EMRICK
Kerri and I walked to our tent in silence. For now, she looked to be at peace but I knew better. She was alert. I noticed it in the way she cocked her head this way and that as if listening to something. We entered our tent and I secured the door flap. We removed our armor but not our clothes, just in case. We crashed together onto the makeshift pallet on the floor.
I was a seasoned warrior with Gods knew how many kills under my belt. But with one touch, she soothed the wildest parts of me and enhanced them all at the same time. Making me feel more powerful than I ever imagined I could be.
We made love, slowly and quietly and I felt the bond between us deepen as we loved each other for what hopefully would not turn out to be the last time.
ALASTAIRHaving seen what this Kerrienne could do, I no longer wanted her dead. I now wanted her power. Draining normal humans for power was wearing a little thin. It was taking more and more deaths to sustain my magic. I thought Emrick was powerful but his power paled in comparison to hers. I stayed in the shadow of the battle, every death bringing more life and power into my body.As more bodies fell, my energy levels were at maximum so I stepped out from my hiding spot and walked onto the battlefield, unseen by the eyes of the men around me. Only Emrick and Kerrienne could see through my disguise so I made sure to keep out of their line of sight as I silently approached Emrick from behind.I was about to stab him when he suddenly turned and blocked my swing.&nb
LARSThe men and I watched in horror as lady Kerrienne knelt down by our dying laird. She placed hands now engulfed in flames on his chest and spoke softly but her words carried to us.“You are the starting line of a new race. Your children will become warriors of myth and legend. You’ve only just begun.”Her body started shaking, then wings of fire sprang from her back as she held her hands over his chest and spoke.“I cast this spell into the night, bind these two souls and give them back their light. Goddess, spirits hear my plea. Take what was torn and make it new. What was two will now be one and only by the death of the sun can it be undone.&
SITARA Pacing back and forth in the tent, all she could feel were the souls of the recently dead leaving this plane of existence and the weight of it all brought her to her knees. Her father had insisted that she stay in the tent no matter what, but she couldn’t let this go on any longer. Could she?As she knelt on the tent floor trying to breathe through the agony, she became aware that she was no longer alone. She looked up to find herself surrounded by the recently dead. Some faces she’d known since childhood and others she realized were from the tribe her father and his men were fighting. She’s always had the ability to see and feel spirits but she’d never seen or felt so many at once.She crawled backward
A few days later...SITARAThe moon shone bright through a circle of trees. Within that circle, stood a crescent-shaped altar. Upon which, a goblet of mead, incense, sea salt, a bowl of water, an athame and a binding cord were all lovingly laid out. In front of the altar, stood a high priestess. To her right and left, two lines gathered. A young man walked down the middle, wearing a sword that looked as long as he was tall but he walked straight and proud, looking every inch a laird’s son as he took his place to the right of the altar. His father has made a treaty with the neighboring tribe and this marriage solidifies it. Though he's not particularly happy about getting a wife, he's not unhappy about it either.
SITARAThe priestess untied the bindings and handed it to Johan and I. Johan took it and put it in his pocket. “You may now seal your vows with a kiss.”Holding my hands in his, Johan lightly touched his lips to mine. It was like being struck by lightning. A trail of heat started from my lips and traveled straight to my core, leaving me to feel like I’ve just been branded. Johan must have felt something too because he pulled me closer, wrapping me up in his arms and deepened the kiss, leaving us both breathless.Afterwards, the wedding party moved into a clearing not too far from where the ceremony was performed. Bonfires burned bright and tables were laden with food and drink. My father and Johan’s had gone all out. Johan took
SITARA“There is a difference?”“Yes…. I agreed to marry you because…” I paused briefly. “War is coming and only by uniting our tribes will our people survive the coming darkness. If our people do not stand together, we will be wiped out of existence. Besides… I've been dreaming about you since I was a little girl. You and I are meant to be.”He walked towards me. Standing in front of me, he touched my cheek gently. “Your eyes… Your eyes are like a shimmering silver color. Why am I not frightened by this? And why do I feel like I already know you when we’ve never met. Have we known each other before?” He asked, cocking his head to the side.&
SITARA“What does this mean?” He asked.“I don’t know.” I answered in a daze.But before we could say anything else, I could hear a commotion coming from outside the hut. In the next heartbeat, two hooded figures entered the hut. Johan and I jumped out of bed and in no time at all, he’s dispatched one of them. He was magnificent as he blocked and parried, blow after blow. He fought with the easy grace of the warrior he was.I held onto the blanket around me for dear life, unsure of what I should do. He delivered a blow to his opponent’s thigh, bringing him to his knees. He was about to deliver the killing blow when I felt the cold edge of steel against my neck
EMRICK Red is the only color I see as I cut a swatch through the enemy. They had the audacity to sneak onto my shores, like thieves in the night. Killing women, children, the old and the feeble alike. Needless to say, these cowards owed me a debt. A debt I planned on collecting in blood in the process of getting my hands on their warrior princess. Yet somehow, deep down this battle felt wrong to me. I had a nagging feeling that I was somehow being played. Out of nowhere, a shiny little ball flew at my head. I gasped and lost my balance for a bit. Then from the corner of my eyes I saw another one fly into an enemy warrior’s head. He stood shorter than all the other men on the field and for some inexplicable reason, I felt