Moirai

I came to slowly, acutely aware of the fact that every part of my body ached. I didn’t want to wake up, but the muffled voices around me were too loud and they practically insisted that I did.

I opened my eyes to Mayran and Loni’s faces, much less blurred this time, hovering above me. I was lying on the ground, my head propped up on what felt like a rolled up cloak that had been used as a makeshift pillow.

“Did I win?” I mumbled, trying to remember.

Loni chuckled softly, embracing me, before answering. “Yes. Even though you collapsed as well, Centurion passed out first which made you the winner.” Her expression became one of awe. “Everyone is shocked. Hardly anyone expected you to beat him, as he is one of the Dryads’ strongest auraics.”

Mayran also gazed down at me, practically glowing with pride.

Then I remembered something else. “Centurion, he’s…”

“A spy.” Mayran finished my sentence. “We know. Kasanda exposed him the second the battle ended. She is with him now. How did you work it out?”

“His eyes.” I said with a small shudder. “They reminded me of Indina.”

Mayran frowned. “You’ve never seen Indina.”

I flinched, realising that in my tired daze I had given myself away. I had been trying to hide the dreams from my two friends, knowing that there was nothing they could do and that it would only make them worry, but it was too late now.

I opened my mouth to explain, but was stopped by Latifurn’s arrival.

“Congratulations are in order, Alnya.” He said briskly. Mayran and Loni gently helped me to my feet. I swayed, still overwhelmingly exhausted, so both kept one hand on my arms.

“Thank you.” I replied. He nodded and moved on.

I couldn’t remember ever feeling so tired. Mayran seemed to realise this, because he didn’t press the issue about Indina. I resolved to tell him later. The constant warmth of my aura was back, but all I wanted was to sleep for a week.

Even as I stood, blackness gathered at the edges of my sight again and my knees gave way. Mayran and Loni became my only supports.

“You shouldn’t even be alive.” Mayran whispered, his voice still full of awe. “I could feel Centurion’s power and he truly was incredibly strong. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an aurae more powerful than him. I’m almost certain that Indina had strengthened him. The fact that you were strong enough to overpower him…it’s incredible.”

If I had the energy, I would have rolled my eyes at his reverent praise. Still, I couldn’t help but be impressed myself. Maybe I did deserve to be the ‘hero of the prophecy’ after all.

I shook my head and tried to get my footing back, determined not to pass out again when every single Dryad in the area was shooting me looks. “Where are Centurion and Kasanda?” I asked.

“Over there.” Loni answered, pointing to where I now could easily see the two people I had asked after, as well as the Praesul.

“Is Centurion conscious?”

“I don’t know.” She replied, and I got the feeling that she hadn’t left my side since I’d collapsed.

That led me down another trail of thought; I had used my aura enough against Centurion to exhaust me like this. In fact, it had felt like I’d almost used it all up. So, how on Earth was I supposed to overpower Indina who was surely far stronger than Centurion?

“Do you want to go over to them?” Mayran asked, not noticing my momentary lapse.

“No.” I answered, trusting that Kasanda would let me know anything important, and filing away my thoughts for a later date. “To be honest, I just want to go and sleep.”

He looked at me apologetically. “Unfortunately, you can’t just yet. Now that this Trial’s out the way and you won, the Dryads are holding a banquet in your honour as, according to them, should have been done for you from the start.”

“I got the impression that a lot of Dryads agreed with Centurion.” I said, surprised.

He raised an eyebrow. “What made you think that?”

“All the dark looks I got.”

He shook his head. “I guarantee you most of those wouldn’t have been out of dislike, but more out of annoyance that Centurion’s interference made your stay here feel unwelcome.”

“That’s what the Praesul said.” I agreed.

“There you go.”

By the time the banquet had been fully prepared, I was feeling better, albeit still longing for my bed. The consequences that accompanied using my aura still scared me slightly, but I was starting to accept that it was something I could live with. Like both Mayran and Kasanda explained, as long as I was aware of my limits and didn’t accidentally kill myself, I would be fine.

I sat through the extravagant meal, patiently putting up with the endless stream of Dryads coming to congratulate me, both on the Trial and on exposing Centurion. I was told that he had woken up, but hardly anyone knew any more than that, so I resigned myself to wait until Kasanda arrived.

Once I had eaten my fill and thanked the last of the Dryads for their praise and apologies, I retreated into the forest a little to get away from the cacophony of sounds and colours that had been steadily giving me a headache. I sat down against a fallen tree and didn’t realise I was dozing until Mayran suddenly sat down beside me.

“You still look exhausted.” He said quietly, sympathy clear in his voice. “I know exactly how you’re feeling. I, too, have been in the situation where I’ve used my aura more than was probably good for me. Before you woke earlier, I told them to wait and have the banquet tomorrow, but they wouldn’t listen.”

“It’s my head.” I confessed. “It’s alright now, but everything was just making it hurt over there.” I indicated the throng of Dryads.

“Using one’s aura is a very mental power.” He explained. “Your head’s going to be quite tender for a day or two before you’ve fully recovered.”

I became aware of how close he was sitting, nearly touching me. The tree we were resting against was still slightly damp from recent rain and cold against my back. I looked over at him, noticing again how the colours of the forest accentuated his eyes.

I wanted him to know how I felt, but at the same time…I didn’t. I was scared that only rejection would meet me, which could put a sour note on our friendship. Yet there was something in the way he looked at me, not always, but there were flashes, that made me wonder if similar thoughts went through his head.

Why was love so complicated?

For that was what it was, I realised. More than a simple crush. Looking back over the past few days, I remembered how aware I was of him all the time. Whenever we were in the same vicinity, I always knew what he was doing, constantly trying to work out what he was thinking. I felt like I could read him fairly well, better even than Loni at times. Surely that meant there was some sort of connection.

It occurred to me that I had been staring at him for a couple of minutes. I felt my face heat up and looked down, searching my mind for something to say.

He didn’t comment and, in another one of those perceptive moments around him, I could feel that he was amused. That wasn’t helping! A guy wasn’t supposed to find it funny when a girl looked at him. They were supposed to find it either annoying or sweet.

I sighed upon realising that my brain was running away with all sorts of panicky thoughts and decided I should think about the matter once I wasn’t feeling so tired.

“Well, I think it wouldn’t be seen as rude if you were to head back to your cottage now.” Mayran said, bringing me out of my mind.

“It’s not long past midday.” I murmured half-heartedly.

He stood, holding out a hand to help me to my feet. “Trust me, you’re going to sleep through till tomorrow morning. The quicker you recover the better.”

I nodded and thanked him before heading off towards the cluster of cottages. I passed Loni on the way.

“Sleep well.” She said.

I smiled at her. “Will do.”

I didn’t think I’d ever appreciated a bed more than I did that day, for even though my head was still full of thoughts about Mayran, Centurion and Indina, I was out the instant I lay down.

*~*~*

“He is asking for her.”

“No, you must let her sleep! Surely this can wait until morning.”

Hushed, angry voices woke me many hours later. It was dark, but as soon as I opened my eyes I felt like I had barely been asleep for an hour. It took me a moment to identify the voices; Umbra and Mayran.

“It is very important to let an aurae rest after over-using.” He hissed.

Umbra’s voice was cold. “Don’t lecture us on such matters. We are very aware of the rest she needs, however, this matter cannot be put off.”

“Why?”

“If you let us in, we will explain to both of you on the way. Do not make us use force, Mayran, or we will not hesitate to do so! Despite what Kasanda and most people believe, we still do not entirely trust you. Indina could take advantage of you at any moment. Do not make the mistake of thinking we are ignorant of your past!”

I gasped quietly. What was she talking about?

The door opened. I could easily see, despite the dimness of the moonlight, that Mayran had paled upon realising I had heard every word.

I frowned at him, wondering what to make of Umbra’s accusations. It eerily reminded me of what Indina herself had hinted to me in one of the dreams. A horrible feeling settled in the pit of my stomach; what if Mayran was actually the bigger spy all along?

Umbra fixed her gaze upon me. “Alnya, we apologise for waking you but you must accompany us immediately. Until only a few minutes ago, Centurion has been in a daze since waking earlier. He would not respond to any questions. However, he has just come out of the daze and is refusing to talk unless you are present. He says it is urgent.”

“Why?” I asked, though I got out of bed and followed her.

She hesitated, and when she answered her voice sounded even more husky and whispered than before. “He believes that he is in grave danger and could be killed any moment. It is understood that he was not Indina’s willing henchman.”

A blast of fear went through me as I realised that Centurion’s own terror was an indication that Indina could hurt anyone of us if she so wished. I automatically began looking around nervously, trying very hard not to jump at shadows as I padded quietly behind Umbra. Mayran walked alongside me, but I refused to look at him. I hoped he realised that we would be discussing what I had heard as soon as we left Flowerage the following morning.

I had been surprised earlier that afternoon when Kasanda had told us to leave so soon, as I had expected to stay at least another day or two after the craziness of the Trial, but she reminded me that time was of the essence. She also said that my training had reached a level sufficient enough to face Indina, although I seriously doubted that. She indicated that the power I would need to vanquish her now was accessible…whatever that meant.

I looked up and realised that we had arrived at the house of the Praesul. Umbra approached and held the door open for me. Inside, I saw a room almost entirely bare of furniture except for two wooden chairs, in which sat Kasanda and Centurion, the latter of which had his hands tied up. The three other Praesul were noticeably absent.

He looked up as I entered and his eyes widened. Instantly I noticed that they no longer had the red ring around the irises, but were now fully grey-blue.

“Alnya! Finally, they’ve brought you! I can’t apologise enough. You must understand, nothing I said or did was of my own accord. I am so sorry for the offence and trouble I caused you.”

“Slow down!” I cried, holding my hand up.

But Centurion shook his head. “I can’t afford to slow down. She knows her power over me has been broken by you. She is angry, and she will take it out on me. It could happen at any moment. So please, just listen.” He took a deep breath. I knew I had to do what he said, so I kept silent. “About a week ago she found me while I was doing some solo scouting around Flowerage. She wasn’t there physically…it was more like a sort of ghost of her. Anyway, I don’t remember how but she took control of my mind. All I know is that since then I’ve been in a sort of daze. I felt like a puppet, with her pulling the strings. Then, this morning, when your magic overpowered mine – for she could only amplify my own magical power a minimal amount – her control was shattered.” He shuddered and his panicked voice fell so quiet that I had to lean forward to hear him. “Since then I can feel her, constantly whispering that she will come for me.

I stared. This man in front of me was so different to the Centurion of before. This was a man broken, terrified for his own life.

He beckoned, and I leaned even closer.

“She uses your innermost fears against you.” He breathed. When he sat back, suddenly his eyes got even wider. His breathing quickened. “No!” He cried, and somehow I knew he was seeing something none of us could. “No, please! No!” he screamed out and I looked to Kasanda, wanting her to do something, wanting anyone to do anything!

But it was over before anyone could react. He breathed out sharply…then he was still.