Moirai

Throughout the next day, Mayran kept up a constant stream of both praise and continuous warnings.

“You’ve got to remember now that you must train your aura to do what you want it to do. Otherwise you’ll find that almost anything could happen.” He said as the edge of the forest grew nearer and nearer.

I instantly understood. “Yesterday when I got away from Gould, I hadn’t planned to turn invisible. In fact, I hadn’t planned anything; what happened was completely automatic and accidental.”

“Exactly. How would you feel if, instead of turning invisible, you had killed Gould? However,” he raised a finger at my cringe, “I’m not going to lie; there will be times that you will have to harm people. When you think about it, it’s no different to using a sword, and you didn’t protest to that.”

“Auras are different.” I insisted. “With a sword, you can control where the blade is going and, hopefully, avoid seriously injuring the person. That’s why I try so hard to perfect it. Using an aura, as you just pointed out, is far harder to control. It’s more like…lightning when compared to a power cord.”

“A power cord?” he questioned.

Of course; no electricity.

“A way of taking electricity from one area to another without letting it run wild.” I explained.

He nodded. “Interesting. Now, you explained that very well and also explained exactly why it is so important for you to train your aura. You must learn to make it obey you, which is no easy feat, but that is what I am going to try and teach you. This is how you will beat Indina, mark my words.” He paused, eyes misting over slightly and I got the distinct impression that he was no longer seeing Loni and I. “That witch won’t be vanquished from a sword to the heart.”

His voice had taken on an undertone of fierceness that surprised me. It was almost as though there was something personal going on. What was the reason for this extreme vengeance against Indina?

My mind’s eye was thrown back to the dream, where (whether it really was Indina or otherwise) his past was put into question. I opened my mouth to ask him something about that very topic, but our entrance into the shade of the trees stopped me.

Silence.

Not a peep of birdsong, nor the rustle of wind through the thick canopy above. The months-old leaves crunching under the horses’ hooves even seemed muffled. The back of my neck prickled uneasily as I was uncomfortably reminded of Okanto.

Neither Mayran or Loni spoke as we rode. The curtains of sunlight that filtered through the canopy of oaks and maples created a disorientating feeling, and I swore I could see things moving all around us.

After almost half an hour, Loni spoke, her voice little more than a hushed whisper.

“Isn’t it strange that we haven’t been met by anyone yet? I mean, surely Kasanda told the Dryads of our coming.”

“It is indeed.” Mayran’s reply was just as quiet. He was looking around nervously, stopping his horse. “She even implied that we would be met by the Praesul themselves.”

“Who?” I asked, though the word rang a bell. However, I couldn’t remember Loni or her parents mentioning it.

“The Praesul would never lower themselves to grace you with their presence.” My question was answered by neither Mayran or Loni, but by a male voice that practically dripped arrogance.

Its owner showed itself, seeming to melt out of the shadows, as a tall, crossbow-carrying Dryad with a lion’s mane of orange hair down his back. His skin was an olive-brown tone that reminded me of the bark of the oak trees around us. He fixed an arrow on me, but his gaze was directed at Mayran. In the corners of my eyes I could see that other Dryads, all armed, had also made their appearances. Each had their weapon aimed at one of us, but it seemed like none would act without the flame-haired Dryad’s permission.

“Off your horses.” He demanded.

We obeyed, warily. Mayran took a step forward, surprise written all over his face. “Why all the hostility? Didn’t Kasanda’s message reach you?”

Something flashed in the Dryad’s eyes. “Kasanda has not been to the forest in many years. She did not foresee recent events and thus based her ideas of your ‘acceptance’ here on what she knew. Things have changed.”

“We only wanted to stay a few nights in Flowerage.” I intercepted, my curiosity burning as to what he was going on about.

His expression instantly darkened, and he strode towards me. For one terrifying moment, I thought he was going to fire his crossbow.

Then he reared back his hand and slapped me across my cheek.

The force knocked me to my knees, and I tasted blood where I must have bitten my tongue. Looking up, I saw Mayran and Loni move forward, outrage clear in their eyes.

“You move, and I kill her.” The Dryad snapped, and I knew, though I dared not look, that the crossbow was aimed directly at my head.

What on Earth was wrong with this guy?

“What are you doing?” Mayran demanded angrily.

“A girl should keep her mouth shut in these matters.” The Dryad hissed.

“And who are you to be dictating that?” Mayran asked.

“Centurion, current leader of the Dryads’ Defendors. Crude name, but accurate.” Centurion rambled off as though rehearsed.

“Yes, and I can see you have come a long way since I last saw you…and not necessarily in the right direction.”

Yet another figure stepped out of the shadows, and this one was much more welcome.

Kasanda stalked forward, her every move bespeaking authority and infuriation with the scene in front of her. With one flick of her wrist, the crossbows were lowered. Mayran and Loni were at my side instantly, pulling me gently to my feet. All three of us were too shocked with this sudden turn of events to speak.

Centurion had paled slightly as he stared at Kasanda. His eyes and tone of voice made it clear that he was irate at her interference, yet for some reason couldn’t, or wouldn’t, speak against her.

“Kasanda, as I’m sure you are aware, regular humans are no longer allowed in our forest.” He drawled through gritted teeth.

“No.” she replied, keeping her voice level. “I’m afraid I’m not aware, Centurion. Please explain.”

“Well…what with Indina stirring again, several months ago the Praesul decided that the forest should be closed off from the outside world until the evil witch no longer poses a threat.” Centurion, it seemed, was trying very hard not to sound like he was speaking to a child.

“What do you think they are coming through here for?” Kasanda demanded, her voice icy calm. “I alerted the Praesul to their arrival and explained the need. They must stay here for at least a few days before continuing on to Druge. Alnya must perfect her skills here, where it is harder for Indina to reach her.”

Centurion glanced from Kasanda to the rest of us and somehow made the connection. “Hold on…her?” he thrust a finger at me. “She’s the one? Kasanda, this is ridiculous! This girl is barely of age, she didn’t even attempt to defend herself or her friends when we intercepted them. You mean to tell me that you have chosen her to face Indina?” his voice grew steadily louder until he was practically shouting.

“Are you questioning me, Centurion? And not only me, but the details of what I foresaw?” the questions were delivered just as quietly as before; a stark contrast to Centurions dulcet tones. “You know perfectly well that it was not I who chose her, but it was preordained. If I had chosen someone wrong, they would not have made it this far.”

Centurion looked as though he would have liked to say more, but something in Kasanda’s eyes stopped him. Instead, in a whirl of his bright orange hair, he turned to face me.

“Right then.” He hissed, breathing heavily. “In that case you must be tested, to further your training.” He said it as though his meaning was the exact opposite. “In three days’ time, you and I will participate in a Trial of Three. Refuse, and no matter what Kasanda says, you will not be staying in Flowerage.”

With that, he signalled to the other Dryads. They vanished as quickly as they had come, leaving the eerie silence back in their place.

I looked at Kasanda. “What was he talking about?”

She had been standing with her eyes shut, fingers massaging her temples. At my question her eyes snapped open with a groan of frustration. “Centurion is being extremely difficult. He was always an arrogant Dryad, but I certainly did not expect this. Something’s changed…”

“Who is he?” Mayran asked.

“Well, when I last knew him there wasn’t really anything special to speak of. We are of a similar age, but I never knew him well. I’m not sure how he grew to be the leader of the Defendors. Although, it has been many years. However, I suspect that his animosity towards you, Alnya, could be my fault.

“What do you mean?” I was more interested in this ‘Trial of Three’ but had a feeling that Kasanda would explain it soon.

“When I experienced my vision of you, all those years ago, I sent an urgent message to Flowerage telling them of what I had seen. But I did not check that my messenger had gotten the details correctly. He failed to convey that the person I had seen was a girl. I would guess that word spread and Centurion heard of the vision. He possibly got it into his head that he was the subject of my vision. If I had known, I would have tried to correct the mistake. It almost seems as though he begrudges the fact that you are female.”

“He’s sexist.” I muttered.

Kasanda raised her eyebrows. “Is that what you call it? The term is unfamiliar to me. However, the point is that now he’s taken a personal disliking to you, which could cause some serious issues.”

“What’s this Trial of Three?” Loni had kept silent for so long that I jumped at the sound of her voice.

Kasanda groaned again, shaking her head, though whether in annoyance or weariness I couldn’t tell.

“It’s a test that was originally designed to see if an auraic Dryad was suitable to take a place of importance in our ranks, but lately it has become more of a method to settle debts. It consists of three parts: a series of mind puzzles, a one-on-one sword fight, and finally the two competitors are pitted against each other using only their auras. The final two are ended when a killing blow could be struck, but the rules strictly state that neither competitor is allowed to make the blow. The punishment for disobeying this rule is to be forever banished from the Dryads, so we can be confidant that Centurion would not use the Trial as a way of killing you.”

“That doesn’t sound very promising.” I remarked. “What happens in the likely event that I don’t win?”

Kasanda frowned. “Don’t be so pessimistic. There is quite a good chance that you can win. I have confidence in you with puzzles, and it is already clear of your growing proficiency with your aura. Mayran, how is the sword training coming along?”

He glanced in my direction briefly before answering. “It’s coming along. Alnya is slowly getting better, however,” he addressed me. “We would really need to focus over the next couple of days.”

Basically, I thought, hearing what he was not saying; I was not doing very well at all and am probably going to lose that part of the test. In my mind, I was going to lose every part, but I didn’t voice my doubts again.

Kasanda could clearly tell that I was unsettled, for she said nothing more on the subject and instead began to lead us to Flowerage. Along the way, she answered my questions on how she had arrived here so quickly. It was a method of using her aura to teleport herself over vast distances. She explained that it is a very exhaustion procedure and should only be used if absolutely necessary. She also told us who the Praesul were.

“It is difficult to describe the strange relationship between the four Praesul. The easiest way is to say that they have a shared mind. They speak in the plural, and always know where the other three are. It allows them to coordinate whenever the need to protect the forest arises.” A wry smile crossed her face. “In many ways, they appear like children. Their bodies are young, and they are often curious and always kind, but don’t let that make you treat them as though they truly are children. They are the most powerful auraics currently living, and have lived for several hundreds of years. No-one knows how. In fact, no-one knows if they are truly Dryads or not.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, slightly daunted.

“Their names are Luna, Sol, Aurora and Umbra, representing the two great bodies of the sky and the two ends of the day. They reflect their names in strange ways, but I think it would be best if you saw for yourself, rather than trying to explain it.”

“We’ll get to meet them, then?”

“Yes, I am sure they want to see you all.” Kasanda replied. “You especially, Alnya.”