Alena’s footsteps were heard barely touching the rocky path that was covered by soft green moss, a path that crossed the Forest of Shadows in zigzag. A strange path in fact because it seemed that time was acting up there and the past was taking the present’s place and in reverse in seconds only. How was time acting up in those places? Simple: on that path, not only one Alena was walking, but two - the adult, who accompanied the commander Eṉōl, and the twelve-year-old Alena, who entered that mystical forest two decades ago.

That vision of childhood, which was dancing in front of her eyes, turned Alena sad. It was strange for her to see herself, the child, advancing on a similar path after being lured by an illuminated place after she decided not to take the path Zayleea told her, but she turned left. She was lured by two splendid metallic gates, with strange and interesting figurines right above the sharp spears that were seen above the gates. Those spears looked like torches at the top, as lit torches, and, right above them, the child Alena saw the image of the splendid Earth and Aeon.

„A perfect vision of lie,” Alena suddenly whispered, making Eṉōl wince. She winced too, surprised by her own voice and by the strangeness of her tone, which she used to speak three words. Thus, looking around, she saw that they were still on that rocky path that crossed the forest and not in front of that gate that she had seen while she was still a child. „Even so, I feel that’s somewhere here.”

„What exactly?” Eṉōl asked, confused.

„That strange gate with torches above, which represents the beauty of the world… one that’s so different from earth.”

„A different world? Which one?”

„I don’t know,” whispered Alena, shaking her head. Then she sighed when she felt sadness taking over her. After that, when her eyes shone because of the tears that wet the black-coal of her retina, she looked in front, at Ṭirākulā’s wolves, which were about 50 meters in front of them.

Looking in the same direction, Eṉōl frowned. „Where do you think they are going?” He asked eventually.

„Probably to look for the one Domas mentioned before.”

„Tīmai?”

„Mmm, the Titanide of Hatred as she’s also known in the World of the MAGOS. The one who has been born from the power of Maranam’s mind, deep inside the mountain.”

Eṉōl shuddered again. „In the depths of the Mountain?” He stuttered. „The Mount of Fear?”

„Honestly, I don’t know. Probably nobody knows this truth. Actually, only a few souls have seen Tīmai!”

„The reason?” Alena looked at him, confused. „I mean why so few have seen her.”

„She is hiding,” replied Alena drily, looking at the Vanamars again, who suddenly stopped when Ṭirākulā stopped. He, as though felt something strange around, started to sniff the horizon, slowly moving in a circle, on his four paws.

„I think he felt us,” said Eṉōl, suddenly forgetting what Alena and he were talking about.

„It’s not that,” the fox confidently replied. „He didn’t feel us.”

„Then? Whom did he feel? That Tīmai?”

„Most likely yes. Or maybe another enemy that is around?!”

The concern in Alena’s glance, who was frowning while looking around, made Eṉōl do the same. Thus, he saw the strange trees around, some with thick trunks and some with thin ones that tangled one around the other, creating strange figurines of wooden bodies… the bodies of the secular trees. „As though they painted the face of their Master,” the commander suddenly murmured, making Alena wince and stare at him.

Seeing Eṉōl too focused on the strange trunks of the trees, Alena looked in the same direction. She finally understood what Eṉōl tried to say: around the thick trunks, thin branches were wrapped. Yet, not all of the branches were thin. Some of them were as thick as an adult man’s arm. Thus, by wrapping one around the other, they painted strange faces, somehow unshaped, as though innocent souls had been closed inside the trunks and their suffering was reflected on their faces painted by those strange branches.

„Even if it’s strange, it’s only the power of nature here,” Alena finally murmured.

„Or maybe it’s what we think?”

Alena smiled. „Are you convinced now that these strange paintings of the trees are because of a cruel witch?”

„Don’t you also think so? If not, just carefully look at those trunks. You’ll understand why I have the feeling that those trunks are hardened souls by the power of a cruel being that has supernatural powers.”

„Yet, it isn’t so.”

„Why are you so sure of this? Because of what you see? The truth?”

„Actually yes because… if souls had been closed inside the trunks, I would have seen them because I have such power. However, there, closed inside that trunk, it is only the soul of the forest and of the trees. Nothing more.”

Eṉōl frowned. „Yet, it’s so real.”

„It’s because it has been nature’s will.”

„To keep the curious ones away from this place?”

„On the contrary: it tries to lure them here this way. Then, after those souls have fallen prey to the hatred of the master of these places, they have been turned into his servants forever. Or… how do you think the shadows of this forest appeared?”

„From alive souls?” The commander asked, widening his eyes too much.

„Mmm, that’s right. The Shadows are the souls of those who have fallen prey to the hatred of the Master of the forest in fact. Still wandering around, they look for the Gate of Salvation. A Gate that only a few souls are able to find. Actually, there are too few of those who passed by here but weren’t turned to shadows.”

„You, for example.”

Alena winced, staring at the commander. „How did you find this out?” She asked him, confused.

„You told me this, remember? Right before following the Vanamar Domas. You told me then that you passed by here before.”

Eṉōl was right: she talked about this before, but she had forgotten. Because of this, Alena sighed. Then, she looked in front again, at Ṭirākulā, who kept sniffing the air, with his eyes closed, while the other wolves were exchanging glances, in amazement, not understanding what happened to their leader. Only Domas was strangely grinning, as though he knew something the others didn’t know. Domas’s grin made Alena growl eventually, „I really hate the grin on that one’s face.”

„Domas’s grin? Why?” The commander asked.

„Because… I have the feeling he’s planning something. Nothing good for any of us, actually. Yet, something that doesn’t affect us eventually.”

„I wouldn't be that sure actually because… we are in this strange place now. A place where we can be discovered any time.”

Alena said nothing after what the commander said. She said nothing not because she didn’t have anything to say, but because she realized that Eṉōl was eventually right: in that forest of shadows, everything could happen to them if they hadn’t been attentive. Yet, there was still time until their fear became true. That’s why she decided to think about this later. For the moment, she looked in front again when she heard Ṭirākulā saying, „We are still on the right track.”

„Did you realize this only now?” Domas asked in a mocking tone. „I told you this before: that’s the path we should follow.”

Ṭirākulā showed Domas his fangs. „Even if you told me this, I had to make sure of myself.”

„Don’t you trust me?”

„Absolutely,” the leader of the Vanamars growled. „You know very well why I don’t trust you: it’s because… not only once you have stubbed your fangs into my throat when I expected this less.” After that, Ṭirākulā turned his back to Domas and moved further.

The others followed him right away. Only Domas stood in the same place for a few more moments, growling for himself, „I’m not sure you remember well who has stubbed his fangs into whose throat. Yet, there isn’t the moment to prove to you that you are wrong.” After that, looking around, to make sure nobody followed them, he walked behind the others.

„An old rivalry, it seems to me,” Eṉōl thoughtfully murmured, the moment they followed the wolves.

„You don’t even know how right you are because… Domas has been the leader of the Vanamars two decades ago.”

„Wait a minute!” Eṉōl suddenly said, stopping for a few moments. „As far as I remember, you told me that it was Ṭirākulā who led the Vanamars when your people were slaughtered.”

„You are actually right this time too. Why? Because Ṭirākulā managed to defeat Domas in a cruel fight at that time. Thus, he got the throne and the crown. Since then, Domas has been a shadow of this Forest of Shadows. Yet, he stopped being one after he met the Titanide of Hatred, who gave him the same powers as the other Vanamars had.”

„And you know this because…?”

„Because I saw this,” Alena whispered in a shaking voice. Then, without looking into the commander’s full of amazement glance, she kept advancing onto that road. She left because she didn’t want to tell him about what she knew. Yes, Alena preferred to keep silent about what she saw two decades ago when she was still a child.

***

The Gate Alena remembered was still there. A huge Gate, built from metallic spears, which were placed at equal intervals. Metallic spears that were thick as the fist of a child is, which he tightly squeezed, and with sharp tops, in the form of torches. „Yet, these torches aren’t lit anymore,” whispered Alena, stopped about fifty meters from the gate through which the Vanamars had entered already.

„They aren’t lit? What exactly?” Eṉōl asked when he got next to her. He delayed a little in approaching her because he was too charmed by the beauty of that place even though it shouldn’t have been a reason to be distracted.

„The torches of the gate,” murmured Alena as though she was in a trance. And, right in front of her, she saw the moment when the child Alena entered through those gates two decades ago, gates that were half opened at that moment, chased by someone. Because of this, the child was terrified and kept looking around to see if her attacker was there to catch up with her. Who followed her that day? Alena didn’t see. She hadn’t remembered that moment before, but she saw it so clearly at that moment while staying in front of the gates. Then, so suddenly, she shuddered when she heard a deafening croak behind her. Looking over there, she saw a flock of black crows pouncing on them.

„No,” Alena shouted, covering her head with both arms and squatting when she heard the crows passing above them.

Eṉōl, who saw nothing of what she had seen, looked at her, confused. „Has she lost her mind?” He wondered. Then, when he remembered that Alena could read thoughts while staying by someone, he swallowed hard, afraid not to be turned into God knows what weird creature for such thoughts.

The commander was in vain afraid because Alena didn’t have time for such things. She, soon after turning back to her senses, stood up and glanced around afraid, terrified. Seeing only Eṉōl there, and the weird trees of course, she let a painful sigh come out of her chest, mumbling shortly after this, „Only memories.”

„About?” Eṉōl asked.

„About the past,” she drily answered. After that, she turned and looked at that strange gate through which the Vanamars had crossed already. A similar gate to the one she often saw in her memories, with two huge trees guarding it on both sides. Those trees also had other thin trunks wrapped around their thick trunks, as they had seen before. And, looking at them, Alena shuddered again. Yet, understanding that fear helped them in nothing, she whispered to Eṉōl, „Let’s go!” After that, she’d been the first to go toward the gates.

Eṉōl followed her, remaining only a few steps behind. He was confused and amazed at the same time because he not only got into a magic and beautiful forest, which was cursed at the same time, but he also had a fox as his companion, who was also strange. Why did Eṉōl consider Alena strange? Because of everything she did: she not only had visions and feared even her shadow, but she also murmured unknown words, as though she tried to make him fear too.

Actually, also because of Alena’s weirdness, Eṉōl got to squeeze the handle of the sword that was still in its scabbard. He did that to make sure he’d be capable of protecting themselves if necessary. Yes, the commander was determined to protect Alena too because… maybe she was a magic fox and so many other things, but still… she was a living creature, whom Eṉōl would have protected with his body if it had been necessary. Eṉōl did that to all of his companions and Alena wouldn’t have been an exception at that moment.

Eventually, also crossing through that weird gate, a few steps behind Alena, Eṉōl felt strange. Why exactly? Because the magic of those places suddenly vanished and, instead of this, he felt the terror. The commander still saw the same trees, with wrapped trunks around each other as he saw at the gates. However, these trees had something different from the other trees: they emanated a savage energy, a mean one, in fact. And… They were completely leafless. Those trees had huge crowns, formed by thick branches entangled between them, which formed a strange vault eventually, through which no ray of light could pass. Not that in that forest was light, but still… It was an idea that crossed the commander’s mind.

„At the same time, I feel no fresh air around,” he surprised himself by saying that. „And no music of the forest is heard too.”

„Only the croak of the crows,” she heard Alena’s voice next to him. This made him wince and look at her, extremely surprised because he knew her a few meters away from him. Yet, he was wrong because Alena, the moment she felt that the commander didn’t follow her, stopped and waited for him. She did that because she felt a strange connection with him and that they had to stay together all the time if they wanted to survive.

Looking at her, while his heart was madly beating in his chest because of the scare, Eṉōl asked, „Why do you say that? I mean… where did you hear crows because I hear none here.”

Alena said nothing. She only half turned her back to him and showed him to look in front. She pointed with her hand to another massive gate, a wooden one this time. Looking over there, Eṉōl saw many black-like-pitch crows sitting on the walls and on the rocky vault that was above those wooden gates. A gate that seemed to protect the entrance to an underworld place. What was even more surprising than seeing this was for Eṉōl to understand that there was a mountain in the middle of the forest. Realizing this, Eṉōl looked up. He even shook his head several times, asking extremely confused shortly after this, „Why is there a mountain in the middle of the forest? This is real madness!”

„It’s just an illusion,” Alena told him, confident, even though she whispered those words. „It’s a copy of the place where Tīmai was born.”

Eṉōl frowned. „The Titanide who you said has been born in the depths of a mountain?”

„That’s right. Yet, even though nobody ever found out where exactly the Titanide of Hatred was born, Anaya suspected that it happened in the heart of a Mountain that could exist in Maranam’s Kingdom.”

„That Kingdom that can be found across the Chasm Maṇṭalam?”

„Yes, commander. That place is one that only a few have ever seen: the Wind Kkāṟṟu, Anaya, and those who serve Maranam.”

Eṉōl looked at her even more confused this time. „Even so, this place seems to me earthly. Yet, it’s a dark place, I must accept this, but… it doesn’t look like being part of the Underworld I would say.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

„Have you ever seen it?” Alena asked him, smiling.

„What exactly?”

„The Underworld! I ask this because you say that it doesn’t seem to be a place that belongs to the Underworld!”

„Well, I haven’t seen that place… yet,” Eṉōl murmured, confused. „Even so, I feel that’s something earthly. I feel this.”

„Aaa, you feel it!” Alena whispered, smiling. „Then… you might be right!”

Suddenly, Alena kept silent the moment both of them felt the crows above the wooden gates agitated. Yet, looking around, none of them saw anything strange: only the Vanamars of Ṭirākulā were still in front of the wooden gates, with their heads bowed, and waiting. Even so, if the crows were agitated, it meant only one thing, „That Tīmai is somewhere close!”

The fear and the concern felt in Alena’s voice made Eṉōl attentive. He didn’t look at her for more than a few seconds. After that, the commander looked at the gates again. Better to say, Eṉōl looked above the gates, where the crows were croaking, agitated, nervously moving even if they were still sitting. However, it didn’t last long: the crows, the moment the big lock behind the gates had been heard squeaking, rose in the air, blackening the horizon soon after this. They even started to croak deafeningly, making poor Eṉōl and Alena cover their ears so as not to go deaf.

The clamor of the crows didn’t last long: only for a few moments while they flew above the gates. After that, sitting on the branches of the trees, they silenced their shrieks, and only a deaf sound was heard coming out of their throats after this. A strange sound, which made Eṉōl squeeze the handle of his sword even more, afraid not to be attacked suddenly even though he was sure that those six fireballs, which still followed them, were protecting them.

The commander became attentive the moment the iron hinges of the massive wooden gates strangely squeaked. This sound even made him gnash his teeth at one point because it was heard as though a drill was piercing his skull. Eventually, when he could finally control himself, Eṉōl took the sword out of its scabbard and approached Alena, positioning himself in front of her in a protective way. After that, the commander looked at the gates, in front of which the Vanamars were already sitting on the front paws, with their snouts practically touching the ground while worshiping in front of an invisible creature.

„Are they waiting for their queen or what?” The commander asked in a mocking tone.

„Actually, you are right this time too,” Alena replied from behind him. „Those wolves bow only in front of a single queen, Tīmai!”

Saying this, Alena seemed pretty calm. She felt calm, somehow protected, and this was the first time in her life when someone protected her with his own body… a stranger. Yes, the commander, a stranger to her, protected her when, before that, none of her sisters hinted to her that they were ready to sacrifice for her. And, realizing this, Alena felt something pleasant warming her inside. Because of this, she smiled, even though she should have stayed alert. Yet, once she felt that pleasant magic feeling, Alena preferred to fully enjoy it even if it was for a short time only.

The moment the gates were completely opened, by an invisible power, she appeared from behind the commander and stared at the gates. Yet, she didn’t see the Vanamars in front of those gates, but the child Alena, who was shaking like hell in front of those massive gates, which were also opened at that moment. In front of whom did she shake? In front of someone unseen. „In front of the Titanide of Hatred, I shook then!” Alena suddenly murmured, terrified, making Eṉōl turn toward her and look at her in amazement.

„Do you mean you saw her?”

„It seems so, even if it’s something I don't remember. And… I have the feeling I haven’t been alone here that day.”

„Not alone?” Alena nodded. „Then… who accompanied you that day? Nikkari?”

Alena winced. „What makes you think this?”

„Because… it seemed strange to me her behavior when she saw you. The moment Zeal and I brought you to the place where Nikkari and the nymphs were.”

„Strange? How?”

„I’m not sure. I only remember that she stared at you and murmured something like… „I’ve never thought that I’ll see you again.” I didn’t pay attention to this then, thinking that she talked to Princess Zeal. Now, thinking about this, I realize that she said that when she led our footsteps toward this forest. This is what makes me think that she accompanied you here that day.”

„Is it so?” Alena thought. „Have I seen Nikkari before? Yet, if it’s so, why don't I remember this? More than that, why have I forgotten this story with the gates and that I’ve seen Tīmai before? Is it because of Fate?”

A long squeak, of the metallic gates behind them, made Alena look over there. She saw those gates closing at that moment and this made her shudder. Also because of this, she grabbed the commander’s sleeve, slowly pulling the cloth toward her to make him look at her. Then, when she saw Eṉōl looking in the same direction as she looked, Alena asked him, „Tell me you see the same thing I see: those gates closed.”

„No, they are still open!” The commander replied, confused.

„It can’t be! I see them closed. Don’t you also see them closed?” Eṉōl shook his head. „Strange then! Is it a memory only?” She thought this time.

The moment they heard a burst of strange laughter behind them, both looked over there and saw Tīmai exiting through those wooden gates that were already open. She had a crow on her left shoulder and a hawk with a sharp beak and claws sitting on her right wrist. Once outside, Tīmai threw the hawk in the air and took a few steps toward the Vanamars. Yet, by doing this, Tīmai didn’t force only the hawk to fly, but also the crow, which croaked all the time, in a strange way, as though letting her master know that there weren’t only the Vanamars there, but spies too.

The insistent croak of the crow made Tīmai stop laughing and look toward the place where Alena and the commander were. She saw nobody there. Even so, she felt that she wasn’t wrong in thinking that there was a strange energy felt in that place. Because of this, Tīmai kept looking at them, trying to see something beyond the shadows.

Just as Tīmai was doing, Alena and Eṉōl kept looking at her. Thus, they saw that the Titanide of Hatred looked like a young woman about thirty, with long black hair, very soft, which got to her waist. Her waist was too small, outlined by the black dress she wore at that moment. Tīmai wore a precious dress at that moment, tailored from a shiny material, with short sleeves that covered only her shoulders, and a big décolleté that outlined her beautiful breasts. On her shoulders, Tīmai also wore a black cloak, which she grabbed at her neck with a thick rope of the same color, which was skillfully braided, but still strong. Her long hair was freely flowing in waves or at least most of it was covering her back while only two small strands of hair, from her temples, were grabbed at her back. And, at her right temple, they saw a strange black flower. Seeing that flower, even though he had never seen it before, Eṉōl winced when Alena whispered, „That is Malar, which in the ancient language means the Flower of Death.”

The name of the flower, „Malar,” made Eṉōl swallow hard because, even though he knew so little about the ancient language, that word was clearly resounding in his ears. Not because he heard Alena saying it, but because of his father, who used to tell his son when he was little, „That evil flower is always worn at her right temple by the Virgin in Black, the Virgin I saw only once in my life.” When or how Eṉōl’s father saw that flower, he had never told his son. He only told Eṉōl to run away if he had seen it one day because… „Those who have seen that flower at least once in their life have been lost forever.” Those words confused the commander because, even though he had often heard them while being a child, he completely forgot about them. „Until now, when the Virgin in Black finally appeared also in front of me. And… is she the same Virgin my father used to mention?”

Yet, even if he asked himself such questions, there was nobody to answer them because Alena was too busy and scared to do this. Alena was actually terrified. She’d been terrified right from the moment she saw Tīmai heading toward them and she understood that the Titanide was determined to check what was the deal with the strange energy felt over there. Thus, when Tīmai started to walk toward them, Alena saw herself as a child again, the same twelve-year-old girl that stood in front of those gates that day. After that, Alena clearly saw the image of the child turning her back to the place where they were at that moment and moving back while staring with terror in front. She was sure that the child Alena was heading toward the gates while walking like the crabs. Because of this, Alena shuddered from top to toe. Then, when a shriek was heard again, the adult Alena swallowed hard and covered her ears with her palms as though hiding herself from the past and trying to figure out how to survive the energy felt in that place.

Eṉōl suddenly hid the terrifying image of the Virgin in Black. He, seeing Alena shaking like hell and understanding the reason why she did that, decided to do something to make her react. Yet, he failed to do this because Alena only remembered something more after this - how another Virgin in Black stepped in front of her that day, hiding the child from Tīmai’s full of hatred glance. Then, when that unknown Virgin stepped in front of her, the child Alena raised her glance and looked at the back of the stranger, who wore a black dress and had a black satin cloak on her shoulders. Yet, to that stranger, the child Alena didn’t feel the same evil energy as she felt at Tīmai. She understood this the moment the stranger told Tīmai in a serious tone, „This is a soul that doesn’t belong to you, Tīmai!”

„Do you think so?” Tīmai asked Nikkari that day.

„I don't only think so,” Nikkari’s voice clearly resounded in adult Alena’s ears. „I’m sure of this because this soul belongs to the Light and not to the Shadows.”

„Yet, I think exactly the opposite. Do you know why?”

„Of course, I know: she’s meant to join the tribe of the magic foxes, those led by the sister of the Mago of the Black Stones.”

„A Mago that is evil and who serves the Shadows. So, I don’t see any difference whom this child will serve eventually: me or him.”

„Yet, I see that difference because… Fate decided so, Tīmai. Fate you can’t change or everything would be turned upside down.”

Tīmai yelled like a malefic soul at that moment, making the poor child wince, terrified. Then, the Titanide hissed through her teeth, „Fate… fate… fate… You always repeat this, Nikkari! Yet, the question is still this: who’s Fate to decide in my place?”

„Fate has created this world!” Nikkari calmly replied.

„I would rather say that Fate has created this world to destroy it. So, this soul remains here today!”

The sudden movement of Tīmai’s hand made the crows from above pounce on Nikkari and the child, intending to split them and Tīmai take the girl. Yet, the crows fell to the ground eventually when Nikkari’s power came at them full-on, a force that was sent like a harsh wind that made everything around them shudder. Soon after this, in seconds only, a thick black fog surrounded them, forcing Tīmai and Alena to cough. Only Nikkari seemed not to be affected by that fog because she, staring at Tīmai, told her, „This child will be protected by me starting today, Tīmai! So, if you decide to touch her someday, keep in mind that you’ll have to kill me first!” After that, Nikkari turned toward the girl, whom she held to her chest. Then, covering Alena with her black cloak, the two of them vanished, something that made Tīmai yell like a mad soul, making the surroundings powerfully resound.

Seeing the images of the past again, Alena felt her heart madly beating in her chest because she really forgot that event. Then, taking a step aside and not hiding behind the commander as she did before, Alena looked at Tīmai, who was advancing toward them. Alena even saw that Tīmai was squinting while trying to see something beyond the shadows and even heard what the Titanide thought about at that moment, that… „I felt this energy before! Yet… where?”

This thought let Alena know that it was necessary to do something to avoid being discovered there. What exactly could she do? She wasn’t that sure because she didn’t have the power to teleport from there. She could only protect themselves as Inmar taught her and the other foxes. That’s why she formed that fireball above her left palm again, thinking to use it and attack Tīmai if that one had „smelt” that they were there.

Yet, her concern was groundless because Tīmai forgot about her initial plan, of checking what the deal with the energy she felt was, the moment she heard Ṭirākulā saying, „My queen! We are finally seeing each other again! After decades of separation!”

Tīmai, looking past the Vanamar’s shoulder, who still had his head bowed, mockingly laughed. Then, she told him, „As though you would have missed me, Ṭirākulā!”

„Even if you don’t believe me, my queen, I really missed you. Even though I was sure that we would see each other again.”

The „humility” felt at the Vanamar made Tīmai turn completely toward him. Then, heading toward the Vanamars this time, she started to strike her long black nails one against the other, making an irritating sound. That sound made the Vanamars show their fangs while Eṉōl gnashed his teeth. The only one who seemed at all affected by that sound was Tīmai. She, grinning, told the Vanamar, „Ah, Ṭirākulā, ah: I always hated the boasters and the boot-licks. Something I couldn’t get rid of once you are here! What boredom!”

Ṭirākulā also grinned, „daring” to move from his place a little. Thus, turning toward the Titanide, he told her, „A pleasant flattery, in my opinion, because… I’m your servant forever!”

Tīmai burst into laughter. „Servant, you?” She asked the Vanamar in mockery. „I rather accept that there is a possibility for the dead ones to revive than you faithfully serve someone. A real proof is the one next to you. Am I right, Domas?”

Domas growled: he was enraged after he remembered that black period of his life. Even so, he humbly said, „You are right, my queen!”

„See? Others agree with me! So, great Ṭirākulā, stop being a hypocrite and tell me why you are here!”

„To tell you that Master Maranam sent word for us to be on the eastern field of Paṉi Makkaḷ in two days.”

„Such a big deal,” the Titanide hissed through her teeth. „I knew this already. Yet, I must accept that I had no idea that you would be also there. Is it because my „Master” is out of trustful servants and that’s why he has chosen you… a puppy… to guard him on the battlefield?”

Ṭirākulā showed her his fangs. Then, he growled peaceably, „Let’s not insult each other once we have to fight side by side.”

„Are you threatening me?”

„I’m just calling things by their real name,” the Vanamar hissed through his teeth this time, staring into her eyes.

Also staring into his eyes, Tīmai became attentive. She even slowly bent in front to see his eyes better. Tīmai’s behavior made Alena attentive too. That’s why she looked in the same direction as the Titanide. Yet, Alena didn’t see too much because she couldn’t see the Vanamar’s eyes, whom she could see only from the profile, from the left. Even so, Alena was sure that Tīmai saw the future in the wolf’s eyes. Because of this, she told Eṉōl, „It seems to me that Ṭirākulā’s days are limited.”

„What makes you think so?”

„I only suspect this because it seems strange to me her reaction. Tīmai is too quiet and calm, even though Ṭirākulā deserves to be punished for his arrogance.”

„Then… Do you think she also sees the future?”

„I’m sure of this. What I’m not sure of is if she joins Maranam in this war or not.”

Eṉōl looked at her, confused. „Rebellion?”

„I would rather say precaution! And now… let’s go!”

„Where?” Eṉōl asked in amazement, seeing Alena turning her back to him and heading toward the metallic gates.

„To make sure we survive today!” The fox told him without watching him. She was confident and this was felt in her voice, as she was determined to survive that day at any cost.

Not at all convinced that her plan would work, Eṉōl followed her right away. Even so, he looked back several times to make sure nobody was following them. Yet, seeing Tīmai and the Vanamars still in that place, the commander breathed a sigh of relief because he didn’t really want to fight that day… not on the territory of his enemies.

***

Alena’s theory, that Tīmai wouldn’t join Maranam’s army, was wrong eventually. Tīmai, along with Ṭirākulā and dozens of Vanamars headed toward the eastern field of Paṉi Makkaḷ a few hours only after the conversation Alena and Eṉōl heard the Titanide of Hatred had with the wolves. Thus, seeing that the Tīmai behaved differently from what she thought, Alena frowned and stopped right in the middle of the road, a few dozen meters from those massive metallic gates that guarded the Titanide’s Kingdom.

After she stopped, even though she was determined to find the exit from that cursed forest without help, Alena told Eṉōl eventually, „Let’s wait for them!”

„To wait for whom? The Vanamars?” Eṉōl asked her, scared.

„Mmm, I have the feeling that following them, we’ll get out of this cursed forest.”

„A risky movement I think. We already took that risk coming here. I would say not to take another risk and move on until they discover us here, spying on them.”

„Nikkari won’t allow this.”

„Honestly, I don’t see how she’ll impede that.”

„Because you were right when you said that Nikkari saved me twenty years ago. She told Tīmai that day that I would be out of her power. And… I also think that Nikkari has cast a spell over this place, over me, and over Tīmai at the same time.”

„Maybe you are right, but… you are the one who said that she was afraid that Tīmai would see her here.”

„Yes, I was afraid and not in vain because… she felt us.”

„And she didn’t attack?” Alena nodded. „Strange!”

„She did that because she wasn’t sure who spied on them. Maybe she supposed that Nikkari spied and she gave up on the idea of finding out whose energy she felt there, preferring to pay attention to Ṭirākulā than to others. And, as I’m sure that the Vanamars get at the borders of Paṉi Makkaḷ today, I say to take one more risk and follow them.”

Eṉōl looked around, confused. „Something that I hate, but still something that can take us out of here.”

„It’s decided then,” said Alena confidently. „Meanwhile, let’s hide!”

They found a shelter behind the thick trunk of a very old tree, a secular tree inside of which Alena felt the weakest energy. She looked for that tree, aware that it was their only chance not to be betrayed. After that, they waited for a few hours until they saw Ṭirākulā walking through those massive iron gates. He wasn’t alone but with Domas, the other Vanamars, and Tīmai.

Once passing through the gates, Ṭirākulā and the rest of those who accompanied him stopped. They seemed to wait for something, but Alena wasn’t sure what they were waiting for. That’s why she exchanged glances with the commander eventually, the moment she felt his glance focused on her. Then, when the commander showed her to look to her left and she looked over there, Alena saw an army of a few dozen Vanamars heading toward Ṭirākulā.

„Now I understand,” said Alena, frowning. „They were waiting for backup. Yet, how the hell did they send word when we saw nobody exiting through those gates?”

„They probably have their secret messages. Yet, this is not important right now. What’s important is to find out what they are planning and to leave this place.”

„Yes, you are right. Nevertheless, I would have liked to find out their secrets, honestly,” Alena growled, being the first one to get out of their hideout and following the Vanamars, who joined the big group and headed eastward along with Tīmai.

***

Sneaking next to the bushes and the trees they met in front, Alena and Eṉōl finally got to the edge of the Forest of Shadows. Once there, they understood that they were at the edge of Kiago Forest in fact, the one that was facing the eastern border of Paṉi Makkaḷ. Thus, both hiding behind the first row of trees, they looked toward the field that was between the borders of their kingdom and the forest. There… they saw a single person, with his back to them, and completely black dressed.

„No one other than Maranam,” Alena suddenly murmured, shuddering from top to toe.

Staring at her, with wide-open eyes, Eṉōl felt strange itches on his skin. „Why are you so sure?” He asked her.

„Because of the two panthers over there and of the horse. A horse that I saw in dreams once: Vakkurti.”

„The Horse of the Underworld!” Murmured Eṉōl, confused.

„That’s right, and the panthers are Kurūcim and Koṭumai, Maranam’s faithful servants and the only ones who never leave him alone.”

„Something strange, in my opinion. That he’s alone at the borders of Paṉi Makkaḷ.”

„There’s nothing strange that he’s here alone because… as Anaya said once, Maranam wants the fall of Paṉi Makkaḷ as bad as he wants the death of Rophions.”

„For lands?”

„For supremacy, Eṉōl! Something we have to impede him to have, once and for all!”

Saying this, Alena made a sign to Eṉōl to follow her. The reason? She decided to leave that place while they still had that chance because maybe they managed to deceive the Vanamars and Tīmai while heading there, but she wasn’t sure they would have the same luck with Maranam and the panthers.