Wings of Grace

Chapter 30

     Lyon saw Threlu standing by the window, lost in thought, waiting for him to return to his room. There had been no moon, to accompany him and his two guards in the dead of the night, as they walked the short distance, back to the castle.

     "Everything Ready?"

    Lyon could see that exhaustion had taken its toll in Threlu's weary face, as he turned towards him. He had been working non-stop ensuring nothing was forgotten and all would be completed on time. If he didn't get any rest before the trial began, Lyon wasn't sure how he was going to be able to cope with what was in store for them.

     "As ready as we'll ever be."

     Threlu handed two small bottles, no bigger than his thumb, filled with a potent liquid, into Lyon's outstretched hand,

    "Before midnight, when you've retired to bed, combine the contents of both vials and drink it all at once. You should feel it's effect almost immediately."

     "Threlu... you will look after her for me?" Lyon beseeched, knowing it was his last chance, to ensure Lara would be kept as safe as possible.

     "Of course, I will. We all will." Threlu nodded. "But I don't think she is the only one you should be worried about. You're not going to have an easy time of it, yourself. From everything I've heard, your experience will be very traumatic, to say the least." He sighed. There were no words that he could possibly say that would make this any easier for Lyon.

     "Nothing, will prepare you for what you're about to see." Wizened eyes softened, as they looked directly at the young boy before him. The brave countenance, for a split second, had peeled away, revealing a frightened child. The Elder's only words of comfort, were layered in his advice.

     "Just keep your mind focused on that it's not real. Lyon, it's paramount you remember, it's not real."

     Lyon saw Threlu standing by the window, inside his room, waiting for him.

     "Everything Ready?"

     "As ready as we'll ever be."

     Hold on. Didn't he just have this very conversation?

     "Threlu, you will look after her for me?"

    "Of course, I will. We all will."

     "Of course. I will"

     What was happening? Threlu had left earlier and he remembered mixing the gold liquid with the purple and drinking the vile tasting stuff.

     His body temperature seemed to have dropped. He didn't just feel cold, more like freezing to the bone. His body shaking uncontrollable.

     "Nothing, will prepare you for what you're about to see."

     Lyon's heart rate had elevated, his perception was becoming more distorted as Threlu started to take the shape of a long white haired, plump piglet. He looked so cute and cuddly. But he wouldn't stay still for the laughing king, who just wanted to squeeze his round, chubby cheeks.

    Lyon's dazed eyes were then drawn to the moving, swirling array of vivid colours on one of the walls. He couldn't look away. The motion of the complex patterns, drawing him in, like a moth to a flame.

     Hey! Why do I feel as if a squadron of tiny ants are walking all over me, like I'm an anthill. When he tried to brush the ants away, he looked in absolute wonder, as he watched his fingers start to swell up to four times their normal size.