Wings of Arian

by Walls, Devri

  Kiora frowned, “But then why…”

  Epona motioned to the wings. “Watch.”

  The void in the wings snapped, more quietly than the Wings of Arian, and a picture came into being.

  A very young looking Eleana sat underneath a tree with a handsome young man, holding his hand. His dark hair was cut short, emphasizing his strong jaw and beautiful brown eyes. Those eyes looked at Eleana, much like Emane looked at her. She laid her coppery hair on his broad shoulder and smiled.

  “I’m not hurting you, am I?” she asked shyly.

  “No, I can’t feel any magic at all today,” he said sweetly, running his fingers through her hair.

  Snuggling closer she smiled, “I have been practicing.”

  Eleana narrated the scene, “My poor Eleana was in love with a human. He was a wonderful soul, kind and gentle. A perfect match for her in every way,” Epona sighed, shaking her head tragically, “but entirely non-magical.”

  The picture switched to the handsome young man walking alone through the forest. He was armed with a bow and arrow and crept slowly forward, hunting most likely, when something hit him from behind, throwing him forward. Scrambling to his feet he looked down at his broken bow that lay beneath him. Grabbing the arrow alone he spun around, holding it out in defense and turning on the spot, looking for his attacker.

  A Guardian flew down from the trees, pelting and slashing with magic. Cuts opened around his face and body, blood seeping through his clothes. He flailed, trying to fend off the attack with his arrow, but the small weapon was useless against the magic. Sinking to his knees he slowly succumbed, and after one final shot, fell dead in the forest.

  Kiora inhaled sharply covering her face.

  “So was the first Fallen One,” Epona whispered.

  Dralazar then appeared, unbubbling himself at the scene. He also looked incredibly young. “Let’s see how Eleana feels about protecting her precious humans now.” He grinned at the lifeless body at his feet. “Good work, Vitraya,” he addressed the Fallen One whose transformation had not yet begun. She was still beautiful and fair-haired with sparkling blue eyes. “Hide where we discussed. I will come for you after the gate is up.”

  Epona added, “Eleana was devastated. She blamed herself for not keeping a closer eye on the magical creatures that inhabited the region. So when Dralazar came to her, you can imagine her weakness.”

  Dralazar walked over to a sallow and sunken Eleana. “We can still protect the rest, Sister, there is no need for anymore to die.”

  “I don’t know Dralazar,” Eleana said.

  “I know what Epona said, but you saw what happened. He was attacked for no other reason than that he was non-magical, and by a Guardian, no less! If they will attack, what do you think is going to happen when other things start wandering into the valley? The word is spreading. A group of Shifters crossed the pass just a couple of days ago.”

  Eleana started, “Shifters? Are you sure?”

  “Yes. And you know there is more— dragons have already come and there is bound to be more on the way. And we have been lucky. There are much worse things that haven’t found us yet. Some of the species are growing very bloodthirsty, power hungry.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I know you love them, Sister, I love them too. But they are weak, and our presence is not enough to protect them. Please, help me protect this people, help me erect the gate.”

  “Alright,” Eleana said with a sob. “Alright.”

  “The day her love was killed, a piece of Eleana died,” Epona said as the wings grew silent. “She caved to her brother’s wishes in her grief, and they erected a gate to block the only way in or out of the valley. They used old magic to enchant the valley to ensure everyone in stayed in, and all others stayed out. It was her attempt at protecting the people that she had grown to love so deeply.”

  Kiora’s breath leaked out in a slow and steady stream as she leaned back in the chair. “But, if she wanted to protect us,” Kiora began slowly, “then why does she refuse to fight with us, to put a end to Dralazar?” Sitting straight up she blurted, “Does she know what he did?”

  “She does.” Epona nodded tragically. “She realized too late his betrayal. She tried to open the gate herself, but Dralazar, anticipating her regret, had altered it. Trying to right a wrong she could not truly undo, she laid some enchantments of her own, forbidding old magic. Try as he might Dralazar could have no access to it. This meant he could not use the old magic. It was a rather brilliant spell and the only thing that kept Dralazar from coming into power centuries ago.

  “But, she could have stopped him, couldn’t she?” Kiora asked, searching Epona’s expression. “She is more powerful than he is.”

  “She is,” Epona conceded. “But she feels that the last time she interfered, she changed the destinies of all who live here, in more ways than one. Sometimes old magic can have unforeseen consequences.” Epona raised her eyebrows at Kiora, looking like she was waiting for her to understand something.

  “What?” she finally asked, feeling foolish.

  “The gate had an unsuspected response to what it was asked to do. Can you think of nothing strange about this valley you live in?”

  Kiora shook her head no. Not any stranger than being locked in a valley by a gate.

  She leaned back into her chair. “This valley is small,” she prompted. “And yet Meros never gets any bigger.”

  It bubbled to the surface like tar, slowly. “That’s why we can’t have very many children.” she replied, more of a question than an answer.

  “Yes. The old magic controlled all the populations, both magical and non-magical, to prevent the valley from being overrun and its resources depleted. This is one more thing that Eleana blames herself for. She has watched more than one woman cry and plead to the heavens for more children, children that would never come.”

  Kiora stared at the ground, her mother had been viewed as exceptionally lucky for having not one, but two children. She had no idea. It had never been strange to her that there were so few children in Meros, it just, was.

  The conversation at the battle played through Kiora’s mind. “When Eleana used the old magic- it broke the enchantment,” she said.

  “Yes.”

  Shifting awkwardly in her chair, Kiora struggled to keep her voice even. “But why would she do that? If there really are horrible things on the other side of the mountain, things that could destroy the people, why would she allow him to open it now? And why would he do it, he shut it to keep them out in the first place.”

  “After you went through the change, Dralazar recognized that he may lose this battle. According to the prophecy, if he loses it will be final. Evil will be banished forever. He is searching for help from the outside.”

  “He is going to recruit the creatures that you showed me?”

  “I am sure that is his plan, yes.”

  Kiora sat, trying to reconcile everything she had heard.

  Epona rose from her chair, making her way down the steps, “Kiora, once a path is chosen, things align themselves in order with it. When Dralazar locked the gate, securing the valley as his own, magic intervened. It began calling Soluses and Protectors to keep things in balance to keep Dralazar’s evil from overrunning everything. But now that the gate has been opened,” Epona ran her fingers over the gray stone wings. “Things are changing.”

  “Will we not need a Solus anymore?”

  Epona turned, “Kiora, there is so much you will need to see and understand, much more than I can show you in one night. But you need to know of your calling. You asked why Eleana would open the old magic. She suspected your true calling from the day you went through the change. You are not a Solus, you are The Solus. There are prophecies about you, out there in the world, that date back thousands and thousands of years,” she stretched her arm out, “You will unite us all.”

  The wings shuddered and once again rushed over a world that Kiora had never seen. Foreign faces flicked through, one afte
r another, each whispering her name.

  “What are you telling me?” Kiora asked, pushing herself back into her chair, desperate to deny the knowledge that was resonating within her.

  “Kiora, it was said that the Creator gifted the people a collection of jewels that shone brighter than the sun. And from them sprang the source of light and joy.” Walking back to her chair Epona explained, “One by one over the years, some of the jewels were stolen. Nobody knows who took them, or where they went. Whoever took them was powerful— powerful enough to prevent themselves from being seen. Not even by wings, or visions. The only thing that has ever been seen is a dark shadowed figure.”

  Epona continued, “When the treasure was lost, a darkness spread over the land. Some, such as your own people, were able at times to withstand the darkness and find peace and harmony despite this, but others lost themselves to the evil. It was prophesied that one day a child would come to restore what was lost. A child, and a Witow,” Epona said with a nod to Kiora before sitting herself back down.

  “Eleana used that word,” Kiora interrupted. “What does it mean?”

  “A Witow is an ancient word for those without any magic.” Tilting her head to the side, Epona continued, “I was intrigued when I learned your Protector was a human, a Witow in fact. It had never happened before. I could see how well he complemented you, but it was a dangerous choice. And then when you went through the change, Eleana and I began to wonder. Now that the gate is opened, I can feel the magic calling you.”

  Kiora tried to imagine herself going through the gate, but her thoughts were still slippery. “If the gate is open why can I still not think of crossing the mountains?” she asked.

  “The enchantment was strong and has been in place for thousands of years. It is pulling back as we speak, but it will take time before the entire residue is gone. The magic that calls you is stronger. Surely you feel it.”

  Kiora stared at the ground in front of her, anywhere but in the eyes of the woman who sat before her. “What about Dralazar?” she asked. “What if he has already gone to get others?” “Dralazar is going to be distracted for a time. The spell Eleana used on him was particularly potent.” The old woman smiled. “ Dare say he deserved it.”

  “Did it really affect his magic?”

  “Oh yes. It will take him some time to repair the damage. That hand may never be the same again. Dralazar has no intention of risking an attack on you in his weakened state. Especially now that the gate is open, he will think time is on his side.”

  “Does he know of this prophecy?”

  “I am sure he does. But I would be surprised if he had given it a thought any time in the last three thousand years.” Epona chuckled. “He never was very good at looking at anything besides what was right in front of his nose.”

  Kiora’s mind was eased at the possibility of a reprieve from worrying about an attack from Dralazar. But as it did, she felt a tugging, something pulling at the rivers of magic that already flowed through her. Something was calling her. Closing her eyes she squeezed her hands into fists. It would have been so much easier to think that Epona was wrong, or lying, but she couldn’t. Something was calling her, and a terrible weight settled onto her shoulders.

  “I think that it is time for you to return to Emane, he is worried about you.”

  Kiora opened her eyes, staring out into the room.

  Epona rose and walked to Kiora, gently taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. Kiora reluctantly looked into Epona’s gentle eyes. “Kiora, I know it is difficult to understand. I know that this is not something you would have chosen. The magic calls you because it knows your heart. Your heart is incorruptible, a rare quality indeed.”

  Patting Kiora’s hand, Epona said, “I will not burden you with anymore tonight. Please, go back to your Protector. Talk with him— he understands more than you know.” Epona leaned in and kissed Kiora on the forehead as a grandmother would her granddaughter. “Drustan will also be an invaluable friend on your journey.”

  “What about Aleric?”

  “Aleric has been called in a different direction, for now.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Epona shook her head firmly. “You have so many questions and not enough energy left to listen to the answers. You must learn your limits child. Arturo will take you back now.”

  Kiora heard the gentle clopping of Arturo’s hooves walking slowly into the room. Pulling herself onto his back, she looked to Epona who was watching her with a mix of pride and sadness.

  “Kiora, please try to understand Eleana. What she wishes for most of all right now is your forgiveness.”

  Kiora nodded wordlessly, laying her head down on Arturo’s neck. She closed her eyes as he left the Hall and she didn’t open them again as they flew home.

  Arturo came in at the border of the camp. Kiora slid off, still damp and cold, inside and out. The sun had risen, painting the sky in fantastic pinks and oranges, but was unable to paint her emotions.

  How are you? Arturo asked.

  “Not now,” she said softly. Her hand dropped off his back, falling heavily to her side. Without a glance backwards, she walked numbly into camp.

  Almost making it to her bed, she was pulling back her tent flap when a wave of raw emotion slammed into her. Emane was coming. She sat herself down on her bed in anticipation of the onslaught.

  ***

  Emane caught a glimpse of Kiora’s dark hair disappearing into her tent and he stormed after her. Throwing back the flap, he marched in. “Where have you been?” he demanded. “I have been looking for you for over an hour. I wake up and you are gone! No one has seen you, no one knows where you are!” he said ticking off the offenses on his finger.

  “And would it be too much for you to call me? I know you can do it, you have used it before.” His voice grew louder, pacing back in forth in front of her. “So why is it that you do not feel the need to notify me when you choose to go missing in the middle of the night? Kiora! How am I supposed to protect you when I can’t keep you within twenty feet of me!” He looked around frantically. “And why is it that there is not a single hard surface in here for me to hit!?” He took to pacing again. “Do you think you could enlighten me as to what was so important that you almost gave me heart attack?”

  Before Kiora could answer, Emane continued his rant.

  “And it’s not just me anymore Kiora. Aleric was worried sick, as were the people.” He stopped yelling, and turned his back to her. “I don’t think it’s too much to ask for you to take me with you when you leave. And if nothing else, at least notify us.”

  “I am sorry,” she whispered.

  He spun around. “Sorry isn’t good enough, Kiora!” He looked at her, eyes flashing.

  It was the first time since entering the tent he had actually taken time to really look at her. As soon as he saw her, he wished he hadn’t said anything. She was still damp. Her eyes looked cold and empty, her shoulders hunched. There was a hollowness about her that he had not seen before.

  He deflated, “What happened?”

  She looked up at him with pleading eyes and what was left of his anger dispelled. Plopping down on the bed next to her be put his arms around her and pulled her into him. “What happened?” he asked again.

  She shook her head, “I can’t, not yet.” Burying her face in his chest, she murmured, “I am sorry I scared you.”

  Pushing Kiora’s wet, matted hair out of her face, Emane kissed her forehead. “Will you promise to tell me?”

  “I will,” she said her voice still muffled from his shirt. “It is as much about you as it is about me. But right now I just need you to hold me. Do you think you could forgive me long enough to do that?”

  “Come here,” he said, pulling her onto his lap and wrapping his arms tight around her. “I will hold you as long as you need me to.”

  Emane felt Kiora relax against him, her breathing slowing to a steady even pace. Breathing her in, he leaned his forehead against
hers.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  FREEDOM

  KIORA AWOKE TO THE heat of the sun beating on the side of her tent. Staring at the ceiling she smiled at herself, she had taken it better this time than last. At least she hadn’t run out of the Hall of Protectors screaming, and a dreamless sleep had left her better prepared to accept the enormity of what she had been told last night.

  Trying to think about going over the mountains, Kiora found that for the first time in her life she could. Thinking on that, she felt the pull deepen. The magic was indeed calling her. She was ready to tell Emane what she had learned, but she needed to find Drustan first. It only took her a few minutes to track the Shifter down and set her plan in motion before she was off to find Emane.

  She found him in a small clearing away from camp, running drills with his sword. Bubbling herself so as to not disturb him, she leaned against a tree to watch. He moved gracefully around the clearing, sparring with an imaginary enemy.

  She envied his grace. It was not a gift she possessed. When she fought, she was awkward, her movements stiff. Emane promised her that fluidity would come in time, but she doubted it. Some people were just born with gifts, this was one of his.

  Letting all of her worries melt away for a time, Kiora’s heart swelled for this prince whose path had just changed as much as hers. She felt guilty and grateful at the same time— guilty that she was responsible for taking him away from his kingdom, and grateful that he would be at her side throughout this.

  With one more wide swing, Emane shoved his sword into the ground, breathing hard. Kiora dropped her bubble and begin a gentle applause. He whirled, hand still on hilt, before he realized it was her.