Chapter I

Chapter I

     Eona found herself in the midst of battle, between certain death and the safety of the capital city’s gates which were looking so beautiful with every drawing step. She had no idea how the shades had tracked her, or why they were pursuing her in the first place. Their howling screeches pierced her ears, and put the horse beneath her on edge. She had her bow drawn, and was reaching for another arrow that she hoped would soar directly into the skull of one of those relentless fiends. Her horse, which usually rode with such grace, was now riding harder than he ever had with nostrils flaring and heading with urgency to the city gates. Eona released the string of her bow, sending another shade back to oblivion. What are Dark Agents doing this far east? she wondered to herself. They were normally always found in the dark depths of the western mountains. They were such lonely creatures, longing to be human again, yet unable to fulfill their dreams. They had succumb to the whims of lust, greed, and pride, and in turn were paying for their sins. Now there were only two shades following her, she hoped. Another arrow, another shade sent to hell. Now only one.

     The only problem was that it had disappeared. Her first instinct was to stop her horse and search the surrounding area, so that if it was still out there it wouldn’t sneak up on her. But with the city gates tempting her with its open arms of safe passage, she grabbed the reins and urged her steed further. The morning had been surprisingly peaceful, aside from the shades appearing out of nowhere and trying to kill her. Eona had seen a pack of them only once in her life, but never fought them herself. She drew another arrow from her quiver and placed it beside the beautifully carved composite bow, tucked in by the bow’s string. As the stallion persisted onward, the final shade revealed itself from behind a tree further up the path. “There you are, you sick son of a b***h,” Eona directed her bow at the shade, drawing the string and releasing it. 

    At the last moment, however, the agent dodged the attack and charged her. Her horse reared out of fear, sending Eona crashing to the ground. The shade was now before her, staring through her and her soon demise. It raised its weapon, which was a large and menacing scythe and pointed it straight at Eona’s face. She gasped and closed her eyes tightly, praying that something, anything would save her. She couldn’t believe that this is where it would end, at the hands of a pathetic Dark Agent. The irony of dying here, when she was coursing the path of her destiny was all too shocking. Tears fell from her eyes and the shade pulled back its weapon and readied it to strike. And here, at the end of all things as she thought, she muttered the word goodbye.

   Suddenly, with an unexpected and triumphant thrust of ferocity a two handed sword slit the air and pierced the shade through the back of the head and stuck into the trunk of a tree. Eona rubbed her head and opened her eyes, wondering why it was taking so long for a ruthless shade to end her life. She looked up in shock as the wisps of the shade dissipated into the air. She stood up and brushed herself off, grabbing her horse’s reins to calm him down. He nuzzled her shoulder and she scratched his forehead. A tall man approached her and removed his weapon from its place between the broken pieces of tree bark. He tucked it back into its scabbard and looked up at Eona with intense, but concerned red eyes. “Are you alright?” he asked, bowing slightly out of respect. “I’m fine, thanks to you. The damn thing snuck up on me. I was only lucky that you were there,” she said, forcing a smile and bowing in return. He nodded and smirked slightly. “Are you heading to the city?” he asked. “Indeed. I’ve been traveling for a few days now,” she tugged a little on the horse’s reins, asking him to follow her as she made her way to the path leading to the city. The man followed her, noticing how the sun gently illuminated the frame of her body. He tilted his head to give her a better look over, and smiled. “So, can I ask you your name?” she said, looking back at him as she walked on. “Kaizair. And yours?” he answered. “Eona,” she smiled at him, causing his stomach to flutter in a way that he had never experienced before. 

    They reached the path, and Kaizair walked over to a gray stallion standing off to the side grazing. He grabbed its reins and led it back to Eona. The two horses touched noses and whinnied, finding respect for each other. “Care to join me?” Kaizair pointed toward the city gates. Eona smiled and nodded, following him as they made their way to the entrance. “So, can I ask you where you have ridden from?” Eona looked up at him, observing his distinctive and strange features. He was very muscular, probably the result of intense training. His skin shone an olive tan, and his hair was a deep black, short but spiked up in the front. Most noticeable were his red eyes. “Esterall in the southern mountains. A small village, but perfectly concealed. We’re famous for our swordplay and skills as warriors,” he replied with a cocky undertone.

    “So why are you here and where have you come from?” he asked in return. 

    “Well…I originate from the village hidden deep within the Forest of Ka’vin, or the Forest of Waterfalls as it is said in your tongue. It’s such a beautiful place. I’ve lived there for seventeen years, and it can still surprise me. The interesting thing about it is that if you’ve never been there, it’s impossible to find. And as for my reason of traveling this far east, well…” she paused for a moment. He looked at her with inquisitive eyes, yearning for her to continue. “It’s strange. I spoke with my grandmother not too long ago. She explained to me that destinies stand before us all. She said that mine was about to broadly display itself to me. That I was supposed to ride to this city, and that here I would meet three companions who were in a similar situation. She wasn’t sure of where my destiny would take me after that, but that I would need those three people to make it happen. Sounds silly, doesn’t it?” she laughed half-heartedly. Kaizair looked up in great surprise. “You know, this is going to sound even stranger, but my master of swordplay back home told me something almost identical to what your grandmother told to you. I didn’t believe him at first, but he urged me to at least see for myself. Perhaps it was fate that allowed me to stumble upon you in the forest,” he chuckled. Eona looked at the ground for a long while. She herself had doubted her grandmother. But here at last, maybe she was telling the truth.    

    Fessehtta stood before them, its welcoming arms stretching around them, comforting them within its safe walls. Eona looked around in stunned silence, assimilating all of the beautiful buildings and colors displaying the city’s obvious pride. “No wonder this is the capitol,” she said. Kaizair nodded, yet displayed nowhere near as much shock. He didn’t seem impressed at all. “I’ve been here a few times before. It isn’t as great as it seems. There is much evil here,” he remarked, hesitating that it may have dampened Eona’s positive views. The city introduced itself with a large marketplace, patrons walking back and forth, purchasing their goods and staring longingly at clothes and jewelry that they could never hope to buy. The people here were simple, yet elegant as they paced smoothly along the cobblestone walkways and going about their normal, everyday lives. The vendors called out loudly, advertising to anyone who was interested in exotic fruits, pets, and textiles. “Well, since you have been here before, perhaps you could help me. I’m in need of a blacksmith. Do you know where I can find one?” she looked up at him with pleading eyes, causing him to step back and look away, embarrassed. Stuttering, he replied, “Yes, it’s straight on down this street. You’ll see a large sign.” Eona looked to where he was pointing, smiled and looked back at him. “Alright, well again, I want to thank you so much for your help. Without you, I may have never even gotten to see this beautiful city,” she bowed to him, extending her gratefulness. “Well, I mean, it’s not like it was a problem. I’ve slayed many of those beasts in my time. It was great to help. But as for myself, I’m off to find a tavern. I’m in desperate need of an ale,” he bellowed a humble laugh. “If our fates are entwined, Kaizair, I assume we will see much more of each other in the future. I’m almost certain that I will see you again,” she turned to leave as well.

    “I agree. Are you sure you don’t want my company? This city can, believe it or not, get pretty dangerous. Especially for a woman as beauti…I mean, for a woman such as yourself.”

   “Not to worry, Kaizair. I’m a big girl, I can dress myself and everything.”

    “I’m not doubting that. Just don’t want to be worrying about you when I’m busy drinking my stress away,” he laughed again and displayed another conceited smile. “I’ll be fine,” she flashed her own dazzling smile and exited his company, walking down the smooth cobblestone road to the smithy. It was surprisingly a pain to watch her leave. He had known this woman for approximately thirty minutes, and already he knew that there was something special about her. But, feeling somehow defeated he sighed. Father told you not to get involved with women right now, Kaizair. Ezteariell, you never listen. But, you still got it he thought, laughing to himself. He walked to the inner city wall where a small tavern was poised next to it. It was a quaint place, not too many rogues, which was good for Kaizair. He didn’t feel like getting into any brawls his first day back in the city. 

    He opened the door, entering a room filled with smoke and the sweet smell of alcohol. Many of the men looked up at him, then returned to their tankards and their card games. A fire burned in a small hearth, partly quenching the smell of bad quality cigars. A few bar maids looked over at him, giving him looks of desire and gentle waves. He nodded his head at them as he strutted over to the bar and took a seat on a stool. He was an immensely handsome young man. The only problem was that for the most part, he knew it. The bartender looked up at him as he cleaned the inside of a glass. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost, laddie,” he chuckled, setting down the clean glass and picking up another. “Either that, or you’ve met a sweet gift of first love.” Kaizair raised an eyebrow and sighed. “I had hoped you wouldn’t notice,” he laughed. “I just don’t understand. I basically just met her. But I feel as though I need her now. She’s just so…” he paused. “Beautiful? Smart? Strong?” the bartender finished. Kaizair nodded. “That takes me back to the days of yore, lad. Seems like so long ago. If there’s anything that I’ve learned it’s that the lovely thing about woman is that so many men take advantage of them, yet all men need them. We are nothing without them. How many times have you heard an honest man say that?” he smiled. Kaizair agreed. 

    It was easy for his father to condemn woman, for his mother had died when Kaizair was only a child. His father had always said that it was because she was too weak to survive her illness, yet Kaizair knew that wasn’t the reason. In his short years of life, his mother was his only substantial source of parenting. She was, for so long, the only one who loved him. Fathers teach their sons how to fight, how to work, and how to raise a family. But mothers teach their sons how to grow into men, ones who know how to love and care, and teach that crying is okay even when others may tell you it’s weak. 

    The bartender looked up at him with a toothy grin. “What can I get for you, son?” Kaizair returned to the present realm. “Just a pint of ale, please,” he said. He thought about Eona and whether she had gotten to the blacksmith in one piece. He tried to calm the negative scenarios playing through his head. I’m sure she’s fine. She’s strong. She handled three shades on her own. And on horseback! He reassured himself. The day dragged on as Kaizair sipped slowly on his tankard. He wondered if what the old bartender had said was correct, that he had fallen in love. He figured perhaps, that if he spoke with her again, he would find the answer.

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    Eona opened the large wooden doors to the domain of the blacksmith. She heard a loud banging in the distance, a hammer slamming against steel on an anvil. The room was large, but completely empty. It was adorn with a large variety of weapons hanging from plaques on the walls. The weapons looked so strange from the ones she knew from home. While their concepts were the same, they were decorated in such a different way that it made her homesick. The room was dimly lit by candlelight, causing her shadow to flicker upon the floor. She approached the large counter, looking around once more. She rang a small bell on the counter and waited until finally she heard the hammering stop. Moments later, a young man came walking through the door way behind the counter, wiping the perspiration from his brow with a rag. Eona instantly froze as time suddenly started to stand still. She had never seen a man as handsome as this. When he finally looked up, he did the same thing, stopping in mid step and almost stumbling. “Can I help you, ma’am?” he finally uttered. His voice was a serenade. Her stomach was fluttering, and she hoped her face wasn’t turning red. 

    “I just…needed some arrows. If you have any,” she said, looking away. He smiled, and leaned against the counter as if trying to impress her. But she was far too busy gazing upon his face to notice. He had very long dark brown hair, which was nicely comb and fell loosely over one eye. His skin was a light tan and his eyes as green as nature herself. “Certainly ma’am. If you don’t mind waiting, though. I have to make some. It won’t take long at all,” his gaze followed along her face to her eyes, drawing them back to his own. Smiling, she said, “It’s no problem at all. I don’t mind waiting.” He backed away from the counter and lifted a section of it up, beckoning for her to step through. “Have you ever seen a blacksmith work before?” he asked as she stepped behind the counter. She shook her head, pushing a lock of her ebony hair behind her ear. He smiled, and motioned with his hand for her to follow. They walked through the doorway and down a long hallway that emptied into an even larger room outside. It resembled a barn, but with no animals. The air was heavy with steam and smoke from a coal fire. Eona looked around in amazement. There was a smithy in her village, but nowhere near as impressive as this one. “Do you make all of the weapons yourself? Such nice craftsmanship. They’re so beautiful,” she walked over to a sword on the wall and ran her fingers against the smooth side of the blade. “Not the only beautiful thing I’ve seen today…” he whispered to himself. “But, yes. I make all of them now. I did learn from the best however. My late father. He died recently from a sickness that no doctors could cure, and of course the business was left to me,” he looked at the floor. Eona turned swiftly, sorrow in her eyes. “I’m so sorry…You seem to be managing very well though. Your father seemed to put a lot of love into this work. And towards you,” she gifted him with a heartfelt smile, feeling that he hadn’t received one in a very long time. “Well, he was the only person that really kept me going. He taught me everything I know. I’ve been trained in the trade of every weapon in this shop. He taught me how the sword is not only an extension of its user’s arm, but that in time, with enough patience and care, it will also become an extension of one’s soul. That if used correctly, it can always manage to save your life. My father was such a brilliant man. It’s how I’ve managed to become a man myself,” he walked over to the forge, to begin working on the requested arrows. Eona continued to browse amongst weapons while he made them.

    A few hours later, Havock had crafted twenty-five arrowheads from the finest steel. He had secured them tightly on wooden sticks, approximately twelve inches long. Then he had taken the time to glue feathers to the ends of them. He bundled all of them up and handed them to Eona, so she could put them into her quiver. “There you are. Twenty-five arrows. The finest steel in all of Fessehta,” he said, cleaning his hands with a cloth. “Thank you very much, Havock. You are a true craftsman”, she said, “How much do I owe you?” He looked at her with a small amount of shock, forgetting why she would even offer to pay him. “You know what? This may be too bold but why don’t you stay and have a cup of tea with me? That will be enough of a payment. If you’re not busy…” he blushed and shyly looked away. “I would love that more than you know,” she smiled as he gestured with his hand for her to walk on in front of him down the long hallway and into another part of the smithy, where it seemed like a normal house. He filled a kettle with water and hung it over a small fire, burning warmly in a hearth. Havock pulled out a chair for her, and pushed it in as she sat down. Eona was surprised to see how much of a gentleman he was. His father must have taught him so much more than putting care in creating beautiful weaponry. “So…Eona. The name sounds foreign to this land. Not that that is a bad thing,” his voice died down, as he hoped that he hadn’t offended her. “Yes,” she smiled, “I am native to the Forest of Ka’vin. The Forest of Waterfalls, as you may know it by.” Even though it was just a small, simple word, it made her realize how much of her home she was missing. She missed the sweet smell of mist from the forest’s many waterfalls, drifting in around her every time she awoke from her bed in her small cabin. She missed her native language, her family, and the forest that was so beautiful and bustling with life. It made her stomach twist in a way that she had never expected to feel when she left. She had been so excited to embark on this journey, but now she would’ve given anything to go back home, to feel the comforting arms of her mother, listening to her sing that sweet elvyn lullaby in her ear. “The Forest of Ka’vin?” Havock said with fascination, distracting Eona from her daze. “I have heard nothing but great things of that place. My father actually used to trade with an elf who lived in that forest. I can’t recall his name now but I had always wished for my father to take me to see it. He said that it was such a beautiful place. That the people and animals who lived there were all in tune with one another. He said that there was a never-ending balance, and that both the natives and animals understood each other and the natural order of all things. He told me that if the whole world functioned the way the Elvish people do, everyone would be so much happier,” he was beaming with admiration, as if just talking about his father was getting his heart racing. “Your father was a bit of a poet as well,” Eona laughed. 

    Havock’s father had been right, however. Eona was distinctly fond of the way her people coexisted with everything around them. They believed that everything had a soul, even the oldest of trees, who were among the most powerful beings in the whole wood. Her people had a deep connection to the forest, even being able to speak directly to its animals and plants. They took pride in not feeling the urge of wanting to conquer the forest, but to live amongst it, side by side as its brethren. Havock got up from his chair to take the kettle from over the fire. He poured them both a cup of tea, then handed one of the cups to Eona, before setting his own down on the table in front of him.

    Havock couldn’t keep himself from trembling. His father had talked with him about woman, and had said nothing bad about them, even after his mother had left them when Havock was but a child.  His father had said, “A woman will usually only leave a man if he gives her a reason to leave”. But Havock had no personal experience. What can I say to make her want to stay here with me? he thought. “Eona?” he said, shyly looking up at her, observing how her black hair fell in deep curls over her shoulders, how her eyes had an intensity that could light the entire room. She looked up at him, beckoning for him to continue. “Can I tell you another thing that my father said to me? He was in his final days when he spoke to me about this matter. Do you mind if I share it with you?” he asked. Sipping slowly at her tea, she nodded and said, “I’d love to hear it.” Havock cleared his throat after a small sip of tea. “No matter how strange and unexpected, he began to speak with me about the concept of destinies. He said that mine was not to take over his trade for the rest of my days. He said that, although he didn’t know what exactly, my future held a journey for me unlike anything I’d ever known. That it would take me far beyond the safe walls of this city. He said that I would meet three people, each different in their own ways, and that they would help to define my destiny. I have not been able to put that conversation to rest. It haunts my hours, my dreams. I feel that now, sitting here with you, that you may be one of those people,” he allowed a deep breath to escape his lips. He couldn’t help but feel like a fool, until Eona surprisingly touched his hand. Her skin was so soft, forcing Havock to desire feeling the rest of her beautiful body. At first, she was too shocked to speak. “Havock, I feel the same way. And now, I know it’s true. My grandmother spoke to me of the same scenario. And on my way into the city, I met a young man who was also in the same situation. She said that all of these people would poses magicks of the three elements aside from mine. It slipped my mind at my first meeting with him, so I was never able to learn of his elemental power but I am gifted within the ways of water magick. What about you?” she said, loving the feel of his hands. So strong, yet so gentle. 

    Havock’s expression lit up at the thought that what his father had said was true. “Well, aside from all of the weapon training that I have received, my father was a former member of the Earth Magi Covenant. In his spare time, he taught me the ways of earth magick,” he said. Eona now knew exactly why she had taken such a quick liking to him. Earth magick users, as well as water magick users were both creators and supporters of life. People of these talents understood the ways of nature better than most. Her grandmother had taught her that the best kind of man she could ever hope to marry should be an earth mage. She said that they make great husbands, because they are usually strong and protective, but also caring and full of real love. “I’m so glad that I agreed to this journey. To be honest, I doubted my grandmother. But I know the truth now. You are apart of my destiny,” Eona brushed her hair behind her ear, silently thanking the fact that she had run out of arrows earlier that day in the forest. “And you are apart of mine,” he said, raising his glass. They chimed their glasses together, and simultaneously drank from them. 

    He looked up at her, meeting her eyes. “Eona, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. I can’t believe I have the audacity to say such a thing but I am a man who prefers to speak his mind,” he smiled nervously, hoping he hadn’t taken things too far. She blinked, not knowing what to say. The compliment sounded such a perfect melody from upon his lips. “You are too,” she responded softly. Their gazes sustained each other’s company for a long while, until Eona rose from her seat and walked over to him. She reached out to him and slowly ran her fingers through his long hair. “I can’t help but wonder if you are apart of my destiny even more so than the other two companions will be,” she said, which was her timid way of saying that she had undeniably fallen in love with him. “I can’t help but wonder that you are in every way correct,” he proceeded, gently running the back of his hand along her cheek. Eona tightened her grip on his hand, and rested her head on his shoulder. She couldn’t believe that in one day, she had almost been killed, was saved by a mysterious man from the southern mountains, and was now sharing tea with the man she had always dreamed of being with. What a magnificent day she thought. What a magnificent day.

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Author's Note

I accept criticisms, as long as it's civil. Thank you :)

Reviews

[Chelsea Marie]

Alright, thank you

[LuciaMarie]

Honestly I like where you're going with this, it has a very interesting plot line. I also really liked the uniqueness you had as far as the choice of names. Though, I feel like you over did it a bit with your descriptions and things were a bit jumbled, but thats only my opinion.