Gelon scowled. "Odary! This is too much!"
Odary raised his hand. "Silence, Gelon!" His blue eyes were now cold and sharp. "Prince Elwin, we do want peace. But as long as the Darkness lives, there can be none. And we are not perfect. I am admitting that to you. We made a mistake somewhere. And yes, we need a High King to make the dream a reality, but it is not our dream but the Light's dream. It is the dream of Tuatha. He fills our dreams with his dream. It is a dream of how the world should be and will be."
"Enough!" Gelon was almost shouting now. His face flushed with anger. "You have told him too much already! Far too much. Let us be done with this. He does not want to be the High King, and we do not want him either. Let him leave and take his friends with him."
"It is his choice, Gelon, not yours," retorted Odary. "And for him to truly and freely choose he has to know the truth. There is too much at stake to try and manipulate the outcome."
"I, we, do not wish him here any longer," stated Gelon
They don't want me? But they need their king. What am I missing?
"As I have said, you may leave any time you like, but first you must choose, Prince Elwin,” Odary stated simply and to the point. "Do you wish to be our king or not?"
"This is a waste of time!" snapped Gelon. "He does not want to be the High King. Even Ryence must see that he has renounced his rights."
"He must say that. Not you, Gelon,” Odary pointed out. "So, Prince Elwin, what is it to be?"
They’re up to something this is too easy. "There is still something I do not understand," Something is not right, I have to figure it out before I renounce the claim to the crown. They are trying to trick me again! But this time they are not relying on an illusion. "You are acting like you can make a real High King, one with all the powers of the old stories. But how is that is possible? I know the legends; I have read the histories. Only when the lost crown of Kambrya is found will there be another High King."
Odary nodded, "That is true. The sword is the key, and the crown holds the mysteries which makes a High King. Only by using both can there be a King of Kambrya."
"So, what good am I? I have the sword, but not the crown. What good is a key without a lock?"
Grinning as a father to a child, Odary said, “Your Highness, we have the crown. And thanks to you, we now also have the key."
Elwin's eyes widened. "The lost crown of Kambrya? Here?" Odary gave an affirmative nod.
Elwin came to his feet, "You have had it here since the battle of Ban-Darn!? And you have told no one?"
Again, Odary nodded. "We do. Before your great ancestor, High King Coinneach, went to face the Dark One, he came to us and entrusted our order with the crown. We have guarded it ever since. But none has ever seen it. The great king locked it within the Hall of Fire and the hall cannot be unlocked without your sword.
“Now Prince Elwin, we need an answer. Do you want to be the High King? Do you want to use your sword and enter the Hall of Fire and take what is yours by right?"
"I do not want to be your High King. I will never wish to be your High King."
Odary nodded. "Then so be it. You may go."
A look of suspicion crossed Elwin's face. "Are you saying you do not want me to take up the crown? I can just leave it here?"
"Is that not what we have been saying?" asked Odary. "Isn't that what you want?"
"Yes, but...". There is something else. What are they not telling me!? "What is the catch?"
"Catch?" asked Odary.
"You need a High King. Or at least you think so. Yet you'll let me leave. The crown will still be locked away, and still you will let me leave. Why?"
Cerise cocked her to head to one side. "Did you think that you alone could be the High ruler of Kambrya? You may leave, but another will take your place. The Saran na Grand will belong to another. The sword you wear does not belong to you but to the High King. So, you may leave, but the sword must stay to be given to another."
Elwin jumped to his feet, while his hand snapped to his side, grasping the hilt. "What!?" he roared, taking a step back away from the council. Is this not what I wanted? I wanted to be rid of the sword and now I have the chance. Why don't I just give it to them and be done with it? Yet Elwin felt a growing desire to keep the blade close. "It is mine. You can't take it. You have taken vows against violence. If you take it from me, you'll be stealing."
"Your Highness, someone must ascend to the High Throne," Odary said calmly as if he were only stating the obvious. "And the sword does not belong to you. In fact, it has never belonged to you or to the kings of Ceredigion, but entrusted to the prince and potential heir to the Kambrya throne. Since the last High King, the sword has been handed down through the ap Gruffydd line. As the crown was entrusted to us, the sword was entrusted to the ap Gruffydd kings. You, as all your forefathers before you, are the prince apparent to the high throne. It is now time for the prince to become king. It is your birthright to be that king. However, you have decided to renounce your claim. That too is your right. However, another must pick it up. Leave if you will, but the sword must stay with us. The sword will be passed on to the next in line.
"You're bluffing!" snapped Elwin. Scared that they might really take the sword, Elwin felt as if a part of him would be lost. "I know the legends. It is said that only the blood of the ap Gruffydds may rule Kambrya. I am my father’s only son. And I do not wish to be your puppet king!"
"You are not the last." Gelon said with a sly smile. There was a triumphant sound to his voice that made Elwin tremble. "There is another. One who will accept the burden and has already said so. And one who is far better suited than you."
Elwin's throat felt tight. "Who?" he whispered, not wanting to know the answer, and yet he already knew it.
"Your sister, Leina," Odary replied, as calmly as he could, realizing what this would mean to Elwin. “She will be the first High Queen of Kambrya. There is no law that the High ruler of the kingdoms needs to be male."
Feeling as if he had just been hit in the chest, Elwin fell back into his chair. "You can't!" he pleaded. "You do not know what the sword will do to her."
"The choice is not mine," replied Odary. "It now belongs to the princess."
Gelon sat back in his chair and added, "Princess Leina is one of us. She knows what is needed. She will enter the Hall of Fire and be tested. She will be found pure of heart and soul."
Elwin shook his head. "No!" he suddenly shouted, “I will do it. I will be your bloody High King." By the Three Gods, what am I doing? I can’t let Linea do this, the sword will take possession of her as it has me.
Gelon was still smiling. "It is too late! Once you have sworn off the sword, it is done."
“I changed my mind,” demanded Elwin, “I won’t let you do this to Leina.
“Gelon is right,” added Odary with more sympathy in his voice then had been in Gelon’s. “One cannot re-take the offer once refused. It is written with in the ancient laws.”
“But I do not know your laws.”
“That is too bad for you,” Gelon snapped triumphal. "You have renounced and...”
"No," objected Ryence, smoothly cutting Gelon off. He leaned forward, hardly giving Gelon a glance. All his attention was on Elwin. So intense was his stare that Elwin felt more than a bit uncomfortable. It was as if Ryence was seeing Elwin for the first time. "He has not renounced. If I am not mistaken, Prince Elwin has said that he does not wish to be the High King, but he has never said he would not be. There is a significant difference. Perhaps the light guides your tongue, young lord."
Gelon was on his feet. "No!" he shouted, staring down his nose at Ryence. "He said it in his behavior and his desire to be done with us. He has renounced!"
"Prince Elwin?" Ryence asked in an even voice, still intensely looking at Elwin and ignoring Gelon. Not once did he turn or even indicate he had heard Gelon’s protest. “Do you renounce?"
Elwin swallowed. His throat was painfully dry. In the name of the Three Gods what am
I doing? The Earth Magic was singing in his head. Trust the song, he thought to himself. Then after a long painful pause he replied simply "I do not renounce." It was almost whisper.
"No!" repeated Gelon. "Leina is one with the Light. I will not bow down to this unbeliever."
Odary raised his hand. "Sit, Gelon! The choice is not in your hands nor mine, but with the Light. I see that Ryence is right. The Prince never said that he would not be the king. It is indeed possible that the Light has guided him to say what he did. The Light moves in ways that only the Light knows and understands. If Elwin refuses to renounce, then that is the way it must be, and he will be tested."
Scowling at Elwin, Gelon sat down. His dark eyes turned even darker.
Odary turned now to Elwin. "But let us be clear about this. Are you saying you choose now to be High King?"
Elwin laughed ironically. "Choose? There has never been a choice." If I refuse, you will send my sister into a nightmare that she cannot imagine.”
"Prince Elwin, Leina also has a choice," Odary's voice was soft and grandfatherly. "Everyone here, with the exception of Ryence, believes that you cannot survive the testing. Leina is better suited. She understands the ways of the Light. You, in all likelihood, would die. And no one has lied to your sister. She knows what is being asked of her, and she has agreed. There is no shame in renouncing, Prince Elwin."
"But she doesn't know!" Elwin exclaimed. "And you don't know... The sword changes people. It has changed me. The sword will consume her. I cannot let that happen."
"Then I will ask only once," continued Odary. "Think about this carefully. If you ask my opinion and advice, I will tell you to renounce. If you enter the Hall of Fire, you must go through the testing. Once started there will be no turning back. If you are deemed impure or tainted by the darkness, you will die, and Leina will still take your place. But the choice is yours. Do you still wish to go forward with this?"
Elwin gave a weak nod. "I do. I will enter this Hall of Fire."
"She is one of us," pointed out Odary. "Many would prefer her over you. For centuries, the Guardians of Light have had the responsibility of guarding the crown. Many think it is only right that a Guardian should wear it. Some would like to see you pushed aside so that the princess could be queen. Perhaps they are right. You do not respect the way of the Light and your sister does. However, you are first born, and I will, must, follow the law of the Light".
"We could force him to step aside," interjected Gelon, "...for the good of the Light."
"No!" said Odary, shaking his stately head. "We cannot! Even if I would allow such a violation of our vows, Leina would not go along with it. Leina’s ties to the prince are still strong. She loves him, and would never take a crown that had been stolen from him."
Odary turned his head to Elwin. His voice now calm. "So, High Prince Elwin, you will be tested." It was not a question. "And may the Light preserve us all."
Elwin dropped his head. "What do I have to do?" he murmured.
"You must take the crown from the Hall of Fire. It is written, 'The one who is to rule the lands must step forward and claim the crown. In the Chamber of Fire, the one will touch the Light and be tested. If the one is shown to be pure, the Light will bless the chosen one and show him the way.'"
"When?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight!?"
"The first two stars of the three stars that make up the constellation the 'eyes of the Buachaille' will meet tonight. The two stars will create a single star. This is the night the Light awakens, and will fulfill the prophecy.”
Elwin lowered his head in silent resignation. And I will bring darkness, not light into the world. That’s what Faynn told me that the prophecies say. I will free the Dark One. I am lost and will bring down the world with me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Everything happened so fast that Elwin did not know if he was coming or going. One minute he was telling the elders that he would go into the Hall of Fire to find the lost crown of Kambrya, and the next, he was being ushered down the maze of hallways that made up the Guardian's castle. As Elwin and the elders raced down the corridors, wide-eyed servants and other Guardians of Lights hurried to get out of their way. As the group sped past, Elwin heard whispers of astonishment and curiosity. Elwin mostly heard the onlookers uttering such things as 'Has the time come?' or 'The Light be praised,' but mostly he heard the same question: 'Is he going to be tested, or will Leina?' Never giving Elwin a chance to hear anyone give an answer, the elders never slowed down.
"I need to tell Kayno and the others what has happened," insisted Elwin. "I want to see them before... before I go into this 'Hall of Fire.'"
Odary shook his head, but he did not slow his pace. "There is no need. Your friends have already been informed. While we were talking, they were taken-on ahead. They will be waiting for us below."
Elwin hurried after Odary. He would not have guessed that the old, frail looking man could walk so fast. "How did you know I would do it? Enter the Hall of Fire, I mean."
"I didn't," replied Odary. "But I took the precaution. Besides, they are Leina's friends as well. She, too, would want to see them before entering the hall."
"Will Leina be there?"
"Yes."
"Good. I want to say ... “. He let his words trail off. Blast it! Why don't you just say it? You want to say good-bye before you die! I will never be tested true to the Light that I don't believe in. But if I don't go, Leina will go, and surly death is preferable to that.
Following Master Odary and the other elders, Elwin turned another corner and headed down a set of wide stairs. Down another hall and down still more stairs. The elders were leading him into the dark recesses of the castle. As they descended they saw fewer and fewer people, and soon the hallways were empty and they were alone. For a long time the only sound was Gelon's grumbling. Gelon still had been complaining that Elwin was unfit to see the holy hall for what seemed to Elwin like hours, finally, Cerise snapped at him, telling Gelon to stop his whining and acting like a spoiled child. Gelon turned a bright red, but held his tongue. Elwin fell-in next to Ryence. "How much further?" he asked, feeling the need to talk to someone, even if it was a Guardian. Looking as if he had just woken from a dream, the bald headed Ryence looked down at Elwin who was now walking beside him, then he looked back as they came to yet another set of stairs.
"A little longer,” he answered. "The Hall of Fire lies deep beneath the Heart of Light."
Elwin noticed that the stairs were a little narrower than the last ones. "How deep is the hall?"
"I don't really know," Ryence answered with a shrug. "Jael might know. You can ask him if you want."
"I was just wondering."
Ryence then added, "Believing is more important than knowing, anyway. Answers are for those who do not dwell in the Light. The way of the Light is the way of trust.”
"Do you really think that I can pass this test? Odary said you alone thought I could pass this testing.”
Ryence shrugged as they came to the end of the stairs and started down another long
passageway. "It is not up to you or me, but the Light. You will pass or fail as the Light so chooses."
"So, do you believe that the Light will test me true?"
"Truthfully, no. I do not."
"What?" Elwin was taken aback. He had thought Ryence was the one Guardian that believed in him. "But back there you... I don't understand. Why then did you point-out that I had not renounced my rights?"
Ryence gave Elwin another quick glance. "Because you had not renounced." He said it as if that should have been obvious. "What I may or may not believe is unimportant. Everyone that has read the prophecies of the High King has interpreted them. Each coming up with their own ideas of what they mean or don't mean. I chose not to do that. I have read them, but I do not try to understand them or try to interpret them. I only accept and watch, knowing that if my mind is open, the Light will show me the way. You see, nothing happens by chan
ce. When you did not say that you would not be the king, I knew it was because the Light had not wished you to. Therefore, it is only logical that the Light wants to test you. So, it will be done. It must be done. I did not defend you, but followed the path that the Light wished me and for you to follow. If you die, that, too, is what the Light needs, and Leina will take your place. If you do not die," he shrugged, "then the Light has chosen. So, you see, it does not matter what I believe. I will follow the Light whichever way it leads me." He nodded towards Gelon who was in front of them. "I am not like Gelon, Gelon tries to force the will of the Light to fit into what he believes is right. Gelon is not the only Guardian to follow such a path, yet it is not the true way of the Light."
Elwin dropped back to walk by himself, realizing that talking to any Guardian was not going to help his mood.
As they descended the next set of stairs, the strange light that illuminated from the castle walls began to fade. As the light faded to the point of needing a new source of light, Jael raised his hand out before him. A blue light flashed. Then a floating ball of light appeared above his head. Guided now by Jael and the blue glowing light, the group went deeper and deeper into the earth below the main castle structure. The surface of the walls became rough as the corridors became more like caves than castle hallways. The air became damp and cold, and the walls felt moist and dewy to the touch. Before them there were no more stairs. Instead there was a gradual sloping corridor that led them deeper into the earth. After some time had passed, Elwin doubted the castle was even still above them.
"It is not far now,” Odary said over his shoulder. After making a few curves that angled ever downwards the cave floor finally leveled out. Then, at last, they came to a sudden stop. The cave-like hallway ended in a dead-end.
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