Well here is the first chapter. A new darkness approached Valdermar but only the meagre talents of a few saw what was happening. Valdermar is confronted with this darkness nearly completely unaware.
'What is the point?' Gentlewind thought as he lazily floated in the cool waters of a dreamy pond. Set among tall statuesque oaks tower above him, dappled shade fell onto the rippling water, the thickness of the lush foliage prevented any light from falling. But a soft mist like glow managed to peer down onto the surface of the water and the young man floating there.
His absent-minded complaint was carried away on a breeze and he sighed dramatically to prolong his melancholy mood but the cool evening breeze was more persistent then his determination to remain upset.
Gentlewind turned his head slightly and watched his hair trail through the water and couldn't help but smile; no doubt he had scared most of the fauna around here witless with his earlier splashing and bad temper.
A short giggle escaped as he imagined uncle Sharpetooth's face at his appalling conduct at dinner today but, goddess be blessed, he had gone somewhere after their argument, somewhere to think.
Well, he thought, I'm here now I may as well enjoy it, and returned to contemplating the tall foliage above him. A slight pinprick of light seemed to flutter slightly brighter and it caught his attention.
Slowly a wind moved through the trees gaining strength as it moved. It was as ethereal as it was heartbreaking and his heartbeat slowed and his breath burnt in his chest.
The moving foliage deafened him with a rustle and a scraping that made his ears cringe, more reminiscent of autumn then midsummer. The light hit his eyes and blinding them in a warm yellow glow stole his sight. Clearing a blurred moving image formed accentuated by his silent breathing that he could feel but the forest overcame all his other senses. His mind clawed at the feeling of his body but it slipped away and his mind fell in to dark hole.
Gentlewind stood with his merophorical jaw on the ground, one near death drowning experience and they were sending him away. His mother and father had already been and gone; they were scouts prone to decisive decisions and gods help them they knew something had to be done about their wayward son and as far as they were concerned K'Valdemar was the best option. Deepwind and Palemoon had left him with only an awkward pat on his shoulder for comfort.
He couldn't believe that it had come to this he knew his foresight was strong, maybe too strong but he never thought they would send him away because of it. The worst thing was that he couldn't remember the vision; all he could remember was seeing a horse fly over the moon. But he hadn't said anything because it wasn't tangible and if he had they would have probably sent him to a healing mage with possible mental problems.
He knew his parents didn't understand him; he was a gentle, he hated being cold and had a strong gift. Not like anyone really at K'Onsoya vale, which was populated by scouts mainly, or tool and weapon makers. Magery was sadly lacking.
Here he was waiting, alone for no one could be spared to wait for him, not with mid summer fair fast approaching, for one of K'shena's mage's to gate here and then do something, and then do something else. Basically he had been told to wait here. No one had stayed around long enough to really explain, they wanted to be well clear before the mage came.
An arch formed before him and he held his breath…
…………………………..
Ashlea looked at the piece of crumpled parchment in her hand staring at it as though it might, if glared at so change what was written on it. The unchanged script wrenched a cry from her.
The world shifted and turned for a moment, as the words seemed to rise out of the page and ensnare her sight. She opened her eyes and found herself laid out on the floor with no clue how she had come to be there. The icy cold of the paving stone pressed into her cheek as she struggled to calm her frantic breathing; while her mother ran to her in concern across the white sandstone paving of the inner courtyard.
A random though filtered through her mind, how strange she must look in her black dress and veil upon a white floor, like a small blemish. Her heart started to hammer against her chest and tears found themselves trailing down her cheeks but she would not make another sound. She staggered onto her feat still dizzy from fainting, before her mother could reach her and ran wildly towards the main entrance. Her veil and hat dragged off by a sudden wind.
The icy wind was a stark reminder that winter was coming, creeping ever closer. The top step of the entrance hall caught on her foot and she fell forward and grabbed the pillar of one side of the entrance arch but fell to the floor sobbing. The world disappeared for a while.
Slowly framed by the door's stone archway snow began to fall and the sunless stormy sky was violated with an early full moon rising from the distant shadowy mountains. On a far peak a signal fire sprang up to light the way and give hope but its light did not spread. It was dimmed by the rising dark.
An eerie wail echoed around the surrounding mountains. Birds to flight in alarm and cattle started to run agitatedly around their paddocks.
Lady Tere'asa looked at her daughter and stepped slowly towards her. Falling to her knees she cradled her daughter's head in her lap and gazed out into the night and began to talk whether to herself or the presence she could feel out side she did not know,
"It has come to this. I had hoped for so long, Ah well, the fates will be fickle," looking at her daughter she brushed the hair out of her eyes and wiped away the moisture left on her face, "My time is long over due but you, you have a future and hopefully you will be able to do something about that future. I had hoped we would have more time but it looks I was to optimistic."
In the far distance a darker shadow, an absence of light started to creep across the land before it reached the signal fire and rebounded from the light. The signal fire flickered and dimmed in response but did not die. The promise of darkness lingered. Silence descended and cut out all other distractions. The darkness was out there and had surrounded the mannor. The lady dragged herself upright and stared at the darkness,
"I told them that you would come," the Lady sighed, "but who would listen to an old woman whose Companion is long gone and is most likely mad, but I saw you coming." The Lady's attention was pulled away from the shadow as her daughter sighed. Her words dimmed but did not stop,
"One last trick old woman, one last casting. You are rusty but you can do it. This girl child will be needed you know that. If only they had listened, but all is not lost yet, this one carries my talent."
Slowly the old herald walked slowly to the stone archway leaving her daughter on the cold stone as the snow swept in. Before calling up what talent rested in her old bones and creating a gate. Not much of one but enough to suffice. Looking sadly at her daughter she let a few tears escape from their confines,
"I have seen so much, but it makes no sense but you should go to Haven, it the best place for you to grow and live. Hopefully you will understand what I could not." Pushing her daughter through she cried out as though losing a part of herself, staggering and nearly falling. The darkness seemed to serge at her weakness. Tere'asa threw her hand up as though to hold away the darkness. As her hand shook she laughed a dry chuckle,
"Oh no, no, no, you can't come no further. I have seen it so. Huh. This house you may not come near until the moon has set. But I am tired and what bother it would be for you and my people if you should have to search for me in my stronghold. Oh no. I will give you what you want!"
Slowly the old woman lowered herself down the steps at the entrance. Until she was perched on the last paving stone outside of the hold. One more step and she would be outside the predestined safety. Slowly she walked forward one step. As soon as both feet were off the paving stone the darkness swept forward and devoured the woman before receding out of sight. A small boy looked out of the high window and screamed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The darkness paused at the scream and looked back at the small boy and threw a bolt of power. But the defences the old woman had so painstakingly but up lingered a little after her death and took the brunt of the power but still the boy's world went black and then faded completely away.