by MJ Schutte
‘Under every drawing of Robyn there is a number. A priest added this number after the artist completed the drawing. The number is the amount of years since the previous drawing was made. If you add up all the numbers, the total is almost three thousand. Every time an artist was brought to the temple, all the previous drawings of Robyn were covered so that he could not copy them.’ Peter answered.
Brighton looked at Lilian.
‘Family of yours, no doubt,’ he said dryly.
Peter frowned at the comment.
‘Why do you say that?’ Lilian asked.
‘Think about it. A woman who did not age and predicted the coming of an almighty father and mother three thousand years ago. Does it not sound just a little suspicious to you?’ Brighton asked.
Nobody answered so he continued, ‘My guess is that she was not referring to Jaclyn and some other person, but to Evangeline and Robert,’ Brighton speculated.
‘You could be on to something here, Brighton,’ Brac commented.
‘I do not think what Robyn said was a prophecy but rather a clever plan. Evangeline and Robert could have seen how evil the Supremes were becoming and devised a plan to get away. Robyn is most likely a grandchild who was loyal to her grandparents and played a part in the plan. It sounds like she was sent here to make this “prophecy” so that Evangeline and Robert could follow later,’ Brighton said.
‘But why go to all that trouble? Why did they not just run away?’ Brac asked.
‘They probably felt that the Supremes would follow them. They needed to make sure they had a following, or army of sorts, to defend them in case Seth and his siblings came after them. Just look what happened to us. The Supremes tried to kill me and later we were hunted by Graham and his army, simply because of who we were, even though we only wanted to live in peace,’ Brighton answered.
‘Who are Evangeline, Robert and the Supremes?’ Nicky asked.
‘I’ll tell you everything later. First, I would like to talk about Robyn’s second prophecy if you don’t mind,’ Brighton answered.
Peter nodded his head and said, ‘When the story of Lady Jaclyn’s birth reached Fenton, Robyn heard it and said, “Evil magic will come from the Dark Land. Our Divine Lady Jaclyn is the only salvation.” This is where Lady Jaclyn’s title comes from.’
‘That disproves your theory, Brighton,’ Brac said.
‘Why?’ the young man asked.
‘If Robyn was sent here to gain support for Evangeline and Robert, why would she make a prediction of evil magic coming from the Dark Land?’ Brac answered.
‘She probably guessed that Evangeline and Robert were not coming anymore. After all, it’s been almost three thousand years and Robyn must have guessed that the Supremes either imprisoned or killed their parents,’ Brighton answered.
‘I think she knew, she didn’t guess,’ Peter commented.
‘Why do you say that?’ Brighton frowned.
‘First, tell me about Evangeline, Robert and the Supremes. I may just know why Robyn made the second prophecy,’ Peter said.
Brighton told Peter and Nicky everything that had happened to them, leaving out only the part about Mischief. He did not want them to think it was his friend that attacked them in the woods earlier. He told them about the Supremes and what they had done to Robert and Evangeline, how Seth tricked Lilian into putting the bracelet on his arm, how the people’s council was formed and then corrupted by Graham, and also what had happened when he went back to the Dark Land to face Graham.
When Brighton finished the story, nobody spoke.
‘I hope that answered all your questions,’ he said to Peter and Nicky.
‘Yes, it did,’ Peter answered pensively.
Adri could see no more fear or distrust in him.
‘I think I know why Robyn made the second prophecy. When I was a young man, before I knew Nicky, Robyn vanished. A year later, she returned to the temple but refused to speak to anyone about where she went. Perhaps she went back to the Dark Land, saw what the Supremes had done and realised that Evangeline and Robert were never going to join her on this side of the mountain. She started aging after she came back,’ Peter explained.
‘She must have thought that one day the Supremes would try to expand their empire and they are the great evil she spoke about,’ Lilian commented.
‘She probably also guessed that Jaclyn had a special talent and could stand up to the Supremes. She couldn’t be sure of this and tried to get some support for Jaclyn by making this prophecy,’ Brighton speculated.
‘Yes, that makes sense,’ Peter replied.
‘I would love to talk to her,’ Brighton said.
‘You may just get the chance. She is coming to Fenton with Lady Jaclyn to the Warrior Trials. It is time again for an artist to draw her likeness on to the temple wall. Like I said before, maybe Lady Jaclyn will remember us and you can meet her, but a better idea is probably to enter the Warrior Trials. Lady Jaclyn makes a point of personally meeting every warrior whenever they attend the Warrior Trials,’ Peter answered.
‘It’s settled then, I will enter the trials,’ Brighton declared.
Lilian was still not happy about this idea but her curiosity about Robyn got the better of her so she did not argue.
‘We’ll go to the town hall tomorrow and put your name on the Warrior Trial registry,’ Peter said.
Chapter 3
THE NEXT MORNING Peter, Brighton and Brac left early to enter Brighton into the Warrior Trials.
‘There will be a number of elves in town, preparing for Lady Jaclyn’s arrival. Remember not to stare at them or even look at an elf female,’ Peter warned them.
As they neared the town hall, Brighton noticed a tall, slender man with long black hair standing close to the entrance. Next to him was an equally tall woman.
He gestured to them and asked Peter, ‘Are they elves?’
Peter stopped dead and said, ‘Oh no. This is not good. I don’t have my sword.’
He quickly turned into a side street, followed by the two younger men. Turning to Brighton and Brac he asked, ‘Did either of you bring weapons?’
Brighton held up the walking stick he was carrying and Brac said, ‘I have a few throwing knifes with me.’
‘Give me one, please,’ Peter said.
Brac produced a blade and held it out to Peter.
The old man took the knife and said, ‘Probably will not be much good but it is better than nothing.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Brighton asked.
‘The elf you saw is called Asdargh. The female is his wife, Eolith. They don’t like me very much,’ Peter explained.
‘Why don’t they like you?’ Brighton asked.
‘Remember Nicky told you I was the Warrior Trials champion many years ago? In the last battle I fought, I beat Asdargh. It’s the only time a human has ever beaten an elf in battle. Since that day, Asdargh and his wife have hated me. The defeat brought a terrible shame on their family. Asdargh’s hair was shaven off completely because he yielded to a human,’ Peter answered.
‘Oh, I see,’ Brighton said.
‘I don’t think you do. Asdargh vowed to take revenge but was banned from returning to Fenton by his clan leader,’ Peter replied.
‘Clan leader?’ Brac frowned.
‘The elf people are divided into three clans. The Imugio, Dashra and Tylia clans. Each clan has its own leader. This leader may pass laws in his clan as he sees fit, as long as it does not go against anything the elves believe in, as a nation. After I defeated Asdargh, he was banned by his clan leader, Yalith, from returning to Fenton,’ Peter explained.
‘So why is he here now?’ Brighton wondered.
‘When a clan leader dies, all the laws he made die with him. Yalith must have died recently. This means that the ban he placed on Asdargh is no longer valid,’ Peter replied.
‘So now this Asdargh is back to get his revenge,’ Brighton surmised.
‘Yes, and to regain his honour. He wi
ll most likely enter the Warrior Trials. If he wins, he will be included in Lady Jaclyn’s honour guard, thereby restoring his family’s honour,’ Peter replied.
‘I mean no disrespect Peter, but he looks years younger than you. Are you sure it is him we saw?’ Brac asked.
‘Elves live much longer than humans. Two hundred and fifty is considered “old age” among the elves. Asdargh and I are the same age, eighty-two, but for him this means he is in the prime of his life while I am an old man. It’s definitely him we saw,’ Peter explained.
‘Maybe he forgot about you. His hair is rather long. Does this not mean he has already regained his honour?’ Brac tried.
‘No, elves never forget anything when their honour is involved. He is here to win the Warrior Trials and to seek me out I have no doubt. His plan is probably to kill me,’ Peter replied.
‘Well, let’s go ask him,’ Brighton said as he turned around and made straight for the town hall.
‘This is a bad idea,’ Peter mumbled as he and Brac followed Brighton.
As the three men got closer, Asdargh spotted Peter. He watched with hate in his eyes as the men approached. Brighton did not look at Asdargh; his eyes were fixed on Eolith. She was not nearly as beautiful as Peter said the elf females were and yet there was something very attractive about her. Asdargh’s hateful gaze did not leave Peter but Eolith noticed Brighton’s eyes fixed on her. She bumped Asdargh and made a single hand gesture.
Asdargh’s eyes snapped to Brighton. The elf stormed forward, made some wild gestures with his hands and said, ‘Eyes from woman, hadishi!’
He was half a head taller than Brighton but not nearly as muscular.
Brighton turned to Peter and said, ‘What was that?’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ Peter whispered urgently.
He pushed past the young man and faced Asdargh. He held his left hand up, palm forward and placed his right hand over his heart.
‘Peace and greetings to you, Asdargh,’ Peter greeted the elf.
Asdargh looked at Peter in disgust. One word came from his lips.
‘Hadishi.’
‘Peace and greetings to you, Asdargh,’ Peter repeated the greeting.
‘Hadishi!’ was the only reply he got.
‘Peace and greetings to you, Asdargh,’ Peter tried a third time.
‘HADISHI!’ the elf shouted at Peter.
Peter took two steps backward.
‘I’m sorry you feel that way, my friend,’ he said, making some hand gestures as he spoke.
Asdargh ignored Peter and set his eyes on Brighton.
Repeating the same wild gestures of earlier he said again, ‘Eyes from woman, hadishi!’
‘What does that mean?’ Brighton asked Peter.
‘You should not look at his wife,’ Peter answered.
‘I understood that part but what is hadishi?’
‘It means “non-person”. It’s the biggest insult an elf can give someone,’ Peter replied.
Asdargh smiled and looked at Peter as he said, ‘Hadishi’, drawing out the word to make his point.
‘Why does he think I have any interest in his woman? She looks like an old pig that just rolled in the mud,’ Brighton said.
Asdargh’s face went white with anger.
‘Dare you?’ he spat at Brighton, again making wild gestures with his hands as he spoke.
Peter quickly translated, ‘He said, “How dare you speak about my woman that way?”’
‘I understood,’ Brighton said.
‘Apologise,’ Asdargh demanded.
‘Why don’t you try and make me apologise,’ Brighton spat at Asdargh.
Brac realised that Brighton was intentionally trying to anger Asdargh in an effort to get his attention off Peter. Asdargh’s fist flashed through the air. Brighton ducked under the blow, swung the walking stick and took the elf’s legs out from under him with a single blow. Brighton swayed to his left to avoid the falling elf then turned and placed his shoe on Asdargh’s neck, pressing his face into the dirt. Eolith stormed forward but Brighton swung the walking stick up and pointed it straight at her face.
‘I will not hesitate to do the same to you,’ he threatened.
The threat stopped Eolith dead in her tracks.
Brighton stepped a bit harder on Asdargh’s neck and said, ‘If you touch my friends, it will be the last thing you ever touch.’
Casually he stepped away from the elf. Asdargh was up in a flash, drawing his sword. He pointed at Brighton with his left hand and then drew a cross over his heart.
‘Nobody is going to die today,’ a soft female voice came from behind the elf.
Everybody, except Brighton and Brac, immediately went down on one knee.
‘My Lady,’ came from the lips of almost everybody.
‘Rise,’ the young woman said.
Addressing Asdargh she said, ‘You may settle your differences in the Warrior Trials. I will not allow senseless fighting in the streets.’
Asdargh immediately lifted his left hand, open palm towards her and placed his right hand over his heart.
The woman smiled at him and said, ‘Thank you, may the wise man prosper.’
Asdargh and Eolith left, but not before both elves shot dark looks at Brighton. He just smiled at them; he knew he had just made a very dangerous enemy. This did not bother him, as long as their focus was off Peter.
‘These people have a strange way of talking,’ Brac whispered to Brighton.
The young woman approached Brighton. He was more than a head taller than she was. She lifted her head, looked him in the eyes, and said, ‘I am Lady Jaclyn. May I have the pleasure of your name?’
‘Brighton’ he answered.
She was a slender woman with long flowing red hair. Her facial features were fine, although not as delicate as Lilian’s. Dark eyes looked at the world from under long, black eyelashes. She had high cheekbones and full lips.
‘I am pleased to meet you Brighton,’ she said.
Turning to Brac, she gave him a questioning look.
‘The name is Brac, ma’am,’ the hunter said.
‘I am pleased to meet you too, Brac,’ she answered.
Looking at Peter she said, ‘Good day to you, Peter Henly. How is Nicky?’
‘Good day, Lady Jaclyn. Nicky is fine, thank you for remembering,’ Peter stammered wide-eyed.
Lady Jaclyn smiled at him, the kind of smile that could light up the darkest night.
‘Were you coming to enter the Warrior Trials?’ she enquired.
‘No, Lady Jaclyn, I am far too old for that. My friend, Brighton wants to enter the trials and I was accompanying him,’ Peter answered.
‘He is welcome to enter the trials,’ Lady Jaclyn answered with a smile.
She turned around and went back into the town hall. Brighton’s eyes followed her until she disappeared into the hall.
‘That dress certainly hugs her body well. Lilian might not be too happy if she knew you were staring at Jaclyn’s bottom like that,’ Brac commented.
‘She is certainly a beautiful woman, but that’s not why I was staring at her. She has the same talent as me, I am sure of it. She used her sense as she was walking away from us.’ Brighton responded.
‘Do you think she knows about your talent now?’ Peter asked.
‘Yes, she knows. If I can feel her talent, she can feel mine. I used my sense when Asdargh attacked to find out when and where the attack would come,’ Brighton said.
‘Does this concern you?’ Peter asked.
‘A little. I was hunted in the Dark Land because of my talent. I hope this does not happen again,’ Brighton answered.
‘Things are a lot more civilized here, Brighton. Lady Jaclyn will never do anything to harm innocent people. In fact, she protects people so I believe you have nothing to fear,’ Peter assured him.
Changing the subject, Brighton asked, ‘Peter, why do the elves speak so strange and why do they make hand gestures all the time?’
‘It’s simply their way of speaking. The hand gestures are very important; it makes up at least half their language. When I greeted Asdargh, I displayed respect by placing my right hand over my heart and to indicate that I’m hiding nothing by letting him see the palm of my left hand. He called me a hadishi which means “non-person” or “nobody”. It’s almost the same as hudeti which means half a person,’ Peter answered.
‘He did the same when Jaclyn spoke to him,’ Brac commented.
‘Yes, he was displaying respect for her and letting her know he accepts her command that he should not fight with Brighton in the street. She responded in an equally respectful manner by saying “May the wise man prosper”.’ Peter answered.
‘Why not just say “May you prosper”. It’s less cryptic,’ Brac frowned.
‘Because she wasn’t addressing Asdargh. Her words were meant for the crowd. She called Asdargh a wise man in public, it’s a great sign of respect,’ Peter explained.
Brighton fired off the next question: ‘Why did you greet Asdargh three times?’
‘It’s an elf custom. When you are angry with someone, you do not greet them. If they greet you respectfully first, you may insult them to make your anger known. If the person greets a second time, it is like an apology and you may accept and greet back or insult them again. If a third greeting is made, you can again accept the apology or insult them. Three insults in a row means the person has declared a blood feud with you. These feuds are normally settled with a duel,’ Peter explained.
‘You say normally. Is there another way to settle the feud,’ Brighton asked.
‘The person who declared the blood feud may try to apologise by going to greet the other person in a respectful way. The same custom applies; three greetings, three chances to accept the apology.’
Brighton and Brac looked at each other and shook their heads.
‘Strange,’ Brac mumbled.
‘Shall we go inside and enter you into the Warrior Trials,’ Peter suggested.
Brighton went to see the person who was taking the entrants’ names down.
The young man took down Brighton’s name and then asked, ‘Favourite weapon?’
