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| Art: Night Cliff by Adioss on Deviantart (Thank you) |
In a land where a blue moon sets and a red one rises, where the warmth of the sun is barely felt in summer and the winters are long and deathly; where the cloudless skies are filled with countless stars of yellow, blue and purple; and the great winds of the north stir the restless seas, in the Empire of Two Moons, the threads of destiny are weaved.
"Until when shalt I wait, oh king of the north. Ariseth from ashes and hie thee hither..."
A woman's hollow voice echoed along the rugged cliffs south of the Obsidian Sea. There at the edge knelt she, clothed in a long, scarlet velvet robe. Her gaze fixated in the dark waters as waves crashed against the rock where she stood...higher and higher the waters rose as she sang louder and louder.
"Tis' empty. Thy words art empty. Thou tarriest long in a land far, far from thy lover's arms."
Her voice trembled in anger.
Not far behind stood two fearsome figures clad in dark cloaks, black armor and leather boots.
The taller man was bald and had an eye patch. On his back was a mace, twice the size of his head. Yanking the cloak of the younger man next to him he asked, "The mistress' song, Cap'ain...'tis not of love, is it?"
The younger-looking man was well groomed. His face, clean-shaven. His brown hair was combed back, accentuating his sharp jawline, fierce dark eyes and aquiline nose. He would have looked somewhat dashing had he been slightly taller. Placing his index finger over his mouth, he cautioned his companion to keep his thoughts to himself.
"Cap'ain, 'tis not of love, I tell ya. The mistress...she has no heart, no?" The taller man's face now overshadowing the face of the younger one. He raised his unibrow and widened his eyes while nodding a few times to try to get any sort of response from him.
Suddenly, the wind died down. The waves receded and the sea grew calm. Then, a drumming, a constant beating from beneath the ground caused the sea to pulsate. A spherical wave, followed by another, then another...
The taller man drew closer to the cliff to get a better look, while the other calmly shut his eyes and took a few steps back.
"Yes, yes..." The woman whispered in excitement. "Today, today perhaps..." She held onto the edge of the cliff as she peered closer to the water. An unexpected gust threw off the woman's hood unleashing her long white hair that fluttered for a moment before the wind died down. Her skin was porcelain. Her cheeks blushed in anticipation as her glacial blue eyes stared nefariously at the sea. Her youthful appearance, the epitome of beauty, ill-suited her raspy, hollow voice.
A light shimmered across the horizon and the earth soon trembled. One after another, rocks fell into the water. The entire cliff, not too far from where they stood, was swallowed by the sea. But the water had an enchantment, it only moved from where the spheres pulsated.
The tall man yelped, "Sorcer-." The captain quickly covered his mouth before he let out a scream.
"Are you seriously trying to get us killed?" He growled, giving him a hard gaze.
Truth be told, Dorvan, who was barely twenty, was likewise extremely terrified. The hair on his back stood and his heart could literally pop out from his chest. He wasn't afraid of the earthquake or the sea or...whatever horrible thing would come out of it. He has seen many a great strange and evil things, after all. Besides, he is a brave man and strong too, perhaps that is why she took him in, cared for him or rather fed him. That woman, whatever she is, has done more good to him than anyone ever did. Oh, but her temper...that is what he feared the most.
He's accompanied her to this place far too many times...and each time, the same thing happened without fail: the thing, whatever it was, never came out and someone always ended up dead. This is why he always brought an imbecile. Oh, Maker's mercy. The poor chap sh-t his pants. Dorvan really did feel sorry for Fares, but apparently not enough. Dorvan simply wasn't ready to die...not yet. So, he kept still, still as that damn sea. Good Maker, just let out whatever it is she calls for.
Lady Ria, that is how she wanted to be called, held onto the edge. Her lustrous hair now fluttered gently despite a windless sea. "Come-hither," she whispered incessantly to the waters.
Almost over...almost over. Dorvan repeated as he shut his eyes once again.
Then...there was quiet --- a deafening silence as the earthquake suddenly ceased.
Almost over...almost over. Dorvan gulped as he struck his spear deep into the ground and held onto it.
"Gahhhhhhh!" The woman screeched as the north wind blew her away. Dorvan imagined she'd be a few feet from where they stood, the exact same spot, every damn time. He really didn't have to open his eyes. He knew exactly how this played out.
She'll whimper softly, holding back her tears. Then slowly...ever so slowly she'll curl up on the ground...It's alright, milady. It's alright. Just please...please don't kill me after. Wait for it, Dorvan...steady your heart, Dorvan. Wait for it...
"Ahhhhhhhh!!!" No matter how many times he's heard that ear-piercing scream, it still brings chills to his spine. Moments passed. To Dorvan, it seemed like an eternity.
Fares probably fainted by now. Still no sound...no sound of Fares being killed.
Something is amiss. I can't hear anything. Where is she? Good Maker, I don't want to open my eyes. Wait...is she...is she gonna kill me today? No, wait, am I dead already? Maker's sake woman, say something!!! Say...some...
"Wake up, cowardly Dorvan." He opened his eyes hesitantly and found himself breathing her very breath. Her teary blue eyes stared into his. Her face no more than two inches away from his face. Good lord, she looked sixteen. Lady Ria smirked as though fully aware of his thoughts.
"My lover," she mused as she pulled back twiddling her thumbs. "He is not strong enough to come to me." Her muffled voice expressed regret. This was the first time she told Dorvan who it was she called for.
Perhaps, it was a love song after all. Dorvan hoped his slightly offbeat pulse wouldn't count as jealousy. Good Maker, no...please no...
Lady Ria seemed amused. Her face hinting a smile now glistened with tears, making her all the more beautiful.
"My sister...how she hated me! My sister built a very strong wall, you see." She pointed north towards the horizon."
Staring at her back, Dorvan wondered how his mistress looked like an innocent princess in one moment and then in another, he'd find himself practically staring at the very face of death.
"Tick-tock. Tick-tock. We've much to do. Come, my servants." She twirled gleefully.
Why , milady's in a good mood. Mercy from the Maker. There be no death today. He almost let a smile slip as he watched the train of her scarlet robe as they walked to their horses. To his left, Dorvan caught sight of poor Fares who barely kept pace. He pat his back.The heavens shine on you man was what he wanted to say. To us both.
"By the way, baldy..." She paused, looking back at Fares. Her blue eyes now blood red. "I am no sorcerer."
Suddenly, a sharp invisible force pushed Fares towards the sea. His feet dangled several feet from the ground as though he was held by the throat. The choking man gasped for air as he begged for his life.
"I. AM. A. WIELDER." Her eyes turned blue again as she smiled before playfully uttering the word: 'release', dropping Fares just above the cliff. His head hit the rocks a few times before his body fell lifeless turning the dark waters red.
"Ooops. I really was in a good mood today, Dorvan. I really was." She giggled.
Dorvan knew for certain Lady Ria could hear his thoughts. He shuddered as he tried to recall the ruminations he had a while ago. I'm dea-
"Fear not, foolish Dorvan. Now...send capable men to Shen'ayim. Find me another female wolf. The seas tell me it is time."
She walked away singing to a livelier tune:
"Mine own child shall I keep safe until the third age awake
Lo, through a silver bridge past the mighty gates
A daughter of the wolves shall bring home
Mine only child, my firstborn"
To the north shall it be...steady Dorvan, steady your heart. He gulped.
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Writing this gave me the shivers. This is the first time I wrote something slightly violent; and I'm probably not very good at it...yet. Anyhow, Daughter of the Wolves really isn't meant to be too graphic as I would like the younger generation to read it without too many nightmares. Take care everyone and let me know what you think of this chapter.
Don't forget to visit the book on wattpad. Please vote for the book to help me reach a larger audience. God bless everyone.
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