„When everything around will be burnt by the sun, the moon will show up in the sky and its shining will split the world in two. Then, this world will look like a coin, with different stories engraved on each side of it. Which one will you believe, Obregon?”

  Then, a huge image of the fiery wolf showed up in all its glory in the sky of the darkness while, in the shining of the fire, Obregon looked smaller and smaller which each second which was passing.

  And there were also heard whispers of wailing around, whispers of longing coming out of the 20-years-old-man's mouth, who was crawling back while staring frightened at the fiery wolf’s head.

  „Who are you?” Obregon asked, frightened while the wolf’s eyes suddenly became normal and the fire vanished somewhere. „Why do you always show up around me? What do you want from me?”

  „It’s because you’re the one who’ll rule over the sun and I’m the one who takes his fire from the sun. But due to your immense pride, it’s possible to lose everything before having the gift of ruling the world in your hands. That’s why I’m forced to interfere in your life and change your destiny.”

  One more step has been taken back and Obregon fell to the ground, and he continued to crawl back till his back didn’t touch the trunk of a huge tree. Frightened, Obregon looked around and saw that the tree he touched with his back was the Cedar of Nomads about which Gaea told the girls and which was alive and green while its crown and its alive bark made the young man shudder.

  „Why did this tree resurrect?” Obregon asked.

  „Because of you this Cedar is back to life,” the wolf answered.

  „But… how’s this possible? I… I’ve waited for its death for so long. I did everything to fulfill this dream and make this Cedar dry. However, this tree is green again. Why?”

  „Because hatred sneaked inside your heart. Because darkness is living and ruling your life from your soul. Because what you lived all these years and what your people suffered for centuries cannot continue lightening and step by step your hopes and dreams have hidden in shadow and this tree is the opposite of your world now.”

  „The opposite of my world. What did you mean?” And Obregon raised his glance and looked at the wolf without fear in his heart this time while the wolf was watching him out of nowhere, reflecting kindness and love for Obregon’s people in his glance.

  Then the wolf’s head stopped burning and, in the sky of the night, the giant head of a black wolf showed up while the shade of its fur was shining as if it was heated pitch.

  But even so, he wasn’t scary. The light of his eyes and the shining of his heart made him similar to a God that showed up in the sky to tell the world about the prophecy that would come as if he was the messenger of Hell and Sky on Earth.

  „Do you remember what I told you the first time I showed up in your dream and what I tell you all the time I show up in front of you?” The wolf asked.

  The young man looked elsewhere, avoiding the wolf’s piercing glance. „Yes. I remember. You told me that the world is like a coin with two faces.”

  „And you are right. This means that what you see now can be only a face of the coin while the reality can be different.”

  „What… what do you mean by saying this? That what I see can be an illusion?”

  „It can be. Depends on how you look at what you see in front of you.”

  „But… but how should I distinguish if what I see is a dream or is this the reality?”

  The wolf’s happy laughter was heard echoing around but not like a rumble of thunder that is piercing the surroundings and scaring the children during the night, but as if it was a sweet chink that rather made one more curious than scared.

  „And, who are you? Why didn’t you ever tell me your name and why do you always talk to me like this, as a wolf, and not like you really look?”

  „Because I’m a future God and I’m talking to you from the future. I lost my real face and my real shape in a fierce battle with evil, but I still keep my name. I’ll be named the God of Fire or the Black Wolf once, the one who brings the light in the darkness. I’ll be born from Titans and humans but I’ll rule as a God. I’ll rule, but my reign will be short because this world changes, as well as the montane watercourse, which nobody, ever, managed to keep up with. My name is Fenrir and I’ll be the one who will have the power of fire in a world ruled by darkness. I’m the Torch.”

  „The Torch? What kind of Torch?” Obregon asked and stood up, not hearing an answer. Then he took a few steps toward the image of the wolf. But he stopped and took two steps back when, on both sides of the wolf’s head, two fire daggers showed up and they seem more like two torches of light than weapons that could bring death.

  „These daggers will be brought to you soon. because they keep the hope or the death of your people in their breath. And it depends on which face of the coin you’ll choose and how you’ll organize the time of your reign, because Life, Obregon, isn’t something you can subdue - Life subdues you and others. You can’t force things to happen but things can force you to enter their dangerous game. And the most important teaching: you can’t win without exchanging it for something yours.”

  „Without exchanging it for something mine? What should I give to have these daggers?”

  „Don’t be greedy, Obregon. You can’t have them both because even if these daggers had been made by a man, their main purpose isn’t to save your people but to save the world from evil. You will have only one of the daggers till the one meant to have it won’t be born and he’ll come to ask your people for his rights over that dagger.

  And you’ll be forced to give up on the dagger’s power then if you want your people to survive. If not, the last heir of the City of the Sun will die without a son then, without a heart, and without a glorious death and this will be the beginning of a new ruling over your people and over the world.”

  The wolf’s head suddenly disappeared, but the two daggers started to burn more and more, and their blinding light was approaching Obregon’s face, forcing him to close his eyes and protect his sight with his arm. But he had been awakened from his daydream by Condor’s touch, who put his palm on Obregon’s shoulder, making him wince.

  „What? What’s happening?” Obregon asked, frightened, looking around. „Did I have another dream as many others that I had before?”

  „Yes, Obregon. You fell asleep again, overwhelmed by strange feelings. What did the wolf tell you this time? Did he reveal his name or the reason why he all the time show up in your dream?”

  Obregon looked into the glance of his good friend and slowly nodded in approval. „Yes, Condor. You are right. He told me that his name is Fenrir and that he’ll be the God of Fire in the future and he also told me that the light is approaching us.”

  „The light is approaching. What do you mean?”

  „I’m not sure yet, but we’ll find out.” He suddenly kept silent when he saw three feminine silhouettes approaching his tent which Obregon was seeing now very clearly while sitting next to the trunk of a big tree.

  The three women stopped in front of the tent and waited. „Are we expecting someone, Condor?”

  „It seems so. As far as I see, the one I always kept an eye on her while looking for answers came today here deciding so by herself. But the reason why she is here, I don’t know it.”

  „Let’s go to find out that reason then!” Obregon stretched his hand and Condor grabbed it and, slightly forcing his body, he helped his friend to stand up, and the two friends headed toward the tent, resting their arm on the shoulders of the other.

***

  „Are you speaking about Master Dike?” Obregon practically yelled, asking Gaea this, and he turned toward the Titanide, who was sitting at the oval table while, on both sides of her, were sitting Upprisinn and Kaerlleikans. „And… if he was who sent you here, where is he then? Where is Master Dike now?”

  „He’ll come! Soon!” Gaea calmly answered. „However, till he comes, you should make your choice,” and, watching the two girls, she slowly shook her head giving them the signal they were waiting for and both of them took the daggers from where they were hiding them and put them on the table in front of them.

  „The daggers from my dream. Those the wolf was talking about,” Obregon unwillingly whispered.

  „From your dream? About which the wolf was talking? Do you mean that you saw these daggers before?” Gaea asked him, but as an answer, she only saw him approving by shaking his head. „Who's that wolf who talked to you about the daggers? Did he tell you his name?”

  „Fenrir. He told me that he’ll be the God of Fire in the future. The Torch that will illuminate the darkness or something like this.”

  Gaea winced. „How’s this possible? I… I didn’t even decide the future of this soul. I just thought about bringing him to life. How did he manage to show up in the dream of this man? A soul that doesn’t even exist yet?” But she didn’t dare to loudly ask Obregon about this, even if, inside her heart, she was so eager to find out how will look like the soul she was planning to bring to life.

  Meanwhile, Obregon’s glance fixed on the daggers, as if charmed by them, and this didn’t pass unnoticed by Gaea. „I see greed in your eyes, Obregon, but you can have only one of them.”

  „Then, I’ll choose…”

  „Wait!” The Titanide demanded. „Don’t rush because you still don’t know all the terms for and against such a choice.”

  Obregon disliked the Titanide’s answer and, to calm down, he noisily inhaled air, but he said nothing to her. Only his eyes were fixed on the girls’faces which looked hardened as if they were living statues.

  „As I said: you can choose only one but if you make the wrong choice then you’ll lose everything.”

  „I’ll lose everything. And… what do you mean now?”

  „Each of these two daggers has its own purpose in this world and their location cannot be changed. Even before being made, the Universe decided its meaning and this has been told to the world by the Titanide of Fire and by the Titanide of Sleep. Thus, each of them must be only with their master. Or, both will vanish like the one who will take them if he mustn’t have it because if they won’t be used as Chaos and the Universe decided it, then they are useless for this world.”

  Obregon shook his head, trying to clear his mind. „Wait a minute. If these daggers have already a master and I am one of their masters why I cannot have it without any risk?”

  „You cannot win without risking,” Gaea cunningly told him. „Think twice before touching any of these daggers because when your fingers will touch one sheath then there can be no going back.”

  Gaea’s fixed glance completely disarmed Obregon, making him stagger to his feet as if some forbidden liquor took over him.

  Then he closed his eyes and touched his forehead while his rhythmical breathing became more and more alert and the women’s faces, which he saw through his half-opened fingers, were dizzyingly moving in front of him as if they wanted to confuse him.

  Yet, he finally decided to accept fate’s will. But when he took a step in front, Condor touched his shoulder and made Obregon look at him.

  Condor instead didn’t look into Obregon’s eyes but into the Titanide’s, who was absolutely unsatisfied with Condor’s intervention.

  Then, Condor told his friend: „don’t rush, Obregon. Sometimes is better to balance everything in your head: pro and contra before making any decision if you want to succeed. For this, I suggest you remember our childhood.”

  „Our childhood? What do you mean with…?”

  Condor looked into his friend's eyes then. „What has a child but it lacks to an adult?”

  „The innocence!” Obregon eventually answered after looking for seconds in a row into his friend’s eyes and, as per order, he closed his eyes, calmed the rhythm of his heart beatings, and then he heard the voice of his heart.

  Then, still having his eyes closed, he stretched his hand toward one of the daggers.

  But halfway Gaea’s hand touched his and she stuck it on the table.

  Feeling the coldness of the wood, Obregon opened his eyes, and he could see Gaea’s furious glance as if it was burning embers.

  „I told you to think twice before choosing something. But you preferred to listen to the advice of those who have no idea about what happens in this world than to listen to my advice,” and, the Titanide’s eyes fixed into Condor’s glance and he bent his head and looked elsewhere, but not because of fear or shame, but because despite the rivalry with her, he was still respecting her. Soon after this, Gaea looked at Obregon in amazement seeing him smiling.

  „Do you know the difference between Titans and humans, Mother Earth?”

  Gaea grimaced in displeasure because this unexpected question was something she disliked. „What does he plan? What kind of trick is this?” She wondered.

  „Trust and friendship… are what makes us different, humans of Titans. While you prefer to fight and strive for the throne of the Universe, we trust our friends because a true friend will always be near you while you are always alone.”

  Gaea sketched a sad smile: Obregon was right. But instead of an answer that could chase away the trust he had in his eyes, she preferred to keep silent. And she did this because she knew the truth, but she preferred to hide it from humans, who were nothing else than the Titans’copy in this world.

  Withdrawing her hand, Gaea sat down on her chair and waited in silence.

  Obregon however didn’t rush either this time. And, after a short period of time of looking into Kaerlleikans’eyes, he stretched his hand and touched the dagger she had in front of her.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  „Welcome into my life, a human being with the face of an angel. We’ll build this world together,” and, taking the dagger out of its scabbard, Obregon cut his palm and a few drops of blood colored the wooden table in red.

  Kaerlleikans watched in silence how the blood drops on the table. Then, she broke a small cloth from her dress and, approaching Obregon, she bandaged his wound.

  This made Obregon look at her and then he smiled.

  Kaerlleikans did the same and, approaching his ear, she whispered: „You made the right choice, king. I’ll do the same for you.” Then Kaerlleikans kissed his cheek and, having a red face as if poppy blossomed onto her cheeks, she ran out of the tent, followed by her sister.

  Obregon gave Condor the signal to follow the girls. And when they were alone in the tent, Gaea took her real shape. But even if Obregon saw her this way for the first time, he didn’t look surprised.

  „I know you are still here because there’s one more secret to reveal to me. A secret that the girls mustn’t know it,” Obregon told Gaea in the end while pouring some wine into two cups and then he gave a cup to the Titanide.

  Gaea accepted the cup and she only washed her lips a little bit into the fragrant liqueur as if she was accepting her alliance with Obregon this way.

  Later, she approached Obregon’s sword, which was left on a piece of furniture, and, in her hand, Eftir Daudann appeared. And when Gaea put the dagger onto the sword, the two weapons became one.

  „This sword and this dagger will be one until your kingdom won’t be reborn. Then their bodies will split up, as your life will do,” and Gaea looked at Obregon, who was listening to her in silence. „Since today there are two women that are in love with you, but while the love of one of them will be a blessing for you, the love of the other one will be a curse because they are like the faces of a coin: one shines while the other one hides in shadow. But still, when the evil which is predestined to ruin your life will be gone, this dagger will return to its real master because it’s one of the pylons of the Gates of Aeon.”

  „I saw it in my dream. On both sides of the wolf, but I still don’t know what’s the earthly meaning of the second dagger.”

  Gaea sighed and she turned her face toward the entrance to the tent.

  Obregon looked in the same direction and he also saw the girls under the same tree where he slept and dreamt Fenrir and, as if called by a mystical voice, Upprisinn turned her face toward them.

  But she didn’t look inside the tent, but past it, as if she was warming her face with the light of the sunset.

  „That destiny and that meaning are unknown to me too. But, from that body, will be born the one meant to fulfill a prophecy and I hope with all my heart that she won’t have the same tragic destiny as it's written in stars for the master of Eftir Daudann.”

***

  After the day Kaerlleikans and Obregon decided to spend their life together, a long period of calmness could be felt in the camp because Obregon decided to give himself and others time to enjoy their families this way and also to show everybody the love and respect he had for his wife because Kaerlleikans became for him the source to fill with love, devotion, happiness and he felt that he lived in a fairytale world not knowing that somewhere next to him evil was lurking at all these from the shadows.

  And this happened because until Kaerlleikans showed up in Obregon’s life, he was close to Cáthia, a young girl from his group, and whom he was known from their childhood with. Yet, he only felt a fleeting love for her and nothing more about which he had forgotten once married.

  Cáthia instead didn’t forget it. She considered Obregon hers, she wanted him for her, she was dreaming about being the queen of their people next to Obregon and she wasn’t willing to give up on the throne even if that throne was only an illusion yet because Nomads brought a big army on those territories, preparing for the fight against Obregon’s army. But what Obregon didn’t know was that Nomads’new army was formed by mercenaries: cruel, bloodshed lovers, and that they were hating everything that was against them.

  Yet, after a long time of waiting for Obregon to turn back to her when she finally understood that it won’t ever happen because he didn't love her, and that he also never felt respect for her while he so openly showed his love for his wife in front of the others, Cáthia decided to betray Obregon and she joined the army of Poilini, the army of mercenaries that were fighting for Nomads and her betrayal forced Obregon to return to the battle.

  In the evening when Obregon decided to turn back to the battle while he was taking his armor and helmet, Kaerlleikans grabbed his arm, and, with tears in her eyes, she talked to him. „Maybe will be better to stay, Obregon? Please, stay with us!”

  „To stay here, what for, Kaerlleikans? What to give up at? I’m tired to hear the laments of my ancestors that are moving in their graves when they hear how their children, the offshoot of these lands, are crying because of the greedy and merciless Nomads. I’m tired to see my people subdued and how they are hunted and slaughtered as beasts while fighting for their lands. I’m tired to see my realm washed in shed blood. I’m tired of not seeing the sunshine, while around me it’s only an eternal sunset. I’m tired to run away and give up.”

  „But… what about me? What about our son? Who’ll protect us if you go?” She said, touching her belly which was barely seen through the light cloth of her dress.

  Obregon looked at the belly that was protecting his son and then he smiled with sadness because he was afraid of the unknown future that was lurking in his family, but he also knew that if he didn't go that night, he wouldn't ever go.

  And he decided this at the last second: he decided to go. Then he approached his wife, kissed her forehead, and left the tent while, behind him, the cry of the abandoned woman was loudly heard.

  But before climbing on the back of his horse, Obregon looked at Condor, who was about to do the same and follow his friend: „you must stay, Condor!” Obregon demanded him.

  „But, Obregon. We swore to fight together.”

  „No, my friend. We swore that no matter what we’ll protect each other. Now I need you here, protecting my heart and my family. I need you here, next to them, and if something happens to me then you must take care of them because I leave my soul and my heart with them.”

  Condor bent his head because he knew that Obregon was right and he didn’t want to make him suffer even more than Obregon was suffering already, leaving his family.

  And he stood like this, with his head bent till Obregon climbed on his horse and galloped away, to the sunset, where the horizon was covered by a thick cloth of smoke because of the burning houses, with souls floating around the city after leaving their human bodies.

  Then, when Obregon finally disappeared at the horizon, Condor turned to enter his tent and he saw Kaerlleikans standing at the door of her tent and looking toward the sunset, where Obregon went and where he took her heart with him.

***

  The war between the Nomads and Obregon’s army lasted two years. Two difficult years of fighting when everybody missed their homes, their families, and their beloved wives.

  It hadn’t been an exception for Obregon too because he suffered not only because he missed his family, but also because he saw his friends dying on the battlefield and this broke his heart and made his soul bleed inside.

  Even so, he wasn’t ready to give up because his soul and the soul of his comrades were loudly yelling for „freedom.” And he fought, fighting against the Nomads, against the enemy, and against his heart, which was eager to turn back home and love again.

  Eventually, they won. Eventually, the small army of Obregon chased Nomads and Poilini away, and Obregon could smile again while seeing the sunrise.

  It was a sunny day and it was a warm morning when they were already on their way home. And, riding his horse, which was as tired as his master while walking at a slow step toward the sun that was seen rising in the sky, Obregon looked back and saw his comrades so tired and so eager for a good sleep while walking behind him.

  But Obregon understood that if they stop then, it will be harder to continue walking. So, he decided not to give up because there’s no better sleep than the one you have in your bed, next to your beloved wife and kissing the warm skin of your children.

  That's why Obregon turned his head and looked at the blue sky. But the light bothered him so much and, to protect his eyes, he covered them with his arm for a moment, falling prey to dreaming.

  And he did well because, in front of him, he saw Kaerlleikans, smiling at him and telling him „Welcome home, Obregon! Welcome home, my dear husband.” And, in her arms, Obregon saw his son, who he has never seen since he was born, but whose birth he felt in his heart because that night, when Obregon’s son showed up into this world, a big shining star was seen in the sky, telling Obregon to be happy that he has a son now.

  But even if he was so happy, he couldn’t fully enjoy it because he was on the battlefield then, surrounded by enemies, with death breathing behind him. However, Obregon allowed himself to be happy for a second, and, smiling, he looked at the star which was also predicting good times approaching them.

  Yet, the rustle of the wind, running through the blades of green grass and wheat, made Obregon open his eyes and look in the distance. And he saw his son running toward him, on his little staggering feet because even if his son was only a year old now, he should have started to walk by now and say the word „mama,” a word that Obregon was so eager to hear, coming out of his son’s mouth.

  And if the kid won’t talk by when Obregon will be back home then Obregon will teach him because he will have plenty of free time now even if they must work hard to bring back to life the glorious time of the City of the Sun. But even so, he will find time for his son. He will find it. He must find it because his family is the most important for him, more important even than himself.

  Suddenly, the image of the running child disappeared and Obregon lost his mind: he pulled the reins and forced the horse to move around, trying to make the poor animal gallop away.

  But the horse was too tired, the horse was already lifeless. Even so, the animal found the power to rise on his rear feet and threw Obregon off his back and when he felt free, the horse ran away, followed by a few soldiers that ran after him to catch the poor frightened animal.

  The other soldiers approached Obregon, who was laying on the ground and watching the sky with lost eyes.

  Yet, none of them understood what was happening to their king. Only one of the soldiers kneeled next to Obregon and touched his forehead, and a few seconds later he told the others that Obregon was burning with fever. So, the soldiers decided that it was time for a rest and they moved Obregon under a big tree, protecting themselves from the burning sun.

  Thus Obregon had time for sleep, and when he came back to his senses, at sunset when the sun was already preparing for sleep, and, looking around, he saw the poor soldiers sleeping, overwhelmed by fatigue and the long road.

  Only the one who touched the king’s forehead was still in a sitting position, with his eyes closed and with a piece of wet cloth in his hand because he had been the one who had watched Obregon’s sleep, taking away the fever with cold water.

  Seeing them so sweetly sleeping, the king decided to leave them to have some rest because they needed it. That's why, before standing up, Obregon caught the soldier, who took care of him, in his arms and lay him on the ground because the poor soldier finally fell asleep when he stopped hearing Obregon’s laments.

  Later, Obregon put his coat under the soldier’s head and, feeling the coldness of the coat, the soldier squatted next to it, slowly whispering: „mother, I’m coming home.”

  Then, the night quickly fell over those lands. And came the morning and again was approaching the dusk. Only then did the soldiers start to wake up, one by one, and they had been so amazed to see Obregon turning back to the camp with a wild boar on his shoulder, after being hunted by the king.

  The soldiers stood up in a jump and ran toward Obregon, helping him to take the wild boar off his shoulders while all of them were lamenting: „king, why didn’t you wake us? Oh, we all the sinners, why didn’t you send us after food and not…”

  „I’m not a lazy person and it’s nothing shameful too. I’m still able to hunt and bring some food here and this fills my heart with joy. So, I did my work when I brought the wild boar here. Now it’s your turn to prepare the food. Meanwhile, I’ll think about home.”

  Smiling, Obregon moved away from them and then he climbed on the tree, choosing a thick branch on which he sat down. And taking the pan flute off his pocket, he started to blow it and strange music has been heard all around.

  But it was something magical for Obregon because it was the song he knew since he was a kid, but which he started to learn to sing by blowing the pan flute because he wanted to sing it to Kaerlleikans when he’ll be back home and show her this way the love he carried in his heart all that time.

***

  When Kaerlleikans exited the tent, it was already dusk. She had been inside the tent all day long praying for a safe road back home for Obregon and his army because her heart was madly beating in her chest for many days already and this was a bad sign for the woman.

  Looking in the distance, she saw nobody and she started to be worried because Condor and the rest of her people told her that they’ll be back till sunset after seeing what was left of their city because of the victory of Obregon over the Nomads was good news that reached their ears too.

  „It’s already dusk, but they still aren’t back,” Kaerlleikans whispered, preoccupied while rubbing her palms and trying to calm down the mad beatings of her heart this way.

  Eventually, she decided to enter the tent and see her son, who was asleep at that moment. Before this, she looked once again at the sunset and deeply inhaled air in her chest, seeing a big, red stain in the sky as if it was stained with blood.

  Yet, entering the tent, Kaerlleikans exited it back right away when she heard footsteps approaching. „Are you back, Condor? I started already to be worried because…,” but she suddenly kept silent, seeing Cáthia, in front of her.

  Cáthia unhappily smiled, seeing the woman. But her smile made Kaerlleikans step back, and more when she noticed a dagger in the hand of the rival.

  „Why are you here?” Kaerlleikans whispered barely heard while crawling back, but not toward the entrance in the tent, but away from it, as far as possible, trying to protect her baby if necessary.

  „Why am I here? For justice. And… maybe to take back what’s mine.”

  „What’s yours? Don’t make me laugh. There’s nothing yours left here since the day you betrayed your people and joined the enemy by revealing Obregon’s plans. You don’t even know how much you hurt him with your betrayal.”

  Cáthia smiled again. „Did I hurt him? Did I betray him? Did I reveal his plans? What about the fact that I’ve been left behind when you showed up?”

  „I… I never took something yours. Obregon was meant to be mine because…,” but her answer made her rival hysterically laugh.

  „He was yours, you say? And who made him yours? Fate? And who’s this Fate to decide in my place and for my people who must be their queen? Who made you our queen, you… a stranger on the throne of our country? Titans? If so, tell me the reason why they decided this because I don’t know it.”

  Kaerlleikans stopped and looked into her rival’s eyes, that was still approaching her at a slow step. „You are so wrong here because you can’t ask fate to reveal to you the reason why it decided a thing to be this way and not differently, as you can’t doubt it.”

  „This is your belief. I have another opinion instead.”

  „Like?”

  „Like... to change Fate… that Fate you trust so much because I’ll do things as I’ve decided. Should I tell you what I have in mind now?”

  „Surprise me!” Kaerlleikans hissed through her teeth because hope entered her heart when she saw riders on the horizon, approaching the camp.

  But they were still so far away and she had to stop Cáthia, at least till they’ll be close, and she decided this not for her, but for saving her boy, Leanúint, who was her salvation and of her people.

  Cáthia took a few more steps toward the woman she hated. But Kaerlleikans didn’t move this time. She just waited for her to come closer, even if the woman’s heart was madly beating in her chest, feeling her end close.

  „Because my place is next to Obregon, I decided to wait till he will bring victory to our lands. Then and only then I’ll get rid of you, I said and now it’s that moment because my triumph is close while your end is even closer.”

  With a quick movement of her hand and the dagger deeply entered Kaerlleikans’s body.

  Then, the wounded woman grabbed the handle of the dagger with both hands, trying to fight against Fate, but the blade of the dagger entered deeper and deeper as if it was looking for the thread of her life to cut it.

  And... somebody called her name, but Kaerlleikans heard that voice like in a dream. Even so, she looked East and she saw Obregon approaching on the horse.

  But what they both dreamt of, a sweet hug and a kiss when he’ll be back, was now just something impossible because the woman was hugged by somebody else now and the name of that person was „Death!”

  Only before death, Kaerlleikans remembered Gaea’s words, which she told the girl before leaving the camp accompanied by Dike and Upprisinn: „never allow something to randomly happen and, most important, never allow Fate to make real the meaning of the name Eftir Daudann.”

  Yet, she had forgotten those words and left Fate to decide her life and now, the dagger she had been its master, betrayed her and she was leaving the world in the sweet embracement of death which led her toward the realms of the Eternal life after death, like a soul which will always float in the nothingness of the Cosmos.

  And she felt no pain when she fell to the ground, released by Cáthia’s arms, who turned her body to the East, waiting for Obregon’s approaching, with a large smile on her face because she also felt her end close.

  But she knew that it would be different than of Kaerlleikans: it would be sudden, without remorse or pain.

  And it has been so: Obregon cut her head with one movement and, after the blade of the sword perfectly cut the woman’s head, the sword, and the dagger split up, and both had been thrown to the ground, far away from the other.

  But while the blade of the sword looked normal, that of the dagger’s was shining more and more as Kaerlleikans’end was approaching because Eftir Daudann was free already, after it had betrayed its master, who was leaving that world and leaving the dagger behind him.

  Obregon instead paid no attention neither to the dagger nor to the sword. He kneeled next to his wife and took her wounded body in his arms, but she said nothing to him: she just raised her hand, stained by blood, and only after she touched his cheek, she slowly whispered: „take care of us, Obregon. Take care of our son for me too. Leanúint deserves a good father next to him, now that he won’t have a loving mother. Take care of him and never forget the love I had for you.”

  Then, her powerless hand lay on Obregon’s chest, who was crying with her lifeless body in his arms.

  And in the sky, heavy black clouds gathered and they also started to cry about the tragic ending of Eftir Daudann’s master while, from the tent, Leanúint’s loud cry was heard. Yet, nobody hurried to enter the tent and take care of him.