Destined

Next Time You Offend Me, I Won't Be That Nice

"Even if you leave and I'll never see you again, you'll always be my sister, Callida. If you call me, I'll come." I couldn't prevent the tears from falling. I cried on her, and she didn't say a word, only held me. A knock on the door interrupted our farewell. "Callida, two boats are nearing and 20 warriors on horses wait on the shore."

I snorted. The Protos send a whole camp of soldiers to protect his precious destined. I suppressed the thoughts of him in the last two summers that passed. I refused to let him have this power over me, to be present in my thoughts. But now I felt the old, well-known anger, thinking about this man. 

"Come, I am curious. Perhaps I'll meet somebody to please me. I heard, those Creachadair are good in the sack", Yirina smirked. I laughed. The Laidir weren't a sisterhood of nuns. Oh noooo, on the contrary. They enjoyed a very fulfilling sexual life. "Well, you'll surely find somebody. They are exactly your liking: big, broody, bad." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. I took my bag with the few possessions I had and left with Yirina on my heels.  With one last lingering look in my cell, I closed the door and this chapter of my life. I knew, I would never come back.

When we reached the front of the building, I was astonished. All adult Laidir waited outside. All wore their finest clothes, their eyes on me. Yirina took my bag out of my hands and whispered "go" in my ear. The Matron took two steps in my direction indicating to come near. She was the leader of the coven. As I stood before her, I bowed and kissed her hand as a sign of submission. She smiled slightly. "This was the last time, you bowed in front of me. Next time we'll meet, I'll bow in front of you as our Prota."

I shook my head denying. "You'll never have to bow to me. You'll always be my superior." Then she did something, that stunned me. She touched her forehead with mine. "Callida, it was an honour to have you here with us. You respected our traditions, showed absolute loyalty, devotion and commitment. You are one of us till death." All Laidir slapped with ther right hand their chest several times. I bowed to them. One by one came to me to say their farewell, some embraced me. No words were spoken. We didn't need words to feel the connection between us. 

I was deeply touched and in an emotional turmoil. Until I heard the clearing of a manly throat.  "Future Prota, I don't know, if you remember me..." I smiled. "Oh, but I do, Aodhan. You and Cathal brought me here. It's nice  to meet you again." The eyes of the man in front of me showed, that he was pleasantly surprised and honored, that I remembered him.

With one last embrace with Yirina, I got in one of the boats. Yirina stayed at the shore, her eyes never leaving the boat. The whole passage, I watched the fortress, watched my best friend grow smaller and smaller, until I couldn't see her anymore...

On horseback we rode ten days. We passed many deserted frozen areas without meeting one soul. At the first signs of green grass and trees you could see the starting presence of civilisation. Only the cities of Desa were located in a climate zone, where you still had four seasons of weather: winter, a cold spring, cold summer and freezing autumn. And only there you could lead a comfortable life. This was the reason, why everybody desired to live in a city. But the High Boards decided, who was let in. The only aspect relevant for their approval was, if you were useful to the city and its inhabitants. 

I was accustomed to endure pain and hunger, so I hadn't any problems to keep up with the Creachadair. Three summers ago, when we left for the Laidir, I cried the whole way. I suffered. Aodhan felt miserable, because under his hard exterior, he was a kind soul. He had kids and couldn't suppress his fatherly feelings towards me. Aodhan held me at night and comforted me, watched after me. How could I forget his kindness? He had a spot in my heart. 

On our tenth day, we arrived at Gordan. From afar I watched the ginormous city walls. What would I encounter there? I knew, that my grandfather was taken care off, because after a year at the Laidir, a messenger was send,  with a letter. I wasn't allowed to have contact, so I knew, it was a kind gesture of Gasgeil. He must have known, that I was desperate to hear knews, if grandfather was well. I was thankful for this strange gesture of kindness that didn't fit his character.

The men and I passed the check point through the big city gates of Gordan. As if all creatures knew, that their future Prota was arriving, they stood still, while I rode past them. I didn't show any emotions. I felt, I had to be brave and strong. This world wasn't a place for the good-natured and friendly. They bowed to me and I nodded their way with an impassive face. When we arrived in front of the castle, I felt excited, but in a good way. I was ready to face the Protos, or anyone, who wanted to intimidate me. I wasn't someone to break. I learned my lesson well.

I got off the horse, my black leather coat like a second skin on my body. I was aware, that I was a sight for sore eyes. I was beautiful, no exaggeration. I got proof,  when we neared the entrance of the castle. The guards watched me with hidden lust in their eyes. I smirked, when I saw Aodhan roll his eyes followed by a warning growl. Immediately the guards lowered their eyes. We were guided to the assemby hall, where the High Board had a meeting with the Protos. My destined made it clear to everybody, that I am to be brought to him, the exact second of my arrival. That was fine by me, because it worked out in my favour.

"Prota", Aodhan started to say. "Callida, I am Callida to you", I interrupted. Aodhan sighed tiredly , stopping abruptly. "Callida, I wanted to warn you. Our Protos...he did something stupid. He..." I waited with raised eyebrows. "He ... what, Aodhan?", I asked, watching him squirm.

"Future Prota", a voice greeted from behind us. I turned around. "Sapientis, nice to see you again", I greeted the man with a serene facial expression. He bowed. "High Lady, The Protos awaits you. May I escort you?" Aodhan and I exchanged a look. I saw his reluctance to leave, but he didn't have a choice. He bowed and disappeared in the corridors. "Well, lead the way, Sapientis", I saw the surprise on the man's face. I had put a little dominance in my voice. Just a little bit.   

He made a hand gesture to follow him, which I did. I felt Sapientis' unease. Now, I was really getting tense. Aodhan wanted to warn me off! What made Sapientis uneasy? A feeling of unease rouse inside me. We walked side by side silently untill we reached two big gold-platted doors. Two warriors at every leaf of the door, opened for us. I didn't wait for the man at my side. I simply entered. 

In the midst of a gigantic round table sat the Protos. On each side of him he was accompanied by ten men. My gaze turned to my destined. His eyes burned their way to mine through the length of the big hall. Although I felt his power, his mixed emotions...it was his unease, that didn't set well with me. He was pale, didn't say a single word, but I stayed calm and remained superior in my actions. I bowed in front of the Protos, my destined.

"My Lady, please take your seat on the empty chair on the right of our Protos", Sapientis offered. I did as he told me, not acknowledging  anybody in the room. I was barely seated, when the man to my right spoke. "Now, that the destined is here, we can solve the matter, my Lord Protos." I felt Gaisgeil stiffen beside me, his hand grasped his armrest, until his nuckles turned white. 

"We all know, that a Daonnachd isn't the best choice as our future Prota. Now, that my daughter is pregnant with your child, the future Protos, I want to request from your Lordship, to dismiss the bond with this Daonnachd and to commit to my daughter in a marriage." My head whipped to my left. Gaisgeil lowered his head to avoid direct contact. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought, he was ashamed, but that couldn't be, could it? 

A wave of uncontrolled rage clouded my mind. Too fast for anybody to realise, I rammed my knife into the man's hand lying on the table, who offended me. "Prota", I said in a cold voice, „my name to you is Prota". My eyes were on Gaisgeil, who held my look. The man's cries of pain  gave me a cruel sense of satisfaction. Nobody spoke a word, too shocked to react. Slowly my head turned around to the suffering man, whose hand was nailed on the table by my knife. I crossed my legs in a very sensual way. "I don't know who you are, nor am I interessted to know you, but next time you offend me, I won't be that nice."

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Matron= Greek= female leader of coven

I hope you liked the development in this chapter. Personally I like drama, so I decided, to have a little bit ... If you liked the chapter, please press the star.

Patti Dimitriou