The Hidden City
Prologue - A Little History.
Shadow Wielder
'I stood upon the swaying deck of the warship, looking back to the cliff top that held my only love, the Death Bringer. And as my silent tears coursed down my cheeks I sent my love and prayers along our link, the thin thread of silver that joined us, and would join us as I fought my wars and she battled hers. I turned as she did, she seeking the shadows of the mountain and I the tight confines of my cabin. I knew we would not meet again in this life until the time came for us to pass on our curses. I listened to the whispers of the wind, to the words she told me on how to carry out my mission.'
The Black haired man put down his book, passed down through the generations and placed it on top of the battle robes laid in the box. He undid the chain that bore the symbol that never left the Shadow Wielder until the time of the passing came. He laid it on top of the book, knowing that silently even now as he sat there, finger pressed to its cover it would be updating, filling in the void that would belong to him. The pages devoted to his time as Shadow Wielder. He closed the lid of the box, letting his fingers brush over both lids, his full, her's empty. He stood and approached the cot picking up the baby from its grasp and placing his right palm to his. The baby giggled as the etching glowed into being, the golden black light that would soon be entwined with silver fire. The baby was laid in the cot and the man left the room, waiting for the Death Bringer to complete her final task.
Death Bringer
'As I stood upon the cliff top, the rain that hid the sun of the night, la luna, mingled with the tears running down my face as I watched the dwindling sails that carried my love, the Shadow Wielder, to war. The dark shadow of the mountain peak hid me from those who would seek my death. And as I turned from my lonely vigil the wind cried out my name. "Zara." it's ghostly whisper caused me to stop and listen to what she had to say. "Death must walk the streets tonight. Death must seek for those who die." I sighed and donned the night cloak that went with my name. For I am the Death Bringer of my time and age and when night comes I stalk the streets and will do till the time of my death comes closer and I pass on my burden to the next to carry it.'
The red haired woman sighed as she put down the book, passed down from generation to generation and glanced at the night cloak that was folded neatly in the box in front of her. She sighed again, quietly placing the book on top of the folded cloak and looked at the necklace she wore, that too was placed in the box. She then closed the box and put it in the trunk, empty apart from an identical yet different box. Her fingers brushed the closed lids and she sighed again. Wanting to pass on her burden and yet unwilling to. The wind whispered her name, just as it had to her ancestress millennia before her, she turned her head slightly to catch its words. "You must pass on your burden now, tonight is the night you die." She spoke silently to the wind, willing for the one to change. "Doubly cursed though he is he must still become the Shadow Wielder and Death Bringer. He is not the One and never shall be though terrible pain and horror will he come across and cause. No more may I tell you but you must honour your duty, as shall he when the time comes. Know this however, he shall be the last to bear these curses, as he was the first." The woman sent her silent thanks to the wind and the greater elements to their controller. She approached the cot within in the room and lifted her son from its embrace. A tear fell from her eye and down her cheek as she touched his right palm with hers. The baby giggled as the silver fire entwined with the gold and black light to form the mark that would grace the baby's palm, hidden, until his day came. And so she carried him into the room where her love, the Shadow Wielder, waited for her and his son.
He turned the baby's palm and saw the entwined marks, joined together as they had been so often. They stood in an embrace and neither noticed at the slight glow around the mark as the baby dried their silent tears. They broken apart as their demise approached allowing each other once last glimpse of the future of the world, one last kiss in their mortal life, and separated. Waiting to embrace the cold and chilling death that awaited them. And as his death approached him the father cried to the night, cried his apologies to his son for presenting him with his curse. And as the mother's death approached her too, she allowed herself one last kiss upon his cheek and cried the same words to the night. And as their bodies laid there cold and still, the house in ruins around them a baby's cry filled the air. And on their way to grace the heavens they whispered their last words that echoed on the breeze, their final words until the time they would meet again. "Goodbye beloved son, watch and learn in years to come, we'll help you when the time comes." And as the whispered words did fade the sun rose in the sky, lighting the rosy pink and golden clouds that hid more than they revealed.
A.N. hope you enjoyed this little taster of what is to come. Part one should be up soon and I can't wait to hear what you thought of this tiny prologue when you click that little button at the bottom left of this page. You know, the one marked go next to the box that says Submit Review.
Ciao
Sugar Quill
Prologue - A Little History.
Shadow Wielder
'I stood upon the swaying deck of the warship, looking back to the cliff top that held my only love, the Death Bringer. And as my silent tears coursed down my cheeks I sent my love and prayers along our link, the thin thread of silver that joined us, and would join us as I fought my wars and she battled hers. I turned as she did, she seeking the shadows of the mountain and I the tight confines of my cabin. I knew we would not meet again in this life until the time came for us to pass on our curses. I listened to the whispers of the wind, to the words she told me on how to carry out my mission.'
The Black haired man put down his book, passed down through the generations and placed it on top of the battle robes laid in the box. He undid the chain that bore the symbol that never left the Shadow Wielder until the time of the passing came. He laid it on top of the book, knowing that silently even now as he sat there, finger pressed to its cover it would be updating, filling in the void that would belong to him. The pages devoted to his time as Shadow Wielder. He closed the lid of the box, letting his fingers brush over both lids, his full, her's empty. He stood and approached the cot picking up the baby from its grasp and placing his right palm to his. The baby giggled as the etching glowed into being, the golden black light that would soon be entwined with silver fire. The baby was laid in the cot and the man left the room, waiting for the Death Bringer to complete her final task.
Death Bringer
'As I stood upon the cliff top, the rain that hid the sun of the night, la luna, mingled with the tears running down my face as I watched the dwindling sails that carried my love, the Shadow Wielder, to war. The dark shadow of the mountain peak hid me from those who would seek my death. And as I turned from my lonely vigil the wind cried out my name. "Zara." it's ghostly whisper caused me to stop and listen to what she had to say. "Death must walk the streets tonight. Death must seek for those who die." I sighed and donned the night cloak that went with my name. For I am the Death Bringer of my time and age and when night comes I stalk the streets and will do till the time of my death comes closer and I pass on my burden to the next to carry it.'
The red haired woman sighed as she put down the book, passed down from generation to generation and glanced at the night cloak that was folded neatly in the box in front of her. She sighed again, quietly placing the book on top of the folded cloak and looked at the necklace she wore, that too was placed in the box. She then closed the box and put it in the trunk, empty apart from an identical yet different box. Her fingers brushed the closed lids and she sighed again. Wanting to pass on her burden and yet unwilling to. The wind whispered her name, just as it had to her ancestress millennia before her, she turned her head slightly to catch its words. "You must pass on your burden now, tonight is the night you die." She spoke silently to the wind, willing for the one to change. "Doubly cursed though he is he must still become the Shadow Wielder and Death Bringer. He is not the One and never shall be though terrible pain and horror will he come across and cause. No more may I tell you but you must honour your duty, as shall he when the time comes. Know this however, he shall be the last to bear these curses, as he was the first." The woman sent her silent thanks to the wind and the greater elements to their controller. She approached the cot within in the room and lifted her son from its embrace. A tear fell from her eye and down her cheek as she touched his right palm with hers. The baby giggled as the silver fire entwined with the gold and black light to form the mark that would grace the baby's palm, hidden, until his day came. And so she carried him into the room where her love, the Shadow Wielder, waited for her and his son.
He turned the baby's palm and saw the entwined marks, joined together as they had been so often. They stood in an embrace and neither noticed at the slight glow around the mark as the baby dried their silent tears. They broken apart as their demise approached allowing each other once last glimpse of the future of the world, one last kiss in their mortal life, and separated. Waiting to embrace the cold and chilling death that awaited them. And as his death approached him the father cried to the night, cried his apologies to his son for presenting him with his curse. And as the mother's death approached her too, she allowed herself one last kiss upon his cheek and cried the same words to the night. And as their bodies laid there cold and still, the house in ruins around them a baby's cry filled the air. And on their way to grace the heavens they whispered their last words that echoed on the breeze, their final words until the time they would meet again. "Goodbye beloved son, watch and learn in years to come, we'll help you when the time comes." And as the whispered words did fade the sun rose in the sky, lighting the rosy pink and golden clouds that hid more than they revealed.
A.N. hope you enjoyed this little taster of what is to come. Part one should be up soon and I can't wait to hear what you thought of this tiny prologue when you click that little button at the bottom left of this page. You know, the one marked go next to the box that says Submit Review.
Ciao
Sugar Quill