by C S Harrop
Darkshore
The Lost Soul
By
C. S. Harrop
Prophecy of the Seers
(Bourn of two sparks)
“A lost soul trapped in a shade’s blight,
she travels towards darkness
a bringer of death and the first spark of light.
Light against dark will be equally torn,
from the ashes of a great war
will bring a new age of a new dawn.
What hangs in the noose will come to all,
when surrounded by destruction
her Angarian soul does not choose to fall.
From out of the shadow will arise another,
a second spark of light and
like fellow Guardians you will call brother.”
Chapter 1
Beginning of an End
A biting cold lingered in the night’s air with a silvery mist flowing over the dark ripples of water pushing out evenly from the bow of the ship. An eerie calmness melted into the darkness with only the noise of a slight breeze sweeping across the sails and the creaking of timber that could be heard as the ship pulled into the snow covered deserted harbour of Shallow Bay.
Their footsteps etched into the lightly snow covered wooden decking of the harbour as two hooded figures stepped from the boat. Followed closely by an elegant woman illuminating the night in a long dark blue and gold trim dress and a fur lined hooded cloak carefully holding a baby wrapped in a thick embroidered blanket close to her chest.
“The mist is thick,” stated an unshaven man wearing a guard’s uniform of brushed steel and dark leather armour with a matching steel helmet covered by a long dark blue cape. “We could be heading straight into a trap for all we know!”
“Scout ahead; you are trained for this you can handle anything that comes our way. Move silently and keep alert, the mist blinds us so use your other senses,” ordered the woman. “We will be home soon my darling,” whispering softly and giving her baby a loving kiss.
Moving forward the armoured companion headed cautiously into the mist away from the harbour onto the open snow covered ground and towards the faint outline of a trees. It had not taken long for the mist to envelop him as his silhouette slowly faded out of view leaving behind his carefully trodden snow prints. The elegant woman along with her female protector continued with caution crossing the snow covered decking of the harbour listening for the faintest of sounds through the cold night air that would suggest they were not alone.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” the auburn haired female guard said with her sharp blue eyes scouring the mist. “The mist seems unnatural in some way.”
Suddenly echoing through the mist came a loud and painful scream. Holding her spear tightly, with hesitation not wanting to leave the lady undefended the female guard as ordered ran ahead into the mist finding her fellow companion laying on the snow covered ground with smoke rising from the chest of his lifeless body.
“Get out of here now my lady it’s a trap, get back on the boat,” shouted the female guard rushing urgently back through the mist towards the harbour and to the defence of the mother and child.
“It’s too late. I don’t know how but she has found us,” the elegant woman said to herself clutching her baby tighter in her arms as a shadowy figure emerged from the mist.
A dark haired woman came into view wearing a shredded knee length hooded cloak, her body wrapped in strips of warn darkened leather with small patches of a metal armour gleaming from beneath were the leather had torn. Fused with dark magic her eyes were as black as her heart clutching a staff that looked to be made of decaying twisted tree roots with extruded twig looking fingers held in place a dark coloured jewel that illuminated the mist around her with a faint aura of red.
“It’s taken me a lot of time and effort to find you Ashantia. You know why I am here, hand over that child and I will give you a quick death or I will make sure you beg for me to kill you,” threatened the clocked woman with a mocking smile but with a meaning of intent behind it.
“You will never have my child Onyxia. She is destined to be your downfall and to bring an end to the destruction and darkness you spread throughout the lands,” replied Ashantia not backing down from Onyxia’s menacing presence. “You know you can’t change what the Seers have foreseen Onyxia, if you don’t realise this now you will do eventually. In the very last seconds of your life and your world around you has crumbled, at that point you will see my daughter’s face looking down at you defeated wandering how it all went wrong. The moment you choose to study the dark arts is where you went wrong.”
“That’s where you’re wrong Ashantia, the dark arts has made me what I am today. Queen and ruler of this world.”
“Queen! Now I know you have lost your mind. The kingdoms of the west will never bow down to you they would fight until their last breath.”
“That I can guarantee Ashantia it will be their last dying breath if they don’t bow before me,” promised Onyxia.
“Run my lady and leave her to me. Save the child!” Shouted the female guard putting herself between Ashantia and Onyxia. The guard raised her long metallic spear and launched herself forward with speed changing mid run to a sweeping motion sending the razor sharp tip towards Onyxia throat. Dodging the spear took little effort for Onyxia, outstretching her twisted staff she sent a mass of electrical energy at the female guard propelling her back towards the wooden decking crashing hard through the wooden walkway and into the icy waters, leaving behind her spear embedded into the snow-covered ground.
Ashantia watched helplessly as her companion crashed with the sound of snapping wood into the water leaving a trail of a disturbed mist in the cold night air. The metallic of the staff shone bright against the snowy surroundings, Ashantia sadly knew her female companion could not have survive such a direct blast from Onyxia and the icy waters. Quickly turning her attention back to Onyxia, Ashantia knew she could not fight without risking harm coming to her child. Stepping from the deserted boat, she was well aware they were out in the open with no way of escape on the deserted harbour.
“Give me the child Ashantia and I shall make your death a quick one. Darkshore is already waiting for you and your child,” beckoned Onyxia with her outstretched tattooed hand.
Ashantia put her daughters face to hers and gave her a loving kiss only a mother could give and whispered softly in her ear, “I will always be with you Ashalia my love.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she held her daughter high above her head and shouted with absolution, “You shall never have her.” With a flash of a swirling bright light, the child was gone. Realising what had happened Ashantia did not think it was possible that Onyxia could look any more twisted and evil than she already was. The markings on Onyxia’s palm glowed a deep red that transferred and energised her staff, with one quick swiping motion a powerful mass of energy was unleashed towards Ashantia slamming her a good distance across the snow covered ground.
“What have you done, where have you sent the child - servant of the light?” Asked Onyxia in a shocked and world shattered voice.
“She is safe that is all you need to know you witch,” muttered Ashantia through pained breathing. “She is the prophecy who is destined to destroy you; there is nothing you can do to change its course no matter how much you try. But you already know this don’t you, and you will still try in vain.”
“You have just slowed the inevitable that is all. I will find her and show all the kingdoms not even a prophecy of the Seers can stop me. I will make it my mission to personally execute the entire Seer community.”
With a mocking grin on her face, hiding her true feelings for her baby daughter’s future Ashantia slowly rose to her feet trying to put the pain to the back of her mind and
to show Onyxia she will never give up. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”
The marks on the palm of Ashantia’s hands glowed a bright blue, and then with a forward reflex she poured all of her energy out of her outstretched hands sending two fizzling balls of energy towards Onyxia. Onyxia stumbled back with the impact but managed to disperse the energy with a defensive shield that takes the brunt of the force and dissipated across the invisible arch. Onyxia was quick to counter strike sending multiple fist sized crackling energy orbs at Ashantia hitting her on different parts of her body. Only able to block a few of Onyxia’s orbs, Ashantia felt her limbs draining with each impact. Weaker and weaker Ashantia became has Onyxia’s dark magic devoured her to the point she was on her knees. Ashantia’s arms began to shake the blue aura around her hands flickered has her energy drained from her weakened body. With all her hatred that had built up inside over the years for the woman now kneeling before her Onyxia released a final mass of energy that blasted Ashantia with force back down to the snow covered ground. Unable to move Onyxia stood over Ashantia’s body with a sign of both enjoyment and frustration on her pale face.
“Now Ashantia Darkshore is awaiting you. It’s the end for you in this world, like your daughter’s will be in time,” Onyxia said all emotion suddenly disappeared from her face.
“You shall never find her,” groaned Ashantia looking up at her pale face struggling to find breath.
Onyxia took hold of a dark carved jewel from around her neck and held it over Ashantia by the chain. The stone started to tremble as it latched on to Ashantia body, her screams travelled far and wide as the jewel painfully tore Ashantia’s soul from her body and trapped it within. Placing the chain back around her neck letting the jewel hang loose to her chest the presence of Ashantia emanated to the touch. “I can feel your mind, your memories betrays you.” Looking down at Ashantia now lifeless body. “Elora, so it is Elora who has the girl.”
Priestess Onyxia clicked her fingers, moments later a figure of small stature appeared through the mist. A menacing looking goblin dressed in dirty leather armour once belonged to soldiers of the western lands and armed with a long rusty dagger tucked into his worn belt walked sneakily over to Onyxia. Waist height looking up at the dark priestess with his wide eyes and oily grey skin.
“You summoned me my queen,” stated the goblin in a quiet but menacing voice with an uncontrollable facial twitch that effected his right eye.
“Yes Snitch I have more prey for you to hunt. You must seek a human female an Elder named Elora she now has the child. I knew her in a different life she treated Ashantia like a daughter, find her and you‘ll find the Lost Soul. You know how important this is to me Snitch don’t fail me.”
“I found the lost soul once I will find it again my queen,” backing away silently and disappearing into the mist covered trees.
Chapter 2
Disturbance
Winter settled in and around The Great Forest with icy winds sweeping through the huge ancient trees disturbing the snow from the higher branches that flurried down and across a vast frozen surface of Lake Erat to the east.
Across the ice, smoke rose above a dense covering of leafless trees on a small island located near the centre of Lake Erat. A small wooden boat lay half resting on the frozen bank of the island with a barely distinguishable pathway of icy mud and trodden white snow leading up through the trees to a doorway of a dimly lit log cabin.
The flames of the crackling fire were tall and comforting as they burnt through neatly stacked the dried logs. The glare of the worn dinted pots hung on the wall reflecting the shifting light of the fire across the wooden decor of the cabin.
“Where is that girl?” a worried old woman said aloud to herself as she got up from the table throwing down the knife in frustrating she was using to prepare dinner.
After several times of looking out of the window and pacing up and down the creaking floorboards she opened the main door to the cabin readying to tackle the elements. The icy cold wind blew her long silver hair across her aged but knowledgeable face. Flinging a fur shawl around her shoulders and wrapped it tightly around her, she walked down the pathway in her matching fur boots stopping short of the small wooden boat.
“Asha!” Shouted the woman, her voice travelled far as it echoed across the icy surface. “Ashalia!” She shouted again in a more heightened voice of both worry and annoyance.
Through the falling snow, a silhouette of a person appeared in the distance coming from The Great Forest. A young woman wearing a warm hooded fur coat, matching boots and hide trousers emerged dragging a sled behind.
It took some time to cross the frozen lake but slowly she reached the boat were the annoyed old woman no longer stood. She knew she was not doing to be in Aunt Elora’s good books entering The Great Forest was forbidden. Asha reached the cabin door kicked the snow from her boots and took a deep breath before stepping inside.
“Where have you been?” Snapped Aunt Elora knowing full well the direction she saw Asha coming from.
“Finding food Aunt Elora. We haven’t had anything but fish from the lake for such a long time, so I trapped these rabbits in the forest,” pointing to the rabbits and dry pieces of wood she brought in with her from the sled. Asha threw four rabbits onto the table and sat down in a creaky wooden chair by the fire holding her tingling hands over the flames as they thawed.
“I told you never to go into the Great Forest, it is too dangerous. What if you were seen?” Aunt Elora said still fuming.
“I am nearly seventeen years old Aunt Elora, I can take care of myself,” placing more logs on the fire. “I needed to see something different then these four walls, so I thought I would go trap us some food instead of eating fish from the lake day in and day out.”
“Staying close to home and going in the forest are two different things Asha. I promised your mother when you were born I would keep you safe and care for you as my own if anything should happen to her,” stated Elora angrily sitting back down at the table chopping vegetables.
“I know Aunt Elora but I can’t hide in here all my life hoping Onyxia doesn’t find me.” She said removing her long dark grey hooded fur coat to reveal short length wavy black hair and wearing a thick brown long sleeved top that wrapped around her body fastening with small buckles up on side and darker trousers with a rusty buckle at the front tucked into her fur boots.
“No you can’t but using some caution will help. The Great Forest has decayed over the years it has become a very dark place, it wouldn’t take Priestess Onyxia long to get word of you if you were seen.”
“You have taught me well Aunt Elora, you have shown me how to control the power within me I am not totally defenceless,” insisted Asha trying to defend her action but knowing deep down Aunt Elora was correct.
“You know who hunts you. We have been moving from place to place ever since your mother sent you to me hoping that murderous witch would never find you. For your power I have taught you only the very basics of your abilities Asha, you have much to learn and been able to control your emotional side is top of the list. You could easily lose control again.”
“Then show me Aunt Elora,” Asha asked which seemed like the hundredth time over the years.
“It is too dangerous to go more in-depth into your training Onyxia has spies everywhere, if anything should go wrong I dread to think what would happen if she found you.” Placing the vegetables into a pan of water and hanging it on a metal hook within the fireplace to cook.
“You told me my mother died protecting me and that I am very important to our world but you refuse to tell me anything else. There are many questions I need answering Aunt Elora, it is tearing me up inside and has been for a long time.”
“For the final time Asha, I can’t tell you for your own safety,” replied Aunt Elora in a tone to end the subject. “With just a whisper of your presence here Onyxia would hear it and she would be here in a blink of an eye.”
“Just tell me a
little more about my mother and my father and why am I so very important to Onyxia and what are the marks are on the palm of my hands and what do they mean? I know they channel my power as yours do, but why?” Asked Asha with mixed emotions suddenly building up with trickles of tears running from her green eyes down her pale face. Her tears became a river as her dam of emotions burst. Her hands began to shake and the marks on her palm came alive glowing a brilliant blue illuminating the dimly candle lit cabin. Asha’s eyes widened with fright, quickly standing up frantically waving her outstretched hands turning in all direction not knowing how to control the power.
“Aunt Elora, it’s happening again I can’t stop it,” shouted Asha trying to extinguish her glowing palms by patting her hands together which only made the glow more intense.
“You need to calm yourself Asha your losing control, concentrate! The power is within you; do not let it control you. So concentrate take hold of the power you feel and rein it back in,” Aunt Elora said sternly holding her hands steady.
“I can’t Aunt Elora I can feel it getting more powerful, it’s ready to explode,” replied a panicking Asha waving her hands out in front all attempts to subdue the power now exhausted.
“Quickly go outside Asha - run,” Aunt Elora rushing to opening the door to the cabin. “You’re going to destroy the cabin, quickly Asha go to the lake.”
Asha ran as fast as she could down the path avoiding the leafless branches protruding from the dull coloured trees trying to get far away from the cabin not knowing what damage she may cause.
She just managed to reach the edge of the iced lake when the full force of Asha’s power exploded, blasting a huge section of the lake into the air scattering chunks of ice far and wide destroying the wooden boat that lay half rested on the frozen bank.
