Moonsword - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Tolian ran as fast as she could.  Her only thought was to put as much distance between herself and her best friend as she possibly could.  Her mind was a storm of conflicting emotion.  She was relieved and happy to see that he had recovered from their encounter with the troll, but there was no way Tolian was going to let Delorick see her as she now was.  What was he doing here anyway?  The encounter had truly driven home the enormity of the change in her life.  She could let none of her friends and family see her.  Her life, as she had known it, was over.

She ran through the twisting corridors of the main temple, rushing by several druidesses in the process.  She sped down a flight of stairs and made for the open courtyard.  She had no idea where she was going.  She did realize that she was running at a terrific velocity, faster, most likely, than any human being had ever run before.

As she ran, she noticed a familiar face in front of her. It was Kilfrie.  The druidess’ mouth hung wide open, in astonishment.

“Tolian?” she questioned, as the prince approached.

Tolian slowed and stopped, glancing, frightened over her shoulder.  There was no pursuit.

“Are you  all right?” the druidess inquired.

“Look, Kilfrie,” Tolian said, “I need a favor.”

This bothered Tolian, as she remembered  too clearly the part that Kilfrie’s power played in her capture.

Kilfrie appeared at a loss, “What are you talking about?”

Tolian was quickly becoming displeased that everyone, now, seemed to focus on her chest when they looked at her.

“There’s no time for explanations, I need you to hide me from someone.”

“Who?  I mean, I can’t well hide you from Magara, you know.”

“It’s not Magara.  Not even a druidess.  Please?”  Tolian said.

Kilfrie thought about it for a moment.  “Well, you are the Champion, and we are sworn to obey you.  You’re sure it’s not Magara or someone like that?”

“Honest.”

A spirit of adventure seemed to move Kilfrie suddenly, she looked back towards the temple and took Tolian’s hand, “Come on,” she said, leading Tolian away.

They did not go too far.  Kilfrie led Tolian into a small underground meditation chamber that sat nearby.

“Climb down,”  Kilfrie advised. “Oh, and careful not to get your dress dirty getting down there.”

Tolian shot her a nasty glance for that comment.

“Now get down there and I’ll cover for you.”

Tolian climbed down into the tiny stone room, cursing her breasts and long dress in the process.  Kilfrie replaced the little hatch that served as access to the meditation chamber.

It was not long before Tolian heard Brythia’s voice, “Have you seen Tolian, Kilfrie?”

“Um, not really, no.”

“Not really?”

“Well, I’m afraid I’ve given my word to hide him, er her,”  Kilfrie nonchalantly explained.  Tolian could just picture her pointing right to the meditation chamber.

“Well, um, if you do see him, tell him not to worry, he won’t have to see Delorick immediately.”

Tolian popped off the hatch, “Really?”  She asked in a whisper.

“Yes, really,” Brythia responded.

“ Okay then, give me a hand.”

They hoisted her out of the subterranean chamber.

“Magara has ordered Delorick to be detained comfortably, until you will see him.”  Brythia explained.

“Your friend Delorick?” Kilfrie asked.  “What’s he doing here?”

“That’s what I want to know.  There was no need to drag him into this business.”

“Well, apparently,”  Brythia said “from what Magara briefly explained before I came after you, he followed us here.  I assume, he’s quite a skilled tracker?”

“One of the best,” Tolian said.  “Damn!  Why can’t he have left well enough alone?”

“Because he was concerned about your safety.  Because he is your friend,”  Brythia said.

“That would be my guess too,” Kilfrie added.

“Does he know?”  Tolian asked fearfully.

“Yes, Magara has explained the situation to him.  Otherwise he was going to `tear the temple apart till he found you’”.

“Oh my God!”  Tolian exclaimed, “I can’t believe you people.  Couldn’t we have just left this our little secret?  Oh shit!  Now everybody’s going to find out.”

“I didn’t tell him, don’t yell at me,”  Brythia said.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that...well, I’d rather not have my friends and family know that I’ve ...well, that I’m....”

“That you’re a woman now?”  Kilfrie suggested.

“Thank you so much, Kilfrie, I had forgotten,”  Tolian said sarcastically.  “And, incidentally, I am never going to let him see me like this.”

Brythia frowned at him.  Kilfrie smirked.

Another druidess walked up to them, “Excuse me, Lady Champion, but Magara requests a few moments of your time, over there,” she indicated the entrance to the temple where Magara was now seated.

“I suppose so,” Tolian said wearily.

Tolian noticed what a lovely day it had become.  The leaves were changing into their autumnal finery.  Reds, golds, and oranges mixed throughout the vast complex and surrounding mountains.  Tolian was again conscious of the awe in which she was regarded by the bulk of the druidesses as they passed.

As soon as they neared the High Druidess, she began speaking, “I’m truly sorry about that little incident.  It’s quite remarkable that he was able to follow your trail and get inside the main compound before he was captured.”

“You didn’t hurt him did you?”  Tolian asked.

“Of course not,” Magara said, surprised that Tolian would have considered that possibility, “He is being detained.  He says he will not leave until he speaks with you.”

“I can’t believe you told him about the transformation.  Now everyone is going to find out.”

“Everyone was going to find out sooner or later, anyway.  More importantly, I understand that you have exhibited a degree of superhuman strength.  Is this true?”

“Yes.  I’m a great deal stronger than I was before, faster too.”

Magara looked up into the blue sky, “Moongoddess be praised.  Our prayers have truly been answered.  We shall inform the High Council at the meeting this evening.”

“What High Council Meeting?  I’m not ready for any council meetings.  I can’t let people see me like this, it’s...” Tolian said.

“Embarrassing,” Brythia commented.  “We know. You keep telling us.”

Magara seemed to increase the degree of matriarchal authority in her voice as she spoke, “You are simply going to have to learn to adapt quickly.  There, simply, is no time for feeling sorry for yourself.  We must begin immediately to map out our strategy for dealing with the Demon, else we are lost.  Do you understand?”

Tolian stared defiantly at the High Druidess, but said nothing.

“Good,” Magara continued.  “This evening you must accept provisional leadership of our order, welcome back our brothers who have wandered long, begin planning our strategy, and of course, officially pardon Brythia.   This you must attend to.”

 Then Magara looked at Tolian with some compassion, “You must be starved to death, you’ve had nothing in quite a while.”

  As soon as Magara said that Tolian felt her stomach growl.  She quickly realized her terrible hunger.

Magara relaxed her stern commanding tone and addressed Brythia and Kilfrie, “You two, take her to the dining hall, and get her something to eat.”

They bowed.

“Oh, yes,” Magara added.  “Then get her ready for the council ceremonies later.”

Tolian bristled with rage every time Magara referred to her as “her”.  It kept bringing her attention back to her calamity (not that it strayed for long).

Tolian followed Brythia and Kilfrie across the meditation garden.  She looked about and, for the first time, saw several male druids in the courtyard.  Apparently, now that the transformation had been completed, the men were permitted to return to Hyge Bryth.

They entered the dining hall.  There were quite a few people seated there and eating.  There had been some talking when they entered, but it instantly came to a halt.  Everyone stared at Tolian.  Some had awe in their gaze, some had curiosity, some had respect, and some (of the men) had something in their eye that looked like hunger.  Tolian pulled her dress in an attempt to cover her cleavage and nervously sat down next to Brythia and Kilfrie.

Copyright 2002, 2015 Diana Hignutt