Chapter 21: Whispers On The Wind
"You're spending far too much time toying with the children, Daniel." Shara pouted, trailing her fingertips down Saint Dane's bare chest as she curled beside him.
"It's necessary that I foster trust within them. The more she and the others trust my other forms, the easier it will be to bring her to our side."
Shara sighed. The man was just too stubborn for his own good.
"If you truly believe that this is necessary, I will hold my words." She planted a kiss on his collarbone, and snuggled closer to his side.
He glanced down at her, wrapping an arm around her waist in an effort to get more comfortable. "What do you feel our next course should be?"
The witch's eyes glittered playfully. "I believe the time is ripe to stir the seeds of dissent on Aravil. It has been far too quiet for far too long in that land. I also feel it is in our interest to make use of the younger Spader's delicate emotions."
"I agree. He has become far too close to my daughter, and will only taint her with his low-born status." He sneered at this thought as though there were a foul taste on his lips.
"Perhaps your gift of Amorphara will be of great use in that regards?" Shara offered, tilting her head upwards to meet his gaze.
He nodded. "Wonderful idea. I believe you've finally got the full grasp of the situation."
She giggled at this. "I try my hardest, Daniel. All for you."
"Once we have Chastity on our side, we truly will be unstoppable."
"And once the little brat does not expect it, I will kill her and make it look like it was an accident. Then he will be mine once and for all, and have no choice but to make me his queen." She thought to herself.
The pair discussed their plans in slight detail for the next hour before finally retiring to bed for the evening.
Daylight leaked its golden drops through the dense emerald canopy of the Isayer woods. A hooded figure flitted between the trees, movement so fast it was blurred.
The figure stopped in a small brush clearing, drawing up behind a large deer as it grazed. Silently, the figure drew a small silver needle from its cloak and turned it over in its fingers. Seconds later, the needle shot out from the trees, embedding in the back of the deer's neck. It dropped to the packed earth instantly, paralyzed and unconscious.
The figure emerged from the trees, and knelt beside the deer. A dagger glistened in the morning light as it found its way into the neck of the helpless deer, taking its head off neatly. The dagger was set down. It was at this moment that the hood was pulled back.
Corinthe tucked his hood into the back of his cloak to keep it out of the way, and plucked the needle deftly from the soft flesh of the creature. He bowed his head and whispered off a prayer of thanks to the gods for his meal, and a prayer of apology to the nature spirit for killing an innocent creature.
The elder Guardsman had not gone hunting merely for the food – he had gone to try and clear his mind. Hard as he tried to not worry for his young students and their friends, he was fearful for them.
He bore the burden of full knowledge of both of Neeanyah's prophecies. Corinthe, soul child of the late seer Asyra, was the keeper of both stories. As he trekked back to his home with the deer over his shoulders, he thought back to his mother's words, when he first learned of his duty as the Keeper and as Chase's guardian.
"Cori…listen to me well." Asyra Ayarr held her young son in her arms, rocking him back and forth on her knees.
Corinthe, only 8 years old, looked up at his mother as she spoke.
"I have seen a terrible, terrible future for our home. A wicked woman shall attempt to make our land her own domain. Passion shall drive her to darkness, and she will overtake everyone and everything. Only one group can shine through the darkness. This group will rely on the bond between them all, but one girl will be the key. Should she be killed before reaching her 17th year, the dark queen will win. But should the girl live to be 17, the dark queen will fall, and we will be saved."
"But mama, is there anything we can do to help her?" Corinthe asked, eyes brimming with tears at the thought of his beautiful homeland being taken over.
She smiled down at him. "You will have to protect her one day, Cori. That is why you are a page in the Guard. One day, this little girl will be your charge. I know you will do a wonderful job of keeping her safe and teaching her."
On that day, he learned the truth of his own place in life. It was not until years later that he put the pieces together in the aftermath of Eidra's death and Danny's turning.
"Dammit! I knew that bitch was going to do something!" Corinthe, now age 40, slammed his hand into the wall, knocking a hole into it as he did so.
"Easy Corinthe, we don't know for sure it was her." Press lay a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm the older man before he broke something else.
Corinthe turned, fire in his eyes. "I asked you about it. I know she was involved, and you won't answer me. But I know you, Press. I know when I'm right and you won't admit it. Think about it for one damned minute! You know my mother's words almost as well as I – everyone in Neeanyah does! Shara knows those words same as all. She knew that Chase was the key to her ultimate downfall, so she tried to kill her."
"Then why is Chase alive and Eidra dead?" Press challenged.
"Shara overestimated herself. She likely assumed that once Eidra was no longer around to protect Chase, she would be killed in the attack on the manor."
"No one actually saw anything! We can't prove Eidra was there."
"Oh for goodness' sake Press, use your brain! Danny slaughtered everyone involved in the attack. There's not a soul alive to testify against her!"
Silence filled the room.
Corinthe sighed. "Look, the evidence is all pointing towards Shara. No matter what, we need to keep Chase safe till she's old enough to look after herself. I have a duty to this prophecy and to Daniel and Eidra to ensure their little girl is alright. We can't let Shara find out that Chase is still alive, or we'll have bigger issues to deal with."
Press nodded, and the two of them began discussing barrier spells.
Corinthe walked into his cabin and immediately set to cooking and preparing the meat, trying to stop his train of thought before he became upset once more.
Patience and faith were the only tools he had, and he was determined to make the best of them.
Press and Jo sat together in the library, pouring over battle plans and old schematics.
"Something else is coming soon. I think Aravil is next." Jo stated firmly.
"Why Aravil?" Press furrowed his brows.
"It's the only place they haven't touched yet, not since Kaliska's death anyway. What better way to get to Chase than through her sister? You know as well as I do that if Leila is in any kind of trouble, Chase would jump through hell to help her."
"True….but what can they do there that would remain undetected?"
Jo thought for a moment. "The ruling clan, the Shanleys. It's only the father and son left now, isn't it? Taking one of them out would send the territory into chaos and rivalries."
"Which seems to be Danny's M.O. these days – raising hell." Press sighed. "I remember when I was the one who raised hell and Danny cleaned up MY mistakes – not the other way around."
"You're just getting old, that's all." Jo quipped, smiling slyly.
Press rolled his eyes and playfully shoved his friend out of his chair and onto the floor. "You're still older – don't forget that."
The rest of the conversation remained light-hearted. But the slightest hint of unease still lingered in the air, an emotional toxin polluting the heart and soul.