Legend of the Storm Hawks

The Serpent

The Serpent~

Sethlyan Callan

Glenayre, Aleron

“Prophecies are like gossip. Colored to suit who’s doing the telling. Most hold a seed of truth, though, and seeds can sprout long after they’re sown.”

Seth shielded his eyes from the morning sun. Trying to sleep in the noise of a crowded Glenayre rousing to another day was futile. A light knock at the door brought him upright.

“Sethlyan, are you awake?” a soft voice asked.

Rusty jumped off the bed and trotted to the door, tail wagging.

Seth tugged yesterday’s wrinkled tunic over his head and crossed the red-tiled floor on bare feet. When he opened the door, his mother stood on her toes to kiss his cheek, then rubbed her thumb over a week’s bristle on his chin.

“I thought you might be,” she said. “If the children are up, we all are.”

“Good morning, Mum.” He bent to return her kiss.

Her hair was beginning to grey, and lines at the corners of her eyes attested to her sense of humor. In a plain gown and a practical bun, she looked ready to oversee the move to Windermere.

“How long will it take you to pack for Eyton once they all make it to Windermere?” he teased.

“Pack? I think I’ll go straight there and send for my things,” she laughed. “Truly, though, it will be good to have children running through Windermere’s halls again. The girls can be such dears. They’re pleading with Onora to give them a brother this time.”

“Six girls in ten years. Odds say they’re due their wish.”

“Oh, she’ll eventually manage to birth a boy, if only to placate the rest of us.”

When Lord Symon remarried after his first wife’s death, Rogart was nine years old and an only child. Seth came along a year later, a welcomed second son to carry on the Callan name. But Rogart was first in line to inherit their father’s titles, and when Rogart had a son of his own, Seth would take another step back in the queue.

It didn’t bother him, any more than it bothered him to be told whom he would marry. It was how things worked when you were born into a family with land and titles.

Deference is a gentle lie, told to appease yourself.

Seth rubbed the twinge in his shoulder. He’d learned early in life that the one in the lead is the first to know aught worth knowing. But coveting his brother’s birthright was inconceivable in the Aurel code of honor seared into his bones since the moment he drew his first breath.

“You didn’t come to talk about children, I hope.” He pulled up a chair for her. “I believe those preferably come after the wedding.”

“No, but I did come to make you uncomfortable.”

“Because Da hasn’t done enough of that lately.”

“You bring much of that on yourself, Sethlyan. There’s a time to stand up to your father and a time to hush and nod. When you aren’t sure which, mumble something in an agreeable tone.” She settled and smoothed her skirt. “I came to talk about something else. Something that won’t let me rest until it’s said.”

Seth waited, hoping this wasn’t about to be an awkward conversation about where he’d spent those few hours after dinner last night. Betrothed didn’t come with the same rules as married. Surely not.

“It’s been hounding me ever since Daor Ranald’s stories about the Storm Hawks.”

Not even close. Seth leaned back on the bed, relieved.

“Not you, too, Mum. We had a few years of fun before it was time to settle down. That’s all. We don’t fit any old prophecies.”

“I’m as dubious as you are and prefer to stay that way. Being a promised hero sounds like a dangerous pursuit, the sort I’d rather you avoided. Tell me, what do you know of the story?”

“Three warriors protect some children. The children are part faeryfolk, and the warriors are all second sons.” He shrugged. “Or maybe it’s the other way around. It’s just a children’s tale.”

“Your Granny Eda told it differently.”

“Your mother’s mother,” he said, feigning attention. He wanted breakfast before heading out to the practice yard. “The Camran woman.”

“Don’t say it with such a face. Clan Camran was different back then, before defying Dowan Iverach broke them.”

“I’m sure Granny Eda was wise and wonderful,” he said, collecting his belt and sword. “You’ll have to tell me her version sometime.”

“Sit down. You’ll hear it now.”

“Doesn’t Onora need you?” He didn’t want to sit. “You can tell me tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll be gone, and you can do as you please,” she said. “But now, Sethlyan, I am asking you to sit and listen.”

Asking wasn’t quite the word for it, but he sat anyway. Mothers.

“All right, according to Granny Eda,” he said to hurry her along.

“In the days when the rains come, the Great Serpent leaves the Barrens and crawls up into our mountains, searching for the Children of Promise. They alone hold the magic to stop the water from rising. The serpent wraps their castle in his mighty coils, and its walls begin to crumble. He commands the children to give him their magic, or he’ll swallow them and take it for himself. But the children aren’t alone. The Storm Hawks fly in to protect them.”

“That’s a twist,” he said. “The Great Serpent, no less. It’s usually Surdisi or nenes the tale has them fighting off.” He winked. “Or Camrans.”

“You’re far too fidgety to hear it told properly.” She sighed that disappointed sigh every mother masters. “In her version, one Storm Hawk is struck down in battle. Another stumbles beneath a heavy burden the serpent casts upon his shoulders. The last Storm Hawk faces the serpent alone, and discovers the magic in the children is in him, too.”

“And he defeats the serpent,” he cut to the ending. “I understand why Granny Eda’s version never caught on. A tale loses its appeal when you start killing off the heroes.”

“Prophecy doesn’t care whether it’s appealing. It doesn’t ask us to agree to our parts. It simply is.”

“My part is seeing Rogart becomes Chief of Chiefs someday. Making Glenayre’s aurello the best in Rhynn. Add in collies, cattle, and few children. That’s destiny enough for me.”

“I certainly hope you’re right.” She smoothed his hair as she’d done since he was a boy. “But someday, Sethlyan Callan, if greatness finds you despite yourself, try not to look too surprised.”

Chapter 12