10th day of
Jenslu’s Moon, 1178
Seven year old Niobe of Wygest moaned, her
body thrashing as if in pain. Her older sister, Gretal woke when she was kicked
in her lower back.
“Niobe, wake up! You’re
dreaming again.”
Sleepy hazel eyes
opened wide. “Is it time to get up already?”
“Not hardly, Mouse. I should be sleeping if not for your battle maneuvers in our bed.
I will be sporting bruises by daylight! Da will believe I’ve been attacked.”
Gretal said with a sniff. “How shall I hope to attract a husband if I look like
I’ve been attacked?”
“I’m sorry, Gretal. I
don’t mean to flail about. I’ll try to be more careful.” Niobe said to her
sister in her best contrite voice.
Gretal sighed, “I know you don’t hurt me on purpose, but
I’m tired of being beat up at night. In the morning I’m asking Mother to assign
me a new sleeping companion.” Gretal rolled over, punching her pillow in
frustration.
Niobe lay back, staring
at the thick stone ceiling of her bedchamber. She tried to remember what the
nightmare was about, but all she could recall was the feeling of death around
her. Niobe drifted back to sleep, a soft voice in the back of her head calling
out “You’re mine, Niobe.”
XXX
17th day of
Thaelia’s Moon, 1178
Niobe gently blew
upward, trying to get wisps of brown hair moved from in front of her hazel
eyes. She carefully crawled in the tall grass of the meadow never taking her
eyes off the still figure of water snake curled next to the berry bush. She
stopped inches from the deadly viper’s head, to stare at the reptile.
“Niobe, don’t move!”
Sir Garloun, one of her father’s knights whispered urgently. “I’m going to
slowly move close enough until I can kill the snake.”
Annoyed that her sire’s
man would interfere with her experiment, Niobe replied, “I don’t need help, Sir
Garloun. Just leave me alone.”
The snake turned its
head towards the knight and hissed. The animal slithered away without harming
the girl.
Taking no chances, the
knight grabbed Niobe. “You little fool! What were you thinking getting close to
a dangerous snake?” He held up Niobe, her face a breath apart from his, “That
animal must have eaten, to not have attacked you. Your parents will not be
pleased, young miss.” Tucking the girl under his arm, Sir Garloun stomped to
his horse and quickly mounted. He wasted no time riding back to the keep.
Finding Sir Orlege, the Duke of Wygest in his solar, Sir Garloun related the
story of Niobe’s encounter. Her father waved all but his Second, Sir Arnas, out
of the room. He walked over to his daughter.
Niobe stood straight,
refusing to apologize but trembling all the same.
“You dared to lay nose-to-nose
with a poisonous water snake! Zabe’s Blood, girl; what the hell is wrong with
you? Thaelia Herself must have held that viper back from striking you.” His jaw
tic’d with fury. Orlege slapped his child.
“Arnas, hand me the
whip.” Without further speech, Niobe’s father gave her five lashes on her
buttocks. When he was through, he sent Niobe to bed. Once she left the room,
Orlege turned to Arnas. “Damn, if Niobe had only been born a son.”
XXX
10th day of
Chanxeri’s Moon, 1179
Niobe’s dreams of being
surrounded by death had increased. She dared not tell her parents, especially
her mother Ingrid. Niobe knew the Duchess would march her to the nearest Temple
of Jaira for a healing. The thought of swallowing cupful after cupful of
nasty-tasting herbs made her stomach churn. I’m
not crazy. That voice calling to me isn’t made up.
That afternoon, Niobe
went for a ride, followed by two guards. Using a well-travelled path, she
enjoyed the sun on her face. The path meandered along an ancient pine forest
bordered by a broad meadow. Half-way to her destination of a lake rumored to be
the home of a griffin, four men attacked. Her guards drew steel, one yelling at
Niobe to turn rein and gallop for home.
Obeying the command,
Niobe leaned in close and spurred her horse, urging the grey gelding to a
gallop. A man dressed in nondescript brown clothing drew close. Reaching over,
he grabbed at Niobe. Whether it was panic and some deep instinct, Niobe
couldn’t say. But her actions saved her life. Pulling out her belt knife, Niobe
slashed at the would-be-kidnapper, miraculously making contact and cutting his
throat. Uttering a quick scream, the man lost his balance and fell amid a spray
of blood.
After Niobe and her
guards made it home, Duke Orlege sent out patrols to search out any additional
raiders. Not only were they unable to find any other strangers but the bodies
of the dead men were gone. A letter was sent to King Raegrildt, detailing the
kidnapping attempt. Niobe was praised for her reaction and allowed to stay up
past her normal bedtime, sipping on watered ale, as she listened to her father
and his men share stories of famous Helfain warriors until she grew sleepy.
Instead of a servant, her sire carried her to bed, whispering “I’m proud of ye,
Niobe. You’ve the courage of a full knight.”
Niobe dreamt of the
moment when she killed the man, the images replaying over and over with one
difference: a man rode with her heaping praise for her first kill. Each dream
episode ended with him telling her “It is time, Niobe, for you to join us. Come
to me.”
XXX
11th day of
Chanxeri’s Moon
Niobe was restless. She
felt the need to go somewhere, but wasn’t sure exactly where. She wandered the castle, unable to concentrate on any single
task getting underfoot until her mother finally yelled at her to go outside. Not
allowed to leave the confines of the keep’s walls, she aimlessly walked about
ending up in the temple.
Eliwyd, the keep’s
priest was in the middle of sweeping the floor. He stopped his chores when he
saw Niobe. “Lady Niobe, can I be of assistance?”
Niobe thought a moment.
Eliwyd has a kind face. Perhaps he might
help me get rid of my dreams. She sat down on a bench. “What does it mean
if I have the same dream over and over again?”
Eliwyd took a seat
beside the girl. "How long have you had the dream, Niobe?”
“The dreams started
when I was seven, a year and a half now.”
She
is being called to a Temple. “Tell me about your,
child.”
XXX
“The Temple of the Red
Snake?” Duchess Ingrid moaned aloud. She half-fainted to her chair.
“Preposterous! No child
of mine, of the Royal Family of Helfain, can be an assassin! I forbid it.”
Orlege yelled at Eliwyd. “I’ll contain in her room, forever guarded. Hell, I’ll
bind her to Arnas with metal rings and chains of necessary.”
“The voice within is
strong. She can’t ignore the urges. Zabe will find a way to claim your
daughter, my lord. Know this, the Lord of the Underworld already calls to her
every night and it is only a matter of time before she leaves on her own to
journey to the Red Snake Temple in Witcenogra. Is it not better to ensure she
arrives safely?” Eliwyd replied.
Orlege closed his eyes.
My brave child, my beloved daughter; how
can I send you off to become a trained killer? Red Snakes didn’t get
married nor have children – never. He’d be lucky to see her again. Life isn’t fair. Why Niobe? “Very well,
I’ll arrange an escort to take her to the Temple. Maybe Zabe will reject her.”
“No! You can’t do
this!” Ingrid screamed, “My baby can’t go to that ugly place.”
Orlege went to his
wife. He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry, my dear, but Niobe must go.
You have a week with our daughter.” Orlege glanced up at Sir Arnas. “Have a
servant bring Niobe here that we can tell her the news.”
XXX
The Temple of the Red
Snake in Witcenogra was built of dark sandstone and marble. Tall columns
covered in ivy lined the entrance to the main entrance. Each column was
embellished with carvings of badgers and bears – the animals sacred to Zabe –
performing mundane tasks. The top of the Temple had a bas-relief of a viper
striking a man sitting with his back to the snake.
Duke Orlege dismounted.
He waited for Sir Arnas to help Niobe from her gelding. The two men and the
girl walked up the steps and through the Temple entrance.
Two Priests met the
Wygest party inside the main lobby.
“Greetings, Your Grace,
I am Grand High Priest John and this is Priest Alexi. We have been expecting
your daughter, Niobe. Alexi, if you would take Niobe to the Sisters chamber, I
will speak with her father.”
Alexi bowed to John.
“Yes, Your Grace, right away. Niobe, would you like to see our Temple?” He held
out his hand in friendship.
The aura of the Temple
warped around Niobe like a warm blanket. She was home. With a large smile, Niobe accepted the Priest’s hand. “Do you
have any horses here? I like to go for rides.”
He chuckled, “Yes, we
have many horses. Do you know how to hunt?” The voices of Alexi and Niobe faded
off once they left the main section and disappeared within the Temple halls.
Duke Orlege sighed.
Niobe didn’t look back at him as she walked away with the Red Snake Priest. “I
hate the idea of my daughter being here but she sounds happy.”
“I assure you, we will
take care of her and she will become a member of our family.” John said to Niobe’s
father. “It is best that you cut all ties to her starting now. Tell your family
Niobe serves Zabe with honor.”
Orlege’s eyes filled
with tears. “Take care of my baby.” He turned and walked out, Arnas close
behind.
“Fear not, Zabe Himself has touched this youngster. We will cherish her." John relied.
The End
Stay safe out there
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