Book III

The Prophecy

Chapter Seven

            The tunnel, which Regina entered, had been excavated into solid rock. The warrior kept her back against the wall and her shield close to her body, surrounding herself with a protective barrier, as she traveled deeper into the passage. The tunnel curved steadily downward, and to the right, until Regina could see pale, white light illuminating the darkness ahead.

            She stopped at the entrance to an underground cavern, which contained a moongate. The glowing, white sphere stood upon a platform of stone, with three shallow steps leading up to the portal. Kneeling before the moongate, was the massive form of Torren. The handle of his axe still protruded from his fist, but the lethal, double blade rested on the bottom step of the stone platform. The heir to Fairwynds was gazing up at the magic sphere and speaking softly.

            “I did not remember until this day.” his deep voice filled the cavern.

            Regina moved further into the room, her eyes darting in every direction, as she tried to locate the person with whom Torren conversed.

            “I will not leave without you” he said, in a stubborn tone.

            It was then that Regina heard the voice. It was a woman’s voice, as soft as the wind blowing through leaves.

            “Please, my son, you must do as I say” the voice pleaded.

            Moving quietly around the perimeter of the cave, Regina saw no one. Torren seemed unaware of her presence as he continued to speak.

            “Nay Mother, I have returned to destroy him and nothing will keep me from fulfilling the prophecy.” he argued.

            “He can not be defeated. He can not be destroyed.” the whispered voice replied sadly.

            Regina realized in that moment, why she saw no one else in the room. Torren was speaking to the moongate. And the moongate was answering. She took a step nearer to the stone platform, on which the moongate stood; studying the white light. There, within the magical glow, Regina saw the image of a woman. The apparition, with her long golden hair, falling, unbound to her waist, wore a flowing gown of white.

            “Torren.” Regina spoke his name softly, placing her hand upon his arm “Is this your mother, Lady Honora?”

            Torren stood and blinked at Regina, as if awakening from a dream “Aye, she is held in this prison for Daegan’s use.” he told her without removing his gaze from the white light of the moon gate.

            The words of the prophecy echoed in Regina’s mind.

 “As evil was evoked through the weakness of a woman’s sorrow, so shall it be driven back into the abyss by the strength of a women’s love. Only then will the curse of Daegan’s greed be lifted and his people set free.”

            “Honora is being used as a gate between worlds?” Regina asked, her mind reeling at the thought “Her life force must be the source of energy for Daegan’s passage into Doom!”

            “Aye, tis true.” Torren growled “My father’s magic enslaves her to this task.”

            “By the Gods!” Regina gasped. “How could this be?”

            “Mother.” Torren said, placing his arm around Regina “I would like you to meet my wife, Regina.”

             “You have taken a wife?” Honora whispered, a smile upon her lips “Oh my son, I am so happy for you.” But the look of worry returned and desperation tightened her voice “Torren, you and your bride must leave this place, at once. Please! He will kill you both when he returns.” She began to weep “He truly is a monster and will not know you as his own trueborn son.”

            “Nay, this trueborn son will not be sent away again. I am no longer a child.”

            “I sent you away from Fairwynds for your protection” Honora told him defensively “Tell me of my family in Vesper. How is my father, Lord Brian?”

            “I have never met your father.” Torren replied, a frown darkening his face “I have lived as a slave to Kahan, the blacksmith, for most of my life, mother.”

            “Never met….?” Honora gasped “Kahan was a loyal servant to your father’s family for many years. He was chosen to escort you to my family in Vesper, Fellucca! I paid him well for your safe passage to my father, Lord Brian.”

            Torren shook his head sadly “Then you were a fool to trust him. The man set up shop in Trinsic, Trammel, and used me as his unpaid laborer.”

            Honora began to weep softly, again. The light of the moongate dimmed until it nearly vanished completely “I am very tired. My life force has begun to weaken” her voice was barely audible “Please do as I say, my son. Daegan will come when the sun sets. Be gone before that time.”

            The image of Honora was no longer visible within the fading sphere. Torren hung his head and sank to his knees, as if exhausted from the encounter with his mother.

            “She is right. We should not linger in this unholy vault.” Samuel warned them. The elderly priest had managed to make his way through the tunnel and now stood in the entrance to the cavern “Lord Daegan will only come to Fairwynds in the dark of night. For, he can not tolerate sunlight and must return to Doom each morning. We have many hours to wait, Lord Torren. Let us go back into the village.”

            Regina placed her hand on Torren’s shoulder “Come, my love. Leave this place until tonight. We will rest and make our plans. Together we shall defeat the monster and free your mother.”

            Torren covered Regina’s hand with his own, applying a gentle pressure of gratitude, before rising. He herded the ancient priest and his warrior wife ahead of him as they made their way back to the tower basement.

            As the three descended the winding road, which led from the tower to the village, Samuel told Torren the story of Lord Daegan’s obsession to create a passage into the dungeon Doom.

            “Lord Daegan offered a reward to anyone who could help him find a way from Fairwynds to the Doom Gauntlet” Samuel explained “Many men came to him with schemes to achieve his goal. One man convinced him that he could dig a tunnel through the ground and enter the dungeon from here.” he chuckled “It was madness, and I told young Lord Daegan just that, from the beginning. But he would not listen. That is why there is an unfinished tunnel in the tower basement.”

            “Then a magician named Zeron came to Fairwynds. He befriended your father and turned him away from those who would protect him. His lordship sent the servants away and closeted himself, and his young bride, Lady Honora, in the tower with only Zeron as their counsel” the old man sighed “It was during this time that you were born, my lord. It has always been my belief that you were marked by the evil magic which your father and his mage were performing upon your mother.”

            “Why would Honora do such a thing?” Regina said, her anger rising “How could she harm her own unborn child for gold?”

            “Twas not for the gold, my lady” the priest answered “She loved Daegan beyond reason, and only wished to help him, as a loyal wife should. But Honora was too innocent to understand that the magic, which Zeron used, was unholy and would bring a curse upon those she loved. And by the time she saw the error of her ways, it was too late. Now she must live in a prison of her own making.”

            “No longer will she serve Daegan’s needs” Torren snarled “For tonight I will free her from that prison or perish, trying.”

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            The remaining residents of Fairwynds had taken refuge in the island’s temple. Although they moved freely about the island during the day, the inhabitants were forced to sleep inside the temple at night. The daemon of Fairwynds could not enter the holy structure; making the temple the only safe place in which Daegan’s potential victims could rest.

            There were only a dozen men and women living on the island. Most were very old and did not wish to relocate. The survivors had turned the upper floor of the temple into a barracks; their sleeping mats lined the marble floor around a great stone hearth.

            Upon Torren’s entrance into the temple, he was immediately surrounded by smiling, eager faces. The people saw his return as the miracle they had prayed for. Their lord would drive the monster from their homeland and restore Fairwynds to its former glory.

            As the people paid homage to their new lord, Regina approached the temple priest “Samuel, as high priest, you would be responsible for keeping all records, would you naught?” Regina questioned in a soft, assertive voice “I assume that all deaths, births and marriages would be entered in the book of record by your hand.”

            “Aye, my lady” Samuel told her proudly “I have kept the records of Fairwynds for the better part of a century.”

            “Then I have a task for you to perform.” she smiled with affection at Torren, as he spoke with his clansmen across the room “You will enter into the records of Fairwynds, the marriage between Lord Torren of Fairwynds and Lady Regina of Ravenswood. And note that their vows were exchanged, before the Gods, on this day.”

            The old priest’s face lit with joy “Aye, my lady, I will make the entry, at once.”

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            The ladies of Fairwynds prepared a bridal suite at the island’s Inn for the newlyweds. Although the Inn had not been used in decades, the women scrubbed and swept the largest room; filling it with clean linens and what little food they could provide. It was here that Torren and his new bride spend the remainder of the day together; planning their attack on Daegan, and lying together in newly wedded bliss.

            Regina awoke, from a short nap, to find Torren lying on his side, his head propped upon his hand, gazing down at her. She smiled at him, through sleepy eyes, as he took her left hand and kissed each finger, in turn. Then, Torren slipped a gold band onto the third finger of her hand. Regina held her hand up to the light and studied the wedding band. This ring, also, bore the Serpent of Fairwynds upon its golden surface.

            “It is beautiful.” she whispered “Where did you find it?”

            “Samuel was kind enough to provide me with the traditional ring for a Fairwynds’ bride.” Torren answered, with a smile “He informs me that the Lord of Fairwynds’ wife should have a similar ring, set with diamonds. I fear that you must wait until my fortune has improved, before a diamond band can be purchased.”

            Regina’s laugh was soft and sultry “Tis not the ring which I married, but the man, my lord. This circle of gold shall never leave my hand, for it was given to me with love.”

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            The sun was sinking into the deep green of the sea, when Torren and Regina made their way towards the ancient stone tower on the hill. They were accompanied by Samuel and a healer named George, who had insisted upon waiting just outside the tower entrance, ready to resurrect the warriors.

            From the top of the hill Torren could see Mad Mulligan, moving his dragon ship off shore for the night. The white sails seemed to glow against the backdrop of sparkling green sea and pink sky. It was hard to imagine that so much evil could exist in such a beautiful setting. But after tonight that evil would be no more, Torren silently vowed.

 And his mother would be free.

            Torren led the way into the tower and down the flight of stairs to the basement. Without hesitation, he entered the tunnel where his mother was held prisoner within the magic moongate. “Should I be killed” he told Regina “I want you to leave the tower until I am resurrected. Then, we will return together to battle Daegan, once more.”

            “If that is your wish, my love, I will do as you say.” She smiled and placed the serpent helmet upon her head. Taking up her weapon and shield, Regina moved into position beside her husband and together they waited for the daemon of Fairwynds to enter the vault, through the moongate. The gate had regained its brilliance, signaling that Honora’s life force was stronger than when they had left her.

            “Why have you returned?” Honora asked “Soon the beast, who was once Lord Daegan, will enter this world and destroy any who cross his path.”

            “It is I who will destroy the beast, Mother” Torren answered “The Gods have sent me to release Fairwynds from the curse. And I have no doubt that I shall release you, as well.”

            “The only release, for your father and I, will be into the arms of the Goddess, Deletion. She will take us to the land, from which none can return.” Honora whispered “Please flee this place. For I fear that the Goddess will take you, as well, my most beloved son.”

            “If it is the will of the Gods that I must be taken by the Goddess Deletion, then there is nothing I can do to avoid my fate. But I will not go without trying to fulfill the prophecy.” Torren argued.

            “He comes!” Honora suddenly gasped “The beast draws near!”

            The moongate hummed and glowed from white to dark grey. Within the magic orb a towering silhouette appeared. The form of a huge shadowlord, dressed completely in black, and carrying an equally huge sword, stepped out of the moongate and onto the stone platform. The sound of his harsh breathing filled the cavern, as he stood looking down at Torren and Regina.

            And then, the shadowlord vanished.

            Quickly Regina turned, pressing her back against Torren’s, ready for attack from any direction. The few seconds that followed, seemed to drag on for an hour and then the shadowlord appeared to Regina’s left. In a heartbeat, the monster brought his sword crashing into Regina’s golden shield; the force of the blow sent sparks into the air, and bent the sturdy shield inward.

            Torren’s axe caught Daegan in the ribs, as Regina brought her katana slicing upwards beneath the Shadowlord’s arm. There was a grunt of pain, and then the monster disappeared once more. Returning to their position, back to back, the warriors waited for the monster’s next attack. The Golden Sky began to glow like a beacon in the darkness of the tunnel “Drive the magic katana into his chest” Torren instructed over his shoulder “Bury it as deeply as you can.”

            “Aye.” Regina responded, drawing a deep breath and tightening her grip on the katana.

            The Shadowlord appeared, for an instant, and struck at Torren with lightning speed; slicing his shoulder to the bone. Daegan, just as quickly, vanished into the darkness, before either warrior could react. The young lord of Fairwynds watched his life’s blood flowing into the sand and knew his axe was useless with only one arm. He used his skill of stealth to hide himself, retrieving a bandage from his pack, but leaving Regina open to attack. The monster took full advantage of the situation and appeared within inches of the woman. Hitting her shield repeatedly with his sword, Daegan forced Regina to fight for her life. She nimbly repositioned herself, with her back against the stone wall of the cavern. The strength of Daegan’s blows drove Regina down onto one knee, as she parried the Shadowlord’s sword with great skill. But a single stroke of Daegan’s weapon slipped beneath her shield and severed her thigh; leaving her immobilized and unable to rise.

            Torren, now fully healed, charge Daegan from behind. His double bladed axe buried deep into the shadowlord’s back, causing Daegan to turn away from Regina. With the axe still protruding, from between his shoulder blades, Daegan began to attack Torren with the full force of his strength. Within moments, the blacksmith lay dead upon the dirt floor of the cavern. His ghost hurried from the cave, towards the waiting healer, outside the tower.

            As the shadowlord turned slowly back to Regina, she struggled to heal her wounds and raise the mangled shield in defense. The monster staggered slightly, Torren’s axe still lodged in his back, as he approached. Seeing that Daegan was weakened, Regina dropped her shield and gripped the hilt of the Golden Skye, with both hands. She attempted to charge Daegan, but the Shadowlord brought his weapon down, blocking the woman from finding her mark. She stumbled away, barely avoiding a deadly blow from Daegan’s sword. Regina’s only hope was to keep the monster occupied until Torren could return. Leaving the tunnel was not an option, she realized, for the Shadowlord would kill her quickly, should she try to flee on her injured leg.

            They danced around each other for several minutes; the Shadowlord had weakened, but was still very dangerous. Daegan seemed unable to use his stealth skills with Torren’s weapon embedded in his body. So Regina could, at least, see the monster as she tried to stay alive until her husband returned.

            Suddenly, Regina felt strong arms encircling her from behind. Torren’s large hands covered hers, upon the hilt of the katana. A charge of magic energy jolted through her body; as it had on the night that she first met Torren, and their hands had touched the katana at the same time. The Golden Skye began to hum and shine like the sun. The cavern was filled with blinding light, causing Daegan to roar in pain and back away towards the moongate.

            “Now, Regina!” Torren ordered, and pushed her forward, his arms still wrapped tightly around her; his hands covering hers in a death grip. Together they drove the holy weapon into Daegan’s chest, up to the hilt.

            Daegan flung his arms wide, dropping his sword, and staggering away from the moon gate. The holy katana remained impaled in his chest. Light from the Golden Skye shone from his eyes and mouth, as he howled with agony.

            But as Torren and Regina stood watching the Shadowlord in the throes of death, the ground beneath their feet started to shake, and a sound, the likes of which neither had ever heard before, filled the cavern. It was as if the walls of the cave were crying out with pain. The deafening roar continued, as rocks began to fall from the ceiling of the cavern. The intense quaking of the ground knocked Regina off her feet. Torren scooped her up into his arms and ran through the tunnel towards the basement of the tower. He took the stairs two at a time, as Regina clung tightly to his neck. The tower was now rumbling and quaking as if it would collapse around them, and the angry howl of the dying Shadowlord could be heard throughout the building.

            Exiting the tower, Torren placed Regina upon the ground, several yards from the entrance. He knelt beside his wife and helped her to remove the serpent helmet. Torren gently captured her face between his large hands. “Remember that I love you.” he whispered, and then kissed her, fiercely. His warm lips moved upon hers, for only a moment, and then Torren released Regina and strode back into the tower.

            Regina quickly rolled to her feet and hurried after her husband. But as she ran up the stone steps, Regina heard a loud crack, and looking up, she saw the top floor of the tower collapsing into the next floor down. The lower floor gave way, under the enormous weight, and crumbled like a house of cards, until the roof of the tower sat upon the ground.

            “Torren!!” Regina cried, in shock and horror, as the tower entrance disappeared beneath a mountain of stone. Dust and debris filled the air, choking her, as the rubble of the tower began to sink into the trembling ground. The thunderous howling of the Shadowlord, from beneath the tower, seemed to intensify.

            Regina stumbled back from the huge crater, which was rapidly forming before her. She cast night sight upon herself, revealing that the entire area surrounding the shattered tower was collapsing into itself. The hill on which the structure stood was slipping into the sea, carrying with it the remains of Fairwynds’ tower. Brilliant beams of golden light shot up through the broken pieces of stone, lighting the very clouds in the sky, as the deafening howl continued to echo across the island.

            “TORREN!!” Regina shrieked, at the top of her lungs.

A large chunk of stone came flying out of the debris and stuck Regina’s shoulder; knocking her to the ground, where she remained stunned and gasping for breath in the thick, dust filled air. Struggling to stand, Regina was forced to retreat further down the road, when the ground gave way, again, only inches from her feet. The enormous force of the west side of the island, sliding into the sea, caused an upsurge of cold salt water to rise, like a tidal wave, and crash upon the rim of the newly formed cliff. It caught Regina and washed her halfway down the hill, towards the village.

The tidal wave rose up in the harbor below, smashing the decaying dock and flooding the cobblestone streets of the village. The screams of those, hiding in the second floor of the temple, joined with the demonic howl from the destruction of Lord Daegan’s lair.

 And then there was silence.

Regina pulled herself up onto her hands and knees, pushing her wet hair from her face with a shaking hand. She stood on unsteady legs and began to trudge up the hill to the cliff, where the ancient stone tower had stood, only minutes ago. Standing at the edge of the precipice, the young woman looked down at the surging waves, a hundred yards below, and felt tears welling up in her eyes. She dug her fingers into her scalp, twisting them into the dark, wet locks of hair. Then, Regina threw her head back, and cried out with all the agony raging within her soul.

“TORREN!!”

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            The sun rose over the emerald green sea, as it had since the beginning of time. The sea birds called their greeting across the golden sands of the beach, as they had each morning for centuries. It seemed another normal, beautiful sunrise over the island of Fairwynds.

But it was not.

            High upon the newly formed cliff, a young woman, dressed in torn and bloodied, red, leather armor, sat silently in the sand. Her long, dark hair blew out like a banner in the sea breeze. White as a corpse, Regina remained perfectly still. She gazed down at the gentle waves breaking against the rock wall of the cliff. Lost in her thoughts, she was not aware of anything except the sorrow, which filled her heart.

            A sense of loss and guilt overwhelmed her. She had been the one who had convinced Torren to return to this unholy place, in search of his destiny. She alone was responsible for the horror which had followed. Regina had sent her beloved husband into the arms of the Goddess Deletion; never to return again.

And the pain in her heart was unbearable.

            Regina did not see the fleet of white sails approaching the island. Her eyes were blinded to the army of warriors, dressed in black and red, swarming from their ships to searched the village. The young woman seemed unaware when her own father called to her and then, lovingly, wrapped her in his black, woolen cloak. Her eyes remained fixed upon the crashing waves below, as Lord Augustus smoothed Regina’s silken tresses away from her face. The only time she did stir from her trance, was when Dominic lifted her in his arms and began to carry his sister away from her perch upon the cliff.

Regina struggled for a moment, not wanting to leave the place where she had last seen her husband. Then she uttered a single word, softly against Dominic’s shoulder, before surrendering herself to the care of those who loved her.

            “Torren.” she sobbed.