***
Wynn lay awake listening to the travellers sleep. Their quiet breathing followed a slow rhythm that comforted Wynn. As long as they breathed they were alive. She was surprised how much that reassured her.
But the longer she lay the more the night seemed to stifle her; the cold crept through the cracks of the windows and stroked her bare arms and legs. She was lying on the bed, the covers pulled up to her neck but they did little to keep the heat in, she thought of throwing them off, but decided she felt a little more protected with them over her. The shutters kept most of the moonlight out, but a few silvery strands lay over the sleeping bodies of the travellers. She could just make out their small, sleeping forms in the darkness. She smiled to herself, even when the shutters were closed the moon still found a way to shine through.
Goosebumps had erupted all over her body and her teeth chattered involuntarily. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had slept until nightfall, but a nagging had woken her. She had two months to learn everything magic could offer. To learn the very gift that flowed through her veins, the gift that had kept her will from breaking for all those years. She knew it couldn’t be done. It sounded so fantastical, so completely unattainable that she decided to follow Arabella’s instruction just to see what on earth would happen. Apparently the fate of the lands rested on her shoulders and she bore that weight reluctantly, for she did not truly believe it. Worst of all, most frighteningly she knew that in two months Aerona could send terrifying creatures of magic after her, for the magic her mother had placed in her necklace would wear off, leaving her defenceless against magical attack. That fact she could accept, for she had already seen the horrors of the world, magical or not, and to see a physical manifestation of Aerona – the character in her dream – would be a terrifying thing. She had no trouble believing bad things could happen to her and though she did not necessarily believe she was an all powerful Magus, it was easy to accept the horrid things in the world.
It led her to think of who they were running from, from the army certainly, but she knew instinctively that no matter how much Lord Oprend had wished it, they all danced to the tune of another; a more powerful, crueller Master. It was hard to associate Aerona with that title. For nearly two decades Wynn had convinced herself Aerona was a figment of her imagination, a character her conscious created for a purpose that eluded her. The moment Arabella had recited her dream exactly was the moment Wynn had believed Aerona was real. Not a creation of her mind, but a living, breathing Sorceress. Her nightmare was in reality the events that led to Lord Oprend and the General taking over Woodstone and sending their large army to finally take over the rest of Inlo and Cairon, the capital of Terra. To see That Night played over in Wynn’s mind every night cemented her desire to learn the strange force inside her. She may not believe she was the Foreseen, but there was no denying something had happened to her.
The bed was suddenly hard and the sheets too rough. Slowly she swung her legs over the side of the bed and pulled on her dress. As she did the small black book fell out of her apron pocket and hit the ground. Wynn winced but the travellers carried on sleeping. She set the book on the bed and brushed down her dress. It had not been washed in nearly a week and it was beginning to show. Carefully she stepped over the sleeping figures of the travellers and walked into the kitchen. The dust lay thickest here and she stifled a sneeze. The stone floor was cold against her bare feet; she shivered as the cold crept over her body. Wynn opened her palm and stared at it, she had heard once in passing that a Gypsy could tell a person’s future from the lines on her palm. She had dismissed it but now it intrigued her, she ran her forefinger along her palm, tracing the largest of the lines. It was jagged and broken in places, she smiled grimly; it perfectly depicted her life.
She stared around the kitchen then sat slowly onto the cold floor, crossing her legs. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel the travellers near her, each memory, fear, love, which separated them from the person next to them. She expanded her senses and found three doors down a family with a newborn baby. Happiness radiated from them. She smiled as the emotion washed over her but she was in no mood to share their joy and pushed them out of her mind and cast her senses further; she felt a range of emotions as she passed houses and shops. For a long while she allowed herself to become immersed, relaxing into the new gift which would be with her all her life... when suddenly she felt a stab of pain in her head and she opened her eyes. A feeling overwhelmed her, she had never felt anything like it but instinctively she shied away, curled up. It was the feeling of pure evil. The smell of damp wood and dust and the cold night was blocked out by the smell of malice. It scared Wynn to her very soul.
“Wynn?” A voice questioned softly. Wynn raised her head to the voice; Braelyn was crouched before her, the moonlight illuminating her face. Wynn had no idea how long she had been crouching before her.
“I’m fine,” Wynn said quickly, avoiding Braelyn’s eyes, her heart beat quickly and the smell of evil still played on her nostrils. Braelyn reached out and took Wynn’s hand, squeezing it softly.
“I do not know the burden you carry,” she whispered, “I do not feel the hunger of magic in my veins, but I will tell you what
I
feel. Pride, pride at my friend who has survived so much, endured so much pain and yet stands before me, hopeful. Nothing gives me more joy to see you smile. Do not take my joy away from me Wynn, even when you give up hope I will be beside you, believing in you enough for the both of us.”
Wynn did not need to search Braelyn’s heart to know she spoke the truth. Wynn choked back tears and held Braelyn’s hand to show she had understood. The night air seemed warmer, and the burden she carried seemed lighter.
Griffin was the first of the travellers to rise, his hair on end and black bags under his eyes. He quickly scoped the room; Arabella was curled in a ball on the floor, her hair over her face. Jareth was on his back, head to one side snoring gently. Theodore was in the chair, a thin blanket covering him; in his sleep he looked like the child he was, unprepared for war. Rueben sat against the wall, his face bruised and cut. A frown played upon his face. Griffin sighed and spotted Wynn and Braelyn in the kitchen huddled together, their faces soft in the morning light. He looked to the empty bed and saw a thick black book resting on the covers. He went to walk over to it but decided against it.
The morning felt strained. The inhabitants of Kingly were silent as they left their houses to begin another day of back-breaking work for their Lord. Wynn knew the town held an extra, important significance to Braelyn, for she had worked here for years, being moved to Woodstone when her Master was murdered. It must hurt to see it transformed under a cruel, new Master’s rule.
Today was the first of many hard days, what lay ahead of them was uncertain but Griffin knew nothing would be accomplished if they were not prepared. “Wake up!” Griffin shouted. He flattened his hair and brushed his clothes off. The travellers woke with a start around him and rubbed their eyes slowly, “We have a lot of work to do today,” Griffin continued, “Arabella and Wynn begin training, Rueben and Jareth find supplies and clothes for us, I do not care how they are obtained, all that matters is it is done slyly, we cannot afford to pay. Braelyn, Theodore and I will use the last of our money to buy us new weapons.”
The travellers murmured angrily but each got up and straightened their clothes in a bid to look presentable. Braelyn stretched next to Wynn and cast a tentative smile before joining Theodore and Griffin in the middle of the room. Rueben gritted his teeth as he rose and stood next to Jareth, they looked intimidating and Wynn could not help but think that together it would be hard to slip into the crowd unnoticed. Arabella remained on the floor, her long black hair tousled; it enhanced her beauty and Wynn’s attention moved firmly to the Gypsy. Griffin’s words had not escaped her and she was not sure she liked the sound of training with Arabella.
“We will meet back here,” Griffin announced, her cast his gaze to Arabella, “Constructively Arabella,” he warned. Arabella pouted exaggeratingly and Griffin rolled his eyes before leading the rest of the travellers out of the cottage, leaving Arabella and Wynn suddenly alone. Wynn stared at the space where the travellers had been just a few moments ago, she was alone with Arabella and the air was thick with caution. This was the first time Wynn had been alone with the Gypsy and she was suddenly terrified. Arabella’s emotions were dull, muted but Wynn could still feel the thin strip of excitement that ran through her, Arabella loved this, the fight and Wynn knew she would suffer for it. Arabella was alert, she had been coherent the moment Griffin had woken them, but
fatigue had not yet left Wynn, she had had little rest these past days, and a healing injury atop of it, but she was wary to seem unprepared for Arabella’s attack. She sat up straighter and brushed her hair from her face, sure she did not look tousled like Arabella and more like she had been dragged through the forest backwards. Arabella smiled coyly and stood slowly up, the folds of her dress rippling around her legs. Wynn knew she was deceiving her, she had only one advantage in this fight and that she knew she was in danger. Her years in Oprend Manor had meant she was prepared for anything from anyone. Arabella’s beauty could lull and it meant she was mistaken for someone weak and defenceless.
Arabella walked towards Wynn, holding her hand out. Wynn extended her hand and took Arabella’s, giving her weight to her. Arabella began to pull Wynn up, then let her go, causing Wynn to fall backwards onto the floor. Wynn threw her eyes up to meet Arabella's, a question in her expression.
“Never trust anyone,” Arabella said, walking away from Wynn. “It is your weakness and will eventually be the end of you.” The cottage fell silent and Arabella sat back down on the floor and watched Wynn. Her expression was amused, but Wynn saw through it now more than ever. Arabella's words and actions screamed out indifference but Wynn had seen her memories and felt her emotions. No matter how much of herself Arabella tried to hide, Wynn felt whatever trickle escaped, so she did not allow herself to feel the anger Arabella wished from her.
“I refuse to believe that,” Wynn replied, sitting upright, “If you believe in no one then what is the point of life? Life is something to share with those you love; it is not meant for solitude and a cold heart.” Her words were soft, almost pitying and Arabella could not hide the scowl that passed across her face; but it was instantly gone and she was raising an eyebrow at Wynn, patronising her.
“Who are you to say what life is about?” Arabella said cuttingly, though her tone was soft, “I have seen your memories, I watch them when you speak and when you are silent. They live inside you and through my gift, in me. I have seen every moment the Master tortured you, every moment the men of the army touched you, felt your pain as my own and yet still you sit before me, hopeful and naive.
“You should know better than most that life is nothing more than work and pain. Who has loved you? Comforted you? No one, because no one cares. Aerona killed half of the Gypsy population, for what? Fear that they would become more powerful than her. She made sure Magic was erased from the history books, installed such fear in those that did not possess magic that Lords forbade it to be spoken about, because she wanted all those who possessed the gift to die, forgotten. She murdered your mother on no more than an old, forgotten Foreseeing. She is inciting war throughout the Nations. If you believe in humanity then you believe in Aerona, and believe in second chances. There is no room for redemption in this life, what you are, is how you will stay.”
Wynn got up from where she sat and knelt before Arabella, “I know you are protective, secretive, blunt, and choose to hide behind a mask. I know it galls you that I can sense what you feel, so I know that although you do not hate me, you do not trust me, and I accept that. But you need to know that I hate Aerona just as much as you. My belief in humanity will not stop me from killing her. I am naive because I do not wish to lose my belief that my years of pain were for nothing. The only thing that kept me going was that one spark of hope that the future would be different. You may scorn my hope but it keeps me strong, you may pity my naivety but it has shaded me from the horrors in my life. Aerona will die for what she has done. “
Arabella's eyes changed and for a second Wynn thought that they even looked tender, but the moment passed and Wynn was left staring into the eyes of a Gypsy. She felt the stare like a physical force against her and knew Arabella was deciding something. Before long Arabella was nodding and motioning for her to sit down. Wynn obeyed and crossed her arms.
“Before we start, I must ask something of you,” Arabella said and Wynn balked to see she was embarrassed, she felt the emotion keenly and wondered why Arabella would have any reason for the emotion. Still her thoughts were silent and Wynn could not help, even now, but marvel at the control it took not to think deeply enough about anything so that others could not hear it.
Wynn nodded her head, intrigued.
“As you may know, Gypsy’s have the ability to see some aspects of the future, either through palm reading, or actually Seeing, the latter a very rare skill. I myself specialise in reading tarot cards, I have done this for every member of the travellers, save of course you and Braelyn and was wondering if you would allow me to read yours?”
Wynn smiled curiously and nodded, watching as Arabella extracted a pack of cards from her dress and placed them face down. Slowly she pulled out six cards and placed them before her, still face down, and put away the rest of the cards. Wynn swallowed, suddenly fearful, though why she could not say, and watched as Arabella turned over the first card. It was a picture of a
court jester or fool, dressed in bright clothes, a pack on his back, standing on a cliff overlooking the view. Wynn looked up for an explanation.
“Before I begin,” Arabella said seriously, “I must express that the cards that are revealed do not necessarily represent you, but people you will meet, or situations that may arise and they are not a definite description of what will occur.”
She looked at the card. “The Fool,” Arabella explained, “The Fool is the card of infinite possibilities. The pack he carries shows he has all he needs with him to become whatever he wishes; he only has to stop and realise it - open the pack if you will. He is journeying to a brand new future.”
Arabella turned over the next card; it was shaded with blues, whites and blacks, with a woman sitting between two pillars, a crown upon her head decorated with a white jewel carved to show the moon, surrounded by white and black flowers.
“The High Priestess, it is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds important information that she is at liberty to disclose, if she so wishes. The moon crown on her head shows her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know in order to make a decision.”
Arabella moved onto the third card, it contained two pillars, an old man upon a throne, in one hand a staff, the other raised, though if in blessing or anger Wynn could not tell.
“Ah,” Arabella sighed, “The Hierophant. This card has so many, various possibilities. Here I see that the wise man represents a person, most likely an old and beloved teacher. He offers advice, teachings and understanding, and is connected deeply with all things magic.”
She turned over the fourth card, it was the most beautiful card out of the four that had been turned over, it contained two trees, one in blossom and one bearing fruit. Underneath a man and a woman stood, completely naked, a look of complete serenity painted across their faces.
“Hmm,” Arabella murmured, Wynn looked at her in concern, “In all my years of reading the tarot cards the Lovers have never appeared for anyone. This card describes that
love is an undeniable force that changes everything about you, your life, and the way you view things, in the blink of an eye. It is about finding something or someone who is so perfect for you, you cannot ever resist. They complete something inside you that you never knew you were missing. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.”
Wynn swallowed, the idea seemed absurd to her, she never had loved anyone and was adamant that would not change in the future. She tucked her hair behind her ears and waited patiently for Arabella to reveal the other cards.
The fifth card revealed a warrior, upon a horse drawn chariot. Arabella wiped her eyes for a few moments then took a deep breath, “It seems you are adamant to pick the cards that most vex me. The Chariot is one of the most complex cards to define. On a most basic level, it implies war, a struggle, and an eventual, hard-won victory over enemies and the beasts inside you.”
The sixth and final card made Wynn choke back a gasp, it showed a skeleton garbed in black robes a desolate black field. Behind it a sun was rising in the horizon. Arabella sighed, “You have a future wrought with difficulty and challenges, that much is clear. Although this card on a very basic level seems terrifying compared to the others, it does not necessarily mean what it portrays. The Death card does mean that in the future death is imminent, but it can also mean a transformation, or change, the death of your old self and rebirth of a new one.”
Wynn hugged her knees tightly, unsure how she felt about the predictions Arabella had made, if she understood it correctly, she was the Fool, beginning this journey, everything she needed was inside her, her only limitation was her mind and understanding her magic. She believed strongly that the High Priestess and Hierophant were people she would meet in the future, as what the cards had meant were too drastic in character to mean her. The Chariot described a battle, which Wynn knew meant with Aerona, but it also spoke of battles within oneself; the information confused her. The two cards that had scared her were the Lovers and Death. The thought of loving and needed someone as much as the card implied frightened her greatly, relying on someone else seemed a foolish thing to do after all her years of solitude. She did not need to recall all the moments of terror associated with men to reinforce her hatred of them. The Death card captured her thoughts and all she could think was ‘who’s death?’