by L M Lannutti
“My children, now you see why witches should not interfere with the affairs of mortals,’’ the woman said.
The snake looked at the floating woman, then the lioness in rage. She hissed and disappeared. Finally everything faded to black. I woke up at dawn the scream still ringing in my ears. But I had learned one thing from my dream that the lioness in my dream was the same one who had aided me in battle with the same black snake, Atropos’s snake. Maywen knew the dream meant something but Maywen couldn’t put her finger on it. Amersa and Darasin stood at my door dressed and ready to go.
“We have to go now,’’ Amersa said.
I couldn’t read her expression. I got up and closed the door. I got changed, grabbed all my supplies and reopened the door in a few minutes.
“Where are we going?’’ I asked as we walked down the hallway.
At the exit, Amersa’s parents stood by the tree stairs.
“You can stay here if you want Amersa, ’’ Anglaczar pleaded.
“No, this is my destiny. If I stay here I’ll rot from boredom,’’ Amersa looked at her parents coldly.
“We understand dear,’’ Queen Diana said solemnly.
Amersa ascended up the stairs. I followed her, Darasin was at the rear. So we climbed up the stairs and into the open countryside. My eyes squinted from the sunlight then suddenly Darasin winced and his eye turned the color of fire.
“We have to go to the Phoenix’s Nest,’’ Darasin stated.
His eyes turned back to normal.
“Are you sure? That’s at the very eastern edge of the world. It is far away,’’ Amersa warned.
“But if we are going there I can turn into a phoenix again, ’’ Darasin replied.
“Do you want King Dervindell’s guards to find us again or worse … ’’ Amersa’s voice trailed off.
I shuddered because I knew what she was talking about- Mantorq or worse Atropos herself.
“Got it. We’ll have to go on foot,’’ Darasin said.
So we kept walking knowing that the journey would be long and tiring. We walked east past Perspha’s garden. I wanted to drop by but this was more important. The sun was blinding our eyes even though the trees covered most of the sun light. We walked for days until finally we saw a tree that was made of gold and covered with fire. I couldn’t even see the top of it.
“Now can I change into a phoenix?’’ Darasin asked.
Amersa ignored him.
“Sure Darasin,’’ I said.
What he did next scared me. He burst into flames and in a heartbeat he was a flaming phoenix. I hopped on Darasin and Amersa climbed on next. Darasin flew us up higher and higher until there was a light so bright I thought it was the sun. It seemed as if we would never reach the top of the tree then we reached a nest. It was made of gold twigs and jewels. I was shocked, instead of a colossal flaming bird like Darasin had describe the phoenix when he first met her, sitting in the nest was a woman. She had ash black hair, a dress the color of fire which upon closer inspection I realized it was actually a dress made out of a flames. She had tons of orange red feathers on her necklace. Melibar’s egg felt warmer in my bag. I grabbed the egg and stared at it. There was a crack: it was hatching.
“My fire can give life as well as death,’’ the phoenix said.
My friends stared at me in a second I was holding a baby dragon. It had a lion’s head that looked up at me.
“I’ll call you Cademosi,’’ I whispered to the dragon infant.
“Maywen it hatched!” Amersa exclaimed. Which made Maywen feel relieved that her friend was speaking again.
“Where do we go next Phoenix?’’ Darasin bowed as he asked this.
“You must go to the Fateina … ’’ She turned to me, “and hear the whole story.’’
My eyes must have shown my shock. Had Ingraine lied to me again?
“Do not be angry. You will gain great knowledge from this part of your journey ’’ the Phoenix reassured.
“But what are the Fateina?’’ Darasin asked.
“The Fateina are three old women who hold everyone’s life string. They can see the past and look into the future,’’ the Phoenix said.
“Where are they?’’ I asked her.
“In the Cavern of Fate. It is under the center of the world.’’
“Where is that?’’ I asked.
“Right under your kingdom,’’ the Phoenix said grimly.
“But King Dervindell will kill us if he finds us!’’ Darasin exclaimed.
“You must go and see the Fateina and that is final ’’ the Phoenix said fiercely.
As she said this she started to catch on fire. Her eyes turned the color of fire.
“We’ll go ’’ I said softly.
Slowly the Phoenix’s flames disappeared.
“Darasin, Amersa you may leave’’ the Phoenix said.
The Phoenix waved her hand and I stood in fear as they burst into flames and in a second they were gone.
“Don’t worry they are fine. I just transported them down to the ground, ’’ the Phoenix reassured.
“Why didn’t I join my friends?’’ I asked.
“I wanted to speak to you. You see Maywen, every five hundred years a Phoenix is born and that Phoenix picks someone to be their eyes and ears to the mortal world, a fireseer. The fireseer can live forever as long as their closest friend protect this… . ’’
She plucked a flaming feather from her necklace.
‘’This is one of my feathers. Every time a Phoenix finds a new fireseer they grow a feather. That feather is part of their fireseer. If the feather is destroyed the fireseer dies unless one their closest friend can keep this.’’
She put the feather in a phoenix shaped locket. The feather melted into a bright orange liquid as the Phoenix closed the locket. It glowed gold. The phoenix grabbed a gold twig from her nest and strung it around the necklace. She gave the locket to me and as soon as she put it on I felt a warm feeling inside.
“I will send you to your friends but not before a word ’’ the Phoenix said.
“What is it? ’’ I asked.
“When you see your mother, don’t be mad. I feel her pain. You see, I am a mother too and I will never see my daughter grow up,’’ she pointed to a gold egg that was next to her.
“Ingraine only did what she did for the wellbeing of you and … ’’
She stopped herself as if she said too much.
“Wait, who are you talking about? ’’I asked.
But before she could get a reply Maywen burst into flames and then she was at the ground floor with her friends.
Chapter 13
The Cavern of Fate
“What did the Phoenix say to you? ’’ Darasin asked.
Maywen ignored that question because she was too angry. She was getting tired of all these secrets. Once she discovered one it always seemed there was another she had to find out. It was like opening one door only to be blocked by another once she walked out the first.
“How are we going to get to Dervindell’s Castle without being seen?” Amersa asked.
“Forget being detected. We don’t even have transportation because it would be kind of obvious we were coming if you guys rode on me ’’ Darasin stated.
“Maybe I can help you three ’’ a new voice said out from behind a tree.
Maywen saw something in appear in front of them: a little person, an imp. He had pale green skin, brown eyes, a green snail shell as a hat. He wore green baggy pants with a green cloth belt with little trinkets. He carried a wooden flute and small bags.
“Travelers, I am Ceridwen … ’’
He didn’t finish because then Amersa summoned a ghostly orange fox. It snarled at the imp and started chasing him as he climbed up the tree.
“Amersa what are you doing?!’’ I screamed.
“Imps are tricksters that end up turning against thei
r companions just for more gold. ’’
“That’s just a bedtime story. Now may you please get rid of that thing before it turns me into little Ceridwen pieces.’’
“Amersa, stop torturing him’’ I screamed.
She hesitated then she snapped her fingers and the fox disappeared.
“Thanks Maywen ’’ Ceridwen said.
“How do you know me?’’ I asked confused.
Ceridwen looked up at the sky. It was clear and the sun was as bright as ever. His brown eyes were mystified as if he was thinking of an old memory.
“I can’t say here it’s better if I explain in the catacombs. ’’
“Catacombs’’ Darasin echoed.
“Where is the nearest entrance? ’’ I asked.
He placed his hand on his chin and started pacing around and mumbling something that Maywen couldn’t hear but she thought it sound like this:
“I think it’s … no, not over there maybe past that mushroom or maybe… ’’
Then his eyes beamed in excitement.
“It’s right under this tree’’ he said proudly and started stomping his foot trying to shake the ground.
Then suddenly he fell in the hole he made. He yelled
“Come on this is the catacombs, jump down!”
I jumped down first then Darasin and Amersa finally jumped down. It was pitch black.
“Does someone have a torch?” Ceridwen asked.
“Even better’’ Darasin said slyly.
He ignited his hand and led the way. The walls were painted as we walked.
“Darasin can you hold Cademosi for me?’’ I asked scooping up the dragon infant from my bag.
“Sure’’ he said.
I passed the dragon to him gently.
The walls reminded me of the scroll Ingraine had shown me while I was training Arterranos because I saw the Earth as a swirling black river.
“What was that you were saying to me before? ’’ I asked Ceridwen.
“Oh yes that, see I’ve known you since you were a baby but you probably don’t remember me. Yep you and Oawain. ’’
Then he froze as if he said too much.
“Wait, who’s Oawain ’’ I inquired.
“It’s nothing’’ he replied a little too quickly.
“If it’s nothing then why did you mention him?’’ I asked.
“Oh a… ’’
But I couldn’t wait for him.
“Tell me now!’’ I yelled.
We paused there was a slight rumble but then it ended.
“Fool, you almost collapsed the roof. We would have been trapped in here forever’’ Ceridwen yelled.
I looked at him angrily then I gasped. I saw on the cave wall my dream- the two warriors one black the other white while the snake and lioness fought beside them. I stood in awe. Then I heard Amersa gasp. We were bathed in a silvery light. We had reached a tunnel.
“Maybe you should let us explain Maywen ’’ three voices rasped simultaneously.
I held my breath. In front me were the three old woman I had seen in my dream but they were covered up to their knees in silvery string. A spinning wheel stood in between them. One was holding a pair of scissors. I knelt down and the others followed.
“Maywen, you have traveled far, battled many, only to learn your fate ’’ the three said.
“Yes’’ I said shakily.
One of the three spoke up:
“Your future like many others lie in one place- the past.’’
Then I was somewhere else. My friends and the Fateina were gone. All I could hear was the Fateina’s voice. I was on a mountain, the same mountain I had fought Atropos. I stood by my mother’s side but she did not notice me.
‘’You cannot defeat me, you may trap me but you cannot destroy me forever ’’ Atropos warned.
“I don’t want to do this Atropos but Herames’s murder was the last straw’’ Ingraine said.
“You know I only did it because he killed Darcones and besides Herames was weak, he was easy to kill’’ Atropos replied.
Ingraine looked angry. She grabbed a crystal ball and I recognized it. The crystal ball was the same one Ingraine had used in her tent holding a vial of red liquid in her hand she poured a drop of it on the crystal and. she said the words to the ensnarement potion softly. Atropos disappeared then Ingraine knelt down and picked the crystal ball which was now swirling with black smoke eyes gleaming in triumph. Then Maywen heard a noise. It was the cry of a small baby. Ingraine walked up to a cave where the noise was coming from. The baby had bright blue eyes and blonde hair. She looked like someone familiar: Atropos! Ingraine grabbed the child and then snapped her fingers and she and the child were gone. Then the scene changed. I was in The Chamber of the Elder Mirrors with Morganna and Ingraine. We were around a table with three infants wrapped in different color cloth: green, gold, and black. Then Ceridwen was standing on the table beside the children.
“Are you positive these are the children of the prophecy Morganna?’’ Ceridwen asked.
“What will we do with her child?’’ Ingraine pointed at the infant wrapped in black.
“She was named Jewel by her mother and father and we shall not judge her by their actions. ’’
Morganna turned to Ingraine.
“Or yours”’ she said sternly.
“I decided Jewel will stay in Hectamisa and learn to be a loyal witch’’ Morganna answered.
“With that matter settled what we do with Maywen and Oawain?” Ceridwen asked.
Ingraine looked at the imp in alarm.
“They are my children; they should stay with me’’ Ingraine said shakily.
Ceridwen‘s voice softened.
“Ingraine they are in as much danger as you. What if Atropos escaped?”
“Maywen could stay with me but Oawain ….’’ Morganna’s voice trailed off.
“No they stay with me!” Ingraine went to grab Oawain and me but stopped at Morganna’s expression.
Morganna looked at her daughter with pure rage. She seemed taller and fiercer.
“They are too powerful. The amount of their combined magical energy will attract demons and monsters from all the corners of the earth!” she warned.
Ingraine’s eyes were fearful for an instant then she sighed.
“Fine. I will take Maywen to Ceraibell. Then I will take Oawain to live Rao with grandparents’’ Ingraine said defeated
Then everything faded to black. I almost fainted but Darasin caught me.
“Fateina?” I asked.
“Yes?” they rasped simultaneously.
“The cave drawing… the one with the lioness and snake, two warriors, and the floating woman? I saw it for a reason but what is it?’’
Then one of the Fateina stood up and touched my forehead and then I was back on the battlefield.
“The white armored warrior was your father Herames, and the black armored warrior was Darcones, Atropos’s greatest warrior. What many people don’t know is that Darcones was Jewel’s father. So in revenge and grief she murdered his slayer in cold blood and fled to the mountains to protect Jewel and herself from your mother’s wrath. In order to gain unlimited power and immortality Atropos scarified some of her soul to Karthodes the dark guardian of the netherworld and his legions of evil spirits. Before she was entrapped, Atropos swore revenge on her sister and her family.’’
“As for the as you put it, floating woman, one should be able to recognize their kin.”
The Fateina smiled.
I stood there and thought for a moment. Then Ingraine’s story came back to me but the three children of Freyaisa still visit their mother and their descendants from time to time.
“That was Lunna, she actually came to my mom.’’ I said stunned.
“Yes, child you have much to learn before the final battle ’’ a sweet voice whispered and I recognized it from my dream. It was
Lunna’s voice.
