Destined

"One Step At A Time"

Why would they want to see ME? At the moment I was a nobody - yes, future Prota, but I was a  potential possibility. Gaisgeil didn't announce publicly, that we accepted the bond. This statement would have been a clear declaration to everybody and a manifestation of an intent.

I followed Gaisgeil side by side to his reception hall. He threw me a little smile of reassurance. "Don't forget, you are the Prota - a strong and intelligent Prota who is not intimidated by nobody. Don't show your nervousness. Keep your composure and your face stoic. No weakness", he whispered, so no curious ears were able to eavesdrop.

I nodded, my eyes straight forward, face calm. Guards opened the gigantic doors to the reception hall that were studded with gold. Immediately I recognised a bunch of big men, that were waiting in the midst of the hall. I rubbed  my clammy hands on my long woolen skirt. But despite my apprehension, I remained superior in my steps. The men turned around when they heard the clap of our shoes.

The visitors all had blue aquamarin eyes, they were big but lean muscled. In comparison to Gaisgeil they were slender, but my "human" impression of them was: they were lethal. It was my first encounter with their race, the Cuan. The word was Gealic and ment "sea". They lived at the coastline of Desa. I thought about what I knew about their race:  The Cuan had a special physical adjustment to the  sea, but I never saw personally how much. My forehead furrowed when I noticed slits on both sides of their necks. My curiosity rose and my fingers itched to touch and examine what my eyes took in. I watched with fasnination their necks. How I'd wish, I could...

"They are gill cover, my Prota. We Cuan are lungs- but also gill breather", a deep voice interrupted my thoughts. A friendly looking man watched me with equal interest. I felt a blush cover my cheeks. A few men laughed in a friendly way.

I smiled back. "Please, excuse my curiosity, I mean no offence. You are the first Cuan I had the pleasure to meet."

"You are a Daonnachd, we understand, that you must had led a restricted way of life." My eyes snapped to the mocking voice. Beside me I felt Gaisgeil's anger resonate through his physical stiffness. The Cuan man, that threw his words at me, was either bold or suicidal.

"Careful, Cuan, you are offending my Prota. I don't take it lightly. If you weren't a member of the delegation, your head would be rolling on the floor by now." I put my hand on Gaisgeil's right fist, that was resting on his sword handle which was attached to his leather belt. I felt how he relaxed only by my touch.

"This is Callida, my destined. Yes, she is a Daonnachd. I will punish every attempt to humiliate my future Prota. So keep in mind, I don't make promises, that I don't intend to keep, as you all know." Gaisgeil's body language was clear: Overstep my rules and you'll see what happens ...

The men in front of me were unarmed. He could kill them without effort. I watched their tense  faces with a friendly smile. "You are right, no offence taken. I am a Daonnachd and we indeed live a restricted life, although we are the heart of Desa."

I saw the perplexity on their facial features. The same man that mocked me was again the brave one. "With all due respect, my Prota, why do you declare the Daonnachd as the heart of Desa? We all know, that your people are weak and not able to defend themselves against us others. We are the physical superior ones." I saw and felt the unease of his fellow members of the delegation because of his words.

I smiled. "Again, you are right", I furrowed my eyebrows in a fake playful manner like I was really overthinking something. "What's your name?", I questioned. The brave speaker bowed in front of me. "Darragh, my Prota, my name is Darragh."

"You are right, Darragh. We Daonnachd aren't as strong as you or the other races of Desa. But imagine life without us: Who heals your illnesses? Who builds your houses ... or in your case your ships?" I saw the rising recognition on their faces. Gaisgeil gave me a little heads up with a knowing smirk forming on his lips. 

"Who repairs broken things? Who cooks you meals, cuts your hair, who forges your swords, who shoes the hooves of your horses?"

They all watched each other with apprehension. Clearly it was the first time they really thought about the value of us Daonnachd. Unbelievable, how cocky and conceited they all were to not appreciate OUR contribution to their societies. Totally unacceptable! I huffed.

"You REALLY didn't recognize, that we Daonnachd are unique in our abilities and indispensable?" Most of the men turned their eyes to the ground, except for a few who watched my ranting either with amusement or rejection.

A hand on my shoulder stopped further accusations coming out of my mouth. Gaisgeil's fingers started to stroke my flesh tenderly. "We all underestimated the value of the Daonnachd, Callida. I am no exception, as you well know." I see remorse on his strong features but also resolve. A short glance at the Cuan men tells me, that they saw too. Their astonished expressions are a prove of the extraordinary moment we all witnessed.

Gaisgeil, the most feared being of our world, showed that he is fallible and makes mistakes. This was a turning point. The former Prota, his father, was a godlike creature, impeccable, his word rule, that had to be obeyed, if you didn't want to risk your life. Gaisgeil was changing. He was not the guy, I encountered three summers ago. He WANTED to become a good destined, worth of my trust. I felt a warm feeling spread inside my heart.   

"The way we all see and perceive the Daonnachd will change, as soon as you are announced as my Prota, first of all women of Desa." Gaisgeil's words indicated his will to accept me as his human destined, and to accept  the Daonnachd as a valued race amongst the orther creatures.

"Words are words, but actions speak a louder language. Therefore I declare hereby, that from now on the Daonnachd will take their place at the round table of Desa, my personal counsil. Like all the other races they will get two seats. I leave the decision about who will be the delegates of the Daonnachd in the hands of their counsil."  Gaisgeil's words left me and all present men speechless. 

"As you wish, my Lord. I will send a messenger to the Daonnachd counsil". I didn't notice Sapientis' presence in the reception hall but obviously he was there, hidden in the corners. I turned to him and was met with his intense stare and a small smile.

"Well, you came to talk with your Lord, than let us talk, as your wish to see and greet your future Prota was granted." Gaisgeil winked in my direction, mouthed "later" and turned in the direction of a big table that was decorated with several dishes, foods and wine. 

I understood, that it was a sign for me to leave. I would have preferred to stay and hear, what they had to talk about, but was wise enough not to exaggerate. Emancipation of the Daonnachd was only one goal of mine; emancipation of women was the next...! I wasn't raised to keep my mouth shut but to talk freely and as a being with a brain. 

As I slowly turned around and walked to the door, I thought "one step at a time". Sapientis waited for me outside. "Callida, you are a blessing...for the Protos, for the Daonnachd, for Desa. I have to admit, three summers ago, I didn't see your inner power." He shook his head with a chuckle. His eyes watched me closely. "You bewitched Gaisgeil, he is really changing...for the better. Help him be the man of his best choices, for yourself and for our whole world."

Sapientis words ment a lot. I knew, he was a wise man who tried his best but was limited in his actions. He smiled at me with hope in his eyes. "Now come, the Lord wants you to wait for him in his quarter. I'll escort you..."

"No, you don't have to, Sapientis, I know the way, you surely have more important things to do." He nodded in appreciation and left me. I slowly proceded my way through the halls of the castle. To be honest, I didn't know the way to Gaisgeil's quarter, but I needed a little space to think about what happened.

As I moved further into the depths of the castle, I recognized, that I lost my way. Exhaling and laughing about my own stupidity to roam an unknown place, I turned around. To my surprise, I saw no guards and no servants around me. That was very unusual. Carefully I took a few steps, ready to ask the first person I saw, when a strong hand from behind me, pressed its fingers over my mouth. I tried to defend myself, but this person was strong and used my surprise to his advantage. With my free arm I elbowed my unkown attacker with all the force I could muster. His groan of pain was music to my ears. To my disappointment it didn't have the effect I hoped for, because he didn't let go of me but dragged me through an unknown door.

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