Fiction: Rain and Mist Part 2
So I have never written any sort of continuous storyline in my Twilight world (NOT THE VAMPIRE TWILIGHT) but since I had a couple of requests for more from something a wrote not so long ago I decided to give it a go and see how it went. So this is a sequel to the very short story I wrote and posted here. It is designed to be less stand alone than most of the stuff I wrote because I am thinking about continuing the story, although I might not keep to a strict linear storyline. Anyway, if anyone want me to continue beyond this, let me know and I'll see what I can do. BTW, if you ever read what I post and find it interesting and think I should keep going, well, reply to this and let me know. Encouragement = good for Waegel.
Kara shivered beneath her blanket and clutched it closely around her slight form. She had traveled through the night following the guidance of her brother, Justin, who was now nothing more than a voice in her head. He had sacrificed himself in order to save her but she was the one who was now stuck with that choice. She bit back a sob and curled more tightly in on herself as if she were trying to squeeze the sorrow out of her body, but her motion only served to awaken the disembodied voice of her sibling again.
‘Kara… What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Your mother is going to be fine, don’t worry. Master Beryl is an expert healer… Kara? Where are you? It’s… what’s happen…’ His voice trailed off again as though he were walking through a fog away from her and then he was gone.
This time she could not hold back her tears and they flowed down her cheeks burning hot against her flesh until they were chilled by the cool night air. She wanted to rip the bracelet he had formed for her, the bracelet that now held his fragmented memories, from her wrist. But she could not do that, not only was he her brother and she owed him that much respect at least, but she needed him and she didn’t know what removing the string of onyx stones would do to the enchantment that held him in place. He hadn’t had the time or the wherewithal to fully instruct her in its operation. In fact he had constructed it so hastily that perhaps even he hadn’t known and he was in no place to reliably inform her now.
The events of the past day raced through her mind and she tried to make sense of all that had happened. Her interminable imprisonment by the Duke had ended when Justin had appeared through the barred window in the door to her cell. The look on his face had urged her to silence and it was quickly revealed that he was not alone but in the company of her jailers. He had not even paused to speak with her and had spared only the briefest of glances but that instant had warmed her heart and revived her hopes. Surely he could find a way to free her, and he had.
Kara shuddered as she remembered how rapidly the events had transpired. He had returned in under an hour and had melted the hinges off the door from the outside. When the door fell she had had to scramble out of the way and when she had turned to face her rescuer he had stood there shedding an eldritch golden glow from his hands and she had been afraid. Afraid because of the fury in his eyes, because of the blood that was dripping from the iron knife in his hand. At that moment he had not seemed so much a savior as an animal, one of those twisted beings from the outer seas. But in moments his breathing had slowed and his eyes returned to their familiar kindly shine. “Sister, come quickly, you will stay here no longer but we must flee now!”
They had fled through empty corridors, past the bodies of her jailers, past frightened servants who had cowered before her brother’s fury, and finally into the open air of the courtyard and a sight that she would never forget. Several dozen men were arrayed in battle formation I n the field and were trying to fend off a great winged beast that stood nearly fifteen feet into the air. While it seemed as though the creature had suffered some minor wounds, nearly a score of men lay on the ground in a fashion that clearly indicated they were dead. Seeing her alarm Justin had quickly explained, “It’s Beryl, don’t worry, he is creating a distraction for us but he can’t keep it up forever, we have to get out of here now!”
And so they had fled into the night and he had left her on the fog shrouded hill to go seek his master. He had found Beryl, dead, and then returned to her only to die himself. Only to die for her, to help her in the only way he had been able to. As a disembodied voice he had managed to give her the basic instructions needed for her to perform a Knowing, so that she could find her way through the downs unharmed past the dangers that lurked there. But as she had traveled through those dark places his voice had lost coherency, at times rambling like a mad man and then fading until she could hear nothing but unintelligible whispers. She had begged and pleaded for him to return but eventually he was completely silent except for to occasional outburst of confusion and without sense of time or circumstance, a voice lost in some memory of the past.
As far as she could tell, his other gift was working, the bracelet of pale green stones that would keep her pursuers from tracking her successfully, or at least she had not been discovered yet. In fact she had seen no one at all since she had stumbled out of the low hills that comprised the downs into a clear valley. It was at that point that her exhaustion and misery had taken over and she had crawled beneath a thicket and dragged her blanket from her pack and around her. That had been nearly six hours ago and she had not moved since, nor had Justin said anything of importance that might give her further guidance.
She had never lived rough before, she had been taken by the Duke as a child and hadn’t left the castle since then. What did she know of foraging or woodcraft? How could Justin leave her like this, alone in the wilderness without direction or aid. But he had tried, had had given his life in an attempt to be there for her, but he had failed. ‘I shouldn’t think such things,’ she scolded herself, ‘Perhaps he did not fail and it will simply take a while to acclimate to our new situation.’ More tears flowed at her own harsh internal assessment of her brother’s fate.
But then, just as a sob was building, she caught her breath. Through the darkness a glowing orb was approaching. She silenced herself and waited, body tensed and ready to flee. It was not coming from the direction of the downs, which is where both her pursuers and any dangerous creature might be approaching, but from the valley floor. Whatever it was coming was heading directly towards her hidden position. ‘Justin said that the green charm would hide me from my pursuers, but will it hide me from other people as well’ Kara fervently prayed that is was so but the glowing orb continued to approach her position.
When it was finally nearly on her position and showing no sign of going anywhere other than where she lay she could take it no longer. She sprang to her feet and began racing back towards the downs, thinking that perhaps that would deter whatever it was from following her. When she sprang from her hiding spot she heard a grunt of surprise followed by a whirring sound. She had taken no more than a dozen steps when pain shot through her head and a bright white light filled her eyes. She felt herself falling to the soft grass beneath her and everything felt muted as though covered in felt. She lay for a moment and then struggled to get to her knees. But by then it was too late and the orb of orange light filled her vision, it was directly in front of her. She could see nothing but a rough voice broke through her blindness, “Who are you? What are you doing on my land?”
He first though was, ‘Thank the gods, its human.’ But also was the realization that however had captured her did not know who she was. “My name is Kara the Sparrow and I come from the duchy. I am sorry to have trespassed and I humbly ask permission to pass through your land.”
There was a brief pause and then the harsh voice spoke again, “Kara… Kara the Sparrow? That’s no proper name for a blooded, even if you are but a slip of a girl. Surprised I could tell? Heh, you shouldn’t be, anyone with the sight could see those charms on your wrist from a mile away. You are going to have to learn to do better on future workings if you don’t want to draw attention to yourself. Here let me see what you’ve done.” With that the light abruptly faded and rough hands grasped her wrists gently. “These were done in haste, I can see that, explains why they aren’t muted, but… girl, you didn’t make these did you?”
Kara hesitated, unsure of how to respond, “No, sir, my brother… he… he made them for me.”
It was several long moments before the man responded, “Oh Kara… you poor girl, I can see what your brother did… and what he gave for it. Tell me, your brother, he was a student of Beryl Ironskins was he not? I can see it in the style. Your brother was very gifted to have done this and he must have loved you very much. But I am afraid I am going to ask you a few questions, who are you fleeing from and where is Beryl? I ask because I know him and I know he would not leave one of his students to do such a thing and then have abandoned you without a warden of some sort. Tell me, what has happened?”
Kara’s sight slowly adjusted to the lack of light now that the orb had gone out and could dimly see a stocky figure kneeling beside her. He was dressed in rough buckskin and was unshaven. But he had a kindly smile and a worried look in his eye. She also saw that at his belt was a long knife and had he desired to do her harm he could have done whatever he wished already. “Beryl is dead, my brother was his student. They both died for me and I don’t know what to do. I am being followed by the Duke’s men. Please…. please help me?”
The man hesitated then took her in his arms where she finally felt free to let loose the tears she had been holding back. For several long minutes he held her but then he took her shoulders and pulled her away from him. “Girl… Kara… I will help you. My name is Ragnar and I knew Beryl. I can sense the truth in your words and if he felt it right to die for you then the least I can do is help get you to safety. But there is one thing I must know… why is the Duke after you, what have you done?”
Kara breath was ragged and shuddering as she drew up her composure. “I have done nothing other than have the misfortune of being his daughter and thirty-seventh child. I am eighth blooded and am foretold to inherit his realm after him.”
Kara shivered beneath her blanket and clutched it closely around her slight form. She had traveled through the night following the guidance of her brother, Justin, who was now nothing more than a voice in her head. He had sacrificed himself in order to save her but she was the one who was now stuck with that choice. She bit back a sob and curled more tightly in on herself as if she were trying to squeeze the sorrow out of her body, but her motion only served to awaken the disembodied voice of her sibling again.
‘Kara… What’s wrong? Why are you crying? Your mother is going to be fine, don’t worry. Master Beryl is an expert healer… Kara? Where are you? It’s… what’s happen…’ His voice trailed off again as though he were walking through a fog away from her and then he was gone.
This time she could not hold back her tears and they flowed down her cheeks burning hot against her flesh until they were chilled by the cool night air. She wanted to rip the bracelet he had formed for her, the bracelet that now held his fragmented memories, from her wrist. But she could not do that, not only was he her brother and she owed him that much respect at least, but she needed him and she didn’t know what removing the string of onyx stones would do to the enchantment that held him in place. He hadn’t had the time or the wherewithal to fully instruct her in its operation. In fact he had constructed it so hastily that perhaps even he hadn’t known and he was in no place to reliably inform her now.
The events of the past day raced through her mind and she tried to make sense of all that had happened. Her interminable imprisonment by the Duke had ended when Justin had appeared through the barred window in the door to her cell. The look on his face had urged her to silence and it was quickly revealed that he was not alone but in the company of her jailers. He had not even paused to speak with her and had spared only the briefest of glances but that instant had warmed her heart and revived her hopes. Surely he could find a way to free her, and he had.
Kara shuddered as she remembered how rapidly the events had transpired. He had returned in under an hour and had melted the hinges off the door from the outside. When the door fell she had had to scramble out of the way and when she had turned to face her rescuer he had stood there shedding an eldritch golden glow from his hands and she had been afraid. Afraid because of the fury in his eyes, because of the blood that was dripping from the iron knife in his hand. At that moment he had not seemed so much a savior as an animal, one of those twisted beings from the outer seas. But in moments his breathing had slowed and his eyes returned to their familiar kindly shine. “Sister, come quickly, you will stay here no longer but we must flee now!”
They had fled through empty corridors, past the bodies of her jailers, past frightened servants who had cowered before her brother’s fury, and finally into the open air of the courtyard and a sight that she would never forget. Several dozen men were arrayed in battle formation I n the field and were trying to fend off a great winged beast that stood nearly fifteen feet into the air. While it seemed as though the creature had suffered some minor wounds, nearly a score of men lay on the ground in a fashion that clearly indicated they were dead. Seeing her alarm Justin had quickly explained, “It’s Beryl, don’t worry, he is creating a distraction for us but he can’t keep it up forever, we have to get out of here now!”
And so they had fled into the night and he had left her on the fog shrouded hill to go seek his master. He had found Beryl, dead, and then returned to her only to die himself. Only to die for her, to help her in the only way he had been able to. As a disembodied voice he had managed to give her the basic instructions needed for her to perform a Knowing, so that she could find her way through the downs unharmed past the dangers that lurked there. But as she had traveled through those dark places his voice had lost coherency, at times rambling like a mad man and then fading until she could hear nothing but unintelligible whispers. She had begged and pleaded for him to return but eventually he was completely silent except for to occasional outburst of confusion and without sense of time or circumstance, a voice lost in some memory of the past.
As far as she could tell, his other gift was working, the bracelet of pale green stones that would keep her pursuers from tracking her successfully, or at least she had not been discovered yet. In fact she had seen no one at all since she had stumbled out of the low hills that comprised the downs into a clear valley. It was at that point that her exhaustion and misery had taken over and she had crawled beneath a thicket and dragged her blanket from her pack and around her. That had been nearly six hours ago and she had not moved since, nor had Justin said anything of importance that might give her further guidance.
She had never lived rough before, she had been taken by the Duke as a child and hadn’t left the castle since then. What did she know of foraging or woodcraft? How could Justin leave her like this, alone in the wilderness without direction or aid. But he had tried, had had given his life in an attempt to be there for her, but he had failed. ‘I shouldn’t think such things,’ she scolded herself, ‘Perhaps he did not fail and it will simply take a while to acclimate to our new situation.’ More tears flowed at her own harsh internal assessment of her brother’s fate.
But then, just as a sob was building, she caught her breath. Through the darkness a glowing orb was approaching. She silenced herself and waited, body tensed and ready to flee. It was not coming from the direction of the downs, which is where both her pursuers and any dangerous creature might be approaching, but from the valley floor. Whatever it was coming was heading directly towards her hidden position. ‘Justin said that the green charm would hide me from my pursuers, but will it hide me from other people as well’ Kara fervently prayed that is was so but the glowing orb continued to approach her position.
When it was finally nearly on her position and showing no sign of going anywhere other than where she lay she could take it no longer. She sprang to her feet and began racing back towards the downs, thinking that perhaps that would deter whatever it was from following her. When she sprang from her hiding spot she heard a grunt of surprise followed by a whirring sound. She had taken no more than a dozen steps when pain shot through her head and a bright white light filled her eyes. She felt herself falling to the soft grass beneath her and everything felt muted as though covered in felt. She lay for a moment and then struggled to get to her knees. But by then it was too late and the orb of orange light filled her vision, it was directly in front of her. She could see nothing but a rough voice broke through her blindness, “Who are you? What are you doing on my land?”
He first though was, ‘Thank the gods, its human.’ But also was the realization that however had captured her did not know who she was. “My name is Kara the Sparrow and I come from the duchy. I am sorry to have trespassed and I humbly ask permission to pass through your land.”
There was a brief pause and then the harsh voice spoke again, “Kara… Kara the Sparrow? That’s no proper name for a blooded, even if you are but a slip of a girl. Surprised I could tell? Heh, you shouldn’t be, anyone with the sight could see those charms on your wrist from a mile away. You are going to have to learn to do better on future workings if you don’t want to draw attention to yourself. Here let me see what you’ve done.” With that the light abruptly faded and rough hands grasped her wrists gently. “These were done in haste, I can see that, explains why they aren’t muted, but… girl, you didn’t make these did you?”
Kara hesitated, unsure of how to respond, “No, sir, my brother… he… he made them for me.”
It was several long moments before the man responded, “Oh Kara… you poor girl, I can see what your brother did… and what he gave for it. Tell me, your brother, he was a student of Beryl Ironskins was he not? I can see it in the style. Your brother was very gifted to have done this and he must have loved you very much. But I am afraid I am going to ask you a few questions, who are you fleeing from and where is Beryl? I ask because I know him and I know he would not leave one of his students to do such a thing and then have abandoned you without a warden of some sort. Tell me, what has happened?”
Kara’s sight slowly adjusted to the lack of light now that the orb had gone out and could dimly see a stocky figure kneeling beside her. He was dressed in rough buckskin and was unshaven. But he had a kindly smile and a worried look in his eye. She also saw that at his belt was a long knife and had he desired to do her harm he could have done whatever he wished already. “Beryl is dead, my brother was his student. They both died for me and I don’t know what to do. I am being followed by the Duke’s men. Please…. please help me?”
The man hesitated then took her in his arms where she finally felt free to let loose the tears she had been holding back. For several long minutes he held her but then he took her shoulders and pulled her away from him. “Girl… Kara… I will help you. My name is Ragnar and I knew Beryl. I can sense the truth in your words and if he felt it right to die for you then the least I can do is help get you to safety. But there is one thing I must know… why is the Duke after you, what have you done?”
Kara breath was ragged and shuddering as she drew up her composure. “I have done nothing other than have the misfortune of being his daughter and thirty-seventh child. I am eighth blooded and am foretold to inherit his realm after him.”