Bliath: Shattered

by Theresa Caligiuri

When she uncovered them, they were running through the castle to the meeting room.

  When they stepped in, it was just her father in the room, he looked terrified and ill. The memory form of Fera ran to him, her anger from the night before in that moment seemed to be just that, a distant memory, she flew into his open arms. After a moment, he took a step back, but did not let go of her hand. “Fera, I need you to just listen for a moment.” She looked at him and nodded, “The magic your mother used to protect us is gone, it was supposed to last until you got your magic back, something has happened, it is too soon, weeks too soon, something is not right, the animal scouts said it shifted last night and there are two parties waiting to get in. You have to go - it is you they want, and you we have to keep safe, or it's all in vain. I talked to Oren this morning, he knows he can get you down the East valley wall, it is quite steep, and will go unseen mostly. Then you must go to the Dwarves in the North Eastern corner, I will send a bird to tell your grandfather you are coming.”

  “What about you, and the people of Thoren, and Markus, you really want me to run?” The desperation was coming out of Fera.

  “You will listen to me and go and not look back, your bags are packed, there are maps and notes to help guide you, and Oren knows what to do, it is why I think he was sent to you, he will help keep you safe, trust him, no matter what happens remember you can trust him. Even though he is Elfin made, in one form or another, trust him. When you find your magic, it will be overwhelming, but do not run from it or yourself, be brave. Let’s go to the barn.”

  The memory lead them to the barn, with both the king and Fera looking fearful. Markus had Oren tacked and ready to go. Her father pulled her into an embrace, followed by Markus. She started to protest, telling them they could hide her in Thoren, she wanted to stay with them, she loved them, begging and pleading, it was causing more pain and in the end she gave in and climbed onto Oren.

  Markus touched her leg, and she looked down on him, “Remember, I love you, and I will see you again, I know this to be true, as will your father, just stay strong. I packed your book, this is not a vacation and you will study it more, that is not a request young lady.” He tried to smile at her but his heavy heart was weighing it down.

  A bird flew in and landed on the King’s shoulder, he seemed to be having one of those one way conversations that Vance recalled Larin having with Oren. He watched the king get paler and seem like he might collapse and any moment. Then he looked up at his daughter, “I love you, it is time, there is more than we thought, and they have magic, we will be fine, now go, you have everything you need, go.”

  Fera didn’t go, it was Oren who started to leave, she was begging him to wait, to stop, but the horse was not listening. Fera called out to them, telling them that she loved them, that she would come back, and help, she would do anything she could. Then her father yelled to go and not look back no matter what, and with that Oren took off on a dead run. He did not stop until they were at the top rim of the Valley, and Fera was losing it.

  They were back in Fera’s room, she was still tucked in Vance’s arms and was sobbing loudly. He rubbed her back, and after a while she calmed down and softly hiccupped into him. He took her chin and gently made him look at her, and with a slightly raised eyebrow asked, “Fera, I am so so sorry, you are so brave, and strong. We are going to get through this, this is a bump in the road.” She loved how he said the word we, we gave her hope, and as long as there was a we she was not alone. Vance took her hands in his, then he remembered why he came into limbo in the first place, he needed to tell her they would be leaving again.

  “Vance what is it, your expression, it changed, your eyes got cloudy?” Fera bite her lower lip, she knew that look, her father and Markus wore ones just like it in the memory they just visited.

  “Tomorrow, we will leave, you will wake up, and together we will go, I am not sure on how we will leave, but that will work itself out, Oren is ready, and Aloine my mount is ready, the bags are packed, and we will go.” She was looking up at him, under her dark full lashes, and her honey colored eyes locked on his, she leaned up on her tiptoes, brushed her lips softly on his then whispered “Thank you.” He could feel Larin trying to pull him back, and throwing caution to the wind leaned in and pressed his lips more urgently on Fera’s.

  Chapter 19

  As the Rose room came back into focus, Vance could feel the static in the air, he looked around, then to Larin, he couldn’t tell where it was coming from. Leo was still out cold, Larin was staring at him mouth agape. “Larin, what is wrong? Why am I back here, why did you pull me back? The room feels so different.”

  “What did you do? The room got really hot a minute ago, then sparks started to fly, like static electricity, and it stung, and I thought something went wrong or I don’t know.” She started to cry, she was clearly scared. Vance went to hug her, but she pulled away, from him like he was the monster under her bed. “Your- your eyes, they are glowing, what are you?” Larin shrunk back even more, and Vance knew he was the one causing the shift, his energy was high, but he was in control.

  Fera was waking up, her eyes fluttered open and they set upon Vance and smile formed on her lips, Vance was lost to those eyes and that smile. A slight groan came from Leo, and Vance had to go, he leaned in and whispered in Fera’s ear he would see her later, and kissed her cheek, leaving her to Larin and Leo.

  Fera sat up in bed, she looked at Larin, who was trembling, she reached for her, but Larin now just stared at her. “Larin, what is it? What is wrong?” Fera’s face scrunched up in a mix of emotions.

  “Please Larin, it’s ok, come here, it’s ok.” Fera couldn’t believe she was comforting anyone in that moment, but Larin looked like she saw a ghost, it took a moment and she climbed into Fera’s arms and snuggled her face into her.

  A little voice found itself, “I forgot he is dangerous, you have to remember that ok,” She looked up at Fera, “Promise me?”

  Fera didn’t know what she was talking about but it was clear Larin needed her to agree.

  “I promise, are you ok sweetpea?” Larin held up her pinkie finger for Fera to seal the promise, Fera gave a little giggle, she used to make her father and Markus, and few other caretakers pinkie promise when she was little. She locked pinkies with her. Larin eyes gave her twinkle and she looked a little distant.

  “Hey kiddo, where did you just go?” Fera asked as she played with Larin’s hair.

  “Want a sneak peek?” she grinned.

  Without agreeing Larin reached up and ran her index finger across Fera’s forehead starting at the temple and ending at her chin, Fera was not prepared for what happened, she saw herself in a rocking chair, slowing moving back and forth she looked down, she had a tattoo her upper arm, and another on her wrist but that was not as mind blowing as the bulge of her stomach her hand was mindlessly tracing circles around.

  Larin was looking at her waiting for Fera to process what she just showed her.

  “When, how, what I um was I..?” Fera was tripping over her words

  “I don’t know when it happens, you still have to get married, that is what that tattoo means, it is a binding mark.” Larin pointed to Fera’s upper arm. Fera moved her sleeve and to her relief there was no mark that she feared to be there, but then she looked and her wrist, and saw it bandaged. Larin stopped her from taking it off. “Yep that one is there, your magic mark is back. See? You are ok now right? I mean you saw it, it will all be ok.” She looked so sweet to Fera, and Fera didn’t have the heart to tell her that could be decades away and things can change, so she just agreed with her. Part of her needing believe in Happily Ever After as well.

  The girl talked and giggled for a little while Leo was waking up on the floor. Once he came to completely his head was pounding, using the bed to pull himself up right, she saw that two sets of eyes were on him. Then without saying a word, both girls broke out laughing at him. He looked between them not knowing that he had the imprint of the floor boards on one c
heek, his hair was sticking out everywhere, and there was drool scum on his chin.

  “Prince Charming right?” Fera teased him.

  Larin smirked “Nope, I think he is the frog at the moment.”

  “Well, maybe one of you two should kiss me and see if it helps?’ Leo jested back.

  Both girls made a face that said that was defiantly a no, but Larin suggested a bath and tooth brushing, with mouthwash. Leo pretend to be offended, but said he would be back in a little bit, and Larin suggested she go get Desree to help Fera do the same.

  Fera sat there, alone it the real world, feeling strange, she kept trying to process everything, mostly the fact she had magic, most of her life felt like a lie, and the fact that a guy could take her breath away. She missed her father and Markus, she missed the comfort of Thoren, she also missed seeing Oren every day, then a thought struck her, how did he get in if the barrier was there, how was that possible?

  Her thoughts were intruded by Desree who came in to see if she would like a bath, and a bath sounded divine in that moment.

  Though Fera thought it strange Desree insisted on helping her wash her hair, and keep her company, Desree told her to think of her more like a friend or mother, not a babysitter. It seemed a few people were worried she would fall back into limbo in the bath tub and drown.

  Half way through the shampoo, Desree laughed and out of the blue brought up Fera’s mother.

  “You know the first time I met you I helped give you a bath, keep in mind you were still pretty new, and I had to wait until Vance was asleep. I suppose you don’t remember, of course not.” Fera didn’t know what she was to say or if she shouldn’t say anything at all. “Umm what was Vance like when he was little, did he like me?” Fera turned red, what a stupid question to ask she thought to herself.

  “He was full of energy,” she laughed like it was some kind of joke, but Fera did not get it, “At first after his parents, uh, um, left him in my care, he was a sad child, he fought almost everything, but then we came to Thoren and met you and your mother and father and that brought his sweet side back. He was so protective of you the short time we were there. Your mother put you in his arms and helped him hold you and he was sold. Anyone that got close to you when he was around would get shocked, your mother was the only one that could get him to stand down. Oh Dear, close your mouth.”

  Fera was in shock, she and he and her mother, she could not form words. Desree kind of chuckled to herself, “Oh Fera Findel Arion Goodale, what are you finding so hard to believe or comprehend?”

  Fera cringed at her full name, it was a mouthful and most of the time someone only used her full name there was some kind of lesson to be learned, whether it be good or bad.

  She just sat there in thought as Desree washed her hair while humming. Her thoughts kept mixing together, Vance knew her and her mother, Desree, as well, Vance seemed to be her protector, even before she could remember. Was he the one that gave her the binding mark? Was that his. . . . well, she stopped herself there, she knew she was starting to put the cart in front of the horse, and he had only kind of kissed her in limbo. Her thoughts were pulled back to the tattoos.

  “Desree, can I, um take the bandage off my wrist? I want to see it. Please?” Fera’s face gave way to a little trepidation.

  Desree laughed inward at Fera, she has so much muchness to her, but still like a child in this world because she was so sheltered, “Of course you may see it, it is yours after all, but we are going to cover it back up, and do not take it off until you are with the Dwarves or Elves is that understood? People around here are not magic fans since it has threat and almost has wiped them out on several occasions.”

  Fera gave a vague “uh huh,” she knew from studying with Markus that the war started over the Elves wanting to be equal, then got other races with magic involved to help their cause, and it became a hunt of who could get to whom first. A few tears escaped Fera’s eyes.

  “Now, now, it is not that bad, as far as marks go child, the more complex the magic, the more complex the mark and I have only seen 5 others as intricate as yours. It is nothing to cry over though,” Desree said in a motherly tone.

  Fera just shook her head no, “that is not it, why didn’t they just give me away, or drop me down a well, or I don’t know, how am I going to stop this? And if I mess up it is game over, and I am just me.”

  Desree was taken back, “Child your parents love you so much, you will fix this one way or another, and they were giving you the best chance at that. Nothing you can do will make it worse, trust me there.”

  Her words were of little comfort, she tried to give up thinking about it at that point. She stared at her left wrist, the circle full of twists and turns seemed to move on its own, giving way to sharpened points. Fera found a strange comfort in the mark. It seemed like it was giving her a bearing, it reminded her of the compasses Markus drew on all his maps. Maybe it was meant to guide her she thought; then shook her head no in an attempt to stop her jumbled thoughts.

  Desree braided her hair back, and gave her a set of clean riding clothes to wear, as Fera changed she asked her, if she had been to the Dwarf strong hold, or the Elfin lands, she gave her a vague answer saying she has been a little bit of everywhere.

  When leaving the bathroom area, they ran into Leo, who was over joyed to see her out of bed. Desree kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear that she would see her in the future, and that made a shiver run down Fera’s spine. She knew it would be time to go soon and that was Desree’s goodbye. Before she got too far down the hall, Fera launched her arms around her and thanked her.

  “Fera…” Leo was looking at her captivated “Would you like to see the castle and the grounds?”

  “That would be very nice, seeing only one room off and on for days has me a bit stir crazy. Can we see Oren?” She half laughed with excitement over being out of her own head and that room.

  “Oren?” Leo puzzled.

  “My horse.” Fera then realized how much Leo was in the dark.

  He agreed, then again he probably would have agreed to anything she would have asked, she took his offered arm and went on their way.

  Chapter 20

  Vance was brooding in the barn when he saw his mother on her way out to see him.

  She stopped in front of him, looking up, taking him in, she knew there was good chance she might not see this boy she raised and loved for a long time, or even ever again. She could tell he was on edge and with good reason, and would be even more so after she told him what she needed to.

  “What?” Vance half barked at her, his face read like an annoyed teenager.

  “Is that anyway to spend our last few hours? I know you’re mad, and confused, but I have to do something, to help you. I have to give you an explanation, then I have to tell you what I have to do, and I need you to listen to all of it before you create a tornado and toss us all in the air.” She raised her eyebrow waiting for him to answer.

  “I thought you said you were bound and banded to not tell me things?” His tone gave off insolence.

  “Sit.” Desree barked at Vance, he gave in and slid down the back wall to the ground, and brought his knees up to his chest. “Now listen! I showed you the night your parents were taken from you, from us. Your mother knew it was going to happen. She was a seer - at first a weak one, but with your father’s power hers was unlocked and she was much like Larin is now. She did not tell him, because she said in her heart she knew it was meant to be. In the weeks before she set the binds in place, with me and with you, I was made to promise to keep all your memories for the first 10 years of your life away from you or at least very ambiguous.” She paused as she watched him try to think of anything, his face was scrunched and when he gave up he stared blankly at her waiting for her to go on.

  “You know your father was an Elemental, and with his gift you should be able to recall anything from the first moment you opened your eyes and took your first breath. I was told to take that from you and I did
, and it hurt, I loved you back then like you were my own family. What I am getting at, the time has come for me to give you the memory that will help unlock the rest, but they won’t flood you, things will trigger them, and it won’t be physically painful, but I know emotional pain can trump almost any other form of pain. Are you ready?”

  Vance just sat there, eyes closed, trying to calm his breathing to focus on anything other than this horrible betrayal he felt down to his very core. He knew this is what Fera was feeling too, it was all so unfair, and he hated thinking it unfair, because most things are rarely fair.

  When he opened his eyes, Desree was right next to him, and without warning said words that were foreign and touched his forehead, before slipping into the memory he felt something ice cold tear through his body, then was in the memory.

  Vance found himself in a room that gave him a feeling of deja vu, it looked like a big sitting room, he was on the floor by a Desree, she was playing with him, letting him put a spark of energy in a toy horse on wheels and watching it go on its own and clapping like what he was doing was brilliant. Laughter on the other side of the room caught both his and his little forms attention. He saw the same woman from the carriage, his mother, she was truly beautiful and looked so happy. His little form toddled to her and she scooped him up. Next to her sat the biggest shock, it was Riel.

  “Oh Ava, he is so cute.” Riel smiled so warmly at him

  His little form wiggled off his mom’s lap and snuggled into the side of Riel, his chubby little hand touched her stomach, “baby” his little voice said and smiled up at her then to his mother.

  His mother gently patted his leg, “Yes, baby Fera will be here before we know it. Then we can go to Thoren and meet her.”

  Vance just caught that, that meant they were not in Thoren, they must be in his home, he looked around a little more, it was a nice room, so that meant his parents were well off, so they must have been important to wherever they were, that was the most frustrating thing. Not knowing where you’re from and in the same sense who he was.