65. Auslin

Chapter 65

Auslin

I t took Auslin and Kitaro almost a week to climb their way up the massive mountain. Although Auslin had prepared for the journey, it was an arduous trip. The last part where he and Kitaro had no choice but to walk on the narrow, snowy cliff was particularly nerve-racking.

Despite his apprehensions over meeting Satsuma, it was a relief to reach the enormous door carved into the side of the mountain. There were many protective wards etched into the white stone door. Who would be stupid enough to attack a powerful shifter like Satsuma?

Before they could knock, the door slowly creaked open to allow them to enter. They both walked inside, with the door swinging closed behind them with an ominous finality.

The warmth of a roaring fire embraced them. Looking around, it reminded Auslin of the Enchanters' workshop at Tatsuki's castle. All manner of assorted objects were stored on wooden shelves that filled the space. It smelled like various spices and herbs, but it wasn't unpleasant.

When Satsuma entered from a side room, her appearance surprised Auslin. Because of her ancient age, Auslin had assumed she would be a wizened crone, but she was nothing like he had imagined.

Most shifters were significantly larger than humans, but Satsuma was diminutive, even by human standards. She was a petite woman in a simple black dress, with long, white hair pulled into a loose braid. A few strands had slipped free to frame the sides of her face, accented with a jeweled band around her forehead. A teardrop-shaped stone that changed color with each shift of light dangled from the center. Shockingly, for such an ancient shifter, she appeared to be the age of a human woman in her forties.

Most startling were Satsuma's eyes. It looked like the starry night sky was contained within her sparkling black eyes. With eyes like those, it seemed like she could see all of eternity. They mesmerized Auslin, so he had to remind himself not to stare at her.

"Please, come in." Satsuma beckoned them to join her in the sitting area by the fire.

Eager to get next to the welcoming warmth, Auslin politely bowed before settling himself on her black velvet sofa. It felt like heaven to sit on after the long hike up the mountain. Kitaro sat beside him.

Satsuma sat in a black lacquer rocking chair across from them. "It is wonderful to see you again, Prince Kitaro. It has been some years since we last met."

He bowed his head in acknowledgment. "It is a pleasure to see that you are doing well. My father sends his fond regards."

Satsuma shifted her focus to Auslin, giving him a look over that felt like she could see through his soul to all his secrets. It was unnerving, but Auslin couldn't make himself glance away from her celestial gaze.

"I suppose I should call you Vanra?"

He blanched at the question. Did she somehow know he went by Auslin in his own time? Not wanting to tip off Kitaro, Auslin simply replied, "Yes, please."

"It is a fine name." Satsuma slowly moved in her rocking chair. "You have come quite a long way to be here today. Much farther than a mere trip up a mountain."

Auslin proceeded without preamble. "I've been told you could help me."

"King Tatsuki has always held such a high opinion of me." Satsuma chuckled as she continued rocking. "It is unusually endearing for such a fearsome warlord."

Unsure how to respond, Auslin said nothing.

Not bothered by Auslin's silence, Satsuma continued. " In this instance, he was correct to guide you here."

"Do I really have to go back to my time?" Auslin fearfully asked.

She stared at him as she rocked in her chair. It was incredibly intimidating to be the sole focus of her unusual gaze. What secrets did she see? Auslin tried to remain calm despite the fact his nerves were fraying.

"It is not that you must. It is simply inevitable."

Auslin's heart dropped through his stomach as his worst fears came true. "But I want to stay here in this time!"

She ignored his passionate outburst. "On the Day of Ascension, all will be as it should."

Auslin had never heard of such a day. "When is that?"

"It is a date not yet written," Satsuma replied, "but it is a day that will come."

"In six months? A year? Fifteen years? When?" Auslin demanded.

"Whenever fate decides to reclaim you," Satsuma said, although it offered Auslin little in the way of an actual answer. "No one knows when that will be. But without fail, it will happen one day."

"And if Vanra refuses to go through Fate's Gate?" Kitaro asked.

"Fate has its own path for Vanra," Satsuma replied. "It will not allow him to deviate. You, of all people, should understand that. "

"Meaning?"

"Princess Kizoshi's friendship with Lady Sophina has shown you a glimpse of how fate operates." Satsuma continued gently rocking in her chair. The stone on her forehead changed colors every time she moved.

"But it makes no sense to bring him here to take him away," Kitaro argued with a frown.

Satsuma shrugged. "Who said fate is taking him away?"

"Surely, there must be something we can do so that Vanra can stay in this time." The desperation in Kitaro's voice broke Auslin's heart.

"You may try, but you will fail. Fate has laid its claim on Vanra."

"But why ?" Auslin demanded. "What makes me so special that fate wants me?"

"We all have our roles to play. It is not our place to question it."

"But I don't want to go back to my time," Auslin weakly protested. The thought of being separated brought tears to his eyes. "I want to stay with Kitaro."

"Leaving this time does not mean you are leaving him."

Auslin ran his fingers through his hair with frustration. "I don't understand."

She leaned back in her chair. "That is because it is too soon. But you will learn. "

"Can you at least tell me what fate wants with me?"

"On rare occasions, we are presented with a choice," Satsuma said, although it did little to clarify things for Auslin. "When you made your decision to go through Fate's Gate, you rewrote your fate. What fate desires of you from that point on is known only by Lady Sophina."

"But how can I do something if I don't know what I'm supposed to do?"

"You are to live your life," Satsuma said. "Fate asks nothing more than that."

Kitaro frowned. "There is always more to it than that."

Satsuma smiled at Kitaro. "True. But Vanra's path in life has been well hidden by design."

Auslin's head ached from all the riddles. "What does that mean?"

"Your mother was a wise woman." Satsuma pushed a stray hair behind her pointed ear.

He was even more confused than before. "My mother? What does she have to do with any of this?"

"She made sure your father protected you when she no longer could."

"Protected me from what?"

"From a great number of things. Primarily, your father protected you from himself."

"That makes no sense." Auslin threw his hands up with a frustrated growl. "My father was a healer, who was gone long before my mother died."

"Indeed." Satsuma stared at him with her unnerving eyes filled with stars. "You have much to learn about your heritage."

Auslin took a calming breath. He needed to stay patient to get answers. "Such as?"

Satsuma resumed rocking in her chair. "I believe you would find a conversation with Princess Kizoshi most enlightening."

"What does my sister have to do with any of that?" Kitaro asked.

"She understands better than anyone," Satsuma responded. "I trust she will be there when the time comes for Vanra to learn more."

Kitaro scowled. "She always has an uncanny sense of timing with those kinds of things."

"It has been far too long since I have enjoyed her delightful company."

Auslin couldn't figure out how they had gotten from the topic of Fate's Gate to his parents and Kizoshi. His head spun from all the nonanswers he had received. He tried to gather his bearings. "Are you really saying I have no choice in remaining in this time?"

"That decision was made as soon as you stepped through Fate's Gate," Satsuma confirmed. "As I said, all will be as it should. You should not fear the path you are to walk. It leads to where you want to go. "

"No, it doesn't! It takes me away from Kitaro, and I don't want to lose him," Auslin protested in anguish. He looked at Satsuma with a pleading gaze for some kind of help.

"And you will not." Her simple response only confused the human further.

"Are you saying I can go through Fate's Gate with Vanra?" Kitaro asked.

"No." Somehow, her direct answer was even worse than her being vague. "Its magic is not for you."

"Then if I cannot pass through Fate's Gate with Vanra, and he cannot remain in this time, then how does he not leave me?" Kitaro demanded.

"It is indeed a mystery," the ancient owl shifter said in an airy voice. "That is enough talk for now. It has been a long journey for you both. Please rest here tonight."

Somehow it was too much and not enough for Auslin. It was exhausting trying to figure out Satsuma's vagaries. He bowed his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you."

"We appreciate your hospitality," Kitaro added.

"It is the least I can do for the son of King Tatsuki and the son of a secret." She walked out of the room.

Auslin couldn't even begin trying to guess the meaning of her last comment. He looked at Kitaro in desperation, hoping he somehow had an answer to all the questions Satsuma had left him with .

Reaching over to take Auslin's hand, Kitaro brought it to his lips to kiss. "We will figure this out, Vanra."

Auslin could only nod. If he started talking about leaving, he might never stop crying.