"Let us leave" whispered the sorceress and in her wake all followed in silence, in obedience. Before following the crowd, Axhelius cast one long look at Jalia's face which had horror imprinted on it and then with a sigh, he walked away. His anger for the sorceress had melted into shock for the way she was practicing magic was appalling. He couldn’t understand what she wanted. Does she want to challenge the Shadow? The panther shook his head at that thought for the Shadow could not be challenged; it could not even be faced. It was true that she called the aid of one of the most terrifying race in the Plains but the Shadow had greater multitudes of these hounds in his lands along with other monstrosities.
Removing the thought from his head he wondered what Nebula had become for it had been long since he had seen it. In his mind was a small rhyme which he detested but it kept pounding his nerves for it was the dark rhyme of Nebula, the last of the evil monuments on this earth which could not be destroyed even by the Guardians.
In the whispers of the Night
Where dark forces strive,
Nebula will stand tall,
All will witness its glory which never falls,
A haven it is to the bloodthirsty,
A Valley for the lusty,
Here there resides the vilest of evils,
For it is the Fortress of Nebula!
All Hail the Fortress of Nebula!
~ Chapter Two ~
The Annoxonum fell heavily into a heap of dry grass. She stared around wildly, hair wet with sweat, craning her neck to see if the carrions were following her. She gave a sigh of relief and jumped down the stack of the crisp blades of grass. Her boots were cracking in the soles and her dress was tattered. The Annoxonum shifted to one side and again peered behind her. She had lost them for now.
As she strolled forward, her eyes accustomed to the light from the street lamps. Suddenly she became self-conscious of her clothes especially as the women were giving her wide eyed stares. Rubbing a hand on her dirty temple, she broke into a quick trot and entered an inn; it was an inn isolated in the dark corner of the streets with a tattered sign that was decorated with small dragons and it read, The Blue Dragon.
As she rushed inside, a plump woman dressed in blue took one look at her shabby appearance and her muddy tracks into the tiled chamber and shooed her in a bath room ignoring the exclamations from the girl. She threw her in a tub of copper and poured steaming water over her head. Despite the Annoxonum’s protests, she kept pouring in the water until the tub overflowed. Then two hands came on the girls head and a thick foamy liquid was being massaged into her hair until it became lather. The woman then washed her hair with another pitcher of water. The Annoxonum recognized the liquid. It was the Frimose’ Rosa, a sort of flower which came from the outskirts of the town. The scent of the liquid was due to the flower, it smelt like jasmine.
The woman smiled and pulled the Annoxonum out of the bath tub, wrapping her with a pink towel. She dragged her to a small dank room and there she dressed the girl with a red silk material which fell to her ankles and the lady combed her thick hair hard, placing them up in a red ribbon. The Annoxonum said nothing and waited till the woman would answer her questions. Once finished, the Annoxonum whirled and faced the old woman with a steely gaze. She wore an expectant smile.
“My Lady, we have been awaiting you. The Lord would like to visit you. He is resting here.” The woman spoke quickly. Her eyes were frightened and she had lost her impudent air.
“What Lord? Take me to this Lord.” The Annoxonum looked sharply at the old woman and followed her out of the bath room. As she entered the hall her eyes darted around the place. Several inn keepers walked around holding platters of dinner to guests listening to the beautiful music being played by the musician who held a harp. As she sniffed the aromatic air where the scent of perfumes mingled with tempting odours of the roasted meat being served, the Annoxonum realized that she hadn’t eaten for two days besides stale bread and the cheapest water she could find, mostly the one which people used for bathing. The bloody carrions had been after her.
She was led up the stair case and met many curious looks, hard gazes and tight frowns as the town folk hated strangers especially in these troubled times. The staircase ended in a dark corridor with several rooms lined on either side on the walls. The plump woman now hesitated but the Annoxonum urged her forward. She needed to meet this man for he could have the information she required. The woman led her to a small room and told her wait there. The woman herself scurried out of the room after setting the candle stand on the table. The Annoxonum sat on the neat bed and her eyes drank the whole room. There were several cases in the corner and a single cloak was spread on the chair, it was a cloak fit for any Lord. There was gold embroidery along the hem and silver at the top, shaped as intricate leaves and drops. Besides these two things nothing else was of interest to her. Several minutes passed and the Annoxonum was becoming angry. Lately she was very hot tempered and this Lord was testing her patience. The door creaked open and a man stepped in.
The Annoxonum stood up angrily. “It’s about tim-” She stopped. Her chest tightened. Her face became pale.
In front of her stood a man, a man whose expression was colder than the winter’s frost. He looked at her and he smiled. It was a taunting smile, a smile she despised. He stared at her scarlet garment and grinned with amusement as it was a rare sight seeing an Annoxonum in a dress. His eyes then flamed with a fire and he unsheathed a sword. His dark hair fell onto his face and his eyes shone red. He smiled again but this time it was a cruel smile. The Annoxonum’s eyes clouded with fear as she saw the man who stood before her, he was no man. He was a killer born to slay and a Shadow server, one of the worst kinds. She unfastened the cord around her waist and removed the spiky dagger from the belt.
He faltered but then regained his cool composure. In his other hand he twirled a silver chain, a chain with a star at the end. It was a chain which was once the possession of the woman in front of him. He saw the anger in her eyes as she lifted a hand and felt for the necklace around her neck. It wasn’t there and he watched as she realized that he had stolen it. Then he spoke.
“The Shadow waits Annoxonum. It waits. It will kill all your beloved. It has a message. Come and meet it on the wavering slopes of… just meet it and you know where. It will listen. Meet it Annoxonum it has said or it will kill. It is hungry. It is very hungry. But it is patient. It will wait and then it will curse your kind. Remember. It will curse you; it will always curse if you ignore it. Remember.”
The man lunged forwards with a sword and a scream echoed. Blood dripped and there came a cry of surrender, a shattering cry. “Please forgive me! I am yours for eternity! Take me, spare me!”
Then blade met bone and blood splattered the walls. The screams died down and all waited. All waited now on the teetering slopes of death. The end had come.
Thunder clashed on the glass panes, shaking them violently and dark shadows of the swaying trees reflected on the white-washed stone walls of the inner room.
A deafening stroke of lightning startled Xia and she woke up with beads of cold sweat trickling down her face. The dream was still fresh in her mind. She cried gently as she remembered the face she had seen. It had seemed so real, as if she was really in the dream. She winced as her hands were charred although she hadn’t burned them. Her head hurt hard and she noticed the angry gashes on her shoulders. It was the same nightmare like the one she had before of the panther but this time her image was clearer, even the sword’s scars were on her skin. Her lips quivered as she thought of the cry but she didn’t know who had surrendered, was it her or the man? Her heart beat violently and she tried to forget the message she had heard. How did she know what the Shadow was or where she could meet it, she had never even heard of it nor had she heard of any wavering slopes. Xia shook her head violently and threw the nightmare into the depths of her mind. Struggling to stand up and pushing aside the remaining remnants of drowsiness, she opened t
he window and felt the bone-chilling breeze sting her face. Her face was tainted with sorrow and her dark eyes were swollen and mournful as she gazed at the anarchy that prevailed.
It had been like this ever since the firestone was stolen and according to Xia, it was all her fault. Shaking her head, she shut the window angrily and flopped on her bed.
But sleep would not come.
Besides her Julian was sleeping peacefully, her auburn hair spread like a fan on the pillow. Xia envied her. She was a lucky girl, no dreams, no worries, just a beautiful life. Immediately Xia hated herself for such thoughts. She knew that Julian's life was difficult. Though her best friend hid it from everyone, she could not conceal her sorrow from Xia. Sorrow caused due to some deep dark secret that resided in this Magicka's heart. But as she continued to study Julian, she realized that the Magicka had lied to her. No one could discover that they are able to practice magic in a few months. Xia inhaled sharply, she felt like slapping herself. She had grown paranoid after the event in Solhaven’s cave that she sometimes thought that even her mother was plotting against her. She didn’t know what had happened. She had grown touchy at the smallest things especially if anyone spoke of her failure. That she hated.
Xia lay on her bed, watching as the curtain of rain lifted giving way to the sun, whose rays peeped from the horizon. Sighing, she grudgingly threw off the covers to get dressed hoping that another day would peel by quickly.
It was the only prayer she had left to make but she was not alone. Two sparkling aqua eyes encompassed by a ginger fan, were filled with the same wish as they peered at Xia advancing towards the washroom with heaviness.
These two eyes held the compassion of a true friend and the pity of a beloved one. Then the eyes fluttered and closed gently to sink into a dream world where good always dominated evil and wisdom was superior to authority.
In the other portion of the re-furnished cave, others were getting ready for their morning meal.
"Xia, Julian! Breakfast!" yelled Adam as he seated himself on the round table decorated with candles and fresh roses. Adam Creve, the father of Julian had never expected to ever have known that his daughter would become involved in such a complicated adventure. He then looked over at Ching, Asra Jones father, who sat rubbing his big hands as he eyed the food. Ching rarely came out except to eat; otherwise he had been holed up in his study pouring over books ever since the disaster in the dragon’s lair.
"Mmm…fried eggs, toast and freshly squeezed orange juice" murmured Ching as his mustache twitched, "who made all this?"
"I did" replied Asra, her hands carrying a platter of soft blueberry muffins as she emerged from an adjacent room which resembled a kitchen. Adam smiled at her gently. She bore so much with so much strength and he admired her for it. She always remained steadfast. Placing the plate on the table, Asra removed her oven mitts and set them aside. Then untying her apron, she threw it on a chair and flopped to rest. Her dark eyes shone and her black hair fell to her flushed face. She passed a quick smile to the two men and then started filling her plate.
“Yummy!" declared Ching, heaping up several eggs into his plate, "a long time since I ate this…Kasumi used to make these kinds of delicacies…she spoiled me, she did. In my latter days I survived on leaves and rats. It was a horrid life!"
Rolling their eyes and smiling, Asra and Adam began to eat heartily, gobbling all the delicious food along with Ching, whose appreciation swelled Asra with pride for giving her a compliment that her cooking was similar to her mother’s Kasumi Fang, was the greatest approval for her mother was an excellent chef. Asra studied her mother’s picture in the frame, staring at her dark hair and wide mouth. Her mother had died when she was seven but what always surprised Asra was that Ching was more than a century old and had married Kasumi when he was of sixty. Her father never told her of his life before marriage and she never asked. It was an unspoken agreement they had reached long back. She then turned to her plated and began eating the muffin. The agreeable silence was finally broken by Asra, who cleared her throat. "I am worried about Xia. She's not herself lately."
"The child's growing up. She's going to turn sixteen" answered Ching matter-of-factly. He never spoke more than what was necessary except if the two girls insisted and he had grown more taciturn ever since the firestone was stolen.
"But Ching, Asra is right. Xia's become despondent and grave. This experience wasn't a good one for her. She hardly speaks anymore. It’s as if her liveliness had been killed." protested Adam, referring to the loss of the firestone.
"It was meant to happen. No one can change the destiny of things or mould the future to their benefit. She had learned that this life she embraced with such enthusiasm is not as exciting as it seemed. It is a heavy duty that tires even the most able. You should know this by now Asra," replied the elder, his white brows twitching with a slight irritation which he restrained. He had avoided discussing this topic and he ignored the hurt look his daughter gave him.
Asra, taking a deep breath of exasperation, said "Father, you must call the Guardian. Tell her to console Xia."
"Why bother her? She has enough worries to deal with. We can’t ask a Guardian to console a sixteen year old for absolutely no reason. Xia has to accept the truth. It was not her fault that the firestone was lost but she will eventually be responsible because she is the Annoxonum," said Ching coldly, sipping his juice.
"What? How can you!" screeched Asra angrily and Adam told her to quite down for arguing with Ching was like running into the open hands of discord. Asra stared daggers at her father, her hands clasping and unclasping. “She can help,” said Asra in a calmer tone her eyes still flashing
Gazing at his daughter with thoughtful eyes and a final glare, he declared, "Xia will pave her own way. It is the only way she can learn." With that Ching left the dining table to remain locked in his study, his food barely touched with almost an entire muffin left and his glass half-full with juice. Ching rarely showed his anger but he was adamant with anything concerning Xia.
Asra was infuriated and was about to start a commotion until Adam soothed her. "Calm down. He's right."
"I know" answered Asra, her black eyes glistening with tears, "It's just that Xia has been so sad. Do you think a mother can bear to see her child in pain? I know he's right but that’s what's so unbearable. He's always right!"
What they didn't know was that above the stairs, crouched gently was Xia. She had heard every word and felt neither anguish nor anger. Her mind was at a standstill and her face was hot, burning with the fire of humiliation that her family considered her pathetic, like a little bewildered puppy that apparently had neither sense nor determination. This admittance from her own mother struck the Annoxonum like a rigid slap, harder and crueler than the one she found in the dragon's cave where she had made an appalling discovery.
How could they, she thought bitterly, all I have been doing his locking my grief away. But what have I gotten for my patience? Nothing! Let me pave my own way!
Xia was ashamed that she was the cause of worry and distress. She had already proven to be a slapdash fool for the world and now she was one in front of her own. Her stomach churned with hunger but Xia ignored it and raced back to her bedroom to wait till the coast was clear. She had to act like she knew nothing of the conversation.
***
At the High Council, a storm brews in the silent chambers…
"The firestone is gone!" cried Alfa in rage, "what did you expect Arak? It will obviously result in chaos. One of the elements is within the hands of our enemy." His voice resounded in the entire chamber, shaking the pillars.
Arak stood in his long indigo cape which silently flowed on the marble floor. His face was etched with anxiety and his wise eyes behind the frames were filled with terror. "Sire, Melodia is on her way."
Alfa roared in frustration and clenched his fists to control his temper. Arak winced. "Ching is controlling the…"
"No! He's not!" replied A
lfa, pounding his desk, "can't you see it Arak. The world has changed. It's in the whole atmosphere. Every shard which held the earth’s peace has been broken. Shattered is more like it." He walked to the window and gazed out through the huge glass, seeing only chaos and destruction sweeping through the vast lands. "You know the consequences of losing the firestone."
"Yes sire…" whispered Arak grimacing as he recalled this horror which occurred so long ago, so very long ago and only had records in the ancient parchments. Luckily, before the tide of Alfa's fury broke loose, Melodia sped in. Her silver locks of hair were streaming with rain water and her cape was drenched completely. She paid no heed to this for on her face was etched urgency. "Chief, Raven brought news!" she hastily exclaimed handing a thick envelope to Alfa. Unrolling the piece of parchment, Alfa peered at the message through his horn-rimmed glasses and read it out aloud recognizing the print hand writing of Ching:
Dear Alfa,
With due respect Sir; I am seeking your forgiveness for I am partly to blame for the stone’s loss. I am also analyzing this unfortunate situation and will bring up my results soon. Please contact the elders of Sacred Glove to hold a meeting amongst them to decide the appropriate actions for all the individuals. Only with a combined effort can we solve this crisis…
I will keep the High Council updated.
Yours sincerely,
Ching
Out of this letter another roll of battered parchment fell out. Seizing it, Alfa again read it out to his company who were appalled by this scribbled note.
THE FIRESTONE WILL NEVER BE YOURS!
"Raven sent this one as well?" asked Alfa keeping his voice steady as he crumpled up the piece of paper.
"No" replied Melodia curtly, "it was shoved in the significant mail. Now I can see why…"
Alfa read and re-read this threat before asking Melodia to root out its sender while Arak was given the task of writing a letter to the Sacred Glove as well as one to Ching. The two set out at once to accomplish their tasks leaving Alfa to brood over the predicament in silence.