by MJ Schutte
‘He already is. How many times has he saved Lilian and me, knowing that we are going to be in danger long before it happens? He has always protected us, and we have simply gotten used to it, expected it and taking it for granted. Since he is also a creature of magic, this job does not need to be explained to him, it is part of his instinct. We will be his human counterparts, but he will remain the one true guardian of magic,’ Brighton smiled.
Dina wanted to argue some more, but Evangeline interrupted her.
‘I never saw it, but you are correct, Brighton. You have seen, and made us see a wonderful thing today,’ she said.
‘I do have a job for you, though,’ Brighton said to the two spirits.
Dina’s eyebrows rose at the thought of a human commanding a spirit, but she said nothing.
‘Yes?’ Evangeline said carefully.
‘The world is a big place and we can obviously not always be where magic is being misused. Keep an eye on the world for us and inform us when trouble is brewing,’ Brighton said.
‘Agreed! Mischief will have our eyes to watch the world, and your hands to help him,’ Evangeline said cheerfully.
Dina also nodded her agreement, a wide smile lighting up her face.
‘Although I had not known you before, I was also given a small bit of magic to be used in this world,’ she said as she pointed to a spot on the ground, about ten paces away.
A rumbling sound came from the earth, and then a small fountain sprung from the ground. Grass, berry bushes and an apple tree sprouted from the ground and grew before their eyes into a beautiful little oasis.
‘Somewhere for you to rest and regain your strength,’ Dina smiled.
Brighton nodded his thanks to Evangeline and Dina. As they faded away he stuck his hand out towards the apple tree.
‘Brighton! You can take that tree’s energy!’ Lilian scolded.
‘I wasn’t,’ he replied as an apple flew from the tree into his hand.
‘I was picking an apple for you,’ he said as he held the bright red fruit out to Lilian.
They found a comfortable spot on the lush green grass and, Lilian with her head on Brighton’s chest, fell asleep almost instantly.
Mischief, as was his habit, guarded over his human companions.
Al’taish and Angelina traveled fast. When Angelina asked where he got the horses, he explained his talent for thought manipulation to her. He left it at that, not telling her that he stole the horses from a traveling salesman.
‘Have you manipulated my thoughts?’ Angelina asked carefully.
‘I have not tried,’ Al’taish answered honestly.
‘Will you?’ she asked.
‘Never,’ Al’taish smiled at her.
They rode in silence for a while until Al’taish said, ‘You have a very special talent too. As I understand, you can see if a person is telling lies or the truth.’
‘I see their emotions. When a person tell lies or plan evil things, a dark cloud hangs over them. When I see light shining from someone, I know their intentions are pure,’ Angelina explained.
‘Can you see my emotions?’ Al’taish asked.
‘No, strangely I can’t, but I have decided to trust my instincts,’ Angelina smiled.
The two lovers continued to ride until after dark. They did not know what happened to the elves or Brighton and Lilian, so Angelina suggested they go to Madam Jenneve as quickly as possible
Late in the evening, when Angelina was already asleep, Al’taish became aware of a slight movement in the trees. It was not so much that he saw it, but rather felt the presence of someone not far away. Silently he thanked Robyn for helping him develop his magic.
Quietly, without waking Angelina, he got up. Like a ghost he moved through the trees. He circled around the person stalking them and very quietly crept up behind the man. When he was barely three paces away, he jumped forward, cocked his right wrist back and grabbed the man from behind, placing the blade against his throat.
‘What are you doing here?’ he growled in the man’s ear.
Before an answer was given, a knife attached to the end of a bow was suddenly at Al’taish’s throat.
‘Step away slowly,’ a voice came from behind.
Al’taish berated himself for not continuing to use his gift, scanning the area for more people.
He lifted his hands slightly in a gesture of compliance and stepped back, the blade still pressed up against his throat.
‘Goralt, let him go,’ Angelina’s sleepy voice came from the bushes.
Goralt immediately stepped away from Al’taish, dropped his bow and rushed towards Angelina.
‘I am very happy to find you alive!’ he exclaimed.
Angelina hugged the elf for a moment before saying, ‘I am happy you have survived. Where are the other elves?’
‘Sadly, only five of us are still breathing. We have been fighting Zaconis’ army since Mistress Lilian was taken and Master Brighton went after her. We eventually managed to slip behind the soldiers. They are racing towards Celonis, believing they will catch up with us when we are in fact following them,’ Goralt explained.
‘Only five?’ Angelina gasped.
‘Yes, but for every elf we lost, fifty enemy soldiers will never breath again. We fought like demons,’ Goralt replied.
‘Angelina, who is this?’ Al’taish asked.
‘I’m sorry. This is Goralt. He and the other elves had been our protectors on our journey here,’ Angelina replied.
Al’taish introduced himself and stuck his hand out. Goralt pumped his hand vigorously, saying, ‘You have been protecting Angelina. This makes you a friend.’
Brighton woke up to the sound of low, aggressive growling coming from Mischief. The cat’s eyes were fixed on a particularly thick bunch of dead bushes.
‘What’s going on, boy?’ Brighton whispered, not wanting to wake Lilian.
He looked towards the bushes Mischief was staring at. In a single movement, he rolled away from Lilian, grabbed his walking stick and got to his feet.
‘Oh no!’ he gasped as he saw what had gotten Mischief so tense.
With the back of his foot, he nudged Lilian against the leg.
‘Lily, wake up,’ he whispered as calmly and as he could.
‘Stop it, Bri,’ Lilian complained as she turned her back to him.
‘Lily, wake up,’ Brighton urged, still whispering, nudging her leg urgently.
‘Brighton! Stop kicking me,’ Lilian retorted irritably as she sat up.
‘Shh,’ Brighton snapped.
Lilian rubbed her eyes in an effort to fully wake up.
‘What is going on?’ she asked.
‘Speak softly,’ Brighton answered as he pointed to the bushes he and Mischief had been watching.
It took Lilian’s eyes a few moments to adjust to the gloomy light of the late afternoon.
Her body stiffened in fear as she saw a tall daraghna between the trees. At first she could only see it was one of the beasts, but when she looked closer, she noticed that it seemed to be cooking something on a small fire.
‘We need to get away from here,’ she whispered to Brighton.
‘We can’t leave that thing alive,’ Brighton answered as he stole a quick glance towards the mountain behind them. For a moment he wondered how long it would take to retrieve his sword, but he already knew it was not possible.
Suddenly the daraghna looked up and slowly turned its head towards them. Standing up to its full height, it was almost as large as the beasts they had killed in the cave. It bent down again and extinguished the fire with its bare hands.
‘Mischief and I will fight it. Stay behind us,’ Brighton said as he took a few steps towards the beast. Mischief stayed very close to him, menacing growls still coming from deep within his throat.
The daraghna folded its wings against its back and lifted its arms a little. It slowly walked closer until it was only twenty paces away from them.
‘I wishsss you no harmsss,’ i
t hissed.
Brighton shot a confused look at Lilian.
‘Pleasssssse, I do notsss wishsss to fightssss,’ the beast said.
‘What do you want?’ Brighton asked.
‘’I wishsss to speak withssss my brothersss,’ the daraghna said.
‘Your brothers are all up in the cave. They are dead, or soon will be,’ Brighton replied.
‘No, thissss issss not truesss,’ the daraghna said as it shook its head.
Very softly Brighton whispered to Lilian, ‘It seems we did not get them all.’
‘You killssss allsss the daraghnasss,’ the beast said.
‘Apparently they also have excellent hearing,’ Brighton said a bit louder.
‘Yessss, my earssss workssss,’ the daraghna said as its lips turned up in something resembling a smile.
It threw its head back and sniffed the air.
‘I smellsss familiar magicsss in yousss. You havesss my fathersss magicsss,’ the beast said softly.
‘I learnt recently that Zaconis was my father. I got my magic from him,’ Brighton said, confusion creeping into his mind.
‘Wasss?’ the daraghna frowned.
‘Yes, I destroyed him,’ Brighton replied.
‘Sssad, but neccessssary. I lovedssss my fathersss, but he wassss notsss a goodsss man,’ the beast said as it dropped its head.
‘Zaconis was your father?’ Brighton gasped.
‘Yesss.’
‘So, you are my brother?’ Brighton said carefully.
‘Ssssistersss,’ came the reply.
‘My sister?’ Brighton said, his mind reeling.
‘I amsss fathersss only daughtersss. I wasss humansss once, but fathersss turnedsss me intosss a beastsss many summersss ago. I do notsss knowssss why fathersss did thissss,’ the beast explained. She pulled her wings forward covering her body as if she was ashamed about the way she looked.
Brighton, having seen all Zaconis’ memories, knew exactly why. It was yet another failed experiment to rectify his first mistake, creating the daraghna in the first place. He decided not to share this information with the beast in front of him just yet.
‘Do you have a name?’ Brighton asked.
‘No, daraghnasss havesss no namesss. My mothersss calledsss me Isobelsss when I wassss ssssmallsss,’ the beasts replied.
Lilian tugged on Brighton arm urgently. When he turned to face her, she spoke to him in the elf way.
Be careful. The beast is probably trying to deceive us into trusting it so it can get close to us.
Slowly Brighton nodded. He had the same thoughts.
‘Pleasssse, do notsss be afraidssss,’ Isobel begged, looking at Lilian.
‘I am not,’ Lilian said defiantly although her insides were completely knotted up in fear.
Mischief’s eyes were fixed on the beast, his muscles tense, tail flicking slowly from side to side.
‘Pleasssse, I amsss afraidsss of the demonsss animalsss. Pleasssse tell himsss I meansss no harmsss,’ Isobel pleaded.
‘Mischief will not do anything unless you threaten us,’ Brighton said, putting his hand on the panther’s head.
‘I willsss trustsss you in thisss, brothersss,’ the daraghna said as she folded her wings flat against her back and sat down.
‘Maysss we speaksss for a whilesss? I havesss no onesss left but you andsss our othersss brothersss,’ Isobel said.
‘Our other brother?’ Brighton frowned.
‘Yesss, did you notsss knowsss? Hissss mothersss callsss him Al’tashssss,’ Isobel said, again attempting a smile.
‘Al’taish? Madam Jenneve’s son is Brighton brother?’ Lilian gasped.
‘Yesss, he isss,’ Isobel replied.
Brighton was too shocked to speak. He never knew he had any family, and now he discovers Al’taish is his brother and his sister is a fearsome, bloodthirsty beast.
‘Our brothersss is the reasssonsss I needsss to speaksss with you. I thinksss he issss in troublessss,’ Isobel said worriedly.
‘Where is he?’ Brighton asked.
‘He issss travelingsss with a womansss, a witchsss, towards Celonissss. Theressss issss alsssso fivesss otherssss with them,’ Isobel answered.
‘It must be Angelina and the elves. If Al’taish is with them, he is probably safe. Why do you think he is in trouble?’ Lilian frowned.
‘He isss notsss, but I thinkssss he willsss be once they reachsss Ccccelonisss,’ Isobel replied.
‘Why?’ Brighton asked.
‘Yesterdayssss, I hadsss a dreamsss, but my eyessss were opensss. I wasss not sssleeping. It wasss very ssstrange. I sawsss Al’taishssss and the witchssss diessss, alongssss with the fivesss othersss. This dreamsss havesss returned many timesss. I do notsss undersssstandsss it. I hopesss you willsss,’ Isobel said.
Brighton looked at Lilian, many thoughts crossing his mind at the same time.
‘A vision of the future, perhaps,’ he suggested.
‘Nobody can predict the future,’ Lilian said with a shake of her head.
‘True, but recently I have learnt that certain people can get visions of possible futures. These visions are based on circumstances as they are at that point in time. If the circumstances chance, so will the future. It would seem Dina’s gift was given to Isobel,’ Brighton replied.
Turning back to Isobel, he asked, ‘What exactly did you see in this vision?’
‘I sawsss our brothersss die at the handssss of a womansss justsss outside the gatesss of Ccccelonisss. The witchsss and five othersss alsssso diesss,’ she replied.
‘How does he die?’ Brighton asked.
‘In the dreamsss the womanssss stabbsss him withsss the daggersss she ssstole from our fatherssss a long timesss ago. The daggersss worksss the samesss as my fangsss. If it piercessss the heartsss, she will stealsss his magic and becomesss a daraghnassss. If sssshe givesss magic backsss just beforesss oursss brotherssss diesss, he willsss also becomesss a daraghnasss,’ Isobel explained.
‘And they will be a blood thirsty beasts who feed on people with magic,’ Brighton said without thinking.
‘Notsss necessssarily,’ Isobel said with a shake of her head.
‘But you just said…’ Brighton frowned.
‘They willsss becomesss daraghnasss, but ifsss they can controlsss the hungerssss, they willsss not feedsss on magicsss,’ Isobel replied.
‘Control the hunger?’ Lilian asked.
‘Yessss. Many summerssss ago, I sssstopped taking magicsss. I conssssumesss food likesss when I wassss humansss, When yousss woke upssss, I wassss cookingsss. Would youssss likessss ssssome foodsss?’ Isobel offered, again attempting a smile.
‘Uh…no, thank you,’ Lilian stammered.
‘I havesss cooked rabbitssss, berriesss and fruitssss. I cansss fetchssss it,’ Isobel insisted, seemingly eager to please Brighton and Lilian.
Isobel got up but Brighton said, ‘No, thank you, we are not hungry.’
The beast, looking slightly disappointed, sat down again and covered herself with her wings.
‘So you do not kill people and steal their magic?’ Brighton said.
‘Truesss,’ Isobel confirmed.
‘Amazing! I don’t think Zaconis knew this,’ Brighton said wide eyed.
‘Nobodysss knewssss. I hidsss thisss from our fatherssss and grandfathersss,’ Isobel replied.
Lilian spoke to Brighton in the elf way again.
Do you think she is telling the truth?
Brighton shrugged and signed back, I don’t know, but I am inclined to believe her. I wish Angelina was here.
Yes, that would have made things easier. What are we going to do now? Lilian asked.
We cannot ignore Isobel’s vision. We need to go to Celonis and make sure Al’taish, Angelina and the elves are safe.
‘Youssss do notsss trustssss me and thissss issss why you hidesss yoursss wordssss from me. I understandssss. Perhapsssss in timesss, you will ssssee that I am honessssst and will neverssss harmssss you or any humanssss.
I willssss go to Ccccelonissss and helpssss our brotherssss then you willsss ssssee I am notssss a beasssst,’ Isobel said.
‘We will all go to Celonis,’ Brighton said quickly.
‘You will notsss be theressss in timesss. Our brothersss issss almostsss in Celonisss,’ Isobel replied.
‘I wonder how long we slept,’ Brighton frowned.
‘Many dayssss. I havesss been watchingsss you from the skiessss,’ Isobel answered.
‘If I take enough energy from my surroundings, I can run almost as fast as Mischief. We have to go immediately,’ Brighton said.
‘Todaysss, I hadsss another dreamsss whilesss I wasss awake. I wasss with our brothersss, pullingsss the dagger from hisss chessst. He wasss very closssse to death, but someonesss sssaved himsss with magicsss. I thinkssss it wasss you. I willsss go to our brothersss, but I needsss you to followsss asss fassst asss you can andsss use your magicssss on himsss,’ Isobel said as she got up and spread her wings.
Mischief, perceiving this action as a possible threat, immediately charged. Isobel snapped her wings forward, covering herself in defense. Before Brighton could react, Mischief’s sharp teeth sank into Isobel’s shoulder. Isobel made no attempt at a counter attack. She simply kept herself covered.
‘Mischief, no!’ Brighton shouted as he also stormed forward.
The cat immediately retreated a few paces, still growling at Isobel.
‘I’m sorry. He is very protective,’ Brighton said as he reached the daraghna.
Slowly Isobel opened her wings, keeping a close eye on Mischief.
‘He lovessss you and you lovesss himssss. Maybe, in timessss, we cansss love each othersss like brotherssss and sistersss shouldsss,’ Isobel said trying to hide the pain in her shoulder.
‘I did not think the daraghna was capable of love,’ Brighton blurted out.
‘I wasss humansss once. I only wishsss to be withsss my own kindsss,’ Isobel answered.
‘You are the last of your kind,’ Brighton said in confusion.
‘Notsss true. We aresss the samesss. You, yourssss wifesss, the demonssss and I aresss all creaturesss of magicsss,’ Isobel replied.
Slowly Brighton nodded, realizing that Isobel had touched on a very big truth. Although she might look like a fearsome beast, she was still his sister.
