KEEPERS BOOK 2: THE HUNT FOR SONJA

Chapter 7 Smoke and Mirrors

The smell of tea wafted through the living room as Shyra sat patiently by the fire and waited. Grunner stood in a corner near the window, he had washed and changed his clothing. Strangely the lines on his face had almost disappeared and his dusty hair had turned into a golden shade. She could sense a quickening within him that was making his powers come alive.
They both remained silent, not daring to speak to each other of anything but they waited patiently until finally the door to the cottage opened. Grunner stood straight eyeing the visitors warily. He nodded to Ansel and Sierra but his gaze remained fixed on the ancient and the stranger.
"Shyra" Amorin greeted her warmly, they fell into a quick embrace as they smiled at each other in recognition.
"I thought you found visiting the realms a tedious task" Shyra exclaimed surprised to see an old friend after such a long time.
"I do, but Ansel needed me, how could I refuse when it meant being reunited with an old friend." She replied.
"This is cozy, are you making tea?"
Shyra nodded.
"Your fully healed sister" Sierra remarked as she gathered some cups to pour the tea glancing surreptitiously at Grunner who chose to remain in the corner.
"I have you and Altaran to thank for that" Shyra remarked nodding to the Mage before turning to the oracle "How did you know to come?"
"Your mate had a vision of his daughter" Ansel replied walking toward the lycan
"Cael? How is he?" Shyra asked worriedly.
"He is fine, safe" Amorin replied and took a seat facing the fire. "This is a lovely place, one hidden from the immortals, very clever" she turned to Grunner "I would never have suspected this land was yours"
Grunner remained silent.
"Do not worry lycan, your secret is safe with us" Ansel smiled "Your king is missing, your kingdom is in turmoil, searching for guidance. Who takes over when the king is absent?" He asked Grunner pointedly.
"The commander of the Warriors" Grunner replied curtly.
"Then that would be you" Ansel replied matter of fact.
Grunner nodded watching the oracle warily.
" You must return, reassure your citizens your king is on a journey. That should appease them while we solve this puzzle."the oracle told him seriously. "Go now"
"What do I tell them? I have to bring the king back!" Grunner bit out harshly.
"Your king is lost for now lycan, you will have to maintain peace and order unless you allow chaos to rule and your mad king will seize the opportunity to destroy this pricarious alliance. I trust that is not what you would want to happen."Ansel continued calmly.
All eyes were on Grunner as they waited for his decision. He was completely at a loss, unable to make a sound decision for he was not a ruler, he had a king. What would the Lycans think if just walked in there and announced that his King was missing?
Sensing his discomfort Shyra looked at Grunner with deep intensity "Go Grunner, the Lycans need your guidance. You must not let Tarrick return or all will be lost. We will do what must be done" her voice was firm, commanding.
Seeing the wisdom of her words, he made to leave for it was the only solution.
"Hmm feisty lycan, rather strange." Ansel commented.
"He hasn't changed" Amorin muttered as she sipped the tea Sierra handed to her.
"Nor will he" Sierra added.
"Tell me of Cael's vision" Shyra tuned to the oracle who stood looking about the cottage.
"This is fascinating, a shadow female lived here" he said in wonder ignoring Shyra. "I can still feel much of her essence"
"Oracle you were asked a question" Altaran said sharply
Turning an irritated glare at the Mage the oracle looked at Shyra "Your mate heard his daughter cry out to him through the mist. Let us go there that I may see clearly."
The five of them journeyed on foot toward the due of the woods. Ansel marveled at the vision of the forest, it was pure, unsullied by the passage of immortals. It was the only piece of life remaining from what had been part of the shadow realm. He marveled at its simplicity having never journeyed this far into the realms. As soon they reached their destination he looked at the swirling cloud of mist in wonder.
"Seeing it as it is rather than from a vision is so much more exciting" the oracle remarked with wonder.
"Now that you are here what do we do?" Amorin scoffed.
Sighing at her lack of perception he proceeded to close his eyes and reach out into the mist. They watched Ansel take a step into the swirling mass of dust and disappear from their sight.
"Will he be alright?" Shyra asked worriedly.
"He is the oracle" Altaran muttered derisively.
The four of them waited patiently until suddenly without warning Ansel returned. His hair had grown flaxen and his skin became paler. He wore a worried frown as he looked at each of them.
"Well?" Sierra broke the silence with her question.
"I did not sense the three any longer, they are not there. The two Fae and the king are gone" he announced solemnly.
Shyra sucked in her breath sharply as her heart hammered in her chest " What happened to them?"
Ansel looked at Shyra "I don't really understand it myself. When the wall was erected to separate the human realm from the immortals, a dark power was at play here. They had summoned a dark Mage to create the barrier that would sever the realms but, there was a crack. It was never completed. I suspect a malevolent force was behind it. It was either the crack was created purposely or just simply a mistake in the design"
"What would that mean?" Amorin asked curiously.
"I can only guess at their intention. Until I have read all the facts regarding what had transpired for this to happen, I suspect Shyra was just a pawn in an intricate game of power. The shadow people knew this because the wall is on their land. It was either they were sacrificed to hide the crack or they had known about it and sacrificed themselves to keep the crack hidden so any immortal who would know of the way to the crack would not find their way back to the immortal realms. They would be lost forever. This was the only way" he stated strangely
"The only way to what?" Shyra asked with dread.
"To save the humans" he said with finality. "A group of immortals wanted them annihilated"
"Who told you this?" Altaran asked
"The shadow. Their souls are trapped in the mist. There is danger and now the crack has been rediscovered, the imbalance within the realms will not go unnoticed. I have to get back to mithra and read the points of shyra's trial. I have to gather the names of those that condemned her. Amorin you will have to tread carefully among the ancients, there is a conspiracy here."
"What conspiracy?" Amorin asked puzzled.
"I will know more when I return." Turning to Altaran he said "You know how to travel to the place where the dark immortals dwell. They owe no one any allegiance, they wait patiently for the realms to implode before they unleash their plans. I suspect it is where King Tarrick has gone. He will seek asylum among them, they will form an army and they will retaliate."
"What of my daughters and the king?" Shyra asked again.
"They are not here any longer Shyra the wise. But rest assured they are not harmed."
"That is not enough to reassure me"
"It will have to do for now"
"What will I do when I find the darks" Altaran asked
"Scatter among them, we need to know their plans. We need to discover who among the council members protect them"
Altaran nodded seeing that danger was fast rising "I shall keep you informed." He disappeared immediately.
Ansel turned to Sierra "Go back to the Fae kingdom have the Queen prepare a grand feast to celebrate peace between the realms that should keep them busy while we figure this out. We need to distract any realms from lending Tarrick their ear. Some of the kings are not completely convinced of Garrick and with him missing they may turn back to Tarrick. The lycan commander has to show strength at this time and he will have to show firm support for this alliance, his people will follow him for as long as he does not falter with his command."
Sierra nodded her understanding .
"Shyra you must remain hidden, your powers will grow, wisdom will be your strength. Have faith in the mother for she will guide her one true daughter" Ansel smiled turning to Amorin, he grabbed her arm and they both disappeared.
Shyra was left puzzled by what just been revealed to her. One thing stood out from the oracle's tale, her children were no longer within the immortal realm.
"Come Shyra, we have to return to the cottage." Sierra tugged at shyra's arm
She had no other choice but to follow.
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Lycanthrow
The castle had finally reached some semblance of order, the wounded were all healed, the towers were completed, there was no trace of the previous destruction.
Grunner walked through the halls of the castle noting activity but they stopped as soon as they saw him. He noted that their faces looked eager waiting for news of their king's arrival he would have to disappoint them for now. As he summoned those who were hovering about, he already knew what he had to say. This would have to be for now.

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City of Mithra
Ansel was deep into his books searching for the scripts that would enlighten him about the trial of Shyra the wise. He glanced briefly at Amorin who was getting herself intoxicated on his brew.
"Your here to help." He said in mild reprimand.
"This brew is bewitching. What have you put in it?" She gulped the last drop in her goblet before pouring herself a full glass.
"I would never reveal my secrets" the book he held snapped shut as he replaced it back on the shelf.  He walked to another shelf and thumbed through the volumes when the doors to his domain opened. He sensed the presence of an ancient.
"Was your journey a success?" Nala asked , glancing briefly at Amorin before returning her attention to the oracle.
"In more ways" he nodded without turning to look at her "tell me, who sat on the council when Shyra was condemned to banishment?"
"Why are you asking?"
"He needs to know" Amorin replied for Ansel.
"You are the oracle, you should be knowing this." Nala responded calmly
"My mind is a bit hazy" he tapped a finger on her forehead "Too much information" he preened.
"They were six elders and six council members, several ancients and the kings of the realms. Except for her father, the rest had declared her guilty. It was a unanimous vote except the elders were divided. " Nala explained patiently.
"We're the ancients divided?" He asked.
"I wasn't there" Amorin supplied drunkenly.
"We did not take part in the vote" Nala supplied "but of the elders,Joran and Maureen did not find her guilty. The rest agreed with the Kings"
"And when they built the wall, which dark Mage did they summon"
"It was not a dark Mage who built the barrier.  The elders and the council members erected it " Nala frowned.
"They had summoned dark power to create the barrier Nala I suspect you know who it was."
"No I do not. I refrained from joining the group when they prepared for it. Why? What did you discover oracle?"
"Simple, the barrier was not created by the group, they only went to witness its creation, a Mage was responsible for it, one cast in darkness, one who had turned from her realm and created another"
Ansel turned to Nala "She was assisted by an ancient or perhaps more"
"So you suspect it was a female Mage." Shocked she looked at the oracle with dread
"They are called witches or sorceress but definitely one who wields power that is strong and dark.  The barrier is not a barrier of light, it is shrouded in malevolent magic.  I suspect it was the only way to keep us hidden from the human world."
"How do you know this?" Nala asked suspiciously.
"I am the oracle."

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He finally reached his destination, the road had been dark all throughout his journey from Lycanthrow but it was the only refuge he would seek.
The males who had followed him into the darkness were slowly perishing, their flesh shriveled and their life force disintegrated.  Only a few were spared when he finally saw it. Hidden behind the dark rocks he finally saw it!
He was thirsty and in need of sustainance but his body was strong, he would make it to this place and when he did he would her help. She would help him get his kingdoms back.  She owed him that much.
The cave was sealed on the outside, there was a small swamp in front of it that they had to cross but he would make it and so would the three Lycans that survived.  There he would regroup.
They crossed the swamp and came upon the sealed door he tried to feel for an lever but he came upon nothing. He was hungry, thirsty and at the end of his rope. He decided to yell her name.  Nothing happened.  He called out to her again and again until his voice was hoarse, only then cdid the rocks come apart.  Seeing a tunnel, he waved to his men to follow him into the dark cave.
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