Chapter Eight

Seth's training was improving, he was feeling more comfortable and at home in the water, despite the pouring rain coming down with a vengeance. Quelani was now extremely happy, for how bad things had started they were going that much better. She finally had complete confidence that they would make it in time and Seth would be able to overcome his insecurities.
As he continued to move his arms through the water, he felt that strange hazy feeling come over him that he had known only once before. Another vision was coming to him through a blurry fog. Everything around him seemed to quiet, the only thing he could sense was a battle, the same one he saw himself fighting earlier in the ancient ruins. Only this time, he could see more clearly the evil man he was exchanging blows with.
Through the loud clash of swords, the name came to him and he felt himself shudder inwardly at its very sound. Vulterian.
The vision shifted suddenly and Seth saw himself from an outside perspective. Vulterian had been weakened and it appeared as though Seth would win.

And just as abruptly as the vision came, it vanished.
Quelani noticed the change come over him, the warrior within would soon be awakened. "What have you seen, human Seth?"

"I saw myself battling with Vulterian. It looks like I actually do defeat him, although I can't imagine how, he's quite the scary dude."

"But you have seen yourself do so, surely this will be enough to close that doubt you have within you. Abandon that uncertainty, push it from you and leave it here at the bottom of this lake and believe in the powers which you possess. No adversary will be able to harm you once you have control of your power, in this you must fully trust."
The pummeling rain abruptly subsided and the lesson was cut short as the two witches, Priya and Shivali materialized at the lake, followed by an angry looking group of Vulterian's mutant centaurs.

"We've found him, at last!" Shivali shrieked as she led the soldiers closer to their target.
Priya smiled with satisfaction as she noticed he had not yet awakened his inner powers. This will be easier than we thought. "Ready to surrender, human? That so-called Goddess will not be able to save you from us, now come along like a good boy!"
Quelani stretched her hands out before her, creating a wave of liquid energy floating between them. "You shall see my true power, witches! He is not going anywhere!"

Seth clasped his hands together nervously as he watched the confrontation build, the witches were creating quite an ominous energy between the two of them. Truth be told, he was afraid; it was the first time he wasn't quite sure his Water Goddess could defeat someone.
The two opposing energies collided, creating supernatural sounds as one tried to overcome the other in a deafening roar.

Quelani used as much force as she could but it didn't seem to be enough to delay the witches long enough for her and Seth to escape, much less defeat them. She paused, giving in for the moment to ensure her warrior would not be harmed in the fight as she had already formulated a plan.
"Finally you see things our way, very wise Goddess! Now hand over the human!"

"Know this," Quelani said, her usually gentle voice taking on a menacing tone, "I have not given in and you have not yet won, this man will see to that! Tell Vulterian that his reign is about to come to an end, mark my words!"

She turned around to face Seth, disappointment clearly written on her face. She very much wanted to be there when it happened, if only they had more time. "I must go, believe in what you saw. Listen to the water, dear Seth. Clear your heart, mind and soul and just listen, it will call to you and you will awaken, just have faith."
She floated up high in the sky, out of the water and disappeared through a brilliant flash of blue light, leaving Seth helplessly to the witches.

The loud clank of the dungeon entrance door brought Lavinia to the edge of her cell with curiosity, would Lord Vulterian have another proposition for her?

She waited impatiently as footsteps echoed through the stone hallway, two sets of them. Not Vulterian, he always came to see her alone.
Surprised, she watched as the dungeon guard was bringing in another prisoner. He appeared to be a...human! Impossible!

The centaur threw the man into a cell opposite hers and slammed shut the door, locking it with satisfaction. He returned to his post at the dungeon entrance, leaving Lavinia alone with the new stranger.
She wrapped her arms through the cell bars, the fabric from her dress falling gently between them, "Are you all right?" She asked as she watched him sit down sadly on the cold, hard floor. "Who are you? You are a human, are you not?"
Seth shifted, unable to find a comfortable position on the unyielding surface. "Yes, I am human. My name is Seth." He brought his knee up to his chest and sat quietly, offering up no more information. He felt defeated, he had failed. These people were suffering, would surely die and he was to be the one to rescue them. And now, all was lost. He didn't even realize who he was speaking with until he noticed some kind of jeweled band across her forehead-it was beautiful, fit for royalty.
He sat up on his knees and peered through the iron bars across the short hallway, "Are you the princess?"

She looked back at him, those piercing green eyes staring through the bars. She was very beautiful, in a strange, elfish sort of way, definitely a different type of beauty than he was used to. "Yes, I am the Princess, Lavinia. How did you know that?"

Seth breathed a heavy sigh, where to begin? "Well...let's just say that I arrived here very suddenly, through the water. And ever since I have been trying to make it to the Water Goddess so she can help me awaken my inner powers. I am supposedly the one that will defeat Lord Vulterian and bring peace back to this land."
She listened intently, so he was the legendary one, at last! Then it was not hopeless after all...

"I see...so why is it that I sense you do not believe that you will defeat him? Did you not find the Water Goddess?"

He nearly laughed hysterically at the mention of her, it had all gone so profoundly wrong. "I did find her, yes. However, those two witches found me before I could complete her training and she could not defeat them and then she....disappeared." His voice trailed off sadly at the memory, he was beginning to feel so confident and then, all hope had been shattered in a single moment.

The Princess stood quietly, a look of clear contemplation on her pixie-like face. "Well dear Human Seth, I would not be so certain all is lost...all you need is remember what she taught you, I already can see the strength of water in your eyes," She stood up straighter, placing her hands on her hips confidently, "That and the legendary Sword of Varuna."

"The what?" Seth asked incredulously. He had heard of no such weapon before now but it sounded as if it had tremendous power, perhaps he could really do this after all?

"The Sword is kept here in the castle and I have a plan to help you acquire it." She called for the centaur who was guarding the dungeon.
"What is it your highness?" He growled, clearly angry to be disturbed from his duty.

"Tell Lord Vulterian that I wish to speak with him immediately...I would like to discuss his previous offer of marriage." She said with much bravado, enough that it was truly believable to any who witnessed it.
She can't be serious! What is she up to? Seth thought as he watched the guard disappear down the hallway. He waited to comment, watching the Princess intently. There had to be some reasonable explanation...the Sword? Perhaps Vulterian would let her out of the cell and she would be free to get it for him? If that were the case, he had some serious concentrating to do, time was ticking against him, he had wasted so much already.
He heard the loud creak of the dungeon door a few moments later, followed by ominous footsteps. Lord Vulterian, no doubt. Seth crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the harsh stone wall of his cell, he couldn't show his fear or he would lose what sliver of edge he ever had.

Vulterian regarded the human threat through the cell bars, a smile crossing his evil face. "So, I see no aura of power in your eyes, you have not become the warrior...and I have won, you cannot possibly stop me now!" He laughed cruelly as he turned fevereshly towards the Princess. Finally, you come to your senses!
He looked at her almost sweetly, very pleased that she had changed her mind so suddenly. "Is it true then, do you wish to free yourself from this prison and be my Queen?"

"Yes my Lord, I do. I cannot bear the thought of losing my beloved parents, I will marry you if you spare them."

So, not entirely out of desperate longing then. "And if I spare these two worthless creatures, you will marry me and," He leaned in closely to the cell door, mere inches separating his lips from hers, "Will you also perform all proper duties of a wife?" He said quietly, those flaming eyes nearly burning into her soul.

She lowered her eyelids seductively, the look on his face telling her that the act was a success. "Why, of course, my Lord. I would be honored to lay with such a powerful man as my husband."
His desire and ego taking over, Vulterian unlocked her cell and opened the door. Stroking her face gently, much more gently than she could ever have imagined possible for such an evil man, he said, "Come my dear Lavinia, we have much to do."