Alphande'

“We are here. Talendarí court. Rarely have I seen so many people gathered here.” said Tetje.

“And rarely have I received so many eyes upon me.” said Tet.

“The attention is lovely isn’t it?” said Tetje. “You should get used to it. When I become Grey Mage you will become well-known, just because you and I shared parents.”

“And you are so certain that you are going to win?” I challenged.

“Why in Envladane would I not win? I hardly see anyone here as a serious competitor. The draw and race are just formalities as far as I am concerned.”

“Pride goeth before a fall.” chided Tet.

“And humility achieves no gain at all.” he rebuffed. “And certainly not the staff that will put me in the dragon throne in Talendarí hall.”

“We will see how that works out.” said Tet nonchalantly. “Besides, we are only getting the attention because Evander is in our company.” she said to her brother and then she spoke louder. “Yes he is the chuman that has been placed in the draw. So if you could stop staring and get of our way that would very much be appreciated. We need to see the council and haven’t got all day.” she shouted in the crowd.

“I doubt that made anything better.” I said slightly amused. The whispers had erupted into louder murmurs around us. In every sentence spoken within an earshot I heard the word chuman being bandied about.

“It was worth a try.”

“How long before the draw?” I asked.

“We have until midnight, two hours away by your count twenty minutes by ours.” she replied.

“Twenty minutes, that isn’t much.” I said becoming alarmed.

“It is more than we need as we are in the council hall.” she said and slid her hand from mine. “Tetje keep watch while I make the request at the well.”

“Chuman-sitting, oh the pleasure.” he said sarcastically. “But if I must I must.” he yawned.

“The name is Evander.” I said becoming slightly irritated.

“I am aware of that, but it is not my preference to refer to you as such. I call you by what you are and not what you’re called.”

“If that is the case I will now refer to you as Asshole.”

“A bit crude, but I can live with that.” he said un-phased. “Chuman we go and wait by the side.” he said as his long fingers grasped my shoulder and turned me to the right. To his credit the action was guiding more than shoving me along.

“How long will the request take to be made Asshole?”

He chuckled. “Depends on how urgent the well thinks it is. This is most urgent so it will not be long.”

As soon as the words had left his mouth, the voices of a hundred men combined in one spoke. It was similar to that of the guardians, but you could feel the combined power of more men. “Step forward Evander of the house of Calabar. A request has been made against you querying your blood being added to the draw. Step forward along with the accuser.”

“As I said urgent matters take the fore. We go before the dragon throne now.” he said changing direction from right, to directly forward. I heard the mumbles surrounding us dim into silence and I could easily hear the sound of my footsteps as they echoed throughout the room.

Tet re-joined us as I felt the familiarity of her hand taking mine. I knew we had gotten to where we needed to be as both she and Tetje had stopped suddenly, jerking me to a halt.

“Accuser name thyself.” said the voices of the hundred men who were one.

“I am Tetje of the house of Baldur. I have brought the issue of the chuman before the council.”

“But it was not you that spoke at the well.” came the controlled cacophony.

“It was I Tetjana of the house of Baldur that made the request on behalf of my brother.”

“It is odd house of Baldur that you wish to exclude one of your own from the draw?”

“He may have shared the blood of one our ancestors, that gave him the ability to commune with wolves but he is not one of us, only half.” said Tetje.

“Nine tenth to be correct. He has only one full human ancestor since our pact was made.” replied the voices.

“Even so esteemed council, it still stands that his blood is not pure. Only the purest of our kind should be allowed the chance to lead.” he argued. “He is not knowledgeable of our culture and what it means to be Grey Mage. How can an ignorant man be put in charge? This, esteemed members would drive our race into chaos!”

“Your concerns have been heard and we will consider them Tetje of Baldur.”

“That is all I ask wise ones.”

There was silence except for the whispers of a thousand thoughts of the council that stirred the room like a gentle breeze. Then they spoke again. “We have heard your thoughts and before we come to a final decision we wish to hear what you Tetjana of Baldur has to say. You said you made the request on behalf of your brother, but do you also share his opinion?”

“I am honoured to speak at your council. I made the request on behalf of my brother, but I do not share his heart or thoughts.”

“Tetjana, what are you doing?” whispered Tetje furiously.

She continued without acknowledging his protest. “The Guardians chosen to guard our city has done so for thousands of years and Talithá has stood untouched by time. Their wisdom has protected us thus far and it is they that have for as long as our race has existed took the blood of those to be entered into the draw. If now we start to question the decisions of these ancient ones, we would have to question the very things we choose to believe in and hold on to. Our foundation as changelings would be shifted completely and chaos would remain. That is all I have to say on the matter wise ones. The decision I lay fully in your capable hands.”

“We have heard you Tetyana of Baldur. Now we will hear you Evander of Calabar. The matter revolves around you. Do you wish to be entered into the draw?”

“As Tetjana had pointed out your guardians have been here for many centuries. I wish not offend those that have been my most gracious hosts. I see it as an honour that they see me a chuman fit enough to have a lot in this most important occurrence. So I will humbly maintain my place within the draw, if it pleases the council.”

There was silence and then the council spoke again. “It is decided. The blood of Evander of Calabar will remain in the draw. May the fires of Envladane forever burn in your hearts.” I could feel a palpable absence as the council dissolved.

“What have you done Tetjana?” asked Tetje furiously.

“I did nothing wrong brother. They asked for my opinion and it I freely gave.”

“This was your plan all along wasn’t it? You were given charge of the affairs of Gé Addar and you sullied it.”

“You don’t know of what you speak.” she said dismissively.

“I didn’t see it earlier because of my distraction. You did know of the Grey Mage’s passing. Nothing ever misses your attention. My gut told me of your lie but I brushed it off as foolishness. Curiosity about this creature led me to watch your journals on your dealings over the last few months. Things were going well for the Nuwanhe in battle. They might have even won the war without our interference. But that wouldn’t have satisfied you. You had to be the one to bring intrigue to our kind. While I sought to be the Grey Mage, you sought to elevate yourself as being one of the Great Interveners.”

“Ambition is not a foible brother, even you would agree.”

“I do agree dear sister, but I wonder what your charge would do if he knew the truth.”

“If I knew the truth about what?” Their conversation had begun to cause a strange tightening in my gut. I hated being spoken of, not understanding what was being said. “If I knew the truth about what?” I repeated as the palpable silence elevated the already high tension amongst us.

“If you knew Evander,” he said using my name for the very first time. “That my dearest sister was the one who told your twin about his true heritage. She also told him where to find you and how to lead you into that ambush. It was always your intention to bring him here, was it not dear sister? The war would end too soon and your intended glory would diminish with peace.”

She didn’t respond as the air had gotten stifling with ill feelings building between us three. “Is it true Tet? Are you the reason I was captured? Why I had my eyes plucked out?” I didn’t want to believe it, but it did sound like something that she would be capable of.

“Well aren’t you going to answer sister?” goaded Tetje.

“I didn’t expect him to blind you Evander.” she said finally.

“You didn’t expect him to blind me! That’s all you have to say in your defence?” I shouted as the world around me shattered and the final thread of trust between us unravelled and diminished in thin air. “All this time you made me believe that it was my fault, my ignorance and stupidity that got me here and all along it was you who did this!”

“Once a betrayer always a betrayer it seems.”

“Shut the hell up asshole!” I said turning to Tetje before swinging my head back around to Tet. I had enough of them both. “The Nuwanhe trusted you and because they did, so did I. And after what you’ve done the best you can say is that you didn’t know he would blind me! Is this some kind of game you are playing with my life and if it is who gave you the right to do that!”

“I was given that right as charge of Gé Addar. It is a part of the pact formed between the people of the changeling and your ancestor Oaklanf the Conqueror. I had to do what was best to ensure the safety of your land and that whatever happens there will not affect us here in Envladane.”

“Well to hell with that right! To hell with Envladane! To hell with all of you! You do not have the right to do that to me. I and my people are not pieces to be moved around at your pleasure. Especially because of some agreement supposedly signed by Oaklanf, of which I have no knowledge. It could be just another lie, like the hundreds you’ve already fed to me.”

“That my friend was no lie.” added Tetje. “It might be the only speck of truth she did tell you.” he added under his breath.

My head pounded and I ran my hands through the silky strands of hair that had started re-growing. I suddenly felt tired and was done with arguing. I inhaled deeply.

“I will take my leave now. I will rather be torn to shreds by Ulgana or drown in the Pool of Contentment than to remain another second in your presence.” I said as I turned around.

“You can’t.” she said.

“I can’t what?” I snapped as I turned around.

“You can’t leave.”

“And why the hell not?”

“The draw is about to begin.”

“That matters naught to me.”

“Except that if your name is in the draw. You are unable to leave the hall until the ceremony is complete.” she said.

“Well, watch me.” I said about to move off, but my feet were fastened to the floor. “I can’t move.” I said as I jerked forward once more but was still firmly held in place.

“You are stating the obvious. I just said that you wouldn’t be able to.” muttered Tet.

I inhaled exasperatedly, giving up the struggle as I am sure that I was pulling more attention to myself than I wanted right now. The best thing I could do was wait until the draw took place and then make my exit. Like it or not I was indeed stuck.

“Just tell me one thing, the truth this time.” I said softening my voice. “Who was it that I sensed was in danger or was going to die?”

“This is not the time…” she started.

“Who?” I said sternly as I refused to be lied to anymore.

“Curly,” she said in little more than a whispered tone. I felt as though the words had slashed me across the chest exposing my heart to the hostile elements. My feet trembled, but I didn’t fall as I was held securely in place by the force grounding me here.

“Did he die?” I asked holding on to a thin thread of hope I knew didn’t exist. I my heart knew the answer but my mind waited to hear it.

“Yes,” she said, sounding for the first time that she had any bit of remorse. “But I warned him not to…”

“Who?” I said swallowing the leaden feeling that had built up at the back of my throat threatening to cut off the very air that I needed to live. “Who killed my brother?”

“Gareth, I threatened him not to hurt Curly, but Curly recognised that he was not you and so was silenced. Permanently.”

I felt a gush of mixed emotions swirling around me. My mind was clouded with punishing sorrow mixed with murdering rage. But what tugged at my heart the most was the deep well of emptiness that filled me. I was alone. For the first time I was truly alone in this world. And Tet was to blame.

I reached out feeling her arm I grasped it tightly and dragged her towards me, my second hand securely wrapped around her throat squeezing tightly.

“Evander, stop.” she choked as she clutched at my hands. But I didn’t let go.

“Why should I stop, you let my brother die? Why should I spare you?” I said as I dragged her closer to me. She was strong, but it was not enough to stave off my rage.

“Van…” she choked.

“Don’t call me that?”

“You don’t want to do this now.” said Tetje who surprisingly did nothing to stop me from choking his sister to death.

“Don’t I?” I said as I clasped my hands tighter around her neck. Her breaths were beginning to come out in small gasps and her protests weaker.

“Killing her does not change the past, but it will change your future. You would have committed murder in front of a thousand changelings. If your people thought they knew suffering now, then they would be sadly mistaken. The wrath of our kind is brutally long and without remorse. Would you as their king doom them to such a fate? Besides it would be an unfit death to take the life of the one who has saved yours on countless occasions.” he said as he placed his hand on my arm. Slowly I loosened my grip and she fell away coughing. My fingers were stiff and still formed in the mould of her neck. I folded them into tight fists which I plugged into my own empty sockets.

“Forgive me Tet.” I said shallowly. “It was not my…” I stopped talking. I was going to say that it was not my intention to kill, but I knew that that would have been a lie. She didn’t respond but I could still hear her coughing softly nearby. Like it or not Tetje was right. Tet had saved me before. If it weren’t for her armour, on the battlefield I would have died or maimed at least ten times over. She was also the reason I regained my memory, without which Curly’s passing would have been meaningless to me. “Forgive me.” I whispered once again.

Tetje’s hand left mine. “Luckily many didn’t see what was happening as their attention was drawn elsewhere. The choosers have arisen and the gold wolf is by far the most magnificent creature that my eyes have beheld. Even among the others, she is by far the fairest.” said Tetje in glorified awe. I didn’t know what he spoke of and neither did I care. I was still mortified about what I nearly did. I had killed before, but never like that.

“The horse is going first, he’s moved and I can’t see who it is going towards…it has stopped and I still can’t see clearly. Of all the places to get stuck.”

“The first is Vykros of the house of Lowther.” said the combined presence of the council and a loud cheer followed by applause erupted in the crowd.

“Lowther, he won’t survive for long. They know nothing more than cattle tending and cheese making.” said Tetje. “The deer is next.” he said and we waited after a protracted period of silence. The deer seemed to be taking its time to choose.

“Ashbeth of the house of Kulkar.” said the voices and again applause and cheers filled the room.

“Not bad, a warrior family. The deer wants to win this time it seems.” he commented and despite my extreme surliness I was beginning to be distracted by his commentary. “The helksinc is next; she is a crafty one; our last three Grey Mages were of her choosing. Ah she chose Ballahad of Geshra. I am not surprised both beautiful and brilliant the helksinc chose well.” he said in a tone that oozed approval.

“Shouldn’t you be worried, these may be your competition.” said Tet finally recovered. Her voice however, was a bit hoarse.

“Hardly as you sister has given the wolf enough to feed on and I certainly am not the freshest kill there is by any measure. Already he has taken the bait and is moving this way.”

I perked up a bit more on hearing this and waited in great anticipation to hear who the wolf’s pick was to be.

A lupine presence entered my mind. It was more intelligent and more far-reaching than Greyshanks and Finalíel’s combined. It was as if it spoke directly to my spirit rather than my mind. I sense sadness and loss in you son of Calabar.

I am sad and I have lost much. I replied.

Indeed you have. Still, it is you I choose to be the bearer of the wolf for this race. You have lost much, but you have the opportunity to gain immeasurably more.

Yet I must refuse. I can no longer be the laughingstock of the changeling race. I am not whole both physically and mentally. I am not sure if I am fit for the challenge. After all I am only part changeling; my blood is not pure enough. Again great wolf I am honoured but I cannot bear the weight of mockery and unworthiness any longer.

It is not the purity of your blood why I chose you Evander, but it is purity of your spirit. Honour is the code of the wolf and you are most honourable from the lot I was given, hence my choice. Will you now accept it?

Undecided I stood and I could hear murmurs beginning to spread throughout the crowd. Was there ever one who had taken this long to accept the challenge at hand? My life they had twisted and used for the sake of satisfying their boring existence. They didn’t expect me to win.

Is it really a choice great wolf or will this be forced on me regardless?

It can be made what you will. I am the chooser and I have chosen you. My decision stands. How you accept it is your only say in this matter.

As I thought. I sighed. When the draw was over, I no longer wanted to be sung along, but to be able to move on my own accord. I will accept your draw, golden wolf but with sadness and reserve. I paused. My burden would however be less if my sight is restored. To be this disadvantaged would make your choice become as it never existed as I would be destined to fail regardless.

Your request is heard and so it will be. I have indeed chosen well. Honour of a wolf, but the cunning of a fox. I thought I sensed a bit of humour coming from the wolf-being-consciousness. I felt as its consciousness partly withdrew from my mind.

“From the house of Calabar, Evander shall bear the seal of the wolf.” Announced the council and applause more thunderous than all the other three combined surrounded me.

Open your eyes. said the wolf once more.

Slowly and reluctantly I obeyed, afraid to meet the darkness that would await me. Instead, rays of pure gold poured in through the narrow slits. Encouraged I opened them further. Tetje was right the gold wolf was by far the most splendid creature my eyes had ever beheld. It bowed its head once seeming to smile. I watched as it joined the other three creatures. Together they dissolved into an orb of light that expanded across the ceiling before bursting into brilliant white glow. A thin cloud of gold powder sprinkled down from the ceiling which I now realised was the open sky.

The night was dark with millions of phosphorescent stars painted across its wide canvas. How beautiful and brilliant it seemed.

“The draw has ended and the candidates chosen.” said the voices of the council. “Celebrate Chosen Ones for honour has fallen upon your heads and greatness within your reach. The race starts on the eve of the full moon. Until then may the lights of Envladane shine steadily within your hearts.” I felt my feet lighten as the invisible manacles holding me fast to the ground were no longer there.

With my eyes focused fully on the falling powder and twinkling stars I spoke. “You brought me here for this, and it is as you predicted. I am in the race. Are you now satisfied?” I said looking down and turning to where I would find Tet.