Essentia (4 page)

    What was stolen was the 'Family Book'. The book was a record of every single family member along with his Ability to wield Essence. it also includes a list of all of the Objects of Essence and their whereabouts. In the wrong hands, this book could be deadly, and that is just where it had landed. In the hands of Ivar. 

    Essence is natural magic, drawn from the elements. Wind, water, fire, and earth are the main categories, but there are others. Some are good, and some are not. Some can heal. Others can enhance plant growth. Then there are some that can mess with the weather. Only a few cases of people using essence against one another have been recorded. Stealing life force and advanced aging are a couple. Our family tries to keep it hidden that we can control and use this magic’s. Because the more that people know about it, the more they will try to misuse them. So we have kept these secrets since the very beginning. If you’re not trained at a very young age to use this ability, it is almost impossible to learn later on so it goes unnoticed if not trained.

    The Arthfael clan has been trained in these arts since the very beginning, and it is us that keep the secrets of the Essence. But now the book had been stolen, Grandfather set forth men to track down Ivar in an attempt to retrieve the book. It was Ivar that came to us first. And with him, he brought death and pain. He carried with him the silver-bound book of judgment. An object of Essence. This book, if opened could weigh and measure a man's worth and if found unworthy it would trap the man's soul inside the book for eternity. The other object he carried was the tarnigh staff. It was an evil artifact thought to be gone from this land a century ago. When pointed at a person it would blacken their hearts after a particular incantation was recited. With those two objects, he destroyed most of our family and many of his own. It wasn't until he was knocked out from behind by our mother and imprisoned, that the deaths finally stopped.

    The objects were taken to other realms and hidden to keep them and everyone else safe. Only after the book had been returned, Ivar put in the dungeon and interrogated did our Grandfather tell the remaining clan members that not only had he killed many people. He had put a curse on the land that makes all the trees and plants slowly die, and there was only one Object of essence that could remove it. That object is unknown to us as of right now. So that's where the search started for the object that would save us all.

    It has been forty-two years since the curse was placed on Aelmere and many of our people have had to travel to this realm so they can survive. Over the years, the plant life has slowly died out not leaving much for harvest so the famine in our realm is a real problem. The people remaining in Aelmere are left dying of starvation and fighting for food. It's a sickening thought. The animals are dying because they can't find food or shelter from the elements. The realm is in a dire condition. We must find this object to help us all or our world will cease to exist.

    Ivar was still imprisoned in Aelmere when we left on our journey but even though he has aged he is still a threat to us all, so he is kept guarded at all times. The only reason the monster is still alive is because of mother’s plea for his life. Ivar was young when he cursed Aelmere, and she said he might be the key to lifting it. Even though he is her brother, she held no sympathy for him. She cried when she found out that it was he who done these terrible things, but that feeling went away when he brought death to the front door of her home and killed many she had come to love. She held only contempt for him right up till her death a few years ago.

    These stories were told to us by our mother and father. Now that they are both gone, it is us that have to keep them alive and pass them down to our own families. Not that either of us had families yet. But maybe one day we can. I Think far too often of these stories it is both sad and depressing. But it must be done so they can be remembered. Even though they have been written down, paper can be burnt or ruined, and if we didn't remember them, then no one in future generations would hear our history. "Are you going to stare at the stars all night Brother?" I asked after sitting quietly for a while.

    "I'm searching the stars for answers brother, but they are silent tonight." He responded.             

"Not all of the answers are in the sky brother. What we need is some fresh air and fun. Something to get our minds off of everything" I added.

    "And what do you propose brother?" he asked. Hmm, I don't really know. We have not really done much of anything except look for answers and move since being here.

     Getting out of the house could do us some good I think. "Maybe we can find a tavern with music. We use to go to them a lot back home." 

    My brother smiled. "Yes indeed, that is a wonderful idea Enre. Let's do that tomorrow night, I believe Aiden Brant still has an establishment in this city doesn't he?"  He said with an almost joyous voice. Aiden is one of our kin from back in Aelmere. He use to work at a tavern in town Back in Aelmere. He and his family came to this realm when he was young to escape starvation.

    "Yes, I believe so Brother. We shall go see then. As for me at the moment, I am heading to bed. It has been a long day, Goodnight Brother." I tell him. Yawning wide.

    "Good night Enre, May Bohyne be in your dreams."  He said, looking back up at the stars. With that, I headed off to my room.

     "May Bohyne be in my dreams he says," I mumble to myself, walking down the hallway. My dreams are only stormy, warlike nightmares that repeated their self, night after night. I climb in the bed and close my eyes. After I finally drift off, it starts. The storms and lightning. The war in the distance. No matter how far I run, I hear it. My brother's voice is heard in the wind. And no matter how much I search for him I can't find him. I run as far as I can through the trees until I reach a field with a far off solitary tree standing in the center. With what appears to be a shadow standing beside it. When I try to step into the field, I always wake up, but this time is different. I make it about ten paces towards the tree before I wake up. I wonder why it won't let me make it up to it. There has to be a meaning behind it. While I lay in bed awake, I think about the dream that has always been the same since it started around the time we moved here five months ago. This time, something has changed. But what?                                                                                                                                                                                     

         
 
Chapter Four

                              Thegan

    As I stare up at the Dark night sky, searching for answers that I know are not there, I think about Enre.  He has grown into a very smart man, a fierce warrior more fit to be King than I. many times have I thought this, I have mentioned this to him on occasion, But He laughs and says "King Enre. Hmm... Has a good ring to it". Then he says "I will be king one-day brother. The far-off day that you join father in the stars. And not a day sooner,” with a wry smile on his face he adds. "And don't you go off and die on me soon, because I am not ready to be king yet. Your Highness, ha ha ha". But I think he has been ready for a long time. I know that if something were to happen to me, our realm would be in good hands. That thought eases some of my worries.

    I know finding the object is our first priority, but we need a break. I have been thinking about it for a while but I was afraid to say anything to Enre, I didn't want to let him down.  I am so glad that he thought to bring it up. I agreed to it because I know if he has asked for this then there is a reason. And not just because we need it.  We will take our break, and I will see what develops from it. Hopefully, it will be something to help us in our quest.

    I know I should be in bed trying to sleep, but my mind and body are on different schedules it appears. Thinking this, I go to the cabinet and grab the lavender tea, 'maybe this will help' I say to myself. After consuming my fragrant drink, it slowly begins to take effect, easing my mind to the point that I doze off in the overstuffed chair by the windows. 

    I dream of only darkness, the sounds of war and storms are all I can hear. Terrible pain is felt in my body like I have been beaten and whipped. All I can say, over and over is "Bohyne help me. Bohyne Help Me". I don't understand why this Dream feels so real. Every day I wake up sore and hurting just like in my dream but not as severe. That's why I hardly sleep. I can't wipe the thought out of my head that one day it is going to be real.  The pain and anguish and who knows what else. I wouldn't admit it to Enre but. I'm scared. For the first time in my life.

    This time after all of my pleading to Bohyne I heard a voice. A lovely utterance of the words "Hello? Is someone there?" finally someone had heard my plea's.

     "Bohyne," I say in a pained voice.

     "Are you alright?" the voice asked. "what is your name?" she asked me, sounding concerned.

    "Thegan, my name is Thegan." I wait for a response, but there is none. All I can think is, I'm losing my mind, in this never changing nightmare. Storms, war, and pain are all there is. A sharp pain runs across my arm, and I scream out for help once more for the chance that the voice would come back, for while the voice was there, it didn't feel as bad.

    Not long after that I awoke with a start. My brother Hollering at me. "Thegan, wake up. Thegan your bleeding. WAKE UP" I feel him shaking my shoulders.

    "Alright, alright, I'm up" I huff out at him. I had no idea why he is yelling at me like that.

     "Your arm is bleeding Brother, did you cut yourself?" He asks with concern. I sit up and look down at my arm, and sure enough, there is Crimson blood soaked through my shirt.

    I do not want to panic Enre, so in a calm voice I say "Um, yes I cut it yesterday in one of my fits, it must have broken back open." I hate lying to him, but I don't want him to worry about me. I'm the older brother I should be worrying about him. I am supposed to be his protector. Not the other way around.

    "You need to be more careful Thegan. That temper of yours is starting to hurt you" Enre scolded me. It feels weird, him scolding me rather than me doing the scolding.

    "I will go get some bandages Brother, keep the pressure on it and sit tight." With that, he left the room. I rip my shirt sleeve off to reveal what looks like a slash from a dagger or sword. It's not deep enough to need stitches but it is going to scar when it heals. I had the same injury in my nightmare. Is it because my dream changed? Will there be more nights like this? More pain and real blood and injuries? All these questions keep running through my mind. Do I need to tell Enre or should I keep it secret for the time being? That's the big issue.

     "Ok, let's get you fixed up brother" Enre startled me out of my train of thought. "Alright," I reply. I hold my arm up for him to see.

    "Man you cut yourself really good didn't you," he says as he looks at it and starts cleaning it up. Trying to be easy.

    "Yes, it seems so” was all I said. After a few minutes, Enre has my arm bandaged up and says to me. "If it starts to hurt let me know ok. I still have some pains medicine left in our stash from back home".

    "Alright Enre. Thank you for fixing me up" I say to him. I am thankful for him being here.

    "What else are brothers for," he says with a grin. I nod at him and get out of bed. I cannot help but worry that it is only going to get worse from here on out, but I can't let Enre know this.

      "Hey Brother, why don't we go get us some breakfast somewhere," Enre said to me while I was changing out of my blood soaked shirt.

     "Sure. I am hungry. Let me finish changing and we will go" I reply to him. It may be good to get out of the house for some fresh air. I just hate having to have the guards all the time so I usually just stay in and do research. At least in this realm, they can blend in with the people all around. But being watched the whole time you’re out really is a pain.

    I walk out of the room, and Enre is already ready to go. So we head out stopping to tell Yan what we are doing. Yan stays with us while the other guards follow us at a distance. Trying to not stand out, we walk a couple blocks down the road to what looks like a small diner named Stacy's Place.

    We walk in and hear a cheerful "Hello, sit anywhere you like, I will be with you in just a second".  Finding us a clean booth by the window so we can look out I notice that Enre is focused on something outside. But before I can ask him a little red headed middle aged woman came over to the table. "Welcome to Stacy's. What can I get for you fellas?" she asked in a cheerful voice. We told her our orders, and she bobbled off to the back of the diner.

    Enre returned his gaze to something outside the window so I ask him. "What is it outside that window that holds your attention so close Enre?" Before he could answer, I see A beautiful brunette woman unlocking the door to a book shop. "Ahh, I see what has your attention, Brother. Is that the one that you said is repairing our book?" I say to him.

    With a small sigh, he says, "Yes it is. I don't know what it is about her, but I cannot stop thinking about her. Pitiful I know."

     "No Brother it is not pitiful. She is beautiful. Has she captured your heart?" I ask him in a teasing voice.

    He sighs again but deeper this time. He looks back out the window and says in a small voice "I believe she has Brother. I believe she has". That last part almost a whisper. She must really be something to catch the attentions of Enre. As long as we have traveled on this quest, He has never found interest in a woman. Sure there has been a few in his bed, but never one that has actually had his attention. This intrigues me.