The Traveler: Part 1

Chapter 15

He knew this tower. He knew it well in fact, but not in this state. The decrepit and up-heaved steps were now perfectly spaced and leveled, making climbing them less of a task. The complicated archways were whole and although made of a gray gneiss, seemed to shimmer none the less. Perhaps this is how it looked when first built. The last time he had been there it was merely a functioning ruin. He had gone there, wondering why Zireael had used her power and if she was okay. The time before that he had opened the Great Gate--the portal of all portals--and watched as that same Lady of Time and Space stepped inside. But this was no memory.

Something compelled him to walk up the rest of the steps where the portal emerged. When he arrived, he saw figures standing in a circle seemingly frozen in time. A closer examination revealed the figures to be elves; some of whom he knew and some he didn't. He recognized Ge'els, King of the Alders standing close to a woman of exquisite beauty with long blond hair piled intricately on her head. He saw the king's sister Alais, a sage of auburn hair and yellow eyes with her hand on the lower back of a male elf of similar height wearing a decorative scarf covering his right eye. All the faces, familiar or not, were looking towards the center where a mass of light seemed to upsurge, with itself as the source. At first an arbitrary form, it began to pull itself in tightly almost resembling a humanoid form. Then a hoarse voice seemed to emanate from it.

"Thrice shall the blood of the ancients summon. And thrice shall the call be answered. On the third, an incomplete gift shall be offered, though it is not theirs to be given. The blood shall flow or dry."

Avallac'h awoke with frozen beads of sweat scattered across his body. It wasn't that uncommon for powerful mages to cast minor spells while unconscious and experiencing intense visions. This was the second time he had had this dream. The first time, he was on the world of the Aen Elle and shortly after felt that unmistakable shock wave which he believed only Zireael could create. The difficult part now was deciphering what this prophetic illusion meant.

He rose from his bed with a sense of relief that he would be leaving today. The dream had woken him earlier than he had intended, but that wouldn't be a problem however, since his experiment would be conducted at the first day's light. He slung the silk blanket off to the side exposing his naked body to the cold breath of Kaer Morhen. He felt an almost imperceptible change in the air and surmised it would snow in the afternoon. Irrelevant though, as he planned to be gone before then.

The past four weeks had been taxing on him. He grew tired of this unsophisticated place and was more than eager to return to his world and be amongst his own people.

Avallac'h moved over to the desk chair were he had methodically draped his clothing the previous night. He could have summoned his clothes onto his body, but preferred to dress himself by hand considering he had the time. There was something ritualistic about adding items of clothing piece by piece to one's own body. He did look forward though to having a fresh set of attire as he tied his currant-colored sash. After buckling his belt, the proud sage stood in front of the mirror to examine himself. He used a simple spell to restiffen the crushed feathers he wore decoratively on his right shoulder and then centered his brooch which held his cloak around his nape. He examined the reflection of his face noting the same distinct age lines that he had had for centuries. The elf, like nearly all of the Aen Elle, had effectively not aged and although appeared slighty mature, was actually much older than anyone on the Continent could have guessed.

He made his way down the many steps of the tower running his hand along the rough, frigid stones. The sage stepped lightly and listened for motion in the great hall. He assumed no one would be up yet. He walked briskly to the kitchen to snag something small to eat. As he stood in front of a table facing the massive fire, he looked through large hearth's opening out into the hall. The small bit of natural smoke emanating from the flames made his eyes water causing him to wipe them with the back side of his soft, supple leather glove. His vision now cleared, he peered through the opening to see Zireael slumbering cozily in her cot. It calmed him seeing her so serene. Avallac'h remembered how uneasy she slept when they were on the run together. Looking at her now made him genially smile.