by C S Harrop
“Trust in me when I say this Elder Nyran she has travelled far to get here today and faced dangers in which I’m in no doubt you are already aware of, her courage is unquestionable and her lineage you speak of is bursting to break out,” replied Riven protectively putting the bulk of his sabre-tooth next to hers.
“We shall see Riven, sooner than you think. Onyxia’s getting further west as we speak I can smell the stench from her armies in the westerly winds,” Nyran said warningly.
“On that note both Elder Fallon and Elder Jorik are waiting on the top floor of the Spire, they are very eager to see the girl – sorry I mean Asha,” Lord Warden said correcting himself giving Asha a polite wink.
The reinforced doors unlocked and swung inward with a wave of Elder Nyran’s glowing palm. Leaving Lord Warden and Elder Nyran to continue their private discussions outside, the three stepped through into a large cylindrical room. Asha noticed torches lighted the walls with the same blue flames used throughout the city separating bookcases stuffed with dusty books and scrolls with large oaken tables in the situated in the centre of the room. They carried on until they reached a sturdy wooden staircase that spiralled up using the whole circumference of the inside walls passing through three similar floors.
“Elder Nyran meant no disrespect Asha that’s just how Frost Elves are. They just get straight to the point and say what is on their mind and Elder Nyran is exceptionally good at it. We’ve all had to bite our tongues many times but Riven here finds it very difficult,” Willow said with a little giggle.
“How hard can it be to think before you speak, their arrogance makes my fur stand on end,” replied Riven irritated to his core.
Still a little hurt Asha kept silent even at the knowledge Elder Nyran was a Frost Elf. She always wondered what they looked like she never even saw one elf as they journeyed across Everlong. She had lost count how many floors she passed her thoughts were in one with the words Elder Nyran spoke “your lineage.”
The thoughts of her family spread through her mind like a wildfire, the same questions she asked Aunt Elora when she was a young child kept creeping into her head. What was her mother like, who was her father and did she have any brothers or sisters. Aunt Elora would never answer any of her questions regarding her family except that of her mother but even then she was holding back thinking Asha would do something foolish and getting herself caught by Onyxia. It has been seventeen years but Asha now truly understands the sacrifice Aunt Elora gave to hide her all these years from Onyxia, never to set foot in a city like this again must have been hard. Why is Onyxia hell bent on killing her is the biggest question of all and now and at long last Asha is hoping she will find out after all this time praying the Elders can give her the answers she so desperately needs.
They emerged on the top level that seemed similar but a little taller than the previous floors with a higher ceiling and a candle lit chandelier hanging from the centre. In the centre of the room, Asha noticed a bald headed man with a short grey trimmed beard with a pair of small crescent shaped glasses that perched snugly on the end of his nose sat at a large round wooden table his head buried deep in a book.
“Welcome home my friends,” echoed a voice from opposite end of the room. “You have both done well and shown the rest of our order yet again who we should aspire to.”
“We just do what is needed of us Elder Fallon,” replied Riven noticing Elder Fallon by the far end of the room looking out of the window across the city, fiddling with his greying chest length pointy beard and loose brown robes covering a dark leather armour beneath that Asha caught a glimpse of.
“Come here child let’s take a good look at you,” insisted Elder Fallon in a warm tone waving her over.
Asha slowly walked over passing the quite bald man with glasses who’s stare was now fixated on her. She noticed the oaken table he sat at had a map of the whole of world engraved in silver over its entire surface; Asha was quick to spot the engraving for the Great Forest and then Lake Erat.
“My name is Elder Fallon? I knew your Aunt very well indeed Asha; she had kept me up to date with your progress throughout the years. Elora clearly has raised you well, she made a good home for you and I helped with supplies when I could. She loved you dearly like her own daughter,” Elder Fallon said sympathetically. “She was one of my oldest friends she sacrificed everything for your mother.”
“I wouldn’t have made it, if it wasn’t for Willow and Riven,” replied Asha throwing them a complimentary smile. “Did you know my mother?” asked Asha unable to keep all of her questions suppressed.
“Yes I did, but before I explain what you so desperately need to know why not let Riven and Willow get some food and a well-deserved rest. We shall speak in the morning my young friends, Asha here needs answers before she can continue along her path,” replied Elder Fallon motioning to the two companions.
“We won’t argue with that,” they both said in union. With a bow of their heads to both Elders, Riven and Willow vacated the floor and headed for some home comforts.
“It is getting late and you have travelled far since that dreaded night in Lake Erat. I will tell you enough to ease your mind for tonight Asha and Elder Jorik here has books on ancestry symbols with multitudes of family names. He would be happy assist. I shall start with Elder Elora your Aunt,” started Elder Fallon.
“Aunt Elora was an Elder?” asked a bewildered Asha grabbing hold of the table to keep her balance.
“Yes, and it was Elder Elora who took your mother Ashantia under her wing and trained her to use her gift,” pointing towards the marks on his palms. “Your mother became a valued member of our order of the Guardians, a sad day when Onyxia took her away from us,” explained Elder Fallon.
At this point Asha had found a seat next to Elder Jorik her face embedded in her hands in disbelief. All those years of failed attempts when asking Aunt Elora about her family, many years of emotions filling up like a dam suddenly burst.
“As you know Onyxia has been hunting you your whole life for reasons we shall discuss later. After your birth, your mother knew your life was in grave danger so one quite night your mother took you out of Andoria boarding an awaiting ship. The ship sailed under the cover of darkness to a misty harbour known as Shallow Bay, from there your mother would take you into hiding,” Elder Fallon explained giving Asha a piece of cloth from his pocket to wipe her eyes.
“Where was my mother taking me?” interrupted Asha.
“We believe only the two guards protecting your mother and your Aunt Elora knew. If it was not for the captain and a handful of deck hands hiding on the ship we would never have known what happened that night. Luckily, they escaped on a small rowing boat before Onyxia destroyed it. Onyxia has spies everywhere her trap was sprung as soon has your mother stepped off the ship. Ashantia was a powerful Guardian on course to become an Elder her ability was equal to Onyxia’s but her love for you was far greater than any power Onyxia could conjure. In the end your mother gave her life on that harbour by using every bit of her power and energy to teleport you to your Aunt.”
“What of my father I know nothing about him, where was he when I was born? Why wasn’t he there beside my mother protecting us both?” Asked Asha her emotions going quickly from remorse to anger her palms began to flicker a faint blue unable to control the power within her.
“Calm yourself girl, clear your mind and control your emotions all of your questions shall be answered but not tonight,” Elder Fallon said putting both hands on her shoulders in a comforting gesture that seemed to calm her to a steady breathing. “Now let’s get you some nourishment and plenty of rest you will feel much better when you wake in the morning knowing a least some of your questions have been answered.”
Asha hesitantly followed two Myst guards across the courtyard, a cold breeze swept across her face that brought Asha back to normality for a short period. The guards took her to a building very similar to many of the others except this one the guards stayed by the entran
ce not leaving their post all night, with a watchful eye from Elder Fallon peering down from the Spire window above.
“Why is this girl so important Fallon, rumours have circulated regarding Onyxia searching night and day for the Lost Soul, are they related?” Asked Lord Warden pacing the upper floor of the Spire.
“Jorik, maybe you can answer this one,” signed Elder Fallon.
“What – err yes,” Elder Jorik replied waving his fingers in the air in sign language dragging his eyes away from a large leather book on the table. “Well Lord Warden, have you heard of the ancient scroll of the Seers wrote by cave dwellers of the southern regions, they are highly spiritual people who foresaw a prophecy?” asked Elder Jorik.
“Only stories from when I was a young boy. If I can remember correctly the prophecy was of a human child who would come forth with an Army of the death and rid the darkness of our lands, then with her the light will follow and bring peace to the world,” remembered Lord Warden. “As I said it’s only a story to amuse children and never really made any sense anyway.”
“Putting a long story short your version is partially correct except one vital piece of information the Seers scroll states the human child is the Lost Soul,” signed Elder Jorik his face suddenly turning more serious.
“You think this girl Asha is the child mentioned in the prophecy? I have not heard anything so ridiculous, there is no such thing as prophecies only stories to amuse children,” Lord Warden said giving a loud exaggerated laugh.
Elder Fallon picked up a large old dusty book from a shelf and slammed it down on the table giving both Lord Warden and Elder Jorik a near fit.
“In this book has an exact copy of the Seers scroll. The scroll itself has been hidden within these walls since this city was first erected, a gift from the Seers themselves. Now believe me Lord Warden the girl Asha is the mentioned girl in the prophecy, and we have been watching events unfold exactly as the scroll describes,” insisted Elder Fallon getting irritable.
“I can’t Quite believe it, how could I explain this to my king he will think I’m mad,” Lord Warden said touching the book with his fingertips trying his hardest to believe in superstitions and myths.
“She is the one and you must warn your king a war is coming. Onyxia is the darkness and she has already started attacking lands to the east,” urged Elder Fallon.
“The prophecy is like an order of events with some already coming to pass,” interrupted Elder Jorik with a cough waving his fingers in sign language.
“I’m assuming she has the marks. Whose lineage does she belong?” Quizzed lord Warden.
“She does. Her marks are of the Isle of Angar,” replied Elder Jorik.
“That dragon country, the dragons would make a welcomed ally. Does the girl know any of this?” Lord Warden asked.
“No, all she knows is of her mother Ashantia and her…,” started Elder Fallon.
“Ashantia was her mother! That makes Kailan Bourn of Angar her father – my god,” interrupted Lord Warden. “Does he know his daughter is alive, he alone could turn this war around?”
“He is aware his daughter lived that dreaded night Ashantia was taken from us but not of her current situation. It is training what is of the most importance before she learns anything else about her family. Her power is emotionally out of control, she is a danger to herself and everybody around her. And I would appreciate it Lord Warden that you inform your king with haste and your king alone no idle gossiping on you travels home.” warned Elder Fallon offending Lord Warden knowing he does like to talk a bit too much.
“Who do you take me for Fallon some common loud mouth trader, you take care of the girl and I’ll make sure the king is informed and maybe if he believes in this so called prophecy he may reinforce the boarders to Elwood,” replied an insulted Lord Warden turning quickly and vacating the room.
“How long do you think he can last without talking about this to anyone, we both know what he’s like especially with a little help from a few mugs of ale?” Stated Elder Jorik with flicks of his fingers and a raised eyebrow.
“He might actually surprise us and to make it all the way to Elwood but I’m sure after a few tavern stops the story of Asha will spread across the eastern land, well that’s what I’m hoping for,” Elder Fallon said with a long stroke of his greying beard. “The world needs a little hope right now and if word just happens to spread regarding a prophecy to rid Onyxia from our world, well that’s fine with me.”
Chapter 12
The Chosen Path
Asha woke with a yawn and a long drawn out stretch late the following morning rubbing the sleep out of her weary eyes trying to get her brain into gear. Rays of sunshine spread throughout the white walled interior with raindrops from an earlier shower slowly hitting the windowsill with a feel of freshness flowing through the open window on a light breeze. Asha took a long and pleasurable bath that had kindly been prepared in her room by aids wearing similar outfits to nurses. Followed by a much-needed haircut Asha eventually got dressed into a not so flattering plain brown and cotton pants, short-sleeved top and their traditional dark robe and a pair of basic buckled ankle boots. She made her way over to a small wooden table with a selection of fruits and cheeses and a freshly baked bread waited. Sitting down on a cushioned stool, Asha devoured her breakfast like a starved animal swilling it down with a mug of fresh cool water. After a second extra-long stretch and a touch of indigestion, Asha felt something what she has not felt for some time – normality.
Noticing a flicker of green from the partly open door to the rear of the room. Opening the door Asha stepped outside into the warming sun to find herself standing in a beautifully coloured flowered garden. Sounds of running water filled her ears from a small waterfall supplying small streams with a slow moving current disappearing under the surrounding buildings.
“I hope you slept well,” Elder Fallon asked standing on an arched wooden bridge his greying beard twitching in the breeze watching fallen petals gently float along the water.
“Yes thank you. I am a little stiff but I will survive. This place it is like a separate entity from the rest of the city I have never seen anything like it,” brushing her freshly cut black shoulder length hair with her fingers trying to get herself into a respectable state.
“Everything you see within these walls is our inner sanctuary, we call it the Core. Most things in nature has one, an apple a walnut our very own soul is our core and even the world itself. The Core as you have probably already guessed is home to an ancient order known as the Guardians, and this sanctuary you are standing in Asha is their core. Everyone needs a place to call home even the Guardians and this place is theirs,” explained Elder Fallon throwing a bronze coloured leaf into the stream.
“Like Willow and Riven, their Guardians aren’t they?”
“Yes they are. Take a little advice from me Asha good friends are a rare find and you have found a pair of the best with those two,” Elder Fallon stated with a responding smile from Asha. “The Core is also where we nurture and train the gifted ones much like yourself, we call them seedlings. That is if they chose to walk down a more enlightened path that is - many do not. Some cannot bear the thought of a lifelong servitude to the order or the dangers it may bring protecting the innocent, it takes a selfless soul to become a protector of the light. Once their training is completed Guardians young and old will leave the Core and start their final lesson – life. They set off on a journey travelling around the world protecting the light against the darkness. Growing and maturing like a seed into a tree with life’s experience to maybe one day become an Elder and pass down the knowledge they have gained down to the seedlings like yourself,” Elder Fallon explained in a proud tone.
“Is that the sign of the Guardians,” asked Asha pointing to embroidery of three circles on Elder Fallon’s robe.
“Yes, you are observant and I see you have a very inquisitive personality Asha. The most inner circle of our symbol represents the Core and the midd
le circle is the city of Myst, the larger third outer circle represent the surrounding mountains of Andoria,” answered Elder Fallon once again with a sense of pride in his voice.
Asha fell silent looking at her reflection in the stream, the thoughts of her family and the death of Aunt Elora and why she is so important soon came flooding back to haunt her. The peace and quiet of the tranquil garden only made things worse for Asha there was nothing to grab her attention and nothing to take her mind off her troubles.
“You look so much like your mother,” observed Elder Fallon. “I see her strength in you and I foresee you taking the same path as your mother. However, I realise, as did your aunt you will not be at peace until you know everything about why Onyxia is so interested in you and of your family. For now, I will tell you of your mother and of Onyxia. As for your father, I shall explain at a time of my choosing for reasons of my own, but knowing the truth will only leads to more questions,” said Elder Fallon.
“Onyxia’s interest in me is an understatement Elder Fallon she seems to have a burning hatred for me, I really need to know why,” begged Asha holding back her tears.
“OK, then let’s start with the marks on your palms. On very rare occasions nature will give birth to what we in the Core call the gifted, they are born with markings on their palms signifying their lineage similar to a family seal. Through the markings, the gifted are able to harness a power within themselves. However, some of the gifted are much stronger than others a lot of this is down to their lineage. Many can barely conjure a basic flame to start a campfire, so they need to use an object with their markings embedded into it like a staff or a weapon of some kind that greatly amplify their power. However, on rare occasions a gifted person will come along born from strong ancestry with the ability to harness their power without the need of an object,” explained Elder Fallon.
“So that’s why my palms glow, Aunt Elora always told me it’s because I was special,” replied Asha.
