Alphande'

“There is something different here.” I said as I inhaled deeply. Tet’s song had stopped and we were moving at a walking pace. It was comforting know that even though she was not human, her strength too could waver.

“What is it that you hear?” she said as she held my arm and led me along.

“It is not what I hear, it is what I smell.” I said sniffing the air around me. The choking smoke is gone and it smells like the air is infused with freshly baked bread, cheese, onions and nala stew. “It is like I can already taste the apple cider on my tongue.” I felt the saliva pooling in my mouth. I moved my head to the left as that was where the scent was coming from the strongest. I inhaled deeply again as the aromas of fruit wine and tarts beaconed to my stomach.

“You must be really hungry. But we must continue forward.” she said as she tugged me along.

“But couldn’t we just stop, for a second to see…”

“No. I didn’t bring you this far to have you plunge to your death.”

That distracted me from the delicious scents surrounding me for a second. “What do you mean plunging to my death?”

“We are close to Talithá and there are wards around it which appeal to the greatest desires of those who come close to its borders. It causes them to change their course and follow the desire instead.”

“And the plunging to their deaths part?” I asked as she had ended her explanation.

“The desires lead them to the Pool of Contentment. It will force them to think that their greatest desire is death and they will jump willingly in it, drowning happily of course as all they wanted from this life, they had attained.”

“And you are immune to it because you lived there?”

“No, I am not immune, no one is except for the beasts of this forest. The Pool calls to me as well.”

“What is it that you smell?”

“Just air, my desires aren’t tied to my stomach like yours seem to be.” she said derisively.

“What is it that calls to you then?”

“I hear music, more lovely than anything you can imagine.” I thought I heard a hint of melancholy in her tone, so I dropped all the other questions I had to ask and let her slip into silence.

“Stop and wait here.” she said dropping my hand after about an hour of silence.

“The last time you left, I was attacked by Ulgana with nothing but a knife to defend myself. I no longer hold that knife, so I am coming with you.”

“I am not going far. I am just going to summon the guardian of the gate.”

“And I cannot come because?”

“Because I don’t know how you will be received.”

“You mean to tell me that you took me all this way and I might not be allowed to enter?” I said laughing without meaning to.

“Yes. It was a gamble, one where you would have lost regardless as the odds thus far have not been in your favour. It is not an amusing matter, so I don’t know why it is that you laugh.”

“I am not laughing because I am amused. I am far from that, trust me. I laugh because of the ridiculousness of it all.”

“I hardly call my actions ridiculous Evander as I don’t participate in the folly of human kind.”

“Really and it was not foolish or any way human of you to attempt to seduce me, knowing very well it could lead to the situation where you could end up being with child.”

“This again,” she said exasperatedly. “I sometimes wonder why it is I even bother or care.”

“I wonder the same thing. Why do you care Tet? We are just silly humans whose lives are just things to be meddled with by your kind.” I said heatedly.

“I honestly don’t know!” she fired back. “But somehow I sense that you will be worth the trouble.”

“Who is it that argues at the gates of Talithá?” said a voice gentle yet forceful, which seemed to be coming from all directions. I didn’t hear any one approach us, but I sensed a presence standing around us that made me think that there were many more hidden yet there was only that than one person. It was a very disconcerting feeling.

“It is me Tetjana of the house of Baldur and Evander of the house Calabar.” answered Tet. “We ask that we be let into the halls of Talithá as we have travelled long and are in need of rest.”

“I know thee Tetyana of Baldur and thou shall pass. I know not Evander of Calabar, his house is not one I recognise. So he shall not pass.”

“His house is not of our own, but of humans. But they are in need of our aid. I come to seek the wisdom of the Grey Mage.”

“I know of the plight of men, but I still cannot let him pass. Humans are not allowed within our walls.”

“He is not wholly human, but a child of the covenant between our race and his ancestors. The blood of the changeling runs through his veins.”

I heard a stillness surrounding us as the consciousness disappeared. Replacing it was soft footsteps coming towards us.

“Tet what did you mean blood of the changeling being in me and what’s happening?” I whispered towards her.

“I mean exactly what I said and if you want to know what happens next you should wait,” she said.

“Evander of Calabar, hold out your palms.” This was the guardian I knew speaking, but instead of the filling consciousness of a thousand voices, he sounded finally like a single speaker.

I shifted my head towards Tet for affirmation and she raised my hands up in front of me. I felt the hands of the guardian taking mine and tracing the lines with his fingertips.

“The trees had been speaking of you king of Gé Addar.” he said and then I felt a sharp stab and felt the welling of blood in my left palm. I was about to pull my hand away but he held it firm. He smeared his fingers over the wound once and the pain had disappeared. He then let go of my hand. I passed my fingers over the place I was cut, but all I felt was the raised edges of a healing scar.

“Now I know thee as well Evander of Calabar. You too might enter the gates of Talithá.” Without sound, I could feel when he left as the consciousness of a thousand men pressing against my mind was gone and my head suddenly felt lighter.

“What now?” I said as the full weight of the journey had begun wearing down on me.

“We go forward,” she said sounding just as weary but more relieved than anything else.

“Lead the way,” I said offering her my hand as all the fight seemed to have left me. She took it wordlessly.

“How is it that I am half changeling?” I asked after a while.

“You are more than half changeling. All the women that your ancestors wed were of my people. The only full humans in your lineage was Oaklanf the first and those that came before him.”

“So my mother and my grandmother were not human?”

“And the women before that.” she said.

“Did my father know?”

“No, not even your mother or grandmother. After they accepted the task of being the king bearers, most of what they knew of themselves and their lives was erased and a new human identity given to them.”

“Tetjana!” I heard someone calling from a distance.

“Tetje!” she said dropping my hand. Her voice lifted. “What are you doing in Talithá?” she asked the stranger.

“The same reason that you and everyone else is.” he replied. “I see you have picked up human habits in asking unnecessary questions.” he chided.

“I do not know what you mean Tetje. I am here to see the Grey Mage.”

“Our reasons are indeed different. It is obvious that you have not heard the news.”

“What news?”

“The Grey Mage is dead. We are gathering to choose a new leader. The guardians have been collecting blood from all males entering Talithá and placing them in the draw. Today is the final day for entries. I happen to think I am a suitable candidate for the task at hand.”

I heard her gasp slightly. “You are indeed a worthy candidate brother. I wish you well. May you bring honour once more to the house of Baldur.”

“I thank you sister.” he paused. “And who is the maimed creature beside you and how did you convince the guardian to let him in?” he said as if noticing me for the first time.

“I am Evander of the house of Calabar and if I was to make some sense of what passed, it seems that though I am a maimed creature, I too have been added to the draw for the leadership of your kind.” I said rubbing the scar in my palm.

“Tetjana he speaks rubbish, does he not?”

“Not so. At the gate the guardian read his hands to see who he was. I also saw him take blood. I thought it was because he was mixed breed and blood was needed for better reading. I was not aware of the draw.” she said apologetically.

“These things must not be, we must go to the council at once to have this matter sorted out. To think that our next leader could be chuman is an affront to everything we stand for.” he said contemptuously.

“You take this too far Tetje. His name was added to hundreds in the draw for the Great Race. He might not get chosen and if he did, he most certainly would not win. There is no need to seek the urgent redress of the council. I doubt Evander would want the leadership of our kind.”

“I certainly would not.” I miffed.

“My journey has been long and my knees weary.” said Tet continuing as if I had not spoken.

“Maybe you are right. He looks more down-trodden than usual even for a human.” he conceded.

“I am right.” she teased.

I could hear a smile in his voice. “We shall seek the council tomorrow after you’ve eaten and rested. The selection isn’t until midnight, so the error can be amended by then.”

“Tomorrow and not tonight! You have grown to be most patient indeed.” she said sarcastically.

“Have I not sister? You have always managed to bring out my softer side.” he laughed. I heard their feet crunching the freshly fallen snow as they walked away.

“Come along chuman, we hardly have time to waste.” said Tetje.

“If only I could see where I was going.” I said sarcastically.

“You are blind. I wondered why your sockets looked so empty behind the bruised lids. You sang him along all this way Tetjana I assume.”

“A most arduous task.” she replied.

“I would appreciate it if you would not speak about me like I am not present. Changeling or not I believe I am entitled to some amount of regard or acknowledgement of my existence.”

“This one has fight in him. I can see why he became your project.” he said amused.

“I am no one’s project! My name is Evander, not human or chuman, whatever that is and I am certainly not a ‘this one’.” I fumed. “So if you will excuse me, I think I am going to stumble upon a tree somewhere and sleep and hopefully die. As I would rather rest in peace in a dungeon of Morirgates than take another step forward at the beckoning of your song. I was a prince of Gé Addar and I refuse to be treated like a common dog being told when to sit, stop or come. So I bid you two changelings a good evening and good riddance.” I said turning around and walked away.

The ground was fairly even and I held one hand out in front of me in case I happened to meet upon anyone or anything. Thankfully after walking for a few cubits the first thing I met upon was indeed a tree. The tickling sensation of the moving bark that was first unsettling to me had become more familiar. I felt down the trunk towards large buttress roots. I cleared away the snow that had gathered with my hands until I felt a layer of dried dirt and partially rotted leaves. I lowered myself to sit down taking my cloak off and throwing it over my head and legs.

Leaning back, I made myself as comfortable as I could. I allowed my thoughts to wander to the final encounter I had with Gareth as that was the starting point of my true misery. I sorted through other thoughts of Curly, Noräin and the Nuwanhe until sleep finally won me over.

“How much longer do we have to wait for him to wake?”

“Patience Tetje. I told you to wait at the council hall, but you insisted on coming. Let him rest. Even you would have to agree that he is somewhat deserving of it after all I told you. Which by the way you would have known if you had been paying attention to things other than yourself.” she said in a poor attempt of a whisper.

“Avandor was unkind and kept me alive.” I said without shifting.

“Good he is awake finally.” said Tetje.

“Good morning to you as well.”

“It is more like afternoon and it is hardly good.” he said.

“Is he always this pleasant or is it my presence that makes his day?” I snapped the cloak from over my head.

“I have brought food.” said Tet. I straightened up and my stomach became alert once more. I held out my hand and I felt a flask being put in my hand. “Drink this first, it will make you immune to our poisons and it will bring your strength back.”

I obeyed and put the flask to my head. The fiery liquid had the tart taste of berries followed by a wave of warmth that spread throughout my body. In a matter of seconds I felt instantly recovered as the dull cramp in my muscles disappeared.

“What is it?” I said handing her back the flask. Though I had drunk my fill it still felt full. I stretched my legs out in front of me.

“Fire juice, and as you had requested bread, cheese and onions. There are no nalas here, so you will have to make do with venison stew.” she said placing a wooden bowl in my lap.

“Why are you being so nice?” I asked suspiciously as I tore into the bread. “Guilty conscience?”

“Hardly,” said Tetje. “You just happen to be the topic of the day and everyone is eager to see you, chuman. Especially with your name being in the draw. Which won’t be for long if I have anything to say about it.”

“And if I choose not to go to this council meeting?” I said with my mouth full as Tetje’s presence was making me more impetuous than usual.

“Then the council will come to you.” she said.

“Fine,” I said as I scrapped the last of the stew down and wiped my mouth with the back of my hands. I took another swig of the fire juice and handed her back the bowl before getting up. “Lead the way.” I said.

“You certainly can’t let him go to the meeting… that way.” said Tetje. “He is positively filthy looking.”

“You are right.” she conceded again. “I have forgotten how much appearances matter to our kind. I’ve spent too many years among battle camps. I’ll take him to the bathhouse. You could bring a change of clothing in the meanwhile.”

I heard a set of light footsteps walk off as it seemed my ears were becoming more attuned to the light tread of their kind.

“Trying to get me alone and naked again, I see.” I said.

“And why not?” she said seeming to feel the shift in my mood. “You are pleasant to look at, probably even more pleasant after a bath and decent clothing.”

I held out my arm for her to hold. “This time I would rather walk on my own accord and not sung forward.”

“My way would be quicker, but I seemed to have bruised your pride enough.” she said as she looped her hand through mine. It was smaller and softer than I expected.

“When we were headed here, you said that it was my destiny and that it was somehow supposed to let me help the Nuwanhe. I am here now and I still don’t see how this helps anything.” I said matching each of her strides.

“It is simple really. You just have to win the Great Race.”

I pulled to a stop. “But I thought…you told your brother that you didn’t know about the draw?” I stammered.

“I lied. Really Evander, when have I ever not known about everything happening around me? Tetje would believe me as he believes that everyone is as dull to the world as he is.” she said resuming walking.

“But don’t you want him to win?”

“Tetje may be my brother, I do have much regard for him, but at the moment he would make a poor leader. Much too self-involved. You have met him; you should know what I mean.”

“I do,” I huffed. “But I am blind and human. How could I possibly win in a land I barely know?”

“When you get selected, you won’t be blind for long as the council will have to restore your sight. The playing field will be even as all four entrants will be stripped of any magical abilities, leaving them practically human. They will have to go through all the obstacles basically on the ingenuity of their minds. You proved that you have a good head on your body and are able to think ahead, for the most part. Your ambush was brilliant up to the point where you were led into one by your brother. Your emotions cloud your judgment. You will have to work on that.”

“I noticed you said when and not if I get selected from the draw. Do you know something else everyone else doesn’t?

She snickered. “I just know my people well. They thrive on intrigue and mischief. You will offer them the most delicious morsel they’ve had in centuries.”

“You make me sound like fresh meat before starving wolves.”

“You are.” she laughed

“So how would winning the race help?”

“The winner is the first to find the staff hidden in Llyn Morir. That person would then become Grey Mage.”

“A staff? Makes you king?” I said dubiously.

“Not just a staff, the staff—Alphandé— the beginning and the end. The holder possesses the gifts of the changelings known and not known; that and the unwavering devotion of our people. If the Grey Mage told us all to march into battle today we would. If he told us all to dive into the Pool of Contentment we would without question, knowing that it would mean the very end of our kind.”

“And you think I would be a suitable holder?”

“That is yet to be seen, but I know you enough to know that you will not abuse the powers granted to you.” Her hand slipped from mine. “We are here. You just have to walk straight ahead. The shower is just beyond the door. There will be three knobs on the wall, from left to right wash, rinse and dry. Press in that order and the shower will do the work. All you have to do is stand still. Which shouldn’t be so hard, unless you require help?”

“I think I can manage fine.” I said pushing the wooden door and favouring her with a smile as I walked in. I felt along the stone wall brushing my hands slightly over each knob. I stripped off my boots and clothes tossing them back through the door. I felt along the wall reaching the one on the furthest left. I turned it as Tet instructed and waited.

At first, there was nothing, suddenly I was sprayed with slippery, viscous liquid. I felt someone’s hands moving through my hair. “Who’s there?” I said turning and slapping away the hand but my hand went through thin air. My hand was then held in place by an unseen force and the scrubbing spreading from my hair and face down to my neck.

“Tet what is happening?” I said spitting out the sweet-smelling soap that sprayed in my mouth.

“You’re being washed.” she shouted back.

“I can do that myself.” I said the hand I had up was dropped and the other grabbed and pulled upward. The scrubbing spreading to under my armpit, back and chest.

“Not as well as the shower, trust me.”

“I don’t mind being dirty that much. How do I make it stop?” I said as the fine bristling sensation cleaned down my legs and the force pulling both my legs up, suspending me in mid-air while it scrubbed my soles and under my toenails.

“It will not stop until you are sparkling.” As she answered both my legs were placed back on the floor and thankfully the scouring had ended. I slipped forward before regaining my balance. I found the middle handhold and turned it. The warm spray of water shot from all direction causing the lather to run off. The water stung slightly, but it was overall pleasant as the warm spray seemed to unknot the tension that had built up in my muscles. Then it stopped just as I was beginning to enjoy it. I turned the middle knob again, but nothing happened. So I moved on to the third. I was hit by a full blast of air that swirled around me. One second I was dripping wet and in the other, I wasn’t.

“I think I am done.”

“I am putting my hand through. They have pants.”

I stretched and took them from her. I put my legs through the light flowing trouser which fitted around my waist just right. I then stepped out of the shower.

“He almost looks descent.” said Tetje.

“Like I said sparkling and smelling of cinnamon and pepper.” replied Tet.

“More like raw skinned.” I said slightly chagrined as I could feel both their eyes on me.

“That chuman, is the feeling of clean. Shirt and robe.” he said as I felt two different articles of clothing being placed in my hand. I slipped the tunic over my head followed by the robe. Despite the light material I was protected from the cold. “You will have to wear your own shoes, my clothes fit but my shoes won’t.”

“That will be fine, thank you.” I said as I tugged them on.

“To the council we head.” said Tet.

“Finally,” said Tetje.

Tet took my arm and gave it a small squeeze. For the first time in weeks I felt some amount of hope as I was being given a chance to undo some of the mistakes I had made.