Orenda did not want to be the focus of any celebration. She had never really been the center of attention before, and she felt she probably would have enjoyed it, if Bella had not been so upset. As it was, she hadn’t seen her or Gareth since Bella ran from the temple to process the emotions she had, emotions that Orenda did not understand, over the death of Morgani Magnus, the most powerful demon in all of Xren.

Orenda was having difficulty processing things herself.

None of it seemed like it mattered, but it obviously mattered a great deal. Krothy was planning a celebration, because Orenda had been chosen by Thesis as his avatar on Xren. She had taken the trial by fire and been found worthy when she not only walked through the sacred flame without succumbing to it, but retrieved the sacred staff after being fully immersed in it. As far as she knew, no one had ever been inside the flame with the staff in the entire history of mortal existence.

But at the time it had just seemed like a good idea, not something that was monumentally important. She was being attacked by a demon, and it was the only way she could think to destroy it. The staff hadn’t even worked. She couldn’t channel magic through it. Part of her felt as if the entire quest had been a waste of time. She did not feel as if she had been chosen by any god for any purpose.

She had followed Krothy with little comment to a living area deeper in the temple, and found herself disengaging from the conversation. She hadn’t been listening at all, had been thinking too deeply on too many things, when she heard her name.

“Orenda?” Krothy asked again. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Orenda said, “I suppose. I’m just… it’s strange how it isn’t strange in the slightest. I don’t feel any different. And it never… seems as if anything means anything. Perhaps I’m tired. I was so ill for so long when I traveled upon the sea. I’m not sure that I’m up for a party. I never thought I would become a symbol… I suppose that’s what Gareth was trying to warn me about. I never really thought about it, but that’s what he is, isn’t it? He’s a symbol. He grew up a symbol and then accidentally became one.”

“You aren’t a symbol, Orenda,” Krothy hobbled over to the table where she sat and took one of her hands, “No one will force you to become a martyr. No one can. If you want to fight the Emerald Knight or the empress, it will be because you chose that path yourself.”

“It’s strange,” Orenda repeated, “It’s just… it’s something that someone has to do. I didn’t really stop to consider what a big deal it was, to be that person. Only that it was a job that needed doing. I’ve never been afraid of a little hard work. But I didn’t think of… of how many people would depend on me. I didn’t think it would matter if I failed.”

“It won’t,” Falsie walked into the room dressed more smartly than Orenda had ever seen him, looking like the nobleman he apparently was, “It won’t matter if you fail, Rendy. No pressure. Someone else will pick up the mantel. We need to talk, when you get a minute. Before the party.”

“Don’t say things like that, Lil Harry,” Krothy said as if she were reprimanding a child. Then she turned back to Orenda and continued, “Orenda, you have been chosen by Thesis to save us all from this terrible empire. He would not give you more than you can handle.”

“He must think quite highly of me,” Orenda said.

“The fact that you exist at all is a miracle,” Krothy agreed. “I knew your mother, briefly, but I was impressed by what I saw. Sokomaur made a snap decision that night, and her siblings followed her without question. Their family bond was strong, and it was born of love. Not all families are made of blood. She understood that as well. She protected those boys, brought them to me. If not for her bravery, her resistance, they likely would not have survived. Gareth would not be alive today.”

“Are you sure then?” Orenda asked, “That Sokomaur Sambress is my mother?”

“Yes,” She said, “I met her again, much later. She was a brave, courageous woman with the heart of a fighter that could not be quelled. She did not know defeat. She would press on until her dying breath. She knew no fear.”

“Well,” Falsie shrugged, “To be fair, she’d already pissed off the Emerald Knight. It’s hard to be scared of anything else with that thing after you. I always liked Soko. Her brother was the annoying one.”

“My mother was a warrior,” Orenda said more to herself than to them, “And my father a fallen priest… you know… when I was young, I used to believe they were royalty. I used to tell myself I was a princess- that my parents were long-lost royalty who would return to claim me. Of course, I thought they were both fire elves… I had never heard of…”

“It is a miracle,” Krothy said, “You are a miracle.”

“It’s a statistical anomaly,” Gareth said, striding into the room, “there’s no such thing as a miracle. And I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend the ball or feast or whatever it is that you’re having.”

“Gareth,” Krothy asked, “Why are you so determined to be contrary?”

“I’m not,” he said, “I simply won’t have time. I have to go back to the temple. Falsie, darling, did you actually make any of that armor? I know how you like to ignore me.”

“Of course I did, what the hell did you think I’ve been doing? We were going to catch up to you but you came back so fast. I only got one suit finished-”

“Bella’s?” Gareth asked.

“Yes,” Falsie smiled up at him, “She told you?”

“I have to go show her the corpse,” Gareth snarled, “Or she won’t believe it. As if people just magically come back from the dead!”

“You personally know a zombie!” Orenda accused.

“Ugh,” Gareth said, “I hope no necromancers came out of that… we really should have looked more closely at that… I suppose it was a doorway. It’s odd that I didn’t know that. I was always told it was something left behind by Thesis, which presumes the existence of Thesis and is therefore probably wrong.”

“Gareth,” Orenda asked, “What if it’s… a portal? What if it allows the user to teleport?”

She could not read his face under the mask, but he looked away from her.

“He said he had to get back to the frozen north,” Orenda reminded him, “Because he had to stop the Emerald Knight from destroying the world.”

“He did?” Gareth said, “Is that a true fact, that thing you just said, or are you fucking with me? Because it frankly amazes me that you heard and understood him when he spoke. I was thinking, ‘Oh shit a demon’ over and over in my head. Which is… admittedly probably why I panicked.” More quietly, more to himself he added, “Was he really? Did the demon really fight the Emerald Knight?”

“I’ll get the armor for you, Captain,” Falsie said, “Where’s the first mate?”

“Preparing to leave,” Gareth said as they walked out together.

“The demon told you that the Emerald Knight was going to destroy the world?” Krothy asked, “In the frozen north?”

“Yes,” Orenda said, “But he also told me to give him the staff, and that I could never defeat the Emerald Knight. He said that there was no such thing as a ‘chosen one’ and the only person who could defeat the Emerald Knight was… someone else. Someone named Klin?”

“That’s an old name,” Krothy said, “Something people from the earth continent used to name their children. It hasn’t been in fashion in centuries.”

“I don’t know that I should listen to a demon,” Orenda said.

“No,” She said, “But it may be worth thinking about. If he’s lying this should not be someone that you seek out, but someone you are concerned with.”

“Rendy!” Anilla came running into the room, stretched out her arms and spun in place. She was wearing the dress of a dwarven noblewoman instead of her traveling clothes, and her long, dark hair had been curled into an impressive up-do. “Look! Those nice ladies did this to me! Isn’t it a lovely dress? My hair has never had body before! Touch it! Feel how light and fluffy it is!”

Orenda did as she was bid and smiled.

“You look lovely,” She said.

“I’ve always liked parties,” Anilla said, “And I know you dance, I saw you on the ship. Oh how I wish we could invite the crew of the Recovery! They would be so proud of you!”

“Yes,” Orenda said and stared down at her staff wondering why she was not as proud of herself.

“My child,” Krothy took Orenda’s face in both her hands and forced her to look into her eyes. “You are the Chosen One. Everything will work out. Have faith.”