Arriana's Return

Arriana's Return - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

"The stars are in your favor young one. The heavens are smiling down on you." She smiled at Arriana.

Arriana felt a strange warmth wash over her body and she was remarkably at peace with all that was about to happen.

"That was weird."

"I am able to manipulate the feelings of others. You seemed out of sorts and I thought perhaps some feelings of relief would be a help to you," Faione replied.

"You're right. I am really stressed. Thanks a lot."

"Aroman was a general in your father's army. He has been instrumental in rebuilding the Coresovan army and a key instructor in teaching the art of sword fighting. In fact he is going to be your instructor as you learn how to use your fathers' sword," Edgar cut in.

"Were you really?" Arriana asked the centaur.

"Yes, I was," he replied.

"Then if you want you can stay a general. Thank you so much for all you and your family have done for Coresova and for my family."

"Thank you, Queen Arriana."

"For what?" Arriana asked the mighty centaur, confused as to why he would be thanking her.

"For returning and for instilling hope in the people and mythics here. You don't realize what your presence does for the people. You are an amazing woman Arriana. I see so much of your father and mother in you. You have your father's spirit and your mother's beauty." Aroman smiled at the memory of the late King Charles and Queen Anne.

Arriana wasn't even sure what to say. All she could do was to smile and thank them meekly. She hoped that she would live up to the aspirations everyone had for her. Aroman took her around and finished introducing her to his family. It was large and rather intimidating looking. Seeing the sheer strength in Aroman's clan made her feel slightly better. Faione's relief was wearing off quickly. Arriana could feel her hands getting clammy again and could feel her heart speeding up. This was really it. She would start her training then would come the big battle. Once they made their way through the centaur clan, Edgar moved her on to the Minotaur's. The patriarch of their clan was Cerate. His head and legs resembled that of a bluish, grey bull while his torso was that of a man, a rather well-built man, and his feet were bull hooves. The only clothing he had on was a pair of pants. There were not nearly as many Minotaur's.

"Cerate, why aren't there many of you?" Arriana asked as she looked around at the dwindling clan.

"You noticed there are few of us." Cerate sighed heavily looking at his family as well.

"Yeah, let me guess, Lucas?"

"Yes. He came to our home late one night, ambushed us. We had no warning. No time to prepare to defend ourselves. He decimated our clan." Cerate examined his family again.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault. In fact, you've come back to us. To help us defeat this man and get out homes back."

"I'm going to do my best Cerate. I can promise you that." Arriana hugged the big furry man.

Edgar led her away from the Centaur's and toward the variety of horses. She was most fascinated by the unicorns and Pegasus'. She went around to each one giving them a rub on their necks that was returned with a nudge on the arm. The leaders of each heard were magnificent creatures, they stood tallest and whitest than all the others. The unicorns' horn was sparkling silver and the Pegasus' wings were at least eight feet wide. She stood in amazement before them. Edgar told her that the leader of the unicorns name was Callentarion and the leader of the Pegasus was Markamb.

"Edgar! Edgar, dear friend. It is so good to see you again." A younger, good looking man was approaching them.

"Caleb! How are you? It has been a long time," Edgar replied.

"It has been."

"Majesty, this is Caleb Monagelic. He is from one of the oldest wizard families in Coresova. The only family older than his is yours. After the attacks he was left as the elder of his family," Edgar informed Arriana.

Caleb was a rather tall man and did not look any older than twenty-five. His hair was deep brown, his icy blue eyes were deep and Arriana felt as though they were staring into her soul.

"Mr. Monagelic, You have my deepest sympathy," Arriana said empathetically to the young man.

"Thank you, your majesty. It means a great deal to hear that. I am also sorry for your losses. If you will allow it, I would be more than happy to train you in the ways of the ancient magic." He bowed slightly.

"That would be great. Would you be able to train Deacon and Zoe?" she asked.

"Yes of course. It would be my pleasure."
"Perfect. Mr. Monagelic may I ask you a few questions?" she asked him.

"Yes and please call me Caleb." He told her.

"Okay, Caleb. How many wizard families are there left?"

"Two hundred," he replied sadly.

"How many people is that?" Arriana asked him.

"About four thousand."

"How many were there before Lucas?"

"Five hundred families and that was about ten thousand people." His voice quivered slightly.

"He murdered six thousand people?" Arriana asked bewildered by the evilness of Lucas.

"Unfortunately, there were more killed than that," he told her.

"More?" Arriana questioned astonished by what she was hearing.

"Yes. If you include those who were non-magical but supporters of your family, the mythic creatures, animals enabled with the gift of speech, there was a great deal many more he had murdered."

"How does one man harbor such hate that he can murder so many?" She shook her head.

"Nobody is really sure how he could be so vial and evil," Caleb told her.

"It just kills me that he did this to everyone." She looked around at the gathering of people and creatures in the clearing. Her heart ached by the tragedy they all experienced.

"We know. You have lost a lot, your parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, while we at least were able to escape with some of our family. You were the only one of your clan to survive." Caleb gripped her shoulder empathetically.

She choked by a sob as the realization of what was happening finally hit her dead on. Now that she was faced with the fact that she had no biological relatives, she felt more alone than she ever had in her entire life.

"Queen Arriana? Are you ok?" Caleb asked.

"Yes Caleb. I'm fine. Just thinking that's all." She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.

"I'm sorry that I upset you," he apologized.

"It's fine. I just never knew about any of this until recently," she explained to him.

"I am so very sorry." He chewed his bottom lip and looked at the ground.

"Really, it's fine. I'm ok. I never knew my family," she reassured.

"They were wonderful people."

"So I've been told. I'll be seeing you around, okay."

"Yes, your majesty."

As Caleb bowed to his queen, she walked on. Wanting to forget but not being able to. She wished so much that she could have been able to remember her parents. She didn't even know what they smelled like. Did her mother smell like roses or lavender? Perhaps her father smelled of cigars and brandy. She shook her head trying to knock the thoughts loose. Nobody deserved to die at the hands of this monster and Arriana was going to make sure nobody else did. She was putting an end to his reign of terror.

This man must be stopped. I cannot let him continue to kill people.