The Mystic Kirshelle

Wynsa finds the mysterious mystical woman of the mountain and seeks her advice for what to do about the dreams that haunt her.

Chapter 2

 

      That afternoon, Wynsa stopped to rest beside a babbling brook.  She took off her cloak and laid it on a rock as she bent down to wash her face and drink some water.  Prince Arista watched her for a moment before joining her at the brook’s edge.  

      “Are we close?” Arista asked curiously.

      “I think if we follow this river upstream that we will come to the falls just below Kirshelle’s home.”

      “That isn’t far at all. I can hear the falls in the distance.”

      “No, it isn’t far now, but I’ve been traveling for a long time.  I started out at Polyscome Aplues a week ago.”

       “I am sure you must be tired by now,” Arista commented.

       “Uh-huh,” she said standing up and putting her cloak back on.  Wordlessly, Wynsa continued on her way and Prince Arista followed.  They trudged steadily up hill toward the sound of the falls. 

       Eventually they lost the trail and the stream and Wynsa was forced to stop and take out her compass.  The steeper the hill got, the tougher it was to move through the dense brush and trees.  The forest became darker and more foreboding as they went.  Prince Arista wondered if anyone had ever pushed their way through or if they were the first to ever do so.  The land certainly appeared completely wild and untamed to his eyes.

        They traveled in eerie silence well into dusk.  Wynsa stopped briefly to grab a long stick and create a torch for them to see by.  She wrapped some smelly pieces of cloth from her bag around the stick and then took something out of her bag to light it with.  Before Arista knew it, they were walking through the dark forest with a flame flickering just enough light so they could see where they were going.  

        Soon they reached the roaring falls, but could not see much of their spectacular spray.  Wynsa led the way up around the slippery wet rocks and into a cave behind the waterfall.  She lit a campfire the back of the cave where it was dry and suggested that they try to get some sleep.  Prince Arista curled up next to the fire and fell soundly asleep without any questions.  

        The next morning the sun rose slowly in the eastern sky.  When the Prince awoke he found that Wynsa had already risen and started bathing in the pool below the falls.  Prince Arista took off his tunic and stripped down to his underwear before wading into the swirling water.  It was freezing cold, but it felt good after the sticky heat they’d been walking in for so long.  Wynsa swam around Prince Arista and then off by herself; seemingly uncaring that she too was not wearing but a thin layer of underwear.   The two of them, though strangers, felt a silent sense of familiarity that allowed them to be so comfortable around each other.

       Cold, Prince Arista climbed out of the pool first and peeled off his underwear behind a bush.  He left the underwear to dry on a rock and pulled on his dry clothes.  After he’d finished dressing, he laid on the edge of the pool and bathed in the warm sunlight.  Wynsa came and laid beside him about a half an hour after he’d gotten on out.  The two of them laid quietly in the sunlight listening to the sounds of the forest a long while before they picked up their stuff and started up the trail that led above the waterfall.

       Wynsa and Prince Arista took their time climbing over the jumble of boulders and rocks that lined the limestone cliff.  Most of the rocks were wet and slippery from the spray of the waterfall and it made climbing treacherous.  Still, they were determined to make to the top in one piece. Once they reached the top, Wynsa found an animal path that led up to the top of the mountain.  They followed that particular path up along the cliff and back up to the river.   Surprised, they came a tall and wide marble wall.  Wynsa was quite astonished to find that wall so passable.  She put her hands on the foil, expecting to be stopped, but she fell right through.  After she collected herself, she walked right though it. 

      Suddenly they came to black Iron Gate that vines grew over.  It appeared a lot more daunting a task than the illusion of a green wall of bushes.  Wynsa wasn’t the least bit concerned about it.  Instead, she gave the Iron Gate a shove and it creaked open before them.  At last they stood before a huge marble mansion. It was nearly as large as castle, but quite empty.

       Trees and flowers bloomed in the gardens between the wall and the mansion.  It was otherworldly Arista thought as they wandered toward the front doors of the mansion.  Other than the sound of the water fountain bubbling in the court yard and birds chirping, the place was utterly silent.   In fact it was so silent that it was eerie.

       “Kirshelle?” Wynsa called.  “Kirshelle?”  Her words echoed in the empty hallway.

       “Ssshh,” Arista said feeling as if silence were a requirement for staying inside the mountain sanctuary.

        Wynsa turned to look at Arista and shook her head.

        Out of nowhere a beautiful woman appeared and spoke.  “Why are you here?”

        The woman, who was in her mid thirties at least, had fiery red hair that framed her beautiful pale face.  Strangely, she had one blue eye and one brown eye that stared at the two intruders.  Her curvy figure was shown off by the tight bodice of her long, white gown. 

       “I…I…We,” Arista stuttered taken aback by the woman’s intimidating appearance.

       “We came to seek your guidance and wisdom,” Wynsa said bowing slightly.

       “Come,” she beckoned them.  They followed her through the hallway to a room covered in silken pillows and scarves.  She sat down on a pile of pillows and invited Arista and Wynsa to do the same.  A large white tiger wandered from the corner of the room and came to curl up by her feet. A black panther came up from the other corner of the room and curled up next to her side as well.  Leisurely, Kirshelle stroked their fur as if they were nothing more than very large domesticated kitty-cats.  “Tell me your story,” she invited.

       Wynsa began, “I keep having these dreams and visions.  They torment me night and day.”

      “What are these dreams about?”

      “My most vivid dream is of a man killing a bird and I cried for the death of the poor innocent bird.  I woke up with tears streaming down my face.”

      “You weep for the innocent lives lost,” Kirshelle told her.  “What else?”

      “I was in a temple in Marisha that was blood red and burnt orange.  I confronted the man who killed my love. He stood there silent and unmoving like a statue as I hit him with my fists over and over again.”

      “You do not understand how someone could be so cold.  Continue.”

      “In the last of the dreams I see my love locked in a cage and I cannot break the lock no matter how hard I try.  He is pleading with me to hurry, but my fingers are clumsy and I can’t do anything.  I feel so helpless when I am normally so strong.”

      “What is your name darling?” Kirshelle asked.

      “Wynsa Retres.”

      “Ah, yes, I have seen you before in my own visions.  You pain is deep because your love is your soul mate.  You two are meant to be together and it would be a terrible tragedy if the man you dream of murders your love before you two can be together.”

      “Have I met my love then?”

      “No, but your friend here has,” she said pointing toward Arista. 

      “Me?” Arista cried in surprise. 

      “Yes,” the woman smiled as her black panther yawned�"its sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight.

       “Tell me about how you came to this mountain.  How long have you been here?” Wynsa wanted to know.

        “I was an orphan child who was thought to be cursed.  My differently colored eyes marked me a witch and I was an outcast from the day I was born.  The Lady Ethila took me in after my mother died giving birth to me.  I lived at Polyscome Aplues until I was nearly thirteen.  I’ve been traveling since and came to live here on top of this mountain some years ago.”

       “Aren’t you lonely up here by yourself?” Arista asked.

       “No, I am not,” Kirshelle smiled.  “Now, the two of you should get some rest.  You may stay in the rooms down the hall.  There are beds ready for you and baskets of fruit in each room.  Help yourself.”  With that Kirshelle stood up and beckoned her tiger and panther to follow her outside for a walk around the garden.

        That night Arista and Wynsa slept soundly in their separate rooms, feeling completely safe in the isolated haven.  In the morning they awoke to find fresh clothes for them and an invitation to breakfast downstairs in the main hall.  They joined Kirshelle at a long wooden table that was covered in food.  There were pitchers of white milk and baked bread in front of them.  Eggs were served on their plates along with fresh fruit.  It was a surprisingly large banquet�"especially since Wynsa and Arista could see no servants around to have prepared it.

       “Eat up,” Kirshelle invited as she sat down at the head of the table.  Her two cats sat beside her again, awaiting their morning feast as well.

       “Did you build this place yourself?” Arista asked as he tore off a piece of bread from his loaf.

       “No, I did not.  It was here when arrived.”

       “Who built it then?”

       “That I do not know.  But, I do know this place is full of magic.”

       “Is magic what prepared the food?” Wynsa asked.

       “Indeed it did,” Kirshelle smiled, “But I assure you it tastes quite real.”  She took a drink of her milk and bite of her eggs to show them.

        Wynsa and Arista dug into their breakfast and ate it up hungrily.  It did taste quite real and very good.  They spoke little as they ate, but when they were nearly finished, Kirshelle spoke to them.

        “You must go to Yskigh Amele.  To get there you must follow the Darsing Path to Esa Ardene.  There you shall find more answers than I can give you here.”

        “What is the Darsing Path?” Wynsa asked.

        “It is the path to adventure and it begins at the edge of my garden and leads through a secret door in the garden wall.  Once through the door you may take the path all the way back down the mountain to Esa Ardene.  It will take you three or four days to reach the City by the Sea.  From the city by the sea you are to take a ship to the Island of Yskigh.  From there you must find your own way.”

        “That is something to go on at least.  Thank you Lady Kirshelle,” Wynsa smiled.

         When they were finished eating, Kirshelle took them on a walk through the gorgeous grounds of the marble mansion.  She led them to the backside of the gardens and showed them a path to start on.  Kirshelle wished them well and disappeared with her tiger and panther down another path.  Wynsa and Arista looked at each other, drew in a deep breath and began down the path Kirshelle had showed them.

        They walked for about five minutes down the hill, past the pond and the lilies until they came to a green arch in the wall.  It looked painted on, but Wynsa was sure it wasn’t.  Hesitantly, Arista followed his friend as they went through the arch.  Arista turned when they were through and looked up at the high marble wall in front of them. It appeared completely solid with no way back in.  “Hmm,” he said touching the wall with his hand.  “Solid.”

        “Magic,” Wynsa smiled as she started down the narrow footpath back down the mountain.