The Seeress and the Stone 5

All eyes remained on Angelia and everyone stayed quiet for a few moments.

Finally Celendar asked, “What did you see during the ceremony?”

Angelia sighed. She knew he would ask this eventually. “I saw a King. We stood on the shore of a huge lake. I have never seen anything like it before. He spoke to me in a language I didn’t recognize, yet I understood it perfectly.”

Celendar and Le’Mone looked at each other understandingly.

“What?” Angelia asked frustrated.

“You answered in the same language. Very few people know or have even heard the ancient tongue,” Le’Mone replied. “It concerns me that he knows the ancient language, Celendar.”

“I think it is safe to say your visions will be interesting and informative,” Celendar said, with a note of sarcasm

“You think there will be more?”

“Yes dear. I am afraid so.”

“Ugh. I don’t want to ever go through all that again.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to control it,” Celendar replied.

“Nothing seems to happen if I’m not touching the water,” she said hopefully

“You are a bit different than the rest, Angelia.”

“How?” she demanded, looking from Le’Mone to her grandfather.

Celendar responded. “Well, when I see a vision it is far away. I am never a part of the vision and no one, that I can recall, has ever had people or objects from their visions see them. You said you felt like you were there and that the warrior came right to you. I have never known anyone to see like that. And . . . your eyes are still green. Most seers’ eyes change to green when they see a vision and then change back when it’s over. Yours haven’t changed back. I believe your visions are going to be much more vivid and frequent.”

“Oh.”

“There’s more, isn’t there?” Le’Mone asked kindly.

She thought for a moment and then decided to share her new ability to see other people’s futures. Her grandfather would find out eventually. She sighed.

“When others touch my skin I can see images of them…things that haven’t happened yet.” She looked at French and could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. She dropped her eyes.

“Like what?” Celendar asked.

“Well, at first it was very vague, but this morning when I was sitting on the beach French touched my hand. I saw him standing on a cliff looking toward the sunrise. And Aunt Le’, when you touched me just now I saw you standing in front of a glass wall.”

“That is definitely different,” Celendar said thoughtfully. “I remember reading something—” He fell silent, his brow furrowed in thought.

“Regardless of all that, if the city is going to be attacked, then we need to take steps to prepare the people. Celendar you are going to have to approach the High Council and warn them,” Geoff said, breaking the silence.

“Geralde isn’t going to like that. Sixteen years ago he warned me away from City Hall,” Celendar replied.

“You were only trying to help, Celendar,” Le’Mone replied. A few others in the group agreed.

“Geralde has always had an agenda, Celendar,” Geoff piped in.

“What happened sixteen years ago, Grandfather?” Angelia asked.

Celendar looked at her sadly. “On the day you were born I had a vision very similar to the one you described. I spent the better part of a year telling people about it, but very few people listened. Finally your father told me if I didn’t stop sharing my vision I would never be allowed to see you, so I stopped. The few people who believed me tried to prepare, but after a few years it became apparent that nothing was going to happen.”

“I can tell the High Council, Grandfather. It was my vision,” Angelia volunteered.

“I’m afraid they wouldn’t believe you. They would just think I was guiding you. I don’t know how we are going to warn people. This just seems so much more urgent. The fact that you had a similar vision, on your Awakening day, to the one that I had when you were born is too much of a coincidence.”

“We could start with the people who believed you the first time,” Angelia suggested.

Celendar’s face brightened. “That is a very good idea, Angel.”

“I can come with you if you like.”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“If this attack is really going to happen, we need to be prepared,” Geoff interjected.

“You realize that even fewer people are going to believe you now,” Robin said matter-of-factly.

“I know and it saddens me,” Celendar sighed.

“We can find some kind of shelter,” Geoff suggested. “I can take some of these kids into the mountains above the city. Surely there is a place we could hide in case of an attack.”

“Yes, I think that would be wise, Geoff. Robin is right. Few people will listen, even if Angelia is with me. I just don’t know what we could do in case of an attack. Our defenses are practically useless.”

“We should start heading back,” Le’Mone said pointing to the late morning sun.

“Yes. We can load up the horses and head back,” Celendar replied.

Everyone busied themselves taking down the tents and packing supplies. When everything was ready they began the trip back down to Viecity. Excitement crackled in the air as Angelia and her friends discussed the coming summer months. The hike down from the lake took the rest of the day. When they reached Le’Mone’s cottage Geoff and Robin parted with the group and returned to their homes in the city, along with the others who had joined the ceremony.

Le’Mone suggested that they all stay for a light supper and some hot chocolate. Angelia’s friends readily agreed. Le’Mone headed into the kitchen and Celendar followed. “It will be a while ‘till it’s ready, why don’t you five unpack and stable my horse,” she called over her shoulder.

Celendar paused in the doorway and then said, “Angelia and I will take our horse home and come back.”

Angelia walked quietly next to her grandfather. She didn’t feel like discussing anything yet she knew her grandfather had many questions. She sighed.

Celendar looked at her questioningly. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just tired.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I’m very excited to go looking for shelter in the mountains. How long do you think it will take us?”

“I don’t know. It could take months. There are a lot of places we could start.”

“Do you think we can hide from the soldiers?”

“I don’t know,” he said shaking his head. “If this King has—abilities to see the future—I don’t know know what we can do.”

Angelia shivered. They reached the house and unloaded the horses, put everything away, and headed back up the trail. They met the others on the path.

French offered Angelia his arm. “We were just coming to find you. Aunt Le’ said to hurry.”

The cottage was brightly lit and in the kitchen, hanging above the table, was a small sign that read ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELIA.’ Angelia looked around at the beaming faces and smiled.

“Aunt Le’ you didn’t have to do this,” she chided.

“I didn’t. It was them,” Le’Mone replied pointing to Angelia’s four friends.

She blushed. “Thank you.”

They all sat down to a delicious dinner. After dinner and dishes everyone moved into the parlor for some tea and cake.

Celendar left the room and returned carrying a brightly wrapped box. He handed it to Angelia.

“My gift to you,” he said with a smile.

She tore off the paper, opened the lid, and gasped. She could see the twinkle in her grandfather’s eyes as she lifted the gift out. A delicate piece of cherry wood carved into two hands cupping a small, blue crystal. The flowers carved into the base wrapped around the wrists. The hands looked much like Angelia’s own.

“Oh, Grandfather, I love it!” she exclaimed. Then laughing, “One guess as to whom you asked to make it.” She looked at French who ducked his head slightly, grinning from ear to ear. She turned back to her grandfather, “Where did you get the crystal?”

“From my father. It has been passed down for a very long time. It only goes to a seer or seeress and I am happy to say, that it is you.” He smiled at her, pride filling his eyes. “It is very special and you must never lose it. Look,” he lifted the crystal out of the carved hands. Hanging from the bottom was a delicate, silver chain. “The chain was attached by my grandfather so you can wear it around your neck when you travel. I had French carve the hands for you so when you are at home you have a place to put it.”

Angelia took the crystal by the chain and put it around her neck. It glowed faintly. She looked into the box again. Lying in the bottom of the box were several scrolls. She lifted the top one out and unrolled it and read. Her eyes widened.

“Grandfather, these are your scrolls . . . about Celedand. Why are you giving them to me?”

“I felt you would appreciate them more than anyone else. I think you will get much more out of them if I let you read them yourself. Besides, the scrolls stay with the crystal.” She looked questioningly at him. “Someday I will explain more.” His eyes filled with joy as he looked at her and then clearing his throat he said, “Hmm, well, I think it is time for us to be heading home.”

“Oh must you go?” Le’Mone asked with a pout. “It is so nice to have you here.”

“Yes,” he stated, “It’s late. Kya, Sparrow, are you staying with us again tonight?”

“Yes,” they said together.

Everyone began gathering their own things. Celendar waited while Angelia gave Le’Mone a big hug.

“Thanks for dinner and the cake and everything. I love you,” she whispered happily.

“I love you too dear,” Le’Mone replied patting her cheek lovingly.

Kya and Sparrow followed Celendar out into the courtyard. Angelia paused at the door and then whipped around and ran over to French. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

“Thanks, French.”

He turned slightly red and she laughed She closed the door softly behind her, but in the house he could hear Le’Mone’s cheerful laugh and the clinking of mugs being cleared from the table.

Angelia chatted excitedly with her friends as they walked ahead of her grandfather. They talked about the coming explorations and the fun they would have during the summer months.

When they arrived at the cottage Celendar went into his study and the girls headed up to Angelia’s room. They began discussing the council ball that would take place in the fall. They were all finally old enough to attend. Angelia knew her mother expected it.

“I have wanted to go since I was five. Mother always looked so beautiful in her ball gown,” Kya said dreamily. “What will I wear? Whom will I go with?”

“I know who Angelia’s going with,” Sparrow said slyly.

Angelia blushed and replied softly, “I hope he asks me. But that’s so far away. There are so many other things happening right now.”

She thought about the scene she had witnessed when French took her hand. Sometime in the future he was going to kiss her. She smiled, but her smile faded as she remembered what the King had said. Everything seemed so far away and unrealistic. She didn’t doubt her grandfather, but had she really inherited his gift of seeing the future?

She absently reached up to grab the crystal her grandfather had given her. Her mind filled with so many images that she couldn’t even comprehend the blur. Then Sparrow touched her hand and she instantly saw her friend standing in the mouth of a cave looking out at the eastern sky. She was crying.

Angelia dropped the crystal and everything faded. It was real.