by HC MacDonald
“It is time to go.” Raoul said to me.
I nodded in agreement. I gathered the children into the house. One look from Sanna, and she knew. She held Ethan’s hand and together we all vanished from site.
I took them to the ocean. The place of my dreams. We needed to figure this out without the threat of Erebos and the council dragging everyone into a cell.
“Where is Leon?” Sanna asked. Worry creasing her brow.
“He is safe.” Was all I could say before my throat closed up and the tears rolled down my cheeks.
“What happened?” Ethan asked. Sanna had come to comfort me. Raoul and Ethan eager to hear, but not pushing the subject. I steeled my emotions and gathered myself together. I produced a copy of the contract in my hand. Handed it to Ethan to read.
He read it out loud. No one said a word. They all looked at me. “Leon signed this?” Sanna said as she inspected the signatures. Appalled at the thought anyone could value a person so little. She began pacing the beach, yelling at an imaginary Leon. Ethan equally upset by the contract and Leon’s participation. Raoul came and stood by me. He placed a hand on my shoulder. “It will be all right.”
“What did he say?” Sanna was asking me questions now.
“He told me he loved me and this was the best option. I should sign it.”
“No, he didn’t. You should have left him to be dealt with, not taken him to safety. Take me to him. I will straighten him out one way or another.” Sanna insisted.
I couldn’t take her back. I couldn’t look at him without the pain of his betrayal breaking my heart more. “Sanna, I can’t. I can’t go to him right now.”
“Oh, I’ll get to him and when I do, he’ll have to be in the healing center for a week. No brother of mine is going to act like this and get away with it. He’ll realize what he’s done and come crawling back to you begging for forgiveness.”
“I’m afraid he won’t be doing that. I took his memories of me and the children.”
Every looked at me. I felt ashamed I had done it. I looked to the sand embarrassed of my own actions. Sanna put her arm around my shoulders, “It was for the best. He doesn’t desire the memory of you with what he did.”
I small piece of my guilt disappeared with her comment. Raoul came to me then. “From what I know, if he truly loves you, his memories may return.”
“I don’t know that they will, or that he did.” I commented back.
“I do, I have seen it before.” He turned and walked to the waves crashing on the shore. We all moved to sea, watching the children enjoy the water.
“What do we do now?” I asked no one special.
Ethan turned and responded. “We start over. New life. Together.”
“I know of a place I can take us.” I said.
“Then let us not delay.” Ethan moved to scoop up Sasha and Juji. I called Wyatt and Keiko over to our group. We walked away from the beach and into the field outside my childhood home.
Chapter 12
Preparation
Raina
The house had been cleaned and put back together. I could barely see the stain on the floor.
“Where are we?” Ethan asked.
“This was my home when I was young.” I looked around. Memories flooding back to me. I sat at the table, joined by the other adults.
“We can’t stay.” Ethan started. “Sanna and I will need to go back, face Leon and the council.”
“No, they will hurt you or put you in prison. I can’t let them do that to you.” I didn’t want anything to happen to them. The guilt would eat me up.
“You can protect them.” Raoul said. “You know how. Let them go back. I will stay with you help you continue in your training.”
I didn’t want to let my friends go. I was for the first time feeling completely alone. My heart ached, my emotions distraught. I looked at Sanna. She nodded her head. I knew they were right. I stood from the table and walked out to the field. I needed to clear my head. I thought about what I needed. What I wanted? I wanted them to be safe. I wanted them to have an escape if they needed. I wanted them to be happy.
Raoul had come into the field. He was standing beside me. His hand on my shoulder, “It is time. They must go back before they are missed.”
I closed my eyes and concentrated. All my hopes for them put into the spell. It only took a minute, then I walked back into the house. The children met me at the door with tears in their eyes. Sasha was gone. They all were.
We had a quiet dinner and an early night. My night was filled with more terrors, more of Nezra and Raiders, more death and burning. I could see them marching across the wasteland, headed toward my friends, toward Ladow. I woke up in a hot sweat. Something was happening. I could feel the magic.
Raoul was awake stoking the fire a book in his hand. He turned to me. “Come, tell me what you saw.”
I sat by him, my arms wrapped around my knees. I told him of the army headed across the land. The death, the burnings, the destruction. Raoul sat quietly listening. When I finished, he nodded his head and stroked his chin. “Do you remember the protection domes we worked on?”
“Yes.”
“I think your dreams are a foreshadowing of Nezra’s plans. Can you find the raiders, find Nezra, like you did with me.”
I closed my eyes. The thought making me sick. I focused on the fortress. I could see it. The cells now empty. The fortress abandoned. I focused on the raiders. Thousands of them were camped outside the forest. Fires burning, weapons being forged. I became nauseated. I focused on Nezra. He was walking through the camp. He stopped and turned. I thought he looked straight at me. I quickly thought of my mother. I saw her, in a cavern locked away. I felt relieved she was alive. I tried to reach out to her, bring myself to her. It didn’t work. Again, I was blocked. I opened my eyes. I was still sitting with Raoul.
“They are coming.” I said into the fire. Regardless of what happened in Ladow with Leon, I needed to help them. They would all be killed otherwise. My heart went out to the other unknown villages that would befall the wake of the raiders. It was so much death. I ran out the front door and let the nausea overtake me.
When I was cleaned up. I sat with Raoul. “What do I do?” I needed his counsel. I felt overwhelmed and a deep despair.
“Build a wall.” Was his reply.
I closed my eyes again. I thought of the map on Nezra’s wall. I knew it by heart. I focused on the sea. I thought of the wall. It started on the shore and stretched up to the sky, growing higher than any arrow, higher than any bird. I watched it grow in my mind spanning in a straight line to the far shore beyond the northern cliffs. They would not be able to pass. Those seeking shelter could come. I would not condemn them to death. The wall took hours to build. When I was done, exhaustion filled me. I laid on the floor by the fire and cried myself to sleep.
Morning came. The children were up and active. I pulled myself off the rug on the floor and pushed the sleep out of my mind. Today was a new day. Today we prepare to fight.
Raoul was up, he and my neighbor were working on breakfast. I saw the twinkle in his eye. I knew that twinkle. Leon had looked at me that way. My heart broke again. I watched as they interacted. When Raoul turned and saw me awake, his cheeks flushed pink.
It was cute. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your name.”
“You may call me Robyn. I saw the lights on last night and thought you would enjoy a hot meal. We are happy you made it back and with such a high spirited family. I would like to bring them over to my place later to feed the ducks if that’s okay.”
“Yes, that would be lovely.”
“You look just like your mother.”
“Thank you. Did you know her well?”
She gave a shy smile, “Yes. We are cousins.”
I dropped the cup of water in my hand. Cousin’s? I looked at Raoul. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He seemed just as surprised as I did.
“I didn’t know she had a cousin.”
I said while picking up my cup and wiping away the water.
“Yes, well here I am. I came to the village when you were born. When the raiders attacked, I tried to get to you all. When I did, you were gone, your mother gone. Your father... I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to help you.”
I didn’t know what to think. I was in shock.
“Mom never mentioned you. I only know you as a neighbor, friend.” My confusion manifesting itself.
“When I came to the village, we felt it best not to share our relations with anyone. The problems it causes. I’m sure you can relate.”
I could relate, this is how I ended up here, because of my relations. I had so many questions. “So you are on my father’s side then. I know no one from his family.”
“No,” she said hesitantly, “I am from your mother’s side.”
An alarm rang in my head. I jumped to my feet containing her with a red glistening bubble of magic at the same time. “You are Nezra’s daughter.”
“Yes, now you know why I don’t share that information. I see you inherited our fathers gifts. Now, can you kindly let me out of this bubble. I am of no threat. I have no magic. Sit, and I will explain.”
I looked at Raoul, he was wrestling with his own emotions. His hatred and love competing for dominance. I too, felt the conflict. I knew her as a child. I trusted her, but Nezra, I knew him to. How was she not like me? I wanted to scream. I wanted it to be easy. Why now? Why this?
“Talk. I will listen. Then I will decide about the constraints.”
She began a different tale than the one Raoul had told me. “Your grandfather and my father were best of friends. They did everything together. Then Alastair fell in love with your grandmother. Nezra felt left out, alone. Alastair seeing Nezra in his misery cast a spell to find a love for Nezra. My mother’s family moved into our village shortly after. Nezra loved her on site. They were happy. After a short engagement they married. Soon after I was born. However, a few years later my mother died in an attack by a village of shifters. Nezra was so heartbroken he went into a deep depression. Unable to find any hope. Your grandfather took me in. Raising me as his own. Nezra seeing his happiness became even more bitter and angry. He later discovered that Alastair had been the one to share his knowledge of magic. Teaching the village to shift and change into wolves. Nezra concluded Alastair was to blame. If they did not know how to shift, she would not be dead. He hated Alastair. He cursed your grandmother to die, the same as his beloved bride. Your grandmother was already expecting Rose. Alastair did all he could to break the curse. He could not. Nezra overcome with pain left determined to take back all the knowledge and power that was spread amongst the earth. Your grandmother died torn to death by shifters after giving birth to your mother. Alastair was a broken man then. He sent your mother and me to live with friends in our village. Then he too left. I haven’t seen either since. We grew up in a village far north from here. Eventually, the family we were with moved away. Your mother came here. We kept in touch. When I heard she had married and was expecting you, I came.”
“And what of your powers?” I felt she had told me the truth thus far. I wanted to believe her.
“Your mother and I inherited the ability to make potions and powders. Our magic comes from the earth, through living things. You are different. Only the men in our family have inherited a full knowledge of magic. Ability to do as they please. You are an anomaly. On top of that, my father does not know about you.”
“So, what does that have to do with anything.”
“You see, you are destined to stop him. He knows I can’t do anything, and he surely found the same of your mother. But you, you are like him. I can help you stop him.”
“Will he hurt my mother?”
“Does he know where she is?”
“He has her locked in a cave by the shore.”
“I don’t know. He is not the man I knew.”
I let the containment around her melt away. I needed to start trusting again, now was as good a time as any. She reached over and took my hand. “I know you don’t remember much of me, but I do love you. I love your mother. I am sorry for what is happening to you. I would not wish your burden on anyone.”
I was touched by the display of truth. She rose from the table and went back to helping the children. I looked to Raoul. “Can we trust her?”
“I hope so.” He replied.
We took the children down the street to her home so the children could play with the ducks. Robyn pulled out an old thick book from under her floor boards. Opened it up and my lessons began.
Chapter 13
Baffled
Leon
I didn’t know what to think. I did not understand what was happening. I was listening to the council as they began to panic. What was happening? There was a girl here. Where did she go? Gregory looked at me.
“I can’t believe she did that.”
“Who?”
“What do you mean who! Raina!”
“Who is Raina?” I didn’t know this person, and the fact that he thought I did angered me. Was she the girl with magic? The one who just betrayed our offer of allegiance?
“Where is she?” Erebos yelled.
“How did she get out?” Another member asked.
“Search the village.” A third member said.
“Leon, who else does she know?” Erebos commanded.
“I don’t know. I don’t know.” I couldn’t think. I was filled with confusion and anger. “Will somebody tell me what is going on!” I let my frustrations out.
Gregory looked at me curiosity peaking his interest. “Leon, you know why we are here?”
“I don’t know. You tell me! That is what I’ve been asking.”
“Interesting! Why didn’t you fight for your contract over Erebos’s?”
“What other contract? I don’t know what you're talking about. Is that what this is about? Why is everyone frantic? Why isn’t anyone telling me what is going on?”
I walked out of the chamber behind the remaining members that had not run thru the village. I headed home. Gregory stepped next to me matching my stride, holding a ripped peace of paper.
“Leon, you need to remember Raina. The fortress, your plan to rescue her?”
“What are you talking about? I was captured and sold to the raiders. I would never go there on purpose.” It was getting on my nerves.
“The children, are they still with Sanna.”
“You know she only has the one. What are you getting at?” I was ready to knock some sense into him. He was acting strange. I wasn’t in the mood. He must have sensed my mood because he slowed his walk. I stopped and turned on him. “What is going on with you?”
“You, this contract, is not you.” He said holding it up as if reading the ripped pages.
“Why isn’t me?”
“You should have protected her.”
“She wouldn’t align with us?”
“Based on the contract we presented, I wouldn’t have either.”
“It’s for the best, you can’t trust any of their kind?”
“You did.” Gregory hung his head and turned back down the path in the opposite direction.
I didn’t recall trusting anyone with that type of magic. This only proved it. If she didn’t sign, she was considered an enemy. With luck I we wouldn’t cross paths with her again. For now, they had enough people looking for her. I didn’t need to join in. My head was aching. I hurried home to lay down for the night.
Morning came. I went to the council chambers. They were unsuccessful in finding her. No one in the village had seen or helped her. I decided to go to Sanna’s. See how they were holding up.
When I got there, something was off. They seemed different somehow. Almost like when our mother was banished from the village.
“Sanna, have you heard anything in the market about this girl with magic?”
“No, I can’t say that I have.” She turned and walked away from me went to her room and sh
ut the door. Ethan looked from his room to me and back again.
“I think you should leave.” He stated. Then took Sasha and went to join Sanna in their room. I was baffled by this. I had never seen them act like this toward me. Something was wrong, when they were ready to talk, I would be ready to listen.
I went back to the council chambers. We were having another meeting. Our need to discuss the growing number of raiders now starting to stretch down our border. We were also getting reports of refugees headed our way, and the river pixies asking for passage. It looked like a war was brewing. This girl, was the start of it. We would discuss our strategy to fight. Everyone had arrived but Raoul. Nobody waited for him. I looked to Gregory, “Where is Raoul?” As I said it, I recalled briefly someone debating his innocence to the members. He had helped and aided this girl with her plan of deceit. I regretted asking and waved off the question.
Into the debate chamber I went, the heavy wood doors closed behind me. The girl forgotten.
Chapter 14
Time
Raina
It had been a month. Robyn and Raoul had helped me prepare to the best of my ability. I was ready. The nightmares were getting worse. I could see the plans. They were only a day from the wall. So many people already dead. Villagers fighting in vain to save their homes and loved ones. Robyn was having nightmares as well. They were in fact visions, some real, some shadows of the future. We discussed our dreams often. Used them to prepare for battle. Many had already fled to the protection of other villages within the dome. The time had come.
I sat in the field watching the children play. “I will take care of them, protect them with my life.” Raoul said, nodding in their direction. “Robyn and I have discussed it. We will move them to the shore. Robyn will conceal our hiding place and do what she can to protect them also.”
“Thank you. They have been through so much. I don’t want them to see anymore war or death. If I don’t make it back…”
