Consequences of Power

Disturbances

Elaine was both horrified and amazed by Colla's sudden appearance in the village and could only hope that it wasn't because he had discovered she was missing. But then, if that wasn't why he was there what possible reason could he have to visit the ageing village Chief?

The shock of seeing the lady, who had recognised her despite her efforts to detach herself from Elspeth, combined with the horror of Colla being there made Elaine wish, not for the first time, that she had never been chosen as a Guardian. She hated herself for not disagreeing with Colla, for not simply refusing to help him so she could have continued her disliked existence in her tower, alone.

***

As the light grew bigger, a breeze began to fill the tunnel and the air started to smell of something Lilith had not smelled in years - grass. With every breath she took the scent grew stronger and with it came memories of people and place she had long been denied the chance to see: the village during the midsummer festival - brightly decorated with ribbons and flowers, the children dancing in the bright sunlight, the Chief congratulating her son-

She forced herself to stop the flow of memories knowing that even if her hidden tunnel allowed her to leave the palace forever, Lacussa would force her back. She would not, could not give herself a false sense of hope fuelled by memories of a time long gone and people long lost. All Lilith needed to do was get to the village and speak to whoever the Chief was now (surely Alaric who had been old five years before when she last saw him could not still be Chief) before Colla tried to contact him, or worse before Elaine asked once more if she could visit Lacussa, something Colla did not, and never would, know was possible.