Three days later, Parifrey was in sight. The gates were made of Metal, there was a wall around the entire village of wood. Guards walking them. There were two lookout towers that were as big as Lionel's lion statue. Beyond the gate, I could see the tops of carved poles. Most villages had these. They usually consisted of runes, carvings of gods, and animals. I couldn't see what was on these, yet.
Bellator and I haven't talked a whole lot the last three days, and that made the journey annoyingly long. He was a man of few words. I would ask him things and he would reply as short as he could. Careful not to give me too much information. Eventually I gave up asking questions and decided to wait to see the Seer.
"What's the name of your Seer?" I ask Bellator.
"Vala. She is old, and probably a bit crazy. She has never let us down however, and is full of secrets. She's always talking about things no one knows about" He told me while he was eating some root vegetables we came across foraging.
As we got closer to the village entrance, I could see the protection spell as we crossed. All Awakened villages were protected so that normal folks wouldn't be able to simply raid and murder us all in our sleep. Trust was not something we shared. There are larger Armies controlled by normal men, with more power than there are awakened. Military power.
Approaching the gate a man came towards us, holding a bow and ready to use it. He was another soldier it seemed. "Bellator, who have you brought with you?" He demanded. I guess Parifrey was not as welcoming to strangers as Duskenhills. Probably because the Magus was here. Still surprising to me. I would have thought he was living in a greater place than a village, in the woods, at the base of a mountain.
Considering I was Headed to Tria, a City that is supposed to be welcoming to all, a city dedicated to trade and growth, I was hoping to not have to spend too much time here. I wanted to see the mountains of Tria, not Perifrey.
I wanted answers to my own questions. What's my mark about? And I wanted to look for weapons. I heard they make the strongest swords and shields there. Made from materials blessed by the Gods. In other words, metals pulled deep from the mountains, and wood given from the forest.
"Vala asked me to bring her to the village. This is Kaida, from the awakened village of Duskenhills. She is no threat." Bellator told the guard. The Guard stepped aside and let us pass. As we went by him, I could see him staring at the mark on my neck. More than likely double checking I wasn't a spy.
"Kaida, we will go see Vala right away, no stop. She specifically told me to not let you wander."
"huh? yeah, sure " I responded, lost in thought.
As we entered the village I could understand why I would want to wander. There were plenty of shops that I could visit. Passing dozens of them as we headed towards the Seer. I could see a great Hall near the other end of the village. It was very large. Looked like it could be as wide as at least 100 horses in length. That must be where the Magus lives. I wanted to see this hall before I had to leave.
Following Bellator, we eventually arrived at a house. Not a large house, more like a one bedroom wooden hut. I assumed this is where Vala lived. Our Seer lived in a similar style of housing. Bellator tied his horse up, and we walked to the entrance.
Bellator banged on the door and walked in. "Vala!" he called out. "Where are you , you old hen. I have brought you the woman you sent me to find. She has many questions for you." Bellator was calling out as he turned looking for her. "Where are you?" He looked at me and shrugged.
I went into the room. It was not at all like I thought it was going to be. Duskenhill's seer, Yrsa's hut, was dark, decorated with Skulls and bones of a variety of animals. Hides and furs. No life, or plants, except herbs he would need. He had a hay bed in the corner, a table to eat on, and dirt floors. A hut.
Vala's hut however was bright and felt welcoming. It smelled wonderful, like baked bread, and delicious pastries, and it made me hungry. The floors were covered in river rocks. The walls were decorated with runes burned into them, and painted over with whites and blues. There were plants everywhere. Hanging , potted in the floors between the Rocks. The roof had vines that crawled down the wall near the fireplace that stood in the center of the back wall, complete with a place to cook, and a hook that swung over the fire for pots. Currently a pot was on there now, boiling, sending out a delicious aroma.
On the floor in front of the fireplace were decorated furs to sit on. A long wooden Table with benches stood in the center, big enough for a group of six at least. A wooden framed bed in the corner, covered with furs, and a weaved blanket. There were counters along the rest of the walls that were showing. Most of them are covered with bowls, pots, jars full of food, and herbs. Two doors, each with the option to put a board across to lock them, front and back, and four windows that had a covering made of fur rolled up over them, one on each wall.
The back door swung open and a small older woman stood in the frame. She had longer braided white hair that was decorated with gold and silver runes. Her eyes were brown, and wise.
She made me think of a grandmother, who would bake you pastries, and let you play with the pigs and chickens. She was wearing a plain brown gown that had flowers sticking out from around random spots, and a tree vine as a belt, complete with a couple of small pouches. Probably filled with treats.
I recognized a few of the runes right away, our Seer would wear his ruins around his neck. Ruins that were carved into bones. I always thought the bones were slightly beautiful. The gold and silver ruins reminded me of Pixies. Pixies who stole trinkets they would see and want. I hated those little pests.
"Ahh Kaida, finally. I thought you would have been here sooner. Guess I can't always be right. Bellator, leave. We will see you soon enough." and with that she flicked her hand and a fire started up in the fireplace, as if to make it final.
Bellator looked rather annoyed that she dismissed him so quickly and walked out unwillingly, mumbling something.
Vala started preparing tea and placing some biscuits onto a small wooden platter. She fetched two stone bowls, and filled them with hot food from the boiling pot.
"Put your things down for now Kaida, you will not be leaving for at least two days. Your weapons are not needed here" She gestured to a weapons chest that rested against the wall beside the front door and waited.
I took my que and did so. Putting my sword, daggers, bow and arrows, and my axe in the chest, I rested my shield and sack on the floor in front. It was welcoming to have the weight off, even if I was still unsure if I was staying.
Looking at the Seer, I asked "Vala? Why am I here, why did you send for me? Why did Bellator tell me my father is brother to the Magus? I didn't come all this way for biscuits and drinks." I meant to be straight to the point. I never liked small talk.
Vala smiled. "It's all true" She sat down in front of me and passed me a bowl, it was filled with a stew. "Every single detail. Your father is the brother of Kai. The older brother in fact. Which would have made him Magus."
Magus? Was she entirely sure she had the right Treydon? I thought to myself sipping my stew. I welcomed the stew, it warmed me.
"He rejected it. He stepped down with no explanation. Kai assumed command by right." she continued.
"Treydon came to me that evening and told me he was leaving. He had been shown by the Gods that his fate was set, and it was not here. I did not ask him more. I believed whatever the Gods had shown him, and not me, was for him only, Not for me to pry and dig. I have known your father since he was a boy. I have been Seer here for a long while." She took a deep breath, and coughed slightly.
Vala studied my face. "Magus is not a role that is often passed on. Not at all" she got up and walked back to the fire.
I sat thinking. If my father was born to be a powerful Magus, what happened?
I left Duskenhills three moons ago, after telling my father there was no chance of me staying, and that I was leaving no matter what. My given mark was not something I could ignore.
Would I have been sought out by Bellator and Vala if I didn't leave home? Would Vala have had a vision of me at all? That reminded me.
"Vala, why am I here? Apart from my father having a secret past, what is the true reason?"
She came back over to the table, and reached for my hair, moving it to the side showing my fire bird mark. she Tapped it, " This. Do you know what this is?"
"It's Bennu. I woke up and it was there. Accompanied by burning pain and a headache."
"It is not Bennu. It's a burning Dragon. It means sacrifice and power. Sacrifice and Power" she repeated that last part like it was supposed to mean something to me.
"King Tauro, the King of evil was Defeated by a single Awakened. Magus Parifey. The magus who created peace. This very Village is where he resided. Hence the name. He defeated the Magus with a spell no one had ever used before. Doesn't even have a proper name."
Two dragons? A burning dragon with no name, and Chua? Sacrifice and Strength. Wisdom, long life, and Magics.
She stopped and took a few slow breaths. I didn't know what to say, and just kept eating my stew. I have never heard this version of the last war before. As far as anyone knew, King Tauro was defeated by a group of Awakened who stood up to him and his Evil ways. The Gods gifted them the strength to beat Tauro.
"Perifrey brought down Tauro himself. A single Man. A single awakened. And when he returned from that war, He bore a burning dragon on his chest.
I stared at Vala. I wasn't sure what to think.
Bellator appeared at the door. "What is it Bellator?" Vala asked.
"The Magus has sent someone for you, Vala. Says he is to bring you to the Magus." He stepped aside to show a man dressed in a white robe and gold trim. The trim had runes all over it.
Over n over. They repeated.
I stood up, grabbed my weapons, shield and sack and pushed past Bellator, and stepped out of Vala's home, only to discover a group of men to escort Vala, not just one man. I stopped.
Vala came out behind me, obviously obeying the Magus's request. She stopped in front of the group and put her hands out. A white mist appeared, Vala and the men were gone.
Vala's magics are much greater than I could have hoped for. I started back to the gate. I had enough. I wanted to leave and not get caught up in whatever these people were planning.
As I was nearing the gate, I noticed I was being followed by two men I did not recognize. What do they want? I pulled a dagger from under my cloak and was readying myself for trouble.
"OI, woman!" one of the men called. "Where are you going alone?" I was ignoring them. I felt it was probably best not to engage.
"I Said, where are you going, Hag?" he started to yell at me.
I felt someone grab my arm. I turned to come face to face with the two men. I held the dagger out in front of me hoping they would back off.
They laughed at me.
" Oh you're a feisty one." he grinned, he put his hands out and filled them with fire. The other man did the same.
Shit. I just wanted to leave with no trouble. I grabbed my shield and held it in front of me, seeing Bellator walking up behind the men.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said to the men. The men startled and turned to see Bellator.
Being a soldier here in Perifrey I figured they would have backed down. They did not.
They both threw their hands out forwards, throwing the fire at Bellator. He dodged the flames jumping to the side. Pulling out his own sword, he sent a wind spell in their direction, knocking them back. They were scrambling to their feet as Bellator was already running at them.
I took my chance, I ran towards them Pulling my own sword out, striking the Smaller of the two men.
He started screaming holding the wound I just gave him on his shoulder. He stood up and I chopped my sword downwards across his chest.
The larger man that Bellator was lunging for last I saw was also dead. Missing his head it seemed.
Bellator nodded at me. He cleaned his blade on his sleeve and returned it to his belt.
We headed back towards Vala's house in silence, I guess I wasn't leaving after all. I knew she wasn't there, but we would wait for her nonetheless.
Bellator opened the door and let me in. As we sat waiting for Vala, the crackling of the fire was the only thing heard for a good long while, Until a faint "whoosh" sounded outside the door. Vala stepped in, covered in blood.
"Vala!" I jumped up and went to her. "What Happened to you? Is this blood your own?" I asked. The smell of the blood filled the room.
"Not my own." She waved her hands like it was nothing to be worried about. "A sacrifice for the Magus. Nothing more"
She started walking to a tub of water, and waved her hands bringing the door closed behind her, and coverings on the windows.
"We Need help." She told me while cleaning her hands and face. "There's a war coming, and no one even knows it's on the way. You keep showing up in my visions. Holding that sword a shield of runes, And this.
"She went over to the chest and opened it, digging through what many treasures were in there, she eventually stood up holding a chain.
It was thin, and bright gold. I could hear a faint ringing in the air, not unpleasant.
She brought it over to me, and revealed a Yellow Gem about the size of a radish. It was shining and almost singing, and I felt it was important, like the Gods once held it.
"Aadi. That's the name of the Gem. It's magical obviously, anyone who is awakened can feel that. It was worn by Perifrey at the time of King Tauro's defeat. He begged the Gods to help him win the battle. He told others that he found it deep in the mouth of the mountain. He travelled for an entire day and night into the mountain. He followed the ringing sound that guided him until he came into a cavern. Buried deep under that cavern was the gem. Parifrey pulled the gem from beneath the mountain feeling its energy and pull. He believed this gem was given to him by the gods. That it gave him a power he never knew.
Finishing her story she leaned over to me and took my hand, placing the necklace into my hand, and I felt a surge. A Presence? A friend? I don't know, But I knew that it was mine.
I wasn't able to sleep that night. Between Vala's snores and all the thoughts running through my mind, Sleeping was not possible.
Aadi, Why did the gem have a name?
I knew men and women who named their swords, or daggers. Once I met a man who had called his Shield Helga,. "I call it Helga, after my wife, because she's a big scary bitch!" he said in between drunken laughs.
I missed my family. I wanted to talk to my father. I wanted to know if what I was being told was true. Could he actually be this important in our world, and not have bothered to share that secret with me? I was angry. I have been on my own for three moons trying to discover what this mark meant for me, only to find out it wasn't the mark I thought I had. He could have sent me in the right direction with such information.
A wolf howled in the distance. I wondered if it was lost as well. This gem was going to change things for me. I knew that. The moment I touched it I knew that.
I was laying down, resting, trying to lull myself to sleep by thinking of older times. My Mother singing, my younger sister dancing to the songs.
My younger sister was called Aimee. She had no problems with magics. She is thirteen years into her life. Young, but talented. She did not want me to leave.
I knew it was going to be tough for her on her own, to help my parents. We lived on a farm, not large, but big enough that we had workers to pay and feed. Horses, pigs, goats, chickens. I guess we could say that we were okay, but not rich. Knowing now about my Father, if it was true or not, made me wonder why we didn't have more? He was surely not entitled to some sort of life of leisure after leaving the role of Magus?
ARGH! I didn't want to think about this anymore. I rolled over angry and tried to cover my entire body from the world under the thick weaved blanket Vala gave me to use.
Morning seems to come faster than I wanted it to. Please Gods, let me wake in my own bed, I thought as I stretched.
No luck. Still on the floor, laying on old Hay, in Vala's hut. Damn.
Standing up and fetching my armor, I found the gemmed necklace on the top of the pile of leather. I shoved it into my sack instead of wearing it. I wasn't sure about it yet.
A banging on the door startled me.
Vala came in from the back door, she was outside gathering herbs and talking to her chickens. She opened the door and a second later was bowing.
It was the Magus.
Magus Kai was tall. His hair was black that was laced with white, and his eyes were Grey, with a line of blue around the edges. He had a short beard that was white and black, matching the top of his head. And a mark that stretched across his face. It was chaos. I couldn't explain it any other way. It was as if he had been struck in the face with fire, and it left a scattered, messy mark. Never before have I seen something like that.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.