"Besides, Melifera would not ask us to do something so terrible that we would never return home. She has always looked out for us," Svana spoke softly.
Astrid raised an eyebrow as she looked at her sister, shock clear on her face to hear such a thing from her sister, who had seemed to be opposed to the entire idea, even if she had understood.
"That is a valid and true point, Svana." Astrid wiped her tears away and turned to smile her thanks at her sister for pairing with her to reassure Hekla. If they were to make it home, they all needed to be in one accord. None doubting the other, or their mission.
Tonight's troubled sleep would be a sweet relief indeed.
3
Palladin’s Request
The most important journey you will ever make is always the hardest, and it never comes when you expect it. It is more than a journey to an end, but it is a journey that continues on. On that day, you will have to leave behind everything you know, your home, your friends, and your family. And most importantly, you must learn of yourself. Because it is not the journey that is the most important; it is the knowledge and insight you gain about your own self. And for that reason alone, is why the journey must be made.
King Ansel the Humble, First King of Aequoris, 255 A.V.
Melifera did not fault the sisters for not wanting to leave their home. The situation was dire. War approached. And the young women's reward for success would be a life of servant leadership. Melifera had also planted the seed of the evil that men could do. Not all men, but too many.
"Perhaps, had I spoken of the good that men could do, today's conversation would have gone differently. My own future was a distraction for them. I needn't have mentioned that either. But roses don't grow along the path they must walk. They will either accept their fate, or run from it." She spoke only to herself as she continued her trek to the Summoning Chamber across the waters. She had to acknowledge she loved the Shadowlands as much as the sisters did, and her impending departure
from it burdened her with grief as well. Though I'd never tell that to anyone. Departing from Verdil is a part of life's circle, as much as it pains us to leave.
She chided herself for choking up. After all, 217 years was a well-lived life. She mattered because she made other people important. She had raised many leaders and seen many fall. Now, with the Sisters of Faith so close to their journey, she'd no doubt she would see them rise as well, before being laid to rest.
The Summoning Chamber was in sight, its steep staircase climbing along the walls of the volcano's cone. As Melifera lifted her robes, she could feel her age with each step. The cavernous entrance at the top was a welcome sight, and as she walked through, relief welcomed her into its warm embrace.
"My time is near, but I have come this far. I will finish my journey so the sisters can take theirs," she vowed to herself. As she walked farther in, the luminescent cobalt from the scrying orb illuminated her pathway, growing brighter as she got closer to the cavern where it was held. Even after the day's events, its light was like balm for her tired soul, and she wrapped her hands around it, allowing its energy to speak to her.
"Oh, orb of lights. Please alert the Unseen Ones. Ask them to summon the white dragon for me. I need him." Fluttering softly after she spoke, it was as if the orb had heard her request and acknowledged that it would do as requested. Removing it from its golden perch, Melifera sat on the ground, eyes closed, body at peace as she awaited word or vision from the Unseen Ones. Hours turned into days before the white dragon finally appeared. By then Melifera was near her end, dehydrated and hungry.
"Melifera, I have heard your request, what is it you seek?" the creature asked, filling the cavern, but not. It's misty form both great and small. The dragon's head moved slowly back and forth, like its serpent cousins. Similar, but different. The white dragon didn't occupy the same plane of existence as the sons and daughters of Verdil.
Dragon Sword Page 2
