Chapter CCXXXIV: Winds of Change ~Artemis
Artemis looked at the clear stone she held in her hands. It was very smooth, and unless she had been holding the weight of it in her hands, she wouldn’t have known it was there. She turned it over a few times, and nothing happened.
"Maybe you’re like an amulet." She said to the stone. "In that case…I invoke thee."
Suddenly a rush of wind blew passed her, causing her hair to fly wildly about her head, and she was plunged into complete darkness.
"What the hell?!" She cried out into the black abyss. "It was a trap! Damn it! Fang, Friaz, are you here??"
"It is not a trap my child." A woman’s voice replied. Artemis whirled around, and the darkness melted away into a small room of crystal. In the center of the room, was a round pedestal with a light blue tint to it.
"Show yourself!" Artemis exclaimed. A woman appeared on the pedestal, and she wore a flowing blue robe, almost like that of a priestess, with fare hair that tumbled softly down her back.
"Be calm little one, my goodness thou art a feisty one, art thou? I would think that thee would be more suited for Lady South’s position. But here thou art. What is thy name, child?" Her voice seemed to wrap itself around Artemis, like the wind.
"Lady South? Who are you, and what am I doing here?" Artemis replied. The woman on the pedestal shook her head and smiled.
"Show me the stone." She commanded. Without a thought, Artemis showed her the clear stone. "Yes, yes, that is the one. Then thee knows not of the power of thy stone?" Artemis shook her head.
"I only know that it is an Elemental Stone, and that Friaz had taken the one of Ice. I am Artemis Evangelina." The woman’s expression turned to shock.
"Evangelina?! My goodness child, thou art full of surprises! And thou hast yet to learn of them all. Well, I had better make this brief for thee, there is not much time remaining. I am Lady North, of the Four Winds. That stone in thy hand is the Elemental Stone of Wind. The barer may only be female, for the power to work in full. Every 5,000 years, each Lady of the Four Winds must take on a Lady-In-Training. To help us in this search, we distribute the Elemental Stones of Wind into the world. I am Lady North dear, and thou art my Lady-In-Training." She said. Now it was Artemis’ turn to glance up in shock.
"Medor has told me of the Four Winds! You have my pardon, Lady, I did not know. There has been much trouble with…"
"Yes, trouble with Lord Galician and that idiot Havering, I know. Well, I will have to speak with thee later, for thou hast much left to do. Now, with thy permission, I will transport thee and thy wolf companion to the ship which carries the Agent and some others to the final battle. Much has happened since thy encounter with him." Lady North told Artemis.
"What about Friaz and Icewing?" She asked. Lady North shook her head.
"He can take care of himself. Do not worry, Evangelina, things will work out in the end. Fare thee well, child. We will meet again." Artemis did not get time enough to say farewell before she was once again plunged into complete darkness.
When she opened her eyes, she stood before the Agent, and others she did not recognize. Fang stood by her side, and she shrugged when he looked at her. The Agent looked baffled for a moment, but quickly covered it up by folding his arms and looking at her skeptically.
"Umm…hello again."