42 Sense and Sensibility (2/2)
”When Aurana told me she was returning to Mudgard to recruit a talented human... I was skeptical,” Auranos admitted. ”And when I saw you, how much smaller you were than your own younger brother... Well, I did not believe you would be useful...”
No one but Aura must have noticed the momentary flash of anger that flitted between my eyes at hearing someone call me small. It wasn't my fault Luca was so damn tall for a fourteen-year-old.
Luckily, Auranos continued speaking like he hadn't noticed my frustration.
”But then I gave you a fairy blessing and the power that awoke in you... and I knew my sister was right...” Auranos managed to say all this before a coughing fit racked his body.
Aura went to him and helped him take a sip from the crystal goblet on the small table beside his chair. Whatever was inside eased his breathing a little.
I smelled the sweet, spicy-hot fragrance of a healing potion wafting out of the goblet as Aura placed it back on the table.
After a short time had passed, I asked the question lodged in my brain, ”What do you mean when you said your sister was right?”
It was Orryn who answered. ”The Patriarch speaks of your fairy gift... Including yourself, I can count the number of viseres in the last three hundred years who've gained the power of insight with the fingers of one hand.”
For effect, Orryn raised his stubby left hand and showed me the number five.
”One perished during the fracturing of the moon clan,” Orryn began.
”After he caused it in the first place,” Darah commented.
”Well, yes,” Orryn agreed. ”The other three are still alive.”
”One sits as an Inquisitor of the Order of Justiciar... Unofficially the most powerful of the neutral clans,” Commander Thors revealed. ”They act as are arbitrators in other clan conflicts.
”Pray you never meet them as an enemy for they are relentless in the pursuit of their justice,” Darah warned.
”Another one rules over the Starfall Clan as its Lord of Stars,” Orryn continued. ”Can you imagine, a human ruling over fairies... how absurd...”
The silence that arrived after his words was deafening. Of course, everyone was looking at me, and in my head, I wondered if they thought I would one day try to seize power in the clan. Ha! As if I'd bother. Nope. I just wanted to save Luca and fulfill my bargain with Aura. I didn't want any more responsibility, thank you very much.
”And the last one?” I asked just so I could change the mood. I didn't realize my question would sour things even more.
”We do not speak of him less the whisper of his name reach his ears and he turns his thoughts onto us before we are ready,” Auranos answered after a while.
”What Auranos is getting at, Dean,” Darah draped her armored hand on my shoulder. ”Is that not all those gifted with insight necessarily have eyes like yours. There is more than one way to sense the world around us, isn't there?”
The implications of the bomb Darah and the others dropped on me sent a chill down my spine. I felt like the only loser in a family of five super siblings. Geez, and I already had Luca to contend with. Now there were four other sense guys running around accomplishing tasks I couldn't even imagine.
Aura must have sensed my distress as she came over and smacked me lightly on the shoulder.
”This changes nothing,” she said encouragingly. ”Our goal was always going to be a challenging one... and now you have a measure of what's necessary.”
”My sister is right,” Auranos slumped even lower on his chair like he was getting ready to lie back. ”Continue to distinguish yourself in service as you have already begun and use the upcoming war to learn all you can from my aunt.”
”That won't be easy... This boy's a stubborn brat. I doubt he could learn more than a tenth of what I'm willing to teach him,” Darah increased the weight of her arm on my shoulder, forcing my back to bend. ”Besides, our next opponent won't be as easy as that Azuma you and Roger are so enamored about...”
Darah's smile reversed into a scowl. Her eyes narrowed. The thought of the enemy general was obviously pissing her off.
”Ardan Spellweaver is a Great General who has accomplished as much as our four Great Generals... Maybe more,” Orryn brooded. ”After all, while there are four of you here, Darah, he alone ensures the security of his clan...”
”Four...” Darah's eyebrow arched when she turned on Orryn. ”I count only three we can rely on, Orryn. Don't make the mistake of thinking we can trust Garm to watch our backs...”
”Humph,” Orryn crossed his short arms over his chest. ”I'm no fool. I'd trust Garm to guard my flank as much as I'd feed myself to a baby dragon...”
Despite the debate that sparked between Orryn and Darah over the one Great General I hadn't met yet, I noticed that Auranos' eyes were fixed on me.
”You don't need to worry about anything other than what is in front of you, Dean...” he said.
He spoke over his aunt and advisor to tell me this.
Little by little... your achievements will pile up one after another until your name resounds across all the Fayne... that is the fate of those blessed with great senses... and perhaps then, you will have achieved your dreams...” Auranos whispered.
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His head drooped into his pillow. Sleep was taking him.
Auranos and Aura were right. Helping their family claim the empty throne and claiming a wish that could save Luca from the curse of slavery was always going to be a ginormous job. However, just like Yoda told Luke in that really old Star Wars movie, There was no try, only do.