LEGENDS

CHAPTER THREE

Cerin strolled through The Great City with a smile on his face. This was a good day. Hell, he had even taken the time to get a hair cut before he came in. The plan was playing out perfectly and no one seemed the wiser. This was to be a test of course. He and his followers needed to see if Ardra was suspicious. It was highly doubtful. Ardra was too busy defending her precious humans and keeping the pact. Cerin had been against the pact from the beginning, like most, but most of the counsel had eventually come around. Not him, not Cerin. The way they shared The Great City with the lesser immortals was sickening. Then there were the humans in the village. It disgusted him to listen to their problems at these meetings. They were rulers not politicians! They were not here to serve the people, but to rule them. This politeness in policy was blasphemy!
Cerin remembered the old ways, cherished them. There was none of this “problem solving” shit. If he happened across a vampire or lycon he slayed them. That was the way of things. There was nothing wrong with the old ways. The more immortals you killed the more fame you received. It was how you built a name for yourself. It was how you moved up in the ranks.
True that Ardra was quite the warrior, but she had turned soft. Everyone knew it, but refused to acknowledge it. She lost her taste for battle. It was time Ardra was replaced. And Cerin intended to be her replacement. One way or the other he would replace her. It wouldn’t matter if he was not the true successor. He didn’t really see much need for the memories or the wisdom of the earlier Lords. Cerin planned on ushering in a new era and none of the Lord’s wisdom would be necessary for it.
He stopped near the castle steps. This castle was said to have been built by Arawn out of the giant mountain in the center of this land. Though beautiful with gleaming rock and stone, it was somewhat ominous. Supposedly it was a symbol that the line of Lords would never fall. Cerin smiled thinking about that. Yes, it might take him moving a few mountains, but the beautiful Lady Ardra of the Legends would fall. He had discovered her weakness. She had one flaw and that would be her downfall. The castle he would keep, but all it stood for would fade away like a bad memory.
“Cerin! Wow, you look stunning. I didn’t think you liked to dress up.” Trotting down the steps she came to stand before him. Her dark curls spilled from a loose braid around her face. She wasn’t beautiful and yet there was something about her that made her quite irresistible. Americans, what was it about their woman that could do that to you?
“Kayla. So they’ve decided to let you join the counsel meetings?”
“Yes, how’d you guess?”
“It’s the shit eating grin you’re wearing. What area have they put you in or do you know yet?” It was taking a lot of energy to swallow the disgust of this. Ardra hadn’t allowed Cerin a seat on the counsel until three centuries ago. Now, here Kayla was no more than 50 years old and she’s being allowed a chair?!

“Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.” Kayla grabbed his hand and led him up the steps.
“Well, you know before the change I was a martial arts teacher. Needles to say, I flew through training here, but I don’t want to be a warrior. I don’t want to be a leader either.”
“Then what is the purpose of being on the counsel?”
“I want to help with some of Ardra’s projects.” Cerin stopped walking and faced her. His heavy gaze focused fell on her face as he tried to feign interest.
“I want to set up a few orphanages and maybe a couple of shelters. The world is so boggled down with sadness and suffering…and I’d like to do my part. So, Ardra agreed to let me set them up and I’ll be reporting on them during counsel. As a matter of fact, I get to give my big shpeal tonight. Uhm…not that anyone is going to veto the project, but you know how Ardra likes to keep everybody up to date with things.”

“Yes, I know.” Cerin let out the words in a slow hiss. Kayla tilted her head slightly and looked him over. God, she was perceptual. No doubt that was why Ardra gave her a chair in the counsel. He gritted his teeth to suppress his anger. It wouldn’t go over very well if he let on that he was upset with Ardra for something.
“I am tired and a bit snappish. I beg your pardon, Kayla, but I need to take a nap and stop by the kitchen before tonight’s festivities. I’ll see you at counsel.” With a slight tilt of his head Cerin walked on towards his room. It would just be better to keep a low profile for the moment. He was going to have to keep his eye on Kayla. She may prove to be a problem.

Kayla stood there watching Cerin as he made his way to his quarters. That was really odd. She felt fearful for a moment and then it was just gone, but something still lingered in the wake of that man. Her instincts told her to beware. Something was wrong. The only problem with her powers was that she only felt things. She could not predict or see them.
Should she tell Ardra? Yeah, right. What would she tell the Lady? Yeah, I was talking to Cerin and though he didn’t say anything wrong…or do anything wrong, well, I ‘felt’ something wrong. Uh-hu, that would go over great. No, Kayla would just keep an eye on Cerin for now. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was important. Maybe she would speak to Damiana. They had similar powers. Maybe she would be able to help her understand them and then decide whether to take this to Ardra or not.
Kayla turned and headed to the next level where she was sure she’d find Damiana making preparations for tonight. Feeling silly, but unable to help it she kept checking to make sure she wasn’t followed. If this wasn’t anything then she’d be embarrassed for years to come. But…what if it was something?

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“Madam, where do you want the food to be set? The kitchen is too crowded and we are still baking. We’ve got to start setting up the tables.”
Damiana looked around. Yes, she could smell all of the food. Delicious. It was getting close to sun set and some of the guests had already arrived…
“Put them on the main table up front.”
“But that’s where Ardra and the rest o...” Damiana interrupted her.
“I know that is where the Lady usually sits with the counsel.” She help up a hand to further silence the older woman who was about to interject more concern.
“Ardra feels that no one feels free to approach her when they’re so segregated. The counsel will meet as usual in the court up stairs, but they will be sitting among the rest of us when the counsel is adjourned.”
With that the woman nodded and headed toward the kitchen to make the announcement. In truth, Damiana had been against it at first and told Ardra so, but not now. No, now she understood why Ardra had insisted upon it and to keep it from the rest of the counsel. Namely, Ronan, he was going to have a fit and a half. She smiled at the thought of her friend, Ardra. Ardra was truly a wonderful leader. Though Ardra hated to be surrounded by people, she also wanted them to know they could seek her out if necessary. You just can’t say enough good things about the Lady of the Legends. Damiana counted herself exceptionally lucky to be her closest friend.

As she walked into the great hall Kayla was floored by the site of it. She’d been to the castle many times, but the overwhelming beauty of the Great Hall never ceased to dazzle her. Every wall, every banister, every table was covered with decorations. This was her first time for the October session. She guessed it would be her favorite. It was like walking into one of those old mansions in the black and white horror flicks. The Great Hall was on the third floor, but there were two great stair cases that lead from the first to the fourth. The fourth floor was really just a few rooms on either side and a couple of stair cases about three-fourths of the way up to the vaulted ceiling. The ceiling was covered in fake spider webs that were sprinkled with plastic spiders. There was a bat dangling down on a string here and there. The banisters that surrounded the edge of the fourth floor as well as the double stair case were covered in orange plastic pumpkins filled with goodies. Kayla couldn’t wait to put on her costume and listen to the live band from the village.
Unable to fight the wonderful smells any longer, Kayla strolled on past the tables towards where the food was laid out. God, this must have been what it was like back in the days of medieval feasts! Only, she was sure they didn’t make cakes in the shape of witches and ghosts. There were cakes and cookies, turkeys and smoked goose, roasts and seafood and pie. Oh, the pie! She was going to have to have some soon or she’d die. Kayla went straight for the apple pie with whipped cream topping. Her stomach rumbled as she swiped off a little cream with her finger.
“You’re as bad as Nevin. But, if you keep it a secret, I’ll give you a piece of the pie I snatched.” Kayla’s eyes went wide and she grinned from ear to ear.
“You stole a pie.”
“Shush! It’s in my room. I haven’t eaten all day and Ann does make the best apple pie in the universe! Come on, I was saving it for a break, but somehow I forgot to take one.” They both laughed as they walked to Damiana’s room.

“So, what’s going on? I had a dream about you coming to talk to me.” Nothing got past her did it? Kayla tried not to act too surprised.
“That must be why you snatched the pie.” Damiana nodded.
“I’m not sure what if any importance this is, but I can’t shake this feeling.” Well, judging from the look Damiana held at least she didn’t think Kayla was crazy. Just to be sure Kayla checked the hallway and shut the door.
“Now this can’t be good. Shall I close the window?” Kayla let out a nervous giggle, but shook her head yes.

Kayla explained to Damiana about what happened in the hall with Cerin. Damiana hadn’t laughed or looked as if she were crazy. Instead she seemed concerned. It was a good ten minutes before she even spoke. As she began to she hesitated and seemed to mull something over.
It was hard not to be a little jealous sitting across from her. Damiana was so beautiful. Her hair was a milky chocolate color and waist length pulled into a very sharp French twist. Not a single strand dared to leave its place. And her soft blue eyes mixed with her thin waste made super models look skanky. Kayla, on the other hand, had black frizzy hair that despite being all the same length wouldn’t stay however she fixed it. Her curls were just so tight they sprang out of any confinement. Plus, she had a round face and plenty of curves. Okay, so maybe one too many curves. A size 14 wasn’t that bad though, she’d been bigger and besides she was tall for a woman. That still didn’t do anything to help alleviate the sting of being surrounded by run-way beauties. Sometimes Kayla wondered why she had gone through the change. Many times she thought it was an accident, because it seemed everyone else who went through it was meant for the cover of magazines.

Finally, Damiana stood, smoothed her light blue slacks, and walked towards her closet. After a few minutes she emerged with an old leather bound book. Some of the pages were brittle and torn. She took her seat and handed the book to Kayla. Kayla was more powerful than Damiana had thought. Score another point for Ardra. Damiana had sensed a power in her, but it had been her experience that once you went through the change it took a good couple of centuries to develop your powers. That mean that Kayla wouldn’t be showing signs of her powers for another fifty years at least. What did she know anyway? Ardra was never wrong. She should have had more faith in her good friend.
“What’s this?”
“That, my young girl, is to be your text book for the next few weeks. I feel ashamed that I couldn’t sense what Ardra did in you. She’s always right you know. She said you will end up being my replacement one day.”
“No one is going to meld you! What are you talking about?”
“I’m actually not sure. Ardra picks up bits of knowledge almost like visions. What she actually said was that I was to tutor you in my powers. That I will pass on all of my knowledge to you. I assume that means that I will be replaced, but one never knows.”
“I don’t have all of your powers, though. Just one and I don’t even know how to use it! I can’t heal anyone! Ardra must be crazy!” Damiana jumped out of her seat to stand leaning over her, Kayla was already sorry she’s blurted that one out.
Damiana glared down on the young Legend while her eyes swirled and her face covered itself. It took a moment to fight the urge to slap her for saying such a thing. After a few deep breaths she was able to calm a bit and her face uncovered, but her eyes still swirled. She took two steps back before she spoke.
“You will never say that again lest I put you in your place. Ardra is a lot of things, but crazy is not one of them. If she says you can do this then you can. That’s the end of that. If she says I’m meant to tutor you then I will. If she says to shit on the floor, we will!” Damiana only went off the handle over a few things and anything concerning Ardra was at the top of the list. Against her will, she paced the small space in front of the now pale Kayla.
“As you will find out by spending time with her, she doesn’t ask much. She doesn’t give orders often and she never expects anything in return. She’s selfless!” Damiana stopped pacing and faced Kayla.
“We should all be so selfless. If she wants you to do this I will not let you out so easily. You wanted to help with her projects…Well, now is your chance. You should be honored.”
“Damiana…” Kayla was fighting back tears. She was sorry and made a mental note not to say anything derogatory about Ardra ever again. “What does this have to do about Cerin and my ‘feeling’?”
“You will see. I cannot tell you more right now and I’m sorry I stepped out of line with you. I normally do not get angry, but Ardra is my best friend. I can, however, tell you this. Keep your distance from Cerin, but make a note of whatever you see him doing or saying. Listen to your instincts.”
“Even if it’s crazy?”
“Especially then. I hate to cut this short, but I have to get back down there and make sure things are going smoothly. If Ronan sees that the main table has now become the buffet he’s libel to have Ann’s head. And we can’t have that.”