Chapter 7: The Music Within (Zephyr)

I sit at the inn with the others, waiting for Kairi to get back from where ever she went. Rey won't tell us where she went just that she left. John and Jezebelle are lost in their own conversation and Rey is reading a leather bound journal. For some reason, I'm holding Evan's lute. I can't play it but for some reason I can't bear to throw it away. It's to full of memories to leave it. I absentmindedly pluck at the strings, not caring if the tune is horrible.

I look up to see Kairi heading toward us with Jarret behind her. "Guys, I have to tell you something. Jarret, he's a seer, he made a statement. A….a what do you call it?"

"Premonition?" Rey asks.

"Sort of but not quite. Jarret, tell them what you said," Kairi replies, looking at Jarret.

He frowns, "One of us is bound to be a great queen. One of us is destined to honor the fallen. One of us is destined to fall in love and have children. And one of us is destined to betray the others."

"What do you mean by 'us'?" I ask, "You're not one of us! You're not even traveling with us."
"That's another thing," Kairi sighs, "I kind of told Jarret that he could come with us."

"What?" I snarl?"
"Without consulting us about this?" Rey asks, "Kairi, this could be dangerous! We know nothing

of him except that he is a gypsy!"
"And gypsies can't be trusted?"

"Exactly," I reply.

"Hey, he did have a helpful premonition. He helped us because of it! What if he has another one? Wouldn't it make perfect sense to bring him along?"

Rey hesitates in saying something and merely says, "Perhaps."

I frown, "It would be…"

"Then he should come," Kairi replies. She sits triumphantly in a chair to the left of me and Jarret sits on the other side of her.

"He can come," replies Rey. John and Jezebelle finally stop their side conversation and turn their attentions to us.

"What exactly does the premonition mean," John softly asks. His tone and facial features are both soft. He's obviously conflicted.

"The first line was they started out as warriors four bound to be forever more," Jarret nods, "That could mean many things. I think it means that the four of you: Cas, Kairi, Zephyr, and Jezebelle have become more than that. Wouldn't you all say so?"

"Wait, how do you know of Cas?" I ask.

"I told him," Kairi replies.

"Oh then I would say that you are correct," I nod, "The next line?"
"One is destined to become a queen unlike that of which Caloria has ever seen," Jarret replies, "I'm positive that one is about Kairi. Though, I'm not sure what the line about unlike that of which Caloria has ever seen means."

"Perhaps that she will be a great queen," replies Rey.

Jarret nods, "One is destined to honor those who have fallen to dastardly foes. That could apply to anyone of you just as much as it does the other."

"Or…" I hesitate, "it could refer to me…"

Kairi looks at me, "How so?"
I show them Evan's lute, "Evan's death was the work of Darakians. I'm honoring Evan. Therefore, I'm honoring those who have fallen at the hands of dastardly foes. It's simple."

"That leaves Cas and Jez," John confirms, "next line."

"One is destined to fall in love and grace the nations with gifts above," Jarret recites. "It sounds to me like someone is falling in love and is going to have a baby."

John, who was going to take a drink of his mug of ale, drops it. The ale spills all over the floor and her stares at Jarret, "B…baby?"

"It sounds logical to me. Gift from above, baby. Just sounds normal," Jarret replies.

John gulps, "Oh…" he wearily stares at Jezebelle.

"Well," I start, "obviously we can see who is in love. John's terrified that he's gotten Jezebelle pregnant." I look at them, "Or am I wrong?"

Jezebelle blushes, "Your right."

"So, Kairi's going to be a queen, I'm going to honor Evan's memory, John and Jezebelle are going to have children. That leaves Cas for the last line."

Jarret hesitates but finally says, "The last is destined to make a wrong with betrayl they will prove where they belong."

"Cas…"

"Let me finish," Jarret interrupts me, "my prophecies are never literal. This betrayl thing doesn't necessarily mean she'll betray us."

"Then who would she betray?" Jezebelle asks.

"It could be any number of things. Her morals, her captors, or us." Jarret replies softly.

"Is it even worth going to free her?" I ask, "I mean, if she's going to betray us, it isn't worth it."

"It's the only way we can defeat Lord Randall," Kairi says, "Besides I think we know Cas well enough to know that she wouldn't betray us."

"How much do we actually know about what happened when Evan died? I mean, Cas went missing and Evan was dead." I reply. My blood is beginning to boil. What if it is her fault that Evan died? I can feel a wind starting to blow.

Rey puts a hand on my shoulder, "Zephyr calm yourself. You can't allow yourself to become angry. You know what I mean."

The sad thing is I do know what Rey means. My birth song spoke of disaster if I was to ever get angry. Yet it's hard to remain calm when I'm starting to get the thought that the love of my life was murdered by a person he trusted. "Sorry," I grunt. I storm away from the table and out the door. I sit on a log outside of the inn and pull Evan's lute tight to me. I look over when I see Rey. "What?"

"You didn't have to storm out Zeph," he replies sitting next to me.

"I have to think," I reply, looking away.

"About?"

"If it hadn't of been for Evan wanting to come here with me then he would still be at home with his mother and father. He had a perfect life back home and yet he wanted to run out and risk his life with me! It's my fault he's dead! If I had been there for him…"

"It's not your fault Zephyr so don't you dare blame yourself. Evan knew exactly what he was getting into when he offered to come with you, trust me. Do you know the legend of the original companions?" Rey asks me.

I shake my head, "No. Just the heroes."

"There were four, one for each hero. The Calorian companion to Lolita was a man named Carlos. He was smart and strong. He sort of took up leadership of this group though he was not one of the warriors himself. The Aquatican companion to Mnemone was a man named Declon. He was silent but gentle. He took over the charge of hunting and fishing. The Amaranthian companion to Darrius was a woman named Elizabeth. She took over sewing and keeping the weapons clean. The Birlorian companion to Aeolous was a man named Sinara. She took over entertaining: music and stories. Each companion bore descendents to their nation who started a certain clan or sect. As you can guess, Sinara started the musimagi."

"What's the point of telling me this?" I ask.

"The point is, Sinara and the others told their children to tell their descendents about the risks they may be destined to take. Evan, being a descendent of Sinara, knew what he was getting into." Rey kindly smiles as the others walk out to us.

I nod, "Rey…thanks."

"It's not problem."

We stand and I nod, "So, John, you told us yesterday that you found out who runs the town."

"That I do," he replies.

"So who does?"
John smiles and points to a large white building on the edge of town. It's made of beautiful

marble. "That's the house of Lord Shawn."

"Lord Shawn?" I ask.

"Aye. He's said to be benevolent," John replies.

I nod, "Might as well go up there."