The Presence

The sky was dark again and the wind was blowing too hard. Marianna stood outside their stone house, struggling to see beyond the dust the wind had blown her way. She could hear the voices but she couldn't see who was coming.

The strange noises reminded her of tales her father had told her when she was a child. He told her stories about the protectors of their village in the old days. They were called the Warriors of the sword. They were mighty with strong mystical powers. They could vanquish their enemies in the blink of an eye and could fly like the dragons the villagers feared.

But the warriors became proud and they wanted to rule the world. They forgot about protecting the villagers. They began to make laws that put them above everybody else. They were the lords...everything belonged to them. The villagers were their slaves. But they were all greedy and hungry for more power. They began to fight among themselves, quarreling about who would become the Kai...the ruler of all men.


Then there was a great war, the warriors were divided...they all wanted to be Kai. But there was one warrior who did not feel the greed the others did. He did not forget that being a warrior of the sword meant being pure of heart. He was Oleger, son of the village chief. He had the powers of a warrior but a soft and kind heart. Oleger warned his fellow warriors that attempting to be Kai would herald their end. They would not listen to him. One day, Oleger lured the other warriors to the mountains and none of them was ever seen again...not even kind Oleger. And the villagers say that on stormy nights, the warriors struggle to return from the mountains...still hungry for the power they had fought for...still yearning to be Kai.

She had dreamt of that great war...she had seen what Oleger had done to trap the other warriors in the mountain. Her father had known she had the gift of seeing the past and the future. He had warned her to use it wisely.

The villagers said that the story of Oleger and the warriors of the sword was nothing more than a legend. But she knew otherwise.

The voices were louder now...whatever was coming with the dust cloud was getting nearer. Marianna closed her eyes and tried to see the way her father taught her. She heard an echo of his voice in her head as she tried to concentrate.
"Not with your eyes Marianna. Your mind can see more than your eyes ever can. You have what only others can dream of...the power to be in control."

A picture began to form in her mind. An odd group of men. Three young men...and an old man. They were talking among themselves in a strange tongue that she strangely could understand. The words were meaningless but she could hear their thoughts,it didn't matter that she had never heard their language before. They were tired and confused...she could feel that. They spoke of their village, a very far away village...their journey had been long and very sad. She listened to their stories, secure that they did not feel her presence.

"Who are you?", the question popped in her mind suddenly. She was startled for a while. Where had that voice come from.

"Who are you? Where are you?", the voice would not stop asking. Marianna looked at each traveller. Had one of them asked the question? They were dressed strangely and the old man carried a small crystal ball.

"I am Kyros. My friends and I seek shelter for the night.", the voice asked kindly. Marianna looked more closely at the old man and the crystal ball he was carrying. Could it be that he had powers like hers?

"Yes I hear your thoughts too, young woman. We are very close now. My friends can see your home and they can smell the meal you have prepared."

"Very well Kyros...I have many questions. You are welcome to stay for the night.", Marianna invited the strangers. She could feel their kindness as well...and the young ones had great fear. They were running away from something...something that had followed them this far. She could provide them safety for tonight. The force they feared was weak now...she could keep it outside her home.

She watched as the travellers emergeed from the dust cloud. She smiled as she saw Kyros, the old man. He could explain many things to her...she knew that. He seemed very wise and she was certain that he had conjured the dust cloud to protect him and his friends.

"Welcome wise Kyros. Hurry and come inside. You have exhausted your energies with that cloud.", she welcomed them as they came nearer. She lead the way inside her stone house and waited for the travellers to settle around the hearth. She closed her eyes and conjured a blue light to surround her home. They were protected now.

"You must all be hungry. Rest while I prepare you a meal.", she hurried to the shelves where she kept the bread and quickly took out four plates."I am Marianna, the seeress of Delliore...You will be safe here." she smiled at the travelers and handed them their food.

"We are grateful for your generosity. Not many would allow us to seek shelter. We are from the city of Gellorc", Kyros motioned to his friends,

"I am Pletus, I am most honored to be in the presence of a seeress.", one of the young men introduced himself. Marianna thought him odd, his hair was short and he wore a green tunic and good boots. Green was the color of royalty...he was obviously of royal blood...peasants and other nobles were not allowed to wear that color.

"We are very grateful to you seeress. I am Hermio, and we have traveled long and far." the second young man was handsome. His hair was very light that it almost looked white. His eyes were blue and they looked very troubled.

Marianna turned to the last man and waited for him to introduce himself. The last one was bashful and he blushed when he saw that Marianna was looking at him. He seemed to be the youngest and the dirtiest looking. "That is Velor, My younger brother" Pletus introduced the young man.

"I am happy to meet all of you. Do not be troubled. You are safe here." she comforted the travellers. The three young men looked surprised that she knew of their problem, only Kyros smiled wisely and shook her hand.

"You are very young Marianna, yet very strong. You are stronger than Ytu?" Pletus asked with a frown.

"So it is that playful spirit that has pestered you. Kyros, you are very clever to conjure up that dust cloud. Ytu is weak in the dark, that is why he has not been able to follow you as swiftly as he normally could. Ytu cannot follow you here."

"You must forgive my friends...they were most disturbed by Ytu and his pranks." Kyros remarked with a smile.

"Yes he can be very naughty. He is a lonely spirit who travels the mountains...but I do not think he is the force that you are running away from...forgive me for intruding wise Kyros." Marianna looked at all four travellers.

"Is she the one that we have been sent to find?" Hermio turned to Kyros with a puzzled expression.

"Don't be crazy Hermio...We have travelled for months to seek for a powerful wizard. The oracle has told of this. She is but a seeress, a very young seeress at that." Pletus quickly answered.

"You come because of an oracle?" Marianna asked.

"Yes", Kyros nodded " Like we said before we are from the city of Gellorc. It used to be a very prosperous city...everybody had what they needed. Until the evil wizard Jortzan came. He captured the royal family and brought the shadows to rule over the whole city. For years, nobody could practice magic there, the seers were killed, and when children were felt to have the gifts, they were thrown into the charmed forests and left to die. But a prince from the royal family escaped. He was Prince Boris. He hid in the charmed forests where he met others who had also escaped. Pletus and Velor are his children."

"What is this Oracle you speak of" Marianna asked

"For years we have hidden in the charmed forests that surround the city of Gellorc. We have longed to take back our home. But the seers who have escaped warned us that until the oracle comes, we would have to wait for surely we would lose the battle. Then five moons ago, Velor began having dreams. But nobody could understand what they meant.", Kyros continued his story.

"This is the oracle?", Marianna walked over to where Velor sat. She touched his shoulders and closed her eyes."Velor, show me what you have seen"

The three other men were silent as they watched Marianna and Velor. Kyros nodded wisely, this was part of their journey. He wondered if Marianna would go with them in their search for the wizard who would save Gellorc.

Marianna took a deep breath and searched Velor"s mind for the dreams. They were confusing...full of bright lights and vibrant colors...there were voices...loud ones and hushed ones. That was when she saw the eye. She gasped out loud and stepped back hurriedly that she almost fell if Pletus had not caught her.

"What is it Marianna", Kyros asked worriedly. There was a look in her eyes that frightened even him. She was staring blankly as she took deep breaths.

"He follows you. He knows you are here. He is waiting for me to see the oracle...to tell its secret. We cannot do it that way. The oracle must be protected.", Marianna murmured.

"What now wise Kyros?" Pletus asked.
"We keep on moving...until we find what or who we have been sent out to seek", Kyros replied.

Marianna nodded but remained silent. Kyros was old and he knew much about magic but the wizard Jortzan that they spoke of was powerful. Kyros was no match against him. She could feel Jortzan's presence outside her home...he waits still. She may not have the magic of Kyros nor the power of Jortzan but she had her own tricks. Jortzan could not enter while her blue light protects her home. He can watch but he cannot come close. She sat down slowly on the floor and closed her eyes. She concentrated on the image of the eye...it wasn't as frightening when she expected to see it. She felt Jortzan's surprise...

"Do not meddle in this seeress!", the thought was hurled at her that she almost opened her eyes in shock.
"So, you are the wizard they speak of. I have no wish to talk to you but I want to make certain that you know.", she almost chuckled at the feeling of rage that she felt coming from Jortzan.
"You will not know the secret of the oracle from me." she continued and slowly retreated from the eye.

When she opened her own eyes she saw Kyros staring at her."Was that wise? You have angered Jortzan"

"That does not trouble me Kyros. I will not let him in my mind...and he will not harm you yet, he needs to know of this oracle. He needs to know who it is that the oracle talks of...who it is the oracle says will defeat him. Rest tonight and tomorrow we will see what must be done."

Marianna turned away and handed blankets to the travelers."You may sleep near the fire if you wish, but there is a matress in the corner."

She then retreated to her room. She had much to think about. The oracle puzzled her, she knew for certain that she was not the one it spoke of. Perhaps she should just let these travellers go tomorrow and forget about them and their city and that wizard. SHe had nothing to do with it...
Yes, that was what she would do. Tomorrow she would ask Kyros where they wish to head then give them supplies and point them in the direction they need to go. Then it would be back to her normal life. She would be alone again, the villagers feared her and they would not bother her.

Those were her last thoughts a sleep slowly came to take her. She would not meddle with the travellers problems.


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The Warriors of the Sword struggled against the magic wall Oleger had created around them. Marianna looked at the warriors and waited. This was a different dream, in her past ones, she never dreamed beyond the time Oleger created the wall. It was always like a spectacular ending to a legend...the good overcoming the evil. But why was she dreaming of these warriors as they struggled against the wall.

She heard a high pitched cry and turned around in alarm. That was also new, never had she heard such a loud cry. Before her stood a tall man with a long white beard.

"WHo are you?" she asked in alarm, but at the back of her mind she knew who it was.
"Do I really need to answer that seeress?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I have need of your warriors...The city of Gellorc was easy to conquer, what more a small village like yours. I am sure your Warriors are hungry for some blood!"

Marianna gasped as the wall around the warriors slowly disappeared.

"Marianna!"

She woke up suddenly and found Kyros sitting beside her. He had shaken her awake, alarmed by her moans and stiffeld scream.

"Wake the other! We must leave at once. I know somebody who will be able to interpret what the oracle means. He lives far from here and we must hurry. Jortzan needs this oracle to become stronger and indestructible...he knows whoever learns the secret of the oracle will have immortality and unbelieveable power. Jortzan fears this oracle."

Kyros nodded and hurriedly stood up " We will be ready to go soon. What do you need us to do?"

"Gather all your things, i will see to our supplies. We cannot take horses, Jortzan can control them...we must go on foot and pray that he will not be able to follow us."


Before the sun was up, Marianna was leading the travellers north to the city of Melihaja, where a wizard called Frauden lived. He was very old and very powerful, he could equal Jortzan. And he could protect the oracle while Marianna tried to understand it.

Kyros had conjured up another dust cloud to protect them from the spirits who curiously gathered around them. Jortzan could follow and see them through these spirits. They were safer hidden away in the dust cloud, although it slowed them down a bit.

Marianna had felt sad leaving her home, but the village of Delliore was no longer safe. The people there would also suffer, Jortzan would release the warriors to force her to read the oracle for him. She feared that he might actually have already broken the wall Oleger had built. They had to hurry, the oracle had to be read... before Jortzan could create more chaos.

AT noon they were already at the mountains of Quiatz. The trees were huge, and they hid MArianna and the others from the hot sun.

"Let us take a rest for a while." Kyros decided and set downhis bag at the root of a tree.

"Not here." Marianna replied. "There is a stream nearby, we will need to refill our water caskets."

They walked for a few more minutes and found a clear stream. Pletus sat down beside the water and washed his face. It was terribly hot and he was very tired. He looked over to MArianna who struggled with the bag she was carrying. He frowned slightly at the sight, he had tried to offer to carry her bag, but Marianna was very stubborn. SHe refused to let him help her. She looked awfully fragile for someone who could read minds and do magic.

"Pletus! Why are you looking at Marianna that way. Hmm...dont tell me you..."Hermio trailed off

Pletus looked at Hermio and smiled, "Why? Do you object? MArianna is a very attractive woman."

"She is a seeress."

She is that Hermio, not a priestess." Pletus chuckled.

"Hush she might hear us, she can read our minds you know."

Pletus merely smiled at Hermio's worried expression. There was something about Marianna, he wondered if she was perhaps the woman the old seeress in his city had told him about. A woman with great courage and mystical gifts, he was told would rule at his side once the throne was reclaimed. But she was a seeress, not a magic maker.

He turned around and saw Marianna looking his way. He wondered if his thoughts were too loud... and chuckled at the idea. SHe could probably hear what he was thinking just as if he was shouting it out for all the universe to hear. Perhaps it would be great to have her as his queen once Jortzan was vanquished.

Marianna walked over to him, drawn by the thoughts and the way he looked at her. SHe was intrigued, never had a man looked at her without fear. And his thoughts were new to her. She could only hear parts of it and she couldn't understand why. She sat down beside him and reached for his hand.

"Do not think too far ahead. There is no future unless the oracle is read and protected. Tomorrow is still a question that has yet to be asked.", she whispered.

"You hear what is in my head? How does it make you feel?" he needed to know

"I've never thought of being a queen...sadly I feel that this journey's end may also mean my end. I can feel it." she said sadly. "I feel that the oracle is bounded to me. I dont know why...Perhaps it would be better if we do not give in to this...this attraction"

"Your end? What do you mean? That you will die once the oracle is read?"

"I dont know. This may be my purpose...You should rest now. I have to talk to Kyros"

"Wait! You said we shouldn't give in...you mean you feel something?"

"Funny Pletus." she tried to smile "I am a seeress not a priestess."

She stood up and walked away.