FIVE
“The twin’s names were Devi and Ajay. Both were extraordinarily talented at all things. Scribing, divination, potions, spell writing, the list goes on and on. They were sure to be the top in our world. Everyone in Reansillia was overjoyed that we had been blessed with such talented children.” His eyes looked above her, as if he were remembering.
“But something happened, didn’t it?” Alex asked, noticing the saddened expression his face.
He sighed and continued, “Yes, unfortunately. Something did happen. No one knows exactly when it happened, but Ajay became interested in dark magic. He found more power then he could comprehend when he joined with evil. He could suddenly cast spells that should have taken years to learn. He had been swallowed by the evil and temptation of black magic. And now his power was endless.”
They both sat silently for a moment and Alex reflected on what she had just been told. She jumped in surprise when Conlan re-entered the room with a mist of sparkles.
“Your refreshments, Master Conner,” he said placing a large, wooden, circular tray on the side table. It was filled with fruits, bread, and two simple goblets filled with a clear substance. “I’m sorry to have startled you Milady, it was unintentional.” He bowed and then asked, “Are there anymore of my services that you will be needing?”
“No thank you Conlan, this will do,” Conner said lazily with a grin curling at his mouth. Flashing a small smile in Alex’s direction, Conlan bowed and then disappeared with another shower of green. Conner took a sip form the goblet and then continued, “Where were we? My tired brain has left me without a clue.”
“You were saying that Ajay had gone to black magic, finding it to be able to supply him with ultimate power.”
“Ah yes, thank you child. Now, Ajay wanted a way to focus all of his power, ensuring his hold over all of Reansillia, so he fashioned a medallion. On the outside it appeared to crafted of the darkest and most pure obsidian, but on the inside all that could be seen was anger, hate, pain, and other horrible emotions of that nature. Ever since the time he fashioned it from the fires of hell it had hung around his neck on a silver chain. He used it un-mercilessly and destroyed anyone that tried to get in his way. Being that Devi was Ajay’s twin, she held the same power as he. So she forged a medallion of her own. It was said to be made of the purest opal and hung from her neck on a gold chain.” He said, but then stopped and looked at his hands, as if marveling Devi.
“What happened?” Alexandria pressed. “Did Dev- my mother’s medallion work?”
Conner looked up at her, the lines on his face seeming to double in depth, “In a way, yes my dear. She formed a barrier using the medallion around Reansillia to keep Ajay and all of his minions out of the city. He has never been able to enter the city since then.”
“Then what happened?” asked Alex with enough curiosity to kill at least seven cats.
Conner rubbed his temples, but still continued with the story, “You were born.” He said it bluntly and looked into her eyes.
“What do you mean?” she asked, quite offended.
“Your mother was a very powerful woman, and fell in love with an even more powerful man, so we expected great things from you. By Reansillia tradition every child is taken to a seer. Instead of being baptized their futures are prophesized. We had no idea what the seer’s mind’s eye would find but did not expect at all what she would tell us.” He stopped, took a drink, and then sat breathing in deeply.
“Please sir, I need to know the truth. I am entitled to at least that much.” Alex pressed.
He nodded, but still slouched in his chair. “The seer said that you were destined to defeat Ajay by wielding your mother’s medallion and set the world free from his reign. So much power was forseen, that the force of it killed the seer.” He stopped, unable to continue.
Alex thought for a second then said, “So that’s why my mother sent me away. She knew that as soon as Ajay found out about the Seer’s prediction that he would come after me.
“Yes, and try to reverse the prophesy.” Conner said, “And after failing in trying to find you, he went to Devi with a challenge. The context was that if Devi won, Ajay must surrender his medallion and leave this world forever. But if Ajay were to win, Devi must surrender her medallion and your location. Devi refused, which only infuriated Ajay, and he threatened that he would find and kill you, no matter what price it took.”
“So he hunted her down, attacked her one night while she was sleeping,” Alex recounted, her voice almost trance like.
“Yes,” he said sitting up in surprise, “How did you know?”
“I’ve dreamt it, for many nights now. I had no idea that it was my mother’s last stand.” She kept her head down, her thumbs fiddling in her lap. A mother that had barely known me had given her life to save mine.
“Yes, she did, but in this case, to save one life, was to save many. “ Conner said, deflating her balloon of hope.
She thought for a moment and then said, “What do you want me to do?”
“I’m glad you asked that, because that’s the reason we’ve brought you here. When your mother died, she took the secret of where the medallion she had crafted with her. Sensing that Ajay would be coming for her, she his it somewhere, we’re not even sure if it’s still in Reansillia anymore. It’s been so many years since we have seen it. The barrier to keep Ajay away from Reansillia still stands, but the threat of him breaking through it and destroying the city is still something we face everyday. According to legend, only direct descendants can sense where the medallion is hidden. In order to bring about Ajay’s downfall, we must find where your mother’s medallion is, and soon, Ajay is already trying to find a way through the barrier.”
“I don’t understand,” Ales said, leaning forward in her chair.” If I’m only seventeen, then how could it have been ‘so long’ since you had seen my mother’s necklace?”
“Time in our two worlds is very different. Every month on Earth, is a year to us. Now do you see why we have been waiting for you so very long?” he said with a smile.
“Your people have been suffering for a little over two hundred years?” she said astonished. Alex sat back in her chair, open mouthed and wide eyed.
“Like Ajay, we had no idea where you were, so it’s not like we cowered in fear by choice. All we knew was that one-day, you would come. And now you have. In our greatest time of peril, the hero has finally emerged.” Conner finished and sat back into his chair, silently sipping at his goblet.
The room was silent as they both sat; taking absent minded sips from their mugs. Finally Alex broke the silence. “What shall happen if I do not find the medallion in time?” she stopped and took in a breath before asking the rest of her question, “What will become of Reansillia if I fail?” Alex finished hesitantly.
Conner sighed as well and then answered with a tone of melancholy in his voice, “If you fail, Reansillia will fall under Ajay’s control forever.”
The room was quiet for a moment and the two could not look each other in the eye. Finally Conner said something. “When I was younger and would get discouraged and think that there was no possible way I could complete the task ahead of me, my mother would remind me of an ancient Reansillian proverb. No one can predict to what heights you can soar. Even you will not know until you spread your wings.”
“So what you’re saying is,” she spat quite sarcastically, “You never know until you try?” Alex shot him a very smug and unimpressed look.
“Well, yes” he said not the least bit discouraged, “but my way sounds so much more fun, don’t you think?”
Alex smiled and finished the last of what was in her goblet. “So, what now?”
“You go on an adventure.”
“You mean daring sword fights, angry trolls, and damsels in distress?” she asked, her voice once again tainted with a sarcastic flare.
“That’s one way to look at it,” Conner said chuckling.
“So, where am I going and when do I start?” Alex asked standing up.
“Both are up to you. Conlan is ready when you are. Would you like to get some rest before you go? It might be a while until you get the chance to sleep in a real bed for a while.”
“Wait a minute, I thought I was going on my own?”
“Do you really want to enter the untamed wild by yourself and in a world you’ve never been in before?”
Alex thought for a moment then thought to herself, company would nice, I guess it won’t be that bad.
“Great,” said Conner, standing up as well, “It’s settled then! I’ll call for Conlan to start packing.” He rang the sweet silver bell and the magic green dust appeared immediately.
Alex decided that having people be able to read her mind, was very very annoying.
Conlan bowed before the elderly man and said, “You rang, my lord?”
“Yes Conlan, thank you for your promptness. Please escort Alexandria back to her room where she can get some proper sleep and then go talk to Astrid about your trip. Then get some sleep yourself, you have a long journey ahead of you.”
“Yes, Master Conner.” He bowed and then offered a hand to Alexandria.
She looked at his hand and then questioned, “What?”
He smiled a faint half smile and then answered “I thought that I could flicker you back to your room. The fortress is very big you see, and I wasn’t going to make you walk if you didn’t have to.”
“Flicker?” was all Alex could muster.
“He means the green sparkles, Alex” Conner interjected. Alex smiled and felt silly with embarrassment for not recognizing what he meant. Traveling here by flicker had been quite a pleasant experience, and it sure beat walking.
“How does it work?” she inquired.
Conlan extended his hand again. “All you have to do is take my hand.” Alex did so and you have to trust me. he added in her mind. His voice was sweet, it seemed to run over her mind like sticky sweet chocolate syrup. She enjoyed it being there, it was so peaceful compared to Ajay harsh screams. Alex look up and Conlan, smiled as a signal that she was ready, and they melted away, absorbed in the majestic sparks of green light
Chapter 6
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