Something felt off today and Cassandra could not put her finger on it. Like the Tavern was holding its breath waiting for something to happen. A restlessness settled over Cassandra and she itched to get out of the Stables. Cassandra brushed the mare's flank with more force than necessary, the harsh strokes betraying her inner turmoil.
"Penny for your thoughts, Cass?" Thomas's voice broke through the silence, his cheerful tone jarring against the unease that prickled her skin.
Cassandra forced a smile, her cheeks aching from the effort. "Just daydreaming," she replied, her voice a touch too bright, a nervous tremor betraying her facade. "Thinking about how I'd rather be exploring those woods than grooming this grumpy mare." She shot the mare a playful glare, hoping to deflect attention from her own nervousness, tugging on a stray strand of the mare's mane.
Thomas chuckled, oblivious to her inner turmoil. "Always the adventurer, eh, Cass? Just be careful out there. Those woods can be tricky."
"Tricky?" Cassandra scoffed, injecting a playful arrogance into her tone, hoping to convince herself as much as Thomas. "Please, I've faced worse than a few overgrown trees. I once outsmarted a grumpy goose. Twice." She puffed out her chest, trying to mimic Sir Gareth's confident stance.
With a final pat on the mare's flank, Cassandra slipped out of the stable and into the sun-dappled clearing. But the sunlight felt harsher now, the shadows stretching like grasping fingers, reaching for her with an unseen intent. A shiver ran down her spine, and she pulled her cloak tighter around her, the rough wool offering little comfort against the sudden chill that settled over her.
What am I doing? she thought, her stomach churning with a mix of excitement and dread. This is crazy. I should be back in the stables, mucking out stalls, not wandering off into the unknown like some... some… she struggled for the right word, ...some idiot with a death wish.
The ancient trees swayed, their movements no longer a mesmerizing dance but a deliberate march towards an unknown crescendo. Their leaves whispered secrets, but the words were garbled, a dissonant hum that raised the hairs on Cassandra's arms. She felt a prickle of unease, a sense of being watched, and her hand instinctively hovered near the small dagger at her hip.
A twig snapped behind her, a sharp crack that echoed through the stillness. Cassandra whirled around, her heart pounding like a war drum. But there was no one there. Only the wind, sighing through the trees like a mournful spirit, murmuring that something monumental was about to happen.
Cassandra's retreat towards the familiar haven of the stables was cut short by a thunderous sound reverberating through the forest, a sound that seemed to shake the very earth beneath her feet. The air grew heavy, the scent of damp earth and pine needles intensifying, and birdsongs abruptly silenced, replaced by an expectant hush that prickled the hairs on her arms. The ground seemed to vibrate beneath her feet as three figures emerged from the shadowed depths of the woods, their presence radiating an aura of power and mystery.
Leading the way was an older woman of striking elegance, her dark green cloak billowing behind her like a banner unfurled in the wind. Her face, framed by raven hair streaked with silver, bore the lines of wisdom and experience, yet her eyes sparkled with a timeless vitality. She sat astride a magnificent black stallion, its coat gleaming like polished obsidian, its nostrils flaring as it scented the air, its hooves barely disturbing the forest floor.
Two figures followed in her wake, their dark green cloaks mirroring the leader's, their faces hidden in shadow. Yet, even cloaked in anonymity, they exuded an air of strength and purpose, their movements fluid and graceful as they guided their mounts through the undergrowth.
As they drew closer, Cassandra's breath hitched in her throat. The insignia on the woman's cloak – a silver tree entwined with an oracle's tripod – shimmered in the dappled sunlight, a symbol of power and prophecy that resonated deep within her soul. A wave of awe and trepidation washed over her, leaving her rooted to the spot, her heart pounding like a captive bird.
The riders dismounted with fluid grace, their movements a symphony of effortless elegance that contrasted sharply with the rustic simplicity of the forest clearing. The leader, her cloak swirling around her like a whispering emerald, stepped forward, her gaze locking onto Cassandra with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. It was as if she could see right through her, through the carefully constructed disguise of "Cassius," to the truth hidden beneath, the elven blood that pulsed through her veins.
A hush fell over the forest, the wind dying down to a whisper, the leaves stilling their dance, as if nature itself was holding its breath. The woman's eyes glazed over, her voice echoing with an otherworldly power that seemed to draw energy from the ancient trees, their gnarled branches reaching towards her like supplicating arms.
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Cassandra's breath hitched, a cold dread creeping up her spine. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the forest. Her fingers instinctively sought the cool, smooth surface of the silver leaf pendant beneath her tunic.
"From two harsh worlds with destinies entwined,
a child is born, their fate to be defined.
In night’s embrace where shadows dance and gleam,
Or dawn’s first light to shatter every dream
A soul ablaze, a heart both fierce and kind
The Twilight Child, to heal or two divide.
Though courage guides, a darkness lingers near,
The choice be made to vanquish or to fear.
But love will guide, and destiny will lead,
To find their guard, a love, a destined creed.
With open heart, and spirit strong and true,
The Twilight Child, their purpose will ensue.”
The woman blinked, her eyes regaining their focus, the otherworldly glow fading from her gaze. As if snapping out of a trance, she looked at Cassandra with a gentle smile, the transformation so sudden and complete that Cassandra wondered if she had imagined the whole thing. But the prophecy lingered, a chilling whisper against the silence of her soul. Her fingers tightened around the pendant, the edges digging into her skin, a physical manifestation of the fear constricting her heart. The Twilight Child... to heal or to divide... Was this her destiny? To be the fulcrum upon which the fate of the world rested? No, she scoffed, that was impossible. I can't be the twilight child! The thought was overwhelming, a suffocating wave that threatened to drown her in its immensity.
She fought to maintain a neutral expression, her face a carefully constructed mask of calm. But beneath the surface, panic clawed at her throat, her mind a whirlwind of questions and anxieties. What were these "two harsh worlds"? And what was this darkness that threatened to consume?
The woman's gentle smile offered no comfort, only a deepening sense of unease. Cassandra felt a desperate urge to flee, to escape the weight of the prophecy and the suffocating expectations it carried. But her feet remained rooted to the spot, her body frozen by a fear she couldn't outrun.
"Will you see to our horses, child, while we see to rooms at the inn?" she asked, her voice a melodious blend of authority and warmth, her accent hinting at an origin far beyond the borders of this humble village.
Cassandra, still reeling from the prophecy, nodded mutely, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and apprehension. The woman handed her the reins of her stallion, its silken mane brushing against Cassandra's arm, sending a thrill of unexpected connection through her. The stallion snorted softly, its breath warm against her cheek, its dark eyes seeming to hold a depth of ancient wisdom. A small pouch, heavy with silver coins, was pressed into her hand, its weight a tangible reminder of the encounter.
"Thank… you?" Cassandra stammered, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and bewilderment.
The woman simply smiled cryptically, a hint of amusement in her eyes, as if she knew a secret that Cassandra was yet to discover. Then, without another word, the three figures turned and strode towards the tavern, their cloaks swirling behind them like wisps of smoke, their presence fading into the shadows of the ancient trees.
Clutching the coins tightly, Cassandra stared after them as they walked the rest of the way to the tavern, her mind a whirl with questions. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she swayed slightly, her hand reaching out to steady herself against a nearby tree trunk, its rough bark grounding her.
She returned to the stables, her steps heavy with unspoken truths, leading the three horses, their breath misting in the cool air, their hooves echoing on the cobblestones.
Thomas, startled by her sudden reappearance, dropped his pitchfork with a clatter, the metal prongs digging into the straw-covered floor. "Cass? What in Terra's name...?" he sputtered, his eyes wide with surprise, his mouth agape.
"It's a long story," she said, breathlessly handing him the reins to one of the horses, the leather warm and supple in his calloused hands. "And I'm not even sure where to start."
Thomas, ever the helpful stable hand, took charge of the horses, leading them to vacant stalls, their hooves echoing in the cavernous space. "Well, first things first," he said, his voice laced with amusement, "we need to find a place for these fine steeds. Then, you can tell me all about your grand adventure."
As Cassandra recounted her bizarre encounter with the Oracle and her entourage, Thomas listened intently, his brow furrowed in concentration, his lips pursed in thought. When she finished, he let out a low whistle.
"Well, that's a tale and a half," he remarked, shaking his head in disbelief. "So, you're telling me you met the Oracle, she spouted some cryptic prophecy about a 'Twilight Child,' and then her cronies just... disappeared into thin air?"
Cassandra nodded, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. "Well, into the tavern, but might as well have been thin air with how creepy the encounter was. Oh, and they gave me this." She held up the pouch of coins, their weight a tangible reminder of the encounter.
Thomas's eyes widened. "Well, that's one way to make a living," he chuckled. "Maybe you should go wandering off into the woods more often."
Cassandra laughed, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Maybe I should," she agreed. "Though I'm not sure I'm ready for another encounter with the Oracle just yet. She's a bit intense for my liking."
"I can imagine," Thomas said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "So, what do you think it all means, Cass? This prophecy, the Twilight Child... all that?"
Cassandra shrugged, her brow furrowing in thought. "I have no idea, Thomas. But I have a feeling things are about to change."