The Lost & Cursed

by Rina S Mamoon

  “I don’t think you are ready,” he hesitated. “If you die, it’ll be over.”

  “I know the risk,” Mara insisted, “and so do you. You gave me this task.”

  “I did,” Harold said, “but if you are lost, it’ll all be for naught.”

  She frowned at him. “Fine, but I’m not going to sit here twiddling my thumbs!”

  Harold sighed. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a letter and handed it to her.

  “What’s this?” Mara took the letter from him.

  “Something else you can do in the mean time,” the former master said. “Chancellor Davis requests your presence. Since Heru’s death, werewolves have now wandered south, close to nearby villages and the Delta Farms. You are to meet him at the Council Hall in Mirahyll.”

  Mara looked up at Harold and sighed.

  “Fine, I’ll go see him,” Mara said, walking back to her bedchambers. She felt a little bitter, not being able to get Harold to reveal the next undying, but he was right. Only an undying can kill an undying. Those same rules applied to Mara. At least this task involved werewolves. She gathered her things and left for Mirahyll.

  She traveled down the path. Along the way, she saw the corpse of the snow beast. It was still decomposing. The rotten stench assaulted her nostrils. Mara cringed and shook her head. She never deemed the former Silver Thorn master would be capable of this. Mara truly felt grateful that he saved her, but admitted to being a little upset getting caught in the miasma. After staring at the corpse for a while, Mara walked away. She traveled to the road and headed for Mirahyll.

  ***

  On the morning of November 23, Mara stood before the gates of the second largest city in Ardana. She remembered living here before, but since losing her memory, it felt like her first visit to Mirahyll. The street lights decorating the roads were more impressive at night. Now that she recalled, they were powered by an electric variant of moonstone. The city shared some gothic architecture with Hemal, but was more lively and elegant in comparison. The most notable locations were the Grand Cathedral, the College of Ardana, Mirahyll Hospital, and the Council Hall. Her parents lived here and she wanted to visit them. However, with her current appearance, she felt unsure about seeing them. She still didn’t know how to explain her predicament. Besides, her presence at the Council Hall was urgent.

  Walking to the Council Hall, she spotted an information board. Of the various postings, one stood out from the rest—Ardana was cutting ties with Corlin.

  “A rash of stolen goods?” Mara asked herself, reading the notice. “Main items targeted are general goods and weapons. Corlin’s chancellors have decided to halt trades until the matter has been resolved.” She felt perplexed. “What are the Guardsmen doing?”

  It was one of many troubles this land faced. Now Ardana had to rely on the Delta Farms, the Lilystone general stores, and the dwindling number of blacksmiths. She stared at the notice, then walked away.

  Mara walked by a blacksmith’s shop, set up at the edge of the noble quarters. It wasn’t Talon, but an old man hammering away at his newest creation. The thin man was balding on top and sported a short beard on the chin. His thin face was very loose and wrinkled, and possessed a long thin nose. The round glasses adorning his face hid the colour of his irises. This must be Master Blacksmith Edwin. She approached him and noticed his sour expression.

  He ignored her at first. “Hmm, I haven’t seen you around these parts,” he began. “If you’re interested in my services, show me some gold! If not, then don’t waste my time.”

  Mara was taken aback by his rudeness. She looked at his wares, and saw the beautiful and elegant weapons on display. Talon wasn’t lying—this man’s work was a piece of art, but very expensive. No way she could afford any of these. The cost of these weapons rivalled her tuition fees. Some reminded her of the weapons Dad forged, but he would never demand such abhorrent prices. She turned around and left the blacksmith’s shop.

  She looked for Talon, who came here to set up shop. With no other blacksmiths in the area, she wandered into the lower quarters of the city and found an old dusty building. The sign hanging above the door depicted an anvil and a hammer—a blacksmith’s workshop. Talon had to be here. It would be a great idea to repair her weapons and gear before meeting the chancellor. Mara went inside.

  “Hello?” Mara called. Following the sound of metal being struck, she found Talon forging a new weapon.

  He looked up at her. “Ah, great to see you again,” Talon greeted. “Hope it wasn’t much trouble to find the place?”

  She shook her head. “Is business much better?”

  Talon gazed down at his weapon with a sombre look. “To be honest, no.”

  “Why?”

  “You must’ve seen him?” Talon questioned. “Edwin’s workshop is here as well. Not only does he forge superior weapons, his customers include the Holy Blades, the Guardsmen, and various nobles who can afford his wares.”

  Mara passed her sword over to him for repair. “I think you’re a great blacksmith,” she said. “You forged weapons for the Silver Thorns. You even made my weapon, which helped me defeat some of the most dangerous monsters.”

  Talon smiled and took her sword for repairs. “Aye, that is true.” After a while, he finished repairing her weapon. “Good to know you’re my most valued customer.” He returned her sword. His face fell back to a frown. “Still, it’s not enough.”

  “What do you need to help your business?”

  Talon rubbed his chin. “Hmm, it’ll be great if others knew about my workshop.” He looked at her. “I’d really appreciate if you spread the word around. Start with the chancellor. He controls what weapons go into the guardsmen’s hands. Tell him I’ll offer reliable weapons for a more reasonable price.”

  “Okay,” Mara replied. “I was heading there anyway.” She sheathed her weapon and went on her way.

  ***

  To get to the Council Hall, Mara had to travel through the noble quarters of the city. The houses were huge manors. Her parents were middle class citizens and were unable to afford such a place. While walking towards the Council Hall, Mara began to notice all these eyes on her. Nobles in their fancy attire stopped and looked at her. Even the children playing in the streets stopped and stared. One of the mothers took her child home, watching Mara with caution as they hurried to the door. How long were these people watching her? In a place of great prestige, she stuck out like a sore thumb. Two male guardsmen approached her.

  “State your business,” one of them said with a bold voice.

  She raised an eyebrow. “Is it normal of you to accost random people in the streets?”

  “Only if they’re suspicious, which you appear to be.”

  “A concerned citizen notified us,” the other explained. “That you are up to no good.”

  Mara stared at them. Now she was being profiled. Then again, they had a right to be concerned. She wasn’t exactly human. She reached into one of her pouches and retrieved the letter from the chancellor.

  “I’ve been requested to meet Chancellor Davis.” She handed the paper to the guardsmen.

  One of them took the letter. While reading it, he spotted the signature and seal of the chancellor. The other guardsman looked at her.

  “Wait, aren’t you the Huntress?”

  Mara gazed at him in confusion. “The Huntress?” She never gave herself a name before. To be honest, it had a nice ring to it.

  The guardsman nodded. “Yeah, the Huntress! You slew the Siren and the White Lady?”

  “You know about that?” Mara asked.

  The other guardsman looked up from the paper. “We knew a while back. Once we knew who really killed the White Lady, the Chancellor made sure that weasel was expelled from the guild. We’ve also received word of the Siren being slain for good.” He looked at her attire. “Based on the descriptions of the slayer, we figure you’re the one.”

  Mara glanced down at her outfit before looking up at them.

>   “That is true,” she replied. The crowd began to murmur. Mara looked around, seeing she was surrounded by the city folk. They heard the conversation. Some of the nobles looked at her and grimaced.

  “That’s the Huntress?”

  “She looks awfully raggedy.”

  “I was expecting something else…”

  Mara ignored their comments. Not everyone could be pleased. At least the children showed appreciation.

  “Mommy! Mommy! That lady killed those monsters,” a small boy said, pointing at her.

  A little girl jumped in glee. “She’s a hero!”

  The mother shushed her children and ushered them into their home. She gazed at Mara suspiciously and closed the door. Mara looked away and focused her gaze on the guardsmen.

  One of the guardsmen nodded. “Very well. We’ll take you to the Chancellor.”

  “Thank you.” Mara followed them. She thought about those children, especially the one who called her a hero.

  “Hmm, a hero,” Mara muttered underneath her breath. She was called many things before, but a hero wasn’t one of them. Then again, how many lives were saved since killing the White Lady and the Siren? No more children would be stolen in the night. No more men and women would be lost at sea. In truth, this was the first time thinking this way because of how she saw those creatures. They were not just monsters, but victims of a cruel and terrible curse. They were the undying and Mara was one of them. If these people knew of her true nature, they would treat her no different from the monsters they feared.

  On the way to the Council Hall, Mara saw the Grand Cathedral—a large gold and ivory building deep in the heart of Mirahyll. The large wooden doors were open, welcoming worshippers. Mara visited the place a few times before. One of her friends called it an eyesore, but with reason. That cathedral was built with taxpayers’ money, an idea by the previous chancellor who favoured the Faith. Too bad not everyone agreed and spoke with their votes. Mara admitted it was very large and extravagant. It had several gardens, showcasing an impressive array of flowers during the spring and summer. Her mother once brought her here to meet that jerk. Dad refused to step foot near that place, calling it an abomination and an insult to the people of Ardana.

  By the time she reached the Council Hall, the chancellor was in a meeting.

  “Please wait,” said the first guardsman. “We’ll let him know you’re here.”

  In less than a minute Mara heard Davis. “Let her in.”

  Entering the council chamber, Mara froze at the sight of Commander White, who stood beside the chancellor’s desk. The commander glared at her, folding his arms. Mara felt awkward—seeing him brought back the memories of that night. A few Holy Blades accompanied him. Mara frowned at him and tensions began to flare. Davis cleared his throat. She removed the scowl from her face and gazed back at the chancellor. A few guardsmen stood behind him. Davis lifted his right hand and beckoned her. She walked forward until she stood beside the commander. She ignored him and gazed at the chancellor.

  “So, you’re the Huntress?” Davis questioned.

  “Yes,” Mara said.

  He stared at her, and then to Commander White. “You may go now.”

  Commander White took his glare off of her and gazed back at him. “Sir, with all due respect, I recommend our expertise.”

  “Yes, I considered it, but I’d like to explore other alternatives,” Davis replied.

  The commander frowned at him. “I see.” He turned to Mara and sneered at her. He stormed past her and addressed his men. “We’re going back to Golden Mountain.” The Holy Blades followed their commander out of the office.

  She looked at Davis. “They were also here to deal with the werewolves?”

  The chancellor sighed and rose from his desk. “Yes, they were. If I chose them, I’d be forced to raise taxes throughout Terra in order to pay their fees, and that’s the last thing I want.”

  Mara wagered Davis to be a frugal man. Recalling her conversation with Talon, she spoke up. “Speaking of alternatives, have you heard of Blacksmith Talon?”

  Davis gazed at her. “Who?”

  “Blacksmith Talon, he used to serve the Silver Thorns,” she replied. “He just arrived in Mirahyll after the guild disbanded.”

  “So he has?” Davis questioned. “We have used Edwin’s services for the past decade. As great a blacksmith as he is, Edwin asks way too much and can be difficult to deal with at times. This Talon—is he willing to forge weapons for the Guardsmen?”

  “Yes, and he’ll do it for a cheaper price,” she replied. “They may not be as elegant, but are very reliable.” Mara gestured to her sword. “He forged my weapon.”

  Davis eyed her blade. “Hmm, I’ll consider it,” the chancellor said, rubbing his chin. He changed the subject. “Now then, the reason why I called you here…” He gazed at her. “I will offer a thousand gold for each werewolf slain. You’ll be required to collect each head as proof. We’ll even provide a horse. Do we have an agreement?”

  Mara nodded. “I’m honoured, but couldn’t they be cured?”

  Davis shook his head. “Lady Isabella was the only one with that knowledge. After the cure was created, she had the scientists and doctors killed in order to keep the formula a secret. With her death, the cure has been lost.”

  Mara felt guilty. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

  Davis looked surprised, hearing her words. He never saw a supernatural act so human.

  “I’m sure you had to do what was needed,” Davis said. “However, those at the Delta Farms had an unfortunate encounter. Considering what happened in Hemal, I’d hate to see it happen here.”

  “Oh, okay…” Mara murmured.

  One of the guardsmen approached her and handed over a brown sack to bag the werewolf heads. She turned around and headed for the exit.

  ***

  A guardsman guided her to the stables to obtain her horse. Mara saw a black mare with a white diamond shape on her forehead. Her dark mane fell past her eyes. Black pools watched Mara as she entered the stables.

  The guardsman stopped and held up his right hand. “Wait here, miss. I’ll get the little lady.”

  “Little lady?” Mara raised an eyebrow.

  “Why, yes…” The guardsman took a saddle and some reins, then equipped them onto the mare. “That’s what she is—a lady.” He took the reins and began to lead her out, but the horse was unwilling to move.

  She took notice of her new steed’s behaviour. “What’s going on?”

  Mara began to approach them. A big mistake. The mare pulled away, causing the guardsman’s grasp to falter. The horse reared up and neighed. Breaking free, the little lady almost ran over Mara while galloping out of the stables. Mara fell onto the hay, but recovered. She stared at the guardsman in shock.

  “What the hell was that?”

  The guardsman shrugged and scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry, but that’s the only horse we can offer. If you go after her now, you may be able to catch her.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Mara grew annoyed, knowing she had to chase after the horse. She sighed and shook her head. This was going to be a very long day.

  ***

  The horse fled through the southern gate. Mara chased after her. She saw the horse run west, which she needed to take anyway. The so-called lady galloped away until she stopped at the crossroads. The mare turned her head and gazed back at her. The huntress slowly approached her. If she could calm the horse, Mara could mount her. Unfortunately, the little lady had other plans and dashed away. Every time Mara approached the horse, the mare bolted. She literally ran circles around the huntress. Mara sighed, wondering if it was worth the trouble to get the mare under control.

  The horse stopped and stared at the huntress. Mara watched her. Were all her efforts starting to pay off? She approached the mare with caution. Somehow the horse didn’t run away. Placing a gentle hand on her coarse hide, the mare winced and whined. Mara took a firm grip on the reins. She wa
nted the horse to know she meant no harm, but no more time could be wasted. She needed to get to the Delta Farms and back. Walking would take much longer.

  After appearing to gain the horse’s trust, Mara mounted her. The process was smoother than expected. Now on the horse, she pulled on the reins to guide her west. The mare showed some resistance, but went along. Now the easy part was done. Getting the little lady to move forward was the next challenge. To be honest, Mara had no experience with horses.

  ‘How do you get this thing to move?’ Mara wondered. After a moment of silence, she gripped the reins and shouted, “Yah!”

  The horse remained still. Okay, that didn’t work.

  “Uh, giddy up?” Again, the mare didn’t budge. Instead she turned her head and gave Mara the stink eye. She whined and balked. The little lady had no desire to move. Mara was starting to lose her patience.

  “Move you damn horse!” Mara shouted, kicking the sides. The horse was having none of it. She reared up on her hind legs and neighed. It only took a few seconds to be thrown off. Mara heard a loud sickening crack coming from her skull as she fell to the frozen ground headfirst.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The Huntress

  Mara awoke to the burning pain in her body. She returned to life with a splitting headache. At least she took Harold’s advice and didn’t waste a healing stone. Getting up, she groaned. She closed her eyes and felt the back of her head for any damage. Her skull healed, although the pain remained.

  “Well, aren’t you the professional hunter?”

  Mara heard the voice of a certain commander. She opened her eyes and saw the Holy Blades before her, all mounted on steeds. A white horse came forward and stopped before her. She looked up to see the commander gazing down at her with disdain.

  “Wouldn’t the chancellor be thrilled to know you’re sleeping on the job?”

  The Holy Blades began to chuckle.

  She stood up and scowled at him. “I wasn’t asleep! I fell off my horse…” She looked around. “Wait, where’s my horse?” The lady was nowhere in sight.