2.

  Faelwen

  After what felt like hours, we finally collapsed into the snow, gasping for air. Above us, the sky darkened, heavy with the promise of another downfall.

  “What’s next? Are we just going to keep running?” I asked between breaths. Knowing we had to find shelter, snow slowly drifted down from the dark clouds.

  First we need to find a place to sleep, Artemis said, voicing the same thought in my mind.

  “What about the old bee lady’s barn?”

  Her barn’s abandoned. Ever since her horse died, she hasn’t used it. Might be a good hiding place for the night.

  It wasn’t much, but it was better than freezing to death out here. We decided to risk it. It wasn’t a long walk which was fortunate, since the temperature dropped and night slowly set in.

  I felt my feet and hands slowly go numb as the cold seeped through my clothes. The snow had thickened, wiping away any footsteps we left behind.

  That reassured me. It would mean the Hunters would have a difficult time finding us.

  I always thought going on quests was like the stories you tell by the fire. In reality, it’s just cold, scary, and lonely. I looked down at Artemis. He huffed beside me, clearly unimpressed.

  Finally the old barn appeared between the trees. A haven from this blight. It was barely standing. Wind howled through the cracks, snow sifted through the roof, covering the floor in a thin cold layer.

  I managed to get a small fire going with the tinderbox, offering just enough warmth to keep us from freezing. Wrapped tightly in my cloak, Artemis curled up beside me, and I opened Barnabas’s map again. Hoping it might lead me to where he could’ve gone into hiding.

  It was frayed at the edges and marked with folding lines. Barnabas had drawn the borders of the land, noting towns and cities with X’s at places of special note. One of them was on the other side of the forest we lived in. What had Barnabas found in those places? Or failed to find?

  I opened his journal once more, carefully scanning the first entry.

  3E 917- the 21st of the second moon.

  Barnabas meticulously dated his writings—obsessed with time. Always twelve months, always twenty-eight days, following the moons of our universe. He never forgot a single cycle. I read on.

  How can we stop this war? I’ve been pondering over this question for years. Should I join Orion and the other magi in their war against the kingdom? Or maybe try to talk to Edmund. Find a way to stop this madness through politics?

  Humans are afraid of us, that’s undeniable. We should bring back their faith in us. But how? Why are some born with this magical ability and others not?

  For this question to be answered, I headed for the biggest library in our land across the borders in the Primordial Lands. Faeryn Librarium.

  For days I searched for information. And I think I’ve found something that might explain some things. It was written by the Returner. Did the king make a pact with the Returner?

  It was written to king Talron.

  I froze. The Returner—an otherworldly entity whispered about in ancient texts—had written directly to King Talron. The message Barnabas had copied in his notebook spoke of power, arrogance, and the eventual downfall of those who believed themselves untouchable. Was he referring to King Talron? And why would an otherworldly being send a letter to the king?

  Furthermore, what did Barnabas mean with “a pact”? I wondered if there was a way to reach the Returner. I scanned through the journals. Until one entry caught my eye.

  3E 917- the 13th of the twelfth moon

  Today I talked to a mysterious old woman who was babbling something about graciously, slim human beings who could sing you asleep and even lit up the darkest night. They sound like the description of elves.

  I went looking for these strange creatures even though humans whispered that such beings were only legend. Stories told me to look around in the Primordial Lands or across the Andw?ne Mere.

  The forests there were wise and old. The hills turning into mountains that kissed the skies. I will travel all the way to Andw?ne Mere in the hope for something or someone to meet who can help me stop this madness.

  3E 917- the 17th of the twelfth moon

  I was right there! I was at The Andw?ne Mere. But when I walked there, I heard whispers saying: Vanya-nend?.

  It sounds like a name. When I called out, something hit me from behind and when I woke up, I was right back in the village of Erandur.

  The mysterious, old lady was caring for me. Calling me names for going all the way up there and facing the dangers. I told her about the whispers and she said that the wind could play tunes like that among the trees.

  But I still believe some creature lives there. Maybe the elves. Right now, I must go back, this is my last piece of parchment and last bit of ink.

  In the following entries, he never spoke of returning to this lake. Instead he went to other places, often near our home. The journals ended abruptly when I came to live with him.

  Nothing in the journals gave me any indication of where he could’ve gone. If he had managed to escape, that is. Although his research was intriguing, I felt a little disappointed.

  Too tired to continue to read, I closed the journal. Once we found Barnabas I’d help him finish what he started more than twenty years ago. Even if he would disagree. He seemed to be on a journey to find answers. “Maybe some of those answers would lead me to him,” I thought out loud.

  Mmh? Artemis hummed, eyes already closed.

  “Nothing, buddy. Just thinking. Tomorrow we’ll search for Barnabas. Starting in Townhaven first.”

  He hummed in response. Satisfied with my new plan, I curled up next to him.

  ? ? ?

  I was startled awake a few hours later by Artemis dropping a bloody bird onto my face.

  I brought food! He said proudly, shaking it until feathers flew everywhere.

  “Artemis!” I groaned, snatching the bird away to prepare it for cooking. After plucking and roasting it over the fire, we shared a hot meal. The snow had stopped, and a weak sun broke through the clouds.

  “I hope this day will be better,” I said, smiling at Artemis as he stuck his nose outside the barn.

  Let’s hope so, he replied.

  With the sun melting our snow-filled water bottles, we set off towards Townhaven.

  The woods around us seemed more alive than before. Birds chirped, snow fell from the branches, and the sky was beginning to clear. I thought of home as I walked, memories of my parents flooding back.

  ? ? ?

  My mother smiled at me caressing her already big belly as I, a 6 year old girl, hung upside down from a tree branch, laughing. “Mom, the world looks so different like this.” I shifted my legs and started to swing a little. The branch groaned under my weight and then snapped. I fell on my back in the green grass, the branch hitting the ground underneath my legs with a loud thump. My mom ran towards me in panic but as I stood up, we began to laugh.

  “My clumsy girl” She hugged me. “I can already see you will become a great adventurer with your wild ideas.” She smoothed my hair back and removed the grass and dirt from my face.

  “Or she’ll get herself into big trouble,” my father chuckled, walking towards us with some white bandages. “I heard the noise.” He grinned, wrapping my bloody leg.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  ? ? ?

  Artemis nudged my hand, bringing me back to the present. The memory faded softly, leaving an ache behind.

  Where were you just now? He asked. A smile appeared on my face. My father was right. Big troubles indeed. “I was with my parents,” I whispered, the warmth of the memory still lingering.

  After three days of travel, a small village by the edge of a shimmering lake came into view.

  “We’re finally here,” I murmured, relief washing over me. The sight was breathtaking; buildings bathed in the warm, golden-red glow of the rising sun, their reflections dancing on the lake’s glassy surface. The water, nearly as blue as the sky, rippled gently.

  Despite the early hour, the village was already bustling. Shops opened their doors to the first customers, and ships were being loaded by the docks.

  Out on the lake, I spotted more vessels heading toward the village, likely arriving just before noon. Probably filled with exotic products.

  You want to head into town? Artemis’s voice echoed in my mind.

  “Perhaps. We need to stock up on supplies and I might see if I hear any rumours of Barnabas,” I replied.

  Then I’ll wait for you by the forest’s edge. Call for me, when you need me. He spoke.

  I stroked the fur behind his ears in farewell, and as quietly as a shadow, he disappeared into the trees. Though he was out of sight, I knew our mental connection wouldn’t fade as long as he stayed within a certain distance of me and I of him.

  I began walking down the winding path that led toward the village. As I neared I noticed two guards in a heated discussion with a distressed farmer who was blocking their way.

  The farmer, a wiry middle-aged man, had his hands on his hips. His face was a mix of fear and frustration, tightening his weathered features. Yet he stood straight. Too straight for a simple farmer.

  “You expect me to believe such nonsense?” One of the guards snapped in the common tongue, gesturing toward the nearby mountain. “A demon eating your cow? Ridiculous.”

  “I’m telling you, I saw it with my own eyes!” the farmer retorted, his voice laced with desperation. His crude accent hinted he came from the main city where many dialects mixed.

  The second guard snickered, making the farmer’s face flush with anger.

  “Thalor, you’ve always been a loyal friend of the guards,” the first soldier said, his tone softening slightly. “But this? You’re frightening people with these wild tales. It was just wolves.”

  He put a gentle hand on Thalor’s shoulder, but Thalor slapped it away, his frustration boiling over.

  “I’m no fool! I know what I saw.”

  The guards exchanged mocking glances, still chuckling as they started to walk away. “I’m starting to understand why you retired old man,” the second guard taunted.

  “And what about that old man who went missing? The demon could’ve gotten to him,” Thalor threw back, crossing his arms. His words made my heart jump. Old man? Could it be Barnabas? He was known as ‘that old man from the woods’. I walked closer.

  “Nonsense,” one of the guards said waving his hand. “That frail old man is probably somewhere laying in a ditch after drinking too much. We'll find him.”

  “Fine, stay blind to the real danger. Now get out of my sight you assholes, before I lose my patience.” Thalor stepped to the side to let the guards pass. The two guards got the message and walked off still chuckling as they walked away.

  Once they were out of sight, Thalor’s eyes met mine. “Don’t be afraid, lass. I’m not as mad as those fools make me out to be.” He took a deep breath and lowered his shoulders.

  He calmed down and the frown disappeared from his face. I offered a hesitant smile, unsure what to say. He gave a weary grin in return before turning and stalking off toward his farm. I lingered for a moment, curiosity gnawing at me.

  What kind of creature had he seen? Would there be a chance that creature might have taken Barnabas when he fled the Hunters? My gaze drifted to the farm he was headed toward; a large property with two stables, one behind the house, and the other beside a meadow.

  According to what the guards said, he was once part of one of the guard units. I heard stories that retired knights got a piece of land of their own to build a house or to raise a family.

  As I passed by, I saw something that made my stomach turn. A half-eaten animal, its body mangled and strewn across the snow. Its blood stained the ground a deep red. The stench was overwhelming.

  “This wasn’t done by wolves,” I muttered aloud. It reminded me too much of the stories Barnabas told me about the war, when dark things walked the land.

  “No, it wasn’t,” came a voice from behind, startling me. Thalor had returned. I calmed my racing heart as he approached.

  “Did you see the creature that did this?” I asked.

  “It was a monster, a demon,” he replied, his face darkening. “It must have had huge claws and fangs to tear a cow apart like that.”

  “But you didn’t see it up close?”

  “I saw it… from my window. It was enormous, lurking in the darkness.” He leaned on the fence, staring at the remains of his cow. I joined him.

  “Could you tell me what happened?” He was making me curious about this monster. Monstrous creatures were parts of the past, of nightmares. There hadn’t been a demon for ages.

  Thalor’s eyes wandered into the horrible night, as if remembering the monster.

  “It’s happened before. At first, I thought it was wolves, big ones, from deep in the forest. My farm is closest to the woods, so it seemed possible. But the attacks kept coming. My wife and I grew terrified. One night, I heard the cows bawling, and when I looked out the window…” his voice trailed off as he shuddered.

  “There it was. A massive, hulking creature with red eyes. Its body was like a bear’s, but worse. It had thorns on its back, and its fangs dripped blood. I froze. It vanished into the barn’s shadows before I could do anything.”

  I noted down every detail in the back of my mind. Intrigued by his description.

  “Thank you for sharing that,” I said.

  Thalor sighed. “What brings you here, anyway? A young lass like you… it could’ve been you instead of my cow last night.”

  His question caught me off guard. I couldn’t tell him about my true mission; Barnabas quest and the Hunters still pursuing me. I needed a believable answer.

  “I’m a traveller, searching for work,” I said, keeping my tone light. The lie tasted thin, but it was all I dared offer.

  He chuckled. “A stubborn one, I see. Be careful there, lass. If you need shelter, my wife and I have a spare bed and a hot meal waiting.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m low on money,” I admitted, thinking of the supplies I still needed to buy.

  Thalor hesitated, then shook his head. “We can’t offer free lodging, not in these hard times.”

  “I could help around the farm in exchange for shelter and food?” I asked.

  Thalor smiled. “I shall be honest with you, lass. I would love to take the offer, because I don’t want you to sleep on the streets tonight. But I honestly don’t have work for you.”

  I considered his words, but before I could respond, an idea tumbled out of my mouth: “What if I took care of your monster problem? Maybe it took the old man.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “You? Slay that beast?”

  “I can handle myself. I know how to hunt and kill,” I said. “I’ll end it, and in return, you’ll give me shelter for a few weeks.”

  Thalor hesitated long enough that I thought he’d refuse outright, but then he gave a curt nod. “I appreciate you wanting to take a look and believing my story. You’ve got yourself a deal, little warrior. I hope you’ll find the old man, he was an old friend of ours. But be warned, you’ll have to kill it tonight, I’m afraid. No reward until the beast is dead.”

  My stomach tightened. Tonight. That was fast and slightly reckless, but I couldn’t afford to hesitate. I shook his hand, sealing the agreement, though doubt gnawed at me.

  Could I really defeat such a creature? My skills with a bow were very decent, and I could always count on Artemis to protect me, though he wasn’t exactly the bravest companion. But I knew I couldn’t back down now.

  As Thalor returned to his farm whistling a song through his teeth, I stood by the riverbank staring at the mutilated cow. I took a deep breath and steeled myself. There was no turning back now.

  I continued my way to the centre of the village. I wouldn’t want to live in a crowded town, but every now and then, it was nice to wander around Townhaven.

  The bustle of the market filled the air – sea salt mingling with spices and fish, sailors unloading their cargo along the docks.

  All of it gave the place a kind of rugged charm. Townhaven was smaller than Westray, the capital city of our land, maybe five times smaller. But to me, the town felt enormous. I’d never been to Westray, so the winding alleys of Townhaven were more than enough for me to get lost in.

  Today I found myself walking along the avenue, watching the ships being loaded with fresh goods for their next journey. These vessels travelled far beyond our shores, trading with cities across the sea. Their first stop was always Westray, before they moved on to smaller towns like ours.

  As I watched them work, I wondered what it might be like to live aboard one of those ships. To see the world, foreign lands, strange peoples, the smell of saltwater and the sight of the sun sinking into the sea each night.

  It all sounded like an amazing adventure.

  But even as my mind wandered to the sea, my heart pulled me back to the forest.

  That was my true home. I belonged among the trees, with the birds and the small creatures that scurried underfoot. There, the air was sweet with the scent of pine and flowers. And I felt a sense of peace I could never find in the noise of the town. Shaking myself from the daydream, I made my way toward the market square to gather the supplies I needed.

  It was a lively place, packed with stalls and people moving every which way. The cobblestones on the ground formed an intricate mosaic. A giant eight-pointed star that acted as a compass pointing to the corners of our land.

  But with the crowds milling about, the star was hidden beneath the feet of merchants and townsfolk. Barnabas had told me about it once, as he loved sharing tales of the places he’d visited.

  Musicians filled the air with music. And dancers spun around the centre of the square, their movements carefree and wild. Rich women dressed in fine gowns and sparkling jewellery sat at tables. Laughing and sipping tea, while children darted between the stalls, playing their games.

  I noticed a beggar slinking through the crowd, his fingers quick as he lifted a coin purse from an unsuspecting man. My hand immediately went to my own pouch, feeling the reassuring weight of my four silver pieces.

  I quickly went over my shopping list in my head. I had enough food for my journey, but just in case I couldn’t slay the beast, I needed some supplies. After a quick check of my arrows, I decided to visit the blacksmith for a sword. It was always wise to have an extra weapon in case I ran out of arrows.

  I probably wouldn’t have enough to buy more since products became more expensive after the increase of taxes. “This increase of taxes is all to protect our country from the enemies, my beloved followers.” The king had spoken. But everybody complained about it.

  I tried my best to charm the blacksmith, explaining my plight as a lone traveller, vulnerable to bandits and worse.

  “A small woman like me needs more than just a bow,” I told him, my eyes wide, hoping to win his favour. He sighed heavily but finally relented, offering me a worn, but sturdy short sword for three silver pieces.

  “It’s not pretty, but it’ll keep you alive,” he said as he handed it over, along with a scabbard. “Be careful on the road, little miss. It’s dangerous out there.”

  “May Herdus protect us all in these hard times,” I said, thanking him.

  “I will pray to Herdus indeed, that he may find a way to get rid of those foul mages,” the ironsmith responded and I quickly left before he could change his mind, feeling a strange sense of triumph despite the tension in the air.

  With my last coin, I bought a bit of food from a generous woman who ran one of the stalls. Two apples, some smoked meat, and half a loaf of bread.

  And finally some ink to write with. She had three children of her own, which probably explained why she was so kind, even though times were becoming harder for everyone with the taxes being what they were.

  I also visited some local taverns to gather some intel about the Hunters. Rumours travelled fast and a burning cabin in the woods might’ve led to people investigating. My heart sank as I left the tavern. Nothing.

  The sun was slowly sinking toward the horizon, casting golden light over the marketplace. I breathed in the atmosphere and smiled.

  A bard sang songs of ancient heroes, his voice carrying through the square, and a juggler tossed glasses high into the air, drawing applause with every flawless catch.

  Caught up in the music, I even danced for a while. Laughter escaping my lips. My worries were forgotten for a moment. But as the song ended, reality came crashing back, colder than evening air. I turned my back on the music and walked back to the farm, my brief escape over.

  As I made my way out of town, the seagulls squawked and dove around the fishermen, hoping for an easy meal. One bird made a daring dive for a barrel of fish, only to be scared off by a sharp swing of a fisherman’s oar. Brave birds. If only I were half as bold