Kaelen

What have I done? I spoke of a house that should never be uttered, and now I cannot return the words back into my mouth. This warrior, she seemed as shook by the words as I was when I read them in that crater weeks ago. I knew that this was going to lead to no good, and now I had opened a box of chaos just by uttering a name. Looking up, I see Lyra’s face full of confusion and the warrior guest's face covered in what could only be described as dread.

“Look, I have never dealt with The House of the Unheard before, but I have heard stories, and those stories tell you to stay away from the unnamed houses, especially the Unheard. The only reason I was even sold into the circus when I was a baby was to protect me from The Unheard. At least that is what my ringmaster would tell me whenever I asked. He said they destroyed my mother, and my father, and I was lucky enough to be sold to him instead of being used as food for The Unheards beasts. That is all I know, I haven’t heard that name since I was taken in by Thalion. I swear on Tyraphor!”

The warrior looked me in the eyes and then turned her blue gaze out towards the stable window. She didn’t speak but held her hand to her chin, silently taking in what we had told her.

“You two will have to come with us. No one in Sky Haven will believe me alone if I tell them The House of the Unheard is responsible.”

She turned and faced myself and a surprisingly quiet Lyra.

“What do you mean go with?” I was confused by the notion of ever leaving this place that I worked so hard to keep running.

“I mean, you and Lyra are coming with me. You have to. For the good of the realm.”

“Fuck the realm!” Protested Lyra, “What have the Queen’s done for us except give into the Obsidian Sovereigns rule? Why should I tell them anything.”

“Because if you don’t this isle, and all the others will crumble into darkness, all man, woman, child, and beast will become enslaved and free-will is nonexistent. Poof.”

I felt the color drain from my face, “You mean, no more garden?” I questioned.

“I mean no more anything. Your body, and soul will no longer be yours. Your will is driven only by the whims of The Unheard.”

“Lyra, we have to go.” Turning to my friend I grasped her hands, “I really don’t want to lose my freewill, it’s pretty useful for living my best life.”

I watched as she seemed to comb over what information we had just received, and then she replied.

“Ok, I’ll go. But not as an ambassador of the Celestials. I am going for my isle and Kealan, that is it.” I watched as she winced from pain, weird. I hope she was ok and didn’t get hurt by the warrior.

*****

I couldn't sleep that night. Not even with the strongest brew of chamomile, I still lay awake terrified about telling Lyra’s parents of the ordeal they went through almost a month ago, kept secret, and are now called on a grand adventure to stop what sent it. It sounded crazy. What would a chef even do on a quest? Hide most certainly, while the others fought off whatever monsters found us. I wonder if monsters tasted any good when seared, and then drifted off to sleep, dreaming of well butchered monsters sizzling on the grill.

******

“Get up.” A swift kick to my thigh shook me from my slumber, Lyra stood above me, her moss cloak over her shoulders, and backpack prepared for the journey.

“Have you told your parents yet?” I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and pulling my tunic onto my body.

“No, I need you to join me.”

I glared at her. Typical Lyra, pulling me into things.

“Fine, but you are doing all the talking.”

“Fine.” She says tightening her cloak, her face wincing from pain.