Beja's Charge

Alcoy stood looking out his window at the seeing waters wondering why they have been with holding their secrets as of late. His friend and co-guardian, Cadiz had passed two days ago and the waters had not given any sign of that. He wondered anew what it all meant, How the land that he served for the past century would survive if the peace it had enjoyed were gone.

Suddenly a knock came at the door.

"Come in"

"Alcoy." a young girl, Couruna, said as she entered

"Grandfather." a boy, Beja, said as he entered behind her

Alcoy looked at the two sternly for a moment.

"What is it that I can do for you?"

Beja looked at his great grandfather, several times removed. He was used to seeing a strong man, now he seemed defeated and a shell of himself.

"Well, I was just concerned...."

"That the old man might not be able to handle himself anymore?" He raised his eyebrow and he looked back out the window. "Do you know what these waters have done for us in the past?"

Beja was silent for a momeant. "They have forewarned us of danger." He replied softly.

"Yes, and now they have gone silent. No matter what I do or what spell I cast they stay quite." He looked back a Beja now. His soft Brown wavy hair was half covering is brown eyes. His small build hid the big role he would soon play. "Do you know what that means?"

Again he was quiet and waited for the answer.

"It means there is an evil that is stronger than me. It means my time is short and my replacement must be trained."

It was quiet again for a long period of time. Beja sat slowly down and Couruna sat waiting to see what would happen, she knew as everyone did, that meant that Beja needed to be trained.

"But first we need to find Cadiz's heir. That means you have some work to do."

"Me?" Beja said shocked that Alcoy would choose him for this task. "His family left this area decades ago and hasn't been heard from since."

"I am well aware of that, but you have the skills to find them, You and Couruna."

A smile came across her tan face. Her short blond hair bounced as she jumped up. "Me?" There was a light of excitement in her green eyes. She was always the one who got the two of them into trouble. Beja was always the cautious one.

"Wait, wait what did dad say about this?" Beja stood and objected.

"It doesn't matter Beja, We have no time to argue, you need to leave today by sunset and go to Chantilly. You should get there by morning and look for Ravi, that was his sons name.

"But he would be dead by now." Beja protested.

Alcoy gave a stern look "You will find out where his family is or went. I would use the seeing waters to help you, but they are silent. Now you need to go pack, This is very important, this will affect everyone in one way or another. You can't fail."

Beja turned slowly and left, Couruna started behind him.

"Couruna, take this." Alcoy took a sword off the wall. This will help, It will work against dark magic."

She took it, smiled and turned and left.

Later they met at the beginning of the mountain trail to the north. Beja was waiting for her.

"Everything ok?" She knew by the look on his face the answer was no.

"I talked to my dad and he was furious with Alcoy and me. I told him that if Alcoy had picked me to do this, that he had to have a good reason. He stormed out and went to see Alcoy, told me to wait till he got back and we would talk some more."

"So what happened?"

"I believe Alcoy has a good reason for sending us. I don't know what it is,but it doesn't matter we have to go. So I left before he got back. I left him a note explaining why I did what I did."

"I see."

"You believe he has a good reason right?"

"He never does anything without one."

"Then lets go." Beja picked up his pack and they both started off up the trail.

PLEASE LOOK FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER SOON.