by A. Evermore
Issa struggled to control her own rising anger, unwilling to let the High Priestess rile her so. She suddenly desperately wanted to be alone. It was all too much and she was afraid, she needed time to think. The High Priestess confused her thoughts, disrupted her calm, and filled her with poisonous doubt. She had been called to slay the beast and it seemed her life since the Dromoorai had destroyed her home had been leading up to this moment and all she wanted was to return to what was before; to Ma and her horses and Tarry.
Now all I exist for is to kill Keteth and what happens after has yet to be decided.
She clenched her fist behind her back. Am I just a pawn in some game to amuse the gods? Did her own wants and needs and desires matter at all? But now it seemed she was special, anointed, chosen; though as good as that felt she still struggled against her ego.
‘I will teach her what I can of the arcane arts. She has ability, I can feel it, though it is very different to my own,’ Freydel offered.
‘Your obsession with prophecies have surely blinded you,’ Cirosa smirked, but her voice was suddenly uneasy. Issa hid her own smile; the priestess had misjudged her magical skills.
‘I only hope I am not left to pick up the pieces when she fails,’ Cirosa added with a sigh.
It was a strange thing to say, Issa mused, thinking on her conversation with the Fairy. Cirosa wanted her to fail; did Cirosa think she would then give up the mantle of the Night Goddess’s chosen one?
‘Until that time… you must begin right away, so what are you waiting for?’ Cirosa demanded. ‘We shall meet again three days from now,’ she turned back to her work scowling, ‘Your horses are ready. Arla, show them the way out,’ she said with a dismissive flap of her hand. They swiftly followed the girl out, all eager to be away from the High Priestess.
It was a bright sunny morning and though it was still early it was already hot. Duskar whinnied at the sight of Issa and seeing him alleviated her dark mood. She stroked his nose, hoping he would let her ride him soon. She took off her over-shirt and stuffed it into her saddlebags. Freydel did the same.
The breeze was rich with the smell of summer grasses and the sky was a brilliant blue. The world seemed peaceful, beautiful and perfect but beyond the sun, out there in the darkness, she felt the blue moon moving along its orbit. Its power was growing, moving within her like some undercurrent that she could not reach yet. They rode in silence for over an hour and her thoughts were all about magic.
‘So is it hard? To learn magic, is it difficult?’ she asked Freydel, bringing Izy up beside him. Her voice lifted him out of his own thoughts and he took a while to consider his answer.
‘You will need to understand the basic principles first and then you must feel the magic that exists all around us. Its energy flows through all things, connects all things, that is why it is called “The Flow”. If you cannot feel it then you cannot wield it. Once you understand the nature of everything, the energy within and between everything, then you may be able to control that energy and turn it to your bidding. That is the skill and the effort.
‘I must teach you in three days what the greatest Wizards have spent their lives learning. So you see it is not possible. I can merely show you the door in that time. You will have to learn as you go along, or not as the case may be.
‘Keteth is a powerful Wizard but none understand that power. It is different, darker, beyond this world. Wizards tried a long time ago to bring him into their fold but failed. His gift was beyond us, his mind out of reach. He works in realms beyond life.’ Freydel shook his head, ‘He was always a mystery. Strong enough and sly enough to elude even Baelthrom. Some say Baelthrom desires his power, fears it even, as every immortal fears death.’
Freydel looked at her thoughtfully, ‘I do wonder exactly what it is you saw in your visions back there, but that is for you alone. Unlike Cirosa I do not pry. Speaking of her, it is strange,’ he added, ‘it is well known, much to Cirosa’s woe, that she is not given to visions nor lays any importance on dreams. Always she complained the Goddess was silent to her, her most devout and hard working servant, and yet now she speaks of having visions.
‘And that Harpy suddenly appearing… Whilst you were recovering I tried to talk about it but Cirosa would hear none of it, said it was probably lost or an eagle and there was no point alarming the whole island. We should be careful with her,’ Freydel confided and tapped his nose secretly.
Issa was surprised at that but pleased Freydel was on her side, though she found it strange that he always remained so neutral in the High Priestess’s company. She was about to query further but then decided to take Freydel’s lead and chose not to pry.
‘We will begin the training tomorrow,’ he said and she nodded, a flutter of excitement in her belly made her forget her worries.
Freydel led them along the longer coastal route back to Castle Eleny; a cautious move to avoid more Harpies and also to show her some of Celene. The sea sparkled in the sunlight and they passed many beautiful white sandy coves with turquoise waters lapping at the shore.
They stopped to eat lunch; a simple meal of breads and spreads given to them kindly from the Temple cook, a small thin woman who looked as though she needed the food more than they did.
Issa looked out across the sea as they ate, thoughts of Asaph and Coronos filling her mind. She worried for them but what could she do? If they could reach her in the Shadowlands then surely they could navigate other oceans. But then there was Keteth. She knew he was out there, moving beneath those sparkling blue waves, tainting the tranquillity. Freydel seemed to read her thoughts.
‘I would have mentioned earlier but it was not the right time. Last night I made contact with your companions whilst scrying. I spoke with someone I have not spoken to for nearly thirty years,’ he beamed, full of wonder, ‘not since the fall of Drax.’ A frown flickered across his face. ‘They are safe and on the Main Land, on Frayon, as we suspected. Coronos was searching for you. I told him you were safe and to come to us on Celene. But then our link was broken; Keteth or Baelthrom’s evil drew near. That was all I discovered.’
Issa had held her breath whilst he spoke and then let it out in relief knowing that they were alive. Asaph’s face floated before her and she fancied he was beside her now, comforting her. She remembered the link he mentioned feeling between them as she looked at the flame ring on her finger. She felt that link too, especially through the flame ring. Curse Keteth for violently separating them so soon!
Issa also felt another link but to the earth beneath her feet. If she stood still and silent she was sure it pulsed like a heartbeat. But most of all, since her journey from the sacred garden outside the Mother’s Chamber, she felt the dark moon and its power getting stronger. If only Asaph were here with his sword, and Coronos with his orb, together with the power of the dark moon she was sure they could defeat Keteth. But without them it seemed impossible.
‘Is everything all right?’ Freydel’s worried face looked down at her.
‘Mostly… it is just Keteth… I was thinking of Asaph, the younger Draxian. He spoke of the link between us and I was trying to understand it. Together we would surely have a chance to defeat him,’ she rubbed the flame ring.
‘If you are the one of which the prophecies speak then Keteth has been searching for you for decades. Surely that is some measure of the power you hold. Even if they were here only you alone would be able to enter his realm.’ Freydel smiled and took her hand in a fatherly grasp.
‘All this ageing man can offer you is something from my own experience; that the past is not who you are and can often be a hindrance. It is who we choose to be in this moment now that matters. I can teach you powerful magic spells to help protect yourself, perhaps with that knowledge it will make your burden a little lighter.’
‘Thank you,’ was all she could think to say, but she was grateful for the lighter feeling in her heart.
They packed up their things and set off again. By the time they arrived at Castle
Elune the sun was setting.
That evening over dinner Issa spoke to Ely of her trial. The older woman listened quietly, her forehead slowly creasing into a worried frown.
‘My husband, having survived the worst of Baelthrom and his abominable Maphraxie army, found his death in Keteth,’ Ely’s voice was soft but her face was hard.
Issa put her hand on Ely’s arm and squeezed it reassuringly. ‘Then maybe I can avenge his death.’
‘What by dying yourself!’ Ely said, ‘must I lose another to him?’ She added more gently.
Issa sighed and spread her hands, ‘I cannot change the task set before me, anymore than any of us can turn away from what is asked of us.’
‘It is as the Night Goddess wishes,’ Freydel added softly.
Ely was looking at her strangely; her blue eyes a mix of emotions. Issa waited for her to speak.
‘I am not happy about this. I don’t doubt your conviction, your strength of resolve, but I do doubt your belief. For a moment then it seemed the Night Goddess herself stood beside you... but not in you. If you do this task, and I see that you must, will you believe in her enough? Will you believe in yourself enough? If you do not you cannot survive.
‘The test is not whether you can kill the beast and never has been. The test is whether you believe in her, and in turn whether you believe in yourself. The Priestess in me can see that much.’ Ely’s words of truth fell like pebbles into the still waters of Issa’s mind, the ripples resounding back and forth across the surface. She would remember those words that resonated through her soul for a long time.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Wykiry
Issa had been asleep for only a few hours before the humid heat dragged her from slumber. For a while she lay there trying to return to sleep but it was as far away as the morning. She chucked the stifling sheets aside with a sigh and got up. An amble around the grounds would cool her off, she decided, as thoughts of Keteth crowded her mind. She pulled on her shoes and headed out into the warm night.
Issa made her way to the stables again and Duskar poked his head out on hearing her approach. She could still see well in the darkness, better than she could remember, as she slipped quietly into his stable.
She stroked his warm nose and slowly moved to his side, stroking and soothing him with soft words as she laid her arms gently across his back. Carefully she put her whole weight upon him and let herself back down again.
He pulled a mouthful of hay from its bag and munched on it. She tried it again but this time inched her leg over awkwardly and sat quietly on top of him. He turned to look at her quizzically and then went back to his hay bag quite contented. Issa laughed softly, joyful at his trust in her. She leaned forward and hugged his thick neck, breathing deeply of his smell.
‘You know how hard life is don’t you, friend?’ she whispered. He snorted and flicked his ears back and forth in response. ‘It seems it must be hard again, Duskar. In truth, I am afraid,’ she admitted, ‘I’m a fool for accepting this task.’ She fell silent, listening to him munch on the hay, it seemed he was considering her words.
‘Shall we go outside for a walk?’ she said, and with her mind, not her feet, urged him forwards. She felt something like acceptance of her request and he moved to the door. She reached down, undid the latch, and let it swing open. Through no coaxing of her own, Duskar stepped outside. She could sense his immediate joy at being free of the stable.
‘I don’t know, up to you,’ she said with a laugh when he looked left and right as if wondering where to go. He turned left and followed a narrow path through the trees that led eventually to the sea. She didn’t urge him to move or try to choose a direction, she simply agreed with the path he chose as he took it and so he continued upon it. Duskar was much taller than Izy, the ground seemed a long way away should she fall, but she knew he would not let her.
They came to a long stretch of sandy beach, the same place she had washed up on what seemed like months ago. There were no storms this night, it was warm and windless and the sea calm, the only sound came from the gentle waves lapping the white sand. The small pale orange moon of Woetala shone dimly behind the slightly larger brighter light of Doon. The twin moonlight shone off the water and the serenity it created seeped into her body.
The dark moon would not rise tonight, Issa thought. Even though it wasn’t there she could sense its power in the distance. Movement caught her attention and her eyes settled upon the raven pestering a crab in the sand. An additional comfort knowing he was never far away.
In the corner of her eye she saw a large fish break the surface of the water, landing with a big splash that made her jump. It leapt again and she gasped at its beauty for it was unlike any fish she had ever seen. It was very large, maybe seven feet in length, and its skin was a myriad of colours, all metallic blues, greens and purples; it had two long caudal fins trailing behind it, more like a dolphin than a fish.
As it cleared the water again, long pectoral fins fanned out like wings and tendril-like ribbons frayed out around as it glided several paces before diving back into the ocean. Its elegant head was nothing like a fish and instead was smooth and round with a tiny snout. Large golden eyes were set wide and back. There was a shimmer of blue energy in the air where it had been, the tell-tale sign of magic. She longed to see it again and laughed when it jumped and glided in response to her wishes.
There came the subtlest pressure on her mind, a little like when she connected with animals though not as strong. Gently the connection formed and then she, too, was swimming and gliding over the ocean in pure exhilaration. She was joined by two others and then five or more, all swimming and flying in unison. She wanted to stay with them forever but after a moment she felt herself moving back into her own body.
Duskar watched the creatures with interest, ears pricked forward, not the least bit afraid. The creatures stopped jumping and moved closer to the shore, lifting their heads above the surface to look at her. She smiled and lifted her hand awkwardly in greeting, then felt foolish.
‘We are here, Child of the Raven, we are ready and waiting for the time to meet Keteth.’ They spoke as one voice in her mind.
‘Is it time?’ She asked.
‘Soon. Be strong, accept the Night Goddess, become the Raven Queen. We will be with you when the time comes.’ Then their minds were gone from hers and the beautiful creatures turned away and disappeared into the moonlit ocean.
‘Oh why did they have to go,’ she sighed sadly, missing their company already.
After a moment, Duskar turned and picked a different route along a small path back into the forest. Had he known to bring her here? She wondered. Had they called him to? She smiled at that.
The woods were alive around them and Issa felt at one with the forest and its inhabitants. She could hear and feel the presence of everything around her, here a frog hidden in the grass, there an owl watching from above. Some way ahead she felt a feline mind and was soon staring into the green eyes of a tiny island panther, slightly larger than a cat. It looked at her, blinked once, and then bounded away.
Issa knew Duskar shared some of this same awareness of the world around them, as did most animals. Maybe all humans had once had that awareness but lost their connection, living their lives shut away in their walled houses, surrounded only by other humans. They arrived back at Duskar’s stable. She slid off his back and he went in of his own accord.
‘I’ll see you soon,’ she said stroking his nose and headed back to the castle where she dozed until dawn.
In the morning she found Ely outside in the vegetable garden helping Maeve pick tomatoes.
‘Look, Maeve, I know you mean well but I cannot sit inside all day getting fat. I need to be doing something otherwise I’ll go mad,’ Ely said to Maeve.
‘But this is a maid’s job and not for the Lady of the house,’ Maeve protested.
Issa grinned. ‘Morning,’ she said. They stood and greeted her. ‘You’ll never believe it but I woke in the
night and went to see Duskar, he let me sit on his back and we went for a walk!’ the words rushed out. Ely looked at her, open-mouthed in astonishment.
‘Well I never! You know the next step is the rein and saddle, now that will be tough even with you guiding him, but what a steed he will make,’ Ely beamed. ‘Oh, by the way, Freydel said to meet him in his tower when you are ready. I think he is keen to start your training.’
‘Ah I’d forgotten all about that!’ Issa said, and dashed off towards his tower with a hasty goodbye.
Taking the steps two at a time, Issa fell through his door gasping for breath. A startled Freydel stared at her over half-moon glasses, dripping quill poised over parchment. She coughed and smoothed back her hair and then grinned. For all intents and purposes he really looked the Wizard he was supposed to be today; he even had a long hat on, bigger than the one he had worn at the celebrations, and it sat lopsided on his head. It looked a bit dusty and she wondered if he had gotten it out purely for her benefit.
‘Morning,’ she panted.
Freydel chuckled at her dishevelled look, his face creasing into a fatherly smile. ‘Ah, you are here, so let us begin.’ He set aside the paper and quill and began clearing away the maps and books that cluttered the table once more, somewhat unsuccessfully for there was nowhere else to put them.
‘You know I’m really sure Maeve could help you tidy up this place,’ Issa said helpfully, and a little bit mischievously.
Freydel snorted in disgust. From one of many drawers he pulled out a square granite slab with an indented centre. He took a scrap of paper from the floor and placed it on the slab.
‘Now watch,’ he said, and Issa watched intently as he held his hand above the paper. She felt energy like static charge pulse in the air, the faintest shimmer of luminous blue and the paper burst into flame.
‘Oh tell me how you did that!’ she laughed excitedly.
