Chapter Four
"Ayla, why do you run? You know it's pointless. The spirits will remember, and they will find you. They will use your sweet Durza to kill you and rip you apart..." The darkness whispered as it closed in around me. I struggled against it and tried to find a way out, but to no avail. It closed in, muttering and laughing in its wickedness.
"Yessssss...you know he will not forget, and he knows it too. You could see it in his eyesss! Better turn back and give yourself up now, or diiieeee... It is no use to hide. WE will find you and WE will kill you. And if we don't, you will only kill yourSELF from going insane!" The evil creatures laughed darkly, their presence making me want to scream.
I needed to find a way out of my own mind! I was trapped in here with these foul creatures, and I had no doubt that they were right about everything they said. But I must keep fighting! I will not allow myself to die! Durza wanted me to live!
I fought and fought within myself, trying to gain control of the inner battle with the darkness that was attacking my mind and very soul. Suddenly, I felt the white light begin to erupt again. The dark creatures shrieked in fear and pain and fled away to hide, leaving me in my own spectral peace. I looked around, for I could once again think clearly. A shadow of a shape was approaching me slowly.
It was an elfish woman with long white hair in flowing white robes inlaid with gold, silver, and sapphire threads. She held out an open hand to me and I took it hesitantly. She pulled my spectral form to my feet and whispered in a voice older than time and penetrated deeper into my soul than the very spirits could have gone.
"Ayla Sharmila, it is your willpower and strength that must be used to overcome the darkness that surrounds you. You are filled with The Light, and it will guide, guard, and serve you for as long as you are bound to its power. However, exercise caution. Those whom you think are your friends may become foes later in time, only to become those who you must save regardless. Your fate is already twined with the higher figures of the future, though they themselves don't yet know it. Guard yourself well Ayla, and trust none but the ones your soul calls to.
"Do not forget to keep your wits about you, and keep your faith. Don't let despair control your thoughts, for it may very well kill you. When it comes time for you to save the True One from the Eternal Darkness, you will have to choose between the ultimate sacrifice of your life, or the sacrifice of your eternal heart. The choice will be yours and yours alone. Also, do not be fooled by those who seem so caring of you. Caution will be your friend for now. Stay safe Ayla Sharmila, and I shall visit you again soon. Farewell."
The woman raised a soft palm in goodbye and disappeared into the light surrounding me. I blinked a few times and willed my soul to return to my body within the waking world.
I awoke with a start, blinking and looking around wildly to get a grip on reality. As my vision started to clear, I realized I was lying in my bedroll within the woods between Therinsford and Carvahall. My dark brown warhorse, whom I had decided to name Karnus, was tethered to a large branch and my equipment was all laid out. I rose stiffly and took a swig out of my water skin, drinking deeply. With a sigh, I stood and walked over to the small campfire I had created in my fatigued form last night when I arrived.
I stirred up the fire and added a few more pieces of wood, huddling closer to the heat to keep the biting chill away. I opened my pack and pulled out a piece of cold meat, chewing on it quietly. I looked around the misty clearing and deemed it to be nearly sunrise. I spent the next ten minutes cleaning up the campsite and saddling my horse, storing everything away.
Once I had cleaned everything up, I put my forest green cloak about my shoulders and put out the campfire, hoisting myself into the tall warhorse's saddle. With a flick of the reigns the steed was charging off through the woods. I slowed the excited horse down and approached the edge of the trees at a cautious walk. My horse's ears flickered forwards nervously, and I waited.
After a moment, Karnus' ears laid back against his head in anticipation and anger, and he snorted loudly. I coaxed him into a gentle walk to get out of the trees and to see what all the commotion was about.
I peered around when we got onto the road and didn't see a soul in sight. I glanced at my warhorse in confusion, but he was pawing at the ground angrily, looking ready to charge at a certain spot down the road. He tossed his head back in forth and whinnied shrilly, his temper getting the better of him. I stroked his side calmly and looked to where he was staring. At that moment, the sunlight came up over the trees just enough for me to see something down the road glint. It was the reflection of the sun on steel.
An ambush, I thought to myself. Great.
With a sigh of annoyance and anticipation, I looked down at my warhorse who had turned his head to look back at his rider. I gave him a small nod as I stared into his dark chestnut eyes and whispered "Get us through there safely Karnus, please."
My warhorse tossed his head eagerly and stepped out onto the road, pawing at the ground as he prepared to charge. I laid a soothing hand on his side and flicked the reigns slightly. Karnus eagerly jumped into a trot, his ears swiveling as he listened for any other ambushers than the one we had seen. When half of the distance between us and the ambush had been covered, I flicked the reigns again and Karnus charged forward, jumping into a surging gallop that felt like flying. His hooves scarcely touched the ground.
Right as we were about to pass the hiding spot of the ambusher, a twig snapped on our left and I glanced over with a shock. There was more than one, and they were going to box us in. I thumped my warhorse in the sides with my heels and he leaped into the air, landing with a loud boom on the ground and then surging forward again with incredible speed. I held on tightly to his mane as we sped past the ambushers. A few arrows were fired at us, and each one missed us by centimeters. I caught a foul stench in the air and knew at once what was attacking us.
Urgals! Blast, why didn't I think of that sooner? My warhorse was now charging through the other end of the box in fear, trying to make it out quickly now that he knew it wasn't just men. The smell or Urgals often brought fear to a horse. That fear, along with my unwavering trust in my warhorse, made Karnus fly faster than the eagles as he raced down the road and out of sight of the Urgals. When we had traveled a safe distance away, I slowed Karnus to a stop and we stood in the middle of the road, his heavy breathing filling the steamy air.
I climbed down from my saddle and stroked his side, willing him to calm down and relax. When my horse had calmed down, I patted his side affectionately and said "That was some amazing running you did back there Karnus. Thank you for saving me. Did those Urgals frighten you so much?" I asked him quietly.
My warhorse gave a vicious shudder and closed his eyes, opening them again to look at me and make sure I was okay. I smiled and fed him a bit of oats I had in my pocket, scratching his ears as he chewed.
"Thank you Karnus. Shall we be going then?" I asked him as I walked to his side to get back into my saddle. My horse eagerly stomped a hoof and raised his head up and down eagerly. I laughed and said "You big fool!" I laughed again and got back into my saddle as we set off at a brisk canter down the road.
It took until around noon for Karnus and I to reach Carvahall, and we both met the sight with relief written all over our faces. For a moment I smiled and thought I shall finally have a place to stay and work and live my life again. But then caution took control as I remember the white-haired elf maiden's warning. With an unreadable expression on my face, I tapped Karnus into a gentle trot as we made our way up the road to Carvahall.
As we entered through its open archway entrance, I looked around and saw how small this place truly was. Houses and businesses sat side by side in a carefully arranged order, and the streets were kept well and tidy. Children were running around in front of their homes and wives watched them carefully from their doorsteps as they knitted and sewed. The men were working in the shops and forgery, which I passed with a shudder.
People were walking around from place to place, getting what they needed and selling what they had. Everybody knew everybody, and since nobody knew me I was the hype of the gossip as I rode past on my warhorse.
"These are some fairly suspicious folk, I'd say." I whispered to Karnus. His ears flicked back as he listened to me and he snorted in annoyance at the look someone gave us as we rode past. Riding through the small streets, we came upon a place that had a sign hanging outside of it that said 'Morn's Tavern'. I rode up to the front at a walk and hopped off of my warhorse, tying him to a post even though I knew it was unnecessary.
I looked Karnus in the eye and said quietly "Stay here and wait for me Karnus, and don't let anybody try to steal you. If they get too interested in how tightly your rope is tied, scare them off somehow, but don't kill them. Understand?" My horse gave me a long stare before whinnying quietly, his ears laid back as he stood up a little straighter. I smiled and stroked his mane and whispered "Good boy." before turning around and going into the tavern.
As I walked inside I had to stand a moment in the doorway to wait for my eyes to adjust to the gloom. The tavern was well kept, with neat round tables and sturdy wooden chairs. The counter was clean and polished, and mugs were hanging on the back wall. There was a man behind the counter polishing one of the mugs, and I assumed him to be Morn. There were a few others in the tavern as well, and they all glanced up as I walked in.
There were two men talking in whispers in one of the corners, a heavy-set man with his feet on a table to my right, and to my left there was an old geezer snoozing quietly, dripping drool onto the table. The bar was empty, so I went and sat in one of its high stools and was given a curious look by Morn.
"Good day Madam, my name's Morn. What can I get for ya?" He asked in a fair voice.
"Just a mug of ale would be suitable, thank you." I replied, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. He nodded and finished cleaning the mug in his hands before turning around and filling it with ale from the keg behind him. He turned again and placed it on the bar in front of me. I took a grateful sip, glad to have something other than water and cold meat hit my throat.
Morn leaned forward onto the bar as he polished another mug. "So young Miss, where are you heading from?"
I took another sip before replying "I'm from Therinsford. My house was burned to the ground not too long ago, and I only managed to get away. I came up here hoping to find a place to stay for a while. Do you know anyone that could help me?" I asked him softly, trying to make my situation sound hopeless.
Morn scratched his chin for a moment and said "Well, there are a few people that may be willing to take you in if you'll do them a bit of service. If you want, you could go see my wife about finding you a place to stay. She always seems to know everybody's business." he said, rolling his eyes slightly.
I grinned a little. "I suppose that gets a bit annoying, doesn't it?" I asked him.
He nodded and smiled a little, saying "Just a bit, but you get used to it. If you'll wait here for a minute, I'll go fetch her and see what we can do for ya."
I nodded and took another sip of ale as Morn turned and went through a closed door at the other end of the bar. I stayed in my chair sipping my drink for a couple of minutes, listening to the two people whispering in the corner as I awaited Morn's return. One of them had his hood up so that his face was shadowed, and he sounded agitated.
"I'm telling you, there's something dark brewing in the South. I heard there was a fire in Therinsford the other day that killed a young woman; terrible way to die." I gulped quietly. They were talking about ME. So I was presumed dead was I? That could be used to my advantage. The other man spoke then.
"So what? Houses burn all the time, it's just a part of life." he argued, scowling at the shadowed man. The second man who spoke looked to be in his early thirties, with short black hair that seemed a bit unruly. He had a very serious face and blazing brown eyes above his hooked nose. He glared at the cloaked man and glanced over at me, though I continued to sip my ale in obvious peace and oblivion.
The cloaked man leaned in further. "No, I don't think this was some random fire. There was reported to be a Shade moving through that area, the shade Durza. I think he caused the fire in order to eliminate that girl, and he succeeded. He's killing innocents without reason now. What's next? He'll ravage our entire village if he keeps moving north!"
The dark-haired man scowled and leaned back in his chair. "That's nonsense! Just because a Shade is moving around up here doesn't mean he caused her death. No, if I know of Durza it is that he's probably moved along South by now. Shades have no business up here." The other man began to slowly nod, accepting his words.
Just as the other man was beginning to speak again, Morn returned with his wife in tow. When she saw me she caught her breath and said quietly "Oh, you poor dear." I mentally grimaced when I realized she wasn't looking at my eyes, but at the large hand-shaped bruise mark on my face and the fresh burns on my arms.
Morn put an arm around his wife and said "Young miss, this is my wife, Tara. She'll be showing you around Carvahall and helping you find a place to stay." I nodded quietly and offered a hand for her to shake. She had a firm grip as we clasped hands and she gave me a small smile. Tara was a tall and slim figure, with long black hair that had some gray strands running through it. Her face, however, was open and friendly. She walked around the bar and waited for me to pay Morn for the ale.