Through The Storm

n i n e t e e n

The corner of his mouth lifted up in a pleased smile.

Oh, but we were not done here. I hadn't got what I had come for. "Forgive me, Sir, but that doesn't solve the issue of Kaya," I pressed. "I would really appreciate you telling me where she is- I'm going out of my mind with concern for my friend."

His fingers began lightly tapping his knees, contemplating... and finally, he nodded. "It seems only fair to tell you. I too do not know- I was about to check, before you came in." My face stretched out in a relieved beam before he insisted, "But you have to learn to master your emotions. There are far too many keen eyes that would be more than willing to exploit your weaknesses."

So he viewed emotion as a weakness, did he?

He rose, walked to a chest of drawers at the back of the room and motioned to me to follow. I peered over his shoulder to find a stone bowl on the chest of drawers. There was gleaming, shimmering water in the bowl and it seemed almost lifelike to me.

I couldn't help thinking of a moonlit lake with a kind man, many miles away from here.

Waving his hand toward the bowl, Caedmon revealed, "This is the Bowl of Sight. It tells me, not everything, but everything I need to know." Heavy curtains dropped in front of the windows, blocking most of the sunlight on its way in.

Enthralled, I felt my fingers reach out for the water, yearning...

A strong hand clasped my wrist. "Do not let it get the best of you," Caedmon growled, leaning into me. "This is why you must learn to master your emotions. In this land of magic - cold and cunning magic, that is - your vulnerabilities are whatever makes you good."

I yanked my wrist back. "So I have to turn into a monster, is that it?"

"Don't act so simple," Caedmon quipped. "Callisto, your good heart is the only reason there's an entire organisation risking their lives day and night for you. Sure, the throne is yours by right- but what is right in the face of death? The people of this organisation believe in you, not some rules."

I dropped my eyes to my feet. I didn't know how to tell these people... I didn't like hearing things like this. Their words did nothing but knock faintly at a membrane of self-doubt I'd wrapped myself in, unmindfully. It was far too thick, too reinforced, to be penetrated by words.

"You have to master the art of staying yourself, but being smart enough to know who deserves to see the real you. Weaknesses and all."

"That's a lot easier said than done, isn't it?" I muttered under my breath.

"And that's what you've got me for," Caedmon refuted easily. "Anyway. This bowl is one of my most heavily-guarded secrets because... well, you'll see why."

He stirred the water with his index fingertip, and in the shimmers, images began to form. Images of a grassy expanse, fierce winds and large rocks. The images seemed muted, as though sucked of their saturation. And then...

I choked on a sob as I beheld Kaya, dragging herself through the grass on her elbows, legs traipsing behind her. Wait... "What the hell is wrong with her leg?" I gasped.

Caedmon's face was ashy grey. He said nothing as he slowly backed away from the bowl, his mouth agape.

There was no need for him to say anything. I could see, clear as day, the abhorrent angle at which her leg was crooked.

"That," Caedmon murmured unevenly, "would be Fieldhelm's work."

A fierce roar erupted in my ears as I brought my quivering hands up to my mouth. That monster... and Murphy had promised...