Heart of the Messenger

By Melody Styles

Erina loved listening to her Uncle Bower’s stories, even now when she was only eight hafmons from adulthood. She loved the excitement, the adventure, the magic and the heroes, where good always conquered evil and the damsel was always rescued by the dashing knight. She was also certain none of those things would ever happen to her, safely trapped as she was in her quiet village life. She had no idea that every five thousand turings one person was required to save the world from decent into an eon of cruelty and suffering at the hands of the Shadis. Nor that she could be forced to take on such a perilous journey to the Isle of Cloud, where good and evil are not so easily identified and where legends and monsters leap from their fairytales to become larger than life. The trigger in those tales was always by the arrival of a mythical creature, like a white unicorn, which Erina saw this morning...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody Styles
• Release date: Aug 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370427383

Melody Styles

Residing in northern New South Wales, Australia, Melody lives a quiet life with her husband, four children and menagerie of children's pets.Inspired as a teenager by the works of David Eddings, Tolkien, the Dragonlance series, and Jim Henson's creature workshop, writing became an obvious interest and now a lifetime passion.Heart of the Messenger is Melody's first novel and is the result of a ten year dream that proves the most important factor in any success is determination, and magic exists in every life!

Book preview

Part 1

Chapter 1 – Unicorns in the Mushrooms

Erina knew she would be late again. She should have remembered that mushroom picking always took longer than she allowed, especially during the heat of summer. Still finding the best mushrooms was important – well, to her at least. She didn’t like those scabby brown ones that were split, no matter what Uncle Bower said, and she was sure those consuming them this lite would agree with her. The down side to finding the nicest mushrooms was, of course, the extra time it took, even more so at this time of the turing. Last moonth, she needed only to meander through the cow paddocks, but with the Misay heat weighing heavily on the land, she now had to venture into the sparsely treed verges of Garton Woods to find even enough barely-not scabby ones to fill her apron pockets. She made sure she gathered only on the fringes of the great forest though. Being in any forest was not good. Dark creatures and foul spirits freely roamed through the woods, hiding in tree hollows and shady undergrowth, looking for those who had strayed too far, or so she had been told since earliest childhood. Being the time of a full moon, Erina took additional precautions for her security, venturing only as far as the leafy, half shade of the grand oak that could be seen clearly from the paddock gate. Well, that was what she told herself would ensure she came to no harm.

Forest dangers behind her, Erina busily thought of how she would explain her tardiness to Uncle Bower as she scampered over a rock fence bordering Johanus’ cow paddocks. At the same time trying not to drop or squish any of her hard-earned cargo in the pockets of her apron. Maybe she wasn’t really that late and just thought it had taken a long time. Erina smiled to herself – she was fooling herself and she knew it. The dew had dried from the grass beneath the horse chestnut and tiny elm before she had given up looking for the perfect mushroom and began the return trip to the safe stone walls of Lofton. Only one more fence to go, she told herself as she quickly picked her way through the herd of black, brown and white marked cows.

Erina could already hear the clang of Durney’s blacksmith, and the woody clunk of axes chomping through logs destined for nite famished fires, as she clambered up the outer stone wall of Johanus’ hay storage shed. This was the tallest wall in Lofton, outside the grave yard wall. She could have gone via the shorter wall on the other side of the barn, it was much easier to climb, but the path afterwards took much longer. Well, that was what she told herself. The real reason she liked to take this way was she could see the whole of Lofton. From her best friend, Ambyr’s pink washed house on the southern edge, to the rough-hewn cemetery wall in the north, she could see everything, but this lite she paused only briefly to survey the view before she bounced herself down the other side. She was late enough already and didn’t need to make it any worse by dallying here.

As she rounded the front corner of Johanus’ stone hay shed, Erina came to a complete halt. Before her, in the centre of the cobblestone yard stood a pure white unicorn, without halter or bridle, and standing with a grace that bordered on arrogant defiance. An almost iridescent light glowed from its coat, and from the centre of its noble head protruded a single twisted, golden horn. Erina stared at the giant beast, awed by its pure existence and doubly shocked by the fact she stood before it. The larger than life unicorn, on the other hand, did not seem startled by her sudden arrival from over the stone wall. Instead, it seemed strangely patient, calm almost, amongst the feed crates, dented milk cans, and discarded muddy wellingtons. Not that Erina knew how a supposedly imaginary creature would act anyway. The unicorn continued to stand motionless, as if it had been awaiting her arrival for some time. Something else in this world to remind her she was running late again, Erina thought to herself.

Not quite sure what she should do in this situation, and at the same time trying not to bring to an end this once in a life time moment, Erina remained motionless with uncertainty. A warm, early morning breeze quietly stirred the leaves, scattering them happily in the stone walled courtyard and gently flicking the unicorn’s mane. In reaction to the disturbance, the unicorn, with its neck gracefully arched, took a step forward, its hoof ringing loudly on the cobblestone. Erina remained frozen to the spot, with only her racing heart to keep her aware this surreal moment was reality. With self-assured and deliberate strides, the unicorn crossed the cobblestone farm yard, lowering its proud head until its blue tinged eyes were level with Erina’s own. The long, twisted golden horn extended over her shoulder, linking the two figures in a world where Erina suddenly felt safe, a world where she felt like she belonged in a way she had never before. A world where this creature’s existence felt right, but one where Erina felt an all-consuming sadness so deep and unending.

Erina reached out her right hand and gently placed it on the silky-soft muzzle of the unicorn. The memory of her entire life faded away. She wasn’t Erina from Lofton any longer. She was suddenly someone stronger, someone real with determination and strength, someone who had been hidden for all these turings just waiting to emerge, waiting for the sign – waiting for this moment. Erina could feel a wave of certainty flow over her. Something was about to happen, something she was meant to be a part of, something she had always been a part of. It would not be much longer now. It would change the world, and it would change her.

Erina let her hand fall to her side as the unicorn stepped back and broke the connection to its private world. For one, brief moment, she had felt at peace and accepted everything that had happened, and what was yet to come. She silently thanked the unicorn for this moment, a moment she would remember forever, one a simple person like her never really had the right to.

The proud unicorn took one more step backwards. It slowly bowed its great head, lowering its golden horn until it almost touched the ground before raising its head to full height once again. A light breeze stirred the unicorn’s mane, ending the perfect moment. With its neck proudly arched once more, the unicorn turned and strode away from her, and away from the town. Erina stood still until the unicorn had disappeared completely from sight, trying to commit every detail of this encounter to her memory. She breathed out a sigh when it had finally disappeared beyond her sight. Somehow the mushrooms no longer seemed so important, nor did the need to worry about being late. Erina stood a moment longer, reflecting on what just happened, before turning and continuing on to the Red Knackle and the awaiting Uncle Bower, though somewhat less hurriedly.

Erina paused briefly, shielding her face from the glare of the now mid-morning sun as she approached the town square. It was market lite, and the stone bound square was already abuzz with the first of the traders setting up for the afternoon markets. Normally a surge of excitement would race through her at the thought of the exotic stalls, draped in flowing materials and bursting with intoxicating spices, shimmering fabrics, gaudy jewellery, scented soaps and strange fruits in jars, but not this lite - not after the unicorn. Still enchanted by her mythical encounter, Erina passed the market square without further thought to the squatly shaped form of the Red Knackle, where she was supposed to be already.

Lost in her memories of the unicorn, Erina walked absent mindedly towards the Red Knackle’s great oak doors, oblivious to everything, until the rough jab of an elbow in her back sent her tumbling to the ground, spilling her hard-earned mushrooms onto the cobblestones of the Red Knackle’s door step. Now firmly back in reality once more, Erina sat up rubbing her raw and paining hands as she peered around for her assailant.

‘Watch where you’re going next time.’ The tall and powerfully built Meka barely turned as he continued to stride down the cobblestone lane.

Beside him walked his ever present off-sider, Hartney.

‘Why’d you do that? She didn’t do anything wrong.’

‘Because I can, and ’cause she can’t do nothing about it.’

Meka strode on without any hint of remorse, happy with his torment of her. Hartney followed obediently, casting an apologetic glance back at her. Erina flashed Hartney a meek, reassuring smile. She knew he hadn’t wished for this to happen, not to his sister’s best friend, who had done nothing to deserve this. She turned and began collecting her fallen produce into her skirt. She sighed. It really didn’t matter now if they had been scabby or not, most were damaged and she was still late. In front of her, the time-aged front doors of the Red Knackle opened revealing the familiar figure of her cousin, Argos. Surprised by her state, Argos dropped to her side and began helping her pick up the mushrooms.

‘What happened? Did you trip?’

‘With a bit of help from Meka.’

‘No Isa huh?’

Erina pursed her lips as she half smiled her regret. She badly wished she had allowed Isa, her four-footed canine companion, to come along. Meka was Isa’s least favourite person in the world. She would have given her plenty of warning to steer clear of him.

‘Yeah, I left her with Aunt Tana.’

Erina stood up and looked around at the street again, this time checking that Meka wasn’t there to push her over one more time. Nearly all of them had learnt the lesson of Meka, either from personal experience or as horrified bystander. Meka was a bully and nothing but. Argos too stood up as he handed her the last mushroom before moving off down the lane.

‘I’ll catch you later. I gotta deliver a message for my father.’

‘Thanks.’ She called to the disappearing Argos before she turned and walked through the open doors of the Red Knackle Guild Hall.

Inside the solid oak doors, Erina passed quickly across the smooth, worn timber floor of the empty main room, stopping only to rest her palms on the Weatherbench. She didn’t pause here because she was pining for the lite she would make a life vow, or for that special person to hurry up, like Ambyr and just about every other girl in town. Although, she couldn’t deny she was looking forward to a lite when that would happen. No, she stopped here nearly every lite because of the cool calmness the blue basalt imparted to her by its touch, even more so after an encounter with Meka. Nor did she understand why. The rough but dressed bench was made of the same stone as the well wall, and the platform in the market square, and pretty much half of Lofton, yet no other places made her feel half as relaxed as the Weatherbench.

Recovered and reinvigorated, Erina continued past the wall of scrolls and books that contained every decision made by the Hansgrafen of Lofton since time began, into the kitchen out back.

‘You’re late.’

The familiar outline of her best friend, with her forever perfect brown curly hair and more than slightly alluring build, appeared in the storeroom doorway, a large clay pot for roasting this nite’s main meal held protectively in her arms.

‘Did you hear me, Erina?’

‘Hmm…I’m sorry Ambyr, I wasn’t listening.’ Erina knew her thoughts were a long way from where they were supposed to be, but she couldn’t help it. Some part of her had been changed by the unicorn encounter and none of this seemed important any more. Not even the opportunity of teasing Ambyr about Argos’ obvious visit, which she would have normally dragged out to at least half an hour of stirring. Just as strangely, Erina found she could not tell her best friend about the unicorn. She felt as if it was a secret that had to be kept or else the magic of that moment, and the unicorn, would be destroyed forever. Ambyr, unaware of her already full lite, continued on.

‘I said, you’re late.’

‘Am I in trouble?’

‘No, Bower left in a hurry about an hour ago, but he did say to make sure there was plenty of chillie salt. Might even need to make a double batch, he said this nite’s meeting is going to be really big.’

‘I didn’t see a spice trader at the markets.’

Ambyr half smiled with supportive understanding. Being a turing older than Erina, Ambyr assumed the role of the older, leading sister in their friendship, even though most of the time all she did was lead Erina into trouble.

‘Well there’s not much we can do about that then, is there?’ Ambyr placed the earthen baking pot on the central kitchen bench before turning to leave. She turned suddenly, with an after thought just remembered.

‘Oh, Bower also said to go easy on the cloves in the mulled wine. He said last time it was more than a bit strong.’

Without waiting for a reaction Ambyr disappeared through the door into the main room. Erina grimaced. She didn’t understand how people could drink mulled wine in the first place - although she did enjoy the heavy aroma of cloves and cinnamon as it was being prepared.

Erina placed the best of her mushrooms in a wooden bowl for later use, before moving the white stoneware plates and serving bowls to a long wooden bench in readiness for the nite’s meeting. She didn’t mind having to organise the food for guild nites, it was a nice change of pace from making vellum. Not that she really minded making vellum. The pumicing was relaxing, and she loved the natural glow a finished sheet produced. She just liked the variety guild meetings offered, and not being covered in gritty dust for the lite.

With bounding steps, Ambyr suddenly reappeared in the kitchen doorway, her face lit up with excitement causing her curls to bounce with a life of their own.

‘Quick Erina, something’s happening in the square!’

Erina put the pile of plates she was holding on the table and wiped her hands on her apron as she turned to Ambyr, who was literally jumping out of her skin.

‘What is it?’

‘Argos says there’s a unicorn, a real live unicorn in the square. Can you believe that?’

Forgetting the mushrooms, the nite’s meeting, and the opportunity to stir her best friend about talking to the boy she would never admit she really, really liked, Erina threw off her apron and hurriedly followed the excited figure of Ambyr out of the dim interior of the Red Knackle, to the market square in the centre of town. As she ran Erina tried to make herself calm down, she couldn’t believe it, the unicorn was back.

A confusing mixture of sounds greeted Erina’s ears as she reached the edge of Lofton’s central square. The urgent guttural yelling of men punctuated the excited squeals of children and the panic filled voices of mothers, trying to gather their over-stimulated children to safety. Over all of this, Erina could hear the voice of the unicorn. A single screaming note that pierced her head, penetrating deep within her mind, calling to her. In that scream, she could almost feel the pain it was suffering. Erina squeezed her way between the wall of people, who, like her, were trying to see the mythical creature that did not belong. With her attention firmly drawn to finding the unicorn, she wormed through the crowd and abandoned stalls to Aunt Tana and Uncle Bower. Ambyr, she subconsciously noted, had, unsurprisingly, found a place next to Argos, but the thought held little sway as Erina was once again awed by the mystical beast that she thought could never exist. She watched in an almost trance like state as the unicorn kicked, screamed, and lashed out, twisting its body wildly in an attempt to be free from the biting ropes that bound it. The crowd of gathered villagers stood well back, watching from a safe distance in fear and disbelief, all completely captivated by this mystical creature. Erina too stood, unable to take her eyes off the magnificent beast as it reared and danced, throwing its head wildly about, causing the sunlight to flash off its golden horn, hypnotising all.

Erina wished the unicorn would calm down. If it didn’t, she knew the hunters would hurt it, especially Lothar, who as a hunter had a cruelty that could be said to be almost as legendary as the unicorn itself. With a violent lunge the unicorn reared, knocking down two of its captors. Teft, Lothar’s right hand man, and the newest recruit, Guy, while another Erina was not familiar with, let go of his restraining rope and ran in fear of its flailing hoofs. The unicorn reared again, this time breaking free of the ruthless hunters, that were wanting nothing more than to hold onto their prize. Suddenly free, the unicorn broke into a powerful gallop, its muscles rippled under its skin as it circled within the wall of people. It tossed its head in defiance as it looked for a way out, for a way to freedom. Townsmen with long pikes appeared amongst the now terrified crowd, and waved them threateningly at the imposing beast as it continued to gallop majestically within the ring of people. On the far side of the enclosed circle, the unicorn gracefully slowed to a lordly walk, as if completely in control of its surroundings. It turned quickly, but still gracefully, to avoid any man who appeared before it with a rope.

Erina continued to watch bewitched, unable to take her gaze away from this shining beast. Along with awe, she was now beginning to pity this magnificent creature that was fast becoming nothing more than a trophy from a hunt. Without thought, Erina found herself stepping forward. Not even realising her Aunt Tana was tugging on her arm trying to hold her back, Erina walked forward into the ring of villagers without fear. She felt only compassion for this trapped beast. She could calm it down, she was sure of it. She knew what she was doing was right. The unicorn paused its stately walk for a moment, as though it recognised her, as though it recognised the thing it needed. Erina no longer heard the noise of the hunters, nor the frightened villagers. The world was now empty of everything, except her and the unicorn.

The unicorn turned slowly to face her. Erina stood, allowing it to make the next move. With tense, but confident steps that reverberated across the blue flagstones beneath its hooves, the unicorn moved towards Erina. It lowered its head once again, allowing Erina, one single girl, to be a part of its world. It stopped a step away and stood proudly, certain of what it was in a world that seemed so full of fear and cowards. It bowed its head and great horn once more to her feet. Its pure white coat glistened still with an immortal radiance, outshining the grey and dirty browns of the mundane and unimportant village. To Erina, it had become a shining white beacon of dreams and hope that should remain forever untouchable. It did not belong to this world full of bullies and hunters.

From behind her Erina heard a noise, a grunt of effort, as a lassoed rope flew passed her shoulder and over the unicorn’s head. In a split second without even seeing it, the magical moment was broken. The unicorn screamed and reared as it pulled back, the rope chewing deeply into its neck as it did so. Erina, realising the danger, threw herself to the ground, to avoid the flailing hooves as the huntsmen raced forward to reclaim their trophy. Erina, now aware of the horrible part she had played in its recapture, scrambled to her feet to try and save the beast.

‘That’s it Teft, get another rope on it. Get out of the way girl, you’ll get hurt.’

With a heavy hand, Lothar grabbed her shoulder and pushed her roughly back, causing her to stumble and fall at the feet of her frightened aunt.

‘Erina, what are you doing?’ Aunt Tana helped lift her from the ground where she had fallen.

‘This is not right.’ Erina turned back to the huntsmen and the struggling unicorn.

‘This Is NOT Right!!’

Erina stepped back stunned, as she realised she had screamed this out at the top of her voice, but it didn’t make a difference. Lothar and the others didn’t even acknowledge her as they focused on roping the creature that would not give in. The unicorn continued to fight against the pull of their uncaring hands, it would not submit to these simple folk. With renewed effort, it thrashed wildly and began striking men with its hooves and slashing with its golden horn, determined to regain the freedom that should have been its by right.

‘It’s too wild, we will never control it.’ Guy, barely three turings older than Erina, and only halfway through his first season with Lothar, yelled as he tried to maintain his desperate grip on the rope, his uncertainty clearly evident. Lothar reached inside his cloak and pulled out his double-edged sword as he began to stride purposely towards the resisting unicorn.

‘I, will tame this beast!’

Erina, realising what he was about to do, slipped from her aunt’s protective grip and darted in front of Lothar in a mad hope of reasoning with him.

‘You can’t, you can’t do this.’

‘Out of my way girl!’ Lothar flung her effortlessly to one side, his sights firmly set on the ferocious animal in front of him, and his sword held threateningly between them. The unicorn continued to thrash wildly against the ropes as Lothar raised his sword above his head, the blade flashed a solitary, silver flash. Erina could only watch in dread from where she sat sprawled on the ground as Lothar’s sword came crashing down, slicing into the snow-white neck of the screaming unicorn.

The unicorn suddenly stopped as it became aware of what was happening. Lothar hacked at the unicorn’s flesh again, the blade now red with the unicorn’s blood. The unicorn fell to its knees, its head still held high as it looked around at the silent faces of the villagers. Erina could feel tears well up in her. This wasn’t right, it should not be happening. A red river began to pour from the open wound on the unicorn’s neck.

The tide of ruby blood surged swiftly across the cobblestones, radiating out in a broad circle from the dying beast, flooding the village square. Erina watched, as it trickled between the cobblestones, pooling against the well’s bluestone wall. Erina’s stomach felt sick at the thought of having to drink the water that now mingled with the unicorn’s blood. She looked at her own feet now surrounded by the crimson flow, and saw the dissipating remnants of a destroyed dream. As the blood continued to gush onto the flagstones, Erina realised the wind was no longer a gentle breeze that tickled cheek and skin. It had transformed to a threatening gale as dark clouds smothered the once blue sky. Erina turned back to the unicorn, its head began to slowly sink towards the ground. Its eyes locked now in a sorrow filled realisation as it faced its own end. For a second Erina caught the eye of the noble horse. It was sadness defined, a collective of the world’s grief in one single look.

A blinding flash of lightning struck the obelisk marker at the far end of the market square. The searing light was instantly replaced by the blackest dark, and a deafening crash of thunder shook the ground beneath her feet. As the rumbling of the thunder subsided, Erina knew the unicorn was dead. She was almost sure the lightening had struck the moment the unicorn’s horn had touch the ground, commencing its eternal sleep. The flow of blood eased as the final essence of life departed from the fallen beast. The unicorn was dead. She hadn’t wanted it to be so, but it had been beyond her control. Erina knelt beside its still form shedding a silent tear as she asked for forgiveness. She knew she would carry forever guilt of the role she had unknowingly, but still inextricably played. Rain, heavy and furious began to fall. Erina remained by the unicorn’s fallen body, trying in vain to hold on to that special moment she had, for a single second, shared with the now still beast, hoping it would be enough to bring it back. The rain fell heavier, but Erina took no notice. She carefully reached out and gently touched the unicorn’s neck, as if trying to take away some of the sorrow from the motionless creature. Its eyes were now dull and lifeless, in an unblinking stare that none could hold, penetrating all, accusing all, with a look of hopelessness as its final thoughts realised there was no future here - even in its own life. That ageless sorrow, a single rational idea, completely destroyed by lunacy and greed. Another lightning strike brought her back to the torrential storm she was sitting in, drenched. With one final glance at the lifeless unicorn, Erina fled to the safety of her dry roof. The whole world seemed to be crying at the unicorn’s death. Her own meagre tears seemed insignificant.

Chapter 2 – Stories of the Past

It had been a sad and murky hafmon of unseasonable drizzle and sludge since the lite of the unicorn and, like the absent, grieving sun, Erina still couldn’t face the market square. Again, she skirted round it, through Denkins lane to avoid confronting her memory of the dying unicorn. The gut churning illness she felt every time she thought of the unicorn was more than enough. In her head, she could still hear the ringing sound of the unicorn’s hooves striking the cobblestones, and the squeals of protest as it had struggled against the ropes of those who wished to restrain it for their own. Erina sighed. A lifetime would not make those terrible memories disappear. Her life had changed on that lite more than she could have ever imagined, and none of it seemed for the better. Worse, her unintentional part in the slaying had singled her out. Meka especially, had taken extra interest in her torment, and Uncle Bower left the room every time she entered. Being an exile in her own village was something she was still coming to terms with. Erina cast a quick glance at the market square from between the houses. Even with all the horrid memories she couldn’t help herself. She hoped by some chance the unicorn would be there, magically re-instated, but it was not and she knew in her heart it never would be again. Erina sighed again as she turned her thoughts away from the square and the dismal lite outside, pushed open the heavy wood doors of the Red Knackle, and stepped into the warm safety within.

Erina rested her hands compulsively on the Weatherbench, hoping to use its solid coolness to help sort her cluttered and grieving mind. Before she had reached her state of peace, she lifted her hand, perplexed. Rather than calm cold, warmth crept slowly into her hand from the stone bench, followed by a tingling sensation. That was the second time this hafmon that had happened. The first had been the lite after the unicorn. Although, what the connection between the now dead unicorn and the giant slab of cold stone, that had always stood in the front room of the Red Knackle, could be, she had no idea. The sound of her Uncle’s voice echoing through from the guild’s small records chamber brought her quickly back to the reality she could understand. Erina put away her thoughts of the unicorn and tingly feelings as the subdued sounds of people talking reminded her where she was, and what she had to do this nite. She didn’t have a lifetime to wish the unicorn back, no matter how much she wanted it to be, she had work to do. An unexpected meeting of Lofton’s guild had been called for a reason Erina had not yet managed to work out, and was not likely to before hand, as Uncle Bower continued to not recognise her existence after her public exhibition. She quickly left the main room, disappearing through the back door into the kitchen, away from a newly arrived Guild Masters she had never seen before. She would be busy enough without adding to this nite’s drama by not being prepared, and there were a thousand and one jobs that had her name on them.

‘Erina! Erina! You’d better get out here quick!’ Argos’ sandy brown coloured mop momentarily appeared in the kitchen doorway and disappeared just as quickly.

‘Why? Argos…’ Mystified by Argos’ request, Erina threw her tea towel on the bench as she chased Argos to the doorway of the meeting room. The main meal had finished a fair while ago, as had dessert. All that was left to worry about was the supper of scones, tartlets and cooled mulled wine, and of course the final clean-up. Still without an answer, Erina peered curiously into the now crowded room, too frightened to enter as she tried to work out what had caused Argos to behave in this strange, urgent manner. Although filled to over full, the majority of the velvet coated guild members she had never seen before in her life. She noticed all eyes seemed to be on an old man she did not recognise either, resting comfortably in the great winged chair located next to the fireplace. His hands, knarled with age old wisdom, wove tales in the air as the old man spoke, while his strange patchwork robe and wrinkled, grandfather-like features, kept the normally dominating Guild Masters respectfully and silently intrigued.

‘I could tell you how the problems of this lite related to old gods and their chosen heroes from fruitful lands, who destroyed the time of plenty and cast us into the darkness we know now. Yes, I could if I wanted, but I would much rather talk of the magic of the unicorn, and the maiden who can tame it.’

The old man paused for a moment, allowing the whole common room to shift uncomfortably at the mention of the unicorn. Erina, even though she knew she was not supposed to be in the room during a meeting, moved closer to Argos, whispering over his shoulder into his ear.

‘What’s going on?’

‘He was telling about the return of Shadis Rebecca, and the rise of a new hero, which I knew you would want to hear, but now he seems to be talking about you, I think.’ Argos looked at her puzzled as he whispered back, ‘Do you know him?’

‘I’ve never seen him before.’ Erina looked closely at the old man, trying to work out what he was up to while trying to remain concealed behind Argos.

The old man’s attention turned to her, smiling as if he recognised a favourite niece.

‘Ah, there she is, Tamer of the Unicorn, Messenger of the Age of Man. Step forward child. Step forward and claim your destiny.’

The old man gestured for her to move to the centre of the room. All eyes instantly focused on her, leaving Erina to shake under the intense scrutinising gaze, including that of Uncle Bower. Erina cringed as he cast a warning glare of displeasure at her presence in the men only meeting. She knew she would be more than spoken to severely later and face Uncle Bower’s full anger, something that made even Meka worry over. Before she could even begin to think of how to handle this request, Uncle Bower moved from behind the high bench.

‘You’re not telling us about changes in the world, you’re talking about its end, old man.’

The common room became deathly silent.

‘End of the world? No, the world will not end, lite and nite will continue as it always has.’ The old man paused, shaking his head, almost laughing to himself for a brief moment at her uncle’s seemingly comical statement, before lifting his head and looking intently back at Uncle Bower, matching his stern gaze.

‘No, I’m not talking about the end of the world. I’m talking about the end of the age, the Age of Man. An event I am sure, you, Hansgrafen, are very aware of, as is its means of salvation.’

Uncle Bower dropped his crossed arms to his sides in defenseless surprise. He didn’t take a step back, but he almost did. Erina felt extremely unsettled by this. For the first time in her life, Erina saw uncertainty and hesitation in her uncle. Likewise, the atmosphere in the common room became tense, as if fear was strangling each person.

‘But now is not the time.’

‘It is now, the sign has happened.’

The old man paused, allowing her uncle time to absorb his words and work it out. Uncle Bower continued to stand, confused and shocked. The old man continued, the patient look of a teacher accompanying his words.

‘If you don’t believe me, go search your scrolls, Hansgrafen.’

Without comment or response, Uncle Bower turned and left the room, pale and deeply troubled. Several other Guild Masters Erina didn’t recognise, quickly followed, just as silently and as concerned. The old man, completely oblivious to the panic he was causing, continued on unabated in a booming voice to those still remaining. Like all those still left, Erina stood with baited breath for what this old man could possibly say next that could explain his cryptic, but apparently startling words so far.

‘This world has gone through many ages, and many changes, and will continue to do so for many thousand turings more. What is happening now will decide whether we enter a golden age of peace and wisdom, or slide into five thousand turings of pain and shadows. No, this is not the end, but it is important to all our futures, and it will be decided by one person, the Tamer of the Unicorn’, the old man’s voice became gentle once more, ‘Who is still to step forward.’

The old man looked intently, but patiently, at her with that guiding teacher look. It seems he had decided to single her out as this Tamer, whether she accepted or not.

‘What should I do?’ Erina whispered nervously to Argos looking for some kind of moral support. Women were not allowed at Guild meetings, they weren’t even allowed in the room once the dinner was over.

‘Run. Back to the kitchen!’

‘What?’

‘Run. Though, if I’d been you, I wouldn’t have come out in the first place.’

Erina looked at Argos in frustration as she desperately tried to think of what she should do.

‘You’re the one who called me out here.’

Argos shrugged his shoulders, brushing off his involvement as he stepped back, retreating into the sea of on-looking faces. Erina could feel herself shrinking back under the heavy gaze of all within the room.

‘Come forward Messenger, come forward that we all may know you. Don’t be shy, come forward and tell your fellow men of the unicorn you have befriended.’

‘It’s dead.’ The flat toned voice floated from the back of the room.

‘What!’ The old man’s gentle, carefree face became dark with strange concern. A great quiet held the tongues of all present until Erina, overtaken with nervous fear, ended it.

‘The unicorn is dead, killed last hafmon in the market square by the Hunters.’ Erina’s voice barely raised a whisper, but it was heard by all.

‘The unicorn dead… What have you fools done?’ The old man collapsed back into the wings of his chair. Erina too, was shaken by the truth behind her words. She still wished they weren’t true.

Slowly the storyteller regained his composure, his shock now hidden behind thinly veiled anger.

‘Well, Messenger, it seems your battle has been made harder by your fellow man. Maybe we should thank them for their mindless generosity.’

Erina, now feeling uncertain, took a nervous step towards the Weatherbench. She rested her hand on the stone’s edge, seeking comfort from the solid surface. From the far end of the room, Lothar stepped forward.

‘I hunted the unicorn for two lites before capturing it. I’m the one who gave the killing stroke, so it’s I who’s the real Tamer of the unicorn, not this girl slip. She nearly made me lose it.’ Lothar punctuated his words with snorting that reduced her further to the status of nothing.

‘Lose it, you damn fool. You simple minded idiot. You’re the one who has destroyed our one hope. Was its death worth it for you?’

‘Ah, you’re nothing but a crazy old man.’

‘Crazy, am I?’ The old man stood up, slamming his walking stick onto the stone Weatherbench. A thunderous crack, like that of the loudest storm, reverberated throughout the room, causing Erina and the rest of the room’s inhabitants to cringe before the old man’s anger.

‘Now you listen to me. The world’s in peril, and she’s the only one who can restore the balance.’ Using his walking stick as an extension of his arm, he waved it agitatedly in her direction, drawing attention to her once again while he fell silent. As the moment passed and the stretching silence allowed thought, the storyteller regained his composure, lowering himself back into his chair.

‘Is there anything left of the unicorn, anything at all?’

Lothar stood firm, his shoulders squared, challenging any one who refused to deny his supreme hunting prowess.

‘All there’s left of that monster is the horn I cut from its head with my bare hands.’

His stance worked on Erina, she felt intimidated, but the old man seemed not even to recognise his existence. Instead the old man sat deep in thought, completely oblivious to Lothar, or anyone else still game enough to be in the room.

‘Its horn. It might be enough. Well, given there is nothing else, it will have to do. Go and fetch it.’

‘Fetch it! It’s mine, old man, not yours to demand!’ Lothar snorted again, dismissing the old man’s control. Remaining seated and unaffected by Lothar’s attempt at imposing his dominance, the old man turned his full focus on Lothar.

‘It was the unicorn’s. The mystical creature whose purpose was to bring about the beginning of the new age, and by doing so, banishing the horrors of the Shadis for another five thousand turings. It is not a memento of your pointless life. Now go and fetch it!’

Erina stepped back, as did Lothar and the rest of the remaining Guild Masters, against the fierce onslaught of the old man. Behind his grandfather wrinkles and sage appearance there was a fierce temper and controlling nature that Erina suspected few masters in this room could withstand, no matter their perceived rank or status.

Lothar stood uncertain for a few moments as he tried to decide whether he would obey. As the moment stretched, Erina could see Lothar regain his self assuredness. Before he could regain full stature, the old man turned on him again.

‘I said now! Cattle thief son.’

Lothar stood visibly shaken, his face draining of blood. Any attempted rally was smashed beyond recovery. He stood only a moment longer before he, Lothar the Hunter, turned like a scolded child and hurriedly left the Red Knackle’s main room. Erina peered cautiously at the old man. How could he have known? Even she had only ever heard rumours about Lothar’s family, and she had always dismissed them as idle gossip of Lofton’s overactive chatter network, and yet this complete stranger articulated a deep secret never spoken out loud till now. Without any apparent further consideration of Lothar, or explanation of his intimate knowledge, the storyteller turned his attention back to her.

‘Well now, we have still to deal with you, Messenger of the Age of Man. Are you going to be as troublesome?’

‘Only if you start saying horrible things about my family.’

‘I don’t think I have to, everyone here, I’m sure, is aware of your history. It’s your future that’s much more interesting.’

‘What exactly am I meant to be doing in this interesting future?’

‘Why, you have been entrusted to bring about the beginning of a new age.’

‘And how do you think I’d achieve that? I am just one person, just me.’

‘And that’s all we need, just you.’

‘But how?’

‘Your journey will start the lite after tomorrow.’

‘Journey? Why would I be going anywhere?’

‘If you let me explain, you’d know already.’ The old man paused, waiting to see if she was ready to listen. ‘Tomorrow we will choose your companions, and then you’ll begin the lite after.’

‘Do I have a say in this?’

The Storyteller looked blankly at her, as if she had just said something completely irrelevant.

‘Well, what if I say no?’

‘You can’t. You’re the Messenger, you can only do.’

Erina looked around. Every eye in the room was focused on her, waiting for her response. Every part of her being froze under this intense gaze. This couldn’t be right, she was a nobody. She certainly wasn’t a hero or even a guild member. She was a young girl whose greatest hope in life was to grow old after raising a family with a decent husband, and Erina considered that a far-fetched dream.

‘No, it’s not me.’ Erina shook her head as she turned and fled from the common room. She couldn’t be the one, and he couldn’t make her believe it either.

Erina looked around at the spotless kitchen. She couldn’t remember a time when it looked cleaner. She had even scrubbed the lintel at the back of the hearth, but she knew it was all a distracting effort. She knew she was putting off going back into the main room for as long as possible, well at least until the old man was gone, along with all those staring faces. She sighed as she put down her cleaning rag. She would have to go into the common room sometime to go home. Likewise, Uncle Bower would catch up to her sometime. It might as well be now. Erina walked quietly down the narrow hall and peered into the main room. It was empty. She breathed a sigh of relief as she walked to the middle of the room. She was going to get out without any further problem.

Erina had nearly reached the metal strapped oak doors when quietly spoken words echoed across what she had thought was an empty room, sending a chill up her back. It seemed she had not escaped.

‘Come my little falcon, we must talk. You have a long journey to prepare for, and not much time.’

From the high-backed chair in the corner near the fire place, the old man turned his head, his eyes unswervingly on Erina. Erina froze mid stride, her escape plan discovered and foiled.

‘But why me?’

Erina looked at him curiously, as much challenging his reasoning as why he was still here. The guild hall was not a tavern or an inn, it didn’t supply accommodation, even to the Guild Masters. Occasionally, very important Masters or those close with Uncle Bower would stay at his house, which resided behind it. The rest, Guild Masters, and all traders, stayed at the Boastful Boar outside the western side of town. The guild was only where people came to meet, record births, marriages and deaths, organise sales, settle wills, discuss business, air problems and receive judgment on issues. No-one actually stayed at the Red Knackle.

The old man, oblivious to her unspoken concerns, continued.

‘That’s a question I’m sure every young hero asks when first faced by their quests, and the answer’s always the same. Because you are you, and what is to be done, has to be done.’

‘But I’m not a hero. I’m the last person who’d be one. You obviously have me confused with someone else, someone who can actually live up to your expectation. Someone like Meka who should do this, he’s strong and bold enough.’

‘It does not work that way. You weren’t chosen because you’re the strongest or bravest. If it was that simple, any fool idiot like this Meka would do, I’m sure.’

‘Then why me?’

‘You still do not see, do you?’

‘See what?’

‘You are the chosen one because you are of the line.’

‘What line?’

‘The line of the Messenger. Your life is tied to the legends of this age and to the very unicorn itself.’

‘But I’m not anybody. I’m just…’

The old man cut her off smartly.

‘Who were your parents?’

Erina stopped, quickly taking up defence against a new type of attack she suspected could be as painful as Lothar’s encounter.

‘My parents? My parents were killed in a fire.’

‘But who were your parents?’

‘I told you!’

‘No, you told me what happened to them. You didn’t tell me who they were.’

‘I don’t know, they were just people, normal people, caught in the wrong spot at the wrong time.’ Erina, confused and threatened by this old man, probing through such painful memories she had spent so long hiding from, took a side-wards step, ready to storm out again.

‘Calm down. Calm down, little falcon. It’s good to know there’s fire in you. It gives the world, and especially me, hope.’ The old man smiled as he leaned back in his chair. ‘I will tell you who your parents were, and who you are. Your father, Brice Hanover, was a fishing merchant from Beedwyn. He was a simple man who lived a simple fisherman’s life – or so he thought. Your mother Kataline, on the other hand, was not simply a fish merchant’s wife who loved her husband and daughter dearly, she was a part of something greater, much greater. She was the direct heir of ‘Errand the Warrior’, which makes you of the one line that is responsible for maintaining the balance. A line so important that if it should falter or be broken, then the balance too would be broken.’

The old man paused as if reliving a great pain of his own, but Erina barely acknowledged his sudden change of emotion. She had never heard her real last name before. She had always gone under Varley, which was Aunt Tana’s, without any thought of having another. Nor what they did, or where they came from, she only knew they had died in a fire and left her alone in this world. As for being the descendant of Errand the Warrior, Erina’s head began to swim. Errand was, if it was the one she was thinking of, no hero in her mind. He was fittingly called the Betrayer, who cast the world into darkness, a despised despot that no-one would ever willingly boast a connection to. Now she was having this presented to her as the hinging excuse for the journey she didn’t want to deal with.

Without any recognition of her mental wanderings, the old man continued, his inner turmoil now reflected in his quiet, remorse-filled words.

‘But like all things in this world, I am not the only one who knew this. Others, who had much darkness in their hearts, discovered your mother’s importance and tracked her down, and along with your father, killed them both. Fortune did smile upon the world though, and you were saved, to be kept safe until the world needed you.’ The old man paused again. A whimsical smile crept mischievously across his face belying his age and previous seriousness.

‘You never did say what your name is, my little falcon.’

‘It’s Erina.’ Still shaken by the resurfacing terror of her family’s tragedy, she spoke quietly, glossing over the second appearance of the unasked-for nickname.

‘That’s not your real name, is it?’ The old man looked intently at her, through her almost, in a way that told her he didn’t believe her.

‘How?’ Erina quickly bit her lip. Erina was not her real name, it was the name Aunt Tana had given her. Aunt had told her once what her real name was. She also told her to keep it a secret for her life’s sake, although she had never said why.

‘Say out loud your real name. The time is now, little falcon, say it and claim your destiny. You can keep it a secret if you wish, but you will need the magic in it to help you in the journey ahead. Say it now, say it and begin to unleash the magic.’

Erina bit her lip shaking her head. She had promised Aunt she would never say it out loud, and she would not break her word. The old man pursed his lips, mildly annoyed by her resistance to his request.

‘Regardless of what name you use, you are of the line of the unicorn. You are the Messenger, and you must do this - because no one else can.’

Erina looked at the old man still not believing what she was hearing. She didn’t feel any different no matter what his claim. Slightly frustrated by her continuing difficultness, the old man took a deep breath before tackling her again.

‘You must realise, sometimes the most important things in the world are left to the responsibility of just one, single person. It’s the blood that runs in your veins that has singled you out for this journey, but it will be the strength of your heart that will save this world. Just as it has been for all before.’

‘But what am I meant to do?’

‘You must journey to the Isle of Cloud, and place the unicorn horn upon the Altar of Kings.’

‘But I’m a nobody. Surely there must be someone else? I’m not good at anything - really.’

The old man almost huffed.

‘No, it’s you and you alone. Don’t worry, you will find the strength when the time comes. You just need to look inside to find it - as have all those that walk the hero’s path.’

Erina looked at him, full of doubt and uncertainty. She wasn’t the one for this, no matter what he said. The old man smiled at her again. She knew he was trying to reassure her, but it wasn’t working.

‘Don’t be afraid to carry the torch you bear high, for it’s your light that will lead the way for the rest of us, and in time, Messenger, it’s your adventure that will warm the spirits and keep the common folk round the fires on cold winter nites.’

The old man fell silent as he returned his attention to the crackling fire, giving Erina the impression it was time to leave. She hadn’t understood half of what had been said, she hoped she might, after she had time to think. She began to turn towards the door.

‘Before you go, Erina of the line.’ The old man spoke again, drawing her attention back. ‘I have something for you.’ He ratted around in his pockets, finally procuring a yellowed roll of parchment, bound with a thin leather tie, from within the depths of his vibrant patchwork over-jacket.

‘What is it?’

‘I’m not really sure, but you are the best person to have it.’

Erina glanced curiously at the scroll held out for her to take, wondering what new disasters it held for her life.

‘What’s in it?’

‘I don’t know, it’s not mine.’

Erina, confused by the old man’s words, reached out and took the rolled-up parchment. He really wasn’t making a lot of sense. She turned her attention to the ancient document, hoping it would give her more meaning than the old man’s tangled words. Erina stopped, her hopes of achieving a sense of understanding dashed. The first page was blank. She looked questioningly back at the old man. He simply smiled and nodded, encouraging her attention back to the blank paper. Erina shook her head, wondering how much more foolishness she was going to have to endure this nite. Then slowly, in the top left corner, a picture glyph emerged. It was an image of a girl with light brown hair, dressed in a blue ankle length dress standing next to a white unicorn. The girl’s hand rested against the unicorn’s muzzle. Erina remember the peaceful sensation touching the unicorn brought, she wished she could experience that again.

‘What does this mean?’

‘It’s the beginning of your adventure, see, there’s you with the unicorn.’

‘But how…’

‘It’s recording your story, the Messenger’s story. I don’t know the exact how or why,