The God's Love A Mortal. Book 1

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I stared at the tree-like Mark on the back of my palm. It looked like it had been drawn on my hand. The branches spread out with leaves around them in between my fingers and the trunk began from wrist and was short but had a dotted line around the end.

I had never seen this before. According to Rowan's account the day before, he didn't see any light nor hear any sound but I fell and hit my head and he took my home to my oma. My mother was coming back home today. She went on monthly visits round the district on official duties.

I stared out of Nali's window for a bit before I turned to the sleeping beauty in her bed. There was no guard in her room to give us privacy and her words from the day before came back.

“OUUUUU…This is so cool Lily .A Mark is a mark so Gonoria here we come!”

I smiled at my now engaged best friend. Midan did infact propose that night . Apparently, he had asked for Nali's hand a year ago from the Queen through his father and was only waiting for her to “bloom” in Nali's words.

I had been avoiding Rowan since yesterday morning, largely because I was embarrassed. He probably thought I was insane and the idea made me feel terrible. There was also the case of the weird pull I felt towards him the night i heard the voice and I wondered why.

“Lily….come sleep….we can do all the staring in Gonoria in a few days”, Nali whined as I turned from the window and headed to the door.

“I'm just grabbing a snack. I'll be right back.”, I added as I closed her door and walked right into the firm chest of the man I had been avoiding almost falling as he caught me .

“Hi” I replied softly as I took a step back and looked into his kind but curious eyes.

“You're avoiding me Li..Why?”

He asked as he kept his eyes on mine but took some steps back.

“Straight to it huh?” I sighed

“Did I offend you in any…”

“I'm embarrassed Rowan, Okay?”, I said looking away.

“Embarrassed?”, He asked shocked , clearly not expecting that response.

“Yes embarrassed. I acted like a crazy person and ended up hitting my head when I fell and you saw all of it, so yeah, forgive me if I feel like disappearing into a wall everytime I see you”, I added as I tried to walk around him towards the stairs.

“Heyyyy”, he said softly as he stepped infront of me and took my hand,leaving very little space between us.

“First of, I'm glad I was there. I can't imagine something happening to you and I was not there. Also, I'm sure the answers you seek will turn up eventually but don't stay hidden Li. Some of us really live seeing you all the time..”, He whispered the last part and winked and even though he looked like he had more to say, he let go and took a step back.

“Now that that's settled, midan is throwing a surprise birthday party Nali for tomorrow as we would be sailing to Gonoria when the actual date comes next week. Your job is to keep her busy and bring her to the royal grounds at sun down”, he bopped my nose as he said the last part .

“Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a very anxious groom-to-be who is probably making flowers bloom all over the garden. Save a seat for me later?”, he added softly as he took my hand that had the mark and looked at it closely.

“I think I've seen a drawing like this on a wall in Gonoria. It's so unique and whatever it means, it chose the right girl”, he added as he let go and walked away .

I stood there and watched him go. I looked at the mark one more time before heading down.I couldn't explain or understand what was happening to me and why the change but I couldn't deny one thing. My life as I knew it was changing fast and I didn't know what to feel…

THE SKY LANDS.

Kael tried to keep his mind focused as the servants got him dressed for the day. Today was the beginning of the end for him at Gonoria. One more trip across the seven seas and he would be done .Done hiding behind school and putting of picking a Queen. A mate as the Sky Landers called a man's wife. He had busied himself with mastering his gifting and sharpening his skills so that be would be ready.

Ready to take over from Pa who hid the effect of his illness well behind his iron fist.

King Rael was a great King but a terrible man who only got worse after the death of his wife last year.

He was angrier all the time and the loss had made the illness progress quickly. Too proud to go to the Water Lands to receive full treatment, worrying that any knowledge of his ailment would put ideas in the heads of other lands, he got worse every day and desperate. He arranged meetings with almost every eligible young lady with a trace of royal blood in the sky Lands.

Being a strong custodian of the old ways, He did not believe in Royals marrying non Royals and so every eligible daughter of a king or a noble man was presented.

The Skylands were divided into 12 kingdoms , all ruled by kings appointed by the El Family for generations, who oversaw the affairs of the kingdoms and ruled from the Supreme Palace.

Kael could not be bother by any marriage talk and today's event was one he was dreading. The Daughter of King Kifa was visiting and King Rael was definitely plotting again, as the 3 daughters of the visiting King were accompanying their father to the Supreme Palace this afternoon.

Being the oldest son, with an older sister who was married to one of the Leaders of Gonoria and a younger brother who was only 3 years old, the absence of his mother hit him hard everyday, but especially on a day like this.

His Father threw himself into this mission of getting Kael married a year ago, shortly after their mother died and he became distant and hard to please.

Kael had toughened up in order to be able to deal with his Father and the coming responsibilities but he was growing tired of this lifeless living of training and more training. There had to be more to life than conquests and armies.

From hearings on his father's behalf to public events and legislation, our Prince was well on his way to being the greatest king the skylands had ever seen after Chief Ziel, the greatest ruler of all time as the stories say it.

Getting a suitable woman to marry wouldn't be bad, as long as he never fell in love with her and that would not be a problem. He didn't have the ability to do so. The prince had never viewed a woman with any type of endearment. He had his time with women hear and there after his first year in Gonoria but nothing more that attraction , so why not pick a woman he could have children with easily and call it a day? Why was he hesitating? What was he waiting for?

He had met beautiful women over the years who would give anything to be Supreme Queen of the Skylands . Maybe one of King Kifa's daughters would catch his attention at least although the rumors had it that they were not fair to look upon.

No womanb had his heart but him mother and that would stay . The sound of Sky horses brought his mind back to the room. He looked out the window and saw that their guests had arrived.He looked himself in the mirror one last time and headed out to what he hoped would be an uneventful day as he counted the hours to leave for Gonoria tomorrow.

Lunch was definitely eventful. From the 3 daughters looking like trolls and having a stench that wouldn't leave the dining room even after they left , to his father rushing to wash his hands after shaking them all after dinner. The thought made him laugh softly as he coordinated the servants.

The students heading to gonoria from the earthlands would be arriving tomorrow and there was still so much to do.

They would need to travel with the skylines by sky ships to be able to go over the seven seas to the Island of Gonoria .

This had fostered a closer alliance of some sort between the lands as the waterlands kept to themselves .

A total of 30 students would be arriving tomorrow including new recruits as they called them at Gonoria. He wandered what new earth gifts would be discovered as they were also discovering new giftings amongst the Skylanders who had just come of age .

Each elemental gift was classified into dimensions and once in a while, a gift they only heard read about in school would be given.

A newly recruited sky lander was gifted with hurricane abilities . That ability was almost extinct among the Skylanders and Kael kept a close eye on the young fellow . He discovered that the young man was an orphan and so he made him his personal manservant.

It's like his Father always said, you harness what is close to you and not from a distance.

The doors to the large hall were opened and

Arabel walked in with her guard and walked seductively and slowly towards Kael.

Her slender but curvy hips moved in her tight

form fitting leather palazzo as the heels of her boots made a soft sound as she walked.

“Your highness “ she said seductively and curtsied .

“Arabel. I'm busy” , Kael added as he directed a servant holding drapes.

“I would never attempt distracting his highness,unless he wants me to”, she said flashing a seductive and arrogant smile.

“How many of those lowlanders are WE expecting “, she asked in a manner that annoyed Kael instantly.

“THE PALACE is expecting 30 guests from the EarthLands “, Kael said with emphasis and she rolled her eyes.

“The other senior students are holding a small party later tonight. You should come”, she smiled.

“He is busy but you have fun Ari”, a sarcastic response came from behind them as they turned towards who spoke.

“Mikel. Still following Kael like a lost puppy?”

Arabel said sarcastically as she smiled at him.

“Ouch.How long have you been working on that one ? All day?”, he responded with a smirk.

“Whatever. One of this days Kael, you'll wake up to the reality that I'm too good to be ignored”, she added sassily as she turned and walked away.

Mikel mimicked her walking steps and Kael laughed.

“The rooms are ready your majesty and everything else is in place. You have nothing to worry about “

“I know. I trust you “

“So fresh meat tomorrow huh?” Mikel wiggled his brows.

“You mean new recruits “ Kael replied eyeing him.

“Whatever man .I'm just saying . We need new faces at Gonoria anyways. Most of the ladies are either taken or desperate. I mean it will be fun to see someone who is not moved by the Kael charm”, he shoved kael who smiled.

“I highly doubt that “

They both laughed and looked over the travel plans together. Kael couldn't explain it but there was an excitement he couldn't understand that made him look forward to tomorrow which was new. He couldn't explain it but he had a feeling his life was about to change forever and now the question was for good or for evil?

Lima Kale was a strong warrior and the queen's right hand woman. The two had connected at Gonoria years ago as Queen Sonalia was never let out of the palace before she came of age, after her mother was killed in a gathering in Doma, the second earth kingdom.

The very cheerful queen was drawn to her friend's gentle demeanour and they have been inseparable since then.

Liora was very anxious as she stood with the home staff and Reeva to welcome her mother as she came down from her horse.

Lima stood and stared at her daughter with loving eyes, arms stretched out to her. Liora ran to her and they stayed that way for a while.

"My Lily.I'm sorry I missed your ceremony".

"It's fine mama , you're here now"

The women were settled in Lima's bedchamber with reeva as well before she asked to see the mark.

"Hmmmm. Unique for a unique girl. Oh sorry, woman I mean", she added with a smile.

"Have you seen anything like it before mama?"

"I'm not sure , but I'll give you a letter to Rovah, the chief librarian . He was a good friend of mine in school. He should be able to help .Don't disturb yourself lily. I wander what power dimension you have been blessed with.

Now Reeva, do we have a royal wedding to plan or is the prince still being a coward", Lima asked wiggling her brows.

"I'm going to see Nali", Liora said as left them laughing and clearly gossiping about her .

On her way to the palace, she took a detour to the garden .She had avoided it since that night but now she wanted to see the tree again and there It was. Dried up and old with not a single leaf on it. She took careful steps towards it and searched for the handsized carving she had put her hand in but found nothing.

Had she imagined the whole thing?

She placed her hand on the tree and closed her eyes.

she felt a surge of power leave her and she opened her eyes not knowing what to expect or why she did that and walked away. It was probably her mind playing tricks on her .

She got to the palace after a long walk round the grounds and was told that Nali was out for the evening with Midan. She took a stroll back to the center of the garden and stopped in her tracks. The tree was renewed. It had beautiful Large green leafs and a small puddle was around it. Too shocked to speak, she ran out and saw Rowan walking in from a hunt with the guards.

She ran to him still in shock and couldn't muster the words .

"Lily what happened?", he asked a bit worried

"The the the ..."

"Liora, use your words hun", Rowan replied trying to calm her as she caught her breath

She pulled him along as she turned and jogged back to the garden .

"I have a meeting to get to Li.......Impossible ", he muttered as they got to the center of the garden.

"What happened here Lily?", he asked as he walked towards the tree in shock.

"I I don't know. I was trying to find the carving I saw and I touched it and I could swear something left me. I went to the palace to see Nali and was told she wasn't there. I came back here and saw ...this", Liora blurted out.

Rowan turned to her in wonder and observed that her mark was glowing. He walked towards her slowly.

"The earth marks don't self activate Li. Its our law. They get activated at Gonoria and then we get our gifts from what ever dimension we were given, but you did. ", He chuckled and turned back to the tree.

"Not only that, you brought a dead tree to life Lily.That takes years of mastery. You're incredible "

"I'm scared Rowan. What's wrong with me?" ,Lily said, the fright clear in her voice.

"Hey hey hey. There's nothing wrong with you. You're special .I always knew you were", Rowan said sweetly as he drew her into the hug.

"We'll close up the garden and tell our mothers .They'll know what to do. Everything will be fine I promise ".