Yelena and Genya both wanted to come and hear about the prophecy from Kaylar. Since it was still on the sometimes slightly frozen side of spring melting into summer, they sat around the great hall area. Rosalea sat on the floor with Lio; the baby was just about able to crawl and definitely was doing her best to scoot across the rug.

Kaylar came followed by Oralee who brought everyone a floral herbal tea to sip while they talked and some citrusy bread.

There was some idle chatter for a moment until Briar seated himself near Yelena. “What’s everyone doin’ without me?”

Rhainnon couldn’t help but chuckle a little at his mock-hurt mostly-nosy tone. “We’ve asked Kaylar to talk about the Ieshan? Uryan? Prophecy?”

Briar made an “ooh” sound and then settled right where he was, inviting himself to the conversation with a glance at Rosalea. Rosalea nodded to him. Everyone is here now, she thought, feeling happy to have him.

“It is a fair question.” Kaylar said, pausing to put his nose to his teacup that was shaped a bit more like a bowl than a cup with a handle. “When Rosalea was taken, it was clear that they had stalked and prepared to take her for quite some time. They are highly motivated by their prophecy, if it can be called theirs.”

Rosalea waited as Kaylar was silent, choosing his words. “All of you are probably aware that dragons have long lives. I was born a long time ago, before there was animal life magic. I was chosen by Gods to help bring understanding of magic to sentient creatures. It is a story I do not tell often, and I do not wish to tell it here. I share this detail because I want it to be clear that I have had many opportunities to fully witness how unique the approach the Gods take to accomplish their goals can be. Before there was ever an Iesha or her brother Urye, they were one group of people with overlapping magic. However, it is my belief that because of individuals that I have crossed paths with, the Gods have a new need for someone to change the course of something in our world. Before Iesha and Urye, there were just mages like Rosalea who could heal, utilize mind control, commune with animals, and could take on a familiar. After Iesha and Urye, there were three groups - those that followed Indra into the Northern Wastes, Ieshans, and Uryans. I do not know if the Indrans have a prophecy of their own, but I do know that Iesha and Urye both regretted the split in the magic they had caused and both foretold a future that has not yet come to pass before they died.”

He paused. Yelena spoke, “We were taught that Iesha promised that her children would overcome the Uryans and bring unity to living magic by being the first to produce a person who had all magics and all heritages.”

Kaylar nodded. “Urye’s words were not passed among the clans because they were ominous. He said that he had foreseen a future where there would be neither Uryans or Ieshans after the one of all magics and races completed their tasks for the Gods.”

Rhainnon exploded. “Who is supposed to cheer for a prophecy like that? On the one hand, the Ieshans win and on the other hand, no one wins?”

Kaylar knew Rhainnon had been raised as a Myraduilian, and so really only her magic was a call back to Uryans. Still, it was endearing to see her react to the prophecy as if it was her own team. “That is one interpretation, yes. That if the Ieshans can win, they will continue, and if they lose, neither goes on. But another interpretation is that if the Ieshans are correct, they will obliterate the Uryans; if the Uryans are correct, however, both races will gain united magics once again and have no need to differentiate from one another.”

Genya spoke softly, “In my time in the Ieshan castle workin’ with councilmen, I overheard rumors that Iesha’s prophecy may have been… adjusted. The wordin’ used was that Ieshans would outlast Uryans as long as the Chosen One of all magics ‘n’ bloods was theirs.”

Rhainnon folded her arms, “So one side says that they will possibly be in harmony forever more, and his sister says, “nah, let’s just take control and fight?” Is that what it means?”

“Possibly,” Kaylar said. “I think it comes down to a decision between the Gods and whoever this one is supposed to be.”

Briar made a thoughtful noise. “So, that’s nice ‘n’ all. But what did that have to do with Rosalea? Why did they lie in wait for her liana so they could literally grab her outta our forest?”

“Rosalea appears to be Iesha’s heir,” Kaylar answered him. “She may be the only one.”

Genya nodded, “Yes. She’s the only child Lindir had, and Lindir was the only surviving heir before Rosalea was born.”

“Rosalea has all magics, so is she this One they are looking for?” Briar asked.

“It is uncertain. Her mother ran off with a Uryan man of unknown origin,” Yelena said.

“His name was Gaiden,” Rosalea said. “Lindir gave me a memory about them with her mind magic. She really just wanted me to escape the Ieshans and know a little about her though, I think.” And how she died, but I think that is too depressing to share. She scooped up Lio and cuddled the chattery baby.

Kaylar wondered about a mother that would share her death with her child, and he felt that something was a little wrong with it. Then again, with the behavior of Ieshans as a whole in their royalty, he supposed his priorities were different.

“So, they will be waiting to try to get Lio away from us?” Rhainnon asked. “Since Rosalea is not of the prophecy?”

Kaylar was quiet for a heartbeat or two as he tried to choose his words wisely. “I wondered several times before Fen called for Rosalea if she was the One. I doubted it when she was captured, but I wonder it again because she escaped on her own. She must have had help.”

“We did,” Rosalea said as she wiggled a finger Lio was holding on to. “Genya and I were helped by an elf called Mysteera. She said I had met her before.” Rosalea looked to Fen, “Are you able to answer my question about who I am?”

“I am able to confirm that you are important to the Gods’ Plan.” Fen answered carefully.

Yelena, who had overheard Fen, frowned.

Kaylar was staring so intensely at her, Rosalea felt uncomfortable as she looked up. “You saw an elf that called herself Mysteera?” he repeated to her.

Rosalea tilted her head. “Yes. She said we had met before in a marsh.”

“What’s wrong?” Rhainnon asked.

Kaylar shook his head a little. “I have had a few disagreements with her. She is very powerful. I did not realize that she was taking interest in anything around here. I am… still glad that she helped you.” If Rosalea is drawing in Lost Gods, she must be important, even if she is not necessarily the One.”

“It was always Ulric’s belief that Rosalea’s grandchild’d be the one,” Genya said, “but there are unknowns. It’s believed that Gaiden was a full Uryan.”

Rosalea felt a sour feeling go through her at the mention of Ulric.

“So, what do we do?” Briar piped up as soon as he seemed to notice the mood in the room going sour.

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“We keep Lio and Rosalea safe as we can.”

Yelena breathed out, “And the Ieshans that remain will have to do their best with what they decide to do.” Her tone was so plaintive that Briar put an arm over her.

“Is it really acceptable for me to be here?” Rosalea asked.

Kaylar nodded. “It is fair and right for you to want to live. I am equipped to handle almost anything the Ieshans would dare to try.”

“I am grateful.” Even to Rosalea, the words felt hollow compared to the deep extent that she really felt gratitude.

Kaylar brought his nose down where Lio could make grabs at him, offering to let Rosalea touch him. She did so, running her fingers against the side of his face. “I am happy to help.”

Spring faded properly into summer. Rosalea dreamed about a knife stained in yellow poison slicing into her hand. Yelena helped her to recover the memory. More weeks passed. Lio became good at crawling. Rosalea remembered being in River’s End with Rhainnon protecting her from the townspeople.

And so weeks grew into months which grew into seasons. Lio grew, and Rosalea remembered a little bit at a time. By winter, she was able to recover a memory every two or three days, bit by bit pulling together pieces of her life as she worked with Yelena to erode the layers of mindspells on her.

Kaylar spent time looking for Mysteera, but it seemed that she did not want to be found. He would have had plenty of questions for her if he had.

Seasons faded into years. Rosalea studied magic every day, and truthfully, Kaylar felt she was stronger than most dragons. Not him, but he was magically strong even for a dragon. He maintained his army, marching it on occasion between himself and the Ieshan outpost to make sure they understood he was prepared to take a harsh action against them. Even so, while Rhainnon did continue to help with the shepherd fields, she ended up staying in the castle with Rosalea. Kaylar was too hesitant to place Rosalea somewhere that would be on the outskirts of his territory. Yelena worked consistently to win over the wild animals surrounding his estate so they would not report to any sneaky Ieshans in the area, but he still felt occasionally vulnerable to the idea that they could try something dramatic.

Years passed with it being peaceful. But, when Lio was three years old, everything changed.

***

Today, Kaylar watched Lio creeping along the length of the roses. The early summer breeze filled the air with the smell of them. On the other side of the rose hedge, Briar was trimming other rose hedges. Rosalea had joined the game some time ago and was lurking quietly among hedges right next to them. In fact, if Briar looked, he should have been able to see her. Yet Rosalea seemed to have developed this way of blending in with her surroundings, even when she was right there. One moment everyone was very aware that she was there, and the next they thought she was gone. Despite her silver hair, she was very good at being unobtrusive, but Kaylar also thought she might be utilizing a blend of her magics uniquely.

It was hard not to smile as he watched her hiding in almost plain sight next to Briar as Lio tried to sneak up on him. He could not continue to avoid smiles as he watched Little Lio trying to mimic her mother’s trick. She tried so hard to creep along the ground slowly so she could scare Briar. She was completely oblivious to Briar occasionally glancing behind himself, perfectly aware of her being there. Kaylar fully expected him to turn around and play-scare the child. If Rosalea does not get them both first.

Lio was an exceptionally beautiful child. She may have been the prettiest child Kaylar had ever seen, even despite the events that had come together to bring her into existence. Even at her age, she had long, full golden hair. Long lashes framed her bright blue eyes.

Rosalea had once said that she looked like her father, who was a fair-skinned Myraduilian noble with gold hair and blue eyes.

The gold contrasted and yet perfectly matched Rosalea’s overall silver look. Rosalea was odd. There was nothing unusual about her features, but she had a weirdness to her that seemed almost unnatural. The way she sometimes utilized her magic and reacted to things sometimes made him wonder if she was actually completely human. He had never heard of half-human and half-elf, but it was the closest approximation he could think of with the color of her hair and her not-quite human way of handling magic.

Lio had an element of wildness to her. She seemed at home among the plants and animals even more than Rosalea did, and she had a charm and intelligence to her that seemed to lure most things into letting her do whatever she wanted. It was hard to describe the otherness that Lio also had.

***

Lio was rounding the corner of the hedge. She hadn’t seen her mother yet. She was focused solely on Briar, watching him, waiting to see if he had noticed her yet. Briar pretended to be extra-absorbed in what he was doing, baiting Lio. A breeze came along, ruffling everything. Rosalea didn’t move, didn’t even tense a muscle. It was like as long as she was perfectly still, she was invisible.

Lio coiled herself, getting tense, getting ready to spring. Briar did likewise, readying himself to suddenly spin on his heel. Rosalea didn’t move.

Lio was in motion, Briar was about to turn, and Rosalea suddenly leaped forward, catching Lio about her waist and spinning, carrying her out of range of Briar. Poor, startled Briar actually squealed with how unexpected the situation was, and he even squared off like he was about to be in a fight. Then he relaxed and began giggling.

Lio had screamed and thrashed, but Rosalea overpowered her, hugging her tightly and restraining her until she realized what had happened. “Mom! Very rude!” she declared. After a moment, things settled and everyone was laughing from relief after a real fright.

The three sat for a while, Rosalea had brought lunch, which she summoned from earth storage. The three ate happily, and Rosalea checked the sun with a smile. “Briar, is it not about time for us to meet with Master Kaylar?”

Briar flushed and Rosalea hid a grin at how flustered he looked. “Yes, it is close to time.”

“It is an exciting announcement,” she said with a smile.

Lio clapped her hands. “It will be so fun!”

Briar flushed still more, but Rosalea took it as a happy flush. “Well, she taught me to speak and behave, I felt I owed her something for her investment,” he huffed. “I am just glad she said yes.”

Once everyone was done eating, Rosalea folded up the cloth wrappings she had used for the food and put them in her dress pocket to be washed later. She did not return them to earth storage because she would forget about them. Fen appeared a moment later, looking smug with herself. Rosalea patted her, that meant that it had been a good hunt. Lio, upon seeing Fen, leaped at her, wrapping her arms about the wolf. Fen good-naturedly wrestled back and allowed Lio to climb up on her shoulders.

Briar stood up. “I am going to get myself cleaned up, since this meeting is about me,” he said much more placidly than he looked.

Rosalea smiled at him and waved goodbye. “I am going to go find Yelena,” Lio announced with a big smile.

“You be nice to her,” Rosalea admonished.

Lio smiled impishly. “Of course, mother.”

She hugged Rosalea and disappeared. Rosalea felt a little sassed by Lio’s use of “mother” when she was being pushy.

Rosalea stood up and moved up to the meeting spot. Fen followed her quietly. She was used to Fen being right there all the time. It had been invaluable to always have the wolf with her, helping her to stay calm. The meeting spot was on the top of the hill overlooking the garden and the castle. There was a gazebo, and not too far off, a pond where ducks like to swim. Rosalea liked to be in this area because of the peaceful feelings that it brought.

No one was here yet, and Rosalea knew she was quite early. She was aware of Kaylar stretched out in the sun a little distance off, laying near the orchard trees. She sat on the grassy knoll, looking over everything. Briar and Yelena are about to be married. That is good, she thought.

Fen laid down next to her, drowsy after hunting. Rhainnon is a little jealous, Rosalea thought with a small smile. She wants to be married too. Somehow though, I am not. Maybe it’s because I already have Lio. She plucked up a bit of grass. Maybe it’s because I think I still wonder about Nerric.

“Do you wish to see him again?”

“Sometimes. Lio will be old enough one day to wonder about her father.”

Fen was suspiciously silent on that fact. Rosalea sat back, putting her hands behind her and stretching her feet out in front of her. “Still, I am happy here. This is a good life,” she said. She believed it. She was taken care of, she could have almost anything she wanted, and she was safe. What more was there to life? She sat forward and stroked Fen. “It was hard at first, but I am happy,” she repeated.

Rosalea noticed that Fen did not answer again. She breathed out slowly. She had learned that what Fen said and what she did not say were very important.

Kaylar got himself up with a stretch and came over toward her.

***

She is not really happy, Kaylar thought quietly, smiling at her. She would not keep telling herself that she is. She really wants to know what was lost, and yet she is unwilling to really talk about it to anyone. She really wants to know who she was, and she wants to feel full. She wants the questions about looming prophecies to be answerable, but none of her recovered memories has told her anything she can use to help herself. That’s why she avoids thinking about how unhappy she really is. Kaylar believed that if he let it alone long enough, it might come to a breaking point. Rosalea, at some point would not be able to keep running, and Kaylar would be there to help her when she did realize that.

Kaylar's musings were interrupted when people noticed that it was time for the meeting, and so they began to stop what they were doing and walk up the hill toward him. Yelena arrived carrying Lio. Rhainnon arrived with her liana, Kona and the bulk of the servants working the field. Briar appeared, good to his word looking nicely dressed, and draped his arm over Yelena’s shoulders. Genya was last to appear. Kaylar smiled, he enjoyed giving good news like this, though it would come as a surprise to no one. The two had been close for years now.

Rosalea smiled at Lio as she moved away from Yelena and tugged on Rhainnon’s hand, apparently deciding it was Rhainnon’s turn. Rhainnon smiled and took her hand.

Rosalea looked back out at the orchard and frowned. Something was moving toward them at a rather quick rate of speed. The surrounding aura as it raced toward them was all dark in her magical vision.