Chapter four #2
“Night Howlers. Watching Jomei fight them with his light sword was an experience I’ll never forget.
Twelve of the small but ferocious beasts surrounded him.
When one jumped on his back and bit into his shoulder, I thought we were both as good as dead.
Then he summoned the light into his sword and the beasts took a step back.
He managed to kill at least four of them before the pack made their escape.
” Noor shuddered at the thought. “There was so much blood, but we were lucky because I managed to fix Jomei’s shoulder.
It was still another ten days’ walk. I worried the blood might have attracted other creatures.
When we touched home soil, I’d never been so happy to see Dallethas in the distance.
Holy Ether and Nantu had truly blessed me.
My powers took their full form a few weeks after I returned.
” I remembered that day. Noor made the sky rage with winds and tornadoes on the fields outside Dallethas; it was a physical manifestation of the pain of losing her family, the isolation she endured before my mother found her, the pain of losing my mother and being brought up by a cruel, selfish king.
It had affected us both. Noor was the storm.
Even my father and Xavier saw the amount of power she held in her hands.
They acted differently towards her after that day.
My father noticed her more, knowing what power his army would have with her in it.
Xavier, however, saw her as a threat: a female Dylin that might one day be more powerful than him.
“I wish I could go with you.” Giving her a small smile, Noor hugged me tightly.
“I pray Holy Ether is looking down on you. Nantu and Lustre, too, if it will keep you safe.”
“It’s all going to be fine,” I soothed, hugging her back tightly.
I hadn’t felt this sheepish since my mother had caught Noor and me escaping out of the palace in the early hours of the morning when we were younger. I couldn’t even recall the reason we had tried to sneak out.
Luz and Nell stood in the high temple, both with their arms folded, both glaring at me. At least Noor was giving me a reassuring smile.
“Have you studied all the books?” Nell questioned. Her snow-white hair was up in a band, but a few strands had fallen out. She wasn’t in her priestess robes today, but a more comfortable, fitted, cream-coloured dress.
“Yes.” My voice was just a whisper. I had never known Nell to be so intimidating.
“Uri has looked into your future. You’ll be glad to know that he didn’t see your death.
He has informed Zohar.” Of course my father would be told first. “I have to say that I think you are being very careless. Paying your respects to Nantu might be a right of passage for female Dylin, but it shouldn’t be used to gain something. ”
“With all due respect, Nell, I’m merely going a few months earlier than planned. I might not be as prepared as you’d all like, but I am taking this seriously.”
“She did study all the books in great detail,” Noor butted in, trying to be on my side. “She’s been in the library for days.”
“You have no idea what is out there, Alora. There are dark forces at play more deadly than the Noxlin.”
“Let’s not scare her, Nell,” Luz tried to joke, nudging her.
“Why don’t you give her her daisy chain back?
” Nell offered the bracelet my mother had turned to gold back to me.
“There is a powerful protection spell on it. It will keep the mimic souls and dread shifters away. It will give you some protection against the Noxlin, too.”
“Thank you,” I muttered while Noor helped me put it back around my wrist. I stroked the delicate gold petals while I wondered what my mother would have made of all of this. Would she have let me go?
“I made these out of elmwood.” Luz handed me a bow and arrows. “Let’s hope you haven’t lost your aim on a moving target.”
“I can shoot an arrow as well as I play the harp.” It didn’t matter which string I was controlling, I could play one as well as the other. “Perhaps we need another archery contest when I get back.”
“You’ll need to use that fighting spirit while you are in Dreonarus. Raiden is a good warrior. Stay close to him and you will be fine.” Nell reached for the small white flowers in Luz’s hands. “These are your offerings for Nantu. May she bless you.”
“Stay safe, Alora. If you come across a Noxlin, run. You might not be able to escape him, but do not tell him who you are. It might be your downfall or our salvation.” Frowning at Nell, I tilted my head at her.
“Was that one of Uri’s cryptic visions about me?”
“There is a path that you might take that will lead you towards a Noxlin, but Uri’s vision was very blurry. Be careful. That’s all I’m telling you. You will come back alive. Uri is sure of that. If you get captured by a Noxlin, know that you will be set free.”
“That is comforting. Did he see my powers manifesting?” When Nell shook her head, my body deflated. That didn’t mean my powers wouldn’t appear once I was back.
The thought of meeting a Noxlin for the first time made my stomach churn. I would shoot an arrow straight through his heart if I was given the chance. One less Noxlin pig to worry about.
It would give me a small amount of satisfaction for what they did to my mother. I would even twist the arrow deeper, bleeding him slower, so that I could watch the light drain from his dark, evil eyes. I would relish taking his life.
I fell asleep that night, content in knowing that tomorrow morning my adventure would begin.
The path I was meant to take lay before me. I finally felt a sense of control return, and I knew I wasn’t going to look back at my father tomorrow as Raiden and I made our way towards the Barren Lands.
I was taking my destiny back.