Advancing at a slow step through the forest, Baradar felt more and more irritated. The reason? He felt a strange tickling on the skin, at his left wrist, which he scratched with his fingers until it turned completely red. At one moment, he even maliciously hissed through his teeth, „It scratches me! What the hell?” Yet, even though his skin was burning because of so much scratching, looking at it, he didn’t see anything strange there. That’s why he eventually frowned and murmured, confused, „This is a real devilish thing! Something I definitely hate.” Yet, having nothing else to do, he shook his head to chase those thoughts away and kept advancing.

Suddenly, as though turning back to his senses after being possessed, realizing that he acted not as he was usually acting, Baradar stopped. Then, he looked to his right, at Shiver Sun, who was also there. Nevertheless, even though he was confused, instead of telling his friend about what surprised him so much, the minikin widely opened his eyes when he saw that the place where they were at that moment was washed by a strange light. It was similar to the sunlight, but stranger, which was piercing that celestial vault covered by thick black clouds.

Thus, seeing that light, Baradar asked in a whisper, „Shiver Sun, what… is wrong with me?” Yet, not this question he heard with his ears, but the „Where are we?” Something that made him open his eyes even wider.

The log, who didn’t seem at all surprised by that strange turnabout, calmly answered, „It’s this light!” Then, looking at the minikin, he said in a serious tone, „You feel so strange because of the light. That's why you are scratching your left wrist so much and you feel as though a cuff or something is wrapped around it.”

The words of the log made the minikin shudder. He even felt cold beads of sweat running down his back when he heard what Shiver Sun told him. Then, when he finally could control his emotions, Baradar asked in half a voice, „But… how do you know all that?”

Shiver Sun smiled with his wooden lips. Then, his green eyes, bathed by the light of kindness, looked into Baradar’s beautiful eyes, whom he said, „I’ve been created from you, do you remember? That’s why I can feel the same as you feel.”

Hearing such words from Shiver Sun, Baradar shook his head as though trying to chase bad thoughts away. After that, confused, he looked elsewhere, feeling that Shiver Sun’s glance was bothering him. Then, he said, „Honestly, I didn’t forget this. That we are linked to each other by the power of the same curse that turned us into its victims. Even so, I never thought that it acted so powerfully. I didn’t actually think that it was still working now, allowing us to feel what the other one feels.”

„Well… we don’t feel exactly what the other one feels. For example, you can’t feel what I feel.”

„Why?”

„I don’t know to be honest. Yet, I think we’ll find this out. Very soon actually.”

„Will we find this out? What exactly?” The minikin asked, even more surprised than before.

Shiver Sun sighed after hearing that question. Then, looking in front, at that red light that was surrounding them, he said, „Why this energy, which we feel right now, flows in one direction only. I mean… why I can feel what you feel, but not this same happens to you, even though I have the feeling that I know this. Or maybe… is it only a thought I have?! Well, I’m not sure any more of what I feel. What I think is that you may be also influenced by someone else and not only by me.”

The log’s answer confused the minikin even more. Baradar even felt weird and dizzy. That’s why he suddenly closed his eyes and murmured, „I? Does someone else influence me? No, this isn’t possible! How can it be possible when I am the Spirit of the Woods? As far as I know, the Spirit of the Woods can’t be influenced by someone else,” stuttered Baradar, as though he was stubborn in accepting the truth.

„Yet, this can be true, Baradar,” Shiver Sun replied, kindly. Then, seeing how stubborn Baradar could be in not accepting reality, he sweetly smiled. The log even decided not to insist on his theory of why things were happening like that because he didn’t want to confuse Baradar more than he already was. He was already seeing how agitated the minikin was and how feverishly he was scratching his wrist, and this happened only because he was nervous, an anxiety he started to feel because of the approaching war. At the same time, the log decided not to reveal the truth because of another secret only he knew: that Baradar was turning into someone else so many times lately. Yes, he was hiding that Baradar was turning into that Small Tarther that helped the Big One to destroy the People of Noear seven thousand years ago.

Actually, that bird, seen by Samaya and the Siars in Tenebre’s Forest, was Baradar and not Parca as they thought when Yellen told them about this. At the same time, Yellen also didn’t lie or she said this because she tried to make everybody be against the Titanide. No. She really thought that Parca was Tarther and she started to believe it after seeing the Titanide spying on Nathaniel and Samaya next to the River of Sins. This happened because she saw part of Parca’s memories. Fake memories in fact. Yet, Parca believed that everything she remembered was real, just as she thought that she was the Biggest Evil in the world and that there wasn’t anyone else worse than her.

The same happened to Baradar. He, however, wasn’t lying to himself as Parca was doing. Baradar truly didn’t remember anything from what was happening while being the bird Tarther. At the same time, he wasn’t aware that he was the Spirit of the Woods while being the bird. Yet, even though he didn’t remember what happened to him while being the bird, the minikin still felt a strange pressure on his chest after that. That's why he was telling Shiver Sun, „As though I can’t breathe,” each time he felt this. „Even so, I still feel my heart. I feel it beating in my chest. Madly, even though I don’t know why my heart is beating so fast.”

Each time Baradar told him about what he was feeling Shiver Sun said nothing. He didn't say anything even though he knew the reason why the minikin felt all this. Why? Because he didn’t have the right to say it. He was bound hand and foot by that Curse that joined his existence of Baradar’s. Thus, he had to keep silent and not tell the secrets he knew to others. Especially, he couldn’t tell the minikin that he knew why he felt so strange. Shiver Sun could only feel the same: anxiety and confusion, just as Baradar felt. At the same time, he felt love for the minikin. A deep love, of a father that got to care about Baradar a lot.

Nevertheless, as it’s well known by everyone, each love requires sacrifices and suffering. The same happened to the log: he also suffered each time he saw the sufferance in Baradar’s eyes. Yet, even though he saw all this, he again couldn’t do anything to help him.

What Shiver Sun could do was bear up with the same suffering and itches on his skin each time Baradar felt it. A suffering that was bearable in his case because he felt only part of what Baradar felt. In the minikin’s case, he was feeling those itches ten times more intense and this happened because of Parca and Mayar, who came to that Forest. Thus, after they came to that Forest, the minikin’s anxiety increased a lot and, at the same time, he started to turn into the small Tarther more often.

Suddenly, Shiver Sun reacted, chasing those sad thoughts away when he heard Baradar hissing through his teeth, „Damn unpleasant itch!” After that, the minikin started to scratch the skin of his wrist with his nails that suddenly turned black. A beast’s nails in fact. Right in front of the minikin, who, looking as though he was in a trance, didn’t notice it.

This change wasn’t the whole strange thing there because, right in front of Shiver Sun, Baradar changed completely. Thus, from the kind and sweet being everyone knew, the minikin turned into a real monster: the hair fell a lot that the scalp could be seen eventually, his eyes became pale that outlined the frontal bones more, his nose was flattened at the top, and his skin turned as white as the milk. The strange thing about that weird being wasn’t only his physical, but also those black veins that were seen all over his skin. Something scary in fact.

Nevertheless, this change had been for a very short time only. For a few moments while that strange red light illuminated his body. Then, when that light suddenly vanished, Baradar recovered his usual appearance and sighed, murmuring, „It hurts!” After that, touching his chest with his palm, he bent in front.

Yet, even though he felt weird, he didn’t spend too much time in that state of mind. Only for a few moments. After that, feeling his heart madly beating in his chest and threatening him with running away, Baradar touched his chest with both palms and knelt. Then, being already on his knees, when tears had bathed his eyes, the minikin asked, „What happens to me, Shiver Sun? Why does it hurt again?”

Shiver Sun said nothing again. At first only. Then, rotating on his heels, with his back to the minikin, he looked in the distance, at that black sky with a few red rays piercing it. After that, in a low voice and still watching the sky, he said, „Because it’s the time!”

„Time? For what?” Murmured Baradar. Not receiving an answer, the minikin raised his glance and stared for a long time at the wooden back of the log.

„For our end, minikin, and for the end of the entire world!”

This answer made Baradar feel more confused than before. Even so, he could control his emotions and not stagger to his feet. Thus, when he felt that he was able to do that, he stood on his feet again and, in slow step, he approached Shiver Sun. He said nothing after being next to the log. He only looked at the same black horizon, just as Shiver Sun was doing.

The log, feeling the minikin close to him, looked at him with kindness. Then, sadly smiling, he stretched his hand toward Baradar and told him, „Let’s go now!”

„To go? Where?” Asked Baradar in amazement.

„To face our destiny, Baradar! To look that destiny into its eyes even though we are so afraid of it.” Then, grabbing the minikin by his waist, with his big wooden hands, Shiver Sun put him on his right shoulder. After that, at a slow step as Shiver Sun used to walk, the two headed toward that dark horizon, toward that final point they had to reach eventually: the red line that was seen far in the distance.

Behind them, only the loneliness and the silence remained, along with a strange night that suddenly fell over the surroundings. A night that slowly-slowly sneaked behind them, embracing that place in deep darkness. Thus, hugged by that strange night, the place could feel only the silence and… the fear.

***

The moment Parca and Mayar got to the place where Baradar and Shiver Sun had stood before, where that strange light had surrounded them, the fox stopped. The same Parca did. Yet, the Titanide stopped only because Mayar stopped. Then, staring at the girl, Parca saw her often frowning even though she was in the skin of the fox. Mayar even murmured at one moment, „I think I know this place.”

„Do you know it? Where from?” The Titanide asked her, extremely surprised.

„Because this is a place I’ve seen before. When I was still a child. Fourteen years ago. To be honest, I got to this place for the first time while following a strange creature. A being that looked like a shadow. Thus, we got to that place I didn’t know, just I didn’t know that creature. Even so, it didn’t scare me, but it gave me the chance to meet the she-wolf in that glade and fight with her for the first time.” After that, cooking her nose because that memory was something she disliked, Mayar hissed through her teeth again, „I still feel the bitter taste on the top of my tongue, the taste I felt that day.”

Her answer made Parca smile. After that, carefully looking at the girl, who was looking askance at the Titanide for she disliked that one’s weird smile, Parca said, „I haven’t been wrong.”

„About what?” Asked Mayar.

„About that you are fooling me and pretending to be an idiot when you aren’t. Just as you aren’t under my control anymore, since long ago actually!” Parca hissed through her teeth. After that, as though possessed by demons, she grabbed the fox by the throat. Thus, lifting her from above, she forced the girl to take her usual appearance. Not for a long time because, seconds later only, she turned into a fox again. She even put her tail between her feet, a hint that she was „afraid.”

All this, however, was a perfect performance of the girl, for what Parca considered submission and fear was just camouflage. That’s why, so suddenly and unexpectedly, Mayar used her power and the top of her tail hit the Titanide in her stomach, forcing her to bend in front a little and release the fox. Even so, even though she bowed in front and gnashed her teeth because of pain, Parca didn’t give up. She only hissed through her teeth, outraged, „You don’t even know what big mistake you have just made, stupid fox, because…”

She suddenly became highly attentive, seeing that not the fox was staying in front of her, but Mayar. The girl was cunningly smiling, playing with a red fireball in her hand. What surprised the Titanide a lot was seeing that ball because she didn’t know that Mayar was capable of controlling the fire. More than that, she wasn’t aware of who taught the girl that trick, even though she guessed that it could have been Ahi who did that.

Seeing the surprise in Parca’s glance, the fox cunningly asked, „What? Surprised that I know such tricks?”

„Absolutely, because I didn’t suspect that Ahi would be able to teach others such… useless tricks,” gnashed Parca her teeth.

„Well, useless… I think that it isn’t the right word,” replied the girl, bored. „At the same time, you are wrong when you say that Ahi has taught me that.”

„Then? How did you get the power of the fire? I don’t think that Coallar has taught you this.”

„Now you are right. Not because of that old devil I learned such tricks, but because of his son.”

„Ah, you and your damn insufferable riddles,” hissed Parca through her teeth, angry. Then, stretching her back, when she felt that the pain she felt in her stomach was gone, she looked around. Thus, she could see how quickly the night was falling over the surroundings even though there wasn’t the time to be so dark yet, something that amazed her a lot. Even so, even though all this surprised her a lot, she decided to discover the secret of that unnatural phenomenon later and, for the moment, to focus on Mayar, who she asked soon after that, „So, if it isn’t a secret, from whom you learned that trick if not from Coallar?”

„I told you already: from his son!”

„As far as I know, Coallar has only two sons capable of using the fire. One of them is Ahi, and the other one - is Mannar. Thus, as Mannar disappeared a long time ago and I don’t think you have found him without me being aware of this, you could have learned that trick only from Ahi. Yet, you say that it’s not him who has taught you this.”

„I still say this because this is the truth: it hasn’t been him who has taught me this. At the same time, Ahi is to blame because I know all this. Why? Well, let’s just say that I „borrowed” this skill from him one day while I was snooping through his mind for old secrets,” said the fox, extremely proud of herself. „More than that, I’m his daughter. Thus, as Ahi is an extremely powerful Mago, it’s something natural for me to have my secret talents, don’t you think so?”

Parca smiled. „You are right, what can I say?! Just as I must accept that you have the talent of stealing things from others. More than that, you are damn good at cheating on others.”

„Cheating and stealing are two different things,” Mayar cunningly said, still juggling with that fireball while walking up and down in front of Parca. Thus, the Titanide, feeling that something was wrong with Mayar, told herself to be very attentive. Especially she decided this after she remembered that when Mayar started to say „smart things” something bad for her was happening soon after that.

At a moment, seeing that Mayar stopped and stared at her as though she was waiting for the right moment to throw that fireball toward her, Parca told herself, „She won’t dare do that!”

„Do you think so?” Mayar replied, bored. „I think I won’t only be able to dare, but to do that too.”

„Yet, you won’t do that because you need me to finish your plan.”

It has been Mayar’s turn to look askance at the Titanide, wondering what the hell that one was planning. Then, seeing that Parca kept silent, she said, „I have no idea what you are talking about right now.”

„Really?!” Hissed Parca through her teeth. „Then… I was born yesterday.” After that, carefully walking toward Mayar, who kept staring at her, Parca tried to subdue the girl with her power. Yet, not being able to do this, she said, frowning, „Well, let me tell you that you are a damn bad liar or maybe stupid if you think nobody knows your plan. Do you know why? Because you are like an open book, Mayar! Everybody can read you if that person wants that!”

„If you say so!” Mayar said, bored. „Yet, I’m still curious to find out what’s written in that book,” she said ironically, feeling strange pulsations on her skin, something caused by the anxiety in her chest because she definitely didn’t want Parca to find out about her plan with Vāḻkkai.

She winced eventually when Parca said, „Mannar! I am talking about him because I can read his name in the book that has your name on it!” A sentence that made Mayar frown. Parca, however, laughed with all her heart. „I’ve been right, I see. Just as I’m right that I have my hidden talents if I’ve been able to read your thoughts. Yet, what I want to find out more than this is how you find out so much about that creature.”

Hearing Parca's words, Mayar burst into laughter while Parca frowned this time, for the joy of the girl seemed suspect to her. That’s why she kept staring at the girl, trying to find out more about her behavior. Mayar, however, not stupid at all, understood very quickly that acting like that was a bad move and that it could reveal her plans in front of Parca. That's why she suddenly became serious and said, „I just… heard about him… somewhere. Whispered by others into my ear.”

„Only whispered? By who?” A question that denoted the fact that Parca was really interested in finding out if Mayar knew that it was Mannar who turned her into a red fox. The girl, however, didn’t know about this. Or maybe she was just pretending not to know this?! Well, it wasn’t a certain thing. Not for Parca at least. That’s why she insisted on finding out the truth from the source and asked, „So, tell me, who whispered all this to you?”

„Coallar. Who else should have taught me this? Actually, this surprises me a lot: that you ask such questions, for I’m more than sure that you are aware of his plan. To release Mannar, I mean. That’s why you are fighting for the same cause, right? Behind Tenebre’s back, to be more precise.”

Parca cooked her nose, for… hearing about that possible „pact” between her, Tenebre, and Coallar made her feel a strange repulsion in her chest. That’s why she rushed to tell the girl, „Of course, not! I mean… Coallar and I have never worked behind Tenebre’s back.”

„No? Interesting. It seemed to be so.”

„Something actually wrong. Why? Because we have always done everything in front of the entire world and not hidden. Well, I accept that each of us has done that for a personal reason. Yet, the main aim was to release Mannar, of course.”

„I’m pretty sure your reason isn’t the same as Tenebre's, who only looks to release her son. You, however, do this because you want to put someone else on the world’s throne and not to put Eris on it, right?” Parca burst into laughter. „No, wait, this isn’t, either: what you want is to have the throne of the world for yourself and not for that Maranam.”

„Did someone ever tell you that you are smart when you want this?” Parca cunningly said. „You are right: I dream of having the world’s throne for me because I have this right. I’ve been created for this: to lead the world and not to be submissive, living my life at someone’s feet.”

Parca’s words made Mayar burst into hysterical laughter. She even felt that she couldn’t control her emotions. Something that enraged Parca, for she disliked the fact that Mayar looked askance at her while considering her a crazy person. That’s why she started to head toward Mayar, staring at her with sparkling eyes because of anger, intending to teach her some manners and let her know that nobody had the right to make a mockery of her.

Mayar, however, seeing that Parca completely lost her mind, decided that it was the right time to give up on her game. Thus, she hid that fireball in her right sleeve, after changing it into a simple rubber ball, black at first. After that, she told the Titanide in a cheerful voice, „Well, be as you wish: if you want the world’s throne, you can fight for this. Meanwhile, I’ll take care to fulfill my own plans, following my own rules, of course.”

„Rules? Which ones?”

Hearing this question, Mayar, who turned her back to Parca already, stopped. Then, cunningly smiling, she turned only her head toward the Titanide and told her, „Do you think I’m stupid to tell you this? Of course not. No one reveals his trump cards before the decisive moment, Parca. Only this way, you can assure your success. Or what? Do you think that I accepted to play this foolish game these last six months for nothing? No, it has been because I wanted to see until what point your madness can get.”

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

„And? What did you find out?”

„Well, I won’t tell you this. Not now! And… let’s go at once!”

„Where?”

„To visit Mannar. This is what you want, right? To release him and have the chance to sit on that famous throne. And… Who knows?! Maybe you’ll have this chance today!” After that, she turned her back to Parca and, quickening her pace, she headed in the same direction as Baradar and Shiver Sun, who weren’t seen anymore.

Behind her, Parca kept standing in the same place. At least she stood there at first. She only looked with hatred at the girl’s back while cooking her nose because Mayar’s ironical voice was something she disliked. Parca even felt a strange desire to hit the girl’s head just to let her know that it was a bad idea to make fun of her. However, she didn’t do anything because she remembered Mayar’s fireball, something that could blow her up if the girl had thrown it toward her.

Suddenly, remembering that on that ball she saw a kind of map, Parca frowned. Then, she took thoughts, realizing that she didn’t know what kind of map she saw. Yet, when she finally understood what kind of map it was, Parca hissed through her teeth, „The map toward the Glade of Shadows! But… How is this possible? How does this child know where the place where Big Tarther is asleep is?”

She winced eventually, listening to Mayar’s voice from far away, „Are you coming or not?” Only then did Parca start to walk behind the girl, still having many thoughts spinning in her head.

Yet, it would have been better for her if she had stood in place. Thus, she would have seen the wolf Dike appearing from behind the trunk of a tree and looking at her while she was going away. At the same time, maybe she would have listened to what the wolf told to the tree behind which he had stood hidden, „Send word to Kherā! Tell him to be careful and watch the surroundings. If possible, let him send a word to Samaya to stay away from that glade because… I don’t like this dangerous game played by the fox.”

The tree, however, even if it was magic, didn’t reply to the wolf. It only loudly shivered its branches, a hint that it understood the message. After that, still shivering its branches and leaves, it sent a word to the Glade of Baradar, to Kherā and Gray Bark, telling them to be careful because that was Master Dike’s order.

***

„They have been here!” Gaea told Lodur. They were in Mannar’s Glade at that moment, right in front of his cell.

„It seems so,” murmured Lodur thoughtfully, carefully looking around. Thus, he could see the traces left by Pakai and Tenebre behind them, after the fight they had with Fenrir’s group. „What surprises me is that the lock isn’t open. I thought that once Mayar and Parca were together, they would try to release Mannar.” Then, passing his palm in front of his eyes, Lodur made that cell appear in front of him.

By doing this, Lodur saw Mannar sitting in the furthest corner of the cell, in the same place where Tenebre had seen her son after coming to that glade for the first time. At that moment, Mannar wasn’t in the same position as his mother saw him, but he was normally sitting, crossed-legged, and sweetly yawning as though he hadn't slept well or enough. Something weird in fact because, in the last fourteen years since he was locked inside that cell, he slept a lot. Or maybe his yawn was just a sign of boredom?! It wasn’t something clear. Anyway, it wasn’t that important either, especially for Lodur. What was important for the Titan and what caught his eye? Well, those black butterflies, which Mannar learned to create while being closed there that were lying on the ground, wingless. This happened because of Mannar because being already bored playing with them, he simply decided to destroy his masterpiece. That’s why he broke those butterflies’wings… just for fun. Seeing them, Lodur reproachfully shook his head and snarled through his teeth, „He never learns, not even after being closed here. The only thing he can do is to do evil things.”

„What else did you expect from him? Eventually, he has been created for this by Eris: to do evil things.”

„Maybe you are right, but… what do you think: does he see us?”

„Mannar? I’m sure he does. He only pretends not to have seen us, just because he doesn’t want to talk to us or explain certain things.”

„I was talking about Eris and not about him. Do you think she sees us from the faraway Māṉsṭar Kēlaksi?”

Gaea didn’t answer right away. She took a short time to think about what Lodur said. After that, shaking her head in denial, she said, „I don’t think that she would take that risk.”

„Well, allow me to think differently.”

„Why?”

„Because Eris has always been misguided. Even so, she has always been capable of hurting this earth too; I must accept that and this would have happened for a long time if we hadn’t locked Mannar in that cell. That’s why I think that as soon as this demon is released, Eris will have the chance to turn back to her previous evil deeds. Something worse than ever to be more precise because the dream of having the throne of the world can make somebody lose his mind, and Eris isn’t an exception. Just as it happened to Maranam.”

„Or Parca! Let’s not forget that she wants the same thing.”

„Something that won't ever happen.”

„Because of the duality of her soul?”

„No. It’s because Parca has been a servant right from the beginning. Thus, as a servant can’t ever become a king, the same will happen to Parca.”

„I won’t bet on that, Lodur. Eventually, nobody knows what a devil can do or think. Especially, no one knows what Parca can do because, even though we have created her to be submissive to us, she is capable of subduing others now. Like Mayar, for example.”

„You are right thinking so, but you are wrong in something: that Parca is controlling Mayar. To be more precise, Parca doesn’t control that girl anymore. She’s doing only what she wants now.”

„Something that bothers you right now!”

„True. Why? It’s because of what Sephir said: that she saw Parca and Vāḻkkai together. At the same time, it bothers me to find out that Parca can look different from how we know her and that she can worship in front of Vāḻkkai as in front of a queen.”

„Honestly, I also consider this weird. Even so, I think we are rushing looking for answers right now, answers that sooner or later this world is giving us.”

„Maybe you are right, Gaea, but I still think that everything is so complicated right now. At the same time, all this works for us.”

Listening to Lodur’s words, Gaea frowned. She was confused. That’s why she asked, „What makes you think so?”

„Mannar’s absence. Thus, even though they release him, he won’t be able to act up soon.”

„Is it because Eris has been asleep for so long and that she hasn’t been able to control his mind all this time?”

„Yeah, this is also a reason, but I’m more tempted to think that it will happen because of Vāḻkkai, who I’m sure that knows how to control him through that diamond. For how long? I don’t know.”

Gaea finally sighed. „You are right, Lodur: it’s too complicated. Nevertheless, we don’t have time to think about this now. Just as we don’t have time to think about useless things that don’t help anybody. That’s why I say that, for the moment, we should be with the rest and help them with what they need.”

„A bad idea in my opinion, because, being with them, we can expose them. Especially, we can expose Dike, who is following Parca and Mayar right now, trying to find out what they are planning.”

„Then, let’s try to find out what Pakai and Tenebre are planning because I don’t think that they will stay still after Fenrir and the rest have taken Ahi’s body and the Palantir.”

„Yeah, it sounds good. Now, talking about Ahi, what do you think: where are the other two parts of his power?”

„Honestly, I have no idea. Even so, I hope not to find them soon. It will definitely work for us.” After that, turning her back to Lodur, Gaea quickened her pace toward the forest. Nevertheless, even though she seemed calm, she still kept an eye on the surroundings while leaving that place because she wanted to be sure that nobody saw them there. Why? Because she didn’t need problems or someone to know about their plans. Especially, she tried to hide what they planned from evil, their worst enemy.

Lodur didn’t follow her right away. He just kept looking at Mannar, trying to see what that one wanted to do because he was sure that Mannar saw them and that he was aware of that, even though he didn’t let others know about this. A strange fact in Lodur’s opinion, who couldn’t understand what was moving that demon to act like this. Eventually, understanding that he wouldn’t be able to find answers to all those questions he and Gaea had, Lodur sighed. Yet, before leaving that place, he used his power and surrounded that cell with a wave of golden air. Lodur did that trying to make sure nobody would ever find that lock or find out how to open it. At least… Lodur tried to make it harder for the enemies. After that, he also quickened his pace, entering the forest. Thus, turning his back to that place, Lodur didn’t see the cell disappearing, just as it should be: to keep the curious eyes far away from Mannar, as much as possible.

***

While running on that road, guarded by secular trees on both sides, Samaya kept looking around. Thus, she could see the splendor of the forest that had received them in its lap, something that didn’t make her have pleasant feelings as she had had while being a cub and spent some time in the forest, but weird sensations, something that suddenly reminded her about the fourteen years ago’s event. Yes, she finally remembered the day when she fought with Mayar in the Glade of Shadows.

Reminding this, Samaya stopped. Then, slowly rotating on her heels, she carefully looked around, without paying attention to Boor and Bestla’s curious glances, who also stopped, even though they didn’t understand the reason for that stop. They understood why only when Samaya said, „This place… I’ve seen it before.”

„When exactly? In a vision?”

„No, Bestla! I saw it 14 years ago.”

„Maybe, but… what makes you think that’s the same place?” Asked Boor, amazed.

„It’s because of the symbols.” While looking around, Samaya saw many symbols சவ, those symbols Mayar told them about when she mentioned that Bestla saw them in the eyes of the demons for the first time, the same demons into which Edda turned on the river’s shore. Yet, Samaya didn’t see the symbol சவ in someone’s eyes, but on the trees’trunk, on the leaves, and even on the road in front and behind them.

However, even though she was seeing those symbols clearly, not the same happened to Bestla and Boor. They looked in the same direction, but they saw nothing out of the ordinary. Something that made Boor say eventually, „Something strange actually because I don’t understand why you see those symbols here. I thought they could be seen only in the Glade of Shadows. Or… at least this is what the fox said, right?”

„Right,” hissed Bestla through her teeth. „That’s why I think that this is one of her cheap tricks. She’s doing this only to lure us into a trap or something.”

„No, Bestla. Mayar wasn't here. I'm sure about this,” replied Boor. „If it had been so, I would have felt her smell.”

Bestla looked askance at him, „Well, I must accept that you are right: your nose can smell everything.” A remark that made her father grin at her. „Don’t take it personally: I was just pointing out some important facts.”

„Yeah, I appreciate that, just like I will appreciate it if you point those facts out… in your head only because… I’m your father eventually.”

Boor kept silent the moment Samaya put her finger to her lips, letting them know to be silent. Then, turning toward them, she told them in a preoccupied tone, „Someone’s approaching us! Let’s hide!” After that, they ran and hid, everybody where he could: Samaya stopped behind a thick trunk from the right side of the road while Boor and Bestla hid behind the trees from the left side of the road.

Nevertheless, even if he hid, Boor found that situation weird because he didn’t feel anything strange there. Yet, being aware that Samaya wasn’t doing all that only for fun, but because of her wolf's survival instinct, he decided to listen to what she said. Thus, being at the shelter, he kept looking at the road onto which they got there.

On that road, however, nobody was seen. At least, he didn’t see anybody there for minutes in a row. It seemed too perfect and too charming in Boor’s opinion, as though they entered a fairy-tale world. That's why he was often frowning.

Not the same thought Bestla had: she, while looking at that road, was shaking her head, considering all that a simple exaggeration. That’s why she sighed eventually and decided to tease Samaya with that. Yet, getting out from her hideout, looking for the young she-wolf to make some fun of her, the Princess of Ice was forced to swallow hard when she saw, right in front of her nose, two long hairy legs. Seeing them, Bestla frowned again, thinking, „What the hell is this?” Yet, even though she mumbled those words only in her head, Bestla felt afraid to look up. Why? Because she spotted those hairy legs moving all the time as though their master winced, controlled by fever.

Eventually, Bestla winced too, feeling cold drops of sweat running down her back, when she heard Samaya’s telepathic voice, „That’s Yĕn! Visam’s child, the tarantula of the Underworld. That’s why, don’t make sudden movements that can provoke her!”

Still shaking inside, even though she looked like a stone statue on the outside, Bestla frowned. Then, she even stopped breathing or blinking, afraid not to become Yĕn’s food. Yet, what she didn’t do was silence the voice of her mind, and she asked Samaya, „Visam… is that the Tarantula which Gaea uses each time she wants to teach Tenebre some manners?”

„That’s right! Yet, even though Visam serves Gaea sometimes, she is also the servant of Evil. Her daughter, however, Yĕn, is different from her mother because she listens to only Evil’s commands. That’s why I told you not to move. It will be better if you silence the voice of your mind too. Why? Because nobody knows how powerful can be Yĕn. I’m sure that nobody wants to know that because all those who know her are aware that one single bite of Yĕn is enough to „dry” her victim. No matter how big the victim isn’t.”

That „no matter how big the victim isn’t” made Boor cook his nose, for the „big victim,” in Samaya’s opinion, he was for sure. Yet, he said nothing because the girl was right. Why? Because that ugly and hairy creature, Yĕn, really seemed dangerous. That’s why he stuck his back to that trunk behind which he hid. Even so, he kept an eye on the tarantula, which was right in front of Bestla.

Thus, keeping an eye on Yĕn, Boor could see that the tarantula had 12 legs and not 10 like any other tarantula. Each of those 12 legs had six segments for better flexibility. This, however, wasn’t the strangeness there. As weird as the number of her legs was the fluff on those legs, which had different sizes and colors. Actually, the size and the color of the fluff were different all over Yĕn’s body.

On her back, for example, just as on her head, the fur was black, something that reminded Boor about the heated pitch. The edges of her body were dark-brown, similar to the clay freshly dug from the ground. Then, on that dark-brown, small red stains were seen. What kind of stains? Well, it wasn’t clear, just as it wasn’t clear where Yĕn got them: after a tasty meal or just something given to her by nature. Yet, what the creatures didn’t know, nature knew - what was the deal with those red stains: they were the symbol of Yĕn’s malice, for each time she was outraged, those stains became darker when they were of a pale red, pleasant to look at when the tarantula was calm and quiet.

The color of the legs was also strange. For example, the segments had different shades of brown and only the joints were dark red. At the same time, the lower segment, which could be considered the sole of the tarantula, wasn’t red but dark black.

Yĕn’s belly for example had the color of a ripe peanut. Actually, the tarantula’s belly not only had the color of a peanut, but it also had the form of it when it was full of venom. Yet, it was changing the color of the fur on the belly to pale black when Yĕn was nervous, to become dark black when she was seeing the victim in front of her eyes. Even her glance was turning to shine black at that moment, a hint of her being very hungry.

However, even though the peanut seen on Yĕn’s belly was something to be scared about, scarier than this were her teeth. Why? Because they were extremely sharp at the top, having the form of scissors when they were almost touching each other. Thus, if Yĕn had wanted this, she would have been able to cut her victim in small pieces, at her will. Then, what was scaring the most, those who were seeing those teeth-scissors, was the thick needle, dark red that became dark purple when Yĕn was stabbing it into one of her victims, filling that body with venom.

That needle, which was threateningly moving in front of Bestla, getting bigger or smaller in seconds, enraged Boor eventually. That’s why he said, hissing the words in his head, „Damn cobra! What is she looking for here? I hope that she’s not after us.”

„Of course not,” Boor heard Samaya’s answer in his head. Then, feeling someone’s hissing breath down his neck, he shuddered a little inside, thinking that another Yĕn approached him on tiptoe. Yet, seeing Samaya behind him, he breathed a sigh of relief. However, even though he calmed down seeing the girl there, he couldn’t understand how she managed to get there unnoticed. He got even more confused when he heard Samaya saying, „She has the same symbol on her body.”

„Symbol? What symbol?” Asked Boor. Then, he looked at Yĕn’s belly when Samaya pointed with her head toward the tarantula. Looking at Yĕn’s belly, Boor saw that weird சவ, which he saw when they met Mayar in the forest. That’s why he murmured, „The calling of a mother! Now I understand why here and why you saw the symbol all over.”

„No, not Yĕn influenced nature to show us this symbol, but this symbol summoned her here. Actually, I think she’s also headed toward the famous Glade of Shadows.”

„Why?”

„I don’t know. Yet, we can find out if we follow her, for I’m sure she knows the way to that glade.”

„Or she turns us into soccermoms first,” they heard Bestla’s telepathic voice. Yet, looking at her, they saw a stone statue instead of Bestla, a statue in whose eyes they could see fear. They even heard „What?” screamed by the girl in her head when she noticed them staring at her. „I said what I actually think.”

Boor reproachfully shook his head, „I didn’t teach her that for sure! To be pessimistic!”

„Well, if not you, have there been others capable of teaching me that!” Bestla teased him. Eventually, she kept silent, seeing Yĕn turning her back to her and slowly walking down that road. That’s why Bestla dared to take a few steps back, intending to run away. A bad idea in fact because when she got next to the trunk of the tree and stuck her back on it, her foot stepped on a dried branch, the branch loudly cracked, making everything around powerfully resound as though they were in an empty room. That crack not only filled the horizon with an unpleasant sound but also made Yĕn stop.

Seeing that the tarantula stopped, Bestla hissed in her head, „I’ll meet the devil now for sure!” Then, looking like a stone statue again, the girl kept staring at Yĕn, who was slowly walking toward her at that moment. A movement that made Bestla mumble in her head as though she was whispering a spell, „It’s only a branch! Nothing more than a damn branch that cracked because of the wind! That’s why, be a good girl, and go away!”

Listening to Bestla’s mumbling, Samaya smiled. Then, deciding that it was a good moment to tease her friend, she told Bestla, „Do you think she doesn’t hear you?” A question that made Bestla angrily grin. Yet, Samaya heard that snarl only with the ear of her mind because, at that moment, Bestla was afraid even to breathe. Something that wasn't wrong in fact because Yĕn was only a few steps from her.

Even so, even though she was shaking inside because of fear, Bestla told Samaya, „So, if she listens to me, what to tell her then? Hey, I’m here! Catch me if you can and eat me?”

„Not that bad idea actually!” Replied Boor instead of Samaya, something that made Bestla frown. A bad idea again because Yĕn spotted the innocent mimic of the girl. That’s why, after she stopped in front of Bestla, the tarantula lowered her head until she could look straight into the girl’s eyes.

Looking into the tarantula's eyes, Bestla yelled in her head, „Now I’m dead for sure! Who the hell told me to move from my place? I was well sheltered there. And you, will you stay there for long, doing nothing to help me?”

„Why? To take your place?” Boor joked. Then, sneaking behind the tree where he was, God took a slingshot from his pocket, one he „borrowed” from Mago, without telling the young man about this because he felt ashamed to ask for it openly. After that, while preparing for what he was planning to do Boor told his daughter, „Just… stay where you are! If not, that Troll definitely kisses you!”

Understanding what Boor intended to do, Samaya told him, „If I were you, God Boor, I would have given up on the idea you have. Why? It’s not that genius as it seems to be, that plan I mean.” Then, seeing Yĕn turning toward them, after the tarantula heard Boor’s movement, Samaya kept silent. She even saw Yĕn slowly moving toward the tree behind which Boor stood hidden.

Seconds later only, seeing Yĕn turning her back on her, Bestla dared to look at that tree too. There, however, she saw neither Boor nor Samaya. That’s why she frowned again, yelling in her head. „Where did they go? I only hope they haven’t run and let me here alone with this… cobra. If so, I’ll turn them into icicles for sure, just as I’ll turn this cobra into one right now.” After that, she took the famous blue gelatin out of her pocket.

A third bad movement in one single day because even though she moved her hand barely heard the tarantula felt it. That’s why Yĕn moved her glance from the tree, where Boor and Samaya stood hidden and turned toward Bestla again. Seeing the tarantula looking at her again, Bestla snarled, „Damn you, cobra! Do you hear even the inexistent hiss of the wind or what? If yes, go and catch it then and stop hanging around me because I’m not tasty at all! You’ll only feel a sour taste in your mouth if you eat me! So, be a good girl and go away!” Bestla’s advice, however, hadn’t been something Yĕn liked because, right after this, she threw that black needle in front, off which the venom was dripping, intending to taste from Bestla’s bitter flesh.

Halfway, however, when only two steps were left between her and Bestla, a stone hit the tarantula’s head. This made Yĕn look to her left, toward the other side of the road. She was furious while looking over there. Yet, by doing this, Yĕn gave Bestla the chance to breathe normally again. Bestla even mumbled in her head, „Huh, it has definitely been close!” However, right after mumbling this, Bestla felt her blood frozen in her veins when someone grabbed her by the back of her vestment and pulled her up. Who lifted her?! Well, Bestla was too afraid to look at him and see his face. She only closed her eyes, decided not to look into the eyes of one of Yĕn’s friends because she was sure that namely one of the tarantula’s friends grabbed her by the coat.

Eventually, understanding how pathetic she was thinking that a tarantula had hands, Bestla shook her head. After that, she suddenly opened her eyes and, looking to her right, she saw Boor, who put a finger to his lips, letting her know that it was the right moment to keep her mouth shut. Then, when Bestla nodded yes that she understood the message, Boor pointed with his head in front. Looking over there, Bestla saw Samaya, in one of the trees that were on the other side of the road. At the same time, she saw Yĕn heading right toward the tree in which Samaya was climbed.

Seeing the slow movement of the tarantula, even though she was furious and this was seen from those drops of venom that were dripping off her long needle, leaving traces on the dust of the road, Bestla became very attentive. What caught her eye had been the slingshot from Samaya’s hand and the sharp stone from the top of the slingshot, which was pointing toward Yĕn. Thus, seeing all this, Bestla sent a telepathic thought to Samaya, „If I were you, I would stay quiet. Otherwise, she will definitely kill you.”

Instead of an answer, Bestla heard Samaya’s laughter in her head. Then, seconds later, the young she-wolf told her friend, „Until Yĕn tastes from the bitter meat of the she-wolf Samaya, she’ll lick her lips first tasting the Princess of Ice’s body. A good idea telling her where to find you I mean. Thus, I’ll be safe for sure.”

„You are definitely a cobra, did you know this?”

„This has been told to me by the one that has a sister who controls the cobras!” Samaya teased her. After that, changing the trajectory of the stone which she was about to shoot, Samaya aimed at the thick trunk of a secular tree from the other side of the road. Thus, when the stone had been released, it hit the trunk of the tree first to bounce off later and hit one of Yĕn’s front legs, forcing her to touch the ground with her snoot eventually and, slipping on the ground, the tarantula moved a few meters in front. Yĕn, however, even if she had been taken by surprise by that hit, didn’t stay knelt for long. Only for a few moments, she stood like this. After that, standing up, on all 12 legs she had, Yĕn started to look all over, looking for the intruder who attacked her.

The girls, surprised by seeing the tarantula on her feet so soon, frowned. Then they winced when they heard Boor’s telepathic voice, „She’s definitely a cobra! How the hell can she see the truth so well when she’s nothing more than a tarantula?”

„An intelligent one,” the she-wolf said. Then, shooting stone after stone, in different directions and hitting the thick trunks from both sides of the road, Samaya tried to confuse Yĕn. Something she managed to do so well because Yĕn, thinking that she was attacked from all over, started to run left and right, surrounding each tree while looking for the intruder.

Finding nobody there and more when Samaya stopped shooting, Yĕn decided to move away. She didn’t even look back for a second. Yĕn only looked in front, making sure that that road was safe. If she had looked back, she would have seen the three intruders descending from the trees and looking behind her.

Thus, because Yĕn didn’t look back while going away, she gave Samaya the chance to breathe normally. Then, confident, she said, „Let’s follow her! I’m sure she’ll lead us toward the Glade of Shadows!” After that, at a sure step, she followed Yĕn.

Bestla, however, at all satisfied seeing Samaya so confidently walking behind the tarantula, turned her back to Samaya and started to move in the opposite direction, mumbling, „If you are so eager, you can follow her alone! It has been enough for me to be almost kissed by her today. I don’t need another similar experience because…” Yet, even though Bestla wasn’t eager at all to follow Samaya and Yĕn, she had no other choice than to do this. The reason? Well, Boor took care to grab her by the back of her coat again and force her to follow him. Thus, suddenly turned into a vivid sack, Bestla allowed her father to drag her after him. Not at all happy, of course, because, while Boor was dragging her, the girl frowned and, crossing the arms over her chest, she mumbled again, „Yeah, yeah, you are also right: together till death! As always!”