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  Despite her strong external shell, there was a vulnerability and childlike innocence about her that he found as appealing as her courage. The very thought of not seeing her again was unbearable. His search became even more frantic, and while he was relieved that there seemed to be no sign of the werexol, Caitlin had also completely vanished.

  By the time a dejected Michael reached the town square, it was already late. The sun was still shining, but the passage of time was lost upon him. He’d spent hours searching for Caitlin but there was no sign of her or the werexol anywhere.

  The regular gang of children waited for Michael under their usual haunt, a broad but bent ancient yew tree: Adil, Nora, Jasmin, Nabia, Hachim, Sophia, Beni and the youngest, Mehdi. Thankfully, they were safe. After failing to find Caitlin, Michael’s next thought was for the safety of the children. He sighed with relief to find them safe and sound. They were crowded around his carved stone bench talking excitedly to someone he could not see. When he approached them, his mind still on Caitlin, they all rushed to him full of joy and excitement. It seemed they had a secret to share.

  “We have a new friend, Baba. Come see,” Adil shouted, catching sight of Michael.

  “How nice,” Michael mumbled back, his eyes fogging with unshed tears for no reason.

  “She is very pretty,” Beni whispered with a tinge of envy, for none of the girls he knew looked liked that. Their baba was a lucky man indeed. Michael finally looked at the newcomer in their midst. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief to see the friend they spoke of was none other than his rescuing angel, sitting there bold as you please surrounded by his children and smiling broadly.

  “Where were you?” she asked, pretending to be angry at being kept waiting. “We have gone ahead and eaten without you, but your friends insisted on saving some honey cakes and stew for you. I hope you are hungry,” she said, sounding happy.

  She sounded like she cared for him a little bit, at least he hoped she did, for he had fallen—and fallen hard. Instead of the declarations of love that he wanted to spill out, all he said was, “It has been a long day. I could definitely do with something to eat.” Beni looked quite disappointed. He seemed to have expected a more elaborate reply. Looking at the children, Michael grinned. “Thank you for leaving me something.” Words of love could come later. For now, he needed a meal, otherwise he was going to faint, maybe in Caitlin’s arms. Wouldn’t Beni love that?

  Anxious and not so soft whispers filled his ears. “Is she your girl, Baba?” It was Nabia who spoke this time. She looked slightly tearful as she looked at Caitlin laughing and joking with the others, not too sure if she wanted another to compete for Michael’s love.

  “What do you think? Is it okay for me to have a soft corner for her?” Michael asked Nabia. Nabia, the little mother of the group, chuckled because she could see this was much more than that. She was glad that Michael had finally found someone to love. She hoped Caitlin also felt the same way about him.

  “Only if she makes you happy, Baba,” was the little girl’s reply. “Let me ask her,” she added, and before Michael could stop her, she turned to Caitlin and said boldly, “Our friend really likes you. How do you feel about him?”

  Michael was stunned. He hadn’t expected such frankness from Nabia as she was as protective of him as she was of the other children. Even Adil fell into line when her dark eyes stared him down. Now her big, soulful eyes were fixed on Caitlin, waiting for an answer with great solemnity.

  Caitlin said nothing. Michael and she had a connection that could not be ignored. So Caitlin said nothing to the little girl, but instead, rose from her place and entwined her fingers with Michael’s. He had been given an answer. His face split into a happy grin. The children erupted into shouts and yells. It was a mad scene but after a long, long time, Caitlin was deliriously happy and didn’t mind the noise in the least.

  CHAPTER V

  Mother and Father, I see it now. You were meant to find each other and be together. Nothing, least of all an ancient prophecy or the curse of immortality, could keep you apart. But why is life always about choices? As we go one way, we have to forgo the other. When you chose my father, you had to leave your sisters behind—even the ones you cared so deeply about.

  Talia

  THE SECRET MEDALLION - CAITLIN AND NABIA

  Michael and Caitlin were married with the children bearing witness. Before they knew it, their last day in Masun had arrived. They would be taking a ferry across the Strait of Njoria from the port of Zabat to start their journey to Aberevon, Michael’s home and now Caitlin’s. Their journey to Zabat from Jaesdan had taken a couple days. The children had accompanied them for a small leg of it, but now the ferry would take the newlyweds onwards to Algeciras, and then they would travel to Aberevon.

  As Caitlin stood waiting for Michael, a cold easterly wind blew tendrils of her hair onto her face. Pierced stones littered the quay at regular distances to provide mooring to the boats and ferries. A fierce storm could wrench at a ship, but would it still hold? What would happen to her and Michael if Siobhan learned the truth? Would they be able to weather that storm?

  Caitlin’s medallion was her last link to Ava, Siobhan and the Heichi. It was a special gift from Siobhan to her. As far as Caitlin knew, no other guardian had ever received such a gift. She had told Michael everything about herself, even the prophecy of the Wraiths. Michael knew everything there was to know about Caitlin. She was an immortal sorceress tainted by an ugly prophecy, but he still loved her. Nothing could change that. The medallion was the only thing she held back on.

  ****

  Caitlin remembered her last interaction with Siobhan before the queen returned to Htrae. The Wraith had gone leaving Caitlin in a shambles. She had been lost, confused and heartbroken. She had been looking forward to her new life but the Wraith had changed everything. As she wallowed in self-pity and misery, a hand tapped her shoulder. She turned around and found herself looking into Siobhan’s eyes, golden with flecks of brown.

  “Caitlin,” Siobhan had said solemnly, her voice filled with empathy and sorrow. “I am so sorry for what happened to you here today. I want nothing more than to keep you close, but I have to say goodbye. There are some problems in Htrae that need attention. Ava, too, has to return to Calabrigh, her home. You are not alone. Your guardian sisters surround you,” she had said. “Wear this medallion at all times. It is a special gift for you. It has special powers. None of the other guardians have a medallion like this. I think you will need it to protect you. It will link you to Ava. Never part with it. Hold it tight in your palm if you are in trouble. Let it grow as warm as fire to your touch and Ava will know that you need her even though there are thousands of miles between the two of you.” Saying this, Siobhan had slipped a simple medallion bearing the triquetra symbol around Caitlin’s neck, gesturing to Ava that it was her turn to bid the new guardian farewell.

  “Goodbye, Caitlin. Reach out to me if you need me. Call me and I will come to you; don’t worry.” It was once again Ava’s eyes that spoke volumes; they were trusting but all seeing. I know you lied to Siobhan, they seemed to say, but you must have a reason. I hope I am not wrong about you. As Siobhan had approached, Ava looked away, deliberately breaking eye contact with Caitlin almost as if she’d feared Siobhan would read her mind and learn the truth.

  ****

  As the newlyweds and the children said their final tearful farewells, Caitlin slipped the medallion in the hands of Nabia. Had she done the right thing by giving the medallion away? Yes, she had, because while the medallion was a way for her to call for help, it was also a beacon that could lead the Heichi to her. Ava knew what the prophecy was, Caitlin was sure of it. She had seen both the understanding and sorrow in her eyes. If she told Siobhan the truth, her relationship with Michael would be at risk. Michael was Caitlin’s anchor; she couldn’t imagine a life without him. For this reason, she knew she was doing the right thing.

  “Nabia, you are wise beyond your years. I have watched
how you care for the younger ones better than a mother would her own child. I want to tell you something about myself, a secret which only your baba knows, but you must promise to tell no one,” said Caitlin.

  “What great secret is this, Ommah? I will tell no one.”

  Reassured, Caitlin said, “I am not just an ordinary woman. I am an enchantress.” Seeing the fear and shock on Nabia’s face, Caitlin added, “But there is nothing to be afraid of. I would never hurt any of you. I love all of you. I hope you know that. Do you trust me, Nabia?”

  “You are a Sahira, an enchantress?” Nabia asked, her eyes as round as saucers and her hand shaking, but she did not flee. Nabia appeared to be deep in thought for a while but then finally she said, “I trust Sahira because Baba trusts you.”

  Caitlin took that as a sign that Nabia accepted what she was trying to tell her. Caitlin’s relief was palpable. She continued, “I know we are leaving Jaesdan but Michael, your baba, will always stay in touch with you. I also know that when he fails to visit, some of you are sure to visit him. You will ensure that your baba is okay even when I am not around, which is why is I need to entrust something important to your care. If a day comes when you feel that Baba is in trouble, use this.” Caitlin gave Nabia the medallion. “Look after this for me, Nabia,” she pleaded. “I have a sister; her name is Ava. This medallion will act as a guide to help her reach you, but only when you need her. Tell her your worry. She will help.”

  A puzzled Nabia asked, “Won’t it be better off with you? You will be with Michael all the time.”

  “I cannot keep it with me because my family does not know about Michael. They would never approve. They may try to separate the two of us. Ava and the rest of my family must not find me right now. I have to keep this medallion far from me because when it is with me, it acts like a beacon for her to find me. I do not have anyone else to turn to. Will you keep my secret?” asked Caitlin.

  “Yes,” said Nabia with determination. She would do anything to bring a smile back to this beautiful lady’s face. Nabia must help them. After all, Michael had done so much for them. They were orphans who he had treated like family. He had given them food and shelter, but more than that, he had given them love and friendship. Anything she could do to repay the debt would never be enough.

  “You have a strange family, Ommah Sahira. If they don’t come to celebrate your happiness, what makes you think they will come when there is trouble?”

  Caitlin smiled. Nabia was now calling her Mother Enchantress. “You are indeed wise, Nabia. I have chosen the right custodian for the medallion. To answer your question, yes, they will come; I am sure. I have my reasons for hiding Michael from them, but when in trouble, I know Ava will come to our aid. She does not judge.”

  “I will not ask what happened to separate you from your sister. Don’t worry, for you also have another family. Baba and us, we are your family too, aren’t we?” Nabia asked. She giggled. “And one day, you will have children of your own. I will keep this safe for your family just in case, but I hope we never need to use it.”

  Nabia’s thought had such a beautiful ring to it. “I hope we don’t need it either,” Caitlin whispered. Michael, and now Nabia, had mentioned children. Someday she would love to have her own family. Would such a reality be possible, or would the Wraith claim her first?

  “In case you do need help, how does the medallion work?” asked Nabia.

  “You need to clasp it in your palm tightly. When it feels hot, very hot, it means the magic is at work,” she said. “Don’t worry; it won’t hurt you,” she added, seeing the crease of worry on Nabia’s forehead.

  “I know, Ommah Sahira. You would never hurt me,” said Nabia. “But I am just a girl. Will I be able to do what you ask of me? What if I let you down?” Concern laced her voice.

  “Impossible!” exclaimed Caitlin. “You don’t even know what you children and Michael have done for me. I had no one. I was an outcast in my own family, but you all took me in and gave me love and a family. No, you could never let me down.”

  CHAPTER VI

  The two of you were my family. Together you taught me everything I know and gave me all the skills that would one day help me survive, and for that, I am grateful. Above all, you gave me love.

  Talia

  A HIDDEN LEGACY - TALIA

  Years went by. Theirs was a happy household filled with laughter and harmony. Caitlin was living a dream she hadn’t ever imagined possible. Life was perfect until Caitlin and Michael learned they would soon be welcoming a baby into their lives. Michael was ecstatic. His thoughts were of the giggles and laughter that would fill their house. He desperately missed the children of Jaesdan. He knew they had played an important role in bringing Caitlin into his life. Before the two of them had left for Aberevon, he’d made sure they were taken care of, but that didn’t mean he missed them any less. The very thought of having his own child, maybe a little girl with Caitlin’s big eyes and cerulean blue hair, made him a very happy man. Caitlin, on the other hand, felt the first stirring of fear within her. The warnings of the Wraith echoed in her mind. But Michael’s happiness and excitement was so very endearing that she cast away her anxieties for a while. Michael had always wanted a daughter, even before he and Caitlin were married. I hope we have a girl, he had said. If you haven’t a name in mind, I would like to call her Talia, and I hope she is just like you—perfect. However, any daughters born of a union between a sorceress and a human would be half blood, supernatural with the full power of Caitlin’s Heichi ancestors. Only the daughters inherited the power; any sons would be mortal.

  ****

  When a baby girl was born, Caitlin worried incessantly. She had never cared for an infant before. She had never even experienced childhood. Not the best qualifications for her to make an adequate mother to a half blood. However, Michael’s reassurances gradually soothed Caitlin and she began to dream of a normal life for her newborn daughter, Talia. Maybe their Heichian heritage would ensure Talia would always be strong and independent. If Michael’s perceptive nature and aura were ingrained in Talia, she would never go wrong. Caitlin hoped that her own powers and fortitude would play a part in becoming Talia’s shield against the shadows and threats that inherently flawed the life of a sorceress.

  Michael knew a day might come when their child would be hunted or chased for her power. He wanted Talia to be prepared for any unknown danger, but Caitlin felt otherwise. Her own past had embittered her and taught her that power did not assure happiness. She argued that Talia must be allowed to enjoy her childhood, have a chance to grow into her own destiny and to find her own way, for this was a joy that Caitlin never had.

  Michael sensed there was something else bothering Caitlin, some unknown fear that she refused to share with him. Denying Talia her birthright was about more than her having a normal childhood. All he told Caitlin was, “Her powers would allow her to protect herself like you can, but if she can’t have that, you must make her strong both in mind and body. Trouble may find her someday. Shouldn’t our girl be ready for it?”

  “I will do my best but I need you to promise me something,” Caitlin said.

  “Just say the words.”

  “You will always watch out for her if anything—”

  “Shhh,” said Michael. “Don’t even think about saying something like that.” Michael picked up little Talia and kissed her forehead. “I will always watch out for our little girl whatever the cost.” And with that, ready or not, Talia’s tutelage under Caitlin started in earnest even though she was little more than a toddler.

  When Michael returned home after his travels, Talia would run to him eager to show off the new moves she had learned. Be it the sword or archery, or any other weapon at her disposal, Caitlin intended for Talia to be well versed.

  On occasion, when Caitlin pushed Talia to the boundaries of her endurance, Talia’s powers often broke through, thrusting back in return. Whenever Talia instinctively used her powers, Caitlin’s only focus would
be on diffusing her fears and bringing matters to a normal keel as soon as possible. If Caitlin was injured by the sheer brute force of her daughter’s powers, she hid it from a worried Talia and reassured an apprehensive Michael.

  Just like her parents, Talia was fond of animals. Caitlin would often take her to the stables, whispering horse wisdom into her daughter’s ear. “All horses really need is hay, water, good grooming and love. If you add carrots and sugar cubes as a treat, your horse will always welcome you.”

  Under her mother’s able tutelage, Talia mastered her equestrian skills by the young age of six. On her seventh birthday, she was gifted a beautiful mountain pony. Much to their amusement, Talia named her pony Liata, an anagram of her own name.

  Like her mother, Talia learned to see beauty in all creatures of nature. Caitlin sensed that Talia had the same magic in her soul, that divine part of her that would always draw creatures wild or tame towards her. But little Talia remained oblivious to her magical ancestry and just enjoyed the special time with her mother.

  Michael was right in sensing Caitlin’s reluctance to use magic. The truth was that Caitlin feared the use of magic would help the Heichi find her. Since committing to Michael, she hadn’t let a single spell flow through her hands, nor had she uttered a word of magic.

  In her mind, she was no longer a guardian, only a wife and a mother. She blamed the Wraith for forcing her to choose. But every time she looked at Michael and Talia, she knew she had made the right choice by giving away Siobhan’s medallion, severing her last link with the Heichi.