by Lacey Thorn
“What are you saying?” Serenity asked.
Serena took a deep breath and, handing one of the items to Lydia, who had followed her out, began to unwrap the other. “I told you of what happened the night I made my escape, of my leaving with the moonlight, of hiding the sword for Queen Ona’s daughter. But there is more to be told.”
Serenity watched as the wrapping fell away to reveal a weapons belt. This one had two jewels on either side, and a dagger rested by the gem on the left. The slot by the other stone looked as if it were meant for a sword, perhaps the one her mother had hidden so many years ago?
“This belt belonged to Queen Ona, who gave it to me to protect,” Serena said. “She is the one who told me the time would come when you would leave the temple and that you must carry this with you to restore it to its rightful owner. Aurora, or Queen Aurora now.”
“You think Aurora has been returned to the castle and her throne?” Serenity asked.
“It has occurred,” Serena stated.
Lydia gasped beside her, and Serenity looked to see tears rolling down the woman’s cheeks. It made sense, as from what her mother had told her of that time it had been Lydia who had taken Aurora with her to protect her. The woman had raised Aurora as a daughter with her own child.
“You must take this to Aurora,” her mother said. “She will need it when the time comes.” She held her hand up as Serenity would have interrupted. “You will know when the time comes and you will know what is to be done.”
A page from the temple stepped forward with a pack, and as she watched, her mother carefully folded the belt inside. “The food and water are inside?” the page was asked and the woman nodded and bowed at the priestess’ question.
“The orb as well, Priestess Serena,” the page said.
“Thank you,” Serena acknowledged and turned back to Serenity.
“Orb?” Serenity asked.
“Not all will be believing of the truth you carry,” Serena told her. “The orb should be placed on the table before the five of you, and only the five of you. In birth order you must place your hands on the globe, Aslan, Aurora, you, Lynx and Rory. When the last hand is placed you will see the knowledge the orb holds.”
Serenity didn’t know what to say. She prayed that she could protect the orb while she made her way through the darkness to the castle. Nerves filled her with anxious desire as she thought of the meeting she had spent her entire life praying for. Finally she would meet her brother and sisters. Raised as an only child in the confines of the temple, it was something she had always looked forward to.
“Last, I must tell you something of yourself and your strength.” Her mother’s words broke her from her thoughts. It was funny how sometimes she thought of her as mother and sometimes she thought of her as Priestess Serena. But that all depended on how her mother spoke to her, and now it was as a combination of both the priestess and the mother. “Inside you there is a magic stronger than any that has ever been.”
Serenity laughed. “You’ve seen what I can and can’t do. It isn’t all that much.”
“There you are wrong,” her mother said. “This temple has tempered your magic, dampened it as long as you stayed within these sacred walls. But even now you must feel the hum beneath your skin as your magic is freed inside you.”
There was a warmth unlike any she’d ever known, a sort of energy that made her feel a vibration just under her fingertips.
“Within you is the light of your mother and the dark of your father. You will be pulled by these elements unless you learn to balance them. You are right. You do walk within the shadow between.” Her mother reached a hand to Serenity’s hair and brushed the hood back, stroking the blonde curls. “I pray that you stay within those shadows and don’t succumb to the pull of darkness.” Serena looked to the sky. “It will be incredibly strong now.”
“I know my place,” Serenity assured her.
“I pray you hold to that,” her mother said. “And I give you one final thing to help you on your journey, both the physical and the internal.” She took the last object from Lydia and unwrapped it, slowly revealing a white Staff with gold insets. It was beautiful but Serenity couldn’t see anything special about it.
She’d been trained in the art of staves so perhaps this was her parting weapon to help her in close range combat if her magic failed to keep any attackers from getting to her. Her mother said nothing more, just held the Staff out to her. Hesitantly, she reached for it, almost afraid to touch it.
When it filled her palm and she wrapped her fingers around it, a shaft of light flew from the tip, exploding into the sky. Unimaginable power filled Serenity. The magic burned through her, making her back arch and her muscles tighten painfully. She became the light. She could feel the glow surrounding her, her body, her hair, her eyes, even her clothes reflected what filled her. She felt powerful, stronger than ever, as if there was no limit to what she could do.
“The Staff of Light,” her mother told her. “Forged and once held by the goddess herself. I was told that it has been kept safe all this time in anticipation of the one chosen by the goddess. You. My daughter. The chosen of the goddess.”
“I don’t understand,” Serenity said, shaking her head. “Chosen for what? To defeat Wilhelm?”
“This battle is but the beginning for you. With the Staff and your magic, it is your destiny to travel and bring justice to those most in need. Along the way you will meet two who will complete a trinity with you. One holds the power of visions, both have the ability to blend with shadow or stand in light. They will guard and protect you.” Her mother leaned in to her, hugging her close, and Serenity could feel the tears on her mother’s cheeks. “They will love you. You must consummate the triad as soon as possible to complete the bond. You must do it before you face Wilhelm.”
“I…” She didn’t know what to say, what to think. Suddenly this was so much more than she’d anticipated, than she’d expected. “How will I know who they are? How will I know where I am needed, when I must go and when to stay?”
“They will find you,” her mother promised. “When you are in need they will just appear as if from the air around you. They will be your guides, your guards, your heart and your soul. Together you will fulfil the destiny that has long awaited you all. They are strong, but when the triad is completed, when you are all together as one, some of your magic will enhance theirs. Once this occurs nothing can separate you, not even death.” Pulling back from the hug, her mother held her gaze. “Remember that. The three of you have within you the power to survive even mortal death.”
“I don’t understand.” Serenity shook her head.
Her mother leaned in and kissed her forehead. “You will. When the time comes, you will.”
“How?” Serenity asked.
“Just trust in yourself and your mates,” her mother urged her. “Keep faith in the goddess. There are only a few who have the gift of life. You will meet one along your way and he will help you to understand the enormity of the gift you hold. Heed his words.”
“How will I know who this person is?” Serenity said.
“He will be as a brother to you. This is the most arduous thing that I have ever done. I thought leaving my best friends behind was brutal, but watching my daughter walk away from my protection is by far the harshest of all. I have loved you from the moment I knew you existed. I have protected you as best I could. And now I equip you with what I can to prepare you for your journey. Know that I am always with you.” She placed her palm just above Serenity’s left breast. “In your heart.” She moved her hand to touch the crown of Serenity’s head. “And in your head. In all that I have known, you are the greatest accomplishment of my life.”
“Mama…” Serenity leaned into her mother, holding her tight, afraid to let go. “Will I see you again after this day?”
“I don’t know,” her mother whispered. “Only time will tell.” She took a deep breath and stepped back. Reaching her hands out, she took the p
ack from the page and handed it to Serenity. “There is all that you need for the start of your journey in this bag. Guard it well.”
Her mother’s smile was wobbly, and Serenity realised how brave she was trying to be. Funny, how only now she was becoming aware of all her mother must have sacrificed to be the goddess’ chosen priestess.
Her mother reached out one last time and ran a finger down Serenity’s cheek before stretching up and pulling the hood of her cape over her curls, making sure the golden halo was well hidden. “It is time for you to leave. May the goddess watch over and protect you at all times. Remember what I have told you and all that you have learned while in these hallowed halls.”
Serenity nodded. Stepping once more to her mother, she embraced her and kissed her soft cheek, tasting the salt of the tears that still fell. “I love you,” she whispered.
And as she turned and walked away from the only life she’d ever known, she heard her mother’s whispered reply on the breeze.
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Two
“She comes,” Theron spoke softly to his best friend and fellow rogue, Thedan.
They both stood at the edge of the camp the natives had made earlier in the evening, and watched a flash of light shoot into the depths of the sky. It lit the perpetual darkness for but a moment before it disappeared.
“The goddess seeks to break this unending night?” Thedan spoke the question aloud.
“Nay.” Theron shook his head.
Thedan turned and saw that the inky blackness of his friend’s eyes had now filled with grey smoke. He knew Theron was lost to a vision granted by the goddess. Although all rogues were taught to read the signs left behind, to see the echoes of things past that still marred the earth if one looked close enough, Theron was different. Where others looked, he saw, and what he saw was a direct gift of the goddess.
“What do you see?” Thedan asked.
“She comes,” Theron repeated. “She is the one to break the darkness and renew the light. She brings answers that will be hard to accept. Not all is as it seems. Lives will be forever changed with the knowledge she will share.” He turned his head, probing the darkness in the direction that would lead them towards the castle. “He senses something, someone, and he feels the first tendrils of dread. He is sending a group of men en route to the temple to find and kill whatever or whoever left its sacred ground. He thinks it will be easy.”
“I’m guessing he is wrong,” Thedan said with a laugh.
“She comes,” Theron repeated.
Somehow, Thedan knew this time it was even more important.
“She embodies light and love and a chance for happiness that we have only imagined and hoped for.” Theron’s eyes finally cleared so that only the black remained. “She is ours, the one we have waited for. She is our mate. Once we form the bond, our lives will forever be changed. The how and why is still unclear, but I know nothing will ever be the same.”
“We must go to her, protect her from Wilhelm’s men,” Thedan said, already bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation.
“We have a duty to protect the leader of our people,” Theron stated. “A duty for which we took a blood oath,” he added and lifted his left arm, turning it to show the mark they both bore on the inside of their wrists. “We cannot leave Raine unprotected, ever.”
“By the goddess,” Thedan swore. “A man should never have to choose between his duty and his mate.”
“And yet here we stand,” Theron said, a small smile on his lips. “However, I do have an idea that will allow us to see to both.”
“Pray tell, then,” Thedan demanded. “Don’t keep me waiting.”
“Raine has three protectors,” Theron reminded him. “I say we take her to the castle to her sister, where she will be far safer.”
“Are you sure Rory will be able to focus?” Thedan wondered aloud. “Now that she is mated her thoughts might lie elsewhere,” he added, grinning.
“I’m sure her thoughts lie in that direction often, as do her mates’,” Theron agreed, grinning as well. Then he seemed to sober. “But this is the course we need to take. I know with certainty that Raine is to be taken to the palace just as I know that the woman coming is meant to bond for eternity with us.”
Thedan didn’t question him. He’d been with Theron too long to ever doubt the truth his best friend spoke. “How soon shall we begin?”
“The sooner the better,” Theron answered. “More than our own fates rest on the actions we take. I feel a need to rush, but know not if it is my own desire to meet our chosen or the urgings of our goddess.”
“Then let’s find Raine and have her prepare to head to the castle,” Thedan said. “I’m sure she will be eager to see her sister.”
“I am,” Raine said as she slid her hood back allowing herself to become visible. It was a difficult moment for her. She’d always fancied herself in love with Theron and Thedan, had visualised the three of them together in more than one late-night dream. But she could tell by watching them, by viewing their eyes, that it was not meant to be. Theron’s visions were never wrong.
“It is not nice to sneak around and eavesdrop on others, Raine,” Thedan told her and shook his head.
She loved the mahogany of his skin, the way his deep brown waves touched his shoulders, the colour a perfect match to his rich brown eyes. She loved the way neither he nor Theron undressed her with their eyes or sought to woo and bed her for her royal blood. And it was even nicer since they were one of the very few who knew she was the true blood princess of their people and not her elder sister, Rory.
“Ahhh, then you should not have taught me so well,” Raine laughed.
Theron shook his head and she thought again how magnificent he was. His hair and eyes were the same deep black of the night around them, his skin the earthy brown of a native. It was his eyes she had always been fascinated with and the markings around the tattoos he had on them.
All natives were gifted with tattoos, the markings a rite of passage for them. Many were given weapons that resided within the very skin that could be called upon as needed. Any native could be given these. She and her sister Rory were granted a bigger boon as the due of their royal blood. Each held within her skin a guardian, a dragonkin, which would leave their skin and take form to protect them when the need and call arose.
But none wore the marks of Theron, as none were gifted with the sight as he was. Raine had seen the grey smoke form and swirl within the inky depths of his black eyes when the goddess chose to show him something. And she’d been awed. She’d sworn once that the black marks that lightly fanned the bottom corner of his eyes began to glow. But it had been too quick for her to be sure.
“Raine,” Theron spoke softly, pulling her from thoughts that by rights she shouldn’t be thinking. They weren’t hers and she had no choice but to accept that.
“I have a bag packed and can be ready as soon as I grab it,” she answered. “I will not slow you down.”
She went to turn from them, but Theron stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
“I am sorry, princess,” he said. She glanced into his eyes and knew he’d understood how she felt, what she’d hoped, and she was filled with embarrassment.
“Your mate is a very lucky woman,” Raine said quietly. “I pray that she will always know just how lucky.” She moved on and he let his hand slide from her shoulder. There was nothing for him to say. She was not the one chosen for them and there was no one to blame for it. “I will meet you at the edge of camp as quickly as I can. I will grab my bag and leave word of our trip. It appears that my sister has sent for me and charged you with the duty of taking me.”
“Princess.” Thedan bowed his head to her as she passed.
Quickly, she slipped her hood back over her head, cloaking herself once more in shadow. They rarely referred to her by her title, but used her name as she’d always implored them to do. But Theron’s vision was already changing things and she sensed t
his was only the beginning. She felt the slow glide of a single tear as it overflowed her eye and slid down her cheek. She swore it would be the only one she shed. It was a moment when childish dreams left her, and as she walked away she lifted her head, understanding the time had come for her to assume the right of her birth. She was the blood princess, the heir and rightful queen of her native people. Rory, Thedan and Theron could shield and protect her no more.
“Keep your hood in place,” Thedan said gently as they approached the castle. “You are not to show yourself until we say.”
“Understood,” Raine answered just as quietly.
They meant to protect her until Rory was summoned and she would do nothing to distract or make things difficult.
She remembered very little of the journey here as she’d been lost in thought most of the way. It was time to stop hiding behind her sister. Rory had protected her all through her life. Rory had been the one to resolve the tough decisions, though she always spoke with Raine about them. Her sister had trained her not only in diplomacy, but also as a rogue. Rory believed that you should always be able to defend yourself.
So Raine knew how to wield a blade, how to pop in and out of shadows and move with stealth. She knew how to calm the masses, how to determine the decisions that had to be made. And as she’d embarked on this journey, this walk, she’d faced the toughest decision of her life. It was time to step out of the shadow, time to embrace the right of her birth and remove the burden from her sister. Rory deserved no less from Raine.
She watched as Thedan and Theron walked into the light of the torches outside the gate.
The closest guard flinched and lifted his sword. “Where the hell did you two come from? State your business or move on.”
It was Theron who moved forward and spoke. “We come to speak with the Princess Rory, who is a guest here. If you would send for her we will wait.”
The guard nodded and with a yell had someone heading in to find Rory. This showed Raine one thing for certain. Wilhelm’s control was at least diminished now, if not gone, for no native would have been allowed to set foot within these walls if Wilhelm held reign. Not when Queen Ona’s death had been blamed on a native, on Raine’s mother. Had Rory managed to clear their mother’s name so quickly?
