Lorelei exited the study with a heavy heart and hurried to her room. The darkness of the corridor seemed even stickier and deeper than before to the point she could feel its weight on her shoulders. The shadows hiding in the corners from Dederi’s lantern seemed almost corporeal. For a moment, Lorelei thought that she saw two ghastly blurred figures hiding behind a column but as she blinked again, it was just an empty niche. Her mind was playing tricks on her, no doubt. And yet, for a split second, she could swear she saw a pair of cold blue eyes staring back at her.

Shaking her head in a feeble attempt to clear away the dark thoughts weighing on her, she moved on without alerting her guide. As her steps faded down the corridor, taking away the quacking lantern light, night spilled back into the hallway. After a few minutes of quiet, a low hissing voice came from the spot Lorelei’s eyes had lingered on.

“S-she saw us!?”

“Impossible, my dear. She’s not even Binshi, how could she distinguish us in our spirit form? It was just a coincidence.”

Two translucent figures emerged from the shadows – a child and a tall man. Their blurry features paled even more as they entered the dim light of the nearby window. Without a sound or obvious movement, they glided over the floor like wisps of smoke, shadowless shadows in the depth of midnight.

As they reached the door of the study, they stopped and lingered, invisible even for the trained eyes of the duke’s nightguard.

“Why was that woman here?” said Shana, her voice only audible to her companion.

“A woman visiting a man in the middle of the night…” Akh-Moren twisted Yanosh’s face in a sad, contemplating expression. “Probably… she was seducing your father.”

“No!” Shana’s form trembled, almost dispelling the hex in her agitation.

“It pains me to say it, but it is unlikely that they were just talking. We might soon get the news of her being with child.”

“But papa said that he will make her leave by spring next year. He is going to marry another princess. He won’t have a child with that woman. I heard him talk to grandma!”

“Is this why you were hesitating to go on with the plan, my dear?” The words of the fake Yanosh sounded hurt but full of understanding.

“If… if she is going to leave anyway… I want to save papa. I hate her and want her to go away and leave us in peace but… I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“Even after you saw the future? Even after she stabbed your father?” Hearing these words, Sahna flinched and lowered her head. A content smirk appeared on Akh-Moren’s lips. “You have such a pure and innocent heart, my sweet child. That’s why I brought you here to see it with your own eyes. If you don’t do something to change the prophecy, your father will die by that woman’s hand. It is her life or his.”

“For the Sun to shine over Norden, the Swallow must be devoured,” whispered Shana.

“Yes. The last verse of the prophecy is our only salvation. The only way to prevent tragedy.”

She threw a longing glance at the door as she balled her little fists and hung her head.

“For papa… Tomorrow evening we will start preparing the hexes. You will guide me, right, dada?”

“Of course, my child,” answered Akh-Moren with some hidden glee. No matter what happened from now on, this little Star-gazer was going to have no other choice but to come to him. And if everything went according to his plan, a war between the Star-children and the Limerian dogs was unavoidable.

***

Time passed and, with inevitable certainty, the day of the Grand Council drew near. In the meantime, late spring turned the whole of Norden into a blooming garden. The meadows surrounding Ildemar had turned into colorful carpets and the air was filled with the buzzing of bees collecting sweet nectar. Life filled every corner of the land and this cheerful hubbub spread also amongst the inhabitants of the ducal castle.

With every surface polished, every window washed and painted, and all of its green roofs glittering under the sun like dragon scales, Ildemar was ready to receive the high guests. For the ones well served in Binshi magic, the air around the tall white walls brimmed with energy from the many guardian charms, masterfully built and hidden by the castle’s shamans. No wraith or apparition would dare come near uninvited unless it was prepared to die a second, permanent, death. With all the castle grounds protected, it was now time to take care of its inhabitants.

Lorelei sat on the floor of her bedroom dressed only in a light chemise and her cheeks burned brightly red. But no matter how shy she was, this was something she had to do. Before her, Rish and Rasha sat to her left and right, and she could feel Gregor’s gaze on her back. The three Binshi formed a perfect triangle around her and the floor was covered with herbs, strange glittering powder, and several small balls and flasks. Witnessing a proper hex for the first time, Lorelei’s curiosity seemed to rear its head despite her embarrassment.

“I am sorry for making you uncomfortable, my lady,” Gregor’s polite voice came from behind her, accompanied by the clattering of utensils. “Please, bear with me, it won’t last long.”

“Don’t worry, Sir Gregor, it was the Duke’s order. There is nothing we can do about it," said Lorelei but still felt very awkward to be half-naked in the presence of a man.

“Of course he would order it, my lady!” Rish grinned at her. “The Duke cares for your protection. After Lady Shana, Gerash is the strongest shaman in the castle. Even the elders are not that strong.”

“Indeed,” confirmed Rasha and suppressed a yawn, her face carrying the obvious signs of fatigue. “Even though the Grand Council is supposed to be a peaceful event, we can’t take any risks with the lady's safety.”

“But to go as far as to demand a protection hex to be inscribed on my body…” Lorelei hesitated. “I thought that no one was foolish enough to attempt casting malicious spells under the Duke’s nose.”

“There are always rabid dogs who don’t care about their own lives,” answered Gregor and the twins nodded in agreement.

Lorelei could hear the sound of a pestle hitting a mortar behind her back as the aroma of herbs spread in the room. The young knight’s words made her think about the delicate peace between conquerors and conquered. And it also reminded her about Noah’s pained words.

“Sir Gregor, may I ask you a question?”

“Of course, my lady. I just hope I’ll be able to give you a satisfactory answer.”

“I had a talk with His Highness recently.” Lorelei pondered for a bit, considering her words carefully. “He told me that he incurred the Red Hand’s wrath because of a prophecy by Sir Yanosh. Can you tell me more about it?”

Judging by the twin’s flinching and the sudden stop of the pestle, this was not a question they were expecting.

“I am sorry if I have pried on some secrets,” she said and held her breath in anticipation, fearing that the answer would never come.

“This is no secret, my lady,” Rish hurriedly reassured her while throwing a look over her mistress’ shoulder. “It is well known in Norden but the lord usually does not like to speak about it. It is like this…”

“Don’t be too hasty,” Gregor interrupted his cousin. “My lady, it might not be a secret but to understand the whole situation you need to first understand the background of it all. How much do you know about Sir Yanosh and the Star-gazer’s prophecies in general?”

“Not much.” The image of Yanosh’s ghost flashed before Lorelei’s eyes. “I know he is Lady Shana’s father and a dear friend of His Highness. He died seven years ago together with the majority of his clan after an attack by the Red Hands. And also, he was the previous Star-gazer and made a prophecy involving the Duke.”

“It is a start. And it is not like we lack the time, the preparation of the herbs will take a while.”

Gregor started beating his mortar again, the rhythmic thuds accompanying his words.

“The Star-gazer bloodline is the purest amongst all Binshi and thus closest to the Mother Above. Their powers are also stronger and they possess some unique abilities, including reading the flow of time. Although, to call it a flow would be incorrect. It is more like…” he pondered for a bit.

“A spider web,” Rasha helped him out.

“Yes, a spider web, an infinite branching net starting at a single focal point the moment this world was created. Every life, every death, every choice add a new branch. It is ever-changing and yet unmoving, depending on the point you view. Sorry, I can’t really explain it well.”

“I think I understand.” Lorelei tilted her head and mused for a moment. “Since there is an infinite number of possible choices for a single moment, the future is constantly in motion but when the moment passes, there is only one past set in stone.”

“My lady understood it very well.” Gregor’s praise made her blush. “In addition, in this net, there are minor branches, like the choice with which foot one will cross their house’s threshold, or big ones that decide between life and death. And also, there are the stretches where living beings have no influence like natural disasters. The Star-gazer can have a look at this ever-changing web of possible futures when they first awaken their powers at the age of ten. The more branches they traverse, the more futures they see or the longer they follow along a major branch, the heftier the price.”

“They pay with their lives,” mumbled Lorelei, remembering Yanosh’s pained smile. He had sacrificed eighty years to look into the future.

“You also knew of this?” Gregor’s tone was sad but gentle. “Yes, they pay with their lives. Some even die before sharing their knowledge.”

The rustling of more powders and herbs being added to the mortar came from behind Lorelei’s back. A strong scent reminiscent of camphor wax pierced her nose.

“Most Limerians,” the knight continued, “believe that as long as the Star-gazer openly shares the verses of the prophecy, the future is set in stone. But they are wrong.”

“Pardon?” Lorelei blinked confused.

“The verses uttered after reading the Web of Time are just an aid and have no power of their own. Getting an incredible amount of information is very taxing on the Star-gazer’s memory and mind. The verses are a means to remember what they saw, helping one to recall the multiple events observed.”

"Basically, the verses of the prophecy can have multiple interpretations since they are supposed to represent, or rather condense, all future branches the Star-gazer saw into simple phrases." Rasha handed her cousin a bundle of herbs. "Like that, when repeating the prophecy-verses, the Star-gazer can trigger memories of different future events.”

“Yes,” Rish jumped in, “for example, if one of the verses mentions a flower wilting on a mountain slope, it could indicate a natural disaster like drought or the flower can be a stand-in for a person and the wilting – for death. But these are only the branches that were traversed, so it is possible that something else completely happens.”

"Since everything is constantly in motion, it could take weeks or even years for a Star-gazer to remember all possible futures and share the information," Gregor continued. "What makes it even more confusing is the fact that some future branches intersect and flow into each other. Some need many precise choices to happen while others are simply the result of all branches naturally coming together. Can you follow what I’m saying?”

“S-somewhat.” Lorelei’s head was already spinning from the shaman’s explanations. “Does it mean that some futures are almost unavoidable while others are highly unlikely to happen?”

“Yes.”

“But how exactly is this all connected with His Highness?”

Before Gregor could answer, Rish opened her mouth and started narrating with a melodious tone:

“The fate of the star-children is on the balance.

When South and North unite, a Future will be born.

When one draws a blade on their kin, a great Change will come.

Carrying sword and shield, a man of mixed-blood shall cross the abyss.

To the children of stars, the one branded Beast will bring Light and Salvation.

On the night of a red moon, Hope will wither.

On the day without sun, Hope will bud.

For the people of Norden to survive, the blood of Stars and Beast must mix.”

Rish’s voice slowly died down and the last verse came out like a wind whispering in the leaves. It was beautiful, yet also eerie. Hearing the prophecy made ants crawl down Lorelei’s spine as she took a deep breath. Every word and every sentence carried strange, hypnotizing power. It felt like she could see blurred images and hear the clanking of a distant battle. Cold sweat drenched her body and the smell of blood and ash filled her nose.

“These are the verses that my teacher, kush-turgan Yanosh, shared with the world after his awakening.” Gregor’s voice helped Lorelei return to the present. “He had seen many dark futures and only a few glimmers of hope. And that hope depended on a mixed-blood carrying a beast-mark.”

“He saw the Duke!” Lorelei held her breath.

“No.”

The answer surprised her so much that she turned around and faced the young shaman. Gregor put the pestle to the side and poured some water into the mortar. His face was like a marble statue and Lorelei could not read any emotion on it. Despite that, she felt an aura of anger and sadness seeping out of his body.

“There were two people who fitted the description,” he continued with a leveled tone while stirring the mixture in the mortar. “The other one was a mixed-blood Binshi and carried a literal beast-brand on his body from his time as a Limerian slave. He fitted kush-turgan Yanosh’s verses better than His Highness who, in the eyes of many, was just a weak fifteen-year-old boy at that time. And Lord Yanosh confirmed that there were futures involving both of them.”

“Those old geezers from the other tribes went out of their minds when Lord Yanosh supported His Highness, announcing that he was the Beast from the prophecy who would bring the best future,” grumbled Rish and won herself warning looks from her sister and cousin.

“Is this why the Red Hands began terrorizing Norden?” Lorelei wrinkled her brow. Something was not right. “But they are against mixed-blood Binshi anyway. They wouldn’t have accepted the other candidate either. Besides, Sir Yanosh was the one who saw the future, he is the only one who can determine the best outcome of the prophecy.”

“I’ve tried to explain exactly the same to the Duke but he still feels guilty,” Gregor sighed and shook his head. “The Red Hands just looked for an excuse. The sad thing is that many Binshi who weren’t members of the Red Hands also became hostile against Lord Yanosh; calling him a “false prophet” and saying that he was bought by the Limerians to strengthen their grip over Norden. They said that he is forcing the prophecy to fit his own needs.”

“Idiots!” Rish spat out the word like it were poison. “As if Lord Yanosh would bend before anybody! He even dared to butt heads with the previous Duke, and he was a sadistic bastard.”

“Watch your words.” Despite the warning tone, Rasha’s attempt to scold her sister was not particularly enthusiastic.

“But…” Lorelei stopped, trying to formulate her next question, “is… is it even possible to force the prophecy? If the future is ever-changing… And besides, why would one be given the ability to see the future if they can’t influence it?”

“These are questions that the Binshi elders argue over even to this day,” said Gregor and took out a thin silver knife. “Normally, the Star-gazers don’t actively involve themselves with the fate of the world. They just share their knowledge but it is up to everybody else to do their part. Since the future is always in motion, it is difficult to guide it to a certain outcome. It is possible that your actions attempting to prevent a disaster are exactly the ones that would let it happen. Therefore, it is easier to prepare for the aftermath than to try and avoid it.”

“Train soldiers before war break out,” added Rasha and took the silver knife and the mortar from her cousin, “prepare herbs for a wraith attack, gather provisions for a potential drought, make sure you have another child if there is death looming over your heir… this is how we Binshi usually deal with the Star-gazer’s prophecy.”

“But that’s insane! You are telling me you will do nothing even if you know that someone is going to die and it could be prevented?” Lorelei snapped but then realized that the three Binshi are giving her strange looks. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you or your beliefs.”

“What you just said, my lady, is almost exactly what Lord Yanosh used to teach us.” Gregor lowered his head. “He thought that we are becoming cowards. That we are not using the gift of the Mother as intended. He even called some of the elders sheep for resigning to fate without even attempting to change anything.”

“He cared enough for the wellbeing of his people to stand against the old traditions. That’s why he and His Highness could understand each other so well,” added Rasha and her previously gloomy expression lightened up. “Now, my lady, please give me your hand. It’s time to start with the hex.”

Lorelei blinked confused by the sudden change of topic and reached out her arm without second thoughts. The young Binshi took her palm and carefully made a small cut on her ring finger. Biting her lips, Lorelei withstood the nasty sensation of the knife slicing in her flesh. After the procedure was done, Rasha squeezed a few drops of her blood into the mortar. Then she and Rish took out their own knives and repeated the cut on their fingers. When the last drop fell in the mortar, it returned to Gregor.

Throwing a look over her shoulder while one of the twins bandaged her wound, Lorelei could see a piece of white cloth wrapped over Gregor's own bleeding ring finger. She opened her mouth but was a second too late.

“You are full of curiosity today, my lady.” Sensing her intentions, the knight chuckled. “To answer your question, the three of us will share the burden of the hex so that you can have the highest protection possible.”

“Don’t worry,” Rish didn’t give her a chance to protest, “this is a standard procedure. The Duke receives such seals of protection every year.”

“Please, turn your back to me,” continued Gregor in a relaxed manner, so different from his tense and sad mood moments before. He took a long needle-like object made out of bone and covered in unfamiliar inscriptions. “I will start inscribing the seal. It might sting a little.”

Following his advice, Lorelei turned around, meeting the twins’ reassuring faces. When the needle touched the nape of her neck, a burning sensation started spreading from that spot. It wasn’t pleasant but it was also not unbearable. At the same time, the three Binshi started chanting something she couldn't understand.

Lorelei chose to close her eyes and drift away from the uncomfortable feeling into the chaos of her mind. Her thoughts brought her back to the Star-gazers and their prophecies. This would explain why the Limerian conquerors were always a step away from complete victory. And also why the Church feared and despised magic so much.

‘Other magic than the one under their control, that is,’ she thought and her own logic made her flinch.

“Did I hurt you?” Gregor’s worried voice reached her.

“No. Everything is fine.”

Nothing was fine! Beyond the mortifying fear of committing another blasphemy, be it by thought, Lorelei realized that her conclusion was right. All the Church’s blessings, artifacts, rituals, how were they different than the magic she was experiencing here? The priests called them miracles of the Gods. Wasn’t peering into the future a godly miracle too? The Mother Above was the Binshi’s god just as the Two Fathers were to the Limerians. The Binshi believed that they were her descendants and therefore could perform hexes. The Acolytes of the Church who were blessed by the Saints and able to use holy artifacts, weren’t they the same?

The burning sensation of the bone needle drawing over her skin combined with the pulsating headache that started drumming between her temples. Magic, faith, prophecies – her simple world was expanding and becoming more dangerous and incomprehensible by the minute. Lorelei felt so little and helpless, a stick being tossed around by waves that threatened to devour her. The future was a scary unknown, a beast, and her life was between its jaws.

At that moment, she could understand the Binshi’s desire to know their fate.

‘No, it’s better not to know.’ She balled her fists. 'Yanosh was right. What’s the meaning of a prophecy if you don’t use it to change something? A sheep is better not knowing when the knife would come.’