literature

The Calling Part 3

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"Legendary hero?... Alder, my father?"Ronan shook his head to clear his thoughts, pushing himself further away from Haril's hut. He didn't want to think about this recent revelation.
Not recognizing his surroundings any longer, the lad stopped, stooping over to catch his breath. He always was good at running and now, he wished he never had to stop and just keep on going….. Straightening himself after a couple minutes, Ronan was startled to find a pair of green eyes staring out of the trees in his direction.
It's just a deer or something, Ronan tried to reason, his momentary anger replaced with trepidation. He began to run through the course of self defense in his head, slowly backing up while doing so.
Instead of backing away, the pair of eyes shifted forward, the unknown owner moving closer.
"Don't be so jumpy," a voice hissed.
Ronan stopped short of his retreat, curiosity overriding the little voice in his head that screamed, "RUN!" Oh curse my inquisitive nature, Ronan thought.
"Stop all this nonsense Garret; you know the boy is only reacting like anyone who would suddenly see a pair of eyes following him." The second voice was like a chorus of silver bells, chuckling softly as if it had just made a really funny joke.
The first voice Ronan heard sounded rougher compared to the voice he just heard. "Well, some of us can't afford to be too carefree." As if on cue, a figure clothed in a green tunic stepped out from the bushes Ronan was carefully observing just now. He was tall and rather muscular. Silver hair billowed softly under the gentle caress of the wind, slightly covering the stranger's scars that ran raggedly across his left eye which gazed at Ronan in a speculative manner.
Ronan couldn't help but gap at the tall figure that now stood in front of him. A rueful smile cracked on the stranger's lips. "Do mind your manners boys."
"Really Garret, get a grip." The owner of the second voice appeared silently next to this "Garret". She was a small thing with startling green eyes that seem to reflect wisdom and knowledge. Garret seemed to relax some with his companion beside him, but it only made Ronan more tensed. He didn't know what to expect. Everything in his body was telling him to run, but a small voice overrode his fears. Trust us, it seemed to say. As if by some unknown force, Ronan turned his gaze to the lithe figure standing calmly beside Garret.
The girl winked in response. You can hear me, fascinating.
Ronan jerked back a bit. But, instead of cringing in fear he tried to reply back with his mind. Can you hear me in return?
Garret looked down at his companion, a look of confirmation flashed between them.
Yes, we can. But this time, it was Garret's rough voice he heard in his head.
So, why are you conversing with me in my head? And who are you? Ronan mused at how he must look like now, frozen and staring at two strangers who could possibly dispatch him at any moment now but strangely didn't. It'll only confirm how much crazier I really am, Ronan sighed inwardly.
Oh, you're crazy alright, the girl replied at the rhetorical statement, laughing softly in Ronan's head. Crazy enough to exist, she added with some sort of emotion Ronan couldn't wrap his head around. It almost seemed like relief was rolling off of the small figurine.
It took us a while to find you, Garret stated, looking at Ronan with a disgruntled look.
You were the only one disgruntled, the little girl chimed in, taking a graceful step in Ronan's direction, I knew where he was all this time. She cast a meaningful glance in his direction and twirled delicately to Ronan's side. "You wouldn't mind if I delve into your memories a bit, would you?"
Ronan was a bit startled that the girl found it easy to be around him. It was unusual, but nice in a weird way. He felt a bit uneasy, but again a strange calmness overtook him. She's messing with my brain, Ronan thought, panic surging through his system.
No, no,no, just soothing you, a soft ringing voice cooed. My name is Lyn by the way. Though, I wouldn't mind if you kept referring me as "the girl" for a while. I feel like I know you already, but I can tell you don't feel the same way towards me.
Ronan found it hard not to smile at Lyn. She was so friendly. "I think I better get back to the Academy…." He hesitantly said, taking a step towards the direction he believed Haril's hut was.
A look of alarm spread across Lyn's piercing green eyes, her mouth shaped in a large O.
"I don' t think that's likely lad," Garret said gruffly, laying a hand on Ronan's shoulder.
"And why's that?" Ronan demanded, taking a step away from Garret and Lyn, fury in his gaze. "You can't keep me here."
Lyn quickly shook her head, the horror in her eyes still lingering. "They're coming," she whispered, grasping a handful of Garret's garment. "They know."
Garret gently patted Lyn on the hair. "It's going to be alright." He shot a look at Ronan. "Just snap that mouth of yours shut." Without waiting for a response, the ranger hosted Ronan over his shoulder and began to run in the opposite direction Ronan needed to go. Lyn quickly followed, all the still troubled, mumbling something incomprehensible under her breath.
"Hey! Let me go!" Ronan hit Garret as hard as he possibly could, but the ranger barely even flinched. "Haril and the whole guard will be looking for me! And you're going to be charged for kidnapping."
Garret laughed hoarsely, not breaking stride. "Haril knew this day was coming. He knows where you're going."
This stopped Ronan short. Garret knew Haril? How?
You worry too much, a soothing voice said.
Before Ronan could voice an objection, his world went black.

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"Now look at what you did! The boy is barely alive!"
Ronan heard a rather shrill voice hovering close to his head, splashing something cool against his forehead.
"Don't worry….He'll come around in approximately five seconds," a voice that sounded a lot like Garret's replied, a tint of humor in it.
"Well, last time you used your uncanny powers, the poor soldier was out for a week!" the shrill voice accused. Ronan felt warm hands caress his cool face. "It feels just like yesterday when I held this little boy in my arms," the voice murmured.
That's it! Ronan let his eyes open.
A rather plump lady stood above him, smiling. Her brown hair was pinned up into a bun.
Ronan tried to sit up but immediately feel back onto his elbows. "Where have you taken me?" he asked groggily.
"Guess," Garret responded.
Great, now I have to guess where this stranger has taken me, Ronan thought.
You know, I can hear you.
Ronan flashed an annoyed look at Garret. "Do you mind?"
Garret merely smiled a crooked smile.
"Oh, pish posh." The lady that was holding Ronan's head previously pushed Garret on the shoulder. "You're going to give the lad a mind grain. How is he supposed to remember something from fifteen years ago?"
Garret grunted something unintelligently and then stood up just as Lyn twirled into the room, sending a waft of lavender and tangerines into the room.
"Ah, looks like Ronan is awake." Lyn looked over at Ronan, a bright smile stretched across her lips.
"Yeah, but he doesn't seem to remember anything," Garret stated roughly.
The lady who was attending Ronan shot a glance over at Garret, hostility clearly written in her eyes. "He's just a boy. You can't expect him to know of the prophecy."
Ronan shifted uneasily under the quilt that was on top of him. He didn't like this talk of prophecy, all he wanted was to become the best knight in Ithonia.
"Well, the best thing is to take him to see Fern. Perhaps seeing him might stir some memories," Lyn said thoughtfully, smiling once more in Ronan direction.
"Or, it could rouse even more questions and before you know it, we'll all be dead," Garret sarcastically said, offering a hand to Ronan. "Here, take my hand so you don't fall flat on your face."
Instead of taking the hand, though, Ronan turned around and placed both feet on the floor, using the bedpost as support. "I- got-this," Ronan grunted as Lyn made an attempt to help him. He hated feeling so helpless; this was the least he could do. Moving his right foot hesitantly before him, Ronan took a firm step, catching him self in time as he wobbled.
Garret snorted, rolling his eyes and murmuring something about stubborn under his breath before exiting the room. Lyn stayed behind, looking admirably at Ronan's show of strength and determination.
"You know, you're just like your dad."
Ronan looked up at Lyn, surprised. "You knew my dad?" he asked.
Lyn smiled once more, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yes, I knew him, perhaps a little too well." Before Ronan could ask anymore questions, Lyn walked out the room. Having no other choice, Ronan followed.
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The room Ronan entered was clad in rich, red velvet drapes, the afternoon sunlight peeking barely into the enclosed area. Shelves filled with books lined the perimeter of the room, disappearing as a mahogany desk filled the front of the room in front of a semi circle glass window.
"Watch where you step," Garret warned.
Ronan looked just in time. In front of his foot was a delicate reconstruction of some sort of winged animal, its skeleton head thrust upward towards the heavens. Grimacing slightly at the sight, Ronan redirected his gaze to the front of the room and the figure seated behind the desk.
Pale and rather thin, a being clothed in a long satin robe sat behind the desk, thrumming his fingers in a regular rhythm. He possessed high cheekbones that jutted out profusely, highlighting the aged and gaunt look in his dark brown eyes. Unlike other men Ronan knew, this stranger wore his white grayish hair loosely.
"Are you quite finished staring?"
Ronan looked up into the face of the person who addressed him, turning a shade of pink. "Sorry, sir," he managed to stutter.
As if a storm suddenly broken loose, a warm smile lightened the man's features. "No need to apologize lad. Lord Alder himself did the exact thing when he first heard that I was to be his tutor." Ronan opened his mouth to ask something, but the man held his hand up. "Your time to ask questions will come; but first, we need you to hear us out."
"Have you forgotten your manners, Fern?" Lyn seemed to appear out of nowhere, placing a kind hand on Ronan's shoulder.
The elderly man coughed, looking somewhat abashed at the chairs in front of the desk. "You may take a seat there, Ronan."
Garret positioned himself at the door of the room, hand somewhat absentmindly on the handle of his sword.
Lord Fern got up, sitting at the corner of the desk closest to Ronan.  "Well lad, I guess we have to start at the beginning, as I am assuming you know nothing." He looked meaningfully at Ronan, waiting for a reply. Ronan merely nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Clasping his hand together, Fern took out a small booklet he kept in his cavernous robe, smiling as he saw Ronan's gapping mouth. "Ah, so you know what this?"
"I have a book just like that. My father supposedly gave it to me." Ronan fumbled with his vest button and withdrew a small book identical to the one Fern held in his hands.
"This is your father's journal. The one you are holding is bounded by the same person, his brother, Maurth, an expertise in the art of foreseeing as well as an accomplished bookbinder." Fern placed the booklet gently on the table. "It's a pity such fine men do not exist now a days." He cast an apologetic look at Garret who merely grunted, turning away.
"We could have learned much from them," Garret muttered.
Fern nodded, stroking the book on the table absentmindedly. "It's a good thing we still have some of their writings though. How else are we to train our little warrior here?"
Ronan stared round eyed at the old man. Frail as he seemed, a strange aroma of strength seemed to surround Fern. "Train…me? But-but…"
Fern raised one eyebrow, looking quizzically at Ronan. "But what? Don't you know that we have waited for you to become of age? Remember son, you're not the only one in danger. The entire nation of Ithonia depends on you."  He placed a firm hand on Ronan's shoulder, forcing the lad to stare back into his dark brown eyes. "The road laid out for you is difficult, but with perseverance and strength, you will find yourself growing stronger and able to prevail over any enemy. Though, until then…" Fern straightened up, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, "We have training to do."
Garret chuckled darkly. "Don't think it's like sword drills back at the Academy, Ronan."
Ronan managed to suppress a slight tremor through his body. Whatever "training" Lord Fern had in mind, he anticipated it was nothing like he had seen before.
BWHAHAHAHHAHAHA! The story sucks now. :D
I am rapidly running out of ideas. >_< Yes, the story is so cheesy now that I just want to erase it and start it over entirely.
More characters now. :) Yes, get confused. Please do give me more ideas. I am depleted now. LOL


Fanart is greatly appreciated. I'm almost finished with my preview picture of "The Calling". It's taking forever to color. >_<
© 2010 - 2024 forgottenlegend
Comments5
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Ping-AiMei's avatar
The story's not "cheesy" just a bit overused :P it's ok if you want to rewrite it, but I think it's fine :) Nice names by the way.
oh, and when you said mind grain.... do you mean migraine?