| And So, It Begins... |
| Chapter One |
 |
| His brothers bounded out of the empty house and Corbin sheathed his sword to catch the now-sobbing boy in his arms. �Kenny, what wrong?� he asked, eying Emory nervously. �It�s Mama,� Kenton sobbed. �She�s� she�s�� unable to finish the thought, Kenton tearfully pointed back at the garden. Emory frowned and bounded ahead and reached out a hand to touch his mother�s arm. �She�s stone,� he breathed, unsure how to proceed. Corbin blinked in surprise; then glanced at each of his brothers and their mother. �We have to get the elder,� he said calmly. �He�ll know what to do.� Emory nodded and said, �I � I�ll go get him. You go inside and try to keep Kenton calm.� Corbin looked down at Kenton and said, �Let�s go see�what�s for dinner, Kenny.� He knew none of them would be hungry, but he needed something to distract his younger brother from what was going on. Kenton glanced once at his mother; then followed Corbin into the cottage. Emory nodded to himself once they�d gone inside and then bounded off down the road that lead to the village. He wasn�t too surprised when he met the elder on the road. They had been expecting him, after all. �Master Greenmeadow,� he said, out-of-breath. �It�s mother, you have to come quickly.� �What�s wrong?� the man asked, hurrying to keep up with Emory. �Is Mistress Sharon hurt?� �She � I don�t know,� Emory said uncertainly. �She � she�s been turned to stone.� ** When they arrived at the Brightmeadow Cottage, the elder immediately sent Emory inside while he examined their mother. He entered the small home a short while later and sighed deeply. �Is Mama dead?� Kenton asked, looking up from the stew he�d been stirring. The elder sighed. �Oh, lad,� he breathed, pulling the boy into a gentle embrace. �You�re mother isn�t dead. She�s just trapped by a spell.� �A spell?� Corbin asked softly, beginning to portion the stew into four bowls. �Can you� reverse it?� �No,� the elder said sadly. �My kinsman may know a way to reverse the spell, but he lives in the capitol.� �Who would do this?� Emory asked, shaking his head in disbelief. �Why?� The elder sighed deeply and sat down at the table. As the three brothers joined him, he said, �I had said I would tell you about your father,� he said wearily. �Now it seems I have to tell you about your mother as well.� �I don�t understand,� Corbin said, shaking his head. �Are you saying� that there�s actually a reason someone would cast such a spell on our mother?� �But she�s just a normal woman,� Kenton argued. �Far from normal, little one,� the elder said sadly. �Hear me out and I promise everything will make sense � at least you�ll understand the reasons behind this attack.� �We�re listening,� Emory said, nodding for the elder to begin. �It all started almost twenty years ago,� Greenmeadow began gently. �Your mother was a beautiful young lady and had just completed her training when she met your father.� �Training?� the boys asked together. The elder nodded. �Your mother is a powerful wizardess, trained in the most renown school of magic. Wait until I�m done before you ask anything more,� he said, holding up a hand to forestall further questions. When the brothers nodded, he continued. �Hiroshi was a thief, and one of the best ones ever seen, but he was also much more,� he said. �He was also half youko � fox spirit. He�d been trying to steal from your mother when they met. Rather than destroying the would-be thief, your mother decided that he should make amends for his crime by helping her. So he began working with her; gathering herbs for her, getting spell components and protecting her from harm.� �What had first begun as a punishment, ended in a close relationship. After five years the pair were married. In the first two years of their marriage, they had two strong, healthy sons.� He glanced at Emory and Corbin and smiled. �But, while both boys were clearly part youko, like their father, they had no magic apart from that which all youko have.� The elder frowned. �Three years after Corbin was born, Hiroshi was collecting spell components for Sharon when he was attacked. As he lay dying, he used a spell she�d given him to tell her what had happened.� �It seemed a powerful evil wizard had decided that he wanted your mother for himself. He killed your father and planned to kidnap your mother. Fearing for you boys, she went into hiding.� He turned to Emory and said, �When she arrived here you were nearly four and Corbin was just three. She was also quite pregnant with her third child.� �Me,� Kenton said softly. The elder nodded. �Yes, Kenton, you,� he said. Frowning, he went on. �When you were born, your mother knew that what wasn�t true of your brothers, was true for you. Kenton,� he said softly. �You have tremendous magic potential, more than I�ve seen in many years.� �That�s why his eyes are lavender,� Emory whispered. Greenmeadow nodded again. �One of the marks of a mage is unusual eye color,� he admitted. Suddenly, Kenton�s eyes widened and his hand went to his mouth. �That�s what happened!� he exclaimed. �I � I felt the spell! I felt Mama get turned to stone!� �What?� the elder asked, looking sharply at the two older brothers. Corbin glanced at Emory; then turned back to Greenmeadow and explained, �When we were coming home, Kenny was suddenly struck with a paralyzing pain in his head.� �And � and I felt something evil and scary too,� Kenton added softly. Emory blinked in surprise and said, �You didn�t say that earlier.� Kenton shook his head. �I thought�you wouldn�t believe me,� he admitted softly. The elder nodded. �It was most definitely the spell that was cast on your mother which you felt,� he said sadly. �Most like, the man who cast it is the same person who your mother has been hiding from for the past twelve years.� �What do we do?� Emory asked softly, setting a comforting hand on his younger brother�s shoulder. The elder sighed. �I�ll see that your mother is cared for,� he said after a moment. �You boys, go to the capitol. Go to the palace and ask for Silas Greenmeadow. Tell him that I sent you and he�ll see you immediately. He may know of a way to reverse the spell.� Corbin blinked in surprise. �Kenton should stay here,� he protested. �He�s too young to go with us.� The elder shook his head. �Unfortunately, the person who ensorcelled your mother may wish to harm you,� he said. �Kenton is the only one of the three of you who can sense spells and block them.� �That didn�t help mother,� Emory said sadly. The elder locked eyes with Emory and said, �Your mother is only half as powerful as Kenton has the potential to be.� Shaking his head, he added, �Without Kenton you won�t stand a chance.� �Then we have no choice,� Corbin said sadly. �We�ll leave for the capitol first thing tomorrow.� Turning to Kenton, he said, �We should get to sleep now, so we�re rested.� The small boy blinked and nodded sadly. Turning to Emory, he said, �How are we going to be able to do this, Emory? We�re�we�re so young.� �We�re going to do this,� Emory said softly. �Because we have to.� Turning to Corbin, he added, �and because we�ll be together.� �That�s right,� Corbin said gently. �Together we can do anything,� he added, repeating something their mother had said many times in the past. Kenton nodded and hugged his brothers; then trudged up the steps to his small bedroom. While Corbin cleaned the dishes, Emory walked with the elder out to the garden. Together, they moved Sharon into the barn so she�d be out of the elements. �Good night, Mother,� Emory said quietly. �We�ll get you back, I promise, and I�ll look after Corbin and Kenton, like you always told me to.� The elder stood back from the young man and sighed. �And so, it begins,� he said softly. |
 |
 |
 |
| �Mother,� Emory said, peeking into the kitchen where his mother was cleaning the lunch dishes. �Corbin and I are going to go out and practice for a while.� Sharon Brightmeadow smiled at her oldest son. �Take Kenny with you,� she said. �He needs to practice too. And be sure and look after them.� Emory sighed deeply. The last thing he wanted was for Kenton to tag along, but their mother was right. He needed to practice as much as they did to keep his sword-work sharp. �Alright, Mother,� he replied. �I will, don�t worry.� �Be back well before dark so you can help me make supper, sweetie,� she ordered. �Elder Greenmeadow is coming for a visit.� �He�s finally going to tell us about Father?� Corbin asked, peering in behind Emory. Sharon sighed and nodded. �It�s time you know about him,� she said sadly. �Have fun practicing.� �We will,� the boys chorused, turning and heading out. �Wait for me!� Kenton called after them, grabbing his own sword and tucking it into his belt. �Bye, Mama!� he called, as he ran out after his brothers. �Goodbye,� Sharon called, waving at him through the window. �Be safe, little one,� she added in a softer tone. ** The boys went to a quiet meadow some distance from their home and began to perform their warm-up exercises. Once they were done with that, Emory sparred with Corbin while Kenton continued to practice on his own. Occasionally, either Corbin or Emory would shout instructions to their youngest brother. When this happened, Kenton would roll his eyes but usually adjust his stance accordingly. After about an hour, Corbin offered to spar with his younger brother and give Emory a break. The youngest boy happily agreed and, with Emory shouting encouragement from the sidelines, the two boys sparred. Since it was only practice, no one really won the matches, but it was enough to tire them even so. After a few hours, Emory looked up at the sky and said, �We should start back.� �Alright,� Kenton said, sheathing his sword. Corbin nodded agreement and the three started back to the cottage. It didn�t take long before Kenton started to lag behind his older brothers. �At least try to keep up, Kenny,� Emory called over his shoulder. His youngest brother sighed and began running. �I am trying,� he panted, as he came along side his brother. Kenton�s large lavender eyes caught the sunlight as he looked up at his brother. �What�s the hurry?� �Mother wanted us to be back in time to help prepare dinner,� Corbin reminded him, his own green eyes full of mirth. As sweet as Kenton was, he could be extremely forgetful at times. �Oh,� the twelve-year-old breathed. �That�s right, the village elder is coming over this evening,� he said. Emory nodded. �He said it was time we knew more about our father,� he said softly. Even though he was four years older than Kenton, Emory had no memory of the man they called father. Their mother had said many times that Emory, with his long dark hair and warm brown eyes, looked exactly like he did when they�d first met nearly twenty years ago. The younger two both had red hair like their mother. Corbin had their mother�s green eyes and the Fates only knew where Kenton�s eyes came from. �That�s right,� Corbin said, pulling Emory out of his reverie. �And we don�t want to be late, so we have to hurry.� Emory nodded in agreement and picked up the pace, while Kenton sighed deeply and began running on his shorter legs to try and keep up with his older brothers. As they neared the small cottage they called home, Kenton suddenly cried out and collapsed to the forest floor clutching his head. �Kenny?� Corbin said, turning to find his younger brother doubled over in pain. �Emory, something�s wrong,� he said, unnecessarily. Emory, already kneeling beside Kenton asked, �Kenny, what�s wrong?� As Corbin came to join him, the youngest brother leaned against Emory�s chest. �My head,� he moaned. �It� it hurts. A lot!� �It�ll be alright,� Corbin soothed, rubbing Kenton�s shoulder. �Just try to relax.� �Make it stop, Corey,� Kenton begged, close to tears. At a loose about what to do, Emory began rocking the younger boy and whisper softly to him. After what felt like an eternity, he finally quieted and pushed away from Emory. �Are you alright now?� Emory asked, brown eyes meeting lavender. �I � I think so,� Kenton replied, still sniffling. �What,� Corbin said, getting to his feet, �was that about?� Emory shook his head. �Damned if I know,� he replied, shakily. �Emory,� Kenton scolded, fisting tears out of his eyes. �Mama doesn�t like it when you curse.� �Sorry,� the dark-haired boy said, shrugging slightly. Kenton knew the apology wasn�t sincere, but at the moment all he wanted was to go home and be comforted by his mother. Although he hadn�t told his brothers, he�d been feeling more than just pain during that episode. He�d felt a dark and terrifying presence and seen images in his mind that, while jumbled, were quite frightening. The boys walked in silence the short way back to the cottage. Corbin kept stealing glances at his little brother to make sure they didn�t have a repeat of the previous frightening experience and Emory was deep in thought as he tried to figure out what could have caused it. �Mother?� Emory called as he entered the yard. �Sorry we�re late. We lost track of time�� he trailed off when his mother didn�t reply to his call. Corbin frowned and met Emory�s eyes for a moment; then he turned to Kenton and said, �Stay here. We�ll check this out.� Kenton frowned indignantly. �I can help,� he said, sensing that his brothers were gearing up for a fight, but not knowing who they�d be fighting. �We don�t know what we�re going to be facing,� Emory reasoned. �Just�just stay here,� he added, heading for the front door, while Corbin moved around back. |
| Kenton waited until they were out of sight before heading to the garden where his mother grew herbs and vegetables. He frowned slightly when he saw her form in the shadows gathering as the sun set. �Mama?� he called timidly. Something seemed off somehow. Even though she was standing upright, her arms seemed to be at an odd angle and she was standing far too stiffly for Kenton�s comfort. �M-mama?� he tried again, stepping over to get a better look. He reached out to touch her sleeve and drew back with a gasp as his finger brushed hard stone rather that soft cotton. �Mama!� he exclaimed. Turning, he ran back to the yard calling, �Emory! Corey! Come quickly!� |
| End of Chapter One... |