by Nichelle Rae
I eventually bowed my head and turned away, continuing to walk with Ortheldo. We were going to endure a lot of travel time on our feet, but I wasn’t concerned for that. Instead, I was becoming a bit frightened about going off into the unfamiliar. Fear was not a feeling I liked very much, and my father told me to be brave, so I drove down the fear inside me, forcing it back into the chasm from whence it emerged. Come hell or high water, I was not going to be afraid!
Little did I know that high water would be one thing that I would fear greatly.
Ortheldo and I had been traveling on foot for over a month. Unfortunately, we found ourselves traveling through the worst winter Casdanarus had seen in many years. We estimated that by foot it would take us at least six months, and maybe more, to reach the general vicinity of The Pitt, so we had no choice but to press through.
One day a horrible blizzard swirled around us as we came to the bank of a river. We thought it was the Ambuel River, but we weren’t completely sure since we couldn’t see two feet in front of us. With our cloaks wrapped tightly around us, we warily approached the bank. The river wasn’t very wide. The high branches from the trees on each bank nearly touched each other. But this river was very deep and famous for its rapids and currents.
Luckily, the part of the river we approached was frozen enough to hold a little bit of snow on top of the ice, so we thought it best to cross there. Ortheldo walked ahead of me to test its thickness.
He came back in moments. “It’s good! We can cross here!” he yelled over the howling wind.
The biting chill iced our bones as solidly as it iced the river over. Slowly and carefully we tip-toed onto the slippery surface. Step by step we began to walk over it. As we drew near the opposite shore, I was just starting to feel better about this when suddenly something felt wrong. It took a moment to register because I didn’t understand what was happening. A sudden shadow of dread grew in my mind and diminished the good feeling I had about making it to the opposite shore.
Something was wrong. I felt it deep, deep in the very pit of my soul. A certain sick feeling of evil consumed my insides. Before I could get the words out to Ortheldo that we should turn back, a large branch, almost as large as a tree itself, lost its battle with the weight of snow, ice, and wind.
Our heads snapped up as the branch careened down toward us. We jumped out of the way just as it crashed into the ice, breaking it apart. The cold of the ice penetrated my clothes, making me shiver, and my hands burned, indicating new cuts from breaking my fall. After gathering my senses, I unsteadily found my footing and made my way to Ortheldo, who was picking himself up off the ice.
“Are you okay?” I yelled.
He nodded a reply. “Are you?”
I nodded.
Before either of us could say anything else, a sudden gust of wind blew. Ortheldo was tall and thickly built, so he kept his footing. My body, while still muscular, was thinner, and absolutely no match for this wind. It blew me off balance, and with the slippery ice the only thing under my feet, I went flying backward into the broken ice.
Splash! I was in the water!
Submerged, I screamed from the pain of the freezing water. I popped up and instantly screamed again! With my hair in my eyes and my arms flailing about, I reached for something, anything to grab and pull myself up! I felt the slick surface of the ice above me and grasped at it, desperately trying to get a firm hold on something! In my panic, I just barely felt Ortheldo’s hand trying to grasp mine, but before he could take hold of me, something gripped my ankle and pulled me under the water and ice again. Whatever it was suddenly clamped down hard, and I felt teeth in my flesh! I screamed in pain, releasing what little air was in my lungs. Some filthy river creature had me! I kicked at it with my free foot and felt a slick, scaly surface under my boot. My eyes opened and I saw the long tail end of a Vec Fish in my face—a giant half-snake, half-fish creature that came out only during the winter, and a carnivore on top of that!
I looked up. The water above me was moving, and realized I wasn’t under the ice anymore. I could save myself. My lungs burned for air as I reached back and pulled a dagger from the top pocket of my pack. With all my strength, I thrust it upward into the underbelly of the Vec Fish. It jerked once then released me before swimming off, leaving a fading trail of blood behind. I scratched for the surfaced and exploded out of the water, gasping in a breath of freezing air. I wasn’t trapped under the ice, but now I was in the rapids! I desperately tried to cling to a passing rock, but the current took me underwater again in a mind-boggling rush, and I was swept away.
I held what breath I had, and there was nothing for me to do except endure the pain, the freezing, merciless pain of the river and my throbbing ankle. I lost feeling in my fingers and toes. My body surfaced periodically, and each time I gasped in sweet gulps of air, only to release it again with another scream for Ortheldo. I tried to look for him as the river swept me farther away, but my view didn’t last long, and soon I would fight the painful water again. I didn’t even know if he was near enough to see me or hear me, or if he even could hear me over the raging wind and water. The current took me under again and again, barely giving me enough time to draw any breath.
I struggled for what seemed like years to get to the shore. I felt my eyes start to roll in the back of my head, but no! I had to hold on! I had to endure this pain. I had to get to the bank! With my traveling pack weighing me down on top of the fact that I’d never learned to swim, I’d been carried easily two miles down the river before I finally collapsed on land.
My mind was mush. Snow swirled around me and the wind seemed to blow harder. I was beyond any measure of cold, lying face down and soaking wet on the snowy riverbank. My pack, seeming to have tripled in weight, was crushing my already laboring lungs. I began to feel ice form all over my body as if I were growing another hard, cold, thin layer of skin. I was forcefully, painfully drawing in breaths. I didn’t even attempt to move my fingers or hands; for all I knew they had been cut off. I started to believe that this was it; I was going to die here.
Without realizing what I was doing, I took the hilt of the sword my father gave me. “Evil will never get it. It’s safe. I won’t fail you, Father,” I whispered aloud as I shivered in the cold. I whispered this repeatedly. The only thought that ran through my head was, just hold on to the sword. Don’t let anyone touch it, as the white snow around me faded into darkness.
“So here at last is where I find you,” a soft voice said.
As I came to a bit of awareness, I immediately wished I hadn’t. I was in too much pain to bear!
Footsteps! Strangers! I thought weakly. The sword. My hand was still holding onto it. Thank goodness. They’ll never get it, I thought to myself, if I hold on.
Unable to open my eyes and look at my surroundings, I used my other senses—or what was left of them anyway. My bones and skin were frozen solid, and I had no feeling in my legs. I wondered if they were still attached to my body. I could still hear the river rushing behind me, so I was still lying on the riverbank. The blizzard had stopped, but a pile of snow had accumulated on top of me. How long had I been out here? How was I still alive?
I focused on the sound of the stranger’s boots crushing the snow as he neared me. “Stay away,” I said. “You’ll never get it. I won’t let you have it. Stay away.” I spoke in such a soft, weak voice that I doubted anyone heard me. My lips cracked and bled when I moved them, and I winced in pain.
I felt my pack being removed from my back— somehow, without my arms moving—then hands tenderly rolled me over. Someone picked me up. My clothes and skin cracked and crunched from the layer of ice that had formed all over me. My head hung heavy, feeling ten times its weight due to the snow and ice frozen in my hair. It was painful to be moved. Only the Light Gods knew how long I’d been frozen in that same position.
I ignored the pain and bent my thoughts to the sword, which, no doubt was frozen in my hand anyway. “Stay away. You’ll never get it,” I
said again, softly, as I was held tenderly in a pair of arms.
“Show me your eyes, young one,” a kind male voice said as its owner placed his hand on my forehead. Beyond any will of my own, I felt my eyelids lift, and my blurry vision was filled with a pair of soft blue eyes. My vision came into focus a little more and I saw that it was an elderly man with a kind smile hidden by a long white beard. How he had picked me up and was holding me I couldn’t guess.
Despite his kind appearance I held fast to the sword. “You’ll never get it. I will fight you if I must,” I said, barely above a whisper. I didn’t convince myself any more than I did him. My words only made the man’s smile widen.
“You are in no shape to be making threats, young Azrel,” he said. “But lucky for you I mean you no harm. I’m here to help you.”
“You know who I am?” I asked in soft surprise. I lived such a sheltered life. How did this stranger know me? Then Ortheldo came to my mind. He must have found help! “Ortheldo!” I gasped, meekly struggling to free myself from the man’s arms and run to him, wherever he might be. “Where is he? Is he okay? I must see…”
“Shh, shh,” the man said, gently. “You are weak and delirious. Hush now. I’m going to make you well.” Before I could give him a piece of my mind for calling me delirious, darkness claimed me again.
I awoke to the sweet sound of music and soft singing. It was such a lovely sound to hear, but it was quickly the last thing on my mind when I realized the sword wasn’t in my hand! I sat straight up in the massive bed I was lying in to search for it. I didn’t have to look far since it was right at my side on the bed, with a shear white material wrapped around the hilt. I impatiently ripped the material off and threw it to the floor. I breathed a sigh of relief and took a firm hold of the diamond hilt.
As I looked around, I had no clue where I was or how I’d gotten in this room—if it could be called a room. There was no glass in the windows, no doors, and no roof. Streaks of yellow sunlight shone down above me through the branches of rich, brown trees, illuminating their golden leaves.
Leaves? But its winter, I thought to myself, confused.
That’s when I realized I was basically sitting outdoors, and I didn’t see any snow. The temperature was rather warm and comfortable. With my brows drawn I continue to look around, hoping to find an explanation.
The tree trunks protruding through the floor of my “room” were bunched tightly together (except in front of my balcony) and bore beautiful carvings long scarred over. They were carvings of different leaves, fruits, flowers, or vines. The walls looked like any normal wooden one in any ordinary house, except they stood only four feet tall. Needless, empty archways rose from the top of the short walls to serve as glassless window frames. Empty archways also rose from the floors and served as doorways leading from one “room” to another, or out onto a small balcony. Why the arches were there at all I couldn’t even guess. Warm, sweet-smelling air softly blew all around me, and I almost felt as if I could breathe more easily than ever just by being here—wherever “here” was.
My bed was covered in a lovely gold silk cloth with weaves of deep green throughout it, and matching gold woven pillows at the head of the bed. This was quite luxurious compared to what I was used to; a cave. I looked down at myself and found that I had on a beautiful cream -colored nightgown with lace lining and floral embroideries. Though it was lovely, I felt like a fool wearing it. I was used to sleeping in pants and a long-sleeved top. This was strange to me; it was so…feminine.
I looked to the balcony, which allowed me a partial view of the beautiful land that I was in. I was up in a tree in of this woodland that sat on the edge of a wide lake. I couldn’t see much of the land from my bed, but I imagined what I couldn’t see. The land looked as if nothing, not even time, could touch it. Young and new, it seemed, though so ancient at the same time.
I was enthralled with the rich, golden-brown beauty of this land, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to indulge in it for very long. A voice snapped me back to reality. “Hello, Azrel,” it said.
I spun my head in the direction of the voice and held up my sword t t o ward off an attack that didn’t come. What I saw, however, nearly made my jaw drop to the floor. I clenched my teeth to prevent it from doing so. A woman stood beside my bed, but I doubted this was an ordinary human woman. Her face was so beautiful, so flawless, it was like nothing I could have ever imagined. Her hair looked like spun gold, falling in graceful spiral curls below her waist. Her dress of deep golden-tan floated gracefully about her ankles, and the white lace trim complemented her pale face and rosy cheeks.
She smiled kindly at me. “My name is Isadith. I have been taking care of you,” she said.
“Where am I?” I asked, not lowering my sword or my suspicion, despite her kind blue eyes.
“You are in my homeland of Galad Kas. Please be assured that you are safe here, as is your Sword.”
I knew of Galad Kas. It was a Salynn city. I was in a Salynn city? Isadith was a Salynn? I stared at her and all her loveliness and finally noticed the Sallybreath Flowers in her golden hair. The white flowers showed up so clearly against the golden color that I didn’t know how I could have missed them at first.
Sallybreath Flowers were a Salynn’s trademark. The tiny flowers looked like Baby’s breath growing randomly in the hair of every Salynn. The color of the Sallybreath Flowers depended upon which realm the Salynn belonged to; Galad Kas’ flowers were white. It was the most distinct way to tell a Salynn from a human, besides the fact that Salynns were far fairer than humans, and there were a few more subtle qualities. As I gazed at Isadith, I realized my father wasn’t kidding when he said that Salynns were, by far, the fairest of all beings. Seeing them in the flesh, however, was much more enchanting then beholding pictures of them in books.
Wait—had she mentioned my sword being safe? How did she know that it was precious to me? Though I hated it with every fiber of my being, only I knew how important it was!
My eyes narrowed suspiciously at her. Another figure walked into the room. “So, she has finally awoken, has she?” a slightly familiar voice said.
I looked at him a moment and suddenly remembered the soft blue eyes I had seen on the riverbank. I took a good look at him now. Despite the warm sun, he wore a heavy, deep-green hooded robe that closed at the waist with a shining golden belt. His long, white beard and hair rested upon his robe like fresh snow upon a grassy field.
“And she is already on the defense, I see,” he said, amused.
At first I wondered what he meant. Then I realized I was still holding up my sword r eady to attack. I should have put it down, but I had no clue what was going on or what these beings planned to do with me. I wasn’t going to let myself become a victim. I had things to do!
“Who are you? Why am I here? Where’s Ortheldo?” I asked.
“Will you withdraw your Sword first so I may give you your elixir?” Isadith asked, producing a vile of dark liquid.
I curled my lip at it and at the fact she just tried to tell me to lower my defense. “No! I won’t withdraw my sword and I sure as bloody hell won’t be drinking that!” I said. I threw off the blankets and advanced toward them with my sword raised and put the most threatening look on my face I could manage. Oddly, though they outnumbered me, they backed away. “I have things to do, places to go, and people to find,” I said. “So, if one of you will be kind enough to give me my traveling clothes, I’ll be gone.”
“Please calm yourself. No one means you any harm here, White Warrior,” the old man said.
I took in a sharp breath. White Warrior?! What the...? How could he possibly know? Did anyone else know? It was supposed to be a secret! Only Ortheldo, my father, and I knew of the white curse!
“If you will rest and drink your elixir, I will explain everything to you,” the old man said, as though he could read my thoughts.
Too curious to argue, I lowered my sword and sat back down on the bed. Isadith handed me the vile an
d I choked down the liquid as quickly as possible. With a kind smile, Isadith left the room. Her moves were so graceful I couldn’t help but watch her walk away.
The old man pulled up a chair to my bed. “First, my name is Beldorn, and it is a pleasure to meet you,” he said with a wide grin. I could almost hear him add even though you just threatened my life. I actually cracked half of a smile.
“I’m sure many questions linger on your mind, doubtless the first one being how I know you are the White Warrior,” Beldorn said. “Well, there is a simple answer to that; I was friends with your father.”
My eyes widened.
Beldorn smiled. “You may recall your father saying to you that you would not learn your place all on your own?”
I nodded.
“Well, he was speaking of me. He asked me to guide you along your path since he would not be able to do so. He wanted me to teach you more of what you need to know about the world you have never seen and this powerful gift given to you.”
I mentally scoffed at the word “gift.”
“Despite how your father may have felt about it, or what he said to you about it, it is a gift,” Beldorn said, seeming to read my thoughts again. “You will realize this someday.”
Sure I will, Beldorn, I thought, wondering if he could hear sarcasm through thought.
He continued, “Upon our first meeting, just after you were born, he told me everything about himself and you. We had regular meetings over the past twenty years. He updated me on your progress and we finalized plans together.
“I was supposed to meet you soon after you left the cave, but the endless snowstorms hindered me. When I was finally able to set out, I went searching for you. When I found you at last on the riverbank, I guessed that if you had any magic at all, it would be the only thing keeping you alive after lying wet in the snow, in below freezing temperatures.
“I aided you to open your eyes to see what color they were, since white eyes are the result when the White Warrior’s powers are in use. Your eyes were white, confirming who you were.”
