The Sword of Power

The Sword of Power is given to heal and unify – not to hack and divide.

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“Have you heard?” a soft, melodic male voice asked, startling Viviane out of her meditations.

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The High Priestess of Avalon composed herself then stood and faced the speaker. “I have,” she said, studying her visitor. He was an older man dressed in a tattered brown traveling cloak. In the shadows of his hood, his sharp blue eyes sparkled with the strength of his soul. His name was Talisen, but he was more properly called by his title: Merlin. As the Chief Druid of Breton, his position was almost equal to her own.

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Viviane gestured to the stone benches that ringed the meditation grove. The Merlin nodded, took a seat on the nearest bench and pushed his hood back revealing his lined face, graying hair and beard. She sat next to him.

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“We both knew Uther was not the one. Yet you gave him the sword anyway,” Viviane said.

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“The land needed a king and the sword accepted Uther. Healing has begun.”

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“Only to be stopped now; at the time of his death. He has no acknowledged heir—only a bastard son whom the dukes will probably not accept. If he is able to claim his father’s throne, he may be the one. Until that time though, the land is again without a king.”

“There is another problem. The sword is missing.” The Merlin looked in the direction of the Goddess’ Well.

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“What?” Viviane’s cry echoed across the grove and several of the novice priestesses turned to look at her and the Merlin before returning to their meditations.

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Viviane stood and turned away from the Merlin to glance at the novices finishing their morning meditations. Each year the number of girls chosen by the Goddess grew smaller and smaller. Avalon was being supplanted as those who followed the Christ continued to force their faith on others. Avalon had already slipped into another realm and only through the power of the Goddess could it be reached at all. Eventually that power would fade and Avalon would be cut off from the mortal world. If that happened, the power of the Goddess would also fade from the world.

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The sword had been created with the power of the Goddess. For centuries, the High King had carried it as a symbol of the Goddess’ protection of both the king and the land of which he was a part. If the sword is gone does that mean the Goddess’ protection is gone as well?

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“Lady Viviane,” one of the younger priestess called, running into the grove. “The well…the well…the waters of the well.”

“I am called.” Viviane left the Merlin standing alone in the grove as she hurried to Goddess’ Well.

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