Threads of Destiny - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Back to the Beginning

**The name of the Ranger has changed to Rowan Wycliff and Chapter 11 has been updated to reflect that.**

Osric’s eyes fluttered open, his vision slowly coming into focus. Above him, the concerned faces of Talia and Rowan peered down, both looking worried.

“Osric! Thank the gods, you’re awake,” Talia said, her voice filled with relief, her hand resting on his shoulder as she knelt beside him.

“What happened?” Osric asked, his words slightly slurred as he tried to sit up.

His head was pounding, and his body felt like it had been trampled by a herd of wild horses.

Rowan reached down and helped pull him to his feet, saying, “You touched that ... whatever it was. There was this sudden burst of light, and you were thrown back. You’ve been unconscious for a few minutes.”

Osric looked around, his eyes searching for the shimmering rift, but it was nowhere to be seen. The forest looked like a forest, no hint to the magic that had just filled the air.

“Osric, what happened? What did you see?” Talia asked.

Osric tried to think how to explain it. The images he had seen were still vivid in his mind, like a dream that refused to fade upon waking, but it was so far outside of what he knew, it was hard to put into words.

“I saw ... I saw the tendrils the Sage talked about. The threads of magic. They were everywhere, like a vast web stretching across the world.”

“Really?” Talia said in an awed voice.

“That isn’t all. I saw an ancient battle in front of this massive temple between two giant armies, with mages among them using terrible spells, causing all kinds of destruction. Then, there was this mage. He was standing in the midst of the battle, his hands raised to the sky. He was chanting something, and even through the tear, I could feel the power he was gathering. It made my hair stand on end. There was a blinding flash of light, and the ground began to shake, and It was like he was splitting the world open, creating a vast chasm that swallowed everything in its path. It swallowed the entire temple whole.”

“By the gods ... that’s ... that’s incredible.”

“I know. That isn’t all, though. Then it all shifted to a small hut, like we have in Eldham or they had in Silham. He was reading over these old books, and I could kind of see over his shoulder. Some of them I think mentioned the battle I saw, or at least had pictures that kind of looked like the battle, although not exactly the same. He also had some maps that had names of places from here and now. Farvale, Greenwood … Even Aeloria and the great city. I’m not sure, but it felt very recent, or maybe something that was happening now.”

“We didn’t see anything,” Talia said. “Just a shimmering light inside the tear, and then you were thrown back and it closed all in a bright flash. Do you think it was the gods directing you?”

“I don’t know, maybe. The Sage did say they’d already been guiding us and the point was to make contact. Although if it was a message, I’m not sure what it was trying to say.”

“I’m glad you’re okay,” a somewhat flustered Rowan said. “But could someone tell me what’s going on here? What was that thing in the air? And what are you two talking about with gods and visions?”

Osric and Talia exchanged a glance and then Osric said, “We’re on a kind of... quest.”

“What do you mean, a quest?”

“It’s really hard to explain, but I guess I’ll try. You deserve an explanation,” Osric said. “What you saw was a tear in a magic barrier that surrounds the world, separating us from other... I don’t know, realities or types of existence. I’m still not very clear on that. That barrier, which is called the veil, protects us from stuff from those other places getting into our world, but it’s weakening and starting to tear, allowing stuff to come through. It’s apparently where Webscuttlers and some of the other things come from and why they’re showing up more often. What we were told was, the more people use magic, or maybe the more they use magic wrong, the more it damages the veil, these little bits of damage adding up over time until it becomes huge holes.”

“Osric found a ring,” Talia added, picking up the explanation. “It was sent from a very long time ago, a time before even the founding of Aeloria, through one of those tears into our time, and that ring led us to this document that was apparently written way back, a long time ago. We can’t read it yet, but we think it has warnings about these tears and maybe a way to fix it.”

Osric looked at Talia and could see that she was purposefully avoiding mentioning the Calaphium by name, which was probably wise. They had a lot more time to adjust to this information and were in the middle of a magical woodland being told by a man who’d saved their lives, and they’d both still be shocked. He couldn’t imagine what this information would do to someone else.

“A message from the past? How ... how is that possible?”

“We don’t know, we only know what we were told,” Osric said.

“Told by who?”

“We went into Avendell, where a druid who lives there and … I guess is in charge, told us about everything we’d seen and what was happening, and about the veil and the tears. He told us about the damage to the veil and warned us if it continued, it could mean the end of our world.”

“You’re from Avendell?” Rowan said, awe and a little fear in his voice.

“No. We’re from a small village northeast of here called Eldham,” Talia said. “We ended up there after finding the ring and half of the document.”

“How is that possible? No one goes past the border of the magic forest. There’s a barrier that prevents it.”

“The Druid, he’s called The Sage, sent people … creatures to collect us and bring us to him,” Talia said. “We’re glad he did, since there were some men trying to kill us at that moment, and they saved our lives.”

“The men who tried to kill us, they wanted the ring and the document,” Osric added. “They’ve come after us several times now, trying to get their hands on both. We found the first piece of the document in a hidden vault, and these men were guarding it. It’s clear they’ll stop at nothing to get what we have.”

“We appreciate your offer to accompany us, Rowan, we really do. But perhaps it’s best if we part ways here. What we’re doing, it’s too dangerous to ask of anyone else. I’m sorry we got you mixed up in it this far.”

For a moment, Rowan didn’t say anything. He only looked at them, down to Cinder, and back to where the tear in the veil had been.

Finally, he said, “I don’t fully understand all of this, I’ll admit. But what I saw here today, that tear in the air, the power emanating from it... I believe you. I believe this is important. As a Ranger and a follower of Wyndra, it’s my duty to protect nature and its wilds. If what you’re saying is true, if the world itself is at risk, then the forests I love are in danger too. I can’t stand by and do nothing.”

Osric started to protest, but Rowan held up a hand. “Besides, if these people are as dangerous as you say, and they were guarding the first piece of the document, they might be guarding the next one too. You could use the help.”

“He’s got a point,” Talia said. “We barely made it out of that keep alive, and that was with just two of them. If there are more...”

Osric looked at her, and then back to Rowan.

“Alright. We’d be glad to have you with us, Rowan. Thank you.”

“So what do we do?” Osric said, turning to Talia. “That vision... it wasn’t exactly a map or a set of instructions. I know the Sage said their messages could be cryptic, but I have no idea what to make of that.”

“You said the man you saw, the one in the hut, he seemed to be from our time, right? Not from the ancient battle?”

“Yes, that’s the impression I got. And the hut itself, it looked more like something you’d find here in the forest, or at least more like the huts in our village than the buildings in Wolfridge. But there was nothing in the hut with him that gave any indication where it is. The Great Forest is a big place.”

“If it’s something connected to magic and located in the forest, I think I know who we could ask for help,” Talia said.

“But is that safe? Going back to Eldham? What if the Brethren are there, waiting for us?”

“Who?” Rowan asked. “And where? You two are losing me again.”

“The Brethren are the ones who’ve been chasing us, trying to get their hands on the ring and the document we found,” Osric explained. “They’re dangerous, and they seem to have eyes and ears everywhere. After I found the ring, they came to Eldham, our village, and tried to kill me and take it. It’s what started this whole thing for us. There’s an elder in the village who taught Talia her magic. She’s wise and powerful and was once a member of the Conclave of Magic, although I don’t think she is anymore. She knows magic and has lived in the forest a very long time. If anyone might have an idea about where to look, it’s her. But going back is very risky.”

“Osric, we don’t have any other leads right now,” Talia said. “The only other option is to go back to Avendell, but that feels like backtracking. We need to keep moving forward, and Elder Miriam is our best chance at doing that.”

Osric looked met her eyes. He didn’t like it. He didn’t want to put Elder Miriam or anyone else in the village in danger, but she was right. They had no other leads and she was about the only person he could think of that might know what was happening.

“Alright,” he said at last, his shoulders slumping in resignation. “We’ll go back to Eldham and talk to Elder Miriam. But we’ll need to be careful, and we can’t stay long. The longer we’re there, the greater the risk of being discovered.”

“Good. It will be nice to go home again, if even for a little bit.”

Osric didn’t say anything. He agreed, but the entire idea was so risky, it worried him.

***

As they passed the post that Osric always thought of as being the edge of the Eldham, a strange feeling passed over him. In many ways, most ways, the village looked much the same as it always had, with the same buildings, the same smells, and the same sounds that he’d spent his entire life around.

And yet, somehow, it felt different. Smaller, almost insignificant compared to the wonders and horrors they had witnessed over the past days. Osric felt a strange combination of nostalgia and detachment, even though they’d been gone less than a week. It felt more like when they’d first walked into Silham, familiar but different, instead of the village where he’d spent his whole life.

“It’s odd, isn’t it?” he said. “Coming back after everything we’ve been through. It feels like a lifetime has passed, but here, it’s as if nothing has changed at all.”

“I know what you mean,” Talia said. “This was my entire world. Now, it seems so ... small.”

They made their way through the village, occasionally having people they knew calling out hellos, like they hadn’t even realized they’d been gone. Everyone had just … carried on with their daily routines.

Reaching Elder Miriam’s cottage, Talia knocked and waited. Osric could see her gripping and releasing the sides of her skirt, something she’d done since they were kids whenever she was worried or nervous. The door opened to a distracted Elder Miriam, who froze in her tracks for a moment, her mouth hanging open as she realized who was in front of her.

“Talia! Osric!” she cried, pulling first Talia, then Osric, into her cottage, holding them in a tight embrace. “I’ve been worried sick about you, child. When you didn’t return, I feared the worst.”

Talia returned the hug fiercely, burying her face in the old woman’s shoulder as Rowan and Cinder entered behind them, the ranger quietly shutting the door.

“I’m sorry, Miriam. I didn’t mean to worry you. It’s just ... Osric ran into me on the road, and he was being chased by these people, and I ... I had to help him,” Talia said, pulling back from the elder. “I used my magic, Elder Miriam. I hurt someone. I ... I killed someone. Several people. They were trying to hurt Osric … and me. I tried …”

A single tear escaped, trailing down her cheek. Elder Miriam reached up, gently wiping it away with her thumb.

“Oh, my dear child. You did what you had to do. Magic is a gift, a tool to protect those we care about. That’s why I taught you, so you could defend yourself and others.”

Talia nodded, sniffling. She gestured to Rowan, who had been standing respectfully to the side.

“This is Rowan. We met him on the road. He’s been helping us, protecting us on our journey.”

Rowan stepped forward, bowing his head. “It’s an honor to meet you, Elder Miriam. But I must confess, it is Talia and Osric who have been protecting me. They saved my life, in fact.”

“Then I owe you my thanks, Ranger Rowan,” Miriam said. “For being there for them, whatever the circumstances.”

“There’s something you should know, about magic,” Talia said.

“What do you mean?”

“We’ve learned so much. After we left Eldham, we traveled to Avendell. Inside of it, beyond the boundary. There, we met a powerful druid known as the Sage.”

Miriam’s eyes widened, her hands clasping together. “You went inside Avendell? I’ve … I’ve never heard of anyone doing that. And you met the Sage?”

“You know who he is?” Osric asked, surprised once again by how much the elder knew.

“I’ve heard tales of a group of druids living inside the boundary, but I thought them just myth. I’m not aware of anyone getting through the boundary to actually confirm it, and wrote it off as tales mages like to tell to impress each other.”

“You can get through the barrier, if the Veilguard let you,” Osric said.

“The Veilguard?”

“Let me back up,” Talia said. “There’s so much to tell you. The Sage told us incredible things, things about magic. He told us our world is surrounded by a barrier, created by the gods, or maybe created at the same time as the gods. He called it the Veil and he said it protects our reality from other realities, keeping our world separate and safe. He told us that when we use magic, we’re actually manipulating pieces of this Veil, drawing upon its energy. The weaving is actually manipulating pieces, threads, of the Veil.”

“Really?” Miriam said. “How would you prove such a thing though…”

“It might be easier, and scarier, than you think,” Talia said. “Not only can we manipulate the Veil, but we can damage it. The Sage explained that certain types of magic, like enchanting objects or summoning entities, actually tear pieces from the Veil. Over time, these tears have weakened the barrier, allowing creatures to slip through from other realms.”

“Ohh,” Miriam said.

He could see her trying to absorb everything. They were making huge proclamations with very little in the way of detail, but she didn’t question the truth of it, or doubt them.

“There’s more. The Sage knew about this ring. He was given a vision by the gods who protect the Veil, which he called the Veilguard, that something had appeared in our world that would be important. Something from another time. He told us it came from a different time, thrown through one of these tears in the Veil from a time before Aeloria and any of our recorded history. It’s from the Calaphium.”

“The Calaphium?”

“I know,” Talia said. “They’re nothing like the legends. They were people and there was an entire civilization here before the first kingdom was ever founded. They were wiped out in another tearing of the Veil, although the last of them managed to close the Veil.”

“I always suspected there was more to the Calaphium than mere myths or legends,” Miriam said. “When I was still in the Conclave, I came across scattered writings that referenced them, or rather referenced writings that referenced them, and the pieces I could see didn’t quite fit.”

“Does that mean the Conclave knew the truth about magic and the Calaphium?” Osric asked.

“I don’t believe so,” she said, shaking her head. “These were references found in ancient tomes, texts that my own mentors discouraged me from studying too deeply, considering them a waste of time. They said I was delving into forgotten lore with little left to tell, and ignoring my studies. All of this is interesting, but it doesn’t explain what happened after you left. Do you still have the ring or did you give it to the Sage for safekeeping? Did he tell you about it’s magic?”

“No, I still have it. After I ran away, the ring, or maybe the Veilguard, I guess, led us to an ancient keep deep in the forest. Inside, we found more of those men who were chasing us, guarding half of a magically enchanted document, which the Sage said was written in the script of the Calaphium. He couldn’t translate it though, without the other half.”

“The sage believed that the Veilguard guided Osric to find both the ring and the document, and that they’re part of something to repair the Veil,” Talia added. “But it’s not entirely clear, since the visions from the gods are very confusing and hard to interpret.”

“When we found the document, the ring suddenly lost all of its magic, which means I guess whatever part of the veil the person who sent it through used to attach it.

The Sage said this was probably because the ring itself only had power because the person who sent it through had tied it to the document somehow. He said to keep it hidden because the symbol on it was an obscure one used by the Calaphium, but otherwise it was now just a historical oddity.”

“I see,” Miriam said. “The Veilguard you keep mentioning. Do you know which gods are part of this?”

Osric shook his head. “I didn’t think to ask.”

“I see. He’s right, you should keep it hidden, in case any of those men keep looking for it. If it is just a trinket, with no more magic, bury it in a crate and forget about it for a few years. I’m just happy you’re both back and safe.”

“We can’t stay,” Osric said. “After looking over the document and realizing there was another half to it, the Sage asked us to find it since it could be helpful in repairing the damage to the veil that has been causing all of the strange events and creatures to appear over the last few years. He says it is a sign that the veil is close to breaking.”

“Why ask you? I know you found the ring, but that part is done. Why have you go find the other half for him?”

“He said he can’t leave Avendell, as the boundary there is weakening along with everything else as the veil becomes more torn. He said we were the right people to do it because the Veilguard had chosen us, was guiding us. I … I think I believe him. He told us about a place further into the forest, not far from the boundary, where the veil was very weak. Apparently, one of the side effects of the boundary being weak or having tears is it gives the gods more access to us, allows them to communicate with us easier. We found it and … they gave me a vision. It showed an ancient battle at a temple that was swallowed into the earth. Then it shifted to something more recent. An older man in a cottage a lot like this one, in the style of the forest, surrounded by all kinds of tomes, some of which were open and had pictures of that battle they showed me and the temple that was swallowed into the ground. I think that man might know how to find the document, and I think he’s here in the forest.”

“That’s why we came back to Eldham,” Talia said. “I hoped you might know who he was.”

“I wish I could help, but there are no scholars or anyone else that would have that kind of collection in the forest that I know of. At least not in this part of it. Maybe in Brackendale or Eldamar, but even that seems unlikely. Most who dedicate themselves to such pursuits tend to gravitate towards the cities where the Conclave has a presence.”

Osric felt his shoulders slump. He knew asking about one man in all of the Great Forest was a stretch, but he’d held out hope that if anyone would know him, it would be Miriam. Without her, he wasn’t sure where the could turn for answers.

“Now, don’t look like that,” Elder Miriam chided gently. “I may not know him, but I can still help. It’s likely this person has some kind of connection to the Conclave, to have the kind of books you mention. I never made it far in the Conclave, barely past novice, so I didn’t learn about or meet many of the people who would have gone through there or their contacts. But I do know of a man who himself got high in the orders and served until he retired a few years ago. I heard he’s taken up residence in Farvale, selling his services to the town in exchange for a comfortable living. If there is anyone in the forest with any kind of well-stocked library or notable ability, he would know.”

“Really?” Osric said.

“Yes. I don’t actually know him, mind you, just of him. But, seeing as how he does work for the people of Farvale, I can’t imagine he’d turn you away. But, be careful. From what I remember of him, or of what people said of him, he was always very ... covetous. Don’t tell him too much of what you know, how you got the information, or show him the ring. Just tell him enough to find who you’re looking for.”

“We’ll head to see him right away,” Osric said, and then paused, looking at Talia and then Elder Miriam.

After a week of terror, with Talia looking either worried or scared the majority of the time, or sad at the things she’d been forced to do in the name of survival, it was good to see her looking … relaxed. Just being with Elder Miriam, a lot of her worry and concern had melted away, allowing her to go back to her old self, if only for a time.

“Talia, if you wanted to stay, I’d understand,” Osric continued. “I don’t know what we’re going to face out there, but it’ll be …

“Osric Yarrow,” Talia said, in the same voice Master Ironhand would use to scold him when he’d been negligent at a task. “If you are about to tell me it’s dangerous out there, so help me, I’ll make it dangerous in here for you. We’ve already discussed this. I made a promise to the Sage same as you, and agreed to this quest. Same as you. You need me out there.”

“She’s right,” Elder Miriam interjected before Osric could respond. “These are dangerous times, and I trained Talia with everything I knew. I didn’t know it at the time, but I think this is what I was preparing her for. She should go with you.”

Talia shot Osric a triumphant look. A silent ‘I told you so’.

Elder Miriam placed a hand on Osric’s shoulder and said, “If you’re dealing with the secrets of magic, Talia is the best person to help you. She’s read every book I have and learned every lesson diligently. If anyone was meant to help make sense of all of this, she was.”

Osric sighed, knowing when he was outnumbered. “Alright, alright. We’ll go together.”

“Good. Now, have you seen Master Ironhand since returning?”

Osric blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. “We came straight here.”

He’s been beside himself with worry since you left. I tried to comfort him, explain things, but ... you should go see him. Let him know you’re alright, and tell him a little of what’s happening.”

Osric felt a pang of guilt. In all the chaos, he hadn’t even thought about how his sudden disappearance might have affected his mentor.

“I will. I’ll go now.”

“Good.” Elder Miriam nodded, then turned to Talia. “While he does that, Talia, I would like for you to stay behind for a moment. There are things we must discuss.”

Rowan, who had been quietly standing to the side during all of this, stepped forward and said, “Neither of you were equipped for a long journey. I have a little money with me. I’ll go see what I can buy to prepare us for the road ahead.”

“Excellent idea,” Elder Miriam said, shuffling over to a side table and pulling a small pouch from a container. “This should help. Get whatever they need and use the rest in your travels.

“I couldn’t…” Rowan started, before Miriam gave him the look she used to give Osric and Talia whenever they tried to argue back when they were younger.

“I’ve raised these two since they were little. They are as good as my own, and I will not see them wanting. Do you understand me?”

“Of course,” Rowan said, hiding a small smile as he bowed his head slightly, taking the pouch.

“Good. Use my name when dealing with the merchants. I’m sure most would already be favorably disposed to giving a Greenwood Ranger a good deal, but if they know I sent you, it will guarantee it.”

Osric hid his own smile as he and Rowan left. A quick learner, that one. Osric had to be boxed around the ears for years before he learned to just shut up and do what she told him. With a nod to Rowan, who made his way to the center of the village, Osric turned and headed for the smithy.

The place was exactly as he left it, like it had been frozen in time. Again, Osric had to remind himself it had only been a week since he’d left. But the familiar scene of hot metal and coal triggered an instant wave of nostalgia he couldn’t fight.

In the center of the smithy, Master Ironhand stood at the anvil, his hammer frozen mid-strike as he turned to face the door. For a moment, they just stared at each other.

Then, with a speed that was hard to believe such a large man could have, Master Ironhand dropped his hammer and crossed the room in three great strides, sweeping Osric up into a massive bear hug that lifted his feet off the ground and drove the air from his lungs.

“By the gods, boy, I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“I’m sorry,” Osric wheezed, his ribs creaking under the force of the hug. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. There were these men and—”

Master Ironhand set him down and held him at arm’s length, inspecting him. “Elder Miriam told me what happened. That’s not important now. What matters is that you’re alright and you’re back.”

“Master Ironhand, I... I have to leave again.”

“Again?”

“I know. I wish I could stay, but it’s important. It’s related to what Elder Miriam told you about. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

For a moment, his master said nothing, just stared at him hard with a considering look. It drew on long enough Osric was worried that Ironhand might be mad at him, that this quest might have caused a rift between himself and the man who, for all intents and purposes, was his father.

Instead, he said, “I always knew you were meant for more than working a forge, Osric. At least this way, you have a chance to live out some of those daydreams you were always having of glory and fame.”

“I wish you could come with me.”

“Boy, if I was ten years younger, I would!” he said with a deep, booming laugh. “Besides, who would look after this place if I wasn’t here.”

“That’s very true,” Osric said, smiling.

He’d come back, when it was all done. Yes, he was secretly looking forward to the adventure and excitement, on top of the fear he had for this journey, but he also missed this.

“Now, if you’re going to go out on some damnable adventure, I can’t let you do it in breeches and a tunic. Hold on.”

Ironhand disappeared into the back of the shop, emerging a few moments later with a bundle of metal in his arms, holding it out to Osric.

“Isn’t this the armor you were working on for Sir Dauphin? I can’t take this.”

“Dauphin was only made a knight because his father was,” Master Ironhand scoffed. “From what I’ve heard, he was a terrible squire. Why do you think he came all the way out here to have armor made? He can wait for me to make more.”

Osric took the armor and ran his fingers over the cool metal, feeling tears prick at the corners of his eyes. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

Master Ironhand pulled him into another hug, gentler this time. “I’m proud of you, Osric. Now, let’s get you armored up.”

As he put Osric in the chainmail, breastplate, arm and shoulder guards, he explained to him how to do this alone. Which straps to tighten and in what order, which piece to put on first, and how to go about taking it off again. He also lectured Osric on the proper care of the armor, in spite of having him polish finished, or nearly finished, armor for half his life.

By the time they were done, Osric felt like a different person. No longer the blacksmith’s apprentice, but a warrior in his own right. It was difficult to finally leave when the moment came, as sadness washed over Osric. Master Ironhand seemed to be able to sense his hesitation, making jokes and pushing him along, not letting him dawdle.

Making his way back to the center of town, Osric spotted Talia and Rowan heading his direction.

“Osric?” Talia asked. “Is that really you under all that metal?”

Osric grinned, spreading his arms wide. “Like it? It was a gift from Master Ironhand. Said he couldn’t let me go off on an adventure without proper protection.”

“That’s some fine craftsmanship,” Rowan said with a low whistle. “Your master does good work.”

“The best,” Osric agreed, then noticed the finely carved wooden staff in Talia’s hand. “What’s that?”

Talia lifted the staff, running her fingers along the smooth wood. “It’s from Elder Miriam. She said it would help focus my magic, make it easier to control. Plus, if anyone got too close, I could whack them with it. She also gave me a bunch of her books, so I could continue to study and learn on the way.”

“I’m afraid I can’t compete with armor and magical staves,” Rowan said, patting the packs at his feet. “But I did manage to procure some essentials. Bedrolls, rations, waterskins, and a few other supplies we’ll need on the road.”

“Well... it looks like we’re prepared,” Osric said, looking over the town one last time before turning to his friends. “On to Farvale.”