Whispers of a Legend, Part One-Shadows of the Past by Carrie James Haynes

knew it was you! I told Grandfather there
was no one else who would ever have such power,” he exclaimed. “He
told me I must be mistaken, but I knew I wasn’t. I told Johannes he
had to take me to you, but it wasn’t until Cono went to
Turstan…”
    Breaking from my brother’s embrace, I saw
Cono standing smiling at me. I glanced back at my brother. “We are
here, Kela,” Falco said soundly. “Sareta is also. She is with
Gunilda.”
    “I don’t understand, Falco,” I struggled to
find my voice. “Did you not know I was here?”
    “Kela, we were told you were dead,” he said
simply.
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    The Bond
     
    Falco stood beside me as we walked back to
the cottage. He struggled with what he faced before him. His temper
rose.
    “This makes no sense, Kela! At one time I
thought I kept hearing your call, but reasoned it couldn’t be.
I don’t understand the need for all of this. We will, of course,
bring you back. You can’t stay here.”
    He walked through the door of the quaint
cottage that had been my home. He glanced over at the small pad in
the corner. “What is this?”
    I hesitated, embarrassed for I had to admit
all in front of Cono.
    "It’s where I sleep, but come, Gunilda will
want to see you,” I said, trying for at least a moment to change
the subject. They had come. It would be enough to leave this
place.
    “No, wait, Kela, I want to know all. Why are
you here? What did you do?” Falco demanded. He grabbed my arm,
giving me pause.
    “I don’t know, Falco,” I whispered. “Except
Twiten told me I had to train to become the Euchoun they hoped. It
is all I know. It is all I have clung to. Poor Gunilda has been
dealt with harshly by being torn from Sareta, Falco. I’ve had no
dealings with the King. I haven’t seen him since that night in his
chambers when the Arachnid attacked.”
    “You know nothing since? It has well been
over four years,” Cono asked. He kicked the bed I slept in. He bent
down, disgusted with such. “Have you not even a blanket?”
    “Gunilda is cold,” I said.
    Falco, visibly shaken with the scene before
him, thought for a moment. “I blame myself, Kela. I should have
better listened. When Grandfather told me of your death, I should
have known for I had seen his feelings.”
    “His feelings?”
    He swallowed hard and shook his head. “I’m
not quite certain, but I picked up upon he believes you are weak,
your Witheleghean half. He wanted you strong, unflinching. He does
not know you as I. But how does this? Unless….”
    “Brother, I don’t understand,” I
answered.
    Falco eyed his sister. He shook his head.
“Nothing. I’m trying to make sense where there isn’t any. Why keep
you from me? I have grown to know Grandfather well. He has his
reasons which I’m certain he feels are for the best.”
    “Best?” I pressed my lips together in manner
to contain myself. All these years apart. How could they been for
the best?
    “I will find out. Now though, we celebrate!
For we are together again, never to be parted.” Falco declared.
     
    I had never been to a feast before but
Sareta called for a generous supper laid upon a large table within
the Forbidden Castle. The hall lit brightly with candles and a fire
mended. Smiling broadly, I ate happier than I had been since I
could remember. Sareta sat next to me, holding my hand afraid I
would disappear. Completing all that I had never stopped loving,
Turstan sat across from me. Johannes and Cono sat at the far end
next to Twiten who had appeared allowing for the celebration to the
fullest.
    My heart warmed as the fire that burned
brightly. Gunilda glowed sitting on the other side of Sareta. Her
eyes brimmed with merriment for she had her child next to her once
more evident also that the small one had missed her nurse.
    “I’ll talk with Grandfather, Kela. I’m
certain he didn’t mean this to happen. If he’s worried about such,
I can cover all. I will tell him,” Sareta gave her sister a