Excalion

Excalion
Chapter Four: Lightning Flash and Thunderclap

=[ Part One ]=


Wynncrest Scarner yawned and sat up in bed, not surprised to hear his shower running. Combing his fingers through his short brown hair and scratching his head, he turned and put his feet down on the cold stone floor, letting the chill creep up through his body and wake him. He shivered once as he heard the shower stop and slowly stretched his neck.

“Oh, Wynn, you’re up,” Shanavale said, slight surprise in her voice as she wrapped a towel over her chest.

“You really have to stop spending the night here,” he said with a small grin. “I’m sure people know we’re together, but we haven’t been Joined.”

“The castle servants know when to leave well enough alone and to not talk of business that does not concern them,” Shanavale countered. “Besides, I’m sure my Father knows and understands we try to be discreet.”

He scoffed playfully, his grin growing to a full-fledged smile. “The operative word is ‘try’, Shanavale. You’re not exactly the quietest person to make love to. I know you enjoy it, but…”

She stopped him by pouncing on him and clapping her hand over his mouth with a devilish smile on her face. “Continue any more, Wynncrest Scarner, and you’ll never be able to speak again, let alone call out my name in the throes of passion.” She immediately rolled off of him. “You’ve deciphered a lot of that message, and Rohadin is expecting us to meet with him, Jaden and Galia in about half an hour.”

“Sorry I wasn’t able to decipher it all.”

Shanavale waved away his apology. “Wynn, it was partly my fault for that, remember? You can finish it when we’ve met up with the others.”


* * * * *


“The Princess should know of my intentions by now, and I sent a message to the Barawani Traveling Fair about my plans.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because my family’s gone down the path of ruin.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Nor do I expect you to, love. Everything is ready?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Tell Barawani to take you to the Forest Sanctum, and give the Master Keeper this message. They will grant you sanctuary.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Where will you go?”

“I’ll be going to the Sanctum as well. I’ll just be a little later.”

“You don’t seem very sure about that.”

“Don’t worry. Things will work out.”

“Don’t lie to me like that! I know you better than that!”

“Look, I’ve told you not to worry.”

“I love you. I have every right to worry.”

“The three of you will be safe at the Sanctum. I will be there after you arrive. Don’t worry.”

“You promise?”

“Not even Alaia can stop me.”

“Mmmmm.”

“Don’t worry, love. I don’t intend to die just yet.”


* * * * *


Galia’s sleep brought her back to her first visit to the Temple of the Goddesses. She was no more than five and her family had been in the snowy lands of Arcturus visiting House Nazschenko. Her father had deemed her old enough to visit the Temple with him and Jaden to ask for the Goddesses’ blessing. As the three of them knelt before the carved stone altar, Galia noticed tears streaking down the sides of her father’s cheeks…


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


“Papa, why are you crying?”

“He has plenty to pray for, my Daughter,” a gentle voice replied. She looked up to see a man in unadorned black robes and a white stole. He had friendly brown eyes with a grandfatherly twinkle, and his head was bald save for the thinning gray band that went around the back of his head.

“Who are you?”

“I am Father Théodor, Elder Keeper of Arcturus’ Temple,” the aging priest said as he stepped around the altar.

“Father,” Galia’s father said in a low voice, “this is the first time my daughter Galia has ever visited a Temple. I beg your pardon.”

Father Théodor smiled warmly. “No apologies are necessary. She is a young girl and inquisitive of the world the Goddesses have made for us. I shall walk with her for a while and let you and your son pray for your wife, if that is fine with you.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Remember, my son, that the Goddesses embrace all, and as such, we who follow Their teachings try to assist in any way we can.” He gently touched Galia’s shoulder. “Go on and pray. The Goddesses are pleased with your faithfulness.”

Galia’s father bowed. “Thank you, Father.”

“Come, Galia,” Father Théodor offered his hand. She took it and stood, following him down the main aisle.

“Who is Papa praying to, Father Théodor?”

“Call me Father,” the priest said with a small laugh. “Your papa is praying to Karysta, the Goddess of Order.”

“Why is he praying to Karysta?”

“Your mother passed away after giving birth to you, yes?”

Galia nodded. “Papa said that it made him very sad.”

“Alaia is the Goddess of Chaos, and she does whatever she wants whenever she wants to. Sometimes what she does is good for some people, while for others it is bad.”

“Why does Alaia do that?”

The priest shrugged. “Alaia does that because she feels so. The other two Goddesses, Karysta and Ameena, however, help us with whatever Alaia does.”

“How do They do that, Father?”

The two of them stopped at the final row of pews. Father Théodor let her take a seat at one of the pews and he sat down beside her.

“The Goddess of Order, Karysta, tries to give us a cause behind Alaia’s doings, and to tell us that everything will be all right.” The priest looked down at her. “Your father is praying to the Goddess Karysta for your mother, to let her find peace with the Goddesses, and also for your family, that you will continue to remain safe and happy wherever you go.”

He looked up to the altar where her father knelt with his forehead pressed against the stone floor. “Now, Alaia is the Goddess of Chaos, who makes things happen, and Karysta is the Goddess of Order, who tells us that there is something behind what Alaia does. Ameena, Goddess of Creativity, gives us the wisdom to make the best of what Karysta tells us.”

“What do you mean?”

Théodor smiled. “Did you know your mother was from here, in Arcturus?”

Galia shook her head.

“Well, a lot of people, both from Arcturus and from Duuné…”

“My home?”

The priest nodded. “Yes, Galia. People from here and people from your home weren’t very happy with your mama and papa liking each other.”

“Why?”

“You will understand as you get older, child.” Théodor patted her shoulder gently. “But the people that didn’t like your mama and papa liking each other had to stop because of a special present.”

Galia’s eyes grew wide. “Really? Did Papa give Mama a present?”

The priest allowed himself a laugh. “Not quite, my child. The Goddess Ameena gave your parents a present.”

“Really? What was it?”

“It’s simply called Ameena’s Gift, my child,” he replied. “Ameena’s Gift is possibly the most beautiful thing that the Goddesses could have given us. It’s something that Ameena gives us to…” He thought for a moment. “…To let us know who we’re truly meant to be with.”

“How will we know who we’re truly meant to be with?”

Father Théodor smiled. “It may not happen to you, my child, for it is a gift from the Goddess. However, you will know when Ameena has given it to you when you recall this day, when I first spoke of it to you…”


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


Galia shot up in her bed, her dream still fresh in her mind. Her breathing slowed and quieted as she realized it was morning. Jaden was still asleep, sprawled about in his bed, the sheets covering him from the waist down. She looked down at the foot of her own bed, her dream sending both chills and warmth down about her body.

“I’ve been granted Ameena’s Gift,” she whispered to herself. She clutched the sheets tightly as she shuffled over and lay on her side. “But who shares it with me?”

A light knock at the door shook her from her thoughts. She pulled the blanket up over her chest. “Come in.”

The door opened slowly and a young woman popped her head in. “I’m sorry if I woke you, Miss.”

Galia shook her head quickly. “No, no. I was already awake.”

The young woman visibly relaxed. “The Princess instructed us to bring you breakfast. She said that she and her comrades would be here in about half an hour.”

Galia nodded. “Just bring it in, and I’ll wake my brother,” she said. The young woman and a male servant opened the door all the way and walked in, each carrying an oversized silver tray. One tray bore a basket of fresh rolls, a plate of cooked eggs and hashed meat. The other tray had plates, napkins and utensils for five people. The two wordlessly set the trays on the desk.

“Thank you,” the servants said before bowing at the hip and leaving, closing the door behind them. As soon as she left, Galia got up and shook her brother awake.

“Mmmph…what smells amazing?” he asked groggily.

“The Princess sent for breakfast,” Galia replied. “She and her friends will be here in half an hour.”

“What?” Jaden said as he sat up in bed. “It’s that late already?”

“Go ahead and shower, Jaden,” Galia said calmly, the dream still haunting her. “I’ll apologize to the Princess when she gets here.”


=[ End of Part One ]=


AUTHOR'S NOTE: A faithful reader (you know who you are, and thanks for adding this story to your favorites reads, btw) thought I should make a glossary of some sorts in order to explain a little more about the world this story is set in. I figured that this would at least explain a little more about the religion of this world. I may get around to making a wiki-like site of some sort or other if and when I have the time. Also, try to guess who's involved in the dialogue-only section. First person to guess correctly gets major kudos and an online cookie! As always, thanks for reading, and reviews and/or concrit is always appreciated! See you next chapter!