Moirai
Chapter 15

I came toslowly, acutely aware of the fact that every part of my body ached. I didn’twant to wake up, but the muffled voices around me were too loud and they practicallyinsisted that I did.

I opened my eyesto Mayran and Loni’s faces, much less blurred this time, hovering above me. Iwas lying on the ground, my head propped up on what felt like a rolled up cloakthat had been used as a makeshift pillow.

“Did I win?” I mumbled,trying to remember.

Loni chuckledsoftly, embracing me, before answering. “Yes. Even though you collapsed aswell, Centurion passed out first which made you the winner.” Her expressionbecame one of awe. “Everyone is shocked. Hardly anyone expected you to beathim, as he is one of the Dryads’ strongest auraics.”

Mayran alsogazed down at me, practically glowing with pride.

Then Iremembered something else. “Centurion, he’s…”

“A spy.” Mayranfinished my sentence. “We know. Kasanda exposed him the second the battleended. She is with him now. How did you work it out?”

“His eyes.” Isaid with a small shudder. “They reminded me of Indina.”

Mayran frowned.“You’ve never seen Indina.”

I flinched,realising that in my tired daze I had given myself away. I had been trying tohide the dreams from my two friends, knowing that there was nothing they coulddo and that it would only make them worry, but it was too late now.

I opened mymouth to explain, but was stopped by Latifurn’s arrival.

“Congratulationsare in order, Alnya.” He said briskly. Mayran and Loni gently helped me to myfeet. I swayed, still overwhelmingly exhausted, so both kept one hand on myarms.

“Thank you.” Ireplied. He nodded and moved on.

I couldn’tremember ever feeling so tired. Mayran seemed to realise this, because hedidn’t press the issue about Indina. I resolved to tell him later. The constantwarmth of my aura was back, but all I wanted was to sleep for a week.

Even as I stood,blackness gathered at the edges of my sight again and my knees gave way. Mayranand Loni became my only supports.

“You shouldn’teven be alive.” Mayran whispered, his voice still full of awe. “I could feelCenturion’s power and he truly was incredibly strong. In fact, I don’t thinkI’ve ever seen an aurae more powerful than him. I’m almost certain that Indinahad strengthened him. The fact that you were strong enough to overpowerhim…it’s incredible.”

If I had theenergy, I would have rolled my eyes at his reverent praise. Still, I couldn’thelp but be impressed myself. Maybe I diddeserve to be the ‘hero of the prophecy’ after all.

I shook my headand tried to get my footing back, determined not to pass out again when everysingle Dryad in the area was shooting me looks. “Where are Centurion andKasanda?” I asked.

“Over there.”Loni answered, pointing to where I now could easily see the two people I hadasked after, as well as the Praesul.

“Is Centurionconscious?”

“I don’t know.”She replied, and I got the feeling that she hadn’t left my side since I’d collapsed.

That led me downanother trail of thought; I had used my aura enough against Centurion toexhaust me like this. In fact, it had felt like I’d almost used it all up. So,how on Earth was I supposed to overpower Indina who was surely far stronger thanCenturion?

“Do you want togo over to them?” Mayran asked, not noticing my momentary lapse.

“No.” Ianswered, trusting that Kasanda would let me know anything important, andfiling away my thoughts for a later date. “To be honest, I just want to go andsleep.”

He looked at meapologetically. “Unfortunately, you can’t just yet. Now that this Trial’s outthe way and you won, the Dryads are holding a banquet in your honour as,according to them, should have been done for you from the start.”

“I got the impressionthat a lot of Dryads agreed with Centurion.” I said, surprised.

He raised aneyebrow. “What made you think that?”

“All the darklooks I got.”

He shook hishead. “I guarantee you most of those wouldn’t have been out of dislike, butmore out of annoyance that Centurion’s interference made your stay here feelunwelcome.”

“That’s what thePraesul said.” I agreed.

“There you go.”

By the time thebanquet had been fully prepared, I was feeling better, albeit still longing formy bed. The consequences that accompanied using my aura still scared meslightly, but I was starting to accept that it was something I could live with.Like both Mayran and Kasanda explained, as long as I was aware of my limits anddidn’t accidentally kill myself, I would be fine.

I sat throughthe extravagant meal, patiently putting up with the endless stream of Dryadscoming to congratulate me, both on the Trial and on exposing Centurion. I wastold that he had woken up, but hardly anyone knew any more than that, so Iresigned myself to wait until Kasanda arrived.

Once I had eatenmy fill and thanked the last of the Dryads for their praise and apologies, Iretreated into the forest a little to get away from the cacophony of sounds andcolours that had been steadily giving me a headache. I sat down against afallen tree and didn’t realise I was dozing until Mayran suddenly sat downbeside me.

“You still lookexhausted.” He said quietly, sympathy clear in his voice. “I know exactly howyou’re feeling. I, too, have been in the situation where I’ve used my aura morethan was probably good for me. Before you woke earlier, I told them to wait andhave the banquet tomorrow, but they wouldn’t listen.”

“It’s my head.”I confessed. “It’s alright now, but everything was just making it hurt over there.”I indicated the throng of Dryads.

“Using one’saura is a very mental power.” He explained. “Your head’s going to be quitetender for a day or two before you’ve fully recovered.”

I became awareof how close he was sitting, nearly touching me. The tree we were restingagainst was still slightly damp from recent rain and cold against my back. Ilooked over at him, noticing again how the colours of the forest accentuatedhis eyes.

I wanted him toknow how I felt, but at the same time…I didn’t. I was scared that onlyrejection would meet me, which could put a sour note on our friendship. Yetthere was something in the way he looked at me, not always, but there wereflashes, that made me wonder if similar thoughts went through his head.

Why was love socomplicated?

For that waswhat it was, I realised. More than a simple crush. Looking back over the pastfew days, I remembered how aware I was of him all the time. Whenever we were inthe same vicinity, I always knew what he was doing, constantly trying to workout what he was thinking. I felt like I could read him fairly well, better eventhan Loni at times. Surely that meant there was some sort of connection.

It occurred tome that I had been staring at him for a couple of minutes. I felt my face heatup and looked down, searching my mind for something to say.

He didn’tcomment and, in another one of those perceptive moments around him, I couldfeel that he was amused. That wasn’t helping! A guy wasn’t supposed to replace itfunny when a girl looked at him. They were supposed to replace it either annoyingor sweet.

I sighed uponrealising that my brain was running away with all sorts of panicky thoughts anddecided I should think about the matter once I wasn’t feeling so tired.

“Well, I thinkit wouldn’t be seen as rude if you were to head back to your cottage now.”Mayran said, bringing me out of my mind.

“It’s not longpast midday.” I murmured half-heartedly.

He stood,holding out a hand to help me to my feet. “Trust me, you’re going to sleepthrough till tomorrow morning. The quicker you recover the better.”

I nodded andthanked him before heading off towards the cluster of cottages. I passed Lonion the way.

“Sleep well.”She said.

I smiled at her.“Will do.”

I didn’t thinkI’d ever appreciated a bed more than I did that day, for even though my headwas still full of thoughts about Mayran, Centurion and Indina, I was out theinstant I lay down.

*~*~*

“He is askingfor her.”

“No, you mustlet her sleep! Surely this can wait until morning.”

Hushed, angryvoices woke me many hours later. It was dark, but as soon as I opened my eyes Ifelt like I had barely been asleep for an hour. It took me a moment to identifythe voices; Umbra and Mayran.

“It is veryimportant to let an aurae rest after over-using.” He hissed.

Umbra’s voicewas cold. “Don’t lecture us on such matters. We are very aware of the rest sheneeds, however, this matter cannot be put off.”

“Why?”

“If you let usin, we will explain to both of you on the way. Do not make us use force,Mayran, or we will not hesitate to do so! Despite what Kasanda and most peoplebelieve, we still do not entirely trust you. Indina could take advantage of youat any moment. Do not make the mistake of thinking we are ignorant of yourpast!”

I gaspedquietly. What was she talking about?

The door opened.I could easily see, despite the dimness of the moonlight, that Mayran had paledupon realising I had heard every word.

I frowned athim, wondering what to make of Umbra’s accusations. It eerily reminded me ofwhat Indina herself had hinted to me in one of the dreams. A horrible feelingsettled in the pit of my stomach; what if Mayran was actually the bigger spyall along?

Umbra fixed hergaze upon me. “Alnya, we apologise for waking you but you must accompany usimmediately. Until only a few minutes ago, Centurion has been in a daze sincewaking earlier. He would not respond to any questions. However, he has justcome out of the daze and is refusing to talk unless you are present. He says itis urgent.”

“Why?” I asked,though I got out of bed and followed her.

She hesitated,and when she answered her voice sounded even more husky and whispered thanbefore. “He believes that he is in grave danger and could be killed any moment.It is understood that he was not Indina’s willing henchman.”

A blast of fearwent through me as I realised that Centurion’s own terror was an indicationthat Indina could hurt anyone of us if she so wished. I automatically beganlooking around nervously, trying very hard not to jump at shadows as I paddedquietly behind Umbra. Mayran walked alongside me, but I refused to look at him.I hoped he realised that we would be discussing what I had heard as soon as weleft Flowerage the following morning.

I had beensurprised earlier that afternoon when Kasanda had told us to leave so soon, asI had expected to stay at least another day or two after the craziness of theTrial, but she reminded me that time was of the essence. She also said that mytraining had reached a level sufficient enough to face Indina, although Iseriously doubted that. She indicated that the power I would need to vanquishher now was accessible…whatever that meant.

I looked up andrealised that we had arrived at the house of the Praesul. Umbra approached andheld the door open for me. Inside, I saw a room almost entirely bare offurniture except for two wooden chairs, in which sat Kasanda and Centurion, thelatter of which had his hands tied up. The three other Praesul were noticeablyabsent.

He looked up asI entered and his eyes widened. Instantly I noticed that they no longer had thered ring around the irises, but were now fully grey-blue.

“Alnya! Finally,they’ve brought you! I can’t apologise enough. You must understand, nothing Isaid or did was of my own accord. I am so sorry for the offence and trouble Icaused you.”

“Slow down!” Icried, holding my hand up.

But Centurionshook his head. “I can’t afford to slow down. She knows her power over me hasbeen broken by you. She is angry, and she will take it out on me. It couldhappen at any moment. So please, just listen.” He took a deep breath. I knew Ihad to do what he said, so I kept silent. “About a week ago she found me whileI was doing some solo scouting around Flowerage. She wasn’t there physically…itwas more like a sort of ghost of her. Anyway, I don’t remember how but she tookcontrol of my mind. All I know is that since then I’ve been in a sort of daze.I felt like a puppet, with her pulling the strings. Then, this morning, whenyour magic overpowered mine – for she could only amplify my own magical power aminimal amount – her control was shattered.” He shuddered and his panickedvoice fell so quiet that I had to lean forward to hear him. “Since then I canfeel her, constantly whispering that she will come for me.

I stared. Thisman in front of me was so different to the Centurion of before. This was a manbroken, terrified for his own life.

He beckoned, andI leaned even closer.

“She uses yourinnermost fears against you.” He breathed. When he sat back, suddenly his eyesgot even wider. His breathing quickened. “No!” He cried, and somehow I knew hewas seeing something none of us could. “No, please! No!” he screamed out and Ilooked to Kasanda, wanting her to do something, wanting anyone to do anything!

But it was overbefore anyone could react. He breathed out sharply…then he was still.