by C S Harrop
“Yes my dear you are. You are one of the rare gifted ones like your mother before you. All the gifted including your mother had the same problem as you have when the power first starts to manifest and grow, and like you they were unable to control their power either. Your mother travelled to the Core with her parents your grandparents on her sixth birthday from her birthplace to the southwest a nice up and coming town called Tudorian Valley. Her parents knew your mother needed our help controlling her power so they decided she would be trained in the ways of the Guardians a hard choice for any parent to make.
“But ultimately it would have been down to my mother if she wanted to join the order after her training had finished?”
“Absolutely Asha, the choice is theirs and theirs alone. We do prefer the gifted ones that come to the Core at a young age we find it much easier to teach a younger mind much like your friend Willow Oakenshaw. She came here from the woodland realm of Elwood at the age of six along with a young sabre-cat; they were inseparable even back then. Anyway, so you can imagine to our surprise at the same time your mother came here an orphaned female child of a similar age also came knocking at our gates with marks on her palms,” Elder Fallon carrying on.
“Where did her marks say the other child was from?” Asha asked her face full of concentration.
“We didn’t know to begin with we had never seen markings like hers, it took lots of research by Elder Jorik. He came across an old tattered book whilst travelling the eastern lands with an image of the orphan’s markings. After weeks of translating the text, the book stated her marks were of lands of Mordrath. You may have heard stories of the darkness that lies there we know nothing of their lineage and Mordrath is a secretive and dangerous place full of foul creatures that would give you nightmares,” explained Elder Fallon.
“Was she a spy,” asked Asha inquisitively.
“Well, she and your mother became friends fairly quickly and Aunt Elora or should I say Elder Elora became their teacher. The two girls grew older and their abilities stronger as the years past. Elora and your mother became close like mother and daughter while the other girl – Onyxia became more reclusive, disappearing for weeks at a time returning with greater knowledge of the darker side of her power,” Elder Fallon said looking distant, his face glazed over remembering the beginning of a dark time.
“What! You cannot mean Onyxia, as in the same evil psycho who has been trying to kill me my whole life. She was actually a student here and friends with my mother. How did you let this happen Elder Fallon you learnt she was from Mordrath that in itself should of been enough not to teach her?” Fumed Asha getting more irate by the second.
“She was just a child when she came here Asha. We knew the dangers but we could not turn her away that would make us just as evil as the foulness of the east. Onyxia was at such a young age we wrongly thought we could raise her with our own beliefs but her veins ran deep with Draknarian blood. Then at first light, on the day we believe was her eighteenth birthday she set fire to her living quarters destroying everything she owned trying to eradicate her past. Unseen she left the city of Myst and Andoria for good with the delight from your mother of course.”
“I’ll put money on it Aunt Elora was as well.”
“Onyxia and your mother grew apart over time. Ashantia hated everything Onyxia stood for and vice-versa, she once said the Core felt like a dark fog evaporated when Onyxia left Myst. I did not want to admit it but your mother was correct. What your mother and the rest of the order did not realise at the time was an army of darkness was being forged to the east that had been slowly growing over the years. Helped by the five Dark Priests of Draknar who are fanatical servants of the Da’Karr bloodline ready and waiting for their heir to return and lead them to war against the west,” remembered Elder Fallon. “We learnt years later with the deaths of two Guardians who travelled into Mordrath with a small group to gather vital information that Onyxia’s bloodline goes all the way back to the dark king himself – Da’Karr.”
“Onyxia is related to some dark king, now that I can believe. But what is so special about me Elder Fallon she murdered both my mother and Aunt Elora to get her hands on me, why?” asked Asha, puzzled.
Elder Fallon pondered for a short time stroking his grey beard hesitant if this was the right time not knowing how Asha would take the news. He took Asha by the arm and led her on a slow stroll around the garden taking in the full nature that surrounds them. Soaking up the atmosphere and watching the colourful birds and insects flying by and small silvery fish swimming in the clear streams. Asha felt a slight peace within herself take hold but there were always something deep within her that fights the peace a kind of subdued anger.
“I was going to wait until you had learnt to control your emotions and harness your power but I suppose there is no time like the present,” smiled Elder Fallon trying to hard his cautious expression. “There is a prophecy that was foreseen by the Seers hundreds of years ago. The Seers are deeply religious cave dwellers who live in the cliffs of Hollow Crag Cove on the shore of the southern sea. The prophecy speaks of a lost soul a person, a female to be precise. It states that with an army of death she will vanquish the darkness the dark queen of Mordrath has bestowed upon our world and with her the light shall follow,” told Elder Fallon.
“You don’t think this female you speak of is about me, do you?” Wandered Asha quickly shaking the idea off as a stupid question and cannot possibly be true.
“The prophecy goes into more detail like the hangman’s Noose which I believe you crossed to reach Everlong and more interestingly you will be helped by an unlikely ally which has not yet come to pass. But most importantly it states the same lineage as the markings on your palms,” explained Elder Fallon.
“I can’t quite believe it Elder Fallon surely you don’t think I could fight Onyxia and actually beat her, I have no chance?” Asked Asha stunned.
“Onyxia knew all about the prophecy from her stay here but like the rest of us she didn’t know when this prophecy will come to pass. I do not know when Onyxia found out that she was the descendant of Da’Karr but she was clearly in contact with someone before she left Myst but whom remains a mystery. She has since spent all her days and nights searching for you once she learnt of a baby that had been born with your markings and to rub the salt in the wound as the saying goes the mother of the child was Ashantia her old rival. She will never stop looking for you Asha knowing you are her downfall and she certainly does not want the daughter of Ashantia being the one to do it. Your parents weren’t just Guardians here within the order they were family and I am positive they would want me to help teach you how to control your gift and to harness your emotions,” said Elder Fallon his face looking a little sad.
“Are you asking me to become a Guardian like my mother and my father? At least you told me one thing about my father, now did he die Elder Fallon? What was he like?” questioned Asha eager for an answer, wandering why her father is such a secret.
“Questions and more questions, we shall talk of your father when the time is right,” replied Elder Fallon leaving Asha wandering even more in regards to her father. “The time right now is for you to decide if you want to learn to control your gift and harness its power and maybe if you choose become part of the family and a member of our order. Knowledge and practice is what will make you become strong enough to withstand and defeat Onyxia and her forces. So Asha which path will you choose, the path that leads to knowledge or the path where you just keep running but don’t be thinking one path is easier than the other they are both rocky and dangerous? Asked Elder Fallon.
“That’s an easy choice Elder Fallon I don’t want to be running for the rest of my life it would be an honour to be trained in the ways of the Guardian like my parents before me. I promise you that I will not give up in my training and I will make Aunt Elora and my parents proud,” responded Asha eager to begin.
“Then let’s begin,” insisted Elder Fallon.
Cha
pter 13
Temple of Da'Karr
Draknar a desolate land of dust and shattered rocks scattered throughout the red hazy landscape of protruding jagged cliffs and surrounded by mountains of Mordrath. The sun rarely broke through the constant thickness of the smoke coloured clouds giving Draknar a reddish aura that hindered a much-needed vegetation to flourish upon the shaded landscape. Only the most cunning and versatile of creatures can survive in this type of environment and here on Draknar the most dangerous creature is a Nightbreed, a pack hunting animal much like a wolf but twice the size and twice as many razor sharp teeth.
The snapping jaws of two Nightbreeds chained to their own circular stone post echoed across the deserted wilderness. Pulling at their black spiky fur and snapping their saliva dripping jagged teeth at either side of Relg who now lay on a round stone floor amid bones of past victims just out of reach of the two hungry beasts. He drifted in and out of consciousness from the daily beating Snitch gave him on the journey from Witherbark to Draknar. Snitch made Relg his personal punching bag every now and again giving him a quick dig in the ribs and his favourite one - two punching Relg in the stomach and then the face along with the daily death threats whispered in his goblin ear. All Relg is now hoping for is for death to come soon and take the pain away. The area around Relg was mostly flat ground with scattered rocks and a few medium sized boulders.
To his own surprise, Relg soon realised he was not chained up like the rabid beasts guarding him. Maybe an oversight on Snitch’s part but more likely a part of his sick plan hoping Relg would be torn to pieces when he woke. The constant snapping of jaws and a barking like noise became mind numbing and unbearable. With all of his strength Relg pulled himself up to his elbows and crawled away in a straight line making sure the Nightbreeds teeth were nowhere near his flesh. The two beasts soon calmed down to just a low whingeing howl once they realised their meal had escaped and all chance of a full stomach had gotten away.
Stumbling to his feet and gaining some bearing Relg’s last remaining goblin eye was perfectly attuned to the low light environment. His attention moved to the two flickering torches no more than ten strides away then two more behind them. A good distance stood between the two, this pattern kept going to form a pathway leading over a ridge.
Relg knew he was in Draknar as he had been to the boarders with Mordrath once before and recognised the rocky landscape almost immediately. However, to find his way back to Witherbark and then with a little luck find the remnants of his goblin pack seems an impossible task, looking around there was no break in the clouds to check the stars for direction or a mountain he recognised. His only option is to follow the path of torches and hope he does not bump into Onyxia and Snitch, as that would be a worse fate then to travel across Draknar blindly.
Slowly he set off down the ridge following the rough path of lit torches adjusting his ragged clothes, as they seemed to of gained new holes in the strangest of places. Strange sounds coming from variations of different creatures echoed from all directions taking a keen interest in Relg hoping an easy meal, luckily for Relg the burning torches had there uses and seems to be keeping them at bay. Over another tall ridge, the rocky path dropped down leading towards a large mountainous region that stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions. The surrounding rocks became larger and much darker as Relg carefully made his way down trying his hardest not to slip or kick any loose rocks that would give away his position and announce to the whole region he is here.
Reaching the bottom, leaving the path behind a silent eeriness descended on largely desolate area with a mountain range in the distance that loomed with a menacing aura. Looking closer Relg noticed an ancient temple of some kind set into the very face of the mountain. The temple was too far away to make out any detail but Relg could only guess whom it belonged to as the thought made his skin crawl. Relg had developed a compulsive look over his shoulder every so often, developed from his ordeal with Snitch. Now standing on the edge of an open wasteland with impassable mountainous and a temple of death staring straight ahead does not help his symptoms.
The only options Relg had at this point was to turn around and head back the way he came and hopefully come across a way out of these lands, or go through the temple hoping it leads to a map or better a passage through to the other side of the mountain. His choices were limited and very aware Onyxia would certainly be in the temple but it was his only viable option other than walking for days on end with no food or water hoping not get eaten by a multiple of starving creatures.
His small frame has its benefits when it comes to hiding and fitting into small spaces. Relg had the thought he could possibly walk unnoticed across the wasteland if he kept at low and at a slow pace, with a little luck, avoiding any attention. With a deep breath, Relg made the decision, at slow pace Relg moved across the desolated land towards the temple.
The temple emerged into four gigantic dark stone columns with many different types of sculptured beasts that Relg had never seen before protruding out-wards and around the giant structures. Relg made a mental note that he would make a nice snack for them if they were real taking another quick look back over his shoulder. To his surprise, the entrance was completely unguarded Relg half expected to see a couple of orc or a mountain troll to be lingering around. Keeping to the shadows, he crept slowly and quietly up the large horizontally carved steps passing close to the sculptured columns until he reached the giant stone doors, Relg could see the reinforced doors have a steel frame with the surrounding surface engraved with symbols he did not recognise.
Luckily for Relg one of the enormous doors was slightly ajar just enough of a gap to squeeze his small frame through. Once inside the darkened temple a slight hum echoed around the carved walls. He quickly crept behind a statue of some demonic creature standing tall with three large horns and the face of a bull. His wide goblin eye was perfect for the dim lighting as goblins spend most of their lives underground or in low light environments. He slowly poked his head from around the statue and took a long look around the long rectangular room. The glow from the wall-mounted torches illuminated many similar demonic statues of different sizes and types from evil looking hooded orc holding a staff; to a two-headed beast, much like the Nightbreed Relg was nearly a meal for the day before but twice the size. To the far wall across the smooth paved floor was small archway and two more leading off from the remaining walls.
Relg made the decision to keep moving forward going from statue to statue realising the humming sound Relg first noticed was slowly getting louder and seemed to be emanating from the archway to far wall. Relg’s only intention is to hopefully find a passage through the temple to the other side of the mountain or map showing his location in Draknar. Even though Relg is a very nosey goblin by nature and would not hesitate in any normal situation to have a peek, but common sense gained the advantage and he took the archway to the far left instead which led to a stairway going upwards.
The winding stairway spiralled up one level that exited along a narrow torch-less dark corridor. The humming sound noticeably got louder and louder with each silent step Relg took, eventually the further along Relg went the humming manifested into multiple of chanting voices all merging into one. Relg suddenly came to a stop his nose pressed against a variety of boulders and rocks blocking his path. The roof of the passageway had collapsed from under its own weight or shook loose by an earthquake. It seemed to Relg it must have happened some time ago as all the dust had settled and only a musky damp smell remained, highlighting the fact the passageway had not been in use for a very long time.
Looking closely at the rock with his wide goblin eye a faint red glow emanated from the cracks and gaps within the rocks. Relg not wanting to turn back and try another passageway with the risk of capture, he moved the smaller rocks to one side as quietly has he possibly could which opened up a gap in between the bigger boulders just enough for Relg to fit through and with a bit of luck out the other side. On his hand and knees, he
squeezed between the large boulders and clambered over the smaller rocks. Breathing in his stomach to get through even smaller spaces whilst simultaneously moving rocks out of the way hoping to avoid another cave-in.
He was over half way through when a small opening appeared in the rocks ahead. But what caught Relg’s eye as he edged along was a loose piece of rock from the side wall the size of his large eye with the red haze glowing more vibrant. Relg removed the rock and without thinking placed his only eye to the hole. His body went into a sudden frozen state of shock at what he could see. Five engraved circular rings surrounded and illuminated a large central ring all with the same symbols as the main temple door covering the entire surface. Relg recognised some of the symbols but goblins have never had any need to learn such human things. The five Dark Priests of Mordrath did catch his attention instantly recognisable by their melted masks. Kneeling on each of their individual circles with their glowing palms touching the surface causing the marking to glow. Onyxia stood in the larger glowing circle her arms raised with her palms glowing a vibrant red, pulsating to the chanting of the priests.
A realisation hit Relg fully in the face that not only was he actually in Draknar also known as the Heart of Mordrath by the Dark Bloods; he was most likely inside the dreaded Temple of Da’Karr. The temple also known as the Vain of Plagis, which just added to Relg’s fears knowing the temple is also the residence of the Dark Priests who have served the temple since the dark days of Da’Karr. If Relg believes the stories that God Plagis built the temple for his followers to sacrifice human souls to show his contempt for the other gods. To Relg’s knowledge, there is no other place with such evil then this temple and rumours are what goes in never comes out. With that thought, the sudden urge to climb out of the rocks took hold. But his goblin curiosity stopped himself short by fact Onyxia and her priests did not actually know he was even there which meant he had a perfect view just as long as didn’t make any noise.