At Elisor’s pace, it took far too long to descend to the sanctum. Cassius was impatient, the old man promised answers and so far he had only drawn him further into confusion. He did his best to be polite.

Elisor used the wall to brace himself, and though he was still tired and weak, Cassius supported the Druid as best he could. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Cassius found himself in a room the same circular shape as the study, but much smaller. Spaced evenly along the room’s singular stone wall were seven statues of hideous creatures Cassius did not know. Each one was ornamented with varying numbers of lit candles.

Elisor took a few labored breaths when they reached the sanctum. He leaned on Cassius and the wall. “Wow, young Juliei, I’m afraid my engagements are catching up to me.”

Cassius handed the old twisted walking stick back to Elisor. “Yes, yes. Thank you, young Juliei.” Elisor stepped to the center of the small room, his walking stick’s wrapping on the stone floor with each step answered by a weak echo. “Not many come down here I’m afraid, outside of us Druids. Though we have enjoyed a semi-regular procession of Consul Helena’s Knights. How do you like it, Cassius?”

Cassius stared at one of the larger statues, unable to form his thoughts into words.

“The God of War. Bellum, as we Druids say. The Knights came to pray to him as you slept. The war with the Novissime is coming to our island. The Knights seek his blessing, but do not know how these things truly work. The Consul is a fine woman and has supported us over the years, so if she wants to unite her men and give them hope, well I don’t see any harm in that.”

Cassius listened to the old man as he studied the statue’s details. It was made of a simple gray stone, he thought, perhaps the same as the walls. It was a crouching beast with small rounded horns next to large pointed ears and a face like a fox. It had long muscular arms, too long for its body, Cassius felt. The statue’s hands were cupped in front of him. A dark liquid pooled in its palms, dying the stone black.

“The knights say if they pour some of their blood in his hands, Bellum will protect them in battle. I have my doubts, from what I know of Bellum, but they insist.”

Cassius knelt to see writing on a plaque in an unknown language. The whole thing gave him a sense of curious unease. He continued to the next statue a few steps away. Elisor turned with him from the center of the sanctum. This was of a thin woman with arms outstretched to her sides and head tilted back. The statue looked straight up, and as Cassius moved to take a closer look he saw her eyes were polished white pearls. He had seen pearls in markets maybe once, but none the size of the statue’s eyes. The statue’s skin was smooth, polished black with white swirls snaking their way over its surface. The gown hanging from the statue’s shoulders was pure white like the eyes. Could that be pearl too?

“Porcella. A much more active Old God as you can see. Many of our druid’s seek her favor. She is the god of the skies, we pray for her favor on behalf of the farms down there. We all need to eat. A fascinating being indeed, but fickle and dangerous,” Elisor warned. “Come boy, see what I brought you here for.”

Cassius walked across the room to where the Druid was pointing. Another statue. This one of a man kneeling, hands clasped in front with his forefingers extended upward. The first thing Cassius noticed was the eyes. Large green emeralds set in the stone face, reflecting the flickering candlelight. Cassius looked at Elisor's glowing green eyes and felt the connection.

"Vissum. This Old God offers a Druid visions beyond what they could normally see. At first one must be seated here in the same pose as the statue, and might only see small sections of things, but over time the power grows and Vissum will open your eyes anywhere. The visions will grow progressively stronger. When one has gained the god's favor, the greatest mysteries of the future and past will be revealed as well."

"You? You uhm-" Cassius motioned to his own eyes.

"Indeed, young Juliei. I have gained a degree of the sight. It has taken me many years to gain this Old God's favor. In fact it was your mother's grandmother that first started me on this path." Elisor came to stand beside the statue of the Old God.

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"Is that why you recognized me and my dad? Why did you take us here?"

"In part. To be honest the first clue was your story about your dog being taken. Though my visions of what is to come are vague, that barking was unmistakable."

Sunday.

"The favor your grandmother gained with Vissum remains in your family. Why don't you kneel here, as the statue does? Go ahead, take your place."

Cassius knelt at the statue. The Old Gods were gone. This old man was playing more games. He thought. But Cassius could feel the truth. The fog he had felt lifted as soon as he knelt, and when Cassius fixed his hands in the way of the statue's, then stared deep into its emerald eyes, he was transported.

Cassius saw the gray waters of the Caspian Sea from the air, like a bird hung in place trying to fly against strong winds. He saw six magnificent ships. Purple flags above their radiant white sales indicated they were Novissime. In the vision he knew they sailed from the nearest Novissime city of Joan. In the distance the familiar sight of Vencia's lower shore grew larger as the ships neared.

The vision took Cassius to the top of a seaside cliff where a black robed figure took the final steps to reach its summit. The Druid pulled back her hood to reveal a shaved head and gaunt, pointed face. She looked up at the sky and stretched her arms out beside him. The winds began to whip at her clothes.

The woman's eyes turned completely white and a deadly shower of lightning started to rain down on the cliff. The winds picked up and the ferocious crack of lightning became more frequent, one bolt struck one of the six ships. The main mast of the ship fell, ripping the three smaller masts crashing down to the deck. The body of the ship cracked and sank into the sea.

The rain started and the wind grew stronger, churning the Caspian into a wild, unpassable, icy cold torrent. Two more ships were sunk in the same way. The legion soldiers were forced to flee the wreckage in small boats, which capsized in the storm and sent the men to the depths in their sinking steel armor.

So much death scared the young Cassius. He wanted out but felt the cold grip of Vissum maintain its hold. As the last ship reached shore and men poured from its decks, only to be met by a large force of Vincia Knights with a small number of Druids beside them, the vision faded. He was in darkness.

Cassius strained his will against the Old God's in an effort to escape the blackness. Vissum's grip remained. A faint green glow penetrated the nothingness. Cassius turned his head and the light followed him. It grew stronger.

Within the light, a shape emerged. A thin double edged blade. Black with a twisted grip, a single piece as if cast or carved. Cassius could not reach for it. He could not move at all. The details of the knife grew more defined in front of him. Closer and closer very, every blemish and knot, like that of wood, and all its hideous curves revealed themselves.

Hagsbane. Hagsbane. Hagsbane. The word grew louder, unbearably so until Cassius was flung from the vision and back to the sanctum. He moved to get up and fell again.

"Indeed, young Juliei, you certainly do impress." Elisor offered the walking stick. "Not nearly what I am used to seeing from a beginner. Though I would warn you, using too much of the Old God's powers will take its toll. Though you may be able to run, it would be wise to walk."

"What did I see? Ships?"

"Yes, yes I shared in the vision with you. What you saw was a Druid sacrificing herself so that Porcella could help destroy the Novissime ships."

The way Elisor said sacrifice gave Cassius a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut. It was too easy for him. Cassius knew he could not stay silent. He had plenty to say. "And at the end?"

"The end? The men from the final ship were being defeated by the Knights of Vencia."

"No, I saw something. A knife or sword. It was just in the darkness with a green glow. Like the eyes."

"Fascinating. Come boy, let us return to the study." Elisor went to the steps.Cassius followed, but stopped at Bellum's statue. "What do these words mean?" Gesturing to the plaque.

"Ah yes, that reads Hagsbane, curiously enough. I had not thought to look into those plaques in years. Never understood their relevance until you, Cassius, shouted that word in your dreams."

Too many thoughts to process crashed into one another in Cassius's head. Dad? Mom? Sacrificed herself? The Old Gods? Hagsbane? Cassius was nearly overwhelmed by it all but also for the first time in his young life, he felt alive.

He felt awake.