Chapter 1 – Priam Rocklands (Prologue)
by Rahul Pillai
There was a storm. Most time of the year the little tribes withdrew in packs into the caves below the hills. Ishn’oprahat – the curse of Ishn’or, the tribesmen called the torrential downpour that ruined most of their little wooden barracks and houses. The Ongbara were one of nine tribes that tenanted the rocky plains of Priam. For most time of the year, they dwelled on the scarce vegetation on the plains. With the onset of monsoon, under the guidance of the spiritual clan leader, they retreated to the caves.
Cairne Bloodhoof sat in one of such caves on a night of blood storm. He bore the mark of a spiritual leader of the Ongbarans – a black circle and a dot at the centre on his bison skull helmet. The helm symbolized the face of Ishn’or – the bison faced deity of the Ongbarans. He bore a light Caucasian complexion like most others in the Ongbaran. He wore an expression of calm, and his grey-black beard began a little beneath his eyes, above which, etched into his skin were facial tribal marks of the Bison. His arms rested on his battle axe that lay on his lap as he sat with folded legs, leaning against the moist and rocky wall of the cave. He wore a leather belt around his waist and like the rest of the tribe left his chest bare. The Ongbaran’s depended on raw power and had no intention of securing themselves with body armour, for it slowed down their movement in battle. Beneath, Cairne wore a long skirt of bear hide that extended beneath his knees. His belt consisted of black strings to which were attached little horns taken from a dead bison. The belt was made of leather and had a circular flat plate that covered half of his stomach that bore writing in an ancient language. Cairne sat in silence by a fire at the corner, while a few other Ongbarans sat around him, speaking in whispers of the battles and bad times that were soon to come with the invasion of the demons, some called the ‘Scourge’, others the ‘Dire’ while they were more commonly known in the rest of the world as ‘the Burning Legion’.
The Ongbaran council of twelve sat in the cave to discuss forth coming events that they sought to accomplish in the near future. The rest of the tribe occupied the other caves. Women, children, the young and the old, every one of the Ongbaran were warriors by blood.
The Ongbaran council of twelve sat in the cave to discuss forth coming events that they sought to accomplish in the near future. The rest of the tribe occupied the other caves. Women, children, the young and the old, every one of the Ongbaran were warriors by blood.
A young warrior turned to Cairne, the spiritual leader, the Yarkha’el, and said, “Yarkha’el, we are soon to be void of battle resources and most important time. We must act or see our clan fall to the invasion”. Cairne stared at the fire, calm, composed and a determined look in his eyes. His greyish white beard gleaming a light golden shade in the cave fire. His brown eyes turned to the man who spoke to him. “We must wait for the storm to end, Braydon. With the end of the torrential storm, we shall set out to seek the high lands. We are low on domestic resources as well. With the first light of the sun, we shall seek aid from the high landers. This battle will last decades and perhaps even centuries. It cannot be won by us alone, Braydon”. Cairne spoke in his calm demeanor. “Revered Yarkha’el, in the meanwhile our people need food. The rain has wiped off the vegetation from the rocky plains and the wild have retreated into the dark woods. Our women and children will starve if we do not look into this. Our scouts have spotted a herd of deer in the outer woods. If we set out in the morning, we should be there in a month’s time to gather meat enough for a few weeks” said Raegor, another warrior and the son of the chieftain himself. Braydon sought an interruption, feeling the need to have bigger leverage against the heir to the chieftain. “Yarkha’el, the woods are deceptive at this time of the year. The rangers will not welcome us in their land. We must seek the highlands and grow in number and battle power. If the invasion were to happen sooner than expected, we shall fall to the legion”, Braydon spoke with a definitive voice.
“Braydon, Raegor speaks in favour of the tribe and clashes in decision against yours. The council shall vote to a conclusion. All in favour of Raegor” – seven of the remaining nine men, exclusive of the chieftain, raised their clenched fists to their bison skull helms. “A clear majority Raegor. Our people shall be seen to food first. This battle is lost before it begins if our clan dies of starvation. Raegor, send our scouts to the other clans. Carry them word that we will leave for the Outer Woods with the end of the storm”. Cairne spoke in his elusive voice.
Braydon sat calmly having lost yet another of the council decisions to the clan leader’s son. Little did anyone notice him as his palm pierced in silent fury into the blade of his battle axe that lay beside him, as dark-red blood oozed from the newly formed wound. All the men around him were perhaps cowards to go against the future clan leader’s vote. Braydon shut his eyes and listened in silence to the storm outside the cave, even as it poured down in dismay of days to come.
“Braydon, Raegor speaks in favour of the tribe and clashes in decision against yours. The council shall vote to a conclusion. All in favour of Raegor” – seven of the remaining nine men, exclusive of the chieftain, raised their clenched fists to their bison skull helms. “A clear majority Raegor. Our people shall be seen to food first. This battle is lost before it begins if our clan dies of starvation. Raegor, send our scouts to the other clans. Carry them word that we will leave for the Outer Woods with the end of the storm”. Cairne spoke in his elusive voice.
Braydon sat calmly having lost yet another of the council decisions to the clan leader’s son. Little did anyone notice him as his palm pierced in silent fury into the blade of his battle axe that lay beside him, as dark-red blood oozed from the newly formed wound. All the men around him were perhaps cowards to go against the future clan leader’s vote. Braydon shut his eyes and listened in silence to the storm outside the cave, even as it poured down in dismay of days to come.
Chapter 2 – The Woods
Far below the mountain caves of the Priam Rocklands in a narrow and cold valley, a wide expanse of wildlings survived in the dense snowy forests. They dwelled in the deep covers of tall, dense pine trees. Beyond a certain boundary in the woods, they dared not cross the line from where the sunlight fell on the rooftop tree houses that the Rangers inhabited. The Rangers were a gifted race of archers that dwelled in the woods that snowed most of the year, protecting it from the wild and the alien. Their race consisted of young, agile and swift warriors who solely survived in the forest cover, aiming to protect their deepest ancient, the Well of the Underdark.
The Rangers were disciplined in their demeanor. There were no men in the tribe and the Rangers held one sole purpose – to guard the Well of the Underdark – a well that they believed, contained the spirit of Pagosia – the goddess of frost. The well was situated deep in the woods, in the dark covers of the forest where wildlings were scarce for they sensed the presence of an unholy spirit near the forest cover around the well.
The Rangers hardly went beyond the woods into the outer world and recruited only young women into their race. Any man who crossed their path were first warned to leave the woods and upon further pressing, were restrained before the Well of Pagosia and shot with arrows in both eyes by the leader, as sacrifice to breaking the peace of Pagosia.
The Rangers were disciplined in their demeanor. There were no men in the tribe and the Rangers held one sole purpose – to guard the Well of the Underdark – a well that they believed, contained the spirit of Pagosia – the goddess of frost. The well was situated deep in the woods, in the dark covers of the forest where wildlings were scarce for they sensed the presence of an unholy spirit near the forest cover around the well.
The Rangers hardly went beyond the woods into the outer world and recruited only young women into their race. Any man who crossed their path were first warned to leave the woods and upon further pressing, were restrained before the Well of Pagosia and shot with arrows in both eyes by the leader, as sacrifice to breaking the peace of Pagosia.
On a calm snowy night, the women sat around a fire, deep in the woods. A few rangers often went out on night hunts for food, for the catch was good when the sun was low as common as could little hares and reindeer be found retreating into their burrows. Their leader, a young maiden, twenty five years of age, perched on a rock not far from the fire, awaiting their return. She shivered lightly in the cold snow, wrapped in fur from neck to thigh. She wore only a dark vest from snow leopard hide to cover her torso and neck, while leaving her clear skin on her hands exposed to the weather. The part from her thigh to her ankles were left bare, from where a dark and thick bear skinned boot covered her all the way till the feet. The hardened ranger had trained herself to survive the cold without much bear hide to protect herself, unlike the other rangers. She wore dark boots of dire wolf skin to keep from the snow chilling forest floor. Her long, blonde hair reached her thighs and her green eyes glistened in the dark. Her ears rapt attention at any sound from the woods. Her dark bow hung to her back and quiver sprouting a handsome number of arrows.
The leader stared in deep thought in the direction of the Rangers that went for the hunt. “Pagosia, guide them”, she whispered in prayer, her eyes now shut. A few seconds of silence followed as she sat on the rock in calm prayer. A few more seconds of silence and she felt her senses twitch. “They’re here”, said the leader as she stood up from her perch on the rock and jumped to the ground, examining the number of rangers that returned. “Three, plus one.” She said to herself, looking at a redhead girl in her late teens that walked towards her with a gleaming smile.
The Rangers got back with two dead snow deer. “That was an easy catch”, said the redhead as she walked towards the fire, holding the dead snow deer in pairs. “Is that your way of gaining my attention?” the clan leader asked the redhead, with her usual serious expression. “Oh! Come on Traxia”, replied the redhead girl with confidence “Get on with it. I’m ready for the wildlings when they come and I can take on ten of them at once”, the redhead spoke with juvenile pride at the leader. Traxia looked at her with a faint smile as she comfortably took the deer from the other two rangers, her blonde hair shining by the fire and green eyes looking at the redhead, searching for words of advice. “You’re getting better. Practice harder and I’ll take you on hunts to the outer woods Ally” she said, unsheathing her dagger and warming it in the fire, ready to skin the freshly caught animal. “And it would honor me if you did not call me that, big sister”, said the teenager. “Eat the meat and get some sleep Alleria. We’re going hunting together tomorrow, just you and me.” Traxia said as she stuck her dagger into the animal’s throat.
The leader stared in deep thought in the direction of the Rangers that went for the hunt. “Pagosia, guide them”, she whispered in prayer, her eyes now shut. A few seconds of silence followed as she sat on the rock in calm prayer. A few more seconds of silence and she felt her senses twitch. “They’re here”, said the leader as she stood up from her perch on the rock and jumped to the ground, examining the number of rangers that returned. “Three, plus one.” She said to herself, looking at a redhead girl in her late teens that walked towards her with a gleaming smile.
The Rangers got back with two dead snow deer. “That was an easy catch”, said the redhead as she walked towards the fire, holding the dead snow deer in pairs. “Is that your way of gaining my attention?” the clan leader asked the redhead, with her usual serious expression. “Oh! Come on Traxia”, replied the redhead girl with confidence “Get on with it. I’m ready for the wildlings when they come and I can take on ten of them at once”, the redhead spoke with juvenile pride at the leader. Traxia looked at her with a faint smile as she comfortably took the deer from the other two rangers, her blonde hair shining by the fire and green eyes looking at the redhead, searching for words of advice. “You’re getting better. Practice harder and I’ll take you on hunts to the outer woods Ally” she said, unsheathing her dagger and warming it in the fire, ready to skin the freshly caught animal. “And it would honor me if you did not call me that, big sister”, said the teenager. “Eat the meat and get some sleep Alleria. We’re going hunting together tomorrow, just you and me.” Traxia said as she stuck her dagger into the animal’s throat.
Alleria woke up to the little rays of sunlight that came in through the deep forest cover. It was morning. ‘Another hunting lesson and another boring day to while away, killing stags and winter bunnies’, she thought as she sat up and stared at the charred firewood not far from her, outside her tent. She walked out to the open. The morning was calm. There were about twenty tents in a circle, each of them with a ranger in it. There were twenty four of them in all. While four stood watch guarding the north, south, east and west outposts of the camps, the remaining slept. This happened in turns every night. The previous night was Traxia’s turn and she had to be around somewhere but Alleria spotted only three rangers at the outposts from her tent. The rangers sat perched on trees high above them, away from the camp, so they could have a clear view of intruders. This morning, the outpost to her east, facing the deeper internal parts of the forest was empty, where Traxia should actually have been. The other rangers could not have spotted her visually, if she was attacked as their backs faced the camps as they perched on the outpost trees. But the Rangers had the sharpest ears in the Outlands and it was impossible for an attack on one Ranger to have gone unnoticed by sound to the others.
“She’s gone off by herself”, Alleria whispered in a low voice, her throat hoarse by the night’s sleep. She went back into the tent and returned with her bow and quiver of arrows, as she paced in silent steps eastward, unnoticed by the sentinels from the south, west and north.
Alleria kept pacing deeper and deeper, her sharp ears waiting for any sounds that might require her ranged weapon to act in emergency, as she held her bow in her right hand and an arrow in the other, ready to draw at the sound of an enemy. The early mornings were cold and the rangers were mostly covered with thick fur coats of bear hide. Alleria wore them all the way beneath her ankle and thickly knitted reindeer skin for boots. Unlike her sister, she barely left her skin exposed to the cold, save her hands and face and a little part of her stomach was visible from the short bear hide that covered her torso. The light clothing from animal skin that the rangers wore, partly contributed to their speed and mobility in battle.
Alleria kept pacing through the vegetation as she searched for squirrels and reindeer. They grew smaller in number to her as she approached the Well of the Underdark. The silence was most disturbing to her inexperienced ears. She had been here only a few times before, never once without Traxia’s company. The Rangers visited the well every week to pay their respects to Pagosia and also to ensure that the place was devoid of intruders who may attempt to drink from its holy waters.
Alleria could feel the eerie silence, almost as if it gave birth to a million ethereal voices from the dark woods around her. “I know you’re here. You can come out. It’s me”, she said in a soft but slightly anxious voice. “That’s good. You’re getting better at this”, echoed Traxia’s voice as she revealed herself from behind one of several giant pine trees that stood behind the well in clear view of Alleria.
“She’s gone off by herself”, Alleria whispered in a low voice, her throat hoarse by the night’s sleep. She went back into the tent and returned with her bow and quiver of arrows, as she paced in silent steps eastward, unnoticed by the sentinels from the south, west and north.
Alleria kept pacing deeper and deeper, her sharp ears waiting for any sounds that might require her ranged weapon to act in emergency, as she held her bow in her right hand and an arrow in the other, ready to draw at the sound of an enemy. The early mornings were cold and the rangers were mostly covered with thick fur coats of bear hide. Alleria wore them all the way beneath her ankle and thickly knitted reindeer skin for boots. Unlike her sister, she barely left her skin exposed to the cold, save her hands and face and a little part of her stomach was visible from the short bear hide that covered her torso. The light clothing from animal skin that the rangers wore, partly contributed to their speed and mobility in battle.
Alleria kept pacing through the vegetation as she searched for squirrels and reindeer. They grew smaller in number to her as she approached the Well of the Underdark. The silence was most disturbing to her inexperienced ears. She had been here only a few times before, never once without Traxia’s company. The Rangers visited the well every week to pay their respects to Pagosia and also to ensure that the place was devoid of intruders who may attempt to drink from its holy waters.
Alleria could feel the eerie silence, almost as if it gave birth to a million ethereal voices from the dark woods around her. “I know you’re here. You can come out. It’s me”, she said in a soft but slightly anxious voice. “That’s good. You’re getting better at this”, echoed Traxia’s voice as she revealed herself from behind one of several giant pine trees that stood behind the well in clear view of Alleria.
“What are you doing out here alone?” Alleria asked her elder sister. “Hunting”, said Traxia impatiently. “Hunting?”, Alleria replied, almost instantly sensing her sister’s lie. She paused for a few seconds and with a little smile she remarked “You should tell me”. “Tell you what?” asked Traxia.“You said you would bring me along today to go hunting. You wouldn’t have come off on your own” Alleria spoke definitively.
Traxia looked at the well in silence as Alleria continued, “You’re disturbed lately. I couldn’t help noticing. It’s not like you talk so much but it’s also not like you come off to this place leaving your outpost”, her smile fading away. She knew her elder sister was among the best Rangers to have lived in the forests. Only Traxia besides herself could leave her post without alarming the other Rangers. She was skilled in movement. Swift and agile like none Alleria had ever seen. “What are you doing out here alone?” Alleria asked her elder sister. “Hunting”, said Traxia impatiently. “Hunting?”, Alleria replied, almost instantly sensing her sister’s lie. She paused for a few seconds and with a little smile she remarked “You should tell me”. “Tell you what?” asked Traxia.
“We’re going to be attacked soon. I don’t know when and I don’t know who. But it’s different and I can sense it”, said Traxia in a soft, shaky voice. “Sense it?”, Alleria asked, a bit confused. “I’ve been coming here more often Ally. The animals are lessening in number. We’ve hardly set into the winter and it’s colder than Ice Crown Glacier already”, Traxia spoke elusively. Alleria smiled a bit at her sister’s remark of the coldest mountains they had ever heard of which was located in the far west of the woods they lived in. She looked around for words and then spoke a bit slowly but convincingly, “We’re prepared for it sister. We have you. They won’t stand a chance against us. Be it the wildlings or the Ongbarans. We’re quick and precise with our marks”, remarked Alleria. “Quick and precise is no match when you face the demons Ally. I’ve seen them before mother even gave birth to you. I’ve seen our father being killed by those monsters and they’re coming for us all. They have no feelings or guilt. Guided by the dark sorcery, they can rip us apart into shreds. Our wooden arrows are no match for these demons. We need to stop idealizing these woods like there isn’t a world out there. We need to get stronger or even the swift shall bleed with the presence of the sly”, Traxia paused for a breath. “A few years back, I had overheard the elder Rangers speak of the Well like it bore great power. I would have left this godforsaken place but now this Well has got me thinking”, she said Turning to the Well of Pagosia. It had the colourless, holy water almost to the brim and the stones of the well bore ancient markings of the Laguna Tribe. The well looked almost empty in darkness as Traxia stared at it.
Traxia looked at the well in silence as Alleria continued, “You’re disturbed lately. I couldn’t help noticing. It’s not like you talk so much but it’s also not like you come off to this place leaving your outpost”, her smile fading away. She knew her elder sister was among the best Rangers to have lived in the forests. Only Traxia besides herself could leave her post without alarming the other Rangers. She was skilled in movement. Swift and agile like none Alleria had ever seen. “What are you doing out here alone?” Alleria asked her elder sister. “Hunting”, said Traxia impatiently. “Hunting?”, Alleria replied, almost instantly sensing her sister’s lie. She paused for a few seconds and with a little smile she remarked “You should tell me”. “Tell you what?” asked Traxia.
“We’re going to be attacked soon. I don’t know when and I don’t know who. But it’s different and I can sense it”, said Traxia in a soft, shaky voice. “Sense it?”, Alleria asked, a bit confused. “I’ve been coming here more often Ally. The animals are lessening in number. We’ve hardly set into the winter and it’s colder than Ice Crown Glacier already”, Traxia spoke elusively. Alleria smiled a bit at her sister’s remark of the coldest mountains they had ever heard of which was located in the far west of the woods they lived in. She looked around for words and then spoke a bit slowly but convincingly, “We’re prepared for it sister. We have you. They won’t stand a chance against us. Be it the wildlings or the Ongbarans. We’re quick and precise with our marks”, remarked Alleria. “Quick and precise is no match when you face the demons Ally. I’ve seen them before mother even gave birth to you. I’ve seen our father being killed by those monsters and they’re coming for us all. They have no feelings or guilt. Guided by the dark sorcery, they can rip us apart into shreds. Our wooden arrows are no match for these demons. We need to stop idealizing these woods like there isn’t a world out there. We need to get stronger or even the swift shall bleed with the presence of the sly”, Traxia paused for a breath. “A few years back, I had overheard the elder Rangers speak of the Well like it bore great power. I would have left this godforsaken place but now this Well has got me thinking”, she said Turning to the Well of Pagosia. It had the colourless, holy water almost to the brim and the stones of the well bore ancient markings of the Laguna Tribe. The well looked almost empty in darkness as Traxia stared at it.
The Dark Woods were the oldest habitat in the Outlands. They spread over a wide expanse from the start of the Priam Rocklands, to the foot of the Ice Crown glacier to the west. The forest marked the beginning of the Northwestern snow. The Well of Pagosia or Pag’ar’suninam was built by the ancient tribe of Laguna. It is said that when the mother of the then Tribe, Laguna, was forced to give up her soul to a fiendish ghoul, she cried out the name of Pagosia before stabbing herself to prevent the ghoul from devouring her alive before the well. Pagosia appeared to protect the lady from death, froze the ghoul and powdered him into icy snow, which spread across the woods. She then contained her spirit in the well, giving it the magic it bore.
“These waters are more magical than we know. It can give us the strength and power that practice and skill cannot.” Traxia said, with a hopeful look in her eyes. “Have you lost your mind? Do you know what we stand for? And you call yourself the leader of this race?” Alleria now spoke in a louder tone to her sister. “Ally you must see reason!” Traxia said. “Reason? You’re the one here who is talking about doing something no ranger has ever done – destroying what we’ve stood for since the birth of the Rangers.” scowled Alleria. “ALLERIA!”, Traxia shouted. A minute of silence followed as Traxia stared at her sister which seemed like an hour to the little girl. “Our concerns have outgrown the safety of this forest. What do you intend to do when the scourge invade? You must understand the gravity of the war that is soon to come. Remember this - if we don’t do something, we get nothing but a blighted ground stretching for leagues with dead bodies of our people on the very soil of this forest and the rest of the Earth. And when I say people, I mean the entire human race. They can wipe us out with a single blow and we need to charge our skills with powers that can match even a slightly bit close to theirs.” Traxia paused for a breath, hoping she had convinced her sister enough.
Alleria shuddered to think her sister would come up with something so unconventional. It was not the manner in which Traxia operated. This is just not her, she thought as she stared at the Well behind her sister. She bore an expressionless face. She could only do so much as advise her elder sister. When it came down to making a decision, her sister was the leader. Nevertheless the well was sacred to the Rangers. Centuries of clans and enemies thought twice before they dared come around the woods, for the power of Pagosia and her followers were dominated by their strict moral sense of thought. Despite its significance, it was not the thought of betrayal that paused Alleria in thought. It was something else entirely. It was Traxia. Her only guardian since her mother passed away when she was a little girl.
Traxia had seen to it that no Earthly being could let a scratch on her little sister’s body. Alleria had forever been haunted by the thought of what would happen if she lost her guardian. Pagosia was their goddess indeed but Alleria could not challenge the credibility of a legend for the life of her sister. Her face had lost its colour as thoughts flew by. Her mouth was dry by the weather which seemed unusually cold all of a sudden. “Sister. These waters hold powers not for the mortal. You must understand what the legends have taught us. You of all people Traxia! No man has ever acquired great power without a sacrifice. The God’s gifts must not be used by a soul too small to contain it. You cannot guarantee the outcome of drinking these waters.”, Alleria said, trying to sound as convincing as she could.
“Alleria! Its either this..”, Traxia paused, pointing at the well with her finger, “ or Death. And that is one fact I can assure you of”, Traxia completed her sentence, hoping she wouldn’t have to press on further. Alleria sighed heavily. “I can’t do it”, said Alleria abruptly.
Traxia turned to the well. Looked at the inscriptions on the stone and said “That’s all right. I’m not forcing you into this. In any case, if something happens at all, at least one of us will make it through. Traxia hurried to the well, staring into its dark waters. “We’re running out of time Ally. I must hurry”, Traxia spoke hastily, unlike her calm self. “Wait!” , Alleria yelped before her sister touched the water. “If something were to happen-“, began Alleria as her sister interrupted almost immediately “If something were to happen, you will get back and tell the other rangers I’ve gone missing. You will then take care of the tribe and get out of this place as soon as possible, find help and stop what’s coming. Is that understood?”, Traxia spoke in her commanding voice, who sounded more like Alleria’s leader than her sister. Alleria breathed heavily as she nodded her head. The two sisters embraced one another. Alleria was only an inch shorter than her sister. She hugged her in a deep embrace between two rangers. Traxia’s blonde her fell over her shoulders as they hugged and Alleria’s eyes felt watery as nervousness crept into her thoughts.
“These waters are more magical than we know. It can give us the strength and power that practice and skill cannot.” Traxia said, with a hopeful look in her eyes. “Have you lost your mind? Do you know what we stand for? And you call yourself the leader of this race?” Alleria now spoke in a louder tone to her sister. “Ally you must see reason!” Traxia said. “Reason? You’re the one here who is talking about doing something no ranger has ever done – destroying what we’ve stood for since the birth of the Rangers.” scowled Alleria. “ALLERIA!”, Traxia shouted. A minute of silence followed as Traxia stared at her sister which seemed like an hour to the little girl. “Our concerns have outgrown the safety of this forest. What do you intend to do when the scourge invade? You must understand the gravity of the war that is soon to come. Remember this - if we don’t do something, we get nothing but a blighted ground stretching for leagues with dead bodies of our people on the very soil of this forest and the rest of the Earth. And when I say people, I mean the entire human race. They can wipe us out with a single blow and we need to charge our skills with powers that can match even a slightly bit close to theirs.” Traxia paused for a breath, hoping she had convinced her sister enough.
Alleria shuddered to think her sister would come up with something so unconventional. It was not the manner in which Traxia operated. This is just not her, she thought as she stared at the Well behind her sister. She bore an expressionless face. She could only do so much as advise her elder sister. When it came down to making a decision, her sister was the leader. Nevertheless the well was sacred to the Rangers. Centuries of clans and enemies thought twice before they dared come around the woods, for the power of Pagosia and her followers were dominated by their strict moral sense of thought. Despite its significance, it was not the thought of betrayal that paused Alleria in thought. It was something else entirely. It was Traxia. Her only guardian since her mother passed away when she was a little girl.
Traxia had seen to it that no Earthly being could let a scratch on her little sister’s body. Alleria had forever been haunted by the thought of what would happen if she lost her guardian. Pagosia was their goddess indeed but Alleria could not challenge the credibility of a legend for the life of her sister. Her face had lost its colour as thoughts flew by. Her mouth was dry by the weather which seemed unusually cold all of a sudden. “Sister. These waters hold powers not for the mortal. You must understand what the legends have taught us. You of all people Traxia! No man has ever acquired great power without a sacrifice. The God’s gifts must not be used by a soul too small to contain it. You cannot guarantee the outcome of drinking these waters.”, Alleria said, trying to sound as convincing as she could.
“Alleria! Its either this..”, Traxia paused, pointing at the well with her finger, “ or Death. And that is one fact I can assure you of”, Traxia completed her sentence, hoping she wouldn’t have to press on further. Alleria sighed heavily. “I can’t do it”, said Alleria abruptly.
Traxia turned to the well. Looked at the inscriptions on the stone and said “That’s all right. I’m not forcing you into this. In any case, if something happens at all, at least one of us will make it through. Traxia hurried to the well, staring into its dark waters. “We’re running out of time Ally. I must hurry”, Traxia spoke hastily, unlike her calm self. “Wait!” , Alleria yelped before her sister touched the water. “If something were to happen-“, began Alleria as her sister interrupted almost immediately “If something were to happen, you will get back and tell the other rangers I’ve gone missing. You will then take care of the tribe and get out of this place as soon as possible, find help and stop what’s coming. Is that understood?”, Traxia spoke in her commanding voice, who sounded more like Alleria’s leader than her sister. Alleria breathed heavily as she nodded her head. The two sisters embraced one another. Alleria was only an inch shorter than her sister. She hugged her in a deep embrace between two rangers. Traxia’s blonde her fell over her shoulders as they hugged and Alleria’s eyes felt watery as nervousness crept into her thoughts.
Traxia turned and walked close to the well. She dipped her hands in the Well of Pagosia. Her hands felt nothing by its touch. It was as if she cupped her fair palm for nothing but air. The well was dark and it was almost impossible to make out if she had any liquid on her hands. The touch did not feel cold either, contrary to her expectations. “What is this? An illusion?” Traxia spoke in dismay.
Traxia reached out her head into the well, looking for something, rather someone. She began whispering in a low voice. “Mother..”, her voice fainted. Soft murmurs echoed in the well as Alleria stood puzzled at her sister’s actions. Traxia froze in silence as she stared at the depths of the Well. Before Alleria could act, a sudden blast of pure white light erupted from the depths of the well, blinding her vision as she stumbled back to the snowy ground. She covered her eyes as she shut it, attempting to prevent the piercing luminescent glow from blinding her. She heard a definitive yell as the light almost suddenly burst into an abrupt blue hue. The voice of a girl was screaming far away as if a hundred knives had pierced her insides. Almost out of nowhere, in a few seconds, everything came to a sudden halt as the surrounding area appeared like nothing ever happened there a few moments ago.
Alleria opened her eyes and jumped forward, her eyes focusing the well and scanning the surroundings for her sister. She was gone. The eerie silence returned to Alleria. A horrid sense of reality crept into Alleria as her sister was gone. “Traxia..TRAXIA!” Ally yelled through the forest. Walking slowly to the well and peeping just a bit enough to see if there was a hand or a head with blonde hair that reached out for help. Her heart thumped against her bosoms and she could hear it loud and clear in the eerie silence. Her eyes were moist and tears rolled down her pink cheeks as she sobbed at the thought of losing her sister, the only person who lived and protected her. “Traxia..please..come back”, her voice faded in the silence of the forest that almost instantly echoed in its quite eeriness of the dark morning.
To be Continued.....
Traxia reached out her head into the well, looking for something, rather someone. She began whispering in a low voice. “Mother..”, her voice fainted. Soft murmurs echoed in the well as Alleria stood puzzled at her sister’s actions. Traxia froze in silence as she stared at the depths of the Well. Before Alleria could act, a sudden blast of pure white light erupted from the depths of the well, blinding her vision as she stumbled back to the snowy ground. She covered her eyes as she shut it, attempting to prevent the piercing luminescent glow from blinding her. She heard a definitive yell as the light almost suddenly burst into an abrupt blue hue. The voice of a girl was screaming far away as if a hundred knives had pierced her insides. Almost out of nowhere, in a few seconds, everything came to a sudden halt as the surrounding area appeared like nothing ever happened there a few moments ago.
Alleria opened her eyes and jumped forward, her eyes focusing the well and scanning the surroundings for her sister. She was gone. The eerie silence returned to Alleria. A horrid sense of reality crept into Alleria as her sister was gone. “Traxia..TRAXIA!” Ally yelled through the forest. Walking slowly to the well and peeping just a bit enough to see if there was a hand or a head with blonde hair that reached out for help. Her heart thumped against her bosoms and she could hear it loud and clear in the eerie silence. Her eyes were moist and tears rolled down her pink cheeks as she sobbed at the thought of losing her sister, the only person who lived and protected her. “Traxia..please..come back”, her voice faded in the silence of the forest that almost instantly echoed in its quite eeriness of the dark morning.
To be Continued.....