Smoldered Flames: Part I of the Edonia Series
Chapter 6

Valeri

After witnessing the little “magical performance”, my wonderful tour guide steered my guards and I away from the main path. Tall needled trees block out the sun as we delve deeper into the wilderness. Birds shrill and glide from branch to branch throughout the forest alerting our presence to any nearby prey. The occasional owl hoots or shrieks at a distance.

One particular sound is brought to my attention. The consistent kyu, kweeo, kyu, kweeo, makes me pause. This particular fluted shrill was familiar. How, I’m not sure, but it struck a chord in my heart. Looking up and tilting my head to the right, a beautiful little brown owl stares unblinkingly back at me. It’s big yellowish gaze observes from a nearby pine tree, it’s branch swaying gently.

“There’s no time for sightseeing, rogue.” the icy woman said with disdain.

“I have a name, ya know. It shouldn’t be too hard to pronounce or forget.” I reply with a sweet sarcasm.

Ignoring my blatant reply, she looks over to the guards and says, “You two are to stay put. These are sacred grounds.”

The human guard begins to object. “We have orders that the prisoner-”

Provost Ritenour interrupts. “Your protection will not be necessary at this time.” Without a glance she waves her hand in indication to follow.

I stare at her in shock. She must have been some badass chick to not worry about her own safety.

As we began to trek, I became aware that we were gaining altitude. Trees become sparse and the pathway ends at a steep cliff. The sound of crashing waves is close by and the silence of birds brings on an eerie feel to the atmosphere. Turning around, I see the mountain is no longer within view and the sun has sunken significantly, indicating that it’s well past afternoon.

A sudden chill runs down my spine as I ask, “Why have you brought me here?”

Provost Ritenour gazes at me levelly, making her way back to me. “The Court’s rule may have sent you here, but I cannot allow a rogue to ruin the University’s image.”

She herds me closer to the cliff and the torrent waves become deafening. Jagged rocks cut into my feet as I’m escorted towards the precipitous edge. I look over on my right and see the she-devil pulling out an ancient metalled whistle from within her pockets. She continues forward to the very edge of the cliff and blows the whistle.

I decide to stay quiet as this occurs. It seemed the best way to have my questions answered. The silence is overwhelming for a moment until the wind picks up and the azul skies darkened to ashen grey. Thunder rolls in the distance and the waves hit the cliff’s face chaotically. The Provost raises her hands and her face towards the sky like a long lost lover. Lightning strikes over the sea and rain starts to pour.

There goes my shower at least. I thought to myself as I watched this delusional woman closely.

The necklace! It mustn’t get wet! Shouts my inner voice.

What necklace? I reach for my throat and feel a warm chain circling my throat. Why haven’t I noticed it before? It felt so light, it’s a wonder that it hasn’t come off yet.

Why must it not get wet? I queried

She responds agitatedly. You just had to fuck things up, didn’t you? Why don’t you listen?

What the hell? What do you mean? I asks hesitantly

She continues as if I hadn’t said anything. It’s game over now, chica.

That’s all I’ll get from her, it seems. I’m wondering if I should remove the necklace?

No! That little voice states aggressively.

Alright then.

Again, I wonder what have I ever done to get here. What could I have possibly done to deserve such a strange welcoming committee. They claim I’m some monster. Some barbarian who’s killed their own. This world is so different. I wish I could go back to that not so distant memory. The serenity of those gentle waves lapping along the sandy beach and the old man showing kindness and safety. It brought on such nostalgia. Who was he and hasn’t he spoken on my behalf?

Deep groans come from the depths of the deadly sea. Rumbling shakes the Earth as gale winds sweep around me. Provost Ritenour begins to chant a primordial tune. It felt like a call of judgment. A dance of righteousness. This was a test. Why? Not quite sure, but it seems I’ll find out soon enough.

She makes her way back to me, grabs my shoulders, and steers me to the edge of the cliff. She cries out to the sea: “O’ Great One! I bring you an unworthy soul. She has bled that of innocents and I need your decree. Accept this offer, O’ Beauteous One!”

The storm clouds take on an almost volcanic ash shade and the sea below is affected by the gale winds. The sorrowful lamentation from this mysterious creature sets my teeth on edge. My back is ramrod straight and I refused to move an inch closer to see what meted out my fate.

I glance down and regret what I saw. Dark shadows swirl around under the raging sea. Viridescent eyes peer back at me before fading away. I tried to jump back, but the she-devil still held onto my shoulders.

She leans in, her cruel voice churning my stomach as she says,“He’s waiting for you.”

And suddenly I’m pushed off the cliff. My heart seemed to soar through my throat and plummet straight down to my stomach as I waved my bound arms around. Fucking hell. This is starting to become a daily occurrence. I guess I will meet my Fate today. Do or die. Pulling my arms to my chest, I feel an odd sense of calm before cold water meets me. The sea felt like a thousand souls pulling me under as I struggled to break to the surface for precious oxygen. My eyes burn when I try to look around the furious ocean. Its undercurrent war with my body. Shadows come in and out of my peripheral vision and I’m reminded of the glowing green orbs that hid below the surface.

Suddenly, a sleek limb wraps around my legs, pulling me even deeper into the ocean. I start to thrash about hoping to shake off the mysterious limb, but it’s grip tightens around traveling up towards my torso. I panic as I lose more and more oxygen.

“Still yourself.”

A deep roaring voice commands. The undefinable voice resonates from nowhere and everywhere. An enormous diamond shaped head appears from the shadows. It’s snout leans in to touch my forehead. Green-blue hues glow materialized between us. My panicky eyes gawked at the large and venerable creature in front of me.

“Breathe,” the chasmic voice resonates beside my ear.

Like a newborn entering the world, I gasped aloud. My lungs scream from a lack of oxygen and I’m shocked not to feel the weight of the ocean around me.

“You are safe for the moment,” the creature says, it’s serpentine body writhing around me as a part of its body holds me in place “unless you’re deemed unworthy, of course.”

It seems I can’t catch a break.

“Your kind never do,” says the abysmal being.

My kind? I mentally scratch my head, saving what the creature said for later.

“I take it that you can hear my thoughts?” I queried with an eyeroll.

“Indeed,” it responds. “By that stupefied expression on your face, you wonder who I am...”

Well duh.

“I’m considered the Island’s Keeper. Warding away all pests from sacred grounds. Which hasn’t occurred in the last century, until you.” the being voiced accusingly.

“What do I need to do, to prove my worthiness to you, O Beauteous One?” I asked mockingly.

The serpentine creature’s stare bares down on me, holding me in place. It opens is gaping maw and whispers:

“You are the raindrop that will cause many ripples.”

Before I could begin to process what that meant, I’m thrust back to the surface. A migraine starts to form from the difference in gravity. Spurting ocean water, I try to catch my breath and look around my surroundings. The cliff is away from my current location and it appears I’m on a beach. Seagulls screech and frolic in the now clear blue skies. The waves are calm and the wind is still.

“Well I guess the Keeper is content. For the moment,” says the shrill voice belonging to Provost. “Come along now.”

She appeared out of nowhere, giving an insincere smile. The guards soon behind her, the human seemingly out of breath.

“Take her to the tower,” says the she-devil. “I’ll decide what to do with you then.”

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