“That wouldn’t have mattered,” Mac said. “Shifters could always heal faster than humans.”
“Athena was aware of that,” nodded Oracle, “but she had first tried to reason with the leaders of both sides and, when neither would listen, she did the only other thing in her power to balance the fight. As the battle raged, the leaders of the paranormalsordered every adult shifter to join in since they could heal the fastest. One father insisted that his son Karolos, who was only seven, join him in battle and dragged him into the middle of the worst fighting.
“As spears whizzed past him, the boy could only stare at the scene; his father had never prepared him for the carnage that fighters inflict when they are solely focused on the total annihilation of each other.” When the blood of the wounded spattered his face and the screams of dying men pierced his ears, Karolos fell to his knees and whispered to the gods above, ‘I beg you…let me vanish from this bloody field, for I desire only peace’.
“Zephyrus, hearing the plea, took pity. He hushed his breath and made it soft as the down of a swan, wrapping Karolos in it. Suddenly, the boy was lifted and pushed forward. His steps made no sound, his form shimmered like waves of heat, and he moved swifter than the eye could follow. The humans found only air when they threw their spears at him as he fled the battlefield, guided by the quiet hand of the wind.
“From that day, paranormals spoke in hushed tones of the Silent Zephyr—not the laughing spring breeze that stirred blossoms—but the unseen current that sheltered the pure of heart. Priests of the West Wind left offerings of reeds and hollow flutes at Zephyrus’ altar, believing that only in the faintest notes of music could one hear the secret breath that had borne a paranormal to safety. And every spring, when honoring Zephyrus, the worshippers would chant: ‘Zephyrus runs without footfall, bears without burden, speaks without tongue. Yet when peril comes, his silence saves’.” As the last word slipped from Oracle’s lips, the room fell silent.
Stunned, Ollie could only stare at Oracle as her story ran in an endless loop through his mind, but no matter how many times it did, he still could not figure out why Zephyrus had chosen him for his gift. Giving up, he glanced at Mac, hoping he could explain it, but found the same confusion on his mate’s face that was on his own. He finally turned to Jackson and asked, “Do you understand why I…why Zephyrus chose me?”
“Not totally, but I think the part we’re missing is the information regarding Zephyrus’ definition of ‘purity of heart’ and how that applies to you,” Jackson replied.
Nodding, Oracle started, “Different gods have their own standards for the attributes that make for a pure heart, but in this case, only Zephyrus’ are important. Among them are compassion, sincerity, integrity, kindness, and humility. Of course, while many of us possess some or all of these, there is one thread in the tapestry of life that contains these and the others that define pure of heart for Zephyrus. So, when that thread appears, the Fates alert the wind god that soon one will be born who will possess Karolos’ purity of heart.”
“Wow!” Mac exclaimed, grinning at his mate. “See, I told you that you aren’t average.”
Jackson then asked Oracle, “You mentioned five traits, but what are the others Zephyrus includes in his definition of a pure heart?”
“Unfortunately, I cannot tell you,” Oracle said. “Only the Fates and Zephyrus know them.”
“Well, I know silence can’t be one of them,” Ollie said, grinning. “My mother told me that after I learned to talk, I drove her nuts with all my endless questions. When she finally reached thelimits of her patience, she would tell me it was time to ‘think and reflect’.”
Chuckling, Jackson said, “I’ll have to tell Carson to try that, especially with Eamon.”
“Galen is like that too,” Mac said. “The two of them drove Smokey crazy, according to Norm.”
“Regarding that trait,” Jackson said, looking at Oracle thoughtfully. “The name of the gift includes ‘silent’ and it’s also included in words Zephyrus’ worshipers say: ‘Yet when peril comes, his silence saves.’ But it’s not an attribute Ollie claims to have. So what does it refer to?”
“Maybe because I’m quiet as the wind when I change into my zephyr form?” asked Ollie.
“Possibly,” Jackson said, “but what are you saving?”
“That’s a good point,” Mac said. “However, my question has to do with what the practical purpose of the power is? If you compare it to other gifts, the only claim it has is that it’s rare.” Then, looking at Ollie, he added, “I don’t mean to denigrate it because I really think it is cool that you can become wind but…”
“I’ve wondered that myself,” Ollie replied. “It’s not something that I have a lot of use for in my life.”
“How often have you used it?” asked Jackson.
“It was only the second time that I had used it to get through the gate,” Ollie said. “The other time was after the oracle left…I did it then just to make sure it wasn’t some kind of joke.”
“I’m not surprised,” Jackson said thoughtfully and, after a few moments, continued, “I feel there is more to the story of Karolos. If my memory serves me right, the war between the humansand paranormals ended abruptly, and they lived in harmony for years after that. How did that happen if even the goddess Athena couldn’t convince the two sides to abandon the fight? Oracle, do you know?”
Oracle tilted her head in acknowledgment of Jackson’s observation and stated, “I cannot say any more at this time, but I can tell Oliver that his gift will be needed to save our world.”
Stunned, Ollie opened and shut his mouth several times before he found his voice. “No freaking way! That can’t be…there is no way me turning into wind can save our world. Are you sure, Oracle? Maybe the Fates got it wrong.”
“I can assure you they have not,” Oracle said softly.
Jackson spoke up. “Do we need Ollie’s gift to fight the humans targeting our world?”
“Yes,” Oracle said. “When the time comes, Oliver will discover the rest of his power. Is there anything else?”
Shaking his head, Jackson said, “Thanks, Oracle. I appreciate your answering our questions about Ollie’s gift. You’ve given us a lot to think about.”
Rising from her chair, Oracle smiled at Ollie. “It is an honor to know you, Oliver. The rest of the oracles were so disappointed that they were not chosen to inform you of your gift, especially since it has been over a thousand years since it was last given.” Then, after giving Mac a reassuring pat on his shoulder, she nodded to Jackson before leaving the room.
The silence surrounding Mac was deafening as he waited for Oliver or Jackson to put into words what they were all thinking, but when nothing was forthcoming, he looked at his mate and realized he was shaking uncontrollably. Standing, he graspedOllie’s hand, tugging him up against his chest and enclosing him in a tight hug. Lowering his mouth to his mate’s ear, he whispered, “Ollie, are you okay?”