I began to wonder about the lack of meat, but before I spoke my wonderings aloud we spotted the looming structure of the Library ahead. It was a gray that spoke of practicality and function rather than form, but its heights, and lines had a graceful if fear inspiring aesthetic. We approached by mid-day and were greeted by a stable boy, who took our horses and led us through the stables to the inner gatehouse. The guards at the gate looked bored, but snapped to sloppy attention at the sight of new faces. We announced ourselves and stated our business. They were astonished to be meeting a prince, but nearly bowed over themselves over a human, and a girl at that. I pulled the hood from my cloak to my shoulders and my face was framed by my mass of red curls. The whole courtyard stopped and stared. They gestured and pointed and whispered rushing away to spread who knows what kind of rumors. I turned to see an amused face on the Prince to my right.
“Care to enlighten me?” I asked.
“They are not used to seeing beauty displayed here, and the sight of your tattoo is quite noticeable. You are traveling with infamous company as well.” And he shrugged as if this was explanation enough for the flurry of activity around us.
A portly young man appeared before us, bowing to each of us and said.
“Follow me sir and miss, I will take you to see master Brothimus right away. He is expecting you in his personal study.”
We were taken into the hall of learning; it would seem our famous arrival had made its rounds as many students and teachers alike paused as we passed to stare at the newest rumor come to life at the hall. We were walked through the corridor to the stairs that wound around the hall to the upper floors. We stopped at the next level to walk through another corridor and turned in a large room that was filled with young people writing furiously copying with extreme focus and precision, well that is until we walked in and then not a scratch of a quill was heard. Not until we had left the room to find yet another set of stairs could you hear the master scribes telling the young adepts to stop their ogling and retain their focus and begin their writings again.
This staircase seemed to skip the next floor and take us straight to the top floor, which opened out into the most magnificent library a bibliophile would die to explore. Without pause we were ushered into a small cramped space that was wall to wall bookshelves filled with books stuffed every which way. A small man sat at the only desk in the only available chair. Though I noticed his was also covered in books, and he perched upon them. I could just imagine with his short stature that his feet would be dangling, not quite reaching the floor and the books were adding a little height. He quickly realized he was sitting in front of the next king, and quickly dismounted his book/chair and bowed.
“Your highness, what a pleasure, it has been quite a few years since you were at the academy, for what do I owe you the pleasure of this visit?”
“It has been quite a time my dear friend, always straight to the business of things. I suppose that will never change.” Artileon laughed.
“Ah yes, ever avoiding of the subject at hand, it too hasn’t left you either. Some things truly do not change.” He replied.
I smiled at the exchange.
Then the scholar noticed me, and exclaimed, “Here I am being a rude host, and shame on you my Prince… I’ve yet to be introduced to the fair companion you’ve brought to our halls.”
“I am Raechelle L’eonis Mahon…” I said. I inclined my head to the scholar after saying my name. Then I couldn’t help my smile.
The look on the scholars face was priceless, as if he was opening a book on Christmas morning. He drew a circle over his heart (I learned later was the sign of the Lord Sun’s blessing) and said, “Raechelle, my dear did you say?”
“Chelle for short, but yes, that is my name.”
“Bless me Lord Sun for I have seen the day the Shell of Mahon has graced our world.” He crowed.
He grabbed me and with a strength that surprised me given his short stature whisked me off my feet in a circle causing an avalanche of books and scrolls to clatter to the ground unceremoniously. This brought a hullabaloo of scholars and scribes running to see what a spectacle I’d become.
He whooped and crowed as he shared the news across the astonished crowd he drew. The prince leaned against the bookcases and took in the scene smiling.
Then scowled as he heard the Master scholar exclaim that his words of parting were coming back to haunt the Prince and he has returned to the halls of learning, maybe this time he will succeed where he failed before.
As the impromptu celebration wound down, Brothimus took us to the kitchens in search of refreshments. We sat to eat and I noticed here the Master was back to business and started to ask why we were here.
Begrudgingly, the prince mumbled that we needed help, and that the king had set the quest before us and that our first task was to ask Brothimus for his help.
Brothimus brightened at this, reveling in the thought that the young prince had to ask for his help, and genuinely sought it. The fervor of the study of the prophecy was scorched into his mind and written across his stormy eyes.
“Wonderful, then my help you shall have, we will start right away. I am assuming dear that you know how to read and that you can aid us in our studies?” He asked excitedly.
“Yes, I can read very well, and I’d give anything to explore any part of this library that you’ll let me! It’s a dream come true.” I replied wistfully.
“Ah, a girl after my own heart, good thing you came with this brute, he reads like a snail and complains every word of the way.” He smiled fondly at the scowling Prince.
We followed the gaily-prancing Scholar, who was receiving odd glances and outright stares from his pupils and colleagues alike. I’m guessing this was outlandish behavior for the Master Scholar, and it quite amused even the before mentioned scowling prince.
We reached the scholars private study and to my surprise adepts and scholars were busily setting up tables with rolls of parchment, and scrolls, and books pulled for our perusal and use while studying.
While we ate, they had pulled every reference to the prophecy mention in this world since time began and man recorded.
I eagerly picked up one that Brothimus pointed to and started reading; I looked up to see the Prince squabbling with him about his assignment. I’d already skimmed and found three references to the prophecy, and each one merely mention that the shell would come in the time of great need.
****
Chapter 12
In the time of great need,
The darkness shall fall,
When the Princess shall come
From the ethereal hall.
From the brightness of the sun,
Then she’ll pour into his form,
Saving the man from
The depths his own self.
*Another version was written that changed the word princess to shell Excerpt from the scroll of Parth, on the subject of the prophecy, Copy contained only in the Library
Line after line, scroll after scroll they read and re read sharing all that they found, the adept scribes furiously writing every word we said and citing our sources as we spoke about them. A sandy haired youth, with a gap in his front teeth, looked up and said, “We already read that one and it said, shell now it is saying princess. Is there an error?” This caused a flurry of activity from the adepts to find and compare both copies. There were two of them and in them the only wording changed was princess and shell.
“Well, I thought we already thought I was the shell, but I am certainly not a princess…" I started.
It was the prince who decided to inform me “The name L’eonis is akin to the Leon in my name Artileon. It is a title given to a female princess, or queen. It is usually only given to the chosen of the king, or the named heir. Consequently you are a named princess. As well you have passed the test given by the Ladisian priests.”
This caused a collective gasp in our audience. He continued ignoring this, “Therefore you and I are bo
th the named and confirmed heirs to the throne, and none can contest a trial of blood. Remember the way that my Father King spoke to you, it was to show that it was equally your quest and your throne, though you might have missed the nuance, I almost did.” I got the impression these things are not taken lightly, and didn’t press. For the remainder of our time I was referred to as the princess. I had even quite a few of the adepts fall over themselves to bow to me, as an heir to the throne. It was quite a spectacle.
Finally, we came across a book written by the Ladisians, a forbidden copy of their policies and dictates. We found that across the forbidden lands and red-sanded hills, there the great horned beast will aid the princess and her magic will be awakened. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was all we were able to find.
We slept on hard cots, in the library, and discovered sleep was not to be found when a journey is but hours away.
I tossed and turned and finally crept out of my cot and walked to the table strewn with papers and picked up the one about the princess. I muddled through comparing the prophecy to this one, and found she was still supposed to save this man, and hoped the magic she is supposed to find will be enough.
As the dawn approached, the groggy academics shuffled from their beds; while we ate they packed our provisions and set us on our way.
The Prince and I settle into our travel pattern, and talked casually. He told me of the lands we were traveling to; they were referred to as the forbidden lands. They were called that precisely because most fearful mothers and fathers forbid their youngsters from venturing there. Tales of monstrous beasts roamed these lands, one in particular a white beast, with a horn. It was said this was the fiercest of the creatures. The horn he had upon his brow was said to be as long as a large man’s forearm and his flanks were to be as tall as a man.
As he was regaling the tales of hideous creatures, it struck me again that I was riding alongside a beast, a Prince of beasts, but a beast nonetheless.
I interrupted his monologue to ask “Do you only change to a beast when you are angry?”
The Prince seemed shocked at this line of questioning, and almost just continued in his monologue, then he faced me and said, “No, I can change any time I want, and my mind is the same in either form.”
“May I see your other form?” I asked.
This truly surprised him, “You want to see the beast huh?” His smile was quick and for the first time seemed real.
Like a flash, he dismounted his steed, and flipped the reins to me, “Tie up the horses and get down, so they don’t bolt and throw you like they did last time.“
I followed his instructions, and walked to where he’d pointed out a rock to sit upon for the transformation.
Then, he started shimmering, and I found myself looking at the most beautiful creature I had ever seen in my life. His fur was so silky looking I just had to touch it; I stood to walk to where he was standing when I heard a rumbling noise. He was growling at me!
“Quit that, neither you nor I are in danger, and you said yourself that you have presence of mind in both forms, I want to feel your fur.”
He quieted and lay down and started to lick at his paws.
I ran my fingers lightly through his mane. It was as though I ran my hands through strands of silk. I must’ve, sat there petting him sometime, because I felt him shift and I woke up curled up against him.
I stretched, and started to get up, and he laid a paw across my lap preventing me from moving away. I looked at him, and he was growling. It wasn’t as though he was upset at me though, it was as though he sensed danger, and was telling to be still and quiet. He got up and stalked towards the edge of the clearing when out sprang another lion, this one slightly smaller, and golden instead of white. They stared each other down, and I noticing a tree with lower branches scrambled as high as they would hold me. The two lions nipped at each other, circling and trying to find the others’ weakness. The smaller attacked, and then it was all a frenzy of fur, and teeth, and the din or growling and roars of pain was astonishing. Finally, the larger of the two pinned down the golden one and bared his teeth as if to say ‘I win”. Then he let the smaller lion up, and he streaked off into the woods. He changed back in an instant and his eyes went to my hiding place in the tree.
“That was a good idea, to climb up and away from danger. I should trust you to your instincts more often I think.” He mused to himself.
“What just happened?” I stammered.
“That was the first of what will come, the council has found us that was my brother,” He commented.
We mounted back up and continued on our way.
****
Artileon
I marveled at her reaction or lack thereof. I had never changed in front of anyone outside of my family before. She was not afraid, not until we fought did she recognize the danger, even my growls, she silenced as irrational. I was always suppressing this bestial side of my nature, but she acted like it was just an extension of who I am. She certainly never touched me as a man that way, and she curled up, pet me like a tame animal, and fell asleep.
Curious, she even seemed to understand my warning, to be still and quiet and that danger was near. It was amazing that she had the presence of mind to move quickly and quietly out of danger. I thought back to the roles women held in our society, they were docile, and meek. This woman had a strong will, and a ferocity that spoke to my animal nature, and granted her worthy. Even now, after the whole exchange she rides beside me as though nothing changed, I merely was a curiosity and now I am the man she accompanies on the journey.
****
Chelle
Well he certainly brooded after the fight, I wanted him to know I thought no less of him in either form, and it was actually magnificent to watch him fight with his brother. It actually didn’t dawn on me till now he might be hurt.
“I didn’t ask before, and didn’t want to intrude upon your thoughts, but are you injured?” I asked.
Startled, he responded that he was fine, it was then I remembered the cut on his hand that had healed so quickly, I then sought out my hand, I had not given it thought since the ceremony it had not bothered me. I unwrapped the bandage around my hand to my shock I found it completely healed just a silvery line to mark that the skin had indeed broken. I wondered at it, and thought when had it healed? So I asked “Do all people here heal quickly?”
He stopped abruptly, and noticing my un-bandaged hand, he grabbed it studying the healed wound with detail, “No, it is not an uncommon phenomenon, but it is a mark of the Anshan people to carry this magic.”
He studied me, and then started forward riding with a little more speed than before. Riding swift enough that I could not find breath to speak again, this ended our conversation. I do believe that was his intention.
They traveled swiftly and made the edge of the forbidden lands in three days of travel. They rode from before dawn, to dusk, only stopping in the extreme heat of the day to rest the horses and lead them to the water from the river that we still followed west. We travelled until the moon was fat in the night. Nearing what Artileon called the Flower Moon.
It was at a mid-day rest we found a copse of trees standing next to the bank of the river, we sat beneath their shelter as the horses drank and then sought grass to nibble and wander. My eyes were closed, and I was reclined against the tree, as I felt the thunder of hooves, I sat up. The Prince tensed as he caught my alarm.
“What is it?” He asked.
“I felt someone is riding this way.” I said.
“How could you know this?” He questioned.
However, before I could answer the sound of the same hooves I felt before were heard and not long after a rider-less steed came into view. We stood at the ready, and I realized the Prince had drawn a dagger, nice to know we weren’t completely defenseless, but I myself had nothing. Why hadn’t I thought of this before?
As the horse neared I noticed it wasn’t merely a horse this thing was huge, what is t
hat giant mammoth breed of horses, Clydesdale…it was like that but maybe bigger. It had the most pristine white coat and its hooves though it walked on the same dirt we had ridden through, were as polished silver. On his brow was a giant horn it looked like marble. It was carved intricately with a flowering design, ending in a translucent tip that gleamed as it caught the sun.
I heard a clear voice in my mind; it was like the sense I had felt from Artileon, when he warned me in his animal form, but clearer like crystal bells ringing melodic.
“Welcome, child and beast. We have not had the likes of you in our company for centuries. Know this the only reason you are not brought to the court to pay for your crimes of trespassing is your marks of the Lord Sun, and your resonance of mind to use your astonishing gift of true speech.”
“True speech?” I said in my mind.
“Yes child, I can also sense you have a great quest, that you must request my aid, this is not a task to take lightly, as I said you merely wandering into our home carry’s a punishment of death. We take our borders very seriously, and commend you for your efforts.”
“Ahem, Princess…what exactly going on?” asked the prince aloud breaking our silent communication.
“Oh, you couldn’t hear?” I asked innocently.
“Hear what, you were just staring at this monstrous horse!” He bellowed.
“Careful of your speech and anger around this mighty stead, you may not understand his speech but he does yours.” I stated in the giant horse’s defense.
“Careful little princess, you are teasing the lion, it is not always the wisest course of action,” said the mystical creature still speaking in my mind.
“And I am not a horse, those pathetic creatures you ride are not my kin, I am a unicorn.” He said aloud.