Phoenix Destiny

Two

Gambler’s pace was steady and unhurried. Jaron relaxed in the saddle and enjoyed the changing scenery. The Northern Continent was covered by open fields and forests. Though its weather was too cold for extended growing seasons, it was ideal for raising animals.

Livestock was the mainstay of the people throughout the northern kingdoms. There were wide rivers and large forests. Despite the gray skies that often hung over the land, the green, rolling hills were still lovely and ample inspiration for odes and poems. The stallion seemed to head toward a specific destination, though neither of them had ever traveled to the Northern Continent before.

Jaron let the stallion have its head. They stopped at the villages they happened upon where he entertained the residents with tricks and songs. He didn’t make much in coin, but at least he was able to earn a free meal or bath. However, he rarely spent his nights in a bed.

Inns were too expensive for his small profits, and he preferred to sleep outside despite the chill in the night air. Years of steady travel taught him to love the stars watching over his sleep.

The northern skies were strange. He didn’t know the names of their stars, and no one seemed able to tell him. Apparently, astronomy wasn’t as prevalent in the northlands as it was in his homeland.

Jaron lay and stared at the night skies after a long day of travel. Gambler grunted as Jaron recalled the villagers he performed for the previous day. He remembered the faces of the maids and unconsciously compared their vacant stares to Alexis’s deeper gaze.

“It’s like she can see into a person's soul,” he said aloud.

“Indeed, she does, it is her gift and her curse,” an unexpected voice answered.

“What?” Jaron jumped to his feet.

Gambler snorted at his sudden movement, stomping a foot in irritation. When Jaron didn’t offer it an apology, it returned to grazing with an irritated swish of its tail. The equine didn’t seem concerned by the unseen speaker. At least, he was assured it was not dangerous.

“Who’s there?” Jaron searched the shadows.

“You won’t find me there,” the voice answered.

Jaron stepped back, then cast his eyes to his bedroll where his saddle served as a pillow. Seated on it was an odd creature with a reptilian body, tail and frill of a dragon; rabbit feet; goat horns; a tuft of a beard; and sparkling red-violet eyes.

“What are you?”

“I am a Fay. A sprite, if you will,” the creature answered. “Call me Artac.”

“What mischief have you come for?” Jaron warily eyed it. “I do not have patience for it.”

“That I well know,” the sprite answered, as if disgusted, “I have not come for mischief or malignancy. I am a watcher, an advisor if you please. The Phoenix has guided me to you. For what purpose, I do not yet know.”

Jaron turned away from the sprite. It was too strange for his mind to immediately process. He had heard tales of Fay creatures acting as guardians to mortals, but they were usually described as funny, plump old women, not ugly, little creatures.

“It was fate that guided you to Alexis,” the sprite continued.

“And fate that we parted,” Jaron said through gritted teeth. Can this thing be trusted?

“Perhaps, fate shall bring you together again.”

“Don’t tempt my anger,” Jaron whirled back to face it but the sprite was gone. He looked for it, but something told him he wouldn’t find it unless it wanted to be seen.

“You cannot be rid of me so easily, my dear sir,” the sprite’s disembodied voice said and confirmed his thoughts. “Fate is cruel, but in the end fair, for she is balanced by her sister Destiny and their cousins Luck, Kismet and Karma. Your future has many surprises. Do not underestimate yourself.”

Jaron stood in the night, waiting for the sprite to reappear, but it did not. He sensed it had departed for the moment. Turning, he looked at his horse who continued to graze.

“Should I consider myself forewarned?”

The stallion raised its head and flicked its ears. It grunted then returned to its grazing. Well, at least it remained unconcerned.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Jaron returned to his bedroll and sat down to stare at the sky. He searched but found no answers hidden among the strange stars.

* * *

The night was clear. He was soaked, but the cave was dry. Where am I? Why did the unicorn bring me here? Behind him, the beast followed. Its breath was warm on his neck. He felt safe in its company.

‘You are correct, such a creature as the one who bore you shall never harm you.’

A pink light appeared. It hovered in front of him, then suddenly exploded. For an instant, the cave was as bright as day. The boy shielded his eyes.

‘Fear not, young one. I am Ingrim, the Messenger. I have been sent by the Divine Sisters.’

“Who are you? Why are you here?” his voice wavered.

‘Tonight, you were meant to die if not for the interference of this immortal. Now, you face the whim of Fate.’

The boy hesitantly looked up to see a glowing winged unicorn. The beast was light blue with accents and wings the color of the rainbow.

“Are you going to kill me?”

‘Your fate is now to the winds. Only you can tip the scales to your favor or doom. But you will not journey alone. An immortal that interferes in mortal fates is doomed to tread their path. His fate is now tied to yours.’

“But my mother and my father—I must avenge them!”

‘And so, you shall, if you prove yourself worthy.’

A pink light filled the cave and the boy turned. Embedded in a crystalline rock was a sword with a shining hilt. Its jeweled pommel was in the shape of a falcon head surrounded by sunrays. The bird’s eyes glowed with fire.

“My sword!”

‘Here is its tomb, unless you prove your worth. As the Phoenix declares.’

The strange pink light flashed again, blinding him.

* * *

Jaron sat up, gasping for breath. The suns were high. It was well past midday. They were surrounded by spindly trees growing close together. The air was suffocating with the smell of rotting forest debris. Gambler grazed nearby. Sweat covered Jaron’s body and he shivered.

What is my dream trying to tell me? Who is the boy? And the unicorn…

“I wonder if that cave is even real.”

Only a gentle breeze answered his question. Jaron rubbed his face with cold, clammy hands. He sensed he knew the boy, he sensed he knew the unicorn. His mind was a muddle of images and strange visions, only his memories of Alexis brought calm to his mind.

“What are these visions?”

Gambler suddenly shoved his shoulder when it felt he had sat long enough.

“Hey!” Jaron pushed himself to his feet, facing the gray stallion. Gambler snorted and calmly met his gaze. “Are you so impatient to be on your way?”

The stallion bobbed its head. Jaron knelt to gather his blanket. At least the stallion kept him moving. Without the horse he would have gone mad thinking about his troubling visions. Jaron secured his things onto the horse’s back, climbed into the saddle and set off. Once again, the stallion chose its own direction and pace while Jaron contemplated his dreams.

“I wonder where that sprite has gone. I wonder if he knows the meaning of these dreams.”

Jaron waited, but the sprite didn’t reply. He slowly let out his breath and wondered whether the creature was just another dream. There were more immediate concerns to consider, like where his next meal would come from.

“Gambler, where are you taking me?”

The stallion flicked its ears, showing it had heard, but had no way for it to reply. The forest was dark and cramped. After days of traveling north, the horse turned east and headed for the mountains. The mountains loomed over him. He didn’t realize they were so close.

Does the stallion intend to climb them? Maybe we are nearing the cave?

The smaller suns had set and the largest moved to follow them. He would have to stop and camp soon. The trees parted. Jaron found himself on the edge of a wide clearing crowded with tents, horses, armor and men. He looked from one end of the meadow to the other and could not count all the people he saw. Why is there an army here?

The stallion’s ears flicked back and forth. Its nostrils quivered. Jaron could feel the equine intermittently tense and relax. The horse was excited and eager.

Have we finally arrived? Just where has the stallion led me this time?

A nearby horse whinnied in response to their presence. Men nearby jumped, grabbed whatever weapon was at hand and rushed to meet the strangers. Gambler snorted and shook his head.

Jaron remained calm: less a sudden movement provoked the armed assembly. He appraised the tense crowd in front of him, marking each in the order he expected them to attack. Though where that instinct came from, he didn’t know.