The heavens erupted with thunder that growled, lightning that burned, and boiling clouds that were black with anger. The fates were mad. More then mad. They were furious. They hissed their rage and stirred chaos, as they let their anger be known to the guardians that lived amongst the stars.
One of the guardians had changed the course of destiny that had been written for a mortal on earth. A destiny that the fates had written themselves, when the human had been born. Guardians were not allowed to interfere with a human’s destiny, only charged with giving guidance, bringing the mortal back to the path it was to follow if it strayed. To change the course of a destiny could cause a ripple effect that had the power to change other lives, other destinies, and unleash chaos on the earth.
As the fates twisted in anger, their voices joined as one to summon a powerful guardian to do their bidding. “Saul,” they shrieked into the wind, “Appear before us!”
In the blink of an eye, the mighty guardian stood where the dark clouds had just been. They parted for the immortal, but did not disperse, their wind lifting his dark hair, making it dance around his handsome head. The lightning that still forked did not touch him, and the might of the thunder did not frighten him. He was more than all of it put together, he was immortal, powerful and impressive to behold.
His dark eyes scanned the expanse, until he found the fates assembled before him. In a deep voice that was meant to sooth and settle, Saul addressed the beings before him.
“Why have you summoned me?” he asked. He did not demand but showed respect as the fates deserved.
“One of your kind,” their voices responded, “has broken the cardinal rule of the immortals. One of your kind has foolishly interfered and changed the course of a written destiny.”
Saul’s dark eyes flashed, “Have you called on me to destroy another immortal?” he growled in anger.
“No,” the collective voice answered. “We are giving you the task of going to this immortal and showing him the error of his ways. You will find him standing at the Window to the World. The window that shows the seeker anything and anyone they wish.”
“But I too am not allowed to interfere in destiny’s path,” he replied. “How can I right the wrong that has been done?”
“You will find a way,” they answered, calming now that their champion had been chosen.
Saul was left alone as the fates disappeared in a twist of smoke. Wasting no time he unfurled the mighty wings that rode his back, and flew with the speed of light to the Window, before slowing and folding his wings behind him. He saw before the Window a small boy standing with his hands upon his knees, absorbed at the scene in front of him.
“Leonard, what have you done?” Saul asked quietly, moving to stand close behind the boy.
Jerking up straight, the dark haired, brown eyed boy turned with guilty, down—cast eyes to face Saul.
“I didn’t mean to do anything,” Leonard said with innocence in his voice. “I only wished for her to be my friend.”
“Yes, I know,” answered Saul, trying not to let censor creep into his tone. “Your wishing for her to be your friend has caused her to be taken before her time. Because of this, her human soul will not be able to learn its lessons in this lifetime. The course of destiny has been changed, not only for her but for others as well.”
Saul let this information sink in for a moment, using the silence that followed to ponder Leonard’s motives. Leonard had come to join them at a much too early age. He still greatly missed his human family, and because of his loneliness had turned his longings on a mortal woman. He badly wanted to be friends with her, and had wished for her to join him.
At Leonard’s continued silence, Saul reached out a hand and lifted the small chin, until dark eyes met darker eyes. “Do you understand what I am explaining to you?” Saul asked.
“I should not have wished for her yet?” replied Leonard.
“Yes,” said Saul nodding his head. “She would have come to us when it was her predestined time.”
“Can you fix this?” asked Leonard, once again dropping his eyes to stare at his feet.
“I don’t know if I can,” Saul said with honesty. “I have to follow the same rules that you and all immortals are bound to. I am not allowed to interfere in the destiny of my charges. Come,” Saul said, holding out his hand to take the smaller one. “We will go find another to help with your training. Until the time that you are deemed ready, you may not approach or use the Window to the World again. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” replied the child.
Placing his hand in Saul’s, Leonard let himself be led away through the clouds that still rolled and clashed. As Saul led him, he was deep in thought trying to find a solution to the problem Leonard had caused. So deep was his concentration, that he didn’t notice the reluctance in Leonard as he was led farther and farther away from the window. Nor did he notice the crossed fingers behind the small back, hidden from sight by small wings.
Immortals were unable to read the minds of other immortal beings. If it were different, Saul would have had reason to pause, as Leonard was wishing with all his might that Saul would fail. He wanted a new friend, a new toy and if wishing did not work, then he would just have to find something that would.
A sneer, that was much too old for his face, curled his lip and a spark of defiance was born in his eyes. Tantrums from a mortal child were irritating, but tantrums from an immortal were deadly, and Leonard was working up to a big one.