by W.O. Cassity
Chapter Twelve: New Opportunities
Adam’s nostrils awoke before he did. The smell of rich earthen dirt, fresh wood, and spring was overshadowed only by the smell of fresh food sizzling over the fire. His eyes opened and he could see where a poultice of herbs and leaves dressed his injured shoulder. He could see Talia and Donadeir were both resting peacefully in their bedrolls and their wounds had been tended to as well.
Adam slowly allowed his eyes to adjust to the brightness of the cave. Stooped over the campfire, there was a slender woman with long, golden flowing hair, partially wrapped with green and brown braids. Her pointed ears were poised distinctively from her head. She turned to him and smiled, as she flipped the meat sizzling in her pan.
“The food is almost ready,” the lady said.
“Who are you?” Adam inquired.
“I am called Aravae, and I am here to help.”
Talia and Donadeir also began to stir awake, and Adam watched as Aravae shifted her position so she could show them she was friendly and providing assistance.
Adam noticed Aravae’s clothing resembled a woodland fashion. He had seen some of the trappers from the north wearing similar clothing when they brought their goods down the river. Her armor and her boots were dyed green, but it was clearly made of supple, padded leather, trimmed with fine fur. Aravae’s attire was intended to allow her to blend effortlessly into the foliage of a woodland area, much like the forest covering the top of the mountain they currently resided on.
“You’re her,” Donadeir exclaimed. “I knew I didn’t just dream you.”
“I apologize for my interruptions,” Aravae responded. “I was sent here to observe, not to interfere.”
It was obvious Donadeir had become enchanted with her by the way he looked into the elven woman’s silver eyes. They had a bright emerald green ring around their irises. Her long, pointed ears looked as soft and supple as her plump lips which adorned her thin, pointed face. Her form was accentuated like an hourglass. Her skin was blemish free and slightly pale.
“Who sent you here to observe?” Talia asked picking up Aravae’s implied meaning.
“She says her name is Aravae,” Adam interjected, feeling concerned by Talia’s forceful tone. “I believe she was the one who carried us inside and tended to our wounds.”
Adam pointed toward Talia’s ribs to emphasize his point. Aravae had treated her ribs with woodland remedies and bound them securely. He also nodded to Donadeir’s hands which were caked with dried mud and herbs.
“The forest called out to my people to tell us the realms of men were about to change course,” Aravae answered. “We knew this location would be where the events would unfold. I came here to discover the three of you fending for yourselves. I offered the bedrolls, but couldn’t risk interacting with you until we knew what was changing.”
Donadeir spoke up, “Uh, hello, the heir awakened.”
Adam noted Dona’s snarky tone as he waved one of his treated hands into the air. He was definitely being himself much to Adam’s relief.
“I believe that was why nature wanted us to observe, and is why I was sent here,” Aravae replied.
“The prophecy for the heir of the Blood King has been fulfilled. A lot of things will change since Donadeir has awakened the powers of his heritage,” Talia explained. “It is what the Fates decreed, and it has come to pass.”
“That is the truth which was meant to happen and be done, is it not?” Aravae asked. “So tell me why the prophecy failed?”
“What do you mean the prophecy failed?” Adam asked in earnest.
“The prophecy is dead and the reign of the heir has died with it. Your friend here has changed his destiny.” Aravae explained. “The Fates are angry, but the forest is renewed with hope. We are trying to understand how this has come to pass.”
“So you mean I’m not evolving into a bloodthirsty lunatic bent on domination of the Eleven Kingdoms any longer?” Donadeir asked in disbelief.
“That is correct, Dona,” Aravae answered, using Talia’s nickname for him.
Despite everything Talia knew about the Order, she knew Aravae’s words to be true. She too had heard the omnipotent voice commanding Donadeir to “fulfil his destiny” and its displeasure when Dona had refused. The three friends had all shared Dona’s head at the same time, and that was how he had conquered the magic in his blood.
“The food is finally prepared to eat,” Aravae said. She smiled at them kindly as she offered each of them a plate. “If you wish to go with me to find some more answers, you will need to regain your strength.”
Talia already had her mind set on discovering more answers, and she knew her boys would be there to discover them with her. She reached for the food Aravae had offered. She wasn’t sure if she could trust the elf, but so far, nothing about her indicated she was being deceptive.
“Thank you,” Talia replied.
“So, will the three of you come with me to the Great Northern Forest of Erresil?” Aravae inquired. “We will help you to find the answers as to how your friend here was able to restore nature’s balance.”
Talia considered what she could learn from the elves, for she knew the Order would launch full inquiry to the events which had transpired here. Traveling to the elven kingdom would also put a greater distance between themselves and the reach of those who conspired at Cindermoor Keep.
“Yes, we will go,” Talia answered.
Donadeir nodded his head with agreement and relief. He wanted answers more than anyone else could imagine. The possibility of him being adopted never once crossed his mind before he realized he was orphaned, and he needed to know more about how this all came to be. Although the lineage of his blood and the circumstances which led to him being a baker’s son was a mystery, Donadeir felt peace from knowing himself in a way he had not before the events of the last eleven days. He might have been the heir by birthright, but he knew he was also the proud son of a baker, a survivor of Riverside, and a loved companion of Talia and Adam.
Adam admired his blood brother and friend. He saw a new and better person in front of him. There was a sense of tranquility coming from Donadeir he had never thought possible, considering the fact Dona had always seemed petty and cruel. Adam could only assume Donadeir had found himself, but discovered new questions which needed answers. Answers that could only come from uncovering the past.
Adam turned to look into Talia’s eyes, and he saw uncertainty, even fear in them. She had always been so confident and certain, but now her faith in the Order, in how the world worked, and her place in it, was in question. The last eleven days had changed Talia more than any of them, and it felt like it was for the worst.
All of those dreams of becoming an adventurer seemed so childish now, and yet here Adam was, living an adventure. It wasn’t as majestic as he had once imagined. Real dangers existed, changing him and his friends. He had never considered his destiny before all of this, for he had assumed he was no one important, no one special. Adam was afraid because he was so close to someone with an ominous and powerful destiny, so how could he simply be a nobody? How could he not be tainted by the dark prophecies he feared might have been his own until Donadeir’s power manifested? He needed answers as much as his friends, for this was a fate he did not want. Adam wanted to be like Donadeir and change his destiny too, in order to do that, he needed to discover his past and what his destiny was to be.
“Yes, I agree,” Adam said. “We should rest up and heal so we can go with Aravae to the Kingdom of the Elves.”
