The Eulogy & The Keeper Chapter 3 part B

“If I may have a moment of your time, Lord?” Maghnus turned around as Sean kneeled before him.

“We are alone, my son,” Maghnus said evenly. “You do not need to call me that. I am your father.”

“You are also my lord and commander, and I will serve you as such,” Nevertheless, Sean stood up. Maghnus did not even need to see Sean’s eyes to know that his son was nervous; it was in the air, the tension, like a taught string about to be snapped.

“If you have something to speak with me about, then please, by all means, go ahead.” Maghnus turned to face him, sitting down in his chair in front of the desk.

Sean hesitated only a moment. “I have had another dream. Much like the last one.”

“Another dream,” Maghnus said slowly. “And is it violent then? More death?”

“Yes,” Sean agreed. “Much more. I saw a gate broken by lightning, and a tree of solid oak struck by flames.”

Maghnus leaned forward as he digested this information. He was grateful at times like these that his son was as gifted as he was. “Was that it? Nothing more?”

Sean sighed. “There was more,” he said. “But I don’t understand it at all. The flames licked up and all around the tree, but the tree did not burn up, nor did it fall. I saw myself hanging on the tree.” He paused, his fear now evident. “I don’t know what to make of it. As I see myself, my skin is pale, and my eyes are pupil-less. No life remains in the body…but there is a glowing light all around the tree and this light reaches forth and cuts the rope. My body retains life, and then the skies darken with clouds, and rain puts the fire out.”

Maghnus laughed softly, startling Sean. “I see,” he said. “Truly, this is an interesting dream you have had this time, Sean.”

“Why do you laugh?” Sean was at a loss at his father’s good cheer. “This dream is only an indication of things to come; I swear, of this I am certain-”

“As am I,” Maghnus waved away Sean’s protest. “For I have had the very same dream, my son. Last night, I dreamt that I was standing on a small cliff nearby your tree, and watched as you approached the tree, with flames encircling it. You ignored the flames and climbed high into the branches. I could see you weeping as you watched the flames attack the bark. Then a demon-like creature appeared from the flames, pointing at you. I didn’t understand what it was he wanted, but he waved at you to come down from the branches, indicating that he would put the flames out if you did so.

“So you came down, only to find a noose wrapped around your neck as you jumped.” Maghnus looked straight into Sean’s widened, navy-blue eyes. They told a tale of shock and confusion as Maghnus studied them.

“Obviously, there is a trap at work,” Maghnus said then, taking Sean’s hand. “But I did not finish yet. As you saw, the light then came, cutting the cord around your throat. I do not know yet what this light is, but when I turned to look upon the mountain I stood on, I saw a robed man standing at the top, waving a flag of four different colors as four armies came down the mountain. Their feet pounded the mountain, sounding like thunder as the rain started to pour. The demon saw this and fled.”

Silence came over the office for a short while as both men sat in quiet respect, trying to discern their dream. Sean spoke first, now in a more controlled manner. “Think you the demon was Belenus?”

“It is likely,” Maghnus answered. “I do not know what else it could be. Perhaps there is another great evil within our wake that we do not know yet. Or perhaps not,” Maghnus spread his hand on the desk. “But I know one thing for certain, my son.”

“And what is that?” Sean asked, a smile starting to creep onto his face. Maghnus was relieved by the sudden change in the mood of the room.

“We have time on our side. The evil will not materialize until we have seen the signs of darkness in our lands.” He said.

“What signs are you talking about? There is a civil war brewing between the clans.” Sean said, puzzled.

Maghnus stood up then, going over to the window nearby. “I am speaking about the true signs of evil; the weather, for starters. Do you remember what it felt like when The Eight rebelled and that war started?”

Sean thought about it for a moment, and then nodded. “Like a cold winter air wrapped itself around the world, even though it was summer,” he said. “The leaves on all of the trees died, and everything froze as snow came in the months of July and August.”

“I have been led to believe that the same will occur here, when Belenus makes his presence known again.” Maghnus turned to his son, smiling. “Your grandfather taught me that with the darkness, the cold always came first. Like a warning.”

Sean had hardly known his grandfather, the great Breandan, former Emperor of the free worlds. He had passed away into territories unknown to Maghnus and Maghnus’ friend Lugh, who had both been on the council as Grand-Master Priest and Heir to the Empire. The unknown territories had been on a world that was on the boundaries of the free worlds, right next to the Void, where Belenus now was prisoner. No one had heard from Breandan for six years when it was agreed that he would never return, and Maghnus, heir at the time, became the emperor. Sean, only nine at the time, became the heir then, and joined the Council as the third seat.

That had been fifteen years ago; Sean did not remember Breandan well, nor did he have a clue as to what Maghnus was getting at with his father Breandan, but Sean knew that if Breandan had explained something to Maghnus, the chances were that it was indeed accurate information.

“He knew? He knew about the coming darkness?” Sean inquired.

“Not exactly; he could sense The Eight’s corruption; when they ceased to be human beings a thousand years ago. They had their own skin peeled off to show their hatred, and they suspended their mortality with powers that I have yet to learn of more. Powers which are very similar to yours and mine, obviously.” Maghnus sighed now, his face pained with frustration. “Breandan knew well that they were turning. Yet he relied on me to be the one that defeated them. I don’t know how I was able to do it, but I have always sensed that somehow, it was really him that fought the Eight through me. He has lived for centuries, and has seen more than I could ever dream of seeing.” Maghnus beheld his son, and spoke more. “That is my final gift to you, I suppose; the gift of life without mortality.”

“But if that is the case,” Sean said. “Why did my grandfather die?”

“I do not know; as it is, you will not die of age; that is certain. And as for me,” Maghnus went back to his desk. “I shall die by battle. I know as much.”

Sean went back over to the desk, and sat across from his father. “I will always serve you, and the people living under our shield.” His voice was steady, and he took his father’s hands. Maghnus grinned deeply then, and after a moment, went around the desk and embraced his son. This was one true gift Belenus could not take away from them; the gift of family.