“That can’t be true,” I protested.

Was it that far-fetched? I thought of the fight with the Hybrid in the cells below the barracks. Of the presence I had felt inside myself and the fire that had burst from my throat. I looked to my two companions, by their nods I knew that they had their own inner passengers. Knowing the answer I asked the question anyway.

“What was the animal that Ordus Chose?”

Eldarion smiled, nodding to Ian.

Ian strode over to a shelf on the side of the room and withdrew an ancient tome. Placing it before us he said, “Herein are listed the Avatars that were remembered by our race. It is by no means a comprehensive list, nor a detailed one, but the marked page may be of particular interest to you Drake.”

I carefully opened the tome to the page marked with a red silk ribbon. The ancient parchment rough beneath my hands I looked at the page. On the left hand page was a hand sketched image of a man with scaly skin and the face of a toothed lizard breathing a gout of flame. On the top of the page opposite was the title The Avatar of Order. I read the entry below the title:

The God Ordus chose among the animals a majestic wing’d creature, the Drake...

The presence within me responded with a contented hiss.

While I was still registering this development, another thought occurred to me and I flipped through the book looking for a specific animal. I stopped when I came to the title The Avatar of Cunning. On the page opposite was a drawing of Gran. I would need to speak with Risha as well. Seeing the drawn lines of Gran’s face brought back another vision she had shared with me. Nicolas defending the owlets.

“Who’s that?” Isaac asked.

“That’s the woman I saw across the fire,” I replied. Turning to Nicolas I continued, “She showed me a vision of you as well. Why were you helping the Regent’s men?”

He blinked large, watery eyes at me and looked down at his folded hands, “They had my sister and her children, my niece and nephew, in those cells and they threatened to hurt them if I didn’t give them the information they wanted. We brought them out with us, they would like to thank you for rescuing us. You can meet them later,” His eyes met mine and his spine straightened, “I will attempt to atone for my actions by pledging my research skills and knowledge to your cause.”

“My cause?” I asked.

“You do intend to at least try to stop the Avatar of Chaos from bringing whatever evil plans he has to fruition, yes?”

“Well when you put it like that...” I sighed.

“We will provide you with whatever aid we can as well,” added Eldarion, turning his head, “It sounds as if our raid leader has returned right on time.”

Just then, a figure appeared in the door of the cabin and I got my next surprise.

“Matthew?!”

“Well well, young Drake, have you decided to take me up on my offer?” he grinned.

“What are you doing here?!”

Dressed much the same as the last time I saw him, he marched into the room and shook my hand. Holding me at arms length he tilted his head and said, “You look like shit lad,” he laughed, “but it’s still good to see you.”

As he came around the table I introduced him to my two companions.

“Gods, and I thought Drake was a big lad,” he said, clasping forearms with Isaac.

“Pleased to meet you,” Isaac said with a nod.

He brought Karan’s hand up and brushed his lips lightly against her knuckles, “Delighted to make the acquaintance of such a lovely young woman,” he said, charmingly.

“Quite the charmer you are,” she laughed, “Lisa warned me about you.”

“She only had nice things to say I should hope,” Matthew said.

“Mostly,” Karan demurred.

Matthew bellowed his hearty laugh and, turning to the Elves in the room, said, “Time to get down to business I suppose. Did I miss anything else while I was out?”

“No Matthew, only the arrival of Drake and his company,” Eldarion informed him.

“How went your raid?” Ian asked.

“Oh very well!” Matthew exclaimed, “The prisoner transports were right where our spies said they’d be and we struck well and quickly, we managed to free all the prisoners with minimal loss to the raiding party.”

“Prisoner transports?” I asked.

“Aye,” Matthew sighed, “The Regent has begun rounding up any Wolves he can find. He’s sent patrols all across the countryside to places where Wolf attacks have been reported. When the patrols arrive their leaders, called Hunt Masters, inform the locals that the patrol is there to help and that they will hunt down those responsible for mutilating cattle or carrying off townspeople.

“Then they hunt down and capture the Wolves responsible and send them to the Regent without telling the locals. What comes next is the truly despicable part. They return to the village with the grim news: it was discovered that a local family of Wolves was responsible. Then they trot out whatever evidence they’ve trumped up. Usually it’s one of the Wolfen children, dominated by a Hybrid and forced to act crazy and rabid.

“They use this ‘evidence’ to arrest the whole family for everyone’s protection. That way the Regent gets twice the amount of Wolves to torture and the people are none the wiser and actually thank him for it. We are trying to put a stop to this and rescue these families. Sometimes we hear about it in time to do something, sometimes we don’t.”

“That’s terrible!” Karan exclaimed, her hands covering her mouth.

Eldarion shook his head sadly, “Who did we lose this time?”

“Reynolds and his son, Malcolm,” Matthew replied.

“Their names shall be added to the Stones of Remembrance,” Eldarion intoned.

“If that is all,” Matthew said, his mouth set in a grim line, “I have a widow to inform and console.”

“Yes,” Eldarion nodded, “We will talk again later. Go. Give Saffron my condolences.”

“Of course Elder,” Matthew said, turning to me he added, “I’m glad you’re here, Drake. We should talk later as well. We can share another meal and you can tell me what circumstance brought you here.”

“I look forward to it,” I told him, patting his shoulder.

“Isaac,” he nodded, then turned to Karan, “I shall carry the vision of your beauty with me miss Harper.”

She smiled sadly in response and squeezed his arm as he departed. Then she and Isaac returned their attention to the book in front of us.

“Please be seated again if you will,” Eldarion said, spreading his hands, “There is still much for us to discuss. Chiefly, how to get you all more deeply in touch with your inner powers.”

“Do you know of a way to do that?” I asked.

“Our people have several meditation techniques I think can be of use to you and any magi you have traveling with you. Nightfall approaches, rest here tonight and in the morning gather the people you believe have hidden abilities and we shall begin their education,” Eldarion said, “Take this tome with you and try to determine which Avatars are with us.”

“I’m feeling a strong connection to the Avatar of Wrath here,” Isaac said, showing us a picture of a bellowing Gorilla.

“Wrath?” I wondered, “That doesn’t sound good.”

“None of the Avatars started out as good or evil,” Eldarion said, “It’s more in how the powers they bestow are used. In this case it could be the Wrath of the Just towards Evil.”

“I was drawn to this page,” Karan spoke, “The Avatar of Perception.”

“Is that a drawing of an eye?” Isaac asked.

“Specifically, the eye of an Eagle,” she replied, “I’ve noticed my vision becoming even sharper recently.”

“Wonderful!” proclaimed Eldarion, “Two very powerful Avatars.”

“Great, let’s go talk to the others,” I gathered up the book and bowed to Eldarion, “Thank you Elder.”

“Go in peace my new friends,” he said, returning the bow, “I will see you in the morning.”

We left the cabin with the tome tucked under my wounded right arm, when we heard a woman’s wail of grief I put my left arm over Karan’s shoulder.

“I think I will go offer my condolences to the widow and see if there is anything I can do to ease her suffering,” Isaac said.

“You’ve a kind heart my friend,” I said warmly.

Matthew told me later that the widow had taken her anger and grief out on Isaac, she had actually broken a pitcher full of milk over his head, and that he had stood there and let her pummel him until she collapsed in tears. He helped her to a chair, cleaned up the mess and then sat with her until she fell asleep in her husband’s favorite chair. Isaac never said a word to anyone about her outburst.

Next Chapter: Chapter 17