lilnightmare17: I'm happy you're enjoying it! And here's the update!
Perlos97: Thank you! I'm glad you think so.
The morning after the death of Ratka was one of the roughest for the women. Solargarde customs said that the body must be burned, along with all they're possessions that weren't given to other people while the person was still alive. Out of all the women, it was the children who were the strong ones. They were the ones who went back into Ratka's room and they gathered up her blankets and clothes. Several of the women tried to help, but they couldn't move themselves towards the room. Even Kali, who found herself strangely at peace with her mentor's death, was too overwhelmed to get close to the door. Ratka was a mother to all of them, no matter the age. Even Oriold, the oldest member, felt like an orphaned child.
One of the toughest things to get used to after Ratka's death was the shift of power. There was a new leader who would have to guide the Solargarde through future good or bad times. Kali thought that despite having a huge burden placed on her shoulders, Christiane was holding up fairly well. She led the funeral without so much as pausing to dry her eyes. The middle-aged woman had known Ratka for the longest time, so it would be understandable if she broke down in tears. Everyone would've understood. Kali admired her strength. Nobody could ever truly fill Ratka's shoes, but if anyone had to take her place, Kali would choose Christiane.
The rest of the Solargarde agreed with her. Christiane was an amazing sorceress. Magic came naturally to her like breathing was natural for any creature that walked the earth. She had taught many of the young women everything there was to know about sorcery. She was the one who trained them with their weapons and defensive spells. Christiane meant as much to them as Ratka did, so it was only right for her to lead them.
Kali was looking for Christiane. She wanted to talk to her about the story that Ratka told her. She wanted to know if Christiane was told the same thing. It would be nice to talk to someone about it instead of keeping it wrapped inside of her. Kali hugged her arms around herself and walked in to the room that Morgause first took her and Livia to when they came to her for help. Morgause sat at the table speaking to Eva, Sarah, and Chelsey. Jordyn stood on the other side of the room with a grimace on her face. She looked like she wanted to drown herself in her tea. Jordyn gestured for Kali to come to her urgently.
Kali raised an eyebrow at Jordyn. "Are you okay?" She asked tentatively.
Jordyn frowned and gazed at Chelsey with a look of pure concern. "No. Not at all. I can't stand what Morgause is saying." Jordyn shook her head bitterly. "Honestly if she wasn't the High Priestess I might be tempted to punch her." Kali leaned back slightly. It wasn't like Jordyn to be worked up like this. She usually stayed quiet about her opinion, only sharing it when she was asked. Jordyn was the most introverted of the group. Only Chelsey or things that made her incredibly angry got the woman to talk.
"What is she telling them?"
Jordyn narrowed her eyes on the blonde. "She's telling them terrible things about Camelot. It's distasteful to talk about such things when Ratka just passed away. She hadn't even waited two hours after the funeral to start spewing out insults of everything that has to do with Camelot." She spat.
Kali watched the three women. Their eyes were wide, eagerly nodding, and actively contributing to the conversation. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she knew that it was something that they felt strongly about. A knot formed in Kali's stomach. Now Morgause's pure kindness that she showed them earlier didn't seem so pure. She began to think that every kind thing Morgause did had a darker reason. She really hoped that wasn't the case but it was much easier to believe that someone was plotting something than to believe that there was no selfish motive behind everything.
"Why would Morgause say these things?" Kali asked, her eyes not leaving the four women.
Jordyn scowled. Her brown eyes darkened. "I have no idea, but I have a horrible feeling that she will make us all look like fools."
Kali's eyebrows raised up in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"
She gestures towards the women. "Can't you see it? Morgause has three of our women under her thumb now." Jordyn hissed with venom. She set her tea down on the window-sill. "I'm going to speak to Christiane about this. She'll do something." Jordyn abruptly left the room. None of the other women noticed her exit.
Kali decided that she needed to put a stop to the conversation. It was obvious that Morgause's words were having a great impact on her Solargarde sisters, and she was positive that the words only spoke badly of Camelot. She personally wasn't a fan of Camelot —it was impossible to be after everything that happened— but she understood that as bad as Camelot was, there were positives. It was a strong kingdom with fair laws, excluding those that involved magic. Camelot was home to many good people who did good things. There was just a bad king. But just because she strongly hated one person out of the entire kingdom didn't mean that she had the right to call all of Camelot evil.
"—because Uther has corrupted the entire kingdom! It's not..." Morgause paused. She looked up at Kali with a look she didn't recognize. "Kali, I'm glad that you have come to join us."
Eva nodded. The young girl looked so innocent. Too innocent to be feeling such hate for Camelot. "Sit with us! Morgause was just about to tell us about her sister that lives in Camelot." Eva said eagerly.
Morgause placed a hand on Eva's shoulder. "No, my dear Eva, I don't think she would like to talk with us. She doesn't share the same opinion as us."
Kali crossed her arms and squared her shoulders. There was an unspoken insult in her words. 'She doesn't share the same opinion as us' meant closer to 'She isn't like us'. Kali bit her bottom lip to keep herself from saying something insulting. That would only make the situation worse.
The blonde pushed away her half-full cup of tea. "I talked to Christiane after the funeral. I told her about the disease ravaging a Druid camp. She—"
"What disease?" Kali interrupted rudely.
Morgause frowned. "Several men from Camelot raided their camp and gave a child a deadly disease. It has spread throughout the Druid camp like a wild-fire."
"How can you be sure that it was the men from Camelot who gave the child the disease?" Kali challenged.
"Well, who else could it have been?" Chelsey countered quietly. She bitterly took a sip of her tea. Kali resisted glaring at the woman. It wouldn't make anything better to start tensions within the Solargarde just like it wouldn't to anger the High Priestess.
The High Priestess placed a reassuring hand on Chelsey's. "We must let Kali think what she wants to think. It will do now good trying to persuade her. She must see for herself. And soon enough she will se the error in her thoughts." Morgause sighed dramatically. "As I was saying, Iseldir contacted me and said that the druids wished to cast a blessing on the camp to speed the healing, but there wasn't enough healthy people to do it. He asked me to join him, but I cannot, especially after you leader's death. It just wouldn't be right."
Kali grit her teeth. "You didn't even know her."
Sarah frowned. "Please don't be rude, Kali. She is the High Priestess and a friend to the Solargarde." Something about Morgause gave Kali the feeling the she wasn't as much as a friend to the Solargarde as they believed, but Kali wasn't about to say that out loud. Especially not when her fellow sisters were defending her so strongly.
Morgause continued like nothing had been said. "Christiane said that you would be the best for the job. You have the most experience with healing spells out of the group, besides Christiane, of course. But she obviously can't leave now." Her lips curved in a slight smirk. "Unless, you are unable to."
"I am perfectly capable." Kali snapped.
Morgause's smile only grew. "Wonderful! I will tell Christiane to get the talisman."
0o0o0o0o0o0
Christiane handed Kali a small ring with an inscription on the inside. It hummed with energy. Kali felt the connection to another ring many miles away. She could almost feel the warmth coming from the other ring that was around a man's finger.
"Tell me how transportation spells work." Christiane commanded gently, reminding Kali of moments many years ago when Christiane would quiz her on different subjects at random times. She packed a small bag of extra provisions since Kali was going to stay for as long as necessary at the druid camp.
Kali groaned, but she knew the Christiane wouldn't let her leave without telling her. It was her way of making sure that Kali was knowledgable about different spells. "A transportation spell needs an object to tether it to. First you must create a smell and enchant an object, whether it's a house or a needle. That spell can then be used when you wish to be transported to the object. Many people like to enchant objects and bury them deep under the ground so that they're always guaranteed to appear in that spot when they say the spell."
Christiane smiled. "Very good." She gave Kali the pack of food and clothes. "Now, the other ring is worn by a man named Iseldir. You must show him that you have Morgause's ring so that he knows you're there to help. Do you remember the spell that Morgause gave you that transported us here to the Isle of the Blessed?"
Kali sighed. "Of course I remember."
She nodded. "Good. If the problem happens to bigger than expected, you must return back her for more help. Don't try to solve it yourself. It is dangerous to overstrain yourself magically."
"Don't worry, it will be fine. I can do a some simple healing spells." Kali reassured her.
The woman laughed. "I know you can." Her smile fell slightly. "Ratka was so proud of how far you came magically. You are a skilled sorceress. I can only imagine how powerful you will be in several years if you keep training like you do." Christiane paused, deep in thought. She quickly caught herself and spoke again. "You must hurry. Iseldir will be expecting you."
Kali peered at the incantation lining the ring. "Ic fram beag abrecan se æt." The air shifted. Kali's image disappeared right before Christiane's eyes. Kali's vision turned black. She opened her eyes to see herself in an entirely different place than before. People huddled in green cloaks sit around several fires. There are crude tents and beds built from worn blankets. The children were silent, mourning those that were lost that morning from the disease.
"Who are you?"
She turned around. Iseldir stood tall, pointing a knife towards her. His face was worn with sadness from the friends that he lost. His grey hair tangled around itself, but his appearance wasn't high on his priority list.
Kali stiffened at the sight of the weapon pointed towards her. She slowly reached for her own blade hidden underneath her belt. Her other hand held up the ring in between her fingers. "My name is Kali. I am from the Solargarde. The High Priestess sent me to help." She answered.
He visibly relaxed. Iseldir lips curved into a small smile. "I was under the impression the High Priestess was the one who would come to our aid." He held out his arm for her to take. She slipped her arm around hers. It was a gesture of comradery and Kali appreciated it. The Druids and Solargarde often worked closely together. Many of the woman from the Solargarde married in to the Druids since men were not allowed in the sect. Kali knew only one woman who left the Solargarde for her druid husband, but that was many years ago. "I trust that you are skilled with health spells otherwise you wouldn't have been sent." Iseldir said.
Kali nodded while Iseldir guided her through the camp. "Yes, that and memory spells."
Iseldir's face turned thoughtful. "Yes, I would assume so. Ratka is a skilled teacher. I doesn't surprise me that she would share some of her skills. How is she? The Solargarde hasn't passed through our camp in several years."
She frowned. "She passed away last night."
To say that he was surprised was an understatement. Kali wasn't the only one with the impression that Ratka was unbreakable. "I'm sorry to hear that. She was a remarkable sorceress."
"She was indeed." Kali whispered.
Iseldir gestured towards a large tent. Inside a child was crying over his sick mother. The emotion coming from the tent was overwhelming. "I apologize that I must show you more sadness after Ratka's passing. There has not been much happiness here for a long time." He pulled aside the flap so the Kali could walk in. Several healers worked without stopping for hours, which Kali knew from the bags under their eyes. She recognized one of the woman as Maribelle —the woman who married a druid man.
Maribelle turned at their entrance. Her face light up slightly at the sigh of Kali. She rushed over for a hug. "It has been too long, Kali." She said cheerfully. Her cheeks turned rose in excitement of seeing an old friend.
Kali grinned. "How's William?"
"A big pain in the ass." Maribelle joked. She placed her hands on her stomach. There was a small bump. "He has been overly protective. It's incredibly annoying."
She took her friend's hands in her own. "Can you blame him? You're with child!" Kali exclaimed.
Maribelle sighed. "You would think that he would've gotten that out of his system after the first one." Kali looked at her confused. Maribelle's smile grew sad. "It really has been a long time, Kali. We have both missed so much in each other's lives."
Iseldir looked at the two old friends joyfully. It was something like this that was bound to boost everyone's spirits. "I once again apologize to you, Kali, but we really must begin working. Two more people have came in with fevers this morning. We must begin our work."
Kali understood. There would be plenty of time to talk to Maribelle. Now, she had to help the ill. "What have you been using so far on the sick?" She asked.
Maribelle wiped her sweat hands on her dirty dress. "We have been cooling their fevers with several minor spells. We're afraid to use anything major since it could backfire and make it worse. I have gone out to gather several herbs to help them keep their food down." She looked up at Iseldir. "He has purified the tent and placed several charms by their beds."
A small boy ran in with a basket of herbs. His hair was bright red, just like Maribelle's. He handed the basket to her. "Are these the ones that you asked for, mum?"
Maribelle frowned. She shook her head. "Jerome, where on earth did you get these?"
The small boy's ears turned red with embarrassment. "By the river."
She emptied the herbs on the table. Maribelle scrutinized each one. "Did you get it on the east or west bank?"
Jerome shuffled his feet awkwardly. "Does it matter?"
"Yes." Maribelle said quickly. She pointed towards the leaves. "This one has five leaves, not four. If I give this to them, then it will poison them. It only grows on the east bank of the river."
"But mum," Jerome complained, "there wasn't any herbs on the east bank of the river!"
She raised an eyebrow. "Did you even look?" She took her son's silence as a no. Maribelle sighed. "I will be back. We need a new stock of herbs."
"I can do it." Kali blurted out.
Maribelle shook her head. "No, no. You came to help. I can't take your time by having you pick some herbs."
Kali rolled her eyes. She gently took the basket from her friend's hands. "If gathering herbs helps you, then I'm glad to do it. Plus, you're needed here." Kali turned towards Iseldir. "Do you mind if I pick some extra herbs that might be helpful while I"m out?"
Iseldir smiled at her initiative. "No, I do not. That would be incredibly useful. Thank you."
Kali exited the medical tent and headed towards the river, making sure that she stayed on the east bank.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Arthur lead his horse to the river for a short break. They had been riding for several hours without any luck. Merlin and Arthur had come across several other travelers, but none of them were a member of the Solargarde.
"Maybe we should head back to Camelot." Merlin suggested. Arthur ignored him for the millionth of time. For some reason his servant was dead-set on convincing him to return to the city. Arthur thought that perhaps Merlin was afraid of the Solargarde, which would make sense. The sect didn't have a particularly positive reputation.
The prince sighed. "Like I told you before, they won't hurt you. You'll be fine, Merlin, honestly."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "It's not me I'm worried about. I can hold my own just fine, but you..."
Arthur raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to continue.
"If you got kidnapped once, it means that they can do it again." Merlin finished.
He shook his head. "No. They only caught me off guard. They won't be able to do it again." Arthur reasoned.
Merlin rolled his eyes again. "I sincerely doubt that. They're the Solargarde. If they want to, they'll do it again and again. The wise decision is to head back. I'm sure the king is wondering where you went."
Arthur washed his hands off in the chilly river. "I told some of the knights to tell him the truth if he asked."
Merlin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You told them that you were looking for the Solargarde to warn them of something that they most likely already know?"
The Prince of Camelot shrugged. "Well, I told them most of the truth." He narrowed his eyes at his manservant. "What do you mean by that?"
Merlin fought the urge to roll his eyes for the third time since the conversation started. Sometimes Arthur wasn't the brightest. "They most likely know that Uther will be desperately looking for them. If they're smart, then they're already far away from Camelot. You don't need to warn them about anything. They already know."
Arthur opened his mouth to disagree but quickly shut it. Merlin did have a point. Arthur didn't take any of the members of the Solargarde to be dumb, so obviously they should have been far away from Camelot. Deep down he already knew this. But this brought up another question, if he already knew that the Solargarde was going to go as far from Camelot as possible, then why was he trying so hard to get to them? No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't come up with a good answer.
He nodded slowly. "You're right, Merlin."
"Of course I am."
Arthur grabbed the reigns of his horse and guided it away from the river. "We should head back. Maybe..." He paused. His eyes grew wide with surprise. Standing right there was Kali who was just as shocked to see him as he was to see her.
"Arthur? What are you doing?"