Moirai
Chapter 12

Bynow, we had nearly reached the end of the main path in Flowerage. I wasexpecting the Praesul to live in some sort of palace, like the one in Nerome.Instead, we were greeted with a cottage not unlike the rest of the dwellings.The only indication that its occupants were different than the average Dryadwas that it was a fair bit larger and, as we got closer, I could feel something. Except, it wasn’tactually me feeling it, it was my aura.

Fourfigures stood waiting for us, each standing perfectly under a ray of sun.Instantly I saw what Kasanda had meant about them literally embodying theirnames, and I had to rein in my shock and awe. Each Praesul had skin that appearedtranslucent and beneath it swirled lights of different colours. Under one Dryad’sskin shone gold and orange lights, under another were pale blues and whites.The third had pale purple and pink dappled light, while the final Dryad’scolours were dark purple and blue. It wasn’t difficult to work out who was who.

Totop off their strange appearance, all four of the Praesul appeared to be onlyabout thirteen or fourteen. Their bodies were lithe and features soft. Theygreeted Kasanda and me with warm smiles, then instantly four pairs of eyesturned to me.

Expressionsremaining kind, the eyes widened simultaneously, and for an instant I wasfrozen to the spot. What felt like a breath of wind brushed over my whole body,and I was struck by an intense feeling of déjà vu. Then, just as suddenly as ithad occurred, the moment faded.

“Itis a pleasure to be finally meeting you, Alnya.” Luna spoke first, her voicesounding like a night breeze.

“Eversince Kasanda foretold of your coming, we have waited for this moment.” Soladded, the warmth in her tones palpable.

“Itis such a shame that Centurion has made your visit here…difficult. It is mostunusual and unexpected.” Aurora trilled delicately. “We will, of course, besupporting you during the Trial in two days’ time.”

“Pleaseinform us if he, or anyone else, causes you any trouble. You are out guestshere, and we do not allow our guests to be mistreated.” Umbra’s dusky wordswere like a whisper, as though she feared to be overheard.

“Thankyou.” I murmured, overwhelmed by both their words and the Praesul themselves.They moved as one, swaying to a non-existent breeze. “Your support is welcome.”I was about to add, “I just hope it isworth it.” But knew the comment would only be met with exasperation fromKasanda and probably more votes of confidence from the Praesul.

“Iunderstand that you have something to give to Alnya.” Kasanda interjected,noticing that I had trailed off once again.

“Thisis true.” Aurora agreed.

“However,we have decided to give it to her after the Trial.” Luna explained.

“Shewill not be needing it until then.”

Allfour spoke the last words, before abruptly turning away and going inside theircottage without a ‘goodbye’.

Kasandachuckled softly at my surprised expression.

“Donot be offended. They aren’t as…human as the rest of us. They don’t mean to beso abrupt, it is just their way.” She explained, before we headed back the waywe had come.

“Doyou know what they’re going to give me?” I asked.

“Yes,but I think it would be unwise for me to tell you. If they wished you to know,they would’ve told you themselves.” She replied. There was a pause before shecontinued, “I can tell that you have wanted to ask why the Dryads respect me. Iam not, as you probably may have wondered, their leader. Nor do I, or haveever, held a position of importance.” I waited patiently as she paused again,glad that I didn’t even have to voice the question. ‘The reason for theirbehaviour is merely my ability to experience visions. I am currently the only Dryadwho is, as we are called; an Oracle. The last died when I was only fifteen. Itis a rare gift and so any Oracles are highly respected and looked up to.”

“Wow.”I murmured. “So…why is it so rare?”

Sheshrugged. “No-one really knows. The number of Dryad Oracles born each centuryhas been decreasing for a long time now, and it is suspected that it is becausewe live so close to Druge. The place has always had an evil feel to it, and nowIndina’s evil magic has only amplified that, further affecting the Oraclegene.”

Indinaagain, I thought bitterly. Time and time again it came back to her. For thefirst time I started to truly realise the importance of my role in events; thepeople of Renenta had been waiting for someone to help rescue them from Indina’sevil shadow for a long time. The thought terrified me and I suddenly felt asthough a ten tonne weight had dropped on my shoulders.

Kasanda’sintuition was also starting to scare me.

“Thesooner this Trial is over, the sooner you can continue your training and thenleave for Druge. You just need to relax and focus.” Her voice softened. “I knowyou feel overwhelmed by all this. Perhaps we should have told you sooner, butthe point is you are here now and you have to at least try.” A soft smileplayed at the edges of her mouth. “Despite your own worries, I have a feelingthat you will surprise yourself once actually confronted with Indina face toface. Not all heroes are born so, some are created only when the occasionwarrants.”

Icouldn’t help but return the smile; her words reminded me of a famous quotefrom Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Weparted outside my cottage, where Mayran met me expectantly, swords in hand.

“Ready?”he asked.

Iremembered our earlier lesson and fought down the strange feeling thataccompanied the memory. He was acting like there was nothing wrong; well, sowill I.

“Ready.”I answered, accepting one of the swords. Kasanda said goodbye and together wewalked to the clearing.

“Howwas your first meeting with the Praesul?” Mayran inquired after a couple ofminutes.

Ihesitated, wondering how best to reply. “Interesting.” I settled for. “It wascertainly something that no amount of preparation could help with.”

Helaughed softly and, automatically, I smiled in response.

“I’llagree with you there. I have only had the pleasure of meeting them once andthey had the same impression on me. Did they tell you anything important?”

“Notparticularly. Only that they are sorry for Centurion’s actions. Apparently,they’ve got something to give me but they won’t until after the Trial. That is,of course, if there’s anything left of me at the end.” I tried to make thecomment light-hearted, but Mayran was not fooled.

Hestopped sharply, an annoyed expression taking over his features.

“Alnya,you must stop being so pessimistic!”he urged, a curious fierceness in his voice. “I am fed up of you having noconfidence in yourself. This morning you did so well and I hoped you hadfinally realised your strengths, but now, all of a sudden, you’re back tothinking that an arrogant, headstrong Dryad can overcome you; the hero of theprophecy!”

Hestared at me, breathing harder than normal, until I looked down. He was right;I should be more confident. With the amount of fantasy books I had read, I shouldhave been perfectly at home when replaceing myself actually in one.

But this isn’t a book, this is the realdeal. A small voice said in my mind. Ina book, you know the hero is going to defeat the bad guy and make it out alive.This is real, so anything could happen. And you are just an ordinary human...

BeforeI knew it, hot tears were sliding down my face. I angrily wiped them away,further annoyed to appear so weak in front of Mayran.

Hisreaction, however, was something I couldn’t have prepared for.

Onemoment he was standing in front of me, the next his arms were around me and hewas gently stroking my back. The tears kept coming, though now they were alsofor his show of compassion.

Hehushed me and apologised several times. I tried to regain control to tell himthat it wasn’t what he said, but what my own mind had whispered.

“D-don’tbe s-sorry.” I gulped, pulling away and looking up at him. “It’s me. I’m…I’mscared, Mayran.” I told him what I had thought and he nodded gravely, pulling ahandkerchief from a pocket and wiping my tears away.

“It’salright, I understand. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I cannot imagine whatit’s like to be in your position.”

Iknew he meant it.

Aftertaking a few deep breaths, I indicated that we should continue.

“Areyou sure?”

“Ofcourse.” I replied. “If I’m going to beat Centurion, I’ve got to be able tobeat you first.”

Heflashed me a grin, and things returned back to normal. I didn’t let on that mycheeks tingled from where he had wiped the tears away, or that my heartfluttered from the gentleness of his embrace. Because it was highly possiblethat he was merely being a good friend. Loni would have done the same. I wouldonly be fooling myself if I thought otherwise.

Iattacked the training with even more intensity than that morning and ended thelesson feeling overjoyed that, for the first time, I had managed to disarmMayran.

Afterwards,we met with Loni and wandered around a few of the markets. I discovered that,rather than having a monetary system, Dryads bargained and exchanged items.Berries for herbs, cloth for shoes, and so on. Almost anything was acceptabletender as long as it was worth the same as the thing being bought.

Ibecame distracted at a stand showcasing carved wooden jewellery. A necklacecaught my eye. On a simple strip of dyed twine hung an owl, so delicately andintricately carved as to look almost real. Instantly, I knew that my motherwould love it. Owls were among her favourite animals.

Buyingit would be a promise to myself that I would be able to give it to her.

However,I did not have anything to trade.

Mayrannoticed my predicament and came to my rescue, pulling a fist-sized shell fromhis pocket. Why he had a shell in his pocket, I did not know, but apparentlythey were much desired by the Dryads, because the necklace was handed to mealmost instantly.

“Thankyou.” I said, putting on the necklace. I didn’t trust myself not to lose itunless I was wearing it.

Hesmiled down at me. “You’re welcome.”