Chapter 1- Rune
I’m walking through a lush, dense forest. I can smell the remnants of rain, clinging to the undergrowth and thick trunks of ancient trees. The taste of oncoming frost and the inforgiving wind that will follow.
Despite the dreary atmosphere, life blooms everywhere. Every colour magnified and intensified as if everything is touched by light. The thornberry bush glows a luminescent crimson red on top and hints of forest green poke through on the stems. Dewfire lily flowers dust the landscape and their kaleidoscope of colours burst through the light fog that covers the forest, petals with deep shades of pink, blue, red and yellow rest above a pure white stem that almost looks too delicate to hold such a beauty.
However it isn’t the scenery that stops me in my tracks. No, it never is. It’s the shadow nestled between the trees that does it. The shadow that slowly transforms into a woman with her back to me. She is gazing into the unknown and is too distracted to notice me. From where I stand, I can make out long, thick hair the colour of molten bronze that cascades down to her slender waist. The small amount of light the trees allow into the forest reflects off the silver hoops and trinkets weaved intricately through her hair, giving her an ethereal glow. Her dress a mixture of pastel purple and deep indigo, it’s skirt lengths varying and the bodice clings to her small frame. Her arms only covered by the small sleeves that slide delicately down her shoulders.
I silently beg her to turn around, needing desperately to look upon the rest of her, to commit her every feature to memory, feeling unmistakably drawn to her. The need to reach out to her is so strong that I find myself doing it before I realise what I’m doing. I take careful steps, so not to startle her, and the scent of her smashes into me. Rich pine and honeysuckle. The smell so nostalgic and familiar to me, as though I have known it forever and yet so foreign at the same time. My feet stop me inches from her, so close that I can feel the warmth radiating from her snowy skin. All I need to do is reach out. My hand lifts to touch her bare skin, barely skimming her shoulder.
The reaction is instant. Pure lightening erupts along where our skin meets, rolling along my hand and I feel it in my very soul. I hear her soft gasp that mirrors mine and she slowly turns to me.
I jolt awake and look around my surroundings rapidly while clutching the blade I keep hidden under the pillow in my hand, taking note of my bare lodgings and not the luscious forest I was just in. It’s still dark out and dawn will be approaching soon. The sheet that covered me pools around my waist and I instantly discard it to the floor before bringing myself to sit at the edge of the bed. I rest my head in my hands and try to rack my brain for answers.
Who is this woman? Why does she keep appearing in my dreams? Why does she feel so familiar, like I’ve known her my whole life? Where is that forest?
The dream has been the same for weeks now, exactly the same. It always ends the same and always before she reveals herself to me.
I shake my head to clear the confusing thoughts and drag my hands down my face to wake myself up. I stand and start to dress myself knowing sleep won’t find me again, donning my usual black leather trousers and black shirt. My black boots are next and I slide my black leather vest over my shirt before tucking my blades inconspicuously in them. I know to fight with an arsenal of weapons, it is a requirement of my role, however I have always found blades to be the best way to get the job done.
I have built a reputation over the years and my name is enough to strike fear into anyone. The Last Whisper. My blades being the last thing the unfortunate soul hears. King Hardin hired me for my services many, many years ago to rid him of his own father so that he may take the throne. Viscious I know but that is the way of the fae court. However the public story is that a rogue guard felt slighted for having not received a supposed deserved promotion and took matters into his own hands by slicing the late king’s throat. Only myself and King Hardin know the truth and he holds me to that. Hardin would never threaten me outright for fear of meeting the same fate as his father and he is a coward. No, his subtle reminders here and there and he makes it his business to know all of mine and anyone I spend time with, which unfortunately for him is not a soul.
I step into the early hours of the morning and take in the smell of cheap ale and residue smoke. No one is awake at this hour, even the local drunks have found a safer place to be and know better than to hover close to my lodgings. I make my way to the stables and locate Onyx, my only companion. He is a sight to behold, a towering stallion who makes even the darkest of skies seem bright in comparison to him. I find him munching on some hay, always observing his surroundings much like his master and the thought brings a ghost of a smile to my face.
“Couldn’t sleep either, old friend?” I muttered to him and received a huff in response making me grin. I hoist myself onto his back and click my tongue to spur him on. We make our way to the Fae Castle along the outskirts of the town, Onyx’s large hooves the only sound to be heard.
I observe the change in scenery the closer we get to the castle. The sight of rundown, falling apart houses lessening. The smell of shit and stale piss changing to floral incense, making my heightened senses recoil in disgust at the too strong scents.
The castle finally comes into view and I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes at the sight of the pompous castle. The entire castle is crafted from gold pulled from the deepest Fae mines, it’s imposing spires catching the first hints of light from the sun and casting an otherworldly glow. The finest marble snakes it’s way through the gold and to some it would be a masterpiece, a castle straight from the Gods. However all it signifies to me is the rot that spreads it’s way throughout the court, as if the black of the marble is hundreds of serpents waiting to strike. The luxurious castle is worlds apart from the decrepit town only feet from it’s obnoxiously large iron gates.
