The Source (Chronicles of the Elements #1)

Chapter 6

                                                                     Danu

"As we can all now see, our time is going to be shorter than we thought. You will all meet your trainees at dinner tonight. Push and challenge them but also be conscious that they are very young in comparison to us. I can assure you that they are eager to learn all they can and possess a strong desire to protect their kingdom and their people. Go now and prepare for your lessons to begin after the evening meal. Liam, remain behind if you will."

The warrior came to stand beside Danu on the dais, but both remained silent until all the others cleared the throne room.

"What can I do for you, Danu?"

"I have a task that you are not going to like, but know that you are the only one I trust to do it."

"Anything for you will be done without hesitation I assure you."

"I need you to go with Aiden to her power source. I am assigning you as her trainer."

His face dropped just slightly and only for a mere moment before he composed himself responding, "With all due respect, Danu, I feel that I am more needed scouting, planning, and coordinating for the oncoming conflict with Olc."

"You have already done much to aid in that endeavor. Our other generals can handle those things while you are away. This task is of greater importance."

"Danu, I do not have the demeanor for this. I do not coddle or cater to. I train warriors. I do not spend time at court pretending nice to get ahead politically and pacifying princesses and courtiers."

"Liam, she is a warrior. You forget that she has been trained in weaponry and combat from a young age. Aiden is strong and brave. She can come dangerously close to winning any battle against even her two companions with war gifts. She is not a coddled princess and will not tolerate anyone treating her as if she is weak or incapable. She defeated that monster, which is why I am choosing you for this. You will make her stronger and help her become who she was meant to be."

"Who exactly is that?"

"With our guidance, she will be the most powerful Chosen the world has ever seen. She has the power of four running through her veins and accessing her power source will bring forth those powers with strength like you have never witnessed."

"Then why are one of you not training and guiding her?"

"She needs you. She requires someone who will not treat her like a delicate flower and will only allow her to be a fighter where others want to hide her away like a pampered doll. She was not made to be a protected queen. That is not her destiny. I am not asking you to go easy on her, Liam. Treat her as you would any soldier you are training while making sure you instill complete loyalty to the realm within her."

"Alright; it will be done. I assume we must go to each power source?"

"No. She must go to the center."

"Shit! She is a full elemental? There has not been a full elemental in centuries."

"I told you she was special. Now you see why you are the only choice to accompany her."

"I am not an elemental, Danu."

"But you have mastered your own two abilities. You may not be full elemental, but you are one of the only ones who had the strength to be gifted remnants of the other powers that you mastered as well. Teach her, Liam. She must master all four if we are to have a chance at stopping Olc and protecting our realm."

"Why does he hunt her before she has come into her power?"

"Can you imagine what a weapon she will be? I assume he wants to be the one to shape her power to his will. It is pure magic that exceeds any of the Chosen and most of the pure."

"She will be stronger than even some of us? That is not possible."

"Liam, she has four bloodlines that have fully awoken. She will settle and become Fae."

"What will happen to her kingdom when she must come to our realm?"

"She will not have to. She is going to lift the veil for us. Her kingdom was our seat of power when we occupied both realms, hence why Chosen from there have always been the strongest. It was with her ancestors that we made the vow and retreated with the condition that one day a powerful Chosen queen would come along and join our two realms again."

"When do we leave?" he sighed.

"After dinner, take her to the training hall. Assess what she can do. You will leave at dawn. You know there are dangers in each court you must travel through but also Fae that can help. It is vital that she grow powerful with a deep loyalty and desire to serve and protect as you possess. We need her as our weapon if we want to protect this realm and our people."

"I am well aware of some of court dangers and possible obstacles in certain kingdoms. Can we not just portal closer to her source?"

"It is imperative that she travels to all four kingdoms. Did your relationships with that daughter of a fire general and the right hand of the Son of the Sea end that badly, Liam?"

"I was not aware any of my extracurricular entanglements were tracked by so many."

"I jest. Though you know I do not like to share with anyone."

"I am not made for long term relationships nor mated bliss, Danu. I thought you liked that about me. My life is too unpredictable. I prefer it that way."

"I like you every way, Liam. Let us join the others for dinner. Sit and talk with Aiden. I think you will be surprised with what you find."