The chilly wind whipped their black cloaks to a frenzy and tossed their flowing hair across their faces. The sky was dark and overcast, the massive gates at their backs were of the same shade. In front, the vast barren, known as the Plain of Whispering, lay uninviting.
Adonis held Aivar's gloved hand and squeezed it tightly, he felt himself relax a bit as Aivar squeezed back. He looked to his right where Echelon, Ethos and Aldien stood, they stared straight ahead as if mustering their will to go forward. Around them the other nineteen Quoraes seemed to be doing the same.
Adonis gazed back at the great wall and the gates, it was the first time since he had been found wandering the dark mountains that he had left the Lamechi city. Again facing the horrors of the divide was daunting enough, but there was something else troubling him. He no longer knew who he was or who any of his comrades that he had known for years were anymore. Should he believe anything Auron had said yesterday, or should he not believe his Mentor and continue to believe in the teachings of the Jeaganites?
Children of the twilight of Nandura: Nandurans. Believing Maesrai Auron meant he would have turned away from Rai Zohar. How could any Lamech do such a thing? Then again, they were not really Lamechs, according to Auron. They were really an army lost in the divide, an army without a commander being tricked into protecting what they had no reason to protect.
The company of a hundred Nandurans moved forward with the gravel of the plain of Whispering crunching underfoot. Adonis hesitated and was pulled forward by Aivar, the longest of journeys begins with the first step. He looked left then right at the tall dark figures, the golden glow of their eyes eerie and foreboding, marching in the tandem, their combined steps filling the cold air with dust and sound.
A dark army, it was not hard to believe seeing them like this. Adonis shook his head as the wind stirred the dust and sent it up towards the sky, he must forget what Auron had said. They were Lamechs; the chosen people of Rai Zohar. Their purpose, to preserve the balance between darkness and light by protecting the realm of Pejora, the region which the other realms knew as the Divide.
It was here, here on this barren stretch two thousand Pejoran years ago that the first Maesrais fought against both darkness and light, driving both forces back, in effect saving the world from armageddon. Maesrai Jeagan; the first Lamech, hence the eldest, led his army of outcast on what seemed a suicide mission, establishing the realm and creating the Divide. Why would Rai Zohar, wisest of the Rais, choose these slaves, weaklings in the grand scheme of things, being unable to use magic, to do his bidding? He works in mysterious ways the Jeaganites would say, and so it was that because of a dream the once feared army of Rai Aiden; the Nandurans, were welcomed into the Pejora. Chosen as the Jeaganites were, chosen to protect the Divide and preserve the Balance. This is documented history. Why would anyone believe anything else?
Auron is wrong, Adonis thought. He looked back over his shoulder at the Lamechi city shrinking in the distance, despite all its faults it was his home and he loved it. This alone was proof enough that Auron was wrong, they did have a reason to protect it. The wind tossed his mane and made play of his black cloak, it was chilly, the sky was overcast and in the distance was the sound of thunder. It never rained in Pejora, but it was always like this; cold, overcast and the sound of thunder was the sound of the volcanic fields. Adonis found himself smiling, for the first time he found himself appreciating Pejora's environment. He looked across at Aivar who was walking with his head held down and his eyes strangely closed.
"I wonder what Dalion is doing now that you are not there for him to mess around with?"
Aivar opened his eyes, glanced at Adonis but then looked away without saying a word.
"I will sure miss the little runt," Adonis tried again. "I will sure miss the Athema."
He kept his eyes on Aivar; his closest friend and now his saddest ally. Still silence, then a sigh. Aivar turned his gaze towards the grey sky.
"My home has been taken from me." Aivar whispered. "The words of my Mentor have troubled my heart and sullied my feelings."
Adonis smiled, which was a surprise to his comrade. "It will pass, you will remember what Pejora means to you and your faith in Rai Zohar will get you through."
"Will it?" was Aivar's solemn response.
"Yes it will," Adonis answered with his usual surety, his smile broadened as he gazed up at the sky. "Just think, tomorrow we will be greeted by Daidra and Ekron, we will be the first Lamechs of Pejora in over two thousand years to see the suns."
"Daidra," Aivar whispered and his head dropped again. "What do they want from us?"
Adonis's eyes shifted back to his comrade, "We know what they want." Aivar met his gaze and he looked away, finding refuge in the gravel of the plain. "Peace comes at a price, a male born of a Daidran and the possibility of creating more is compensation enough."
"You think..." Aivar stopped as the truth of the words Adonis had spoken hit him. "They want us for mating, they are trying to break Rai Aiden's curse."
Adonis did not respond, there was no need to. It was clear, once examined closely enough, that his birth was the reason for the Daidran's request. His conception has placed his fellow Nandurans in danger. Rai Aiden's curse on the daughters of the great sun Daidra was not to be taken lightly. It was responsible for the deaths of thousands of males or even hundreds of thousands of males of countless races.
However, how could anyone be sure he was born of a Daidran when not even he was certain? Fact is, he did not know where he was from, he had no memory of his life before the Pejoran Mountains. All he did remember was being found and being rescued from the darkness by the torches of the Lamechs.
He remembered suspicion and being locked away, being afraid and alone. That was until the smile of a strange Nanduran, a curious child wanting to see the face of the condemned. He spoke to this child, finding his spirit infectious, stumbling upon joy in such a place. Adonis; the child had spoken his name and though he had no memory of it, he knew it was his. Strange it was indeed, and when he was set free because of a stranger claiming paternity, he felt whole when placed with this child. This was where he belonged, not with this stranger claiming to be his father, and not by Aldien's, his father's son, side but by the side of this child.
He looked across at him, now all grown up, with his head held down in sadness. This was all he was certain of; Aivar was his friend and because of who he was his friend was now in danger.
The temperature fell as they now walked in a light fog approaching the Omnima. It was freezing, the frost mixed in with the gravel of the plain served to remind the temperature resistant Nandurans of just how cold it was.
"Damn it, will we never be free of Rai Aiden."
"Do not speak his name," Adonis whispered cautiously. "Not this close to the river."
Aivar fell into abrupt silence, how absent minded he had been and how stupid. The Omnima was his, the former Rai of the Oceans most prised possession. The river is the mother of the world's fourteen oceans and was once used by Rai Aiden during his days of glory to travel the world. She was his mistress and would not stand for anyone speaking ill of him, even if they were his children.
"To think even now we depend on him for sustenance." Aivar whispered as his black leather boots crunched the black icy gravel of the river bank.
Of course, Adonis thought, this was why the Rai Aiden was so feared, he was extremely unpredictable. He was the master of the oceans and rivers, where it is believed that all life originated. He was the giver of life but also he was the taker, for he is also the master of Nandura, the great flames that almost brought an end to this world.
The Omnima was the realm of Pejora largest and most accessible water source and is the life line for the Lamechi people. Its dark, cold water hid the vilest and most dangerous of creatures but was the only source of the Kislea moss on which the Lamechs fed. Without a creation of Rai Aiden, life within the bounds of the Divide, life within Pejora would be impossible.
The company of a hundred Nandurans stood on her banks now, gazing into her dark unforgiving waters as they await the rafts that would take them across. Aivar stood the farthest away and by his side was Adonis who was discreetly trying to douse his comrade's fear of the Omnima. Irrational it seemed to the others that a Lamech trained to fight the fiercest and strongest the realms of light and the dark realms had to offer was afraid of a little water. However it was not strange to his best friend whose eyes saw what was hidden from most, to him it came as no surprise that the person that Nandura burnt the brightest within would keep away from the mother of all the world's bodies of water.
Aldien, Echelon and Ethos walked by them without saying a word, then stepped onto the huge black raft that had come up to the river bank. Adonis stood beside Aivar in silence, waiting for him to summon the strength to approach the water. He glanced backwards over his shoulder in an attempt to see the Lamechi city for one last time in the distance, saying goodbye. Aivar touched him before he could.
"Let's do this now, while I still can."
"Yeah let's do this." Adonis whispered almost sadly. He followed Aivar, taking each step as slowly as he did and as they stepped onto the raft he alone heard the prayer that Aivar offered, not to any Rai but to the flames of Rai Aiden; Nandura.
The rafts move steadily and slowly through the fog. The water was dark and still, with the only disturbance on its deceptively serene surface being that of the dips of the oars. Each Quorae stood on their raft watching the water surface intently. Crossing was always dangerous, one had to be on the lookout for the slightest movement, for death came swiftly to the distracted. There were twenty rafts for the twenty Quoraes, this was because what little safety they could find when crossing was only to be found in numbers. At present the fog made of them ghostly silhouettes.
The Lamech city, surrounded by thousands of miles of mountains of black rock forming a complicated labyrinth which was littered with dens of carnivorous creatures, all bounded by a magical barrier created by the Great Rai; this was Pejora, this was the Divide. For centuries both forces of darkness and light have tried to breach this barrier. A few found success but none have made it across the breadth of the realm, the Lamechs, the other creatures of the divide and more so the maze and its fog have seen to this. Now finally a chance for peace with the races of Rai Uz.
The fog revealed the Pejoran Mountains, black rock mountains rising perpendicular to the ground. Going up and up, rising, it seemed from this distance, without an end. Adonis gazed up at it as it appeared suddenly in front. He resisted the sudden impulse to pull away. How long as a small defenseless child had he survived in such a place?
It seemed to glare at him, daring him to once again enter its bowels - you will not escape me. He glared back, drawing on his training and stood his ground, it would not claim him again. It screamed at him, a bloodcurdling cry of pain and anguish, forcing all colour from his face and causing him to look away. Somewhere inside that forsaken maze a life was just cruelly and brutally taken.
The raft hit the bank, causing him to stumble forward. He righted himself quickly and stepped onto the gravel but could not force himself to go any further. Aldien at his side, not wanting to seem to, offered him his support. Aivar came to his other side, all the while gazing up in awe at the massive stone face.
A narrow seam was the only opening in what was a solid black wall. The other Quoraes headed for this narrow opening, disappearing into what was a long, narrow crack from the ground up to the very top of the cliff. Aldien, Ethos and Echelon headed in however Adonis did not move. Again he glanced behind in an attempt to see the Lamechi city, the fog denied him, for the city was now lost, hidden in its density. Aivar touched his shoulder before walking away and being swallowed by the fog.
Adonis swallowed audibly as an unnatural sudden chill stirred the air, still beads of sweat adorned his forehead.
Where was his gifted sight when he needed it the most? Throughout his years of training at the Athema his eyes had given him the advantage. He was always able to read his opponent and read the situation, seeing through any deception and making, for the most part, the correct decision. He had helped to make his Quorae one of the most respected and one of the most competent. Now when they needed it the most it was lost, putting his Quorae at a disadvantage. They should not have learnt to depend on it.
He inhaled and exhaled deeply before walking forward, almost shutting his eyes as he stepped between the towering black stone. It came now, a heightening of his senses which usually means that he was in danger, one difference, this time around his sight remained the same. He walked quickly with the gravel crunching noisily underfoot and his breathing heavy until he caught up with Aivar. He fell in behind him in silence trying desperately to calm himself.
I am not alone, not this time, this time I have my family, this time I am protected.
He peeked around Aivar, in front, Aldien then Ethos and Echelon, his Quorae walked in a single file as they have always done. It was not a formation ideal for conversation, but through years of training it was discovered that for their group this shape was best. Adonis could perceive what was behind him without turning around, and also he could tell what was before the group long before it came into the view of the others. He was their early detection system, and this was why Aivar, considered the best of the quorae with a sword, was placed next to him. This was also why he was placed at the rear of the group, since most practice missions had them heading towards the danger, this formation resulted in him being the most protected.
Besides, with the bond of the quorae, lengthy conversations were not needed. They always seemed to know what each other was thinking. They almost seemed to share each others feelings, or at least the fringes of each other feelings. Right now they knew he was afraid, but then they were all afraid and each was depending on the five, not the company of a hundred lamechs marching now, but the five for safety.
Marching now to Erza, it would be wisest to think of the company of a hundred as one's shield. Erza was site where, in the past, a powerful group of mages had breached the magical barrier but now was the location of a small outpost at the edge of the maze which served as a gateway to the realm of Onra. However, why take weapons into battle you knew little about, why not take the ones that you have practiced with, the ones of which you knew their strengths and their weaknesses?
Erza was hundreds of miles away, at the end of a path that twisted and turned, hidden in plain sight in a crowd of thousands of paths. To anyone untrained, to anyone not a Lamech, getting lost was inevitable. For those that are lost, becoming a meal was unavoidable.
It took years of diligence to know these paths, years still to understand the Lamechi markers and years to learn how to avoid and if necessary to battle and defeat the predators of the Divide. In groups of five, for years, each Lamech was trained so now it came without thought, the five was their sword and shield.
A light wind came along the path, stirring the fog and creating phantoms in the dimness. The gravel crunched noisily, almost deafeningly, and their breathing was loud, denying the quorae's best efforts to travel in stealth.
Adonis halted suddenly, there was danger here, he was sure of it. He stood motionless, trying to discern any sound above the beating of his own heart and his breathing. Nothing, maybe he was being overwhelmed by fear.
He turned to continue along the path and came to an unexpected halt again. He had collided with Aivar who was gazing up at the rock face above them with his hand on the hilt of his saber. The glow of his eyes seemed to be intensified as he focused on one spot, his eyes unmoving. Adonis felt his tension, there was definitely something there, now the others felt it. They halted, their eyes turned upwards, focusing on the spot their younger comrade was glaring at.
The wind blew again, twisting and molding the fog into ghostly creatures. It tossed Adonis's hair, leaving strands of it stuck to the moisture of his forehead. He gripped his sword tightly, feeling the heightened chill of the air on the tip of his fingers because of his sweat.
Where was his sight, his gift when he needed it? He felt Aivar's prayer rather than heard it.
Protect us mighty Zohar, keep us safe with your fury Nandura.
"Aivar, move!"
The ground shook, the Quorae minus Aivar shielded their faces from flying rocks. The mountain wall where Aivar had been standing was smashed to pieces, sending dust to mingle with the fog.
Above the sound of the crumbling mountainside came the sound of battle. In mid air massive teeth and claws clashed with sword. Aivar cried out and swung his saber, a bright golden arch pronounced itself in the dimness, only now did his Quorae realize where he was. Blood spurted forth, raining down warm on the four as they watched this brief battle for life above them. The beast's mammoth body crashed to the ground sending even more dust skyward, more gracefully Aivar landed a few feet away.
"What in the name of Rai Zohar..." he fell to one knee as his Quorae formed a protective circle around him. "Is that thing?"
"Adonis?" the question from Aldien was expected however Adonis had no answer.
Growls came from above them, their attentions were drawn upwards as a number of the creatures revealed themselves, looking down almost as if in anger at the cadaver of one their own. They were massive and catlike with a coat of bluish black fur and a segmented tail like that of a scorpion. Fourteen years of studying the creatures of the divide and there were plenty, not once had they come across anything like this.
"Adonis?" again the question came.
"I do not know," Adonis shouted frustrated, it was the first time he had ever given this answer. He looked around at Aivar who was now facedown on the ground. He was surprised at how fast he was, Aivar had avoided the charge of that strange creature by leaping into the air so quickly that his eyes had not caught the action. Adonis realized now however that Aivar had not been fast enough to avoid the second attack; he had been injured, seriously by the looks of it. "We need to catch up with the other Quoraes."
"The other Quoraes?" Aldien's brows furrowed, as if the thought of him being thought of as incompetent had crossed his mind. He looked down at Aivar who was no longer moving. "Alright!" He shouted, putting his pride aside for the sake of his youngest Quorae member. "We will catch up to the other Quoraes. Ethos and Echelon take him up, Adonis you cover the rear and I will lead the way."
Adonis kept his eyes on these mysterious creatures as his Quorae began to move. There were forty, maybe more were hidden in the dark places of the mountain. However, what in the name of Pejora were they, could another species have invaded the realm? Impossible, Rai Zohar would not have allowed this, Pejora was for the Lamechs, awarded to them for their unwavering devotion to the Great Rai.
The creatures moved around, above them, moving in almost precise coordination, conveying training and more worryingly intelligence.
The Quorae came to a halt as from the dim and fog these unknown phantoms appeared before Aldien forcing him to come to a stop. The group squeezed together as at the rear the creatures advanced causing Adonis to retreat. This close their coats seemed to gleam blue from darkness--majestic, with golden writings forming words of some kind. What did they say? It was unknown like the creatures themselves; the language long lost. Now revealed, once hidden by the darkness and the fog, were massive wings of black feathers.
"What do you want?" It was a silly question in the face of such malevolence but fear brought about irrationality. "What do you want?" Adonis repeated his question.
His question was greeted by a roar, the breath of the creature blew the hair away from his face, its stench of flesh long dead and decaying forced him backwards. He planted his feet firmly and stood with saber at the ready, for there was no more room to give.
Come any closer and you die.
A sudden war cry came from the cliffs above and the ringing of metal as it clashed with bone. Shadow, fog and golden arches intermingled to form an artwork of death. The other quoraes had doubled back. The Nanduran army danced, moving swiftly, gracefully and lightly among their foes leaving corpses to lie on rocks. There were legends among the Realms of light of their graceful brutality, it was well earned.
The creature standing before Adonis attacked, it was fast and strong, fuelled by, it would seem, pure blood thirst. It was dead in that instant, countering its attack was far too easy. He had seen the tension as it prepared to charge, he had seen an example of its speed and strength during the attack on Aivar. He knew its teeth and its claws while dangerous were a distraction, its real weapon was its tail. It crashed to the ground as he slipped between the smallest of openings between claws, fangs and tail, severing its head with a blade said to be sharp enough to cut diamonds.
It was a superb move but a mistake nonetheless. In that split second the ranks of the Quorae was broken and the helpless Aivar was taken.
"No, Aivar!" Adonis chased after him putting emotions before common sense and rushing by his other Quoraemates still engaged in battle.
Another of these creatures fell to the ground, its life slowly leaving it. Aldien looked up from his victory, his face darkened by blood splatter. In the distance his brother was swiftly swallowed by fog and darkness.
"Adonis, wait!"
Adonis heard the call but stopping was not an option, for he could not lose Aivar. He rushed ahead into the darkness and the fog, his breathing rapid, the cold air beating against his cheeks and filling his lungs. He could barely make out the fleeing creature, its wings combined with its speed stirring the fog ahead.
Follow its scent; follow Aivar's scent and the heavy footsteps of the monster.
Adonis changed directions quickly as the fog revealed junctions in quick succession. He trusted his senses, for he had not much choice. Left then right, straight ahead then right again, the junctions appeared without warning and in split seconds he made his decisions.
"Aivar!" he shouted his comrade's name in an attempt to give him hope, "Aivar."
Behind him, he could hear footsteps, footsteps that were way too heavy to be Lamechs.
I will worry about them later, right now only Aivar matters.
He turned left and found himself underground going downwards, deeper and deeper. The darkness was thick here, much thicker than Adonis was accustomed to. It was cold, he felt moisture condense on his face and soak into his clothing. He still moved quickly though his range of sight was at its minimum. Left then right, up and down he was sure of foot as a mountain goat, following his nose and something else, something he was not sure what.
He stopped suddenly in the darkness, for there was no longer anything for him to follow. No approaching or fleeing footsteps and no scents, just thick almost physical darkness. He spun one way then the next, where was Aivar, where had he gone? There was nothing to follow anymore, just blackness.
Wait! Adonis took a step in this direction, not because of a sound and not because he smelt or saw something. There was nothing to see, hear or smell, so then why? This was where Aivar was, it was that simple.
He repeated Aivar's mantra. Take me to him Nandura and keep us save with your fury.
He took off at a sprint, the sound of his boots hitting solid rock was deafening in the contrasting, almost maddening, silence around. Sweat fell from the cleft of his chin and splashed cold on his hand. His Lamechi eyes were useless here, here he was blind.
In the past as a young Lamech, eight or nine years old, the other Nandurans on meeting him would wave their hands before his eyes, checking for the absence of sight. It fascinated them that with his eyes, blue and filmed over, he could see even more clearly than they could. He wondered then if he was really blind, if not seeing with ones physical eyes meant blindness. It was silly really, sight is sight, and it did not matter if he saw everything differently from the others. Now he saw nothing, nothing at all.
Danger; there was a sudden brittleness to the air and a rise in the temperature, he sensed this yet still he dashed forward. The air crackled at his ears as he moved swiftly, thinking only of Aivar. If ever there was a weakness to be found of the Nanduran people it was this, the five were there life and matters concerning the members brought forth irrational emotions pushing aside methodical thought.
Almighty Zohar protect me, as I seek to protect him.
A loud screech emanated from the darkness, was it an answer? Now came a terrifying roar and the cave shook violently; still he sprinted forward barely keeping his footing, his saber at the ready. Light appeared at the end of the tunnel.
Aivar; was his only thought and he went forward ignoring his instincts of self preservation. The screech grew louder as the light approached and he felt the heat soar. This was fire and he was not sure if his Nanduran blood or even Nandura herself could protect him from what he was charging into.
He rushed towards the flames, the heat and his instincts of survival pushing him backwards. Aivar could survive this, Nandura burnt brightest within him, could Adonis? He was a Nanduran only by claim of parentage. If Nandura did reside within him, he knew it was a very small part. Why was he pushing himself beyond his limits?
Aivar was close, Adonis felt it. This would mean that Aivar was save, for what possibility could there be that the creature that had grabbed him could withstand this degree of heat. Adonis should return to the surface and wait for the others. They were full fledge nandurans, they could retrieve his comrade without suffering serious injury.
Adonis pushed forward, his gifted sight had not returned but he knew he was wrong. He was brushed aside suddenly by the heated wind rushing away from the approaching inferno. His body found a hiding place as he evaded ferocious, golden, fiery death. He had been guided, it would seem, by the hands of fate, for he had no control over what transpired.
Gold and shadow ripped at the rock, his hiding place, in monstrous waves that threatened to wash him away to naught but ash. He screamed as what little of nandura possessing his soul tried desperately to protect him, it was not enough, he was burning, being baked alive like a loaf trapped within an oven. Above him, the creatures, hundreds of them, were being washed away. No, they were soaring on the fiery currents with massive black wings being caressed by the flames. Why were they no more than cinders?
Adonis felt anger, it was not his own but Aivar's, and he found himself apologizing. It was useless, for the apology went unaccepted. Aivar was not angry at him, no not at him, but something else, someone else. Adonis spoke to him through their bond, trying to find out at who or at what, trying to calm him.
The creatures cried in ecstasy, revelling in what was their element as if to mock the dying nanduran. The direction of the fiery torrent was reversed as abruptly as it had emanated from the source, taking the jeering creatures with it. The reversal left the stone passage empty and glowing red with a deafening clap.
Adonis regained his feet, running forward, briskly and gingerly, as the glowing rock ate away at his leather boots. He coughed as the smell of burning rocks filled his lungs, acrid smoke burned his eyes, taking his vision. His cloak edge flicked against the smoldering stone and instantly caught fire. Still in fate's hands, his feet found water as the heat took the last of his boots from him. He dived forward, putting his trust in whatever was guiding him, submerging himself as he sought reprieve from the swelter.
The surprisingly cold water felt good against his skin. He floated, suspended for a while like an unborn foetus, savouring the relative safety of the womb and its protective amniotic fluid. It would not last long, his desire to find Aivar and the need to breathe was pulling him back to the heat of the surface above. He had stayed as long as he could.
He regained the water's surface with a gasp, filling his burning, bursting lungs with suffocating smoke. Coughing rocked him and he fought back creeping desperation as his fingers clawed at his throat.
His filmed blue eyes were caught through the smoke and his tears by a fireball roaring above. He now realized that he was in a gargantuan cavern, the features of which were hidden by the noxious fumes, leaving the thundering sphere of fire the sole focus. The hated creatures flew in concentric circles around this sphere with the flames touching the tips of the wings of those closest to it. They cried out, calling to each other in a chorus of hawk-like sounds, creating a symphony like a choir in praise.
Exactly like a choir in praise. Were they...?
Inside the mini nova, appearing to be screaming at the top of his lungs, the sound being drowned by the roaring inferno and the chorus of the creatures, was the silhouette of a Lamech. His face was turned upwards, his arms were spread and his mouth was opened unnaturally wide. He was the picture of agony.
"Aivar!" Adonis tried but could only cough his name. "Aivar!"
The intensity of the fiery sphere flickered. In this moment of weakness the creatures rushed in, converging on the silhouette in enormous numbers, smothering the fire ball and extinguishing the light.
Adonis heard something heavy splash down a few feet away. He swam towards it weakly, the lack of oxygen pushing him from consciousness. Thousands of massive black feathers surrendered to gravity's pull and rained down on him.
He found and pulled Aivar from the water's depths. Bringing him back to solid ground Adonis hugged him tightly and tears flowed from his filmed blue eyes.
Thank you almighty Zohar, thank you Nandura.
He stroked the water soaked hair from Aivar's face and felt the warmth of his comrade's breath on his hand. Aivar was alive and suddenly the creatures had vanished with the light, leaving behind a torrential rain of black feathers.
"Adonis. Aivar!!" A protective circle was formed around them as a group of Lamechs appeared suddenly, interrupting the feathery shower. "What happened? How is he?"
Adonis tried to stand as Aivar was taken from his hands. Weakened but relieved his body reflexively relaxed.
"I think..." pain washed over him and he waned. His legs gave way and he was caught by Aldien. He looked up at his brother as his conciousness faded.
You will all one day know, what my eyes have seen.
...
A storm was approaching, a mighty one. That was how it seemed, that was how it always seemed here, with heavy grey clouds, the rumble of thunder and moisture in the air.
How long has it been? The days were lost to him. The suns never shine here and the stars never twinkle. Darkness, thunder and the unbearable cold had replaced warmth and light and... Leah.
What did she look like, what did she sound like? He remembered names, the persons that accompanied them were forgotten. Rhea, Rhona, Orthos... Aidos, who were they? Only words... Only words? No, empty words would not make him feel like this.
So alone.
Fog and darkness surrounded him, and he sat, naught but a ghostly shadow, atop a black boulder.
Cold, so cold.
Around him mountains of black rock rose, peaks lost among the black heavens. This was hell, fashioned by the dark Rai, Hagar, himself. Before him was a lake, large and circular, its water dark and still. He knew its taste and icy touch all too well.
Fire and water. His skin had lost its colour and warmth, he was cold and pale. How long has it been since Nandura had left him? How long has it been since he lost his fire and fury, since he became a cold and empty vessel?
Maybe he should measure the time by his deaths and watery rebirths.
Twenty one times he had left this rock and this lake since awakening here. Twenty one times he had ventured into that dark hellish labyrinth only to be ripped open. Each time awaking in this lake, its icy water filling his lungs, pumping through his heart and filling each vein and artery.
Now he sits here contemplating twenty two. Why did he still hold on to hope, trying in futility to find those near empty words... Names? With each death losing a part of his former self.
"I am Aimar... I am Aimar... I am..."
Was he? Was he still that child, the jewel of the temple of Lumeira? He was no longer the personification of fire. Now he was always cold and always wet.
"Yes." He whispered to himself. "I will try again, I will find them."
He hopped from the stone, landing heavily in the black gravel below. Why harbour fear when one cannot die? Rebirth was painful but should an immortal being fear pain? He stepped into the lake's dark water, walking with even strides, the ice cold water gradually covering him.
Embrace who you are now, no more fear.
His body was small and frail, and Nandura no longer protected him. He was an ideal snack for the predators of this mountainous maze. Each time he had ventured into its dark, fog filled, domain he had only gotten a few feet before he was chased and devoured. Losing consciousness to the sight of his entrails been battled over, tugged and ripped.
He appeared on the other side of the lake almost in an instant, walking out as he had entered with slow even strides.
One creature had not attacked him. Only one. It appeared every time he had crossed to this side and each time it had appeared before him, he had fled, racing into that Rai forsaken maze to his death. Maybe he just had not given the creature the chance to attack, but why did it not chase him?
He stood on the shore of the lake, no fear, this time he would discover why.
"Mighty Zohar, let me keep what little of me still remains."
He stood there waiting, wet and cold, yet he did not shiver. He felt the cold to the very core of his soul but his body did not react, had ceased to react to it.
His water-soaked hood was pulled low and his turquiose, crystalline eyes were obscured by the fog. The creature appeared now, gleaming blue from darkness. Massive claws and teeth, it was catlike with mammoth black wings.
Slowly it stalked towards him. With head held low, it growled and crept forward. Any second now it would pounce but the child remain motionless. It sniffed and snarled, coming closer, bearing teeth that were long and savage. Its foul breath assailed him, turning his stomach. He was less than a mouthful to this monster that was so close that its whiskers brushed him.
It sniffed him hard and exhaled. With the child's lack of movement it roared, long and loud and fierce. The strength and stench of its breath pushed the child back. The child braced forward and shielded his face with his hands that were now awashed with the creature's saliva. Still he held his ground. The roar reverberated through his body, shaking him, rattling even his bones. Again the creature sniffed him.
"I am not afraid of you." The child's voice was low and barely convincing.
The challenge of the child however was met by the creature's tail. Scorpion like, the tip; the stinger, was used to lift the hood from his head. It, pointed and sharp, grazed his cheek and forehead. The creature pulled it back suddenly as if to strike, instead a growl came and it turned away.
It ran off, stopped a few feet away, growled at him once more and sprinted into the maze.
Convincing himself he was not afraid, cheek and forehead bleeding and almost as fast, the child sprinted in its wake.
It was impossibly fast, behind it fog and dust was whipped to fury, disturbed by its passage. It led him at neck breaking speeds, speeds he had never achieved before. He followed, just barely keeping up, dashing by death so fast that its dealing predators had almost no chance to notice him. Those that did, gave up the chase with just a few strides.
This was not his doing, something supernatural was pulling him towards it.
"Scared...?" He did not divert his attention from the creature, but that voice, he had heard it before. "You are scared, aren't you?" Whose was it? He had no idea, such was his memory.
He pushed himself, trying to recall this past conversation, this past encounter, trying as hard as he could to remember.
His feet felt exhausted and tattered, his body could not handle this pace, not for long.
"Scared... Scared... Scared....?"
Frustration was turning into anger but he held onto hope, trying not to lose anymore of himself.
"And you are not?" A flicker, he had recalled something from the dark abyss of his mind.
"There is no need to be."
An image--a smile on the face of a child with green eyes, her long black mane was littered with white flowers. Dressed in green, she was ten years old, maybe younger. Who was she? Maybe she was associated with one of those near empty words--Orthos, Rhea, Rhona, Kai.
"Are you coming?"
"We are not suppose to..." She grabbed him now, her fingers ruffling the coat of golden feathers on his forearm. The images faded to blackness.
Lead on. He thought, his eyes glued to the creature. I know not what you are but I will follow, for you gave me hope.
Fog, darkness and the bitter cold, he followed through it all--unflinching and unafraid. He would follow to hold on to the smallest of hope he had. The creature swooped downwards, a rapid descent, going deeper and deeper. He realized now that he was underground. Still he followed.
"Scared?" Again in his mind the image of this child, her eyes tranquil and green, her smile appealing to something now lost. He held on to the image of her face, trying to recall who she was and what had been lost when he lost her. "Scared?"
His pace was drastically slowed as he splashed now in ankle deep water. A blanket of darkness lay about him from which deep guttural growls emanated, drowning out the sound of his feeble pathetic splashing. He could no longer keep up with the creature and he watched helplessly as it disappeared into the distance.
"You are scared... Scaredy cat." If he was afraid it was her fault. Rebirth could mean losing her, this image, this encounter. He did not want to.
He was barely moving now, waist deep in ice cold water, his exhausted limbs were going numb. He pushed forward. What chance did he have of catching up to the creature? Yet he had to. For her face, for her image. Who are you?
Water crept to his chest, his neck and then covered him completely as he moved forward. Hope was a cruel thing. He reached out for her as his feet left the ground.
"Come back, lead me to her." His breath left him in huge bubbles rushing for the water's surface. "Please lead me to her..."
"What would you do?"
He reached for her image.
"What would you give to have her?"
The voice seemed to come from his own soul. It was deep and in its deepness it shook him, sending a surge of emotions through his body, causing pimples on his skin.
"For her..." a torrent of thought caused him to pause. "To no longer be alone and scorned, I offer the only thing I have."
A laugh came and again in its deepness it shook him. Water rushed into his lungs, cramping him, causing him to go numb. Unable to fight, gravity pulled him further and further to the water's dark depths.
"The world, that is what I want, not your useless soul."
Hope was fading. He could not give the world, for he had not the world to give. She appeared now, swimming around him, the laces of her green dress caressing his unfeeling skin. He could not move, it was torture because he could not touch her.
"The world... I will give you the world."
Another laugh. "That you will my child. Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, my herald."
She swam closer to him, so close her nose almost touched his. Her green eyes searched his, effecting a smile on her face. The natural movement of the water pushed them together causing their lips to brush ever so slightly against each other.
"I will return what your guardians have taken." The voice was almost unnoticed, he was captivated by her.
She grabbed his hand suddenly and swam for the surface. "It will only be used for my purpose."
They rocketed for empty air, leaving a mass of bubbles behind. Heat and colour returned to his flesh the higher they got.
"For as you belong to me, so does Nandura. Together, you my harbingers will bring about true rebirth."
They broke the water's surface and sped towards the roof of an enormous underground cavern. Heat overwhelmed him and he gasped, spitting out water and breathing in hot scorching air. The green eyed child vanished, leaving behind ferocious, fiery, savage gold.
Only fire. It washed over him, ripping away and replacing the turquoise of his eyes.
"Leah!" He looked for, but could not find, her.
The strange creatures flew around him in concentric circles, revelling in Nandura's return.
"Leah!" The creatures rushed in at him, in his moment of weakness, extinguishing the fire around him, converging on and into his body. He fell heavy and hard on the black rock cavern floor below. He coughed, reeling from the pain racking him.
Where was the water, where was Leah?
He groaned raising himself. "You lied to me."
No reply from the voice came. Around him the cavern was dark and silent. If not for the pain he was feeling, he would have thought he had dreamt all that happened.
Gaining his feet, he realized he was again alone... Except, except for... Mother.
Ever so faint, he could hear footsteps approaching.
"Thank you." He cried as the footsteps grew louder. "Whoever you are."
Nandura, mother protect me, protect your child.
A group, all dressed in black, stepped into his view. They were tall and slender with the hood of their cloaks pulled low, preventing him from seeing their faces. They approached him with swords drawn, the golden glow from under their hoods was eerie and foreboding.
With his mother again protecting him, he would not fear anything that this place had to offer. Come be consumed by her fury.
As if seeing him for the first time, the person leading the group lowered his sword.
"It is a child. A Nanduran child."
He took a few more steps towards the child, before kneeling.
"Come here child."
"What are you doing?!"
"Damn it, Auron, be careful."
The child approached him slowly.
"What are you doing here?" Auron asked.
The child's eyes shifted from Auron to the group behind him, then back to Auron. Witnessing his mother in there eyes, he smiled.
"I am Aimar....."