Chapter 20
A Secret Revealed
She entered the room and closed the door behind her. When she entered, she spied the item that must have glittered through the window. It was an oval piece of Stranan, which was a shiny silver rock found only deep within the Arcainen mines. Stranan was very rare and this was only the second piece she had ever seen. The first one was in Tolmac's workroom and he used it for looking at places and things from the past. Tolmac's piece was only a fraction of the size of this one. The room was very neat with all types of items and bottles labeled and stacked on the shelves or set on the counter tops. She crossed the room and headed for the Stranan rock, which was resting on a pedestal on the far counter. It seem to shimmer. She glided her hand over the rock to feel the smoothness when she heard Airic's voice.
"I have waited a long time for someone to make it this far," he said.
Angelina spun around expecting to find Airic standing there and realized as he continued to speak that the voice was coming from the Stranan rock. Angelina turned back to the rock and leaned closer as the surface clouded, flashed brightly then cleared to show an image of a young boy working in a field on a hot summer day.
"This is the story of my life. After you have heard my tale you may leave my estate and return home if you wish, never to be bothered by me again. Or you may choose to help. Though you must realize that this could mean your death," informed the voice of Airic.
The image moved closer to the young boy, showing him pulling out the weeds between the plants in a field. There was also a man and woman helping, apparently the young boy's mother and father. In the distance, a rider was approaching. The family saw the rider and stopped working. They stood to await the stranger. The young boy went to his father's side.
"A mighty fine young lad you have there," remarked the rider, a very beautiful middle aged women with long straight jet black hair and bright green eyes. She then dismounted her horse to stand in front of the family.
"Yes madam, he is," replied the man as he casually but protectively placed his arm around the boy's shoulder. He was glancing at the ring she had on her smallest finger, the ring of a sorceress.
"I am in need of an apprentice, and the boy looks like he would do nicely," informed the woman, brushing back a loose stand of hair from her face. "Of course I would generously compensate you for his leaving. Would one hundred gold pieces be sufficient?" she questioned, knowing that this was more than the family would make in a lifetime.
The man and woman looked at each other and then at their son. "Nothing would replace the loss of our only child," responded the mother in a challenging tone. "I would rather be poor and have a son than be rich and have none at all."
"Well, I of course understand," flippantly said the woman as if they were speaking about a piece of meat and not a person. "I would let him visit you each year. Please, at least consider the offer." She turned and mounted her horse. "I will return in one month's time. If you still do not wish to have your son accompany me, I will leave you in peace and continue my search for an apprentice. By the way, I am called Madina," she finished as she turned her horse around and slowly departed.
FLASH!
The young boy and his parents were sitting at the dinner table eating their sparse meal. "Madina will be back any day now," began the young boy, "and if I do go with her, you will have more money than you could dream of and I would get to visit with you each year as she said."
"But you are our son and we love you more than anything," replied his mother as she reached her arm across the table and took her son's hand. "We want you to be happy." She glanced over at her husband. "Your father and I have talked and we have decided that we will leave the decision up to you. After all, it is your life to do with as you please."
FLASH!
The young boy was hugging his parents in front of their home. His belongings were slung over his shoulder in a small bag. The sorceress was waiting on her horse for him to finish his good-byes.
"Here are the gold pieces I promised you," she informed the man as she handed him a large heavy sack. "I will send him back each year in the spring for a month long visit. Don't worry, I will see to it that he is well cared for."
Angelina didn't like the look in the sorceress' eyes as she said that last statement.
"Thank you madam," responded the boy's father, too caught up in looking at the bag that he was holding to notice anything wrong. "Airic means everything to us and we will sorely miss him," he continued as he pulled the young lad close to him and gave him another hug. "I love you boy," he whispered.
"I love you too dad," replied Airic as he returned his father's hug. "I love you mom," he continued as he released his father and hugged his mother.
His mother was crying and hugged him close.
Airic mounted the horse that Madina brought in case he had decided to go with her and they rode off. The mother and father watched them until they were out of sight.
FLASH!
The scene now showed their arrival at Madina's castle. She did indeed give him more than he could ever have hoped for. He had plenty of food to eat and was taught to read and write. He became adept at working spells and he had Salene. Angelina realized that this was the young woman in the painting in Airic's bedroom.
Salene was, from what Angelina could tell, Madina's daughter. Angelina did not see a father figure in any of the scenes.
Airic and Salene were childhood companions. It didn't look like there was anyone else to talk to or play with.
Angelina could see the looks that Madina was giving to the two and noticed that Madina was not pleased that Airic and Salene were becoming close.
Each year Airic was allowed to return to visit his parents who were now living in a very large house on their own estate. This house, in fact, thought Angelina.
FLASH!
Madina and Airic were working spells. It also showed that Airic strayed to using only magic for good purposes and Madina did not seem pleased.
FLASH!
Airic and Salene, now both young adults, were very much in love. It also showed the hatred Madina was feeling toward her own daughter. Madina had always had her eye on Airic and watched him grow up into a very handsome young man. She did not wish for Airic to show any affection for anyone else but herself.
FLASH!
The scene showed Airic spurning Madina's advances. Madina then learned from Airic that he was in love with Salene. She became enraged when he told her.
On a stormy night Madina sent for her daughter. When Salene arrived Madina flew into a jealous rage and forbid her daughter to have anything to do with Airic. Then Salene informed her mother that Airic and she were leaving and she couldn't stop them. Madina decided that Salene must be taken out of the picture so that Airic could realize how wrong he was to give his affections to someone who did not deserve them.
FLASH!
Some time later Madina sent for Salene and Airic and apologized for the way that she had behaved. She said that she had time to think and realized that since they loved each other that they should be married. She then asked that they stay at her castle until after the wedding and then they may leave if they wanted or continue to live there. It showed Madina continuing to give the impression that she had resolved her jealousy and was truly happy for Salene and Airic. For a wedding present, Madina fixed up the estate's cottage that had been vacant for years and gave it to Salene and Airic to either live there or stay there when visiting and she insisted that they spend their wedding night there.
FLASH!
It's now the wedding ceremony and celebration. Madina slipped something into Airic's drink before she handed it to him and made a toast. Airic drank the contents of his goblet. It was getting late but the celebration was still continuing. Salene and Airic excused themselves so that they could retire and left to make their way to the cottage. When they entered the cottage they realized their mistake. Five armed men sprang out of their hiding places and cut down Salene as Ai
ric tried to fight them off and work his sorcery.
Angelina gasped at the sight.
Airic was struck in the head but still tried to call upon his powers before he blacked out. He woke to find his new bride lying in a pool of blood. Figuring that Madina must be behind this horrible act, Airic ran back to the castle. When he arrived it was mass confusion for not only was he and Salene attacked but the castle as well.
The mercenaries had been beaten back and killed. Most of them by Madina's magic. Seeing Airic covered in blood, Madina ran over to Airic with a searching look in her eyes and asked in a stricken voice where Salene was. Airic realized at that point that Madina must not have been involved and that she was truly worried about her daughter. Airic collapsed to the ground sobbing out that she was murdered by the mercenaries. Madina screamed in horror and began to sob hysterically. Airic believed that the blow he received to the head had impaired his powers and that was why he wasn't able to use his magic to save Salene.
After the burial of Salene and the other members of the wedding celebration, Madina informed Airic that he was welcome to stay at her castle or the cottage for as long as he wanted because after all he was now family.
FLASH!
Airic was still not over the shock of losing the most precious thing in his life and decided to stay until he could think straight and decide what he wanted to do. Madina left Airic to himself and only saw him during their meals.
FLASH!
It was many months later. Madina suggested that she and Airic talk because it was clear that he was still mourning Salene. Madina and Airic went into the study to have a glass of wine and a discussion. Airic told Madina how lost he was without Salene. Madina told Airic that she felt that the time for mourning was now past and that he should get on with his life. That he could always find another woman to love.
Airic looked at Madina and asked in a shocked voice, "What do you mean? Salene and I loved each other and there will never be another love such as hers. No woman could equal what I have felt for her."
Madina replied in a somewhat harsh tone. "You and Salene were never meant to be together. It was you and I that were meant to share our lives together."
"I don't love you and I never have, nor will I ever," he protested. He was shocked at what he was hearing.
"You will be mine or you will suffer the consequences," she rasped getting irritated. She figured he would have come to his senses by now.
"You killed her, didn't you. I should have known it had to be you," he declared in a stricken voice. "You murdered your own daughter!" he shouted enraged. "I'll kill you for this, Madina," he cried as he lunged across the few steps separating them, not quickly enough as Madina's magic slammed him to the floor.
"Salene was expendable as was her pathetic excuse for a father. I planned this from the moment she declared her love for you. If you will not join me then you shall not have anyone," she laughed evilly.
Airic frantically tried to use what magic he had against Madina.
"If you think that I would allow you to learn enough magic to match me, you are sorely mistaken. I have been quite careful in what I have taught you. I was prepared if you were going to deny me, so you shall now hear your fate," she declared.
As Airic writhed in pain on the floor, Madina walked over to a gold box on the table. She lifted the lid and extracted the Uzan crystal within. The crystal was an inch thick, flat and smooth on both sides. It was shaped into an oval approximately four inches in length. The oval's edge was chiseled and the Uzan crystal itself was iridescent milky white. "I am going to take your youth away from you and store it in this crystal and when you are ready to stand at my side I will release you. During this time you will be a very old man and I doubt that anyone, any young beautiful vibrant woman would even look twice at you. Oh, and did I mention that not only will you be very old, you shall also be immortal. You will watch everyone you have ever loved die before you and there is nothing you can do," she laughed in contempt. "And I shall stay my same youthful beautiful self. You have one last chance. Will you declare your love for me and stand at my side?" she questioned ominously.
"Never. . . I will never join you no matter what you do to me. I shall never be yours," he gasped through the pain.
"So be it," she hissed as she held the crystal toward Airic and began her chant. White milky light flowed out of the crystal and surrounded Airic as he lay on the floor. The light slowly pulsed and changed to a milky golden color, then it began to pull back into the crystal until it faded completely leaving the crystal a milky golden color. The figure which was once Airic in his youth, was now a very old man.
An Airic that Angelina knew. An Airic that she had married.
Madina then told Airic that the only way he could regain his youth and mortality would be by one of two ways. "The first is to join me for all eternity. The second way requires you to find a female who is pure and of royal blood who would willing give her help. Then this female would have to confront and defeat me to acquire the Uzan crystal." Madina was laughing as she stated this. "You do realize that if there were such a person and this person could take the crystal from me and restore your youth, it would also change you back into a mortal." She slipped the Uzan crystal back into its gold box. "Mortality. That seems like a high price to pay. To grow old and die," she said it as if those words left a bad taste in her mouth. She then picked up the gold box. "You have paid your price, go now and do not return until you have made the correct decision," she commanded.
"You will be the one to pay the price, Madina. Believe me, I shall defeat you and then I will be the one laughing," he threatened in a deadly tone.
"Ha! I do not fear you nor will I ever," she laughed as she turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her.
Airic slowly got to his feet and departed.
The Stranan rock clouded and then cleared to its original state.
Angelina turned and leaned with her back to the counter and let out a sigh as she brushed her hair back from her face with her hands. She needed time to digest what had just happened. She quickly crossed the room and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her. She released the door and was glad that the ward was no longer in effect. It was then that she realized that the ring that she was wearing was the same one that Airic had given Salene.
She swiftly traveled back the way she had come, stooping to pick up the staff she had used. She barely noticed the startled Arla as she practically ran into her while hurrying down the hall and up the steps to the first floor. She asked Marlin where Elise was. He told her that he had seen her outside walking in the garden and that Yarma had just passed him with a tray of food for her. Angelina thanked Marlin and rushed through the sitting room and out through the double doors to the garden and headed straight for Elise. She was sitting on a throw underneath one of the large oak trees and working on her sketching. Yarma had just taken Elise's lunch to her and was heading toward the house when Angelina passed by her.
"What is it that makes you rush so?" questioned Elise with curiosity knowing that something was up.
"I must tell you what just happened to me and decide on what to do before Airic returns this evening," Angelina gasped as she tried to catch her breath.
"Sit here and tell me, but first calm yourself and have a cool drink of iced lemon and not a word until you do," commanded Elise as she set her paper and stick of charcoal off to the side and poured a drink for Angelina. Elise was eyeing the staff that Angelina had just tossed down before taking a seat near her.
"Thank you," she responded as Elise handed her the drink and she took a long swig. "I believe I am ready to tell you what just happened," she continued, "although I almost can't believe it just did."
Angelina told her tale while she and Elise shared lunch. She told Elise of how she again went downstairs, overcame the ward and what she found and the entire story of Airic. She did this between the reprimands and comments from Elise about her not listening and having an o
veractive curiosity that one of these days was going to get her into trouble.
"Well, what are you going to tell Airic?" she questioned when Angelina had finished telling her story.
"He has been so kind to us and I can't help but like him. It's been a long time since I've had the opportunity to sit and talk with someone who is willing to listen and to actually participate in the conversation, instead of all of that ridiculous meaningless chit-chat at court. It's strange, but even though he is so much older, well not really that much older I suppose, I feel something for him," she explained but hurried on as Elise gave her a questioning look. "I don't think what I feel is anything more than friendship, at least I don't think so, not at this point anyway. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I will do whatever it takes to help him," she finally blurted out.
The Uzan Crystal Page 19
