Wings of Grace

Chapter 15

Hello dear reader: Just a note to tell you that this chapter is fairly lengthy. Please enjoy. 

      Lyon was dragging his feet as he walked into the Elder's hall. Loyalty to his kingdom far outweighed his personal happiness and yet he just couldn't accept a life without Lara in it.

     "Oh no, take your time Your Majesty, really, we have all day. In fact, come on everyone let's take a week off, I heard the pit of despair was nice this time of year." Ennar's usual criticism of Lyon's tardiness was immediately quietened as Folan raised his hand sharply for silence.

     "Enough!" The Elder's vibrato resonance echoed around the room. "King Lyon, there's been a change in plans." Not one to procrastinate, he got straight to the point. "It has been organised for both humans to be returned today. Apparently, we made a mistake in our calculations. The Blue Moon seemingly will not rise in three months as first thought, but in one week."

     "One Week? How could you have gotten it so wrong?" Lyon, frustrated with everything, raised his voice at the Elder, something he seldom did. Then recalling what else Folan had said "What do you mean that both humans are being returned today?"

     Cedrick stepped in before Folan's lack of diplomacy, could upset the king any further. "We have arranged for Flarego to transfer them back to their world... It needed to be done as quickly as possible considering our time constraints. We have no choice. If we are to be successful, there must be no outside interference." Cedrick's comforting smile didn't soften his words any.

     "You must be able to do something."

     "I'm sorry, my boy. This is the only way. Unless the White Swan suddenly materialises, there is no other choice." Threlu's wizened eyes showed such compassion for Lyon. To lose the one you love to save your kingdom was a heavy burden to place on such young shoulders. 

     He had known the moment the king had brought the girl home to their world and then ignored all protocol, to rescue her himself, that heartache was sure to follow. Lyon had never been as enchanted by any other female in all the time he had known him. Sighing heavily, he continued, "You have to forget her and concentrate on what needs to be done. Ennar will select your chosen bride so the ceremony can take place with the rising of the Blue Moon. It is your destiny."

     "Maybe the King doubts my intelligence and abilities to protect his future wife as she battles through the test of Zenaltra?" Ennar's giant ego circulated everything around himself, preventing him from understanding Lyon's internal struggle.

     "It can't possibly be my uncanny eye for beauty. Just look at Zelfra." Ennar's expression took on an unnatural dreamy look as he pictured his ideal woman. With her bald head, small beady black eyes, large roman style nose and big fleshy lips. Ennar puckered up and kissed the air in front of him. "What a stunner. Unlucky for you she's taken. But you never know, she might have a sister."

     "That's it, I'm leaving." Lyon walked out of the chamber hall in a hurry.

     All the elders looked at Ennar.

     "What?" He returned their astonished looks with one of innocence.

                                                                   **************

     Doris having convinced Lara to go with her, to see the Elders, remembered she also had to pick up a manuscript for Threlu from the Tree-house.

     "Just wait out here, Flarego doesn't like having visitors traipsing through his house, I'll be right back."