A Word From the Author...
My apologies to all who've been patiently (and some not so patiently) waiting
for an update to Darkening Threads. I realize that it has been a couple of
years since the last update, or even a word from me, and for that I'm deeply
sorry. There's no amount of excuse I could give that would be enough, other
than that real life has got me so busy lately, coupled with a general lack of
interest in my writing. I hope you understand this, even though I'm sure
you don't like it.
Another piece of news that I'm sure you also wouldn't like is that
Darkening Threads, as it is, will be discontinued. But all is not lost. I
plan to rewrite the story, with several changes, but keeping to the
original background concept. When I look back at Darkening Threads, I
can't help but think that events seem rather rushed. I hope to change this.
First of all, the timeline will be different. Instead of having the story begin
five years after the events of the game, I plan to begin it much earlier --
directly after the game, in fact. Because of this, the pacing will be slowed
sufficiently to allow for greater character development. Slowed, but I hope
not dragged out. I want to have greater interaction between the characters,
to make them come alive, something that will be difficult to do with the
present rushed pace of Darkening Threads.
Although this will technically be a rewrite, it is actually a whole new fic.
I mentioned earlier that I will keep the original concept. By this I mean
that the characters, the basic plot, and some of the events of the current
story will remain -- with a few tweaks. Most of the changes will be the
result of the story's expansion. I guess I am a bit ambitious, since I want
to weave an epic of adventure, drama, angst and romance, with a healthy bit of
intrigue and plot twists worthy of the likes of Tolkien, R. Jordan, and the
other greats of fantasy literature. Oh, I don't plan to write the world's
next great novel. In truth, when I see my little project in my mind's eye, I
see it as a movie playing in my mind. And that's how I want to write it: as a
movie (or anime ^_^) that people can enjoy.
The new fic will come with a new title, which I have yet to think of. It will be
divided among several parts, or books, each dealing with a particular aspect
of the story. The division will be as follows:
*Prologue -- This part will begin with the final moments of the battle against
Valen. It is here that events will begin to diverge, allowing me to lead up
to my story. It is also here that the characters will begin to be tied to the
fic, particularly the main characters: Mint, Rue, Maya, and Raen. The villains
too will make their mark here. In effect, the Prologue will be a setup for
the story proper.
*Book 1 - Before the Storm -- This will deal with the events leading up to
fall of East Heaven Kingdom. If this was a chess game, you could consider
this the opening manuevers. Political intrigue will play a major role in
this book, but there will also be a healthy amount of action and drama.
*Book 2 - When Darkness Falls -- This will involve the events after the fall
of East Heaven and the subsequent war with the forces of darkness. Most
of the new characters will appear in this book. I can't say any more without
giving spoilers.
*Book 3 - Into the Fortress of Shadow -- The climax of the entire series, this
will involve the protagonists' final strike against the enemy. Again, I can't
say more without giving spoilers.
*Epilogue -- The aftermath of the war. Possible tie-in to a sequel. 'Nuff said. ^_^
I hope to have the first few chapters of the prologue out as a sort of Christmas
present, if fate should be kind. I'll try my best. In the meantime, here's a teaser
of chapter 3 of Darkening Threads had it been continued. Consider it an
appetizer. I won't be continuing it though, so I apologize again to those who want
me to do so. I hope that my rewrite will remain as popular as Darkening Threads
has proved to be,
Respectfully yours,
C-chan
[P.S. -- The teaser begins here.]
Chapter 3: Journeys
The harsh sound of axe striking wood broke the stillness of the early
morning silence. The sound came again, its echoes resounding across the
forest clearing. A simple log cabin stood in the center of the clearing,
and a short distance away was the source of the noise: a young man chopping
firewood, the heavy woodcutter's axe being wielded with surprising ease,
his strength belied by his lean and wiry frame. Taking a final swing at the
last piece of wood, the silver-haired youth then proceeded to store the
freshly-chopped logs into the nearby woodshed, leaving a few behind to bring
to the cabin. After everything was neatly stored away, the young man latched
the door to the shed then paused, wiping his face with a towel as he
contemplated the stack of wood he had to carry back to the cabin. Chopping
firewood was an exhausting chore, Ruenis knew, but somebody had to do it.
Not that he was complaining. out here in the wilderness everyone pulled
their own weight-- and chopping firewood was the least he could do to repay
his brother and Claire for taking him in five years ago. Carrying the
firewood, Ruenis approached the cabin, then entered through a side door and
into the kitchen.
"I've got the firewood," he declared. Over by the stove Claire looked at
him and nodded in acknowledgement.
"Thank you, Ruenis. Could you please set it over there?" Claire pointed at
a small rack over by the far wall. Ruenis complied gratefully, unloading
the heavy burden with a sigh of relief. "Breakfast will be ready soon,"
Claire told him. "I've also prepared a hot bath, in case you want to freshen
up first."
"Ah- I think I'll take that bath, thanks," Ruenis replied, grimacing as he
ran a hand down his sweat-slickened shirt. He was just about to head for
the baths when Claire's next question stopped him.
"By the way, Ruenis, has your brother returned from his hunting trip yet?"
Ruenis frowned in perplexity. "Not yet. You're right, though-- he should be
back by now. I wonder what's keeping him."
"Well, I'm sure there's no cause to worry. It's only been a few minutes,
after all." Despite her words, Claire did sound a little worried. It's
entirely possible that Rue had just been delayed, but Claire had an uneasy
feeling in the pit of her stomach, as if she knew that something was about
to go horribly wrong. Sensing Claire's anxiety, Ruenis became uneasy as
well. He walked over to the kitchen window and looked out, scanning the
treeline, hoping to catch a glimpse of his brother returning from a
successful hunt. Several minutes passed as he waited, yet still Rue had not
arrived. Finally giving up, Ruenis turned away-- but then a flicker of
motion caught his attention. Emerging from the edge of the forest was Rue.
But he was not alone. Accompanying him was a man who looked rather the worse
for wear-- and Ruenis was certain that the bundle in Rue's arms was not a
deer.
"Claire, Rue's back!" Ruenis exclaimed. "But there's somebody with him.
Something must have happened." He hurried to the door. "I'm going out to
help him."
Claire gave a wordless sound of agreement. "I'll go prepare some rooms," she
said. After seeing the state Rue's companions were in she knew that those
rooms would be needed soon. nodding absently in response to Claire's words,
Ruenis rushed out the door. Reaching the new arrivals, he noticed that
everyone looked as if they had been involved in a fight.
"What happened?" he asked his brother.
"It's a long story," Rue answered wearily. Adjusting his grip on the woman
he carried, he continued, "I'm gonna need some help; I don't think he can
go any further." Gesturing, Rue indicated the man beside him. suddenly
realizing that he didn't know his companion's name Rue sheepishly asked,
"I'm sorry, but I forgot to ask your name..." The man in question winced,
partly from embarrassment but mostly from the pain of his wounds.
"It's my fault; I should have introduced myself earlier. My name's Raen.
I'm East Heaven Kingdom's Royal Court Magician." Raen suddenly hunched his
shoulders in depression even as he painfully to continue standing upright.
"At least, I used to be the Royal Court Magician. I'm not even sure if East
Heaven even exists anymore... Ah, thanks." He sighed in relief as Ruenis
moved to support him, gratefully accepting the young man's offer of a
shoulder to lean on.
"Perhaps it's better if you try not to talk for a while," Ruenis suggested.
"You look pretty beaten up. Come on, we're almost at cabin. By the way, I'm
Ruenis, Rue's brother."
Even to an outsider the resemblance between the brothers was obvious-- not
many people had that particular shade of silver-white hair. Looking at
Ruenis, Raen again felt that odd sense of familiarity-- the same kind of
feeling he got when he first met Rue. He idly wondered if, hidden under that
blue and white skullcap, Ruenis also had a gem embedded in his forehead. A
twinge of pain reminded him of his current situation so he shoved that
thought to the back of his mind, deciding to think about it later. Right now
he was more intent on getting to the cabin as quickly as possible.
******
Claire took charge immediately, giving orders for the unconscious Maya to be
brought into the cabin's only guest room. Raen and the men were ushered off
towards Rue's room, partly because the guest room had only one bed, which
Maya now occupied, and partly for the privacy Claire required. The tension
was palpable as the assembled menfolk awaited Claire's pronouncment. Even
Raen's injuries hardly seemed to bother him, such was the extent of his
concern. Minutes passed, and when Claire finally appeared, her expression
untroubled, the sighs of relief from the room's occupants were loudly
audible.
"Is she alright?" raen demanded. Despite his relief, the magician wanted
some confirmation.
"She's fine, just exhausted. I thought it best that she rest awhile. You, on
the other hand, are another matter entirely." Claire eyed the young man
critically for a moment, noting the way he held a hand to his side almost
unconsciously. "I doubt you've escaped with only a few scratches. Does your
side pain you?"
Raen blinked. "What? Oh-" He gingerly moved his hand away from the side of
his chest. "Well, I guess it hurts a bit..." He trailed off as Claire
reached out and pulled his tunic open, her fingers lightly skimming over his
exposed skin.
"I was afraid of this," Claire murmured. "You have a couple of broken ribs,
a lot of heavy bruising, and that gash in your arm needs some looking after.
All in all, I'm surprised you've managed to make it this far without
collapsing."
"Are the injuries serious?" Rue quietly asked.
"Well, barring the possibility of an infection, the cut should prove no
problem. The bruises will disappear in a couple of days, although they might
make him uncomfortable. It's the broken ribs that worries me. If they're set
improperly, the ends could puncture a lung." She thought for a moment then,
reaching a decision, nodded meaningfully at Ruenis, who was watching the
proceedings silently. At the unspoken command the youth left the room,
leaving the stranger in the care of his brother and Claire.
"He'll be back with some things I'll need," Claire explained of Ruenis'
disappearance. "In the meantime, you'll have to remove your shirt so I can
examine your injuries."
Raen wordlessly complied, carefully removing the stained and torn garment.
It was not an easy task, his movements hampered by the pain of his injuries.
Claire and Rue moved to assist him and, by the time they got Raen stripped
of his undershirt, Ruenis had arrived bearing a tray laden with towels, a
basin of warm water, bandages, medicinal ointments, and a steaming cup of
herbal tea.
"Here, drink this," Claire told the magician, handing him the cup. "It'll
help you with the pain."
"Thank you, ma'am," Raen replied, sipping the hot contents gratefully.
Already, he could feel the pain from his wounds diminishing. Following
Claire's directions, he settled onto the bed and allowed the young woman to
tend him. Tenderly, she bathed and bandaged his cuts, especially the gash
along his left forearm-- all the while taking care not to move him too much,
so as not to exacerbate the problem caused by his broken ribs.
"Please, just call me Claire," she admonished. "'Ma'am' makes me sound old."
Finished with bandaging Raen's arem, Claire then began to feel along the
magician's ribs. Finding the broken ends, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's a clean break, thank God. A little binding should do the trick."
Looking straight into her patient's eyes, she continued, "This might hurt a
bit. I'll need some help with this. Ruenis?"
"Of course," the youth replied. "What do you want me to do?"
"Here, hold this end," Claire instructed, handing him the end of a long
cloth bandage. "We're going to wrap the bandage around his chest to keep the
ribs steady. Be sure not to make the bindings too tight or he wouldn't be
able to breathe." She looked to see if Ruenis understood. He nooded back.
"Alright then. Please hold still, Master Raen."
Bandages in hand, the two of them then proceeded to bind the magician's
chest. Despite himself, Raen winced under their careful ministrations. Even
with the effects of Claire's herbal tea he still felt a twinge of discomfort
as his ribs' broken ends slid into place. Noticing Raen's discomfort, Rue,
who had been impassively watching the entire proceedings, decided to help
him get his mind off the pain.
"Can you tell us what happened?" he asked. "Earlier, you mentioned something
about East Heaven."
Glad for the distraction, Raen turned his attention to Rue's question. "Yes,
well, East Heaven has fallen."
"WHAT?!" Rue burst out. Ruenis and Claire were equally stunned at the news,
pausing in their ministrations to stare wide-eyed at Raen. It was
inconceivable that a country as powerful as East Heaven Kingdom could have
been conquered, yet here was East Heaven's Court Magician saying that that
was just what happened. The implications were obvious-- whoever or whatever
lay behind the fall of so great a nation must have possessed incredible
power.
"How did it happen?"
The magician shrugged-- as much as he was able to, swathed in bandages--
barely acknowledging Rue's question. "One night, that's all it took-- one
night! We were prepared-- we knew an attack was possible-- but we weren't
prepared enough. Maybe nothing we could do would have been enough. It was a
storm, a magical storm," he explained. "The monsters we could handle, even
monsters that I've never seen before, but a storm that moved and acted like
it had a will-- like it was alive? No, such a thing was beyond our power.
It was all her Majesty could do to cancel the storm's magic-- and she was
using the Book of Cosmos! Many died before the storm lost its power-- so
many needless deaths!" Raen shook in barely restrained anger as he relived
the terror of that night. He hated this feeling of impotence, of being
unable to prevent the deaths of his friends and comrades.
"And the people? What happened to them?" Rue asked. "Surely some have
survived."
Raen struggled to calm himself, then replied, "Some did survive-- over half
the population, in fact. Everyone was evacuated to the nearby Kingdom of
Seithe. Some treaties had to be broken for us to transport that many people,
but I'm sure our alliance with Seithe will hold strong. Her Majesty and I
would have gone too were we not interrupted by a demon-- the same demon
which Rue defeated." Raen's manner conveyed his gratitude for Rue's timely
rescue.
Ruenis had been quietly listening in on the conversation, but something Raen
said caught his attention. "Excuse me," he interrupted, "did you say 'her
Majesty'? I thought Maya was a princess." Rue started in surprise-- only
after his brother mentioned it did he notice the change in address.
"She was crowned queen a few weeks earlier, after her father died," the
magician explained.
"Oh, poor Maya!" Claire exclaimed sympathetically. "It must be hard for her,
losing her country so soon after her father's death and her sister's
disappearance."
"She'll survive," Rue declared with certainty. "Maya is strong and she'll
get through this. She's a lot like her sister in that respect."
Claire nodded. "I agree. Oh, she may hurt a while but in the end, she'll be
stronger because of it." Seeing the ubious look on Raen's face, she reaced
out and patted his hand. "Trust in her."
"I do," Raen answered fervently. "I just don't like seeing her get hurt."
Claire smiled knowingly at the young man. "She'll be fine. Now, it's time
for you to get some rest. If there's anything else you have to say, you can
tell us later, after you wake up. Unless I'm mistaken, you have a long
journey ahead of you."
Raen complied without protest, laying back down on the bed. He barely
noticed the others quietly leaving the room as he thought about the events
of a few hours ago. Somehow, he vowed, he will avenge his friends' deaths.
Even if he had to give his life to do it.
*******
[END teaser]