Disclaimer: Disclaimer??? What the h! is that?? *yelps as she ducks for cover* okay, okay, the fantastic Tamora Pierce is the sole owner of the fantastic Tortall realm, I am just using these to have some fun and NOT at all to line my pockets….
Authors Notes: I am sooooooo sorry for the hugely massive delay that has been happening. Due to some very bad things that have been happening: some very bad family stuff, my holidays, start of college, and I had a story bugging (honestly, it possessed me) me so much I turned it into my first novel. But don't worry, I haven't forgotten this story!! Thanks hugely to E, Daja, Ad-scribere, Anastazia Silverwind and TopazWolf who were kindly enough to comment, you're the best! The story will pick up pace now and more viewpoints will enter, and I will also throw some romance in…bet you'll like that, huh? Expect a mayor romance twist though *grin* Also, I apologise about the length of this but I need to churn out a few short chapters, then the long ones will begin. Chapters will arrive at least one per week, possibly two.
Okay, I've only JUST read the "Circle of Magic" and if you're wondering why Kendry is a bit like Briar – well she's not. That's all I can say without spoiling it!
Comments are loved, critique slavered over, questions adored and notes ardently, hopefully, passionately seeked! Please send comments, whether good or bad! PLEASE won't you review???PS: The name "Aristotle" was an ancient Greek philosopher. I like the name but it seemed to formal so I cut it to Aris.
Enjoy: Part Six: A touch of PowerNo.
That's all Kendry could think off. No, I dont want it. I wont be chosen! Impossible. How could she, a simple noble, not even a highborn, how could *she* be chosen?
Impossible.
So she told him. "No."
Aris raised one perfect eyebrow. "What?"
"No," Kendry said, hysteria reaching her voice. Her panic felt like a great black cloud that was intent on smothering her. She stumbled two steps back from him, almost tripping on her skirts.
"I can't be."
"You are," Aris told her shortly. "And you dont have much of a choice."
"Yes, I do," Kendry, said doggedly, turning her back onto him. "I'm not Chosen. I can't—" the words stopped as her throat clogged.
It hit her then, and stopped her thought tracks. And all she could think of was running. She was panicking so badly she thought she might faint. No, she thought slowly as she sank down onto the ground. It's impossible. Out of all the people in the Realm, she was chosen.
Dimly she remembered that Alanna, the first Lady Knight had the hands of the Goddess on her.
"Kendry—" Aris started, reaching out toward her.
"Don't touch me!" Kendry gasped, scooting backward. Aris stopped, shaking his head. He was puzzled. Why was she acting as if this was the end of the world? Aris never could understand humans. Why did Father send me here, he wondered.
He sighed deeply. "Kendrina Of Naxen. You have no choice in this matter. The Earth Goddess has touched you, and you are Chosen. Whether you want to or not, it's fact."
Kendrina wasn't listening. His voice reached her ears dimly as though through a void. All of a sudden, she missed her mother terribly. Morian of Naxen had died when Kendry had been five, seven years ago. Sometimes the pain was so vivid that it was almost a knife to the heart. That's how it was now.
Unconsciously, Kendry placed her hands on the ground. The grass rustled underneath her hands, sending waves of power up into her arms. It was the earth underneath her that heated gently, sustaining her with its warmth. Bit by bit, the tiny little flowers hidden by the grass showed their head. As though alive, they all pressed closer to her. Kendry looked down at them, and their many colours were like a balm, calming her down and pushing the panic aside.
Get it together, a voice told her in her mind. You've never been a weak one. Why are you freaking out now, and acting as though a noble?
It was that thought that roused her, and she lifted her head, sighing deeply.
Aris was standing a few feet away, looking down at her. The silver sparkles in his eyes swam lazily in the vast golden colour, and he was watching her with an unreadable look in them.
Kendry looked up at him for a second; still vaguely amazed that there was a god standing in front of her. He didn't look like anything she had expected, and then, he had looked exactly like she had expected.
"Complex matters," she muttered. She braced herself. I am Kendrina of Naxen, she told herself. I am strong. I can do this. Now stop acting like a noble, and get it together!
"I thoughts Gods didn't meddle in human affairs," she said softly, making the statement a question.
"They generally dont," Aris said. He sounded relieved. Kendrina was amazed at how human he seemed, but with those ethereal looks, he seemed exactly like a god. "But times are changing."
"What?" Kendry asked. She knew something more to this. Something was going to happen. It was almost as if the earth told her.
The earth.
Kendry looked up at Aris, a sudden understanding dawning in her mind. "The earth," she said urgently. "My gift. It's based on the earth. Is that why I was chosen?"
Aris nodded, stepping closer slowly until he was in front of her. Then he sank down on the earth as well, sitting a few feet away from her. Kendrina was amazed to see the grass rustling around him. Roses sprouted, growing around him. Dahlias and geraniums flitted up, winding themselves around his arms. She couldn't believe it. The only other person she had ever seen that do, was herself.
"Wow," she muttered. Aris looked up at her, puzzled. Then he looked down and grinned. "Oh," he said. "Not now." This was said to the plants, and slowly they sank down back into the ground.
"That's amazing," Kendry told him.
"You'd do the same, if you learned how to control your Gift," he told her.
Kendry looked away. "I dont want to learn from any Mage."
"Why?" Aris asked. "If you did, your Gift could be greater than mine. And sooner than you think."
"No," Kendry said shortly. "No Mages. No Classes and that's final."
"There must be a reason?" Aris asked her, reluctant to read her mind. His father did it whenever the need commanded, but he preferred asking.
Kendry sighed. The memory was painful, and she hesitated before speaking. "My mother. The mages…they didn't help when she was sick. She died and they were powerless."
She remembered the cold clammy feeling as Duke Baird had turned away, and the way her mother had reached for her. For a moment she was five again, and clinging to her mother, crying as she felt her slip away from her. She and her mother had been closer than was possible, and she'd paid for it when Morian had died.
Kendrina shook her head, dispelling the thoughts. I dont want to think of that, she told herself. There's no point. She's gone.
"Kendry," Aris said. She came back to the present with a start. "What?" she snapped.
"There is something else," he told her, ignoring her comment.
Kendry groaned. She was coming to terms with being chosen—although it still gave her shivers. "What else?"
Aris shook his head, standing up and giving her a hand so he could pull her up. She accepted the hand, and the grass rustled back to its former place as she stood up.
Good gods, she thought as she stood close to him for a moment. She could see his face so clearly, his unnatural beauty touching her straight in the heart. Forgive me, she thought wildly, to no one in particular. I'm going to kiss him!
And then she came back to herself. With a start she stepped back. Stop being so air headed, she scolded herself. Get with the programme!
"What else is there," she asked as she briefly turned away from him.
Aris straightened, giving her a half-smile. "This is the serious bit." He cleared his throat, then adopted a serious expression. His voice changed to a deeper sound, and it sounded as if he was reciting something.
"There comes one who wields the heavens and brings rain with the tips of her fingers. Escorted by the Protector, she comes to change the times. Your job, is to protect her and help her when times are hard."
"What?" Kendrina said loudly. "One who wields the heavens? Who's that?"
Aris shook his head. "All will be explained."
Kendry sighed. She gave up asking him to explain himself; she knew he wouldn't. "But what's so special about me?"
The boy-man in front of her only shook his head. "All be will be explained."
Kendry slapped a hand to her forehead. "Stop that! Explain it now!"
Aris chuckled. "I can't. It's forbidden."
Kendry sighed again. She had known something like that would be the answer. It somehow seemed fitting that the gods would play with her. "Are you sure?" she asked, glancing at him from below her eyelashes.
Aris nodded. "Yes. For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"That's okay," Kendry waved. "I'm sure it's not your fault."
Aris looked out, at the sky. He made a vague movement with his hand. "I've got to go—will you be okay?"
Kendry nodded, waving him away. "All right."
Aris touched her arm softly, a serious expression in his eyes. "I will be back. You'll see me. And not before long."
"Yeah, I'd better!" Kendry told him, a smile finally lighting her face. "Goodbye." She felt odd saying goodbye to a God that would most probably not be back for ages. She didn't believe him, but it was nice to reassure her.
"See you," he told her, a twinkle of laughter peaking in his eyes. He stepped toward the hill's edge, and with a final wave at her, stepped off. Kendry couldn't stop the yell that escaped her. "Hey!" she thought he'd really fallen off, but when she ran to the edge, there was nothing. Only empty air.
Kendry sank down onto the ground, and the grass welcomed her. Oh, Earth below me; help, she thought.
I've been chosen!
~*~
It took a while to convince Tia to come back to the campsite, and they made the short journey, trudging through the rain that fell in thick droplets. It plastered Kel's hair to her forehead and ran down her tunic. She shivered as Tia leaned against her. The poor child was so tired she hardly could walk.
Kel couldn't blame her. There was something about the rain that leaked away all her strength, and she couldn't wait until she reached the campsite. Tia's tears continued to fall.
Oh Mithros, Kel thought. What is wrong with this child?
They collapsed onto the campsite, and immediately Tia huddled underneath a blanket that Kel wrapped around her. For a moment she moved to clear the campsite, but Tia held onto her hand. "No, stay with me," the child muttered.
Kel felt a hand clench around her heart. "All right," she murmured.
They spent the day huddled around the fire that Kel finally managed to get going. She worked quietly, close to the girl, cutting up cheese and bread that they could eat. The rain tapered off toward the end of the afternoon. Kel threw a glance at Tia every now and then. The little girl had a vacant look in her eye that bespelled trouble. Kel didn't know what to do or say to get the girl out of her slum – all she knew was that she felt powerless to do anything. Anything at all. This was not her area of expertise. Oh, if only we would get attacked or something, Kel thought briefly, crossly. Then maybe I'd know what to do!
The next moment she felt ashamed at herself. Mithros help you, she thought disgustedly. I can't even take care of a sick girl. For a brief, powerful instant she wished – with all her might – for Neal. For all his absurdity, he sure would come in handy now, she thought wistfully. I need help!
And glancing at the small figure huddling near the fire, Kel knew with a certain dread in her heart that Tia was sick – sicker than maybe she'd thought. That vacant look…the something Kel couldn't quite find there….
It was sobering, that was for sure. Kel shivered, drawing her cloak tighter near her, shaking the last raindrops off. She muttered a curse as a few drops sidled inside her shirt, tracing a cold finger down her spine. Then she picked up some bread, placed a thick wedge of cheese on it and offered it to Tia. "Come on," Kel muttered, her voice so gentle she marvelled at it. "You have to eat."
Tia didn't look up.
"Tia, come on. Eat something, you'll feel better." Kel sighed as the girl continued to ignore her. "Please, you have to eat."
Tia glanced at her, and suddenly Kel wished she hadn't. Because Tia's stare wasn't just vacant and empty – it was burning. There was a strange dark fire in her eyes. In her mind Kel drew the protection sign hurriedly. Outwardly she squared her chin and handed the bread and cheese to Tia. "Eat."
Tia stared at the bread for a long moment, as if wondering what to do with it. Then she slowly reached forward, taking the bread from Kel. It was another long moment before she brought it to her mouth and took a bite. Kel let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. Thank the gods, she thought.
But – looking at the small huddled girl, eating painstakingly tiny bites at a time – Kel knew it wasn't over yet. But what would happen she honestly didn't know. For the first time in a long time, Kel felt thoroughly out of depth.
Kel looked up into the sky, muttering a short prayer to anyone that might be listening. "Please help, tell me what to do!"
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end of part six ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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