by David Diaz
Chapter two
Enormous trees parted evenly which bloomed beautiful evergreens were a constant reminder of a time when her mother was alive. They would walk together at least five times out of the week in search of eatables and provisions for home. Till this day she can feel her presence as she strides, even if it is all in her mind, she found a way to cope with her beloved mother’s murder.
“Maybe I am not strong enough mother” She said to herself.
“He was just a boy” she whimpered.
“It was for the greater good, mother” Knowing no reply would ever come.
The heat from the midday sun was bearing down, the lack of ventilation in her armor and tight leather attire locked the heat internally. Exhaustion crept up her legs and she began to misstep and then decided it was time to rest. Her journey was already long and tiresome and she felt it was time to reserve some strength for the unexpected.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, it was either him or me” She bellowed.
“He must have tracked me from the village, and attempted to put an end to my life, I don’t want to die mother” She cried.
“I miss you so much...” She sobbed.
Falling to her knees, in sorrow she looked ahead wiping her tears. Taking notice of something recognizable, something about this region was familiar to her, flashes of her mother taking her to gather herbs during the early spring, in this very place. There was something special about this place she couldn’t remember clearly. Her eyes widen and her mouth gapped open when she noticed a particular facade of rocks. She attempted to run and staggered instead toward the powdery white limestone entrance that resembled the outer shell of a sea clam.
“Mother, I remember this, I do remember this, oh lord the underground cavern” She said elated.
She felt delirious and tripped on her own two feet and dug into the ground and continued to crawl her way to the foot of the cavern entrance and then laid there reminiscing. Visions were clear, her soft spoken mother would take her by the hand and would teach her how to search for root mats inside the cave. She remembered the first time they came here and how she back backpedaled in fear of the darkness that dwelled inside the cavern. That memory brought a smile to her face, she realized then the only thing she has to fear is fear itself.
“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom, right mother” She said with a smile.
Stepping closer to the cavern entrance she realized that relief from the hellish sun was indeed close.
“The cold water springs” she said delighted.
Desperately wanting relief from the smoldering heat, she sprang up and began to remove her armor and leather garments. With each step closer she stripped off her clothes piece by piece, until she was bare and free of restrictive movement and with a joyous temperament she dove head first into the large basin of water. Instantly she felt rejuvenated and refreshed as she floated on her back and basked in the calm of the water. Feeling as if not a care in the world her mind was transported to visions of her beloved mother.
She remembered how enchanted this place felt to her at such a young age, it still has a magical feel to it, she thought. Her mother brought her here in search of rare roots. The root mats, which looked like shiny crystals held incredible healing properties, making note to grab some on her way onward.
“Nothing more, right mother, don’t ever take more than you will ever need.” She said out loud while she floated restfully.
Suddenly she heard the scraping of footsteps on the entrance gravel and abruptly turned to seek for her sword, which laid in the trail of armor and clothing at the edge of the spring.
Cautiously she let her body sink underwater and swam to the darkest far end of the pool and stood hidden, she rose quietly to the surface revealing just her piercing greenish blue eyes. She watched as the man dressed in soft muslin garb picked up her belongings and inspected them. She began to feel even more naked now that someone was grabbing her clothes.
“Hello, is anyone there.” He said while scanning the cavern for someone, and noticed the sword lodged into the earth.
“I am here to gather water, I request safe passage that is all.”
He was a middle-aged small bald man, who she figured can be easily over powered if need be.
“Hello?” he hollered.
He seemed to have no weapons, and appeared sincere. From years of practice speaking in a masculine voice she hollered from the darkness.
“I’ll be out in a second, is it customary to touch what isn’t yours?” She spoke in her best masculine voice.
She knew her disguised voice has yet again fooled another, it always did. There were times her friends were convinced she was gifted with a male’s voice. Till this day it never sounded like a compliment to her.
The small man apologized and agreed to wait outside and dropped all her belongings, and sauntered outside the cavern. When she lost sight of him she quickly swam to her sword and rushed to get dressed.
“Do you need any assistance” He asked from outside the cavern.
Becoming annoyed with his impatience behavior she almost spoke in her feminine voice.
“I am capable.., of dressing myself” She bellowed.
“How can I be so careless” She thought.
Fully dressed she grabbed her sword and remembered there was an opening at the far end of the cavern, a water well she could climb up and make her escape.
“What is taking so long, you take longer than my husband and he’s such a perfectionist” He said in his attempt at humor.
“For fuck sake wait a moment” She hollered in her deepest tone.
He was shocked to hear such vulgarity and quickly became silent and suspicious and alarmed his companions.
Heading to the far end of the cavern she followed the passage to the water well. The light illuminated the rusted coins at the bed of the pool.
“Such wasted dreams, you make your own dreams.” She thought to herself.
There was just enough room to climb to the top of the well. The inner walls were covered in slimy green moss and spider webs which she detested.
She could never conquer the fear of spiders and she was hoping this time it would be different, her skin began to crawl and panic set in and all she could do was repeat the wisdom of her mother over and over again as she gradually moved upward. Having to expend most her energy and strength to grab and hoist herself up, she began to feel extremely tired. Gripping the sides and climbing up she managed to get to the top of the outer rim of the well, her strength was depleted she held strong to the edge of the well and then with eyes wide open the light around her began to fade into darkness. Soon after she lost consciousness.
