The night was clear and crisp for winter. Xanaphia lay on her pallet thinking of how her life had been before she had been accepted as a cleric. Tyr, her god, had visited her in one of her dreams when she was just four years old. Her elvan parents had tried to talk her out of it because they were followers of Meilikki, goddess of the forest. Begrudgingly, they abided by her wishes because they knew that faith and miracles is something left alone. For Xanny was a miracle, she had appeared on their door step one night. They knew not of where she came from, but they knew that Meilikki had answered their prayers for a baby.
At the age of four she was taken to the temple of Tyr in Raven's Bluff. Because of what the little girl had told the priestesses, she was put under the tutelage of the high priestess herself. Zahresha Cylenthera was the most powerful priestess that Tyr had blessed she was also from the same world as Xanaphia. They had been pulled from there because he asked permission to exceed his boundaries of Faerun. Zahresha was aging fairly slowly because she was an elf; however, she was missing the family that she had never known. Xanaphia was only the second elf in five hundred years that Tyr had personally asked to be his high priestess.
The years went fairly quickly and Xanaphia learned the ways of the priestess faster than Zahresha ever had. Zahresha's age was not the factor in her being of lesser potential than Xanaphia, but she lacked the inner strength to do a really powerful job. Her clerical potential was very high, but she could never master the all powerful "Storm of Vengeance." That was the one spell that Tyr saved for his priestess that he called the one. Xanaphia was his chosen one only because he knew that she would always stay loyal. He also knew that she was going to be the most beautiful of all his priestesses. When the time came, he would then release her and let her marry a person from her world. All that was required of her was five hundred years of loyal servitude.
It had been a long journey, but now she was about to receive her answer from the one person whom could help her now, Tyr himself. Xanaphia was now aged, according to human years, fifteen. She had just mastered the most powerful spell that Zahresha could not. She was not confused, she was scared. Scared of the power that she now held within her grasp, there was only one thing to do. She had to talk her god and tell him that she did not want to be like the Purple Dragon Knights that served Torm and become power hungry. There is only one thing that happens to the power hungry, they lose their god touch. She knew that this was her calling and did not want to be like those who lost everything before they could go back.
"Tyr, my god, I have no lack of faith in thee. I am just your humble servant who needs your ever present guidance in her life. I know not what to do with myself. I have done your bidding and became the powerful priestess that you need me to be. How do I prevent that which makes one doubt everything good in life? How do I stay true to everything you need from me? Please tell my lord Tyr," she prayed with all of her heart. She was scared that Tyr would not answer. She was afraid of the visions that she had been having.
In her dreams, the world had been destroyed and recreated several times. There were repeated faces one of a man with elfish features and wings? Almost like an angel, but not; however, one thing was clear, there were more like him and they looked to him as their king. In another dream, she saw herself with him as his wife. All the dreams she had been having about him were of him trying to find her. They were of him replacing the one thing in his life that had been sacred, his wife. She had died in the second destruction of their world and had not been reborn as promised.
All of this information was scaring her. She knew too much about a world she barely remembered and did not even know. The feelings were real and the visions kept repeating themselves at different intervals. One night it would be about the world's destruction. Another night it would be about that beautiful man mourning the loss of his beloved.
Just as she was beginning to get scared, but even more threatening to her, she was becoming more fearful. When she thought that she had not said her prayer correctly she found herself enveloped in his loving arms.
"What is the matter my child? You need not be worried about becoming power hungry. You are far too humble to ever succumb to thoughts such as those. In time you will learn to accept your visions as what they are, glimpses of the past and of your future. I am sorry that you have to be burdened with the suffering of your world. It was one of the conditions that had attached to you in order for me to bring you here," he explained.
"Stipulations, you mean that the gods of my place of origin want me to suffer like my people have suffered," she asked as silent tears started to fall from her cheeks.
"Do not fret. For once your term as High Priestess is come to an end, you will no longer have any need for that kind of torment. I ask that you only be as patient as you can, my child. I know that you are not one of the beings I have created, but I will do all that I can to diminish the visions," Tyr replied as a father would reply to his daughter.
"I think I can handle them. If I could not, my lord Tyr would not have chosen me to be his Priestess. I am just hurt that I am being punished for something beyond my control. May I ask one question, my lord Tyr, why did you choose my world for the High Priestesses? Was it the power potential that we possessed," Xanaphia queried.
"You are by far one of the best assets that I could have in my temple," he replied with much amusement. "It was indeed due to the potential that your people possess."
"Will I ever meet that man I see in dreams? Sorry my lord Tyr, I forgot one of the first things that you told me. I know that I will someday, but he looks terribly sad and lonely. If I excel at my calling you have for me, may I take care of him sooner," she asked humbly.
"Xanaphia, if I cannot find one such as you, I am sorry you may have to wait. If you are constantly faithful and ever searching for one as powerful as you, yes," he said and with that he left her with more peace than she had felt in the time of mastering the "Storm of Vengeance."
With that last statement, he left her to her meditations to calm her thoughts. So far things were going as he had planned she was still going to be his High Priestess. He was appalled at the thought that they were making her remember a place she had never seen. He made sure that she would not have remembered; thus his reasoning for taking his priestesses at such a young age, to make sure that they were never compelled to return till he found another one. All throughout her consummation, he had been fascinated with this one. Her mother was told she would never have a child and she still ended up giving birth to Xanaphia Liadon. What made her special was that her father was not the father and her mother was faithful to her husband. He sat on his throne in his haven, thinking of why they would have done that to such a special being unless they wanted to compel her to return sooner. The only thing that he knew was that he had to pay their grand council of gods a visit.
Xanaphia sat and continued her meditations. The night sky was still crisp on her slender; yet very muscular shoulders. She was dressed in her sleeping robes and still could not shake the feeling of being watched. She continued to meditate until she heard the flatter of wings? She turned around and there staring her in the face was the cause of her dreams or as she was referring to them now her nightmares.
He was clad in shades of baby blue, silver and cerulean. His hair fell to his shoulders in a cascade of silver. His wings were what gave him away. They were long and masculine with a hint of silver shining in them.
"Now, now I am not here to startle you. That look of suspicion befuddles your otherworldly beauty," he said conversationally. "I came to see what was so great about you. You see, I have been dreaming about you; yet, I don't even know you. Anyway, I have been interrupted from some very wonderful exchanges because of them."
"Well, I should say the same about you; your dreams have been interrupting my meditations, sleep and even my prayers. You must be very promiscuous now that you are no longer burdened by your lovely queen," Xanaphia snapped at him. He should have been in mourning and still missing her. The way with which they were torn apart would have broken her heart. Why would it not break his?
"Cynical, I like that in my women. Sarcasm always leaves me angry, but blind fury, that is something that cannot be purchased," he teased. "You hurt me with that. I came here to find you and all you can say is if I am mourning or not."
"Apologies, my good sir, but why do you keep staring at me like that? I am not worthy of thine attention," she said wrapping her robes about her.
"Oh but you are. You see, I am very picky when it comes to my women, but very rarely do I marry. I keep seeing you as my wife," he said. Nothing on his face said anything about what he was like. One thing that was certain, he knew that she was right. He did indeed miss his beloved wife. Pensively he sized her up. Her platinum blonde hair fell past her shoulders down to her waist. Her eyes were a deep hazel with a hint of blue around the iris. Her ears came to a very noble point at the tip and her skin was very fair. She was almost a splitting image, yet they could not have been more different. No wonder Death made me come here, he thought, She looks like Death Blade, but her personality is all her own. Death Blade would have remembered me by now. This is my chance to do things right with everything. Why would he send me here to find what I seek?
"My good sir, I trust you are looking at the next High Priestess to Tyr, god of wisdom and judgment. I know not of which you speak," she lied to him.
"For a priestess, you lie better than anyone I have ever met," he replied, noting the look of shock on her face. "I know when you lie because I am a god and a king. I don't know how that happened, but it happened when my wife died. She was a goddess and they gave me her job. She was goddess of children and dreams. So you think I would have been able to control my own dreams."
"This night just cannot get any worse," she whispered aloud, clamping her hand over her mouth. "I mean, that I am in charge of the morning temple duties. I have just completed my training and tomorrow is my High Priestess initiation. It is near a candle mark and I have not been able to sleep. My visions have been coming faster lately. I keep seeing death and destruction; somehow, everyone that lives in that world continues to stay happy. I keep thinking either they are faithful or the creator has not been able to recreate it in the right way."
"Your god has chosen appropriately. You care for people that you have never met, but still your heart aches. My wife just cared enough to maybe do something. You make her look like she failed at her job," he retorted with just a bit of sadness. Barely enough emotion for Xanaphia to pick up on, but just enough for her to think that she was right. "You have more wisdom than you need to, milady."
"I have more empathy than I need to," she said putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I do feel sorry for all those people. I have been meditating ceaselessly to figure something out. Tyr finally answered my prayers and told me that my visions were of a different world. But he would not discuss it further because he infuriated that I was plagued by visions from another world."
"You are going to be a great priestess. Not even the ones that are in charge of my temple can comfort as well as you. Though they do comfort my loins," he teased again. He was fascinated at her age. She was younger than him and carried an aura that not everyone had as a priestess. He had been waiting for what felt like an eternity for a companion like the one he had lost. He resigned himself to the fact that he may never have her. Though that could not stop him from trying to take her away with him later.
"You apparently are feeling better. Get thee hence from my presence," she said as a bolt of lightning flashed. She jumped and looked completely frightened. She knew that Tyr gave her power, but this was scary the amount that she held. She started praying.
He was shocked. Normally people are not afraid of that kind of power, but she was terrified of it. The look on her face and compared to the sound of her voice was opposite of what she should be feeling. He overheard her prayer. Her earnestness about not wanting to abuse this gift and her fear at not wanting the responsibility. The thing that tugged at his heart was that she knew that she had to against her fear, but that she knew that Tyr would be there for her. It must have been her faith that made him stop what he wanted to do. Right then and there he was contemplating whether or not he should abduct her.
"Oh, I am so sorry good sir; I just needed to acknowledge the presence of my god. I never meant to ignore you," she thought that it had been several minutes when in actuality it was only a few. "I give you my condolences for the loss of your wife, but past that I cannot help you."
"You have helped me far more than you realize good lady. I must be leaving you now, but I do promise to return," he said kissing her hand. "If you ever need me for anything at all, take this feather. It contains a summoning spell that will bring me to you without a moments delay. Be forewarned, it only works once."
"Well, then, I give you my prayer beads. If you ever find yourself in need of my advice, my presence, they contain the same. The only exception is that it won't ever wear off. I have used them so much that my essence is contained within them," she replied giving him her personal set she had been given when she first joined. "You need not worry whether I will miss them or not. They who become High Priestesses must shed that which holds them back."
"I don't know if your advice will be needed, but your power will be a great assistance. Have you mastered all the important spells," he queried, readying himself for his departure.
"Indeed I have, Storm of Vengeance is at my disposal," she replied, taking note of the look of awe on his face. "It is the most powerful spell that we clerics have at our beckoning. It is not to be taken lightly; yet, it is the thing that scares me most."
"I must be off now. I will return if you need me and I will call if I need you," you said kissing her hand again. Then looking her in the eye he hesitated only for a moment, and proceeded to kiss her lips. At first she resisted the pleasure, but found it hard to say no. Their tongues met for only a moment. But they met with such passion, that they both knew this was not to be taken lightly. I must figure out a way to break this strong magic here. I don't have enough strength to try to break it right now. I have to get her back to Krackenria. Death should have a way to help me.
"You are most kind to me, I hope to see again someday," she replied giving him the most beautiful smile that he had ever seen from anyone. "May the blessings of Tyr guide you on your way."
With that he left her and went back to his world. She then went back to her meditations. What she thought was a long time had in fact been a spell to stop time to talk to her without disrupting anything. She looked at the candle that had been burning, but not moving. The wax was now melting. Who was that? More importantly, how did he get here? She thought to herself. With that thought put aside, she resumed her duties and went to bed.