Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 20:58:01 +0400
From: Nell Bas <helledon12@gmail.com>
Subject: the last feres/ the feri light 11

Happy reading!

				The Feri Light
				  Chapter 11


   'Come now, Your Majesty. It's too early to admit defeat. And quite frankly
now is not the time to wallow in self-pity. You keep forgetting that you're not
alone in this.'

   That felt like déjà vu. But I was too distraught to care.

    Then, out of the blue, Devlin surprised me with a compelling question. 'Have
you ever wondered how the dome over Targeten came to be?'

   Ceasing the whimper, I wiped away my tears, and gawked at him.

   'Have you?'

   I have no idea, I responded with my shoulders.

   'Well, let me enlighten you then.' He reached for my shoulder but instantly
paused before he could touch me. 'On second thought, this story can't be told
with words. Better I show you instead. We need to sit down for this.'

   Indian style, we sat facing each other in the middle of the sweet fragrant
flower field.  Palms up, Devlin offered both of his hands. Cautiously, I lay mine
on top of his. He gave them a squeeze causing me to flinch back. He didn't let go.

   'What I'm about to show you is not a vision but a fragment of memory. My
memory. Therefore, I'm letting you inside my head to view it. You must not, for
any reason, let go of my hands or else the link will be broken and you'll forever be
lost in the labyrinth of my mind. Understand.'

   Hesitantly, I nodded yes.

   'Okay. Close your eyes and hold on tight.'

   One second I was sitting in the flower field, the next I was standing in a large
courtyard. I started looking around. The paved grainy marble floor, the large
shallow pool in the middle of the courtyard, the façade of the ancient building
tucked in the crescent rock face formation; I realized I was in Notwitt.

   I spent a moment taking it all in before a strikingly handsome tall man in a
midnight blue robe with silver embroidery at the seams exited the throne room's
double doors. His long ash blonde hair shimmered as he walked down the steps.

   'Follow him,' I heard Devlin's voice inside my head.

   'Who is he?'

   'That's the form I took back in those days.'

   I followed the blonde Devlin to the overhang.

   'Is that your true form?'

   'No. My true form is too ugly to gaze upon. I find it easier for people if I take
a more pleasant appearance,' Devlin replied.

   Now I was curious to see him in his true form.

   'I'll show it to you one of these days.'

   The blonde Devlin went through the overhang to a secret door that I didn't
know was there. Pushing a stone lever in the wall, the stone door slowly cracked
open with a grumbling noise.

   As I followed him through, I was stunned by the beauty of the magnificent
garden before me. Crammed with an array of vibrant colored flowers, bushes and
trees, the garden was segmented on three short levels with no balustrade. I had
nothing to compare it with except for the monumental Hanging Gardens of
Babylon.

   I heard echoes of jovial laughter. Gazing in the direction it came from I saw an
eight year old boy with dark hair playing chase with an equally dark haired man
with a close cropped beard and wearing feri attire.

   The blonde Devlin lingered at the top of the stairs leading down to where they
were.

   'Devlin, you're home,' a slim yet curvy blonde woman in a long silk dress and
fashionable pieces of jewelry said as she ascended the stairs to meet him. A basket
hung from her right arm, overflowing with an assortment of freshly cut flowers.

   'Good morning, My Queen,' Devlin courteously said.

   She glanced at the man and child over her shoulders. 'Unless you want to
accompany me back to the house, My King will be a while.'

   'Thank you My Queen. But if you don't mind, I'll wait right here.'

   'Suit yourself.' She said with a gracious smile. With one last look over her
shoulder, she went through the stony entrance.

   I returned my gaze to the King and his son.

   'It's time for your lesson, son,' the King said.

   'What are we doing today, Papa,' the cute little prince replied.

   'Today we'll be conjuring feri light shields.'

   'Papa! We did that yesterday,' the little boy complained.

   'I know but you need more practice,' his father insisted. 'Now tell me how to
view feri light energy?'

   'Okay, okay.' The prince huffed, rolling his eyes.

   Blonde Devlin chuckled next to me. He was enjoying this.

   'I close my eyes and feel my surroundings. Then I produce a tiny wave, out of
my inner core, to reveal the hidden feri light energy,' the boy recited.

   As the boy spoke, I didn't realize I was following his instructions until I started
seeing the feri light energy too.'

   Amazing! I've never seen anything like it! The closest description I could give is
that feri light energy bears a resemblance to the Aurora Borealis; the Northern
lights. What struck me as odd was that instead of seeing them in the sky the
multicolored streaks of energy hovered a little above the ground.

   'Very good. Now stand by my side and do as I do.'

    The man did a series of hand gestures. The boy perfectly mimicked his
movements. Simultaneously, they slowly siphoned the feri light energy to create
two small energy domes.

   The man glanced at his son. 'Excellent form son. Now pull it over your body
and hold it in place.'

   The boy was good at following instructions. He did exactly like his father said.

   Releasing the energy he was holding, the King, walked up to his son.

   The boy's shield flickered.

   'Steady,' his father drawled.

   'It's slippery. I can't hold it much longer.'

   'That's alright son but don't let go.' It wasn't working. The boy was seconds
away from giving up. I could also see how hard it was for him to hold the shield in
place. 'Hold your breath and concentrate on the shield. That's it. Now I'm going
to test its resilience. Hold still and don't let go.'

   With a quick motion, the King delivered a brick-breaking karate move on his
son's shield. Upon contact, the shield shattered into a million pieces as if it was
made of glass.

   'You broke it,' the boy reproached his father.

   'How did I break it?'

   'I don't know,' the boy replied still angry at his father for breaking his shield.

   'You forgot the crucial part. Your shield was not strong enough because...' the
King started and using a rolling hand gesture he encourage his son to provide the
rest of the sentence.

   '... because I didn't meld it with my inner core.'

   'Exactly. Remember that next time. Now come here, you little tyke.'

   The father pulled his son in his arms and tickled him.

   In a fit of laughter, the boy struggled to break free from his father.

   Blonde Devlin chose this exact moment to join them below. I followed closely
behind him.

   'Ahem. I beg your forgiveness for the interruption, Your Majesty,' Devlin said.

    Both the King and the prince turned to look at Devlin.

   'Uncle Devlin. You're back!' The boy ran up to Devlin and hugged his legs.
Devlin ruffled his hair and chuckled.

   'It's good to see you again, Your Highness.'

   The King gazed at Devlin. A serious expression replaced the formerly cheerful
one.

   'You can take your leave now, son. I need to speak with Uncle Devlin in
private.'

   'Yeh!' the boy cheered, letting go of blonde Devlin. 'See you later Uncle
Devlin,' he said before he made a mad dash up the stairs.

   Both adults watched him go. The amused look on their faces equally showed
that they both cared deeply for the boy.

   'Judging by the look on your face, I'd say the situation is worsening.'

   Devlin nodded. 'I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Your Majesty, but you're
right.'

   The King moved into the shade of a nearby tree where a table was set with a
variety of fruit on display. There was also a pitcher. He reached for it and poured
two goblets. He handed one to Devlin who accepted it with a thank you.

   'So, deliver your report,' the King said before taking a sip of his drink.

   'The Northenders are advancing more rapidly than predicted. Yet again
they've changed their tactics. This time they're attacking us on all fronts. For now
the cities stand. But even with their protective shields up the populace is
vulnerable.'

   'How so?'

   'Collaborators, Your Majesty. The enemy has spies and allies in every major
city. They are causing a lot of trouble for the authorities.'

   The king indignantly shook his head and slammed his goblet down on the
table hard. The reddish liquid spilled and stained the white table cloth.

   Devlin remained stoic as the King gathered himself.

   'What of my circle?'

   'Amon and Helena are at the Northland boarder, fighting off incursions with
the help of the Neornites and the dragon shifters. Heming disbanded the Witch
High Council and is now taking measures to secure the city. And Leticia is with
the Alpha King trying to reason with him about deploying troops to the Sear.'

   'That stubborn bear is a thorn in our backside,' the King scolded. 'He's
causing a stir within the shifter community. In any case, let Leticia know that she
should keep a close eye on the wolves. We're already in the middle of a full blown
war. A civil war won't be to our advantage at this point.'

   'Consider it done, Your Majesty.'

   Suddenly, the King was hit with a dizzy spell. He staggered, but the tree broke
his fall.

   Devlin rushed to his side. 'Are you alright, Your Majesty?'

   The King leaned against the tree and pinched the bridge of his nose like I saw
my father do a few times when he was troubled. The King all but cried out in
agony.

   'What's wrong, Your Majesty?'

   'Keep the "your majesty crap" for when we're in the company of others
Devlin. I need the best friend I grew up with right now not the lackey,' the King
said in a foul mood.

   Devlin chuckled. 'Okay. What's wrong with you, Rem?'

   The King sighed. 'I don't think I can do this anymore, my old friend. The
Northenders are stronger beyond imagination.'

   'Come now, my friend. It's too early to admit defeat. And quite frankly now is
not the time to wallow in self-pity. You keep forgetting that you're not alone in
this.'

   'I know I have your backing old friend. Unfortunately, things are about to get
a lot worst. I had a vision last night. If I interpret it correctly, the enemy will have
complete control over Targeten within the week.'

    'That's good news. With this new insight, we'll have a better chance to turn
things around.'

   'No. It won't. It won't do any good. I've gone through every possible future
and it all turns out the same.'

   Devlin went solemn. 'Is this it?'

   'In a nutshell, yes. To think I have all this powers and can't do a damn thing
to stop the whore-flaying Northenders.'

   'What if we asked the Elves for help?'

   'Huh! Good luck with that. You know the story of their existence, right?'

   Devlin nodded yes. I could sense the annoyance growing inside him.

   'After what the Feri Council did to them, I don't think they will ever consider
being an ally with us again.'

   'There must be something we can do.' Devlin said in desperation.

   'Well, there is something I could do but it would mean the end of me and my
circle.'

   'What?'

   'I could create a barrier, a dome large enough to encompass Targeten. Once
operational it will wipe out all Northenders within our borders. For it to be
lasting I'll need a keeper, someone to act as an anchor.'

   'I'll gladly be that person,' Devlin was quick to volunteer.

   'No. In my visions, I saw a young man name Kan who fits nicely in this role.'
Seeing Devlin's disappointed face the King added. 'Don't be like that, old friend.
I have a much more important role for you. After I'm gone, I will need you to see
to my son's training. You'll also be his protector and counsel. There will come a
time when he will enter slumber like the rest of his kin. When this time comes,
your duties will be to the next King evermore. Will you do this for me, old
friend?'

   'Yes,' Devlin said without reservation.

   'There is something else. A few thousand years from now a descendant of
mine will be gifted with the burden of my abilities. He is the key to revive the
others and bring justice to the land once more. Alas, he will endure many
hardships. Despite, his strong will and resilience, he will need constant reminding.
The journey before him will be greater than any course we feri have undertaken.
You must help him realize that he has to change in order to be the savior this
realm needs.'

   Just like that I was pulled back to the present.

   'Wow!'

   Devlin genuinely smiled at me for the first time.

   'Was that...?'

   'Yes. That was High King Remmer ok Nafiri. That's old Targish for High King
Remmer the Savior. He hated the title of course but he couldn't do anything
about it. He was the original Feres king who stayed behind when the others
entered slumber.' Devlin laughed at my amazed expression.

   'And you knew him?!'

   'I thought it clear from the memory, but yes I did.'

   I giggled. 'How old were you back then?'

   'I can't remember. I've lost track after the first three hundred years. I never
was good with numbers.'

    'What about his circle? Did they really die out?'

    'They all died after putting up the shield.'

   'Did they have children like Rem?'

   'Regrettably, no. They were such a serious bunch. It was always work before
pleasure with them. Rem and I used to make fun of them while we were growing
up. They were like factory machines. Once you turned them on they never
stopped working.'

   That fact puzzled me. 'How is it that there are feri-children then?'

   'As you saw, Rem knew his circle would end abruptly. So as a precautionary
measure he made his and their powers absorbable. By means of the medallion
around your neck, their powers were absorbed at their deaths and were later
bestowed upon the people loyal to feri. After meticulous spell casting, he also
made sure the powers would surface around the birth of every new generation of
his bloodline.'

   'Basically, what you're saying is that members of my circle are all ordinary targ
save for the feri power they wield?'

   'Yes. If they happen to die, the power would simply remain dormant until
your child is born.'

   I don't know what came over me but I felt a little lighter after this
conversation.

   .....................................................


   End of chapter 11