Moirai

By now, we had nearly reached the end of the main path in Flowerage. I was expecting the Praesul to live in some sort of palace, like the one in Nerome. Instead, we were greeted with a cottage not unlike the rest of the dwellings. The only indication that its occupants were different than the average Dryad was that it was a fair bit larger and, as we got closer, I could feel something. Except, it wasn’t actually me feeling it, it was my aura.

Four figures stood waiting for us, each standing perfectly under a ray of sun. Instantly I saw what Kasanda had meant about them literally embodying their names, and I had to rein in my shock and awe. Each Praesul had skin that appeared translucent and beneath it swirled lights of different colours. Under one Dryad’s skin shone gold and orange lights, under another were pale blues and whites. The third had pale purple and pink dappled light, while the final Dryad’s colours were dark purple and blue. It wasn’t difficult to work out who was who.

To top off their strange appearance, all four of the Praesul appeared to be only about thirteen or fourteen. Their bodies were lithe and features soft. They greeted Kasanda and me with warm smiles, then instantly four pairs of eyes turned to me.

Expressions remaining kind, the eyes widened simultaneously, and for an instant I was frozen to the spot. What felt like a breath of wind brushed over my whole body, and I was struck by an intense feeling of déjà vu. Then, just as suddenly as it had occurred, the moment faded.

“It is a pleasure to be finally meeting you, Alnya.” Luna spoke first, her voice sounding like a night breeze.

“Ever since Kasanda foretold of your coming, we have waited for this moment.” Sol added, the warmth in her tones palpable.

“It is such a shame that Centurion has made your visit here…difficult. It is most unusual and unexpected.” Aurora trilled delicately. “We will, of course, be supporting you during the Trial in two days’ time.”

“Please inform us if he, or anyone else, causes you any trouble. You are out guests here, and we do not allow our guests to be mistreated.” Umbra’s dusky words were like a whisper, as though she feared to be overheard.

“Thank you.” I murmured, overwhelmed by both their words and the Praesul themselves. They moved as one, swaying to a non-existent breeze. “Your support is welcome.” I was about to add, “I just hope it is worth it.” But knew the comment would only be met with exasperation from Kasanda and probably more votes of confidence from the Praesul.

“I understand that you have something to give to Alnya.” Kasanda interjected, noticing that I had trailed off once again.

“This is true.” Aurora agreed.

“However, we have decided to give it to her after the Trial.” Luna explained.

“She will not be needing it until then.”

All four spoke the last words, before abruptly turning away and going inside their cottage without a ‘goodbye’.

Kasanda chuckled softly at my surprised expression.

“Do not be offended. They aren’t as…human as the rest of us. They don’t mean to be so abrupt, it is just their way.” She explained, before we headed back the way we had come.

“Do you know what they’re going to give me?” I asked.

“Yes, but I think it would be unwise for me to tell you. If they wished you to know, they would’ve told you themselves.” She replied. There was a pause before she continued, “I can tell that you have wanted to ask why the Dryads respect me. I am not, as you probably may have wondered, their leader. Nor do I, or have ever, held a position of importance.” I waited patiently as she paused again, glad that I didn’t even have to voice the question. ‘The reason for their behaviour is merely my ability to experience visions. I am currently the only Dryad who is, as we are called; an Oracle. The last died when I was only fifteen. It is a rare gift and so any Oracles are highly respected and looked up to.”

“Wow.” I murmured. “So…why is it so rare?”

She shrugged. “No-one really knows. The number of Dryad Oracles born each century has been decreasing for a long time now, and it is suspected that it is because we live so close to Druge. The place has always had an evil feel to it, and now Indina’s evil magic has only amplified that, further affecting the Oracle gene.”

Indina again, I thought bitterly. Time and time again it came back to her. For the first time I started to truly realise the importance of my role in events; the people of Renenta had been waiting for someone to help rescue them from Indina’s evil shadow for a long time. The thought terrified me and I suddenly felt as though a ten tonne weight had dropped on my shoulders.

Kasanda’s intuition was also starting to scare me.

“The sooner this Trial is over, the sooner you can continue your training and then leave for Druge. You just need to relax and focus.” Her voice softened. “I know you feel overwhelmed by all this. Perhaps we should have told you sooner, but the point is you are here now and you have to at least try.” A soft smile played at the edges of her mouth. “Despite your own worries, I have a feeling that you will surprise yourself once actually confronted with Indina face to face. Not all heroes are born so, some are created only when the occasion warrants.”

I couldn’t help but return the smile; her words reminded me of a famous quote from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

We parted outside my cottage, where Mayran met me expectantly, swords in hand.

“Ready?” he asked.

I remembered our earlier lesson and fought down the strange feeling that accompanied the memory. He was acting like there was nothing wrong; well, so will I.

“Ready.” I answered, accepting one of the swords. Kasanda said goodbye and together we walked to the clearing.

“How was your first meeting with the Praesul?” Mayran inquired after a couple of minutes.

I hesitated, wondering how best to reply. “Interesting.” I settled for. “It was certainly something that no amount of preparation could help with.”

He laughed softly and, automatically, I smiled in response.

“I’ll agree with you there. I have only had the pleasure of meeting them once and they had the same impression on me. Did they tell you anything important?”

“Not particularly. Only that they are sorry for Centurion’s actions. Apparently, they’ve got something to give me but they won’t until after the Trial. That is, of course, if there’s anything left of me at the end.” I tried to make the comment light-hearted, but Mayran was not fooled.

He stopped sharply, an annoyed expression taking over his features.

“Alnya, you must stop being so pessimistic!” he urged, a curious fierceness in his voice. “I am fed up of you having no confidence in yourself. This morning you did so well and I hoped you had finally realised your strengths, but now, all of a sudden, you’re back to thinking that an arrogant, headstrong Dryad can overcome you; the hero of the prophecy!”

He stared at me, breathing harder than normal, until I looked down. He was right; I should be more confident. With the amount of fantasy books I had read, I should have been perfectly at home when finding myself actually in one.

But this isn’t a book, this is the real deal. A small voice said in my mind. In a book, you know the hero is going to defeat the bad guy and make it out alive. This is real, so anything could happen. And you are just an ordinary human...

Before I knew it, hot tears were sliding down my face. I angrily wiped them away, further annoyed to appear so weak in front of Mayran.

His reaction, however, was something I couldn’t have prepared for.

One moment he was standing in front of me, the next his arms were around me and he was gently stroking my back. The tears kept coming, though now they were also for his show of compassion.

He hushed me and apologised several times. I tried to regain control to tell him that it wasn’t what he said, but what my own mind had whispered.

“D-don’t be s-sorry.” I gulped, pulling away and looking up at him. “It’s me. I’m…I’m scared, Mayran.” I told him what I had thought and he nodded gravely, pulling a handkerchief from a pocket and wiping my tears away.

“It’s alright, I understand. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I cannot imagine what it’s like to be in your position.”

I knew he meant it.

After taking a few deep breaths, I indicated that we should continue.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.” I replied. “If I’m going to beat Centurion, I’ve got to be able to beat you first.”

He flashed me a grin, and things returned back to normal. I didn’t let on that my cheeks tingled from where he had wiped the tears away, or that my heart fluttered from the gentleness of his embrace. Because it was highly possible that he was merely being a good friend. Loni would have done the same. I would only be fooling myself if I thought otherwise.

I attacked the training with even more intensity than that morning and ended the lesson feeling overjoyed that, for the first time, I had managed to disarm Mayran.

Afterwards, we met with Loni and wandered around a few of the markets. I discovered that, rather than having a monetary system, Dryads bargained and exchanged items. Berries for herbs, cloth for shoes, and so on. Almost anything was acceptable tender as long as it was worth the same as the thing being bought.

I became distracted at a stand showcasing carved wooden jewellery. A necklace caught my eye. On a simple strip of dyed twine hung an owl, so delicately and intricately carved as to look almost real. Instantly, I knew that my mother would love it. Owls were among her favourite animals.

Buying it would be a promise to myself that I would be able to give it to her.

However, I did not have anything to trade.

Mayran noticed my predicament and came to my rescue, pulling a fist-sized shell from his pocket. Why he had a shell in his pocket, I did not know, but apparently they were much desired by the Dryads, because the necklace was handed to me almost instantly.

“Thank you.” I said, putting on the necklace. I didn’t trust myself not to lose it unless I was wearing it.

He smiled down at me. “You’re welcome.”