The Curse of Thir

They led their horses through the thickets of the woods and onto the gravel road all the while maintaining an uncomfortable silence. Clanece and the guards that rode with him arrived exactly at the moment they mounted their horses.

“PRINCESS NAVEEN!” Clanece shouted her name in an almost heroic manner and rode to her side as if to console her, he did however succeed in pushing Xylee and Dander aside.

“My Princess! Are you injured?”

“No Clanece, I am not. I’m sorry for causing such a commotion; I do hope you can forgive me.” Her actions and words portrayed her as if she were a helpless frail creature. Clanece saw this change of her demeanour as an invitation to invade her personal space, by grabbing her around the waist and pulling her onto his horse in a somewhat graceful manner. Xylee tried not to react but found it difficult to contain her nausea.

“I shall take you to your father the King. He must know at once that you are safe, yes?” He dipped his head a little till his lips met her ears and whispered something Xylee chose to not hear, then kissed her lightly on her temple and rode off back to the castle. The guards followed a respectful distance behind them, some of them whispering how quickly Clanece had reacted and how valiant he seemed carrying the Princess in such a manner. Xylee rode in silence behind them.

Upon her arrival back at the castle, and after having given Dander fresh straw, Xylee was called on by Lemoine. He met here outside of his room, he seemed flustered.

“Ah, Xylee. Thank you for coming. I would invite you in, but... I can’t unfortunately.” He smelt of soil and an odd smelling plant.

“Perhaps we should walk?” Xylee nodded and fell into step beside this supposed master of magic and potions. His pace was slow but bearable.

“I heard from Gelnane about the attack on the Princess, I find it odd that nothing has been found out yet but perhaps he has found something but chooses not to let the King know? That Gelnane remains a confounding mystery to me,” His eyes held a glint of memory, “you know I met him when I was a lad, in my seventeenth summer I think he had just come back from Ashail for a peace treaty- oh never mind that, discussing my past is not the reason I have asked you here.” He came to a sudden halt and faced Xylee. “I wish to discuss tomorrow with you.”

She nodded, she had suspected that this was the reason she was called.

“You understand Gelnane used tree magic to curse and seal that necklace. Do you know what tree magic is?” Xylee thought for a moment.

“It’s green?”

“Ha... yes, yes the colour of tree magic is green but it is not the colour of the magic that truly matters. But for knowledgeable purposes, human wizards and mages have blue magic. Normally.”

“Is Gelnane not human then?”

“Ah it gets a bit complicated with him being the exception. He is human, but I believe he is losing his humanity the more time passes and the more he uses that magic. Perhaps you could get one of the many tales surrounding his mysteries beginnings, but it is not a tale for now. But what matters now is that you know what tree magic truly is. It is the one magic older than the Hierarchy for it is connected to the very core of Thirs creation. It is magic that can be reversed only through time as with most things in nature; this is why undoing what Gelnane has done to you, even though he has not at full strength, is dangerous and difficult.”

“How dangerous?”

Lemoine took to walking again and Xylee followed.

“To put it simply, I shall be creating a vortex in which time will speed up by millennia a second which will eventually lessen the effect of the necklace making it virtually safe for you the wearer.”

The words Lemoine strung together to form that sentence left Xylee with a sinking feeling. Noticing the lack of confidence on Xylees face, Lemoine continued.

“You needn’t worry though; I will be there to guide the process. Your body will be shielded by a potion that Theophilia has hopefully completed by now.” Frowning deeply he tapped his chin thoughtfully. “But I am skilled and knowledgeable and this process posses you no threat. Although,” pausing he squeaked through his teeth and clicked his tongue, “your body may age slightly.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry it’ll only be by one or three years my dear, nothing too scary.”

“Right...”

**********************************************

After Xylee had parted ways with Lemoine, he found himself nervously standing in front of his door. He breathed deeply.

“Here goes.” He opened the door and nimbly ducked a thorny vine belonging to Theophilia.

“Tar sah La curagh veen!”

“That’s the worst Fot-ak I have ever heard.”

Theophilias green plant like figure moved quickly towards Lemoine.

“I don’t care!”

He edged carefully towards the potion cabinet where Theo was less likely to strike out. She may have been furious but she was not stupid.

She thumped down on the floor and folded her arms.

“I honestly did not know Gelnane would do this to you.”

“Am I going to be stuck like this forever Lemoine? It’s been over two days, I should have reverted back by now.”

“Perhaps it’ll just take a little longer to change back? Have you asked Gelnane?”

“There is no way on Thir I am talking to that man about anything ever again... Can’t you do anything?”

“I’m sorry Theo, you know how little I know about Tree Magic. Anything I could do would probably end up killing you. I don’t want to be the reason our blood line ends.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have desired immortality.” She shook her petaled head sadly. “Watching all of you grow old... it...”

Lemoine walked closer to Theophilia sitting beside her on the small wooden stool he sighed.

“It’s far too late for regrets. We are the only family we have left no matter how little time we may have with each other. Having you beside me through all those times was a blessing, I never could have made it to where I am if I had been on my own.”

“You should be more respectful towards me then you know.”

“Perhaps if you acted less like an eighteen year old and more like a wise Aunt then maybe I would.”

“You always did have a smart mouth on you.”

“I wonder where on Thir I got that from.”