With a sudden jerk, Valdor sprung from the makeshift
bed he had been laying on. A sound beyond the door brought
the weary warrior to his senses, his hand on the polished
hilt of Night's End. His eyes darted around the small room.
The wooden door was closed and locked, the once large wax
candle burned steadily, emitting a soft orange glow and
unbothered by the breeze that swept in from under the door.
As he scanned the room, his ears picked up the faint snoring
from his tiny companion. With his free hand he wiped the
sweat from his brow. He remembered when he used to sleep
with the peace and comfort that his halfling friend enjoyed.
Releasing his grasp off the mighty sword, he laid back down
on the small cot. His eyelids felt heavy, but they would
not close. In his mind's eye burned the image of the unfortunate
soul whose life he was to save in order to stop these dreams.
He could see her crystal blue eyes. He could feel her despair.
He even tasted her tears. He fought to put these thoughts
and images far from his mind, knowing very well that his
efforts were in vain. With a sigh, he turned on his side
and laid there, sleepy eyes starring at the flickering candle
flame. There would be no rest for him tonight. There never
was.
***
As the afternoon sun settled above the small city of Windspear,
Valdor and Hadrian made their way through the busy streets
of merchants and shops that littered the marketplace. Hadrian's
interest in the various local wares that the shop owners
and street vendors peddled to the two as they walked provided
a constant distraction from the purpose of their stroll.
Valdor, however, showed no interest in the goods that were
on display. As Valdor continued through the crowd, his keen
ears listened intensely for any information that would lead
them to the woman in his vision. As the companions walked
past a cart manned by a short, round blacksmith, the ever-curious
Hadrian stopped to admire an exotic weapon that lay across
the front of the poorly made wooden cart.
The weapon itself had three curved ivory blades that joined
in the center, resembling a three-pointed star bound by
leather, the blades being coated by a crystalline powder.
Picking up the weapon, Hadrian turned to regard the stout
blacksmith and said, "This is quite a peculiar weapon
my good sir…uh, what exactly is it?"
"Humphrf," grunted the port man, who himself
appeared a bit exotic and could possibly have been a foreigner
in Windspear as well. Short and round, the man stroked his
handlebar mustache, his hands dark from dirt and grime.
Wearing a black tunic with a leather tool belt, the blacksmith's
attire was covered with soot and had a few charred ends.
"That there is a powerful throwing weapon, my half
sized friend, and a rare one at that. Those talons were
taken from a green Dragon and are diamond-crusted."
Taking the weapon in hand, the man placed one talon in
between his middle and ring finger and continued, "You
can sling it through the air and wait for it to come back
ya."
Hadrian glanced at the man's other hand and noted that
the man only had three fingers remaining, which caused his
right eyebrow to rise inquisitively. "It, uh, takes
a bit of practice, if ya know what I mean," the man
stated, followed by a hearty howl of a laugh, tossing the
weapon back onto the cart.
Picking up the weapon from where the blacksmith had placed
it on the cart, Hadrian became filled with excitement at
the thought of the slaying of a great green Dragon. "Valdor,
take a look at this, it might come in handy down the road."
Irritated by his Hadrian's continuus interruptions and distractions,
Valdor held out an open palm for the weapon while still
scanning through the crowds, his eyes darting through the
myriad of faces while his ears listened intently for any
information that would help them on their task of rescuing
the woman from his visions.
As the exotic throwing-weapon was placed in his hand, the
sounds that entered Valdor's ears became muffled and distorted,
their pitch rising at first, and then dropping. Glancing
around, the marketplace seemed to be stuck in place, as
Valdor's surrounding slowly began to blur. Looking down
at Hadrian, he watched as his companion's face began to
move, slowly swirling, forcing Valdor to shut his eyes in
an attempt to minimize the dizziness. Eyes shut and head
spinning out of control, Valdor reached out for Hadrian,
staggering forward, hoping to grab hold of his companion
for whatever support he could provide. Before crashing into
the sandy ground, Valdor could hear Hadrian mumbling incoherently,
his ears faintly picking up Hadrian's echoing voice, "Don't
worry Val, I got youuuuuu…"
Suddenly, the sound of his voice was replaced by a scream
in Valdor's ears and was followed by the image of a heavily
wooded grove lit by torches. All around the image were hooded
figures chanting in a foreign language he could not understand.
The air was humid and misty, as tiny raindrops stung his
bare skin as if it were acid. Then the image flashed from
the hooded figures to a woman. The woman. Just as
she always appeared in his visions, she wore a silk white
gown that ran down to her knees, her hands and ankles bound
by chains. As the woman was lead to the center of the grove,
one of the hooded men raised his left arm and revealed a
weapon similar to the one Hadrian had taken from the blacksmith.
Holding the weapon in hand, the dark figure began to chant
louder than the others, his words echoing loudly in Valdor's
ears. Valdor felt his teeth clench at the pain in his ears.
Clutching his ears, he continued to watch the ceremony taking
place before him.
Through the burning sensation in his eyes, Valdor watched
the dark figure extend his free hand and drag the weapon
across his own palm, drawing a line of blood. Confused and
disorientated, Valdor could not believe what he saw next.
The woman whom he was supposed to save from these fiends
extended her hand as well, to which the dark figure slowly
proceeded to slice in similar fashion. Suddenly, Valdor
realized what he had been watching. This is no vision,
he thought to himself, Its a Sangra Retenga ceremony,
a clandestine ritual reserved for sacrifices.
The thought stayed with him for a few seconds. This was
not a ritual for any normal sacrifice. The Sangra Retenga,
or Purifying of the Blood, as Valdor knew it to be in his
native tongue, was reserved for god-like sacrifices, usually
involving demi-god followers and fanatics seeking powers
beyond this world. Never having witnessed the ceremony before,
Valdor had heard myths pertaining to the sacrifice, in which
the blood of the person being offered would be drawn and
presented to call upon the presence of the deity. Once blessed
by the appearance of the god, the officiator of the ceremony
would offer the body of the sacrifice to be consumed, and
in return would receive supernatural powers, both physical
and mental.
What had struck Valdor as odd was the calmness of the woman
in his vision. It had been rumored that the person being
offered as the sacrifice would experience excruciating pain
as his or her body was consumed by fire. It was often suggested
that this was how the ceremony received its name, as the
spirit of the god would purify the blood of the offering
by burning it and cleansing it of any impurities.
Feeling a burn across his hand, Valdor glanced at his palm
to see a line of blue blood drip slowly down his wrist.
Glancing back to where the man and woman had been standing,
he realized that all of the hooded figures before him were
now starring in his direction. The one with the weapon slowly
approached Valdor, who felt paralyzed by the blood red eyes
that peered from the figure's dark hood. Holding the weapon
high, the man flung the weapon at Valdor. Valdor could see
the blades of the weapon spinning towards him in slow motion,
but could do nothing to move from its path. Inhaling deeply,
his mind captured the scent of Juniper Orchids, as his eyes
followed the spinning blades coming towards him and piercing
his chest. Oddly, he felt the puncture wound in his torso,
but felt no pain. Slowly, his vision became darker and darker,
until all disappeared under the shadow of night.
***
As Valdor came to, the sound of music penetrated his ears.
Indistinct conversations carried through the air mingling
with the sound of cheer and song. Through the shroud of
fog that had settled in his head, Valdor felt a relaxation
he had not experienced in quite some time. What sort of
dream is this, he wondered to himself.
"Will he awake soon?" said an unfamiliar and
impatient voice, "I must be on my way to prepare and
have no time for delay."
Startled, Valdor realized he was in no dream, but awaking
from the most recent empathic episode. Cursed be that damned
witch, he swore to himself.
"Soon enough," replied Hadrian to the guest at
their table, "It usually takes him a while to recoup
from the visions." Valdor realized that they were no
longer at the marketplace and had no idea how long he had
been under the vision's control, be it hours or days. As
he lifted his head, he felt the nauseating effects of the
dizziness he had experienced earlier. Through blurred vision,
he attempted to focus on the figure before him. "Ah,
at long last, the beast awakens," said the person in
front of him, his voice deep and raspy. As his eyes regained
focus, he was met with the unsightly features of a short,
balding gnome. His large round nose throbbing with every
breath he took and his bushy eyebrows falling over his bulging
eyes, making it difficult to discern who he was looking
at. "Do you stare at all of your guests in such a manner,
or would you prefer I shapeshift into something more appealing,"
said the agitated gnome.
Unarmed, as far as Valdor could see, and somewhat unkempt,
the little creature was dressed in a purple-tinted tunic.
Valdor noted the gold-laced crest that hung from the gnome's
neck, the symbol bestowed upon high-level advisors. "What
business do you have with us, little one?" Valdor questioned.
Though still groggy, he fought desperately to appear in
full control.
Hadrian turned to Valdor and began speaking, "His name
is…" but was unexpectedly cut off by the little
gnome. "My name is Rasa Dergaineous, loyal aide to
the Great Sorceress of Quaron, Sidria Ailema!" As he
finished replying to Valdor, Rasa turned to Hadrian and
held a vicious stare at the halfling, arching his left eyebrow.
"Well, that was certainly rude of you," said
Hadrian, who had taken offense to the manner in which Rasa
had interrupted him. The short time that Rasa and Hadrian
had spent together waiting for Valdor to recover had taken
its toll on the normally cheerful halfling. As an advisor
to the sorceress, Rasa found the environment around him
to be beneath someone of his stature, which he had no problem
conveying to the usually affable Hadrian. The offended bard
continued, "Your demeanor is as ugly as the wart infested
nose on your face…" As Rasa and Hadrian bickered
to one another, the name that the little messenger had mentioned
brought new life to the former assassin. Three nights had
passed since their initial encounter at the same Inn, the
Red Gryphon. Thoughts of intrigue on the mysterious woman
that had befriended them brought many questions to his troubled
mind. The sounds of Hadrian arguing with Rasa broke his
focus on the alluring sorceress and he shifted to regard
Rasa. "What news do you bring from the sorceress, friend?"
said Valdor.
Rasa cleared his throat and threw a disparaging look at
Hadrian, then turned to Valdor, "My lady requests the
presence of you and your companion for tribute to
you for your services and to wish you well in your travels.
I should inform you that your presence is mandatory and
I shall return at nightfall to accompany you to her home."
Insulted once again by the tone of Rasa's voice, Hadrian
began to reply, "Why you worm-eating, little…",
but before he could continue, he was cut short again, this
time by Valdor. "We shall await your return dear gnome.
I have many questions for your mistress and look forward
to our next meeting." With a short curtsy, Rasa bowed,
flipped the hood of his cloak over his lumpy, balding head,
and quickly turned exited the lively Red Gryphon Inn.
Turning to regard Hadrian, Valdor could see the irate expression
clearly across his face. Better to not provoke him
Valdor thought. "How long was I out?"
"Never mind that Val, I came across some news after
you blacked out at the market" the halfling stated
less enthusiastic than normal. "I figured that the
weapon triggered a vision, so I asked the blacksmith, who
by the way, had some amazing trinkets in his cart. I managed
to bargain for a piece of…"
"Hadrian!" Valdor sternly called, having to raise
his voice over the sounds that carried through the Inn.
"I don't care for trinkets. What news did you hear?"
"Well, like I was saying, after you hit the ground,
I asked the blacksmith where the weapon had come from. He
said he bought it from some travelers that had passed through
town two nights ago. You wouldn't believe what he said!"
"Let me guess," said Valdor, with a concerned
look upon his face, "Shallow Waters."
Hadrian leaned back in his chair, "So what now?"
"I had another vision when I touched that weapon.
I saw the girl again, I also saw a man, or something holding
that same weapon."
Sliding his small hand into his cloak, Hadrian produced
the weapon that they had been referring to and placed it
on the table. "Well, I thought it might come in handy,
so I bought it just in case. When do we leave?"
"Once we see and hear what the sorceress has in store
for us I presume," to which Hadrian smiled and replied,
"I can't wait." The little bard failed to recognize,
or accept the fact that Valdor did not share in his excitement.
"It would be wise to exercise caution with that woman
little one. Her intentions are unknown." Hadrian, an
expression of cynicism across his face, replied, "I
hardly think we have to worry about her, we have no reason
not to trust her."
"We know absolutely nothing of her, where as she knows
entirely too much of us," Valdor replied, to which
Hadrian rolled his eyes and stood from his wooden seat,
turning towards the bar, his metal pint in hand.
Weary, Valdor picked up the three-clawed weapon that Hadrian
had left on the wooden table and placed it within his tunic.
Glancing around at his surroundings, he took in the scene
within the crowded inn. The Red Gryphon served as quite
a relief for its patrons, offering them a place to drink,
smoke, sing and dance. It allowed all who entered the chance
forget their worries and revel in the pleasures that the
establishment had to offer. All except for one, Valdor knew.
He would experience no song or dance. He would simply wait.
He would seek answers come nightfall.
***
Through the magical portal that had been opened, flashes
of light coursed through the hazy vision displayed before
him. Rasa could see the sorceress, Sidria Ailema, sitting
lavishly on plush red cushions. The light from the surrounding
candles playfully flickered across her tanned skin, casting
shadows upon some of her fine features, and accentuating
others. With a bowed head, Rasa spoke, "My dear lady,
they have accepted your invitation and will accompany me
back to the cave after nightfall." Upon hearing his
voice, Sidria looked up and regarded the mirror, which sat
in front of her, her gateway to her trusty servant. "Be
sure to say nothing to them that would jeopardize our plans
Rasa. To do so would be most unfortunate," she said
with a smile, to which Rasa nodded his head unsteadily.
"Wait until nightfall to return with them, and ensure
that you are not followed." Rasa closed his eyes and
bowed respectfully, knowing fair and well the responsibilities
that had been bestowed upon him. Small by any measurable
means, his abilities far exceeded his stature, even for
a bumbling gnome. "Our moment is quickly approaching
Rasa. Be vigilant and we shall see a return to better times."
With a wave of her hand, the mirror before her reverted
back to its reflective surface, casting the image of the
sorceress back to herself.
***
Hadrian and Valdor followed the small gnome, Rasa, through
the dark forest that laid to the west of Windspear. As they
traveled under the cover of nightfall and by the half moon's
light, Valdor carefully scrutinized Rasa as he walked in
front of the companions. In his left hand, he held a crooked
old staff that resembled a dry, weathered tree limb more
than a staff. He waddled at a diligent pace, with no regard
for the two that followed him, and much faster than Valdor
would have expected for a gnome, given his short stubby
legs. The mantle he wore was noticeably oversized, causing
him to appear disheveled and in disarray. Valdor however
realized that the outsized cloak did a masterful job of
hiding a variety of potions and scrolls that were fastened
to Rasa's belt and tunic. Valdor could have sworn that had
twice heard him mumble something under his breath as they
walked. Always at the ready, He followed Rasa's lead, his
hand placed upon the cold hilt of his deadly sword.
"How much farther are we going to walk, gnome?"
said Hadrian, his short legs working double-time to keep
up as they traversed through the unkempt grounds of the
forest, walking through rocky outcroppings and wooded groves.
"Soon enough we shall be at our destination, and you
shall have your rest there little one," replied Rasa,
irritated by Hadrian's inquiry. As they three of them continued
along, Valdor noticed a drastic change in their surroundings.
The trees had become bare, and no longer held any life in
them. Through his half-Elven ability to see through the
darkness, he had been able to make out the shapes of various
nocturnal animals when they first entered the woods. However,
as they trekked deeper into the forest, all of the night
life he had noticed prior seemed to disappear. There were
no bats in the trees. No crickets chirped, no owls hooted.
The only sound that could be heard was that of the three
men walking through the brush and the sound of the wind
as it passed through the lifeless trees that towered above
them.
"Tell me, my good gnome, what keeps the sorceress
in such a place?" asked Valdor, hoping to uncover some
of the mystery that had befallen them. "Surely a sorceress
of her power does not make her home in the wilderness, among
the savage beasts of the forest."
Rasa turned to regard Valdor and spoke sternly, or as sternly
as a gnome could hope for, "It would not be wise to
test the Qu…sorceress of Quaron or her intentions.
She lives where she pleases and finds security and safety
within the forest. This home is temporary, not by choice
but by necessity. Soon you shall see." As he turned
he continued, "Very soon," after which Valdor's
keen sense of hearing heard him mumble again. "What
nonsense do you speak in hush tones Gnome?" asked Valdor.
Without hesitation, the Gnome replied, "Its nothing
but a simple incantation, my friend. For protection, of
course."
"For what purpose would you engage in the arts out
here?" asked Hadrian, more out of his own curiosity
than out of concern for his well-being. "We are not
the only creatures to inhabit the forest on this night my
friends, of that I assure you," replied Rasa. "Nonsense,"
Valdor stated, "I see nothing," as he scanned
around trying to figure out what Rasa was referring to.
"The creatures I speak of are not from this world,
and are beyond the simple limitations of Elven sight,"
Rasa stated disparagingly. Annoyed by the Gnome's comments,
Valdor drew Night's End from its sheath, and called upon
its power to turn darkness into light:
Radiance unbound, limitless through the night
Darkness be gone, show us your light.
No sooner had the words left Valdor's mouth, a bright beam
of blinding white light shot out from the hilt of Night's
End, reflecting across the floor and illuminating the night
sky around them. So bright was the radiance that it had
been enough to provide a circle of light for the three travelers
to see the ghastly creatures that had been held at bay by
Rasa's magic. Hadrian's eyes went wide as he drew his short
Elven sword in defense of the sight around them. Circling
above and around them, hovered a host of foul banshees,
unlike anything either Valdor or Hadrian had ever seen before.
Their gaping mouths dripping with decay and matter not from
this world, the banshees floated eerily around the group.
Female in form, the spectral creatures appeared more as
mist-like clouds. Their cries were known to torture their
enemies, as they emitted unnerving screams in the form of
sonic blasts. Despite this, the vile creatures circled in
silence, held at bay and stifled, no doubt by means of Rasa's
magic. "How is it that we are unaffected by their cries.
No man can bear the wail of the banshee!" stated a
frightened Hadrian, the normally excited expressions of
his face replaced with worry.
"My spells suppress their screams, but they will not
last forever, so I implore you to hurry along, we are almost
there," stated Rasa. Amazed at the sight before him,
Valdor quickly realized that the sounds he heard earlier
were not of the wind passing through the trees, but that
of the banshees flying above them. As they hurried along
behind the guidance of Rasa, Valdor entertained a curious
thought. For a few seconds, he playfully pondered the notion
that maybe the banshees had been more than just wandering
ghouls in a dead forest. The Banshee is a harbinger of
Death, not a haunting specter. Is it possible, he thought
to himself, That they are more of a defense against any
who would enter the forest uninvited? The thought made
him think of the sorceress, and brought a troubled expression
to his face. "Something doesn't add up, but what?"
he said to himself.
***
The group continued along the uneasy trail until they came
to a tall sheet of rock and stone that marked the end of
the path. Upon extinguishing the illumination provided by
Valdor's magical scimitar, the banshees that had encircled
them had disappeared into the night. Whether they still
circled around them or not was not known, however, both
Hadrian and Valdor had heard Rasa mumbling long after Night's
End had been returned to its sheath. Valdor examined the
wall of masonry and reached for the gnome, tapping him on
his shoulder with his hand. "What now gnome? It appears
our path has ended," he said.
"Are we to climb to meet the sorceress?" Hadrian
sarcastically questioned, the expression of skepticism beaming
on his face. Although he dreaded the thought of climbing
to the top of the rock face, the thought of exposing the
gnome as incompetent was a higher priority for Hadrian.
At that moment, Rasa threw his arms out at his side, causing
his cloak to flutter around him, and began moving his hands
in small circles, as he began chanting once again. Both
Hadrian and Valdor looked at each other, neither sure what
the gnome was saying, as it was clearly not in the common
language, and nothing that they had heard before. As the
incantation continued, the face of the stone wall before
them began to shimmer, becoming iridescent and casting translucent
shades of purple, blue and pink. Slowly, the magical seal
that had been cast on the entrance to the hidden lair dissipated
leaving a small landing of stone-carved steps that lead
into the cave-like opening. The dispelling of the simple
magic that guarded the entrance revealed a series of magical
runes that outlined the entrance to the lair, which Hadrian
was quick to make note of:
Once we entered, our surroundings shifted,
Bright lights appeared and our spirits were lifted,
As festive tunes carried and filled the air,
The site before us was of no ordinary lair.
Great statues of gold stood guard within,
And the site of jewels and silver made me grin.
Exotic draperies streamed above the hall,
And in the center of it all, was a crystalline waterfall.
Moonlight entered through the shafts in the ceiling,
Casting a pale glow and enhancing the magical feeling.
Valdor and Hadrian stood in amazement as the rock-strewn
entrance they had entered through lead them into a lavish
hall, complete with exotic canopies and linens that flowed
high above the spectacle laid out before them. As Hadrian
stared at his surroundings, a wry smile washed away the
stunned expression he wore on his tiny face as he realized
that the small torches that had been placed along some of
walls were much more than initially thought. Upon closer
examination, the torches had actually turned out to be tiny
Fire Faeries, emitting small spurts of flames as they hovered
throughout the hall. What had appeared to be a grand chandelier
hanging in the center of the hall was nothing more than
a perch for the fairies.
The area was alive with activity as men and women alike
scurried about. Some carried trays of food and jugs of drinks,
while others offered varied forms of entertainment with
music and magical displays. Long wooden tables lined the
center of the great hall. Atop the tables were a splendid
variety of different foods and fruits. Hadrian chuckled
softly as the sight of the roasted pig with an apple in
its mouth brought back memories of Dalimarnian festivals
from when he was a child. A sense of excitement removed
all notions of fatigue from the halfling's mind as he grabbed
at his bejeweled Meshgorne in anticipation of adding to
the musical sounds that filled the air. Taking in the extravagant
surroundings, Valdor couldn't help but notice the fact that
all of this lay inside a cave. He seemed surprised to find
such jubilation among those living under rock and granite.
That was more characteristic of dwarves, not Humans and
Elves. Confused by the events that were unfolding before
him, Valdor continued cautiously, not sure what to expect
next.
The group made their way through the hall following the
lead of Rasa, stopping at a magnificently carved wooden
table. At the head of the table, seated in a finely crafted
chair, was the sorceress, Sidria Ailema, her silk robes
carefully tied at her waist, constricting their ability
to flow about her aimlessly. Her long dark hair had been
pinned behind her pointed Elven ears by a silver studded
tiara that reflected the light from the nearby faeries.
"My friends, welcome to my humble home," she greeted,
raising her arms to her sides, she continued, "I thank
you for accepting my invitation. We have much to talk about,
but first, let us not waste this feast."
The sight of the sorceress brought an even bigger smile
to Hadrian's face, and as he proceeded to sit next to Sidria.
Rasa bowed his lumpy head and bid the sorceress farewell,
kissing her left hand softly and turning towards one of
the hallways that lined the elaborate room. As he took his
leave, Valdor settled into one of the chairs at the grand
table. "Quite an interesting creature, that gnome of
yours," he stated to Sidria. "Rasa is my most
loyal aide," replied Sidria. "I would be lost
without him. He has been with me since I was a child. Do
not let his demeanor take its toll on you. He means no harm."
Hadrian attempted to reply to the sorceress' comments,
no doubt to refute her kind words about her aide, but the
mouthful of boiled fowl prevented any audible words from
coming forth. Instead, the Bard emitted a muffled grunt,
then reached for his wooden mug and swallowed half of its
frothy contents, spilling most of it along his chin, causing
Valdor to shake his head in disdain, and bringing a small
grin to the sorceress's slender face.
***
Valdor's troubled mind raced back and forth while within
the sorceress' compound. Following the tribute from Sidria,
which included a blessing from the sorceress' clerics, Valdor
had taken it upon himself to roam about the great hall,
hoping to find answers to the questions floating in his
head. He had left Hadrian with Sidria, who had found the
sorceress' entertainment to be most amusing and had even
engaged in the song singing with some of the musicians.
Valdor could hear his singing as clearly as if he had been
standing next to the Bard:
I sing this time to add to your cheer,
But beware as my song instills fear.
For at a grand festival very much like this
Something strange and peculiar was amiss.
See, all had gathered to drink and eat,
To toast and cheer for a mate,
But there was one who appeared out of the darkness,
Surrounded by his minions of hate.
Hadrian stood and pulled his hood over his head. Deepening
his voice and raising his arms, he continued:
From his eyes burned a fiery hell
How he could see, no one could tell.
The crowd stood still, I tell you no lie,
And many thought that they would surely die.
He challenged any who would so dare
To face him and hold his stare.
But any who tried and looked away,
Would never again see the light of day.
Pulling down the hood and jumping forward to scare his
audience, the crowd of listeners let out a collective gasp
as the small Bard smiled and continued to entertain them
with his song:
Not to toot my own horn, but I guess I must,
See I stood up to that demon and turned him to dust.
When I stood before him to face his glare,
He did something foolish which no other should dare.
He insulted my song and spit on my trade,
And my anger rose as he continued his tirade.
Then I blew my horn before his dreadful scowl,
And as it tore him apart he let out a howl.
I stood the victor as the demon fell,
And all of his minions were banished to Hell.
The people cheered and sang through the night,
And declared me a hero, what a grand sight!
As the song ended, Hadrian held his arms out and bowed,
as the listeners around him clapped and cheered for more.
Glancing around, he took great pleasure in noticing that
Sidria had joined in the call for an encore. The adoration
from his audience caused his cheeks to redden and his smile
to widen, as the onlookers encircled him.
As the cheering from Hadrian's song tapered off, Valdor
had made his way to a small rock cropping off to the side
of the large chamber. He pulled himself up to its flat top
and observed the gathering set before him. He could not
remember the last time his curiosity had gotten the best
of him as it had this evening. Scanning the room, he wondered
to himself, Why does the sorceress seclude herself in
the cave? She does not seem like the same woman from the
Inn. Valdor thought back to the tale the sorceress had
told of her near demise at the hand of the Darconite assassin
and thought, This woman before me is no damsel in distress.
She is powerful indeed. So why does she seek my help?
To Valdor, it seemed as though the sorceress was out of
place, like a piece of a puzzle that did not fit. As he
continued to toil with the thought, his eyes became fixed
on the scene across from him. From across the room, he saw
his small companion staring at the sorceress. As if in total
awe of her beauty, Hadrian's eyes were fixed steadily on
the sorceress, his mouth open, engrossed by the sight before
him.
He could see Sidria staring back at the Hadrian, but neither
appeared to be speaking. Suddenly, still holding his stare,
Hadrian's mouth began to move as the sorceress closed her
eyes and smiled. In observing the sorceress, Valdor too
had been intrigued at how beautiful she appeared, even from
where he sat. Her movements were fluid and graceful, her
features so soft and delicate. He found himself admiring
the curls of dark hair that fell by the sorceress' shoulders,
and was shockingly reminded of the woman in his visions.
Thoughts of the woman flooded his mind, which was quickly
followed with cringing despair and a dull sense of pain
across his back. Suddenly, Valdor felt constricted by his
surroundings. The sounds of laughter and festivity from
all around him began to echo in his cluttered head. Fighting
the dizziness that had begun creeping through his mind,
he moved from the rocky ledge to the floor and struggled
to make his way outside of the hall as his surroundings
slowly shifted, moving back and forth is slow motion. Hands
pressed against the cool stone walls of the cave, he stumbled
on weak legs along the corridor that led towards the entrance
of the cave, the faint scent of orchids again filling his
nostrils.
***
The deep, distant howl of some unknown creature brought
Valdor back to his senses. Disoriented, he stood to determine
how far he had traveled out of the cave before passing out
into the darkness. By the location of the half-moon that
lay suspended in the sky, he estimated that he had been
unconscious for quite some time. As he brushed loose dirt
and grass from his long cloak and leather tunic, the sound
of a snapping twig from behind him alerted him to the presence
of another. With unmatched quickness, he instinctly reached
for the deadly weapon he kept at his side. As the cold steel
of Night's End flashed in the moonlight, a voice came from
the darkness behind him. "It is quite amazing that
a creature as tormented as yourself could appear so gentle
and at ease while asleep." Recognizing the sorceress'
soft and gentle tone, he turned to regard Sidria, replying,
"Tis'anything but sleep, my lady. The images I see
do not allow such a thing." Relaxing his body as he
let out a heavy sigh, he continued, "My thoughts are
anything but gentle, I assure you. The pain I fell is enough
to drive any man insane," he said coldly, returning
his mystical weapon to its covering.
Stepping out of the shadows, the sorceress replied, "Yet
oddly enough, you remain sane, Valdor. You embrace your
ailment, where as any other would succumb to its madness."
Moving closer to Valdor, Sidria caught his eyes with her
own and extended her hand to him. Stepping away from her
and turning his head away, Valdor replied, "You could
not possibly understand the interminable curse that holds
me in its grasp…it strangles me in my sleep, tortures
my soul when I wake."
Aware of the pained expression upon Valdor's face, Sidria
moved towards him again, "I have told you once before,
you and I have much in common. Like you, I do not know the
comforts of sleep," she stated. "It is out here,
in the wilderness, that I find comfort from my troubles."
"As do I," replied Valdor. Looking around at
the dark trees and down at the moist grass, he added, "It
reminds me of days long gone, of better times." In
looking up at the sorceress, he locked his eyes into her
gaze and instantly felt a refreshing breath of fresh air
pass through him. Feeling as though a weight had been taken
off his shoulders, Valdor crouched to the ground and proceeded
to sit on the wet grass, damp with the morning dew.
"You are not alone in your sentiments, my troubled
friend. I too have bitter memories of days long gone."
As if reminded by her own words, a thin smile crept into
the sorceress' face. Circling around towards Valdor's left,
she continued, "We are more alike that you can possibly
imagine." Stopping behind Valdor, she placed a soft
hand on his shoulder. Body movements, sitting walking etc,
eye contact movement
Looking down at Valdor, Sidria continued, "The night
has different meaning to those who cannot sleep."
Valdor nodded his head, cutting off the sorceress, "It
is like an eternity of loneliness when the world around
you sleeps. You are left with nothing but the haunting images
that remain in your thoughts." He turned his head towards
the moonlit sky and continued, "No rest. No recourse.
Only yourself and nothing more."
Closing her eyes, the sorceress responded, "I know
what you see Valdor. I know the visions you keep. The woman
in your head. I too have seen her," after which she
slowly opened her eyes to find Valdor looking up at her
from where he sat.
Shocked by Sidria's words, he stared at her in amazement
as the moonlight cast shadows across the sharp features
of the woman's striking face. How could she know of my
visions? he thought. "Are you cursed as I am?"
he asked Sidria. "Do you feel pain as I do?" He
was reminded of how she had known certain things about him
when they first met. He thought to himself, Is this some
sort of twisted magic?
Sidria stepped around Valdor, stopping in front of him
and motioning for him to stand. As Valdor stood, Sidria
extended her right arm and softly rubbed Valdor's left shoulder.
"I see what most cannot, my friend, and I know what
many do not." Standing face to face, Valdor could smell
the sweet flowery perfume of the sorceress. Moving her free
hand in a semi-circle with two fingers extended, a small
circle of light appeared and followed the circular movements
of her hand, her fingers bending the light and forming mysterious
symbols in mid air. The light continued to grow, forming
a semi-transparent illusion of a large valley. "This
is where you will find the woman from your visions,"
she said as Valdor's eyes took in the display before him.
"This is why I requested your presence here tonight,
to give you direction for your quest."
"And what ask you in return?" inquired Valdor.
Upon hearing the sorceress' reply, Valdor had almost been
sorry he had asked the question. "All I ask is that
you bring her here once she is rescued, nothing more. She
is special to me and that is all I will say," Sidria
said. Suddenly, the veil of mystery that had shrouded Valdor's
view of the sorceress before him became even thicker.
***
As the sorceress sat in her chambers, she stared at the
giant metallic mirror that hung magically suspended above
the floor across from her. She studied her reflection for
a moment, running her long fingers through her dark blue-black
hair and pondered the upcoming events, or more so, what
the outcome of the events would be. If all went as planned,
she would soon have the upper hand on her enemies. The stage
had been set and the pieces had begun falling into place.
She would soon possess the child, and with that, knowledge
of the crystal. The Black Shard of Odan. The thought of
possessing the child and the shard brought much relief to
the sorceress. Soon enough I shall return home, she
thought to herself.
End Chapter Three
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