by Donica Covey
He raised an eyebrow at her. “At least you're dreaming of me,” he said with a small grin.
"Just wait until I have you in a suit of gold armor."
As the words came out his hand jerked away and he stood before her, sunlight glinting off the bright gold armor. A large sword clutched in his hand and a medieval helmet on his head.
He teetered precariously and fell into the water. The sword clanked against the armor and his head slammed into the rock they were standing on. “Keely? Get rid of this, would you?"
Thank God for the helmet. “Oh Xavier, I'm so sorry."
The Seer came close. “Shh,” she hissed. “Do you want to alert everyone of your arrival?"
Keely shook her head no. “How do I get rid of it, or undo it, or whatever?” she whispered.
"Command it away; it will go."
Keely nodded and the suit of armor vanished as quickly as it appeared. “I'm sorry, Xavier. But at least I can be comforted in knowing this isn't real so you won't hold it against me for long."
He smiled and pushed up from the ground. “Hell of a dream we've got going on."
The Seer made a low noise that almost sounded like a growl. “This is not a dream, this is very real. You must be very careful, Aldmakeelia. Your power is still new and it may be uncontrollable at times. I will help train you to use it but first we must get you to safety. King Montrose has a very powerful witch. She will alert him of your arrival, if she hasn't already done so, she will do it soon."
Keely rolled her eyes. This was ridiculous. She shook her head and clutched Xavier's hand. “I can't wait to see what my imagination dreams up next,” she whispered.
The Seer swung around, a knife in her hand. She sliced the palm of Keely's hand. The blade burned as it cut through the soft flesh. Keely gasped in surprise and drew back her hand. Xavier shoved her behind him. “What have you done!” he roared.
The Seer stood her ground. “Quiet. You need to remain quiet. I have to convince you both that this is not a dream. Lives depend on what you do and the sooner you accept this fact the sooner you can do what is destined."
Keely didn't pull away when Xavier pressed his hand on hers to stop the bleeding. He tore at his shirt and wrapped it around her hand, knotting the material to keep pressure on the wound.
"Aldmakeelia can heal herself just as she can heal others.” The Seer turned to her. “Heal yourself, child."
Keely had to wrap her mind around everything. If she was dreaming the pain wouldn't have felt real like this, right? “How?"
"Remove the bandage and trace the cut with your finger."
Keely nodded and did as she was instructed. The blood had begun to coagulate but it was still oozing slightly and the gash in the skin burned. She traced the index finger of her left hand along the incision. As her finger traced, the skin closed and the pain subsided. It was incredible. She'd done it!
She kept glancing at the Seer. If her coloring were a bit different she would look like the woman who had helped kidnap her. Discomfort skittered through her.
The Seer met her gaze and her eyes hardened for a split second and then softened. There was something about this woman that wasn't right.
Xavier took her hand. The injury was healed. “You're going to come in handy during this battle."
"That's not funny.” Keely frowned.
"Who's joking? Apparently we really are living this. If we have to fight this epic war with some mad king then someone who can heal themselves and others will definitely be needed."
"I don't trust her,” he heard Keely say. He opened his mouth and saw her give a small shake of her head. He'd heard her in his mind.
"What do you mean?” he sent the message back. Having a mental conversation with another person was such an odd sensation.
"She looks like the woman who helped what's-his-name grab me."
He felt the heat prickle at the tips of his fingers but once more Keely shook her head. “That woman had dark hair and olive skin. But their facial features are very similar. Also there is something I get, some kind of impression that feels wrong. What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. I guess our only choice is to go along and see what happens next. But if we are living this destiny thing then we need to think. The king is evil, well so she says. If that's true and he does have so much power then there will be people who will want to stop us."
She shivered. “How will we know who to trust?"
"I haven't figured that out yet."
The Seer stopped at the edge of a town. All around, the poverty was obvious. Malnourished children with dirty faces watched them. People dressed in rags scratched the ground in an effort to bring forth the crops that were browned and dry. The people avoided meeting their eyes. Mothers pulled children indoors and locked themselves in.
He looked at the Seer. “What is this?"
"An example of the life the people live thanks to King Montrose. He starves them into submission. Come."
They walked through the village and exited on the other side at the edge of a large green field. People of all ages worked in the meadow. Whatever they were growing was healthy and bright. “I thought you said the people were being starved."
"Those crops belong to the king and those who govern the towns on his behalf. If any of the working class takes even a mouthful they are found and punished. The way of this land is harsh and needs a change."
Xavier was overcome with pity for the starving. Anger for the ruling class made a small dart of flame flash from his hands. A stray leaf in the road caught the blaze.
Keely jumped back. “Water,” she shouted and the liquid appeared, dousing the flare. “Apparently I'm not the only one who needs to be careful."
He ducked his head. “Sorry. I'll be more careful."
"See that you are,” the Seer commanded.
They traveled for hours and he could tell Keely was becoming tired. Her face was pale and her brow beaded with sweat. To be honest, exhaustion was building inside him as well. He'd never been one to do a lot of exercising. How he held up this long was a shock to his system. “We need to take a break."
"No. We have much further to go. It's not safe out here on the roads."
Keely sat down in the dirt. “I can, what was it teleport, right? So why can't I just zap us to wherever it is we are supposed to be?"
"It's not a safe idea. You still can't control your powers."
Xavier dropped down beside her. He looked up at the Seer. “We can't keep up this pace. She needs a break, so do
I."
"You are going to do battle but you are too weak to go the distance? How do expect to be victorious when you give up this way?"
"Look Seer,” Xavier started. “We'll get there, but for now back off."
Keely sighed and leaned against him. “What we need are mo...” she clamped her hand over her mouth but it was too late, two Harleys appeared in the road before them.
"What on Grogan are those things?” the Seer gawked in disbelief.
"Motorcycles,” Xavier answered and realized that it didn't do any good to tell her that. The Seer would have no clue what a motorcycle was. “What do you use for transportation here?"
"Balmocks."
"What the hell is a balmock?” Just as Keely asked the question three beasts appeared before them. The animals looked like someone took a gorilla's body and made it the size of an elephant. It had four legs that came to split hooves like a cow. The neck was long like a camel, the head like an anteater, and the tail of a possum. The body was covered with hair that resembled a wooly mammoth with light tan spots on the dark black hair.
What he assumed was a saddle sat on its back and leather that resembled a halter covered the face with reins that ran up each side of the neck. “I'm guessing those are balmocks?"
The Seer nodded and stepped to one. All three knelt on the ground and waited. She looked at them. “Come along."
"We could just take the bikes,” Xavier argued.
"You would draw
too much attention. Let us go.” She mounted one of the balmocks and waited for them to join her.
"I don't like this,” Keely said to Xavier's mind.
He was getting more accustomed to her mental messages. It was kind of nice to be able to communicate without speaking. “I'm not crazy about it either but it's better than walking,” he answered back.
She let him pull her to her feet and walked slowly to one of the animals. It made a sound like a cross between a baby's cry and an elephant's trumpet. The unfamiliar sound made her flinch and he could sense the shock and fear mingle together. “I don't want to touch that thing."
The Seer shook her head. “Get on the damn thing before the guards fly overhead and find us."
"You never mentioned flying guards,” Xavier made sure his voice low and harsh.
"I didn't think we'd leave the safety of the trees. Come on, hurry,” the Seer urged.
Xavier grabbed the reins of one of the animals then climbed into the saddle of the other. He pulled Keely up and placed her behind him. “Ride with me until you get used to it. Hold onto the lead of that one until I figure out how to steer this thing."
She took the straps in one hand and clutched his waist tight with the other arm. “We're going to die. These things are going to run off or drop onto the ground and roll over on top of us."
"Relax. Animals can sense when you're nervous and it makes them jittery. I'll take care of you.” He pulled the reins and the animal responded. “It's just like riding a horse."
"Last time I looked this wasn't a horse."
Her body finally relaxed into his and he felt comforted by the heat coming from her body. The sun began to sink lower into the horizon but they kept moving. Keely's breathing had evened out and her grip loosened. He knew she was asleep so he used one arm to hold her so she wouldn't slip off the animal.
He could send mental messages to Keely, would it work if he tried to send a message to the Seer? “How much further?"
"Another ten or fifteen kiltomenics."
"What the hell is a kiltomenic? Where I come from there are miles and kilometers."
She didn't reply at first, but he knew she was thinking. “I'm not sure what the equivalent is in your understanding."
He shook his head. Damn it. How much longer before they arrived at their destination? Where the hell was she taking them anyway? Keely's concern had mirrored his own.
How did he know they could trust this woman?
Keely jerked and his hand automatically tightened. “Where are we?” her voice with thick with sleep.
"I have no idea. I don't think she knows either."
"It's getting dark. How long have I been asleep?"
"I don't know what the equivalent is in her understanding but I'm sure it's been a couple of hours."
Keely shifted behind him. “I've not had my legs spread this wide in a long time."
He knew without even seeing her face she was blushing when she realized how it sounded. Wicked images of her danced in his mind and he felt her fist connect with his back. It didn't hurt but he hadn't been prepared for it. “What was that for?"
"As if you don't know.” He felt her pull away from him. “I rode a friend's draft horse a few times and like a Clydesdale they have such a wide back that there is no way to keep from practically doing the splits in order to stay on."
He couldn't control the images of him mounting her and this time he'd steeled for the punch he anticipated.
"You're terrible."
"I can't help it if I find my lifemate sexy."
She was silent and he searched her feelings. He could sense that she was as attracted to him as he was to her. He sat a little straighter in the saddle. He tugged on her arm and she pressed into his back.
He had managed to push the thoughts of her from his mind. “I was able to send a telepathic message to the Seer."
"I wonder if she has a real name. You know like maybe Alice or June or Stephanie or something."
"I doubt it. I mean, think about it. According to her my birth name is Xiuhcoatl and yours is Aldmakeelia. I don't know that you'd find those names in any baby book."
"True that. It's just weird to have to keep calling her the Seer.” She paused and her spine stiffened. “Seer. Oracle."
He wasn't following her. “Yeah?"
"She said one of her powers is to read thoughts. If she can read thoughts then she knows we don't completely trust her. Xavier, if she's an enemy then she'll be able to know what we're thinking and planning on doing."
He hadn't considered that. If she could read his mind, was there a way to block her intrusions?
[Back to Table of Contents]
Nine
The Seer was slightly amused by the girl's curiosity of a true name. At one time, many, many ages ago she'd been known by the name Ziretonia. But that was another lifetime.
She stopped her musings when they began discussion of their distrust of her. He wanted to block her reading his mind. She couldn't let it happen. She had to gain his trust before he figured out how to accomplish that goal.
The stupid girl was so suspicious. If she learned to read people around her then all the Seer's plans would go up in smoke—literally if Xiuhcoatl caught her. He wouldn't hesitate to use the dragon breath to remove her permanently.
"We're almost there, just over the next rise,” she said to distract them.
As the large rock and mortar palace came into view she sensed Aldmakeelia's nerves grow taught. The girl felt threatened, it radiated off of her like a wave from the ocean. She suspected they were riding into a trap.
The Seer smiled. The girl wasn't stupid. “To help you learn about your new world I should tell you, the castle ahead is in ruins. A powerful family known as the Gryphineos once lived here. They have been chased from their homes and most of the bloodline is dead. King Montrose found them guilty of treason when it was learned the Gryphineos were hiding a handful of Draco survivors."
She felt Aldmakeelia's curiosity rise and waited for the girl to ask about her lineage. She didn't have long to wait.
"You've told us quite a bit about the Draco house. They seemed to be great. What of the Alicorno?"
"They were quickly obliterated. They tried shifting into the guise of simple equenesis but King Montrose had visions to see through the disguise. They were slaughtered mercilessly, almost all of the line died on that one spot, in that single day. The blood stained the ground and even now new plant growth comes up red. The only person Montrose allowed to live was slowly tortured to death.” She shook her head in mock pity.
In truth it was she who killed the one believed to be the lone survivor. Montrose wanted to breed with her and bring about a powerful offspring but the Alicorno fought him every step of the way.
Montrose was already powerful but if he had mated with the Alicorno the offspring would indeed be more powerful and she'd never be able to overcome his hold. There was no way to corrupt the Alicorno magic. It was impossible to turn the purity of good into the darkness of evil but a child born to Montrose and an Alicorno would be easily influenced.
The Seer attacked the unicorn in her room and used a large sword to bring her to the floor. Then while the Alicorno, Zaphin ‘a Aldmakeelia's mother, was down, the Seer grasped the horn in her hands and, with a burst of power, cracked the horn. It broke off and with the horn removed, the Alicorno died. But the Seer was able to make use of the magic the horn provided. The Seer scraped the horn and collected the fine silver dust into a golden chalice. The power in the dust was enough to heal all of Montrose's soldiers during the battle that brought the king to the throne.
Now that Aldmakeelia was here, she would make the girl shift and then remove her horn to create more tonic.
The Seer pulled the balmock to a stop before the castle. “We need to hide them in what remains of the barn."
Xavier slid off his mount and helped Aldmakeelia down. “I'll take care of them,” he said and led them off.
The Seer went
to the Alicorno's side and placed an arm across her shoulders. “I know that this must be frightening for you, child. To be in a strange land with people you don't know and learn that your destiny is to fight a dangerous enemy. I know I'd be terribly frightened if I were in your position. Believe me, I will use all my power and resources to ensure your safety."
The distrust was palpable and it took a great deal of her willpower to keep from turning on the girl and killing her right there. “I will not allow anyone to harm you, Aldmakeelia."
"Please stop calling me that. I prefer Keely."
The Seer bowed. “As you ask, Keely.” She remained by the girl's side as they walked up the broken stone steps to the large wooden door. Weather had warped the lumber and it hung at an angle from rusted hinges.
The smell of must filled the air inside the citadel. The sound of dungrats came from dark corners of the room.
"What died in here?” Keely asked as she muffled her nose and mouth.
"Gryphineos,” the Seer answered simply.
* * * *
Guilt wracked Keely. People had died in this house—no, this castle—and she was making offhanded remarks. She wandered through the room with the scurrying sound of creatures moving in the dark made her skin crawl. “What's that sound?"
"Dungrats,” came the answer.
Rats? If they were anything like rats in her world then she was in for a horrible night. “What's a dungrat?” she asked, hoping for a reassuring answer.
"They are small animals the size of a man's foot, furry, with long tails and sharp teeth. They are wicked creatures that aren't deterred by much. They will protect their territory with everything in them. They have also been known to attack on the offensive, so watch yourself."
"Xavier?” Keely called. She needed to feel his comforting presence.
"I'm here. Let me see if I can give us a little light."
When nothing happened, Keely was disappointed though she tried to keep it from him.
"I'm sorry Keely, I'm trying."
"I know. Maybe you have to get angry for it to work?"
She saw pictures forming in his mind. Pictures of herself being grabbed, being cut by the Seer, and pictures of what he imagined the murder of their family lines had been like.
