The Second Dragdani Prophecy - Vol. 1 of The Dragdani Prophecies

Not long after they arrived back at Weston Road. The Wizards cast all different kinds of dislocation spells and protection spells.

“I should tell you that the spells won’t hold back Ulicoth and Kilamen forever,” said Delsani. “I must also say the only way to ensure that the spells will stay intact would be to return every year and renew them. Just in case Ulicoth may find a way to break the spells, I will give you this Gmulena stone. All you have to do is smash it. It will light up its sister stone, which I possess.”

He also gave Helen two identical necklaces with fragments of the two stones, one each, so that no matter where she or the child may go. They could be found by him.

“Thank you both for all of this. I’m so glad that you’re taking this so seriously. I mean, not that I thought you wouldn’t,” said Helen. “I’m sure with the both of you waiting to help me and Peter, we’ll be fine.”

Delsani and Jaucal looked at each other and then turned to Helen. “Peter,” repeated Delsani.

“Yes, Peter John Stark. That’s what I’ve decided to call him, because that was what John and I agreed on. If we had a kid, we would name a boy Peter John Stark, and if it were a girl, we would name her Sophie Helen Stark. That’s what John wanted,” said Helen, sounding pleased that she finally told someone. But she thought they both looked quite surprised, even shocked.

“It’s not wrong, is it? I mean, did the Prophecy say it would be different?” said Helen concerned.

“No. The Prophecy said that would be his name. It’s just that we had not expected you to come out with it so soon,” said Jaucal happily. He took from his pocket what looked like a small watch, and when he looked it he said, “I am afraid that I must take my leave of you, for I still have a lot to do before the hour grows late. Good luck. I’m sure that you’ll raise a fine boy, and I hope that I will be welcome to come back and see the both of you.”

“Of course you’re welcome any time, and you too Delsani,” said Helen.

Delsani nodded. “Thank you.” And the look on Helen’s face made him ask. “Is there something else you wish to say?”

“Well. The thing is, Delsani, I was wondering, it’s just that you’ve lost your son, and you told me that John was like a son to you, and you lost him too. Well I was thinking that Peter will probably be like a son to you too. So I was hoping that maybe to make it a little more official, you could be his godfather, which means if anything happens to me after he’s born, you’ll be his legal guardian. I think I would sleep easier knowing that he would have someone to look after him,” said Helen looking hopeful.

Delsani’s face lit up with delight. “It’ll be a pleasure and an honour to have such a roll in both of your lives.”

“That’s great news,” said Jaucal, also looking equally delighted with what had just happened. “And I really do wish you all the luck in all the worlds. But really, I must be on my way. Are you coming back with me or are you staying?” he asked Delsani.

“Oh by the way, who will be coming here every year to redo the spells?” asked Helen.

“Since Delsani and I were the ones to cast the original spells, it will have to be us,” said the Grand Wizard.

Helen nodded as Delsani stood beside Jaucal.

“You don’t have to go do you?” Helen asked Delsani.

“No, I can stay if you like,” said the Wizard.

Helen said nothing; she just nodded again.

“Then I’ll talk to you later, Delsani. And remember, we do have some things to discuss,” said Jaucal.

“Yes, of course. I’ll see you later then.” said Delsani.

Delsani stayed there for five hours. He told her of the things John and his friends did when they were younger. And in return, he asked Helen about their years together. She was more than happy to tell all, until Saren and Henkot arrived in the room. It was then that Delsani said goodbye to Helen and told her not to worry, for she would see him soon enough. Helen sat andwaited until he was gone before talking to Saren and Henkot.

The days were passing slowly for Helen. She had been visited every day by Saren and Henkot, who insisted on being called by their Normal names while they were in the Normal World. That was fine with Helen, for she preferred calling them Joan and Harry. It made her feel Normal. For after she returned to Weston Road, her pregnancy, to her, felt very abnormal. She was craving layers of red onion dipped in strawberry sauce and covered with chocolate sprinkles, and the cravings just got worse from there, but she knew, of course, that strange cravings – even ones as strange as hers – were quite ordinary, although that did not help how she felt.

Saren and Henkot were not the only ones to visit her. Delsani and Jaucal visited every two months and never on the same day date or time. They had to be careful, and they were. Every time they were set to visit. They would cast dislocation spells on each other to make it harder for anyone that may have wanted to follow them.

They visited right up to the time Helen gave birth to Peter, which was a home birth; Helen thought that it would be better that way. Peter John Stark (or Drago Varthker Elvhaff) was born at 12:37 exactly. It was a beautifully sunny Tuesday. Helen was more delighted than she ever thought she could be, for although she had never told anyone, she had always wanted a baby with hair, and hair he had. A mop of dark brown hair was sticking out of the right side of his head.

A short time past and Peter’s streak of hair had grown so long that was tickling the top of his right ear lobe. Helen could not stand to see him trying to scratch his head so she cut it. To her dismay, the hair fell out not long after, and the boy King was left with a small bald spot where it had once been.

Then began the yearly visits Helen had been waiting for. Now more than ever, they wanted to ensure Helen and Peter’s safety, although Saren and Henkot still visited regularly.

The visits went on. Delsani had seen all of the pictures that Helen had taken of Peter, and the old Wizard did not know whether to be shocked or delighted. For Peter looked exactly like a younger version of the Wizard-Elf, Dragdani. His hair was mostly blond with dark brown streaks, and his eyes were green. He was thin and very strong for the age of six. But the one thing that really made the Wizard worry was the news that Helen gave him.

“There’s something wrong,” she told him. “He’s doing things”

“What kind of things?” Delsani asked curiously.

“Yesterday, we went to the mall to get clothes for him and a pair of shoes for myself. I’d seen the pair I wanted, but when I looked there were none in my size, so as I put them back onto the shelf. I looked at them one last time hoping desperately that the woman at the till would find a pair in my size at the last second. Then I thought I saw the shoes shrink a little. At first I thought it was my imagination, but I tried them on again to be sure, and they fitted perfectly,” said Helen.

Delsani looked mesmerized by what he had just heard. “Are you absolutely sure that Peter did this? Did you try them on before you put them back?” asked Delsani.

“Yes,” Helen replied. “I always try shoes on in case the labels are wrong,’ said Helen. “And that’s not all. Whenever I wish for something out loud when Peter’s around, I turn around it’s there waiting for me. And sometimes when I lose something, I talk out loud as if it’s going to hear me and come running. Well. They do. Well not running, but they would turn up in places that I had already looked, and sometimes I would turn round and find them behind me on a piece of furniture that I had walked past ten times. I didn’t see how they got there, but I know they weren’t there before. Either that, or I’m losing my marbles.”

“Helen, I don’t think you’re losing your marbles,” Delsani laughed. “For we were afraid that something like this might happen,” he said mildly.

“Who’s we?” asked Helen.

“Jaucal and I,” the Wizard replied.

“And why didn’t you mention it to me? I’ve been going out of my mind.”

“I am sorry about that. I think it is high time I told you the truth, Helen,” said Delsani, as though confessing to a crime. “You must understand that what I’m about to tell you is a secret. There are only a handful of people that know it. And I haven’t been authorized to tell you, but as you are Peter’s mother and our Queen, I think you deserve to know the truth. But I must ask you not to tell anyone of what I’m about to say.”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

“Good. Well, you see when the first Wizard-Elf, Thoucil, was born, she also had her powers, and that didn’t sit well with those in power. For they already had expressed their concerns about one person having so much power, and the fact that it was a female Wizard only made matters worse. So the only thing that they could think of was to suppress her powers until she was old enough to understand and control them, and that’s exactly what they did.

“When Dragdani was born. The spell they had cast on Thoucil also passed to him, and then on to his children and their children and so on and so on. Even John had it, and now we find that the spell hasn’t passed onto Peter.”

“You said you’d thought that this might happen?” said Helen.

“Yes, you see, Helen. The spell was cast for a Wizard-Elf. And I think – no, I’m sure – that Peter is something different, for if he were like the others, then we would not be having this conversation,” said Delsani, sounding more than a little excited.

“I’m glad you’re happy about this. But what the heck is he, and what does it mean? Is there something wrong with him?” said Helen fretfully.

“No. There’s nothing wrong with him. Trust me when I say that. As for what he is, well I don’t know,” said Delsani the happiness starting to drain out of him.

“If you don’t know what he is, how do you know there’s nothing wrong with him?” asked Helen looking even more worried.

“It’s obvious. The only way that the spell could be broken is if his power and will of mind are stronger, maybe even different than that of an ordinary Wizard-Elf, which would make him just different enough for the spell to be broken” said Delsani. “Helen, I am sorry I will have to cut my visit short, though I will be back.”

“Why are you leaving?”

“I must report this to the Council and ask their advice. But don’t worry, Peter’s fine; just try not to let anyone see him using his powers.”

“What do you think the Council will do? I mean, will they try to suppress his powers too?” asked Helen, again sounding very worried.

“Yes, I think that’ll probably be the case, but as for Jaucal, I’m not sure. If I know him as well as I think I do then, he might think of the same thing I am right now,” said Delsani, “for this may be the very thing that we need.”

“What do you mean? What thing?” Helen asked.

“If we train him now while he’s young and then suppress his powers and also suppress any memory of the training and of any other time he has used his powers. Then that would give us a head start,” said Delsani.

Helen looked horrified by what she was hearing. “I WON’T LET YOU!” she shouted furiously, “I WON’T LET YOU MESS AROUND WITH HIM LIKE THAT! GODFATHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AFTER THEIR GODSONS, NOT FIDDLE ABOUT WITH THEIR MEMORIES. YOU’RE SOPPOSED TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR HIM!”

“Helen please, calm yourself. You’ve obviously misunderstood me. What I meant was the memory spell would not wipe the memories from his mind completely, for what would be the point of training him if he could never remember it? What I meant was the spell would hide the memories from him until he is old enough to control his powers,” the old Wizard said hastily, in case Helen’s temper would flare again. For John had warned Delsani of Helen’s temper. As long as John had known her, she had always been quick to anger, especially when it came to family matters.

“Oh I’m sorry,” said Helen suddenly feeling silly. “I didn’t think. It’s just all this worry about Peter. I know he looks nothing like Dragdani, but somehow he reminds me of John.”

“Yes, I have also thought that. And as for worrying, there is no need. He’s fine. Helen, I really must go. Call Saren and Henkot and ask them to come over. Tell them what you have told me. They will keep you company until I talk to Jaucal, for he may be able to persuade the Council to vote in our favour. Now as I have, said there is no time to lose.” the Wizard went to the middle of the room and pointed his wand to the floor, but before he said the spell, he looked at Helen. “Don’t forget to call Saren and Henkot.”

Helen nodded. “Yes, I know. Wait! Peter’s powers, can they be traced or anything like that?”

Delsani smiled. “I knew that there was something else on your mind. The answer to your question is, I don’t really know. That’s why I have to be quick. Jaucal and I will come by to check that all your protection is still in place. We’ll try not to be too long.”

“Don’t worry,” said Helen.

Delsani laughed as Helen finished.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“You’re telling me not to worry for a change,” he replied.