CHAPTER FOUR

            It was growing late and the night shadows were beginning to fall across the fields.  Richard held Elise in his arms as they lay beneath the large oak.  He closed his eyes and silently wished for this moment to never end, let him hold her like this for eternity, but he knew it could not.  He slowly moved her tussled hair from her eyes and kissed her softly on the forehead.  She opened her eyes and, gently smiling, looked up at him.

            “Soon we will be together for always and we will never have to say goodbye again.”  She rolled over on her side and faced him.  “How long will you be gone to Blane?”

            Richard moved over on his side as well.  “I should only be gone a couple of weeks.  I am sure Hardorin will have some answers.  I really do not want to be too long.  I have just finished seeding the fields and want to make sure they are okay.”  He brushed the side of her cheek.  “Besides, I think we should marry very soon.  After making love to you tonight, I think it is only proper.”

            She reached to him and kissed him.  “Oh, I wish we could do this every night.”

            Richard smiled, “Do not worry about that, once we are married I will not leave you alone for long.”  He grabbed her around the waist and they laughed as they rolled through the grass.  “Now I think we should get back before they suspect we are up to something.  I want to get back before it gets too dark.  That poor old mare doesn’t see well in the daylight let alone at night.”  He jumped up and gave her his hand to help her up.  She wrapped herself around him once again and kissed him.  Then the two of them ran back to the store.

            The cart was all packed and Peter had hitched the mare all by himself, with the watchful eye of Domi of course.  Anora stood by the cart smiling as Richard and Elise came running back.  Peter climbed up in back and Domi helped Anora up front.  They chatted about this and that meaning absolutely nothing. 

            Quietly Anora whispered to Domi, “Remember, tonight, you must explain everything to her tonight.  I will come for her in two weeks time, when Richard returns and will gather with Morga and Etrana to arrange for her training.”  Domi bowed his head from her gaze.  Placing her frail hands around his face, she lifted it to her.  “You must do this Domi!  Our lives, the lives of the villagers depend upon it.  Promise me you will do this tonight once we are gone.”

            The big man looked so weak and torn.  His eyes began to well up and he nodded, “Yes I promise I will tell her tonight.” 

            Anora pulled his large head to her and kissed his forehead.  “I too will loose my sons after tonight, dear friend, but we knew this day would always be upon us.”  At that, she sat up straight in the seat and looked over a Richard and Elise as they starred into one another eyes.  The love they shared was captivating and brought back so many memories of Pendor.  It broke her heart to know what lay ahead of them and wondered if they would ever be truly together. 

            Richard and Elise hugged each other as he bent over the side of the cart.  “I will come to see you as soon as I return.”  Everyone waved and called their farewells and the little cart packed full of supplies, creaked away down the road.

            All three of them were quiet on the trip back not speaking at all.  They seemed lost in their thoughts of what was to come.  Finally, they reached their farm and each began to unload the cart.  Once empty, Richard took the mare to the barn, watered, and fed her.

            When he returned to the house, the lanterns were lit and Peter and Anora were busy putting away the goods while Skeet sat on the back of the large armchair.  Peter had already built a fire in the hearth and the room was warm and cozy.  Anora made tea and gave a plate of seed to Skeet. 

            Richard sat down in the armchair next to Skeet and Anora and Peter sat as well.  Both of the boys looked at their mother anticipating what she so urgently wanted to tell them.

            Anora took a deep breath and began.  “You have both heard of the Talsine and how it was formed to help the High Drummond keep the land in prosperity and safe.  It is comprised of the Tri-Narg and the High Drummond.  They have always been female for the Black Crystal only generates good to females.”  She rose her hand as Peter was about to speak.  “Please let me finish and then we will discuss what ever questions you may have.”  Richard looked on intently not saying a word.

            “It has happened through out history that a male has taken the role when no female heir was born.  It was then his duty to keep things stable, until such time he would wed and produce a female child.  Once the child was old enough and trained by the Tri-Narg, the female would then take over as High Drummond.  Together with the Tri-Narg, she would rule the country.

            “As you both know, the High Drummond passed some time ago.  The nature of her death has always been questioned but nothing ever proven.  Some feel it was because the Tri-Narg split apart causing the High Drummond to weaken and succumb to illness.  While together, nothing could overcome the power of the Talsine.  Together they were a mighty force and because their force had been proven against many foes in history, they were never challenged.  Our country flourished and all the neighbouring countries flourished as well.

            “The Tri-Narg are three sisters of the same mother.  Usually the mother was a Tri-Narg herself, but it is not necessary.  These three sisters are gifted with the sight and magic at birth.  Once these sisters are born however, it is known either all or one of the current Tri-Narg will soon die.  It then becomes very apparent that training for the new three should begin.  Unfortunately, there is only one thing that can kill a Tri-Narg, the Sword of Truth.  Hardorin is keeper of this sword and sworn to protect it with his life.”  She paused to take a sip of her tea.  “Although the sword is still in Hardorin’s care, it still does not mean this is where it will stay.  Omens and messages were sent to the Tri-Narg lately of the on coming event.  They cannot tell which it will be that dies or if all three will die.  Three sisters were found by your Aunts and are now starting their training.  I must begin to train another.”  Both Richard and Peter starred at their mother is disbelief, knowing what she had just told them.  Tears formed in Anora’s eyes.  “I was a young girl, the youngest of the three.  While in town one day, I met this handsome man.  He was so strong and had such a kind smile.  I was instantly smitten and fell deeply in love with him.  He courted me and came to my door so often.  My mother knowing my destiny as one of the Tri-Narg, constantly turned him away.  However, as love touches the hearts of the young, I could not resist.  We began to meet in secret and then decided to marry anyway.  I turned from my vows as part of the Talsine and married your father.  He did not know I was Tri-Narg until after we decided to wed.  By then it was too late as I was carrying you, Richard, and marriage was our only option.  It was only a year after you were born that the High Drummond’s health began to fail.  I blamed myself for it, but I loved your father so.”  She stopped to wipe the tears from her eyes.  “I was so tortured when she died and your father was too.  We both carried such guilt for the sacrifice of our love.  I went to see my sisters after the High Drummond’s death and they tried to assure me I was not to blame, but I knew if I had stayed with my vows and my duty, this would not have happened.  For many years, I lived with the scars of it before I finally understood just what it was.  It was not me but an evil force that slowly drained her from her life essence.  It could only have been the black crystal.  However, the black crystal could not do this by itself; it would need someone to help it.  Someone else is behind all this and it is the Drummond Tierk, I fear.

            “Tierk has discovered the black crystal and somehow the way to use it in evil.  It was hidden deep within the castle and could only be accessed by secret chanting.  How he accomplished this, we do not know.  With that evil, he destroyed his mother, but now he seeks to destroy the Tri-Narg.  We are the only thing in his way of total domination of the country and possibly the neighbouring countries. If just one of us is killed, the power of the Tri-Narg can easily be challenged with the power of the black crystal.”

            Richard had to speak and when his mother raised her hand he shook his head, “No, I must speak here.  What you are telling us is that you are part of the Tri-Narg and could possibly be killed at any time.  You must let me say something here.”  She stopped and let him go on.  “What are we to do then?  How can we protect you and our Aunts from this doom that awaits you?  There must be something or you would not be telling us all this.”

            “So true my sweet, so true.  A few things can be done.  Firstly, you must go and aid Hardorin with the safekeeping of the Sword of Truth.  Tierk must never get it.  There is another part of this story yet to tell you and I worry how you will take its telling.”  She looked at Richard and took a deep breath.  “The High Drummond was with child when she became ill.  All believe the child died with her, but that is not true.  A female child was born to her a few weeks before she died.  Arrangements were made to send the child away to another family and hide her until she was of age.  The High Drummond was certain it was Tierk trying to kill her and wanted to hide the child from him for she knew he would kill the child too.  A few days after the birth, a servant took the child and was told to leave it at a certain spot in the woods.  There a man would collect her and give her to a loving family to raise as their own.  This all went according to plan and the young girl still lives.  When you return from Hardorin’s in two weeks, I will go collect her and take her to my sisters’ where we will begin her training as High Drummond.  If we can put her on the throne before Tierk can kill her, or us, things should straighten out.  I will be gone for most of the summer months and you and Peter will have to tend the farm alone.”

            “So what are you not telling me mother?  I can tell by your expression that there is more to this.”  Richard hardened his jaw.

            Anora clenched her hands and looked up at him slightly turning her head.  Her face full of pain she answered.  “Elise is the High Drummond’s daughter.”

            Peter sat there in shock looking first at his mother then at Richard.  His heart was breaking in two for his brother and in the distance; he could hear the screams of a woman in torment.  Looking at his mother, he saw she heard it as well as the tears began to roll down her face.  He bent is head and put his hands to his forehead.

            “Domi is telling Elise this same story as I speak to you now.  What you hear are her cries of sadness.  You both have part of my gifts and can hear and see things that others cannot.  It is not as strong in you because you are male, but you still have some of it none the less.”  She wiped her eyes.  “You can both still be together.  Once this is all settled…”

            “But we can never be married!”  Richard’s tone was full of rage.  “I can be her mate for a while, but never her husband.  Or have you forgotten the High Drummond could never marry?  She just takes a mate from time to time.”

            “But you can be that mate, Richard.  I am sure the Tri-Narg will see no wrong in that.”  She tried desperately to sooth him.  “You will still be together.”

            He looked at her with tears in his eyes, his heart shattered, “But what of the life we planned together, here on our farm.  What of the love and family we wanted?  We can never have that now.  If you knew all this before, why did you not tell us?  Why did you just let us fall in love only to be hurt?”  He got up quickly.  “I cannot believe you would do this.  Why?”  He pushed the chair back and it tipped over onto the floor sending Skeet into the air and then stormed out the door.  Skeet went to fly after him but Anora yelled at Skeet to stop.

            “Let him be, Skeet.  He needs to be alone to take all this in.”  Skeet stopped and landed on the table making a soft chirping sound.  “I know he hurts right now, but let him work it out.”  She turned to Peter, “Come, help me prepare supplies for Richard’s journey tomorrow.”  She and Peter got up and began to put things together for the next morning’s journey Richard was to take.

            Outside beside the barn Richard sat on the ground with his hands over his eyes.  He was crying like a small boy and in his mind, he could here the sobs of brokenhearted Elise as she lay on her bed.  Looking up to the stars, he prayed to his father for strength.

            Domi sat at the kitchen table with glass and bottle drinking the dark liquor hoping it would deafen his ears from the sounds of his daughter as she cried herself to sleep.