The Summoning

Chapter I Lilly I

                "Dammit!" The word echoed through the Black Hall like ripples in water before a rapid exchange of words could be heard. The words were coming from the lips of Caellach Terwilleger and Vanessa Jansen just on the other side of the door in front of Lilly Bakker. No doubt he would be in his armchair with his black boots kicked up on his desk again pouring over another letter. He was always reading and writing letters when he wasn't spending time with his betrothed. They only made him anxious and seldom gave him reason to behave jubilantly.

                Lilly Bakker took a deep breath before rapping on the large oak door before her. Caellach and Vanessa's lively conversation grew silent as Lilly turned the knob and pushed on the door with a plangent creak. Caellach rested his right foot on his knee with both of his hands clasped behind his head. Vanessa was standing to the left of Caellach's armchair with a parchment in her hands. They were both silent and studying Lilly now as if she lost her way in the Black Hall again.

                "Sweetie?" Caellach said as he slowly unclasped his hands and sat upright.

                Ever since Lilly discovered what she was, she was almost too nervous to approach Caellach, but Lent and Klynt had been gone for too long. Lilly took another deep breath. "Is Lent still out ridding with Klynt? They've been gone almost a week now."

                Caellach smiled. He brushed a few strands of brown hair from his eyes before answering her. "Lent should be back in a few days sweetie. If he's going to be a knight someday, he needs to spend plenty of time as a squire so he can learn the ropes. Klynt is no doubt teaching him something very important right now."

                "But you said my brother would be back in a week." Lilly frowned. "It's been nine days."

                Vanessa placed her parchment on the desk and walked around to Lilly. She bent down to one knee and lightly touched Lilly's shoulders. "Lilly, sometime something unexpected comes up or sometimes things take longer then we hope." Vanessa gave her a smile so warm it could start a fire. Vanessa always seemed to be able to make everything better with nothing but a smile. Lilly was already feeling better about her brother.

                "Will he be okay?" Lilly asked.

                "Certainly. Now give me a hug." Vanessa pulled the girl close to her and wrapped her arms around her. Vanessa then rose just high enough to give the girl a soft kiss on her head. "Is that all?" Vanessa asked as she pulled away.

                Lilly nodded and looked into Vanessa's eyes for a moment, already feeling reassured. She turned her attention to the document Vanessa placed on Caellach's desk. "What is that?" She asked, pointing.

                "A letter from our friend Lon in Greenwood. His lead's gone cold." Caellach answered. He was moving his legs in small but fast up and down motions as a he reached for the scroll.

                Lilly knew what he was talking about. Lon was a member of the Black Guild for two years now and traveled to the town of Greenwood in the kingdom of Herningway to find information about the Illuminist. He sent weekly reports back to the Black Hall promising Caellach Terwilleger that he was but days away from finding the fabled heroine. Caellach talked about nothing but Lon's search for nearly three weeks now. He needed the lead to pay off; his witch claims the Illuminist can be sacrificed for her magic, giving everyone who drinks her blood the power to prevent the Darklings from being summoned at Mt. Rogenal. Lilly didn't believe any of it. Caellach's black witch was always spouting out prophecies left and right and none of them were believable. Caellach's betrothed wasn't going back to the future and the Entombed weren't coming back.