Excalion

Excalion
Chapter Four: Lightning Flash and Thunderclap

=[ Part Three ]=


Jacen sat alone in the Chamber of Silence, the flame from one of the candles dancing from some unknown breeze.

I’ve been granted Ameena’s Gift, he thought to himself. And I share it with her, of all people! He looked to the dark corner of the spacious room, sighing. Father will find out about this, I have no doubt. That sniveling worm he calls an advisor happens to know too much too quickly.

Feeling restless, he soundlessly got up from his chair and left the dimly lit room. Walking down the halls of his family’s home, he felt his body tense up.

“What are you doing roaming the halls?”

He whirled around to see his younger sisters, Mei and Ashila. As they strode up to him, he caught the barest sliver of light glint off a throwing knife that Mei concealed between her fingers.

“I feel restless. The second night of Dark Moon is coming,” he replied.

“And so you should be, brother,” she spat condescendingly. “Soon, we will have overthrown those Overon pigs and reclaimed what is rightfully ours.”

Jacen narrowed his eyes. “If you keep up that talk instead of carefully preparing yourself and your soldiers, Mei, then we won’t stand a chance, no matter how slow-witted you think the Overon family really is.”

Mei glared at her brother venomously. “You should learn to practice what you preach, brother.”

Jacen grinned devilishly. “My men are more than physically ready to do battle with inferior soldiers. They have spent their time mentally preparing themselves so that they don’t get a big head the night before.”

Mei looked offended. “You’ll regret saying that.” She strode towards him. “Maybe you sympathize with them so much because you just loved watching the Princess move in front of you.” She sneered. “I bet you just loved hearing her grunt in effort against you…”

Before she took a third step towards him, Jacen’s left hand shot out, grabbing her wrist violently. He snapped her arm up, forcing her hand open. As the throwing knife lingered in mid-air for a fraction of a second, he pushed Mei to the wall, grabbing the handle of the throwing knife with his free hand and jabbed the point into the wall just beside her throat.

“Remember this, my youngest sister,” he said to Ashila, though his eyes were still on a terror-stricken Mei, “an Omicronus never leaves a promise unfulfilled.”

“Let me…”

Jacen tilted the knife a little closer to his sister’s neck, threatening to break the skin. “Mei, this is the last time you will ever hold a weapon anywhere near me. You may be my sister, but I won’t hesitate to kill you, and that is a promise.” He narrowed his eyes. “Do I make myself clear?”

Her face immediately morphed from horror to absolute hatred. “Crystal.”

He took the knife from the wall and dropped it into the floor. Without a second glance, he strode off. Mei growled in anger as she slumped to the floor, rubbing her neck.

“Likewise with you, my brother,” she whispered hoarsely, “likewise with you.”


* * * * *


Galia and a cloaked Shanavale walked through the large doorway of Overon’s Temple of the Goddesses. Once Shanavale felt certain that her identity wouldn’t be compromised, she lifted the hood off her head.

“I don’t understand, Princess,” Galia said. “There is a Temple in the castle…”

Shanavale nodded. “Granted, but in the castle Temple, the allegiance of the Temple Elder is equal to both Overon and the Godesses. News of Ameena’s Gift being granted to someone of House Barawani is sure to raise plenty of questions, and outside of Rohadin’s guards, myself and Wynn, no one else knows of yours and Jaden’s arrival to Overon.”

“But Father Michael…”

“…Is the Elder of Overon’s Temple of the Goddesses, not Overon Castle’s,” Shanavale replied.

A balding, elderly man, a full head shorter than Shanavale, strode up to them. “My Princess, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Shanavale fell to one knee. Galia, realizing who was speaking to them, did the same. “Father Michael, good afternoon.”

“And who might your guest be?” Father Michael narrowed his eyes questioningly, trying to recognize his guest’s face. “You do look familiar…”

“Begging your pardon, Father, but we require a private audience,” Shanavale said quickly.

The Temple Elder nodded. “Of course, of course. Follow me.” He turned and gestured for them to follow up the main aisle. As they passed the front row of pews and reached the altar, Father Michael turned immediately to his right and walked to a simple door. Opening it, he offered Shanavale and Galia inside.

It was a simply furnished room, with three high-backed cushioned chairs and a blue glass ball on a pedestal. Galia noted how silent the room was once the Temple Elder closed the door, but she noted how peaceful, even serene, the quietness felt compared to the Chamber of Silence.

“Now tell me, Princess, what is so private a matter that I am to be whisked away while caring for those in prayer?” Shanavale was about to react, but seeing the old man’s smile relieved her of any offense.

“Father Michael, my guest’s identity cannot leave this room,” Shanavale replied as she took the seat beside Galia. “Her name is Galia, of the Barawani Traveling Fair.”

“Father, I have asked the Princess to come with me for support,” Galia cut in. “I’ve…” She looked down at her feet for a moment. “…I’ve been granted Ameena’s Gift.”

Father Michael smiled brightly. “Congratulations, my child!” He took Galia’s hand in his own. “The Goddess has been most kind to you.” He lifted her chin with a finger. “Has your partner revealed himself to you?”

Galia gave him a small smile, humbled by the praise she received. “No, not yet, Father. I was actually hoping that you would help me ask the Goddesses reveal who shares Ameena’s Gift with me.”

The elderly man nodded knowingly. “Ahh. May I pry?”

Galia nodded.

“Is there a reason why you need to know?”

Galia looked to Shanavale, who nodded. She turned back to address the Temple Elder. “Father, I’ve always been loyal to my families, my family as a member of House Barawani and my family as a member of the Traveling Fair. My father was granted Ameena’s Gift and shared it with my mother, who was from Arcturus, and it caused such a scene that it nearly started another Conflict with House Nazschenko.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t want something like that to befall my family again.”

The elderly man nodded. “I understand clearly, my child.” He gestured with a hand to the blue glass ball. “Come. Let us see who you share Her Gift with.” He looked up to Shanavale. “My pardons, Princess, but I will have to ask you to wait outside.”

Galia was about to protest, but Shanavale nodded. “I understand, Father.” She smiled. “It’s all right. I’ll be waiting outside.”


* * * * *


“Wynn?” Rohadin nudged Wynn’s dozing form at the desk. “Wynn?”

Jaden grinned. “Let him sleep. He was probably up all night trying to figure this thing out. Tundrii’s a hard dialect to learn.”

The Captain of the guard grinned. “You’re right. You’ve deciphered it though, right?”

Jaden nodded once.

Wynn’s doze sent him back to his childhood, when his father was still an Archmage of Arcturus’ Silver Pillar, a place of education for those with magical or scholarly inclinations…


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


“Father, why did Mama leave us?”

Eron Scarner smiled. “Oh, Wynn, your mother didn’t leave you. She just left me. Maali is here, though.”

“Why is Maali staying with us?” Wynncrest whined. “Mama is a more powerful Mage than Maali is.”

Eron Scarner closed his book then looked down at his son. “Wynn, your mother left because Maali came into my life.”

“Did Maali tell her to leave?”

“No, you silly thing,” a young woman said as she stepped into the room, a tray with a tea set in hand. She set the tray down on the table in front of Eron and knelt in front of Wynn. “I never wanted your mother to leave.” She glanced over her shoulder at Wynn’s father. “Could you please pour the tea, Eron?”

Without a word, Eron Scarner returned to his book, pointing a finger at the teapot. He flicked his wrist, and the teapot began to float in the air, tipping slightly to pour steaming tea into one cup then the other.

“Wynn, your mother left because of something you may understand when you’re older.”

“Everyone always tells me that,” Wynncrest whined again. “Why won’t anyone tell me now?”

The young woman laughed. “I never said I wasn’t going to tell you, Wynn.” She offered her hand to him, and smiled when he reluctantly took it. She rose to her full height and walked Wynn over to the window.

“What will you tell me, Maali?”

“You’ve learned about the Goddesses, yes?”

Wynn nodded. “Mama taught me about them. There are three of them.”

Maali looked down at him and smiled. “Yes, that’s right. What else has your mother taught you?”

“Their names are Alaia, Karysta, and Ameena.”

“Did you know that one of the Goddesses gives us a gift?”

Wynn’s gaze shot up to Maali’s. “A gift, really?

Maali smiled warmly at Wynn. “Yes. The Goddess Ameena gives us a gift when she thinks we need to be happy.”

“What is it?”

“It’s something secret and special, and it’s shared only by two people,” the young mage answered. “Not very many people understand it. Your father understands, but I don’t. Your Mama doesn’t understand it, either.”

Wynn frowned. “Is that why Mama went away?”

Maali smiled. “Mama went away because Ameena gave Her Gift to me and your Papa.”

“Why did She give it to you and not to Mama?”

“Only Ameena knows, Wynn,” Maali replied. “Maybe when you’re older and you pray enough to Her, maybe she’ll tell you.”

“How will I know…?”

“That’s enough questions, Wynn,” Eron said with a chuckle. “Maali, did you forget your extra class with Master Isrin?”

“Oh!” She looked at the clock at the far wall. “Is class going to start already? I just brought tea!”

Eron stood to his full height, a grin on his face. “It’ll be warm when you get back. I don’t want Master Isrin complaining to me again.”

“I was never late…!” Maali said as she kissed Eron on the cheek, opened the door and jogged down the hallway…


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


Wynn woke up in his chair.

“Wynn? What happened?” Rohadin asked.

Wynn shook his head. “Huh? Wha…?”

“Easy, Wynn,” the Captain replied. “You were in a deeper sleep than Jaden and I thought. What were you dreaming about?”

“I was dreaming about my childhood,” Wynn said, still half-awake. “My stepmother was telling me about Ameena’s Gift.”

Jaden and Rohadin exchanged surprised glances.

“That’s not important right now,” Wynn said, bringing the other two men out of their silent conversation. “Jaden, did you finish deciphering the message?”

Jaden nodded. “I did, but the Princess told us not to speak of it until she gets back, remember?”

Wynn nodded. “Right.”

Rohadin sat down beside his friend. “So, Wynn, Ameena’s finally given you Her Gift, hmm?”


=[ End of Part Three ]=


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah, I know it's been a while, but I had a lot of struggle with this point in the story. I considered ending the chapter here but I didn't like how the last section ended. Writer's Block and World of Warcraft immediately followed and I kinda got sidetracked (forgive me!). I'd gotten some inspiration recently and decided I wouldn't end the chapter here. There'll be more before Chapter Five, and at that point, I promise action will pick up. As always, thank you for reading, and reviews and/or concrit is always appreciated. See you (hopefully) soon!