The Derelict King

Chapter one

I glanced at the suns rising above the horizon. One bathed the earth in hues of orange and yellow while the other poured pink and red. Birds chirped soothingly, their song offering a comfort that wrapped around my mind and embraced my soul. It was a ritual, this morning routine. I awoke before the sun could make its debut and began the trek to the neighboring woods to collect the herbs and plants needed for my remedies and pastes. The trees towered above my head, their large canopies offering shade and contributing to the humidity. If I squinted, I could see the treehouses of the elusive Tuatha, a short pixie like creature that spent its days in solitude. I stood, stretching my knees for a minute before I got back to work. Having a successful garden in this area was near impossible. It took me many moons to perfect my technique and with the help of my gifts I'd been able to grow even the rarest plants. Once I was done watering, I kneeled to the ground and pulled out my knife. It was growing dull again, I would have to ask my sister to sharpen it. I could feel my saplings cry as I began to cut off their leaves and trim them, plants hated dull knives. It wasn't long before I had completed my task and began walking off with a basket full of harvest and despite the long walk I made it back to camp at a reasonable time. The bushes parted, allowing me to see a glimpse of my home. My family and I were the only ones that stayed here year-round, because of my garden and those who sought my healing pastes. The rest of the clan would make the journey south in a few moons' time before the first snow could fall. Some found it odd that we stayed, something that worked as a disadvantage. One year, in an attempt to maintain our secrecy, our family travelled with the others and returned to find my garden had suffered the worst fate. Everything had died. All my plants had shriveled up to unrecognizable stalks that turned to dust at a single touch and although it didn't take me long to bring them back to life and their harvest was strong as ever it was still such a profound loss that the clan agreed our family should stay.

"Rasi! Rasi, wait for me!"

I turn around as I hoist my basket onto my hip and sigh. My sister, Thana, ran toward me with a serious look on her face. Not that she ever wore another expression, not since the rise of our gifts.

"What is it, Thana?" I asked gently. The last thing I wanted to do was upset her, none of us did. "Want to help me grind my herbs today?"

"You know I can't touch your things Rasi, so stop asking. I wanted to let you know mother is sick again, she needs your tea." Thana had that gleam in her eye, the one that told me she had underlying motives. Nevertheless, I invited her back to my cabin and began sorting through my things.

"I honestly don't know how you find anything in here." Thana scowled as she looked around the front room, a frown ever present on her face. Despite being born mere minutes after each other, we were nothing alike. Thana wore her black tresses loose down her back, falling in waves of perfection that frame her slim face and bring out her plump red lips, the one thing we have in common. But while my eyes settled on a boring green, Thana was blessed with a shocking violet with hints of grey. Her eyes were known to draw men in from miles away, just to get a glimpse.

"It's called organized chaos, get used to it." I was growing tired of her rudeness.

"Rasi, think of your customers, do you think they want to see a messy storefront?" Thana never ceased her barraging, even as I pushed past the curtains and made my way to the storage room. Herbs hung upside down to dry out, and across the room I had caldrons slowly boiling my brews. "I personally would never purchase anything from a dirty store."

"Then it's a good thing you're not a paying customer, right?" I stretched onto the tips of my toes to grab the glass container containing the one herb that could help my mother when she got sick like this. The Daystar typically grew high in the mountains, but thanks to my gentle nurturing I'd been able to plant one high up the side of one of our trees where the air thinned, and the humidity waned slightly. Perfect conditions. I checked the dried plant for any signed of rot, and once assured there was none, I placed it into my bowl with a few refreshing leaves and began to grind. The steady scrape against the bowl offered me peace as my sister waited impatiently up front. A short while later, once satisfied with the texture, I packed the herbs into two small pouches and wrapped them in a plain paper tied off with twine for the walk home.

"Thank you, Rasi." Thana reached toward me, as though she were going to give me a grateful hug, but changed her mind last minute.

"Is everything okay?" I whispered. "You know you can tell me anything."

"Rasi, I need you to be careful, okay?" Thanas frown deepened.

"Okay. Was it a vision?" I turned toward the windows at the front of the cabin to make sure no one was walking by. Our gifts were special and must be kept a secret. If anyone found out, we would-be put-on trial at the capital, just like the others who never returned home.

"It came to me a few nights ago, I can feel it getting closer. Just know that everything happens for a reason, Rasi. I need you to be extra carful with your gifts. I cannot say much more, you know this." Thana looked at the ground, dark spots appearing beneath her eyes.

"I know. I'll be careful, I promise. Why don't you bring this to mom, and I'll start taking care of this morning's harvest? The shop is due to open soon and I don't want to get behind schedule." Thana shook her head and began to walk towards the door. She hesitated in the door way, telling me this vision was really bothering her. She never hesitated. "Thana?" She turned toward me, "You know I love you, right?" The corner of her lip turns up.

"I love you too, little sister." She whispers before gently closing the door behind her.

"It was one minute damn it, you're older by one minute!" I yell at her back. She would forever hold that single minute above my head.

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Please enjoy this first chapter. Feel free to tell me if any mistakes or ideas! :)