Avandor's Gift

I woke up to the feel of silken sheets and a feathered pillow beneath my head. The air was infused with the scent of lavender and rose. I opened my eyes and watched as the gauzy white cloth draping the canopy above me drift slightly in the ocean air that swept in through the windows.

The back of my head pounded mercilessly as I tried to sit up. I heard a soft groan come from beside me. I rubbed the back of my head and turned.

“What in Avandor’s name!” I said swing myself off the bed.

“Hell and damnation!” cussed Gareth as he too stood startled on the other side of the bed.

“Good, the both of you are up.” said the woman sitting on the far side of the room.

“Garima, what did you do to us?” asked Gareth. “And where is my shirt?” he asked again I looked down noticing my own state of undress.

“To answer your questions,” she said in her heavily accented tone. “I saved your life, both of you and there are two robes at the foot of the bed.”

I snatched up the silk robe and flung it over my body. “You used the gems. How is that possible?” I asked.

“That is quite a personal question, which I will choose to answer only after you answer one of my own.” she said.

“And that would be?” asked Gareth.

“I know that I married you,” she said pointing to Gareth, “but I am your wife in name and the eyes of the law.” She said pointing to me. “So which one of you is to be my husband?”

“Gareth of course.” I said quickly

“That issue has yet to be decided on.” said Gareth as he glared at me.

“You used magic. How?” I said switching back to my original line of questioning. “Your father, he used magic as well to start the reaper.”

“Mern gave four stones to your line, but he left one in the hands of my family.” She walked over to us and emptied the five, not four gems on the bed. I took up the one which was least familiar to me and rolled it between my fingers. It was the same walnut size as the others but it was pure gold.

“This is the Summoner stone. It allows the first born in my family the power to access magic and direct it with the use of words. It was in the possession of my family for many years. It went missing after my father last used it.” she said taking it from my hand. “With the use of all the gems I was able to take care of the changeling.”

“Is she...”

“Dead?” she finished. “No, but she was weakened. We might see her again soon and you need a better plan than you had today.”

“Where are the others?” I asked.

“We are here.” said Tarrus coming in followed by Tetje, Dominic and Sonis.

Gareth seemed to pay no attention to the newcomers but chose to backtrack on the conversation with Garima. “If the stone disappeared how did you know that you would find it here? And how did you find the others. They were well hidden.” He accused.

“She told me.”

“She who?” he asked.

“The same silver haired woman who nearly killed you both not too long ago.”

“Tet spoke to you?” I said turning to her. “When?”

“She came to me in a dream and told me everything I needed to know.”

“Which included?” said Gareth suspiciously.

“What I have you have already disclosed in addition to other things.”

“What other things?” asked Gareth.

“Things I am not entitled to share with you if I don’t wish it to be so.” She snapped.

“I don’t believe it,” said Tetje. “She is still intervening even from another plane.”

“What do you mean intervening? Do you mean to tell me that all this was another plot that she made for the entertainment of your kind?” I said looking between Tarrus and Tetje. I saw a strange look pass between both of them and I didn’t need to ask any more questions to know that it was true.

“This wasn’t for entertainment. She was trying to protect you.” Tarrus started.

“Protect me from what?” I raged.

“The staff, magic, Manneth. The way she is now Evander, that should have been you. When Manneth claims his price, the Alkarbrafä would be in great danger as the source of their power would be gone.”

“What do the gods have to do with this?” I asked.

“To say would defy the gods and who are we to them.”

“Well obviously it needs to be said if we are to go any further.” started Gareth. “Besides if they cared so much about our actions where were they when we needed them the most?”

“They were watching and they are knotted so tightly into this conflict, it is impossible to unbind.” said Dominic. “There is a war in the heavens. When the gods fight, we suffer.”

“So this is all about Manneth’s price.” I said.

“Manneth’s what?” said Gareth.

“In the beginning were there were the gods, between themselves always at odds...” I continued the lore while the others listened quietly.

“But that is just a story Evander,” said Gareth.

“A few months ago I was visited by Manneth. He is ready to claim his price.”

“Which was?” he said skeptically.

“I don’t know yet.” I said looking into his eyes which where turbulent with his thoughts.

“Father?” said Tetje as they shared a look.

“We know what Manneth want and so does Tet. That was why she intervened.”

“Well?” asked Gareth and me.

“He wants you dead. You and your entire line.” said Tetje. “You are of mixed blood which means that Anandra has more power over humans and changelings. Manneth has the least and wants to change that. Eliminating you two and installing a fully human king will tip the scales in his favour. Changelings would be at the mercy of men, at least until they recovered from the sudden loss of magic.”

“How long have you known this?” I asked.

“Since the night your parents were killed.” said Tarrus.

“Ulgana and changelings believe in the gods just as humans, but we do not revere them as you do. We venerate our ancestors and the changelings magic because our races found out many years ago that though the gods were kind, they were equally cruel. The ancestors and magic though less powerful didn’t seek our destruction when displeased.” said Dominic.

“My daughter took this on to protect you and our people. You are alive this long because this is Anandra’s will.” said Tarrus.

“And the Chosen?” I asked.

“Ashbeth or Ballahad was not to be involved. Banishing the guardians, Tetyana’s capture and a clan war, were incidental.”

“There has to be another way to settle the score.” said Gareth.

“Only Manneth can decide that, as for now he wants you two dead.” said Tetje.

“Avandor help us. Help me.” I said as I looked blindly out the window.