Whispers of a Legend, Part One-Shadows of the Past (9 page)

Then from the sky I heard a fluttering of
wings. I looked up and hoped emerged when forms became clearer as
they flew closer. Sordarins! My heart pounded madly. Of course they
had returned. They couldn’t leave me here without explanation, but
the Sordarins flew passed our small shelter as if we were
insufficient. My eyes fixated upon them in disbelief. In the
distance I saw the small group land. I could have cried.

I lay in bed that night deciphering whether
to attempt to make contact with the group. By the morning light my
mind set upon the venture. In truth I had no choice. We had little
food and the shelter had much to be desired.

In the dim light of the early morning, I
eased out of the cottage. Gunilda lay sound asleep. I laid out the
little food we had for her, a round fruit of which I had no
knowledge except it seemed to be plentiful on the ground and the
last of the bread that we had been left. I glanced back over my
shoulder. I left determined I would be back soon enough with food
for my old nurse.

The sun lay high in the sky before I came
close enough to the sight. My legs weakened for the hike had been
grueling over tattered rocks and streams. I dare not take the
easier route of going through the edge of the woods. It was too
open. I would have been easily seen upon that course. An ominous
sanctuary sat in the midst of the towering cliff of the mountain
before me.

A crumbling castle embedded into the rocks
fortified with towering stone walls. I cringed the closer I walked.
I heard rumblings of life behind the high walls. I searched at
first for a gate to lower for me to enter, but I was dealing with
Sordarins. They didn’t need a gate to enter.

My mood, my frustration, gave way to a brief
thought of blasting my way in, but after I climbed over the last of
the rigid rocks my eyes caught sight of a small entrance way in the
far corner of the encampment, an archway covered by wild
undergrowth. It had not been used as of late. I began the arduous
trail to the opening.

The briars caught my tunic, pricking my skin
and material. I grimaced when I turned abruptly and a branch swung
back in my face, but I trudged onward until I came to an archway.
My back crouched over for the undergrowth didn’t allow me to stand
erect, but I fell back upon the ground when my eyes caught sight
that the archway was block by a huge stone. I pressed against it
thinking what I didn’t know. All I could see behind me was a
venture back into the briars and undergrowth and before me a stone
barrier.

I stared at the wall for only a moment before
I set my mind upon my course of action, the only thing I could do
and should have done from the first. The whole of my situation, the
emptiness within my stomach, the loneliness of having been ripped
from my family and thrown into the middle of the Forbidden world
away from everything I had known swept through me.

A moment later, I blasted. Crawling back unto
my feet, I blasted again having not noticed the first blast would
have been sufficient. I eased over to the now well ventilated
archway. The stone lay many yards away broken into pieces.

My eyes blazed for within me intensity built
that needed to be extinguished. I walked soundly into a courtyard.
I stared around. In front of me a young Sordarin stood in silent
amazement at my feat behind him several more eyes began to emerge
out of the clearing dust.

Faces hung open in startled fashion although
from the corner of my eye I saw a warrior descend onto the scene.
My arms raised back…

“It is not necessary. Please, let me keep all
intact, my dear.”

My head tilted toward the calm voice. A man
walked in an even manner, quickly recognizing he wasn’t Sordarin,
an elderly man with flowing gray hair pulled back in a queue. Short
in statue for I was of the same height, but his face showed worn
lines of years behind him. His wrinkled hand drawn in such a
fashion to hold back an assault from me, but in my mood I cared
not. I would take on them all. Staring upon me, a smile emerged on
the older man’s face.

“There is no need for more destruction. I can
understand your frustration. We have only returned here last night
to discover that the caretaker passed away since our last
departure. It is a shame for it was thought he would have greeted
you…”

“Greeted me?” I corrected. “The only greeting
I have had is a harsh one.”

“The ones that brought you should have seen
to your needs before departing.”

My head shook, but my manner didn’t relent. I
knew not these people. Reading my thoughts, the man pressed his
lips together.

“I’m Twiten.” His hands spend wide across his
chest. “These young Sordarins are my students although I’m certain
they have not seen the power that was just exhibited. I had been
told, held hope it would surface again, but until one sees…”

“I don’t understand you, Old Man.”

“No? You don’t know why you are here?”

“I know only that I was ripped from my family
and brought here in the dead of night with little food and only a
semblance of a shelter. I hear not my brother and don’t feel my
sister’s presence. No, I don’t know why I’m here.”

He nodded slightly, motioning to one behind
him. “Go prepare a meal. See what we have for clothing also.”

“No, wait…My nurse is in bed,” I uttered
filled with confusion. “She needs food.”

His smile widened. “Spoken like a true
Euchoun. Thinking of others…That is what you are is not, young
lass? You wonder why you are here,” he paused and walked up beside
me. His hands pushed mine down. “You don’t need to use your powers
against us. We are as you. It is why you are here.”

“Why?”

He said simply, “To train, young lass. To
train.”

In a huge dining hall, food was prepared for
me. Filling my plate cautiously, I glanced up while I ate. Twiten
sat across from me, studying me, I was certain. When we were alone,
he talked. His words echoed in the large hall, but in this he
offered to me the explanation that eluded me since the night I was
swept into the Forbidden Forest.

“My name is Twiten and I tarry from a land
long ago lost, Narteria. It is written that Narteria is the source
of all that is known upon this world. The few of us remaining are
called Overseers, countering the balance of the world around you.
We all have been born with a purpose. Yours is to protect. Mine, to
give you the means to do so.

“Euchouns, true Euchouns, are rare creatures.
There are those called Euchouns that hold powers to shield and
protect, but little compare to the feat I saw this morning. In
truth, young lass, I have only seen one other exhibit close to the
power,” he hesitated slightly for a moment, thinking perchance.
“You know not much of being a Euchoun?”

Swallowing, I shook my head. The food tasted
so good I didn’t want to stop. I hadn’t realized how hungry I had
been. “It is how I’ve been known since I can remember. Gunilda
perhaps can tell you more. She is Witheleghean. My mother was such.
I have been told I am to protect. In that I know.”

“Yes,” he said thoughtfully. “Much has
happened over the last few years that have King Edulf concerned
about Scarladin. We have searched long and hard for the Euchoun
foretold. All we have found are on these grounds. We come within
the spring and stay until the cold weather returns to train and
develop. These grounds are protected from the Hallow Minions. We
train within without fear of discovery, but in turn good magic
can’t penetrate the field around us either. It is why you can’t
hear your brother or feel your sister. Unfortunate, but necessary
if you are to survive until you are needed.”

“Survive?” I countered.
“You act as though I have been protected by some means instead of
thrust in this wilderness with no food and only a semblance of a
shelter. My siblings were taken within my grandfather’s castle,
acknowledged for their birthright. My sister is the most powerful
Witheleghean that Gunilda says has lived outside of Witheleghe. And
she has not been
protected
in the manner I have.”

“There are those that can shield your
sister’s magic from the Hallow Minions. One is here. It is a form
of being a Euchoun, a different type of shielding, reflecting magic
off. You, young lass, have not been able to hide your powers.
Already rumors abound of a Euchoun and you are not ready to be
acknowledged.”

“Why not?” I asked indignantly. “Did I not
save my grandfather? I did. Didn’t I?” My voice trailed off
uncertain now. My memory blurred of the night.

“Yes,” he answered me soberly. His eyes grew
dim. “Yet, there is much for you to learn. In your words lies the
answer to your question. If you know not what you have done, then
you have your answer. The power within you needs to be cultivated.
The young warrior that was thrust through with you expressed
concerns as to where you would blast. He wasn’t certain if he would
be caught in your field of vision. It caused for uncertainty.”

“But he killed the creature,” I said
defensively, but confusion rang in my tone. I had never thought
that in all I could do harm to those I had no intent.

“King Edulf is familiar with Euchouns. In
this he knows well. With the power you exhibited comes the warning
of a greater evil. The Great One does not send a Euchoun as
powerful as we suspect you could become without a threat. It has
been written. In all you must prepare.”

My eyes lit up for in that I could do, for
that was my purpose. “It is my wish to do so.”

“It is my hope you will feel the same in the
time to come. I warn you that this road is difficult enough for a
male, but female? But in all though the Great One has spoken and we
cannot question. If it is indeed you that he has sent.”

Chapter Seven

Training of a Euchoun

The sun's rays shone down through the high
tree branches. Budded leaves had yet burst forth. The season had
once more changed and I still lived within my forest home. Many
seasons have passed. Each with a hope that I will be called back to
the home that I have never known, only glimpsed. I have studied and
trained with a diligence that has far exceeded even Twiten's
expectations.

My life has been lived in solitude even when
the Euchouns settle within the Forbidden's Forest boundaries. For
in the time since Twiten announced his intent in my training all
his students no longer remembered my outburst of power. Twiten, I
discovered, had magic within him. All the students except one have
forgotten the incident of my arrival, only one who shields my
sister from the dreaded Hallow Minions, my one and only friend,
Johannes. He has no last name or none that he remembers. Over time,
I discovered I trust no other as I do Johannes.

So, I have trained for the Euchoun I was
from a distance. Even in my small world, I could not be
acknowledged for the power they suspected. In all while the
Euchouns dwelled within the walls of the deserted castle, I have
served more like their servant, waiting upon their needs. Yet, I
have watched and studied. The library Twiten opened wide for me and
during the time they are gone, I lived within the books that were
left. It was the only room I was allowed in after their
departure.

I have been content, I supposed, for I
believed in my purpose. I have seen the evil and have trembled. I
refused to do so again. In that I believed and hold to. I had to
for at times I felt a void within me that pain eludes. I missed my
siblings and while time passed a pull within me grows. I know not
to what or whom but I have it not within my grasp, not yet.

Turstan, thank the Great One, comes when he
is allowed. He has worked with my training with a sword. Although
my statue and strength cannot hope to fend off a male opponent,
Turstan wants me prepared in every facet to know what a warrior
feels.

"It will be needed to protect and with all
comes understanding of the danger faced," Turstan said more than
once. Staggering back from his frontal assault against me, I
crawled back onto my feet with sword in hand. Always sword in hand,
Turstan said, never drop my sword. I listened well to Turstan.

When the students dwelled within the castle,
Gunilda and I resided in the castle. The roles have been reversed
here in the Forbidden Forest. I have become a maid for Gunilda
also. She is revered by the students as a teacher of good magic.
Her knowledge of Witheleghe has allowed her to be of use to Twiten.
And her health greatly improved with their need upon her.

It was only during the lonely months after
they have left that once more she falls into despair. We return to
the small cottage to endure the winter. Improvements have been made
to the shelter we call home. A door and shutters for the windows
have been added to keep the weather out. The students built another
room for Gunilda that they love dearly. Twiten helped in designing
her room with articles to remind her of her home. In the months of
their departure, she found comfort within the four walls.

I lived the same as I did before the
additions to the cottage. My bed is hay and my blanket thin. Twiten
deemed that I need to learn humility. I hold my tongue for how much
more was there to learn. My mind and heart clung to the knowledge
that it was for the better. I had much to learn and over the years
I have comprehended the importance of all.

Twiten reinforced within me the importance
of focus. Over time I have learned to concentrate solely upon an
object and control over my power. In all I have felt readied since
the others left when the leaves turned last season, but Twiten said
that I would be called. So I have waited.

I let no one see the hurt
within me. I have knowledge I have not much.
I lived off of one tunic during the warm weather, having only
one new one since I arrived. One I had to weave myself in which I
have found I am not talented with my needle. Gunilda saved the
tunic with her skills. During the snow and cold I had a pair of
boots and a warm coat. All have grown tight from wear and growth. I
complained not even this season when my slippers have no more sole
upon them.