RedRavenPoems

A continuation of the previous story I had written. With new artwork, courtesy of a fantastic friend of mine using an AI Generator!

“Are you ready Oathbreaker?” She asked me. Hell no I wasn’t, but I knew I couldn’t even begin to say that. In truth, I had no choice here and I knew it.

  We sat in a clearing within the forests. Our resting spot for the night after the departure from the temple grounds. The journey here had been long, it had been arduous, and it had been nothing but torment. She had chased the sun as it danced across the sky, sinking always towards the western horizon. I had chased her it seemed. The being who had once been Nim. 

  At last as the suns glorious light had fled, the last vestiges of its crimson glow long gone and the stars rising high, we had halted. The mountains, once so distant, lay closer. Probably another day’s journey away. We were in the foothills now, the valleys filled with forests. Ancient oaks, each gargantuan in proportion, stood silent sentinel around us. A sprinkle of maple trees hid in between the monstrous beasts. Somewhere was a dash of pines and cedars, unseen by my eyes, but clearly there by the heavenly scent of them. 

  We sat on opposite sides of a fire, it’s pale glow the only light besides the pale sliver of moonlight bathing us. It’s crimson glow made her hair flame even more, her eyes shiningwith insidious plans. 

“Well?” She asked once more. In response, I nodded, not willing to speak more than I had to. She rose, white dress -still unnaturally pristine despite the travels- and held her hand out to the flames. They flared, turning first deep red, then blue, settling at length on a low white. Apprehension filled me, but I steeled my resolve and waited. Low chanting came from her. It was not in the common tongue of the land. It was wild, primal, and commanding. It was the language of the earth, the tongue of the Gods. I heard the words, and I shuddered. For now I understood them once more. My vision clouded, and then it began.

  Lights swirled around me. A kaleidoscope of colors forming patterns so ancient and powerful that they defied the understanding of words. They spoke to me of the past, and the future. Within them I saw all.

  I saw the pain, the misfortune of my actions. I saw the reasons why. My mind screamed, begged for it to stop. My body locked up, but still the lights came. Then they resolved.

  I saw a village. Lit by bloody light, flames danced along the thatched roofs, smoke billowed to the skies. 

 I heard the screams of the people. Saw them flee in terror from the beast that stalked them. Bodies of hapless victims torn to pieces, strewn here and there, sightless eyes opened to the void. I felt their souls flee from this realm. Or at least try to. 

A figure was within the smoke. Hazy and indistinct. All that could be seen we’re glowing gold eyes, and shimmer patterns of ancient symbols traced in flaming red. I screamed in silent protest at this, for I knew who HE was.

   The vision changed amid a cloud of swirling lights once more. Now I saw the figure, still shadowy and unknown, standing on a hillside. Below him were groups of soldiers. Clad in battle-worn armor, they advanced steadily on him position. In the lead strode a woman. Auburn hair flaring behind, silver breastplate gleaming in the fading light. Her eyes flashed fire as she closed on him. 

  Again the swirling lights. Again a new vision. The aurburn haired woman – Nim – was in front of him. So close he could touch her. The armor flickered in and out of existence, sometimes there. At others, it was replaced with the flowing white dress she so favored. Her face drew close to his, he could smell the sweet scent of forests after a fresh rain. She was home. 

The vision burst apart as I realized SHE was close. Too close. The scent of the forests was here because she knelt before him, her lips inches from my own. I almost gave in. For she was my Nim. But underneath I could just faintly smell ozone. The crisp odor of lightning in the air. And the sickly sweet smell of deceit. Thrusting forth a hand, I shoved her back, gasping out a strangled “NO! “

  Fury smoldered in her silvery gaze, jaw clenched in frustration. He met her glare boldly, and held it. Time ticked by, seconds feeling like eternity. Finally with a feral hiss, she retreated to the other side of the fire.  He stood, and strode to the edge of camp, finding a place with back against an oak, eyes firmly on her.

She was not his Nim. And even if she used her body. She would NEVER have him.