Free Destiny by Pedro Urvi Page B

reason your life is linked to the Ilenians, and sooner or later you’ll find out why. It’s crucial that you understand what it will mean, the repercussions it might have on you, on your friends, on the whole continent… The Dark Medallion is the first proof of this, the Medallion of Ether round your neck is the second. You might want to reject the truth, but it won’t stop being the truth. I’m trying to warn you so that when the time comes, you may act with courage, and above all with intelligence.”
    Komir turned towards the portal, away from the Mage. His head hurt: too many questions without answers, and too much unlikely information spinning around in it. He felt numb, unable to think. He turned to look at Haradin and said:
    “I’m going to ask you two things, and you’d do well to tell me the truth.”
    Haradin looked into his eyes and nodded.
    “Who killed my parents? And who sent the Dark Assassins eighteen years ago and the White Tigers afterwards?”
    Haradin sighed heavily.
    “I don’t know. If I knew I’d tell you. What I do know is who sent me to you, and that’s what I’ve told you.”
    Komir gave Haradin a tortured stare, which the Mage bore unmoved.
    “Did you know… my birth parents?”
    “No Komir, I’m sorry. I didn’t get to meet them. From what I was able to gather after their death, they were well loved and respected in their community. I know nothing more of them. The enemy was lurking, stalking me to get to you, I didn’t want to risk being discovered, so I disappeared and erased all trace behind me. But I do know they’ve been after you ever since that day, and throughout all these years, in secret, hiding in the shadows, trying to find you in order to kill you.”
    “And how come they never found me?”
    “That, my young Norriel, could be better answered by the Silver Witch.”
    “Oh, I’m tired of all this!” Komir snapped out. He turned round and crossed the Ilenian portal. He had had enough of the Mage and his half-veiled truths.
     
     
     
    Just as Haradin had predicted, they appeared in an Ilenian temple. Once recovered from the painful effects of the crossing they began to investigate carefully. The went up a level to a chamber with the sarcophagus of one of the Ilenian Lords. Neither Hartz nor Kayti had any knowledge of the symbols engraved on the walls of the chamber, but Komir felt the presence of the element of Air.
    “Any ideas?” asked Kayti.
    Komir took a deep breath and let the essence of the chamber imbue him. Yes, this must be the Temple of Air, I feel it in my guts.
    “We’re in the Temple of Air.” he announced.
    “Where exactly is that?” Kayti asked.
    “No clue,” said Komir looking around.
    “So what now?” asked Hartz.
    “Now we find a way out” said Komir.
    “The chamber is sealed…” said Kayti.
    “In that case… there’s only one thing left…” said Komir, grabbing his medallion.
    “Really?” groaned Hartz.
    “Sorry, my friend, there is no other way… time for Ilenian magic.”
    “Damn!” protested the big guy, crossing his arms over his chest.
    Komir closed his eyes, concentrated and called upon the medallion. We need to leave, take us out of here, safely.
    The medallion flashed, blinding them all.
    “Great,” complained Hartz, covering his eyes.
    The medallion flashed again and again, each time with more strength, then stopped.
    An enormous whirlwind began to form in the middle of the chamber.
    “Oh, that’s great!” barked Hartz.
    The wind grew stronger and stronger, and the whirlwind acquired the force of a hurricane.
    “Come to me!” said Hartz, spreading his huge arms in the middle of the storm like a demigod.
    Kayti and Komir joined him. “I’ll hold you little guys, don’t you worry,” he said, laughing at the whirlwind and the hurricane winds. They found themselves swept off their feet and pushed up to the ceiling. An instant before they struck it, the dome of the cavern opened with a golden flash and