Chapter 40: The Bone Priestess

Song recommendation: Don't fear the reaper (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQK-Hn1Khdk)

"What are you doing here?" Clover stared Michael down.

"We're going too," Michael declared. He strolled up to Clover in the courtyard.

"Who's this 'we'?" Clover replied sharply.

Kalandra stepped out from the shadows. She linked her arm through Michael's defiantly.

"Since when are you two a 'we'?" Clover asked drily.

"Please, can we go too, Clover?" Kalandra dismissed with a smile.

"Do what you like," Clover said coldly, "Seems like you're doing that anyway,"

A moment later Ace and Bird joined the group hurriedly. A temporary standoff deadened the atmosphere. It was Ace and Bird on one and Kalandra and Michael on the other. Clover watched indifferently.

"I guess everyone is going," they said without conviction. "This will be interesting..."

The group set off outside the castle walls where lower-dragons were being carolled to the gateway.

"What are these things?" Michael grimaced.

His eyes watched the fork-tongued creature slither towards them. A demon handed him the stirrups and Michael inspected the beast apprehensively.

"We're not riding them are we?" he met yellow eyes to yellow eyes with the creature and shuddered at the sight of its scales.

"Well, feel free to walk," Clover shrugged, "The lizards are the fastest creatures in the demon world,"

"I've never seen a lizard the size of a horse before," Bird chimed in, "What's your name?" he reached out to the creature which in turn smacked its jaws together hungrily. He pulled his hand back in shock. Ace let out a laugh.

"Careful Bird. They're only called lizards. That's where the similarity ends," Ace smiled.

The journey began through the wasteland outside the palace of swords. They travelled to the north through the bare plain. For the most part, they were able to avoid any ogres, beasts and trolls that wandered the wilderness. However, on occasion, Clover was forced to clear the path with their magic.

By nightfall, they were forced to stop altogether. A cluster of gryphons flew down from the mountain top surrounding the group. The creatures reared their birdlike heads provokingly. Clover held up a hand once more.

The earth jettisoned out of the ground and propelled the creatures away. Clover jumped off the lizard and began to tie it to a tree. They began to take their things from the lizard's saddle.

"What are you doing?" Michael interrogated.

"I'm tired," Clover let out a sigh."I want to rest,"

"You said we weren't far," Michael replied sceptically. "Can't we keep going?"

"Feel free to go without me," Clover said flatly.

Ace glanced at Bird and they too joined Clover in setting up camp for the night. Kalandra jumped down next and took a seat straight away. Reluctantly Michael came last and stood with his arms crossed in irritation.

Soon the fire was lit and the group sat around it. Ace and Bird chatted away contently to themselves. Across from them, Kalandra was leaning on Michael's shoulder half asleep. Michael in turn looked as annoyed as ever whispering something in her that she didn't appear to be listening to.

It was only Clover who was inexplicably quiet. Ace had noticed but didn't want to say anything in front of the others. He waited till they started to turn in for the night. Clover hadn't moved. They were staring into the fire with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

When the others were asleep Ace approached Clover.

"Is there something wrong?" Ace asked.

Clover didn't react. They appeared completely preoccupied with their thoughts.

"Clover?" Ace said once more.

Clover blinked slowly and looked at Ace vacantly. It only took a moment but Ace detected something of a wall coming up. Clover forced a smile.

"What is it?" they asked.

"I said, is there something wrong?" Ace repeated.

"No," Clover answered with a guarded expression, "nothing's wrong."

Then they turned back to the fire without saying another word. Ace knew better than to pry at such times. He wished there was a way to reach them, to understand. He left Clover sitting by the fire and turned in for the night.

By dawn, they were back on the lizards. They scuttled over the land at great speeds. They traversed the last of the great span of arid sand and came to a dip in the surface. The descent became steeper and steeper and the terrain became rougher. They began into a massive canyon. Hughes boulders scaled the basin. Eventually, they had to walk on foot for the rest of the way.

Thankfully they didn't have to walk long. At the edge of the valley, they came to a dead end. Amidst the tumbling cascade of rocks, a dome-like structure sat facing them. At first, the white walls of the structure looked like more grey and sand-coloured rock. However, on closer inspection, it was made from the bone carcass of a large beast.

The group slowly approached. It was silent apart from the sound of rocks shifting in the distance. The moment they got close, there was a loud rattling sounding. The doorway into the structure was lined with small animal bones tied together on threads hoisted up by the ceiling.

They began to rattle louder as someone emerged from the skeletal depths. A thin hunched back woman made her way through the curtain of curious dead artefacts. Around her eyes was a dark and dirty cloth. Her skin was pale and her bald head showed her veins under the skin.

Ace felt obligated to step forward. However, before he could speak. The woman broke into a toothy grin showing her decrepit black teeth.

"I've been expecting you," she grinned, "Come,"

She disappeared back inside. For a moment everyone seemed hesitant to follow. Ace was surprised that even Clover looked reluctant to go in. Ace turned to the door and marched in resolutely. He needed to have some answer.

Eventually, the others followed and they stepped into the great bone structure. Inside the grovel was as grotesque and quiet as the outside. It was a simple dwelling. Animal skins lay on the floor. There was a fire and pots. There were shelves with old jars and bits of creatures.

The old woman slowly turned to face the group.

"Who will I see first?" she asked.

Everyone was quiet. Ace swallowed hard.

"I'll go first,"

"Then come," she gestured into a bad room. Ace followed leaving the others behind.

They arrived in a small dark room. In the centre was a large stone table with a metal bowl set on it. The woman shuffled around the table. Ace stepped in closer.

His eyes were immediately drawn to the bowl. Inside was white liquid. It was completely opaque and dense.

The woman dipped her hands into the liquid.

"What do you want to see? Past, present or future? You can only choose one,"

"Past," Ace answered hesitantly.

The woman stared down into the bowl as if she were looking for something. Finally, she dragged her hands out. The white liquid glopped back into the bowl. She opened her hand. There was a piece of charred bone wrapped around her thin fingers.

"I see two boys. There is one who was supposed to die and one who was supposed to live," she inspected the bone, "The one who was supposed to die lived...and the one who was supposed to live...he died. One fate exchanged for another,"

"Am I the one who was supposed to die?" Ace asked apprehensively.

"That remains to be seen,"

"I don't understand. I thought we were talking about the past," Ace hesitated.

"Past, present and future are one and the same. If you don't die, it means you were the one supposed to die but lived. If you are the other, then you are already dead,"

"Can you at least tell me who the other was?" Ace frowned.

"He has two faces. He was once alive but now he is not. He searches for the one who was supposed to die,"

"How can he search if he's dead?" Ace exhaled in irritation.

"That is all I see," the woman grinned darkly.

Ace pivoted on his heels angrily. He had come all this for nothing.

A dripping wet bony hand grabbed him by the wrist.

"It matters not which boy you are," the woman hissed, "for your fate remains the same. You are chosen. You are blessed,"

"Blessed?" Ace scoffed, "You really don't know anything, do you?"

He snatched his hand away and left the room. Upon his return, he was greeted by expectant eyes.

"What did she tell you?" Bird asked eagerly.

"Nonsense," Ace sighed, "I don't know what any of it meant,"

"I told you," Clover said quietly.

"Or," Michael interjected, "Maybe he's too stupid to work it out?"

"By all means indulge yourself in another vanity trip," Ace gestured, "I'm sure you can construe whatever she tells you into another great victory,"

"Well I didn't come all this way to leave empty-handed," Michael sniffed, "Why not?"

He strolled into the back room. The old woman was waiting.

"What do you want to see? Past, present or future? You can only choose one,"

"Present," Michael smiled. "Tell me what's happening in the Empire right now,"

The woman dipped her hands into the liquid. One more time she pulled out a hand full of liquid. It dribbled into the bowl below revealing a piece of bone.

"I see a flame burning bright. It burnt you once. You left it to die but the fire raged on. This flame is the cause of all you're problems,"

"A flame?" Michael questioned, "Flame represents a person, yes? What do they look like?"

"Their body is ash but their soul is bright. If you return the flame back to where it belongs you will have peace. If you fail, the flame will burn you again. This time, it will burn you to death,"

"I see. So, it's not a person and all I have to do is return the flame?" Michael smiled smugly, "Where can I find it?"

"I can see no more,"

"You've said more than enough. No doubt the flame is wrapped around the neck of the annoying man-child in the next room? I'll get that necklace eventually," he walked out with a confident gait.

The old woman watched him go without saying a word.

Michael returned to the room with a sarcastic bow.

"Well, what did she tell you?" Kalandra smirked.

"Only things I already knew," he grinned, "but I shall suffice with the knowledge that I am on track to getting everything I want,"

"You really are a glass half full," Kalandra said mockingly.

"Well, aren't you going in?" Michael motioned to the door.

"I don't need some old bag of bones to tell me my future, thank you," Kalandra derided."I'm only here for the spectacle,"

"What about you Bird?" Ace asked in the interval.

"I don't think so," Bird laughed sheepishly, "I think knowing will only give me more anxiety,"

"Then it's only our humble host remaining," Michael said condescendingly to Clover, "Only don't ask for the past, we'll be here all day!"

"I'll pass," Clover said flatly.

They were all about to leave when the woman came out of the room. At once, she held her hand out to Clover.

"Come receive your reading," she said in a low voice.

"I don't need your reading," Clover replied coolly.

"But you shall have it," she grinned.

"I said I don't fucking want it!" Clover snapped with uncharacteristic harshness.

The group turned to Clover in surprise but the woman went on:

"You wicked child. You cannot take from his table and expect to eat without paying the price,"

"I never!" Clover began vehemently. However, casting an eye to the others, they quickly subdued themselves, "just spit it out so we can be on our way,"

"Then future. I see one hand stretched out, but another hidden. The child instead of the father. The lamb instead of the sheep. Coal in place of gold. He toils out under the moonlight. His day is coming. He will have the gold. He will have the sheep. He will have the child,"

Clover let out an unsteady breath, "Are you done?"

"That is all I see," the woman grinned malevolently from ear to ear.