Avaleade: An Old Elf's Tale

Chapter Three

           

"What's wrong with Iria?" Salen asked, shifting in her seated position. "Why is a princess so nervous talking to people?"

"Well," Asaal's full lips pursed in thought, "How should I explain this simply?"

"Don't be simple!" Mier whined, "We're not kids, we can understand adult talk!" the boy's shimmering gold eyes caught his father's, and it seemed the two had had an argument about such proceedings before.

"If you insist," chuckled Asaal, "When the First Oracles were born, though they were twins, their health conditions were as different as the pigments of their hair.

Kisara was born with the strength of both body and willpower that none other could possibly possess. She had always been a force to be reckoned with, whether that be in battle, or in debate, and King Ishmael, her father, always made sure to bring his daughter to important meetings to learn from his advisors personally. As such, she grew up very well-versed with speaking before crowds; a pure-bred leader, truly.

Iria, on the other hand, was not so fortunate. Her body was weak, and she was ill most of her childhood. Like her sister, she was a marvelously fast learner. Her knowledge grew in volumes every day, and her mother, Avelynn, would often visit me to borrow tomes to keep her bedridden daughter occupied. She grew up to be quite the scholar, but unfortunately had lived a life of seclusion, only ever conversing with her family, Katsukii, who grew up with Iria and Kisara, and her nursemaid. Therefore Iria had never been used to speaking before multiple people at once, especially other royalty."

"If Iria was always sick, how come she was tumbling down a waterfall?" Mier asked, sounding skeptical, as if he were now doubting the logistics of the queen's story.

"You do remember the personal guard to Lady Iria, Yukan, yes?" the ever-patient Asaal quizzed the children.

"Yes! He's the one leading you somewhere in your tale, right?" Salen answered, to which Asaal nodded.

"That is correct. Well, Yukan had a very special gift, not one from the Humans' Draconic creators, but from the Wandering Goddess herself. He used that gift to heal Iria eleven years prior to this tale and save her life just before her illness could claim it."

"Wow! Really?" Mier's eyes widened.

"Yes. The history tomes often leave out details such as this, since they are so focused on the main purpose of the tale." Kohbo chimed in finally, "This is why I asked Her Majesty to retell her memories for you both."

Asaal merely smiled to the elder Vastratan. After some more excited chittering, the young Oracles eagerly encouraged the queen to continue.

~*~*~*~

Kisara smiled to Iria and nodded, "The four of us were visiting the mining capital, Olvyn. Katsukii, Yukan, and all the townspeople around us had suddenly slumped down and fallen asleep, and only Iria and myself were left standing upright in the town square. We looked to each other, terrified, since we were ill prepared for a fight so suddenly. Then the Three came before us, shining, glowing, and floating marvelously."

I remember thinking to myself that this story was delving rapidly into silly fiction, and I ought to be questioning the logistics of the events prior. I asked myself if perhaps the twins had hit their heads during their fall.

"Trust me, Your Majesty, I know how this must sound to you, but please continue to listen. I promise once we reach our destination we can prove this is no fantasy." Kisara's deep, cerulean eyes met mine with sincere pleading. She had always been mature and pragmatic to a sharpened point, so for her sake I continued to listen with as open of a mind as possible.