I traveled through the grass and the plants. There was something not quiet right still. It was all wrong. The trees were too old for our forest. The animals too large for home. Instead of our family cottage ahead of me, there were tapestries among the forest. All finished and hanging from the trees. I heard voices and felt cold. On my fingers were traces of thread all looped around my fingers. Each one of them ran off to the tapestries in the trees. My head arched and throbbed with pain.

Ever live a whole time in your head? I mean like you were there and had done everything. . . Let us say I had gone out there into the field. I had stopped by brother from doing this whole hero thing. I had become more powerful then I could hope. I took down that witch with a swift motion and teleport her away to a far place. Now imagine if you that all of this had happened in various ways. Let us say if happened so many times before. A series of lifetime as a priestess, a wicked witch, a mother, a saint, a knight, a rebel, a thief, a queen and more like vague dreams. I wish to you to imagine all of these have had happened and I vaguely recalled. Names and places just on the tip of my tongue. One I sworn that happened . . .

A fairy queen in a beautiful castle of ivory with delicate trinkets here and there among the shelves. Then a collection of rich flowers of pink petals in a blue vase. All in the palace shimmers with heavenly light as I, or rather the fairy queen, sat somberly. Just vaguely beyond the walls were the stars and plants all twinkling in the opulent jeweled curtains. The fairy queen bowed her head down with a thick veil upon her head made of twigs and leaves. Her fingers of bark grab onto each other. She faced Spider who held a tapestry in her long slender fingers. Spider frowned at the fairy queen and pointed to details. She said, You know it is going to happen. I warned you not to marry him. I warned you no good would come of this arrangement. You have selected to doom us all with your foolishness.

The fairy queen barely moved as she cast her eyes upon a set of cribs. There in laid two babes slumbering in silence. She hung her head as the veil ruffled as the fairy queen knelt down by the two babes. Two wondrous sets of eyes peered at her. Ah, the great light of life in both their eyes. True and great of all young gods. They reached out their starry fingers for their mother. The fairy queen brushes both of their cheeks. They smiled and laughed.

Spider sighed, I told you to go with the guard! I told you to stay in the mortal realm! It would have been so much better if you had been selfish! They would to have warred here in our lands! Not among the mortals! Why did you do it!?

The fairy queen lifted up her head, My happiness was given up for the worlds. I am not selfish. I knew what my marriage to him meant for the worlds. They are safe. . .

Spider grabbed the fairy queen, What good will it do for your beloved worlds!? You have created these children with him! They will bring pain and suffering to the children!!

We will ensure the children will not fall to what is foretold. The cycles will begin, but we can end it . . .

Spider cried, Queen Gemma! Please! Do not doubt my words and my work! I warn you know as you allow for time to follow with these children! The will surely mark the end of magic and gods!! I have warned the King, but he does not listen!

Queen Gemma rubbed her bark hands together, I know. I understand Sister Spider what I have done. We must enter our fate as foretold. Then you must do your work to end it.

Spider's face darkened as she folded the tapestry. The image was hard for me to make out. She tucked it into her bag and said, Your highness, you really wish to do that?

I know I have been a fool to save the worlds. I spare them war and only make it in the future. I know what I do. Tell me, Sister Spider, make it end as you told me when I was young. Make the deal you offer true.

Spider folded her arms and sighed, Your highness, I do not wish it to come to this! We will change it others ways-

You know the truth as I do too, Sister Spider. Please do it for me. Do it for my children, Queen Gemma took hold of Spider.

Very well. . . It will not be easy. It will not be quick. It is a dear price to pay, Spider stared at Queen Gemma.

Please do it for me, Queen Gemma plead.

Spider covered her face, Gemma, my sister. I love you so very much. But it is too much-

Spider, please. Queen Gemma pulled out a pink orb from her clothing. It looked very much like my own.

Very well. Spider reached out and took it from the fairy queen. A priced has to be paid and you have done it. Now give what is due to make what is wrong, right. And you gave it. Give onto me, dear Queen Gemma, what was your. And mine it is now. Be free of this form and enter into the ether.

Then with a swift motion of nimble fingers it was all undone. The fairy queen crumbled onto the ground into dust. The castle all melted away. All progress lost in a swift motion. It never happened. All those friends, families, knowledge, adventures lost in a fog of thought. It vanishes back to just me. I blinked and the forest of tapestries was gone. I am Serenity Seahelm. There was just the forest. How long have I really been at this point? Has it been weeks? Days? How many times has Spider undo the work to start again?

I don't really know. Yet as waking from a dream I was back here. I was back at the moment where the field stood primed for action like frozen in a painting. Inky was just below by my feet. The guardians stood seated just behind my brother as if to shout for him. Just up ahead are the elves and the shadow people fighting the wicked witch. My family home and family fighting for their lives just beyond the forest. Here and now, I stand with the forest shimmering with the lightest shades of the red thread. I turned on my heel to face toward my brother. I knew the words he was going to say. He was going to beg for the powers. The guardians are springing up to answer his call. They created a light to grant him his wish. A hero's call to be answered and given a weapon of ages.

The shimmering threads grabbed onto my body as I sprinted forward as if I am in molasses. My orb rod dissolved in my hands and the dust slipped into my body. It was like hitting a brick wall as my breathe left me. My vision clouded as I saw a flurry of emerald wisps of light go behind me. I blinked the tears out of my eyes and raced as the guardian of air, Zephyr lifted her hand to cast a spell. A flood of holy light came forth as the other two guardians joined her. I sped up as the threads let me pass and I saw it. The source of the Light God's power. A boon to be granted to my brother. I reached for it and took it. In a flash, the energy ran throw my veins. All that was within me of my own felt ripped away. The truest essence of myself rushes for a second down to my very being. Whatever that had been my own magics was gone. Now it was of the Light God.

I blinked as I saw my brother hold a glowing bow in his hand. He grabbed back for an arrow and yelled for the guardian, "Please help me! My family is in danger!"

As I blinked slowly, the guardians jumped ahead of me. They went to fight at the battle at the farmhouse. I stared at my hand and saw sparks of holy light. My vision blurred made everything hazy as I raced forward to the sight. Inky dived between my feet and hurried onward. He hopped next to the deer and bared his claws at the witch.

The witch wore a hood as she fought back a force an invisible enemy. Mom wielded an iron pan as she grabbed Grandma Olga backwards to the house. A furious fire surrounded the back part of our house. My friends, the elves, were not anywhere in sight. No instead just little animals and a deer were jumping about the fight. Grandfather Aaron was frozen in place with his fists up as if to fight. My father was next to him as the witch whirled an enchantment at him. Father shielded the attack with a kitchen knife as he charged toward the witch. He twisted around to stab at her, while the witch shook off the unseen foes. She jumped behind our father and saw about to fight him with a strange glowing ball of energy. Romont's arrow flew true and hit the witch on the leg, but just barely.

The guardians rushed out from behind me to the fire. Shark Bait held out their shell and a fountain of rushing water splashed upon the house and the forest. The witch screamed loudly and jumped into the air. She hovered above us with her hood flapping about her hidden face. A fearsome mask made up of a dragon's face peered down upon us. The small animals and the deer scattered as the witch launched another attack with pillars of fire. The flames burnt the poor deer. The animals retreated back to the woods. Zephyr rushed forward to collect my other family members. Shark Bait hopped around and hurried to up out the rest of the fires.

The air guardian called out, "Romont, we will take care of your family! Coal will help you with the witch!"

My brother nodded and his bow released a rain of arrows on the witch. Coal turned to pull and shape the pillars of fire. He launched them back to the witch. I sprang forward into the chaos and went to my father as he collapsed and held his chest. As I went arrived to my father, Zephyr had taken my grandmother and mother behind her. The witch fought terribly and threw a storm of fire everywhere.

Shark Bait splashed their water here and there, but it wasn't enough. Coal struggled to keep the flames in check as he pulled them toward himself. He got steamy and bright. Coal aimed his fire back at the witch. Behind Zephyr, my mother and grandmother shielded each other. I finally reached my father and gasped, "Come on Father! We must get out of here!"

Father painfully looked up at me and nodded. He got up and stumbled. I placed myself under his arm as we got caught up in the fire storm. I saw it then. The purple orb that Everblossom had warned me about. They had come and were changed into small dragons. The creatures circle around in the sky and joined in the hellish storm. Their breathe was deep as they poured down on us. Father tried to shield me from it. I felt a natural reaction. I stomped on the floor and a shield of plants came to our aid. I peered up at Father. He had tried to speak to me, but there stone went straight over his face. He was made rock!

Somewhere between the rain of fire, the dragons, and the witch, I must have lost some sense of what happened.  Shark Bait and Zephyr seemed to combine attacks to spray water upon the land. Coal managed to reduce those smaller dragons to nothingness with his hot blasts. Romont used his bow to bring down the witch herself with his arrows. As for myself, I was left in the cover of the plants. I held together that shield for Father. The battle finished once the arrows flew true. The sudden silence made me let out of the shield.

Our home was safe. But not everyone was fine. Inky turned to the three spirits. He meowed loudly. The three guardians dared to lingered with our family saved. Romont went to approach them, but the cat puffed up and hissed. Mom came running with her iron pan to protest against the cat. The guardians bowed to each one of us. Then they vanished just like they had never been there. Just a bit of soot from Coal. A small puddle from Shark Bait. Zephyr poofed away with a light wind.

Romont reached out with to speak them. I studied Romont's silver bow, sparkling and new. A tool of the Light God, not one I knew by heart from my studies. But I knew I had seen it before. I held my breath as my brother called again for them. But nothing and no one answered. Mom with her trumbling hands grabbed my brother and cried. Grandmother Olga fell to her knees and prayed to the Light God. Inky continued to hiss at the last spot of the three guardians.

I felt my hands. They were so cold. My skin did not appeared to be the health brown of the Earth like my family. No it was ashen as if all life had long left me. I was ever so lightly colored with a tint of blue. Upon my wrist was some ancient writing I couldn't read; and then I quickly pulled down the sleeves of my clothing. I swallowed and rubbed my eyes with the haze just at the edge of my own vision. There were no elves in sight. The deer and the smaller animals scattered back into the words. My long time playmate Everblossom was gone. So too were the lingering shadow people. My beloved cat sat upon the ground.

I shook my head and approached Grandfather Aaron and Father. My cold hand touch the stone figures my family. I flickered my fingers up and the holy light danced upon my fingertips. I reached into his pocket and found the herb, Goddess Breathe. I crushed it in my hand automatically and took a deep breathe. I blew it onto my Grandfather and Father.

As I stepped back I heard Grandmother Olga cried, "We must call the city guard at once!!"

Mother was silent at first as she dried her eyes and released Romont. She gathered up her frying pan with deep thought.

Grandmother Olga howled, "We must get the priests!! It has been a blessing we had from the Light God! But we must do something for Aaron and Hans!! Marigold! What should we do?"

Mother muttered, "We need the town healer."

"What!? We do not need him!" Grandmother Olga groaned, "We need the guards and the priests!"

"We also need my mother," Mother quietly said.

"Marigold! What are you say!?"

"Grandmother Olga. . . Mother is right. We should go get everyone. We are in need of all the help we can get," Romont calmly answered, "I think we should get all of them."

"But look at Aaron and Hans! They are made of stone!"

Although, I had thought the effect of the herb would be quick, it was not. The crushed up herb fell upon the stonily bodies. It radiated a slow glow upon my grandfather and father. It was a very dull green. The petal sank into the stone and then was gone. Inky sat by the stone figures waiting for something to happen. Small cracks appeared upon the surface, but the hex did not break. I bit my lip as I dealt with why it had not worked.

Mother said, "It is clear we had help from the gods to banish the witch. Now we must get away from here before the witch returns. We will go to the town. Romont get the horse and the wagon. Grandmother Olga come with me to the house. We will pack quickly for our family may not be returning home for a while."

"But Mother-" Romont started.

"Serenity, will help you. We will hurry on to the town," Mother guided Grandmother to the house.

I lingered in my spot as the spots of glowing warmth felt warm to the touch. I blinked as Romont came for me. He dared not to speak at first at the sight of our father and grandfather sick as stone. There were not words as I kept my hand on Grandfather Aaron. I kept a vague hope of what magic I worked would break the stone apart. It was after all just like the fairy tales that Granny Willow and Everblossom had told me. I held my breath and was shaking. Brother turned to look at me and he whispered, "What has happened to you? You're blue? Did the witch hit you with a spell? No. . . Cannot be. . . Serenity, earlier did you do something?"

My voice a scratchy whisper made a sound. It was like garbled water at first. I coughed some as Romont took my wrist, which I hide under my sleeve. He repeated, "Serenity?"

I felt heavy in my chest as I coughed and water poured out. The water on the ground shimmered for a short while of brilliant gold. The strange water disappeared upon the ground and I took a deep breath. I peered up at Romont with a vision clearing up. It wore gravely on me what I had done for him. I cleared my throat, "I took what was meant for you. Spider, the Fate God, warned me about what would happen."

Romont said, "What do you mean?"

"I have taken the power of the Light God for myself. You carry the weapon. I carry the magics. I know it may seem wrong, but too long has the cycle happened."

He frowned, "What are you talking about?"

"The three did not mention the cycle, did they?"

"Serenity! Romont! Get the wagon and the horse now!" Mother haulered from the house.

"Yes, Mother!" I shouted back. I stood watching Grandfather Aaron with his fingers moving sightly. But then freeze back into place. My cure was not enough. I curled up my hands into fists.

Romont paused, "Stay here. I will be right back!"

He ran inside of the house and got our cloaks. Why wasn't it enough? I swore it had to be enough. I could feel it in my heart. There was inside of me the power to do it. But why didn't it work. I cursed under my breathe. I wished the damn thing would work. There came the hurried crunching of the road. Romont with hurried breathing handed me my red one from Granny Willow. I pulled it closer to my skin as the hue of returned to a slightly pale shade. Romont buttoned his and took my hand. The cat timidly followed us.

The silver bow on his back glimmered in the sunshine. I turned my eyes back to Grandfather and Father both in the same condition as before. I watched as my ashen knuckles turned ghostly white. Romont mumbled to himself about the impossibilities about everything. He rambled on as he pulled me harder to the barn. What small shock of animals we had was not many. There were two hens, a small cow, and the old horse.

 No one bothered to name them, unlike Inky. Father said it was not right to name the animals when they were meant for work. I cheated with each of them. I decided to name the hens. The white one was Cauliflower. The brown hen was Copper. The small cow was a rather lame name of Milky. The horse I referred to as Lady Naynay. I was not an original child of three when I decided to name them. I only got to call them that in my head. Our family only tolerated Inky's name as I had gotten him after I recovered from the whole river issue.

I stopped to peer down at my little friends from my early years from before the twins. Mother had seen me at the age of five to be taught inside of the kitchen, while Granny Willow claimed me for the Tea Shop. My time with the farm animals besides Inky had been limited. Copper and Cauliflower were hiding under the hay. It seemed that in all the fuss Milky had run off from her stall. Lady Naynay, who was now half blind and half deaf, stood her ground chewing her hay. She snorted as we came near. Romont let go of my hand and patted the horse's nose. She tossed her head about as he grabbed her reins and lead her out to the wagon. I lingered for a half moment and tried to comfort the hens. The most I could do was lock the farmhouse door. Milky would hopefully be tended to by the elves. I could only hope for the hens to be watched over by them. Inky stared at the farmhouse as I locked it up. I said, "They will be fine. I am sure that soon we will have the farm back in order."

He seemed to shake his head no.

Romont kept muttering to himself as he tight the horse. It was as if he was sorting it all out to make a lick of sense. I stepped behind him as he finished with the wagon and tying the horse. Inky darted between my legs. Romont turned to me for a half moment, "How long did you know this was going to happen?"

I picked up Inky and sighed, "I don't know really. It feels like a very long time, yet I just figured it out this morning. . ."

Romont nodded as he hopped in the wagon and took the reins. He held out his hand for me. I hopped in next to him after I up Inky down on the seat. Romont kept his eyes forward as he spurred the horse forward toward the house. He softly said, "Do you even understand the full thing? I mean what Shark Bait, Coal, and Zephyr meant."

Quietly I admitted, "Mostly."

"We will take more about it later,"Romont said as Mother popped out of the door with a sack and Grandmother Olga hanging on her arm. Mother got in the back with Grandmother Olga. She covered her face for a half second and held back a cry. She motioned for Romont to go as she patted Grandmother Olga on the arm. We rode down the path from our home. The figures of stone became small specs on the horizon. The woods swallowed up most of the scene. It was not long before we were reached by the city guards. They came to rush up to us. The tallest one with a beard worriedly asked, "Mistress Marigold, one of the guards noticed a large fire in your direction. We were head over to see what the trouble was! Are any of your kin hurt?"

Grandmother Olga wailed, "Oh my poor Aaron! We need more then just the guards!"

Coolly Mother held her hands together and took a deep breathe, "We must speak with the head priest, Master Elmer, my mother, and the mayor. There was an attack by an evil witch upon our home. My son has defeated the witch, but part of my family remains in stone. We have had my husband and father-in-law cursed. So if you please help us locate everyone it would be helpful."

Grandmother Olga sobbed, "Aaron! Hans!"

The guard's eyes widen with surprise and fear. He turned to the others and barked, "You heard Miss Marigold! Nickolas, inform the captain at once! The rest of you get over the farm and secure it! I will escort them to the mayor!"

The guards rushed off in different directions as the tall guard nodded to them. He returned his gaze to us, "I am so sorry for all your troubles, Miss Marigold. I will see you directly to his office. The others will gather the people you requested."

"Thank you. . ." Mother quietly answered as we went forward in the cart. The tall guard walked along with us until we were at the center of town. There we got off the wagon and tied the horse. The tall guard went ahead of us all as he opened the heavy oak door. Grandmother Ogla continued to cry as she went in next with Mother into the mayor's office. As I stepped after them I stared the well founded mayor office of brick and stone. Romont offered out his hand for me. From that radiant red cloak of my grandmother, everything felt distant for some reason. I reached for my brother and held tight to his hand. I spied the faint marks of ancient writing on my wrist. It hadn't faded as I hoped.

Now for the inside of the mayor's office there is not much to say. It was not an outrageous display of power or wealth. No the mayor of Noble Wolf was a sensible man who believe in practical items and neat order to things. The room was arranged tastefully with simple chairs and tables. A good library of political affairs and theory filled up his small bookshelf. No paintings to clutter up his space. A few flowers in clay vases as a sign of his wife's touch.

Mayor Hughes sat among a set of notes and folders. His round glasses framed his thin face with his graying red hair. He chose not to wear what was a custom wear for past mayors of robes and powdered wigs. No Mayor Hughes believed in clean tunics and well worn pants of wool. Mayor Hughes peered up from his work and listened to the guard. 

He dropped his jaw and gestured for our family to set. He dismissed the guard to get commands from the town captain. For a moment, he sat with his hands under his chin in thought. Mayor Hughes somberly rang a bell and a servant boy came from the side door. He ordered the boy softly, "Loren, please, get us several cups and a light snack. We will having several guests. Please tell my wife to help me reschedule several of my appoints for tomorrow. Tell her that something grave has happened."

"Yes, Mayor Hughes," the boy nodded and was away.

Just then the head priest of the Light God, Granny Willow, and the captain of the guard appeared from the doorway. The head priest, Jacob, was unexpectedly a young man. He had just became the head priestess within the last two years. Father Jacob was a pale face man with his shaved head and white robes. He quickly went over to Grandmother Olga and patted her back. The captain of the guard was a plump man covered in armor. He clicked and clanked into the room and went directly over to Mother and Mayor Hughes. They muttered over the account of the attack from Mother. Granny Willow called for Romont and I to come to her. She whispered to us, "My dear grandchildren. . .The guards told me something happened to Hans and your Grandfather. . . I knew something was wrong. . . Tell me what happened."

Romont started, "It all begun when the heralds of the Light God came to speak with me."

A flurry of words and overlapping stories were told by my family. All of it filled the air, yet none of it stood within me. I stood anchored into the world by Romont's hand and Granny Willow holding my shoulder. I am sure there was plenty of questions and answers, with more questions without answers. I can assure you at one point or another my dear cat slipped into the room to be at my ankles. It was true that I can report that Mayor Hughes gasped at my mother's retelling. I can tell you that the captain, who I did and still do not know his name, ordered the guards to tighten their watch. I was positive that Grandmother Olga sobbed her way through it all with Father Jacob. All of the words came to the story I had lived and seen in the pattern that Spider made. I lingered on with a sense of being numb. I don't know how to describe it. It was like I had been here before, but if I told them. . . If I had told them everything I knew would they understand?

It was like a dream. A horrific dream of which it was dawning on me as I put it all together. I knew in a vaguest of way that was going to happen. It haunted me in the back of my mind. If I didn't stop it. . . If I didn't say anything it would all fall apart. Yet my tongue was frozen in my mouth as I watched. For soon all the retellings were weaving together. The others listened to my family's story. Then Romont spoke the words that snapped me out of it my trace as the magic words "the Light God gifted me with power to be a hero." He pulled back my hood. Granny Willow peered straight into my face, "Serenity, what did you do?"

"I tried to save my brother," I muttered.

Father Jacob had moved across the room. So did the captain and Mayor Hughes. The bewildered men beheld my brother's silver bow and my appearance. Father Jacob dropped to his knees in prayer. Mayor Hughes covered his mouth in surprise. The captain clapped his hands and cursed like a sailor. Our dear Grandmother Olga knelt down with the priest. Our sweet mother stomped her foot in outrage. Granny Willow gently grabbed my hand lifted it up to her eyes. She muttered, "Both of you chosen? Not just a single chosen one?"

Father Jacob laughed, "The myths never said anything like this!"

"Indeed not," A rough and bitter voice said. I scanned the room and there was Master Elmer. His coat with a fresh powder of snow. Odd for this time of year. No place nearby had any snow. His hair also burnt at the edges. He frowned at the lot of us as his staff made a heavy thump upon the ground. He said, "You need not tell me all the accounts. I believe I have the short of what I need to know."

"Ah, Elmer! Please join us. We have much to figure out and plan. Much more to chew over and deal with," Mayor Hughes nodded just as the servant boy returned with a tray of tea cups and fruit.

"I can tell. . . My student has been chosen by the Light God," Elmer snorted.

"As am I," Romont said.

"I see," Elmer barked, "Come let us review our facts. Then let us get down to the business of which we have all been summoned to deal with. I have been told of a curse and an evil witch. Now we have chosen ones. Come to business of what is to be done."

The crowd of people arranged themselves among the chairs. Mayor Hughes found himself back to his desk and toyed with cup for a second. Then he pointed out to the captain of the guard, "Micky, you will see everything in order at once."

"Yes, Mayor Hughes, I shall get right to it. Excuse me everyone. Now with this important news there is work for the guards to do!" Captain Micky went out of the office with bow.

Father Jacob leaned forward in his chair with great interest and held Grandmother Olga's hand. He said, "I have much to do to help protect the town against evil witches and wicked magics. But I must stay as the champions of the Light God have been chosen! I must be here to witness and aid in the will of the Light God."

"Very Well," Mayor Hughes nodded. He turned to our mother, "Miss Marigold, I fear that our little town will not be able to offer your children the protection they will need to grow into their own positions. I assure you that for your other family members we will attempt everything we can to cure them."

Father Jacob added, "Yes, I will have our brothers care for them greatly."

Master Elmer said, "We can cut all the niceties aside. We know what must be done. I have long predicted at their births."

There was a quiet until Mother spoke, "Yes, I know what you must do."

"Mother?" Romont said.

"You must away from here and far-"

"One to the arms of Rushing Waters, and one to the arms of the unknown," Granny Willow grimly peered upon my face. She combed my hair out of my face and sighed. She turned to Father Jacob and Granny Olga, "You may wish to get on your rituals right away. Master Elmer's foresight did not grant us much time before the great danger comes."

Father Jacob paled, " I thought surely we would have more time. My predecessor had told me we had a fair amount of years left."

Master Elmer barked, "Get you on your way priest. I had warned you and yours of my graveness of it all!"

"Champion Romont, Champion Serenity, surly I could stay just a bit more to help here and -"

Words pour of me, a voice deeper then any I knew I had, YOU HEARD MY SEER! BE YOU WISE JACOB O' CONNER! TAKE CARE OF MY FAITHFUL SERVANT OLGA SEAWHELM! THEN OFF TO CARE OF THE TOWN'S BARRIERS! FOR WITHIN THE HOURS WILL COME THE DARK GOD'S EYES AGAIN! DISAPPEAR THIS TOWN AT ONCE!

The head priest jumped to his feet and he took Grandmother Olga's hand. He bowed low and said, "As the will of the Light God bids!"

Elmer crossed his arms as they left the room. I covered my mouth as Inky darts between my ankles. I blinked at them as Granny Willow closed her eyes and found a chair. Master Elmer paced about. The words from my mouth stopped not. For I left a compulsion to keep on it. The tone was softer, Hughes Shirestone go at once to issue this to the town crier. You tell your people to pray for their safety. That will be enough to put the barriers into power. My other heralds will be here within the next three hours. They will help you. But as my seer told you. . . The children will be sent away. They aren't ready.

"Yes, yes! Right away!" Mayor Hughes smiled and bowed. He hurried on his away out of the room.

Master Elmer eyed me with a huff. Now it was Granny Willow, Mother, Master Elmer, Romont and I. It felt as if there was more words to be poured out of me. But I swallowed hard and still it came. The commanding voice from within said, I have more gift to give you who accepted my boon. I thrust you into action for wickedness awakens. Give onto me your service and safety and goodness the land will keep. I promise you solidly.

Mother took a deep breath, "You have my children's service. What of my husband and my father-in-law?"

Granny Willow answered before any more leaked from my mouth. She said, " We will work together with Father Jacob to figure a cure. Now the question, Marigold is how will we move the children from here."

Master Elmer rolled his eyes, "Has the sage god any more words to make a child to speak instead of himself?"

I shook my head as there was nothing left in me.

Mother asked, "What of joining a caravan?"

Romont said, "Wouldn't that endanger the people on the caravan?"

Mother said, "That is true . . ."

I said, "What shall we do then?"

"Now, it is true that you can have the guards follow the children. You could have a whole army. It would be easy to guess where and what was hidden among such an escort. And sure you could allow the priests to take the children to the temples. But the witch and whom ever else will come looking for them among the holy grounds. What we may think is safe, they will be sure to find them," Granny Willow sighed.

"And what of the Light God's three guardians? Surely they would take us the capital? Or even to the Light God himself?" Romont suggested.

"You and Serenity with the three guardians. I am to entrust my only children to some beings that claim to being of the Light God! I have lost my husband and my father-in-law! If they were so truly great they should have saved them too! And why are not here now? They are going to help this town. And the Light God, he says nothing. He speaks through my daughter! What god does that?" Mother demanded.

Romont opened his mouth, "Mother, please. I swear I saw them! I know that the Light God has chosen me to defeat the evil that comes! They will protect me on my path! Or we can travel alone!"

Granny Willow snorted, "Boy, I love you. But you and your sister will need protection."

Romont was silent in thought. I turned away to face Inky. My dearly beloved cat rubbed against my leg.

"Granny Willow and I will remain here and work with Father Jacob to find a cure to this curse. We will not be able to follow you ourselves," Mother peered upon us both.

Romont asked, "Then how will I- I mean Serenity and I get to Rushing Waters?"

Master Elmer held his staff and said, "I will go with the children. We should be small enough of group not to arise too many questions. I know plenty of the other worldly and healing. I can teach the boy as I have taught Serenity. We make out way there easily."

"So it will be," Granny Willow declared.

We didn't have much time according to that voice that kept speaking from me. Romont, Master Elmer, and I hurried along. Of course, my faithful cat tailed us all the way to the edge of the town. It was swift word between our two grandmothers and Mother to gather supplies. We gathered by the side gate of the town with the hurried footsteps of the guards. The town crier called out the orders of the mayor to arise to change of the town's peace. The poor townspeople hurriedly went about running with the priests and guards. There was a clear mummer of prayers from every household. We gathered with our family at the gates. Granny Willow managed a small bag of herbs and spices. Mother held a modest sack for each of us. Grandmother Olga hardly had any words as she held a wrapped package in her hands.

Mother held our hands, "Romont, Serenity. Go safe on your trip. We will be waiting for you here. I love you both very much. We will be sure to cure Grandfather Aaron and Father."

Granny Willow nodded as she held out the small bag to me. She said to Elmer, " You see them well on the road. They are very important."

Romont asked, "Granny you said there was a fortune about us?"

Granny Willow patted Romont's arm, "You can ask Elmer about it. I believe we won't have much more time together once the rituals are complete. We shall vanish the city soon."

"You are going to use a barrier spell? It make make the whole city vanish. Will it be enough to escape this wizard?" I said.

"We have been waiting for something to occur. The town should be untraceable then as it will be in the other realms at least for a time," Master Elmer sighed.

Romont raised an eyebrow, "For a time?"

Granny Willow and Master Elmer exchanged looks. He calmly answered, "It will give the townspeople time to get themselves from here. The three guardians you meet will shepherd them out in due time."

Granny whispered to me, "The fair people, the dwarfs, have been working on a plan with Master Elmer and I. I will be handling Mayor Hughes and the townsfolk. We ought to sneak out of town quickly."

Romont frowned, "Surely we could help more here-"

Mother shook her head, "You heard your elders and even the Light God. We must do what has been asked of us."

Grandmother Olga nodded, "Yes, boy, you heard the word of the Light God. You must away. We will entrust in the way of the Light God. We will be fine."

Mother straightened herself up and kissed Romont and I both on the head. She placed her hands on our shoulders. She said, "You be good. You listen to Master Elmer. Watch after each other. I love you two very much."

Romont nodded his head as he hugged Mother, "I love you, too."

I stood by as Mother trapped me in a hug. With mixed feelings, I muttered, "We will take good care of each. I promise."

"I promise, too, Mother," Romont sniffed.

Mother handed us both our packs. Grandmother Olga silently came forward. She pulled out the small box and held it to us. She sternly said, "You are going to whatever strange place out there. I want you to have the travelers' charm of the Light God. It is one that your Grandfather and I usually keep."

Romont cracked open the box and held a small charm of the sun. It had tiny bells on it. He put it gently into his bag and weakly smiled at Grandmother Olga. Grandmother Olga added, "When you get to the capital be sure to stop by your Uncle Simon's house. Tell him what happened here. Tell him that Grandfather Aaron and I will be home as soon as we can."

Romont nodded, "Yes, I will."

Grandmother Olga pointed to both of us, "Trust in the Light God."

"Yes, Grandmother," We said.

Granny Willow waited for Grandmother Olga to nod to herself and step back. We waited as Granny Willow took the small bag. She reached inside of it and held a smaller gift in one palm. She muttered into Romont's ear quietly as she watched me. Romont's eyes widen for but half a second and then he grew serious. He slipped the item into his tunic and silently nodded to her. Granny Willow turned to me and Master Elmer, "The both of you know a lot of magics. I know what I know. Take these herbs in good health."

I gratefully placed them away. Granny Willow whispered under her breath an enchantment on Romont as she hugged him. Then she turned to me and looked at my face. Granny Willow scooped up Inky from the floor, "Be good out there, Serenity. You little cat, do what I know you can do."

She handed me back my cat. He coolly blinked at us. Granny Willow adjusted my hood and kissed my forehead. Her eyes lingered on as she came over to him and gave him a firm hug. She stepped back and rejoined Mother and Grandmother Olga. Granny Willow unwaveringly commanded, "Come on ladies! We have work to do here!"

We turned to face the road ahead of us. We waved good-bye as we walked on. And so our hometown vanished from sight just like that with the barrier spell. It just popped away from the world. I tightened my red cloak from Granny Willow. Elmer and Romont went on. They spoke of heroes and fate. Of the prophecy about our lives and a coming war. So many things I knew about, and yet knew nothing of. I lingered on for a moment and stared at the empty road. It was gone now. Whatever choices and actions I could have made were gone just like the town. I turned on my heel and followed Master Elmer and Romont. Together we went on.