Read Online Five: A Maor Novel (Maor series) by Caroline Greyling - Free Book Online Page A

pictures
of one-inch, winged creatures with wands in your mind. That may be the image
humanity has created of us through folklore but I assure you, reality is far
less romantic. Please, just listen to what I have to say.’
      Something in her voice gives me pause. I relax
slightly on the edge of my chair and Nan nods, and continues:
    ‘The Maor have existed since the beginning of time. We are the keepers
of the earth, stewards of Mother Nature. There are many Maor Glen’s around the world, each Glen is responsible for the forest,
desert, mountain or river valley in which they live and work. The Maor you see in this room are the
keepers of the Forest of Dean.
    ‘We do not have wings, magic fairy
dust or wands. We do, however, possess talents. Each talent is different from
one to the next, some have one and a rare few have multiple. These talents
enable us to protect the fauna and flora of our forest; to ensure its continued
existence and our own survival, which are co-dependent. ’
    I lean back in my chair, my expression
a combination of confusion and skepticism. Nan scans my face and turns to the
young woman seated on her right.’
    ‘Sarah?’ The woman stands, tosses her
strawberry curls back over her shoulder and gives me a disdainful look. She
narrows her green eyes into slits and raises her hands, palm up toward the window.
I frown at her, and follow her gaze.
    Outside, I see only the two birch
trees closest to the window, their broad leaves glinting in the bright
sunlight. The leaves begin to move, rustling in restless protest against the
shadows enveloping them. In the space of a few seconds, the sky above turns an ominous
dark-grey and the sun disappears. There is a clap of thunder and it begins to
rain, a moderate shower that gently sways the boughs of the trees outside.
    ‘It’s not possible,’ I whisper,
picturing the brilliant blue sky that I’d admired just moments ago. There had
not been a single cloud in sight, let alone a storm but my mind refuses to
consider the possibility that Sarah could influence the weather. Only God can
make it rain.
    Sarah glances at me, purses her lips
and returns her concentration to the window. She raises her hand, like a
conductor increasing the tempo of the orchestra. There is a loud clap of
thunder, a flash of lightening and a torrent of rain falls from the sky. The
branches of the trees outside whip in the howling wind and bolts of lightning
dart in zigzags across the angry sky.          
    ‘That’s enough, Sarah,’ Nan says after
a moment, a hint of censure in her voice.
    Sarah looks at Nan with a contrite
expression, curls her fingers in and just like that, it stops raining. The
clouds dissolve into blue sky, the sun comes out of hiding and the only
evidence of the storm that has passed is the sparkle of sunlight reflecting off
the water-logged leaves.     
    My mind begins to race. How did she do
that? What if it’s true? What does this mean for me? The rush of thoughts makes
my head spin and I lift one hand to my temple, then I drop it and stare at my
wrist. The tiny scar there looks the same as always, but it has begun to tingle
strangely.    
      ‘Speed, healing, flight,’ Nan says, drawing my
attention away from the scar, ‘manipulating the elements of water, wind, earth
and fire - these are just some of the many talents we possess. Each Maor has a talent that is manifested between
the ages of eighteen and twenty five. Each talent must be practiced and
developed and could take years to master.’
    Nan’s eyes take on a glassy sheen as
she stares out the window across the room.
    ‘Our ancestor’s talents were more
powerful than ours, far more intense and numerous. Over the centuries though,
our kind have inter-bred with humans. It was to be expected, with us living
amongst them in secrecy. Human blood has mixed with Maor blood and with each generation, our talents have diluted with
our genes.’
    She looks sad, but brightens a little
as her