Swanheart

Chapter Twelve

The Quest

Alannah's conscience slowly shook off the tender embrace that sleep had wrapped around it and drifted to a different sphere of awareness. She was not fully awake yet, but also no longer caught completely in the dreamscape.

Keeping her eyes closed, a quiet sigh of absolute contentment escaped her throat. She felt warm, safe and loved, and wished that she would never have to leave this place again. In the dusky light of early morning, her eyelids slowly fluttered open. Unmoving, she lay there, basking in the gentleness of Leigh's embrace.

Apparently, they had not moved at all during the night. Though loosely, the knight's arms were still wrapped around her and her belly was pressed against Alannah's back. Her even breathing and the steady rise and fall of her chest told the princess that Leigh was deeply asleep.

It surprised her a bit how easily they had drifted off, when at first she had thought that none of them would find any rest that night. The fact that she had been wrong calmed her. Not knowing what each of them would have to face in the upcoming days, made her tremendously glad for every moment of sleep they could catch, especially Leigh, who would soon set out to the realm of Paquin and his Mermen.

The mission seemed easy enough, if only she would be able to silence the worries that reared their ugly heads now and again. So many things could go wrong, which would sentence the mission to fail. She would just have to banish the negative thoughts from her mind. Everything was going to be fine.

Carefully and slowly, Alannah rolled over, making sure to stay within the circle of the other woman's arms. Wrapping her own around Leigh's waist, the princess watched her relaxed features in the dim light. Alannah's eyes traveled from the golden bangs that had fallen onto Leigh's forehead to the elegantly curved eyebrows and on to the closed eyes. From there, they went along smooth skin to cheeks, which would dimple in the cutest way, whenever Leigh smiled at her. Her eyes stopped for a few seconds on the knight's soft lips, before they returned to regard the whole face.

'By the Spirits, she is so beautiful.' It wasn't the first time that these words had crossed her mind, but she wouldn't dare speak them out loud. She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when it had happened, but she had fallen hard for the young knight. If anybody would encounter her right in this moment, they would see the love she held for the blonde clearly in her warm, brown eyes, which shone like a beacon in the dark.

Carefully, Alannah lifted the arm that she had kept around Leigh's waist. Her fingertips moved tenderly along the path that her eyes had taken before, their caress as soft as the touch of a butterfly's wing. As her thumb reached the corner of the other's mouth, she hesitated. Staring at the rosy lips, her fingers began to tremble. It took all of Alannah's willpower not to give in to the little voice that whispered so temptingly in her mind, urging her to go ahead and do what her heart desired so much that she was literally aching from the longing of it. 'Just one kiss… while she is asleep… nobody will ever know...'

Undecided, the princess lay there, watching her friend. She was in turmoil on the inside, fighting a different kind of battle. She knew that Leigh loved her. There was most certainly no doubt about that. She wasn't sure though, if it was the same kind of love that she harbored for the knight.

In the end, she leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Leigh's forehead, letting her lips linger for a long time on the smooth, warm skin. "You better return safely to me. Do you hear me?" Alannah whispered. She knew that her friend couldn't hear her, which gave her the courage to continue. "I love you, my brave, little knight," she added in the same whisper, feeling her heart overflow with emotion, which brought tears to her eyes. Closing them to keep the tears from spilling over, she lowered her head to the pillow and pulled Leigh to her until there was no inch left between their bodies.

Moving unconsciously in her sleep, the knight snuggled even closer, burying her face against Alannah's throat and tightening her arms around the princess' body.

*****

Tiredly, Ranya rubbed her burning eyes before looking once more at the magical portal that had been discovered in the back of the temple ruin. The fact that it had been hidden in this room with nobody knowing about it remained a mysterious circumstance to the High Sorceress of Urdgard. With a frown on her face, she scrutinized the object up and down. No matter how often she did that, she still had no clue. The wooden frame with the strange runes didn't reveal anything to her. There was nothing, which would give her information about its origin or the builders of the magic device. She had never seen signs like the ones that covered the ebony.

Exhaling sharply, Ranya crossed her arms in front of her chest and began to pace the confined room, trying to get some order into the jumbled thoughts that whirled through her head. There was so much that she had to do. So many matters needed her attention, but she didn't know where to start.

The attack by the masked sorcerer had left Urdgard in chaos. The majority of the people, who had survived the massacre, was either wounded or still in shock. Helpers were present but their number was small and they couldn't be everywhere at once. Food and drinkable water was sparse and most of the underground dwellings had become buried under tons of sand, after a huge part of the tunnel system had collapsed.

Ranya left the destroyed pyramid, which once was the proud symbol of Urdgard. She had not realized how quickly the day had gone by. It was dark again and the temperatures had dropped. A mild wind was blowing, stirring the sand under her boots. In the distance, she saw open campfires and lanterns, shining through the fabric of tents. They had been erected as emergency solutions for those that had lost their homes and the Bedouin tribes had offered to help and share their provisions with the survivors. As horrible as it was, there was one positive side effect of the catastrophe. It had brought the people closer together.

The High Sorceress left the makeshift settlement behind her, her legs carrying her to the leftovers of the big wall, where the guards had once stood to keep watch.

The face of Feylon, the brave young man, who had risked his life to save as many Urdgardians as he could, flashed in her mind. Once the land was rebuilt, she would make sure that he would get the proper ceremony to honor him in front of all inhabitants.

Her thoughts turned to Rohan. She felt a painful tug at her heart at the image of his wounded and weak body. He didn't deserve to suffer in his old age as he had to. His condition was still critical and he was closer to death than life, but she also knew that he was a very stubborn fellow, who would keep the promise that he had made to her. Rohan would never leave her. Even if he died, his soul would always hover close by, protectively watching over her. That thought only gave her small comfort. She wanted for her fatherly friend to be alive for a long time yet to come.

"Having heavy thoughts, Lady Ranya?" a deep, rumbling, female voice inquired, making her stop in her tracks.

She looked up, giving the dragon a weak smile. "You know me too well, Firetail," the High Sorceress replied.

"That comes with the job," Firetail responded, waving a claw nonchalantly. "We are facing hard times."

Ranya sighed heavily, reaching for the dragon's massive head to hug it to her chest. "That is an understatement, my friend. I don't know how we are supposed to get through this. So much has been destroyed. The rebuilding process will take years even with the use of magic and the threat of the masked sorcerer is always looming in the background."

"I know, but we cannot give up. We will find a way to make everything alright, just like we always do."

"I have to make it right, because all is my fault," Ranya whispered. "I just don't know if I am strong enough."

Firetail pulled her head out of the embrace and looked hard at the sorceress. Dark smoke, which smelled strongly of sulfur, curled out of her nostrils and she made a disapproving, snorting noise. "That is complete and utter nonsense and you know it," the dragon objected. "You need to get over this guilt that you carry. None of what happened is your fault."

"But, if I had taken the jewel…" The High Sorceress began only to be cut off.

A tiny growl escaped Firetail's throat. She really was upset and couldn't stand it when Ranya was beating up on herself. "If you want to blame somebody, it should be the masked sorcerer. He would have attacked and destroyed Urdgard nonetheless. It would not have made any difference at all had you had the sacred gemstone in your possession."

"I just… I feel so helpless," Ranya admitted in a broken voice, fighting tears.

"You have been strong all day," Firetail stated gently. "It is alright to cry when everything starts becoming too much to handle."

"I can't fall apart, not now. Our people need me."

Firetail revealed her teeth in the dragon impression of a cheeky grin. "They have the best leader they could hope for."

Ranya looked at her, gratefulness written all over her face. "Thank you."

The dragon winked roguishly. "What is our next step?" she wanted to know. "Were you able to find out anything about the portal?"

The High Sorceress shook her head. "No. I also can't look it up anywhere because our books and scrolls have been destroyed."

"Did you write King Zaylan about it? Maybe he can help."

"Zaylan!" Ranya exclaimed, her eyes widening. "I totally forgot about the enchanted scroll. I need to let him know what happened. We also should send messages to King Nirios in Livos and Queen Samira in Slidur to tell them about the magical portal."

Firetail nodded. "That is a good idea. When they know what to look for, they might be able to destroy the enchanted frames, thus preventing the masked sorcerer's attack."

"I'm sure he will find another way to try and conquer the countries, but at least he won't have the advantage of taking them by surprise any longer."

"We will defeat him. Do you want me to carry the messages to Livos and Slidur?" the dragon asked, anxious to do something.

"No," Ranya said. "We will send out Silverwing and Cloudrider to do that. You and I will fly to Shircon and have another talk with the High Councilors. Maybe they can tell us something about the portals."

Firetail raised her head. Roaring, she breathed a fireball high into the air. Only a few seconds later, two hawks appeared, each of them releasing a shrill cry.

The High Sorceress smiled at the dragon. "Thank you for summoning them."

Firetail cocked her head and winked. "I aim to please, Lady Ranya."

"I know, my friend. Let's write these messages and then be on our way."

"We are getting company," the dragon said, pointing behind her.

Ranya turned around, squinting. She was just about to tell Firetail that she didn't see anybody, when she discovered a moving shadow in the distance that came closer. "Who is that?"

"I think it is Feylon."

Ranya's heart lurched painfully. It was obvious that the young guard was in a hurry to reach her and that could only mean one thing; Rohan had crossed over to the Different World. "Oh no," the High Sorceress whispered. "Please Sastar, let Rohan be alright."

Feylon reached her a moment later. He supported himself with the lance he carried and gasped for breath. "High Sorceress… come quick… soldiers…"

"Lead the way," Ranya said, hurrying after him towards the temple ruin. Her heart had skipped a beat at the word 'soldiers', only to resume pounding so hard and fast that she feared it was going to burst through her rib cage. If it was the masked sorcerer that had returned to finish what he started, Urdgard would be doomed.

Firetail followed behind them, her steps making the ground shake. The dragon grumbled something under her breath, tiny flames erupting from her mouth with each exhale.

*****

Two pairs of eyes, one blue and one brown, were watching intently, while Leigh fastened the silver buckles of her black leather boots.

Alannah sat on the bed, trying to keep from showing any emotion on her face. She had her hands buried in Cerulia's white fur in order to hide her nervousness. The princess knew that the trembling of her fingers would betray her otherwise. She was highly dreading saying goodbye, even though she was aware that it wasn't goodbye forever. Still, Alannah didn't like it. Worries and concern had come back full force, but she didn't dare voice them. She had to be strong, knowing that their parting was also hard for Leigh.

"Alannah?" The knight had finished getting dressed and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"Are you really sure that you want me to take Cerulia with me?"

The princess nodded. "Absolutely."

"Can you please do me a favor too?"

Smiling slightly, Alannah inquired, "What is it?"

"I would like to leave Mican in your care."

Alannah blinked in surprise. Normally, Leigh wouldn't go anywhere without the mare that Zaylan had given her a year before she went to Master Yan. "Are you certain?"

"Most definitely," Leigh replied.

"Why don't you want to take Mican with you?"

"See, I don't know what we will have to face and since you insist that Cerulia goes with me, I would feel better if someone, who is just as dear to you as is to me, would stay with you." She cleared her throat then and began to fumble on the rims of her light green shirt sleeves.

Alannah knew what it meant. Leigh was uncomfortable and was getting impatient with herself. There were times when it was so hard for the younger woman to voice her feelings and apparently this was such a time.

"Of course, if you don't want to then… I mean… Terrulli will stay here with you so I know you won't be alone… and I would like it if you would take Mican for a ride every now and then… and…and… uh…" Leigh was staring at the ceiling, thinking of more to say.

"I would like for Mican to stay here with me," the princess interrupted her, saving the knight from tangling her tongue into knots even further, while trying to come up with more explanations.

Leigh smiled. "Thank you." She turned around and belted the scabbard, which held her father's broadsword around her hips. Everything else had already been packed and was stored in the saddlebags of the horses that Loredane had chosen. The only thing left was the green cloak, which still lay on Leigh's bed.

Sighing quietly, Alannah rose. "Come on, Cerulia. It's time to say goodbye."

The white wolf jumped off the bed and walked outside to wait.

"Did your father say how long he is going to stay here, before he returns to Chitaan?"

"He said he wants to leave as soon as possible. So, my guess is that it will be today. There is so much to do and prepare. Loreen wants to stay a few more days and then go back home too. I will be okay. Terrulli is here and I have Mican now and there will be so much to learn from King Mandylor. I don't think I will get bored until you come back," Alannah answered, bravely, even though she didn't feel exactly courageous. It was true, during the day, as long as she could stay busy, she would be fine. It was the lonely nights that she was a bit scared of, when there was too much time to think and worry. "I'm going to miss you horribly," she whispered then.

"Me too, Alannah," Leigh replied. Her arms went around the princess' waist, while Alannah wrapped her arms tightly around the knight's shoulders. The fit was simply perfect, as if they had been made for each other. Both released a shaky breath, too overcome with emotion to speak.

After a moment, Alannah asked, "Is it you or me that's trembling?"

"I think we both are shaking," Leigh responded, unconsciously tightening the hug. Suddenly tears were burning in her eyes and she tried to blink them away. "It will be alright," she choked.

"I know," Alannah croaked through the lump that had formed in her throat. "You're in my heart and I'm in yours."

"That's true and we will see each other again soon."

"Very soon," Alannah confirmed, looking at Leigh's face. A lone tear was streaking down her cheek. Using her thumb, the princess wiped it away. "I will be right here, waiting for you."

Leigh gave her a slightly askew smile, hurriedly wiping away another tear that had spilled over. "I know."

Alannah picked up the green cloak and tied it around the knight's neck. Then she cupped Leigh's cheeks, making her look at her. Staring deeply into the clear, green eyes, she whispered, "Don't forget to fulfill your promise."

Leigh reached up, covering the slender hands, which held her face, with her own. "I swear," she whispered back. "You keep yours too, alright?"

"I will… I…" Alannah drew in another breath. It was on the tip of her tongue to finally say out loud what her heart had been whispering for a long time, but her courage fled. Instead, she pulled the knight into another desperate embrace. "You and Cerulia will take good care of each other. I want you both to return to me safe and sound. And please, don't worry so much about anything and don't overanalyze things."

"I promise," Leigh said, holding on tightly to her best friend, wishing she wouldn't have to let go in a moment.

"Leigh? It is time to go," Loredane's voice drifted towards them through the closed door. "King Zaylan and Loreen wish to bid you farewell before we leave."

"I'm on my way," Leigh called out. Reaching for the princess' hand, she dragged her along. "Come with me, Cerulia is waiting for her goodbye hug."

"It won't be goodbye, just bye," Alannah responded. "Goodbye is like forever and I know I will see you both again soon."

Leigh smiled. "Yeah, I like that."

Hand in hand, they left the guest quarters of the Elven house.

*****

The days for Leigh and Loredane had passed in the same monotone way. They would get up in the mornings, have a quick meal, ride until they were ready to drop or the animals demanded a break and then make camp for the night, only to get up the next morning and do it all over again. They had reached the eighth's day of their journey and they would arrive at their destination soon, according to the Elf.

Cerulia kept close to the horse that carried the knight, never letting Leigh out of her sight. She also guarded her at night, curling up next to her or sitting by her side.

The blonde was grateful for the wolf's presence. She felt very lonely, being away from family and friends. Leigh didn't understand why she felt that way. It wasn't that she was all alone. Loredane was there and he was nice, even though he wasn't very talkative. But, Cerulia provided at least a part of home and the princess' trusty companion offered some sort of comfort on this long journey. Leigh's heart also ached from missing Alannah so much. Once again, she wished that Zaylan had not given the second enchanted scroll to Ranya. Of course, she knew how important the instant communication between the magicians was, but the knight was longing for some words from the people she loved.

She sighed quietly and the white wolf looked up at her. Leigh smiled as the bright blue eyes met hers and she could see the question in them. "I'm okay. Don't worry."

Cerulia cocked her head, apparently not convinced of the statement.

"Really, I'm fine," Leigh assured her.

So they went on, each step bringing them closer to the realm of Paquin, Lord of the Mermen. The sun wandered along her path and noon came.

"Do you know the legend of the Pearl of Zimahil?" The Elf suddenly asked.

The question took Leigh by surprise and she jerked upright in the saddle. She had almost nodded off due to the horse's swaying gait and the quietness around them. The whole day Loredane had been extraordinarily silent and seemed to be deep in thought that the knight had not dared to interrupt his concentration. "No," she answered.

Loredane smiled. "Would you like for me to tell it to you?"

"Sure, a tale makes the time pass quicker."

"That is true," the Elven scout confirmed, stopped his horse and looked around. The landscape was changing again, the trees were becoming less and less. A distinct smell of salty sea water was in the air, being carried towards them by a gentle breeze from the east. In the distance the shape of the cliffs was already visible. "We will have reached at our destination soon."

"Should we take a rest?" Leigh inquired. She was definitely ready for one and in dire need to stretch her legs. "There is a small creek over there where the horses can be watered," she said, pointing in the direction. She could hear the water rush by gently, but the actual creek was hidden behind some bushes.

"That would be a good idea," Loredane said, sliding out of the saddle. He patted his horse on the backside and the mare knew that she could now wander off to eat and drink to her heart's desire.

Leigh dismounted the stallion. He followed Loredane's horse to the creek so quickly that Leigh had barely enough time to pull her foot out of the stirrup. "I guess he was thirsty, huh?"

Loredane laughed softly. "He doesn't wish to be parted too long from his mate."

"That is the same everywhere," Leigh replied, walking around a bit to loosen the muscles in her legs. Taking off her green cloak, she spread it out on the ground and then lowered her frame on top of it. The silver threads of the embroidered swan sparkled in the sunlight.

Cerulia sat down beside Leigh, placed her head on one of the knight's thighs and waited patiently for the gentle fingers that would soon comb through her white fur and rub her between the ears.

The horses returned a few minutes later, having quenched their thirst. The sparse grass that covered the ground, which was getting more and more sandy, didn't hold much appeal to them.

Loredane fed them some oats, carrots and apples that he had in his saddle bags. Then he untied the water skin and gave it to Leigh. He sat down opposite her, leaning his back against a gnarled, cockeyed tree that was growing there.

Leigh had a few sips from the water skin. After she was done, she formed her hand to a bowl and poured some water onto her palm, offering it to the wolf that lapped it up with great gusto.

Loredane laughed softly as he saw it.

Raising her head, Leigh looked at him. "What?"

"I never thought I would ever see anything like that," he replied, shaking his head slightly.

The knight frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I have heard about Humans having a close bond with animals, but to actually see it with my own eyes is an interesting experience. Throughout our whole journey, you have shared your food and water with the wolf."

"And what is so surprising about that?" Leigh wanted to know, the frown still firmly fixed on her face. "You do care about your animals in Ilumera too, don't you? And you just gave better food to the horses because they don't want to eat the grass here."

The Elf nodded. "That is true."

"Cerulia isn't just an animal," Leigh continued, patting the wolf. "I love her dearly and she is my friend. Besides, she helped us with hunting."

"That she most certainly did," Loredane confirmed.

"So it is only fair that she gets her share of the food. And it's not my fault that Alannah has spoiled her rotten so that she doesn't want to drink her water from the creek. I don't think it's a bad thing."

The smile on the Elf's face turned to a quirky grin. "Rest assured. It is not a bad thing. It is rather heart-warming to watch you two take care of each other. Then again, I should have expected nothing less of Swanheart."

Reaching behind to rub her neck, Leigh cleared her throat. The unexpected compliment had embarrassed her. "You… you wanted to tell me a legend," she reminded him and successfully changed the topic of the conversation, steering it to a matter that was more comfortable for her.

"Yes, the Pearl of Zimahil," Loredane announced. "It is the reason for our seeking out of Paquin."

Her eyebrows rose in astonishment. "I thought we wanted to retrieve a weapon that will help us to defeat the Shadow Warriors?"

"Indeed. It is the weapon."

"So, is it a pearl with magical powers? Zimahil is the wife of Asram, right?"

"You are correct on both terms," the Elf responded.

"Why is it that nobody has heard of a weapon against the Shadow Warriors before? Why do the Mermen have it?"

"Let me start at the beginning. I am most certain that there will be answers to all your questions," Loredane said. "Do you know what exactly the Shadow Warriors are?"

Leigh nodded. "They are the souls of fallen warriors, brought back to life with the use of dark magic and they will never find peace unless the dark wizard, who raised them, is going to set them free. They cannot be killed with any weapon that is known to us. Because of that, they are invincible and the most feared creatures in Yuron," the knight rattled off the information she had gained during her apprenticeship with Sword Master Yan.

"Or so everybody thinks," Loredane concluded.

"Are you saying there is more?" Leigh asked. "I mean despite the fact that there all of a sudden is a weapon to destroy them," she added.

The Elf smiled secretively. "Cerrn, Asram's dark brother, was very jealous as Asram divided the Stone of Creation and gave the pieces to his children, the Spirits, and they founded Yuron. He was also angry that his brother gave the power of magic to the Humans. To get back at them, he seduced many magicians with his dark forces and brought the gift, or better said the curse, of dark magic to mankind."

"Why didn't Asram and the others stop him?"

"Because, there can be no light without dark," Loredane explained. "Cerrn had as much the right to have his apprentices and followers as Asram and his children. But he went too far. His most evil deed was done with the creation of the Shadow Warriors. Imagine a restless soul that is bound to have an existence, even though it should enjoy Afterlife in the Different World. Imagine a soul that has no will of its own, condemned to serve a master forever and ever, carrying out whatever horrible order they voice."

"A scary way to be kept alive," Leigh said.

"Indeed. As Zimahil saw the creatures, she wept harsh tears, feeling so sorry for the tortured souls that Cerrn had created."

Leigh rubbed her chin in thought. "Is that how the big ocean came to be?"

"So the legend says," Loredane replied. "Zimahil desperately wanted to find a way to bring peace to the Shadow Warriors, because they had touched her heart so strongly. See, this weapon is not going to kill the Shadow Warriors. Therefore, I think it shouldn't be called weapon. It is a device that will release them into the Different World, ending their tortured, sorrowful existence."

"So, out of compassion, she created a pearl with magical powers?" the knight wanted to know.

Loredane shook his head. "Zimahil didn't create it. It was a miracle that happened. During her crying, all her love and all her compassion for the human race materialized in a pearl and it has the power to redeem the trapped souls, which are the Shadow Warriors."

"That is a beautiful story, sad, but beautiful nonetheless."

"And like every legend it has a true core. Paquin and his Mermen have said pearl," the Elf concluded.

"How did it come that nobody knew about it?" Leigh questioned.

Loredane looked at her with a sad expression. "So much got lost during the Age of Distrust, when all races shunned the others. So many magical artifacts were destroyed. Knowledge and old stories are no exception to that. I have lived many a human lifetime, not as many as our wise king, but still, I have seen and heard a lot."

"Do you think that Paquin will give it to us and help us?"

"I have no answer to that, Leigh Swanheart. We will have to wait and see."

Leigh nodded. "I understand." She rose, wrapped her cloak around her and walked towards the stallion that had carried her so many miles from Ilumera.

Loredane got up too and looked at the blue sky, searching for the position of the sun. "We will reach the grotto soon."

"Good," the knight answered and climbed into the saddle, turning the horse into the right direction.

Dexterously, Loredane jumped onto the back of his mare and clicked his tongue, setting the horse into motion.

*****

"Come on, Ranib, Mother is back!" Wyan shouted, racing into the kitchen. He found his twin brother, who was having breakfast. Wyan hurried to the table and grabbed his arm, almost dislocating his shoulder as he pulled him off the chair.

"Alright, alright, let go, you're hurting me," Ranib grumbled, but got up. He left his barely touched porridge behind and followed his brother to their mother's cabin.

As they entered, they found Loreen sitting at the small table. She had changed out of her Elven attire and had put on a simple, but comfortable, dark blue dress. Loreen held Rubyoh to her cheek, rubbed his head and made cooing noises at him. "How is my big boy? Did you miss me?"

The squirrel had his eyes closed and seemed quite content, snuggling with his favorite person. His tiny paws were gently moving against the Half-Elf's cheek, mirroring the caresses that he received from her tender fingertips.

Wyan grinned and said, "Hey, where is our hug? We missed you too, you know?"

Loreen gently placed Rubyoh on the table top and walked over to greet her sons.

"Where is the rest of our family?" Wyan wanted to know after the healer had let go of him.

The question took Loreen by surprise. "Didn't Zaylan tell you?"

"The King hasn't been very talkative since he rode in here a couple of days ago. The servants say he is mostly pacing his study and hardly sleeps. If they wouldn't make sure that food gets delivered to his chambers from time to time, he probably wouldn't eat," Ranib explained. "What's going on, Mother? Do you know anything? Does it have something to do with the messenger bird from the High Council that arrived?"

"I just arrived, Ranib, but I'm sure I will find out."

"Where are Alannah, Leigh and Terrulli? Why didn't they return with you? How was it in Ilumera? Are Ranya and Firetail back in Urdgard? Did King Zaylan tell you anything about the meeting with the High Council?" Wyan shot out one question after another, barely taking a breath in between the words.

Loreen sat back down and held up her hands. "Can I answer one at a time?"

"As long as we get answers," Ranib replied, lowering his tall frame to another chair.

Wyan crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. "So? What is going on with the others? Where are they?"

"Ranya and Firetail went back to Urdgard, after Ranya had a premonition, which showed her that the masked sorcerer was going to attack the land. I have not heard anything yet of how they fared. I'm sure though that Zaylan has. As for Alannah and Terrulli, they are still in Ilumera, where King Mandylor is teaching them a bit about Elven magic."

"That is great," Wyan said. "What about Leigh?"

Loreen hesitated. Should she tell them the truth? Ever since Leigh had come to live with them at the castle, her sons had taken to her and treated her like their little sister. She knew that they would worry. "Well, she is on a quest. Please, don't ask me further, I can't tell you. Let her do that when she is back."

The twins frowned, and looked at each other. They knew it would be best to decide to leave it at that. Their mother wouldn't say any more, no matter how much they would beg and plead, but it was too hard. "She will be okay, right?" Ranib asked, with a serious look on his face.

The healer nodded. "Yes, Loredane is with her."

"Your cousin?" Wyan's eyes widened. "That must be some quest, if the Elves send their finest warrior with her."

"He only accompanies her for a while," Loreen explained. Seeing that her son was about to question her further, she said, "Please, Wyan, let it go."

Wyan exhaled sharply, unhappy. "Fine," he gave in.

Silence fell.

Rubyoh looked from one to the other, feeling the slight tension. He skittered off to his nest, which the twins had placed in a cozy corner of the hut, between some herb bundles that hung from the ceiling.

"Now, tell me. What happened here, while we were gone?" Loreen inquired.

"We need to show you something," Wyan blurted immediately and went over to the bed area. He pulled the heavy oak chest from under the bed and placed it on the table, right in front of his mother.

She raised her eyebrows in question.

"We found something and decided it would be better to lock it away in order to keep it safe from curious eyes," Ranib explained. "We had wanted to already tell King Zaylan, but you are the only one, who has the key to open the chest again."

Loreen rose and left the cabin, only to return a moment later, holding a small silver key in her hand that she had taken from its secret hideout. "If you locked it in the chest, it really must be something extraordinary," she said, sliding the key into the hole of the lock. Turning it left, then right, then left again, the complicated mechanism rattled and clicked, until the lock finally sprang open. Rising the lid, she didn't know what to expect. Her expression was blank as she saw the scroll and the linen bag.

"Careful," Ranib admonished his mother, as he saw her reach for the small bag.

She looked at him questioningly.

"Don't worry, it is not going to bite you, but I have no idea what it might do in the hands of a magician," he added.

Using great caution, the Half-Elf opened the bag's string and looked inside. Immediately a faint, light blue glow began to pulse. Loreen froze. "By the Spirits," she gasped in disbelief. "Is this…"

Wyan nodded. "We believe it is the sacred gemstone of Ashkyhra, yes."

"Where did you find this?"

"Rubyoh had it in his nest. We think that Terrulli had it in her possession, unbeknownst to her, and our curious, little fellow found it and carried it off, probably thinking that it was a nut. There is more."

Loreen closed the bag and carefully laid it on the table. Reaching inside the oak chest once more, the healer pulled out the bloodstained scroll. Skimming over the text, her eyes widened further. If the situation wouldn't have been so serious, it might have looked funny. "Good gracious, I guess this answers the question about Krymm's whereabouts."

"What do you mean, Mother?" Ranib asked.

"High Sorcerer Krymm never showed up to meet with the High Council. Zaylan told me, they found Kentaara in ruins and that Krymm is presumed dead," she explained.

The twins sucked in a sharp breath. Another country had fallen. That was really bad news.

"It might not be his blood though," Wyan responded after having regained his composure. "I found that scroll in the nest of a magpie that had taken up residence in Rubyoh's tree. Maybe Krymm never got the message."

"A magpie?" Loreen inquired.

"Yes, a magpie. It was in horrible shape when it arrived here and it was very protective of the scroll. It almost bit my hand off when I attempted to pull it out from under it."

"Krymm's bird was a magpie," the healer thought out loud. "As far as I know, they were very attached to each other and Buttoneye wouldn't leave her master, not without a good reason. I wonder why she came here though. But then again, you are right. He might not be dead. He might have been abducted, just like High Sorceress Tanith of Pavan was."

Ranib held up his hands. "Hold on a second, please, Mother. That is too much information at once. Could you please tell us what's going on in some kind of order?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she slipped the small lined bag and the scroll into a pocket on her dress. "I need to speak with Zaylan immediately," Loreen announced, rose and almost bolted from the cabin.

Ranib and Wyan looked at each other, unsure if they should follow her or not. "I guess if we want information, then we have to find out for ourselves what's going on," Wyan stated and hurried after his mother, Ranib hot on his heels.

They had just left the hut as the trumpets sounded, announcing a new arrival. Squinting, they peered at the sky. "By Ossyr, it's Firetail!" Ranib exclaimed.

"I guess boredom is officially over," Wyan replied sarcastically. The brothers quickened their steps and soon reached the castle of Chitaan.

*****

The weather changed dramatically as Leigh, Loredane and Cerulia arrived at the grotto, which marked the entrance to Paquin's realm. Lightening zigzagged across the sky, which was glowing in strange purple and violet shades. They quickly hurried inside to get out of the howling wind that tore strongly at their clothes. With the first clap of thunder that boomed loudly, a heavy rain began to fall.

"I'm glad we made it before the thunderstorm hit," Leigh commented. "I wouldn't want to be out there right now."

"My thoughts exactly," Loredane replied, lightening a torch to illuminate the darkness that lay before them.

The cave was large and wide, offering enough room to leave behind the horses. The twitching of their ears betrayed their nervousness and the booming thunder scared them. But, at least, the horses could stay dry and were protected from the weather.

The ceiling was high enough so that Loredane and Leigh could walk upright, without banging their heads. Salt crystals sparkled on the walls and the constant dripping of water could be heard.

After a while, they came upon a lake. A small boat was attached to the footbridge with a thick rope that was covered in slimy, rotten seaweed. Both, the boat and the footbridge, looked run-down and in desperate need to be restored.

"We have reached our destination," Loredane announced. "This is where the realm of the Mermen begins." He turned to Leigh. "You will have to take the boat and row it across the lake. On the other side, a small stream will guide you to the ocean. Wait for the Mermen to make contact with you. Do not reveal anything about your quest until you are talking with Lord Paquin in person." He grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I wish you luck, my friend. Be careful and do not take any unnecessary chances."

Leigh returned the handshake. "Thank you, Loredane."

"You are most welcome."

The knight felt a gentle pressure against her leg and looked down. Cerulia had her head pressed against Leigh's leg. Her heart constricted at the sight. "Oh, please, Cerulia, don't look at me like that," Leigh said, while the white wolf was staring up at her with profound sadness in her blue eyes. "I hate having to leave you here," she continued. "I would so love to take you with me, but it's impossible."

Cerulia whimpered slightly and stared even harder at the knight.

Leigh knelt down on the rocky ground in front of her, wrapped her arms around the sitting wolf's neck and hugged her close. "I will return as soon as possible. Wait here for me, alright?"

Cerulia rose. Standing on her hind legs, she placed her front paws on Leigh's shoulder. A pink tongue appeared to lick the young woman's cheek.

"I'll hurry, I promise," the knight whispered into her ear, rubbing her back. "Be good."

"We will wait here for your return," Loredane said.

With a final caress to the wolf's soft fur and a peck to her head, Leigh got up and approached the lightly bobbing boat. Turning around to face the Elven scout, she inquired, "It looks as if it's been here for a few centuries. Are you sure that this nutshell isn't going to sink as soon as I get in?"

Loredane gave her a quirky smile. "That is in the hands of your Spirits, my friend."

"That's what I thought," Leigh confirmed. A bit apprehensive, she placed one foot on the footbridge, seeing if it would carry her weight. The rotten wood cracked and creaked in protest, but it held. Carefully, the knight crossed over to the boat, step by step, and slowly lowered her frame to it. Immediately, she pulled a face as the nasty smell of dead fish drifted to her nose. "By Ossyr," she complained. "That is disgusting."

"Is everything alright?" she heard Loredane call.

"Perfect, just need to get rid of some stowaways," she shouted, picking up several fish corpses from the boat's floor and dumping them back into the lake. Sniffing her fingertips, she wrinkled her nose. "Great," she muttered sarcastically, "that smell will cling to me for weeks. But, there is nothing I can do about it now."

Leigh pulled the sword from her scabbard and used it to cut the rope, which held the boat to the footbridge, with one well-placed strike. She picked up the paddle and set out to cross the lake.

Cerulia and Loredane stood on the shore, watching the young woman, who became smaller and smaller. As soon as she was out of sight, the wolf threw her head back and a sad, drawn out howl erupted from her throat.

The Elf reached down to rub her head. "Do not worry, Cerulia. She will be back soon."

Two or three hours passed until Leigh decided to take a break and rest. She had left the grotto and the lake behind her. Steering the boat along the stream, just like Loredane had told her, she had reached the ocean and had entered unknown territory. Surrounded by water, she sat in the middle of the small boat.

Leigh reached for the bag that the Elf had given her and pulled out a piece of bread. Nibbling at it, she stared off space, lost in thought. She wondered when the Mermen would make an appearance. Would she have to row even further out on the open sea?

A sound brought her back to reality and she jerked upright. What was that? She looked around, but couldn't discover anything. Listening intently, she waited. Maybe the Mermen had found her?

There it was again. It sounded like a voice calling out. It was a female voice and it was calling her name.

Leigh's eyes widened as she was finally able to recognize the voice. It was Alannah's. "It can't be," she mumbled. "I must be hallucinating because I miss her so much."

"Leigh… Leigh… Leigh… help me… help me… help me… Leigh…"

The knight closed her eyes and pressed her hands over her ears to drown out the voice. It was an unsuccessful attempt, because now, she could hear the voice even louder.

"Leigh… help me…"

Opening her eyes, she looked around once more. The voice was so close. And there, only a few meters away from the boat, the Princess of Chitaan was in the water, swimming towards her.

"By the Spirits, Alannah?" Taking hold of the paddle, she steered the boat over to the princess. Bending over the side, she looked at Alannah, who was unhealthy pale and had blue lips. Her long, silver hair stuck in wet strands to her cheeks and head. "What are you doing here?" Leigh asked, overcome with concern for her best friend's condition. "Have you been following us the whole time?"

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to be without you anymore."

Leigh sighed and shook her head. This was so unlikely Alannah. She wasn't known to make rash decisions like that.

Alannah held out one of her hands, her legs moving rapidly to keep herself afloat. Her white robes had become almost see-through and her teeth chattered from the freezing cold water. "Can you pull me into your boat? We can talk then."

Leigh reached for her and froze as the princess' icy hands wrapped around her wrists in a surprisingly strong and painful grip. The knight looked into the warm brown eyes, only to find cold gray ones watching her with an evil glint. Something was wrong, this wasn't Alannah. The realization of the truth came too late though. Leigh tried to free her arms, but it was in vain.

The face in front of her changed. Wild, curly, long, red hair replaced silver strands. The slightly almond shaped eyes stared at her harsh and cruel. White scales covered her skin from head to toe.

A tiny gasp escaped the knight as the woman, or whatever it should be called, showed her true form. She had been lured in by a Siren. Using magical powers, the creature had looked into Leigh's heart to use what she held dear the most against her, in order to trap her.

The Siren tightened the grip she had on Leigh's arms. "I will take you down with me and we will be together forever, my sweet," the creature said with a wicked grin, revealing her pointy teeth.

Before Leigh could do anything but take a deep breath, she was pulled over board and was dragged down into the ocean. The icy water came as a shock. Bubbles escaped from her mouth and she was close to panic. Her clothes were soaked and became heavy. Kicking and struggling, she tried to free herself from the creature's grip. Eventually, she managed to get loose.

Leigh's lungs were burning and felt ready to explode. Her muscles ached from the cold and lack of oxygen. Her heart was pounding out of control. She needed to get her bearings and find her way back. There, the surface was right above her and wasn't too far away. She could see the bottom of the boat. Leigh kicked her legs hard, swimming for her life.

She was glad that she had taken off her armor and sword, or she would have sunk even quicker. Only five or four more pushes and she would be able to breathe again. Mobilizing her last resources of strength, Leigh fought against the water to reach the boat.

"Enough with your silly games, I'm not in the mood to play catch," another voice said and two arms wrapped around her legs, pulling her down again. Another pair of arms reached around her chest. "You are ours now and you will stay here. We will be together forever, my sweet," the Siren whispered into her ear from behind. "Give up your resistance and feel the wonderful oblivion."

Leigh's mind became foggy. She knew that she was about to die. Her life would end in the deadly embrace of a Siren. In a last desperate move, she turned her thoughts to Alannah. 'I'm sorry, my Love. Please forgive me that I failed. I'll wait for you in the Different World.'

Her body felt weightless, the pain became dull, green eyes closed and the Sirens dragged her further and further down.

*****

Continued...