Chapter 9: The Woman of the Woods:
Vodcoo's POV:
There is still one chance we have! I have to speak with someone I once knew!
...
I entered her lair. "I seek the woman," I said.
"Enter here and die," she says.
I had to go on a dangerous path just to go to her. During this, I was attacked by a large insectoid creature. "Pexano," I said, "Pexano!"
"Who speaks that name," she asks.
"It is I," I said, "Vodcoo!"
"I give you this time," she says. She turns an hourglass upside down.
The creature stopped and I continued on. One point, I found a skeleton. It had to have been food for the insectoid! The hourglass ran out and the insectoid almost killed me, but I made it! "Pexano," I said.
"I was young when I last heard that name," she says.
"I was young when I last spoke it to you," I said.
"And my face was as beautiful as my name," she says.
"And I loved you, Pexano, with all my heart," I said.
"But you would not stay with me," says Pexano.
"There were responsibilities, duty..."
"Ambition," says Pexano, "you had a son. We had a son."
"But you said nothing," I said, "where is he?"
"I killed him when he was born," says Pexano, "and this is my punishment."
"My son," I asked
"Since I could not kill you," says Pexano, "my rage needed a victim. I know you can never forgive me."
"I cannot forgive myself," I said, "I have already forgiven you."
"You can never forgive a woman who has killed your son," says Pexano.
"If I had not," I said, "could I see you now as I saw you then?"
"And allow me to see through your eyes," asks Pexano.
She then turns around and I saw her face. She was old, but to me, she would always look as she did then. "How could I have left you," I asked.
"Your vision is your gift to me," says Pexano.
"And your vision could be your gift to me," I said.
"What can I see for you," asks Pexano.
"Where is Caklorm's lair," I asked.
"Tomorrow," says Pexano, "in the Iron Desert. But the knowledge is useless for you can't leave here. No man can ever escape the woods."
"There is a girl being held there," I said, "a young girl with your name. A young man seeks her. The age I was when you and I met. When you and I loved."
"What you asked is beyond my power," says Pexano, "it can be turned only once. That is the law of the woods."
"Then the second Pexano will share your fate," I said, "she will die, grow old and lonely. She will die in a place of darkness. This whole world will be a place of darkness."
"These are sands of my life," says Pexano, "accept them and the insect will have no power to harm you. But your own life runs out with the sand."
"What about your life," I asked.
"I give it to the girl who bares my name," says Pexano. She then shatters the glass.
I tried to stop it. "I cannot stop the sand," I said.
"You cannot stop time," says Pexano, "go now. Save the other Pexano."
I had no choice. I had to run. The insectoid came after me, but the sands kept me safe.
...
I took one last look at her before I left. I will never forget her. The insectoid attacked her...
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, the group continues on their journey.