A Whisper Across Time
Hope held Lucetius's hand as she looked out into the emerging star field. “We have to undo what was done.”
“I agree.” Lucetius brought Hope's palm to his hand, planting a small kiss. “We do not have much time left.”
“Shall we begin?” Hope asked softly, knowing once they sent their call into the growing void, their future was no longer guaranteed.
“We cannot stop the future from coming, but we can alter its course. I will always love you.”
“And I, you.” Hope closed her eyes as she kissed her husband. Then as the encroaching darkness started to kill the light around them they whispered to the winds.
~Children of the light hear my call.
We who are the mother and father of you all,
Call upon the two, both of you,
Reach for the other,
Find the other.
Search the stars for the answer.
Hear our call,
War cannot end this all,
Dreams and visions are a reality of your own.
In the end, we all belong.
Enemy and friend,
Lover and mother,
Sister and brother,
Sharing the dreams of all,
In the visions of two.
We died to save,
You die to destroy,
Save our souls and return home.~
Death is but a doorway…
… Light of my life.
Time is but the key…
…Heart of my heart,
Hope is the answer…
… Soul of my soul
Love will find a way…
… Blood of my Blood.
Prologue
She looked into the mirror to make sure she was dressed appropriately in her ceremonial robes, but her mind drifted through time forming questions, which creased her brow in frustration. How many children had she taken from their parents over the years? How many times had she heard a parent call out in anger and frustration as their child was stripped from them at birth? As the robes came back into focus, she still didn’t have the answers.
The First was granted several powers when she was pulled from the womb, although that womb was not human.
She was conceived from the destruction and the rebirth of Karaka. Perfected from the sacrifice of two, she became one. She was the past, the present, and the future of all the races. Happy with her choice of robes, she stepped through the doorway, back through time: back to the junction between the here and now. “First, First, First, First,” the crowd roared bringing her closer to the edge of the balcony. A steady hand emerged from under the silken robe and silence fell over the arena. “Let the trials BEGIN!” The words had hardly escaped her lips before the roar of the crowd drowned her out.
Children across the galaxy answered the call of the winds. The sound of her voice brought them to the arena where the trials would separate the weak from the strong. While the trials were necessary she hated them, it was here she separated family members. Her decisions tore them apart until they were destined to reunite. She understood most would die, never seeing their other half again. But it was a risk worth taking, one she had no choice but to take.
She appeared distracted until a set of triplets walked into the stadium. Triplets were rare. This set consisted of two girls and a boy. She looked down at one of the girls narrowing her eyes sharply. “That one will be nothing but trouble.” She drew an abrupt breath as two light blond-haired boys walked in pulling her attention away from the triplets. Both had steel gray eyes and hearts so pure it was almost blinding. She rose, carefully, not giving away the pain and anguish of what she had to do next. She used her power of the mind, transporting herself to the ground. The crowd instantly fell silent.
“Who are you?” Her voice was that of a mother.
The older stepped forward and spoke for both of them. “Who I am is not your concern.” He placed his hands on his hips as though daring her to come any closer.
“Do you know who I am?” She was amused at his bravery.
“We know you are the Destroyer who bears the title The First.” He answered for both of them. “We know you separate twins for reasons known only to you.”
She knew he was smart: Smarter than most at his age. “Do you fear me?”
“Why should we fear you? We take care of each other and you can’t hurt us.”
She looked up into the heavens cursing softly. “Forgive me, Father, for you have chosen the one to lead, and the other to fall.” She motioned to two guards. Each grabbed one of the boys, separating them effortlessly. She walked over to one placing a hand on his head. “You will rule. You will find the secrets behind your enemies, and you will live only to serve. Trust no one, love no one, you will die alone.” She shook her head. “Sleep,” the child fell instantly asleep.
A tug on her robe brought her attention to a little girl standing with another little boy. Her eyes were the color of the stormy sky.
“Yes, little one?”
“What will you do with him?” The little girl asked as the second boy was taken away.
She looked between them and smiled. “He, I will save for you.” She turned away, giving commands to the guards. She heard the little girl scream as she was taken from her brother.
Two Days later
“Children...come forward so I may judge you.” The shrouded figure spoke without moving his lips. Zeal and Calibid's minds filled with words haunting and ancient. The figure slowly moved to the top step. Using his walking stick, he opened a portal hole in an energy orb. “Are you afraid Zeal of what you will find here?”
“No, I'm not afraid. Why should I be? It is only the future we embrace when we look into the light.” Zeal at six years old already had the wisdom of the ancients. She paused, looking back down at her brother and then to Calibid. “I’m ready now. Where are you taking me?”
“Home,” the cloaked figure said before taking her hand and leading her into the light. Zeal's mind is filled with images of death and destruction. Standing in the center of the battlefield was Calibid.
“This is not home. This is a fearful place. Take me from here, please.” Zeal wanted to run from the images. Instead, she collapsed to the ground holding her head. She understood what the vision meant.
Calibid watched Zeal vanish. “Where have you taken her? Why was I not taken first? It is my right as the older.”
“Are you questioning me?” His hand rose to strike down the child. A mental smile filled Calibid’s mind. “Come with me child and learn the truth of your world.”
“Truth,” Calibid matched the figure's pace, and as he drew closer to the sphere of light, his eyes grew large with fear. Calibid was granted the vision of death. “Is there no other way?”
“You have seen only one path, Calibid...Learn from it. Love can change your future, but deceit is too free in your blood. Go now from my sight and do not return.”
Next Ryan climbed the stepped with his sister. He held her hand to the last moment. Kissing her cheek, he stepped into the light.
Eirika turned to the figure. “Where did he go?”
“In time you will find him again. But know a great deal of pain will fall on you. There is no other path for the Rytefka.”
“What is the Rytefka?” Eirika asked.
“Only you can answer that.” He motioned his hand. “Go now, And never look back.” He watched her step through the portal. Motioning his hands together and a bright red-hued light erupted from them. He walked slowly toward the red-haired woman and bowed to her placing his head on her own. Forehead to forehead he spoke. “Watch them...protect and guide them in their paths. It’s up to you now... first chosen of Namuhton. When the time is right, the children will find each other. One will die at the other's hands. It has to happen. Go with the hope of peace. And may the winds of fortune guide all of you.”
“You give me a great task, Master --with little to no help. All of these children are to bring peace where only chaos can reign for a mistake made by one. How can you put so much faith in me when I don't have the faith you have?”
He placed his hand on her shoulder, spinning the two of them to see out over the crowd below. “When you doubt the future...remember this day and the faces of the young ones who have chosen to protect the people of this system. Each of them has accepted their fate and is willing to die even now to see it through. Take with you the hope of understanding and if you ever need me...call to me. I will come.”
“As the Master wishes,” she bowed.
