Destiny’s Call:
 
 

[Author’s Note.  This story stands as a bridge to the events of the War for Panthelia.  As such, it takes place about 35 years after the death of Nerlana.]
copyright Gary McClellan
ashtur_anvangan@yahoo.com
 

  Alelneia stood before the central campfire of her village, and looked over the eager faces of those around her.  As always, she was slightly pained by the look of near adoration in the face of many of the younger warriors.  It was as if they looked at her and saw some sort of a deity on earth, and not a woman struggling every day with the decisions that her office brought to her.  She was not a large woman; not much over 5-foot tall, her gray hair streaked with just a few reminders of the brown hair that had been hers in her youth.  Her face was beginning to show the crags that came with living nearly 60 years.  However, her posture was still erect, and one look at her body made it clear to anyone that she was still a force to be reckoned with.  As she looked over the crowd, she caught one face, nearly a mirror image of the one she wore when she was young.  She focused on the girl wearing that face and spoke in a formal tone “Lyssa, come forth”

  With those words, a young woman, a girl really, who had just reached her 16th year stepped forward.  She was dressed in a simple brown woven tunic, without any decoration.   She walked before the queen, and kneeled on one knee.

   “Lyssa” Alelneia began, “this night, you will take upon yourself the sign of adulthood.  Today, you become a full member of our people, with all the honors and responsibilities it entails.  Do you pledge this day, to conduct yourself with honor and courage, to help those weaker, and to stand for the side of what is right? “

   In a firm voice, the young woman answered “I do my queen”.

   Alelneia went on “You have spoken before our people and before the great maker, that you will do these things.  With this, it is my honor and pleasure to name you, Lyssa as a full member of our people”.   With those words, Alelneia took a red sash from an attendant and draped it across the shoulder of the young woman.   She then began to speak again.  “Likewise this night, as you enter into our people as an adult, you also come into your inheritance, as you are the rightful heir to the throne of our people.  Do you pledge, that when the time comes, you will rule with honor and justice, yet tempered with mercy and compassion.  Do you pledge to always uphold the word of our people, and defend those entrusted to your care?”

  Again, the young woman answered, “I do my queen”

  Alelneia then took a purple sash, and laid it over the red sash, indicating that she was not only a full member of the tribe, but also the crown princess.  “I remind you this day, that your office is not a sign of glory, but of service.  Even as animals are put in harness for service, so also the sash that is the sign of your office is your sign of service.”

  Alelneia then turned to the people as a hole and cried out in a loud voice “Behold, this day we welcome a new warrior to our tribe, and an heir to lead our people.  Let us celebrate.”

   Even as she said that, the small knot of people broke up and began to celebrate the joy of the evening.  However, Alelneia spoke with one of the children near her, and then walked to her cabin to wait.

 An hour or so later, Lyssa came into Alelneia’s cabin.  Alelneia was seated in a large padded chair, coated with some sort of slick leather like substance, one of the reminders of her travels from years past.  Next to her sat another woman who looked to be about 50. Alelneia smiled at Lyssa; “You didn’t have to cut short your celebration.”

   “You asked me to come here my queen, how could I do anything different?” Lyssa answered.

   Alelneia frowned at that, “You know better than to be like that here”

   “I’m sorry grandmother, I guess the formality of the evening got to me, and I thought you wanted me here for a formal purpose” Lyssa answered.

   “Well, you are right” Alelneia began, “I do want you here for a reason. But that is no reason for us to be formal, we are family after all.  After all, even if Lisette here is not blood relation, she is like a sister to me” she said, nodding to the other woman.

  “Well, even for me, it is a bit intimidating to be called into the presence of the Queen and the War Leader of our tribe” Lyssa answered.

  “Well, in any case, you are right. We did want to speak with you for a reason Lyssa.  You see we’ve noticed that something has seemed to be bothering you of late.  I had hoped that it was just nerves about tonight, but I have the feeling that it is something more.”

   “Well, yes, there is something wrong, but I don’t know what to say about it”, Lyssa answered.  “You see, I’ve had this feeling lately, an overwhelming heaviness on me, and a darkness, just hiding at the edge of my sight…”

   Alelneia sighed and glanced sharply at Lisette.  “I was afraid it was that.  You don’t need to explain it to me; I know the feeling very well.  I started getting that feeling some time before the Day of  Fire, and it just kept building and building…. Until that terrible day”

   “You mean the dragons are coming again? That there will be another Day of Fire?”

   “No child, no, I don’t think so.  I have seen enough glimpses of what is to come that I don’t think it’s that, but I do think that days of upheaval are coming.”

   Alelneia sighed deeply and went on. “And I am happy that it is not another Day of Fire.  Too many in our tribe have seen the Day of Fire as some sort of glorious day.  I look in the eyes of those born since then, and they look at me as some sort of goddess among us.  However, I remember the pain of those days all too well.  The terror as Barakan and his minions swept over the village, the sheets of flame, the screams of those engulfed in flames.   Even Bajornig, as annoying as she may have been, did not deserve that fate.   We lost half our people, and wondered long and hard before we came to this hidden valley.  Lessa, blessed Lessa, she was the rock of strength that kept us going”

   “Alelneia, you are being too hard on yourself again. I was there too you know, and your strength is what saved out tribe” Lisette said, speaking for the first time.

   “Well, in any case, forgive an old woman her musings Lyssa.  I called you here for a reason.  I too have felt the bonds of fate begin to tighten again.  Once again, the days are coming where great deeds will be called for.  I knew even when you were born that you would have a role in them, I could feel it. That is why I insisted that your mother name you after the founder of our tribe.”  As she remembered Lyssa’s mother, her own daughter, a small tear formed in the eye of Alelneia, a reminder of a pain that never quite went away.  “That is why you are here tonight.  Tonight, we begin to prepare for what is to come.  I guess the place to start is with you. Do you have any questions?”

   “Well, I have one, but it’s the one I have asked so many times before. Why did the dragons turn against us?  Whenever I would ask that, my teachers would become vague and speak of destiny and the like.”

   “That is a good question, and the very heart of what is to come I suspect.  I guess the lack of answer before is my fault Lyssa.  I wanted to wait until I could give you the whole story.  In any case, it was a matter of greed, pure and simple.  Dragons are a lot like people in the end.  There are good ones, and bad ones.  For ages, we were blessed that the good ones held the upper hand.  Nerlana was a good queen, wise, and kind in her own way.  Unfortunately, not all the other dragons were so disposed.  About 300 years ago, there was a war within the dragons, a terrible one.   At the end, a group, the “Order of the Claw” was exiled.  Well, to make a long story short, they bided their time, and the night before the Day of Fire, they made their move.  They struck down Nerlana, and many of her supporters. The next day, they came after her allies. The trolls were lucky, their caves are deep and complex.  The Dragons could not get at them in their dragon forms, and even considering the power of their human forms, going into the troll-caves is a suicide mission, so while the trolls took their losses, they came out all right.  We, well, you know that part.  We fled here, far from them, hiding, and biding our time.”

   Lyssa considered all of that, and finally asked “Biding our time for what?”

   “I’m not sure”, her grandmother said with a small smile.  “But I’m sure the time will come.  Until then though, we must not come to the attention of the dragons.”

   “Why not?”

   With a hint of steel in her voice, Alelneia answered, “Three reasons.  The first is that they hate that which they cannot rule, and we will not be ruled by their kind.  The second is that Barakan hates anyone who was friends with Nerlana.  Finally, he is scared.”

  “Scared? Of what?”

   “You can speak this information to no one.  But, Barakan knows that he did not destroy the old royal family.  Rhoysmere and Agianna survived, and managed to get out with their newborn child.  Barakan is afraid of that child, and he may think we know where the child is.”

   “I think I understand grandmother, but what can we do.  Our warriors are strong, but against the dragons?  You have learned your magic, but you are the only one in our tribe who knows such.”

   “You are right to ask that. Our strength is but little, but timing is everything Lyssa.  The time will come, where we will throw our strength in. For we are not alone in our struggle.  Even now, Rhoysmere’s Son comes of age.  Somewhere out there, the 9th has begun to learn her powers.  The time is coming.”

  “The 9th?” Lyssa asked with a puzzled look.

   “Of course the 9th, the Soulmate.  You have met the 8th, the wanderer.  Soon the 9th will arise, and that will begin the days of great deeds.  But, now child, you should go to bed.  You have heard much, and you need time to consider it all. We will speak again.  And again, congratulations”  With that, Alelneia warmly hugged her granddaughter and sat down as Lyssa walked out the door.

   After Lyssa had closed the door behind her, Lisette turned to the queen and asked “Is she ready?”

   Looking distantly into the night, Alelneia answered “No, but she will be.  She will be there to light the fire.  For the ages, Hope of the Ages and the Dawn of the Morning’s names will be sung across the world.  Many might forget our dear Lyssa, but she has her role, and she will be there.”