Chelsea

Cadence squealed with delight as she read and reread the message that had been sent to her. Pleasure spread through her when her eyes fell upon the news that Prince Dezzoryan craved her company and had asked if it was acceptable for him to call again! He wanted to see her! He was due to arrive later in the afternoon. It was early in the morning and the message had been received at the crack of dawn. The princess could barely contain herself. She fidgeted in front of her mirror, not knowing what to do.

She was still dressed in her nightgown, which fell to her ankles, and her hair was braided into two ropes on either side of her head. The girl stared at herself in the mirror, studying her face as if she were looking upon a stranger. Some would call her a rare beauty, exotic. She though of herself as a human error. Being half nymph, she had pixie-like attributes. She was short of stature, when she was told most men liked ladies to be tall and elegant and graceful. Cadence always thought if she had been any taller, she would be clumsy, not graceful. Her large green eyes that could change color according to her current emotion seemed to sparkle when the light hit them just right, her pointed nose set so delicately in the center of her face, her long, slender figure was that of a willow branch. She perhaps was larger than most nymphs, and carried the same skin tone as humans, but her nymph background was certainly evident.

Her nursemaid had called her unique, and Cadence had wondered what she had meant. Was she truly different than other girls full of human blood? Would that set her apart from all humans, just because her father had fallen in love with her mother, just because she could not chose to whom she was born?

Suddenly she wondered what the good prince Dezzo saw in her. She was too...different for anyone to accept, was she not? She was cursed to be two worlds in one body. This was a lot for one small girl-or young woman, rather-to take on. Cadence pondered on the though of why she was just now stressing about this. She had lived with the fact that she was different her entire life and not once given it a second thought. Now that she had the attention of an extremely handsome and fascinating prince, she doubted her own self-worth. Cadence chided herself for thinking these things, for she had to be worth something in order to have captured the eye of such a young man as Dezzo.

Feeling a little more confidence, she noticed the image staring back at her from the mirror had perked up. She smiled at it, liking what she saw. Cadence unbraided her hair, picked up her horsehair brush and busied herself with grooming. She let her thoughts drift around in her head as she hummed happily to herself.

I should call for Japeth, she thought. He said that he wanted to meet Dezzo. What more perfect an opportunity than this? She cheered as she pictured their meeting, and her heart quickened.

"You are looking mighty cheered this morning, my young lady!" said her handmaid Tiffron as she entered the bedchambers. "There is news in the kitchens, my princess. So it seems that you be having a special visitor this day!" Tiffron was always cheerful in the mornings, she always said it was the best way to begin a new day. What better a way was there? 'If you start the day off good, it is bound to end up the same way.' That was always her motto, her favorite quote. Tiffron's cheery mood is what Cadence adored best, and what had won her friendship.

"Today, Tiffron, will be a grand one, you just wait and see. I feel so giddy inside whenever I think of...is this normal?" Cadence almost squealed with delight. Tiffron was grinning delightfully.

"Believe you me, this is a good sign. I was having fears my dear, that you would grow to be an old rusty crone! My lady, you are so old to not have hundreds of suitors swarming around you! Let alone a man all your own." Tiffron grinned again as she picked up Cadence's blue satin dress and held it out. Cadence obediently slipped off her nightgown and tugged on the bodice.

"I know there has been talk about me, Tiffron. People were whispering in the corners of the castle about why I have remained unmarried." She cast her eyes downward as the dress was applied to her body. "I have this theory, that if my mother and father were able to marry for love, then why could I not have the same luxury?"

Tiffron's bottom lip quivered at the mentioning of Cadence's queen mother. Everyone had loved her mother dearly, and they still mourned her. "My lady, I understand the words you speak. I am also extremely glad that you have made this decision. I do not know how I could have lived with myself if I had let you marry some overlord for the sake of convenience. This is why I am thankful not to have been born of high lineage." Tiffron pursed her lips tightly, fearing she had said too much. But she knew in her heart that Cadence agreed with her. It was the truth told in many a commoner's heart, and it was well known. How many times had Cadence herself wished she were not royalty because of the hardships it brought?

"I am going to send for Japeth today as well." Cadence said, changing the subject as she continued brushing her hair. "He craves council with my suitor."

"As do you, I imagine!" Tiffron teased, and giggled again. Cadence smiled, but did not feel like returning Tiffron's girlish antics. She primped herself in the mirror a little while before Tiffron took it upon herself to twist her dark hair into braids circling her head. Cadence remarked once again how talented Tiffron was at working with other's hair. Tiffron tittered back at how she adored fixing Cadence's hair, that when she stepped back and admired how beautiful the princess looked as a finished product, she knew she had had some part in the making of the masterpiece. Cadence had to blush.

"My, my, you would look positively stunning if you wore this on your brow!" Tiffron squealed as she held up the pearly beaded tiara-like circlet. Tiffron placed it on top of Cadence's head and centered it so the teardrop pearl hanged down in the middle of her forehead. Cadence liked the effect and her eyes sparkled with pleasure.

"I feel my heart could burst any moment, Tiffron." She whispered. "Do you think it is love?" Her round eyes peered up at the older woman, glinting with anticipation.

Tiffron pursed her lips yet again, not knowing how to answer. Personally, she thought Cadence's reactions to this young man were purely excitement. Cadence was inexperienced when it came to the subject of men and emotions. The woman knew almost certainly that it was not love, but it was Cadence's chance for happiness, perhaps the best one she would ever get. It was better than having her father resort to marrying her out on an agreement.

"I do not know, my lady," she said simply. "But it pleases me to see you in this state."

"Will you breakfast with me this morning, Tiffron?" Cadence asked, looking at the woman's reflection in the mirror. "I want my closest friend with me this day, and you are definitely my confidante."

"It would be my pleasure, my lady!" Tiffron said in her usual cheerful mood. "My pleasure, indeed!" Tiffron excitedly busied herself in readying for eating in front of royalty. Cadence sat back and was amused by the woman's antics. Finally Tiffron saw them both fit to dine, and opened the door of Cadence's chambers that led out into the corridor. The walked side by side down to the dining hall, where Hambre awaited them.

"Good morning, ladies," he greeted them. They took their seats at the long table in front of a slow fire, Tiffron to Cadences left, and Hambre at the head. The meal was carted out by one of the chefs who smiled broadly and served them willingly. Hambre broke the silence of the meal, "I hear of a visitor chancing to tarry a-while with us on this day, my dear." He said.

Cadence blushed a little and Tiffron almost choked on her bite of food. The princess looked up shyly at her father. "Yes, my father. Prince Dezzoryan has found time in his busy schedule to pay a lonely princess a visit. Do you remember him from the social you held the other day, father?" She looked down at her plate and Hambre nodded. "I will welcome him with open arms." After a short silence, she perked up and let a cheery look settle on her face. "I am going to call upon Japeth today, as well. I would like the two men to share council with one another. I hope that Japeth approves of this prince of mine!"

Tiffron giggled a girlish giggle when she heard these words. The young woman found it amusing that Cadence should speak of the Prince Dezzo as her own already. The princess shot Tiffron a sharp look, and then returned her eyes to her plate, unsure of what to say next. Hambre sat in silence as well, a little uncomfortable. Then he smiled a boyish smile, the smile that warned Cadence that he was reminiscing.

"I remember when I was a young lad, courting your dear mother." He grinned, recalling the close heartfelt memories. "She was evasive, I could tell not whether she enjoyed my company or loathed it. I spent many a night laying awake thinking about her, wondering if she was doing the same of me." He fell silent for a moment, sighing, and remembered his lost wife. "But in the end, after all of the long, sleepless nights and fruitless attempts to catch her eye and win hear heart, it was all worth it. Every single breath and ounce of sweat that I dedicated to her was a most inexpensive price indeed for the time we had together as man and wife." He smiled, the pain was just a dull ache in his heart, a longing that he had grown used to. Talking of his long lost beautiful Shay was sad, but he knew it was better to talk of her short than to not acknowledge that she had ever existed.

Cadence understood this as well, but she still thought the conversation put a gloom on the swell day she had ahead of her. "Well, my father, I can only hope to be half as happy as you and my mother were when I am married." She stated truthfully. The way things were going she would be lucky to be even diminutively as happy as they had been. But then again, her father had lost her mother to childbirth only three years after Cadence herself had entered the world, and the loss had only been all the more painful. That sort of pain was what Cadence feared the most; it was what kept her from allowing herself to fully let go of her emotions. She did not know if she could handle it if someone she loved unconditionally suddenly decided to meet his maker.

Cadence pushed the thought away and quickly finishing her breakfast. The atmosphere of the morning had suddenly grown out its welcome, and Cadence wished not to dwell in its midst longer than she had to. Politely excusing herself, she left the table and went for a morning walk into the orchard. She knew she had to send word for Japeth soon lest he not arrive on time to meet Dezzo.

The sunlight had an eerie effect this morning. She lifted her head to the sky and soaked it in, and a strange feeling came upon her. Cadence had had feelings like this before; it was part of the nymph in her. Nymphs were deeply in touch with nature and were almost psychic. After all, life dwells in nature, and being so in touch with such a force would send powerful vibes. Maybe it was these vibes Cadence felt right now, maybe something important was going to happen. She smiled to herself and headed back to the palace.

Later, after she had sent a messenger to the Nymph village to look for Japeth, Cadence sat up in the palace library, still and silent, unsure of what to do with herself. Her mind had strayed from her studies, for what normal person could keep a strait mind when such a day was ahead?

Her father had been wise and sent her through schooling. Not many princesses were taught of things that most young princes were taught. Cadence considered herself lucky to have the same knowledge of some prince wherever she went. She knew the battle strategies, methods of ruling in a king's stead and plenty of other things that normal princesses would not even acknowledge. Her tutor had even said Cadence was much brighter than most learned princes her age were. She had to beam at the compliment, as did her father. Hambre had always said Cadence had a grand head on her shoulders, and of course, for whose daughter was she?

It was just that today she could not concentrate. Her tutor had repeatedly looked up across the book he was studying and scowled at Cadence whenever she was not at attention. Many times she had been reprimanded, but soon after she was staring back out of the window again and soaking in the eerie-feeling sunlight.

She almost leapt out of her seat when someone knocked on the door to announce she had a visitor, but she quickly composed herself, as a princess should. When she learned it was Japeth, Cadence visibly relaxed. His dark, liquid black eyes looked back at her coolly, knowing exactly how she was feeling. He smiled gently and approached her.

"So, my dear cousin, you have sent for me?" he inquired, knowing fully well the reason he was sent for.

"It was under my impression, dear cousin, that you missed me. I took it upon myself as a good lady and sent for you, for reasons of your entertainment only." Her pert little smile made Japeth chuckle. "Oh, yes, and some prince named Dezzoryan has decided to pay us a visit. I thought you would like to meet him."

"Ah, I do so recall that you mean me to measure up his worth for you and tell you if he is fit to bride you." Japeth's eyes twinkled as Cadence blushed and took his arm which he had offered. "When is this noble prince of yours due, my little dance?"

"Some time soon, I should hope." Cadence said, trying to mask her excitement. But to no avail; Japeth could feel what she was feeling and it was only magnified by their touch. He seemed to radiate the same sense of excitement, and Cadence was giddy.

Cadence led Japeth to the room where Hambre was busy studying the financial stability of his kingdom. She knew he would welcome an intrusion by now; he had been at the same boring statistics for quite a while now. Like a good king, Hambre worried about the happiness of his people, and part of their happiness had to do with how wealthy they were. Wealth was measured in many ways for Fairdox; least of all money and worldly riches as that.

She smiled at the servant who stood post at the door, waiting for the beck of his master. The servant bowed and rushed in to the room to announce the king's daughter and nephew. Soon she heard her father's gruff voice call them into the room.

Hambre looked tired, but he smiled as his eye fell upon his two most favorite youths. He would have stood up, but Japeth begged him to keep his seat and rest his tired, old body. The king playfully scowled at the reference to his age, but knew it was only Japeth's good-natured humor, and offered them both chairs in front of his long desk.

"You have been away much too long, my nephew. Would you think I did not wish to host your company? Think such not of these things, boy, and have a drink." The servant approached with a pitcher of sweet ale and poured Japeth a cup. Cadence daintily refused.

"Please, your highness, your daughter has scorned me as much, and I do apologize." He said sincerely. "I have been training these past years."

"You do carry about you a different air than I remember, my boy. You have quite matured from the boy that I last recall." He leaned back in his chair and looked off somewhere in the distance, perhaps out of the window, reminiscing. "Ah, yes, I do remember how you and Cadence use to be such playmates-she was so tiny then, barely up to my knee." The king chuckled to himself.

"I remember the princess as a young girl, and she was not so fragile as you may think." Japeth said, his eyes glinting. "I remember how she use to be able to whoop the snot out of any boy who challenged her. Not many would though, for fear of hurting the king's daughter and having to face his wrath." Now it was Japeth's turn to chuckle. "She use to attack the poor nymph boys. What a dainty princess she was!"

King Hambre and Jariath both had a full-hearted laugh with each other as Cadence sat beside her cousin, quietly looking down at her hands. "It isn't that funny." She persisted. "I was a little girl and my only playmate was a brutish boy who came to the palace sent by his mother to be tutored with me." She glared at Jariath, who playfully bit his tongue and ceased his laughter.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door, and the servant who had stood guard entered, announcing the arrival of the expected guest. Cadence leapt up out of her seat and nearly pummeled Japeth. Straitening herself, she prepared to receive prince Dezzoryan. Her heart began to race and she felt the blood rush up to her face. Suddenly she felt faint, and her eyes fluttered back at the moment that Dezzo walked into the room. The prince was greeted with a hollow thud as Cadence's body hit the floor.

Dezzo gave Japeth a look of surprise as he quickly walked to Cadence and kneeled. He placed his hand over her forehead as a sincere look of concern masked his face. The princess's eyes fluttered open, and the color returned to her face. She looked into his eyes and her pupils shrank and she trembled slightly.

"My, my, princess," Dezzo tsk-ed. "You flatter me too much, such a reaction to my presence makes me feel too bold and useful. You had better think twice about making that a habit!" His eyes twinkled as he helped her up into a sitting position.

"Oh�my goodness." She gasped. "I don't know what came over me�I just�one moment I was standing up to greet you�" she looked up at the faces all around her, they were all slightly amused and she flushed with embarrassment.

"Come, come, my dear," said Hambre as he bent behind her and helped her to her feet. "You just got too excited for your own good." He chuckled quietly under his breath and Cadence could plainly hear Japeth's snicker. She shot him a sideways glance and straitened herself.

"Pardon me, good prince," said Cadence. "I did not mean to act in such ways. I hope you are not too greatly offended." And before anyone could reply, she walked out of the room and towards the entrance to the garden. Dezzo grinned and followed suit. Japeth followed Dezzo and Hambre was left in the room to his own expense.

When they caught up with Cadence, she was pacing back and forth. Her face was a lovely shade of crimson and she would not raise her eyes to either of the young men pursuing her. Dezzo and Japeth exchanged another sardonic glance and Japeth approached the princess. He did not really know what he wanted to say to her, but he felt that he should break the re-accumulated ice that had formed between Cadence and the prince Dezzo.

"Young lady, stop your pacing!" he said gruffly. Cadence flinched, and turned around to face him. She had an angry look in her eyes, and inside Japeth shrank. "You are making a poor show of yourself, madam." He commented. "You run off when you get the slight bit embarrassed instead of staying and surviving through it like a grown woman. A man does not want the company of an immature little girl, more the company of an intellectual mind that he can confide in. See what how ashamed you are making yourself just because of your pride?"

Cadence's eyes fell as she blushed again. It took her a while to find her voice. "I did the right thing. You can not blame me, Japeth. If I would have stayed I would have lost my temper and made an even bigger fool of myself. And now because of my stupidity, Dezzo has seen my worst side and he probably thinks very little of me." She glanced over to the prince behind her and he smiled, then she jerked her eyes back to Japeth.

The prince took this as a signal to step in, and he cleared his throat to gain attention as he approached the two. "My dear, if that is your worst side, then I have nothing to fear. This introduction has been interesting, I must say." His dark eyes twinkled as he looked at Cadence, and the princess felt a maddening rush shoot through her body. "That reminds me, who is this strapping young lad that you seem very familiar with, my dear Cadence?" he asked to change the subject and perhaps make the princess feel a little more comfortable.

Cadence straitened up, smiled, and held her hand out to Japeth. "This is my dear cousin and loyal friend, Japeth. Japeth, this is the good Prince Dezzoryan." The two young men shook hands. Japeth almost flinched when their hands came in contact; something wasn't right within this boy, and he felt it. It was like an electric shock that traveled from his hand to his brain. His eyes jerked towards Cadence, but she had not noticed the strange interaction, and he tried his best to dismiss it. But still, he told himself to keep a close eye on this new prince; perhaps he was not able to be trusted.

He quietly dismissed himself, telling him that he wished council with the king whom he had missed dearly in his absence. Dezzo grinned and thanked him upon his departure. Swiftly Japeth entered the palace and left the two alone.

Dagan jumped and looked around. No, nothing. What was that? He looked around again. His heart pounded. He had been sitting peacefully under a tree, waiting for Sheren to return. He was beside himself with boredom; Shenk was away visiting family for two days, and Sheren was off fetching her tiger Purnia. Purnia was a fully-grown male tiger whom Sheren had rescued as a cub in the mountains of a land to the far north. He had wandered off one day; probably looking for a mate, Dagan gathered. Good luck to the poor creature, for no tigers, especially females, resided in the area. Dagan remembered the comical expression on Sheren's face when she learned of Purnia's disappearance. He chuckled to himself as he recalled the way she stormed off, cursing the animal to all gods and places unknown on this plane of earth. He knew she would coddle the monstrous feline and make sure he would never want to leave again, despite what she claimed she would do to Purnia.

But now the camp was quiet and desolate. He chided himself, wishing he had accompanied Sheren on her quest to find her lost feline companion. The he reminded himself that there would have been no one around to guard the camp. Who knows what type of mongrels lurked in these woods, waiting to catch a camp off its' guard and attack it? He then chided himself for almost falling asleep on his watch. This reminded him of what had awoken him.

What had that feeling been? It had felt like someone had screamed. Felt? How do you feel a scream? He did not know the answer to that. All he knew was that he had felt the scream. But whose scream was it? And where did it come from? Again he looked around. Perhaps it was a dragon nearby? Most likely. He closed his eyes and sent out something like a searching signal, looking for any dragon on the premises that was in need of his aid. Finding none, he gave up the attempt and dismissed the feeling as part of his imagination. Still, the scream stayed with him.

Dagan climbed to his feet and decided to walk around and let blood run to his head and feet. It was not good for a warrior to let his body become idle and lethargic; it reduced fighting skill and mobility, something no man in battle wished to own as a trait. It showed poor skill and less quality as a fighter, and a bad warrior might as well be a dead warrior.

To pass the time, Dagan brought out his bow and quiver full of arrows. He prepared himself to practice on a target he had made long ago with an old blanket and cloth sewn on it in overlapping circles, marking various regions according to difficulty and needed skill in successfully hitting it. The very center of the target was the desired goal, the most difficult region to hit due to lesser area than the other regions around it. After about seven or eight rounds of shooting six arrows, Dagan grew bored of the sport and decided to begin making a new rope.

Rope making was a strenuous and painstakingly detailed task. Even though it was a disliked burden to many, Dagan rather enjoyed the solitude and contentment that ensued while braiding rope.

About a half an hour into the rope-making business, Dagan was once again shaken out of his meditative state. There it was again! That feeling that someone was screaming. Who the hell was that? What the hell was that? This time the feeling so deeply disturbed him that he could no longer concentrate on the task at hand.

After a while he found himself walking along some path in the woods. His feet had somehow gained a mind of their own and decided to take him for a joust through the forest. Curious, Dagan went where his feet took him. They led home down a foot trail that went deep into the forest, deeper than he wished to be. He kept looking backward, trying to memorize the trail so he could find his way home. But for some reason he had no fear of being lost; he felt that he had been to this part of the wood many times, that he knew it well in his own heart.

It was near twilight when his feet rested. Suddenly the feeling of knowing where he was vanished, and Dagan felt the tight grip of panic as it began edging in upon him. Swallowing his fear, he took the sign that his feet had stopped moving as a way to say "stay here, do not move." Looking around, he could find no sign that this place of the woods was any more special than most other places in the forest. There were just rocks and trees, grass and bushes.

Suddenly the atmosphere shifted, and Dagan found himself not in the middle of some glen but standing in front of a door. He had a double take, trying to recall if the door had been there before. When he thought about it, he realized that this door had just appeared. Appeared out of what? Thin air?

The door was not very large, but it was wooden and there were intricate carvings of thousands of creatures and entities upon it. The door looked ancient, and he wondered how old it was. He then again wondered how it had gotten there, and where it led.

"Compose yourself, young Dagan," came a voice from somewhere. Dagan jumped and looked around, searching for the origin of the hidden voice. He swallowed down his sudden fear and found the courage to speak.

"Who-who is that?"

The door opened in such a melodramatic manner that Dagan seemed to lose his fear. He almost grinned as it opened slowly and the blue mist rolled out from inside of it. Behind the door was a woman. That was the only fact Dagan could distinguish of the character; her age was unknown, her face was hidden by the shadows of the blue mist. Dagan quivered; knowing this woman was a figure of great power, a deity.

"Compose yourself, young man," the woman said again. Her voice was crisp and firm, a voice of omnipotence and strength, a voice that none could or would want to ignore. Dagan obediently straitened himself up and closed his mouth, which had been hanging slack in an O of surprise.

Again he asked: "Who are you?"

The woman did not speak for a moment, as if the question had offended her. Then she lifted her chin up in a state of defiance and answered his question. "I am who I am, I am the one the Ancients followed, I am the gatekeeper." She stopped for a moment, and smiled. "But you may call me Maj."

Dagan trembled and fell to one knee. He bent his head, unsure of what he should do to show respect. "I am honored to be in your presence, Lady." He finally said.

"Do you know why I have called you here young man?" she said stately, knowing fully well that he in fact did not.

"No, madam, I do not."

"Good then, come inside and wait with me. I am expecting another caller, he is due to arrive any minute."

Dagan followed the woman inside of the door. He had to duck to enter. The inside was hard to explain it was as if there was nothing there. He reached out to touch something-anything-but his outstretched hand was enveloped into the blue mist that was swirling around. Suddenly Dagan felt insecure, what had he gotten himself into? Was this woman to be trusted?

As if she knew his thoughts, she placed a hand upon his shoulder. "Fear not, my faithful
warrior." She said. "It is a little overwhelming for mortals the first time they enter here. This is the threshold between this world and the next. This is the beginning of the Gate, not many mortals living have witnessed it. Normally I would not have let your eyes fall upon it, but this is a special occasion." Then she fell silent and said no more.

"Why have you brought me here, madam?" Dagan finally got the courage to ask. She hushed him and said he would learn the answers to his questions as soon as the third party arrived. Dagan wondered who this third party was, and if he could be trusted as well.

Dagan looked toward his hostess and tried to study her unobtrusively. She was definitely beautiful; although she could probably look like any woman she wanted to. But he got the feeling that she was true beauty, inside and out. Beauty is, by definition, flawless. He gathered that this woman was without flaw as much as any living thing could be. She had no definite height, she seemed to tower over him even though in reality her head barely reached his shoulder.

At that moment, her eyes seemed to brighten up and she took in a deep breath. "Ah, he is here." Dagan decided that Maj was speaking of this third person that was expected. She disappeared from the gateway, shortly returning thereafter with another young man. He looked to be another man of great power, and Dagan felt himself shrink, feeling unimportant and powerless.

"Madam, I beg of you to reveal the reason that is so secretive to why you have brought me here." The young man demanded. This man held an air of confidence about him that demanded respect. He seemed to be another figure of power, though less so than the woman known as Maj. He seemed more familiar with her than Dagan himself was, but he did not question their past relations.

"All in due time, young man." She said to him, patting his chest with her hand. Dagan had the impression that they were friends of some sort-or at least acquaintances. "Practice your patience, it is a most desired virtue to attain." She sighed and looked at Dagan, and smiled. "Now then, let this business commence!" Maj pointed at Dagan with a slender yet powerful hand. "Japeth, meet Dagan. He is a great warrior and a speaker of the dragon tongue. I suggest you get to know him and befriend him. He can come of great use to you one day."

Dagan almost blushed, but Japeth took no notice and held his hand out to greet him. "Dagan," he started. "It is a pleasure to meet such an outstanding and accomplished man as yourself. I do hope to become further acquainted with you."

Dagan shook his hand firmly, still a little untrusting, but he nodded his head in agreement. "What ever the future brings, my friend." He said with conviction.

Introductions passed, Maj affirmed that it was time to get down to the subject. "Please, rest yourselves. You must be a little careworn from your journeys through theses woods."

Just then, from out of no where, chair-like extensions appeared from the blue mists for which Dagan and Japeth were to sit upon. And sit upon these chair-like entities they did. "Now," began Maj, "I want you to take a deep breath and brace yourself Japeth. This news will be a trifle shocking to you. Dagan, even though you know not whom I speak of, I wish for you to listen with apt attention, for it is here that your paths cross." She looked directly at Japeth now, and peered deep into his eyes. She saw he was confused, and a little afraid. "What do you think I am about to tell you of, dear?"

Japeth tried to hide his shaking voice. Hundreds of possibilities shot through his brain, some about his mother, some of his village, but most of Cadence. It was Cadence, he felt it; something was wrong. "What happened to her Maj? You must tell me!"

Maj felt a thread of pity for the young man. She knew what love was, but being immortal came not with the exquisite treasures of the mortals; she could not afford such dangerous feelings. She also knew that this love that Japeth had for his cousin could be a weakness, although it was probably their greatest strength. If his feelings for her were not so intense, he might lose hope and give up, something Maj did not want happening. The fate of the entire forest for which her portal resided in was in the hands of these two men; if they failed, life of the forest would change forever.

"You should not have left her alone today with the young man who came calling. It is none of your fault, Japeth, it is fate, this would have happened regardless if you had stayed directly at her side or not." She looked into Japeth's eyes once more. "Do not condemn yourself, Japeth. A sore heart will not get you anywhere, my friend. A sore heart will break you and you will be destroyed. Cadence has been kidnapped and taken captive by this prince Dezzo. She is in the keep of a dark overlord known as Zada, who so happens to be the good prince Dezzoryan's uncle.

"Lord Zada has evil plans as dark as his own heart to conquer this land, not just Fairdox, but every grain of sand and blade of grass from one sea to the other. You must not allow this, either of you. His blackened plans should be spoiled before they have taken wing. You've not any idea how many lives will be changed for the worse if he achieves his goals.

"Usually, I do not tamper with the fates, but I feel that this is a twisted and evil fate that must be aborted as quickly as possible. It can not really be a true fate of the gods if it includes destroying this portal that we now stand in. That is why I think it is a test of some sort, I know not for whom or why. Perhaps it is not a test, perhaps it is just a way for our toiling gods to place lives in the order which they want them to be placed. But never mind this, explaining the will of the gods is not what I brought you here for."

Japeth angrily jumped out of his seat in a blind rage. "Why then, Madame, did you bring us here?" he demanded, his voice writhing with hate and fury. "You have known that this was to happen long before I was even born, why could you not have stopped it in the first place? Have you no heart? Have you know compassion? Imagine what she is going through! You evil witch-"

"Hold your tongue!" flared Maj. "I have said before that I foul not with the doings of the gods. What has happened has happened for a reason, dear Japeth. Now stop your whining like an insolent little child and accept what has been coming to you since the dawn of time. Placing blame upon anyone-including yourself-will get none of us anywhere. Now calm yourself down. Sit�now!"

The force of her voice drove Japeth to collapsing upon his chair with seemingly exhaustion. He could not bear to raise his eyes to Maj as she stood in a regal and commanding stance in front of him with her hands on her hips. She placed a hand upon his head and she felt him straining himself to maintain his composure. At the caress of her hand he let out an insecure spasm and shot forward, flinging his arms around her waist and burying his face into her stomach. She patted his head and did not flinch.

"I-I just can not bear the thought of her viscously ripped away and thrown into a dungeon." He sobbed. "She has never done a thing to deserve it-never!" Japeth sobbed a bit more with his voiced muffled by Maj's stomach, and trembled abit. When he had let out most of his terror attack, he sat back and composed himself once more. "This�Lord Zada, he shall pay for what harm he has done. He shall pay for what harm he intends. And by the gods, if he so much as touches her-"

"Yes, Japeth. It is good to know your enemies. But do not blindly rush into battle in a fit of rage, for ye shall surely lose. Dagan here has known this since he has been big enough to wield a fighter's stick." She gestured toward the man who had been sitting silently, watching them both, and had almost been forgotten. But at the mention of his name, he perked up and nodded. "As a matter of fact," Maj said with a smile, "you could learn a thing or two from him." Dagan's jaw dropped as he realized what the lady was suggesting. "Yes, Dagan, this is one of the roles you shall play; master and trainer of the young sorcerer Japeth." She smiled again. "He is a powerful young man, would you not rather he be on your side, fighting for the good of the forest in which you dwell? I think you and I both know that we would not trust anyone's hand to tutor him but your own, Dagan. Such a master of your trade should be exercised. You both will go to your camp and commence the training at once."

The finality of the command was evident, and Dagan felt that he had no place to object. He stood up and nodded. "Your will be done, my lady." He said, and smiled back. The smiled did not reach his eyes as he held out his hand again toward the young wizard who was now his newest apprentice.

"I will look forward to all you will teach me, Master Dagan," said Japeth a little shakily.

"Dagan. I am just Dagan." He said, realizing with a certain irony that this was the first lesson he would teach this young man-the first of many. "Call me by the name all of my friends call me, and I shall call you by the name all of yours call you."

Japeth nodded in agreement, hopping he had not offended this tall man that stood in front of him. He looked back toward Maj, unsure of what to say to her. He was a little ashamed by his outburst against her just a few minutes ago. But she could see in his eyes that he was sorry but had no words for apology. "Go forth, young Japeth. Seize what it is that which you have lost and conquer your fears. I wish not to lay eyes upon you as a broken man ever again." This was Maj's way of saying farewell and wishing them a safe journey. Only the god's knew what their future journey had in store with them, and they needed all of the well-bidding they could receive.

Inhaling deeply, Japeth turned toward the ancient door that was the entrance to the portal to and from the other world, and he stepped out as the door opened for him. Dagan followed.

As both young men stepped outside into the fresh air, they inhaled deeply in unison, thankful to be back in their reality and away from the portal that was suppose to be forbidden to them. They turned around and realized that the door was gone, invisibly masked by the magical veil that Maj placed over it to protect the door from mortal view. Japeth looked toward Dagan expectantly, trusting him to guide them to Dagan's home. Dagan nodded, understanding the silence.

"Let us go home, Japeth." said Dagan, and they started off in the direction of Dagan's camp.

Chapter Three