"In the times when the gods were leaving us to make our own path in the world, Selk the Wise searched through our future to try to aid us in our troubles ahead. Many prophecies were made by him, and were commanded to be stored in his Great Temple to the south. He decreed that he would call mortal men to serve as librarians and historians in his house, and bade them spread the word of his final prophecy.
""O my children, know that when the time of change is near and the gift of magic comes, that a great evil will take root in my lands. Its vile touch will turn brother against brother, and turn the jesters laugh to tears. Both of our Great Mother's peoples must join together to destroy this evil, and they will unite under the call of the Warrior of Flames. He shall not know of his destiny until he finds his own inner peace, and makes his peace with his beginnings. His generals, children of neither people, shall fight by his side, and be his eyes and his heart. Together they will turn back the evil and restore the land."
"Before he departed this realm, he made one further gift. Enshrined at his temple, weapons of great power now rest, waiting for the ones worthy to claim them, guarded by the priests of Selk. Only the hands of those chosen to wield them can lift them from their resting place on the alter of the temple.
"Now the priests of Selk wait patiently for the warrior, watching the ages pass. Sometimes they are visited by the God Himself, who tries to guide humanity back to the right path as we falter from what the Goddess has planned for our people.
"We know these truths as passed from Her…"
*********************
Life continued on much the same at Applefields, even with Mathew's absence. Takuya, Kouji and Kouichi found themselves weeding the fields and tending the irrigation channels for the first few days of the week, before returning to carrying grain to the mill. As he worked, Takuya thought about all that had happened in the last few weeks, since he fled his home, and decided that trusting the twins was reasonable. He'd never seen them do magic except when he asked, and it was clear that they were content in who they were.
Takuya certainly wasn't.
Every time he thought about what the twins had said, he grew cold and scared. Magic. I can do magic. True magic was not the providence of humans, but of the Gods and those who defied them. Even worse, if it was his, it was destructive and harmful to all he loved.
I'm dangerous. Maybe I should run away… Hide my face away from everyone so I won't hurt them. He shook his head, realising the error. I can control it… sorta. It only comes when I'm near fire. Maybe I should ask Kouichi and Kouji if there's a way to stop it, or be rid of it. They must have some ideas if elves know magic. He paused and looked at his hands, trying to will the flames to appear.
Again, as every other time he had tried, nothing happened.
Takuya took his grip back on the hoe and kept weeding. I'd still like to say they were wrong about me. That they were mistaken… He thought back to the day in the temple. But somehow, I don't think they are. He tried to remember the feelings playing through his mind when he stared at the fire, but they escaped from his grasp like sand falling through an hour-glass.
All I remember was how right it felt. How warm and gentle… Like when I was at that inn… He shuddered as he remembered how he had repaid the owners kindness. If this is my gift, I'd better learn to control it for every ones sakes.
*************************
It was on Last-day that everything fell apart for the boys.
As they returned to the barn with a load of flour, they were quickly surrounded by men in uniform, all carrying swords and crossbows, the arrows of which were firmly sighted on Takuya, Kouichi and Kouji. All save one, who had a golden stripe running along his blue tabard to differentiate himself from his fellows, and who stood next to a nodding Mathew.
"That's them," said Mathew, smiling nastily. "Elves. And the boy with them is the Takuya you were sent to hunt."
Takuya's hand flew to his token, dropping his load and spilling flour everywhere. Oh Goddess, no! Please don't let these Kingsmen be here for me as a demon!
The twins likewise dropped their loads, and moved closer together, Kouichi tugging at Takuya's arm to bring him close. Around them, beyond the wall of armed men, several of the farm workers moved closer to watch the confrontation.
The leader of the group unrolled a piece of parchment. "We are here, on the information supplied by Mathew Miller, to ascertain if the twins known as Kouichi and Kouji are elves, and detain them if proved so. Also we have a warrant for the arrest of the creature calling itself 'Takuya of Greenfields' for property damage totalling one hundred and forty golds in the town of West-bound, along with a permit for its capture and experimentation by Frederick Goodwinson, the palace mage."
The boys huddled together, before Takuya spoke up. "He hates us, always has. Why are you listening to him, he just wants petty revenge about something he thinks we've done." He thought for a moment, then squared his shoulders. "I am Takuya of Greenfields, whom you seek, and as a demon I can tell if these are my brethren. They aren't. They're just normal youths."
Kouichi looked surprised, and Kouji looked impressed at Takuya's willingness to protect them from the soldiers.
The leader shrugged. "Then show us your ears. Master Miller here, claims they are deformed, as all you creatures are."
Kouichi sighed, and slowly reached up and removed the band on his head, letting his hair fall across his face, and revealing his pointed ears.
A great gasp went up around the workers and some of the soldiers, although Mathew and the captain remained silent. Many of the farm workers made the gods circle on their chests, while a subtle noise cued the twins in to the movements of the bows in preparation to fire.
"Then," said the captain, "We have no choice but to detain you for the good of the nation." He drew back slightly, breaking the circle. "Follow me." He then turned to his men slightly. "If they make any move you dislike, or seem to be about to use sorcery, open fire." He then started to lead the way out into the main horseshoe of the farm buildings, where a cage mounted on wheels and drawn by two horses waited, with the door open. All three of the boys looked shocked at what was obviously to be their conveyance.
"What do you think we are, some animals?" sputtered Takuya.
The captain reached the cage, and turned back, annoyed. "No. Something worse. You have all the intelligence of men, but none of our morals. You prey on us and pervert the course of nature, which should be the providence of the gods alone. You kill men, women and children to slake your unnatural thirst. You are wrong, unnatural, and unwelcome."
Takuya was shocked at the captain's outburst. "But… what have we done? We've been good, hard workers at this farm." Many of the workers nodded, while others, mostly Mathew's supporters shook their heads. "They at least," said Takuya, gesturing at the twins, "have done nothing wrong. Why take them away for being what they are?"
"Because it is the king's law." The captain tapped the bars of the cage. "This cage will keep you secure. It has been spelled with the strongest magic, by the king's own mage. And when we return to Lyndora, another one shall be your home, until he is done with you."
The soldiers pressed in closer, trying to funnel the boys into the cage. Kouji looked somewhat pale, and balked just before entering the cage.
"Move it!" demanded one of the soldiers nervously.
"What's wrong, Kouji?" asked Kouichi, eyeing the cocked bows nervously.
Kouji shook his head. "I can't do it. I can't enter a cage. It's not right, we should be free."
"Get in the cage," said the captain dangerously.
Both Takuya and Kouichi tried to push Kouji gently forwards, but the boy dug his heels in and seemed to refuse to move.
One of the soldiers, his nerves frayed to breaking point, opened fire, aiming straight for Kouji's head.
White fire bloomed to life around Kouji's hands and the arrow shaft appeared to ricochet off an invisible wall scarce inches from Kouji's head. Other arrows followed, as the realisation of the use of magic sank in, but no matter who the target, the arrows would always be reflected harmlessly away.
"Please Kouji, you're just hurting us more by resisting." Kouichi put a hand on Kouji's shoulder. "If we do what they say, there'll be other chances for escape."
Kouji nodded once, slowly.
Kouichi nodded, then spoke. "Please! If you stop, we will stop. He is just scared."
The captain made a hand gesture and the hail of arrows stopped, but the men remained sighted on them. "No tricks now. No magic, or we'll shoot you dead and find other toys for the mage."
Slowly the white fire around Kouji's hands faded, and he slumped tiredly. "Lady Elsa keep us safe." He climbed into the cage slowly, as if aching from a days work, followed by his brother and Takuya. All three of them winced at the metallic door slammed shut, sealing them in.
The captain smiled, coldly. "Do not think to try anything like that again, monsters. We will most assuredly kill you before you endanger any of us." The soldiers kept watch while several of the farm workers fetched horses, similarly decked out in blue, which the soldiers mounted, always being careful to leave someone watching their prisoners. Finally, when all were mounted, the captain barked an order. "Move out!"
The boys lurched into each other as the cart started to move. Takuya moved to kneel by the bars, gripping then for support as he kneeled and looked out. The last people he saw as he left the farm were a smug Mathew, and a confused and frustrated looking Jeb. Then one of the soldiers banged the butt of his crossbow across Takuya's fingers, forcing him back down.
"On the floor, creature," he sneered.
Takuya glared at him, then shuffled back to where the twins sat huddled together protectively in the centre of the cage.