Touch of Destiny
Table of Contents
Prologue The Boy What Makes a Friend? Into the Calm The Tribunal Favor Worthy and Willing The Perfect Shape A Day at the River Finding Humor One Year Later Heart of Gumber Gentle Warning Answers Secret Errand Sacrificial Promise Winter Feast Blood and Snow Metal and Magic Solstice Moon Invitation Pieces of the Past The Raven's Perch Growing Spark Rude Awakening House Arrest Confrontation High Tide Caged Justified The Elder Tree The Raven's Den King's Call No Barrier Can Hold EpilogueWinter Feast
Part II
Gumber - Year 1465
21 December
It was a bright morning when Damien came downstairs and saw the oak banisters lined with festive, winter garland. The garland had been placed on every doorway, every entrance of the manor. Colors of white, orange, blue, and purple made the place seem alive and hearty.
"What's going on?" Damien asked. "Are we having guests?"
Lanara was standing on a stool on the main level, pinning another garland in place. "Yes, tonight we are expecting company. It is Winter Solstice, and we usually host the traditional feast."
"Oh." Damien crossed his arms, leaning against the banister. "I didn't realize you elves did this every year."
Lanara giggled at his comment. "We Lor elves are nothing without our traditions," she smiled, "and the best news is that Lila has come to visit."
Damien froze at the sound of that. "Really? She's here right now?"
"Yes, she got in late last night. She's still resting."
It had been five months since Lila went off to train in the northern realm of Careth. At first, it was an exciting change. Damien was happy for Lila, that she embarked on her dream, but after a few weeks, Damien found his life here in the House of Kallus rather dull and empty. He missed his friendship with Lila, missed having someone to talk to— besides Naelen.
"But she's only staying for Winter Solstice, isn't she? She has to go back."
"Yes," Lanara nodded, "but I'm glad she hasn't forgotten us already. It's quite a prominent holiday in our culture, one that the Fighters Academy grants leave for."
Well, that was good news. It meant that Lila was bound to show up once every year, during the cold months. The thought made him smile.
Lanara got down off her stool and went to him. "Come, I have a task for you."
"Uh, I'm pretty sure I'm needed down in the forge," Damien said.
"Not today, no. Kallus and Níhilan have gone out. Today, you'll be helping me."
"Oh, joy."
Lanara placed a heavy wooden box in his hands and said, "Those tassels need to go up around the tree."
"Tree?" Damien looked around. "What tree?"
"The evergreen in the backyard. Go on."
"But it's freezing outside."
"And that's why you'll need your coat." Lanara disappeared for a quick moment, and when she tossed Damien his coat and a pair of boots, the boy rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I'll go outside and hang up your…strings."
"Tassels,” Lanara corrected. “There is a ladder outside you can use. You have more steadfast feet than I do, but don't fall. I'll be near if you need anything."
Damien stood outside in the cold. His fur coat kept his body warm, but it did little to keep his hands from shivering. He could see his breath turn into steam before his eyes. The world was heavy with a blanket of crunchy snow that rose to his ankles, made his feet frigid. A few paces in front was the old evergreen that Lanara prized above the other trees in her garden. It was well-placed toward the center of the backyard, a true spectacle because of its stature and year-round leaves. It rose high above the roof of the manor, twisting on itself like a spiral of sorts.
Plopping the box at his feet, Damien pried open the lid and pulled out decorative tassels of orange and white. He used the ladder to climb a few feet high and began placing the tassels on the lowest branches. After finishing the bottom layer, he moved upward, using the sturdy limbs of the tree to balance himself. By the time Damien wove his way to the top, he needed a rest. His breath rasped in and out, created a thick cloud of steam around him. He looked back at the house, peering through the dim window. He could see Lanara's figure as she worked in the kitchen with Tenila, preparing a meal.
Then the sound of stirring caused Damien to shift his focus. Something moved in the distance, too subtle for a passerby to notice, yet too shifty for Damien to ignore. He made out a gray wolf amongst the snow, standing toward the edge of the manor grounds. The creature was all but camouflaged, a robust shape amongst a rather plain background. A pair of brassy, gold eyes stared at Damien, and he heard the wolf speak as though it were right next to his ears.
"We have much to fear," it said in what Damien recognized as a low, male voice. "Corruption descends upon these lands, will you not stop it?"
"How could I stop it?" Damien questioned, unsure if the wolf even heard his reply.
The beast looked to the side. "There are whispers in the Heart that you are impervious to corruption, is this not so?"
"Well, yes, I have abilities but— I'm— who are you?"
"Who am I?" the wolf growled, "I am about to be angry if you do not answer me! I cannot hold back this corruption alone. You can control it, yes?"
"It's more like it controls me," Damien said. "There's a heavy price to pay."
The wolf began to pace. "Will you not pay it?"
"Why do you even want my help?"
"Will you not pay it!"
Damien cowered at the loud voice in his ear and looked down. "No," he rasped, "I can't pay it. I can't help you. That part of my life is over."
"Surely it is not over for you, mortal. We always have a duty, always a purpose. Perhaps yours has simply not revealed itself unto you."
"My purpose?" Damien laughed. He looked to the sky and saw the low sun hanging in the west, and when he looked back over at the gray wolf, it was gone. Vanished. Damien scanned for the wolf's movements against the trees, but he saw nothing. "That was weird," he muttered to himself.
For a moment, he doubted his own sanity. A nameless wolf showing up, demanding his help? If he hadn't known about the existence of Animal Druids, Damien would have certainly chalked that whole encounter up to mere delusion. That wolf had spoken of ominous things, but he decided to not let it dampen his day.
After climbing back down and hitting the snowy ground with his feet, Damien replaced the ladder, gathered the wooden box, and returned inside. He rubbed his hands together as the warmth of the house made them sensitive again, feeling.
The hearth was lit, and a few guests had already gathered inside the common room, sipping home-brewed ale and apple cider, eating berries and sweets that sat on small tables dotting the space. A chandelier lit the majority of the room, ringed with small glowing bulbs. Damien rested beside the fireplace, thawing out his limbs. From the window, he could tell it was already growing dark outside, that long shadows were being cast over the village, over every house and tree. He understood what Winter Solstice meant: it would be a long night indeed.
A cheery, musical voice shook him from his daze.
"Damien! There you are, I was wondering where you were at." Looking up, he saw Lila come over and sit down with him. She had grown up just a bit, but she still had that fierce, bubbly youth about her. "I was beginning to think you were still in bed."
"No, I spent a few hours outside hanging tassels," he said. "It took forever, but I'm done."
"Ah. I don't envy you that, but there are worse tasks to do on Solstice. Mother made me help her in the kitchen. Bleh."
"You don't like cooking?"
"All the kneading and rolling and baking that goes into Solstice bread? No. So, tell me about you." She adjusted, pulling her legs under her bottom. "Be honest, are you miserable here without me?"
"Hm, not miserable," he said. "It's really quiet here without you, though. Naelen's not my friend, not since that whole bloodright thing."
"Oh, he'll get over it. One day, you two are going to realize you have much in common. You're both very similar, actually. Very stubborn, not to mention silly."
"Silly?" Damien stiffened. "No one calls me silly."
"Oh!" Lila sat up suddenly and got to her feet. "I brought back a gift for you. I saw it and knew you'd like it. Hold on." She disappeared for a moment, and when she returned to the common room, Damien noticed a small sword behind her back. It was not wrapped festively, but it was encased in a nice wooden sheath with metal lining where the scabbard met the cross-guard. Lila practically blushed while giving him the sword. "For you, Damien."
"Whoa, this is a fine weapon," he said while examining it. The sword was small and light in his grip, but sturdy like a dagger or a knife. Double-edged, balanced. The action of the edge swishing through the air reminded him of an elvish blade, thin but powerful. He also liked that the handle and pommel were black, that the scabbard was dark enough to match them. "But what am I supposed to do with this? I don't really use swords, I just help your father make them."
Lila shrugged. "If you don't want to use it, just hang it in your room or something. Swords can be decorative, you know."
Damien smiled while putting the sword back in its sheath.
"Thanks, Lil, I...didn't get you anything. I didn't know you were coming to visit."
"Don't worry about it," she said. "You've given me quite enough. Still..." she took the time to sit back down, "if you do want some lessons, I can teach you."
"The sword?" He laughed. "Hmm. Maybe. Someday."
"Why not let 'someday' be now? Naelen and I started young, so why not you?"
"I don't really have a reason to fight."
"Untrue," she said. "Everyone has a reason to fight, you just probably haven't found yours yet."
Damien stared at the beautiful Lor elf, feeling a sense of déjà vu. He thought of the wolf outside, about purpose.
"Are you alright?" Lila noticed how quiet and still Damien had become, and probably noticed the bewildered daze in his eyes as well.
"Yeah." Damien let out a breath and placed his new sword beside him on the floor. It was severely dark outside now, even more than several minutes ago. He couldn't help looking out the window, fearing the shape of a gray wolf.
"Have your brother and father come back yet?" he asked, craning toward Lila again. "It's dark out there, and I wonder—"
Lila was struck by his concern and lifted her head to glance around the house. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen them all day," she told him. "Perhaps we should go and look?"
Damien agreed with a nod and rose to his feet, picking his sword up from the floor. If there was still a wolf stalking out there, he wanted to be prepared. Animal Druid or not, he didn't trust that wolf.
"Come on," he beckoned Lila while moving toward the doorway. "Last I knew, they were in the market."
"Oh, hang on." Lila was quick to grab their coats and boots before following him out the door. She noticed Damien carrying his new sword with him and grinned. "What are you planning to fight out there?" she teased. "Merchants?"
"I just...have this weird feeling," he said, not wanting to say more.
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