Hi Everyone!

HELLOOOOOO LA LA LA LA LA!!!!

Song for this Chapter: Fashionably Uninvited → Mellowdrone. This song fits the mood of this chapter perfectly. Like time is escaping you.

Chapter 27: As A Battle Comes Close

The God's Prophecy

Two countries will take a turn. One knows It. One has It. It has the meaning of life, power, magic, and jewel. Lands will collide. Blood will spread. All for It.

OOO RATHAUSAK OOO

King Maggur had done a lot of thinking since his talk with Spy 24—his favorite of all spies.

He'd been pondering most of all about the prophesied object that would give anyone who could wield its powers unbelievable control. What the object was however, was still a mystery to him. All he knew was that it was in Tortall.

Apparently Spy 24 had actually spotted the object. He ordered her to obtain it right away, but Spy 24 had said it was more complicated than that. That point triggered the thought that perhaps the 'object' was alive. Perhaps a powerful immortal, hiding, lost forever in some hidden cave. An ancient tree deep inside an untouched forest. Or maybe even a human being.

King Maggur grinned. And today his questions would be answered. He had a scheduled talk with Spy 24. They had been unable to connect ever since their last talk back in the summer. Now, as he looked at the shadows to determine the time, it was time for the two of them to converse.

King Maggur snapped his fingers as he lazed on his elegant Scanran throne. In seconds a mage was summoned from the wall where he was positioned if called for.

"Please connect me to Spy 24, Lord CraMon," ordered Maggur in a polite way to his friend.

The mage nodded and brought out his orange Gift. He then produced a silver looking rock from his pocket and placed it in his burning hand. Immediately the orange fire turned into a slate that showed the soft face of Spy 24 peering at him.

"Hello," greeted his spy coolly. "Sorry I haven't been able to talk for a while…"

Maggur silenced her with a lazy hand. "No matter. Just give me information. You said you found It?"

The spy nodded. "I'm almost positive I found It."

"Well what is It?" asked Maggur, attempting to be patient.

"Not what exactly. The prophesied one is a human."

"Did you meet him?" asked Maggur as he thought deeply. The powerful thing was alive. How could a human possess so much control?

The spy nodded. "Yes I did. She paid a little visit to my 'station'. I saw plenty enough of her to come to the conclusion that she's exactly what the prophecy spoke of."

Maggur stroked his scratchy chin at the word she. "This complicates things. How are we supposed to get her to our side now? She has a mind of her own, and with so much power, she could easily refuse us."

The spy grinned. "From what I have gathered about her, I have a plan that will have her crawling right into our hands."

Maggur looked at her thoughtfully. "Tell me."

The spy grinned and told the king the plan. When the spy was finished, Maggur's heart began to beat with excitement. Thiswas why Spy 24 was his favorite spy. The spy always seemed to come up with the most wonderful and outrageous ideas. It was too easy.

"I like it," said Maggur with a grin. "During the big battle, we will make our move."

"I will note the other spies as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will continue with collecting information about our little 'object'."

A grin peeled across the King's lips. "Perfect." He cut off their connection and laced his hands behind his head with a satisfied expression. Suddenly his day seemed perfect. Why wouldn't it be? He was winning a war, after all.

Tortall was theirs.

OOO

It was three weeks after Romeli's nightly excursion with Ryoku at the Red Orchid. Romeli opened her eyes tiredly. Her bed was a jumble of a mess with her blanket tangled rather oddly around her sprawled body. It was difficult to untangle herself from the pile of sheets. The reason for her restless sleep was probably the very peculiar dream that she had:

Romeli was standing in a unique room designed to look like a large ballroom. The space was vacant except for a large oak table. At the head of the table was an elegant chair, occupied by a rich looking man. He seemed to be talking to someone, or something.

Out of curiosity, Romeli walked towards the man. When he came into focus, she saw that the man was King Maggur, or Maggot as she—and everyone else—liked to call him. Oddly enough, King Maggot was talking to what looked like a crab. Both of them seemed to be holding some type of rock. She sat down by the King to listen in on their conversation.

"…we going to do about it?" asked Maggot as he folded his arms on the table. "Sure, we may have found The One, but how are we going to get It?"

The crab clicked its claws. "I don't think it will be hard. It seems to be easy enough to manipulate. I bet It doesn't even know Its true potential. If we get some dirt on It, find a sore spot, It will come crawling straight to us."

Maggot grinned. "Good," he said, exceptionally pleased. "You know what your job is, my spy. Don't let me down."

The crab clicked its claws again. It scurried down the table and vanished in a flame of orange fire.

Maggot leaned tiredly against the back of his throne-like chair as he smiled. He seemed to lose five years of age in his creased features.

"Everything has gone according to plan. And if what is prophesied is as manipulative as I hope, Scanra will win, and Tortall will fall forever."

The dream didn't really make that much sense to her. The crab was the king's spy—she was sure of that, at least. Either the king used crabs as spies or the sea creature was some type of symbolism—she didn't want to know.

What she had picked up however, was that King Maggot knew what the prophesied object was. Romeli sat up from her bed devastated, bringing her hands up to her head. The war was practically Scanra's now. They knew what the object was, and she didn't. She was the only one who could help Tortall win the war, but she failed them. Because she had been dancing in night clubs and living recklessly, Tortall would fall.

Maybe the dream was that—just a dream, she thought hopefully as she dressed into black breeches and a black shirt. Maybe it's just confirming my fears. But a part of her knew it was no dream—it was a message.

She slumped out of her dressing room and sat down next to Sharpfang's tank. The cobra was lazing on top of his rock, looking at her with a steady eye.

Sharpfang, what am I going to do? she asked him as she bit her lip. We're never going to win this war, and it's all thanks to me. I feel like it's me against the world, and the world is winning.

Sharpfang flicked out his tongue and rose his head. Don't say that. Not all is lost. I do have to admit that you have drifted away from your responsibility of finding what is needed, but there is still time. You just have to search.

Romeli shook her head as she closed her eyes. The Scanrans already found it. Any day now, they may take it and use its powers to win the war.

Sharpfang looked at her impatiently. Time is running out, I must admit. You must find it before they get to it themselves.

Romeli sighed. To the library I go… She hoisted herself up and trudged out of the room.

OOO

The library was vacant, excluding the occasional scholar writing notes from an ancient parchment or a maid trying to rid the shelves of hiding dust. Romeli walked in slightly disheartened—there were so many books here that finding anything that had to do with prophecy seemed nearly hopeless.

She clenched her jaw. Hopeless doesn't mean impossible, she told herself sternly. All she needed was a starting place.

"Excuse me?" she asked a young lady who was taking unorganized books into their rightful places.

The librarian looked at her with raised brows. "Yes dear? How can I help you?" she asked subconsciously, for most of her thoughts were focussed on her work.

"Could you escort me to a section with prophecies, please?"

"I'm sorry?" asked the Librarian at first confused. Romeli opened her mouth again to repeat the question, but the librarian cut her off as she remembered. "Oh yes. Prophecies. Yes…I believe that section is on this floor. Follow me, dear."

They prophecy section of the library was tucked away in a far corner. The section consisted of two tall bookshelves and a table with a couple of chairs. The area looked completely untouched and fresh.

"I'll leave you to it," said the young lady as she walked away.

Romeli looked at the shelves tiredly. Okay, what I'm looking for is a book that talks about the prophecy. All I have to do is find a single book. No biggie. I hope.

She stood on a step of a ladder and began to skim over the books to find something that would be useful.

This sounds promising, thought Romeli as she came across a book titled A Collection of Well-Known Prophecies. It was by a man named Lord Krustrank of Crouch Haven who was an old southern noble. She slipped the book off of the shelf and sat herself down on the table and began to skim through the pages.

The Realms

The blooming roses shall venture those of warmth and cold, The One shall be of warmth, a goddess of three curses and a balanced secrecy. The other, a man from the cold, whose fire grows grass as green as his eyes. And as they walk, a path shall be revealed, as an adventure comes to a weeping close.

Romeli looked at it with raised brows and turned the page. "Surely not that one…"

As Seen By Young Eyes

A youth of great value shall find herself against her difference. Against all odds, and despite her green pool, she will rise above with a blade in her hand and a diamond in the other.

Romeli turned a few more pages as she wiped her eyes.

The God's Prophecy

Two lands will take a turn. One knows It. One has It. It has the meaning of life, power, magic, and jewel. Lands will collide. Blood will spread. All for It.

Romeli grinned. This was it. Her Guardians told her the thing she was looking for had life, power, magic, and jewel. She looked at the rest of the page. There was another section that was probably information about the prophecy.

Taranatok of Tanraroloph, a famous and powerful Scanran Seer, foretold the God's Prophecy. He said that what he saw was not to pass until c. 400 HE. And as I write this in the year 420, nothing has yet to come. The prophecy itself is a predicted quarrel between the two countries of Tortall and Scanra. Supposedly a powerful 'object' will be found. This object will be the only thing that can bring peace to a raging war between the countries. Taranatok has said that in his vision he had seen the sole object, but refused to speak of its features. He said that Its beauty and power was too dominant for words. When people would question him, he would only reply that his lips were sealed by the Gods. Thus the name, the God's Prophecy.

One month later, Taranatok died from a brain hemorrhage. Later on, people searched his home for any trace of a diary that may mention clues of his vision. They were found burned and destroyed beyond recognition. This started the rumor that the Seer Saw his own death before he had died. Even more mysterious was the note he had written on his arm before he had died.

The Note Read…

I have Seen the world, and it shall be grim. May your everlasting leaves reach to our souls, for you shall be our pool of decency in our coast of chaos. And so they say…

The rest of the message had been smeared away from his body, how, no one knows. Perhaps the ways of Taranatok and his prophecies shall always be unknown. Or perhaps the Gods have their own say on the fate of our kind.

Perfect, Romeli thought as she snatched a scrap of parchment from her pocket and wrote down the prophecy and a few notes. Standing up, she picked up the book and put it back on the shelf. Folding the parchment and sliding it back into her pocket, she walked briskly out of the library. She had a few questions to ask her father.

As she walked through the palace, her eyes now saw what she hadn't noticed during her urgent walk to the library. The palace seemed to be nearly vacant. There was no usual wave from a nobleman as he would walk by, or a grin from a passing knight off to talk with friends. She was completely alone.

The weather was too was dull and tired, like the air was dampened or weighed down in exhaustion, giving a blurred look to anyone who looked out of the palace windows. It felt like the blistering air was pleading for the war to stop, to discontinue the abuse that it had been put through with sharp weapons cutting through it senselessly.

The atmosphere seemed to mirror the feeling of all Tortallans alike. Dull and hopeless towards the upcoming battle.

Her walking had stopped and she realized that she had arrived at her rooms. She turned the silver knob and walked inside. Her father was currently sitting at his desk writing as fast as a brush fire. Romeli walked up to him.

"Da?" she asked as she stood right behind him and looked at him. He seemed to not have heard her. She breathed and tried again. "Da?"

Numair dropped his quill in shock and sat up. Despite the surprise, he looked back at her with a calm smile. "Yes dear?"

"Can I talk to you about something?" she asked. "It's kind of important."

Numair stood up and they both settled down on the living room sofa. "Talk away, Romeli."

Romeli smiled weakly. "What would you say is the most powerful object in the world?"

Numair looked at her through dark eyes as he thought. "Hmmm. The most powerful object in the world. Do you mean powerful as in magically powerful, or dominant, or strong?"

Romeli sucked her teeth in thought. "Just powerful overall. Like magical or dominant. Not strong though."

Numair leaned his chin on his hand with his elbow on the armrest. "There is the Dominion Jewel. There are the Yamani swords, the Tortall Crown, the Flouran Flute from the Copper Isles. The Nameless One's Runes or the Elder's Runes. The Scanran Eclipse crystals of the Rankers Clan. Does that give you an idea?"

Romeli went over the names in her mind. She knew it wasn't the Dominion Jewel, her Guardians told her so. The Yamani Swords, Flouran Flute, and Eclipse Crystals didn't fit the prophecy. It said that one knows It. One Has It. Scanra knows it, so Tortall had to have it. The Runes wouldn't be able to stop a war, and no one but perhaps Alanna could wield them. Royal Blood could only use the Crown, and she surely was not at all imperial. There was nothing that could qualify on her list.

"What about something that could stop the war?" she asked.

Numair looked at her curiously. "Are these questions referring to The God's Prophecy?"

Romeli looked at him sheepishly. "Yes."

Numair gave her a doubtful look. "If you are thinking that this war is the one that is prophesied, I'm almost positive you're wrong. That war was said to be around c. 400 HE. It's 481 and nothing has happened. Usually when Prophecies have dates like this one, they happen close to the predicted time—81 years is to long to be accurate. Not all prophecies are correct. They can be bent from their path due to the actions of man. In no way can the Gods change what humans will on their own."

Romeli nodded. She knew that he was wrong, but she didn't want to get into the complications of arguing with him. She had to do this on her own. She smiled weakly at her father. "Okay. Thanks anyway, Da." She stood up and walked out of the room. To which destination, she had no clue.

OOO

Six months had passed, and the battle was drawing closer by the day. Romeli's birthday came and went, and the new age of fifteen made her feel no different than she did before. Most of her time had been dedicated to searching for the object. It was her responsibility, after all. Still, despite months of searching, both in the library and at surrounding fiefs, she was left empty handed. Her job to find the object turned into desperation to locate the one phenomenon that could stop the war. It had to be found before the large battle—Tortall would undoubtedly lose without it.

Too bad the battle was in a month.

Romeli sighed as she walked down one of the palace's many hallways, ignoring the summer rays beat down on her through the window. She had no idea where she was going, but instead subconsciously let her feet lead her, letting her troubled thoughts drift. All that Tortall had been talking about lately was the upcoming battle. Though it seemed like one month was all the time in the world, it wasn't nearly enough time to Romeli.

The palace seemed abandoned and drained since everyone was slowly migrating north to the battle. All the young and middle aged knights were at Northwatch, where the big battle was being held. Other small troops were at the border or other forts in case of surprise attacks. The king himself was leaving for Northwatch tomorrow along with a couple groups of riders, a few shang, and all of the new squires who still remained. She thought that James was going to visit some time over the past couple of weeks, but when she got a letter from him, he said that everyone was to stay at their forts due to caravan traffic and risk of attack. He said he was terribly sorry, and Romeli understood, but now more than ever did she need a shoulder to lean on.

Her mother, father, and herself were leaving in one week. It would take about a week and a half for them to reach the border. They would only have a few days to prepare before the actual battle.

Romeli had two opinions concerning the climax of the war. She was excited to kick Scanran butt with her friends. And after the battle, the king said the war would most likely be over and she would live in peace—if they won, that is. And yet a stronger force overcame her, a force of dread. She only really had a week to find the prophesied object, a week to find it, a week to save Tortall. It was all too clear to her now. If she didn't find the object, Tortall would fall forever.

OOO

A dreadful week had passed and time was up. It was too late to search anymore. Romeli looked at the distance, the bright sun shone high above the forests and hills, the wind blew her hair away from her face, cooling her from the summer heat. Yet inside she was as cold and saddened as the trailing breeze. She sat atop her mount; all of her packs were full of supplies for her next adventure. She looked around, feeding her eyes with the sweetness of the place that she called home, doubting she would ever see it again.

"Romeli are you ready to go?" asked Daine as she put her hand on her daughter's shoulder. Romeli looked sadly at the distance before smiling at her mother.

"Yes, I'm ready."

Daine grinned at Romeli and nodded to Numair to start their journey. Nudging their horses into a trot, they made their way out of Corus and along the Great Road North.

Romeli looked back to perhaps steal one last glimpse at the majestic palace. But they had traveled too far. The palace had left her grasp and had disappeared in the blurred distance.

Romeli turned back around with a pained look in her eyes. She had lost. She had failed Tortall. And because she had lost to the Scanran's, Tortall would fall forever.

Ah. Quite the time gap we had in there, huh. That is a new addition to my editing process...

OMG okay. I have to tell everyone about this crazy dream. Since I've been editing The Guardian so much, I had a dream that I was Romeli. Okay omg it was so crazy. It didn't take place it Tortall, it took place in some other land—and our side was in battle with these super bad magic people. I had all the powers of Romeli and everything! Our army was split into two groups—one group was lead by Alanna and Raoul I think. And the other group was lead by me and some other kickass girl. I think it was Ryoku. And I think Robin from the Teen Titans was there. Haha. Anywho, we're leading our group through this forest until we reach a theater—where there was going to be a battle showdown, and I was the best fighter (But I'd never fought head to head life or death before, so I was really nervous).

We get into the theater, where they had just put on a production of Sweeney Todd (the movie cast lol) and the actors were descending the stairs in the lobby. I come across Johnny Depp and start talking to him about business (apparently he was part of the battle or something). I'd never talked to him before, but he was really cool. Then, out of the blue I kissed him on the cheek, and that turned awkward because Johnny insisted that when girls did that to him it made him uncomfortable. I apologized profusely, but then before we could start talking again his daughter went into cardiac arrest. He rushed upstairs with Ryoku following. I stayed below, unsure what to do. Then, I realized with panic that his daughter wouldn't make it unless it intervened. I took out my magic powers and kept her heart beating with Ryoku's help.

Then it was time for the battle showdown, which apparently we were supposed to introduce ourselves beforehand on the theater's stage. I tap danced and failed.

I woke up just before the actual fighting happened.

You know, I'm going to read this like, five months from now and realize how freakishly weird this dream is.