The Augury

I am Elsewhere.  I recognize this because this is unfamiliar to me.  Usually when I travel it’s to places that I know pretty well, but this garden, I have never seen before.  It is elegant and lush but has a wildness to it that in the mundane I would probably enjoy, but since this isn’t a place I know, I am on guard.  I get the feeling of not being alone and look over my shoulder and see Dav.  WTF? Why am I here with him and not his brother?  Corwvyn had another mission he tells me and will meet us on the other side.  Wait. WTH are we doing here and why, I demand to know.  Dav smiles…I need your help, and asked others who said you could do this.  It never occurred for you to ask me?   He shook his head..I needed their permission anyways.  Well FUCK! We walk through the garden for a bit, speaking little because I rarely speak when I’m pissed and I was more than a little ticked off that my services would be offered without someone letting me know beforehand.  The thought of visitor in the glen comes to me, but I push that away..because why should he care what this elf does? Suddenly Dav turns and speaks..Look, it does me no good for you to be mad at me and not speak.  I guess I should have gotten a message to you explaining, but there really wasn’t time in my schedule to do so.  I glare at him and quietly tell him that I have no need to speak to do as he asks of me, so can we just move on with whatever the fuck this is.  He shakes his head and begins walking again.  Soon he stops me with a raise of his hand and we peer through a vine that is more like  a screen concealing what appears to be civilization ahead of us.  It is a stone courtyard and in the middle are 3 poles.  There are people milling around, dressed in their finery as if they are attending a party of sorts or some matinee.  Just past the poles sits a castle commons complete with a balcony overlooking the whole area.  I look at Dav who is staring intently with his jaw clenched.  A crowd of people soon appear on that balcony.  Someone who looks like a priest in their resplendent red robe, some sort of cabinetry people and then she appears.  The queen herself in red dress that to me looks her makes her look like she was dressing for the prom and failed..miserably, but I’m guessing I am not here to critique her attire.  As she appears, the people who had been milling around begin to clap and call her name…Aaryana.  I look towards Dav again but see I will get no help from him for explanations because he looks like a keg of dynamite about to explode.    I sigh and turn back to watch the scene play out in front of me.  A gesture is made for the people to quiet and at once they do so.  Well trained I think sarcastically. Aaryana begins to speak.  As you all know, she begins, we have had trouble with some that refuse to accept that our way is best for the people.  They have caused us nothing but trouble and I have decided that I will get their attention quickly. I will prove to them that to not fall into line will only bring them pain.  She gestures…bring forth the prisoners.  I watch as I see a woman with two small children led forth with shackles around their necks connected by chain and their hands behind their backs.    I am incredulous.  How could someone do that to children I want to know.  The heat from Dav is growing and I know that if he continues, it will blow, so I touch his arm.  Be easy.  It will do them no good for you to be so angry that you cannot think through your plan and bring it to fruition. He nods, and continues to watch.  We watch as we lead the prisoners to the center of the square and stop them in front of the poles. The woman speaks to the children gently trying to ease their fear at being treated in such a horrible manner. The guards remove the shackles one by one and tie each one to a pole facing the queen.  She is smiling , leering really as if she cannot wait to taste their blood.  This is all for show I realize, because she would have preferred to killed them instantly and dine on their entrails, but I realize she is after a bigger prize and he stands beside me.  Your family I ask him?  Yes, he says quietly.  My wife, Dressia, my son Kal and my daughter Davla. How old are the children I ask. Three summers he tells me.  I sigh heavily.  I understand why I am here now.  Not because Dav could not handle this with others, but because of the children.  So, what is the plan I ask?  We wait for now he says.  So again I turn my attention back to the scene at hand where once again the mad queen speaks.  This is the enemy she tells those of her court.  Seeds of those who would thwart our cause.  One who gives life to those seeds.  Jebus I think to myself, she is fucking crazy with her desire to kill children. The queen continues.  We have placed them here as a reminder to those who continue to fight against us that we can and will hold their hearts in our hands and devour it without mercy.  I see movement, just a glimmer .  Maybe I was mistaken because it is no longer there.  I shake my head, but then closer to the poles still, I see a familiar face.  Corwvyn! So he is on the inside.  I realize that he is not alone because I see other elves placed here and there among those milling in the courtyard accepting as gospel everything the mad woman says.  Why did I not notice them before?  They lifted the veil says Dav.  I look at him and he grins.  Corwvyn is right…you think loudly when trying to find order.  I laugh softly..yes I do.  I also tend to forget that I don’t have to speak to convey thought here.  So we watch.  I see Corwvyn and a couple of the others move closer to the poles and he places a finger to his lips so that the prisoners do not give them away.  As soon as they are close enough, Dav touches my arm..Come this way.  We move as quietly as we can toward the courtyard cloaked in a type of silver fog that seems to roll in from nowhere.  I see the queen frown at the apparent marring of her perfect tableau and hear her ask someone beside her what is happening.  They don’t seem to know either. We manage to slip in beside the others and I see a knife shine as it removes the bindings.  Carry her I am told as the girl is placed in my arms.  She feels so light, like a feather really and I can see that her features are perfect with her piercing grey eyes and silver hair. Are you hurt I ask her and she shakes her head no. I see that others also have a captive and then we move not back from where we had come from but forward toward the castle entrance.  Why are we moving inside I wonder.  We have to enter the ground floor to go back through the main gate someone tells me.  I wonder again why nobody has chased us yet and again receive an answer that the fog itself has a confusion agent and while others can see what is taking place, they do not comprehend why it is doing so or have a need to stop it.  Damn good stuff I think, I could use some of that. I hear a chuckle from Corwvyn.  You have plenty of other things at your disposal he tells me.  So off we move into the castle.  And stopped.  The Queen who was above the fog could see it, but because she was not in it, still has an ability to think. NO!!!! she screeches.  I swear she could have cracked windshields with that yell.  I see her advisers behind her as if they do not think for themselves, and probably do not. You cannot leave she yells at Dav who sneers at her and tells her that if she moves to stop him, he will remove her heart while she yet breathes.  Aaryana blanches to a paler shade of white which would be almost transparent if that was possible. It’s as if she knows that she just may have gone too far in the fight against her brother.  Wait.  Brother? I see the resemblance between them now and wonder just wth have I been pulled into now. We are allowed to leave and I hear her yell as we do so that this is not over.  Dav turns with his arm around his wife, and says,  Aaryana, hear this today..we are no longer family.  I curse the day you were born for here after.  I curse everything that is your life.  I will dance upon your funeral pyre and if I ever have the opportunity to do so, will be the one to bring that demise about.  He then turns and gathers us our group and we move to the door which opens at his command.   I hear the arrow before it comes into view.  Although it was not meant for me, the aim is untrue and before I let it hit the child I put my left hand up where it grazes it and falls silent upon the cold stone floor.  Corwvyn is beside me at once.  You all right he asks? I look at my hand and see only a small red mark so reassure him that I am. I look back at the queen who has a bow in her hand who is trying to load another arrow.  Definitely NOT part of her training I think.  Davla I tell the child..I know you can do this, but probably have not done so before but I need you to think with me, direct that thought toward the bow.  As we do, there is a silver stream of energy directed at the bow itself which disintegrates within Aaryana’s hands.  She looks confused then looks at me and the others.  A realization flits across her face and I see a myriad of emotions, anger, confusion, fear.  This is NOT finished, she repeats yet again. It is today says Corwvyn as he directs me and the child out the door.  We move quickly without looking back and soon I find us back in a small secluded camp.  I place my charge down who runs to her parents and they all cling to each other.  I sit talking quietly with Corwvyn and we are soon joined by his brother.  I cannot thank you enough Dav begins.  But I did nothing I tell him, but carry your daughter.  He smiles.  Ahh but you did.  I always knew that Davla was special from the day she arrived.  She has those powers that are born to a witch, but I had no idea how to show her that. You did today.  I only directed her thoughts I said.  She did as I asked and I didn’t doubt that she could do it.  Nor did I said Dav.  She will need some instruction of course, but I needed for her and others to see that she is not powerless.  Crazy I think to myself as Dav once again rejoins his family.  Corwvyn entertains me of family stories of growing up with their sister and of the family keep which is where we were. He then tells me of family history that tells of  one who holds power within that will become a leader to her people.  So Dav thinks his daughter is the one I ask? Her birth was at the right timing of conjunction of planets and moons he tells me, as well as the qualities she displayed early on and then the connection with you today reaffirms his beliefs.  I shrug.  That is a lot of responsibility thrust upon one so young I say.  She will be taught, but also allowed to grow he tells me.  She is loved as their child not only as a leader of her people.  Come, I will take you back to the bridge where Brin waits for you.   We say our farewell’s and make our way to the bridge where indeed Brin does await my return.  Thanks for the help Shae he says.  I’ll come see you soon and we can hang out.  He gives me a hug then walks back across the bridge.  I am tired I tell Brin, let’s go home.  I am soon lying in my bed, and think..wait.  I should be sound asleep, not feel like I am still awake and traveling.  My hand throbs and I look at it.  Holy shit!  It has turned black!  WTH was that arrow tipped with?  I get my phone and take a picture to send to a friend who might have an answer.  As soon as I hit send it seems as if I have a response.  Sit tight I am told, we are on our way.  Wait.  Who is we I wonder.  I feel so tired and wonder when my friend will arrive and soon I hear her voice in my ear.  I’m here.  Let me look .  I feel her lift my hand but do not open my eyes because it seems to take too much effort.  I hear someone else speak.  I don’t know the voice, but it seems familiar if that even makes sense, and it says that I have been poisoned and need to have it flushed from my system immediately.  As the voice keeps speaking, I seem to drift away from it melting into nothingness which concerns my friend, and yet the voice picks me up as if I am nothing but air and tells her and Brin to follow him.  I do not know where we went, nor what occurred as the vileness is removed from my body.  I do know that where I awoke was not a place that I am not familiar with except for being told of it. I open my eyes and look around.  My friend sits near with worry in her eyes, and Brin also hovers close.  Ya’ll know that I’m fine right I tell them.  You weren’t about a day ago says my friend, so excuse the hell out of us for sitting here a little bit worried and a whole lot pissed. I laugh because I know that her anger is her release over the worry and confusion.  I’m sorry I made you worry.  I certainly had no clue that anything was wrong, but I do know that a certain queen is about to be handed her ass before long.  Indeed says my friend, but that belongs to another day.  Thank you for the help .  I did nothing, but guide my “friend” to you and it was he who knew what was right to do.  Thank him too I say.  I will pass along your message although I’m sure he will say as I do that no thanks are necessary. Brin will take you home now so you can get some real rest, and I will catch up with you later.  I am carried along in Brin’s capable arms, and tucked in safe and warm where I fall into a deep dreamless sleep and awake this morning tired somewhat but reviewing certain details in my mind.  I know now that the work spoken of before has a definite detail now of instruction and guidance and that it may or may not come with dangers that I am now more aware of.  Tomorrow I will go back to the spiders and we will make up a plan of action.  In the mean time I am grateful for those in my life that while they do not always understand my path, are still willing to stand beside me and help when and where they can.

tempête parfaite