Esra (43 page)

The clinking of a metal chain brought Esra back to the present and she didn’t need to turn around to know that Zakai was approaching.  She had spent the last few days listening to the intimidating ring of the flail at his side.  The Unni-se strode heavily and quickly up the long aisle, followed by Mox, Shova and Hadvi, who took their seats directly behind Esra.  A great warmth suddenly overcame her as Toddy stumbled up to her Unni friends and slid into the same bench, Jaar close behind her.  Meshok groaned wearily as she got up from her comfortable pillow to give sloppy kisses to her traveling children, who giggled with pleasure at the Great Wolf’s gesture.

As the Unni-se was seated and only the Daughter of the Shendari’ s chair remained unoccupied, Nor stood from his center seat as Gifting Keeper to address the hall.  The small, withered Great Keeper of Strength took a few feeble steps forward and the crowd immediately hushed.  Nor was quiet for a long minute, in no hurry to begin despite the barely contained excitement of all those in attendance. 
Although if I were immortal I would probably have no need to hurry either,
Esra thought.  The frail old man in front of her suddenly opened his arms in greeting and spoke in a great booming voice so unexpected that Esra jumped in her seat.

“Honored guests of The Veiled City, Fira Nadim Forest, and The King’s Hold of LeVara, we welcome you.  Your presence marks this day as a wondrous and glad occasion.  Keepers of the Stronghold, we welcome you.  Esra of Sorley, we welcome you.  Today is the celebration of a first test completed.”  He paused here to take a sweeping gaze around the room.  “The first test of Esra was to travel to Fira Nadim Forest and then continue on to Shadow Glenn, where she would find the Unni-se and bring him back to the Stronghold to attend the War Council.”

Here he nodded to Esra and Arland, which she knew meant that they were to come forward for the telling of the test.  Arland had informed her beforehand of all that he was to say, as the speech was meant to be only a brief account of what had passed.  Her Assembly had already met with Nor earlier this morning to give him and the other Council members a detailed account of what had transpired, including the defense of Wilspry.  Arland grasped Esra’s shaking arm to escort her up the long marble steps and then gently guided her to turn back towards the hundreds of people who sat with hungry expectancy.  She was sorry that she did not have more courage and wondered if maybe that meant she was not quite worthy of any reward after all.

“Bring the Unni-se to the War Council,” Arland began.  “Although this test came from the Great Keeper of Strength, this was not to be simple test of muscle.  One could not just fetch the chief of the Unni and carry him back to The Gardens over their shoulder, as ye can see.” Ripples of laughter wove through the crowd as he gestured towards the massive Zakai, who gave as much a smile as he could muster.

“After a long and arduous journey to the Jade Gardens, followed directly by another long and arduous journey to Fira Nadim, ye would think that this alone would be proof of strength.  Here is a young woman who knew not of our ways, who was far away from all she knew as a home, who still agreed to do whatever was asked of her to bring peace to this land.  We trained and instructed her mercilessly on our journey, hoping she would gain the basics of defense and offense with her newly forged sword and shield.  Upon arriving at Shadow Glenn, she was challenged to participate in a dual to the death with a Valkor, to prove to Zakai she was worthy of his audience.  She would fight a seasoned warrior with little more than a week’s worth of battle training.”

The crowd broke into excited murmurs at this and Arland had to pause briefly before continuing.  “Esra, despite all odds against her, agreed to fight the experienced warrior to win the favor of the Unni-se.  The battle began, with Esra receiving multiple wounds from her opponent, including a deep stab to her shoulder.  Things did not look well fer Esra of Sorley.  One armed, under practiced, and weary, she fought bravely, using every piece of muscle and training to defend herself against his blows.  Eventually she managed to overcome her foe with determination and skill, knocking aside his weapon and showing mercy by refusing to land a fatal blow.  As she turned to accept her victory, the devious Valkor came again, intending to fell her from behind.  At the last moment she turned and slayed him, allowing the Unni-se to fulfill his promise to return to the Jade Gardens.  This is the account of Esra, daughter of Talitha and Adonis, and the completion of her first test.”

The room erupted into cheers.  Arland smiled generously and bowed deeply, opening his arms to present Esra to the hall.  She smiled meekly and performed the best bow she could to the now standing crowd.

Nor nodded to her again, indicating that she should kneel before him for her reading.  She had trouble understanding this part when Nadia had tried to explain it to her earlier.  It had something to do with measuring her beyond the story of what she did, beyond her actions.  A Great Keeper could lay their hand upon the shoulder of someone and know exactly what Gift was right.  Esra had assumed that the Gift was chosen beforehand according to how the test was accomplished, but that was not so.  It was a reading of one’s intentions, their heart and mind.  Nor would be able to see her strength from the inside, be able to know exactly what she needed to aid herself in becoming a better Keeper.  

Esra shakily knelt on the hard marble step, bowing her head humbly to the Great Keeper of Strength.  She held her breath as Nor closed his eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder.  A shiver ran down her spine at the first hint of his touch, and the crowd was so quiet that Esra could hear every breath she took as if it were a strong Wind rattling an old shack.  She had no idea what he was sensing from her, or if it were good or bad.  Maybe because she didn’t have any extraordinary skills and he couldn’t sense anything.  She tried to control her trembling body under his small but steady hand.

Suddenly he pulled his hand back from her as if he had been burned.  Recovering his composure quickly, he smiled openly at her and gestured for her to stand at his side so that he could present her Gift and Title to the hall.

Before addressing the crowd, he turned and spoke quickly to her under his breath, so that only she and the people on the platform could hear. “Your strength is very great, greater than you can imagine.  It is something I have not felt in a long time, Esra of Sorley.”

She didn’t have the opportunity to be appropriately surprised by this revelation as he stepped forward and continued in a thunderous voice.

“Esra, I give you The Bracelet of Fortitude.  In your darkest moment, when your heart and body tires and all seems lost, this bracelet will give you and all who fight with you, a powerful surge of renewed energy.  This is the Gift I grant you.”

He opened his palm to reveal a small, flat silver bracelet that had not been there a moment ago.  It shone like Tur, radiating with some inner life.  Aside from the glowing, it appeared to be a simple piece of metal, unadorned and without carving.  She held out her arm to Nor, noticing that the bracelet was much too large to stay on her slender arm.  She hoped that Baelin would be able to adjust it for her, if that would be allowed.  He slid the metal onto her arm and there was an intense burst of light, filling the entire hall with a blinding whiteness.  Esra heard the crowd erupt with gasps behind her.  When her eyes recovered and she looked down, the bracelet now fit snugly around her wrist.  A few words in what appeared to be blue Tur scroll were carved into the metal.  Esra blinked to clear her eyes so that she could make out the words.  It looked to be her own name, followed by Keeper…

“Esra, I give you The Bracelet of Fortitude.  And I present to you, honored guests and citizens of the Stronghold, a new Keeper.  I give you Esra, Keeper of Peace.”

XXXVII

       The shocked silence which hung over the hall like a heavy curtain lasted for only a few brief moments, but to Esra they were a lifetime.  As the room broke into a frenzy of excitement, Esra could do little more than stare at the new piece of blue and silver metal that was now almost a part of her flesh. 
Esra, Keeper of Peace
.  There it was.  Undeniably so.  But she couldn’t be a Keeper of
Peace.
  How does one keep peace?  It is not something like Toddy’s Fire or Fynn’s Herbs or even Arland’s charming nature.  Peace was, well, peace.

       Her father rushed over and gathered her up in a fierce hug as everyone began to surround her, shouts of congratulations ringing through the air.  Faces were spinning around her so fast that suddenly she thought she might become ill.  Esra closed her eyes to avoid the nausea that was about to overcome her and bent forwards tentatively.  People continued to press in around her, a swarm of well-wishers about to engulf her.  In her confusion she hardly noticed when a strong set of arms lifted her off her feet and carried her towards the back entrance of the hall.  Once through the doors and into the refreshing cool air, Esra felt herself being set gently on the Grass.

       “Are you alright?”  An unfamiliar voice spoke to her from seemingly far away, and she opened her eyes briefly to see where the sound was coming from.  Prince Bronnen stood over her with a worried look, his pale cheeks slightly reddened from the exertion.

       Esra sat up gingerly and propped herself up on her elbows. “Aye, I think so.”

       He gently put a hand to her clammy forehead, brow furrowed with concern.  She could see now that his eyes were green, a nice contrast to his light hair.  Embarrassment suddenly washed over her, and she was confused at the intensity of the feeling.  For a moment Esra wished vehemently that she had paid more attention to those stupid girls in Sorley and their social dramas.  She had never been in such close proximity with a man she hardly knew, let alone a noble, and had no idea how to respond.  The Prince of LeVara was leaning over her so closely that a leather string with an emblem of the royal crest briefly caressed her cheek.  “You feel a little warm.  I’ve heard that Gifting Ceremonies can be very draining.  You should rest a bit.”

       “Esra?” Baelin called loudly as he burst from the door, followed by Nadia and Arland.  They rushed over to her and bent down, examining her as if she were about to perish from The Cough.

       “I’m fine now, really.  Just got a bit too excited or something,” she mumbled, brushing off their offers to help her stand.  The nausea was subsiding, although her body was now covered in a cold sweat.  She glanced at the Prince, who had moved to the side once her Assembly had arrived.

       “Jumping jig, Es,” Arland stated proudly. “Nice Gift.”

       “Oh, yes.  Well, I guess so.  I’m not quite sure what it does.  Renewed energy?  I was kind of hoping fer a sword that wouldn’t miss when I swung it or the ability to fly.  But I guess some extra energy is fine.”

       “Some extra energy?” Arland asked incredulously.  “Some
extra energy
?  Is that all ye think that is?  Bumbling Huckfly!  Do ye know what kind of a Gift that is?”

       “It’s true,” Nadia agreed.  “That is an amazing Gift.  Ye have to understand that usually when a Keeper receives a Gift it’s fer their use alone.  On rare occasions it is something that can be used fer yer Assembly.  But to have something to use fer an entire army, now that’s powerful.”

       “But did he say I could use it fer an army?”

       “Yerself and all who fight with ye, to be exact,” Arland explained. “That means that if yer fighting a battle, everyone on yer side will be included.  It could help thousands.”

       “Oh,” Esra acknowledged sheepishly.  Prince Bronnen stood patiently off to the side, unsure of if he should take his leave.  “Thank ye, Prince Bronnen, err, Yer Highness.”

       “My pleasure, Esra Keeper of Peace.”  He swept her a quick bow and hesitated for a moment, looking as if he intended to speak further, but then turned and started back towards the Great Hall. 

As soon as he was out of sight, Nadia leaned in close to Esra.  “Oh, dear. I think that I might pretend to faint just so he can carry me off somewhere.”

“I’m tellin’ Fynn,” Arland teased.

“He is…handsome,” Esra admitted shyly.  “I didn’t think that a Prince would look like that.” 

“Well, what’d ye think he would look like?” Arland laughed as he helped her to her feet.  “An old Vernok?” 

“I don’t know.  I just didn’t think he’s look like
that
.”

“How are ye feeling?”  Nadia looked her over with concern.

“Better.”

“Let’s get back to our dwelling, ye can lay down fer a bit.  Arland will go tell yer parents yer alright, they’re worried but wanted to give ye some space.  If ye feel alright later, Baelin and Arland can give ye a lesson on magick this evening before the feast.”

“I’m fine,” Esra insisted, dusting off her skirt.  Looking around for Baelin, it was only then that she noticed he was already gone.

XXXVIII

       Baelin showed up for their lesson an hour late and sat quietly while Arland spoke about influence magick.  Not that Baelin’s being quiet was anything new, but Esra couldn’t help but feel uneasy about his silence.  It was too purposeful, not like the natural pensiveness she was used to.  But Arland’s charm seemed to soothe her nerves enough and after a while she went back to focusing on her lesson.