Alternate Exit

Still slightly wet from the flooded part of the passage, four figures were relieved to see the dim light of day after what felt like an eternity. The exit was still far, but at least there was an end in sight.

"Next time we let mother come out of the tunnel, and we use the caravan for cover," Alaron said as he doused the torch. "Why in the world are there fish in an underground pond?!"

Mairwen laughed and rolled her eyes upward. "Mother has come out this way more than once, and as for your fishy friend, I do think Zan can sympathize."

Alaron shook at his cloak. Without the full measure of its magic, the cloth seemed to hold water instead of repel it. His mind drifted to Zan momentarily. The other Guardian would have to face the interminable cold of the South without the magic of his cloak to sooth and keep him warm. The fallen prince shivered.

"There better not be a next time," Hanna clicked her tongue, wringing out her own gown which the palace had given her to replace her soiled robes.

"What do you mean?" Renat somehow felt anxious about her words.

"I mean that you humans have had far more adventure and trouble in just over a decade than most of humanity usually has in a century. I tried to help avoid this...all of this, and failed. If I have anything to do with it, the rest of your lives will be peaceful--assuming neither you nor I die on this journey." Hanna's voice trailed off as she fell into contemplation.

"So you can see the future? I mean, before the Magic died, of course." Renat had not been around for the original prophecy nor Aurora's Fate-filled trip to the Mystic Spires.

While he had gotten bits and pieces of the story from conversations, the scientist had never been able to nail down this point. How much did Hanna know?

"The future is an ever-changing place until it is in the past. I can see possibilities, problems and potential. It is a heavy burden. It is my calling to help humanity thrive and, as much as possible, remain at peace. But I am limited in the interference I can make. It is a delicate balance between keeping something from happening and accidentally causing the thing to come about." Hanna's eyes swirled with sadness.

"You interfered a lot when it came to me," Alaron pointed out. He hoped Hanna would not be offended, but she sighed instead. Kicking a rock as she ambled forward, the Fate nodded slowly.

"From the moment when the Fates knew you were coming, every possibility I saw ended poorly. You weren't even born. How could such a thing even be possible! I did not want you to die nor the world to end. So I did what I had to do, rescuing you from untold horrors by those who would seek to exploit you. And I succeeded for all but one. Even then, I felt compelled to try again. I warned Aurora, hoping she could do what I couldn't. Get help." Hanna was somewhere between explaining and apologizing.

No one wanted to be told that they were trouble from the moment they were conceived, but Hanna thought that Alaron deserved the truth.

"And yet, for all your effort, I still brought calamity on the world." The Guardian did not like to remember his treachery, but it could not be denied.

"Oh child," Hanna slowed her pace and patted the Guardian's cheek. The cloak allowed it, both unwilling and unable to resist the unexpected touch. "This outcome was far better than the ones that were foretold. Sometimes a minor calamity is still a blessing because it stands in place of a bigger one."

"You mean to say that Cafer's battle was one of the less objectionable options?" Renat's mouth hung open.

"By far," Hanna answered.

She turned away and quickened her pace. It seemed the time for explanation and memories was over. The others exchanged curious glances. What could be worse than an all-out war between humans and magical beings? It was obvious that they would never know. And deep down they didn't want to.

"One more question, please, Hanna?" Mairwen called.

"Choose wisely," Hanna responded, not turning around.

"Did you foresee the Abominations and not tell us about them?" The princess did not like the idea that the Fate might have kept such information hidden from her friends and allies.

"Nothing like those beings had ever been seen before. Although I knew that some danger was on the horizon, I knew not what form it would take until the creature scratched me across the back. By then, things were already set in motion." Hanna did not like admitting her shortcomings. "And since you cannot ask, I will tell you anyway. I did not know the Magic would die. Justum imprisoned me, so I was blind to what was coming."

"Did you say imprisoned?" Alaron choked on the words. He knew Justum well enough to know the Fate wouldn't do anything without a reason, but what was the reason Justum deemed good enough to trap his fellow Fate? The Guardian could not fathom it.

"That is what I said. He was wrong, but without the action, I am not sure I would have had the sense to escape when things went wrong. So in the end he did us all a service." Hanna hummed softly.

Renat thought it quite interesting that Hanna could forgive so easily and even see the positive in it. Hadn't Justum also been the one to banish her? The scientist was pretty sure he had heard that, yes.

Yet, Hanna didn't hold any malice against her fellow Fate. If someone had done that to him, Renat was certain he wouldn't be so understanding.

Fates were just built differently, he mused. Justum and Hanna had had many lifetimes to know and work together. They had seen how bad situations ended up working for good in strange and unexplained ways.

The Fates also, up until the waterfall had stopped running, had had uninhibited access to the Maker and the wisdom that came from that intimacy. There must be great peace in that, Renat reasoned. So even something that was major to a human, might not seem dire to someone less mortal.

"Hanna? I was wondering…" Renat could see Hanna's finger shoot up.

"You all are already one question past your limit. And anyway, we are here." Hanna tilted her digit to indicate the approaching entrance.

They all had been so engrossed in Hanna's words that none had realized just how far they traveled in the tunnel. Now was a time to be silent in case Eira had not been successful in securing their exit.

Although unlikely, it was possible that an ambush could be awaiting them as soon as they showed their faces in the sun.

Alaron held up his fist for them to wait while he checked things out. Slipping out of the mouth of the cave, the Guardian used the scant shadows of the surrounding rocks as his cover.

"It's clear," he called after a moment.

The other three exited the tunnel. Waiting for them, Eira stood next to Alaron. Her armor shone brightly, ready for action. She was already discussing the plan with the Guardian.

Behind the pair, a few soldiers were milling about with horses and other supplies. It would not be enough to get them all the way to the ice barrier, but the gear would help them to complete the first leg.

Eira's face was visibly relieved to see Mairwen. They were not often apart and the personal guard did not like being blind to her mistress's whereabouts. The princess realized that their detour to try to reach the Storehouse had delayed their arrival.

Eira must have been very worried. Mairwen felt suddenly guilty. She had been inconsiderate.

The soldier seemed to read the look on her face and waved the concern away with a bow. "Everything is ready, Your Highnesses, Fate Hanna."

"Then we shall be off," Hanna said before realizing she was not in charge of this trip.

The Fate had come seeking help. Ordering people around was not only unwise, it might hurt her in the end.

"That is, if it pleases Your Highness."

Mairwen smiled warmly at Hanna. "The sooner we head out, the sooner we will get there. I hate to keep the other Fates waiting, perhaps Justum will answer the questions which you will not."

"Ha, no chance of that. You think Hanna speaks in riddles? Justum is far worse…" Alaron thought back to their time together. The stoic Fate was a walking enigma.

"I guess we will find out when we get there," Renat did not want to see the twins bicker just as they were starting out. He offered his hand, which his wife graciously took.

The scientist handed Mairwen up onto one of the brown mares and climbed onto a stallion himself.

After a final glance back at the cave, they were on their way.