Dark One Rising(115)

“A dispatch already arrived from the dwarves. They will stand with us. The Isamarians are a different matter. It will take some convincing. They will not follow so easily.”

“We must convince them. We need every tribe, every clan and every warrior for the war that is building, and we must not waste time. It is running out.”

Tomaz and Sol were sitting on one side of the table, Dain and Alekzand’r were on the other. Dain looked haggard, and Alek didn’t look much better. Sol, as old as he was didn’t look a day over fifty; it was maddening to Dain that he was getting old before his time and this ancient man looked younger. Maybe sorcerers have a secret potion that kept old age from creeping in, or perhaps it was just Dain’s lack of good judgment in his youth that brought him to this aging body and soul.

He looked over at the elf, his pointed ears evident with his hair pulled back and tied with a leather strap. His dark hair and tanned skin made him look older, but the crinkles around the eyes and mouth showed youthfulness still. Dain rubbed his tired eyes and leaned on the table.

“This is extremely hard to take in. I know my history, Sol, but why haven’t I ever heard the story of the elves and Tanith, or of this prophecy that has just lately become more than legend?”

“The elves were the only ones that knew about the prophecy. Unfortunately, you cannot hide the truth forever. Eventually it will come about. No one knew the entire story however, the rumors and hearsay just built of its own accord. Not even her father or brother knew who she really was. To her father, the sword was just an odd gift for anything but an ordinary girl. I think it frightened him to believe anything else.”

Dain shook his head. “That red haired beauty really is the Chosen One, the heir to the kingdom, the one who will save us all from evil? I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, and although I have heard hints of it before now, I still find it extremely hard to believe. She’s tough, I’ll give you that, and I suppose with more training she could fair well in battle, but saving the world? That I find unbelievable.”

Tomaz spoke. “I would not be here if it were not true, Your Majesty. We have been watching her for some time now and know that she has the spirit and the heart to do what is needed. But, it will take all of us to protect her. Just because she is the Chosen One does not mean she is not vulnerable to evil.”

“I care about her, and I don’t want anything to happen to her. I’d die for her if I had to.”

Sol looked at Dain, then at Tomaz. Tomaz nodded subtly to his companion. Sol knew from that statement that Dain had fallen in love with her and would vow his life to her. A man willing to die for her was the last piece of the prophecy. He now had no doubt the time had come.

Dain looked from the elf to Alekzand’r, then to Sol. “And you concur with your companion?”

“Yes. I have seen the message in the Mirror of Souls, and it was very clear. She’s the one that will lead us to victory.”

Dain rubbed his eyes again and sighed. He looked back to Alekzand’r. “And you have no doubts?”

“I have known Sol almost longer than I have known you, and he’s never wrong.”

“Okay, so what do we do now? Do we have time before the creatures of the darkness take over everything? They are already starting to appear. How long do we have before it will be too late?”

“Some, but we have work to do before that,” Tomaz said, his melodic voice calm and sure.

“What do we need to do?”

“Just what you are doing, gathering all the troops you can. Enlist any others, from wherever you can. Melenthia needs to be trained more, in the arts as well as in the arena. She needs to be ready to take on Fallon when the time comes.”

“You expect to teach her sorcery?”

“Some. She will need to learn if we expect her to take Fallon on. He is powerful and cannot be thwarted without it.”

He shook his head, still having a hard time believing what he was hearing. “Melenthia is the one who will save us all. Who would’ve thought?”

A light voice came from behind them and caused them all to stop and turn toward the door. “Who indeed?”

Melenthia was standing in the doorway, dressed in the same simple yellow gown, her free flowing red curly hair cascaded down to her shoulders, her green eyes held a glint of defiance. She looked weary, and not at all happy that there were discussions going on behind her back, especially when they were about her.

“How can it be that I’m the one from the prophecy? I’m only one person, ordinary and odd. I’m no savior of the world.”

Dain rose from his place at the table and went to her, taking her hand in his.