Chapter Twenty-Four (Pt.2)

Kayla pushed her plate away. “I never thought I could feel so full.”

“You did have two servings,” said Leah as she spooned the remnants of hers into her mouth.

“Well, they shouldn’t make it so delicious then. Anyway, once we leave on our missions, who knows how long it’ll be before I can enjoy such delicious fare?” She rested her hands comfortably on her satiated belly as those around her laughed.

Leah sat back with a sigh. “I was beginning to think Father would never approve them.”

“Looking forward to your mission?” said Baily, another commander.

She nodded. “I still can’t believe Berkhos chose me to head the patrol to set up the second encampment.”

“Hard work.”

“That’s why I’m...” Her head flinched back, and she blinked rapidly. “… looking forward...”

“Are you alright?” asked Kayla.

Her gaze unfocused, Leah said, “Am I... what?”

“Are you unwell? You’re looking a bit... strange.”

“Umm... no, it’s nothing... Excuse me.” Ignoring their frowns, she got to her feet so abruptly, she almost knocked her chair over.

What’s going on? What’s happening? Please, goddess, not again. Not more trickery. As she half-ran to her room, Leah tried to ignore the fact that everything around her was gradually beginning to shimmer again; when she’d looked at Kayla, she’d been able to discern her aura.

Slamming the door behind her, she leant against it. Shutting her eyes tight, she could no longer deny that she could ‘see’ the energy-streams. Fighting to remove her tunic, she studied her shoulder closely in the mirror. No scar had mysteriously re-appeared to mark her skin. “Why is this happening?” But silence was her only answer. 

*          *          *          *

Leah slowly came awake, lying on the covers where she’d fallen asleep without undressing fully. The curtains were still open and the light from the torches outside bathed the room in an ethereal glow. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes, wondering what had woken her. Her mouth went dry as her stomach churned; she could sense the presence of another in the room with her.

“Who’s there?” she said, her voice shrill.

“Leah...” It was a woman’s voice, soft and serene.

Struggling to breathe, she shuddered, a chill enclosing her heart. Her gaze darted around the room, but she couldn’t see anyone. “Who are you? I can feel you... why can’t I see you?”

“I am here, child, by your side.”

Jerking away, she almost fell off her bed. “Who...?”

“I am the one you always invoke.”

Feeling as scared as a child, Leah frowned. “The one I always...” Surely not... how is that possible? “Goddess...?”

A soft chuckle sounded next to her.

“Terrenia...” Eyes bulging, Leah slid off the bed to kneel on the floor. I must be dreaming...

“You are very much awake, child. Do not be afraid. I keep my form from you for it would surely blind you. And to appear in any other form would only serve to add to your mistrust.”

“Why... why would I–?”

“You are confused because the magic has returned.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded.

“This is nothing to be afraid of. After all, you have endured, Leah, Patriarchus has chosen to reward you. For resisting the pull of the darkness, resisting the lure of the dark one, for using your powers responsibly, my lord husband has granted that you be allowed to keep your magic. Though it cannot be as powerful as when you first had it.”

Opening and closing her mouth, yet Leah could say nothing.

“Use your abilities wisely as you were doing before. Keep it secret if you so desire. But know this, if you go against the powers of light, retribution will be swift and merciless.”

“But...” She clasped her hands together, momentarily pressing them against her mouth. “I haven’t used it responsibly. I-I... killed that man.”

“Yes, that is true. You used your power to take a life. But it was not as simple as that. If your brother had not been in danger, the outcome may well have been different. You have been in dangerous situations before when you could have used your powers to save yourself... even to save your comrades. But you always relied on your skills as a warrior.”

“I-I don’t... Wait. How do I know this isn’t another trick?” As the thought occurred to her, so too did her voice grow stronger.

“You do yourself credit by questioning this. But be assured, this time, your gift is from the light. Hopefully, this will convince you of the truth of my words.”

Leah felt a feather-light touch against her neck, realising in that moment that she was, once again, alone. Her hand crept to her neck to touch the silver chain that had mysteriously appeared. Getting to her feet, she moved to the window and held it up.

The silver pendant that hung from it caught the torchlight from outside; it was a miniature version of the carving that graced the top of the temple: a trident embedded in a mound of earth, the symbol of the father of the gods, and his consort. 

*          *          *          *

Even though she still had a lot of preparation to sort through for her impending mission, Leah still found time to spend with her family. Sitting on one of the stone benches by the oval pond in the palace gardens, Leah and Maeve watched as Evalan ran in wide circles, arms held out to the sides.

“There are times I wonder about him,” said Leah with a giggle.

Maeve eyed her. “Because, of course, you never indulge in similar mad pastimes.”

Leah did a double take at her mother before smiling sheepishly. Only moments before, she’d been chasing her young brother in and out of the manicured trees.

“When he is like this, it’s as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. And yet, I worry...”

“Mother, you wouldn’t be you if you weren’t worried.”

“Don’t be facetious, young lady.”

Leah laughed, taking her mother’s hand in hers. Her laughter fading, she looked Maeve in the eye. “I know you and Father worry that Evalan’s ordeal has left some mark on him. It probably has, but he’s stronger than you give him credit for, you know. And I think what you’ve been through has given him the strength he needs to work through this.”

A heavy sigh fell from Maeve’s lips.

“What?” said Leah when she remained silent.

“It’s nothing... foolish thought...”

“Another worry?”

She smiled humourlessly, and glanced at her daughter, blinking back tears.

Leah turned so she was facing Maeve. “Oh, Mother, what’s wrong? Tell me.”

“I feel... sometimes I feel like he’s being cheated of his childhood…”

She frowned. “How?”

“It should be me looking after him, not him looking out for me. And I...” By now her voice had fallen to a whisper. “I failed to keep him safe.”

Leah slipped off the bench to kneel before Maeve. “Oh, Mother, no. I’m the warrior. It was my job to keep Evalan safe, and you also. I’m the one who failed, not you. Besides, he doesn’t see it as a chore, when he keeps pace with you, supporting you as you walk. He loves it, he told me so. It gives him the chance to be close to you, without anyone thinking him a weak, foolish twelve-year-old...”

Dabbing at her tears, Maeve said, “Why would he think that? No one thinks him weak.”

Sighing, she shook her head. “No one I know thinks that... except Evalan. Because he’s the heir, he thinks he should show more... daring. He prefers more... gentle pursuits, unlike his warrior-sister...” She wrinkled her nose. “He doesn’t want to give anyone the chance to think he might be... soft?” she said, shrugging.

“Well, he survived being caught by brigands. How much more daring does he wish to be?”

Leah laughed. “I suppose that’s what we’ll have to tell him anytime he has doubts.”

“What’s so funny?”

They turned to where Evalan was standing before them.

Maeve held her hand out to him. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?”

Putting his hand in hers, he tilted his head to the side, a slight frown on his brow.

“I’m proud of you too,” said Leah, getting back up to sit on the bench.

“Why?”

“‘Why’, he asks,” said Maeve, raising her brows. She pulled him closer to her. “Because you’re so brave, that’s why.”

“All that you’ve endured,” said Leah, “yet you still take pleasure in what life offers you every day.”

His eyes widened, and his mouth went slack before he frowned. “How does that make me brave?”

Leah thought a moment before replying. “Because the easier way is to hide, keep yourself as safe as you can, and not risk yourself for anything...”

“But if I did that, then I’ll never see the places I want to see.”

“What places?” asked Maeve.

He was about to duck his head but shrugged instead. “I want to travel, Mother. Travelling to Kurabar that first time, I realised that is what I want to do more than anything. To travel... to go to Eastvale, to the grasslands…”

“To Porthaven,” said Leah, “and beyond the sea.”

Eyes wide, all Maeve could say was, “Oh...”

“Wanting to do all that makes you much braver than me, Curly-top,” said Leah, shaking her head yet smiling also.

“And me,” said Maeve, pressing her hand against her chest.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he swallowed a few times before speaking, his voice low. “What the brigands did... it still... sometimes I feel like I can’t... move, it still frightens me that much. But I won’t give up my dream. I can’t, it’s too big...”

Mother and daughter regarded him with wide smiles, though Maeve blinked rapidly against tears that threatened to fall.

He smiled slowly in return then shrugged expansively. “Though I don’t know how I’ll explain it to Father, to make him understand...”

Leah reached out to take hold of his hand. “You won’t have to convince him on your own.”

Straightening her posture, Maeve inclined her head, a gleam in her eye. “Leave your father to me, my dears.”

Grinning, Leah and Evalan exchanged meaningful glances; they both recognised that look in their mother’s eye, the one that was hard to defy.

“I could almost feel sorry for Father,” said Leah, and they laughed.

Skipping down the palace steps, humming to herself, Leah wondered when she’d last felt so happy and carefree. Spotting Karel heading in the direction of the stables, she sprinted towards him. “Karel. Wait.”

He turned, grinning widely. “Hello, stranger. Haven’t seen you for a while.”

“Busy, busy.”

“Your troop is heading out tomorrow, right?”

She nodded.

He eyed her. “Is everything alright? You’re looking a little, I don’t know... gleeful.”

“Something’s happened,” she said, bouncing lightly on her toes. “I’ve wanted to tell you but haven’t seen much of you. And as I’m leaving tomorrow–”

“So tell me.”

She looked around. “Not here. Let’s try the stables.”

Only a few stable hands were present, but there was no one at the far end, so Leah dragged Karel there. “Remember when... you-know-who almost had me?”

“How could I forget?” He rubbed his throat at the memory.

“And he took it away? Well...” Looking around, she spied a brush that had been left on a pile of hay. Without any effort, she floated it towards her.

With a startled cry, Karel stumbled back.

“Shh.”

“What do you mean, ‘shh’? You show me... that, and then you tell me to ‘shh’?”

She shrugged. “I’m sorry. I suppose I should have given you some sort of warning.”

He glared before exclaiming. “He’s tricked you. Again.”

“No, no. It’s not him. Look...” She pulled out the long chain so he could see the pendant. “This time, it’s from the gods.” As he stared at the pendant, cupped in his hand, she told him of her visit from Terrenia, Patriarchus’ consort.

Still holding the pendant, he raised his gaze. “Have you told your parents?”

Shaking her head, she said, “I’m not going to tell anyone. It’ll require too much explaining... it’s too complicated. I’ll simply do as I have been doing for the past three years, but this time, I can live my life free of guilt.”

“But you’re telling me–”

“You already knew. Besides, it’s nice to have someone I can share this with.”

He smiled widely, jamming his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know what to say. You honour me with your trust.”

Leaning back, she regarded him quietly before smiling.

“What?”

A small laugh escaped her as she shook her head. She turned to leave, but he stayed her with his hand on her arm.

“What’s so funny? Why did you look at me like that?”

Fiddling with her hair, struggling to find the right words, she couldn’t answer him straight away. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Karel, but you’re different to what I remember. I only ever thought of you as a skirt-chaser, but you’re not really like that, are you?”

Shrugging, he ducked his head. “I used to be. Learned the hard way that there’s more to life than only seeking pleasure.”

Leah started to walk towards the entrance, as did he. “I’m glad,” she replied with a smile as she glanced at him again. Returning her smile, he moved closer, his gaze still fixed on her. His hand brushed against hers. She laced her fingers through his as they walked out together.