(A/N: I just want to let everyone know…that the tea-reading scene is of my own design…I don’t read tealeaves…so, don’t get mad at me for being inaccurate, please.)

The Story Weaver

--// \\--

Canto I: Searching

--// \\--

Tabbatha ran into her mother’s room when she felt the whole house vibrating. Or at least she was running as fast an eight-month-pregnant woman could run. Her mother wasn’t the type to just sit around and knit all day like other mothers did, no. Her mother was a fortuneteller and somewhat of a sorceress. Anything that was out of the ordinary had to be investigated in this household.

“Mother, you did summon that ‘prophesied one’ you’ve been going on about, did you?” she asked almost sarcastically. “Almost” because there was always that possibility that she actually did. Her mother had been preparing herself to bring forth this wonderful miracle woman from another dimension or something that would stop this world’s plight, but she didn’t think her mother really understood the gravity of something like that.

“No, I didn’t,” the old woman answered. “But, look at this!” she said, turning to her daughter. In her arms, she held things that neither of them had ever seen before. Most of them were attached to what looked like laces that pulled together corsets, but she could tell that these cords weren’t made of cloth or leather.

“What in the world…?”

“These are her belongings!” her mother began. “I’ve been telling you, but you’ve never listened. This is proof that she exists! My dreams have come true! She will be our savior!”

“Your proof is something that you can’t even identify?”

“You can’t identify the gender of your child, but I can tell you now it’s going to be a boy. What it is has nothing to do with its significance.”

Tabbatha reached over and took one of these strange objects to further examine it. She could tell it wasn’t a magical device of any sort. “I wonder what Lysander would make of this,” she pondered. Her nephew was always curious about anything that looked like it might be out of place just like his father had been. He was her deceased brother’s son and lived just down the hall from his grandmother.

“Let’s see what it does.” Her mother leaned over after setting the other things on her bed and pressed the tiny circular button at the top of the device…

--// \\--

Serafina plopped down on her bed and tried desperately to relax herself so that she could go to sleep. She had a huge portfolio interview the next morning, and she had been searching for her missing mp3 player, headphones, emergency batteries and her laptop. She was just glad that her cell-phone wasn’t lost. This interview would determine whether or not she would be chosen to be a published comic book author or not. She had always loved telling stories and drawing, so illustration just came naturally after a while

“Hello, Sam,” she said to a picture frame.

Most people would think it weird that she talked to her dead best friend, but in this situation, it was one of the few things that helped her hang on to what sanity she still somehow had. Her mother had abandoned her on the steps of a local Catholic church. She met Sam in the orphanage, and they became friends right away.

She took the snapshot out of the frame and held it up. ”What am I gonna do, Sammie?” she asked. The publication company she was interviewing with was very competitive, and this was a big step to take if she got the contract.

She looked at the picture as if Sam was actually about to answer with a cheerful laugh and supportive advice.

The picture showed two bright, youthful girls, holding up their first achievements in the world outside the orphanage: their cell-phones. Sammie had the wildest, brightest orange hair and sparkling gray eyes. A stark contrast to Serafina’s straight dark brown hair that she always kept up and out of her face and her serious blue-green eyes.

While she was thinking on her friend’s impact on her life, her hands dropped unconsciously and before she knew it, Serafina Langston had drifted off to sleep…

--// \\--

“I wondered why the manufacturers haven’t thought of a magical device that plays music…” Tabbatha said as she listened to the small earpiece that came from the end of a cord that connected to the music-playing machine.

“I wonder what language that is…” her mother thought out loud as she flipped through the pages of her most cherished spell book.

“Mother, you’re not going to actually summon her right after you’ve summoned her things are you?”

“What if she’s missing them? It would only be polite… Besides, if I’m not going to do it, then who will?”

“But, mother, you’ve already tired yourself out for the night.”

“Nonsense. I’ve got half the energy I had before I summoned those contraptions and with this,” the old woman said, holding out a very small, very expensive magical device. “I’ll only need about half of that. With a good meal and a good nap, I should be back to myself in the morning.”

“But that would mean that you’d be too tired to explain anything to her.”

“You and your nephew are such smart children. Lucky for you, your father was just as smart as me. You can handle it. Now…”

“Mother, don’t…” the young mother-to-be began, but stopped. Her stubborn mother had already put herself into a trance and was beginning the spell. She crossed her arms and scowled at her mother. Who knew, though? Perhaps this girl could actually help with this situation and save the world. But she highly doubted it. She just hoped her mother would come out of this alive…

--// \\--

Lysander Destral was having a less-than-peaceful dream. It was more like a flashback, though, of the night he lost his father and grandfather. His mother had left her husband and small infant son only a year after he was born. His father brought him back to the place where he grew up. Both his father and grandfather were members of the Order of Bloodsbane, the oldest and strongest alliance against dark magic on Earth. In fact, the Destral family’s involvement in that field could be traced back nineteen generations. But, the dream this young man was having was about seven years after he was brought into this house.

While this wasn’t a sordid story of an epic struggle that involved great bloodshed, it was still the worst day of his life. The two strongest male figures in his life to date suited up in their battle armor of tinted red and black scale metal and headed off for a battle against three rogue dragons with the local branch of Bloodsbane.

As he saw his father and grandfather ride off into the dark of night on their trained horses, Lysander began to cry for no reason that anyone could see, but he knew why. It was because he knew somehow that he’d never see them again.

His mind was disrupted and his body jolted back to the present and physical day. He couldn’t really tell why he had suddenly woken up at first, but felt the dregs of a violent vibration. His grandmother had been up to something again. But, it wasn’t that had woken him up. He usually slept straight through her nightly magical mischief.

The young man heard a shuffling coming from the floor on the other side of his room. That was it, he had heard a thump as if something had fallen on the floor. “Did I fall off the bed?” an unfamiliar feminine voice asked. “No, wait…my floor isn’t stone…Wait, that means I’m not at home… Then, where am I?!”

Lysander used a small sprig of magic to light his lantern he kept next to the bed. He could tell this girl was no willful intruder. Which meant his grandmother was to blame for her confusion. He lifted the lantern to light the room.

The girl turned around to look at him. She was around his age, and had a very beautiful face. The thing that struck him most was her piercing blue-green eyes…that were fogged over with confusion. He’d have to talk to his grandmother about this. But now was not the time to admire her beauty; he had to help her. “Okay, I get it now…” she started, looking around the room. “I’m dreaming! No, that can’t be it, either. Falling really woke me up.”

She stiffened and started to frantically look around the room. Most likely for a way out.

“I’m sorry about this. This is all my grandmother’s fault,” he said, getting out of bed to lend her a hand off the floor. “Maybe she can explain something at least.”

She stared at his hand in confusion and fear. He didn’t blame her, though. It was the only thing he’d be able to do in a situation like hers.

“I swear on my father and grandfather’s graves I will not harm you. My sword is by my bed, and as far as battle magic goes, I’m at a loss. I want to help you.”

The young woman took his hand in her shaking one as he helped her off the floor. Might as well get started on the right foot. “My name’s Lysander. Can I ask yours?” He tried to be as polite as possible so as not to shake her up any more than she already was.

“…Serafina.”

--// \\--

Tabbatha helped her mother off the floor when she had collapsed from summoning the girl. Her mother just didn’t understand that summoning a few objects and actually summoning a person were two completely different things. She finally settled the old woman on her bed.

She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to catch her breath. Apparently, her mother didn’t succeed in her endeavors.

“Aunt Tabbatha,” Lysander’s voice called from down the hall.

The woman turned in response to her name being called and stopped when saw her nephew leading a young woman who was obviously out-of-place out of his room.

“Dragons of Heaven…”

She shook her head to regain her senses. “Dear, I’m so sorry. This is all because of my mother. Let me get you something to eat, and I’ll explain everything to you while Lysander gets a room ready for you.”

The girl was still in shock, looking around for some sort of explanation of anything. “Y-yeah…okay.”

Tabbatha blinked when she said that strange word. The first word was understood, but the second flew right over her head. “I’ll be back in a minute. Oh, and…Aunt Tabbatha, this is Serafina.” With that, the young man left the young girl’s side and headed off down the hall.

“Well now…” Tabbatha said, walking over to the girl. “’Serafina’. That’s a beautiful name.” She put a hand on the other woman’s shoulder and began to lead her to the kitchen. “I’ll try to explain everything to you as best I can. And while I’m at it…I’m going to make you a snack.”

Serafina nodded and added a polite “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She passed off the lack of a smile as sheer shock. She did seem a bit numb, after all.

Upon entering the kitchen, Tabbatha led Serafina to the table and showed her to a chair. She was a bit too tired to pull one out. The young woman leaned on a cabinet and asked, “What would you like to eat, dearie?”

--// \\--

Lysander fluffed the last pillow on the extra bed he had set up in the guest room. As Captain of the Fourth Company of the Order of Bloodsbane, he often had to entertain usually unwanted company. He sighed and tried to think of a way to find out for himself what his grandmother had seen in her visions of this girl.

Since he didn’t see her running out of her room to see her “miracle girl”; he assumed the summons had been too much on her and she was most likely asleep in her room. Which meant…he would definitely find something out.

Ever since Lysander was a young boy, he had the strange, yet uncanny ability to read others’ minds. He usually didn’t use his talent unless he absolutely had to. This, he felt, was one of those cases.

He scratched his head in thought as he watched his grandmother sleep. He didn’t like to probe into his family’s thoughts, but…he felt there had to be some sort of explanation that the vague one she gave. After all, she practically kidnapped the girl.

He wove through her memories and dreams, and had to duck under dreams that were far too bizarre and outlandish as he tried to find something in her mind that had Serafina somewhere in it.

Finally, he found a lone image of the newcomer to their household. She was standing outside a fortress with four other people. He couldn’t make out the others, but he definitely recognized her. Before he could identify the castle, however, he was forced out of his grandmother’s thoughts when she suddenly woke up and grabbed his wrist.

“Hello, Lysander,” she said pleasantly. “Has Mistress Serafina arrived?”

He stood up straight and looked her straight in the eye. He could tell by the tone of her voice, she was not amused, but neither was he. “Yes, she has. And I believe you owe her and Aunt Tabbatha an explanation.”

The old woman sat up and started to move to get out of bed. “Of course. What kind of hostess would I be if I didn’t explain everything I could?”

He knew this was just a guilt trip, but he still couldn’t help but feel guilty as his grandmother’s lamp lit up and he could see just how tired she was. “I’m sorry about that, Grandma. You stay here and I’ll get you something from the kitchen.”

“Sorry for what, dear?” she asked with a triumphant smile. He started to leave for the kitchen. “Hot lemon tea if you don’t mind. Two sugars.”

“As always.”

--// \\--

Serafina sipped on some tea that Tabbatha brewed for her with something that seemed to move on its own without electricity. Apparently, her missing mp3 player, headphones, emergency batteries and laptop were in this mystery woman’s bedroom. From what her hostess said, her mother had predicted that she could save this Earth from an enemy called Kenelm and his evil forces. She wasn’t exactly sure how any of that was supposed to work out, though. What was she supposed to do? Kill him with culture shock? It was certainly taking some affect on her…

Now that she thought of it, even though she wasn’t even sure if she was just in a coma, she didn’t think her unconscious mind could operate on a level such as this.

Still, she couldn’t help but feel that this huge responsibility had been thrust on her shoulders. According to Tabbatha, this evil over lord’s powers hadn’t spread so far as to cause a horrible upheaval of chaos in their little corner of the world...but everyone in the vicinity could feel that it would soon. But, Serafina was pretty sure her presence would be recognized sooner or later, which…probably wouldn’t make anything better.

“So…” Tabbatha said after her explanation of what she knew so far. “Do you have any questions?”

“I noticed when I came, Lysander lit his lantern without using fire, and…you made my tea with…something else I’m not familiar with.” She tried to keep her language as general as possible without any slang or unfamiliar contractions. She probably wouldn’t have asked at all, but these things just stuck out as things to be investigated.

“Ah…I suppose that would be a large barrier…” Tabbatha said, apparently taking a pause to think of how to explain this question. “Lysander uses magic. About every magic besides battle magic and dark magic, of course, and he’s very gifted, so it didn’t take him much energy to light a simple lantern. The things you saw me make the tea with are called Magical Devices. They’re appliances that let people who can’t use magic use magic…your things my mother brought over kind of reminded me of them…”

“Oh, those are electronic devices,” Serafina piped up. Now her urge to help explain started to kick in. She might as well make friends. She could tell these people weren’t going to harm her. “They’re supposed to make your life easier and quicker, but sometimes they do the opposite…”

“Sounds like my mother…”

“Grandma just woke up,” Lysander interjected as he walked into the kitchen to join his aunt and his guest. He stopped in mid-step and put a hand to his right temple. “She just asked if it would be okay to speak with Miss Serafina after I make her lemon tea with two sugars…Sometimes I wonder if she’s really my older sister…” he sort of muttered his last statement as he walked to the counter.

Serafina watched as a crudely made mug flew out of a cabinet and into his hand. A small orb of light appeared in the middle of his right palm and clear water poured from it into the mug. With a wave of his hand, the water began to emit steam. He reached into the cabinet and poured some dried lemon leaves into the hot water from a small sack. He reached back into the cabinet and pulled out a small container and added two cubes of sugar before putting the sugar container back

Finally Lysander took a cloth napkin and held it under the mug as he turned to Serafina and said, “You don’t have to come if you’re too tired.”

At first, she thought he was being rude, but then she remembered she had grumbled something about being woken up when she first appeared. “I’ll come,” she said with a smile as she stood up and left her teacup on the table with only the dregs left.

--// \\--

Palliva sat rather impatiently as she waited for her guest and her grandson to come through the door. Lysander had chimed in and told her that he and Serafina were headed down the hall. She was so excited. She had seen miracles and wonders happen in visions of the near future, and every single one was connected to that one girl.

The old woman was ready to sing as the door opened and her savior walked through the door with Lysander. “Welcome to the Destral household, my dear!” she exclaimed with a bright smile.

The young woman smiled and thanked her for the welcome. She could tell, though, that she was a bit uncomfortable. Palliva thanked her grandson as he handed her the tea she had requested. The young man left and closed the door softly behind him, leaving the two women in the room.

“Please, pull up a chair, Lady Serafina.” The girl blinked in surprise when she found out that this strange old woman knew her name already. She shook it off, though, and pulled up a chair and sat next to her hostess’s bed. “Oh, excuse my manners. Let me introduce myself. My name is Palliva Destral. I’m not sure what my daughter and grandson have told you about me, but I assure you, I’m about as harmless as a day-old fawn.” She kept a bright, friendly smile as her guest listened.

“So, Tabbatha has at least explained to you that Kenelm is your enemy, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then, you must know that he can’t be defeated by a mere human who can’t use magic.”

Serafina sat in silence as she nodded, a pensive expression on her face.

Although she hadn’t seen much into this young heroine’s personality from her earlier images of her, she could tell now that she showed wisdom beyond her years.

“So, you are wondering how you tie into this.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she admitted.

“Well, I’m not quite sure how this power of yours is acquired, but I can tell you right now…that when you possess all the power I’ve seen you wield…it will be unimaginable. But, you must use it wisely and only as you see fit. Although…since it’s your power…I don’t really know how you’d use it any other way than how you see fit…”

She listened very carefully to her explanation of what she had seen even though she was beginning to babble.

“Don’t worry about going on this mission alone, though. You will have four powerful, and completely loyal companions.” She left out certain details about them, though. If given too much information about one’s future, one tended to make the wrong decisions. But, in this case she couldn’t avoid telling her a bit of her future. How else was she supposed to explain everything that she should?

Even though it was clear that she was confused, the old seer could tell that it was progressively dissipating into understanding as she went on.

“The enemy you will be fighting against…is…I will not lie to you. He has never been defeated. The strongest of sorcerers, and bravest of warriors, even the most ferocious of beasts have gone against him…and none have returned from his battles. Families have no bodies to bury because they are turned into monsters of the undead.”

“So…he’s a necromancer.”

“Yes…So, you can see…Kenelm cannot be allowed to continue this scourge on our land.”

Serafina nodded. Palliva could tell that she was considering this and that made things all the better in her mind. “Now, dear, perhaps you’d like your things back?”

--// \\--

Tabbatha stared intently at the bottom of Serafina’s teacup. Her mother had taught her how to read tealeaves when she was very young. Some of the leaves formed a circle. She said that meant someone would be accompanying the drinker on a journey soon. Four specific leaves struck her vision more than the rest. Which meant there would be four companions. There were two leaves that had letters next to them. She could only assume that the “L” stood for “Lysander”, but the other character of “V” made her think for a bit. The other tealeaves indicating members of this party didn’t have any letters around them, which meant that Serafina would meet this “V” person next…and very soon.

She didn’t expect Serafina would go out into their country just yet, which meant that this companion would have to live in their town or around it. But, she couldn’t think of anyone in the town whose name started with a “V”.

Lysander walked into the kitchen and leaned over his aunt at the bottom of the cup as well. “’V’?” he asked. “That reminds me…Vitalis should be getting back from his promotion quest soon. Maybe I’ll have an assignment of my own before he comes back.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.” Lysander and Vitalis had known each other since her brother brought Lysander to their home. He and Vitalis hated each other and they always competed. Lysander joined the Order of Bloodsbane and very soon after, Vitalis joined the Bird of the Dawn. Both of those orders were rivals to begin with. Vitalis had been gone, thankfully, for a couple of year on a “promotion quest” that the Bird of the Dawn made mandatory for any advancement. And if those two were to travel together for the same purpose and to aid the same person…she couldn’t even think of the outcomes.

“What do you mean?”

“According to this, he’ll probably be here by tomorrow. And…”

“And…?”

“You’ll be traveling with him and Serafina.”

She watched for her nephew’s response since he hadn’t said anything. He just stared at the cup rather blankly and sat down. “At least I won’t be traveling with him by myself.”