Esra (42 page)

The Great Keeper of Strength nodded solemnly as he turned to the rest of the Assembly and called for quiet to make an announcement.  All around people hushed in anticipation for his declaration.  “The night after tomorrow we shall have Esra’s Gifting in the Ceremonial Room.  It will give you all a day to rest and relax and await the Prince to be in attendance.  I am sorry to hear of the struggles on your journey and the irreparable damage to Wilspry.  But know that I am proud that you have accomplished so much already and take it as a sign of good things to come.  We shall soon see who our new Keeper is and what skill she will bring to her Assembly.”

XXXVI

Arland had explained to her about the Gifting Ceremony on the way back from Wilspry, so Esra had a general idea of what was going to happen.  There would be a welcoming, probably something different than the normal speech from years past, considering the Prince, the Elders and the Unni-se would be in attendance.  Arland said she was lucky, for only a few of the Keepers currently at the Stronghold had anyone from the other races at their Gifting, so this was a great honor.  And Cane did not attend many of the ceremonies, since he was mostly in Sorley the last decade, unless he was the Gifter.  Not that the Gifting Ceremony was less magickal with the other Great Keepers, for they were a sight to behold on their own. 

After the welcoming speech by Nor would be a brief description of the task assigned to Esra.  Then a member of her Assembly would explain how she had accomplished this feat.  Nadia snickered and said that they always picked Arland for this part, since his charm seemed to make everything you did seem that much more wonderful.  You could’ve shoveled manure all day and everyone would cheer just as loudly as if you’d single-handedly killed Tallen himself after Arland was done telling it.  Esra was just grateful that she didn’t have to speak.  Her legs were going to tremble enough being in front of all those people.  Finally, Nor would say some words about the Gift she was receiving and then present it to her.  This is when she would officially become a Keeper, a One.

It was also when Esra would learn what she was the Keeper of.  The ceremony would be directly followed by a rather nice feast.  She was devastatingly curious to see where her affinity lay.  She had mulled over the different options in her mind, but none of her natural talents seem to be strong enough to warrant becoming the Keeper of such a thing.  For most people it had been clear, like Baelin or Nadia.  But she really had no idea what she could possibly be that clever at, although she was good at many things.  She certainly had nothing as amazing as Jaar, the healer of Animals, or Nadia, who could disappear as if she never existed. 

Esra thought about this again as they entered the foyer to the Great Hall, pushing through the Naduri River doors that still amazed her.  She kept thinking that one day she would put her hands up against them and splash into Water. “So then who spoke fer Arland when he completed a test?”

“Actually, Fynn.  He has a way with words himself, although he is more entertaining than charming.” 

“What happens if no one sees ye complete a test?”

“Well that does happen on some occasions.  Especially with me, since many of my tests involved stealth.  In these cases the Keeper with the best insight magick would recall the event.”

“Ye can do that?”

“Aye.  None of our Assembly is particularly affluent with it, but we all can do it te some degree.”

As they entered the open doors of the Ceremonial Room a wall of sound and energy hit Esra in the face, a brutal reminder of just how many people were in attendance.  Practically every Keeper came to Giftings, especially the first ones.  She also realized that no one would miss a chance to see the Unni-se, Elves, Prince Bronnen and the daughter of two Great Keepers. 

It was common knowledge in The Gardens that you could tell how powerful a Keeper would be by the strength of the first Gift.  This would be what they had all been waiting for for twenty years.  To know if Esra would truly be the hero they needed against the Elites, or if she would not possess any special powers after all.  She tried not to think too much about this, about being judged.  Besides, every time a Keeper receives their first Gift they are judged to a degree, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  Seeing that Baelin, Nadia, Arland, and Fynn got unusually powerful Gifts were how they became her Assembly, and she was certainly grateful for that.

The empty chairs in the front row had been reserved for Esra and her friends, although Fynn’s would remain empty as he had been sent to escort the Daughter of the Shendari to the Stronghold as soon as possible.  He had stopped to see Esra before leaving, giving her a great Bear hug and swinging her around until her head ached.  Kissing her on the cheek, he bragged that “a kiss from a man as handsome as Fynnigan is known across the land to be the best of luck.”  She smiled and gave his cheek a playful kiss back as he feigned a swoon.

The noise rose exponentially as Esra and Nadia made their way to the front of the room as everyone took notice that the guest of honor had arrived.  The hall was enormous; large enough to fit hundreds of Keepers, and it looked as if almost every seat was occupied.  The room was decorated with soft flowing fabrics in beautiful hues of blue and gold, the high ceilings and long windows letting in the final light of the day. 

As she passed the rows and rows of carved wooden benches, the long aisle seemed like a march to her death.  Esra didn’t understand why she was so nervous on what was supposed to be a joyous occasion.  She turned to Nadia.

“What if the Gift I receive isn’t what everyone had hoped fer?  What if it isn’t enough to help in the battle against Tallen?  Then again, what if it is?  Do ye think I’m really ready fer that kind of responsibility?”

“Don’ worry, Esra.  Yer gift will suit ye perfectly, it always does.”

Arland smiled at her encouragingly as she reached the front row, and she took a seat between him and Baelin.  Esra stared at the low marble steps leading up to the open platform and the now empty seats.  There were five golden marble chairs bordering each side and a larger, more elaborate one in the middle.  She knew from her tour with Fynn that the eleven chairs were for the five Great Keepers, the three Elders, the Unni-se, the Daughter of the Shendari and the King.  The speaker or host of the event sits in the middle, so Nor would be center chair today, as the Gifting Great Keeper. 

       Baelin placed a soft hand on her arm and she sighed heavily, not realizing that she had been holding her breath. 

       “Don’t worry, Esra, Keeper of the Unknown.  Yer Keeper is here, and I shan’t let anything happen te ye.”  He gave her a reserved smile and in that moment she could not think of anyone else she would rather have with her on this day.  She carried the Great Wolf knife he had given to her faithfully, and the feel of the small blade at her side gave her comfort, made her remember her life before all of this.  Her simple life with her grandparents, her Wolf, her teacher, and her blacksmith friend.

       As if on cue, Meshok sauntered up to the front of the aisle, licking Esra’s hand in greeting before plopping down on a large blue pillow placed at her feet.  In her worried state, Esra hadn’t noticed it.

       “Meshok!” She exclaimed, rubbing her hands greedily down the long, dark grey fur.

       “I asked fer them te have a ‘seat’ fer her, too.  I knew ye’d be nervous enough and would be glad te have another friend near,” Baelin admitted, stroking the Great Wolf’s head. 

The crowd hushed suddenly and Esra looked up to see the Great Keepers walking down the aisle towards the platform.  She recognized Cane, Nor, and her parents Talitha and Adonis, so she assumed that the fifth was Tayen, the Great Keeper of Magick.  She was surprised to see that he was dark skinned, obviously an Elf.  He was much older as well, older looking even than Cane with his baldness and Nor with his white wispy hair.  The Great Keeper of Truth, her old teacher, nodded solemnly at her as he passed.  Esra’s father looked at her with his rosy cheeks and gave a generous smile while Talitha flicked her wrist in a small wave of encouragement as she continued to move up the stairs towards their seats.

The Great Keepers were followed by a group of four dark Elves in regal purple robes, walking proudly and nodding this way and that as they passed the rows and rows of Keepers. The Elders. 

Arland leaned towards her and whispered quietly, “The one in front is Kered.  He is the oldest and wisest of the Council.  Although he is quieter than the others, when he says something, everyone listens.  He knows much about the history of the Council and the ways of the Keepers.  Kered is light hearted and well liked.”

Esra stared at the grey haired Elf, whose eyes twinkled with the glimmer of youth despite his age.  He smiled walking past her, revealing a mouth full of straight white teeth.

Kered’s tall lean frame and long strides contradicted the two middle aged Council members behind him, who were shorter and rounder with hastier, bouncier gaits.  Their heads came together at frequent intervals as they whispered hurriedly back and forth, scowls flickering briefly over their faces.

“Those two are rarely seen apart, as ye can probably tell.  The woman is Danya and the man is Isak.  Although I must admit that they are very knowledgeable, they are often blinded by self-will.  They consider themselves to be “Keepers of Elvish prominence” or some such nonsense and are always talking about “preserving the old ways”.  I think sometimes they are only trying to preserve their own power.  Convincing people to fear what they should not, to gain support.  Danya and Isak will be some of the most difficult to convince of our cause at the War Council.  I am sorry to tell ye that the Elders are not always made up of the most generous of our people, but they are chosen carefully, so we must make do with what we have.”

“Elders are elected every ten years, correct?  I remember from my studies.”

“Aye.  So although it’s a long term, it’s not forever.”

Esra nodded gravely as she watched them both mount the steps with heads held high, making a large show of sweeping their robes before sitting delicately.  Behind Danya and Isak was a rather plump young woman with a beautiful plait of hair that reached past the small of her back and was interwoven with shining silver ribbon.  As she reached the front row, the woman turned directly towards Esra, although none of the others had done so, and gave her a grand sweeping curtsy.   Her round freckled face gave a mischievous wink and she stomped gaily up the stairs to a bench that had been set for her beside the Council, ignoring the slightly raised eyebrows of her two middle aged companions.  Esra guessed that her greeting was not something customarily done at a Gifting.

Arland laughed quietly at Esra’s stunned face.  “That would be Linae.  She is the youngest, an Elder in training, but she has a fierce heart, as ye can see.  Nadia and I used to enjoy spending time with her before we came to the Stronghold.  She is witty and playful, almost an exact replica of Fynn, if he were a woman.  The people choose her to be Kered’s apprentice a few years ago.  She can be very outspoken against Danya and Isak, a dangerous road to tread fer an apprentice, but she always maintains sound arguments.  Linae does not argue fer sport, she has a purpose and is determined to resolve issues, especially if she feels it is in the best interests of our people.  Ye can imagine that she rubs them both the wrong way quite often, especially since she can be very convincing.  I daresay that Kered is secretly amused and glad at her spirit, as I hear he is often trying to hide an outburst of laughter in meetings by pretending a cough.”

Entering the back of the room behind the Elders was a young man in his early twenties, the son of King Keridon.  He was slowly making his way past the benches, pausing every so often to shake an outreached hand or touch the head of a small child.  He was wearing a tunic of muted green edged in simple silver lines over Earth colored trousers.  Although his dress was not flashy like the King’s, it was very well made and in a modern cut, and he carried himself with confidence.  His face remained calm as he looked around the grand Ceremonial Room, taking in the wonder of the space; the lavish benches, high ceilings, dark blue marble floor and pale golden walls shimmering with Sunlight from the tall windows.  Esra imagined that even the son of a King had not seen anything quite like it.

“Prince Bronnen, of course,” Arland whispered. “Thank goodness he takes after his grandfather.  Yer Human King has a great liking fer ladies and hunting, but not much else.  The youngest son, Samuin, seems to be heading in the same direction as his father, unfortunately.  Quite lazy and careless.  Prince Bronnen is the real ruler of this Kingdom, although King Keridon would never admit it.  LeVara would be in much worse condition by now if it weren’t fer the eldest son.  It is a good thing that the King saw fit to send him, especially amidst all the upheaval of struggling to find him a match.  His parents are both trying very hard to get him married off, but I hear he will have none of his suitors.  But that seems to have been put aside for the moment.  I was worried that King Keridon’s curiosity would get the best of him and he would try to come himself, but alas he probably could not fathom to take such a long trip and be expected to wake up before noon every day.”

Esra knew that what he spoke was true, all the people of LeVara knew it.  She wondered how someone from another race could know so much more about her own rulers than she did.  Watching Prince Bronnen approach the front of the Ceremonial Room she now knew with her own eyes why everyone had faith in him.  Something about his manner projected strength and proficiency, but with a sincere warmth.  As he reached the front of the room, he bowed respectfully to the Great Keepers and Elders before proceeding up the long, low marble stairs to the platform.  His chair was the closest to Esra, and as he turned to sit she was surprised to see that he was also very handsome.  He had fair skin, light eyes, and blonde hair that fell casually around his head, the hair on his chin markedly darker.  He had strong shoulders and arms that sloped flatteringly into a slim waist.  He didn’t have the overwhelming air of charm that Arland radiated, nor his devastatingly attractive face and body, but he was certainly handsome nonetheless.