The Foretold (Chapter 2 - Unwanted Power)"

2

Unwanted power 

By;fernand jiro
    “How dare she become the Foretold! Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? And where is Vordren? He should have killed the prince by now!” roared Livved, striking the wall with her long, claw-like nails. Her messenger cowered behind a chair. Livved scared him; only a very foolish or brave person wouldn’t fear her.
    “We…we didn’t know until know, mistress. A…and we believe that Vordren was caught. He never got to kill the prince.” Stuttered the messenger, his face just visible above the chair.
    Livved glared down at him, her purple eyes glinting in anger. Her night black hair falling across her shoulders in feathery strands.
    “You’re telling me that he failed?” she asked, her voice now menacingly soft. The messenger nodded slowly, his body tensed, ready to duck if she threw anything at him. Livved turned to her personal guard and said, “See if you can rescue our little assassin from the dungeons of Ksaih. Oh and Gitohf, bring him to me alive, I will teach him a lesson for failing me. As for the Foretold, kill her!” She stabbed a knife into the arm of her throne.
    The guard nodded then left. Livved turned back to the messenger. A sinister smile crossed her lips. “As for you. You have outlived your purpose.” She pulled the knife out of the throne. The man’s eyes widened with fear. He started to run, but Livved caught him. He screamed, but it was cut short as Livved slowly sucked the life from his body. All that was left was a dead corpse with a small fragment of the man’s soul.
    “Now, lets go pay my longest prisoner a visit. I’m sure Ardanten would love to know the good news.” Said Livved laughing evilly. Her laugh was like a slithering snake about to seize it’s pray. “Come,” she commanded, walking out of her throne room, the dead soul following her.
***
    Thunder rumbled far off to the east and lightning flashed in silver sparks. Something had angered Livved. The storm was brewing over Threll where Livved held her domain. Her anger had caused the thunder. The storm heralded that something bad was going to happen, and soon. There was a heated discussion taking place in Ksaih in the palace courtroom between the King, Queen, Prince, Emriella and Thrallin.
    “No! Your not going!” said Thrallin firmly. He still could not – would not – accept that his daughter was the Foretold.
    “But father I have to go! This won’t just be the end of our troubles, but the whole world will be free of Livved’s evil ways. This is the one chance to save Nerep! I have to go!” protested Emriella. “Legend says I must.”
    “I don’t care what legend says! I won’t loose you as well!” said Thrallin, his eyes mirroring his emotions. There was an uncomfortable silence. King Jothen was the first to break it.
    ”Well as she says, legend does demand it. Thrallin I know how hard it is for you, but you have to let her go. She may choose a guard to go with her if that will please you.” He said, looking deep into his cousin’s eyes.
    Thoerenn was stood next to his mother, his wound now bandaged. A thought crossed his mind and he smiled.  “I’ll go with her,” he declared, pulling out of his mother’s tight hold.
    “You will not.” Said his father, turning to look at him.
    “Why not? I’m eighteen now and I can look after myself. I do know how to fight.” Thoerenn replied.
    Jothen put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Because, son, you are the heir to the throne. And what if another assassin tried killed you? Today you were lucky, next time you might not be.”
    Thoerenn held his gaze, but soon broke away and looked at Emriella. One of the guards stepped forward. She had been guarding the door in case of intrusion of this private discussion.
    “I will go with Miss Emriella, your Majesty.”
    The five turned to look at her. Emriella recognised her to be Hannolly, one of the Kings royal body guards. Emriella had known her for a long time, and the two of them were good friends. Hannolly was a good fighter and Emriella’s safety was assured with her for company.
    “There, happy now, Thrallin? Hannolly’s one of my best guards.” Said Jothen smiling at the young woman. Hannolly had shoulder length mid-brown hair and was wearing the red-silver armour of the Ksaih kingdom.
Thrallin sighed, defeated. “I guess so. But Hannolly, I want Emriella back. I trust you with her safety.”  He said, looking at her sternly.
    She nodded and said, “Will do sir, I’ll look after her.” She then looked at Emriella. “When do we leave miss?”
    “Dawn, two days from now.” Answered Emriella, walking towards the door. The others followed.
    “I could do with a good night’s sleep. To much excitement for one day I think.” As they left the room no one noticed the rebellious look on Thoerenn’s face.
    The next day was spent preparing for the long journey to Threll. Emriella was kept extremely busy; she needed travelling gear – like pots and pans, sleeping rolls etc. – supplies, a horse, and many other things to ensure that their journey would be a quick and safe one. Emriella insisted on taking her pad and pencil, but her father refused to let her take the inks.
    “You’re supposed to be travellers, not artists.” Her father had said when they argued over the box.
    When everything was ready, Emriella’s equipment contained: Leather-travelling armour that would offer slight protection, a woollen cloak that would keep the worst of the winter chill out. A sword with enchanted symbols of protection, skill and luck – put there by the kingdom’s Royal Seer, Wevez, who was skilled in the arts of magic. A bow with a quiver of silver headed arrows, strong hunting boots and leather fingerless gloves. In her pack was: Enough food to see them to their first stop, a water bottle, a drawing pad and pencil, a purse full of coins and a spare change of clothing. Emriella was also given a beautiful brown mare named Imley.
    They were preparing to leave when her father called her name. “Emriella, be careful. Here take this,” He handed her a silver chain with a flower on the end. The pendant was made from mother of pearl, with silver strands criss-crossing over it in an intricate pattern.
    “It was your mother’s. She wanted you to have it when you were old enough.” Said Thrallin, fastening it around her neck. Emriella fingered it. She smiled up into her father’s eyes, silently thanking him. He smiled back. “Come back soon.”
    “I will. You’ll be the first to now I’m back!” she promised.
    Hannolly and Emriella set off early the next morning. The sun, Crzeth, was just beginning to crest the horizon with his golden glow. As they left the palace gates, Hannolly thought she heard someone following them.
    “What’s the matter?” asked Emriella turning to look at Hannolly.
    “Oh, nothing. I just thought I heard someone following us, Miss.” Replied the guard, carefully scanning the shadows.
    “How many times must I ask you to call me Emriella?” She started walking forward again, leading her horse through the narrow streets of Ksaih.
    “Sorry Mi…. I mean, Emriella.”           
    Just as the pair were out of the gate Hannolly heard the noise again, coming from a near by bush. She drew her sword and motioned for Emriella to stay still. She then thrust her sword into the bush. There was a muffled cry and out sprang a young man.
    “Hey! Watch it!” he cried, rubbing his arm where the sword had bruised it. Hannolly lowered her sword as she realised who it was.
    “Thoerenn! What are you doing here?” demanded Emriella. She walked up to where her cousin was standing, an impish grin on his face.
    “I want to come with you,” he said. “My father wouldn’t let me, so I sneaked out.”
    Emriella and Hannolly exchanged looks. Then Emriella nodded. “Okay, but you have to do as I say. You’ll need a horse.”
    “No problem!” replied Thoerenn. He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. A brown stallion came trotting up out of a clump of trees. He then mounted him. “Well, shall we be off?”
    The two nodded and also mounted. The three then set off towards the high road that would lead them to Jall, their first stop.
***
    As the second moon goddess, Darielle began her slow accent into the sky, next to her sister, Gweddæa, a dark shadow stirred. It crept slowly and quietly into Ksaih, narrowly avoiding the silver gate. It grunted at it, and then began to slither through the city streets. Wherever it passed a deathly chill lingered, penetrating even the thickest wool. The thing looked up and sniffed the air. It sounded a deep low growl, like the one of a wolf mad with hunger. Footsteps were approaching, two sets of them. The dark shape growled again.
    “Did you hear that?” asked the younger of the two shakily. The other looked at him and laughed.
    ”What’s the matter Kileth? Scared of the dark?” teased his friend. The man named Kileth stopped; he kept staring ahead of him down the alley.
    ”Tyrinn, I…I think something’s down there,” he said, slowly beginning to turn back the way he’d come.
    Tyrinn grabbed him and pushed him down the alley. “Stop being such a baby!”
    The dark thing growled for a third time, and then slowly began to creep forwards. Suddenly it lunged at the two men. One screamed, but was cut off as the things teeth sunk into his flesh. The dark then feasted upon his prey, sucking all the energy out of the souls. It grew stronger.
    After it had eaten it prowled the streets, searching for the palace and its dungeons. It soon found them but could not get passed the palace wall. Grunting it sat down on its hunches and hummed. The humming started as a soft murmur, which steadily grew louder, until it was loud enough to puzzle the sentry. There was a puff of black smoke, and the thing turned into a crow. Using its wings, the dark flew over the wall. It landed in front of the dungeons, where the thing took on a human form. It was Gitohf, Livved’s personal guard. He opened the cell and stepped in.
    The cell was small and dank. There was a barred window near the top, which let in a sliver of moonlight. Under the window was a half rotten bench, where a tall man was sleeping. The man was the Prince’s would-be assassin. Gitohf stood over him, casting a dark shadow across his face.
    “Vordren,” he commanded.
    The assassin woke suddenly and looked up. A look of disbelief crossed his face. “Gitohf, is that you? Have you come to rescue me?” asked Vordren hopefully. The guard grabbed the prisoner by the collar of his shirt.
    ”No. Livved has sent me to retrieve you. She is displeased that you have failed her.”
    The man flinched. He knew Livved’s anger and did not wish to be on the receiving end of it. Gitohf spoke again, “But first you can help me kill the Foretold. You may yet please the mistress.”
    Vordren gave him a quizzical look. Gitohf scowled at him and hauled him outside.
***
    The three had made good progress, travelling just under twenty miles that day. They had had to rest quite a few times, to get rid of aches and to rest the horses. Each of them were tired and sore. They had camped on the edge of a riverbank that they’d found in a small wood.
    “I wonder why running water and silver ward evil?” asked Thoerenn.
    Emriella shrugged.” I don’t know. But I’m glad something does.” She said sighing.
    Thoerenn nodded. “Where’s Hannolly?”
    “I’m over here,” came a voice from within the trees. Hannolly appeared with a dried pile of sticks. “Firewood.” She said answering their questioning looks as she prepared the sticks in a heap surrounded by stones. She then got out two pieces of flint, banged them together to produce a spark, and got the fire going. The three sat around the fire and ate some of the food that they had brought.
    “How did you become the Foretold?” asked Hannolly, looking across the fire to where Emriella was sat.
    “Well legend says that when the three blood lines – Royal, Seer and Remembrancer – meet together, that person will be the Foretold. I am a Seer, my mother was a Remembrancer and I’m part royal. So, I guess I’m the Foretold.” She answered. There was a long silence, each caught up in their thoughts. The horses grazed quietly in the grass behind them. Thoerenn yawned.
    ”I think I’ll turn in.” He said.
    Emriella agreed.” I’m a bit tired myself.”
   Hannolly threw another branch on the fire. “I’ll keep first watch then. Emriella you take the second, Thoerenn, you take third. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
    There was a grunt of acknowledgement from Thoerenn, and a nod from Emriella as the two got ready for sleep.