Destiny

By S.J. Faerlind

The war has begun. The Warosthenne tribe take Anarion, Teryl and their Gryffin allies deeper into the desert, seeking an alliance with their kin against the Lord Defender. Feeling lost and powerless but lacking any other options, the Orryn go with them. Rediscovering their inner strength will be the only way they are able to fulfill their promise and regain purpose to their existence. As the final conflict approaches, Anarion and Teryl find their task to be increasingly difficult. Their friends and allies struggle to help them, but will that be enough? Their task is more important than they realize for their success or failure will ultimately determine the fate of humanity. Sometimes you must fail in order to succeed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.J. Faerlind
• Release date: Oct 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301827589

S.J. Faerlind

S.J. Faerlind is a fan of all fantasy genre creations: especially books, film and artwork. Writing fiction is a way for her to give life to her imagination and express her creativity. She also draws, sews and dances. These pursuits are also an convenient excuse for her to forget to fold the laundry.S.J also lives a more ordinary life outside of her imagination: she lives in a small town with her family, works in her other career, and grows flowers (and weeds!) in her gardens. By the way, don't worry about her spelling: she's Canadian. You can learn more about S.J. and her writing at: www.fantasyfictiononline.com .

Book preview

Destiny

Book Three: Lirieia’s Children

S.J. Faerlind

Copyright Notice

This is a work of fantasy fiction. Any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

Destiny: Book Three: Lirieia’s Children

S.J. Faerlind

Copyright 2013. By S.J. Faerlind. All rights reserved.

Published by S.J. Faerlind at Smashwords

Interior and cover illustrations by S.J. Faerlind

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

For my children:

May the wisdom of the goddess

go with you always.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Epilogue

Sauren’s Legacy

About the Author

1

Their excitement was beginning to diminish, rapidly becoming replaced by exhaustion. Surveying the battlefield from the air, they cautiously allowed the bubble of Translocation energy they held to dissipate. The enemy archers were either dead or had fled and the last of the enemy forces were rapidly retreating through the Lord Defender’s Translocation portal, harried by Jurel’s Gryffin Guard.

The desert had contributed significantly to their victory. Heat exhaustion had done as much to defeat the enemy as skill with weapons had. Though the enemy losses had been terrible compared to their own, they knew from the Orryn spy missions that they were insignificant to the Lord Defender. The human mage could come back as many times as he needed to, wearing them slowly away until they were lost.

They had been hopeful that they might have been able to kill the Lord Defender in the battle, but he had proven to be a cunning adversary who had far more experience in warfare than they. He had survived, and they realized they should be grateful they had as well after having faced such an opponent. They had learned much in the battle about their enemy, their allies, and even about themselves. Surveying the aftermath, they grimly wished they could unlearn it.

The dead and the dying lay everywhere, the sand beneath their mangled and broken bodies stained red. Cries and groans from the wounded mingled with the ever-present hissing of the desert sand driven by the wind. The Kokuratan walked among the fallen, slaying any of the enemy left alive. They were almost finished with the grisly business. For some of the fallen it was a mercy, but for others it was not. They turned away from the sight of it. Most of the dead were hapless peasants, forced to fight in an attempt to wear down the opposition before the Lord Defender sent his soldiers in. They had been armed with poor weapons and most of them hadn’t had a clue how to use them effectively. Jurel’s Gryffin and the desert dwellers had slaughtered them easily and very few had survived to flee the battlefield. Six of Kratyn’s Gryffin also lay dead.

Their own forces had not escaped unscathed. Three of Jurel’s Gryffin had fallen in battle and so had a number of Bavan’s Aguidal. Among the human dead, they recognized the warrior that had bested Tarsh in his final match on the night of their first competition. He would win no more victories in the games now. His dead eyes stared sightlessly at the flocks of carrion-eaters amassing in the skies above.

As their adrenaline levels faded, guilt began to creep into their consciousness. They tried to tell themselves that victory had been worth the price. The Orryn and the Gryffin were safe. The rest of the Warosthenne tribe were safe and their losses had apparently been staggeringly low considering the numbers they had faced. They were still alive to complete their task and the battle hadn’t really been their fault. They had given the Lord Defender every chance to retreat and avoid bloodshed and he had pursued them here of his own volition. Any deaths today were on his conscience, not theirs, regardless of who had done the killing. Yet, in spite of all this eminently reasonable logic that justified their actions today, something still felt very wrong. Even as One they couldn’t shake that certainty. The feeling defied all rational thought and explanation and did nothing to make them feel any better about the events of the day. With a sigh, they landed on the sand next to Padric, Jurel and Mandoral. Perhaps they could provide some sort of reassurance? They had lived through battles before and surely must have experienced something similar?

After the desert Aguidal had dispatched the last of the enemy wounded, Translocation portals suddenly began to open up all over the battlefield. Grim-faced and horrified Orryn began filing silently through them. They wasted no time in beginning to tend to their wounded allies, carrying the most seriously injured to the mages for Healing and bringing water to the exhausted and thirsty desert warriors and Gryffin.

The Oneness ended abruptly and unexpectedly as their exhaustion made it impossible to maintain any longer. Dual awareness returned and Anarion shook off the momentary disorientation caused by his readjusting senses. Neither he nor Teryl was at all prepared for what came next.

White hot pokers of fire knifed through him suddenly bringing agony beyond imagining. Every nerve he possessed suddenly seemed ablaze and both he and Teryl screamed, falling to the sand shrieking and writhing in agony. All other sensations faded away leaving pain as their only awareness. Seeking to ease their torment they pulled desperately at the white river through the whitestone and colour energy flooded into them. Unable to coordinate their thoughts, it escaped their control, roaming wildly and dangerously around them as they thrashed in the sand. Small explosions erupted around them and both human and Gryffin silhouettes dove for cover. Some of the desert sand was Transformed into rock and then fell from the sky as it was Translocated high above. The deadly rain missed them, but the agony continued unabated. Waves of Iversion from the Orryn mages began to envelop them and Teryl lost contact with the whitestone. The power of the white river disappeared. Dimly Anarion became aware of hands holding him down and voices shouting urgently. Shrieking incoherently he fought the weight of bodies pressing him into the sand and heard the voices take on a reassuring tone. A cool hand touched his forehead and merciful unconsciousness enveloped him in its welcoming blackness.

Consciousness returned sometime later and was mercifully pain-free. Cautiously Anarion opened his eyes to find that he was lying on a sleeping pallet in a dim cave. Memory crashed back in on him and he sought Teryl’s thoughts, anxiously reassuring himself that his Gryffin brother was well and whole after their ordeal. Teryl was sleeping peacefully somewhere nearby. Gingerly, he struggled to sit up and then froze as he realized that he was not alone. Sauren, Inarra and Sharra regarded him silently from not far away. His mothers both had red-rimmed, puffy eyes from weeping and Sauren looked haggard. Shame suffused him and he steadfastly regarded his toes, steeling himself for the worst. They had to know that he had participated in the battle with Teryl. The pain they had endured after the battle must have been obvious to everyone and Inarra must have kept them unconscious until it passed. The Oneness kept it at bay but he now knew they would invariably feel it afterward when the Oneness ended. Never before had it ever been that bad and he shuddered at the memory. As bad as that pain had been, he dreaded what must surely come next even more.

I want to know when you realized that you ... that you could ... kill, Anarion, Sauren managed to get out. His grandfather’s voice faltered and tears began to roll silently down both Inarra’s and Sharra’s faces.

He closed his eyes so he wouldn’t have to watch their reaction. I discovered it when I fled to the south with Teryl last winter. As One, Teryl and I killed a K’rat to protect the villagers. Silence met his response and he dared not look at his family.

Finally Sauren spoke again, his tone clipped and deceptively quiet. Jurel has admitted you have secretly been taking lessons in how to fight with human weapons from Tarsh. You have entered the humans’ fighting competitions and have hidden this from us with their help. We would know if this is also true.

It is, he admitted, tightly clenching his jaw and looking away. A sob escaped Sharra’s lips and he fought down a wave of anxiety. Teryl still wasn’t awake and he fervently wished he was right now. He guessed Inarra must have had something to do with that so they could talk to him alone.

How could you do these things? Sharra wailed. You have deliberately deceived us. We always knew you could become angry, but we never thought you could bring yourself to ... to kill! I would know where we went wrong, Anarion. Somehow we have failed in our duty to teach you.

Anger welled up in him at her words and he struggled to control it. How dare Sharra accuse him of deception when they had hidden his true identity from him for most of his life! Taking a deep breath, he managed to calm himself enough to control his tone for their benefit.

You know nothing! You did indeed fail to teach me, though I can hardly blame you for that. You failed in ignorance. You tried to make me into what you thought I should be, never considering that I could never be what you wanted. I can never be myself around you. I cannot get angry without causing you pain. I cannot be enthusiastic without offending you. I must always pretend to be like you so the Orryn will accept me, regardless of how I truly feel. I grew up thinking I was flawed because you taught me that I should not be the way that I am. Unlike you, the Gryffin and the humans accept me for who I am. They taught me that I am quite normal and that there never was anything wrong with me. I believe that for they are exactly the same. I feared you could never accept that about me and could not bear to think you might fear me for it. I deceived you to spare all of us the pain of that. His family said nothing but the stricken looks on their faces told him that his words had hurt them; and not because they were angry, but because they were true.

Sharra began weeping again and Sauren’s expression was set in a mask of pain and regret. Inarra’s gaze sought his and her voice trembled as she spoke. Please believe me, Anarion, when I say that we never meant for you to feel that way.

His anger drained slowly away as he perceived how difficult this conversation must be for them. I know that. I believe you did what you thought was best for me but you were wrong to teach me to deny myself. I cannot, and I will no longer try to do that for your sake. There are things I needed to learn that you did not or could not teach me. Tarsh taught me skill with a weapon at Jurel’s suggestion to help me learn to control my anger. It was a skill I needed for I could never banish it altogether as you have always urged me to do. He gave his grandfather an accusatory glance. As for the battle: there was nothing else that I could have done. I cannot help what the Lord Defender ordered his people to do. We gave him every chance to leave peacefully and he refused. None of the Orryn mages can stand against him and all of us would be dead right now and the desert dwellers with us if we allowed him, his soldiers and Kratyn’s Gryffin to come here unopposed.

Inarra looked at him, her expression horrified. We could have run, Anarion. Anything is better than ... than ... what you and Teryl did with the humans and the other Gryffin.

Frustration welled up in him again and he gritted his teeth. We have nowhere left to go. No-one deserved to die in that battle and I know that. I suffer with the knowledge of what I have done and not just with the physical pain it has caused me. Yet I am the only one who can oppose the Lord Defender effectively. I had no choice! Goddess, but I wish that I had never had to learn what I now know.

Inarra leaned forward, her hands extended in silent entreaty. Then swear you shall never do it again. I cannot bear to see you suffer as you did, nor bear the pain and need we felt from everyone fighting during the battle. Swear you shall never kill again, not for any reason.

Anarion sighed in resignation. I cannot promise you that. You must accept that the Lord Defender will be back. He will fight to the death to stay in power and the Goddess herself has given Teryl and I the task of easing the suffering of the plains people. To do that we must remove him from his position of authority and this may just have been the first of many battles. I cannot see any other way of accomplishing that feat. The Gryffin know this and I suspect the humans do as well.

Sauren’s voice was soft, but firm. There is always another way, Anarion. I am certain the Goddess never meant for you to have to kill in order to complete your task. You must find another way. Nothing is more important than that.

He shook his head in disbelief. In their way, the Orryn were stubbornly ridiculous. Having been raised by them, he had denied to himself the true nature of his task for far too long. No wonder the Gryffin had been made to guard them. The Orryn would die rather than lift a hand in their own defense and would leave the entire nation of plains dwellers to suffer rather than kill the few who would oppress them. How was he to manage his task with a powerful mage, a huge army and Kratyn’s Gryffin in his way if he could not kill? Had the Goddess herself not reassured him that she had been happy with what he had learned from Tarsh? The Orryn viewpoint was unrealistic and he realized they needed saving as much as the plains people did. They would never be safe with the Lord Defender at large, and in spite of their power, could do nothing to oppose him.

You cannot understand what I must do because you are Orryn, he told them, getting cautiously out of bed. He felt well enough in spite of his earlier ordeal and there was no point in continuing this discussion any further. I cannot blame you for that as I cannot blame you for the other misunderstandings between us. I thank you for easing the suffering Teryl and I endured. He nodded at Inarra gratefully before pulling on some clothes.

Anarion, please reconsider what you are saying, Sauren begged, laying a hand on his arm. The Orryn cannot aid you in harming others, not for any reason. You should not allow the Gryffin or the humans to talk you into starting a fight with the Lord Defender. That is not the way to complete your task. You will kill the very people you are supposed to be helping.

Saving the majority of them in the end, he interrupted. Laying a hand on Sauren’s shoulder, he gave it a gentle squeeze. The Orryn cannot cause harm; I know that. Yet they can still be of use. I imagine they were very helpful tending to the wounded after the battle. All three of them were now staring at him in horror and his heart sank. They were incapable of understanding a realistic perspective, but so be it. Just like him, they were exactly as they were meant to be. He sighed in resignation. Whatever you may now think of me, know that I will do this for you and for the rest of the Orryn as much as I will for everyone else. Know also that I do love you and I am grateful for everything you have done for me.

Walking out was surely one of the hardest things he’d yet had to do but they needed to know he would stand by his words. All of them would have to make their peace with that, him included.

We have lost him, he heard Sharra sob.

Gritting his teeth against the emotions her words stirred up in him, he kept right on walking. Without a backward glance he made his way out of his family’s cave and out into the early morning dawn.

Teryl’s still form was curled up next to the entrance, sleeping peacefully. One of the other Gryffin had considerately left a fresh carcass for him to eat when he awoke so he would not have to hunt. That Teryl had not yet awoken in response to his inner turmoil confirmed that Inarra had kept him unconscious deliberately. Strangely, the whitestone was not around Teryl’s neck so he could not undo the effects of Inarra’s magery. Needing his Link-brother’s steady presence after facing his family’s disapproval; Anarion went in search of someone who might know where it was.

Tarsh found him as he was wandering in the vicinity of the Gryffin caves looking for either Jurel or Mandoral. His friend’s dark eyes surveyed him critically. "Are you certain you should be out of bed, meh natrah? We have been very worried about you and Teryl."

I feel well enough. Teryl is still sleeping from Inarra’s magery. I want to wake him yet he is no longer wearing the whitestone so I cannot. It would please me to know where it is.

Tarsh placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a searching look. What do you remember of what happened after the battle, Anarion del Graydon del Sharra?

Anarion shuddered. I remember terrible pain and people holding me down, and then ... nothing.

Tarsh’s look was grave. Do you remember drawing energy for magery while you were in pain?

Yes, he said, frowning uncertainly. The memory of wildly flailing tendrils of colour energy in all spectrums appeared, flashing suddenly to the forefront of his mind. A horrid thought crossed his mind and he paled, clutching at Tarsh for support. Did Teryl or I hurt anyone with it? They would never have meant to but he dimly remembered losing all control of it in his torment. Goddess! What had they done?

Tarsh steadied him with a hand on each shoulder. We were lucky. The Orryn mages managed to contain it with something they call ‘Inversion’ long enough for Joorel and Mandoral to pin Teryl to the ground and remove the whitestone from around his neck. The mages rendered both of you unconscious and the Orryn took you away. We have anxiously been awaiting word of what happened from Lady Inarra, fearing for your health. She has said nothing to anyone since the battle, not even to my mother or to her Guardian. Tarsh eyed him gravely. Everyone fears to give you your Stone back, Anarion del Graydon del Sharra. Not understanding what happened, we fear such an event may happen again.

Anarion studied his toes and grimaced. I know what happened. Teryl was stirring finally so he guessed Inarra must have finally released his consciousness. Prodding him toward wakefulness through their Link, he returned his attention to his friend. I feel that Teryl is now waking. Give me some time to speak with him and we will explain what we know about it to everyone.

Tarsh nodded, his expression grim. I will find my father, Joorel, and Mandoral. Padric will wish to hear as well. Bring Teryl to the tribal meeting cave and there you can explain. A very relieved smile pasted itself on Tarsh’s dark face. "I am grateful you seem to be well, natrah. Truly, we feared you were dying. Should I ask your Orryn family to come as well?"

Anarion shook his head. No. I am certain they know exactly what happened already. I will be lucky if they ever decide to speak to me again. Tarsh gave him a sympathetic look and sighed. Nodding regretfully, he left.

Not wishing to accidentally come across any of the Orryn, he went to get something to eat and drink from his own stores while he waited for his Link-brother to wake fully and eat. Relief flowed into his mind through the Link. His brother began to read his thoughts as they ate.

They are unable to understand, Anarion told him, thinking of his family’s horrified reaction to starting a war with the help of the Gryffin. He now knew they would need to ask the Kokuratan for their help as well. Jurel must have been planning for that all along. How could he have been so blind? Ruefully, he realized he had fooled himself very thoroughly, refusing to see what had been right in front of him all along.

Teryl’s thoughts were understanding and very relieved. I’m glad you’ve finally admitted to yourself what we need to do. I know it isn’t an easy realisation for you or for your family; but I think they’ll accept it in time. Anarion sent him a skeptical emotion in response to that, coming out of their cave to join his Link-brother as they walked along. The Orryn can bond with the Gryffin and accept them as Guardians. They know we will kill to protect them if we must and they’re apparently fine with that as long as they’re unconscious. Having you do the same for them and others is little different really. Once they understand that, they’ll come around.

Anarion gave him a skeptical look. I do not think so. My grandfather was right when he said we shall kill those we were supposed to protect if we fight against the Lord Defender. Yet I can see no other way around it. He will send his armies and Gryffin against us and negotiating is obviously not an option. The Orryn would have us run or hide as fugitives forever and that will surely lead to our demise and do nothing to aid us in completing our task. As much as I have no wish to fight and kill again, I see no other option.

I don’t either, Teryl agreed, his thoughts distinctly grim and more than a little afraid as he remembered the pain they had experienced after killing their enemies in battle for the first time. We’re going to suffer terribly for everyone we are forced to kill. He shuddered involuntarily at the memory and fear came streaming into Anarion’s mind through the Link. As brave as their thoughts were they both dreaded the thought of experiencing that ever again.

Teryl stopped to regard him seriously. Do you think we can still do this? The next time we have to go into battle, knowing what we now know will happen afterward; do you think we’ll still be able to do it?

The forbidding feeling of wrongness welled up again at and Anarion shivered. I am frightened too and certainly we will never be able to kill an enemy again unless we feel we have no other choice. Yet I think we will do what we must when the time comes again. Let us go meet with the others. We need to convince them to give us the whitestone back.

Tarsh had managed to get everyone assembled and all of them were talking quietly as they strode into the cave. The relief on both Bavan’s and Padric’s faces when they caught sight of them was obvious.

The Gryffin king was pacing restlessly back and forth, his crest feathers fluffed up in agitation. Well? Tell us what happened. You fell suddenly to the sand shrieking, yet neither of you were injured at all in the battle. Then you very nearly killed us all with magery. If not for the Orryn, you would have. In spite of their help, Mandoral and I were barely able to hold Teryl long enough to get the whitestone off him. The Orryn whisked you away and now you appear to be fine when we feared you both might die for some unknown reason. He fixed them both with a severe look. Speak!

Anarion shifted his feet uncomfortably. What happened was my fault. There were warning signs but we did not truly understand what they meant and we did not expect to be so severely affected.

Explain! Jurel demanded.

Anarion sighed. It is my Orryn heritage that is at fault. You know the Orryn cannot endure violence of any kind. Witnessing violence renders them unconscious from pain. I am less affected than anyone of purely Orryn heritage but I am still susceptible. Through our Link, so now is Teryl. Engaging in violent acts can cause me pain and nausea. The angrier or more harmful my intentions are, the more severe the pain I feel. When Teryl and I are One we can choose to bury my Orryn traits, but we have now learned that only delays my Orryn weakness. When we return to our normal state we experience it then. We can hunt as One for Teryl’s survival without repercussions but it seems that we cannot kill for any other reason without suffering for it afterward. Grim silence greeted that remark. We are truly sorry for what happened but we had no idea we would suffer as much as we did. Since we Linked, Teryl and I have only ever killed in the hunt but for one other time. Even when we killed the K’rat for the villagers, it was never this bad. Had we known of the agony we would face, we would have been more careful to avoid injury for the rest of you.

Bavan sighed and his voice was gentle. "Ah del meh tranida. What will you do now?"

Sharing a sentiment of determination with Teryl, Anarion quelled his fear and met Bavan’s eyes. This changes nothing for us. Teryl and I will do what we must to finish our task. If that involves more suffering, we will pay the price. We must be more careful in future should we participate in other battles. Someone will have to take the whitestone for us before we drop out of the Oneness and everyone must stay well away from Teryl lest he hurt someone accidentally.

The Orryn mages will help, Padric added. They will not let you suffer when there is something they could do to stop it.

Teryl’s thoughts were grim. Let’s hope so. I think neither of us would have survived long in that state without their intervention.

Jurel’s crest feathers had returned to their normal, relaxed position and his thoughts had softened. I am sorry to learn of this. Yet I doubt the losses the Lord Defender endured in battle against us will deter him from attacking again. He will be back.

Anarion sighed. I think we all know that, your Majesty. I can lie to myself no longer. This was only the first of many battles for I can see no other way besides war to remove the Lord Defender from power.

Jurel’s gaze was direct and his chest feathers began to puff out ever so slightly. I am afraid that you are right, Child of Prophecy. You and Teryl show great courage for what you shall face. I am proud to fly with you on your journey.

Anarion nodded and then turned to face Bavan. "Do you suppose the danar would stand with us? The Fisher Folk will not."

Bavan spat upon the ground. That nameless filth from the plains shall come for us sooner or later. Better we should face him now with allies beside us. Alone we shall surely fall. I would not have my descendants risk that when I might have prevented it in my lifetime. Bavan’s eyes sought his son’s and he smiled. "I cannot make this choice for the danar but I can call dun verdalen danar: a common truce of the people. The sheertennal from the Granedneethal and the Seltuma tribes will come and I will argue for such a plan. If we can convince them, they will send their Aguidal and shelter those who must remain behind."

Jurel’s thoughts were anxious. How fast can you call this ‘common truce’? The human mage could be back tomorrow with a fresh army and he knows where we are.

Bavan gave them a secretive smile. "Runners have already been sent, Grelat Joorel, and my people are making ready to leave. As soon as you can gather the Gryffin and the Orryn to do the same, we shall head into the Great Sands and meet with the rest of the danar."

Padric frowned. "What of your lands tranida? Without your Aguidal here to guard them, the Lord Defender will take them easily."

Bavan snorted. "He would be a fool to do that. It is the danar under his boot that he wants, not our lands. There is safety in the danger of the desert for those who know how to use it. Let him come here and find nothing of value to him. Let the heat and the sandstorms and the snakes and the scorpions take their toll on his forces. If he wants us today he must pursue us into the Great Sands and the desert will again do much of our work for us. That will give us time to speak with the rest of the danar and present our case. It is possible they will decide not to fight with you on his lands, but they will never tolerate his presence on ours. If he is foolish enough to lie in wait for us here he will face not only the Aguidal of Warosthenne, but also those of Granedneethal and Seltuma. All the tribes would unite against him and drive him from the desert."

We would help you regain your lands, should that become necessary, Jurel assured him. Anarion and Teryl nodded in agreement.

Would it be such a stretch for your united tribes to keep going into the plains afterward to end the threat of him once and for all? Mandoral asked.

A sly smile painted itself on Bavan’s features. That thought had crossed my mind. The tribes do not often agree, but their wisdom may change once they take the measure of their enemy in battle. Once they understand what they shall face one day alone, I think if they have not yet seen wisdom, they will gain it with sudden and somewhat remarkable clarity.

Mandoral’s thoughts were decidedly admiring. Clever.

So, Teryl interrupted. When do we leave?

2

The Lord Defender gazed thoughtfully out through the glass wall of his solarium into the garden beyond. It was shrouded in snow now in the dead of winter. Early morning sunlight sparkled on the silent, soft curves of the white landscape, undisturbed today by the winds that habitually howled in off the sea. The scene was utterly peaceful for both its beauty and its silence and existed in stark counterpoint to what he had witnessed the day before. Uncharacteristically, he paused a moment to appreciate the view, surprised by his desire to do such a thing. The same scene had greeted him on similar winter mornings over countless years so why should he suddenly want to enjoy it this morning? Deciding not to question the reason, he settled himself on one of the cast-iron benches scattered along the walls, allowing his thoughts to drift peacefully as he enjoyed the play of sunlight on the snow in the silence.

Colour suddenly and unexpectedly exploded in his mind as a Knowing touched him, revealing the scene as Shayla would see it with her Orryn mage-sight. The scene went from beautiful to