The falcon's daughters

Chapter 36

- If we dont act soon there is no telling what kind of devastation they will leave in their wake!

Worgan calmly observed his son who was pacing back and forth in the hall. News had come in about another city being attacked. 

- Cadenor, I know the gords are a threat to us all, but we have to wait for Saline's return.

- But father …

- If Lace is right and the Rik'oti is behind this, we can face a world-wide war. I'm not going to send our soldiers into a fight they can not win. Then we would stand without an army and be completely defenseless.

- What should we do instead?

- If the Rik'oti that took the gord’s souls should die, they will become free. But taking up a fight with them would be suicide without knowing for sure. The only thing we can do now is to wait for Saline to return.

- Excuse me if I am disturbing you Worgan.

Worgan looked up at the door where Lace had entered the room. He smiled reassuringly at his unsure expression and waved at him to come closer. 

- Not at all Lace. What can I do for you?

- It has to do with the archive.

- Is there a problem?

- I'm afraid there is. I have found several scrolls that have been misplaced and I fear that some may be missing.

Worgan turned to his son and gave him a stern look.

- Cadenor. The archive is your responsibility.

- Since Abadin quit, I haven’t found anyone who has been able to take his place, father. For the past eight months, I have had to enlist the kitchen boys for help.

Worgan rubbed his hand over his forhead while he was thinking.

- This will not do. We need to clear this mess.

- Abadin lives in a house in the southern part of the city. We could ask for his aid.

- Good idea my boy. Ask one of the guards to send a message to him.

- I’ll do that myself, father.

Cade smiled when his father, surprised, raised an eyebrow. 

- What? I have an errand in that part of town anyway.

Sol wandered around in the frost-white garden watching the ongoing sunset. Deó stopped next to her and Sol pulled his fingers through the thick coat. In front of them, the air gradually changed and a figure took shape. She quickly lowered her eyes and a faint smile appeared on the figure's lips.

- Raise your eyes Sol.

The voice was soft and Sol looked up at the woman who smiled kindly at her. The gray eyes were warm and gentle. The silver-blonde hair fell over her shoulders and in her face the clear traces of the seers' timeless beauty appeared.

- I have been sent by the Council.

- But it's not time for my assignment yet.

- I'm here to give you a warning. Be careful about your heart. It must belong to the Council. This you know.

- Yes I know.

- Remember my warning Sol. And don't forget your mission. The time is soon upon you.

Slowly the air returned to its usual shape until only a faint silhouette of the woman remained.

- Wait! 

Sol called out after the fading silhouette.

- What happened to my abilities?

- Release your concern for your sister and your abilities will return.

Her voice lingered as she disappeared. Sol lowered herself on a bench as relief filled her mind and a smile took form on her lips.

- Maybe everything will work out anyway.

Deó sat down in front of her and placed her head in her lap. She looked at her seriously, and Sol's smile faded away.

- You know something's about to happen.

- Yes. I know.

Sol raised her eyes to the skies. Memories of the past night's dreams flashed before her.

- I've seen it in my dreams. If I only knew what they meant. They aren't clear enough. It's like someone doesn't want me to ...

- Sol? Is there something wrong?

She tore her eyes from the clouds and found Lee standing before her, looking worridly at her. She smiled gently at him.

- Not at all. Deó and I have just been looking around in this wonderful park.

- You should see it in the summer when everything is in bloom. My mother says there is nothing that goes against the beauty of flowering plants.

- Your mother sounds like a wise woman.

- She grew up in Faldirak. In the desert countries there are not many plants. When she married my father she wanted a place with lots of plants so he created this park for her. 

He sat down on the bench next to her and softly took her hand in his. His voice was low and concerned.

- Sol I want to ask you something. How much do you really know about what's going to happen?

- Nothing, I'm afraid. I can only see what the gods decides to show me and even then it is sometimes hard to understand what exactly it is I am seeing.

- What about your past then?

- Lee I've lived in the mountains all my life. The only thing I know beyond that is that someone left me and my sister in the mountains when we were little. If Deó and Dorcha had not led Y'zora and Lace to us, we would have perished.

- Do you mean you were left to die? But why?

She sighed and looked down at the ground by her feet.

- Sometimes I wish I knew. But I'm afraid the answer is something I may not want to know.