Anthell - Book 1: Once Lost

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Dawn broke, I woke. My wife, Ayleth, lay beside me. A noise came from outside.

"What's going on," Ayleth asked.

"I don't know, but it can't be good," I replied.

I kissed her and left. I ran to a guard post to ask my men what was going when I saw it. A large pig-like demon. I drew my bow and shot it. My arrow sunk into its skin, but it only made the beast angry. It turned to face me and as it turned, I saw the path of destruction it had left. I only got a glimpse, but I saw my people dead, houses destroyed, and fire, lots of fire shining in the dark.

My eyes widened; I knew what I had to do. I knocked an arrow and whispered an incantation. Then I released the arrow and when it hit the pig demon exploded into a wave of fire, knocking me over. I hit the ground, my head slamming into the hard dirt.

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When I came to, I saw nothing but fire. I quickly got up. I took a look around me and noticed a fiery path. It originated from the place where I shot the pig demon to the inside of the palace. It was bright in the darkness of night. I followed the path. My heart raced as I theorized where it would lead. Then as I came near the end, my heart was beating faster than ever. Adrenaline pumping harder than ever. I knew where it led.

"It leads to my chambers," I thought.

"Mapita, I cursed," When I realized my wife and son never left.

I quickly ran and opened the door. A rush of fire launched out as I slammed open the door. The whole room was ablaze. My heart sank lower and lower as I searched.

As I looked in the back corner I fell to my knees. I wanted the fire to take me. Not let me suffer the torment of loss.

"No! It can't be! Ayleth, Desmond?" I screamed as I saw two scorched bodies huddled in the back corner. One an adult, the other a mear baby.

I let the flames engulf me. I felt my body burn. Then, all of a sudden. The burning stopped. The flames had gone. Like a snap of a finger. This only helped me confirm my losses. I looked back to see the ring I presented to Ayleth on our wedding day. Completely intact. I took it and grasped it in my hand.

It was a silver ring, her favorite metal, with an orange gem. On either side of the gem was the symbol for man and woman with a jade gem in the center of each.

"I will avenge you, I will," I said menacingly as I spoke the prayer to release them from the mortal plane, "To thy who be holy, release my wife, Ayleth, and my son, Desmond. Let them live eternally with you in The Forest of Kipakisa. Amen."

I went to check for survivors. I walked outside. I listened to see if anyone was screaming, but it was dead silent. No owls, not even the sound of a cricket. I dropped to my knees. And cursed every curse in my vocabulary. Curses became tears, tears became pleas. The cycle of cursing, tears, and pleading went on till sunrise. For all I knew was gone.

✦ ✦ ✦

That morning, I had a feeling, like a calling to the forest. I got up and started walking. The forest soon became like a part of me, like a two-way bond.

I buried the ring, hoping they two could become one with the forest, and continued walking. The walking never got old. Always something new.

When my legs grew tired, I slept. When I felt hungry, I ate. It always felt like the forest provided me with the essentials.

I also felt I knew the forest. Eventually coming to the point where I knew the whole forest, from start to finish. Every city, every river, and every lake, I could make my way to them with the best route in mind.

In my dreams, I would see trees, beautiful glowing trees. They were in the center of the forest. But I never cared to visit, I felt a push away from the center. Something I couldn't explain. Like a magical shield that I couldn't cross.