The three orcs spoke quietly in the captain’s quarters as the crew cleared the water from the deck. With the wall of ice that held them in place, they wouldn’t be able to move until it thawed completely. Bo’s hand moved a curl from Mira’s face as she lay unconscious on the bed.
“By Agrowl’s ashes,” Bo whispered, “All that is real?”
“Yes,” Amethyst pointed to Tiero, “He and I are part of the order that works for the Guardians and their Vessels.”
“I actually took your place,” The yellow orc cleared his throat, “When you never developed any magical talents, I was chosen instead.”
“And you’ve actually spoke to Agrowl?” He looked between them.
“Guardians rarely speak to anyone outside of their Vessels. It has been at least one generation since I have heard of anyone hearing their whispers,” She shook her head, “Mira can hear Encante. His voice echoes in hers. You heard it yourself. I have yet to meet another Vessel that can hear their Guardian, let alone command them.”
“Agrowl does not speak to Yteva,” Tiero corrected, “In fact, it seems she refuses to grant her any power. Granite sent me to see if Zrud speaks to the queen or prince.”
“Why wouldn’t she speak to Yteva? From my understanding, it’s whoever holds the crown, right?” He looked to Amethyst.
“Yes and no,” She shrugged, “That is the typical pattern. Sometimes they do not, but the crowns would never say otherwise. In fact, most do not even know what the actual Guardian’s Stones look like.”
“I am not sure Yteva has the correct stone, but she seems to think so,” The yellow orc shook his head, “Though, if Mira did kill Quillia, Agrowl may be waiting for her to claim the throne.”
“That’s my theory as well,” Amethyst smirked, “And it falls in line with the prophecy.”
“What prophecy?” Bo lowered his voice.
“I cannot suggest we share more, unless he joins us,” Tiero looked to her, “Until then, we can’t fully trust him.”
“What? Tiero—”
They ignored Bobabano as they discussed his admittance into their order.
“I do not know if he can if he isn’t a mage. I’ve never heard of one without talent being accepted,” She tapped her chin, “Though, I imagine it would work. Bobabano, what do you think?”
“Will it avenge my mother and save my people?”
“Yes,” She smiled.
“Then, I accept.”
“Garnet,” Amethyst nodded to the other orc, “What shall we name our newest member?”
“I do not know. I was named by Granite,” He shrugged, “What Guardian would he serve? With Agrowl, he will always be connected to his people and their queen. With Encante, it will always be Mira. If Mira is the prophetic one, then he will be under her eventually.”
“Is there any chance that Yteva has Agrowl?” He drummed his fingers on the table in the room.
“There is a significant chance,” Tiero nodded.
“Tell me the prophecy,” Bo looked to his elder, “Then let me decide.”
She nodded.
“Encante cursed the Goddess with his dying breath. I do not believe he even remembers. The moment that he finds love, Alcante will be ejected from the heavens and return to the earth. When this happens, the white dragon will seek revenge against his brother and kill his lover. One person will have to wield all Guardians to stop the siblings from destroying our world,” She paused, “And I believe that person is Mira.”
“Why do you say that?” Bo narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Calosa, the satyr loved by Encante for over six hundred years,” Amethyst looked to Mira, “—was her mother. She was not just is Vessel. She was his Chosen. He bound their souls together much like our people do. Isaan kidnapped Calosa and forced her to give birth. She then sacrificed herself to save the girl. With that, the prophecy began.”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Goddess above,” He shook his head, “A satyr? I’ve never heard of one outside of old tales of the isle. Do they even exist?”
“I’ve seen them myself. When I was very young, my mentor took me,” She looked over to Mira, “She’s the spitting image of her mother, minus the legs.”
Tiero crossed his arms, “The Order has spent the last sixty years looking for Isaan. We only found him because the Travel Knights found him and Mira.”
“No,” Amethyst chuckled, “We only found Mira because of a woman I let live decades ago sent me a letter. Without either of those, Isaan may have controlled two of the most powerful Guardians.”
“Why are they more powerful?” Confusion spread across Bo’s face.
“Dragons were feared long before the elementals were,” She scratched her head, “One woman that bonded herself to a dragon’s soul became a goddess. The other lived over six hundred years and covered the Unclaimed Isle in a mist so thick that nobody can enter without invitation. Who knows what else Calosa could have done, had she not been so kind.”
“Did you meet her?” Tiero blinked, “I heard rumors, but –”
“I was barely knee high when I met her. My mentor took me. We were the last ones on the Isle before Calosa disappeared,” She nodded, “The satyrs are an interesting people, but they aren’t the only creatures on the Isle.”
“Where do the monsters come from, then?”
“The beasts are blood mages, using old magic from before the Goddess’s time,” She looked at Mira, “If they lose control, then they can turn wild and dangerous. At least, that’s my theory. Some think that Isaan is taking out beasts and driving them crazy. Alcante gave the first gift of magic to the goddess, after all. If he is forcing magic into creatures that can’t control it… We won’t know unless we find him. My theory is the wraith is one of these beasts but controlled by Encante. It seems to only show when she loses control.”
“Then, I’ve decided,” He stood, “I will join Encante. If Mira is who the prophecy foretold, then I will move worlds to support her.”
Amethyst clapped her hands happily, “Then, my nephew, I will take you under my tutelage.”
“It will take both of us,” Tiero nodded, “Bobabano, this will not be pleasant.”
“Nothing ever is,” He pulled a chair behind him and plopped down into it, “What must I do?”
“The old magic,” Amethyst nodded and pulled the hatchet from her belt.
The two orcs took off their shirts and motioned for Bo to do the same. He unbuttoned his shirt and examined the odd mark over their hearts. Where Amethyst’s was an inky black, Tiero’s was a velvety red. Amethyst sliced her hand and placed the bloody palm over her heart. Tiero copied the action and slapped it against the captain’s back.
“Our order is to prevent unnecessary bloodshed,” Tiero began, “We are the silent shadows of our Guardians. We are the protector of weakened Vessels. We are the first and last line of the end of our times.”
“Though we bind ourselves to one Guardian, our duty to the Goddess,” She continued, “Should a Vessel need slain, we slay them.”
“Should a Vessel need saved, we save them. Should my life end by their hands, I will be raised to reverie.”
“Should their life end by mine, they will be raised in honor.”
“We are the Order of Stone. Only known by name to those who need us and those we serve.”
The marks are their chests flashed with each word. Amethyst placed a bloody palm over Bo’s heart and Tiero placed a hand on his back.
“Awaken in the order!” She cast a spell to send the mark through him.
Tiero’s free hand swung around to grab Bo’s mouth as he yelled in pain. The muffled noise barely escaped his lips as the mark burned into his flesh. Amethyst held the spell in place and Bo fought to remain in the chair. Spiking pain threatened to launch his heart from his chest until the burning ended. Three lines intersected underneath a large, densely packed blob that shimmered lightly.
“If you truly want to serve Encante, repeat after me,” Amethyst nodded, “In eyes of the Goddess and witnessed by two members of the Order of Stone, I announce my fealty and service to Miradash: Daughter of Calosa the Chosen, Vessel of Encante, and any other names known to her. May this oath bind me to the Vessel as my body is bound to her Guardian. May I serve as reliable council. Let my blade draw blood only in their service. May my body and soul be devoted to their cause forever more.”
As he repeated the words. He felt the mark on his chest throb against his skin. He saw the traces of lilac swirl around much like a thrall’s brand and the blobby patch mirror the black scale on his elder. He looked to his aunt for further guidance.
“When she wakes up, you can ask her to accept you,” Amethyst sat on the floor next to him, “If she does, then you are tied to her until one of you dies.”
Bo coughed and shivered as the spell settled in his body. It fell like a snake slivered under his skin and through his veins. He looked at Mira as she laid on the bed and walked to her. His entire existence felt different.
After she saved him, he felt indebted to her. He felt a new connection to her that he couldn’t explain fully as the spell settled inside of him. He wondered if it was how magic felt to the mages that could wield it. Now, he would conquer mountains to protect her. His people would be safe if he could make her a queen. Only the most powerful woman could be the queen to Agrowl and no one was as powerful as the woman in front of him.
“I know,” He coughed and shivered as the spell pushed through him, “That’s why I chose her.”
His hand fell to the stone amulet that laid across her chest. As his fingers brushed the surface, a word echoed in his mind as if the goddess herself reached out to him. Only it was Mira’s voice whispered to him.
“Obsidian,” He responded, “That is my name.”
“Forged by lava,” Amethyst grinned, “I like it. It suits you well.”
Bo knelt beside her and watched her squirm. He grabbed her hand and tried to ease her mind. As black mist floated around her, her body contoured in the bed. Her eyes opened and rolled back until they glowed a hideous purple hue. When her mouth opened, a frantic, blood curdling scream rang out.
“What is this?” He looked to Amethyst, “What is happening?”
“We have to calm her down!” She grabbed Mira’s ankles and held them to the bed, “I didn’t think it would happen this soon.”
“What is going on?” Tiero asked.
“We have to wake her up!” Amethyst hissed, “Quickly!”