Prologue: World Between Worlds

The prologue for Relics of Time

FROM somewhere beyond the darkness a voice emanated slowly outward. The darkness was a pressing infinity from which it was impossible to escape. Slowly, he took control of his body. His fingers unfurled ever so slightly and his eyes opened. No light filtered in, as one so expected. There was none.

The echoing voice curled outward again calling a name. . .his name. "Orik."

He reached out, his own lips trying to form words. He knew the voice though not who it belonged to. Orik, his name, one of two and yet possibly the most important of them. It was the name which had marked him as the Guardian.

Slowly, blood moved into his toes and the rest of his body. He took control. Flashes of memory ghosted through his concious. He saw Cara, the woman he had loved. As if through another's eyes he saw her sneak behind him. He saw the glimmer of the dagger's blade as she drove it home. As she claimed his last living breath.

He saw himself walking through a darkened labyrinth--the Orb of Ages. He'd learned the secrets of the elements there. Ral had taught him. Ral who was believed to be the Dark One. Ral, who had betrayed him. . .

And suddenly he remembered one more thing from the past. Those Lost in Darkness. They had guided him through the Orb, they had taught him more than any other.

"Master Incubus," he said, the words forming slowly on cracked lips.

And from the darkness another voice came, echoing even more strongly than the first. "O' Guardian, I am here. I came to your call as promised."

Orik remembered theh promise clearly. He had allowed them to return to the Soulgate in exchange for their guidance when needed. He had locked the Soulgate, had locked it with Kane as the key. But now Kane was gone and Alras had still found a way to open the gate and usher the Netherworlders into the world of the living.

"I need your help, Master Incubus," he said. "Where am I?"

"The world between worlds," the Incubus offered in that strange, whoosing pitch.

"Am I dead?"

"No."

"Then I am alive?"

"No. You simply cease to exist. Neither dead nor alive, none can even remember your existence save a few. Such as him. .. "

"Whom?"

"Look, O' Guardian," the Incubus said slowly.

"I can't. It's too dark, I can't see anything." Orik growled bitterly.

The Incubus erupted in what could be taken as nothing else but laughter. It was the most dreadful sound Orik had ever heard, beyond even the laughter of Rozo, the TimeKeeper. And yet also hauntingly soothing.

"One does not need eyes to see," it said at last, "use your gift, O' Guardian. Youu are nearly limitless in your abilities."

Gift? What gift? He had no gift beyond the powers of the Oracles. But then. . .yes, yes he did! He had the power of the royal family, the power that branded him with the serpents' markings. He was much mre than simply the Guardian more than even the True Oracle, as the prophet Thyris had called him.

Cara had once asked him if he was of such a caliber to change an entire kingdom, to restore it to the once peaceful place it had been. Yes--he was of such a caliber. He had declared a war, a war he intened to finish. He'd lost only one battle, there were more to come. Plenty more.

He pulled on the strange internal power he vaugely remembered Elana calling the source. With it he "felt" outward, reaching and "seeing." He felt another there.

"Gerium?" he asked incredulously.

"Andric!" His second name. Gerium paused for a moment in order to correct himself, "Orik, i mean. Are we. . .dead?"

Orik again reached for the Incubus's presence. "Master Incubus, I need to return to the living world. I need to protect the remaining oracles and finish this war. The war I started. Pleasse lead me, once more, from the darkness."

"Hmm. . . apart the two of you are weak. Too weak to continue living, but together. . . there is only one way, O' Guardian. If the two of you were united as one the perhaps you could make it beyond the veil. Perhaps, yes.

"But be warned, O' Guardian, things are not the same as you left them. For nearly six months you have slumbered. With great powers at play the kingdom of Lardam has changed much. Prothis has ordered the execution of all who bear the taint and already he has unlocked the Soulgate allowing the Netherworlders to sustain their lives. His army is strong and only growing stronger by the day. The Palitinean army has grown ten fold."

The Incubus paused, allowing the words to sink in. Six months, they'd been here in the world between worlds, forgotten and meanwhile Prothis was killing the oracles' servants: WaveWalkers, StoneCharmers, FlameDancers, and WindTamers--those who remained, that is--all daying. And the Netherworlders still walking the world of the living.

"Once already Prothis has attacked the Fire Oracle. A second attack is imminent, I fear they shall not prevail a second assault."

"Then we have no choice." This time it was Gerium who spoke, his words slow and deliberate as if each was labored and required a tremendous amount of thought. "We have to, Orik."

"You must first understand that as individuals you will cease to exist. You will no longer be two princes but one. The Oracle, nothing more, nothing less."

"We'll do it," Orik said all but firmly.

"If you wish it so. . ." The Incubus voice rose from the darkness. Deep and booming this time.

Suddenly, the darkness was ruptured and there was an explosion of light. Orik saw Gerium only briefly, the serpent scar on his forearm glowing brightly. Orik's was doing the same.

A force propelled them forward and the two princes became one.

Author's Note

As it was just a quick "copy and paste" job I apologize in advance if it is structurally confusing. Any notes on grammar, etc. are welcome. also, i apologize for it being out of order (following chapter one, in the order that i shared them) other than those few things, emjoy :) and don't forget to check out my work on shelves in september. much love!
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