A million thanks goes out to Chloë (aka Words of Wonder)! She helped with Remmie's spells, he would not be the well educated and talented magician he is without her. Once again, Merci Beaucoup! Gratis?
Chapter 5: In Which Is The House of a Seeress
The house was much bigger than it looked from outside and filled with an interesting aroma of mixed herbs and flowers. Aerida smiled faintly, inhaling the pleasant fragrance. A merry fire crackled in a large brick fireplace. Large strings hung off the ceiling, tying cloves of garlic and lavender. Candles stood here and there, making light dance off the walls. The furniture was spartan, with only a large table and chairs in the center of the room. Off to one side was a large counter where most of the plants - dried, fresh, bottled, grinded or otherwise – lay in neat piles. The princess glanced at Darella, was she a healer as well as a seeress? All in all, Aerida was rather impressed by the old lady… the main reason for her conclusion that she was old being that she had silvery white hair. Aside from that, Darella carried a certain ageless look, wise certainly, and fierce. Her face was almost lineless, which still held story of what a beauty she must have been in her youth. No one spoke a word, even Belvio, who was rather talkative for a dragon, for Darella's house raised a certain hushed reverence.
Darella turned to her four guests (Aerida had found Belvio before they arrived) and smiled. "This is my humble abode, where I gather my herbs and specimens." She looked from face to face, "Now, would you care to have a bite to eat, or are you, in fact, already sleeping on the spot?" Aerida blinked. Now that Darella had mentioned it, she was rather hungry. Her stomach rather loudly agreed with her, as well. "Hmm, very well then," Darella said with a kind glance at the princess. "Go take a seat at the table."
While Darella was busy making them a meal, Shiara leaned against the table, "Did you hear what she said?" the fire-witch asked her companions intently, "She's the daughter of the prophet! But he had that vision years ago. Darella must be a few hundred years old!"
"That's unnatural," Aerida muttered back, "In fact, it's impossible."
"Not really," Shera observed, "I mean, dragons live much longer then people do, don't they? Maybe seers live longer then regular humans."
"Seers are regular humans. The only difference is that they have the Sight. I mean… really, no one can live for hundreds of years."
Shera shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. However I don't really think Darella would lie… about the prophet being her father and all. She's not fake I know that," she added with a slight shudder. Touching the seeress' hand had been quite unnerving. A hesitant silence covered the table.
"Well, I'm hungry," Belvio said suddenly, making all three ladies jump. "I want to eat." As if in answer to the dragon's statement, Darella placed plates in front of them and soon came back, her arms filled with roast turkey and rice. "Food!" Belvio said joyfully and tucked in.
Darella motioned to a large cauldron that she had placed over the fire, "Pot of plenty," she said. "But this one makes desserts quite well."
The meal finished, Aerida walked up the stairs into one of the numerous bedrooms Darella had in her house, rather full and very sleepy. Her last thoughts were speculations on who this student of the old lady really was. They didn't go too far, however, for as soon as her head hit the pillow she fell into a deep pleasant slumber.
~~`**`~~
In the Enchanted Forest, heading in the opposite direction, the two princes Daystar and Gavin had reached the castle. Despite the late hour, the entire Royal family was up, including the ever-present elf, Willin. They were all gathered in Mendanbar's study where, for once, the wooden gargoyle was sleeping. None of the rulers wore their circlets. All present were looking tired and slightly disheveled but their attention was focused on the young heir to the throne of the Enchanted Forest.
"…So Kazul said that Gavin needs to go looking for wherever the stone's supposed to go on, a part of the 'Trinity,'" Daystar finished explaining to his mother and father. "and I volunteered to go with him."
"It does sound familiar. I must've read it in one of Kazul's books," Cimorene said. She looked at Daystar appraisingly, "Very well you can go with Gavin. I'll escort you to the edge of the Enchanted Forest though. Things sound a little fuzzy and a quick inspection ought to be done."
"Yes, I'll go too," Mendanbar added, running his hands through his long hair and stifling a yawn. "I have a feeling something is going to come up." He sighed. "I should have known it was too good to last." Gavin gave him a quizzical look, to which the king replied with a rueful grin, "Everything seems to happen in the Enchanted Forest. Rest and relaxation are a mere dream. Well, we'd best get some shut-eye and we can head off first thing tomorrow."
~~`**`~~
Streets were full. Full of men and women rushing to and fro to do their chores for the day. It was quite a wonder that most of the people walking by had nothing in their minds aside from the duties of the week; the balls to be held; the way to riches. It was doubtful that anyone had stopped to think of what they had done with their life… what they could be if they only tried. Amongst this single-minded array of people, a young idealist would seem frightfully out of place. Yet here there was one, a young curly haired nineteen-year-old with a head full of ideals and inventions. He was a magician, in fact, and a very good friend to the middle prince of this kingdom of Arsta. Remanan was his name, and he had met his Highness Prince Gavin Lleldor four years ago. Winding his way out of the city, he took the first road out of the city.
"I need a ride to Renkalh," the curly brown haired magician said, pausing a rambling wagon along the dusty road he was traveling.
"I isn't goin' there lad," the man at the head answered with a drawl. "An' I ain't no free soup mission either."
"I have money," Remanan stated. The man eyed him with new interest, which faded a little when he continued, "Not much, but I can pay you a copper."
"A copper? Ah, tha' price wouldn' taike ye to Renkalh, no' even ta Fellin city. Besides," he said with a sniff, wiping his hand across his nose, "I'm goin's a wee bit off a yer direction. Headin' off in Arsat's capital I am: Dunleen." He leaned forward in a conspiratorial manner, "They's sayin' them royals a comin' to Dunleen, an' where there's royals theer's mona to be maide!" Remanan said nothing, merely nodding and raising an eyebrow. "Ah… weel… I suppose I kin taike ya te Dunleen. Fer five coppers, mind, bu' I'll throw in two square meals a day fer it."
"Five coppers? A high price for a ride just over to Dunleen! No… two coppers, with water and the meals."
"Wha'?! D'ye no' hear wha' I said? I'm no charity boy! Four coppers, no less."
The haggling didn't take long and with the price at three coppers Remanan hopped on the wagon. He had not much luggage, just a potato bag filled with his personal belongings slung over his back. The wagoneer's name was Rick. He was a merchant of sorts, and traveled around the countries selling anything from news to cloth. An older man, it looked as if he hadn't shaved for days; stubble inhabiting his jaw and cheeks like tiny swarming flies. Smelled bad enough to attract flies too… Remanan observed. Despite his sour demeanor and rather unappealing features, Remanan found him a fascinating study in human personality.
The trip to Dunleen took only two days; Renkalh (close to Darella's house, where he wanted to go) was off to the Southeast of the city. The mood of the city was festive, with bright streamers running from building to building, everyone dressed a little better then normal, their colors clashing as they walked through the streets. Remanan watched from a short distance in Rick's cart, calculating the days it would take to get to Renkalh. Two by cart, four or five by foot. No use for it, Remanan thought, he would have to use magic if he was to get to Darella's house on time. He preferred to travel by natural means, liking to observe the life around him.
"Oh well," he mumbled to himself, "It'll give me a chance to perfect my translocation spell."
"Eh? Was tha'? Was tha' yer sayin'?" Rick asked with a start, rubbing a grubby finger in his ear.
"Oh, nothing. Thanks for the ride," Remanan answered, handing him his three coppers. With a lithe leap from the cart he waved to him, slung his potato bag across his shoulders, and headed into the city.
Although Dunleen was the capital city of Arsta, the royal palace was closer to the border of the Kingdom. Remanan had always found it a strange position. Usually castles were in the center of the countries, in hopes to hamper any attacks its enemies could fling upon it. Even more odd was the fact that the royal castle of Arsta bordered the Enchanted Forest, a kingdom that kept mostly to itself. Not much was known about it. The castle of Arsta was relatively new as well, if the magician recalled correctly. Only about… a few hundred years or so old.
It seemed, to Remanan, that he had been traveling his whole life, having been found in a donkey's saddlebag as a baby. His first seven years he had spent in the care of a loving elderly couple. However, close to his eighth birthday, they fell ill and both perished within hours of one another. So Remanan had then taken to wandering the surrounding area, cold and hungry, with no clue what was to happen to him next. He was found by a band of gypsies, and traveled with them for a year and a half, learning to sing, dance, and almost every trade a gypsy had to offer. He grew to be quite happy there, and the nomadic life didn't bother him at all. It seemed to pass all too quickly, and the sad day came when he and a gypsy boy he had befriended, stumbled across a starving rabid wolf. In panic, they separated, in hopes to draw the wolf away from one another so that perhaps at least one of them could escape.
The wolf chose Remanan as his victim. The young boy tried as best he could to flee but four legs almost always beats two, and he was forced to face the snarling beast. Having nothing near him but trees and rocks, he picked up one the latter, and hurled them at the wolf. It did little to hamper its attacks. Then, as he fell to the ground, the wolf's teeth sunk deep into his leg, his last thoughts were that he had not the chance to say goodbye to his friends. He did not wish to die.
Ah, but he did not die. He woke up to the strong smells of herbs and warmth of a nearby fire. Remanan had been rescued by Darella the Seeress and healed by her herb-lore and magic. The two got on well, and once the young boy was well enough to travel, she invited him to stay and learn from her. After giving it some thought, he came to the conclusion that by now, (it had taken him weeks to heal) the gypsy band would have traveled long and far, much too far for him to catch up with. With a small stab of sadness, he realized he did not even know what direction they had traveled. So, he stayed with Darella. She seemed to understand him well, and gave him much freedom to wander where he pleased. She only warned him of places to avoid and taught him spells on how to defend himself if the need arose. She also taught him to read. With his new gift, Remanan ravished her extensive library, going from book to book, immersing himself with everything it had to offer. After a year in her cottage, she started teaching him all she knew about magic. He learnt much of woodland plants and flora of the barren lands, of magic streams and deadly poisons. Remanan became her pupil and was a quick study. In the forests he taught himself to soften his footsteps and fade into the shadows like a wraith. When he reached his fifteenth birthday, Darella started urging him to wander further, feeling confidant in his skills. So wander he did. Roaming the surrounding lands, sometimes not back for almost a year. Through his adventures he earned the name 'magician', learning many types of magic.
After a year of traveling, he returned to Arsta, and there met Gavin Lleldor. They formed an unlikely friendship, which grew during the years. And when the prince expressed interest in spells, he taught Gavin some basic magic, although he tended to hinder instead of help. Still, he was earnest, and the two shared many a laugh after disaster and disaster. In return Gavin showed him the geography of lands close and distant, teaching Remanan their names, capitals and everything from their economic power to political views. As their friendship grew stronger, Remanan noticed that there was always something about Gavin that Remanan couldn't name. Some out-of-placeness that made him different then the rest. The magician always shook it off however, blaming his over-analyzing nature.
Remanan and Gavin had kept that friendship up to this date, and the magician often thought of how his friend was doing since he had gone off to rescue that princess. Had he found her yet, or was he still searching? Pushing his memories back, he quickly replenished his pockets with food bought from the city then headed out of the main roads, looking for a nondescript clear area. He found one just in the outskirts of the city. A nice green grassy clearing. Perfect.
Whistling, he pulled five colored precious stones out of a hidden lining in his boot. Muttering something to them, he opened his palm and they flew out and arranged themselves in a perfect pentagon. Placing himself in the middle he cleared his throat and said:
"Aurum oriens; argentum occidens; asporto mihi ubi dico.
Asporto mihi ubi cupeo!"
The land around him blurred, wind whistled in his ear, waiting for his command. "The House of the Seeress!" he cried, picturing every element of Darella's house. Spell completed, the air solidified into shapes. Instead of clear grassy hills and cities, it was large, looming trees and a large house climbing with ivy. Smiling Remanan muttered a word ("recolligo!") and the five stones still in the form of a pentagon, sprang back into his outstretched hand. Bending down, he placed them back into the hidden pocket in his boot and headed to Darella's house.
Before he got very far, three forms burst out of the door of the ivy-strewn house, two young women and a…dragon? Remanan frowned, and immediately crouched down on the ground. The dragon seemed pretty nervous and Remanan couldn't see the faces of the two women, but after a moment, one of them released the spell for dragonsbane. Immediately the dragon started going pink around the edges. The other girl, a blonde one, started exclaiming and motioning something with her hand. Remanan flared, half with anger, half with worry. Obviously that was a firewitch and the other girl… perhaps a princess. How they got there Remanan had no idea, but it wasn't like Darella not to stop this. Which would only mean she would have to be…
Leaping out of his hiding place, he rushed into the fray. Remanan usually liked to do his spells as quickly and simply as possible but he wasn't exactly thinking straight just now. Pointing at the dragon, he quickly said the counter-spell for dragonsbane that he had learned on his travels then rolled out of the way to face the other two enemies. The fire-witch was surprised at his appearance, giving him a chance to hurl a spell at her. Kneeling, he placed his wrists together, his fingers outstretched forming a sort of half O. A globe of light appeared between his palms and he pushed his hands forward, making a jet of pure white light blast in the fire-witch's direction. Somewhere, someone cried out in surprise. The red-haired girl ducked out of the way, but she wasn't fast enough. But before the blast could hit her, another came from behind him and formed a bubble around his spell, absorbing it.
Twirling around to face his attackers behind him he came face-to-face with - Darella! His jaw dropped in surprise. Then there was a loud clang, and something hit him on the side of his head. He sank to his knees in dizziness but his quick - practically automatic - reflexes made him grab his attacker. The arm was thin; the man who hit him must be some scrawny fellow. But, he thought as he collapsed to the ground, he's got one heck of a swing.
He was able to catch Darella's voice and someone else's.
"I have always been amazed at your hard head, Remanan. It goes with your stubborn-mule recklessness," Darella's voice said, fading.
Someone gasped, "That's Remanan? He's your student?!"
The Seeress sighed, "The one and only." There was amusement in her voice, and exasperation, "The magician." His world turned black and he swirled into unconsciousness.
Now I make but a humble request of thee. Wouldst thou review? :D