| “Fortunes! I will divine from the Great One! From the great mother Earth, and her husband, Ouranos, and see into the future! By Great Apollo’s far-shooting silver bow, I speak truths! Ma’am! Please allow me to read your fortune!” “Wha? Leggo of my sleeve. I don’t pay for fake fortunes.” “Wait! I didn’t say you had to pay. Please, I wish to read your fortune. You seem like you could use a little guidance.” “You don’t know the half of that, Lady,” she replied chuckling. “I will listen to your tale that you will weave falsely about me. You will see that I am opened minded about fools.” “So you discredit the cards and Gods?” “Gods?” She snorted. “What have they ever done to me other then hurt me? No, I don’t believe in gods. I don’t believe in predestination, or fate or anything like that. I make my own way.” “Then perhaps you would like me to read your past?” “That would be interesting. See if you’ve done your homework on me.” “Tsk. You should know better than that. We do not “do homework” as you call it, but we see the Patterns of Life that make us who we are.” She shrugged. “Well, go ahead! See if you can read into my past as you say you can, and if you get it right, I will pay you to do the future. Deal?” “Deal! You will find out that not all fortune tellers are false,” she said with a grin. “Here, give me your hand. . . Hmm. Yes. . . I see pain. . . and hurt... Betrayal and death. Both of the family members you loved most were murdered. . . and. . . the person responsible for that. . . was close to you. . . and he. . . is the betrayer. . . I see. . . fire. . . and justice. . . or a feeling of justice. . . the feeling that you did what was right for being wronged. . . Is that proof enough?” “That. . . is true. . . I guess. . . not all is as it seems,” she said hesitantly. “Shall I read your future?” “Sure. . . why not. . . Here’re the gold pieces. . . This is the first time I’ve ever paid for something like this. Normally, as I said, I don’t believe in it. That it’s all a load of bull. . . but. . . I guess not. . .” “I see. . . a multitude of light around you. . . various strands that connect to one man. . . You shall become one with this person. . . He is. . .” “What? What’s the matter?” “I need to take you to my friend. . . He is the man in the vision from you. . .” “What vision from me? What do you mean?” “Every one gives off a ‘Vision’, or as a fortuneteller sees it, the future. I can read yours clearly, and I know what is to become of it. You must meet with him, or else, everything will fall into destruction again.” “Hon, it can’t get worse then this. Thanks to the work of the Chosen Ones, the people have hope. It’s hard to believe that destruction will come again so soon.” “Get a grip on yourself. You know as well as I that trouble comes in threes. Speaking of the Chosen Ones, I am Nara from Saltatus. Come, you must speak with my friend, and I must tell him of the vision I see within you.” “But I-” “No buts! Come! Now!” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ‘Why do I get myself into messes like these?’ The young woman muttered to herself. She had followed the lavender haired lady through the streets to a small house. She paused at the doorway, and brushed some of her hair out of her face. Her hair was a burnished gold color and she had pulled it back partially from her face, secured by pins in the fashion of dragons. The dragons on the hairpin were silver to contrast with the gold of her hair. The dragon’s wings were out spread in victory, nearly curving around to touch her ears. Sapphires were the eyes, seemingly swirling in delight. Her hairpin was blackened to bring forth the delicate engraving within the silver, and seemed to shine with ethereal light. Carved to the utmost care, if you glanced upon it quickly, you would think that the dragons were alive. The jaws of the dragon seemed strong, as if it could bite you, it could take a finger or two with it. Into her hair she had braided several golden feathers. A griffin had been her childhood companion, and when he had died, she had taken some of his feathers. The delicate silver of age tipped the bright gold feathers. A silver circlet held back her unruly hair from falling in her eyes, and a golden pendant of a Phoenix hung around her throat. She wore a black leather vest and pants that clung to her curves, and around her waist hung a silver threaded belt for her sword. The sword was of Elven make, but she would never tell. Written in Greek upon the hilt, the name of her sword meant 'Soul Stealer.' The sword, made of a silver alloy, was indestructible. The blade itself was well over five feet long, and with the hilt, it counted for almost six feet in length. Etched into the blade were runes of protection and prowess in battle. An enchantment placed there many moons ago, prevented anyone save her from drawing it. The sword was hers and hers alone. Her eyes were large and slightly slanted and a deep blue, like that of the sky at the verge of night. The shone slightly within their large sockets and twinkled merrily when she was happy. Her lips were slim and slender, and so was the small nose that adorned her face. A scar flowed across her face, down from her eyebrow across her eye. Nothing had disturbed the perfection of her visage. The scar looked more like a tattoo, but it didn't bother her. It never did, nor would it ever. It was a badge of honor and one that she would never give up. Her long, silver rose embroidered black leather boots crawled up to her knees. The leather was of the finest calfskin in the known universe, and had no sole to them. Her black leather pants were soft and matte. The pants laced in the front with a small silver ribbon. The finest white Damascus silk made her shirt. The collar and cuffs overflowed with ruffles. The ruffles at the cuffs nearly concealed her black leather-clad hands. Over this flounce-y shirt, was a black leather vest. Her vest was embroidered as well, not with silvery roses, but with the visage of the Phoenix. Its wings were out spread, stretching all the way over her shoulders to brush where the tops of her breasts were. The tail feathers curled around her sides to brush the tips of the wings on the front. She waited patiently while the woman who said her name was Nara went in and conversed with someone in excited and hushed tones. Soon, she returned with a round, jolly seeming man. He smiled at her reassuringly, and said, “Greetings, I am Taloun, a merchant around here, and one of the Chosen. May I inquire as to who you are?” The young woman looked at him with an odd expression, and answered hesitantly. “Why would you need my name?” The man now identified as Taloun looked over at Nara, then back to the young lady. “Please, we must know the name.” Again, the young woman looked at her oddly, and weighed the options in her mind. They were either someone out to get her, and she could destroy everything if she gave her true name, but then, there was always that chance that they were honest and did not know about her past. This feeling won out over all. “Aryun,” She said quickly as she looked around. “Aryun Narice.” Her mind railed against her for giving away that much. ‘I didn’t tell them all of it, so shut up about getting caught.’ She silently berated herself. The merchant Taloun seemed to relax and broke out into one of those grins where you can’t help smiling back. Aryun did no such thing. The merchant’s smile faded when he saw she was not happy. “Anyway,” he started out nervously. “We need to take her to him right? Are you sure about this Nara?” “Positive. She is the Center. We must take her to Zenthia.” Aryun backed up. “No, no, and no again. I am not going near that place. I’ve heard of it and I don’t like what I hear.” Taloun and Nara exchanged another glance. “And what’s with the damned secret looks? Would someone care to elaborate why it’s so important to go to that place and see whoever this mysterious ‘him’ is, or I will become very irritated!” Nara hesitated. “We. . . cannot talk of this here. Too many pitchers with ears if you understand the metaphor.” Aryun was glaring at the two. “Then by all means, lead us to where we will not be over heard.” Nara glanced nervously around her, and quickly started to walk away from the small house. She led them over to an old mausoleum: The Crypt of Lorithin’s ancestors. It was dark and dank, very much like a mausoleum would be, and Aryun felt the wild brush of long forgotten magic emanating from the stones. “We should be safe around here. . .” Still Nara looked out and about from the door, then shut it. When the door shut, the magical lights within were turned on. “Now, to speak of the why of things, is complicated.” There was a pause; a nervous glance, and then Taloun spoke up. “You know about the Resurrectio Malefacti correct?” Aryun snorted. “You take me for a fool? Yes, I know of that. Any student of the arcane knows the legend of the Evolvere Per Gradus. A certain formula with the Fascia will allow the cells in the body to evolve so that one can attain the perfect evolution, but that's a half-truth. Yes, you can attain evolution, but it is not perfect. The body can't handle the excelerated growth of the cells, and it starts to die.” Taloun blinked, overwhelmed by the depth of the knowledge. “Yes. That's exactly it. Anyway, the Fascia is stolen. Alena checked the City beneath the soil, and found no trace of the Fascia. We all remember where it was found, and we left it there, sealing the Palace behind us. So we’ve no clue where it might be found. Nara consulted the Priestess of Light.” He looked over at Nara, hoping that she would continue the tail. Nara was hesitant. “The Priestess said that. . . ‘The center must be found and be swayed in the belief if you are ever to prevail.’ And thanks to me catching your arm, we have found the center.” Aryun looked at her skeptically. “It still sounds a little rotten in mine mind. Can you give me proof?” The two looked at each other. Hesitantly, Taloun stated, “The only thing that we could think of would be that you meet with the Lord, and learn for yourself how dire the situation is." Nara looked up pleadingly at her, "He would never lie to you. He never had a reason to learn. Please. Let us take you to meet him. I beg you!” The young woman was taken a-back by the fierceness in the fortuneteller’s voice. She backed up a few paces. “Whoa. Wait a minuet. What do I get out of this?” The roly-poly merchant looked at her, his face grave, as he stated simply, “Anything you need or want.” Aryun brought her hand up to her face, her lips pursed. “Can I call it in whenever I have need of it?” Taloun nodded. “Yes, there are no holds on the offer.” Aryun’s lips threatened to tug into a smile. She let them wait it out a few tense minuets before she said, “It’s a deal then. I will hold you to your word.” Nara and Taloun let out a collective sigh of relief. Aryun looked at them. "Well? Are we going or not?" Nara was startled. "Oh! Umm. . Yes we are. . but don't we need to get the others?" she asked looking at Taloun. Taloun waved his hand. "We can always send for them. Besides, Alena, Xristis, and Brey should be there already. Remember what day this is." Nara nodded, then smiled. "That is true. Then shall we leave now? From here while no one sees us?" Taloun nodded. "That would be wise, but we must first go to Gottside. Proprieties must still be obeyed. She must go through the tower if she can." Aryun was starting to feel uneasy about agreeing to help. "Tower? What tower? You guys never said anything about a tower." Taloun laughed. “Don’t worry your pretty head. It’s standard. You will make it if you are who we believe you to be.” Aryun made an exasperated noise and crossed her arms, muttering, “You guys aren’t making any sense.” “Well, let us leave this place, and you shall see what we mean.” Nara said with a slight smile as she threw up a white feather into the air that created a creature that Aryun had seen on three different occasions. This counted as the fourth. A Wryven hovered there, awaiting them to walk over to them. He was a soft lavender color with bright purple feathers around his head, with large green eyes. “Wryven,” she breathed in awe as she looked at the creature. “They are your transportation around here?” “Yeah, but they can be a real problem with their attitudes.” Aryun snorted and reached out the pet the creature. “That’s your opinion. However, I have a higher value of those of the animal kingdom, minus humans of course. All critters deserve to be free.” She started to scratch the creature under its chin. “Hims a purddy scally critter, ain’tcha?” Nara and Taloun looked at each other with a look of superior confusion. “Umm. . . anyway. . . we should get going now before someone finds out. .” Taloun was looking around nervously. Aryun shrugged, and held on to one of the Wyrven’s talons. “Then, by all means, let us leave.” Nara and Taloun took hold of the other talon, and Taloun said that name ‘Gottside’. They were whisked away to that desolate island in the middle of the Great Sea. |