Chapter 32
Tal awaited Rallen's decision without a doubt in his mind that he would accept. Rallen smiled stepped forward from the crowd and into his own spotlight.
"I will accept," Rallen said falling into a trance as soon as the words escaped his mouth.
He was then lead by the hand to stand next to Wraith. Tal followed behind Rallen supportively but stopped as his chosen carrier was placed in the center of everyone's gaze.
"I call forth the Trial takers to pass on their chosen ancestors," one Crone said from nowhere.
Tal looked around for the disembodied voice when he realised it was coming from deep within his mind. Tal saw Milla move and followed suit. The met in the circle in front of the old Crone and were instructed to hold their hands up on either side of their carriers' head. The obliged obediently moving reverently but quickly as they had other pressing matters at hand. When the Crones thought that they were ready they stood in a circle around the four entranced people. The Crones then whistled their signature high pitched tune and as one they summoned a great wind that encircled the four people. Milla and Tal looked around themselves and saw the wind whipping their clothes about but they also noticed the winds direction. It wasn't a random gale as they had first thought it was a controlled and somehow artistic. Tal and Milla never would have noticed the beauty of the way the snowflakes encircled them if they had not been bound to Adras and Odris.
The Trial takers looked dazed at the sheer art that was being created. They were entranced by the reality of it. Their guard was lowered for but a moment as they stared at the snowflake dance and the Crones took that opportunity. The pitch increased and the near ear splitting sound of the Crone's whistle turned the beautiful gale into an evil looking tornado like vacuum that sucked at their souls instead of their bodies. The tornado made the Tal and Milla glow with an ethereal aura. Although they were in no real danger there was some pain involved as the extraction of the ancestors began. Milla gritted her teeth and as the vacuum pulled at her mind creating a channel for Danir to pass through. Tal opened his eyes to mere slits only to receive a tide of snowflakes barge rudely into the cracks of his eyelids. Tal shook his head to clear his vision to no avail. After many attempts of trying to see what was happening through the haze Tal heard a groan near him and the unmistakable sound of someone falling onto stone.
Tal ignored the stinging of the ice chips and forced his eyelids to stay open. Tal didn't move because he felt a force keeping him still but he was able to move his head. He moved his head slightly to the left just in time to see a glowing ghost like figure go straight into Wraith's forehead. Tal was shocked at what he saw but had no time to contemplate or even yell in surprise before the vacuum attacked him. The ice tornado formed into a hand that was more a of a claw shape. It moved with it's torrent of whipping wind in its wake and pressed a finger to Tal's head. Tal shut his eyes not wanting to see what it would do but unfortunately he was forced to watch the horrible claw go through his skull and extract a glowing figure. Tal's eyes stung from the repeated waves of snowflake attacks but he was helpless to do anything about it. The torture went further as a splitting pain cracked right through his head. The force of the sprit extraction forced Tal to stretch out his arms and throw his head back. The extraction was slow and painful and Tal used up all his might to keep from screaming out. Instead he let out groans of pain that sufficed in venting some pain but not all of it.
After an eternity of slow torture the pain stopped and the last image Tal saw was a blurred vision of a glowing figure entering Rallen's body. Tal slumped to his knees and fell over landing on his hands before falling over completely and surrendering to the sweet calm and painless oblivion of unconsciousness. As soon as Tal hit the now smooth stone the tornado slowed to a gentle gale and then blew itself away in wisps caressing Tal and Milla's cheeks as if to apologise for the painful extraction. The Crones eyes dimmed and their whistle became nothing more than a soft melancholy sound. Rallen and Wraith's standing forms began to twitch and morph as the whistle silenced. Limbs elongated or shrunk and as they morphed and twisted the same ethereal aura shone once more and after a minutes worth of intense shape shifting the glowing entities stopped their bizarre motion and slowly opened their eyes.
The Crones and shield maidens present gasped in astonishment as they looked at what used to be Rallen and Wraith. Before the crowd of dumbfounded onlookers stood a pair of glowing strangers. The glowing woman white blond hair that flowed down to her waist like a white gold river. The clothes she wore were unmistakably the finest white Ursek furs on the ice. The glow added shine to it and created an angelic air to the woman. A head band resided on top of her head like a crown that tamed the wildness of her long silky mane. Her most shocking feature was her eyes. They were fierce and hard but held a gentleness about them that created an instant love for her. Her skin was a pale as milk but looked as soft as a feather. This was without a doubt Danir one of the four most famous sisters in Icecarl legend.
Standing next to her with the same unnaturally beautiful glow was a man with a commanding presence. His chestnut coloured hair and dark brown eyes complemented each other and gave the impression that this was a complex man who craved simplicity. His whit robes were but a variation of Tal's Emperor robes, whitewashed, long and baggy with all flesh covered. The clothes may have been baggy but they clung to him enough to reveal the curves of his chiseled frame making him appear like a living statue of a god. His face was clean shaven and hair was wavy but kempt in a neat style. Finally noticing the stares from the crowd Ramellean straighten from his easy slouch and put one hand behind his back and the other out in front of him. His chin rose to a noble level making the air around him vibrate, demanding instant respect.
Danir had similar thoughts and straightened herself but got into an easy stance with an arm on her hip and the other clasped over the other. The two ghosts from the pasts met everyone's stare one by one. Then satisfied that they were not in any danger they slowly looked around the crowd then at each other. Their calm faces turned into surprise as they saw each other.
"Danir?" Ramellean asked moving closer to his lover.
"Ramellean?" Danir whispered in disbelief.
"Do my eyes and ears deceive me? Am I truly looking at and listening my long lost angel?" Ramellean asked wide eyed.
"It is surely a dream," Danir said extending an arm reaching for her partner.
Ramellean reached out himself and as their hands touched all doubt dissipated. They smiled and hugged for joy and tears escaped the corners of their eyes against their will as they embraced for the first time in a long time. They parted and kissed deeply and lovingly not caring about the stares of embarrassment that they received. To see a long lost couple reunited was a happy moment indeed but it was interrupted by a stir of movement that came from the ground. Tal and Milla groaned as they slowly got to their feet blindly as they kept their eyes closed to harbor a lingering pain in their heads. They arose to their feet finally but didn't open their eyes. Milla pinched the bridge of her nose to stop the pain ineffectively. Tal did pretty much the same thing except flurried through different methods. He started by pinching the bride of his nose then he ruffled through various other methods before hitting his head and finally finishing by rubbing his left temple.
Milla opened her eyes to blurred shapes and muffled sounds. Then as she concentrated on the first figure she saw the image became clearer. It was Tal she spied and as she recognised the shape in front of her relief and longing to be in his strong arms overwhelmed all other emotions as she uncontrollably made her way over to him.
"Tal," Milla said as she neared him.
Tal's eyes fluttered open and he turned at the sound of her sweet voice that cut through the pain in his head. His vision was also hazy but became sharper as Milla forced her lips onto his. The kiss was like a kiss of life. Tal's memory had returned sharply as the kissed prolonged. Tal didn't want the feeling to go she he held onto Milla and ran his hands down her back pulling her closer to him. Milla felt his strong hands envelop her and she felt safe and secure again. Memories flooded her mind of the past events but she didn't bother with them. What mattered was right there in front of her. The two parted as they ran out of breath and finally looked at each other with love and adoration in their gaze.
"Well they are definitely our descendants," chuckled Danir side hugging her husband.
The kissing couple spun to look at the glowing strangers in surprise just as the wave of memories came back to haunt their minds, Then with sudden realization they remembered where they were and what they were doing.
"The Trials," Milla said to Tal calmly her face blushing slightly as she realised what she had just done.
Tal chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Yeah I remember now," Tal said looking at the crowd then he returned his gaze to the ghostly pair "By the looks of it I think we succeeded in finding our guides," Tal said side hugging Milla a little tighter.
"Very true Tal," Ramellean said snapping straight to the point "We're here to help you through the Trials and I see you have made a fine choice," he said gesturing to Milla who cringed only slightly under his gaze.
"Milla I must say you do choose well also," Danir said surveying Tal.
The two ancestors laughed openly leaving Milla and Tal to go red in the face.
Tal awaited Rallen's decision without a doubt in his mind that he would accept. Rallen smiled stepped forward from the crowd and into his own spotlight.
"I will accept," Rallen said falling into a trance as soon as the words escaped his mouth.
He was then lead by the hand to stand next to Wraith. Tal followed behind Rallen supportively but stopped as his chosen carrier was placed in the center of everyone's gaze.
"I call forth the Trial takers to pass on their chosen ancestors," one Crone said from nowhere.
Tal looked around for the disembodied voice when he realised it was coming from deep within his mind. Tal saw Milla move and followed suit. The met in the circle in front of the old Crone and were instructed to hold their hands up on either side of their carriers' head. The obliged obediently moving reverently but quickly as they had other pressing matters at hand. When the Crones thought that they were ready they stood in a circle around the four entranced people. The Crones then whistled their signature high pitched tune and as one they summoned a great wind that encircled the four people. Milla and Tal looked around themselves and saw the wind whipping their clothes about but they also noticed the winds direction. It wasn't a random gale as they had first thought it was a controlled and somehow artistic. Tal and Milla never would have noticed the beauty of the way the snowflakes encircled them if they had not been bound to Adras and Odris.
The Trial takers looked dazed at the sheer art that was being created. They were entranced by the reality of it. Their guard was lowered for but a moment as they stared at the snowflake dance and the Crones took that opportunity. The pitch increased and the near ear splitting sound of the Crone's whistle turned the beautiful gale into an evil looking tornado like vacuum that sucked at their souls instead of their bodies. The tornado made the Tal and Milla glow with an ethereal aura. Although they were in no real danger there was some pain involved as the extraction of the ancestors began. Milla gritted her teeth and as the vacuum pulled at her mind creating a channel for Danir to pass through. Tal opened his eyes to mere slits only to receive a tide of snowflakes barge rudely into the cracks of his eyelids. Tal shook his head to clear his vision to no avail. After many attempts of trying to see what was happening through the haze Tal heard a groan near him and the unmistakable sound of someone falling onto stone.
Tal ignored the stinging of the ice chips and forced his eyelids to stay open. Tal didn't move because he felt a force keeping him still but he was able to move his head. He moved his head slightly to the left just in time to see a glowing ghost like figure go straight into Wraith's forehead. Tal was shocked at what he saw but had no time to contemplate or even yell in surprise before the vacuum attacked him. The ice tornado formed into a hand that was more a of a claw shape. It moved with it's torrent of whipping wind in its wake and pressed a finger to Tal's head. Tal shut his eyes not wanting to see what it would do but unfortunately he was forced to watch the horrible claw go through his skull and extract a glowing figure. Tal's eyes stung from the repeated waves of snowflake attacks but he was helpless to do anything about it. The torture went further as a splitting pain cracked right through his head. The force of the sprit extraction forced Tal to stretch out his arms and throw his head back. The extraction was slow and painful and Tal used up all his might to keep from screaming out. Instead he let out groans of pain that sufficed in venting some pain but not all of it.
After an eternity of slow torture the pain stopped and the last image Tal saw was a blurred vision of a glowing figure entering Rallen's body. Tal slumped to his knees and fell over landing on his hands before falling over completely and surrendering to the sweet calm and painless oblivion of unconsciousness. As soon as Tal hit the now smooth stone the tornado slowed to a gentle gale and then blew itself away in wisps caressing Tal and Milla's cheeks as if to apologise for the painful extraction. The Crones eyes dimmed and their whistle became nothing more than a soft melancholy sound. Rallen and Wraith's standing forms began to twitch and morph as the whistle silenced. Limbs elongated or shrunk and as they morphed and twisted the same ethereal aura shone once more and after a minutes worth of intense shape shifting the glowing entities stopped their bizarre motion and slowly opened their eyes.
The Crones and shield maidens present gasped in astonishment as they looked at what used to be Rallen and Wraith. Before the crowd of dumbfounded onlookers stood a pair of glowing strangers. The glowing woman white blond hair that flowed down to her waist like a white gold river. The clothes she wore were unmistakably the finest white Ursek furs on the ice. The glow added shine to it and created an angelic air to the woman. A head band resided on top of her head like a crown that tamed the wildness of her long silky mane. Her most shocking feature was her eyes. They were fierce and hard but held a gentleness about them that created an instant love for her. Her skin was a pale as milk but looked as soft as a feather. This was without a doubt Danir one of the four most famous sisters in Icecarl legend.
Standing next to her with the same unnaturally beautiful glow was a man with a commanding presence. His chestnut coloured hair and dark brown eyes complemented each other and gave the impression that this was a complex man who craved simplicity. His whit robes were but a variation of Tal's Emperor robes, whitewashed, long and baggy with all flesh covered. The clothes may have been baggy but they clung to him enough to reveal the curves of his chiseled frame making him appear like a living statue of a god. His face was clean shaven and hair was wavy but kempt in a neat style. Finally noticing the stares from the crowd Ramellean straighten from his easy slouch and put one hand behind his back and the other out in front of him. His chin rose to a noble level making the air around him vibrate, demanding instant respect.
Danir had similar thoughts and straightened herself but got into an easy stance with an arm on her hip and the other clasped over the other. The two ghosts from the pasts met everyone's stare one by one. Then satisfied that they were not in any danger they slowly looked around the crowd then at each other. Their calm faces turned into surprise as they saw each other.
"Danir?" Ramellean asked moving closer to his lover.
"Ramellean?" Danir whispered in disbelief.
"Do my eyes and ears deceive me? Am I truly looking at and listening my long lost angel?" Ramellean asked wide eyed.
"It is surely a dream," Danir said extending an arm reaching for her partner.
Ramellean reached out himself and as their hands touched all doubt dissipated. They smiled and hugged for joy and tears escaped the corners of their eyes against their will as they embraced for the first time in a long time. They parted and kissed deeply and lovingly not caring about the stares of embarrassment that they received. To see a long lost couple reunited was a happy moment indeed but it was interrupted by a stir of movement that came from the ground. Tal and Milla groaned as they slowly got to their feet blindly as they kept their eyes closed to harbor a lingering pain in their heads. They arose to their feet finally but didn't open their eyes. Milla pinched the bridge of her nose to stop the pain ineffectively. Tal did pretty much the same thing except flurried through different methods. He started by pinching the bride of his nose then he ruffled through various other methods before hitting his head and finally finishing by rubbing his left temple.
Milla opened her eyes to blurred shapes and muffled sounds. Then as she concentrated on the first figure she saw the image became clearer. It was Tal she spied and as she recognised the shape in front of her relief and longing to be in his strong arms overwhelmed all other emotions as she uncontrollably made her way over to him.
"Tal," Milla said as she neared him.
Tal's eyes fluttered open and he turned at the sound of her sweet voice that cut through the pain in his head. His vision was also hazy but became sharper as Milla forced her lips onto his. The kiss was like a kiss of life. Tal's memory had returned sharply as the kissed prolonged. Tal didn't want the feeling to go she he held onto Milla and ran his hands down her back pulling her closer to him. Milla felt his strong hands envelop her and she felt safe and secure again. Memories flooded her mind of the past events but she didn't bother with them. What mattered was right there in front of her. The two parted as they ran out of breath and finally looked at each other with love and adoration in their gaze.
"Well they are definitely our descendants," chuckled Danir side hugging her husband.
The kissing couple spun to look at the glowing strangers in surprise just as the wave of memories came back to haunt their minds, Then with sudden realization they remembered where they were and what they were doing.
"The Trials," Milla said to Tal calmly her face blushing slightly as she realised what she had just done.
Tal chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Yeah I remember now," Tal said looking at the crowd then he returned his gaze to the ghostly pair "By the looks of it I think we succeeded in finding our guides," Tal said side hugging Milla a little tighter.
"Very true Tal," Ramellean said snapping straight to the point "We're here to help you through the Trials and I see you have made a fine choice," he said gesturing to Milla who cringed only slightly under his gaze.
"Milla I must say you do choose well also," Danir said surveying Tal.
The two ancestors laughed openly leaving Milla and Tal to go red in the face.