Chapter Two

 

So, for 8 years, Michaain hid his power, but the power was always lurking there in his mind. Sometimes it even spoke thoughts into his head, and the thoughts grew stronger and more frequent as he got older. He learned to ignore these and to push them away as soon as they penetrated HIS thoughts. Michaain’s life seemed normal to all except himself and he grew up to be a Noble son of the most powerful Baron in Haberuuth. He was one of the best friends of the Prince of Haberuuth, Damian. He, Damian, and Miguel often spent long hours together talking of the day they would come of age, marry, and start families. Though Miguel and Damian looked forward to the days of their 18^th Birthday, Michaain dreaded his. He knew that the day he turned 18, he would have to leave his family and go out into the world alone, searching for the one who would free him of his internal captor.

On the eve of Michaain’s 18^th birthday, he was summoned into the throne room by the Baron. When Michaain walked into the throne room, his father handed him a scroll, which was quickly opened and observed by Michaain, who had never before seen a map. The map Michaain held in his hands was extraordinary. It not only had Haberuuth, but many other lands that seemed to Michaain to be the entire world. Michaain had heard tales of the Mystic Lands of the North, but he never believed in the Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons that supposedly lived there. The fact that these creatures might really exist excited Michaain. “Are there truly such creatures as these, Father?” Michaain asked “And if there are, how is it that we humans don’t encounter them?”

“Yes, my son. Dragons, Elves, and Dwarves truly exist. Full blooded Elves and Dwarves normally avoid humans, but have close friendships with each other. They prefer the other race‘s companionship over the companionship of humans. Interaction between all three different races at the same time are, well, lets leave it at awkward. Though sometimes, you might see a half blood, either an extremely short person, or one with pointy ears and great skill. But back on to why you are here.” the Baron changed the topic. “ During the journey, you will travel to Tsmarnia and follow the River of Haberuuth north to Andian, which will be the last civilized place you encounter. From Andian, travel around the lake of Mystery to the Western side. You will have to cross through the forest of Mystery.” The Baron paused. “ This journey, Michaain, is far more dangerous than you can imagine. The perils encountered on this journey are far worse than you can ever expect. The wizard, Jasper will be searching for you once you enter the forest. He would love to control you and your power, not to mention that he is desperately searching for someone with the power of fire. The Enchantress, Jasmine and Wizard, Roland are the only ones who can survive facing Jasper.” The Baron continued on about the dangers that Michaain would have to face. “and just pray that you don’t run into an escaped Elven Fairy. They will play with your mind and enter into your thoughts.”

“Are they really that dangerous?” Michaain asked.

“They are unless they are accompanied by a Dwarf. Dwarves tend to keep the fairies under control. How, I do not know.”

“Father, the companion you mentioned?”

“Yes, well, though he died a few months ago, I have made an arrangement. His son will accompany you. Kaleb is a well trained young man of 18. He does know of your power, though you must still be cautious while in his presence. Much could be done with his knowledge.”

“ And Mother, Miguel, and Michellee?”

“We will tell them the day after tomorrow, before you leave. Until then, though, I want not one word spoken about this.” The Baron said. “Understood?”

“ Yes Father.” Michaain turned to leave the throne room.

“ Oh and Michaain,”

“Yes, sir?”

“Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you, Father.” Michaain left the throne room, and made for his chambers. That night, He fell asleep, thinking of how much he loved Savine, and the dangerous journey he would soon have to embark on. As his eyes shut in sleep, he realized how much he would rather stay here, in his warm, comfortable life, than go on the journey to be rid of his power.

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Michaain awoke the next morning to his parents, sister, and brother singing to him, as was the custom in their family, and the aroma of a sweet breakfast, recently cooked and still warm.

“Happy Birthday Michaain!” Miguel and Michellee exclaimed together.

“Happy Birthday, Darling.” the Baroness smiled sweetly and kissed him on the forehead.

“Welcome to your eighteenth year of life! Congratulations, you are now a man!” said his father. “I think, Michaain, that we should not wait to tell the news. As much as I hate to ruin the moment, it would be better to explain now, with no one else around.”

“What is it, My dear?” The baroness asked, puzzled. “What is this news you speak of?”

Michaain explained to his family his power. He explained that he wanted to be rid of it, and would go on the Journey to find the one who could help him.

“And why am I given so short a notice?” Miguel asked.” Did you think I would not go with you? Am I to leave my little brother alone in the wilderness to have adventures without me?”

“Miguel, you are not to go. I understand your loyalty to your brother and your want for adventure, but this journey is to much for one without a power. You are the heir of Savine, and if you were to go with him, it is not likely that you would return. The journey is too perilous!”

“Then why do you send him if there is such a slim chance of survival?” Miguel accused his father. “Do you not want your son?”

“The journey is not as perilous for one with a power. He has a great chance for survival.” The Baron answered.

“I will not have my brother go alone on such a dangerous quest! I will accompany him.” Miguel persisted.

“I will not allow it! You are not to go, Miguel.”

“A power?” The Baroness asked, still in disbelief. How? And the power of fire, nonetheless.”

“Yes, my dear. It is my fault.”

“No, dearest, it could not be your fault. The fault is mine. I have the power of water.”

“But I have the power of wind.”

“Yikes! My family is even weirder than I thought!” Michellee exclaimed. “This is something that I cannot tell people!”

“Dead right, Michellee.” Miguel said. “Father, let me go. I cannot have my only brother out there alone, facing dangers without any help but a servant’s.”

“Really, dear. You know he has his heart set on protecting his brother. Even if you do not consent, he will follow Michaain in the middle of the night, while we are all sleeping.” said the Baroness, who knew her oldest son’s every thought and action by nature. “I’d much rather have him leave with Michaain than sneak off to follow at midnight.”

“All right.” The Baron gave into his wife’s reasoning. “You may go with him, Miguel, but you must understand the dangers that you will face on this journey. Your brother has been warned, and so must you be. The dangers of this journey are great.”

“I go for the sake of my only brother. No danger is worth the secret humiliation he faces.” Miguel said.

“I agree.” Michellee said. “ May I go too, Father?”

“Absolutely not!” replied her parents and brothers simultaneously.

“You are too young, and we will not allow you to travel as an accompaniment to men.” The Baron spoke firmly, his jaw set.

“Michellee, why on earth would you want to go? In the company of three young men, who in no possible way could care for you!” The Baroness started raving to herself inaudibly.

“Mother and Father are right Michellee.” said Miguel. “You should not be allowed to travel with us. You are a young girl. The journey would be too much for you. And besides, you are now the heiress to Savine. The future Baroness. “

“Michellee,” Michaain looked down at his little sister. “ This isn’t like one of the adventures we always talked about. It is much more dangerous. It is no place for my noble little sister. I would never forgive myself for letting you go, if something happened to you on the quest. I cannot bear to put my little sister in danger. I love her too much.”

“Will I ever see you two again?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

“One day.” Miguel replied to her. “We’ll come riding home to see our wonderful sister, and to make sure she is being treated right by her husband. And if she isn’t, we’ll take him and feed him to a dragon.”

Michellee laughed and hugged her brothers. “I love you,” she whispered to her brothers, “Never forget that.” Michellee left the room, tears flowing gently down her cheeks, afraid that her brothers would leave and be gone forever.

“My sons, you must understand the perils of the journey you embark on. I can not list everything that you will face, but the Forest of Mystery poses a greater threat than you could understand.” The Baron said. “ I myself almost made the journey when I was your age. Had it not been for the forest, I would have made it.”

“Also,” added the Baroness, fear for her sons in her eyes and voice, “the powers have minds of their own. The closer you get to the land of Fire, Wind, and Water, the more the powers will resist. You must beat the power, and under no circumstances whatsoever, are you to use it.”

“Why not?” asked Miguel.

“The more the power is used, the stronger it becomes. The stronger it becomes, the more it will take over you. First, your mind, and then it will take physical control over you. You mustn’t let the power take control over you. Your life would be a slave to evil and full of grief and misery.”

“In other words, use it, and you’re dead.” Miguel said, nodding in comprehension.

“We understand the perils the journey poses for us, as you have indeed spelled them out clearly and carefully.” said Michaain. “Believe us when we say we will be cautious as we believe you when you speak of the dangers of a journey such as this one.”

“Good.” The Baron said. “Do not forget it.”

“I’ve never heard you speak so maturely, brother. You truly are ready to take on this journey alone, but just in case, I’m coming.” Miguel said, after his parents had gone.

“I am ready for this journey, but your companionship will not be unwelcome.” Michaain said to his brother. “Though the thought of leaving Savine excites my imagination, it frightens me as well. Never have I set foot outside these walls, and I thought I never would. I have talked and dreamed of leaving, but the world is so vast. There is so much world outside of Savine, yet I have made Savine my world. I welcome your familiar presence on this journey, which will hold so many unfamiliar things.”

“When did you grow up? It seems you’re more seasoned than I am.” said Miguel laughing. “ Well, Michaain, I should go and sharpen my fighting skills if I am to protect you on this journey. Farewell.”

“Farewell.” Michaain replied. He climbed out of his bed as he finished his last bite of breakfast, which had gone cold. In the mirror of water in his bath bowl, he saw his youthful reflection. Doubt swept over him. Could he do this? Could he truly be ready to leave his heart’s home for an uncertain road that holds certain peril? “Can I do this?” he asked himself.

“No, you can not.” said a small, rough, rigid voice, pushing its way to the front of his mind. “You can not leave your home and face death to just be rid of something that causes you no pain. Keep the power. It will do you good.”

Micahaain then heard another voice, softer, smoother, sweeter, say, “You can do it. Don’t doubt yourself, and don’t let the fear of failing convince you otherwise. He works with the power and is purely evil, just as his master. You must be free of their bondage. Do not let them possess you, and do not let fear overcome you.”

“The power does no harm if you use it!” exclaimed the rough voice in response. “But if you bottle it up inside you, it will want out. You must use it; you must keep it.”

“Listen not to the evil.” the smooth voice told Michaain. “They care naught for you.”

“The journey is long, perilous and dangerous. Why risk your life to be rid of a harmless gift?”

Once more, the smooth voice spike up in rebuttal, “ The evil speaks and stirs up fear in your heart, but they would sooner strip your life from you than attempt to save you. Listen not to them.”

The voices rattled on for hours, battling to win Michaain over to their side. As they continued, Michaain started slipping out of his own body, which was taken over by the voices, into unconsciousness and insanity. The voices kept on, ignoring Michaain’s plight. As a knock came at the door, the smooth voice realized Michaain’s state, and simultaneously screamed his name. Michaain, brought back into his body, fell to the floor and began convulsing. The silence caused the knocking visitor, Kaleb, to open the door.

Upon seeing Michaain twitching on the floor, Kaleb rushed over and yelled. “Someone get some help!”

A maid ran in the room and shrieked when she saw Michaain.

“Go and get help!” Kaleb told her

She nodded and ran out of the room to find someone, the doctor, the Baron, the Baroness, anyone who knew what to do and could help. The first she came upon was Miguel, whom she ran straight into in her rush. Disregarding the fact that she could be executed for speaking to him, she told him of his brother.

Miguel’s face was pure fear for his brother. He ran straight down the hall into Michaain’s room. The maid continued on to the Throne room to find the Baron and Baroness. “What happened?” Miguel exclaimed upon seeing Kaleb kneeling by Michaain. “What happened?” he asked in alarm.

“I had come to speak with Lord Michaain. I knocked and heard a thud, like he had fallen. I received no response to my knock, walked in, and found him twitching like he is, but much worse, M’Lord.” Kaleb explained to Miguel.

“So he was like this before you came in.” stated Miguel. “Help me lift him onto the bed. Who are you anyways?”

“M’names Kaleb, sire.” Kaleb answered after hoisting Michaain onto the bed.

“Oh, right. You’re the one who’s to accompany us on the journey.”

“Us, M’Lord?”

“Yes, I’m going as well.”

As the Baroness rushed into the room, she screamed, seeing Michaain lying in convulsions in the bed.

Michellee rushed into the room after her mother, followed by her father and the castle’s doctor. She cried upon seeing Michaain, pale, lying upon the bed with sweat dripping off of his body.

The Baron’s face went pale, seeing his younger son. “Doctor?” he asked in fear.

“Yes, Sire.” The doctor responded.

“Michellee, out.” the Baron commanded. “Miguel, Kaleb, you two as well.”

“But, father!” Michellee protested.

“Out!”

The three of them trudged outside the room, all worried about Michaain’s condition, yet each for their own reason. Michellee worried for her brother, whom she dearly loved. Miguel also was concerned for his brother but held less affection.

Kaleb, however was not so worried about Michaain as he was about his own fate. The journey was his ticket out of Savine and servitude. If something happened to Michaain, then he would be stuck in Savine for the rest of his life and would be a lowly servant. Kaleb’s concern for Michaain was because of the journey. He felt as if his life was based on this journey, and as if it would decide his future. He worried, “What would happen should the journey be postponed or cancelled. Should, likewise, my future be cancelled?”

After what had seemed an eternity, the Baron, Baroness, and Doctor came out of Michaain’s room, and were greeted with a steady flow of questions from Miguel, Michellee, and mostly Kaleb.

“Relax, relax,” said the doctor calmly. “Michaain will be fine; He is just overwhelmed. He will return to normal after a couple of hours rest.”

“Yes, we shall let him rest.” said the Baron. “we, however should continue planning for the journey. I have a feeling that this episode was brought about by the power. We should not tarry long. Kaleb, Miguel, the two of you are to come to my chambers to discuss this. Michellee, go with your mother.”

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As his father, brother, and Kaleb were discussing the fate of the journey, whether or not it should be postponed, Michaain awoke in the afternoon, the voices gone from his mind. Relieved, he lay back down. “I can do this.” he told himself. “I will be rid of this curse.” He jumped up, out of the bed, quickly dressed and ran to his father’s chambers. When he entered, he found his father, brother and a strange servant. His brother ran up to him and embraced him, on the verge of tears.

“I’m alright. Worry about me no longer.” he told his father and brother.

“Will the journey go on as planned, then, my son?” asked the Baron

“Yes, Father. There is no need to postpone it and, as the spirits inside me are fighting, it is best we left soon.

“Tonight, then.” The Baron responded.

“Very well,” said Michaain, “If, indeed, my companions are prepared.”

“We are!” Kaleb spoke, lifting his downcast head in excitement.

“Alright, then.” said Miguel, “We’re ready.”

“Great!” the Baroness stormed in. “You’ll be leaving in the middle of the night anyway!” Michellee followed.

“Treacherous wife and daughter! You spy on us!”

“Of course!” responded the Baroness. “You expect me to leave the fate of my two sons in your hands alone!”

The Baron shook his head, his eyes brimming with laughter.

“Mother,” Miguel said, taking her hands in his, “We are able to protect ourselves, you know. We are grown men, now.”

“I know this, Miguel” The Baroness responded, “but you will never be able to keep a mother from worrying about her sons. No matter what, I will always be concerned for you, as it is a natural instinct for a parent.” The baroness kissed her sons on their foreheads, then spoke to Michellee, “Come, daughter. We will not see the journey off. It is time for us to retire.”

Michellee embraced her brothers, as they bid their sister and mother farewell, not knowing when or if they would ever see them again. The Baroness and Michellee quickly left the room in tears. After watching them go, the Baron spoke, addressing the three young men. “Now my sons, and Kaleb, Here is a map upon which I, myself, have plotted your journey. The other map I gave to Michaain has more land features; this one, however has roads, trails, and such.” The Baron handed the map to Miguel.

“Thank you, Father.” Miguel accepted the map.

“You are welcome.” The Baron said in return. “You are to travel to Tsmarnia, where you will receive supplies. From there, you will follow the river to the Capital, Andian, which will most likely be the last civilized place you come across. You will then follow the Western edge of the Lake of Mystery until you reach the Northern River of Mystery. Follow it and it will take you into the Land of Fire, Wind, and Water. I can give you no other information or instruction from there, other than to find Gabriel. Very few know what lies within that country. Those that do, release no information about it. Miguel, I want you to chart this land. I want you to map and name it.

“Yes, Father.”

“Kaleb, you are to protect my sons. Any harm that befalls them, you must answer to. Now, go and have three of the finest horses saddled for the journey; then come back here.”

“Yes, Sire.” Kaleb bowed and left the room.

“Father, what if we should stray and lose ourselves? What are we to do then?” Michaain questioned.

“The Enchantress Jasmine and The Good Wizard Roland will assist you then. Seek their council.

“How are we to find them?” Miguel asked.

“They will find you.” said the Baron.

After some time had passed, Kaleb came back, and informed them that the horses were ready. The Baron embraced his sons and bid them farewell. Half an hour later, just after sunset, the Baron watched as his two sons exited the castle gates of Savine for the very first time in their lives. “God go with you.” The Baron prayed as he lay eye upon his sons for the very last time.

 

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