I closed the door from the tunnels and left the temple behind. After drying my tears, taking a deep breath I stepped outside.

Outside I could feel the fresh air brush away all the fear. I closed my eyes and just breathed. Feeling all the grieve, sadness and anxiety disappear. Not knowing someone was watching me from out of the shadows. I more felt than heard Artemis’ warning growl towards the shadows. I opened my eyes and look defiantly in that direction, my hand close to my sword. As a response, someone stepped out of the shadows. A young man, probably somewhere in his twenties. His light brown curly hair contrasted with his light greenblue eyes that seemed to brighten up by the moonlight. He was wearing the black robes with red runes of the necromancers. He was tall and walked graciously towards me. Enchanted by his sweet laugh I stood frozen, watching him approach me. Artemis showed his teeth and put a step closer towards the stranger. The young man didn’t seem to see it as a threat, but still he stopped just a few steps away from me. Now he was closer and I could see his high cheekbones and strong jawline. He had a small face and his eyes were enchanting, small wrinkles next to his eyes indicated that he laughed a lot. He was wearing black gloves and his robes looked more like the clothes of an assassin than the magical robes mages used to wear in times past. “What is a beautiful young lady like you doing here in the middle of the night all by herself?” he asked. His voice was soft and warm. I felt a strange urge to put my sword back in its sheath. Consciously, but with no idea why, I put my sword back in its sheath. Artemis stopped growling and we just stared at him. Lost for words. “Are you okay?” he asked, looking worried. I wanted to spill out all my sadness, telling him I’m not okay. I’m not okay at all. But all I could say was. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

He didn’t seem satisfied with that answer but made no gesture to push me to spill my story. “Are you lost?” he asked me again. I didn’t know what to answer. Yes, I was lost, mentally. But I knew where I was supposed to go. I guess. Then I remembered my map. I searched for it in my backpack, but couldn’t find it. Shit, Buddy, I think I lost our map.

Okay no stress, we will find our way, Artemis answered. I looked back at the young man. Without a thought I said: “Yes, I’m lost. I lost my map and I don’t know where I am.” Stupid woman! I heard Artemis complain in my head. The young man nodded and smiled. “Don’t worry, dear. I’ll help you find your way back to the light. My name is Ash,” he grinned and held up his hand. I thought he wanted to shake my hand as a form of greeting. What most humans do. But when I gave my hand he graciously turned it and kissed the top of my hand. A weird warm feeling spread through my body. I tried not to show and kept my face as steady as I could. But he must have seen my eyes light up in the moonlight by his touch, for his smile widened and he stepped closer. Not to close, but close enough that he could pull me towards him. It was a little threatening, but strangely I wasn’t threatened. I suddenly remembered what Spook said and wondered if he had seen this man. “We’re at the temple of Herdus.” Ash nodded and looked up towards the temple. Gleaming white in the starlight. “Do you believe in Herdus?” he asked me.

“Not really, I think I believe more in Elyon and Veras,” I answered awkwardly pulling my hand out of his hand.

“Do you know the story of Herdus?” He let my hand softly slip through his hand.

I shook my head. I had heard of Herdus being the creator of human beings’ millennia’s ago. But that was all I knew of him. Even though it was a summer evening, the wind from sea was cold, colder as usual. And I started to shake a little. I was tired, hungry and cold. “I need to rest,” I whispered, more to myself than to anyone. But Ash heard me and he got that sweet worried look on his face. “Come, I know a place where you can rest.”

I’m not sure if it is wise to follow him, Wen, I heard Artemis in my head.

Don’t you worry. You didn’t trust Spook in the beginning either, and in the end, he wasn’t so bad. Same goes for him. Besides what else can we do? We don’t have a map, no shelter, no idea where to go. And something tells me we should keep him as a friend instead of an enemy.

Artemis grumbled a little in protest but followed us anyway into the dark. Between the trees was a little wooden cabin. “This used to be the house of the priest, but these days he lives inside the city walls for protection. So, it has been abandoned for a couple of weeks. We can stay here for the night.”

He opened the door and inside was already a little fire burning in the fireplace. The cabin wasn’t big. It was one room with a bed, a small table and a small kitchen. In front of the hearth was a big chair with pillows. And several blankets were folded onto the bed. It looked as if Ash had been here for long. Ash walked towards me and helped me pull of my cloak. I dropped my backpack, sword and bow with quiver on the ground next to the bed and sat down. An overwhelming tiresome feeling swept over me. It’s weird Buddy, I have slept in the tunnels not long ago. Why am I so tired?Artemis looked up at me with sleepy eyes and curled himself next to the fire on the carpet. I don’t know, Wen. Maybe we should just sleep.And he fell asleep. Just like that. Ash placed himself on the chair. “You can have the bed,” he said. And his smile warmed my heart again. I curled myself up and fell in a deep dreamless sleep.

Somewhere in the night I almost woke up, I heard Ash whisper something and after his warm, strong hand stroke my hair out of my face, I fell asleep again. Realising he was putting us to sleep, but no energy to worry about it.

The next morning, I woke with the smell of backed eggs and bacon. My stomach grumbled in response. I stretched myself and looked around me. Ash was standing in the kitchen, flipping the bacon and Artemis just woke up by the fireplace. The fire was burning low, some smouldering ashes still gave off a little warmth. On the table stood a bowl with bread and a small cup with butter. “Here is something to eat,” Ash said while he put the bacon and eggs on a plate. I walked towards the table and filled my plate with a piece of buttered bread. Ash poured in some fresh herbal tea and seated himself across me. I gave Artemis some of my bacon and bread, which he took with him to the fireplace. “Did you sleep well?” Ash asked me. I looked up at him, his blue eyes not saying anything, but still trying to pierce my mind. I dared not to mention my thoughts about his magic that put me to sleep. “Sure, I slept fine,” I answered casually, avoiding his eyes. “You knew the story of Herdus, right?” I asked to change the subject. Ash leaned backwards swallowed a big piece of bread and took a nip of his tea. “Yes, I do,” he answered while he licked his lips. I couldn’t help myself to stare at his handsome face. His mysterious eyes and beautiful laugh that gave me shivers all over my body. He held his head a little sideways as he stared back at me with that small grin on his face. I felt my face turning red and looked stubbornly the other way. Stupid to be so infatuated with someone I barely knew. “Very well, I’ll tell you the story,” Ash answered after a moment of silence. “Herdus created the human beings’ millennia’s ago. That was the only time he visited the earth. After he was done with his task, he left, never to return.” His voice was warm and soft. I could listen to it all day. “Even though the story tells Herdus never returned to earth, some say that they had dreams with messages from him. But I don’t believe those dreams are from Herdus. For I don’t think Herdus would ever come back to rescue the humans in danger.”

Danger. “Danger from what?” I asked, for I knew that many mages stopped believing in Herdus, but the non-magical humans needn’t fear the king as the mages did. Maybe he knew about the demons coming to this world?

“In danger of evil within themselves and from darker places,” Ash answered while he picked up the empty plates to clean them. Darker places. He knows it. He knows about the demons. On the other hand, who doesn’t? That demon who attacked me and Spook went into the open as well. “To where are you travelling, darling?” Ash pulled me away from my thoughts. Darling? “To the Anduîn,” I answered. Ash walked back towards me and put on his cloak. “Alright, I’ll take you there. I still have to deliver something in Erandur.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

I looked at Artemis and he seemed to shrug his shoulders. Why not? We do need a guide to bring us. I bet we’ll find our way in Erandur. We’ll only need to cross the lake.

I nodded. “Okay,” I accepted his request.

As I gathered my stuff I saw Ash putting out the fire and cleaning everything up. I was wondering how he got into this cabin in the first place. There was a lock on the front door, but when we walked outside he just closed the door behind him without locking it. He broke into this place, Artemis growled. I know buddy, but don’t worry. We only have to travel with him for a couple of days. Maybe when we reach a town we can buy a new map. I kind of felt sorry I lost that map. It was Barnabas’ map and now I wouldn’t know where he’d been and what he still had to discover. “Darling, are you coming? Or are you going to keep staring towards the door?” Ash teased me with a grin on his face. “I was merely putting the puzzles together. You broke into this place, for what?” I answered, my arms on my hips. The grin on his face disappeared and was replaced by a darker more irritated look. “That is not of your business!” he hissed. I backed away a little shocked by his sudden mood change. Without another word he turned away from me and walked off into the direction of the road. I shook away the unpleasant feeling of fear and stalked after him, Artemis cautions at my heals. It was a long journey and we hadn’t spoken to each other for hours. Now and then we stopped to drink and eat something, but even then, he didn’t speak to me. When the evening was closing in on us he finally spoke. “What is your name?” His voice startled me, for I was deep in thought. “My name is Faelwen,” I answered realising that all this time I knew his name, but he had no idea who I was. “That’s a special name. You don’t hear that often among the humans.” He looked down at me with his magical eyes. His lips whispered something, and I felt a strange sensation go through my head. I became a little dizzy and within seconds after the dizzying feeling, words started to spill from my mouth unintentionally. “My name is probably not completely human. I recently found out in the underground tunnels of Westray that I happen to be part Elvish. The underground tunnels of Westray used to be an Elvish city before it got buried underneath the earth. Even though the Elves have disappeared centuries ago, my mother somehow never left with her kin. I found I could understand the elvish words when someone speaks them to me. It all started when I was running away from the Hunters who had killed Barnabas. I ran away and then helped a farmer get rid of a demon of old who was hiding in a cave. And in…” It was as if I was outside of my body looking down at myself and hearing me spill all my secrets. Ash seemed to look very interesting making mental notes of everything I told him. Wen! Stop it! Artemis pleaded. I’m trying buddy, but I can’t! I send my thoughts to him. Try to push his magic out of your mind. I tried to call for my small magical ability but seemed to fail. With great struggle I tried to stop thinking about everything that happened to me and started focussing on just one thought until I spoke that thought aloud. “When I found out that I also had magical abilities I…. You’re poisoning me with your magic!” And just like that the weird fuzzy feeling left me and I had control over my speech again. Ash looked shocked for a second at me for breaking his spell, before he got control again and smiled. “I would do no such thing my dear. Why would I want to know your entire life story? It was only you that got yourself lost in telling me all your amazing adventures.”

I felt anger boil inside of me and clenched my teeth. “Don’t lie to me,” I hissed at him. He looked confused back. “Darling, I’m not lying. Believe me when I tell you that I’m speaking the truth,” He answered me calmly, looking me deep in the eye. I felt a wave of magic sweep up against me. And thoughts that were not mine tried to convince me I was wrong. No! Built a wall around yourself, Wen! Don’t let him in. “No! Stop doing that! You also put me and Artemis in sleep the other night!” He laughed softly at my pathetic try to break his spell. “My dear, maybe we should rest for today. You look very tired.” He stroke a hair out of my face and my eyes suddenly got very heavy. In the distant I heard Artemis growl and Ash cursed him when Artemis bit him in his ankle. The spell disappeared, and I was awake again. The sleepy feeling from a minute ago, washing away by the anger I felt. While Ash groped for his ankle I hid the side of his head with my fist. I had no idea how painful and hard a skull could be. But I had hit him pretty well for he stumbled backwards and fell on his back. I rubbed my fist and knelt by his side. “You’re a strong little lady, Faelwen,” he groaned while he tried to sit up. It was the first time I heard him use my name. It gave me a pleasant shiver up my spine. Irritated for that I stood up and pointed my sword towards his chest. “Don’t you even think of standing up, mister genius.” He laid himself back down on the ground and heaved his arms in surrender. Pressing his lips together and raising his eyebrows looking out at me with blue-green puppy eyes. He licked his lips before saying: “I did mean no harm.” I sighed and almost fell for his innocent face. But I quickly grabbed myself together and shook my head, avoiding eye contact. “I should’ve known better than to trust a necromancer.”

“I’m no longer part of the necromancers. I do still wear they’re clothes, but that’s just because I’ve nothing else to wear.” That got me off guard. “What are you?” I asked confused. He pleadingly looked from the sword towards me. I put away my sword under protest of Artemis and helped Ash up on his feet. He brushed off the dirt from his clothes and looked a little anxious at the wolf. He’s standing too close to you.“ According to my wolf, you’re standing too close to me,” I translated for Artemis. Ash raised his eyebrows in surprise and took a step back, a big grin appearing on his face. “I knew you had some kind of magical link with your wolf.” I shrugged in response and waited for his answer on my question, my sword still in my hand. He sighed and suddenly he looked very tired and sad. “Let us first find a place to stay for the night. I’ll explain everything during dinner.” He gestured for me to take the lead and I started to walk in front of him. Artemis trotting after Ash. There weren’t any small cabins here in this area. We were around 30 miles away from the temple and surrounded by grassland. Here and there some trees and bushes were gathered together to create some shelter. I picked one of those places to make our camp. We soon settled down by a small crackling fire and ate some left over from this morning. Ash pulled out a small kettle from his backpack and filled it with water to make some tea. When he sat down again, his knees drawn to his chest, he looked up at the stars. His hands were resting on his knees. “As an answer to your question, yes I’m still a necromancer. But I’m no longer part of that association. I choose a different path a long time ago.” He was silent for a few minutes. “I thought Orion, our leader, could lead us to victory and stop the hunt on mages. But Orion lost himself in the dark arts. He wanted more and more power. Many followed in his footsteps, but I choose a different path. The group didn’t agree with me and so we parted. I went my own way and have been on my own for a couple of years now.” It didn’t fully comfort me. “And why were you trying to get your hands on private information? Why did you put us to sleep the other night? Why did you try to convince me that you were not lying? You lied to me!” I tried to stay calm, but the more the questions rolled out of my mouth, the more hurt I sounded. He looked at me with sorrowful eyes and sighed. “I had to know if you were the good kind of mage. If you were not working together with those foul creatures that seem to come from the darkness below.” His voice quivered by the words ‘darkness below’ as if he experienced something traumatizing. I could imagine what, thinking back to the first night I encountered a demon mage and the old lady that was now called the Black widow. For she was wearing black clothes as if in mourning. Artemis seemed to calm down also by what Ash just said. His muscles relaxed and he set himself closer by the fire. I don’t think I’ll ever fully trust this man. But for now, I believe him. Like you said, we’ll soon part ways anyway. I nodded towards Artemis and stroke his fur. “I can assure you that I’m not working together with those demons. I’ve been attacked by two of them, and I do not wish to encounter them again. I’m only trying to find my own path,” I answered. When I looked up at him he smiled making little wrinkles by his eyes. I felt myself blushing a little and Ash pulled up one eyebrow his smile getting bigger. I heard myself laugh a little and looked up at the sky. The sky was very clouded. No stars tonight. No comforting light of the moon. Just darkness. Somehow that awoke a fear in me. A deeper fear then anything I’ve felt. A fear that seemed long forgotten but was always remembered by the humans. “It’s getting darker and darker each night. As if something is approaching.” Ash whisper darkly. “Let us rest while we can.” I heard him making himself comfortable by the fire. I looked around me towards the darkness that covered the land. An unpleasant shiver went up my spine. I quickly settled myself between Artemis and Ash. Listening to the whispers from the dark, I started trembling. Not from the cold, but from fear. Knowing these whispers were the beginning of some greater danger coming to our world. Ash crawled closer to me and put his arm around my waist. “Don’t worry, I’m here,” he whispered. I closed my eyes.