Chapter Seventeen

Chapter 17: A Light Heart


Terryn gave the simple spell another go, quieting his mind and giving his entire concentration on the words he was speaking.
   "Ceo ke'veen." He said in a firm tone, his eyes squinting at the bolder he was trying to levitate. He could feel the magic leaving his core, moving through his finger tips, and move to the rock.
Elowen bit her thumb nail as she waited anxiously to see if he would harness his power this time.
She watched as redish orange magic poured out of his finger tips, and towards the rock. The tendrils caressed the rock, encasing it, and raising it up steadily.
She barely contained her shout of glee, scared she'd break his concentration.
He was much more powerful then she thought. This was the seventh test she had put him through, and he had passed them all with flying colors.
The bolder made it off the ground a good two feet before he let the magic go, and turned to her with an excited smile.
   "You're simply amazing!" She cried. "I could have never done that as fast as you have. It's simply amazing." She gapped in wonder.
   "So does that mean you two can start working on those wards so we can get out of here?" Dreyden asked. Coming over from the camp fire the others had made a little ways off.
Elowen nodded eagerly.
   "Really?!" Terryn asked in shock. "You think I'm ready for that?"
   "Oh definitely! You've already shown extreme knowledge and control over your power that we shouldn't have a problem." She said, hesitating a second when she finished that sentence. "If I've got the strength to do it." She added.
Dreyden thought for a minute. He didn't want to see her go into a coma again, and also knew that she had been performing a lot of spells lately, so her energy level would be lower then normal and they had to get it back up.
   "Tell you what," He said, coming to a decision. "Why don't you two start on this first thing tomorrow, after a good nights sleep and a decent breakfast? I'm sure you will both feel much better in the morning since both of you have been going at this for quite some time now."
Elowen smiled and thanked Eleyos for his clear thinking. It was true, she was very tired and her mind was beginning to get clouded.
   "Alright, lets do that then, I'm exhausted and just want to lie down before I pass out on all of you and become a nuisance." She remarked as they walked over to the small campfire.
   "You're never a nuisance." Dreyden whispered in her ear as they approached the others. She couldn't hide the blush on her cheeks that stood out against her pale complexion, but the smile wouldn't leave her lips either.
She sat down next to Sonera and Ysmay, as Terryn and Drey moved to the other side.
Ysmay handed Ellie a cup and she smiled.
   "Nothing like a good cup of coffee to give one some strength." She said with a smile. Ellie smiled back gratefully and sipped the warm drink, thankful for it as it warmed her body against the damp chill.
Ysmay gave a cup to Terryn as well, who smiled at her.
   "Did you see? I actually moved the bolder! That thing must weight several tons!"
Merek hid a chuckle as he saw the boys excitment.
   "Yes we all saw it Terryn. You're much more useful then we thought." He remarked.
Terryn beamed at him for a moment, then realized the stab in the back in that statement.
   "Oi!" He shouted.
The company laughed and couldn't stop even after Terryn had joined in with them.
When they finally died down, Elowen finished off her coffee slipped off her white robe and rolled it up to use it as a pillow. Then she lied down on the hard stone, covered in a bed of moss. Peace flowed over her like a river, allowing her mind to go still and fall into a deep sleep where she prayed dreams would leave her be.

{+++}

Tears streamed down her cheeks, her long blond hair hung loose around her shoulders, swept in her face by the wind and the storm. 
They had feared this would be their fate. 
Her eyes took in the flaming torches and the spears and swords held firmly in the grasp of the city she grew up in. They're resentment towards her and her family was like a knife in her heart. 
   "Feyeon!" 
She turned to see her beloved standing in the door way of the keep. He walked up to her and looked out at the walls. 
   "We must get the boys out of the city. It is not safe for any of us here." He said, taking her hand and guiding her into the keep. 
Two boys followed behind them, packs on their backs, their faces solemn and sad. 
Elowen realized the youngest, who couldn't be older then four years old, looked strangely familiar.
   "Mother, why must we go?" He asked, jogging a step and taking her hand.
Feyeon looked down at him with a forced smile.
   "We're going, because we need a vacation." 
The little boy cocked his head at her, his blue eyes piercing hers with curiosity. She could tell he wanted to ask questions, but he knew it was not the time to ask them.

{+++}

Elowen awoke, gasping for air, and jolting upright.
Her body shivered of the usual cold sweats that always accompanied the dreams. She pushed her fair hair away from her forehead and glanced around.
The fire was still burning bight, but the others were fast asleep.
After a moment, she rose from the ground and walked away from the camp, yearning for fresh air to clear her head.
   She found it in one of the cracks in the wall. Dawn was just approaching, the soft rays warmed her face and soothed her racing mind. She knew now her dreams were of the past. Feyoen, and her husband had indeed fled from Asmodea when her father died. He had been the only thing between his daughter and the rising rage of the city for what was viewed as betrayal to her people.
It was written in books that when the mob broke into the keep, they found no trace of the family, or where they had gone. This is when the line of the kings was broken because no one ever came back to claim it.

   "Ellie?"
The voice broke her out of her thoughts of the past, making her jump slightly. She turned her head and found herself looking into a piercing blue gaze full of curiosity.
The air got sucked out of her as some of the pieces fell in place. But she had let it show on her face, which he noticed.
   "What's wrong?" He asked.  
She hastily shook her head.
   "Nothing I just..." She sighed. She hated lying, she always avoided it as much as she could, and she didn't want to start now. He looked at her, knowing she didn't want to say what was on her mind, but having a feeling it was about him the way she was dodging his gaze.
   "I have something to tell you." He said, deciding to break the ice first. He watched has her breathing hitched and she slowly looked his way. Ultimately, she was a mess. There was dark circles under her forest green eyes, she was pale and her skin glistened with sweat telling him she hadn't slept well.
   "There are something's you don't know about me. And I know that if we're going to be friends I've got to be a bit more trusting." He started, feeling a bit dumb but did his best to ignore the feeling and keep going.
   "I -"
   "You're a Falionite." She answered for him.
He looked up at her in shock. He never told anyone that, he had lived most his life on Cevlon, so most believed he had lived there all his life. And he saw no reason to contradict them.
   "How did you...?" He asked.
She drew in a sharp breath and gazed up at the rising sun.
   "Ever since I...I died," She struggled to get that word out, still not fully believing she had died. "I've been having these dreams. I didn't know what they meant, but now they're far enough along I know what Eleyos is showing me."
Dreyden still hadn't the slightest clue what she was talking about.
   "It started out with the last princess Falion ever had. Feyoen..."
She spent the next half hour explaining the dreams she's had since she woke up from death. As she did, she watched Dreyden carefully, not sure how he'd react when she had learned his past. His eyes showed shock, but his face was marble. Hard and cold, showing no emotion at all.
When she was finished, he didn't say anything for a long time.
He looked at the still sleeping forms to make sure none of them had awaken before he went to speak.
   "It's true. You already know that."
She let out her breath as if she had been waiting for him to claim she was mistaken.
   "All my life I've kept that a secret. It weighed me down to the point I thought I might die from it's weight. So first off, I want to thank you." He said, meaning every word he said. Elowen smiled reassuringly and gratefully at him, knowing he meant it.
He waited a moment, expecting her to speak.
   "This is usually where the volley of questions come in, or the broken jaws, or the yelling, or something!" He said anxiously.
Elowen's smile grew bigger as she shook her head.
   "I know you better then most people who would do that. Just because you have a fancy title doesn't mean you, yourself has changed."
Drey was shocked by her level head, and how she handled the news. But something told him she had guessed it a while ago.
   "But I do have one question," She said slowly.
He nodded, knowing that was bound to happen.
   "How did you get to Cevlon? I know your family was desperate to get you to safety, knowing they had to preserve the line somehow. And I know your father was in a field when the Nigvourians attacked, but...what happened after that?"
He drew in a deep breath and propped himself up on the bolder Terryn had moved the day before.
   "Because my father was a Cevlonian, he still had his yerto. He had kept him hidden in a grove, in middle of the forest for emergencies like that night. Originally he had hoped to save us all, so he had several other yertos there so my brother and mother could come as well. But..."
The memory was a painful one as it flashed back into his mind.

He tore through the underbrush, ignoring the cuts he got from the branches and thrones. Falling several times along the way, but those weren't the cause of the tears.
When he broke through the forest and into the grove he saw three brightly colored yertos. His father stood saddling them up, tightening the straps, making adjustments. But when he heard the rustling of the leaves, he pulled out his long sword and stood ready. When Dreyden appeared out of the bushes, he quickly lowered his sword and rushed over to his son.
   "Drey! You're alright." He said, hugging him tightly. 
Drey had tried to keep the tears from falling, had tried to be the bigger man but he was only eight. 
   "Where's your mother and brother?" His father asked. 
That's when he lost it. 
His father's eyes grew misty when he realized the cause of his tears. He hugged his only living son closer and took a minute to get himself composed. 
   "Come, we must get you away from here." He said quickly. Leading him to one of the yertos. He gave him a lift up and quickly instructed him how to keep control over the massive bird. 
There was a yell, and the crunching of breaking branches could be heard coming closer. His father pulled out his sword and turned to the oncoming Nigvourian. 
   "You must go Dreyden!" He shouted of the battle cry. 
Drey was screaming at his father, but he turned and gave him a look that silenced him. 
   "One of us must make it out of here alive. You must take up your place on the throne Dreyden. It must be you! You're the one who has equal claim to both. you have to join the worlds together. Now go!" 
His father had made a hand signal to the bird Drey was on, and the bird ruffled out it's wings and took flight. Taking a devastated boy with him, and leaving behind a doomed father.

A warm hand was intertwined with his. His eyes snapped up as he saw Elowen's face close to his. Tears were in his own eyes, clouding his vision, but he couldn't mistake the sadness in her eyes as she squeezed his hand hard.
She knew.
She knew what that grief was like. She had been ripped away from her own family more times then she cared to remember.
He wasn't alone.
Drey rose from the rock and pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her, resting his head on her shoulder.
Elowen was slightly shocked by the sudden embrace, but quickly hugged him back. She knew what a simple hug could do, even if it came from a stranger that understood.
She could feel his tears against her skin, her arms squeezed tighter as she tried to keep her own from spilling.
She had seen it. She had seen the whole scene. Before, she had never understood how much this boy had lost. But now she realized that he had lost more than any child should at such a young age. He had not only lost his home, but his family that loved him dearly, and because of that love, were willing to sacrifice their lives to make sure his was spared.
   "You're not alone Drey." She whispered, giving up the fight of keeping her tears back. His grip on her back tightened to the point she struggled a little to breath, but she didn't try to weasel out of it.
   "Thanks Ellie. It means a lot. Especially coming from you." He answered.
   "Ahem."
Ellie jumped in shock, pulling away from Dreyden and turning to see who was standing behind her.
It was just about everyone.
Merek had that look on his face that said 'I know everything, don't try to deny it', where as Ysmay and Sonera were giving genuine smiles like they were happy for her.
   "Well you two have been busy." Merek observed.
   "And if you mean by busy that we're simply getting to know each other then yes, Merek, we've been busy. But this is really not the time for that, so Terryn, you get a good nights sleep yes?" Elowen barely let him nod his head before she went on.
   "Good, then lets get to work. And Merek, keep your gop shut." She said in a playful but deadly tone.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter 16: A Dark
Heart



Kade awoke with a ringing in his head that could be the death of him.
It was too bright out, even behind his tightly closed eyelids. He wanted it to go away. He wanted it all to go away.
Why couldn't things be just the way they were before? All this magic, and all these strange things on Falion gave him nothing but an unwanted headache.
Maybe that's why they decided to ignore each other. He thought glumly. Too much of a pain to think other wise.

Moments slipped by and he realized he was cold. Freezing.
He finally opened his eyes and was blinded with the bright sunrays. When his eyes had finally adjusted he rose into a sitting position. All the leather he wore was stiff, making it hard to move. He moved his hand out to help himself up, but jumped back when they came in contact with something wet and cold.
   "What in Eleyos' name....?" His voice was gravely and horce. A groan left his lips as he forced his muscles to work with him. When he rose he looked around, and saw nothing but white to the north, but as he turned around, nothing but black dirt covered the south.
The winter chill nipped at him, a shiver ran down his spine as he pulled his cloak closer.
   "Where in the blazes am I?" He mumbled, rubbing his hands together, trying to keep them warm. Snow fell from the sky like ash, landing in his hair, and on his eyelashes.
He knew he had to keep moving or risk freezing, but there was the decision on which way to go. The north looked like a barren waist land full of snow and harsh winds, that didn't look inviting, but then it was either that or another barren waist land that was black instead of white. Neither option looked good.
   "Kade..."
He jumped and turned in a full circle. Seeing nothing but the snow, he suspected the voice had been his imagination.
   "Marvelous, I'm loosing my mind as well. It's all because of that bloody ghost, and that bloody Magi." He grumbled.
   "Kade..."
He rationalized that he wouldn't imagine the same voice twice. It was a child's voice. But it seemed to float across the wind, making it difficult to pinpoint the origin.
   "Who's there?!" He called out.
Only silence answered his call. Kade scowled at himself, now he was talking to the wind. Of course it wasn't as silly as talking to a ghost.
   "Kade..."
This time he was able to pin point it's location among the wind. It was coming from the south. Having no better idea, or place to go, he headed south.

The snow fell thickly around him, soon covering his eyelashes, and what ever black hair that poked out from under his cowl.
He shivered as the chill froze him, starting from the fingers and toes, and going up.
   "Kade..."
He growled at the voice.
   "It's definitely a child. Only children are this annoying. Well them and this gang of idiots I've been stuck with." He grumbled to himself.
As he moved towards the black ground, the chill grew stronger, eventually his whole body was going into spasms that made the going harder.

   When his feet finally met the black soil, he couldn't make it out, why would there be snow everywhere, but here?
   "What is this?" He whispered, bending down and grabbing a handful of the dirt. It was as light as snowflakes, and as it slipped through his fingers, he saw that it was more like snowflakes then he thought, it didn't look like any kind of dirt he had seen.
   "Kade."
His head jerked up as he realized the sound was closer than before. He spotted a figure a little ways off. It was small, but he couldn't tell if it was an illusion. He walked towards the figure, not knowing what else to do. But he unsheathed his broad sword as he did.
Better safe than sorry, he thought.
The closer he came to the figure, the more he realized with a shock, it really was as small as it had appeared to be.
Before long, he was standing face to face with a child, that came no higher than the middle of his chest. His pure gold hair was long, brushing his shoulders as it moved in the wind. His eyes matched his hair, Kade realized in disbelief. Sonera was the only one with a shocking complexion, but this boy was even more shocking. Another thing that bothered Kade, was that the boy wore only a light tunic and pants. No shoes were on his small feet, and he didn't seem to even feel the cold at all.
   "Kade, you've been forgetting me." The boy said.
Kade figured a normal child would make this statement with resentment, and hurt. But neither of these were in this strange boy's tone. Instead it was sadness, but not for himself, Kade realized, but for him.
   "You have forgotten my promises, and my commands." The boy stated again.
Kade shook his head and placed his sword back in his sheath, realizing the boy held no immediate danger for him.
   "Who are you? And what in Eleyos' name are you going on about?!" He asked, annoyed with the way the boy was looking at him. That even though he was just a sprout, he looked at him as if he held all the secrets of the world.
The boy's eyes lit up and he nodded eagerly, as if Kade had said something right.
Kade was confused by this and didn't know what to make of this.
   "What?" He asked as the boy gestured for him to go on.
   "You said my name. I had thought you had forgotten me!"
Kade looked at the boy like he was insane for a moment before it dawned on him. And then it was disbelief.
   "Unbelievable.' He muttered. "Are you series? You can't be..."
The boy just looked at him and smiled.
   "For someone who claims to be my friend, you are not very loyal."
Kade shook his head and ran a hand through his hair before laughing nervously.
   "This is insane. I must have hit my head, or that bloody ghost's magic messed up with my head. Because this conversation isn't happening. You are not real, I am dreaming that's all. And I'll wake up back on Cevlon and still have a job, still have the one I love and -"
There was a sudden stinging sensation on his jaw. He hadn't seen the boy move, but he stood now in front of him, a hard look in his eye as he lowered his hand.
   "You have never known how to love me Kade. You are an Infidel. You are a fraud. you do not believe what you preach. You never learned how to love, and that is why, Kade, you find yourself alone, with no friends to turn too."
The violet eyed boy stood speechless, as the sudden slap in the face awoken him to how he had lived his life.
He was suddenly overwhelmed by grief. He saw moments in his life when he had let other things take first place in his life instead of Eleyos which he had always claimed to follow. He realized that he thought his status and occupation was far more important than his faith. He remembered how Sonera lived her life. She always put Eleyos first before her status. He remembered the fire in her blue eyes when she objected to him killing Elowen. That was putting Eleyos before her occupation, she had been doing that all her life. But he had never learned from it.
   "You are sorry." The boy realized, his expression softening back into sadness. "I know you thought you were doing the right thing. But you should learn from your friend. She has been on the right path, while you veered from it."
Tears streamed down his face as he felt the remorse, and grief hit him like a crashing wave.
   "I'm sorry." He cried. "I do not deserve to follow you. I have done nothing but defy you, over and over again. You should have struck me down."
Eleyos shook his head, his gold hair ruffled against the wind.
   "No. I give people second chances. I do not with hold that from them. I love them too much. It hurts me when I know they don't want me, so I give them chances to turn back to me. But Kade, I want to know if you'll follow me with your heart and your mind. I want to know that you will not let earthly things stand in your way of following me to where I ask you too go."
Kade nodded eagerly, and fell to his knees. He felt so overwhelmed with emotions, that he knew that Eleyos was showing him his own grief when one of his followers turns his back on him. And he couldn't bear it.
   "I will do as you say, I swear it."
Eleyos saw the sincerity in his eyes and nodded.
   "It's nice to have a friend back." He said with a wonderful smile, that showed the joy that flooded over him and into Kade's heart.
   "But this is not the only reason why I have brought you here Kade. There is something I must show you."
Eleyos led the way across the black dirt to what seemed to be some sort of rift. Kade marveled as flowers, and green grass appeared in his footsteps as if spring had come again, leaving behind small luminescent flowers, but then his eyes were drawn to the black dirt once again.
   "What kind of dirt is this? I have never seen it before." Kade ventured to ask.
   "It's not dirt." Eleyos said, turning his head so he could look at him. "It's ash."
Kade jolted in shock as he glanced down at where his feet stood warily.
The two continued walking for some good time. Eventually Kade's muscles warmed up enough to work properly, he even began to get feelings back in his fingertips and nose.
The rift came closer steadily. And Kade realized it was wider and deeper than he could see.
   "What is this?" He asked as they came to the edge of it. He cautiously stepped on the edge and peered into the darkness. His jaw fell as he realized why the area around the pit had no snow on it.
Down in the darkness, a glow could be seen of lava that moved around gently, lapping at the edges of the pit of rock, occasionally an air pocket would burst through the surface, making a splash.
   "This is Viglour's prison." Eleyos said calmly.
Kade's eyes grew wide. As if invoked by his name, or Eleyos' presence, a man appeared in the lava. His torso was bare, his arms stretched out at his sides, chained to the walls by massive chains that could hold a boat down and crush it. His long black hair covered most of his face, but no one could mistake the great evil in his eyes that shone bloodshot red. But what scared, or surprised Kade the most was the set of black feathered wings on the man's back.
Yes, everyone knew the story that Viglour was the greatest angel, but had fallen when he tried to over throw Eleyos, but Kade had never imagined that he had yerto wings on his back!
   "Eleyos," The man said. Though he did not raise his voice into a shout, he could still be heard as plain as if he were standing right beside them.
   "How wondrous of you to grace me with your presence." The man faked a bow with his head before giving them an evil grin.
   "Viglour has been working on getting free." Eleyos explained, turning to Kade.
   "Slowly, he has been chipping away at the magic that restrains him. I can not keep him back on my own."
   "Is this why you need Elowen and the rest of them to get the Lost Gems?" Kade asked.
Eleyos nodded.
   "Yes but that is not the whole of the plan. I have someone very special in mind for a very special task. But it will take time for her to be ready."
Kade nodded slowly, understanding the boy's plan and caution. But he wondered why they were speaking of this plan in front of the enemy.
Eleyos turned and looked down at Viglour.
   "Viglour, I brought Kade to you to show that he is no longer yours to control. Your grip on his heart has slipped, he no longer belongs to you. He will keep your plan from working, he's the one who will delay it."
   "Ah, delay it! That does not mean I wont get out eventually!" Viglour snarled.
Eleyos shook his head in a sad manner.
   "Unfortunately, Viglour, you never took my word to mean much. You have always tossed it aside, always questioned my authority. But now I tell you, you will not win. Just because you will be delayed, doesn't mean you wont be destroyed if you keep this path."
Viglour seemed to roll his eyes at the boy and shook his head.
   "It's always the same speech with you Eleyos. You are so predictable. I'm shocked you haven't given up yet."
Eleyos still had that sad look in his eyes.
   "I never give up on anyone."
Viglour scoffed and looked like a parent that knew he would not get through to his child.
   "Kade, I have a special task for you." Eleyos said, guiding Kade away from the pit.
In low tones, he explained what he wanted for him to do. Kade nodded in acknowledgement, but one thing bugged him.
   "I was teleported here by magic. How am I to get to Asmodea?" He asked.
Eleyos smiled, rose his fingers to his lips and let out a loud whistle.
Kade looked hesitantly at him.
Who was he going to call in the middle of a barren waist land? He wondered.
A dark streak made it's way across the dull sky. He looked eagerly, his hand going to the hilt of his sword on instinct.
As the streak got closer he realized with a light heart, that he recognized those feathered wings!
   "Thorodan!" He cried excitedly at the sight of his old friend.
The yerto landed a few feet away. Squawking when he rushed up and hugged his neck.
   "Go, and make hast. Show them this," Eleyos handed him an orb which he produced out of thin air. "they will believe you then."
Kade nodded, saddened to leave Eleyos, but knowing the weight of what he had asked him to do.
   "Safe travels Kade. And do not give hope, things aren't always what they seem to be."
Kade thanked him by touching his fingers from his forehead to his heart. Eleyos did the same and moved away as Kade nudged Thorodan into flight, making an oath to himself that he would never veer from the narrow path Eleyos had placed him on once again.
Never again would he fail him.

Chapter Fifteen

Merek nodded, and turned to the ghost, who hadn't moved from his position near the entrance.
   "King Taleus." He called.
The king was drawn out of his thoughts as he heard his name being called.
   "Hmm? Yes?"
   "Do you think we could have that clue now?" Merek asked.
The king floated over to them and studied them all one by one.
   "Ah, I see you have come to a stand still. Yes indeed young Elowen, you are not strong enough to open the wards. So here are my words to you: One alone is never enough, but two, can do what ever it is they set their minds too."
For a moment, all they could do was just stare at the ghost. Not believing that was all he had to say. But when the old ghost said nothing more, they got the gist.
   "Are you serious?" Sonera grumbled under her breath. "Oh Eleyos help us."
  "Okay so what does that mean? Any ideas lass?"
Elowen was drawn out of her thoughts when Merek waved his hand in front of her face.
   "I said, do you have any ideas what that means." He repeated.
   "Oh, well I have an idea..." She turned and studied Terryn for a moment. Drey had said he never showed the marks of a Magi, and he hadn't shown any signs of being able to see magic earlier either, but that also had to do with the fact that there was no magic on Cevlon. Which would account for why it was showing now. So the real question was, did he really just have the sight, but not the gift? Or did he have both?

   "Why are you starring at me? Do I have something on my face?" Terryn asked, getting nervous of her starring at him.
   "Would you do me a favor?" She asked, her mind made up. She'd test him herself.
   "Sure..." He answered hesitantly.
   "Hold this for me." She shoved her staff in to his hand before he could say a word.
   "What...? O-okay."
She stood back and watched, with her arms across her chest.
   "El? What are you doing?" She only acknowledged to Drey's question was telling him to shush.
   "Is there a reason as to why I am holding this staff?" Terryn asked. "I mean it's not that it's not a nice staff but..." His words were cut off when the staff began to glow.
   "What are you doing Ellie?" Terryn asked in rising horror. "Is this some spell of yours? A practical joke? Because it's not funny!"
   "I'm not doin' it." She protested, but with a slight smile on her face as her theory was proven correct.
   "But you have to be doin' it! There's no one else that could be!" Ysmay cried.
   "No one that would be doing it consciously anyways." Ellie corrected.
Ysmay was quick of wit, and had lots of smarts. Maybe even more then the boys. She caught on quick and looked at Terryn in shock.
   "Is that why he can see magic?" She asked.
Ellie nodded.
   "Okay will someone please explain what in the blazes is going on here?!" Merek shouted, getting their attention.
   "Yes please do!" Terryn squeaked.
   "You said," Ellie pointed to Drey. "that he had never shown signs of being a Magi. But what you should have said was, since you've known him!"
Drey's eyes grew huge as he understood the meaning in her words.
   "Wait, so you're saying that he...he's a..." For some reason he couldn't bring himself to say the word. But it was because of the same reason that he couldn't picture his friend and practically younger brother as that word.
   "I think I'd remember something like that Ellie." Terryn pointed out.
   "You were probably very little when it happened."
   "But why would it have happened at all? I mean I've lived on Cevlon." Terryn pointed out. Ellie cocked an eyebrow and studied him.
   "Did ya now?" She said slowly, in a tone that said 'lie to me and you'll be sorry.'
Terryn sighed and handed Elowen her staff back.
   "I have, for the past eight years." He answered quietly.
   "...Where were you before the past eight years?" Ysmay asked, her usual quiet and even tone becoming a pitch higher.
Terryn looked at her with deep sad eyes, giving her her answer. She gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.
   "You...you're a Falionite?" She whispered.
He nodded with his head hanging loosely on his shoulders.
   "Why didn't you tell us?" Merek asked, his tone quieter then usual.
   "Because! You would have treated me differently. And it happened a long time ago anyways! I tried my best to forget my past. And I did...most of the time."
   "So..."
   "No we don't have time to ask him to retell his whole entire history." Elowen cut in before any other questions could be asked.
   "The two that king Taleus was referring to, was you and I."
   "But I've never had the training! And it's never even bothered me 'til now. So how am I suppose to help?"
   "We'll just have to hope that you are a very fast learner."
Once Ellie had a goal set in her mind, she worked hard to make it happen.
   "Alright it's really easy actually, with the...uh...proper motivation. Okay come here. Let me see if I can do this right." She motioned to him with her hand a little impatiently but still encouraging.
He was hesitant but came over just the same.
Ellie took his hands her own, his were startling cold compared to hers, but she didn't have time to dwell on that.
   "There was this spell that was used in times of war and great need. It takes years to learn how to channel a Magi's power and strength to where it will actually do something. But when war came the king needed Magi quickly. They were his...well his weapons." Terryn's pulse raced. "but also his healers." She added quickly. "But that's not the point really. As I said, it takes years, and years to train to be anything useful to a king. So the masters came up with a spell that allowed them to bleed information into younger Magi. Letting them become strong Magi in half the time."
Terryn looked at her with wide trusting eyes.
   "And you think you could do this to me?"
Elowen bit her lip and glanced down at her feet.
   "Well..."
   "No. In reality, she cannot."
Everyone looked up to find the ghost standing between Elowen and Terryn.
The ghost regarded her for a moment then looked at Terryn.
   "She has neither the strength, or the experience. If she attempts this spell it will kill her, and damage you."
She groaned, furious at her own weakness.
   "Then what do you suggest I do?" She cried at the old ghost. "How else are we to get this Gem? We need it, and the wards are too strong for me to undo by myself. And Terryn needs to learn anyways, you should know what happens when a Calling is ignored."
The rest of the gang couldn't help but feel they were missing half the conversation, and only got half the meaning in Ellie's words. Terryn glanced from the ghost to Ellie, then to Dreyden and Merek. Wanting some kind of explanation of what was going on.
The ghost nodded slowly.
   "Yes, I know all about a Calling being defied." His tone was one of grief and sadness. Elowen went quiet immediately and hung her head in disgrace. Of course he knew, how could she have been so naive?
   "I know you are trying to do two impossible jobs young maiden." The ghost's tone went from sad, to encouraging and understanding. Ellie looked up at him with hope flickering in her bright green eyes.
   "You are trying to keep your friends safe, while trying to accomplish a dangerous quest. Sadly, you cannot do both."
Tears stung her eyes. This was something she didn't want to hear, but something she knew in her heart to be true.
She was just a girl.
A girl with hardly any training, and an impossible goal to achieve. How she was going to do it, she didn't know. She wasn't even sure she could!
   "So let me help you by taking some of the burden off your shoulders." The ghost finished.
Ellie watched in shock as the ghost moved over to the boy standing several paces away. He rose his hand, 'til it hovered over Terryn's forehead.
   "Let your mind go blank child." He gently ordered. Terryn's fear was plain for all to see on his face, but his eyes locked with Ysmay's. He saw the fierceness in her eyes that was so rare to see if anyone saw it at all. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he knew it was meant for him. Her face gave him courage, and he did as the ghost asked. He closed his eyes and let everything go blank.
The old ghost began to chant a spell, and only then did Elowen really see how complicated the spell was, and how much energy it would take from her.
   "How...how can he do that?" Dreyden whispered to her from behind her.
She shrugged her shoulders in wonder.
   "I have no clue actually, it shouldn't be possible, but....ghosts aren't even suppose to exist either so...Eleyos can do what ever he wants?" She suggested, not taking her eyes off Terryn and king Taleus.
For a long moment, everyone stood still and as silent as a grave.
Ysmay was gripping Elowen's hand for comfort, or just to hide the anxiety she was feeling.
It seemed the whole world held it's breath as they watched the boy and the ghost.
Finally after what seemed like years, the ghost moved away from Terryn.
   "You will be in a bit of pain for a while," The ghost said. His voice softer then it ever was before. "but you can now access your magic willingly." He turned to Dreyden and looked him in the eye.
   "My job here is done, may Eleyos see that it was done to the best of my abilities. But listen," His gaze pierced Drey's not allowing him to move.
   "The day may come when you'll have to face the things you have forgotten, and the things you wish to no longer remember. And when that time comes, you will have to take on the responsibilities it entails. But remember...you are never alone."
The king held his head high, a noble and respected air flowing off him. He clutched his sword tightly as the outline of his transparent form began to dim.
Elowen moved towards him, but stopped when he smiled at her.
   "You are his strength." said his last words, before he faded completely.
Leaving them alone once again.

Ysmay looked around cautiously but didn't see the ghost reappear anywhere.
She let go of Ellie's hand and ran over to Terryn who was standing there dazed.
   "Are you alright? How much pain are you in? Do you...feel any different?"
She couldn't help but feel like a mother, since she had acted like one for so long with these boys.
She checked his forehead but didn't find it feverish. When she touched him he came out of his daze and looked around for a moment before seeing her in front of him. He gently pulled her hand down, causing her to blush a little.
   "I'm fine Ysmay. You always worry so much. My head just hurts a little, but I'll be just fine."
   "Are you sure?" She pestered. "I know I sound a little annoying, but it seems that I'm the only one who actually watches out for you and all your stupid cuts you get from playing with those stupid little knives and -"
Her rambling was cut off when Terryn's lips crashed onto hers gently.
Ysmay's eyes grew as wide as a ywen, and she lost her breath.
For years she dreamed of actually being able to kiss Terryn, but those were just dreams! There's a difference when one's dreams turn into realities.
But shocking herself, she didn't pull back, and when she didn't Terryn smiled against her lips. Relieved he hadn't made a huge mistake.

Elowen couldn't help the gasp from escaping her as she watched what happened. Sonera just  smiled, as if she had expected this any moment.
The boys on the other hand, obviously never had the thought cross their minds.
   "Terryn and....and Ysmay?" Merek muttered. "That's just...." He was silenced when the two girls gave him a look.
   "That's....just lovely. Yes indeed, it's just fantastic." Merek quickly covered.
Ellie grinned at Sonera, who let a faint smile cross her face.
   "You should have seen it coming from a mile away," Sonera commented. "Oh! but of course! You're lads."
   "What's that suppose to mean?" Dreyden asked.
The girls chuckled as they saw how clueless they were.

Neither Ysmay nor Terryn wanted to stop, but when Elowen tapped her shoulder, Ysmay pulled away and let her hair fall into her face, trying in vain to hide her crimson cheeks.
   "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but could you do that latter?" Ellie asked, in her innocent way. "Like, say when we get this Gem and get out of here? Besides I really don't think that's going to help with his concentration."
Ysmay closed her eyes in slight embarrassment and nodded, moving away from Terryn.
   "Yes of course. My apologies." She muttered quietly.
Elowen gave her a smile, but shook her head.
   "No need to apologize. It's not something you should be sorry for, but Terryn we really need to get to work."
Terryn nodded.
   "Alright let's get over with it then, I don't like it down here."
Elowen nodded and turned to everyone else.
   "Why don't you guys go and break camp." She suggested. "I don't want to be here long, but I have to make sure Terryn's got everything under control."
Merek looked at her like she had just suggested they go dance a jig and stand on their heads for an hour!
   "Break camp?! Why would we break camp?" He asked in pure shock.
   "I have to test Terryn to make sure he has everything under control! Just because he has the knowledge, doesn't mean he knows how to use it." She pointed out, but it was easy to tell they weren't convinced.
   "Unless of course you're keen to let the wards do their job if we tamper with them wrong and then everyone will be fried to a crisp."
Once she pointed out the danger, the boys understood her reasoning.
Sonera led them to a dry area a little ways away from the pedestal, and they all collapsed on the floor, secretly glad for the rest.

   "Alright Terryn," Elowen said, turning to the dirty haired boy next to her. But she noticed he wasn't listening. She followed his gaze and couldn't hide the smile.
   "Ahem." She cleared her throat and tapped on his shoulder.
   "Huh?" He turned to her with a look of questioning. She chuckled and shook her head.
   "You sure do like her don't you? I'm just surprised it took you this long."
Terryn's face turned from questioning, to annoyed, then to embarrassment.
   "What do you mean?"
   "Well it's obvious that she's liked you for a while."
   "It is?!" He asked in alarm.
Ellie nodded and then nodded to Ysmay as she glanced over at the two of them.
   "Yeah..."
   "How?" Terryn forced his voice to go lower as he glanced back at the dark haired girl.
   "Well...I could see it in her eyes when you were...uh...wounded."
   "So I've just been blind?"
Ellie shook her head hastily.
   "No! No, no, no! That's not what I meant...." She sighed. "I'm sorry, this isn't going well. That's the thing about me is I always blow my chance by talking too much and then it's all ruined."
Terryn surprised her by laughing.
   "I think you could talk all you want, and Dreyden wouldn't mind one bit." He kindly said, only causing her to blush.
   "Right, well I think we should leave each other's love lives alone for right now and move on to more important things. Like making sure you actually know how to work your magic, and then getting out of this accursed place."