I resembled a god.

My massive warhorse, Blaze, layered in glistening gold-plated armor and

appropriate war paint, resembled a beast fit for a god. I wore no war-helmet upo
n my head, opting instead to let the stiff breeze blowing off the Eastern Sea to
race through my jet-black hair but every other inch of me was covered in armor
polished and gleaming in the brilliant late-afternoon sun. My number one War-Gen
eral, Lansing kept his tongue still over me not donning my helmet, but threw me
disapproving looks all the same. Lansing rode beside me a full pace in front of
the standard bearer who, in turn was followed by the rest of the legion. Our ban
ner, a black phoenix emblazoned on a field of blood red, whipped proudly in the
wind, displaying for all Ravencrest to see that I had been victorious were so ma
ny others had met defeat.
War was over.
After seven grueling winters I, King Zyphran of Barrington, had prevaile
d against the mighty forces of King Drakor of Carygrove. Victory was mine, and i
t was complete. Now, my proud army of five thousand cavalry, traveling in two di
sciplined columns, was en route to the capitol city of Randor with its imposing,
magic-laced Black Fortress and fabled elite guards to present the head of the d
efeated Drakor and to claim my hard-won prize; all the lands west of the Great M
ountain Divide, and the title of Lordship Zyphran, second-in-command of all Rave
ncrest behind Overlord Ammen himself.
My reward was of epic proportions and it filled my chest with great prid
e to have them bestowed upon me. I would be graced with freedoms and privileges
no other man besides the great Overlord had ever known, all of which I planned o
n enjoying to the fullest extent. I would want for nothing; no woman would be fo
rbidden to me, no vice denied me, and I would have my choice of owning any magic
power I chose. However, as splendid as all my gifts were, they were not what I
truly sought in Randor. My true reward, what I sought above everything else, wh
at I was willing to risk my kingdom and life for, were the magical amulets known
as Flames of Eternity.
The amulets were two fist-sized golden stones that were joined together
by a very powerful and ancient magic. Magic, it was whispered by the warlocks of
the realm, forged from the very Elders themselves. It was well-known that whome
ver owned the amulets owned an eternal life of invincibility and unimaginable po
wer. These golden stone amulets, these fabled Flames of Eternity was my ultimate
prize. With the stones in my possession I would be even mightier than Overlord
Ammen, I would be the supreme power in Ravencrest. The world, and everything in
it, would be my playthings.
The stones would not be so easily won, I knew. Legend told of the stones
great and powerful protector, the sorceress Regyna. No living man had ever laid
eyes upon the witch, though stories about her flowed throughout the land like t
he eight waterfalls spilling into the Eastern Sea. She was claimed to be beautif
ul beyond measure, with eyes that could entrap your soul to do her bidding with
a single look. Her hair was said to be the color of the mid-day sunshine and flo
wed around her like a graceful golden pond.
Every living creature, even a beautiful and powerful sorceress, has its
weakness. Regyna’s was love. Bards in every inn throughout the land sang of how th
e lonely protector of the amulets just wanted a man to love her for who she was
and not for what she did. Immediately after making love, the story went, the sor
ceress would fall into a deep slumber, and her magic spell protecting the amulet
s would dissolve until she awoke, leaving them free for the taking. Love. The w
ord almost turned black in my mouth. Such an emotion was surely a sign of true a
nd utter weakness. No man should be lead around by his prick over any lass, sorc
eress or not.
Still, love was the name of Regyna’s game and I would be forced to abide
by her rules. I had heard the giggled whisperings of the wenches back in my king
dom and knew that I was an attractive man in my own right. My piercing ocean-bl
ue eyes, high cheekbones and rugged features hardly ever found my bedchambers de
void of willing female companionship. I would seduce the witch, using all of my
charm, wit and influence wait her to tumble into the waiting arms of slumber. Th
en I would run my blade through her black, magic-corroded heart just to be extra
sure her wicked spell was removed, then the Flames of Eternity, and all the pow
er and glory that came with them would be mine. The thought caused a sly grin to
spread across my face, and I ran my hand through my thick black beard.
Lansing, ever the observant one, raised an eyebrow and gave me a quizzic
al look. “Entertaining thoughts, My Lord?”
“Of the most exquisite kind,” I replied, unable to keep the laughter out of
my voice. Lansing opened his mouth for a retort but quickly changed his mind. La
tely, he his tongue had become looser with me and it was not a habit I cared for
very much. A true ruler should never be questioned by his lessers; even by such
a beloved and trusted friend like my dear Lansing. And never in front of his me
n who saw and judged everything with raptor-like eyes and suspicious minds.
Finally, Lansing did speak. “We should be well within sight of Randor’s migh
ty towers by now. Yet, they send no escort out to greet us? This is insolence, M
y Lord.”
I held up my hand to silence my most trusted friend. “Put it away, Lansing
. The day is ours. Let nothing spoil it. Randor will send the escorts. Patience
be upon you.”
Lansing turned his head away from me and spat on the ground. I couldn’t se
e the anger burning behind his cold, gray eyes, but I knew it was there just the
same. Lansing was a warrior through-and-through and the thought of peace didn’t s
it well in his stomach. To him, strength and respect was gained on a battlefield
with a blade, not with fancy words and great festivals. He knew nothing of my p
lans to win the amulets, and supreme power over Ravencrest, and I dared not tell
him. Best to let the fighter stew in his own juices then to take any unnecessar
y chances.
“Do you think the Sorceress of the Stones really exists?” asked Lansing out
of nowhere. I immediately tensed in my leather saddle. His voice, however, was i
nquisitive, not prodding. I realized he was merely curious. He was a man of fles
h-and-blood after all, the idea of such a divine magical creature must be just a
s enticing to him as it was to me. Though, I suspected, for very different reaso
ns.
I let another smile play across my lips. “Aye,” I said with a nod. “I’m counting
on it.”

I could feel the army before I could see them, the gentle vibration of t
he ground caused in the wake of thousands of hooves beating against the earth as
they carried the army towards us. I was alone in my awareness of what was comin
g; others unable to feel the vibrations went about their lives, visiting the sma
ll inns and vendors who lined the dusty streets of Randor.
Glancing at the towers above, the large black pillars standing high over the
city, meant to alert of potential dangers but though I could tell the guards we
re on alert I knew they had not yet sent word to the city officials that such a
large group approached.
Tucking my shawl around my shoulders, I turn and make my way to the city’s edg
e, my straight black hair hanging loosely over my face, covering my pale blue ey
es as if I was hiding myself from others. Not that many paid much attention to m
e, with my pale ivory skin and thin sickly frame most just passed me by, those w
ho did take time to notice me, just gave a sympathetic smile before going on the
ir way.
In a city this large it was easy to blend, not draw attention to yourself, I
was a loner, wandering the city, taking in what new goods the merchants had cre
ated or on rare occasion received in the few shipments that found their way to t
he city. I was accepted for my coin, and willingness to spend it. If not for tha
t, I am sure they would have tried to cast me out.
I smiled at the thought of them casting me away, never knowing my true ident
ity or true appearance. If they only knew who I was and what power I possessed I
 was sure to have been treated different.
To most, my true identity was nothing more than a fable, a fairytale passed
down through generation to generation. I had to laugh as I thought about the var
iations of the tale that had reached my ears through the years. Some said I was
an enchantress, others a sorceress, some claimed I was a witch. I guess you coul
d call me a combination of all the above, yet more. With the Flames of Eternity
in my possession, I had powers and gifts that most men could not even conjure in
their wildest imaginations.
I stop at one of the last vendors lining the entrance to the city, the smell
of fresh baked bread too tempting to pass. Exchanging several coins with the yo
ung girl selling the bread I move to the side of her shack to watch the oncoming
cloud of dust heading for town. I was amused by the ignorance of the people aro
und me, ignoring the coming danger, the change that is riding in upon us.
Lifting my hand to shield my eyes from the glare of the hot afternoon sun, I
watch as small black forms start to take hold in the dust as the army nears. Th
e dark specs become larger and slowly I can make out the horses and then the men
that ride upon them. As I see the flag carried by the guard I stand taller, kno
wing what this means. The rumors were untrue; King Zyphran had won the war, not
King Drakor as was thought.
I turn, glancing back over the city I can only wonder at what this will mea
n for the people of Randor. They had suffered under the greed of Overlord Ammen
and now as the army neared, even I did not have the power to see what the futur
e would bring. Would King Zyphran have the power to unseat the Overlord or would
he be just another minion to the mighty lord, doing his bidding?
“Selena?”
I jump as a hand touches lightly to my shoulder and I turn to see my best fr
iend Lilly looking worried as she watches the cloud of dust grow closer. Her sli
ghtly crooked front teeth biting down upon her lip nervously as she twists at he
r long auburn hair with her finger.
“Lilly, you scared me.” I smile at her gently. “Yes, it is King Zyphran; I can jus
t make out the flag.” As I speak horses speed past us as a group of the elite guar
d rush to greet the incoming visitors.
“King Zyphran, but I thought . . .” Lilly bites down on her lip even harder as w
orry feels her eyes.
Placing a hand on her arm, I pull her closer to the shacks wall as we try to
avoid the dust from the horses. “Fear not Lilly, I am sure it is nothing. We have
no need to worry, I have heard stories of King Zyphran and though he is powerfu
l and conquers many, he is not known for his bloodlust. I am sure he is just com
e to claim his prize and be on his way.”
“Selena, we must go, they are almost here.” Lilly pulled at my arm, trying to pu
ll me back through the town with her away from the approaching army.
Shaking her off I laughed, “Oh calm yourself, they are not going to harm us. T
hey come in peace, not in war. Our guard is escorting them in. Stay with me Lill
y, perhaps your future husband rides amongst them.” I teased knowing her yearning
to find a male and raise a family.
Immediately her demeanor changed, her eyes turning hopeful. “Do your really th
ink so?” Her eyes searched over the mass of men upon horseback that were now visib
le just a few hundred feet from the city gates. “There are a lot of them aren’t ther
e.” She was biting at her lip again, this time not in fear but curiosity and antic
ipation.
I laughed. “Yes Lilly, I would guess several thousand, come now, let us watch
as they enter.” I pulled her once again to the side of the shack and ignored the s
queeze of her hand nervously on my arm.
A cloud of heavy dust and the odor of sweat and beast filled the air as we s
tood side by side. Randor’s elite guard approached the gates first,in full armor s
itting high as they led the masses into the city. A gasp went though the crowd
as they realized who was being led.
King Zyphran sat proudly on his steed flanked by his men as they walked thro
ugh the gate, his eyes scanning over the crowd as if searching for danger or thr
eats. As his gaze met mine I knew I was wrong. He had not come just to seek his
reward, he had come seeking me.

Lansing leaned close to me, “I’ll enter first, my lord. If there is an ambus
h waiting for us, I’d wish not to have you walk into it.”
I thought my number one War-General was overreacting, yet I reigned in m
y eagerness and came to a dead stop while Lansing waved a few of his men forward
. Behind me I heard the jangling choir of armor ringing out as thousands of tro
ops came to a halt.
The guards of Randor had finally come to greet us and escort my army int
o the capitol city. Lansing had looked bitter when I had pointed them out on th
e horizon; there was nothing the blond warrior loved better than a good battle,
and finding insult with another kingdom was the best fodder possible to start a
war. Even now his body was tense and his eyes hard and alert. I wondered if the
man ever fully relaxed. Somehow, I doubted it.
The head guard of Randor, a beefy looking man with a barrel chest and da
rk eyes, approached us with extreme caution. I was sure that Lansing’s reputation
for being a fierce and ruthless warrior had preceded us here; like an ill wind
it preceded him wherever he went, and the guard wasn’t looking to start a fight.
He bowed respectfully in front of me. “King Zyphran, we are most honored t
o have you and your men among us as our guests. Overlord Ammen is looking forwar
d to receiving you in his grand hall, and a formal dinner shall be held for all
the kingdom tonight in your honor.”
The last thing in the world I wanted to do was suffer through a long and
tedious formal dinner, even though I understood it was custom and therefore nec
essary. If Overlord Ammen had not held such a banquet, that could just be the k
ind of insult Lansing would need to draw his sword and declare war. Best not to
mess with the beast.
I nodded my head in a respectful acknowledgment of the guard. “On behalf o
f all my men, we thank you for your hospitality and we’re honored by your Overlord’s
kind gesture. I look forward to meeting him in his grand hall, and am even more
eager to partake of the fine meal. The quality of food in Randor is legendary t
hroughout all of Ravencrest. Why, my mouth is watering already.”
Lansing snorted and I gave him a stern look to let him know such behavio
r would not be tolerated; seven years of war was quite enough. I had no desire t
o start another one before the corpses of the last one had even cooled. We were
going to Randor so I could receive my prize and nothing more. I didn’t wish for o
ur visit to be under the roof of hostility. Until I had my lands and title, all
I had was a promise from a very fickle man. Overlord Ammen had been known to c
hange his mind before and too much was to be won to take the chance on making th
e man reconsider his vow to me.
“Please, my lord, if you’ll follow me. I’ll escort you through our city and t
o the Overlord. I must warn you, however, our streets are lined with citizens e
ager to get a look at the king that defeated Carygrove.”
“Duly noted,” I said.
Lansing’s eyes became even harder, if such were possible. I understood the
reason for his stormy expression completely. He was tasked with the daunting du
ty of keeping me alive; the news that the streets were going to be lined with co
mmoners just made his job that much more daunting. A part of my heart felt for
him, while another part enjoyed watching him squirm.
We traveled the short distance to the gates of Randor in silence, though
I’m sure all five thousand of my troops could feel the tension and anger pouring
out of Lansing. As could the small escorting party from the capitol city. I tr
ied to keep my smile at bay, which was by no means an easy task. An uncomfortabl
e War-General was a very beneficial thing. It had kept me alive on more than on
e occasion. I trusted it to do so now.
I could hear the din from the people long before I could see them. It s
ounded like thousands of hooves upon sword-steel; not an altogether unpleasant s
ound, but not one you could stand to listen to for very long either. The noise
assaulted us like angry insects, and with every step we took, Lansing fell a lit
tle deeper into his bloodlust.
As we crossed the threshold proper, the music started as the musicians l
ining the avenues strummed their guitars and blew into their fancy-looking horns
. The green flags of Randor were everywhere, hanging down from tall windows, and
held aloft by young children dashing in front of us like jackals.
None of my men had ever been this close to a city as large and splendid
as Randor, and they gawked at everything with wide eyes and open mouths. All ex
cept Lansing that was. He scanned the throng of onlookers with a trained eye an
d a warrior’s heart, one hand on the pommel of his sword, the other in a tight fis
t. The deeper we went into the massive city, however, we saw our own flags mixed
in with the green of Randor’s banners, and curiosity turned to cheers of welcome
from the people dotting the streets and hanging out of windows. It was a true h
ero’s welcome.
A mile or so into the city, we were met by Randor’s Grand Noblemen, who st
ood apart from the escorting party by their crisp green tunics and snow white gl
oves. All of them were bearded and bore serious looks.
The official welcoming was about to commence. This is where the fun of
the whole ordeal would be stripped away for me. I had no patience to deal with
pomp and circumstance. I’d much rather just be brought to Overlord Ammen, be gran
ted my title and land, and be done with the whole thing. Anything that delayed
that from happening was just a maddening waste of time in my eyes.
That’s when I saw her.
She was a thin, dark-haired girl no older than twenty, but with knowing
blue eyes that seemed to be much older than the rest of her. She was huddled of
f to one side along with another girl who was biting her lip and looking as unco
mfortable as Lansing. I could care less about the lip-biter, she was utterly uni
mportant. The dark-haired one had so completely captured my attention that I fo
und it impossible not to stare.
“My lord,” Lansing said in his usual harsh tone. “Is there a problem? Do you
detect a threat?”
My eyes locked onto the dark-haired angel’s as I slowly shook my head. “No.
I detect no threat, Lansing. You can stand down.”
“Might I inquire then why you have decided to ignore the official greeting
of the Noblemen? They do seem rather annoyed with being made to wait.”
“Do you see her, Lansing?”
“Who, my lord? I see many hers. Which one in specific has caught your ey
e?”
“The dark-haired one, in the gray and white dress. The one next to the sow
biting her lip.” I pointed and Lansing’s eyes followed my direction; he was clearl
y not pleased by what he saw, as evidenced by his snort of disdain.
“Surely my lord does not mean the -- the dark-haired one? My lord, are yo
ur eyes serving you correctly? I see no dark-haired female.”
“Are you blind, man?” I said in clear annoyance. I turned to face my War-Gen
eral who still had his gaze locked in the direction I had pointed. “Right there,
you bloody fool. Next to the ugly one biting her lip. By the cart. Oh, for the
love of all that’s holy, Lansing. How can you miss her?”
The blond warrior took some time before he answered me. He never removed
his gaze, and I knew for a fact that he had found my dark-haired beauty. A str
ange expression overtook his ruggedly handsome features, and I watched the chang
e in him the way a child might watch an approaching storm. There was a definite
softening to his eyes, and his mouth, which was always set in a hard thin line,
seemed to relax. In fact, the man came dangerously close to smiling. It was th
e oddest thing I’d ever seen. “My lord,” he said at last. I could tell just by his t
one that he was choosing his words carefully, “I see the wench biting her lip by
the cart clear enough. However, the girl standing next to her isn’t dark-haired, b
ut rather has locks the color of sunshine on the most perfect summer day, and ey
es blue enough to rival the Eastern Sea. She is, quite literally, the most exqu
isite creature I have ever laid eyes upon.”
I looked again thinking perhaps I might’ve been mistaken in my assessment
before. Lansing sounded so sure in his description that the cocky bastard had m
e doubting myself. Perhaps the sun was reflecting in an odd manner and I got her
hair-color wrong. Yet, when I turned my head back to the girls standing by the
cart, I knew I had made no mistake; she had dark hair, was thin as the reeds alo
ng the lagoon that faced the southern wall of my castle, and had the palest comp
lexion I’ve ever seen, almost as if she was made of milk.
Lansing was correct in one thing however, she was the most beautiful gir
l I had ever seen. I knew not her name, nor her story, but I knew as surely as
I was standing there that I was in love with her.
With a mighty tug on my shoulders, Lansing pried me away from my view of
the dark-haired angel, and dragged me in front of Randor’s Noblemen. Ceremony mi
ght be a grand waste of time, but it must be observed, no matter my feelings for
it. Yet, as the first Nobleman blathered on about great honor and deep respect
and brave warriors, I stole another glance at the cart where the angel in the g
ray and white dress had been standing. All I needed to get me through this bori
ng bit of statesmanship was one more look at her. Yet, my eyes could not find he
r. I scanned all over the area, knowing that she couldn’t have gone too far, but
was unable to locate her before my duties as king forced me to turn my attention
back to the ancient lot before me and mutter my very cordial, and completely fa
bricated, responses.
I had seen her but only briefly, yet her image was forever burned into m
y memory. I would make it my mission to discover who she was before we left Ran
dor. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lansing stealing his own long look i
n the direction of where my angel had been standing. His eyes were hard as ston
e again, and his mouth had returned to its normal thin line. Apparently, he cou
ldn’t locate the mysterious blonde-haired woman he had spotted before either. Per
haps, I thought with a morbid and unexplainable panic, the ground here in Randor
was filled with trapdoors leading to cold and gray dungeons, and my new love ha
d tragically fallen prisoner to Overlord Ammen. With a shake of my head, I banis
hed such foolishness. My angel was safe and sound, and couldn’t be very far from
me.
That would just have to satisfy me until I could discover who she was an
d have her brought to me. I would gladly give up my quest to win the fabled Fla
mes of Eternity if it meant I could own the love of my dark-haired angel.

The moment our eyes met, I grabbed Lilly’s hand. “We must go now Lilly, befo
re the crowds become too large and we are unable to move through the streets. Yo
ur father will worry if you are late, even with all the excitement throughout th
e city.”
I could not let her see my worry, and using her overprotective father was th
e perfect excuse to get her moving. With a final glance back towards the King, I
watch as he points me out to his guard, two sets of heated eyes taking me in, b
oth men ignoring the celebration around them as they watch Lilly and I.
Throwing a cloak of invisibility over us, I start to move. I know that it wi
ll only take us a moment to get lost in the throngs of people who are still comi
ng forth to greet the King as news of his arrival spread through the city.
“But Selena, I want to watch, I have time yet. Father will understand this one
time.” Lilly’s voice pleaded as she tugged back on my arm to stop me from moving. H
er brown eyes beseeching as she looked back over the incoming army.
Reaching a hand out I grab Lilly’s chin and turn her to look at me. “You know yo
ur father will not understand, he will listen to no excuses. Come we must go now
.”
With a exaggerated sigh and a final glance back at the armored men who were
starting to pass us by she nodded and we took off, weaving and dodging our way t
owards the center of the city.
As we ran down the street, I tried to understand the warning I had felt at t
his man’s gaze. Many had come in hopes of finding the legendary Flames of Eternity
 but it had been years since any posed a threat to the stones or me. Something a
bout this King was different; somehow he would be the one to challenge me.
As we neared the center of the city, we slowed to a walk, the crowds had thi
nned and we moved freely down the dirt roadway. I lifted the invisibility cover
from us as we neared Lilly’s home. Vendors and merchants, smiled and waved at us a
s we passed, their eyes hopeful that we might stop and buy something. Politely w
aving back, I wanted nothing more than to see Lilly to safety and return to the
stones to insure their protection.
“Did you see them all? Do you really think that one of them could be my fated
husband?” Lilly asked dreamily.
I could not help but laugh. “There is a good chance, but you must be careful.
Many of those men have been out in battle for a long time, they will be seeking
female companionship, and you do not want to be used by them just for a night or
two. Promise me you will stay away from them unless I am with you, Lilly. You m
ust not trust them.”
She nodded and I was not sure she even understood what I was speaking about.
Lilly had always been shy, and her father protective of his only child. I knew
that she had few life experiences that would have prepared her for the desires I
knew many of these men had.
When I had found Lilly, she was a young girl of maybe sixteen. She was hidin
g behind some barrels of ale behind her father’s Inn, her nose bleeding and dress
torn. I had taken her to my home on the city’s edge and cleaned her up. Giving her
a cup of hot cider, she had finally told me that she had angered her father by
showing up late to help in the kitchen. My rage at her father’s actions was instan
t and I had to hold myself back from taking the man’s life myself at what he had d
one to his own child. From that day on, I had made sure to stop by the Inn and v
isit with Lily, to make sure she was safe and when needed use my magic to keep h
er safe from her father, be it changing his memories of events, or even simply c
ausing him to stumble to give Lilly time to run.
I knew the day was coming when I would have her move into my home and help h
er learn how to be on her own, make a life for herself. Even I could not help bu
t be hopeful that one of the many men who had just rode into town, might be the
one to rescue her from her personal hell. Show her the love that she deserved to
find.
As we approached the backside of the inn, I used my powers to reach out and
find her father; he was in one of the bedrooms with a serving maid. Shaking my h
ead, I hugged Lilly. “Go inside, you will be safe. I will come by tonight and we c
an go for a stroll as the sun sets. By then things around the streets should hav
e calmed.”
She nodded apprehensively and opened the door. “Thank you, Selena. Thank you f
or being my friend.” Turning she ran inside leaving me alone.
I smiled as I thought about how alike we were, both yearning for more; to ru
n away from the lives we were given, for freedom to live. Lilly had no idea of m
y true identity, no one did. It was a risk I could not take, no matter how close
the friend, how trusted they were. For the stones to get into the wrong hands w
ould be too big a risk for me to take. I would forgo the simplest dreams and ple
asures to keep them safe, even my one greatest desire. Love.
Moving into the shadows, I will myself to the caves that sat high above the
city to the West. Though I had a house within the city, this was my home, the on
e place I could be myself without the cover of illusion. As I step deeper into t
he cave, I drop the spell and my true form comes forth, long blonde hair flowing
behind me in waves as I walk, my skin taking on its natural gentle glow almost
illuminating the path as I walk.
Heading towards the deepest cavern in the cave to where I keep the stones, I
can feel their energy before I can see them. I know they are safe. The cave pro
tected by spells that even the most profound sorcerer would have trouble sensing
, the entrance not visible to any human eye. The glow from the stones almost pul
sing from around them as if they were alive. I was still in awe every time I saw
them; even centuries after having them passed into my care, I still felt the sa
me excitement as that first day.
 Walking a few steps, I stand over them as they sit upon a large pillar of iv
ory. Two beautiful diamond stones, golden in color, the strong points at the en
d of each connected to the other with magic. Nothing surrounds them, they are op
en to touch if one dared; protected by my spells and powers. Death would be inst
ant to anyone who dared try to touch them while I was awake, and I was always aw
ake. I had never slept, the only time I would sleep is after taking a lover, and
I had yet to find one that I could trust to do so.
As the glow warms my skin I remember back, I was a young girl of fourteen, m
y mother stood beside me. I could hear her words still as clear as the day she h
ad spoke them. “The time has come, Selena for me to pass these on to you, it is no
w up to you to protect the World from the dangers that this could bring. Your li
fe is not your own anymore, you now are protector and keeper of the Flames of Et
ernity. They must always be your first priority, nothing must come before them.
You sacrifice much to save many.”
In the next few hours she had told me everything I needed to know about them
, how to use them, the power they possessed and the evil they could cause in the
wrong hands. I listened and forced every word to my memory. Overwhelmed and in
awe, I stared at the glow for hours, never taking my eyes from the stones as we
talked. It was as if they were feeding me my power, I felt myself grow stronger,
the magic burning inside me.
“How will I know mother, how will I know when the time comes to use them, or t
o pass them on?” Unblinking the light from the stones illuminated my eyes. I desir
ed what they gave me, needed to be fed by their power.
“Someday love will find you, when you give your heart to a man and your body,
in the way a woman does, you will sleep a long slumber. While you sleep, the pow
ers protecting the stones is dropped and you and the stones will be vulnerable.
If he who you love is true, the stones and you will be safe. From this joining a
child will be born, a daughter. You will pass the stones on to her at her fourt
eenth birthday as I have done to you. If his heart is not true, he may kill you,
steal the stones. I do not want to tell you what would happen to the world if t
his should happen. You must not fail.”
Turning away from the stones, I wander back to the cave entrance willing mys
elf invisible again I look down the high cliff walls over the city below. The pr
ocession is still going on. I use my superior eyesight to watch the King. He loo
ks bored but plays along with the dignitaries as he must. I can’t help but feel dr
awn to him, he is handsome and strong. The stories of his fearless conquests spr
ead through cities and towns.
With a shake of my head, I push thoughts of his attractiveness from my mind.
I cannot be distracted. I had prepared many years to protect the stones and the
time had finally come to do so. As I watched King Zyphran from above, I can’t hel
p but wonder if I am ready.
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