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“Ivy, why don’t you tell Gwen’s fortune before she leaves?” Quintus
asked, rising from the table.
“Of course. It would be an honor,” Ivy said. She went upstairs and
returned with a bright crystal ball.
The Realm of Possibilities
37
“Put your hand on the crystal ball and stare at the ball,” Ivy
commanded. Gwen did as she was told. Ivy put her hand on the ball and
stared in also.
“Your full name is Gwendolyn,” Ivy said, and continued, “your life
will be full of many adventures. Gwen means Goddess of the Moon. The
Moon Goddess will protect you on your wanderings, but the Sun God will
put you through a number of trials in which you must prove yourself. You
must be able to defend yourself, or there will be dire consequences.
And…I see one more thing. You will have many enemies, but the main
one among them is Duke Raxere of Skere.”
After her fortune had been told, Gwen left with haste. She had been
planning to go back to Lien, but she decided that she would instead go to
Skere by cutting through the Trail of the Realm and passing through the
troublesome Elea Mountains.
And so Gwen began her journey to Skere. It was not easy, for the Trail
of the Realm was very long and the Elea Mountains would probably be
even harder. At least that was what Gwen thought.
It was on one uncertain, foggy day that Gwen was walking past the
Trail of the Realm when a tall man stepped up.
“Argh! Why’s a wee lassie walkin’ ’long?” the man grinned.
“I would not like to be bothered, thank you,” Gwen said coldly,
staring ahead.
“Not want to be bothered, aye? Hey me buckos, did ye hear the lassie?
She not want to be bothered!” A team of about thirty men stepped out
from the dust.
“Ha ha ha!” they laughed along with the other man.
“Now, little lassie, ye see how unwise it would be to gimme one o’ yer
rude answers, aye? I gotta whole force o’ men at me back, all awaiting my
orders,” the man said.
“Tell me your name and I’ll tell you why I’m wandering,” Gwen said
defiantly.
“Ohhoho, does she! Oh well, I’m the Knight Marshal of Zeda, and I
am looking for a very important object that is called the Mirror of Zeda,
which was stolen from the Zeda Convent by a man called Duke Raxere of
Skere,” the Knight Marshal said.
“Duke Raxere of Skere!” Gwen exclaimed.
“Yep, he’s one to watch out for,” the Knight Marshal said.
“And we’re wantin’ to go to Skere, little missie. Now does that satisfy
ye?” another man stepped up.
THE JOY OF WRITING
38
“I’m going to Skere, too,” Gwen said.
“It’s too dangerous for you, lass. I’ll drop ye off at Zeda and the
Prioress’ll take care of you,” the Knight Marshal said gently.
“No! I am going to Skere and that is final!” Gwen shouted.
“Lass, ye really have to understand, me job isn’t to leave young girls
like ye on the path of danger!” the Knight Marshal cried, throwing up his
hands in exasperation.
“I’m not on the path of danger! I can take care of myself!” Gwen
stormed, turning on her heel away from the Knight Marshal.
The next morning, Gwen cut through a small opening in the Trail of
the Realm, headed for the Elea Mountains.
“Whoa!” After walking tirelessly for many miles across the bare, dusty
plains, Gwen gasped at the sight of the grand Elea Mountains. The grand
mountains towered above Gwen, casting a huge shadow on the ground
miles around. Winding paths led up the mountains, probably ending up at
Zeda.
“I can’t believe I’m going up that,” Gwen said to herself.
“Not many do, lass,” the Knight Marshal strode up in front of her.
“I was hoping I’d seen the last of you,” Gwen said, rolling her eyes.
“C’mon, lass, I mean it when I say that you’re on the path of danger,”
the Knight Marshal said.
“I don’t care. I want adventure!” Gwen cried.
“Take heed of my words, lass, and you’ll thank me,” the Knight
Marshal said.
“I don’t care what you say!” Gwen shouted.
“Beware, lass, beware,” the Knight Marshal said. Gwen took a deep
breath and stepped onto the mountain path. She knew she had many,
many miles to go.
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