Note: Thanks to all those who read and reviewed it. I'm thanking people a
lot.
Ann: I know that I'm disobeying the magical laws of Tortall, but it was necessary. It fits the plot. And it adds onto the only explanation I can think of for Kalea being there (read this chapter). I think you may not really like the new character . . .
Chapter Five
Time Keeper
I walked through a midnight sky, my mind still hurting from all that had happened. I remembered my father, my mother, my friends. I felt the pain that the other me had felt from, from falling. That's what happened. I had been crying in the ancient weeping willow, my crying tree. I had been in a fight with my best friend. I had climbed into the tree, like always, and sat up there, crying. I had been on one of the older, frailer limbs. That was my fatal mistake. The branch had broken and I had dropped into the little stream below.
Among the silvery stars, something gold flashed in the corner of my eye. I turned and saw a little girl standing there, seven years old was what I guessed for her age. She looked at me and smiled, childish laughter in her large brown eyes. Shimmering brown hair cascaded down her back in waves, to pile on the ground. She was clothed in a golden robe that had intricate silver embroidery. Her wrists were chained together with a golden chain. She was barefooted and her ankles were chained as well.
"Hullo Kalea," she said and smiled at me. "I'm Natara, the Time Keeper."
"How do you know my name?" I asked, confused. I hated being confused and it seemed like I was confused more and more often.
"I've known you for all your life," Natara replied.
"That's not possible!" I exclaimed. "Is it?"
"I am the Time Keeper. I am as old as what you would call time. I am time for that matter. I see all, I know all. Out of al the people I kept a close watch over, I liked you the best," Natara told me, still smiling. "I was distraught when you fell from that tree of yours. So, I altered time and space and gave you my life. The one I left behind."
"What do you mean 'left behind?'" I asked, even more confused.
"I was originally a mortal, like you. I was the last living Time Mage at the time, we are what keep time to a normal pace, so it doesn't skip around. When I was six, I came down with a fever that was going to kill me. The Gods decided, without asking me, to separate me from my life, making me immortal. So, they did that and I have lived here, watching lives from afar, keeping time at the right pace," Natara said, something close to hate in her voice. Natara cocked her head, listening to something. "Yes, yes of course," she replied to the unseen voice. "Kalea," she turned to me and gently touched her ice cold fingers to my temples, "it's time for you to go." And, not for the first time, and probably not for the last, I tumbled into darkness.
I awoke, in a clean, white room. Alanna, Duke Baird, Numair, Jonathan, and Lindhall sat in the corner, talking. Lindhall was the mage who, with Numair, taught me classes about magic. Duke Baird was the chief healer at the Royal Palace. They seemed to be discussing something. Probably me, I thought. When they saw that I was awake, Duke Baird came over to check my vital signs. When he was done, they filed out of the door, leaving me alone in the dark.
I sat in that bed for the longest time, thinking. Then, I cried. I cried for all that I had left behind. For my family, for my friends. I cried for the life I lost, and most of all, I cried for Laurie. I had been mad at her, it was my fault, truly it was. And I had never had the chance to say I was sorry.
Ann: I know that I'm disobeying the magical laws of Tortall, but it was necessary. It fits the plot. And it adds onto the only explanation I can think of for Kalea being there (read this chapter). I think you may not really like the new character . . .
Chapter Five
Time Keeper
I walked through a midnight sky, my mind still hurting from all that had happened. I remembered my father, my mother, my friends. I felt the pain that the other me had felt from, from falling. That's what happened. I had been crying in the ancient weeping willow, my crying tree. I had been in a fight with my best friend. I had climbed into the tree, like always, and sat up there, crying. I had been on one of the older, frailer limbs. That was my fatal mistake. The branch had broken and I had dropped into the little stream below.
Among the silvery stars, something gold flashed in the corner of my eye. I turned and saw a little girl standing there, seven years old was what I guessed for her age. She looked at me and smiled, childish laughter in her large brown eyes. Shimmering brown hair cascaded down her back in waves, to pile on the ground. She was clothed in a golden robe that had intricate silver embroidery. Her wrists were chained together with a golden chain. She was barefooted and her ankles were chained as well.
"Hullo Kalea," she said and smiled at me. "I'm Natara, the Time Keeper."
"How do you know my name?" I asked, confused. I hated being confused and it seemed like I was confused more and more often.
"I've known you for all your life," Natara replied.
"That's not possible!" I exclaimed. "Is it?"
"I am the Time Keeper. I am as old as what you would call time. I am time for that matter. I see all, I know all. Out of al the people I kept a close watch over, I liked you the best," Natara told me, still smiling. "I was distraught when you fell from that tree of yours. So, I altered time and space and gave you my life. The one I left behind."
"What do you mean 'left behind?'" I asked, even more confused.
"I was originally a mortal, like you. I was the last living Time Mage at the time, we are what keep time to a normal pace, so it doesn't skip around. When I was six, I came down with a fever that was going to kill me. The Gods decided, without asking me, to separate me from my life, making me immortal. So, they did that and I have lived here, watching lives from afar, keeping time at the right pace," Natara said, something close to hate in her voice. Natara cocked her head, listening to something. "Yes, yes of course," she replied to the unseen voice. "Kalea," she turned to me and gently touched her ice cold fingers to my temples, "it's time for you to go." And, not for the first time, and probably not for the last, I tumbled into darkness.
I awoke, in a clean, white room. Alanna, Duke Baird, Numair, Jonathan, and Lindhall sat in the corner, talking. Lindhall was the mage who, with Numair, taught me classes about magic. Duke Baird was the chief healer at the Royal Palace. They seemed to be discussing something. Probably me, I thought. When they saw that I was awake, Duke Baird came over to check my vital signs. When he was done, they filed out of the door, leaving me alone in the dark.
I sat in that bed for the longest time, thinking. Then, I cried. I cried for all that I had left behind. For my family, for my friends. I cried for the life I lost, and most of all, I cried for Laurie. I had been mad at her, it was my fault, truly it was. And I had never had the chance to say I was sorry.