Chapter 1

A Chapter by StillCJ

The weather does not care for anyone. It does not care for the ship lost within the cresting waves of the Deep Sea, or for the workers of the latest high-building under construction in Gilrythis �" the capital of Rythia. It especially does not care about the woman making her way through the night, battling the torrential downpour of what can only be described as shards of ice. Evening has succumbed to night, its icy grip pulling the temperature below freezing but despite this, the woman is determined to make it to her destination of Kapor. The town lay somewhere in the distance, obscured from view by the forest surrounding her. Heavily pregnant, she staggers on, unaware of the blood trickling down her legs.

Pain hit her already beleaguered mind clearing it of nothing but fear for the unborn child. As if the Lords above provided an answer to this fear the wind picks up behind her, propelling her down the muddy track. The rain intensified, becoming razor sharp daggers nicking at her back. Nevertheless the woman allows the elements to thrust her round the last corner of the track and grants her sight of Kapor Castle. Sitting on the crest of a hill with the town proper along one side, the Castle is a majestic yet unusual sight. Its walls in a pentagon formation heralded a tall tower at each point, linked by many walkways connecting in the centre. There are two gates in the walls, she knew: one leading to the Town Proper; the other leading onto the plains between the castle and the forest. Realising that she had stopped to look at the castle she once again set out against the deluge, brushing her drenched hair off her clammy forehead.

Upon reaching the gates of Kapor the guard caught sight of her and called to her. She ignored it �" she had no time left. One foot in front of the other. Pain ignited in her leg and it collapsed, pulling her down to the sodden ground. A wail of desperation escaped her lips to the surprise of the guard already on his way over. The guard rushes over to her but quickly sees that she is beyond his help. Rising, he sounded the alarm. Deafening voices washed over her and she screamed in agony. Her vision reduced to blurry shapes and shadows she could not discern who was standing over her.

“Out of the way,” ordered the voice of High Lord Ithindar, also Duke of Kapor. The tall man seemed to appear from nowhere.

“Leave us,” the High Lord ordered.

“But, my Lord she urgently requires our help!” stammered the on-duty Healer.

“There is no help that you can give her. She is too far gone,” his tone indicating that he was not to be disobeyed he said, “Now leave.” Once the guards and the healer had disappeared back into the castle, a dark figure approached the gates.

“So you came,”

“Of course I would,” replied the curt voice. Tone softening, he continued, “But I am too late.”

“You always were, Latir’il. You realise this is your doing.” Not giving him the chance to argue against the accusation, the High Lord knelt down beside the woman. She had a shiny film over her once lightning blue eyes �" a sign that death was not far away. She raised a hand which the High Lord grasped tightly.

“You are safe now. Your son is safe.” Ithindar and the dark figure both knew the woman had no chance of survival but the baby could live if they intervened straight away. Frowning, Ithindar held his hand over her head muttering under his breath. Golden lines travelled down his arm to his hand, bathing the woman in light. Her breathing slowed only slightly, to which Ithindar shook his head.

“We do not have long. We must hurry to save the child.”

Both men toiled desperately to save the unborn child still in the womb before its mother died. Magic drenched the ground more than the rain ever could as Ithindar and Latir’il drew on their power. After what seemed like an eternity to Ithindar, the baby was eventually freed. A soft cry escaped the boy’s lips which seemed to rebound off the walls of the castle into the night. The woman’s eyes flew open at the sound and she screamed. The scream died away to nothing as her throat gave out and she focussed on her son. Tears mixed with the rain, she raised her hand to the child and uttered her last word before taking the hand of death:

Kaotun