The Dragons Egg - Chapter One (draft)

I

Order of the Guardians

Eveline

12^th April 1941

“The skillful warrior does not rely upon the enemy’s not coming, but on his own preparedness,” Matthew whispered heavily as he stood bent over a map that lay upon a small, circular table, bathed only in a little light, which had edged its way through the small, glass window of the old dock house, which he had rented a week past.

“He does not rely on the enemy’s not attacking but on his own impregnability,” Eveline replied gently from across the small room, standing before the only window of their rented house, gazing out across the harbor of Whitehaven, filled with fishermen, local women and children and dotted with a few naval soldiers who had recently docked. To Eveline, the scene outside reminded her of a few Renoir paintings she had been fortunate enough to observe. It was a bright, springs morning and the fishing boats which had long been out to sea, now had returned with their bounty of fish. Far across the harbor was docked a large, naval ship, now a local tourist attraction for all of the inquisitive young boys and girls, many evacuees, who had found a perverse thrill in the going’s on of war, their naive young minds, scarce of reality and truth. Eveline had roughly opened the crumbling window and let in the salty sea air as she passively fiddled with her wedding band. They had arrived in the small mining town, six days prior and were awaiting the arrival of Matthews closest friends, who according to the young minister would aid them significantly in not only making for the island of Anglesey without harm, but in out smarting the four knights, who had been resurrected from their deathly states to hunt down Eveline and bring her back to the their increasingly agitated and anxious master, Lagar. The week spent, hooped up in a small two up, two down had to Eveline’s great surprise been difficult. She had been strongly advised to stay indoors at all times, least some of the locals gaze should fall upon her and place them both in a perilous situation. News of four unearthly like men scouring the countryside of Cumbria had been published in the local papers. Local witnesses had given detailed accounts of the men’s inhuman looks and strange accents, with their aura placing the fear of the devil within their hearts and turning their very skin to ice. A great and fantastical story had now flourished throughout the county like an ancient myth and everyone who was anyone, was on watch for fear of encountering or spotting the fearful men. Unfortunately for Matthew, no photos of the foreigners had been taken and so with no faces in which to match the names, he grew weary and anxious about the journey ahead. For the last three days, the young minister and masonic leader had been deep in thought, pouring over countless maps, books and letters whilst Eveline had kept herself to herself, spending most of her time in isolation, dealing the consequences of leaving her husband. She had not the concentration with which to sit and read the few books she had brought with her, and so often found herself gazing out of the window of her small and roughly put together room. Some days she simply sat and held onto the small leather bible, which Galean had bestowed upon her and other days, she wept silently for all that was amiss in her world.

“Sun Tzu seemed to have it all figured out,” Eveline said aloud as she looked down at her wedding band, glittering in the light.

“He lived during the decline of the Zhou dynasty, when all the states where at war with one another, he was able to use his keen skills of observation to write the art of war,” Matthew replied, looking up from the table and penetrating Eveline with his diligent blue eyes. “Many great leaders have depended upon the art of war as a means of understanding their enemies better, that doesn't necessarily mean that he had life figured out.”

“When in comparison to my own life, I am entirely certain Sun Tzu was leaps and bounds ahead of me,” Eveline smiled wearily. She had found great comfort in the minister’s words and friendship, truth be known, she depended upon his good nature and affable intellect to soften the pain of leaving Theodore behind. Yet a lie stood between them both, she was returning to Unas to save Galean, whereas the young minister believed her to be returning to Unas in order to claim back her throne and destroy her enemies. Eveline had no such intention of returning to her homeland to destroy her enemies and take up her father’s throne, in truth she believed herself wanting of the initiatives needed to fulfil the prophecy which had in turn, destroyed her simple life. How could she find truth in the theory of divine right, when her own intellect was against such a belief? Would she not be a contradiction to herself if she were to claim herself a queen? To claim herself above her subjects in both birth and right?

“Sun Tzu’s life was invariably different from your own,” Matthew returned as he lifted his pipe to his thin lips and drew in a deep breath of the fresh leaves. A cloud of white smoke, erupted from his nostrils delicately and whirled about in a dance. “He saw with his own naked eye the impact of war. You have lived your life sheltered from such atrocities.”

“That is my point,” Eveline whispered, turning her golden gaze away from her friend and letting it fall once more upon the harbor, where she watched three young boys play ball, close to the edge. “I do not have the experience or I am afraid, intelligence to fulfil the role of warrior and leader. It…it feels….”

“Go on…” Matthew urged as he stepped away from the busy table and walked over to stand before Eveline, her eyes upon the cobbled street outside.

“When my grandfather told me that it was not right that my mother married my father, that she should have married a man worthy of her, I hated him,” Eveline began, her cheeks flushed with anger. “How could he decide upon who it was that my mother loved? And what had position and blood do with happiness?”

“In general nothing, though only a fool would discount the consequences of marrying outside of your social status,” Matthew hummed as he smoked on his pipe, glaring down at Eveline’s fiery, auburn head of curls with furrowed brows.

“But now that I have had time to think about what he was indeed trying to convey, I see sense in his theory.” Eveline slowly lifted her large, golden eyes to the minister. “A large part of me feels it un natural that I should have so much power and that I should be the heir to Aurelius or in fact a goddess for want of a better word. I look down at my hands and find myself feeling unworthy of the gifts they hold. That my hands, the hands of my father should have so much control over everything that surrounds me, seems unwarranted and wrong. A man blessed with the blood of the high guardians would not see it that way, he would see himself as strong enough, powerful enough to embrace such power and position, but I do not and cannot see myself in that way.”

“You believe yourself beneath your grandfather and half-brother? That because your father was simply a human, you do not feel you have to right or authority to claim such a power as to that which was bestowed upon your mother?” Matthew asked as he brought over a wooden stool and sat down beside Eveline, folding his finely dressed legs.

“Lagar is an ancient being, his blood is finer than that of my fathers, so naturally my brother is more worthy of being a God and King than I,” Eveline replied with a shake of her head. “His claim to the throne of Heiden is stronger than my own.”

“Do you know why it is that Hitler is purging Germany of the Jewish community?” Matthew enquired quickly, as he leaned towards Eveline with intuitive eyes.

“I am not all together entirely sure, no,” Eveline answered honestly, because little had been documented of Hitler’s vendetta against the Jewish community, only that they had been in the last decade terribly oppressed and abused.

“Blood,” Matthew said with an air of disgust. “He believes by some perverse ideology that the blood of the Aryan race is greater than any other race.”

“You mean he believes in Darwin’s theory that greatness within humanity is based on how we survive? That there are races naturally blessed to be better than others?”

“Indeed, can you see the correlation between his thinking and your own?”

“I can see that such an idea among humanity is indeed fruitless,” Eveline retorted with a firm gaze. “But I am talking about the blood of my fore fathers, blood that my grandfather indeed explained to me was much older and stronger than that of lesser angels and human beings.”

“Who inspires you?” Matthew quizzed lightly.

“Marcus Aurelius and Abraham Lincoln,” Eveline answered bluntly. “Why do you ask?”

“Why do they inspire you?”

“They were both strong and intelligent leaders, they knew how to rule and stood firm in their principles, ethics and morals,” Eveline answered with a confused expression.

“And so they do not inspire you because of their blood but because of their characteristics and actions,” Matthew noted, lifting his nose high into the air, the gentle haze of smoke billowing into Eveline’s contorted face.

“Well yes off course,” Eveline muttered under her breathe as she waved away the smoke with her right hand. “What is your point?”

“My point is this,” Matthew said, getting up onto his feet and pacing about the room sitting room. “Your father was a great King and is remembered as one, not because of his blood but because of his tight bond with his subjects and evolutionary ideologies. Blood does not ascertain that you will naturally become a great and honorable leader. So many of the great human leaders in history have risen up from the gutters and brought to their countries and people, prosperity and democracy. I am not an advocate for Thomas Carlyle’s theory that great men are born thus, I believe that it is our actions and principles that make us so.”

“But in terms of power, my brother is greater than I and so how can I hope to overcome him, if I am not his equal in strength?” Eveline mumbled as she watched the minister pace about, suddenly coming to a halt before the unlit fire. Matthew turned to Eveline with a small smile upon his lips.

“Strength does not only lie in the ability to control the things about you with magic, strength comes from a need to overcome, it is influenced not just by physical power, but by will, determination and intelligence. Your brother may have the physical strength to wound you, but you have the intellectual strength to weaken him.” Matthew came to stand closer before Eveline, her eyes betraying an uncertainty as his own betrayed that of a great thinker, his free hand clenched in passion and his brows bent with determination as he spoke in an eloquent manner. With flashing eyes and a softened tone he said. “But the greatest strength of all, lies in your confidence and belief in yourself and your cause. If you have both, then you are his equal.”

“Do you believe me strong enough to take on an eternal darkness and force of evil? Because no matter how convincing your words of encouragement are, I am a rationale creature,” Eveline whispered lowly, a gentle breeze flowing through her loose tresses. “I have seen my brother sir, and he is more powerful, cunning and intelligent than I. I have nothing within my possession with which to wound him in such a way as you would think. I am but a woman, who only bares the blood of Heiden but who shares in no other traits.”

“Then tell me why it is you are going back to Unas if not to find your strength and overcome your brother?” Matthew asked with a hardened glare.

“You wish to believe that I am a great source of hope not just for mankind but for all who live in this wide and vast universe with which my grandfather rules,” Eveline gently placed her leather clad feet onto the wooden floorboards and lifted her body of the side of the deep window ledge, to stand equal in height to the minister. Her golden eyes flashed, her cheeks began to swell with gumption and her nose tremored lightly. She clasped her fine hands about the small bible and stood firm and resolute. “But what if I am not that beacon of hope you all so dearly desire of me, what if I am just plain Eveline from Keswick. Has it occurred to you the anxiety that weighs upon me, to know that I could return to my homeland and severely disappoint all those who have placed their expectations and hopes on me being a great and war like Queen?”

“Unlike Carlyle’s theory, great leaders are not born thus, they must work hard to become great,” Matthew replied kindly, his angular head tilted slightly as though he had for the first time seen Eveline in a different light, a light she had been aimlessly trying to expose over the last month. “And it is a long and tiresome journey they find themselves on, and many do not survive and those that do must face the constant battle of alteration. They wish not to be altered by power or position, but so many succumb to its seductive powers. Sometimes it takes a rare and in many ways untainted person to overcome those temptations and to take up the rod of justice and the sword of truth, maybe you cannot see what we, your servants can. And maybe you are right, we have placed a heavy expectation upon you since before your birth. I understand that you must feel weighed down and claustrophobic by everything that has happened and everything that will come to pass.” Eveline felt her chest rise and fall as his words elegantly rolled off his tongue like a soothing balm to her aching anxieties. “But for all my words, you still have not answered the question. Why are you choosing to return home, leaving your husband behind?”

“I married Theodore, unaware of who I was or who he was, and I believed, naive as it sounds that he would be the only man ever to understand me,” Eveline began, turning her body and gaze away in shame. “And I did love him so, he was my best friend, but he was my only friend. And then I met Galean and my world and my vision altered, before the prophecy had touched my ears. During those turbulent and life altering weeks, I found myself against my better judgement, falling in love for the first time in my life and it wasn’t with my husband.”

“I didn't dare believe that the prophecy would hold true, for the consequences if true are terrible beyond imagination, do you understand what I am saying?” Matthew asked darkly, the light of the sun suddenly fading behind a cloud.

“I never gave it much thought, I have never been superstitious and have always been led by logic,” Eveline said, lifting her right hand to her forehead as though tending an ache. “It made no logical sense to fall in love with Galean, being married as I was. The prophecy, I shrugged it off as I shrug off many a superstitious prediction. But as the days went by and I fell deeper and deeper into a darkness, I have never before felt, I began to consider the prophecy. The Theodore I knew growing up, was a version of himself, stripped from his past and his past actions. I grew up with the part of the real Theodore that wished to be instead of his true self. Because I knew little of men and their ways, I stupidly looked to him as an altar of all that a man should be. But when the unrealistic film of Theodore had been stripped of him and he was reverted to his true self, I began to see him differently. He is not evil, nor bad, but he is easily swayed by his own selfishness, a trait I couldn’t truly allow to seep into my mind. As I spent more time with Galean, I began to see how different they were and why. Galean is selfless and wise, and he should be considering he will one day become a King. As I was dying my husband could only ever focus on the jealousy that stirred within him, he does not like to share, another trait I was unaware of. On the night when the demons infiltrated Bath Cathedral, Theodore stabbed Galean with the intention of killing him, but I did not know of this act until the night you had come by and spoke to him of Galean’s condition. We argued and he admitted to what he had done and even as he asked for forgiveness, I saw none in his gaze, only sadness that Galean had not perished.” Eveline closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “At first, I could not believe the divide between us, the sheer difference that parted us from one another. Off course I blame myself for falling in love with another, a King and this I believe must have stirred feelings of hatred and jealousy, but did I imagine that my own husband could kill his once best friend, considering all that was happening. No, I did not believe him capable of such an act. The night before I came to you to discuss leaving Keswick and returning home, I pondered over the prophecy and began to see its truth. Theodore has altered and I knew that if there was truth attached to this prophecy that it would be him that would turn to the darkness and fall under the spell of Lagar. I could not let that happen, no matter what he had done to Galean, I could not let him become a creature of the dark and in part it was to save myself, I would never be able to live with myself if he did indeed turn out to be such a creature. And so I left him and I am returning to Unas, because I cannot live without Galean and I could not live with the anger if he did indeed perish because of Theodore, however illogical, however wrong or however immoral it is before the eyes of those who gaze upon me. My heart is inextricably bound to his own and if that bond breaks, I fear I too will break with it. If you wish me to become the Queen you so seek, then he must live, do you understand? I live if he lives, I perish if he perishes. For the first time in my life, I am not led by a rationale mind, I am led by an irretrievable love for a man who has been wrongly wounded.”

Silence stole the room as Eveline and Matthew stood still, their heads turned from one another. Outside the sounds of rain drops falling, filled the salty air and acted as a chaperone to the stillness that consumed the old harbor house. Eveline clung on tightly to her bible and withheld the river of pain that threaten to burst. She closed her eyelids heavily and fought the urge to weep as Matthew lifted his face and gazed into the cream wall before him.

“I understand.”

Eveline stilled a moment before opening her eyes and turning her gaze away from the fireplace. Matthew let his arms drop to his sides and unrolled his hands from their clenched positions. He walked over to the table and placed his pipe down before turning to Eveline.

“We must ensure that you make it to Anglesey before the solstice.”

“You find no fault in my behaviour?” Eveline asked with a raised brow.

“Strangely, no. Who am I to judge your actions? Theodore is destined to turn to the darkness and so we must be led by the prophecy and in doing so, we must ensure that Galean survives.”

“But…but what I have done, it is against your beliefs is it not?” Eveline rushed with a sudden need to hear his answer.

“No, no I don’t believe it is,” Matthew smiled gently. “Eveline I make it my priority not to judge that which I do not understand. I see the goodness and the potential in you. Yes I understand completely your inner conflict with who you are and what is expected of you, but I believe that in the few weeks we have until the summer solstice, that myself and my friends can help you work through some of them at least, so that when you return to Unas, you will return with a clearer mind and maybe a firm vision of your future. You have the makings of a great leader and Queen, but let time lead you and mentor you until you yourself feel ready to decide your destiny.”

“But what if I do not wish to be a Queen?” Eveline asked with a forlorn look upon her fair face.

“Do not trouble yourself about tomorrow, for it has enough to deal with and you cannot change what will occur,” Matthew soothed as he sat down upon a chair and bent his back into the leather. “You may find yourself not wishing to be a Queen and if that happens then you will know what to do. And if you do find yourself wishing to be a Queen then you will be strong enough and decisive enough to know how to claim back your throne.  For now we have enough to deal with, and that is getting you to safety and hoping that we can get you their unscathed.”

Silence once more covered the room in a stillness as Eveline pondered over the minister’s words of council. Matthew had returned to work, leaving Eveline by the window to think.

“I think I will go to my room and rest a little before your friends arrive,” Eveline announced light, turning from the window and making her way towards the door, stopping for a brief moment and turning her head towards the minister.

“I shall awake you when they arrive,” Matthew smiled kindly as he looked up from a map. With a slight nod, Eveline turned and exited the room, closing the door behind her softly. With a heavy sigh and a bent head, she made her way up the narrow staircase, the sounds of cracking floorboards filling the space. A musky scent filled the air as she made her way to her small room. With a flat palm, she opened the crumbling door of her room and entered, closing it behind her and leaning her back against its wooden strength. With her right hand still connected to the handle, she closed her eyes and sniffed loudly. A silent tear fell from her eye and with a gulp, Eveline opened her eyes and pushed herself away from the door, making for the small, iron bed. Quietly she slipped off her leather shoes and lay upon the top of her bed, folding her arms atop her stomach. For a while she simply gazed up at the aged ceiling and concentrated on her rising and falling chest. The salty air clung to her skin, and as the silent tears fell from her wear eyes, she could taste the saltiness upon her lips. With a breathless sigh she closed her eyes and held firm to her bible.

“Eveline?” a deep voice rang out. Eveline quivered slightly, feeling his eyes upon her back and turned ever so slightly, her golden gaze meeting with his own blue gaze. The light of the moon cascaded itself into the small library, covering everything in its path and illuminating Galean’s tall and lean figure, which stood in the doorway. “Are you alright?”

“I find I cannot sleep this night,” Eveline whispered, wrapping her fine woollen blanket about her body tightly, afraid he may see beneath the layers and find her heart beating wildly. With a worried look, Galean entered the library and closed the door behind him. Eveline observed his nightly attire and found her skin warming slightly. He was attired in a long, silk gown, beneath a heavy dressing gown. His feet were bare and about his neck a fine jewel hung. As she watched him make his way over towards her, she felt her toes curl beneath her, suddenly afraid of his closeness.

“What troubles you?” Galean asked softly, coming to a stop before her, his head tilted downwards, so that he could look into her pale face. Her long, auburn curls fell about her back and chest gently as a soft draft which streamed in from the open window eclipsed her body.

“The list is too long,” Eveline smiled anxiously as she curled her fingers about the book with which she had brought down with her. “The unexplained I suppose.”

“Care to elaborate?” Galean asked with an inquisitive gaze, his strong features softening under her glare.

“Once a few months ago, I took Wordsworth for a walk upon the hills of Keswick,” Eveline began quietly. “It was a beautiful day, the sun was high and the sky was without clouds. The smell of honeysuckle hung within the air and there was a slight, summer’s breeze that caused the barley fields to dance enchantingly as we passed them by. I found myself within one of the rare few moments of contentment and pleasure. Even the gentle feel of my soft dress brushing against my legs, felt almost heavenly. Beneath us, the lake shimmered from afar and above us, a large kestrel flew as though in unison with my joyous heart. I felt for the first time in a long time, at one with all that surrounded me. I felt connected to Marcus Aurelius’ explanation of the whole. I found a place in which to sit and enjoy the view as Wordsworth chased after hares and fell back upon nature’s floor and simply basked in all the beauty.” Eveline closed her eyes as though finding herself back in that moment, Galean watched with a pinch of envy, her red lips curving into a content smile. “But as I lay, seeped in my contentment, clouds formed and the air swiftly changed. A drop of rain fell upon my hand and I awakened to a changed world. The sky no longer was free of clouds and the Kestrel had flown elsewhere to seek refuge among the trees. I could not for the life of me understand how such a change could occur in such a small space of time. Across the lake a large ripple of thunder damned the countryside to a storm.” Eveline opened her eyes, with furrowed brows and found Galean’s anxious gaze, searching her face seriously, his own face now closer to her own. “That is how I feel now Mr Edwards.” Eveline turned from Galean and walked away to the fireplace. As she stood before the cold fire, her arms wrapped about her body tightly, she felt a strong hand upon her shoulder and shuddered under its touch, as though a warmth had radiated straight into the depths of her troubled soul.

“You feel the world about you has grown dark of late?” Galean whispered softly, standing behind her quietly. Eveline nodded her head, willing the tears that rimmed her eyes to cease. “I understand how it is to feel the sun’s rays upon you one moment and then to feel the rays of darkness upon you the next. I never believed for a moment that my wife and daughter would be taken from me in such a callous manner. I was so consumed with the disbelief that my wife had chosen me to love and bind herself too, that it never escaped my notion that it would not be myself that ruined that beautiful bond but someone else. When I returned to Aurelius, there was no light and the air was filled with pitiful pain and crying. No light shone when I buried my family and since then, I have never felt the rays of the sun upon my face, at least not until meeting you.”

“Me?” Eveline quipped breathlessly, turning her face slightly as though in search of his own.

“It is not every day that one meets the granddaughter of a God,” Galean smiled, using his hands to turn Eveline about. “Imagine my joy to not only find myself in your presence but to find myself in the presence of one who is uncannily likeminded. Long have I yearned to find someone who is of the same mind. Until now, I have never truly understood the depth of hunger that has befallen me since the death of my family. It is a joy to have a friend who shares in the same interests as myself, someone with whom I can hold a deep a meaningful conversation.”

“You truly see me in that light?” Eveline asked, her bottom lip quivering slightly. She gazed up into Galean’s strong and wise face and found herself wanting to reach up, so that she may guide her fingers across his features.

“I do,” Galean said deeply, his fingers easing upon her shoulders. “I and my friends see you in such a light, so when you feel trapped by the darkness, know that it cannot penetrate your pure and eternal light, which radiates and touches the souls of those around you.”

“I wish my husband could see me in such a way as you do,” Eveline groaned inwardly. “He is riddled with jealousy and something of which I cannot touch upon.”

“He is stressed and worried for your safety,” Galean murmured, his fingers delicately fiddling with a strand of her hair. “The prophecy has taken him by force, even if those around him council him not to place to great an emphasis upon it.”

“He thinks you are the other man it speaks of,” Eveline whispered heavily. “No matter how I try to soothe his worries, he just becomes irate and angry with me.”

“He feels threatened and so his ill behaviour may just be the consequence of such a feeling,” Galean soothed quietly.

“There is no need for him to feel threatened,” Eveline lied, her eyes penetrating Galean’s chest, for fear of him recognizing such a mistruth.

“No indeed there is not,” Galean said with a groan, suddenly standing back from Eveline. She felt alone as his hands left her shoulders and vulnerable as his presence eased slightly with the space now laid bare between them both. Galean turned away from Eveline and walked over to the nearest book shelf, skimming his fingers along the spine of the many books which filled the shelf. “I shall be leaving in a few days and so this cloud which hangs upon us will dispense and part.”

“Why must you go?” Eveline asked aloud, her eyes large with an unspoken pain. She watched Galean’s tall form pace about the library as though he were in torment.

“It is time for me to return to my people and home, my job here is done,” Galean announced, his tone monotonous and without feeling. “Soon all shall be right again and you will not need me any longer. And with my presence gone, your marriage will again be as it was before rumour of this prophecy reached our ears.”

“I cannot pretend that I understand this prophecy,” Eveline said with a firm and resolute voice, forcing the pain which surged within her to repress itself. “But I believe you may be right.” With bent shoulders, Eveline turned from him and made her way to the large, Georgian window and gazed up into the night sky. A painful barrier of silence filled the library as she heard the soft plump of a tear falling against the glass. Galean stood and watched Eveline as she looked up into the night sky, her cheeks stained with droplets of water. He observed her closely and found her pained and alone and without thought made his way over to her once again. Gently, betraying his good intentions and honour, Galean wrapped his arms about her tightly and let his chin rest upon her head lightly, feeling her slight body shake beneath him. A feeling quite unlike anything she had felt before, ran over Eveline as the heat from Galean flowed through her woollen wrap and thin nightdress, reaching her skin and core. Even the wintry breeze that stole into the library could not melt away the unspoken frenzy of feelings which now unbound themselves about her, like a cascading waterfall of emotion.

“The light of a lamp shines on and does not lose its radiance until it is extinguished. Will then the truth, justice, and self-control which fuel you fail before your own end?” Galean whispered into Eveline’s thick hair, a gentle scent of lemon filling his senses.

“One light of the sun, even though its path is broken by walls, mountains, innumerable other obstacles. One common substance, even though it is broken up into innumerable forms of individual bodies. One animate soul, even though it is broken up into innumerable species with specific individualities. Once intelligent soul, even though it appears divided. Now in all the above the other parts – such as mere breathe, or that material which I insensate – have no direct affinity to each other: yet even here a link is formed by a sort of unity and the gravitation of like to like. But the mind has this unique property…” Eveline took in a breathe and as she spoke, Galean joined in unison.

“It reaches out to others of its own kind and joins with them, so the feeling of fellowship is not broken.”

Eveline felt herself smile and felt Galean smile with her as they once again fell into silence.

“I always refer to Marcus Aurelius’ when all else fails,” she announced, her hands splayed across Galean’s. “His words offer much needed guidance when I cannot source it elsewhere.”

“So you have said before,” Galean whispered, his own skin prickled by Eveline’s touch.

“What brings you comfort?”

“Memories.”

“Of your family?”

“Yes.”

“How treasured they must be.”

“I never knew true light until my daughter was brought forth from her mother’s womb,” Galean whispered achingly, the image of his daughter opening her eyes for the first time, infiltrating his mind. Eveline felt his arms tighten about her in response.

“I wish I had known my true parents. Sometimes, I feel as though they can hear me or sometimes see me,” Eveline admitted, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“How so?” Galean enquired kindly.

“Ever since I can remember, I felt an unearthly connection to the stars,” Eveline began, her body relaxing against Galean’s as she spoke plainly and without regret. “Every night, I can hear a soft song radiating from them, a song filled with a thousand voices. But there are two very distinct voices that always seem to stand out among the rest. I like to believe they are the voices of my parents. You must think me mad to place a hope in such a silly superstition.”

“How could I, when I am an angel,” Galean said with a soft stroke of his fingers across her enveloped palm. “It is not uncommon for angels to feel as though a star or stars are reaching out to them. For it is what becomes of us when we part with life. Some believe them to be the voices of our ancestors, calling out to us.”

“How strange,” Eveline hummed. “I wonder what they would think of me.”

“I believe they would be proud of the woman you are,” Galean said with resolution and truth.

“Sometimes when I feel very alone, I am often reminded that I am indeed an orphan.”

“You are greatly loved by the family you have,” Galean encouraged.

“And yet they gaze upon me now with forlorn eyes,” Eveline sighed, breaking herself away from Galean. “If they saw me now, in your arms they would look upon me with sorrow and disappointment.”

“Eveline…”

“If they knew the true state of my heart, well…I cannot say in all honesty what they would think of me…” Eveline turned to Galean, her eyes desperate. “I have found a true friend in you Mr Edwards, you saved me from the clutches of death and have constantly acted as my protector, from the day and hour you came into my life, and there is no judgement in your eyes, only friendship and compassion. Perhaps that is why my husband grows weary of our friendship.”

“Then you understand why it is that I must leave?” Galean asked with a heavy heart.

“Yes.”

“Just because I will not be with you in the way that I am now, does not mean that you will be far from my mind,” Galean soothed gently, taking Eveline’s cold hands within his own. “Kindred spirits never break, no matter the distance between them.”

“You think us kindred spirits?”

“I have thought so since our first encounter that night,” Galean smiled warmly, bringing her closer to him. “You have brought life back into my wearisome soul and for that I will be forever grateful. Your touch upon me will never fade and I hope I have brought to you as much light as you have I.”

“You have Mr Edwards,” Eveline whispered with heavy eyelids. “It is why I think, I placed my hand upon your heart as I did that night.” Eveline lifted her fine, right hand from Galean’s and placed it with a heavy tremor, upon his heart once more.

Eveline tried to hold onto the memory of that night, but felt it slip away from her as the sound of a bird squawking awoke her from her sleep. With a heavy breathe, she opened her eyes and turned her gaze to the window. A small raven sat upon the sill and peaked at her window with its beak, squeaking loudly. Eveline turned her body to its side and observed the raven, its feathers a variation of beautiful colours in the sun and its eyes strange and unusual colour of gold. As she lay observing the raven, she grew suspicious of its eyes and without much thought, swung her legs off the bed until her shoe-less feet touched the cold floor beneath. Rubbing her eyes lightly, she got up and made her way over to the window, kneeling down gently before it. The raven stopped squawking and observed her keenly, its golden eyes alert and bright.

“I have never seen a raven with eyes like yours,” she said to the small bird, its head tilted slightly as though trying to take her in. As she furrowed her brows, she remembered the deer she had encountered within the gardens of Calhuni, remembering how it too had golden eyes like the raven. Heiden had hinted that he had been watching over Unyae through the eyes of the creatures that roamed the garden and with such a thought filling her mind, Eveline cautiously began to lift the window with ease, wondering for a moment if the raven with its strange, golden eyes was in fact her grandfather. When the window had reached its limits, Eveline stood up straight and looked down at the raven. “Grandfather?” for a minute, silence ensued, until the raven squawked in return. “Is that you?” another squawk filled the room as the raven bounced over the rim of the window and onto her arm. Eveline jumped quickly in return, afraid and curious at the raven, which now jumped up her arm and sat pensively upon her shoulder, its beak lightly pecking her cheek. “I must be going mad,” she smiled as she reached her fingers up and stroked the feathery wings of the raven. “Why have you come?” she asked lightly. The raven squawked a reply. “You will have to excuse me, I do not speak raven.” Just as the raven was about to reply a knock at the door brought Eveline from her thoughts.

“Eveline, my friends have arrived,” Matthew announced with a tone of merriment.

“I shall be down in five minutes,” Eveline said loudly.

“I shall prepare some tea then,” Matthew replied, the sound of his feet wandering away from her door and down the corridor. Eveline turned her eyes from the door and unto the raven.

“I must hurry,” she said with an air of nervousness. “I shall keep the window open for you.” Cautiously she reached up and placed her hand out flat and watched on with surprise as the raven bounced from her shoulder onto her hand. Gently she lowered her hand until it met with the wooden sill of the window. The raven bounced onto the sill and squawked softly. As she watched the bird flap its wings, her gaze cast itself outside and fell upon a lonesome figure, standing quite still some distance away. She stretched her eyes, but could not make out the persons face. They were clad in a dark coat and hat, which tilted over their face, masking it from her eyes. As she looked on, she felt a chill take her and her legs fell from under her and she fell to the hard floor with a thud. She felt the yellow jewel at her heart thud against her chest as she dropped onto her hands. Everything about her spun out of control and with her nails inching into the wooden floorboards, she tried to find focus, closing her eyes until the spiritual force came to a halt. When at last her stomach stopped turning, she opened her eyes and looked up at the window in which the raven stood tall and erect, his wings now outstretched and high. It had not been the first time in which Eveline had felt such a force, she had been rendered lifeless at the clutches of several demons in the last year, the worst and most powerful being Lagar. But as she lay, curled into the foetal position, she recognised that with each demon, came a certain spiritual feeling that touched her as though, she did not need a face in order to know with whom she faced, she could identify them by the unique feeling that penetrated from their darkness. And so the shock at feeling a new a darker force, bound her to an unmoving state of anxiety.

After a moment, the raven jumped down from the window and pecked Eveline’s hand, awakening her from her state of lifelessness. It squawked loudly, arousing Eveline and bringing her back to her senses.

“Did you feel that too?” she asked quietly, raising her body from the floor, until she sat back against the crumbling wallpaper, her head an inch below the window. The raven’s head moved as though in answer to her question. With shaking hands, Eveline found the yellow jewel and brought it to her lips. When she felt her heartbeat ease, she turned her body and lifted her head slowly, so that her eyes ran over the edge of the windowsill. She looked out across the harbour to the place in which she had seen the strange figure and found it quiet isolated and without the presence of the strange man who had stood quiet still, his gaze upon her. Slowly she brought herself to her full height and smoothed her skirt with her shaking hands. The raven stood loyally upon the window sill, unmoving and on guard. Once a little bit relaxed, she found her patent shoes and put them on before fixing her hair slightly in the small, circular mirror. With a glance back towards her new companion, she smiled anxiously before opening the door of her room and departing.

*

Descending the narrow staircase, Eveline could hear several voices coming from the living room and stopped at the bottom, her right hand clutching onto the banister for aid. From the room she could smell the remnants of tea and toast and with a deep gulp, made her way across the hall, opening the door of the room gently and entering. Matthew had lit the fire, warming the room and bringing to it a comfort, Eveline had so readily needed as she stood before three new acquaintances. To her left, sitting elegantly upon the old and aging sitee was a young woman, a few years older than herself. She was handsome, with fair hair, green eyes and fine features. The young woman was small in height and dainty in size, she wore a cream blouse and navy blue skirt, and sat sipping tea from a saucer in a manner becoming that of a gentle lady. Eveline knew her to be Mrs Olivia Chittick, once a former pupil of Ravinston and friend of Matthew. She was born in Edinburgh and lived there permanently, married to Andrew Dunbar, a history lecturer at Edinburgh University and now soldier from the Scots Guards, now serving in Egypt. Olivia smiled up at Eveline, heralding a smile in return. Lifting her gaze away from Olivia, Eveline found the forms of two men, who stood before the fire, deep in conversation with Matthew. Both were well dressed in navy suits, but the man on the right of Matthew was much older in looks than the other much younger man, who seemed to be the same age as Matthew. Eveline guessed that the older man must have been Mr Edward Linley, a professor of ancient antiquities and archaeology at the Scottish, magical school of Brodie which was located on the island of Stornoway. He was tall and broad, with greying hair and grey eyes, which lay under a heavy pair of black brows. His nose was long and his pale lips, thin. He had a slight moustache and smoked a pipe, similar to that of Matthews. Eveline observed the kindness in his eyes and felt instantly at ease in his presence. Briefly he lifted his eyes to her and nodded with the briefest of smiles before diving once more into a heated conversation with Matthew. At ease, Eveline turned her eyes to the younger man, who had a full hair of thick, golden curls. He stood an inch taller than both Matthew and Edward and was finely dressed in a navy, pin striped suit with black, leather patent shoes that shone brightly against the flickering flames of the fire. As though feeling her gaze upon him, he looked up at her, his blazing green eyes boring into her own gaze. With an air of charm about him, he bowed before her.

“My lady Celestine,” he announced regally, keeping himself bowed before her. Eveline stood still for never had anyone bowed before her nor used her true name. With a gulp, Eveline looked to Matthew with pleading eyes.

“Celestine answers to her earthly name, Eveline,” Matthew said to his friend with a gentle smile upon his lips.

“Off course, but she is the daughter of our King and so it would be prudent and rude of me not to use her true name,” the young man said as he straightened himself before Eveline. “But I shall for arguments sake, use her earthly name until such a time as she does away with it.”

“Eveline, this is my old friend, Mr William Talbot,” Matthew said, coming to Eveline’s side quickly. “He is a professor of philosophy at Warwick University.”

“Yes, I am aware,” Eveline replied graciously, her fingers still trembling lightly.

“But we all refer to him as England’s Casanova,” Olivia interceded, coming to stand on the other side of Eveline. “I am Olivia Chittick,” she announced, holding out her hand. Eveline took the young woman’s hand and shook it lightly, with comforting ease.

“Tush!” William cried out, with a wave of his hand. Eveline could see readily that he relished in the compliment given and found herself chuckling. “Olivia is just jealous that my gaze does not fall upon her often enough, isn't that so Livy?”

“Stop with your wanton words!” Olivia blasted coldly. “I am a married woman, who happens to be married to a man, ten times your worth.”

“Come now friends, you have only arrived and you are at each other’s throats,” Matthew groaned loudly. “Eveline, sit and I will bring you some tea and toast.” Eveline followed Matthew and sat down as instructed, gazing over at the three new companions. Olivia came to sit beside her and turned her body towards her.

“You must forgive our silly behaviour; Matthew, William and I all attended Ravinston School together, and it has always been our custom to mince with one another,” Olivia said with a matter of fact tone.

“And how is you that you know of Mr Linley?” Eveline enquired as Matthew returned with a plate of buttered toast and a cup of tea. “Thank you Matthew,” she whispered up at him when receiving the plate and cup. Matthew winked down at Eveline before marching over to his male companions and once again falling into a deep conversation.

“Edward taught as a young professor at Ravinston, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that we all became firm friends,” Olivia explained as Eveline bite into her first piece of toast. Her stomach rumbled as the food made its way down her throat, warming her insides pleasantly. “He is a quiet and reserved man until that is you bring up a subject of intrigue and spark his interest,” Olivia gazed over with warmth towards the elder man. “It is a nice and often surprising element of his character, one with which I wish we could see a little more off in these desperate times.”

“He looks like a man with a deep soul,” Eveline observed lightly as she relaxed her body back into the sitee. “What I mean is, it is not often you meet someone with whom their eyes are filled with wisdom and knowledge, often betraying their age.”

“I agree, Edward is a rare man, who speaks little but when forced to speak, speaks with such wisdom, it often sends those in his company into silence and retreat,” Olivia said kindly. “So do not be put off if he speaks little to you over the next month. It is not that he looks ill upon you, only that he is a great believer in speaking when only in desperate times, unlike Mr Talbot who cannot keep his words and opinions to himself.”

“I rather prefer those who speak little but when they do offer their words, they are profound and direct,” Eveline muttered before taking a sip of tea.

“You must find it odd I believe to be surrounded by people you do not know well, in fact you must find the whole situation rather odd indeed,” Olivia stated, folding her hands neatly upon her knees.

“I suppose it is rather odd but then again I have experienced the oddest of years, in fact I do not think my words does my experience justice,” Eveline admitted, when she lifted the rim of the cup away from her warm lips. “I feel slightly disorientated and aghast.”

“From what I have heard, you have had a terrible year,” Olivia replied, her eyes without judgement. Eveline instantly liked her straight and direct dialect, it made her feel comfortable and without suspicion as to her true nature. “How you are sitting here so composed is quite frightening.”

“I think I am in the depths of shock, and am awaiting the blade of reality to cut through the shock, to reveal the true extent of the horridness in all its raw forms.” Eveline spoke softly, her eyes falling to the ground in shame.

“Walking away from your life and your husband is a brave act,” Olivia counselled, her blazing eyes upon the tired and wearisome Eveline, whose back was bent with psychological aching and whose wearisome eyes seemed to burn through the wooden floorboards. “To have learnt all that you have learned in such a small space of time would render any normal being flummoxed, so do not be too hard on yourself. We are here now to help you carry your burdens and to give you council when needed.”

“You must miss your husband terribly.”

“Yes, I would be a terrible liar if I said no,” Olivia teased lightly. “But he is serving his country and he believes that is the honourable thing to do.”

“And you? What do you think of war?”

“I am a believer in finding resolution outside of the horrors of war,” Olivia said with a frown. “History dictates that war only brings about oppression and pain and very rarely brings about peace. And when one war torn country is appeased of war another takes up the gauntlet and so it is a vicious and endless cycle that will never break, because it is centered on our very idea of survival, or the distorted idea of survival.”

“You are a pacifist like myself,” Eveline murmured with satisfaction. “I do not know many who share in our views of war, but it is nice to know that we share the same views.”

“It is easy for me to believe in pacifism, but for you, I cannot but feel sorry,” Olivia said with an air of sadness, her tone deep and meaningful. “Everything from this moment on will be about the survival of the universe and your family. To believe that success can be achieved without bloodshed would be like denying that the sun shines.”

“And so you understand my conundrum?” Eveline sighed heavily as the three men, sat around the circular table and mooned over the maps.

“I believe you have a lot to think about in the coming months, and a lot to contend with in terms of your set beliefs and the beliefs of others around you.”

“You think it impossible to claim my throne without bloodshed?” Eveline enquired with thoughtful eyes.

“I believe it would be near impossible to achieve such a victory in terms of the scale of the war we are all apart of now, and the gravity of our enemies, who seem to feed on blood and death as we do on air and love.”

“Then there is little hope,” Eveline whispered sombrely. “For I do not believe that I could live with the blood of the innocent upon my hands, as I live with the blood of those that have died by my hands already.” Eveline opened her fine hands wide and gazed down into them, observing the lines that wound themselves beautifully upon her fair skin. “If I choose to take up my place as Queen, then I would be sentencing thousands to death already. I am not sure if I am strong enough to make such a sacrifice and if indeed I was strong enough, would my cause be justified?”

“If you do not stand up to your enemies, then countless thousands will die by their hands and their terror, don’t you think that maybe there will be those who are willing to give their life, to ensure that life itself goes on without terror or oppression?”

“Those are the words from a pacifist,” Eveline smiled with some anxiety. “I do see your point, but my father’s people do not know me and I do not know them, if they are to die for my cause, I would have them know with whom they would be sacrificing themselves for.”

“Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for them and their freedom?” Olivia asked seriously, her body bent forward so as to better observe the young woman to her right.

“Yes,” Eveline said without thought. “Not that I am a great believer in physical sacrifice, but if the cause if just and right and there is no other possible way of resolving the conflict, then yes, I would gladly give myself in order to protect the innocent and vulnerable. Is that not an honorable death?”

“If there is no other solution, then yes, it is honorable.”

Eveline looked up from the ground and met Olivia’s serious expression.

“Well it seems we will indeed get along greatly,” Olivia commented grandly, clasping her hands together with satisfaction. “Would you be willing to allow me the great honor of being your ear and guide, until such a time in which we part ways?”

“As long as you promise to be honest and blunt, even if it pains me to hear it,” Eveline returned with a grin, she had warmed to Olivia before they had met and she had been spoken off greatly and fondly during the last week by Matthew.

“Always, I am not one to shy away from honesty, that is one of the many reasons as to why William cannot stand me,” Olivia laughed quietly, causing the three men to turn from their chairs and stare on.

“Olivia must be gushing over me again, that is the only explanation my good men,” William teased aloud, his brows tilted in a mocking manner.

“Ever the joker William,” Olivia retorted sourly. “Unfortunately your gushing words only work on the naive and innocent young female students, who helplessly flock themselves about your alter of golden feet. Unfortunately those who have a molecule of sense about them, laugh at you and not with you.”

The room fell quiet but for the crackling fire as Olivia’s harsh words washed over everyone like ice.

“Well that was me well and truly dismantled as ever with your words of warmth and love Livy,” William replied quietly, sending a shockwave down Eveline’s spine. His eyes filled with not anger but pain, as Olivia’s too had been filled with not cruelty but pain also. “Be sure to dispense with them whenever you are in need of self-gratification.”

“Now children that’s quite enough,” Edward Linley interceded firmly. “Come Olivia and Eveline, we must discuss our plans with you.”

Eveline awaited Olivia to rise first before rising and following her new friend over to the table, taking a seat beside Matthew and Edward. Olivia quietly took a seat beside a pale looking William. Turning her gaze away from her new companions, Eveline looked down at a large map of Britain and observed three different colored threads that seemed to be directed to the islands of Anglesey and Man from various other locations.

“Why are their threads leading to the Isle of Man?” Olivia asked with a frown.

“We have been discussing the possibility of taking a short detour to the island,” Matthew replied, turning his eyes to a confused Eveline.

“If you mean to take Eveline to Peel Castle, I would caution you,” Olivia replied with folded arms. “The knights and in fact anyone who is currently on the hunt for Eveline, will likely go to two places, one being the island of Anglesey and the other the Isle of Man, in particular to Peel Castle.”

“I don’t understand, why the Isle of Man?” Eveline asked the group, her eyes searching the faces of the companions.

“You are aware that the ancient druids and high order of the druids now live on the Isle of Man?” Edward asked kindly, pointing the west coast of the isle of Man.

“Yes, vaguely, but what has that to do with me?”

“The druids are led by a man you may know as Merlin,” Matthew exclaimed with a calm expression.

“You cannot mean the mythical character of Merlin?” Eveline laughed with disbelief. Edward rose from his chair and walked over to the window, closing the worn curtains with a wave of his hand before coming back and taking his seat once more.

“He is no mythical character,” Edward said as he ran his fingers through his greying hair. “He is our High Priest upon this world and the head of the druids, of which we are a part of. The druids are in essence those who are gifted with the blood of the guardians. Merlin is our leader and he is the father of the headmaster of Ravinston, Alsandair Cellach.” Eveline sat back in her chair and observed the group with a suspicious gaze, her hands embroiled together tightly.

“You cannot be true?”

“It is no lie,” Edward returned with patience in his grey gaze. Eveline looked into his soft face and felt herself soften with understanding.

“Why do you want me to travel to the Isle of Man exactly?” she asked darkly. “What does Merlin want from me?”

“He wishes to offer you sanctuary for a few weeks, before we make for Anglesey,” Matthew said as he smoked on his pipe. “Off course, Ravinston is a perfectly safe place with which to find refuge, but I believe that we must seek it upon the Isle of Man. The knights that are on the hunt for you may or may not travel to the Isle of Man, however the island itself is well protected by the druids and they will ensure that no enemy finds a foothold onto the island without warning us first.”

“I do not believe it is wise to bring Eveline to Merlin,” Olivia argued hotly.

“Why ever not? He is the High Priest,” William retorted with a wave of his hand, irritated and surprised by Olivia’s remark.

“I place greater faith in the hands of Alsandair than I do Merlin, that’s why,” Olivia said through gritted teeth.

“Why ever would you place Alsandair above Merlin?” William argued.

“Because he is not bias, nor does he show favour to any one person.”

“So just because I was chosen to spend a year with Merlin over you, you believe him to be somehow below Alsandair? Forgive me if I think that a little below you.”

“Merlin has many faces, this you know. A man of such power and influence cannot be trusted, at least not in my eyes.”

“He was appointed High Priest by Gabriel himself!” William said with feeling. “He was placed upon this earth to protect our people and more importantly to offer shelter to those of the royal house.”

“That does make him entirely without corruption though, does it?” Olivia interrupted quickly. “It did not stop him from protecting the druids in the north from being purged.”

“As much as I agree with you Olivia,” Edward interceded, raising his hand into the air with authority. “William and Matthew are correct in thinking it safer to place Eveline under Merlin’s protection for the few weeks before the solstice. Despite his rather colourful reputation and past, he is the highest in our order and most powerful, no enemy would willingly seek him out unless they happened to be Lagar.”

“But these knights, they were so powerful that not even Lagar could control them!” Olivia pointed out. “It is even said that they serve his brother and not Lagar. Do we even know what his brother’s position in all of this is? Are we so blind as to think that he is purposefully staying out of this war?”

“As far we are aware, Lagar’s brother has no part in this war nor does he wish to have any part in his brother’s affairs,” Edward replied sternly, a gaze of warmth flowing from his eyes to Olivia’s as though in compassion. “You are right however in assuming that these knights are most likely equal in power to Lagar himself, so who better to match that power than Merlin?”

“Alsandair?” Olivia pleaded quietly, her left hand finding Eveline’s under the table and grasping it lightly as though she were fighting on her behalf.

“He is powerful but not even he is as powerful as his father,” William said with folded arms and a sombre expression.

“And we must not forget the students,” Matthew added, taking a sip of brandy from his glass. “The further we can keep Eveline away from the school, the longer Alsandair has in which to evacuate the students and prepare the grounds.”

“He is right Olivia,” William pleaded in a gentle manner, his fiery features softening and yielding. “There are innocent lives at state, not just our own. We have a duty and a responsibility to preserve them.”

“We must do everything in our power to prevent the deaths of innocent girls and boys,” Eveline said aloud, a bubble of surprise arising deep within her. Everyone fell silent as she sat forward and drew in a sharp breathe, willing gumption and strength to the forefront. “If there is one objective I wish to aim for it is that my being here on this earth does not afflict or ruin the lives of those innocent of my presence or battle. The world is embroiled in a bitter battle of survival as it is, I do not wish to bring to it further war and oppression. I must be gone from this world as soon as possible and with that departure, I hope no further blood loss on my account. If the only way to ensure that that happens is by traveling to the isle of Man and indeed to Merlin, then so be it.”

“Merlin can offer Eveline an education on kingship, an education we here cannot give her to the same degree,” Edward added with a slight nod in Eveline’s direction. “She must be as prepared as possible before leaving this world and returning to her own. No one will know more of her world and what it holds well than Merlin.”

“Edward is right Olivia,” William interceded with caution. “We can argue over Merlin’s conduct and reputation at a later date, for now it is best that we travel to the Isle of Man and learn what we can from Merlin, with the protection of the high order of druids. Eveline will receive the best an education as possible in the small amount of time that we have left.”

“Eveline is still very much a babe to this new world that she has encountered and all that it entails,” Olivia replied with firmness. “It is our duty to protect her from all that can wound her, including ancient priests who are hungry for more knowledge and power.”

“We will form a ring of protection about Eveline,” Matthew returned calmly. Eveline felt Olivia’s grip lighten considerably and felt her body breathe a sigh of relief.

“When do we leave?” Olivia asked the group.

“A boat will take us to the isle at sunrise,” Matthew answered, downing the last contents of his brandy.

“Well then we had better retire and seek whatever sleep we can before our journey begins,” Edward announced as he arose from his chair and stretched his arms. “Olivia can take the sitee, we will sleep on the floor.” The group arose from their seats and left the table behind and made preparations for the short night of rest.

“Don’t tell me, you’re not in the least bit intrigued by the prospect of seeing Merlin’s library Olivia?” William asked aloud as he threw some worn pillows to the ground before the fire.

“That as it may be William, I am mature enough to place the interests of another before myself,” Olivia murmured under her breathe as she readied the small sitee, slipping off her shoes. William chuckled to himself as he took his place by the fire and turned over, falling under the spell of sleep almost instantaneously. Eveline stood at the doorway and watched on.

“You should try to get some sleep,” Edward announced, coming to stand before her.

“I hate walking upstairs in the dark,” Eveline admitted quietly, her skin warming with embarrassment. The middle aged teacher smiled in a fatherly way.

“Come, I will escort you up seeing as though Matthew is busy and the others are already at one with sleep.” Eveline turned and walked out into the dark corridor, followed closely by Edward. As she made her way up the stairs she watched him created a small flame of fire within his hands and felt her eyes enlarge.

“How is it that my grandfather is Heiden, and I cannot create a ball of fire like you?” she said under her breathe.

“I shall teach you,” Edward replied, holding his right hand high into the air. Soon Eveline found her room and turned to Edward.

“Thank you very much.”

“Here, hold out your palms,” he instructed. Eveline held out her hands and waited impatiently. “Now close your eyes and imagine a ball of fire within the centre, reach deep into your mind and search for it and will it to life.” Eveline closed her eyes tightly and drew in a deep breath and began to search until she sought out a small ball of fire. “Will it to life,” she heard from beyond her thoughts. Within her mind she spoke to the ball of fire.

“Come forth!” she ordered fiercely. As she spoke, she felt a strange warmth within her hands and opened her eyes quickly. Her hands were engulfed in a ball of fire, which levitated in the middle, not touching her skin but only warming it. “I can’t believe it!” she said aloud, with all the flavour of a small child who had just discovered a hidden treasure. With large and excited eyes she looked up into the impressed face of Edward. “How do I put it out?”

“You simple wave a hand over it and will it to disappear,” Edward replied. “Now off to bed with you.”

“Thank you,” Eveline said with a small smile.

“There is much to teach you my lady,” Edward bowed regally for the first time.

“You may call me Eveline,” Eveline blushed awkwardly. “I am not yet accustomed to my true name yet, it feels unnatural and wrong to wield it when I feel disengaged from it.”

“Your name was the second most precious gift that your parents bestowed upon you,” Edward lectured kindly, rising up from his regal state. “They had not the chance to parent you into old age as they wished and so you should try to use the name given to you in remembrance of their love for you.”

“Then I shall try,” Eveline promised as she opened her door and turned away.

“Good night, Celestine.”

“Good night, Edward.”

Eveline closed her door behind her and entered into the centre of her room, amazed by the ball of fire now burning within her hands. A squawk heralded her attention to the small raven, now perched upon her window sill.

“Look what I can do!” she said with an air of amazement. Cautiously she came to the window and brought the small fire down before the raven. “Are not you pleased with me?” she asked with an energetic smile upon her face. The raven flapped his wings in reply, trying to peak at the fire with its beak. “I should put it out before I set the room alight.” With a wave of her hand she ordered the fire to be gone and watched it vanish before her eyes. Quickly she readied herself for bed and when in, placed her thick blankets over her body, clutching her small bible close to her. Lying on her side, she gazed over at the raven. “I made my first ever diplomatic plea tonight,” she said aloud, allowing the strange raven into her confidence. “Never did I feel so bold. Tomorrow we are to leave and sail for the Isle of Man, and so my journey commences.” With a wave of sadness, Eveline searched her mind for memories of Wordsworth, her Irish wolfhound, who had gone missing in Bath. “I wish he would find me as you have. I wish he would come home to me.” After several minutes of anxious anticipation, Eveline brought Galean’s jewel to her lips and kissed it lightly, whispering into the dark. “Galean.” No light radiated from the jewel and with an uneasy heart, Eveline fell into another dark and troubled sleep.



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