Whispers of a Legend, Part One-Shadows of the Past (8 page)

“No, you don’t understand.
We all need to stay together, Falco, Sareta and I,” I interrupted
unable to remain silent any longer. I broke from Turstan’s side. “I
understand none of this. I have done nothing to deserve such. But
this I know Sareta is a passive. The in
tensity of feelings between all has drained her. She could
not survive with this conflict.”

“Then you need to convince her otherwise.
You need to convince her you are well looked after,” Lothar said
plainly. “If you care for your sister.”

“How can you ask such?”

“Life as a royal is never easy, Kela. It has
to be accepted. Do you believe that Archibaldus is happy with your
discovery? He has long been considered heir apparent once your
father died. All has changed. Archibaldus will not take it without
issue. Lord Edulf will have to tread softly.”

“Do you realize, Lothar that Kela is also in
line behind Falco for the throne?” Turstan bantered.

“Much has changed,
Turstan,” Lothar stated. He ran his hand through his hair
frustrated for the meeting wasn’t going as planned. “King Edulf
cannot afford to trust many. Times are such. When we discover
Mithelk and his guards cut down to ribbons, we immediately flew
to
Nottesdone. There was nothing left. The
portal closed. He placed blame solely upon the children’s mother.
When Kela spoke of Dyer’s involvement, it was the first we had
heard of even the possibility.”

“Why would he blame Lady Eufamia?” Turstan
asked confused.

“I’m not certain, but he was convinced of
such,” Lothar answered. He shook his head. “In honesty, I don’t
know what to make of all. To me, I believe as most Lanka’s, fate,
destiny will prevail. Also there is the realization that a great
threat looms for a Euchoun with that power would emerge only to
deal with such.”

I listened intently while they argued, but
suddenly my eyes became blurred. I rubbed them, trying to focus but
all I could see was a fog where a form emerged. A dark figure
slinked toward a sleeping object. I screamed. I could feel hands
touch my shoulders and then with a sweeping force I was flung
through a seemingly long tunnel landing hard against a hard stone
wall.

A body fell against me, quickly rolling to
the side. To my surprise Cono had followed me through. He stood
upon his feet, sword drawn. The creature turned staring at me with
all eight of his eyes arranged in four pair in a semicircle on the
dark forehead. The creature seemed to revival with my appearance.
Its mouth opened revealing two huge fangs on the chelicerae during
with liquid smacking its lips in a manner of it was about to
satisfy a hunger.

Cono moved swiftly between the creature and
myself. Without warning, the creature flung Cono back with one of
its many legs. It made its way slowly toward me. For a moment, I
stood frozen with a fear that gripped me, but the creature buckled.
Wings fluttered rapidly as Cono jumped upon the creatures back. The
creature fought back, bending over. Cono lost his footing. The
creature maneuvered over the fallen Sordarin, fangs
outstretched.

Panting, shaking, I quickly crawled back to
my feet. Sweat beaded on my forehead. I didn’t have time to think,
only react. Flinging my hand across my chest, I blasted the
creature. A cry, a shrill eerie cry, emerged, but the blast only
freed Cono for a moment. He jumped up to my side, pushing me back.
Frightened, I grabbed his hand and in the next moment, the creature
extended its front leg giving us no room to escape. All my
instincts screamed inside of me. I looked up at Cono. His attention
lay solidly upon the creature.

Once more I extended my free arm. A force
more powerful than the first exploded and thrust the creature back
against the stone wall. Cono had his opening and used it to full
advantage. He plunged his blade straight into the unprotected under
belly. A gush of ooze ushered forth covering Cono, splashing over
me.

The room echoed with a moan of a dying soul.
I felt as it took all my effort to breathe while I watched in shock
while the creature began transform from the horrendous creature
back into its original form. Screams, cries wouldn’t cease. Cono
stepped back.

Joining us to watch, the once sleeping
figure stood holding his sword in hand. King Edulf said nothing.
The room filled quickly with guards. Chaos ensued. I turned my
head. My lower lip trembled. My eyes welled. Turstan said that
warriors didn’t cry, but I felt the urge to do so.

“Lord Ambrose!” King Edulf uttered in
disbelief at the body of a man appearing where once was a monster.
Then he turned his attention upon me. It took nothing more. The
tears began and I couldn’t stop them.

Sobbing hysterically, I called desperately
for Falco, but to no avail. Falco couldn’t hear me. Something was
wrong. Frightened beyond measure, I withdrew back against the far
wall. My hand placed over my mouth.

King Edulf walked toward me, but I shimmered
down the wall and tucked my head into my knees. Would he harm me? I
braced myself as best I could. And waited. Nothing came. I refused
to look up. I heard men talking in the background. Then I heard
stomping, running into the room. There was only one. Turstan!

He grabbed me up. “Are you harmed?”

Shaking my head, he hugged me tightly.
Glancing back up, Falco stood behind him with Lord Lothar. I tried
to talk, but found I had no voice. I managed only a whisper,
stutter, “I tried to call Falco.”

Turstan nodded. “He tried himself. He was
blocked by some means. Lord Lothar said it had to be black magic
holding him back. You broke through for some reason.”

“King Edulf? What is he going to do with
me?” I asked trembling, but no sooner had I spoken, I felt my head
spinning once again. I could hear voices as if in the distance.

“Can you stop her insufferable
trembling?”

But little else could I hear. I was
swallowed once more into blackness.

Chapter 6

The Forbidden Forest

Groggy and bleary, I woke with sunlight
beaming in on my face. In a daze uncertain where I lay, I sprang up
on a bed within a room I did not know. The bed sat upon a post,
rusted and worn. The windows opened for there was no covering.
Looking down, the floor was dirt. Easing off the bed, I walk
cautiously toward the door while the dust encircled me.

Confusion rang around me for I knew not
where I was. Slowly, I began to remember, terrifying, frightening
remembrances…the creature reaching forth toward me. Cono had
appeared...his sword in his hand. I blasted the creature. I had,
hadn't I? Had I not seen Cono thrust his sword into the creature?
The cry emerged. Yes, I was certain he had done so.

But where was I? Where was everyone? It
seemed only a simple cottage. Glancing around my surroundings, it
had only one room as far as I could tell. There stood a doorway
open, but I saw no door to close. The far end sat a simple stone
hearth and a wobbly table. Was I still within a dream? No, this was
no dream I feared. I flinched. Was that a cry? I swore I heard a
slight whimpering noise. I eased consciously toward it.

The sun blared harshly into my eyes when I
exited. I squinted. The air was very bright and the sky clear.
Within the distance I could hear songs of the larks. The yard was
long, bordered against a foreboding line of trees. Across from the
small cottage sat a quaint shelter. I glanced around. I could still
hear the sound. It became clearer. Someone was crying.

I turned the corner of the cottage. Sitting
against the wall, Gunilda held her head within her knees. She
wept.

Leaning down, I brought my nurse within my
arms. "What is wrong, Gunilda? Where are we? Where is
everyone?"

"Kela, what have you done? Why have we been
banished here?" Gunilda wailed, but she didn’t lift her head.

"Gunilda, I know not of what you speak? The
last I remember is using my shield to help save the King. Surely he
could not be angry with me about such?"

"Kela, I think not. All would have never
reacted in their way if such. The Royal Wings dragged me from my
bed. You lay motionless while they flew us within here. I didn't
even get to say farewell to Sareta. The poor child knows not where
I went. She must be frantic without me!"

"What of us?" I cried suddenly overwrought.
I stood and turned around, glancing one way than another. "Where
are we, Gunilda? Can we leave? Where is Falco? Turstan would never
leave us such."

“This I was told is the Forbidden Forest,"
Gunilda looked up at me. "It is our prison."

The cottage sat in a clearing at the bottom
of a hill on the northern side of the Preda Mountain range in the
midst of a thick forest. A narrow lane led to a tapered gate in a
thick hedge which gave way to the entrance of the house. Nothing of
the house could be seen from within the forest until one came upon
in for it stood back…alone. To the east a winding stream bordered
the back of the house surrounded by ancient oak trees. The only
access lay from the sky which I soon comprehended was the intention
of King Edulf.

Gunilda's words echoed within me. "There
were only two. The one that had hold of me I thought for sure he
was to drop me. I believe it was his intent. We flew for hours on
end. I know not exactly how long. We landed in the dark except with
only the moon's reflection to guide. They said not a word. I begged
them of what had happened. They gave no answer. All they uttered
that it was as a prison with no method of escape except from the
sky. And we would not be able to do so.

"
Do not venture into the forest for they are guarded by lost
souls. No one has ever returned once they have entered.
One laughed.

"I pleaded what had you done! Then the one
that laid you upon the filth of the bed turned to me.

"
I
know not, but I know of none other the King's wrath has been so
punished. I know we have been ordered to forget we brought you
forth. May the Great One look over you both. You will need
such!
"

Gunilda uttered the words, hung her head, and
wept.

* * * *

Dreams have come and gone since that day.
For weeks I stood within the back of our cottage and searched the
skies with a yearning to fly. I was alone and so totally lonely. I
called to my brother repeatedly. Each morning I searched the skies
for his arrival, but he did not come. I had long lost the sense of
time since we were placed in this valley, bordered by the Forbidden
Forest and the cliffs of the looming mountains surrounding our
small cottage.

Poor Gunilda was worse than I. She fretted
terribly for Sareta. Not much time passed before my nurse that had
longed served my mother’s family became frail. The care quickly
reversed for Gunilda had taken to bed, the only bed we had.

I slept upon dried grass and leaves I had
collected in the far corner of the room. To the best of my ability,
I had partitioned off an area for Gunilda to have an area to
herself. In all I had not time to contemplate our dire straits. Our
means of survival depended quickly upon me.

Gone was a simple wish and all I needed
appeared. I no longer had my sister beside me. I hunted the edge of
the woods for any semblance of eatable foliage. A desire to cry
encompassed me for I couldn’t find much. My body ached and my
stomach growled for I was hungry. I had most times given most to
Gunilda who seemed to think we had the ample food we once had. I
had not the heart to constantly remind her of the change in our
circumstances. And try as I might, I realized that I could never
replace Sareta in Gunilda’s heart.

I had begun to explore. I had no other
choice. I gave little heed to the warning of the ones that brought
us to this hell hole, but to my dismay, the forest seemed
endless.

During this time I walked and explored,
nervously at first. I learned I wasn’t totally alone. I heard
voices murmuring and at times singing mournful songs. Then
after a time, I gave it no thought irritated as I was. I didn’t
care if there were spirits, lost souls or whatever they were. If
they couldn’t help me get out of this place, I had no time for
them.

Although once, I gave paused hearing a woman
sing. It seemed to be a haunting song as if a lullaby for a babe. A
beautiful voice she had and it was a song in which I found strange
that I took comfort in. I would sit and listen while the wind blew
gently.

Do not cry, my little one,
Sleep my child with peace,
As I attend to thee,
All through the night and the day,
I will not be away from you.
As guardian angels watch over all,
I'll be as such with my little one.
Watching over you as you sleep.
Sleep within the slumbers soundly,
knowing love surrounds you.
Do not cry, my little one,
The Great one sends me hence,
But my heart will always watch ov'r thee
E'er around my little one,
Close your eyes and dream,
Dreams always, my little one,
And I'll stay watching over thee,
Sleep, my little one!

Humming the tune, Gunilda looked at me
oddly.

“Why are you humming a lullaby, Kela?”

“Lullaby?”

“It is the one your father used to sing to
you.”

I remembered little of the time before my
parents’ death. Oddly, the thought of the lullaby placated me. And
after a while I ceased to be afraid or irritated or whatever I felt
about the lost souls. The water from the stream running along side
the forest was the only source of fresh water we had. The shadows
loomed within the darkness of the woods no longer felt threatening
to me. Although I had yet to yield to their callings, I felt drawn
to do so. Randomly different forms would materialize in the forest
beckoning to me. I held back for I had no knowledge of their
intent, good or evil.