Prologue
The Sun held its high post up in the sky as a wanderer hobbled beneath it. Resting in the shade of a boulder, he wiped the sweat from his thick grey brow. Old as he was, his stature still held tall. A frail man, skin stretched across bones like parchment .Shaggy silver hair jutted from below his nose forming a great, tangled beard.
In his right arm he clutched a cane carved from stone and in his left a chain of black beads. Bringing them to his forehead, he began chanting in a deep hoarse voice. “God,” he said, counting the beads, “Who is the wind and the waves,” he paused, sniffling.
“Who is life and death, the very Sun and the Moon. Give me strength,” the words choked in his throat, “for you are strength incarnate,” he managed to force out, “Give me valor for you are the one who defined bravery.”
Resting his left hand back down, he sighed loudly. Hunching forward, he staggered as he stood up. As he caught himself with his cane, a dry winter breeze swept past him. Then again. And again. Seemingly guiding him forward.
He limped forward, awestruck. “God?” he asked himself, and the wind circled around him in agreement. A teardrop rolled down his dry cheek, like rain in the desert. His stride became stable and for the first time in years he knew his purpose.
Chapter-1
A slight breeze stirred up the grass around a home. Carved into the side of a small cliff, it was sealed off by a door adorned with jewels of red and purple. Slowly it crept open, revealing a disheveled creature not more than half the stature of a man.
It stepped out, showing the slight hue of grey in his skin. Eyes still shut he took a moment to breathe in the smell of fresh grass and that of a pleasant spring morning. Sighing he stepped onto the dirt.
Opening his soft amber eyes he looked about. Waiting for something… someone. “Dvalinn!” a voice called off in the distance.“ Not very normal of you to be up at this hour, is it?” The voice teased.
Dvalinn yawned and nodded sleepily. “Still sleepy, aren’t you?” the voice said, amused. Blinking slowly he stepped towards the voice. The smell of wet moss reached him first; warm and savory, Dvalinn couldn’t help but smile.
The figure smiled at him as he came into view. A lean, trembling man hunched heavily over a gnarled wooden cane. He carried a dense overgrowth of various plants and mushrooms sprawled out across his back.
“Don’t you look paler in the morning, lad!” the man said happily. Dvalinn huffed, “Come now, Rótfastr, don’t you remember? You asked to see me!” he said gingerly. “Did I? Oh, my old mind must have been confused.” Rótfastr replied slyly.
“Come,” Dvalinn said as he turned. “Surely you must remember the way?” he added, waving his hand. “Hmm,” Rótfastr replied thoughtfully, “Lead the way, lad!” Walking up to stand beside Dvalinn, he sighed lightly.
Taking a step forward Rótfastr turned to him. “When was the last time we walked like this, eh?” Dvalinn snorted lightly, “Years… Rótfastr, the last time was when Gaman left.” “Three years, then?” Rótfastr said, appalled. “No…” Dvalinn said gently, “It’s been four.”
Rótfastr’s cane squelched into the dirt. His spindly arms reached out to pat Dvalinn’s greyish hair. “Don’t fret…” he said softly, “Gaman’s fine, exploring the world, living his dream. I’m certain he is happy.” Dvalinn nodded, “Maybe… someday you will leave too. To explore the world, live your life.” Rótfastr added, slowly.
“If I did,” Dvalinn said, “You’d surely forget the way to your home!” Rótfastr frowned. Dvalinn looked at him for a long moment, before erupting in laughter. Rótfastr, however, was not all too pleased with this.
Rótfastr shook his head; “Besides…” he said slowly, “I’m not sure if you wish to leave. Not yet, at least,” “Bravo,” Dvalinn giggled, much to Rótfastr’s relief. “You’re right, I don’t want to leave,” Dvalinn said. “Not when places like these are so hard to come by!” he pointed to the glimmering lake ahead of them.
Rótfastr sighed as he set his cane aside on the banks of the lake. Sitting down, he patted the ground beside him. “You used to frolic around here. Splashing in the water and being entranced by bugs.” Rótfastr said solemnly.
“Well,” he added, “I suppose I should tell you why I called you here…” said reluctantly. “Hmm,” Dvalinn agreed, “I found a new plant,” He paused, the sparkle in Dvalinn’s eyes. “Here on the shallow bank of this lake.”
“Could you fetch one for me?” he asked. “Sure,” Dvalinn said, standing up, “How does it look?” Rótfastr paused, putting his palm to his chin. “It’s got a teal glow to it,” he said, before adding “About the size and shape of a pine cone.”
“Never seen a teal plant before,” Dvalinn said as he paddled out into the lake. When the water came roughly to his shoulder, he stopped. “About this deep?” Dvalinn asked Rótfastr. “Yes,” he yelled back.
Dvalinn took a deep breath before dunking his head into the water. Sifting through the mud at the lake’s bed, Dvalinn spotted a strange shadow. It dragged across the lake bed, almost like a thick sludge. It was no fish, he was sure of that. The wispy almost ethereal form felt off to him.
“Dvalinn!” a muffled voice reached him. Pulling out of the water, he gasped for breath. “Lad!” Rótfastr yelled, relieved. “What happened?”” Why were so still?” he asked breathlessly. “It’s…” Dvalinn replied, “It’s nothing! I just saw a strange-looking fish”
“Oh…” he replied, sitting back down, “You had me worried!” “Sorry!” Dvalinn said, his eyes darting back into the water. Nothing. In place of the black mass there was only water. The water… it was glowing teal.