Chapter the Sixteenth

Iraella could finally leave the room now. Luinna had given her new clothes. They were simple, just white pants with a v-necked white sleeveless shirt. They were boy’s clothes, since she was too tall to fit into anything else.
Now she was outside, where she loved to be the most. She had to admit, Bellord was beautiful. The Leppei trees blew gently in the wind, the ocean only about a block from the house rose and fell, its sound soothing.
Iraella had no idea that Bellord also had gorgeous native bushes, the Merroe. Their leaves were a bright, vibrant green and their blooms were deep purple.
Iraella swung herself on the bench swing that sat on the deck. She closed her eyes and listened to the birds twitter and the smell of seawater. Then she felt guilty. It was much like the pleasure she took in listening to the creek at home with Baeddan.
She opened her eyes and went inside.

Mabon was inside, ready to speak with Allae about her whole ‘quest’ thing. He knew that Ello probably knew more, but he might as well forget about it. He also knew his sister well enough to realize that he wouldn’t get one more peep out of her.
Mabon sat on the couch and started tapping his foot. Then she walked in. He smiled at her. “Hello, Allae,” he said, unsure of what else to say.
Allae raised one eyebrow. “Hello,” she said. “And you should probably know that my name isn’t Allae. It’s Iraella.”
“Oh,” Mabon said. He rubbed the back of his neck. That isn’t exactly how he had hoped to start off the conversation. “Umm, come and sit down. I need to speak with you,” he told her.
Looking unsure, Iraella went and sat down on the couch. As soon as she sat down, she clasped her hands in her lap and asked, “So, what do you need to talk to me about?”
“My sister, she has the Talent of seeing fates and visions. Oh, do you know about the Talents? Well, here on Bellord-”
“Mabon! Slow down. You’re mumma explained all of that to me,” Iraella said. Mabon felt his face redden. She looked like she was suppressing a laugh.
“Well, anyway, Ello said that our fates are intertwined,” he said. She looked confused.
“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked. Mabon shrugged.
“She’s Ello. She doesn’t tell you much when she sees fates. But she did say that I need to help you on your quest, whatever it may be.”
Iraella’s eyes looked down and she nodded, appearing to understand. “Luinna said that I couldn’t do this all on my own. I would need help,” she said, looking to Mabon. He nodded to her.
“Once you are well enough, we can leave,” Mabon said. Iraella didn’t look like she liked the idea very much; it seemed to be more of a duty.
Iraella clapped her hands together and then pushed herself off of the couch. “Well then, we can leave in a week or two’s time,” she said, smiling. To Mabon, her smile seemed forced.
“Wait, shouldn’t you tell me what your mission is for?” asked Mabon, rising too.
Iraella turned to face him with a rather dark look on her face. “You can’t come all the way. You can head home once we are halfway there, and I’ll carry on from there,” she told him. Mabon leaned back, a little surprised.
“Why?” he asked.
“I have my reasons,” Iraella said, then turned and left Mabon standing in the main room, completely bewildered by what had just happened.

Mumma had told Dai that Mabon would have to follow Iraella on the quest thing. Dai didn’t really see the point of quests anyway. His best friend’s brother had gone on one when he was seventeen and hadn’t come back. It had been eight years.
Sure, they were fun to read about. Tales of dragons and lost riches, pirates out on sea! That was all great, but did it actually happen? Dai wouldn’t mind going on one if that was what he would find.
He sighed, drifting off into dreamland, as he went quite often.
But then again, what if Mabon didn’t come back, as his friend’s brother didn’t?

Iraella simply couldn’t imagine questing with Mabon. In fact, she had no idea why she didn’t like him. Maybe it was his teasing attitude? Baeddan didn’t really tease all that much. Every once in a while it was fine, but all the time bothered her. “Oh well,” she thought. “I suppose I’ll just have to live with it.”
She left the bedroom and went across the hall to Luinna’s bedroom. Luinna was sitting on her bed, apparently sewing a skirt. She looked up and smiled.
“Hello, Iraella. Do ye need anything?”
Iraella smiled back and shook her head. Then she focused in on the skirt. So far it was beautiful, embroidered with a bright golden thread. The rest of the skirt was a vivid, deep bluish green. She looked back to Luinna.
“It’s beautiful!” Iraella exclaimed. Luinna’s eyes sparkled. “Thank ye, m’ dear,” she said.
Iraella sat next to Luinna and watched her at work. Luinna’s eyes looked so content while she sewed, as if that was all she wanted to do. Iraella watched her do this for quite the while.
“Luinna?” asked Iraella at last.
Luinna looked up. “Wha’ tis it, dear?” she asked.
Iraella hesitated, then swallowed and spoke. “Must I bring Mabon?”
Luinna smiled again. “’Tis yer fate, Iraella. I know ye aren’t too fond of my son, but he means well. Ello told me of things that would surprise you much,” she said.
Iraella raised her eyebrows. “Like what?” she asked. Luinna winked and she smiled. “I’m not allowed to tell ye,” she told her.
Iraella sighed dramatically. “Goodness. I’m not a fan of this whole vision thing,” she said. Luinna chuckled, her blue eyes twinkling.
“Neither are my sons,” she told Iraella, now going back to work on the skirt. “When do ye and Mabon think ye’ll be a-leaving?” Luinna asked as she concentrated.
“About a week or two’s time,” Iraella sighed. Only a week or two.

That night, Iraella dreamt of Baeddan for the first time in a while.
It wasn’t a good dream.
Iraella stood knee deep in vines. They gripped at her ankles and twisted around her legs, holding her in place. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe. She stood there, staring at the rock cave in front of her. The sky was red all around, as if fire had burnt the sky. And Baeddan was being held by the Darks. He looked at her, but his eyes didn’t seem to register. Something seemed to be broken. Something about those hazel eyes was different. Sadness, maybe? They were definitely sad.
Iraella wanted to cry, but she couldn’t do anything. The biggest, most hideous Dark started chanting in a bizarre, painful language. His voice would squeak every now and then, making Iraella want to plug her ears.
Then Baeddan started to close his eyes tight, as if the pain were too much. Iraella could tell he wanted to stop the noise so badly, but there were two Darks hovering in the air, holding each arm out to the side.
Baeddan screamed. He writhed in the Darks’ arms, but they laughed and held fast. A fire rose up between Iraella and Baeddan, and the heat burnt hot on Iraella’s face. “STOP!” Iraella screamed with all of her might, only gaining strength for a short moment. Then she was still, her scream unheard.
Anger was boiling up inside of her. She wanted all of this to stop.
Then, it was all over. The only remainder of the dream was Iraella’s breathlessness and a sweat stain on the bed.