The Beholder

PROLOGUE
She ran and ran, not ever glancing back, for fear that it may slow her down. She carried a small bundle in her arms, which resonated the sound of a baby coo. This baby was Aithne, carrier of all the four powers: fire, water, earth, and wind. This child was thought a tremendous danger to a group, the burners, who possess the power of fire, because of a prophecy that said the beholder of all would be the destruction of all kind. Eveline, the running woman, is from another group, the protectors, who hold the power of earth and believe that everyone has a right to live, and their sworn enemies are the burners. Eveline was being chased by more than five burners, and her only protection was the earth around her and the baby's immunity to any of the powers. She finally came upon a small cottage ahead in the morning mist, and seized hold of the last of her magic to become invisible and take the babe to the cottage. After dropping the baby into the arms of a bewildered but very kind woman named Lavena; Eveline distracted the burners and led them away. When they did finally catch her, she did not utter a word about the baby, even after they had tortured her by burning. By evening she was dead, and the burners left, unsatisfied. Now that baby is 16, and very beautiful, kind, and clever. She has been raised well by Lavena, and is not the least bit spoiled or bad tempered. Aithne has learned to control her powers well, but now she needs to learn to hide them.
The real story begins...

The Beholder

I knew it was coming, I am absolutely positive of it. I just never brought myself to even ponder the idea. Lavena, trying to betroth me without my permission! I know it is custom in Berania that the parents always arranged their child's marriage, but my loving mum I thought was too kind to force this upon me! I could never settle down! Especially if I want to travel the world, become a protector, and save the world! Yes, my fantasies may be far-fetched, but a girl can dream! Or no, a 'woman". Now that I am “becoming of age” as my mum calls it. Anyway, I know also that it is not “proper”, for a woman to dream of men things, such as fighting and being a hero, but when did Lavena talk about being proper?!? She just started lecturing me about it, ever since I turned the damned age of sixteen. Will I ever be able to get out of Langston, my hometown, and travel? Will I ever have any adventure in my life?

“Aithne? Will you please fetch two buckets of water for breakfast?"I drowsily clutch my pillow to me ears an lay back."Come now! Stop dilly-dallying and get to work! We have many things to do!” Lavena hollers. Is this the only adventure I am to get?
“Yes mum! Coming down!” I answer, for I know that if I don't get up, a bucket of ice cold water will be raining upon my head. I jump up in bed and pull on my soft green wool dress, belting it with a thick leather belt and pull on my tan stockings and muddy brown boots. I quickly comb through my wavy raven black hair with my fingers and braid it into a messy but suitable plait. I splash my face with ice cold water from my bucket and stare into my cracked mirror. Today my multicolored eyes are ringed with a dark brown, filled with a clear blue, and the middle colored in with a gleaming greenish gold. I never understood my eyes, and how I never saw anyone else with the same color.
“Aithne!” Lavena calls again.
“Sorry! Coming!” I run out of my room and grab the two buckets by the back door. Lavena flips two copper coins in them and tells me to buy some eggs at the market. I scurry out the door, only to crash into a boy on my way out. As I gather myself and the buckets and coins, I look up. There in front of me is the most handsome boy I have ever seen! His copper hair is flipped on the top of his head in a wavy, messy style. He has a long and narrow nose and a defined brow. He is also very tall and muscled, and seems to be around seventeen or eighteen. He held out a hand and I grab it and he pulls me up. I shiver at his warm and delightful touch.
“I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Are you hurt at all?” He inquires.
For a second I stand there and stare stupidly, but suddenly lurch and snap out of my idiotic trance. I clear my throat and answer, “No, I am perfectly fine, thank you. Have I afflicted any injuries?”
He guffaws at my question. “You? Oh, No! Ha ha ha. I don't think a small, fragile lady like you could put any damage on me!!!Ha ha ha.” he exclaims.
“EXCUSE ME???” I ask, appalled. How dare he judge me on my size and appearance! Ugh! Right then I knew I had to do something to prove myself. I call on my friend the wind and gather a breeze around him, slowly turning into a tornado.
“HEY! STOP IT!” He screeches "STOP! I can't breathe!”
“Say you are sorry then!”
“I'm....sorry!” He gasps. Instantly the winds cease. I fold my arms across my chest and smirk. “What did you do? You have the power of wind? I have the power of water! I've never seen wind power that strong? Where do you come from???” He gapes like a fish as my smile dissolves off my face and is replaced by a frown.
“Shush! I will not answer your ridiculous questions! Now close your mouth before I close it for you!”I sneer. He instantly snaps his mouth shut and clicks out of his boyish trance. He clears his throat and starts to talk.
“I am deeply sorry for offending you milady. My name is Griffin; I am a beholder of the water power, twenty years old, and from Nigantivia.” He announces and deeply bows.
“Well, first of all, I am no lady. My name is Aithne, I am a holder of....wind..., sixteen years old, and from Langston. What are you doing here if you are all the way from Nigantivia?” I ask.
“I'm visiting my uncle and his wife and children, to make some money working on his farm. I was heading towards Mrs. Danfield's cottage to purchase some seeds.” he jerks his thumb towards my cottage.
“Mrs. Danfield's is my mum. Her and I live by ourselves; we tend to our garden and sell our fruit and vegetables. What type of seeds you want?”
“Eggplant.”
“Okay. Come on in!”I gesture for him to come and he follows me as we head into my house.”Mum! I brought a guest!”
“A guest? I don't believe it’s actually a boy is it?”
“Ma! Actually, it is. His names Griffin, he's from Nigantivia!” I holler. My mum rustles, or more like stumbles, down the stairs, readjusting her hair and wiping her hands on her apron. Her face brightens as she observes how handsome Griffin is. I know what she is thinking! Ugh. Great. I drag Griffin and his smirking face into the storage room. “Stop smiling! Do you want your seeds or not??”
“Your mother seems...friendly.” he replies. Right then as his eyes widen, I see he has very nice eyes. With a closer look, they are the same color as mine today. I softly gasp and pull back. "What??"He irritably asks. I return my face to its usual scowl.
“Nothing! Here are your seeds! Now go!” I yell. I throw a small sack of eggplant seeds at him, grab a basket, and scoot him out of the house and onto the dirt road to the market. We started walking, and then he seems to get bored of the silence and starts whistling. “Okay, now that's just annoying!” I exclaim and nudge him away. He nudges me even harder and I almost trip. I glare daggers at him. Then we just both explode into raucous laughter as we head down a random path.
“Well, are we going to the market or not?!?” he says.
“Okay. I have to buy some eggs and cloth. Do you live near there?”
“Yes. Not too far. My uncle owns a stall in the market.”
We start walking and not too long happen upon the gates to the market place. We pass through and our eyes scour the bright and rushing crowd. Street vendors hollering buy this, buy that. People with crazed shopping or confused expressions on their faces passing us by. Griffin crushes my thin hand into his huge one and we plunge into the gigantic crowd. Not too long after, I am being elbowed and shoved this way and that.
“Aithne!” Griffin calls.
“Griffin! I'm trying, but they keep on shoving me!” I reply. He pulls me closer and guards me with his body as we shuffle through the mass of people. We finally reach a little shaded place with a tree. I drop to the ground and let out a sigh. He crashes down next to me and wipes sweat off his forehead. We suddenly turn to each other and burst out laughing.
“That's the most fun I've had in ages!” He chirps.
“Hey, I need to get some eggs remember???”I snip.
“Oh, yeah! Let's go!” We burst into the crowd again. We end up at a stand where a friendly looking old farmer stands.
“Hello there Missy. Right here are some fine fresh eggs I just got this fine morning! 1 copper each! Help yourself!” the old farmer crows. I picked a couple large eggs and pay him. Then Griffin and I head towards a clothing store just ahead. Inside is my best friend, Zenevieva, and her mother, Aoife. Right when I walk through the door Zenevieva speeds towards me, warmly hugging me and greeting me. She is a pretty girl of seventeen with curly and long copper hair. She has a round face with excited green eyes and a sweet upturned mouth. No wonder all the lads in Langston are bowing at her feet. I introduce her to Griffin, and she looks at me and raises an eyebrow. I shake my head no at her unspoken question. Right then and there she starts talking to Griffin, and I gape at her as she speaks boldly and flirts vicariously. Griffin just seems very uncomfortable and looks towards me for help. I just shrug my shoulders and walk away to look at some pretty fabrics

Throughout the week I visit Griffin regularly now, for if Griffin visited my house a lot, my mother was bound to notice, and I didn't want to know what she would be planning. I befriended his two little cousins, two girls, Britta and Bridget, who are 13 and twins. They keep on asking if I am Griffin's girlfriend, and if I knew any beauty secrets or the latest juicy gossip. They are still nice though, I guess. Griffin's three other cousins, Markus, Clad, and Dax, are boys in need of manners! Markus is 18, Clad's 14, and Dax is 10. They are all very rowdy and are always wrestling. I sure stay away from them. Griffin and I will usually go out to the market and sit by our tree, making fun of weird looking people passing by, and looking and commenting on the funny knick-knacks we'd find in odd stores.
“Ooh! Griffin! Look here! Look at this ring!”I exclaim, pointing towards a ruby ring, the ruby is the size of a regular pearl, surrounded by other little diamonds. “May I hold it?” I ask the store manager. He says yes and gives me it. I turn it side to side, seeing all the jewels gleam and glitter.”How much is it?” I inquire. The man tells me it is worth 1 silver. Gee-Golly!!! I have just enough saved up for something special. I know I absolutely have to get this ring! I buy it and show it to Griffin. He too marvels it and gapes in awe. “It's beautiful isn't it?”I ask.
"Yes, it is.", he replies.

While I was out in our garden picking flowers, I saw the soldiers riding up to the village. I quickly ran inside and went upstairs, peering through my window. I knew what was happening, and I so did not want it to happen. The army was taking men from our village to fight in the war with Vertuollina. I knew Griffin would have to go. Some hours later they left, I float in despair, already missing Griffin's jolly face. After, I go down into the garden and start picking, or more like jerking, flowers out of the ground.
“Aithne!” When I hear that voice, my whole body quivers with suppressed joy and I'm surprised by such emotion. I look up as Griffin runs towards me. He squeezes me in a hug and asks what's wrong. I look at him in disbelief.
“Aren't you supposed to go to war?”
“No. I'm from a foreign land, they can't recruit me!” I grin and pull him in for another bear hug, and I then kind of inch away. It's different and I sure am not used to all this embracing.
“Let's escape!” I cheep, hoping to suppress the awkwardness that was forming.
“What?”
“Let's leave this place and go on an adventure!”
“What do you mean? Where would you want to go?”
“Anywhere but here! I want to explore! “
“Okay, Okay. But if you want to travel, we are going to have to get supplies,”
“You'll really go with me???”
“Of course! Who else is going to protect you?” With that I hug and thank him. Tomorrow we will set off for supplies in the market.

Griffin and I whistle as we walk towards the market for supplies. I go through the list in my head, let's see, we will need at least a week's supply of food, warm clothes for the cold time that is coming, and probably some hunting and fighting weapons, for you never know what might happen on the road. I have about enough coins to buy these things and enough left over for other things. I love the market. How it was all hustle and bustle, the different aromas in the air, and all the people hollering and talking. I find my favorite food stall and start picking through fruit and meat. “Ello little lady, nice ta see you again, what might yer need this time? Looks like yer packin enough food for a long trip eh?”
“Actually sir, you are correct. Me and Griffin here are going to travel...um, to my aunt’s place, seems I actually have some blood relatives eh?”
“Goody for yer miss, thatd be 2 silver ones.” He responds. I pay him and we go off to find a weaponry stall.
As we walk Griffin exclaims, “Ooh! Look there! A magic show, come Aithne! Let’s see for a moment!” He drags me through the crowd gathered around a man doing some weird tricks probably. We make it to the front and observe the strange man. He is a porker with a round belly and gleaming bald head, who's wearing some nice, dandy clothes, and has this funny black mustache that curls at the ends.
He booms with a deep voice, “Come all and see the great Riccotini! I will be performing some illusions! Now you, miss, come and be my volunteer!” He's talking to me! “Now you are quite pretty miss, what be your name?”
“Aithne.” I squeak. Crowds are not my thing...
“Aithnay! I will transfor-”
“Its Aithne.”
“Yes, yes. Aithner. I will-”
“Look, sir, my name is Ath-nee!”
“Miss, I know your name”
“Sure you do.” I smirk. “Carry on the Great Riccooni!”
“It's Riccotini.”
“Why, sir, I know your name.”
“Bah! Enough child games! Miss A, I am going to transform you into a dog. Do not fret, you will not feel anything!” He roars. I gulp and look at Griffin. He just shrugs and gives me a mildly reassuring thumbs-up. This Riccotini guy makes me lay on this table and to just 'relax my mind'. Then whatever happens next is a blur.

The next thing I knew I am laying on a lumpy cot with Griffin's face hovering in front of me. I first realize we are moving in a small, bright wagon.
Then, everything rushes back to me all at once."What happened?" I explode at Griffin.
"Whoa! Calm down, Lassy!" Griffin chides. I just glare at him and wipe the dry saliva off my mouth.
"Once again, what happened?!"
"Don't worry. Nothing’s wrong. But guess what? Mr. Riccotini really did turn you into a dog! I don't know how, but he did. All of sudden appeared a cute little black dog in your place. Then he threw a ball into his little trailer and you followed. For a second everyone was just amazed but then he just took off! So I jumped into the back of the wagon and held on. I confronted Riccotini later and he told me what why everything was how it is. Are you stunned or what?"
"Right now, I just want to be alone to process all of this...please." My voice cracks on the last bit and Griffin knows I need a minute or two. He leaves and I lie back, stunned.
I can't process this. It's way too much. How am I supposed to believe in this? It's just all too sudden, I think in my head. A few minutes later Griffin comes carrying a tray with delicious-smelling lentil and leek soup and sweet peppermint tea. Behind him follows Riccotini. I tense up, following him cautiously with my eyes.
"Hello Aithne. Are you feeling any better?" Riccotini inquires.
"Wha-What do you want from me?" I screech.
His usually smiling face turns dark and serious and his violet eyes burn intensely into mine. Then he starts croaking, “Nothing and have no fear lady. In fact, I was simply saving your life. You, Aithne, are in grave, impenetrable danger."

So this is the story. When Griffin and I appear at Riccotini's little show, he senses my 'great powers'. The second thing he senses is a Burner in the crowd, a strong one in fact. Turns out, Riccotini is a Protector. So then, Riccotini improvises as he calls on me. So, I turn into a dog and jump into his wagon. I fall asleep on the cot and the spell wears off and I wake up all normal.
"All I know now is that this Burner is still on our tail." Riccotini announces."She is very powerful and I can smell her a mile away."
"She?"
"Yes, a she." he informs me," Although most Burners are men, the ancient ones were all women, and some Burners have kept tradition. I'm guessing she is from one of the main families, the Tine family, a family so ancient they were in Berania when King Grian was still in power.