The Prophecy:
Look to the East to find the one,
Who only can unlock the sun
The powers of this world await
Who holds the key to open fate
And when is found this one to name
And take his place beside his fame
Remember this, that with his time
Comes danger, mischief, vicious crime
For not too far from this world’s birth
There was one who roamed the earth
Awaiting chance to stake his claim
Upon each heart that has a name
Yet if our one completes his task
The dark one lurking turns to ash
But if our one turns inward spite
All hope with fade without a fight
Prologue: Into the Darkness
Black waves thundered against the jagged rocks at the base of the towering cliffed mountain side.
It was as if an entire mountain range had been cloven in two creating a wall of massive cliffs above the ocean’s depths.
The turbulent waters raged below a silent crescent moon which hung high in the endless sea of stars above. The night was heavy and the darkness thick, yet, the moon’s faint light was still useful to the distant traveler who scaled the cliff’s ridge high above.
Clothed in a dark, worn robe and with a large leather sack on his side, he climbed over underbrush and fallen trees, for there was no trail. He wore no cap and and his gray hair whipped back and forth against his weathered face. His pace was steady, but not hurried, though, he knew that he was being followed.
Hand over rock, foot over tree root, the figure continued to climb the steep side of the mountainous terrain. When he reached the pinnacle of the summit he moved surprisingly close to the edge of the cliff. The ocean hundreds of feet below could not be heard over the screaming sound of the wind. The man looked down and breathed in for a moment, then he turned and gazed in the direction that he had just come. He stood silent as a statue with the faint moonlight glimmering in his eyes.
It wasn’t long before footsteps were heard and a dark figure emerged from around the face of a large boulder. The figure stopped, and a few moments passed before the silence was broken.
“Felsawn,” the dark figure spoke, his voice deep and harsh. “Your intent is already well known. Why run? Do you think to hide?” The paused, then stretched his hand out and retrieved a dead tree branch. He held it in front of him, waved his hand over the staff which instantly burst into brilliant red flames. The man thrust the burning torch toward Felsawn which landed on the dirt halfway between the two figures.
Felsawn and the man were instantly illuminated and there was no hiding their presence now. All who had a view of the cliff could make out two figures in close proximity.
Felsawn’s eyes remained fixed on the man as he remained still. He said nothing.
“My brother,” the man continued as he began to slowly creep towards Felsawn, “There is no power, no wizardry strong enough now that can waylay my efforts to obtain victory over your feeble attempts.” He chuckled, “You are a fool. You always have been, Felsawn.” He paused, then added, “We will find it!”
At that moment Felsawn began to slowly inch backwards keeping distance between him and the man, though closer to the cliff’s edge which was a few feet behind him.
“You are not my brother, Womlon.” Felsawn spoke, his voice calm like the ocean’s waters had been the day before. ”And the power that you call great, will abandon you in that very hour when you need it most.” Felsawn was at the edge of the cliff now, heals over the edge, he leaned slightly forward.
Womlon waved both hands from his side up through the air. The flame of the torch grew rapidly and burst high into the sky. Womlon stepped closer.
“Where will you go?” Womlon’s lips curled into a wry smile. “What hope is there?”
Felsawn never let his gaze off of his foe. His blue eyes were glowing. “Farewell.” He spoke. “We will meet again.” Felsawn paused, only for a moment, then leaned backwards. His feet left the edge of the cliff side and his body fell out of site.
Womlon sprange to the edge of the cliff and yelled. “Your plan will fail in the end.” He watched as Felsawn’s figure shrank rapidly as he fell. Almost out of no where appeared a massive, white figure heading straight for Felsawn. It swerved, flapped it’s wings to slow in speed, paused, then turned in the direction opposite the cliff. This was a rescue, the plan, the great white dragon, Sedrak, from the ancient world summoned for the final exodus. Friend to the keepers of light and foe to the darkness. He carried Felsawn away to safety.
Womlon watched as the white dragon shrank then disappeared in the horizon. He squinted, looked up at the sky for a moment, then looked to his side and pulled a horn to his lips. He blew four slow whales. He waited, then far in the distance, four horn calls returned.
He had been laying on the grown strewn over the cliff. He jumped up from the dirt and brushed his black clothing off. The flame of the torch was still burning high. Womlon waved his hands from left to right, and with a deafening crack, the stick exploded and shrouded the surrounding area in flame. The wind quickly carried the fire down the side of the mountain.
Other torches could be seen across the mountain side and on the shores below. More horn calls were heard. The boats were readied hours ago.
Womlon reached the shore and approached one of the men standing near one of the hundreds of boats, “We will leave at one.” He said gruffly.
He looked at the cliff where he knew Felsawn had lept from. Now, it was a blaze in red fire. He squinted and spoke through his clenched teet, “The plan will fail.”
He turned, then announced in a bellowing voice, “We ride west.”
Chapter 1: The Discovery
It was day and the brilliance of the sun was multiplied in the oceans’ endless shifting waves. Clal had been scanning the shore line for sometime and wa about to descend the slope from which he stood. But, there, off behind a cluster of rocks he thought he saw her. He leaned through the two tree trunks he was hiding behind, squinted, then yelled out, “Ha!” Clal left from his covert (hiding place - military context).
Down the mountain he sailed, bounding over rocks and bushes, blond hair flopping every which way. Clal burst through a group of bushes sending several birds to flight. His feet hit the sand and he bolted towards the rocks where he had just spotted his sister, Ansa. When he got there however, there was no Ansa, only the sound of laughing behind him, which signaled that his loosing streak was not over yet.
“I warned you, Clal.” Ansa said between gasps and giggles. She emerged from some bushes Clal had passed by moments before.
“But I saw you, Ansa.” Clal said now walking in her direction along the sandy shore. He was scratching his head with a down turned brow.
“Look closer.” she said.
Clal took a few more steps then stopped. He turned around then slowly approached the rocks. There, between two large boulders was a round rock propped up by two sticks. On top of the rock seaweed was fashioned in the likeness of a young woman’s long hair.
“See,” said Ansa now smiling from ear to ear. “It worked.”
Ansa put her hand to her mouth and attempted to control herself. But it didn’t last long. She burst out in a mother fit of laughter.
Clal rolled his eyes and marched passed Ansa refusing to look at her. Ansa turned and slowly followed.
They both ascended the west side of the grand Crescent Keep Mountain mostly in silence. Clal’s heavy foot steps matched his heavy heart. His own sister, wiser and keener than he. Almost every time they played a game of ‘finders’ she outsmarted him. He grabbed one of the remained autumn leaves from a passing tree, tore it in half then torn it in half again. They had almost reached the top when Clal noticed that Ansa was no longer following him. He looked down the trail where he spotted her a few feet away. She was gazing off towards the ocean. Clal walked down beside her then looked in the direction she was looking.
“Clal?” Ansa said slowly. “Do you see anything out there?”
“Yeah. Water. Sky. Birds. The sun. Clouds. Well, one cloud.”
Ansa turned toward Clal. “You see a cloud?”
“I see a cloud…isn’t that a cloud?” Clal wasn’t so sure and mostly passed the question to himself.
Clal moved closer through the trees but reaching the edge of the ridge, was unsatisfied with his position. He began to jog up the path until he was at the highest point of the mountain. Ansa followed until they both arrived to the highest point of the mountain. They peered off again searching the horizon.
Clal sat down on the dry, long grass and studied the sky for the cloud he thought he saw a few moments ago. There again, he caught site of a distant oval shape, ever so faint and almost indistinguishable from the sky. It was above the straight line of the horizon. Ansa saw Clal’s eyes widen and she knew he had found sight of it again.
“I’ve seen it before,” Ansa spoke in a whisper. “It’s always there. I come up here sometimes in the mornings and just sit and look for it.” She took a deep breath then said, “It never moves, Clal.”
“What…” Clal spoke half under his breath, “…is that?” He turned to his sister, “Ansa?”
“I know. It’s something peculiar and maybe even special.” Ansa replied.
Clal turned his gaze from Ansa back out to the horizon. “How long…”
“I first saw it the spring before last.” Ansa began. “I had finished my turn on the fish run and as the afternoon was waning on, I sat down to rest. Before going down the other side of ole’ Crescent Keep I was looking, kind of day dreaming, and I started wondering what was out there beyond the ocean’s horizon. Then, I kind of awoke to it.” She stepped beside Clal and looked with him. “I saw it and kept it in my heart ever since.”
Clal looked at Ansa brow low and lips tight, “Why haven’t you told me about this before?”
Ansa smiled a faint smile, “Because, I just didn’t know what you would say. I was scared you’d, I don’t know, not believe me or worse, make fun of me for it, and I just didn’t want that.” Ansa paused, “Isn’t is beautifully mysterious in a way.”
Clal chucked, “Yeah, it’s beautifully mysterious indeed. But, it’s also real, Ansa. I see it out there. But what could it be?”
“I don’t know, Clal. But I’ve had months to think about it.” Ansa replied.
“And do you think you know?” Clal said now curious about what his wise and keen sister might say next.
“I know what it isn’t,” Ansa said.
Clal shrugged his shoulders, “Well, I guess that’s a start.” He nodded then put rested his chin in his hand. “A cloud that never moves…”
“Right,” Ansa agreed, “except I know it’s not a cloud.”
Clal cocked his head in Ansa’s direction. “Then why did you call it one?”
“Well…because it does look like one, but it can’t be. That’s just impossible.” Ansa said. Then silence set in as they mulled over all of the possibilities of the mysterious cloud’s true identity. The sun occasionally peaked through the trees as the wind danced between them.
The more Clal thought about this strange phenominon the more obvious it became to him. Suddenly he sat up, “I’ve got it!” He exclaimed. “Ansa, maybe it’s supposed to look like a cloud.” He jumped to his feet and looked once more in the direction of the mysterious cloud on the horizon. Ansa eyed him closely as Clal gazed for a few moments. Then, a sideways smile graced his lips and Clal said, “It can’t be.” Clal spun around to face Ansa and with both hands grabbed Ansa’s shoulders.
“What?” Ansa shouted half startled.
“A floating island.” Clal said as he searched Ansa’s eyes for an answer.
“Exactly.” She said. “It has to be, Clal. There’s no other answer, is there?!” She lept towards Clal and hugged his middle. “I’m so glad someone else knows now. It’s been such a burden keeping it a secret for more than a year.” She let go of Clal and looked up at him. “Isn’t it fascinating?”
“Yes.” Clal nodded. “It’s more than fascinating.” He paused. “When I look at it, I feel something.”
Ansa let out a small gasp. “What do you mean?” She said quietly.
He turned to the trail again and started to step carefully along the path that led down the other side of the mountain.
“Clal?” Ansa said following close behind. “What do you mean, you feel something?”
After a moment of walking Clal continued, “It’s like…” he hesitated and slowed his pace for a moment, then resumed his previous walking speed, “Ansa, it’s like I didn’t just see something out there, but, I heard something…inside of me.” Then Clal added, “But not at first.”
Clal didn’t see here, but at that moment Answer smiled who was just a few feet behind him on the trail. Though she couldn’t say that she heard anything when she looked at the floating island, it was now their secret and not just here’s anymore. It was yet one more thing to share as the “venturesome twins”. This one topped any of the previous secrets and bits of stories they shared. It would shape their future, today, the moment everything changed in the find of what was now called the floating island. However, they would not know this for a while.
Clal and Ansa talked while they dodged rocks and trees on the way down the mountain. When they finally reached the flat forest ground Ansa ran to Cal and grabbed his arm.
“Clal,” she said as Clal turned toward her. “We can’t tell anyone.”
Clal nodded slowly. “Right,” he said. “But, we must think of a way to find out more.”
“Right,” Ansa agreed. She bit her lip then said, “Shall we tuck this away for a while…”
“…and worry about getting ready to leave instead?” Clal finished his sister’s sentence.
“Yes, but,” her mysterious smile returned, “I’m already packed.” She started to giggle.
Clal just shook his head, “Figures.” Then he smiled. “I bet I can beat you to the house,” and he bolted through the trees out of site.
“Wait, Clal! Wait!” Ansa yelled after him. “I’m not as fast as you.”
The shaking of tree branches and bushes revealed their whereabouts through the forest. Clal soon reached the front door. He paused on the door step when he heard a horse whiny and the creaking of a wagon.
They were here and he wasn’t ready. He jumped through the front door and disappeared into the house.
Chapter 2: The Visitor
Ansa entered the house completely out of breath. Her mother approached her.
“Hello, Ansa. Are you all ready?” She said quietly.
“Hello, Mum.” Ansa replied. “Yes, I’m ready. Where’s Clal?”
“He’s in his room with Turl gathering his things.” Her mother turned away. Ansa caught a glimpse of a tear rolling down her face.
“Mum, wait…” Ansa followed her mother into the kitchen.
In Clal’s room, Turl, Clal’s older brother, was packing Clal’s bag as Clal handed him clothes and other items, worthy of such a trip.
“Turl, What’s it like, the Great city of Eldan Vyum?” Clal asked handing Turl the last of his belongings. Turl carefully placed the clothes in the satchel. He sat on Clal’s bed then Clal sat beside him. Clal began fascening the straps.
“I guess, it’s just about the same as any other city.” Turl said.
“But the capitol of all of Illia...our country?” Clal demanded. “Why did you keep going back year after year.” Turl knew what Clal was searching for, adventure. A story. Maybe even a little bit of danger in the likes of a tall tale. But Turl, Turl wasn’t like Clal. Clal was full of curiosity about everything. He would never settle for a short answer to an important question. The world for Clal was full of wonder and there were days when Clal was just itching to dive into the thick of his explorations. Turl, on the other hand, was content to sit in his hammock chewing on a piece of straw after a hard days’s work.
Instead of filling Clal’s head with stories, which he had plenty of, Turl felt that this was an opportune time to relay to Clal his one bit of advice that he’d thought of before seeing him off.
“Eldan Vyum,” Turl started, “It is a spectacular place, in a way. I’m sure it won’t dissappoint you. But there will be times even during these next few months while you are away when disappointment and maybe even a little self-doubt will creep in among all that wonder.” His brother put his hand on Clal’s shoulder and said. “Don’t ever doubt yourself, Clal.” Turl shook his head, “Just don’t let yourself.”
Clal smiled then started to say something when his Father entered the room.
“Father,” Clal exclaimed as he jumped to his feet and ran to embrace his Father. He hadn’t seen his father for a few days now and he was hoping that they wouldn’t miss each other.
“Clal...,” Dalbus smiled, “How’s my favorite son,” he said winking at Turl who also smiled. “Turl, do you think Clal’s good and ready?”
Turl stood up from Clal’s bed and put his hands on his hips, “Today, Father, is the day.” Turl nudged Clal’s side. “Clal was born for this adventure.“
Clal looked at his Father, wrapped one arm around his neck then did the same to Turl. “Does this mean I’m finally a man, going to work in the blacksmith’s shop making swords and all?”
Both Dalbus and Turl burst out laughing. “Well, Clal,” his father said, “at thirteen I believe you’ll get be there soon enough.” His father looked at Clal and winked.
“In fact, when I was your age I was…” his father started to say.
“...building one boat a week for the Illian navel fleet, living on my own, free as can be.” Turl and Clal both finished his sentence in unison and they all three burst out in a fit of laughter.
Clal’s father shook his head. Clal grabbed his pack and Turl walked behind him slapping him on the back as the all walked through the door and out of the Clal’s small room.
When they entered the main living space the room was dimly lit and there was little if any noise. Clal’s mother, Nareete, was leaning to the side against the front door frame. Clal’s father walked ahead of his two sons, approached his wife, and whispered something into her ear. She turned towards him and embraced him burying her head in his chest and started to sob.
Clal looked away. He looked for Ansa and saw through the front window that she was out side already just lifting up her belongings into the wagon. Her expression on her face was firm and her eyebrows were down. Turl was staring at the wooden planks on the floor.
Clal couldn’t move from where he was standing. It felt as if his legs weighted a thousand pounds. Clal’s father walked over to Clal and guided him to his mother.
Clal looked up at Nareete who was looking far into the forest and took both her hands. “Don’t cry mother.” He said, voice wavering. “We’ll be back before you know it Mother. Please don’t worry.”
She turned her head and looked at him. “The world can be so big sometimes. If you’re not careful, Clal, you can get swept away. No telling how things will turn out. Oh…….”
She grabbed Clal and buried his head in her chest. “It’s just a hard thing for a mother...to loose her twins on the very same day.”
By that time Ansa returned and embraced her mother while Clal Nareete was still holding Clal. “You’re not loosing us, mother.” She said with a smile, “You’ll always be with us and we’ll be well taken care of. You’ll see.”
Nareete reached out and touched Ansa’s round face and combed her fingers through her daughter’s hair. “Ansa, Clal, you look after each other. You both must follow your instincts.” She wiped a ffew tears from her eyes again the said, “I have something for the both of you.”
The twins looked at each other as their mother pulled out of her dress pocket two rolled up scrolls, one for each.
Dalbus returned to Nareete’s side, they both took each other’s hands and Nareete said, “Now go you two. You mustn’t make this nice traveler wait too long. I hear there’s one other who you’ll be picking up tonight.”
Clal turned to his father, “It seems as though Rythe is coming after all.” His father said. “I suspect you’ll have much to catch up on.”
Ansa and Clal both hugged their parents and held them extra long. Turl darted out of the door, grabbed Ansa and swung her around, then gave her a squeeze. Clal approached Turl and the both embraced eachother then broke free, Turl still holding onto his little brother’s shoulder. “Remember what I said, Clal.” He smiled then turned, walked toward Dalbus and Nareete, then took his place beside them as all three stood in front of their two room log home.
Clal approached the cart then tossed his pack inside. He helped Ansa inside then climbed in himself.
“Till we meet in again…” Clal started.
“...a few months from now.” Ansa finished.
“Good-bye.” Clal and Ansa said in unison. They turned to eachother and started to laugh.
The three they were leaving behind shook their heads and smiled, fondly remembering the funny way the twins would somehow say the same things at the very best times.
Clal watched his family until the cart turned the corner on the trial and they disappeared out of sight. The breeze started to blow and as he lifted his hand to move his hair from his forehead, he realized that the scroll his mother gave him was still in his hand. He wondered what she could have written. He also thought about the examination and the blacksmith’s invitation for him to work for him and learn the trade.
“Clal,” Ansa whispered. Clal jumped having sunk deep into thought about the next day’s prospects. “Can I sit next to you for a moment?”
Clal nodded.
She moved close to Clal and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ve been thinking, what if Mrs. Milltree doesn’t like the way I sew? What if I talk too much? And what if…”
“Ansa,” Clal said, “Don’t worry.” He reassured her, “You’ll have her wrapped around your finger in a week. I’m sure of it.” Clal smiled. “Now, perhaps we ought to get some rest.”
“On this bumpy ride?” She sat up slightly.
“Yes. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.” Clal leaned against the side of the cart, adjusted himself for a moment then sat still. Ansa leaned against Clal and before long she was breathing heavily.
Clal looked up into the sky. The sun would soon set and night would cover the forest in a blanket of darkness. Perhaps he could sleep till morning, Clal thought. He closed his eyes and slipped away into a deep slumber.