“Not legend,” Haddi replied. “Part of the prophecy.”
“What do you mean?” Isla asked, reaching for my hand, and linking her fingers with mine. My heart calmed at her touch. “What prophecy?”
“Vakningin Mikla,” Haddi said.
“The Great Awakening,” Kade said.
“Explain,” I demanded.
“The Great Awakening was prophesied by the original council, and it tells of a time when the Kalt Einn will walk freely among this world. Free from the dangers of both the sun and of man,” Haddi said.
“Weren’t the council divided about the interpretation of the prophecy?” Kade asked.
“Já, but this does not change the fact that the events of Vakningin Mikla have already been etched in the stone of time.”
“What does any of that have to do with me?”
“Everything,” Haddi replied. “The arrival of a world walker is the first sign of the fulfillment of the prophecy, making them immensely powerful, which is why they were hunted to extinction long ago by our enemies. In fact, the last known heimsgöngumaður was Ketill Feilan.”
“The warrior?” I asked, flashes of battle racing through my mind.
“I told you earlier that I sensed you were known to me,” Haddi said.
I nodded.
“I now know this to be true. The last time I saw you was the night you struck down an army and freed those of us taken into captivity.”
“What the hell are you saying?” My head buzzed like a hive of angry hornets.
Isla settled her hand on my knee, calming me.
“After the battle, you were tired, wounded, and exhausted to the point of death,” Haddi continued. “I gathered the other oracles that had been in captivity with me, and we laid hands on you. We brought you back from near death and in doing so, I believe set the prophecy into motion.”
“But how is that possible?”
“Ketill Feilan had already showed the signs of being a powerful oracle, but after that night, I believe you became something else.”
“Ketill Feilan?”
Haddi smiled, his eyes filling with tears. “You have been lost to us for centuries. The brave warrior to whom we all owe our lives.”
“I…I don’t understand,” I said. “I’m Arric Mann. I remember my childhood. I remember growing up on the road with my mother. I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with you people or why you’re doing this to me.”
“World walkers possess the ability to take on the psychic identity of certain humans. It’s a defense mechanism used to hide their true identities from both humans and the Kalt Einn.”
“Psychic identity?”
Haddi sighed. “You must accept the fact that you are not who you think you are. You have assumed the identity of Arric Mann, but you are the oracle warrior, Feilan. You will live longer than most Cauld Ane and you have powers that even other oracles cannot possess.”
“You’re saying I have powers?” I scoffed. “I think you’ve ingested way too many magic mushrooms, my friend. I’ve felt weaker every day since I’ve been here.”
“Let me guess. Only when you try to leave,” Haddi chuckled. “I told you, fate has brought you here and will keep you as such until your destiny is fulfilled. Many things about you are still cloudy to me, Ketill Feilan, but this is not.” He met my eyes. “As an oracle, I have always served both the remaining Kalt Einn and Cauld Ane, but the dangers now facing both clans is simply too great for me to handle on my own.”
“What danger?” Kade asked.
“I’m afraid that’s all I can tell you at this time, my Lord,” Haddi said with a bow. “As nothing more has been revealed to me.”
“No. None of this makes sense,” I growled. “My name is Arric Mann. I’m twenty-four years old, I’m a welder, and I currently live in Port Thunder Alaska.”
