Hector's Arc

Chapter 3 of 6

At dawn Hector walked to Cade's door, his hands still faint with gold light. Cade was his mentor, the elf oracle who had freed him from slavery. When Hector told him about the dream, the mirror, and the demon named Vaphos, Cade's face changed. He set down his tea. "You are certain he said Vaphos?" Cade asked. Hector nodded. Cade rose at once. "Then I cannot answer this alone. Come with me." Cade led him to a stone temple wrapped in living vines. Carved leaves framed the door. "This is Gaia's temple," Cade said. "I have been raised from oracle to saint. That gives me the right to call on her here." He knelt at the center of the floor and pressed his palms to the cold stone. He spoke old words. The vines trembled. Hector held his breath and waited for the goddess who had chosen him. Nothing came. Cade spoke again, louder. Still nothing. Sweat beaded on his brow. "She does not answer," he whispered. "She has never once failed to answer." Then a soft light rose from the floor. It was not the deep gold of Gaia. It was pale and silver. A woman took shape, blonde, in a flowing gown, calm as still water. A single fae butterfly circled her shoulder, its wings shining with color. Cade bowed his head low. "Celeste," he breathed. "Gaia's daughter." "My mother sleeps," Celeste said. "She spent all her power long ago, sealing the wound Arcemis left in the world. She cannot wake to speak to you. So I answer in her place." Her eyes moved to Hector. "Your dream was true, heir. Vaphos has crawled back. He has taken a mercenary of death into his service, a killer who will hunt the Light in you." Hector's throat went dry. "Then how do I fight him? My hands only glow. I cannot even control that." "Not alone," Celeste said. "Arcemis carried a blade blessed with Gaia's light. It was lost when he passed. You must find that sword. And you must find the guardians who fought beside him, or their heirs, and unite them again." The butterfly lifted from her shoulder and hovered before Hector. "This will lead you to the blade. Follow where it flies. Blessed be." The silver light faded. Celeste was gone. The butterfly drifted toward the temple door, then paused, waiting. Cade stood and gripped Hector's shoulder. "I asked for the meaning of your dream," he said. "Now we both have it." Hector looked at the butterfly, then at his glowing hands. A royal guard's post seemed small now. To fulfill Arcemis's legacy, he needed Arcemis's sword. He no longer had to wait to be chosen. He had a path. Hector stepped past Cade and followed the butterfly out the temple door, into the morning.