Keon

KEON

Published by Veronique Aspeling at Smashwords

Copyright 2010 Veronique Aspeling

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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CHAPTER 1

The Dracriver, Rhône Valley, South of France

(1981)

A painful scream rendered through the air in the early morning hours. It strike up and down through the long, dark mountains and boomerangs back into the river bedding, where a young women is supporting her back against an old willow tree. Sweat is running down her beautiful face making her light, blonde hair sticky and wet.

After a few more painful screams, silence fall over the valley once more. And then the sound of birds waking and a faint sound of a baby’s cry break the silence once more.

Ninon looks down to where her baby lies between her legs in the moss-covered forest floor.

My baby… my beautiful, baby girl…

Tears started to run down her cheeks and little hysterical sobs bubbles from her mouth.

So perfect, so tiny…, she whispers.

She takes of her light green jersey and wraps it gently around the baby. Lifting her gently up in her arms, she presses the bundle softly against her chest. Ninon ignores the dull pain that’s pulling through her lower body from the afterbirth.

What am I suppose to do now…? she whispers in panic and looks anxiously around her.

An unnatural wind suddenly picks up and moves twirls of leaves and dust around Ninon until a tunnel formed, wrapping her and the baby inside it. Ninon’s legs starts to feel like lead. After a few more invincible pressures, she gives in and sinks down onto the forest floor with the baby tightly in her grip.

Do not fear me, Ninon…. It is I…, -your mother, Micheline...

A ghostly woman, dressed all in white with light, blond hair, floats into the tunnel and smiles down at her. Ninon stares in disbelieve into the bright green eyes of her deceased mother.

But…. but you’re dead, mama…!

Micheline smiles while casually throwing a tress of her white blonde hair over her one shoulder obliviously blinded to the horror of her daughters’ vision.

I am, Ninon… but the forest queens that have already passed on, can communicate with the living ones, you know…, she says still smiling and then her smile suddenly vanishes. There are certain things that were left undone when I died. I need to tell you before it is too late….

Micheline holds her hand out to her daughter and pull her to her feet. Her hand is cold but not unpleasant. All Ninon’s birth pains disappears immediately. I forgot…, Ninon says with a quick smile. Forest queens are known for their healing powers even in death, it seems.

It’s understandable. Childbirth is very painful. She looks down at the baby and sweeps her hand lightly over the baby’s soft, black hair. This beautiful, baby girl is very, very special to all of us – even the forest queens of the past. You must call her Orenda, the one with magical power…. Dark times lie ahead for her and we’ve all decided to change the history of the forest queens. She will not wear the magical leaf around her neck, like we all used to do. I will place the leave inside of her where it would be safe against the enemy that is surely hunting for her already…, she whispers with tears in her eyes.

Before Ninon can say anything, Micheline continues. Please, Ninon…. -give me the leaf ….

Ninon takes the thin golden chain off of her neck and looked silently down at the emerald stone leaf that lies in her palm.

After a few seconds, she stares back at Micheline and then shakes her head slowly.

What are you talking about? What enemies…?

The leaf is in danger and so are the future of all forest queens. Orenda is the only one who will be able to keep it save from any harm…, Micheline pauses for a second and sadness replace the gentle look on her face.

Zané killed Gustave, Ninon…. He has been looking for you all these years and when he found Gustave, he tortured your whereabouts out of him before he killed him….

Reality hit Ninon hard as everything that happened recently, falls into place.

No! Zané… Zané is back ...?

Shock went through her and she falls onto her knees where she weeps silently for her mother and husband she lost by the hands of Zané. All because of what she is and what her daughter will soon be.

Gustave was her life. They were married for two years. When she returned from the forest from her days’ work, she found her husband dead on their kitchen floor. Blood was running out of his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. She knew it was magic – dark magic, but did not know who could have done it. All she thought about was her unborn child. She ran and ran hoping to dim the unbearable pain in her bruised heart, until she reached this place by the river where she gave birth.

I am so sorry, my child…. Over the past twenty years I have been watching over you, but then we realized that Zané has a plan and the leaf, Orenda and you are in grave danger. He wants to destroy Kenyon and rule over Keon. But he needs the powers of the leaf to succeed…, she said and sigh softly, tears still gathering in her bright green eyes. … He needs the leaf to control an army of dangerous creatures. Some of them are already on the move to join him in his goal. I thought that Zané forgot all about me. I actually hoped that after my death, he would move on and forget about Kenyon too. But his lust for vengeance grew just as strong as his lust for power. He could never accept that Kenyon was more powerful and more creative than him. I have seen the desire in his eyes when he saw Keon for the first time. It has grown into complete obsession and rules his life totally….

Micheline hold her hand out to Ninon once more. Please, Ninon…. Put Orenda on the ground and place the leaf against her heart….

Ninon puts her baby gently down and places the leaf over the baby’s naked, little chest where her tiny heart lies. Dry sobs are still shaking her body every few seconds with the grief torturing her, thinking of her short happiness that has ended so brutally and suddenly.

Micheline hugs her lightly before pulling away slowly. This must be done, honey. There is really no other way.

I know….

Micheline places her right hand over the leaf and mumble words Ninon has never heard before. A bright, white light appears over Micheline’s hand and grow bigger and brighter until Ninon can’t see neither the baby nor her mother’s hand. Orenda starts to cry but before Ninon can react and pick her up, the light disappears and Micheline stands up.

It is done…, she whispers with a tired sigh. The leaf now lies against her heart and can not be removed or she will die…. Don’t worry, Ninon. As long as no one knows where it is, she will be save. Keep the secret, even from her until she is ready to know. Protect us and our existence. On her eighteenth birthday, when she is old enough to understand, I shall make contact with her and she shall receive her true powers….

But what if Zané find us before then…?

He won’t…. As long as no magic is being used around you and Orenda does not know who she is, it will be impossible for him to sense either one of you. Take her to Ambel, the small village nearby, and raise her there as a nordum – (normal humans).…

Why can’t we go to papa and ask for his help...?

Micheline sighs again and shakes her head. No one… -and I mean, no one, must know about Orenda. She is our deepest secret and our weapon against all that is evil… Zané wants Kenyon dead and wouldn’t it be just perfect for him if he knows exactly what Orenda is and where to find her? He has spies everywhere, even in Keon….

I understand….

She hugs Ninon again.

Remember the forest, Ninon…. Everything in and around it will protect you and Orenda…, she whispers in her ear as she starts to fade. Remember….

(Eighteen years later)

You’re joking, right…! Quinton is the best Air-ball player in school….

Jarrett shakes his blonde curly head and frowns at his best friend and roommate. Why do you think he is a better player than you, Brennan…? You made him sweat like he has visited a sauna all day…

Brennan sighs agitatedly, He’s sick with stomach flu, Jarrett…. He wasn’t himself today…

Jarrett smiles and slaps Brennan on his name, printed at the back of his Air-ball outfit. Never mind, we’ll see by the end of the year who’s the better captain….

Brennan has been chosen as captain for the Guardians the moment everyone played their first game. There was no doubt from his team, who the better player was and Brennan is probably the most likable guy in school and Air-ball - the highlighted sport of Keon.

There are three teams and five players on each team. The Guardians wears green, Young Yo-Yo’s yellow, and the Ring Riders wears red.

Each player has its own trolopian, lovable creatures with icy blue eyes. They look like horses and are covered in black satin feathers with colorful wings which changes color depending on their mood swings. Trolopians are very attached to their player and if they are not wanted or their player leaves Keon, they will magically vanish into thin air. They are also known to nordums as Pegasus – winged horses.

Brennan looks around him while he walks with Jarrett towards the dining hall. He is feeling very agitated with himself all day. His favorite cousin, Tilly, asked him early this morning, to deliver a letter to Jarrett for which she has a crush on since their arrival at Keon in January. Tilly is blonde with soft brown eyes which compliments her personality. She is very sensitive and caring and that is the reason why he didn’t want to give the letter to Jarrett, who has eyes only for Jessica Anderson.

Jessica is the beauty of Keon but Brennan saw her only as a troublemaker. Nothing Jessica says or does, have ever been nice.

When Brennan told her that he is not a delivery boy, Tilly turned chalk white and walked sadly away from him without another word. He could have bitten his tongue off for being so rude to her, but the pain of rejection from Jarrett was far worse to him at that moment. Now he has been walking around the whole day feeling angry with himself. He will have to apologize the moment he sees her.

You played very well today, Brennan…, calls a well known voice out behind him.

Brennan looks back over his shoulder and sees Tasha Grate behind him with a big smile on her face.

I fell off, Tasha…, he says angrily but she ignores his temper.

"It doesn’t matter – you still won the game for your team…,’ she says cheerfully and hurry to walk next to him.

Tasha is totally in love with Brennan and she makes no secret of it. Brennan hates to be rude but she always pops in unexpectedly and he was starting to feel really sick of making excuses the whole time.

"Are you going to the dance tonight? I’ll save you a seat if you want too…,’ she says quickly and looks hopefully up at him.

Umm…. No, I…. I don’t like dancing and I am really tired tonight, but thanks anyway..., he says and grab Jarrett’s arm. Bathroom….

Her face drops sadly, Well, maybe next time then…?She says before she disappears into the dining hall.

I am never going to get rid of her in a nice way, am I…?

Nope, but she’s not that bad looking, mate…. Maybe if you…, but Brennan mouth pops open and Jarrett quickly changes his sentence, ….-or maybe not….

Keon is called the rainbow city to all with magical powers and lies hidden in the Cumbrian Mountains in England. A cave called Arcadia, is the only way into Keon and is magically hidden from nordums and enemies. The grass is always green and the flowers stay colorful throughout the year. Flat stone paths travel throughout the city and ends at the edges of the beautiful forest. The thick evergreen forest surrounds Keon’s buildings and stretches all the way up into the mountains where all the magical creatures make their own homes.

Keon has four different kind of magical creatures; the Fairies. Pikipins, Dwedongs and the Trolopians. The Fairies have their own three kinds. There is the Swerwinks, Watawas and the Misties. Swerwinks can create wind and looks like green dragonflies to nordum’s eyes. Misties cause a thick mist and looks like tiny, white birds, again only to nordum’s eyes and the Watawas makes rain and has a fat, blue body shaped like an egg.

Then there is the Dwedongs who lives in the mountain’s caves. From a distance they could easily be mistaken for vampires if not for their toothless mouths. They have straight black hair and red eyes but are all very shy. They eat moss growing on rocks and on the cave walls, as well as fish the river provides.

The favorite among all the magical creatures are the tiny Pikipins. They look exactly like humans except for their long, soft ears. They only grow to the length of thirty centimeters. Pikipins attach themselves to a Magnus of their liking and it’s very difficult for the Magnus to get rid of the Pikipin. They are also called the ‘attention-seekers’ among the Magnus’s.

Keon is the school for all magical people from the age of eighteen. After three years, the Magnus receives a long staff with which he or she can do their own magic. While they are in school, staffs are provided for them. They use it only in class until they are able to make the staffs appear at their own request. Only then will the Magnus be ready.

Jarrett’s eyes catch a red line running down Brennan’s arm.

You’re bleeding…. Better get Sus Amelia to take a look at it…, he says pointing towards the wound.

Brennan looks down frowning and uses the bottom part of his shirt to wipe the blood away.

Yea, but first things first… Food…!

Brennan and Jarrett dishes up a plate for themselves and join Tilly and her roommate, Moira. He quickly bends down and whisper in Tilly’s ear.

Forgive me for my rudeness this morning, Tilly…. I’m really, really sorry....

No problem – all is forgiven…, she whispers back and gives him a huge grin. It would have been a mistake anyways…. O, hi Jarrett…, she says friendly in a louder voice. …Good game….

Jarrett just smiles at her and turns back to his food without any reply. Brennan feels very sorry for her. He does not know what to do. He’s not sure if interference would be a good idea. Tilly suddenly stands up to leave.

Where are you going, Tilly…?

We’re finishing eating – see you later, cousin…, she says sadly and walks quickly away from them with Moira on her heels.

What’s her problem…? asks Jarrett the moment they were out of ear reach. Every time I see her, she runs off…. I think she hates me…, he says as an afterthought.

Nothing’s wrong…. You’re imagining things. Tilly likes you a lot…. And it wouldn’t kill you to have a conversation with her once in a while, you know…?

Jarrett frown and shake his head.

Yeah, if she would stand still for a second….

Brennan decides to drop it before Jarrett starts to ask too many questions.

Jarrett’s face suddenly lids up and Brennan follows his eyes. No wonder - Jessica is just walking past them. She looks back over her shoulder at Brennan and winks at him with a sweet smile.

Brennan feels the heat in his face and looks ashamed at Jarrett.

Umm…. I don’t know what all that was about, mate….

Jarrett’s light, brown eyebrows pull together in a frown as he whispers through clenched teeth, Never mind…. Let’s finish eating and get out of here….

Brennan hears him murmur something about being second best to everything.

Listen, Jarrett…. It’s not my fault – I don’t know why you like her anyway. She’s always rude to everyone and….

Drop it, Brennan…!

Fine then….

Fine….

They finish eating their food in silence and both stand up and leave the dining hall without a word to each other. Outside was another matter.

I’m sorry about that, Brennan. You’re my best friend and Jessica is definitely not worth it. I think you’re right about her – she is trouble. I heard her telling another girl that the girl wasn’t pretty enough to attract an Air-ball player. Don’t know who she was referring too, but I thought it was horrible of Jessica to be so sarcastic….

No problem, but even if she turned out being nice I wouldn’t be interested in her – she’s not my type….

Okay then…., he says and changes the subject. What do you know about Russia’s weather climate card…?

The atmosphere changes immediately and they grin at each other.

Same as you. If my guess is right, Parks is going to give us a test on Monday….

Time to go study…, he says with a sigh. Better go to sus Amelia first though…..

Brennan looks down at the fresh blood on his arm. He completely forgot about his shoulder. It does feel a bit stiff. See you in the study hall then….

Brennan runs up the three round steps of white marble in front of the Study Hall to