Legacy of the Medallion

LEGACY OF THE MEDALLION

BY

S.TILGHMAN HAWTHORNE



Prologue

Dreth’s rage had not faltered after years of imprisonment. All of his beautiful, evil power confined to this mist-shrouded island and the only way he could view the rest of the world was through his shadows. They could weave their way through the woven layers of magic that imprisoned him and find a host without the spirit to fend them off. Then he could watch, he could follow, he could listen. He could even attack within the physical limitations of his host, but these soulless creatures could not channel his perfect magic. His heart was filled to bursting with the fury of it. He could not guide the course of the world through them. There was only one way he could break the magic that bound him and that was to find it’s source and destroy it. He had been close, so close, to possessing the world and everything in it, only to have it all destroyed by a simple stone; Kendrith's stone. He’d spent all of these miserable years looking for it and would never stop until he’d found it. And when he found it, nothing would help those who stood against him.

Chapter I

The black imp mewled piteously as the dark force fell upon it. It pawed at it’s own face and rolled in the dirt before sitting up and cocking it’s head. It listened to a voice it had never heard before and was filled with a new awareness. Moving silently from tree to bush to shrub, it neared the old woman’s porch. Its eyes glittered eerily in the glow of the first moon. Slinking under the silver bush beside the steps, it pricked its finely tuned ears and settled in, an uninvited and unacknowledged guest.

Alwynne ran her gnarled fingers over Mina’s braids. “Mina, all will come about in its own time.”

Mina felt restless in their sleepy village. Her lessons in the elementals with Alwynne were progressing far too slowly for her taste. The sweet fragrance of the thick hyacinth vine drifted over the porch and brought to mind stories of far away, exotic places. She sighed. “Grandmother, do you use your magic to read my thoughts?”

Alwynne laughed. “I’ve no need, my dear. Your thoughts are written all over your face.”

This was usually Mina’s favorite time, sitting on Alwynne’s porch in the gathering dusk waiting for the second moon to rise beside her sister. Tonight the first moon rose quickly as if eager to push the sun out of the sky. Mina shared her impatience.

Alwynne walked to the edge of the porch. Her intense gaze into the darkening sky brought Mina to her side.

The second moon rose to join her sister, but across her usually radiant white face was an odd blemish. “What is that, Grandmother?”

Alwynne clutched the railing, suddenly appearing older and shaken.

“A portent... An omen. It’s time.” Alwynne lifted one shaking hand to her throat.

“Wait.” She hurried into the house, leaving Mina to stare at the strange stain that mottled the moon’s sweet face.

She returned grasping something in her hands and gingerly lowered herself into her rocker. Mina drew close, filled with anticipation.

“You must not speak of this to anyone, Mina. There are those in this world who would bring great harm to you. This knowledge must never fall into their hands.”

Mina’s pulse quickened. She nodded with a mixture of fear and excitement.

Twilight deepened over the little porch lending it a mystical aura. The creak of Alwynne’s rocking chair was the only sound. Even the insects and frogs had given up their cheerful night song. The fragrance of the delicate flowers, the rustling leaves of the silver bushes all receded into the shadows of the encroaching dusk. Mina shivered as a feeling of foreboding crept up her back. The little imp hidden under the silver bush flattened itself against the rocky ground and stifled a hiss.

Alwynne produced a small octagonal box and placed it in Mina’s hands and warmth spread up her arms. Intricate figures were carved into it, appearing to dance around the box. Mina recognized some of the arcane symbols as representing life, death and great magic.

“This belongs to your father, Mina. ” Alwynne’s blue eyes glinted in the rays of the double moons. She tucked a curl of her fine white hair behind her ear. “It will be yours when the time is right.”

Transfixed by her grandmother’s purposeful gaze, Mina whispered, “What is it?”

”Both a weapon, and a shield, yet much more. It holds the possibility of great destruction as well as the hope of peace and protection.”

Mina glanced at the small container, then back at her grandmother. “It’s Magic,” she whispered.

Alwynne nodded. “Open it.”

Mina knelt in front of her grandmother. She gingerly lifted the hinged lid. A warm light broke from under it and traveled up to illuminate her face as she raised it higher and higher. There, nestled on cottony black felt, was a medallion. Gold and silver rays spread out around a golden orb; a stylized Sun with a woven chain that gleamed like liquid fire. The glow began to pulsate, matched to the beat of her heart.

“The Medallion of Kendrith," Alwynne said.

Mina’s mouth formed a little “O” of surprise as her eyes met her grandmother’s.

“Yes, dear, your grandfather’s medallion.” Alwynne sat back in her chair with a sigh. “He gave his life to make it. It is filled with his essence, the depth of his soul.”

“A Strelitz Stone? They really do exist!” A sorcerer could give no greater sacrifice. This was magic of the highest order.

“Your grandfather created it to protect the armies of the King from the dark Sorcerer, Dreth. His only instructions were for your father to wear it until all threat of the war had ended. Then he was to keep it well hidden for another generation when it’s true potential would be discovered.” Alwynne placed her soft hand over Mina’s. Her face was strained and drawn. “This was made for you, my dear. Your grandfather, who died before you were born, created it especially for you”

“For ME, Grandmother? That can’t be.” Mina closed the box and covered it with both hands. “My magical talents are so small. Besides, shouldn’t it pass on to Tyrell?” A thrill swept through her at the thought of having this powerful magic.

“No, Mina, it’s intended for you. Your brother is a fine boy, but lacks your spirit and has little talent for magic. You are the one who seeks adventure. Now the adventure has found you.”

They looked at each other and, in that moment, Mina felt their hearts touch.

Mina opened the box again and caressed the medallion lightly with one finger. An eerie warmth flooded through her. The medallion took on a bluish glow, and then receded to a paler light as she took her finger away.

“But Grandmother...”

Alwynne’s smile was tinged with sadness. “The magic you possess must suffice, my dear, you just need to work on channeling it correctly. There are many great magicians in this world. Some possess more natural talent, but you have the combination of talent and the pureness to control the power of this essence.”

Mina closed the box and frowned. She traced her fingers over the carved images on it’s top. “I want to learn, Grandmother, but sometimes it’s frustrating.”

“I know, dear. You’re in a hurry. But magic doesn’t come by force, only through patience. You must remember that.”

The darkening shadows of evening had filled the little porch. Alwynne pulled her shawl more closely around her shoulders.

“Now hurry, take it to your father, child. He will tell you more of its secrets and help you find a safe place to keep it until it is needed. Go now, show it only to him and no one else.”

Mina tucked the box into her pocket, not daring to take her hand from it. She hugged Alwynne and hurried down the path toward home. Neither she nor Alwynne saw the furtive creature that scuttled through the darkness behind her, keeping to the shadows.

The little village of Nementh lay quiet and still as evening enwrapped it. Nestled between two mountain ranges, far from the great walled cities where wars were fought and destinies forged, it provided a safe haven. Only a few villagers were about doing last minute chores before heading in to dinner. Mina passed them quickly, a young woman still perceived as a child to them and thus looked upon as part of the scenery rather than someone to hail. Tonight she was glad to be anonymous. Tantalizing aromas emanated from each house but Mina was oblivious to them as she hurried home.

As her house came into view, she saw it in a different light. Perhaps it was because she now thought of her father as a warrior for the first time. Before, she’d always seen him simply as her papa, a man with four children who worried about crops and harvests and fixing the roof; a man who expected his children to be well behaved, courteous and to do well in school.

She knew he had been in the war long before her birth, but now she realized the depth of that. He’d been a soldier, a man who wielded might and magic to protect the King. He had been given the sacred power of a Sorcerer’s essence and that Sorcerer was her grandfather! She tried to merge the two images of Papa in her mind.

Once inside, she went straight to her room. The heels of her boots echoed on the hard wooden floor. Had the house changed? Or had she? An inexplicable chill crept over her as she realized that the world was never really quite what it seemed.

The imp cried and paced in frustration. It couldn’t follow her into the light. The shadow that had possessed it saw that this creature was now useless and released its hold on the imp. It gasped, and then gagged, as the dark force disposed of it. It’s body steamed, then melted into a liquid pool quickly merging with the rocky ground as the shadow faded and disappeared, taking new knowledge back to its dark master.

Mina tugged open the bottom drawer of her dresser and hid the box under a pile of clothing in the back. She’d have to wait until after dinner, when everyone had gone to bed, to show it to Papa. She looked at her dresser again and gnawed on her bottom lip. The mirror above the dresser caught her eye and she absently pushed one auburn braid behind her pointed elfin ear. She felt uneasy about her hiding place for the medallion and removed the box from the drawer, looked around the room, then tucked it behind the dresser instead. Finally satisfied that it was in a safe spot, she went to help her mother prepare the evening meal.