Touch of Destiny
Table of Contents
Prologue The Boy What Makes a Friend? Into the Calm The Tribunal Favor Worthy and Willing The Perfect Shape A Day at the River Finding Humor One Year Later Heart of Gumber Gentle Warning Answers Secret Errand Sacrificial Promise Winter Feast Blood and Snow Metal and Magic Solstice Moon Invitation Pieces of the Past The Raven's Perch Growing Spark Rude Awakening House Arrest Confrontation High Tide Caged Justified The Elder Tree The Raven's Den King's Call No Barrier Can Hold EpilogueGentle Warning
"Bye, Lothira!" Ashlyn waved to her friend while stepping out from the willow tree. It was nighttime now, and she decided to cast a beam of light to help guide the way home. The blue pendent that crowned her staff glowed, producing a wide radius that revealed all as she moved. Walking beside her was Damien, clutching a tiny glass bottle that held his memory within.
After arguing with Lothira about taking his memory back, they had both agreed to place it in a bottle so that he could access it if necessary. Ashlyn didn't blame the boy for not wanting to keep his memory, but she also worried for him in that the empty gap might take its toll sooner rather than later. Human minds were delicate like that. Sometimes, they yearned to fill gaps by believing sweet lies that soothed them.
Damien was quieter than normal as they walked back toward the village. Even with such dim light, he seemed pale and discolored.
"You alright?" Ashlyn asked.
Damien clutched his bottle tightly saying, "Yeah, it's just weird. I'm literally holding one of my memories. This whole thing has been weird, actually, with the talking horse and all that."
"Yes, I suppose it can be jarring meeting an Animal Druid for the first time. You get used to it."
"This is a completely different world," he said. "How does one 'get used' to it?"
"You mean the Heart of Gumber?"
"Yes."
Ashlyn shrugged. "It’s never seemed out-of-place to me. I feel…connected to it. My birthplace, my true home."
"I'm starting to understand just how strange a creature you are, Ashlyn. I gather not even normal mages are like you."
"And what clued you in?" she smiled.
"You're friends with a talking horse." Damien laughed. "But really it's all the small things. I thought you were merely an empath until now."
"I suppose it's the easiest word to describe my gifts. I have the ability to sense and understand people. The heart, the mind, the soul...very little is hidden from me."
"And what's that like?" he asked. "Knowing everything about everyone?"
"I don't." She shook her head. "Often there are barriers that keep me out. Also, I seem to be able to ignore it when I want to— which is more useful than I care to admit."
"You can actually do that? Just turn it on and off?"
"I can do lots of things," she grinned. "But you've never asked before what I'm capable of, so why now?"
"Just curious," he shrugged. "Are you all-seeing?"
"Only when I use the Sight, but like I said, barriers are quite common."
"Ah, but you can break them?"
“Not all barriers, no. Some are built stronger than I am.”
"I suppose it makes sense. I wonder how many people know someone could be watching them right this very moment?"
"Many," Ashlyn said. "You'd be appalled how much of an income mages can make just by casting barriers for other people."
"Sounds about right," Damien said. "So many secrets."
"Exactly."
***
They made it back to the village unscathed, and Damien walked the path he had many times to the House of Kallus, passing through the leafy archway and onto the stone path of the front yard. This time, however, Ashlyn was with him. Damien rarely got to see the manor grounds at night, but he found it enchanting. Little round lanterns lit the footpath through the garden, a cool nightly breeze swept through it. The stars were clear above him now, no longer covered by a canopy of trees.
"Well, we made it," he said, pausing near the entrance to the house. "Thanks for walking me back, Ash. I probably wouldn't have made it home so quickly without your light."
He saw how her face crumpled with confusion, how her head tilted. "What did you call me?"
"Ash? It's much easier to say than Ashlyn."
"But that's not my name," she frowned. "What, you want me to call you Dam?"
"You've never had a pet name before?"
"Never."
"Well, I like it." He was about to pass inside before he remembered. "Oh, I want you to keep this," he said, handing her the glass bottle. "You seem to value my memories more than I do, I know you'll take care of it for me."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't really have use for it."
Ashlyn smiled while tucking it into the pocket of her robe, then she stepped forward, the tips of her fingers sparking. "Speaking of memories...I'd like to replace the one you lost if you'd let me."
"What do you mean?" Damien grew wary. "Have I not granted you enough already?"
"This isn't for me," she giggled, "it's for you."
"Ash...I told you—"
"I won't be reading your thoughts," she said before he could continue. "I will only give you some of mine, something to fill the gap."
"I don't think it's necessary."
Ashlyn stepped closer saying, "Please, it'll allow me some peace of mind, knowing you're not living with a void inside yours."
Damien heaved out a breath. "Alright, fine. One memory, that's it."
He closed his eyes as Ashlyn placed her thumb against his temple. He felt the warmth of her light sink into his skin, a soothing sensation. In his mind's eye he saw a fountain with a girl sitting next to it, reading a book with a red cover. He sensed how she became swept up in it. He listened to the beautiful ring of her laughter, felt the depth of her smile, her girlish joy.
Releasing him, Ashlyn stepped back and gave him a wide berth.
Damien brushed the side of his head. "Of all memories, why that one?"
"I think it's time you had something good to look back on," she said. "Even if it belongs to someone else."
"I didn't realize you enjoyed books," he said. "How odd."
"Odd?"
"I read books because I have to," he explained. "But you...you enjoy it."
The girl rolled her eyes and said, "Good night, Damien."
He watched her turn and walk down the path until her figure disappeared inside the leafy archway, then he unlatched the door and went inside. He was startled to see Kallus lingering near the entryway, his face set like stone.
"So much for being back in time for supper," the elf said. Something about his voice struck Damien in a bad way.
"Am I in trouble? I know there's a curfew and all but the Heart of Gumber is really far from here."
"And what business does a human boy like you have in the Heart?"
"Ash was trying to help me find something."
"And what have you lost?"
Damien waved his hand saying, "Don't worry about it, Kallus, it's just personal things."
"I feel the need to warn you: Using a Sorceress’ power could become costly to you in the end."
"Yes, Ash told me how you don't like her." Damien started his way up the staircase.
"It's not that I don't like her," Kallus argued, "I am merely wary of her powers. Sorceresses are capable of things that no being should be."
"Like her ability to sense people? Read their minds?"
"No, I am talking about their ability to enslave a soul." Kallus' eyebrows laid flat. "My father suffered such a fate, I do not wish the same for you."
"She means well, Kallus, I'm sure Ash wouldn't do that to me."
"I still advise you to be careful," Kallus said. "Sorceresses look fair. They would claim to be like us, but souls are their domain. They understand how to draw, manipulate, and destroy. Your soul is the most important part of you, boy, so protect it."
"Alright." Damien couldn't help his small bout of laughter. "Thanks for the warning, Kallus. I'm going to bed."
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