Safehaven

Chapter 10

        I gazed into the raging inferno.  It looked regal and untamable.  But Galloren, my great ancestor had done it.  Just the thought of having that blood running through my veins gave me vertigo.  I had the lineage of royalty.  How cool was that!  Though with that joy, dread also found its place.  What was I supposed to do?  I certainly couldn’t lead people, I was a pretty poor fighter, and I knew that I could not make the decisions.  What good was I?  Badon must have seen the conflict in my eyes, because he reached over and placed  his hand on my back and squeezed  my shoulder.  A chill ran down my spine.  “I know what you’re thinking.”  Badon whispered.  “The footsteps of Galloren is a hard path to follow and very big too.  But I know that you will do fine.  It’s in your blood.  You’re a natural leader.”  He let that hang in the air.  For some reason, that made me feel a little better, but doubt was still left behind.  The wise man spoke up again.  “You see Angel?  She’s not even supposed to exist!  She’s a fenrir, a guardian of old.  You see, back in the days of Galloren when a child reached the age of adulthood, they would receive part of the Stone of Safehaven.  The original stone fell from the sky eons ago, and since then has been chipped into many pieces.  When a child was given a piece, their shade would appear.  Everyone has shades, not just magic folk.  The shade is the part of our soul that holds our fears and dreams.  The stone solidified those hopes and dreams and gave them the shape of mans best companion- an animal.  If you were bold and feared little, then you were likely to call a wild cat or feral dog.  For the gentle ones, small creatures such as birds would appear.  But only those of a higher birth can call a mythical creature.  My family had a history of calling canines.  We, you see, were the guardians of the royal line.  My great great great grandrather had the privalige of guarding Galloren himself!  So when I reached adulthood, it was expected that I would receive a wolf or something of the like.  Instead, I got Angel, a fenrir.”  Badon paused and looked down at his beast, who was staring back at him intently, as if warning to to be careful about how he explained her.  The man continued.  “It was very uncommon to summon creatures of the night.  Fenrirs were thought to have become extinct long before my time.  They were known for their strength and cunning.  When Angel came, no one knew what to do.  How was one to take care of a dark beast?  Besides, the line of Galloren had been relinquished long ago.  So it was decided that when the great prophesy came true, I would be there to guard the young hero and guide him on his quest.  And as it stands, my dear, you are that hero.  It is my duty to protect you.”  With that, Badon took my hand and placed it in his.  When I looked into his eyes, they were full of loyalty and hope.  I would be his saving grace.  “You are to avenge your ancestors and gracefully ascend to the throne, as the prophesy of old has predicted.  You are the rightful heir to the throne.”  If I had thought that I was confused before, there was no comparison to what I was going through now.  I had a throne?  I had to avenge my lineage?  Did I even get a say on the matter of my fate?  Sadly, it looked like I was on my own.  Angel’s imploring golden eyes bore into me, daring me to defy.  Truthfully, I had nothing.  No come backs, retorts, or anything of the like came to mind.  I just sat there like an idiot.  Meanwhile, Badon was still staring at me, as if trying to read my mind.  “You don’t trust me, do you?”  He muttered.  Right then and there I wanted to smack him in the face for saying something so obvious.  I mean, how could I trust in what he was saying?!  My whole life, I had wanted to know who I was.  I had wanted to know why I was here.  And at last, I had the answer.  But it wasn’t the simple, happy answer that most kids got.  Instead, I had been told that I had to fight some dooms day guy and then take the throne and rule a world that wasn’t even mine!  Gee, what a day it had been for me.  I turned to Badon.  “I’m sorry.”  I said.  “It’s just been and long day and it is a little hard to just accept and absorb everything that I just heard.  Sorry.”  The man scratched his chin thoughtfully.  “I guess you’re right.  I was just so happy to finally have a purpose that I forgot how weird that sounds to someone that had never even heard of Safehaven, which is, by the way, the name of our world.”  I felt a little better.  At least I had an idea of what was going on. I had the main jest of what I was destined to do.  I looked back into the fire.  Out of curiosity, I held out my hand to the flames.  They rushed up the side of my palm and came to rest over my fingers.  There was no burning sensation, only a slight tingle.  Badon smiled.  “You see?  Only people from the race of the old king can do that.  You are definitely the right child out of the six.”  Upon hearing abut my friends, my heat missed a beat.  My friends.  How could I have forgotten about them?  I shot up, startling Angel, who had come to rest her head on my lap.  She too stood up.  “Can I see my friends?”  I implored.  The man gazed at me for a while before crossing his hands over his chest and closing his eyes.  “Yes you may in a minute.  But you must remember.  This conversation is only for the ears of whom you trust.  Also, others expect great things of you.  Don’t be pressured if they expect the impossible.  Until our next meeting, farewell.”  He stomped his foot and Nathen came over to his side.  Gosh.  I had forgotten that he was even here!  That man could be very sneaky when he wanted to.  Badon whispered something into Nathens ear.  Nathen nodded and straightened.  Ushering me to the door, he remained silent, not a word.  But before his managed to close the door, Badon spoke up.  “Oh, I almost forgot.  You and your buds will be receiving shards of the Stone of Safehaven tomorrow.  I wish you luck if I am unable to attend the ceremony.  Don’t worry.”  There was a dull thud as Nathen shut the door behind me.  Just like that.  I was just supposed to accept the fact that I would be given part of the stone.  There was no manual that I was given on how to do it properly?  There was no Stone of Safehaven 101?  Seriously, I needed to talk to the dude who was in charge of how things were done around here.  He needed a good dose of discipline.  But putting that aside, I felt a lot better than what I had several hours ago.  I was safe, fed, clothed, and about to see my friends.  But I had been told about some evil dud I had to destroy.  I had learned who I really was.  I had pretty much sold my soul to the good or bad of Safehaven.  And I had been told great things were expected of me.  What could possibly go wrong?