The Dawn of the Raven Omnibus 1: Episodes 1-5 (10 page)

“Oh, no
sir.  No trouble.  I promise, I won’t bring any trouble to you at all.”

“Good then. 
Make yourself at home.  Let me show you around!”

As he led Kiella towards the center of the village, the Elken
became aware of her and stopped what they were doing.  One small child who had
his back to her was giggling and appeared to be floating in mid-air, roughly
three feet off the ground.  His friends, who were facing Kiella, abruptly
stopped what they were doing and waved to the boy to stop as soon as they saw
her.  He quickly plopped back down on the ground and turned and gasped when he
saw the outsider.  A hush came upon everyone as they stared at her.

“Oh please .
. .” said the elder man to all of them in a gruff voice.  “This is our guest! 
Welcome her!”

Immediately, everyone’s apprehension melted away, and Kiella
was warmly greeted with smiles and nods.  Even the small boy who had appeared
to float warmed up to her.  Kiella watched him closely, hoping to figure out
his trick, but he kept his feet firmly on the ground and now appeared no
different than any other boy.  Kiella, however, couldn’t keep her curiosity to
herself.

“Sir, did
that boy . . .  float?”

The elder smiled at her.

“Oh, so you
noticed that, did you?  Yes yes, it appeared that he did.”

“But . . .
how?  Was it a trick?”

“Trick?  Well,
yes, of course.  Unless, by trick, do you mean it wasn’t real?  Because it was
quite real, I assure you. That is young Efrik, and Efrik can  . . .  float.  I
suspect before long he’ll be properly flying, in fact.”

“Flying?” 
Kiella was in shock.

“Yes.  Yes. 
That’s Efrik’s power, you see.  Here, come sit.” 

The elder took a seat on a rock on the edge of the courtyard
and motioned for Kiella to take the spot next to him.  She sat down and stared,
wide-eyed, mystified, though now it really appeared just a normal village.  No
one was doing anything out of the ordinary, as they were all very aware of
Kiella’s presence.  They’d go about their business, but as they did so many of
their heads would constantly swivel back to check on the outsider.  Clearly, they
were not used to having a guest.  The elder cleared his throat and then began
speaking.

“You see,
flotation, flying, something like that, whatever you want to call it, that is
Efrik’s gift.  His natural power.  Each of us Elken are born with a natural power:
a special gift or talent unique to that individual.”

“A special
power?  What’s yours?”

“Oh mine?”
he laughed.  “Mine is nothing that special.  I can do things with water.”  As
he said this, he held a stick into a puddle.  Kiella watched as drops from the
puddle slowly made their way up the stick, traveling in direct opposition to
gravity.  Once they reached the top, he opened his other hand and let them flow
into it, filling his palm.  The drops then formed into an orb that floated a
few inches above his hand, suspended as if weightless, and spinning in
mid-air.  “A useless talent, really.  Mostly good for just impressing children
and parlor tricks.  Though, water is just about everywhere, so I suppose it
does come in handy sometimes.  Water is even in us, you know.  I can do some
clever things with that.  Oh, occasionally, if someone is really rotten, you
should see . . .”  He started to laugh to himself, then noticed a look of
concern on Kiella’s face.  “Oh, but don’t worry, that’s only for real scoundrels! 
Mostly I just use it to amuse myself with dumb tricks like you see here.  It
helps pass the time.”  He lifted the orb up into the sky, then let it drop back
down into the puddle with a splash.

Kiella was amazed.  Dumbfounded.  She just stared at the
puddle, trying to make sense of what she had really just seen.  Finally, she
continued the conversation.

“You say
each of you have a special power?  A gift?  They just come naturally to you?  I
thought that you practiced witchcraft, the dark arts?”

“Oh.  That’s
how your kind remember us, eh?  Well, it’s true, we occasionally cast a spell
or two.  Most of those have been forgotten, now.  But witchcraft, dark arts . .
. I wouldn’t call it any of that.  Oh, maybe it’s just semantics, I don’t
know.  It’s just magic, as far as we know it.  Some magic just comes naturally,
some you might learn as a spell.  But we mostly just stick to our natural
gifts, our natural power.  In fact, I don’t know that any of the younger
generation even know how to cast spells anymore.  It’s becoming a bit of a
forgotten art amongst us Elken.  They don’t need it.  One power is enough.”

“So, every
Elken has a power?”

“Yes, yes. 
Every single one of us is born with one.  Some stay dormant longer than others:
it may take one until adolescence to even figure out what their power is, or at
least to learn how to control it properly.  Young Efrik there, he is just now
starting to feel out what he can do.”

Kiella looked at him again.  Yes, now he appeared to be just
a normal boy.  And yet, he definitely wasn’t.  He was special.  She was amazed
as she looked around, and thought of how all of the Elken were special.  She
couldn’t help wondering what each of their powers was.  As she looked around,
she saw Shyrea walking back into the town center.  She walked across the
courtyard and headed for a small building.  Kiella pointed to her.

“And what
about her?  The one who helped me and brought me here?  What is her power?”

“Oh no, it’s
not my place to say.  It’s up to each Elken when and to whom they divulge their
power.  It’s quite a private matter for some.  I only discussed Efrik’s with
you because the cat was already out of the bag on that one.  Perhaps she will
tell you or show you some time, but that choice is hers to make, and hers
alone.”

Suddenly, the elder man became a tad bit flustered.

“Oh my
goodness!  Where are my manners!  It’s been so long since we’ve had a visitor,
I’ve completely forgotten how to be a good host!”  He presented his hand and
gave Kiella a warm, friendly grin.  “I am Zorin.”

Kiella enthusiastically shook his hand and smiled back.

“I’m
Kiella.”

“Oh, such a
pleasure to meet you Kiella.  We are so happy you are here.” 

Zorin stood up and motioned for Kiella to follow him.  They
entered a small building and sat at a table.  At the far end of the room, an
Elken woman and an Elken man were busy filling a large pot with the ingredients
for the dinner.  There was no fire or stove.  Instead, once the pot had been filled
and the ingredients were just right, the woman merely touched the pot with her
finger.  Within moments, the pot was steaming and the smell of the delicious
meal filled the room.  The woman smiled as she stood proudly over their
handiwork and savored the aroma.    Across the table from Kiella, two boys sat
staring at her.  She could tell they were uneasy, so she smiled and waved at
them.  One waved back, but the other still looked sheepish.  Suddenly, the one
who was still serious coughed, and a flame burst out of his mouth.  Shocked and
embarrassed, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand. 

“Careful
there Tyrus!  Don’t want to burn our guest!” said Zorin, though he laughed
good-naturedly as he said it.  The man who’d been cooking came over and picked
up Tyrus and apologized to Kiella.   Kiella told him she was fine and giggled.

“It’s no
wonder your kind banished us: we’re a danger even to ourselves!”  Zorin laughed
heartily and his eyes gleamed as he said this.  “Oh, do be careful around the
little ones.  Some of them really are still just coming to grips with their
power.  Trying their best to harness it.  It can be quite dangerous while
they’re still getting a feel for it.  We have to watch them quite carefully. 
Efrik that you saw earlier, we’ve had to put boundaries on him.  He’s not
supposed to float higher than head level for the adults.  The little guy loves
to float and try to fly, but he still hasn’t learned how to properly land!”  He
looked over at the little boy who was still at the table who, though he’d been
smiling just a few moments before, was now quite sad.  “Oh, cheer up Limus. 
Yours will come soon, and it will be a great one, I can sense it!”  Limus
looked slightly encouraged, but still looked pretty melancholy as he left the
table to go join Tyrus.  “Poor little fellow.  Limus’ power is still dormant. 
He still has no idea what it’s going to be, and he’s getting to the age where
little ones start to worry that maybe they won’t get a power.  But all Elken’s
do.  I’ve never heard of one, in all my years, who didn’t eventually find their
power.  It will come in its own time.”

The woman and the man brought bowls to the table filled with
stew and served them.  Its flavor was magnificent, with tastes Kiella’s palate
had never known.  When it was done, she thanked them graciously.   Just as they
were getting ready to leave, a young Elken woman came in and whispered in
Zorin’s ear. 

“Splendid! 
Splendid news indeed.  Thank you, my dear” Zorin replied.  Then he turned to
Kiella.  “Good news.   Your friend is improving.  Osthra says we shouldn’t
disturb her tonight, though, she says she needs her rest.  I will show you to
your bed, and then we will check on her in the morning.”  He really did appear
genuinely pleased by the news.  Kiella was much relieved.

Zorin took her to a two-story building built around the base
of a thick tree trunk and told her that she would find a bed up on the second
level that should suit her fine.  He introduced her to Feyen, a young woman who
lived on the level below, and Feyen told her to let her know if there was
anything she needed at all.  With that, Zorin bid Kiella goodnight, and left. 
Kiella climbed up a rope ladder to the second level, and found the bed very
comfortable and warm.  The second level had no walls except for the tree trunk
behind it, and so Kiella had a perfect view of the night time forest.  She
couldn’t believe where she was, and what a strange and wonderful day it had
become.  She thought of Raveena and said a short prayer for her.  Then, she thought
again about how horribly the day had started, and about the woman who had come
to her aid. 

When Kiella awoke, the town was already in full swing.  From
her spot up in the tree house she could look right down on the town center.  It
was full of Elken people going about their business, and now the people no
longer seemed wary of her presence.  She saw an Elken man moving large pieces
of firewood into a pile with just a wave of his hand, levitating them from one
spot to another effortlessly.  She saw a young girl happily planting seeds
along the edge of the town square.  Once each seed had been planted, she would
point her finger over the spot and a flower would grow to full bloom within
seconds.  As Kiella sat mesmerized by the wonderful scene below, she was
suddenly shocked by a greeting that came from just a few feet beside her.

“Hello!”
yelled out a little voice.

Kiella looked to her right and saw a happy little grinning
face floating just off the edge of the second story.  It was little Efrik! 

“Hey!  I
heard you’re not supposed to be up this high!”

“Oh shoot! 
Don’t tell!”  Answered little Efrik, as he floated up over the edge and landed
next to her. 

“Oh, I
won’t.  Zorin told me you’re still working on your landings?”

“Yes, I am. 
But I think I’m getting the hang of it.  I’m Efrik!”  He grinned and held out
his tiny hand.  Kiella happily shook it.

“I’m
Kiella.   It’s a real pleasure to meet you!” 

Efrik was very pleased by this, and then, getting his courage
up, couldn’t keep his curiosity from peaking.

“I’ve never
seen an outsider before.”

“I’d never
met an Elken until yesterday either.”

“I’ve never
even been outside of the village.  What is it like out there?  What’s it like
beyond the forest?”

“Oh.  Well,
there’re lots of things out there.  Some of it’s really nice.  Other parts are
not so nice.  But I must say, I think you’re lucky.  This is about the nicest
place I’ve ever seen.”

Efrik really liked this notion.  He got an ear-to-ear grin as
he looked out at his village.  Then, he continued.

“I’ve heard
that your people don’t like us.  Is that true?”

“Well . . . 
I don’t think my people really know you, or understand you.  I like you.  I
like you a lot.”  She mussed his hair playfully, and Efrik seemed content.  He
then got ready to try and float back down to rejoin his friends, but Kiella
talked him into taking the ladder, since they were at quite a significant
height. 

Kiella had just reached the bottom when she heard Zorin’s
voice greet her.  She turned and found him chatting with Feyen, enjoying some
morning tea.  He gave Efrik a slightly suspicious look and told him “Now Efrik,
I do hope you remember what we discussed about your floating.  We wouldn’t want
you to fall and get hurt.”

“Yes sir.  I
will remember.”

“Good.” Said
Zorin, as he patted the boy on the head.  

Efrik ran off to play, and Kiella sat down with Zorin and
Feyen and Feyen poured her a nice cup of tea.  Again, like with the stew the
night before, the flavor was totally new to her, but it was delicious.  Once
she had finished, Zorin asked her if she was ready to go check on her friend,
and so they got up, Kiella thanked Feyen for her hospitality, and they were on
their way.