Chapter 2

 

 

Two springs later, when it was Aquila’s turn to host, Percifal did indeed attend the celebration.

“Don’t you wish you could be there tonight?” my friend Secily asked me while twirling her ebony hair around her finger.

“No, not trapped inside the hall with all those people. I’d rather be outside.”

Secily wrinkled her nose at me. “You’re so strange.”

“You’re strange.” I laughed as I pushed her shoulder and ran away.

She chased me down a corridor in one of the guest wings of the palace glimmering with torchlight. I stopped abruptly when I noticed a door partially open. Hearing voices from within, I peeked through the opening with one eye. What I saw inside astonished me. A woman with hair so blond, it was almost white, lay in a large bed. Her eyes were closed, and her face was a pale, ashy shade. A man with wheat-blond hair and striking features sat by her side, holding her hand. Another woman stood on the other side of the bed. She wore thick, tattered robes. Her long hair was silver, though she appeared to only be in her third decade. A soft, white glow came from the robed woman’s hands as she held them over the bed.

I gasped, and Secily pulled me back just as the man glanced up.

“Did you see that?” I asked her.

“No, but let’s go before someone sees us.”

I nodded, and we walked back to the chamber she was staying in while her parents were at court.

Inside her chamber, my mother’s handmaiden, Vera, awaited us. “Girls, there you are. I’ve been looking for you,” she told us sternly. Vera had been with my family since shortly after I was born. She was like a second mother to me.

“Sorry, Vera,” I offered. “I just saw the strangest thing.”

“And what did you see now?”

“Yeah, tell us, Chel,” Secily chimed in.

“Okay, but promise not to tell anyone,” I pleaded with both of them.

“Of course,” replied Secily.

Vera was silent, but I went on anyway. “Well, there was a lady lying in bed. She looked sick. Another lady stood over her, and her—her hands were glowing when she placed them over the sick lady.” I looked up at Vera, awaiting her response, but it was Secily who spoke next.

“What did the lady with glowing hands look like?” she asked, leaning in.

“She had long, silver hair and wore tattered robes. She was beautiful! I think she’s the same age as my mother.”

“I know who she is! She’s the healer who helped me when I broke my wrist.” Secily held up her wrist as if it were still injured.

“Now, girls, she’s more than a healer. She’s a sorceress, and we should not be speaking of her.”

“Why not?” Secily and I both asked at the same time.

“Because she wouldn’t wish to be a part of palace gossip. She’s very old and we must respect her.”

I sat on a wooden stool with a frown. “But why have I never seen her before? She doesn’t look old.”

“She does not wish to be seen unless she’s needed. The king once invited her to live at the palace, but she prefers to stay in her cave by the sea.”

“How lovely. I wish I lived by the sea,” I said with wonder. An idea was beginning to sprout roots in my mind at Vera’s information. Perhaps this sorceress could tell me why I could breathe underwater. Her cave couldn’t be too hard to find. I decided the next chance I had, I would seek her out.

“Anyways,” Vera continued, ignoring my comment. “She must be healing one of the guests who are here for Noctis. Never mind that. It’s none of our businesses. It’s getting late. It’s time for you girls to go to bed.”

“Can we please stay up a while longer? We want to give thanks to Celestia,” Secily argued while I was still in deep thought about the sorceress.

“I suppose it can’t hurt. Alright, come with me. Let us go give our thanks.”

Coming to the present, I grinned and jumped off the stool to follow them.

I woke in my bed in my family’s apartment. I opened my eyes and stared at the arched stone ceiling. Light filtered in through the silvery curtains, which covered the long window facing the foot of my bed. Thoughts of the previous night crept into my mind. I scrubbed my face with my hands. Today could finally be the day I found my answers. I crawled out of bed and pattered to the dining room, where my mother was breaking her fast.

“Good of you to join me, dear. I was beginning to think I’d have to come and wake you. Did you enjoy your Noctis De Celestia?” she asked, chewing the last bite of her meal.

“Yes, Mother. Sorry I slept in. We stayed up late with Vera so we could give thanks to Celestia.”

“So I heard.”

“Where’s Percifal?” I changed the subject and took a mouthful of the oats a maid had placed in front of me.

“Your father took him out to train.”

“Oh, I’d hoped he would take me outside to play today,” I said through my oats.

My mother brushed my cheek with her hand. “It’s important your brother spends time training. If he is to take over as constable someday, he needs to be prepared.”

“I understand.” I looked down at my food, disappointed.

“Perhaps Vera can take you.”

I refused her suggestion. “No, it’s alright. Could I go and watch Percifal though?”

“I don’t see why not,” she said, rising from her seat and flicking her long, cobalt hair over her shoulder. Her hair, like mine, was so dark it often seemed to be tinged with blue.

“Thank you, Mother.”

“Of course. Finish your oats and find Vera so she can ready you for the day, and then I’ll take you.”

Once my hair had been brushed into smooth waves and I was dressed in a deep-blue cotton dress that matched my eyes, my mother walked me to the training grounds where my father sparred with Percifal. My brother was still much shorter than my father, and he was having a tough time making any advances. He was only able to block the wooden practice sword my father swung at him. One strike after another, I saw Percifal growing more and more drained. His face was red and shone with sweat. I didn’t think it was fair, but when I looked up at my mother, she was smiling. Pride shone in her blue eyes.

“He’s holding your father back quite well,” she said, keeping her eyes on the two of them.

“I suppose so.”

“I’m meeting Queen Thea for tea, so I shall leave you here to watch. Percifal can bring you home when he’s finished.”

“Yes, Mother.”

I waited until she was out of sight, then I glanced back at Percifal and my father. They were so deep into their spar. I didn’t think they even noticed I was there. I needed to speak with the sorceress. There was no way I’d be allowed to go if I asked permission. This was my only chance. I took a deep breath and gathered my courage.

I walked casually away, as though I was doing nothing wrong. I didn’t want to raise suspicion if anyone did notice me. As the crystal blue waters of the Vitreus Sea came into sight, a giddy feeling rose inside me. Am I really going to get away with this?

I walked briskly along the shoreline until I reached the rocky part of the bottom of the cliff that bordered part of the sea. I gazed up at the white, stone palace glistening in the sunlight. It was so far up from where I stood. The water below crashed against the rocks…calling to me. I ignored the lure of the waves and focused on my goal; finding the cave where the sorceress dwelled.

When I was beginning to wonder if Vera’s words were true, I came upon an opening in the cliff.

I froze in my tracks as a voice called from behind. “Stop!”

I winced and turned around, slowly. Percifal stumbled his way along the rocks toward me.

“What do you think you’re doing? Are you mad?” His voice pitched high.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I saw you leave the practice grounds, and Father told me to follow you. You’re in so much trouble!”

“Please don’t tell our parents what I’m doing. You can come with me. It can be our secret.” I clasped my hands in front of me.

“And where are you going?”

“I’m going to speak with the sorceress. This is her cave.” I tilted my head toward the dark opening ahead of us. It was ominous. Like an endless pit of black.

“Why would you do such a thing?” Now he was yelling at me.

I rolled my eyes and started to walk away. “Because I want to know why I can breathe underwater. I know you don’t believe me, but I can, and I’m going to speak to her whether you come with me or not.”

“You still haven’t given this fantasy up? It’s been two springs. Grow up.”

I turned on him. “I can breathe underwater! I remember that day like it was yesterday. I’ve never been able to stop thinking about it!”

“If you go, I’ll tell Mother.” He crossed his arms and smirked, believing he’d won with that statement.

A sob escaped my throat. “Percifal, please. If this doesn’t prove me right, I’ll never speak of it again.” I hiccupped.

He tilted his face toward the sky and sighed. “Fine. I’ll come, if only to end this idea of yours once and for all.”

The entrance to the cave was surrounded by sharp, slippery rocks. Spiders had built webs in the spaces between the jagged stone protruding from the cave walls. I heard the soft sound of trickling water. The air inside smelled of damp earth. The deeper in we travelled, the less I could see. My breath began to quicken. I tried not to imagine what kind of creatures lurked inside.

“This is stupid. No one dwells here,” Percifal’s voice echoed from beside me, making me squeak with surprise.

I was about to give up on my mission and run back to safety when a white-blue light illuminated the cave, almost blinding me and Percifal. I stared, wide eyed and in awe, at the stone shelves that held an abundance of coloured trinkets and jars filled with herbs. What caught my attention most, though, was the giant, crystal basin filled to the brim with water.

“Who goes there?” The gentle, feminine voice shocked me out of my trance.

“I—uh—my name is Chelela Lacrima, and this is my brother, Percifal. So sorry to bother you, Ma-am. I was only wondering if you might be able to help me,” I said with as much courage as I could muster.

The woman who had spoken stepped into view. She was the same woman I’d seen the previous night. Her silvery-white hair hung, untamed, down her shoulders. She wore the same tattered robes that were the colour of a dawn sky. The sleeves fell in wisps, reminding me of the mist that sometimes rolled in off The Vitreus Sea.

I peered into her odd, silver eyes as she studied us. “My barriers have let you find me, so must be harmless. What do you want?”

Right to the point, then. “I’ve heard that you’re a sorceress, and I wish to know why I’m able to breathe underwater.”

Percifal, who had been silent until now, decided to voice his disagreement. “Apologies, Ma-am, for wasting your time. My sister has a very good imagination.”

“First of all, call me Sreda. Second, I believe what Chelela is saying.”

“You do?” Both of us asked at the same time. I didn’t expect this to be easy.

“I do. Now, come here, child. Let me have a better look at you.”

Obliging, I stepped closer to the sorceress. She knelt down, taking my hands in hers and searched my eyes.

Her face lip up. She rose to her feet and stepped back. “You’re one of them.”

“One of who?” Percifal asked, the same question ringing through my own mind.

Her eyes grew distant as she continued. “Last winter, while I was gazing into the Looking Pool, I saw four elementals. I believe you are one of them. I see a great power shining within you. From what you’ve just told me, you must be the water elemental. Such power hasn’t existed on this earth for centuries.”

“I—what?” I blinked, not believing my own ears.

“This is madness!” exclaimed Percifal, grabbing onto my arm in an effort to pull me away.

I shook him off and shot a glare at him. I wasn’t finished yet. I turned back to Sreda. “How can this be? And what do you mean you saw this?”

“It is the will of our goddess, and that crystal basin you see right there—that’s a Looking Pool. It’s used to see visions of truths that are to come. You must come back to me on a regular basis so I can guide you. If you don’t learn to hone this power, there will be consequences.”

I was quiet for moment. I knew something was different about me. I knew I had breathed underwater. What she was telling me must have held truth. If this power’s truly a gift from Celestia, I must embrace it. So, that was it. It was decided. I nodded my head in agreement. “Of course. I’ll return as soon as I can.”

“Chel—” Percifal started.

“Don’t, Percifal. I know you think this is impossible, but I must do this. Thank you, Sreda.”

“I only do as the goddess wills. Now, be on your way. Don’t tell anyone about this. It’s not a matter to be taken lightly.”

“We won’t; right, Percifal?”

He shrugged and walked back towards the entrance of the cave. He was obviously annoyed with me. I followed him into the bright light of the outside world.

“You can’t tell anyone about this. Please don’t tell anyone.” I pleaded, trying not to trip over loose rocks while keeping pace with him.

“You expect me just to let you, my sister, put herself in danger? How could you, Chel?” His tone made me wish he hadn’t come with me.

“Please, Percifal. Just let me see Sreda and find out if what she says is true.”

“And what if it is? You’re going to become some powerful elemental? How can I—” his voice cracked. “How am I supposed to protect you from that?”

Tears welled up in my eyes. The last thing I wanted was to cause him pain. “You’ll always be my big brother…you’ll always be here for me. All I’m doing is seeing if I actually have some purpose in this life, other than growing up to be some lady who just sits around knitting and drinking tea all day. Please don’t tell anyone. You can even come with me to make sure I stay safe. If you refuse, I’ll lock myself in my room forever and never speak to you again.” It was risky to make such an empty threat, but I needed him to know how much this mattered to me.

He pondered his answer slowly, while I gave him my best sad face. Finally, he sighed, “Okay, Chel. If this will make you happy, then I won’t tell anyone. I will go along to watch you, but make no mistake, if I think you’re in any sort of danger, I will tell our parents.”

I squealed, not even caring about the last part of the deal. I gave him a big hug, and he laughed before shrugging me off. “Come on. Let’s go home. Mother and Father are surely wondering where we are by now.”

I agreed, and we trekked back to the palace, side by side.