Disclaimer: Balinor, Arianna, Sunchaser, and all other characters
that you recognize all belong to Mary Stanton. I only own Irene, Akor,
their home land, and the plot of this story. Thank you and enjoy.
"Irene, come here child." Amair beckoned me closer. "Child, I have a huge task to place upon your shoulders. My dear, you must travel through the Abyss to Balinor. You..."
Amair had to stop talking to catch her breath. She had been slowly dieing for the past couple of years. Everyone was worried about the High Lady. I was worried about my grandma. The healing-sage had said that if she wasn't fighting her illness so hard she would have died many years ago.
"What is it Ama? Do you need some water?" I asked her. My grandma had always said my voice was soothing. Everyone else said that it was deep and commanding.
"N-no child. Just go to Balinor. You'll learn as you go what you need to do. Go now child. I... I must rest."
Slowly I turned to go out of the room. I stalled at the door tom make sure Ama was sleeping peacefully. Once out of the room I ran to the kitchens.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Once I was in the kitchens I had Cookie jot down a note to my father.
"Now where will you be starting in Balinor?" Cookie asked.
"I'm not sure. I've never been to Balinor before."
"Well mayhap you'll find some one who can help you there."
I grinned at Cookie. Her logic was always simple, helpful, and start to the point. I would definitely miss it.
"Now you have three weeks provision for two people. Since you are such a light eater it should last you about two month. In the saddle bags is food for that stallion of yours. What's his name? Ak... Ak... what is it Irene?"
"It's Akorhima. Akor for short."
I laughed at Cookies face.
"What in Thian does that mean?"
"It means Warrior of Life."
"Uh-huh. Just like your name means On the Wind, little misses Irenaki. And in Balinor's case your help and a warning On the Wind." Cookie glanced out the window.
"Looks like it's time to go. That horse of yours is throwing a fit!"
Laughing I ran out of the doors to take Akor off of the stable boys hands.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
"'Bout time ye got out her' Irene! Ye hoss are crazy!"
I smiled as I walked up. Akor saw me out of the corner of his dark blue eyes. He snorted in recognition and reared up again.
"Calm down my valiant steed." I murmured softly to him. He always got high spirited before we went on a trip. "Quiet my beast. We'll soon be on our way."
Once all four of Akor's feet were on the ground I leapt onto his back and quickly spinned about. Egging him into a run, I looked over my shoulder and yelled back towards the stable hands. "He's not a horse! He's a UNICORN!"
I could just imagine in my head the look of surprise on my friends faces towards my retreating back. They would be standing there for hours before the truth dawned on them.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
As we ran towards the Abyss, Akor stalled.
"Milady, where are we headed?"
"Akor, my dear, we're headed through the Abyss and then to Balinor."
"Balinor! So why are we to go there? Is something the matter Milady?"
"Well my heart. We're to warn Balinor of something. Ama started to become weary before she could finish telling me." I let out a sigh. "I worry about her Akor. I don't think she'll make it much longer."
"I grieve for you Milady. But it is no longer the time to talk. We are fast approaching the Abyss, and I must concentrate on my running to take us through this fog unharmed."
Grimly Akor put on an extra burst of speed to make it to the Abyss before nightfall.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´
We arrived at the Abyss a couple minutes after dusk. Some of the local guards came forth. Cautiously I pulled the hood of my dark green cloak over my head.
"Excuse me but we cannot allow you to go through the Abyss until tomorrow morning," said the nearest guard. Akor gave out a snort and started to move past him.
"Did you not here me? I said you cannot cross!" The guard tried to restrain his anger. He wasn't used to not being listened to. Akor continued to walk forward. Guessing at what Akor was doing, I yelled NOW at the top of my lungs.
I could feel Akor's muscles become tense as he prepared to jump. Springing with all his might he jumped over the guards' heads and into the Abyss. Every thing went black. I could no longer feel Akor's mane in my hands. I was in nothing.
After a moment or two I felt something racing towards me in the darkness. I screamed in fear. I have never been so afraid in my life. A huge green hand was coming out of the mists towards my. Its minions were all around me. I felt as if all was lost. Like I would never see the sun again, or anything healthy. It felt like there was no hope.
Again I screamed. This time it was for Akor. Some how he found me right before the hand could grab a hold of me. I clung to his neck as he ran through the endless Abyss, just relieved to be with him again.
"Irene, come here child." Amair beckoned me closer. "Child, I have a huge task to place upon your shoulders. My dear, you must travel through the Abyss to Balinor. You..."
Amair had to stop talking to catch her breath. She had been slowly dieing for the past couple of years. Everyone was worried about the High Lady. I was worried about my grandma. The healing-sage had said that if she wasn't fighting her illness so hard she would have died many years ago.
"What is it Ama? Do you need some water?" I asked her. My grandma had always said my voice was soothing. Everyone else said that it was deep and commanding.
"N-no child. Just go to Balinor. You'll learn as you go what you need to do. Go now child. I... I must rest."
Slowly I turned to go out of the room. I stalled at the door tom make sure Ama was sleeping peacefully. Once out of the room I ran to the kitchens.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Once I was in the kitchens I had Cookie jot down a note to my father.
"Now where will you be starting in Balinor?" Cookie asked.
"I'm not sure. I've never been to Balinor before."
"Well mayhap you'll find some one who can help you there."
I grinned at Cookie. Her logic was always simple, helpful, and start to the point. I would definitely miss it.
"Now you have three weeks provision for two people. Since you are such a light eater it should last you about two month. In the saddle bags is food for that stallion of yours. What's his name? Ak... Ak... what is it Irene?"
"It's Akorhima. Akor for short."
I laughed at Cookies face.
"What in Thian does that mean?"
"It means Warrior of Life."
"Uh-huh. Just like your name means On the Wind, little misses Irenaki. And in Balinor's case your help and a warning On the Wind." Cookie glanced out the window.
"Looks like it's time to go. That horse of yours is throwing a fit!"
Laughing I ran out of the doors to take Akor off of the stable boys hands.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
"'Bout time ye got out her' Irene! Ye hoss are crazy!"
I smiled as I walked up. Akor saw me out of the corner of his dark blue eyes. He snorted in recognition and reared up again.
"Calm down my valiant steed." I murmured softly to him. He always got high spirited before we went on a trip. "Quiet my beast. We'll soon be on our way."
Once all four of Akor's feet were on the ground I leapt onto his back and quickly spinned about. Egging him into a run, I looked over my shoulder and yelled back towards the stable hands. "He's not a horse! He's a UNICORN!"
I could just imagine in my head the look of surprise on my friends faces towards my retreating back. They would be standing there for hours before the truth dawned on them.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
As we ran towards the Abyss, Akor stalled.
"Milady, where are we headed?"
"Akor, my dear, we're headed through the Abyss and then to Balinor."
"Balinor! So why are we to go there? Is something the matter Milady?"
"Well my heart. We're to warn Balinor of something. Ama started to become weary before she could finish telling me." I let out a sigh. "I worry about her Akor. I don't think she'll make it much longer."
"I grieve for you Milady. But it is no longer the time to talk. We are fast approaching the Abyss, and I must concentrate on my running to take us through this fog unharmed."
Grimly Akor put on an extra burst of speed to make it to the Abyss before nightfall.
Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´ Û´Û´Û´
Û´Û´Û´
We arrived at the Abyss a couple minutes after dusk. Some of the local guards came forth. Cautiously I pulled the hood of my dark green cloak over my head.
"Excuse me but we cannot allow you to go through the Abyss until tomorrow morning," said the nearest guard. Akor gave out a snort and started to move past him.
"Did you not here me? I said you cannot cross!" The guard tried to restrain his anger. He wasn't used to not being listened to. Akor continued to walk forward. Guessing at what Akor was doing, I yelled NOW at the top of my lungs.
I could feel Akor's muscles become tense as he prepared to jump. Springing with all his might he jumped over the guards' heads and into the Abyss. Every thing went black. I could no longer feel Akor's mane in my hands. I was in nothing.
After a moment or two I felt something racing towards me in the darkness. I screamed in fear. I have never been so afraid in my life. A huge green hand was coming out of the mists towards my. Its minions were all around me. I felt as if all was lost. Like I would never see the sun again, or anything healthy. It felt like there was no hope.
Again I screamed. This time it was for Akor. Some how he found me right before the hand could grab a hold of me. I clung to his neck as he ran through the endless Abyss, just relieved to be with him again.