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cane held fast at his side, on his other side his daughter Talisa.
I‘d not seen her in a very long time. Though I‘d tried hard to seek her out, it
had always been in vain. I heard she‘d made a journey to Oceania, the village by
the sea, to learn the ship trade.
Time had done her well. A feather-stitched long coat fell over her like wisps
of sea foam. Her crystalline eyes stared at me, and for a moment I thought I saw
the trace of a smile.
I stared at her as she approached with her father and for the first time I
noted Paralay‘s hard stare as well.
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Demon Hunter
He was enamored of Talisa also. You could read it on his face like a prophet
read his runes. As he caught my gaze he scowled, then sheepishly turned his
head away, an embarrassing flush across his cheeks.
―Good,‖ Talos said, ―you‘re both here.‖
We turned and paid our respects with a bow of our heads. It still made me
marvel he could sense our presence.
―Why both of us?‖ I asked, my tongue laced with aggravation. Even though
I held a great deal of respect for my mentor, he still owed me an answer to my
question. This was to be my departure day, my trek into the world to carry on
my father‘s lot in life and finally avenge his death. Unless Paralay were there to
wish me well on my journey I didn‘t see any reason for his appearance this
morning.
―Today marks a big day for all of us,‖ Talos explained. ―It‘s the ending of
one journey and the beginning of another just as profound.‖
Sometimes Talos made statements sounding like cryptic nonsense. This time
I needed him to be more succinct with his answers.
―What are you telling us? I thought today I was to leave this place...‖ I
stopped and stared long and hard at Paralay. ―...alone!‖
―This mission calls for more than one hand upon it.‖
Now Paralay spoke up. ―I don‘t need this whelp, I can do it on my own.‖
―You don‘t even know what it is yet,‖ Talisa added, her voice a sweet song
on the ears.
―It matters not. I fear nothing,‖ Paralay told her. He was trying hard to talk
a tough game.
―A wise warrior would accept his mission with a silent tongue regardless of
the requirements,‖ she returned.
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Cynthia Vespia
―I‘m glad you feel that way, daughter,‖ Talos said. ―Because you‘re going
with them.‖
Upon hearing this unfortunate news, Talisa lost her stoic, dignified stance
to became a haughty, spoiled little brat.
―Me? But father you can‘t mean for me to travel to that frozen tundra with
these two fools!‖
Paralay and I had been listening to the same conversation but somehow we
picked up different words as our main concern.
―Fools?‖ he asked. ―Surely you meant fool.‖
My question seemed a bit more relevant than his ego driven defense.
―Frozen tundra? Where are our travels to take us?‖
―Costa asks the only question that demands any answer,‖ Talos said.
I smiled. It felt good to be validated.
―The three of you are going to borrow essence from The Gods and bring it
back here to me,‖ Talos continued.
―The Gods? Then we‘re going to The Peaks?‖ Paralay‘s voice took on a
quiver that I had never heard from him before.
―What peaks?‖ I wondered aloud. My study of maps and travel had taken
me as far West as Oceania and as far East as Lao but I‘d never once come upon
any peaks that were namesake of The Gods.
―Frozen peaks,‖ Talisa said. ―Where nothing green thrives, only a cold,
cruel wasteland of nothingness.‖
―There will be no more debate. It is time to leave on your mission.‖
We all fell silent nodding with respect. Whatever Talos deemed fit to be,
was to be, irregardless of any argument from us.
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Demon Hunter
―Each of you will have an equal part in this. Talisa will be your guide.
Paralay will be in charge of any strategic attack plans, but overall Costa will
lead you.‖
I heard a grunt of disdain come from both Talisa and Paralay. The
discomfort of this trip had just been amplified by Talos‘ announcement of my
leadership. I didn‘t want to disappoint him by any means, so I said not a word
though inside I dreaded the hours that would be spent – the three of us alone on
a frozen mountain top.
I watched as Talisa hugged her father goodbye, a part of her seemed to cling
to him and did not want to let go.
―Be safe my daughter,‖ Talos said. ―The map shall be your source, the Earth
your guide.‖
Paralay followed a handshake with a cocky boast of a strong, solitary effort
leading to the completion of the mission.
Then I stepped up.
―So all that talk of me getting out to walk in my father‘s footsteps...it was a
lie?‖
―This is your final training exercise, Costa. What happens out there on the
Peaks of the Gods will determine how you will set forth all the rest of your
days.‖
We traveled in silence for the better part of the journey. Heavy packs and
thick fur laden clothing were on our backs. I wondered what awaited us up
there in the high mountain air where the temperatures were at their coldest.
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Cynthia Vespia
I was born of desert winds and harsh sands, little rainfall, let alone a frost.
Even the mild chill, spreading down from the peaks to caress the exposed skin
of my cheeks, drew a shiver over my spine.
―There is something you need to know about the destination we are headed
towards,‖ Talisa said. I heard a faint echo of her words in the distance. I knew
we were getting higher.
―The sun never shines,‖ she continued. ―It grows so cold that even your [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]