ã€ŠThe last tales of Arun-Valã€‹


 Father wolf (Part one)

    Ipar looked up at the rooftops to see the net of wiring crossing the streets. The night before, the owner of the inn told him they were to bring light to all the houses of the town. ¡°It looks ugly,¡± said the shepherd to Pigeon. His dog replied with a bark.

    It was early dawn, and the first days of spring were still cold in the mountains. Ipar adjusted his scarf and took a deep breath. The balconies'' flowers were filling the air, mixing their aromas with the recently made bread. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Pigeon followed, panting and moving his tail excitedly. Shepherd dogs were a smart breed but Pigeon was something else. He understood him.

    Most of the inns in Betren were in the new town, outside the walls of the river island, but Ipar chose to sleep in the only one inside. He enjoyed walking through the narrow cobbled streets, looking at the old houses. The same ones that Knights and mages used during the Ages of Magic. Progress was unstoppable and the old town changed a bit as well. Since the Royal road from the Plains was rebuilt a few years back, commerce with Gothia improved, and with merchants, modernity arrived.

    The times when mages ruled were gone. Magic was slowly fading from the world, and humans turned their hopes to something else. Technology. Now they had devices to speak in the distance with no need of telepathy or guns that did not require elemental powers to spit fire and lead.

    All the sheep pens were outside the walls where the new town was growing. The plains ranchers had already sent thousands of their sheep to graze the meadows of the Isil valley during the season. Ipar was going to meet Arnau, the man who assigned each flock to its shepherd. All the sheepmen worked around Isil, but not Ipar. He was a boy from Arun-Val. No one else except him dared to bring their animals there. It was one of the last places where magic and its creatures still roamed free.

    He crossed the gateway through the city walls with fast steps. He was excited to find out how many sheep he could herd that year. Four years back, when he followed his father¡¯s steps, he got a flock of only fifty heads. He didn¡¯t mind as he never learned the craft well from his old man. All that changed when Pigeon appeared from nowhere. Now he could handle more than a thousand sheep with only one dog.

    The long stone bridge that connected the walled town with the river bank was filled with banners of gold and maroon. The colors of Muwallad. The people of Berten were always proud that their city never fell under any army for thousands of years. But, it always surrendered under the fear of Mage¡¯s power. Now, without many powerful mages left, they feared artillery even more, and the town always changed sides, depending on what army was closer.

    ¡°I was waiting for you, boy,¡± said Arnau, who was leaning over the stone railing. ¡°Listen, there are no sheep for you this year, I¡¯m deeply sorry.¡±

    Ipar stopped in shock. Pigeon, seated next to him, stared at the man and growled. Arnau raised his hands to calm the animal. ¡°Easy Pigeon, easy. I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. The ranchers didn¡¯t send as much as other years, The little we have will graze the lands around the city.¡±.

    ¡°Is it because of the war?¡± asked Ipar.

    ¡°No, This last month there had been attacks over the valley. Beast and men alike. They found old Pol quartered over the pond¡¯s plain. A dip they say it is.¡±

    Ipar snapped his teeth and moved his head from side to side. Pigeon barked loudly. A bark that gave Ipar goosebumps. Dips were dangerous dogs from the Hells with black fur and red glowing eyes that attack at night anything alive and if its victim was a poor folk, it would drag their soul to the Hells with it. If Pigeon was barking, it meant nothing good.

    ¡°Well, this is a problem of Isil. Not Arun. I can still bring the flock-¡±

    ¡°Listen,¡± interrupted Arnau. ¡°The ranchers know how good you and your dog are. Damn if I know how you manage! But they think all this is a bad omen. Arun is a wicked place. If things are bad here, there will be worse.¡±

    The man left with more apologies and Ipar remained there, looking at the river.

    ¡°What are we going to do this year then?¡± He asked to the dog. The animal answered with a cry.

    He started his way back, as it was a long journey, and he wanted to reach his valley before dark. He was at the end of the bridge when he saw a gathering of people. At the main road, there was a carriage with no horses or mules. The boy¡¯s first thought was that it may have had an accident, and the animals ran away. He circled the crowd, committed to continuing south, but the group suddenly opened up, putting him in front of the two people in the middle.

    One was the Mayor of Betren dressed with his suit and a red and yellow sash. Next to him, there was a woman. She was tall and beautiful. She was wearing a silk maroon dress with a headscarf of the same color that covered almost all her hair. Her eyes, of golden color and surrounded by a black line of makeup, were fixed on the shepherd boy. They were fascinating and disturbing at the same time. She approached the boy little by little. Her bracelets and ornaments jingled with every step. The mayor was following her like a puppy dog.

    ¡°Who is this boy?¡± asked the woman. It shocked the mayor she had any interest in a simple shepherd from the mountains.

    ¡°Your highness, this is Ipar, a good kid from the next Valley, did he do anything that displeased you?¡± Said the mayor nervously. ¡°Ipar, did you do one of your grimaces to the Lady?¡±

    Ipar negated with his head. The Mayor blew. ¡± To you is talking Lady Azahara Affan. A Major mage from Muwallad. She is going to the Great Plains of Gothia to help to end the war.¡±

    The Lady raised her hand, ordering the Mayor to stop talking. ¡°Is this boy a mage?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No your eminence, he is just a shepherd from The Arun-val, no one from there has the magic.¡±

    The woman turned her head to the side slightly and narrowed her eyes.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a kid from the valley of Arun that had the mark? The only one in a thousand years?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes. Oihane.¡± said the Mayor. Ipar felt uncomfortable. That was a name he didn¡¯t want to remember. ¡°Strange case of hers,¡± continued the man. ¡°They accused her of witchcraft at a young age, and they found out she had the mark under her hair all the time! Incredible, isn¡¯t it?¡± The woman smirked. The story of the mayor didn¡¯t amuse her and, trying to please her, the man continued talking. ¡°Ipar here is a friend of hers. Right, Ipar?¡±

    Ipar shrugged. Oihane used to be more than a friend to him, he was deeply in love with her but she never felt the same. Since he was twelve, he was determined to propose as soon as they were at age. But she didn¡¯t wait. When the town discovered that she had the mark of mages, she left without saying goodbye.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± said Lady Azahara with a glimpse of interest that pleased the mayor.

    The mage turned her head to the side once again. It was a strange mannerism that seemed normal to everyone present, but not to Ipar. He had the feeling of cold on his neck. It was subtle, not as strong as when Pik was around, but enough to understand that she was listening to something invisible to the common human eye.

    The boy was almost certain the woman had a Familiar with her. Pigeon was not always running around like a dog. When he pleased, he would wander around invisible. It was only then when Pik, as he liked to be called in that state, would talk to him.

    ¡°Where is your dog?¡± asked her. Ipar felt butterflies in his stomach. He realized that the mage¡¯s familiar could see Pigeon¡¯s true self.

    He looked around, but his dog was gone. ¡°He is here and there. I don¡¯t have a leash on him.¡± Ipar answered, relieved that his secret was safe.

    ¡°Right, right,¡± said the mayor with a nervous chuckle.¡± Shepherd dogs are always wandering around your eminence. But it is not dangerous, I can tell. Good dog, his Pigeon.¡±

    ¡°I see, that¡¯s interesting,¡± said her.

    ¡°Is it?¡± said the mayor, confused.

    The woman walked away with fast steps and entered her carriage. The coachman closed her door gently, and she pulled down a glass from the door. ¡°I may come to visit you one day, Ipar the shepherd.¡± She said. The mayor bowed and the crowd waved farewells.

    The carriage moved without the help of any animal, making a terrible noise. It was the first time Ipar saw a mage do their magic.

    Ipar ignored the Mayor, who was scolding him for something he didn¡¯t do and started his journey back to his Valley. The Royal Road was once a simple trek that followed the Isil river; now it was a broad and flat path of gravel that made the journeys to the Plains much easier. Ipar would have taken the small trek of the hills if he had a flock, as the new road was much more convenient for the merchants¡¯ carriage, but not for the animals that preferred to walk the grass and soft soil of the meadows. It didn¡¯t matter now. He had no flock to guide, and the gravel road was faster.

    He left behind the town¡¯s walls and the plowed fields nearby. Before long, he was walking through the fields that would lead him to the Giant¡¯s seat. The mountain pass was the only human way to enter Arun-Val. It was a tedious climb that took inexperienced travelers more than a day. But the valley folk, knowing all the correct ways, could take it in a day. As soon as he passed by the Sole farm, he felt the familiar¡¯s presence. It was an icy feeling at the back of his neck, like if Mother Winter herself blew softly behind him.

    ¡°What will we do? What will we do?¡± said Pik.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± answered the shepherd.

    ¡°No, no, no, no. I need the sheep, We need them, yes.¡±

    ¡°There are a lot of things I need to count. I cannot do it by myself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it, yes. I can do it.¡±

    ¡°Arnau said they have few sheep, I wonder how many. Can you check?¡±

    Pik took a minute to answer. ¡°Pik?¡± asked the boy.

    ¡°Is the mage woman still around?¡± said the familiar.

    ¡°Does she scare you?¡± mocked Ipar.

    ¡°Not her. The jinn.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°A genie. It was like a purple mist that surrounded her. It smelled like fear and anger. A dangerous deal that woman has made. Dangerous, dangerous. I will go count sheep now. I will count cows and pigs. That would be useful to you as well, yes? Yes?¡±

    ¡°Definitely.¡± said Ipar ¡°Pik Wait! Pik?¡± shouted Ipar.

    ¡°What? What? I¡¯m busy now. I have a job to do. What?¡±

    ¡°When Arnau talked about the dip. Why did you bark? Do we need to be worried?¡±

    ¡°I was laughing. Ha!. A dip he said! Ha! You, humans, are so stupid.¡±

    ¡°What is it then?¡± asked Ipar, concerned. Pik took his time to answer. And when he did, the tone of his words were the ones of a lie.

    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Ipar was getting tired. ¡°And do any of the other little folk know anything?¡±

    ¡°Ha! The little folk he said! What a way to refer to one. That is a very general and imprecise term. But no. They haven¡¯t talked to me since I first talked to you. I¡¯m an outcast.¡±

    I wonder why you did that. Talk to me, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Because I like you, Ipar. You are my friend. I don¡¯t like the other Follets. Any of them. They are not my friends. Can I go now? Can, can?¡±

    ¡°Yes, go,¡± Ipar said, waving his hand with disdain.

    ¡°By the way, Uhaiz Mummy is in the creek. I can see her, but you don¡¯t. She needs your help. Go and help. Bye. Go.¡±

    The feeling on his neck disappeared, and the boy rushed towards The creek of the tired ones. It was a small stream where people used to stop before starting the ascent up the mountain pass. There, resting under the shade of a tree, was Miss Zelaya. She didn¡¯t look in distress, and Ipar cursed at his familiar for the prank.

    ¡°Ipar! Where are you going so fast?¡± asked her, excited to see him.

    The kid raised his shoulders. ¡°I just want to go back earlier.¡±

    ¡± Where are your sheep?¡± asked her.

    ¡°No flock this year.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s because of the monster wolf, isn¡¯t it?¡± She said without waiting for an answer. The woman jumped up and after shaking her skirt she took a large sack and walked. She was a small woman, and the bag was half her size. ¡°No time to waste with monster wolves around. Want to join this old lady up?¡± she said with a smile.

    ¡°You are not old, Miss Zelaya. And yes, I join you on the climb. With a condition.¡± Miss Zelaya stopped and looked at him with her eyes wide open. ¡°That you let me help you with that sack.¡±

    The woman burst in a laugh and let the kid take the big bag. It was a bulky sack, but not as heavy as the boy thought. ¡°Did you travel to Betren yesterday?¡± Asked the shepherd.

    ¡°No, two days ago. I had a lot of supplies to buy.¡±

    ¡°Is Uhaiz taking care of the Inn?¡±

    ¡°He is! You know him. Clumsy, but a hard worker. Old Titu has an eye on him, not to worry.¡± After a moment to take a deep breath, she looked at the young shepherd out of the corner of her eye and continued talking. ¡°Old Titu also watches over him at night. The old man doesn¡¯t sleep at all, and I promised him a beer a day for a week,¡± she said with forced joy. She looked at the floor. Her lips were smiling, but Ipar could see the sadness in her eyes.

    Miss Zelaya¡¯s life was a sad story everyone in the Valleys knew. But that never stopped her from being the most hopeful and cheerful person Ipar ever met. When she was the same age as Ipar now, she married the village tavern¡¯s keeper. A moody man, no one but her loved. Uhaiz, her first child, was Ipar¡¯s best childhood friend. A cheerful and funny boy, always ready to play pranks on old men. An ordinary simple kid, like all the rest in the valley.

    Sadly, that was not the case of their second. A changeling they call it. Nim, as Miss Zelaya called him, was deformed in an unpleasant manner, and the old tales always said that when a kid was born different, it was because the Goblins changed the human baby with one of their own.

    Miss Zelaya¡¯s husband and all the town told her she had to leave the baby in the forest, where it belonged. But she never did. She loved the kid anyway. With all her love. His husband never did. He mistreated him and her too for not wanting to get rid of him.

    Years passed and Nim, Uhaiz, and Ipar grew. Nim was a funny toddler, limping and growling around. But good-hearted and lovely. Uhaiz, like his father, didn¡¯t like him much and treated him with contempt behind his mother¡¯s back. Then, one night, when Uhaiz was ten and his brother five, the Changeling followed the call of his kind and disappeared in the woods to never come back.

    Miss Zelaya was devastated and her husband, corroded with guilt for having treated her and her son so badly, went mad and died shortly thereafter. Miss Zelaya, left with a tavern and a son, could have sunk in madness as well, but she didn¡¯t. She raised her firstborn alone and changed the tavern to an inn. A business that didn¡¯t do too well, but her hard work and persistence gave her enough to keep going.

    Uhaiz, always was more like his father, and shortly after his brother¡¯s disappearance, changed. He became taciturn and lonely. Stopped talking to Ipar for good and the worst of all started to wander around at night. First, his mother thought the kid was looking for his brother out of sadness. But soon she realized her son was night walking, as possessed by spirits of the night. She couldn¡¯t barely leave his side at night. Or on occasions like that same day she met Ipar, leaving someone to take care of him.

    ¡°Miss Zelaya,¡± said the boy.

    ¡°Amane, you silly! No need to be formal. Just Amane.¡± said her. Ipar regretted what he was going to ask and remained quiet. ¡°What is it? You are worried about the season, do you?¡±

    ¡°A bit.¡± He said.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Ipar. You are a great shepherd. I¡¯m sure the Ikur or Aner families can hire you to bring their cattle to the highlands. The grass is better there than around Lamna-Lac.¡±

    She was right, grass was always better in the mountains. But even if the locals agreed to hire a shepherd they didn¡¯t need, that wouldn¡¯t be enough.

    In the plan of the giant foot, Ipar saw the small shelter for shepherds that used to bring the herds there. No one used it anymore, but it was still in good condition. If he had brought sheep, he would have spent the night there and continued to the valley the next day.

    ¡°Miss Zela¡­ Amane. I was wondering if you could let me sleep at the Inn tonight. It will be late and tomorrow I want to ask around the town.¡±

    ¡°No problem. Not that I have a full house, right?¡± she said with a laugh. ¡°Consider it a payment for your help with the supplies.¡±

    They spent the rest of the climb in silence. Ipar was not tired at all. He was used to walking long distances through the mountains. Amane was having a hard time, though. She was constantly blowing and wiping the sweat from his face, red with exertion. From time to time flocks of her brown hair fall over her face and she would take the moment to catch a breath and rearrange her ponytail.

    Ipar noticed some gray hair was showing. It didn¡¯t change the fact that she was a pretty woman. Since she was widowed, many were the men that asked her to marry. Some from Arun, many from Isil, and even wealthy merchants from the outside world. She accepted none of them. ¡®My heart belongs to my kids now,¡¯ she used to say. ¡®The one I have and the one I don¡¯t.¡¯

    It was before midday when they reached the top of the pass. They stopped for a meal. The sun was hitting hard, but the wind was refreshing.

    The way down took them longer, and they did it in silence as well. When they reached the border of the lake, the sun was already behind the mountains and dusk was over them. The way to the village was a dirt track that followed the lake at one side and meadows and small patches of forest to the other. Every time they were close to the woods, Amane would speed her pace. She didn¡¯t like the forests and was easily scared by the sounds of it. As the dark grew, she became more spooked. And by the midpoint to the village of Endara, she was walking with her eyes fixed on the floor, whispering prayers to the gods.

    Ipar was used to the woods and beasts. Magical or not. His father always taught him how to avoid the dangers of the mountain. People in the valley used to say that he was fearless, but that was not true. Sometimes he was afraid.

    When they passed next to the old church ruins, he raised his steps even faster than Amane, and both looked at the floor for a while together. That church was a failed attempt to bring the gods of Gothia to the valley a hundred years ago. It didn¡¯t work, as the gods of the vale were stronger in their people¡¯s hearts. Now, the abandoned building was a rat shelter and the legend said the worst spirits hunted it.

    With the crescent moon on their heads, they reached the village and soon the Inn. Endara was a set of randomly laid houses, without streets or modern facilities, like electricity or sewerage systems. The buildings were all carved from the same pattern. Strong rock walls and black slate stone roofs. They were all surrounding what the townspeople used to call the Town square, which was just a plane with a little water well in the middle. The village had thirty-five houses, including the farmhouses around the lake, the town hall, and the old gods¡¯ church.

    The population was twenty neighbors, who were the heads of household and who decided everything about the valley, and hundred souls. Ipar knew that number as well as how many cows and pigs, chickens, and other unuseful things thanks to Pik, who counted everything many times and reminded him constantly.

    When they entered the inn, Ipar felt the warmth of the fireplace like a blessing. He didn¡¯t visit the place for many years, but it looked the same. Uhaiz was standing behind the old tavern bar cleaning a glass reluctantly.

    Ipar noticed how much his old friend changed. He did see him grow tall the previous years, always waving to each other from afar. But a long time passed since the two were that close.

    ¡°Look who I bring with me, Uhaiz!¡±, said Amane. Uhaiz greeted them with a raise of his eyebrows.

    At the table next to the fire, there were two people eating dinner. ¡°Still here?¡± Whispered Amane to her son.

    ¡°They paid for two more weeks,¡± answered Uhaiz.

    Amane could barely contain his excitement and chuckled. Ipar looked at the table. The two foreigners were dressed in strange clothes That the boy didn¡¯t know from were. The tall and muscular man had long hair tied in a ponytail and a big bushy beard. He was old enough that his hair, once blonde, was now halfway to grey. With him, there was a girl who was not older than the shepherd. She had a long mane that reached to the floor and it was of a blonde so bright it seemed white.

    ¡°Come Ipar, sit next to them, the fire will warm you and I''ll bring you some food.¡±

    Old Titu was entering when Ipar sat at his table. ¡°Hoi woman! One ale here!¡± Shouted the old man with a cracked voice.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t my boy give you one today?¡±

    ¡°Heh? No, he didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Titu, this is an inn. The food and drinks are for the people that are here overnight.¡±

    ¡°Your son gave ales to Pere and his anglers this afternoon and they are not sleeping here.¡± said the old man sitting next to the door.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± said Amane, glancing at his son who couldn¡¯t hold his gaze. Uhaiz left the glass and walked away to the pantry. "don¡¯t go to sleep yet dear, I''ll cook something for you!" Said her mother.

    ¡°You promised me an ale a day,¡± shouted Titu once again. Ipar wondered if the old folk used to shout all the time before he became almost deaf.

    When Amane brought him the glass, Titu smiled, showing his only teeth. He looked around and raised his eyebrows when he saw the shepherd. ¡°Ipar! Long time no see, boy!¡± He raised his beer to greet him and Ipar waved timidly. ¡°You see, woman? Ipar is in here!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t notice. Hi Ipar.¡±, said Amane.

    The old man surveyed the rest of the compound and his eyes narrowed as he saw the foreigners. The valley people didn¡¯t like foreigners, but they were accustomed to seeing new faces from time to time. Specially mage apprentices that came to Arun looking for their magic source, or hunters looking for the same. Ipar saw many of these people in the mountains. Most of them wander around lost, and sometimes dead by the dangers of the mountains.

    ¡°Oi, Norseman. Did you find the wolf?¡± Shouted old Titu to the big blonde man.

    The man ate a spoon of his lentils stew and a sip of his ale before answering. ¡°No,¡± he answered in a deep voice.

    ¡°Do not annoy my customers, geezer,¡¯¡¯ said Amane.

    ¡°Just asking, just asking. The foreigners are looking for the father wolf. Ha! Like you can find him easily. The father cannot be found! Ha!¡±

    ¡°Then I will keep looking.¡± Said el man clenching his fists tightly. Amane moved fast to his side.

    ¡°Oh sir, I¡¯m sorry, do not listen to that old man-¡° the Norseman raised his hand and turned to her with a smile on his face that didn¡¯t match his wild look.

    ¡°Miss,¡± he said in a warm tone. ¡°Not to worry. I¡¯m not here to fight. Your stew is delicious, and the ale is fantastic. I will have one more round. I¡¯ll pay, of course.¡±

    Amane left the man''s side while the girl whispered to him. Whispers that he replied with a nod. Ipar was staring at them, full of curiosity, until she notices him and stared back with penetrating blue eyes. Her gaze made him look away uncomfortable.

    When Amane brought the food and drinks, the mysterious girl whispered again to the old man. ¡°My daughter says you are a brave woman.¡± Said the foreigner man.

    ¡°Oh, thank you, dear. But I am not.¡± Said Amane.

    ¡°Your son says you go alone to the next valley every year. And come back late at night. That¡¯s really brave.¡±

    Amane chuckled and tucked her hair behind the ear. ¡°Well, I was terrified! Ipar here can tell.¡±

    ¡°Miss. Wandering dangerous places without fear is the doing of idiots or madmen,¡± said the man. ¡°Being afraid and doing it anyway is the doing of the brave.¡±

    Amane smiled with sadness. Ipar could not tell if it was because the man reminded her of her husband or her son.

    ¡°Ipar can help you! He¡¯s a shepherd and knows all the treks of this valley!¡±

    ¡°We need no guide,¡± said the Norseman, sipping his cup.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s dangerous out there. And Ipar knows how to find and how to avoid any dangerous creature of Arun.¡± said Zelaya, putting her hands over the boy¡¯s shoulders. Ipar didn¡¯t know what to say. He didn¡¯t want to join such an endeavor, as the father Wolf didn¡¯t want to be found. But that season he would not make any money at all, and the job could help.

    The girl whispered to his father, and he replied with a grout. He finished his glass and stood. ¡°Will five Royals from Gothia suffice?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fifty Novels, Ipar.¡± whispered Zelaya. It was almost what he would make in a whole year.

    ¡°Fine. I will go with you.¡± said reluctantly the shepherd.

    The man walked upstairs, and the girl followed him. ¡°Very well, then. Tomorrow dawn we will go find the Big Wolf.¡±

 Father wolf (Part two)

    Ipar put his supplies inside the bag and walked outside the inn before sunrise. The foreigners and Amane were already in the Town¡¯s square. The man was kneeling, checking his bag and his daughter was hiding behind his big body, unsettled by the presence of Pigeon, who was barking at them, moving his tail in a friendly manner.

    ¡°My daughter doesn¡¯t like the company of dogs, shepherd,¡± said the man. ¡°Me neither.¡±

    Ipar whistled, and Pigeon rushed to him. ¡°You better go play somewhere else, boy.¡± The dog gave him a little cry but ran away shortly after. Ipar wished Pik would join them later, as he was useful in the mountains.

    ¡®Where are you bringing them?¡± asked Amane.

    ¡°Up to the Jentil-Pla. To the Fangs.¡±

    ¡°Where is that place?¡± asked the Norseman.

    Ipar pointed north. The man looked at the girl, who nodded slightly. ¡°We are good with that,¡± said the man.

    ¡°We will have to stay overnight,¡± said the boy.

    ¡°We are good with that as well.¡±

    They started their journey in silence. Ipar was not used to talking to people and his companions seemed like people of the same kind, but after a while, his curiosity about the two increased enough.

    ¡°My name is Ipar,¡±

    ¡°I know that.¡± was the answer of the man.

    ¡®Where are you from?¡±

    ¡°From very far.¡± was his answer. Ipar didn¡¯t talk more. If the man didn¡¯t want to chat, he was fine with it. The girl talked to the man in a soft voice with a language Ipar didn¡¯t understand. The Norseman grouted and replied.

    ¡°My daughter¡¯s name is Oydis. You can call me Bj?rn. We are from land north of Alfheimar Earldom.¡±

    He didn¡¯t dare to ask about that place. Her knowledge of the world was elemental, and he didn¡¯t know any country further than the Gothia kingdom.

    They took the trek of the Anjana forest, with the lake on their left side and the trees on their right. It was not a convenient place to walk, as the Anjana was home of many spirits, but it was a shorter way to reach the Jentil¡¯s plane. At the end of it, where its creek was born, there was the Forest of the fangs. The only place Ipar¡¯s old man ever saw the mountain spirit. It was unlikely they would find him. As old Titu said, Father Wolf was elusive and only showed himself when he wanted, but it was the only place the boy knew they had a chance.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that forest, young Ipar.¡± said Bj?rn, noticing the shepherd was continuously checking the woods. ¡°My daughter can smell and hear things you and I can¡¯t. She says that woods are safe.¡±

    It was an eerie morning, and a mist started to form as soon as they reached the Maruga¡¯s rock. It was a big elongated rock half-buried at the riverside. With the top of it over the water.

    The Norseman put his hand over Ipar¡¯s chest. ¡°We wait here.¡± The girl climbed on the giant boulder up to the edge and shouted in her language. It felt like she was reciting an enchantment, as the rhythm of her words was like poetry. She remained quiet and steady, looking at the mist over the lake. That rock had lots of tales surrounding it, some good and many more bad, and no one was supposed to climb it.

    ¡°She shouldn¡¯t cli-¡±

    ¡°She will be fine,¡± Interrupted Bj?rn. The Norseman sat down and started to carve a little horse out of wood with his knife. Ipar seated next to him. The girl remained over the rock, shouting the same words from time to time for an hour.

    ¡°Is your daughter a mage?¡±

    ¡°She was a bandru¨ª once. A kind of mage.¡±

    ¡°And you?¡±

    ¡°No. I was just a simple farmer,¡± answered him. Ipar looked at him in disbelief. The man was almost twice his height, with broad shoulders and hands like his head. He looked like a warrior or a bear hunter. He was going to ask why they were looking for Father Wolf when the Norseman stood. His daughter was climbing back.

    ¡°We can go now.¡± said the man throwing the carved horse on the floor.

    They reprise the journey in silence as they did before. Ipar raised his speed, annoyed by the hour wasted on the rock. He wanted to climb to the Plane before dark. His companions followed him no matter how fast he walked or how difficult was the trail. It was clear that their journey to Arun got them used to walk through any terrain.

    At the end of the lake they could see the Giant¡¯s seat at the left, and then climb to the Jentil on the right. There, at the lake¡¯s side, were the furthest inhabitants of the village, Casas family farm. The oldest son was on the palisade, feeding their pig. Ipar waved at him, and the boy answered with a subtle raise of his eyebrows.

    The rest of the way was uphill. following small trails that Ipar used with his flock. It was a difficult route, but Ipar knew it well. Bj?rn and Oydis, who had already shown their skills, followed closely behind. Without any misstep.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Jentil-Val. We will follow the creek to a shepherd¡¯s hut at the top. From there we can start looking for the Father tomorrow.¡± said Ipar.

    ¡°Have you ever seen him?¡± asked the Norseman.

    ¡°No¡± lied Ipar. Or at least, he thought. His father used to leave bread and ale inside a box outside the house. He used to say ¡®if the Father comes, he will be pleased, and his wolves will never attack my flock¡¯. One summer night, when father was shepherding, Ipar saw a strange figure in the woods striding towards the hut and making the earth tremble at each step. It could have been a giant, as it was twice the height of a normal man. Or a Basajaun as his body was covered in grey thick fur. Terrified, the kid didn¡¯t wait to have a better look and hid under the bed. The growls and heavy breathing of the monster lasted an hour, then he left striking the earth the same way as he came. When the old shepherd came back, he was so happy that the mountain spirit took his food that bought his son a full berry cake.

    ¡°I know he is around there. My father told me.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± said Bj?rn. ¡°My daughter feels it. We followed your river all the way to the top, but there were mountains we couldn¡¯t pass.¡±

    ¡°So, you needed a guide after all,¡± said Ipar. Bj?rn grouted in a way that made the boy regret his comment.

    Although he walked without problems, Bj?rn didn''t seem to like that part, and from time to time, he grunted and mumbled words in his language. Every time his father showed signs of annoyance, Oydis would whistle or sing softly a nice song that pleased him. The more they walked through the day, the more often the girl had to use her pretty voice to calm her father''s moods.

    ¡°I like them!¡± said Pik suddenly. Ipar was so lost in his thoughts that didn¡¯t realize the cold. The goblin took him by surprise and he almost shouted. That would have made him look like a madman in front of the foreigners, or even worse, uncover his secret. He excused himself and went to pee behind a tree. ¡°Can¡¯t the girl see you?¡± whispered him nervously.

    ¡°No, she can¡¯t. No worries. I checked the sheep in Isil. Arnau was right. They only have one thousand eight hundred forty-two. Only stupid Jan and Tomas ¡®the idiot¡¯ will shepherd this year. I don¡¯t like them. I can prank them well, can I? Can I?¡±

    ¡°Leave them alone, Pik. Are you sure she cannot feel you?¡±

    ¡°No, no, no. I¡¯m sure. What can I do now? What can I do?¡±

    ¡°Just look around for dangers. We are going to the fangs. Let me know if there are wolves or bears around.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. I can do that. Bye. I like that task. Bye.¡±

    They reached the top plain late evening and the shepherd¡¯s hut at dusk. Bj?rn was going to enter when Ipar put his hand in front of him. ¡°You wait here,¡± said the boy with a smirk. The boy got closer and took a pebble from the ground. He hit the heavy wall and repeated the process seven times.

    ¡°What was that for?¡± asked the man.

    ¡°To tell the Carmecos, we are going. They are genies from the forest that take care of the huts.¡±

    ¡°There was nothing there, young Ipar. My daughter would have told me,¡±

    ¡°Maybe Oydis cannot see all the magical creatures out there,¡± replied the boy, annoyed. The Norseman gave him a gaze that made him apologize immediately.

    The hut was dirty but in good condition, The two foreigners left all their bags and went outside. Ipar who as soon as he entered began to clean his corner for the night, followed them, curious. They walked towards the forest that was at the feet of the Fang¡¯s mountains but stopped not too far from the hut. Ipar felt the cold of Pik coming.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°There are wolves in that forest. I can see them, they can see you, but you humans cannot see any of us.¡± said the little folk. Ipar frowned.

    ¡°There are wolves in that forest,¡± said Bj?rn. Pik snapped his tongue and remained quiet. Ipar had a hard time controlling his laugh.

    ¡°That¡¯s the forest we need to search. Tomorrow we can-¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t enter that place, little shepherd,¡± cut the man. ¡°If we do, we die.¡± The man raised her daughter over his shoulders and the girl shouted words that echoed through the mountains. They repeated the same strange ritual until dark. Ipar, tired of waiting, went to gather some wood to heat the cabin for the night.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to look for him. He knows we have come.¡± said the man once inside. They sat next to Ipar, who was already eating. The Norse took from his bag salted meat and a strange wine made of honey and shared it with the boy. Ipar, grateful, shared his bread, cheese, and beer with them.

    They didn¡¯t start their sleep when the wind started to blow hard. Bj?rn was more grumpy and nervous than usual, and the songs of his daughter seemed to have no effect on him. Ipar was closing his eyes when the wind brought a strange sound that scared him. It was like a melody he heard before.

    ¡°That¡¯s the chanting of a serena. Do not listen to it!¡± said Ipar.

    ¡°A siren? In the mountains?¡± said Bj?rn.

    ¡°No, I said a serena. It¡¯s a beast. Half woman, half-bird.¡±

    ¡°You mean a harpy,¡± answered Bj?rn condescending.

    Oydis talked to his father. He snapped his teeth and stood. ¡°All right, sorry little one, you are right,¡± shouted the big man. Ipar didn¡¯t understand the sudden burst of anger of the man. ¡°. I¡¯m going out!¡± said the man, shutting the door with fury. Ipar wanted to tell him not to go out, as it was dangerous, especially with Sirens around, but he was terribly scary.

    ¡°He shouldn¡¯t go out,¡± whispered the shepherd.

    ¡°He will be fine.¡± said the girl in the common language. Ipar looked at her with his eyes wide open.

    ¡°Yes. I speak your language. I just prefer to use mine.¡±

    ¡°He shouldn¡¯t go-¡±

    ¡°I cannot stop him always,¡± interrupted her. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Ipar the shepherd. He will come back when he calms down.¡±

    ¡°What did you say to him?¡±

    ¡°Just that men used to confuse sirens with mermaids,¡± said her with a timid smile.

    ¡°He got angry just because of that? It doesn¡¯t matter that much.¡±

    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t. It was not my words that anger my father. Rage is a part of him he cannot handle sometimes.¡± She sang her song softly, like a whisper.

    Ipar fell asleep but his dream didn¡¯t last long. It was about the witching hours when howls echoed in the distance. A loud growl and cries of beast preceded. Oydis was still awake in the same spot, singing her song, now loudly. The boy got up to check that the door was properly closed and threw a log in the fire. The night noises lasted all night and Ipar didn¡¯t close his eyes again.

    Morning came and with it, Bj?rn. He was completely covered in mud and blood. He seated with difficulty, with a grimace of pain, and started washing himself with a cloth. ¡°Ipar couldn¡¯t take his eyes off him. ¡°I¡¯m fine, little Ipar. The siren won¡¯t hunt us anymore,¡± he said.

    ¡°And the wolves?¡± Asked Ipar. Bj?rn didn¡¯t answer.

    They spent all day in the hut, sleeping, and eating. Oydis would sing from time to time to calm his father¡¯s mood and delight in Ipar¡¯s ears. Occasionally Ipar would go outside and wander the meadows, thinking of his shepherd¡¯s days. The day passed faster than he wished and the night was due again.

    He came back to the hut to find the two foreigners at the door. Bj?rn was dressed with a leather breastplate, and he was carrying a small axe with strange engravings. With it, he had a small sword and a knife hanging from the belt. The man kneeled in front of his daughter and said some Norse words. The girl kissed his forehead, and the man walked uphill. ¡°You stay there inside the hut. Don¡¯t leave my daughter alone, little Ipar!¡± shouted from the distance.

    The shepherd stood there looking at the man until he entered the forest. The wind was blowing with fury. He didn¡¯t hear the steps of Oydis and the girl scared him from behind.

    ¡°We should stay inside,¡± she said.

    ¡°I will follow you shortly,¡± said the boy. ¡°I just need to pee.¡± He remained there for minutes. The moon was full, and the night was bright. ¡°Pik?¡± he said. The familiar didn¡¯t answer. The howls of the wolves came back, and He went inside with Oydis. She didn¡¯t sing her song that night. She crawled next to him and grabbed his arm. Soon after, she was snoozing on his lap. Ipar¡¯s heart was pumping hard. He was not sure if it was because of the girl or the wolves. With the heat of the fire and the warmth of Oydis touch, he fell asleep for a moment. Suddenly the wind struck the hut with such force, the wooden window opened. An ethereal voice came from the wind.

    ¡°You,¡± said the voice with a lugubrious tone. The girl stood suddenly and shrieked. The wind was blowing so hard through the window that it almost put out the fire. Ipar rushed to close it. ¡°You!¡± blew the wind.

    ¡°No! No!¡± screamed Oydis. When Ipar closed the window, she was not inside anymore. The door was open and moving in the wind. He ran outside, but she was not there. Then he walked further, to the stream of water. Where he saw the man leave for the woods. She was anywhere around. She banished.

    There was the grey silhouette of a man at the forest edge. It was far but Ipar knew he was the same strange creature that was the same he saw years back. The wind turned into a breeze that carried whispers that became words. Words of a forgotten language. ¡°He is here,¡± said Pik. The night was cold and Ipar didn¡¯t notice his familiar. It didn¡¯t scare him this time. As he couldn¡¯t be more frightened than he was. The next words riding the winds were ones that the shepherd understood.

    ¡°Who is this, who brings the Curse of the berserk to me?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s just Ipar, the sheep shepherd.¡± Shouted Pik. His voice sounded as scared as if he would say the same. The wind answered with the ancient tongue. ¡°Tell him! Tell him, Ipar!¡± Said Pik to the kid screaming out of his mind. ¡°Tell him you mean no harm! Tell him you are a good boy!¡±

    ¡°I am Ipar, son of Unai. I shepherd in your mountains as my father did once. You knew him, didn''t you? I didn¡¯t come to harm anyone!¡± shouted the kid.

    The wind hissed in discontent. ¡°However, you are bringing doom to my realm, son of Unai.¡± after a gust of wind that knocked him to the ground, the grey shadow disappeared.

    For a moment, the night was quiet. Ipar could not feel Pik anymore. Then the howls of the wolves came back. He stood and rushed to the hut as fast as he could. The howls repeated, louder and closer. He turned and saw the shadows of the beasts popping out from the trees, right at the same place their father was standing.

    Before he entered, he took a last glance, and the animals were halfway. He closed the door and dragged the old provision trunk to bar it. He felt safe for just an instant. When he turned around, Father wolf was behind. How he had entered was magic for the boy, but from the shock, he fell to the ground and shouted.

    The forest spirit stared at him. Without saying a word. His face of resentment was lined with deep wrinkles and surrounded by long gray hair and an unkempt beard. As long as her mane. He dressed in a wolf fur coat, dirty and old as the man himself. He was tall. Not as a giant as Ipar remembered, but much more than any man. Much more than Bj?rn, who was the tallest human Ipar ever met.

    The Father took a step towards him that sounded like thunder when the door of the hut exploded. The trunk flew away in pieces. On the other side of the entrance was Bj?rn, who had to duck to enter. He was somehow taller and bulkier than before. His breastplate was gone, and his clothes were all ripped out. He was bleeding everywhere. He was clenching his teeth and growling and drooling. His bare torso was full of tattoos. An enormous tree surrounded by a multitude of wild beasts that were moving up and down, following his heavy breathing.

    ¡°Release us from the curse!¡± roared the Norseman.

    ¡°Your curse is not my doing.¡± said the Father with his ethereal voice.

    ¡°Liar! Shouted the man. ¡°Release her from the curse!¡± Bj?rn leaped onto the wolf and in an instant, they were locked in a hand-to-hand battle. The two of them were so powerful that at every push and hit on the walls, the whole hut trembled. The roof Shaked and dust and splinters flew everywhere. Ipar, who was in one corner petrified by terror, found a moment of bravery and stood. He ran for his life and left the interior just at the same moment that one wall and half of the roof collapsed. That did not stop the combat. The boy could hear the rumbling and pounding inside.

    ¡°Run Ipar, Run!¡± said Pik. he didn¡¯t waste time and ran downhill as fast as he could. He didn¡¯t reach far when in front of him there was a grey wolf. Staring at him and growling. Many came from every corner. In silence. The one in front, the biggest, growled and closed quarters slowly.

    Ipar fell on his knees waiting for a fast death when a shadow crossed his side fast as the wind. It was another wolf. This one white and bigger than any of the others. White and grey locked in battle, growling, crying, and biting each other. Their movements were fast as lightning. The fight ended up being brief and uneven. With an unnatural speed, the white beast clenched his jaws on its enemy¡¯s neck. The gray wolf tried to escape but his attempts to get rid of the bite were in vain.. Defeated, it fell at the mercy of its opponent, who without any mercy, ripped its throat and swallowed the flesh. The rest of the pack didn¡¯t retaliate. They just stared at the new leader in silence while it liked the blood of his mouth.

    The wolves didn¡¯t stop looking at their new leader until the sound of footsteps behind Ipar caught their attention. It was at something behind him. Ipar turned as well. Father wolf was staggering towards him, trying to stop the bleeding from his neck with the hand. With every step he took, clumsy and rough, the earth no longer shook, only the rustling of leaves and branches was heard.

    ¡°You brought harm to the Val, after all.¡± His voice was not of a spirit of the mountains anymore. It sounded like any other old man. rough and weak. When he reached Ipar¡¯s side, he stumbled to the ground. The wolves hauled so loud, it hurt Ipar¡¯s ears.

    The pack left as silent as they came. The white wolf looked at Ipar and approached him until the wolf¡¯s nose was in front of his face. The animal sniffed him. Ipar held his breath and closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the animal to dig its fangs into its throat, as it did the other wolf. However, the wolf lightly licked the tip of his nose. When the boy opened his eyes, the wolf was slowly moving away. It turned to look at him one last time, and with a little jump, it trotted away to its pack.

    The boy stayed on his knees for a long time trying to understand what had happened. He stood slowly, scared the wolves would come back and finish their job. The night was calm like none of that madness had ever happened. He wandered around looking for Oydis. Shouting her name. He shouted for Pik as well. Neither answered. He went back to the cabin, but it was empty. There was no sign of Bj?rn, either. The interior was a mess of blood and debris. He took a piece of the Father¡¯s coat and huddled in a corner.

    The next morning Ipar returned to the village. He said wolves attacked them. No one asked further. Everyone knew the dangers of Arun. Amane asked much more, but he didn¡¯t reply. He left the inn and his gold with her and took the trek uphill to the Goian water mill, alone and silent.

    All the way to his home he couldn¡¯t stop thinking of what happened. What would his father say to him? Possibly encouraging words, thought Ipar, as he was a great man. Maybe he¡¯d been secretly disappointed by his son¡¯s cowardice. He didn¡¯t know. Then he imagined what his father would have done in that situation. That thought didn¡¯t last. His father would never agree to go with the foreigners. He¡¯d never disturbed the peace of the mountain spirits.

    He felt guilt for being scared. For annoying the spirits. For failing to protect Oydis.

    He reached the mill and walked a few more steps to his house. It felt more empty than ever. He took a last look at the mountains, a place he loved but wished to never have to go back and closed the door.

 The water woman (Part one)

    Uhaiz reached the square of the village in the late afternoon. His mother was waiting outside the inn. It was the first time he went to Isil for supplies, and she was still not convinced to let him go alone. Uhaiz couldn¡¯t blame her for being reluctant. After all, he spent years night walking around the village. But that was before. His curse ended after a house spirit appeared in his life three months ago.

    ¡°Finally!¡± said Mother. ¡°I was worried.¡±

    ¡°I came earlier than usual. They are building a road to the Giant Pass, you know?¡±

    ¡°She has been nervous all day.¡± said old Titu, who was standing next to her leaning on his walking stick. ¡°Can I have my ale now?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a mother¡¯s curse to worry about their child all the time.¡± Mother ignored the old man¡¯s request, as she used to do often. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go inside.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t wander around Betren last night if that¡¯s what worried you.¡± Uhaiz used to have terrible nightmares since his little brother disappeared in the woods. During his sleep, a haunting voice spoke of terrible things that would happen to Mother or to him and when he woke up, it was always in places outside the village, dressed in his pajamas and sweating in the middle of the night.

    For years, Uhaiz was sure that his dreams were the doing of his little brother¡¯s spirit. After all, he didn¡¯t treat him well in life. Same as Father, who always drank and mistreated mother and brother alike. The man paid his price for it dearly. Soon after Nim¡¯s disappearance, he became mad and died soon after. The elders used to say he killed himself out of desperation, but Uhaiz knew the truth: He was hunted by the changeling¡¯s spirit, and after father, it hunted him for years. But Uhaiz never gave up on madness.

    The young man put the sack of supplies on the inn¡¯s bar and dropped his height over the closest chair he could find. Mother brought him soup and kissed his head. ¡°Mother! I¡¯m not a kid anymore!¡± complained him, moving his head to the side.

    ¡°I know, I know. And by the way, I was worried about the wolves.¡±

    ¡°Better me than you,¡± he said. His mother gazed at him with her hands on her waist. ¡°Sorry? Is that because you are ¡®a man now¡¯?¡±

    Uhaiz smiled. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m younger and I run faster.¡± Mother busted in a loud laugh. Titu, who was sitting at his table next to the door, laughed with them, although they were sure the old man could not hear from that far.

    The valley was always a dangerous place, but since the last season, the wolves of the highlands behaved more aggressively, and each time they were more daring and closer to the farms. attacking cattle and whipping farmers. It all started after Ipar, an old friend of Uhaiz, brought two strangers to the mountains in search of the Father of the wolves. No one knew the details of what happened, but for sure, it infuriated the mountain spirit and its pack.

    ¡°I need to bring some things to Ipar. I didn¡¯t do it for a week,¡± said mother.

    ¡°Cannot wait? It will get dark.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I need my dose of fear from time to time. And I run faster than you think,¡± answered mother. Uhaiz chuckled.

    Ipar didn¡¯t come out of his hut since the wolves'' incident. The former shepherd felt guilty about all that happened and secluded himself. Maybe it was not guilt but fear. No one knew for sure as the boy barely talked to anyone and spent all his time inside the house. Mother, who was a generous soul, used to bring him food and anything he could need twice a week.

    When Mother left for her jacket, Uhaiz took the sewing cop from his pocket. The only person in the inn was Titu, and he was snoozing on his chair. He put the cop on his ear, close enough to hear the voice of the small house folk. ¡°Is Mother going to be fine?¡± asked the young man to Mr. Strings.

    ¡°Yes, do not worry.¡±His little voice was a whisper that resounded inside his head rather than heard it with his ears.

    One spring night, when Uhaiz got into bed, he felt something under him. It was one of his mother¡¯s sewing thread packages. A small sewing cop made of wood trembled as soon as he took it. Uhaiz, shocked, threw it on the floor. Convinced that something that small could not harm him, he waited and looked at it for a while.

    From inside the cop, a tiny piece of thread, wound up so that it looked like a person, came out. It was small, like a grain of rice, dawdling around and waving at him. Uhaiz shook his head and scratched his eyes. Uhaiz knew about stories of little magical creatures that lived in houses. He was from Arun after all. But he was no expert. He never had any interest in knowing about them and didn¡¯t ever see one either. He covered it with the chamber pot and put two of his heavier books over it before leaving the room. Titu was an expert of all sorts of creatures of the valley, magical or not.

    ¡°What do you know about little folks that live inside a sewing thread cop?¡± asked the boy to the old man.

    ¡°Minairos, they like to do housework and eat,¡± was his answer. ¡°Some are naughty. Others are just fine. It all depends on how well you treat them.¡±

    That day, Uhaiz went back to his room and apologized to the spirit. Took it inside his pocket and promised to treat him well. Now, over three months later, he was sitting in the same spot, cleaning the same glass as the day he came down with the cop inside his pocket for the first time.

    More than an hour passed with no changes in the inn as usual. Titu sleeping over the chair and Uhaiz cleaning here and there. Sometimes the boy would chat with the spirit to kill the boredom and make the hours run faster.

    ¡°What can I do tonight?¡± asked Mr. Strings.

    ¡°I have some rice grains I need to put somewhere else if that¡¯s fine with you.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯d like to see the rock of the lake tomorrow. Can we go? Can we go?¡±

    Uhaiz hesitated. The Rock was a place with a lot of stories behind it, some of them terrifying. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± answered him. The spirit insisted, and he finally agreed. Since Uhaiz was born, nothing had ever happened there and people used to pass by often. Not that far from the village, and the boy thought it would be safe to go in the daylight.

    ¡°Someone is coming,¡± said Mr. Strings a few seconds before the little bell of the entrance door rang. While putting the cop back inside the pocket, Uhaiz welcomed the two strangers with a slight movement of the head. They were both tall and dark-skinned, with broad shoulders and curly hair. They had a dangerous and mean look that was far from reality. As soon as Uhaiz greeted them, the younger smiled back, showing the whitest teeth the boy ever saw.

    ¡°Good evening to you, sir! We would like to have a room for a week,¡± said the foreigner.

    ¡°What is your business here, young men?¡± shouted Titu from his seat.

    ¡°Excuse the rudeness of the geezer, gentlemen,¡± said Uhaiz.

    The man with white teeth talked to his companion in a language that sounded like bubbling. The older of them chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine,¡± said the younger man to Uhaiz.

    ¡°I and my brother here come from a little village south of Muwallad. We don¡¯t trust foreigners easily there either.¡±

    The southerner turned to Titu and leaned on the bar. ¡°I¡¯m Zine and this is my brother Dane. We came to hunt some wolves. We have heard it is good business around here.¡±

    Titu raised his bushy eyebrows. ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. We have plenty of those nasty dogs in here recently. I¡¯ll pay you an ale for each one you kill!¡±

    Uhaiz stopped cleaning the glass suddenly. ¡°With what money, old man?¡± Zine translated the conversation to his elder brother, and both laughed hard. ¡°The inn will be out of beer and coins if you do that, old sir. Thank you for the offer, but we don¡¯t drink alcohol. The wolf¡¯s fur is really well paid in the south, and that will be enough reward for us.¡±

    ¡°You came from the far south to hunt wolves?¡±

    ¡°No. We were serving in the war up in Gothia. Now that is over we were heading back home and one merchant told us in Sunnor. My brother used to hunt bears and wild boars long ago, so we thought, why not? Better than return empty-handed.¡±

    The two foreigners paid for the room and walked to the door. ¡°Where can we buy wolf traps?¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t find any for sale here. You can find those things in Isil, the next valley.¡±

    The Isil valley has always been better connected to the outside world than Arun. It was thanks to the river that created a natural path to the Plains of Gothia. Mountains surrounded Arun, and the Arantza river ended at the lake. It was a place that remained the same as centuries back, barely untouched by modernity. It was fine for its people, who were happy with a living that barely changed.

    Uhaiz knew that would not last forever. He could see the changes slowly happening. The lake¡¯s trout, bigger and tastier than anywhere else, was a substantial business that brought fresh faces to the valley. But now, only the eldest still spoke the old language and the youngsters were forgetting old traditions and the ancient gods.

    ¡°Really? We just came from there,¡± said Zine disappointed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter then, we will make our own.¡± The two men walked back and agreed to try a bit of Mother¡¯s stew before they went to their rooms to rest.

    Nothing more happened until mother came back. She was sad. Although she knew Ipar was home, the shepherd didn¡¯t answer her calls, and she had to leave the supplies at the door.

    ¡°We have customers,¡± said Uhaiz trying to cheer her up. His words worked, and she received the news with enthusiasm.

    When father passed away, Mother didn¡¯t want a tavern. It was always full of drunk fishermen all night. When she turned it into an inn, the locals still visited from time to time for drinks, but she had an excuse to kick them out after a beer or two. All except Titu, who lived there most of his time. The inn brought little money, as they had few visitors from the outside. Occasionally, they would welcome mages from the plains looking for magic creatures they could use to increase their power or make potions. For the past months, though, with the increase of wolf attacks. No mages dared to travel to Endara.

    ¡°Mages?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No, huntsmen,¡± Hunters were another type of customer that would visit Arun to search the same creatures as the mage apprentices, only to sell any magical prize to other mages that we''re too scared or busy to search for such things by themselves. ¡°These are wolf hunters,¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Those two words together sound delightful,¡± said mother. She never liked those beasts. ¡°You didn¡¯t bring the soap,¡± added her from inside the pantry.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t have the one you said. It¡¯s fine, we can buy some from iaia Petra.¡±

    ¡°Quality, Uhaiz. Quality. Our customers are from big, fancy cities. They cannot bathe with soap that smells like a cow.¡±

    The only two customers they had were not from fancy cities, and they may not have had any visitors for months. Mother was a perfectionist. Arun¡¯s people were almost self-sufficient by themselves, but she always wanted the best.

    Uhaiz yawned. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± shouted Titu after a loud snort. ¡°Where are the venerers?¡±

    ¡°They went to rest,¡± answered the boy.

    ¡°Resting they won¡¯t kill any dog. Can I have an Ale?¡±

    Uhaiz ignored him, knowing he might fall asleep on the chair again, and decided to leave the inn duties to her mum. He was tired from the journey and the next day he would have to wake up slightly earlier to be able to go to the Rock and back without raising Mother¡¯s suspicions.

    The next morning was still dark when he left the inn. The first lights of the dawn caught him midway of the trek. It was then that a strange mist formed over the waters of the lake. Soon it surrounded him, and he stopped. The package in his pocket trembled, and he raised it to his ear.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. The mist is not dangerous,¡± said the house spirit. Uhaiz believed it. But a few steps later, the mist grew thicker, and he turned back. The thread cop shook again, but he didn¡¯t pick it up.

    From behind, directly from the mist, a warm and beautiful voice crooned. Uhaiz rushed out, scared it was one of those creatures who deceive men with beautiful songs. It was a delightful voice, and without realizing his steps were guided by that intoxicating melody.

    Uhaiz had run in the opposite direction, but either the deceiving of the mist or the betraying of his legs brought him in front of the rock.

    The mist magically cleared up, forming a perfect circle with him in the middle. The song gave way to whispers and giggles. They were voices of girls speaking in a strange language Uhaiz didn¡¯t understand, although he knew they spoke of him since at some point he heard his name.

    ¡°How about we talk in the common, so our guest can understand?¡± said one voice, the sweetest of all.

    ¡°He is handsome like his father,¡± said another of the voices. The comment unleashed the giggles of the others.

    At the lake¡¯s edge, floating around the mist, Uhaiz saw the shapes of women dancing and floating over the lake. Their bodies were of an ethereal glow, not flesh, as the boy could see one through the shape of another.

    ¡°Is his heart like him as well? If so, we better drown him,¡± said another. Uhaiz wanted to run, but his feet were stuck on the sand. If it was magic or fear, he didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°The hob says his heart is pure,¡±

    One of them took some steps towards him, walking over the water as if it was earth. When the spirit touched the ground, her body became more visible, more human. She was the most beautiful woman Uhaiz ever saw. With a bright red mane of curly flocks, a white soft skin covered with simple transparent silk.

    ¡°I can see through your heart, Uhaiz, son of Oren,¡± said her. ¡°You are pleased with what you see but you are scared as well.¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± answered him.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to fear me. I¡¯m a water spirit. My kind won¡¯t hurt you unless you hurt us first,¡± said her. ¡°Your friend is talking wonders about you.¡±

    ¡°What friend?¡± asked Uhaiz.

    ¡°the one inside your pocket. We are talking now.¡±

    ¡°You can hear him?¡±

    ¡°I did before. I¡¯m doing it now. He says you are kind to your mother and honest with others. Those are virtues I value. ¡°Said her with a warm smile. Uhaiz''s heart jumped at the sight of it and the water spirits noticed. The giggles were all around the mist once again. ¡°Someone is coming,¡± said one voice. The giggles stopped suddenly, and the ginger girl stepped back. Her body faded at each step until it mixed with the mist. ¡°You can come to visit me again if you please,¡± she said with a graceful voice.

    Uhaiz blinked as he woke from a dream and the mist was gone. It didn¡¯t dissipate as it¡¯s supposed to: It just vanished.

    Few steps further there was Mikel, the older son of the Casas farm. He was heading to the village with a basket of vegetables on his back. The man stopped next to Uhaiz with concern on his face. ¡°Walking around again, Uhaiz?¡±

    ¡°No, no. I got lost due to the fog, heading to the inn now.¡±

    ¡°What fog? There was no fog this morning.¡± said the man. Uhaiz, confused, didn¡¯t reply. Mikel tapped the butt of his blunderbuss. ¡°If you wander around alone, better take one of these.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I should,¡± replied Uhaiz to him, who did not stay to hear the answer. The man left, moving his head from side to side while Uhaiz looked at him before moving away. He kept thinking of what the farmers would say about him. Would the news of the crazy son of Oren sleep-walking again reach Mother? The thought spooked him and he strode back to the inn with determination.

    ¡°You are late,¡± said Mother as soon as he opened the door.

    ¡°I was looking for strawberry cherries near the lake,¡± lied Uhaiz. A few days back he found some and that was enough for Mother to believe it. ¡°I saw Mikel, the farmer. He looked at me like I¡¯m madly walking around again, made me feel bad.¡±

    ¡°Let them think whatever they want,¡± said mother. That answer made him feel relieved, as it seemed she¡¯d not be worried about the village¡¯s gossip.

    Uhaiz spent the entire day thinking about the water woman and considering whether accepting her invitation to return was a good idea at all. When mother left for water, the boy approached Titu with a beer in hand. Just as it had worked when asking about house-elves, I would only need one glass for the old man to talk.

    Titu jumped from his chair when Uhaiz called his name. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± shouted him, confused. His sight was as bad as his hearing. ¡°It¡¯s just me.¡± The boy walked closer to be sure the old man could hear him well.

    ¡°What do you know about water spirits?¡±

    ¡°Another story to tell the kids?¡±

    ¡°Yes, your knowledge about these creatures is fascinating.¡± Titu¡¯s face glowed in contentment. ¡°Oh, heh. Well, I have plenty of it for you, boy. How about we talk about it with an Ale, eh?¡±

    Uhaiz put the glass of beer in front of him, and the man could not be happier. ¡°Water women, heh? Well. They are fades of the water. In Arun we call them Lamnias, in Isil they call them Alojas.¡±

    ¡°Fairies are good, right?¡± asked Uhaiz, excitedly.

    ¡°Well, they are not, as the books for kids say, boy. Forget about winged little girls with wands. That cow¡¯s poo! fades are the same as follets and other spirits. Different forms, different names. But all similar.¡± Titu gulped his glass entirely and blew in content. ¡°Some are treacherous, some are kind. Like us, humans. But all I heard of Lamnias is good, unless you lie to them. Then, brace yourself, boy, as they will make your life miserable.¡±

    Titu¡¯s words gave him enough courage to go back to the rock the next morning. His desire to see the girl again outweighed his fear. He wasn¡¯t a liar, after all. She was laying over the edge of the rock. This time, her body was more visible, as if she was made of flesh and bone like any other human. She was combing her mane and mumbling the same song he heard before. The transparency of her wet and thin dress made him blush. The girl laughed.

    ¡°I may consider a new dress if that makes you more comfortable. What color should I choose?¡± She said.

    Uhaiz didn¡¯t know what to reply. He didn¡¯t have a preference. ¡°I like blue,¡± she said.

    ¡°Blue is nice,¡± answered him. When he raised his eyes from the floor, the fairy was dressed in a similar but more decorous dress and, as she desired, made of blue silks.

    They talked for a while about mundane things. She seemed to enjoy each word of him. It didn¡¯t matter if he talked about things that would interest no other woman, such as how to make ale, or how to sharpen a knife. She enjoyed it all.

    The next day they chatted closer to each other. She talked about water, the sea, and the rivers. About nature and its wonders. Uhaiz knew little about the world and he continued talking about life in the village and the whereabouts of the inn.

    Two weeks passed and Uhaiz became more fond of her, to the point he wondered if she was casting a love spell on him. She also showed him her interest openly and told him a few times she liked his sincerity and kindness.

    During that days, the routines in the inn were always the same, with Titu drinking his ales in the corner and the two hunters coming and going. Uhaiz thought of her at all hours and was always in a good mood, which filled her mother with joy.

    The last day he saw her on the rock, she seemed distant. Sad. ¡°What human name would fit me the most?¡± she said to him. She didn¡¯t have a name. None of the water women had one, as they didn¡¯t need it.

    ¡°Any name would fit you,¡± answered him. She smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes.

    ¡°What would you do if I gave you my heart, Uhaiz, son of Oren?¡± Her love is what he wanted the most, but he didn¡¯t expect that question.

    ¡°I would keep it as a treasure.¡± He answered. She looked at the lake, lost in her thoughts. Uhaiz regretted his words as he thought they were cheesy and infantile.

    ¡°I may give it to you one day. Promise me you will never break it.¡±

    ¡°I promise,¡± He answered with determination. She smiled and walked to the water.

    ¡°See you tomorrow, heart bearer.¡±

    The rest of that day felt like a dream. The hunters didn¡¯t come back from the wilds that night and they had little work to do. He went to sleep thinking about the next morning.

    The next day, she was not anywhere around the rock. It rained hard and Uhaiz returned to the inn soaked.

    ¡°Are you mad? It¡¯s raining!¡° Said Mother,

    Uhaiz sighed, ¡°I¡¯m fine, mother. Let me help you with breakfast.¡± He was frustrated, but he would not make Mother pay for his whereabouts.

    ¡°No need. The two hunters didn¡¯t come back last night.¡±

    He felt unease thinking about what could have happened to her. Was she in trouble? Or was it just that she didn¡¯t want to see him anymore? The thought made him shiver. He realized he was in love. If it was a spell, it worked.

    It was late evening when mother rushed inside, panicked. White as snow. Uhaiz and he followed her quickly to where Dane, the greatest of the hunters, was. He was standing next to the water well with his younger brother in his arms. Zine''s body was torn apart by wolf bites all over. Parts of his leg and the entire left arm were missing.

    ¡°Bouda, Bouda,¡± repeated the hunter. Two of the townsmen helped him put his brother on the floor and cover him with a blanket. Dan repeated the same words again, falling to his knees. People came to see what was happening. Some tried to help, others did their best to console the stranger. In everyone¡¯s faces, you could see the realization that either of those two brothers were not as expert hunters as they claimed, or the wolves of Arun were another kind. One that was a serious problem.

    ¡°Bouda,¡± repeated Dan. Tears ran down his cheeks. Mother put a coat over him and cleaned her nose. She couldn¡¯t contain her tears, either. The southerner mumbled words in his language and, with a burst of anger, took the body of his brother and walked away. No-one stopped him. Uhaiz stared at him until he was just an insignificant dot, walking towards the passage of the Giant seat.

    ¡°Well, our hopes to get rid of that wolves are gone,¡± said Titu, who left his comfortable seat because of the commotion that the foreigner caused in the village.

    ¡°More will come,¡± said the voice of a woman behind them. Everyone turned at the same time. It was not the voice of anyone from the village, but Uhaiz recognized her immediately. Behind them, there was the water woman with a stoic pose and charming smile. She wore her hair in a bun and a traveling brown dress.

    ¡°I¡¯m Aine from the Plains. I¡¯m looking for the innkeeper,¡± she said with vigorous energy. Without waiting for Mother¡¯s response, Aine gave Uhaiz a quick glance and continued speaking.¡°The news of Arun¡¯s wolves have reached the cities, more hunters will come. I came to work for you.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ what?¡± asked Mother, shocked.

    ¡°To work in your inn. You will have plenty of visitors. And your inn is the only in the valley, as I heard,¡±

    Aine¡¯s confidence left Mother speechless for a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t think I can pay you,¡± said Amane, finally.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You will pay me when the business improves.¡±

 The water woman (Part two)

    One entire year passed since Aine appeared in the village out of nowhere. As the water woman said in the rock, she gave him her heart. A month after she joined the inn, they were openly dating and not much time thereafter they were engaged.

    The village folks, reluctant of newcomers at first, didn¡¯t take long to start loving Aine themselves. She was charismatic, daring and kind to everyone.

    The wedding was the best day of Uhaiz''s life. And mother¡¯s as well. Everyone attended except one person: Ipar. Uhaiz¡¯s old friend was more reclusive than ever, and barely talked to anyone. The innkeeper didn¡¯t mind. He understood him. He knew some demons cannot be shared.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± said Uhaiz to little Anna, who didn¡¯t want to raise her sight from the ground. ¡°They are all dead.¡± The furs and carcases of wild animals were all around the square of the village. Not just wolves, but deer, wild boar and bears, and once in a while some magical creature as well.

    After the sad death of Zine, the news of Arun¡¯s wolves ran like wildfire around the country. Many hunters came after the two Muwallad brothers. For a year, the inn was almost full every single day, even during winter, when the pass was uncrossable. Many were the brave ones who stayed the entire snowy season, paying for their room in advance.

    Uhaiz turned on the winch, and the windlass squeezed. He filled the little girl¡¯s bucket and let her go first. ¡°She still hasn¡¯t gotten used to them, isn¡¯t it?¡± said Aine from behin. She was walking towards him with confidence and a broad glooming smile, like she used to.

    ¡°No one likes it, I guess. I thought that would outrage you, after all-¡± His wife¡¯s face silenced him. He looked around. ¡°It¡¯s all right, There¡¯s no one.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. If you get used to saying that sort of thing, one day they may slip from your mouth in front of someone.¡± She complained.

    ¡°All right, all right.¡± The young man raised his hands trying to calm his wife¡¯s sudden burst of anger.

    Aine was now a human. But inside her there was still the soul of a spirit of the water. When she agreed to spend her life with him, she only did so if he accepted two conditions, both unbreakable. One was that he would never betray her. That would break her heart and destroy her as a spirit. The other was to tell no one she was a water woman. If anyone found out, she would have to disappear, and with her, all luck and joy she brought would be gone, leaving him with the opposite.

    He took the bucket and his wife¡¯s hand. ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait for me to go back?¡± asked him with a playful smile.

    ¡°Nay,¡± she answered, looking back at him as only a lover can do.¡± I wanted to ask you something as well. I want to go to Betren with your mum. Do you think you can handle the inn by yourself?¡±

    ¡°Sure, no problem. Any reason to visit Isil?¡±

    ¡°Not really. I want to have time with mum, ladies trip.¡±

    He put his arm over her shoulder and kissed her forehead. ¡°All right, No worries. Titu will keep the hunters in line.¡±

    When Aine told Amane about her idea, Mother was reluctant at first. She didn¡¯t want to leave her son alone but Aine¡¯s words were convincing, even without magic.

    ¡°Well, maybe we can come back in one day. I heard the road to Isil reached the top of the Giant seat already.¡±

    ¡°One day? Mother, let¡¯s stay a couple at least. I want to go shopping with you!¡± said Aine, hugging her arm. Amane¡¯s face was the spitting image of indecision.

    ¡°We will be fine, Mother. Titu will help me, right old man?¡± said Uhaiz shouting the last sentence to allow the old man to hear.

    ¡°For a beer or two, I will,¡± answered Titu. the old man no longer needed to exchange beers for favors. Now, with the inn full, he was never short of an ale. Hunters used to love his stories of magical beasts, and they would sit around his table and share a few drinks for a good tale.

    ¡°Very well, we can go,¡± said Amane. ¡°Then I need to go to Goian earlier before preparing for the trip and-¡±

    ¡°I will bring food to Ipar,¡± her son interrupted. Mother insisted on doing it herself, but it was in vain. Uhaiz took the bag of supplies and departed to the water mill before noon. The way to the Goian huts was a simple track made by passing through the same place thousands of times. Narrowed by vegetation and full of roots and rocks was a tough walk at some points, although when it followed the river side it was as easy as the road to Isil. The hamlet of Goian was a handful of houses that were built around the water mill.

    Midway through the trip, his pocket shook. He took the cop and held it to his ear. Since he married, he didn¡¯t bring Mr. Strings out as much as before, but the little folk didn¡¯t mind. He was always fine with everything.

    ¡°I like this place,¡± whispered the fey creature inside Uhai¡¯s head.

    "Beautiful isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I like it. So many trees. I¡¯ve seen more than a hundred already. Yes.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if mother and Aine will be fine. They are going to Isil.¡±

    ¡°I know that. They will be fine. Aine can take care of herself and your Mummy.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡±

    The conversation with the little folk made the journey more bearable, and the time seemed to shorten. Soon he was in front of the old mill. Now only four buildings were still standing in Goian.One was the neglected hut of aunt Loredi and cousin Argia, who had left the valley years ago. Uhaiz took a quick look at surrounding weeds,wondering how many mice were living inside.. Mother used to go cleaning once in a while, but last year was very busy.

    He passed the hut and stopped. Ipar¡äs home was next. ¡§Should I knock?¡§he whispered to his tiny friend.

    ¡§Yes, he will be happy to see you. Even if he doesn''t show.¡§

    He knocked on the door relentlessly until he heard some noise inside. The wood squeaked and Ipar showed up covering his eyes from the day laight.

    ¡°What?¡± He was half asleep, or by the smell of beer all over him, drunk. He was unshaven and it had been days or weeks since he had cleaned the clothes he was wearing

    ¡°I brought your things. Are you doing ok?¡±

    ¡°I am. Thanks for asking.¡§ answered Ipar, moving nervously, not knowing where to look.. ¡§I need to¡­ go, do¡­ some things.¡±

    Uhaiz didn¡¯t push the conversation further. It was clear his old friend didn¡¯t want company, and he didn¡¯t have time either. ¡°Take care Ipar,¡± he said, leaving downhill.

    ¡°I heard you married, I¡¯m happy for you.¡± Uhaiz smiled at his old friend and nodded his head. The Shepherd waved his hand slightly, like it was a hard thing to do, and closed the door with the same disdain.

    The way back while wondering if his old friend was going to be fine, he saw a golden-haired dog, far down past the Adon¡¯s farm. As he got closer, his suspicions that it was Ipar¡äs dog cleared. Pigeon was following the stream of water up to where it was born, the Freba¡¯s forest. Uhaiz changed his course and walked through the meadow.

    ¡°Pigeon! Come. Here, boy!¡±

    The dog painted his tail and barked at him. For a long time it remained in the same spot, waiting. When Uhaiz was almost at his side, the dog ran away.

    The innkeeper called the shepherd dog again, but Pigeon disappeared in the woods.

    Uhaiz waited for a while to see the whereabouts of that naughty dog, but Pigeon didn¡¯t come out. The Freba¡¯s forest was a place of mystery and many bad legends.

    ¡°Uhaiz!¡± Called Aine from the village road.

    ¡°Missing me already?¡± said the innkeeper , smiling at his wife, but she didn¡¯t smile back.

    ¡°I saw you change course to the forest. That¡¯s not a good place, love.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have the intention to go there. I just saw Ipar¡¯s dog enter the woods. It has been long missing. Everyone thought it was dead.¡±

    Aine took him by the arm and pulled him away from the woods. ¡°It may be dead soon if it roams that place for long.¡± said her with a witty tone.

    The couple returned to the village, sharing laughter and glances. It wasn¡¯t until they almost arrived that Aine spoke about the forest again. ¡°Listen, I want you to promise me you will never enter.¡±

    Uhaiz frowned. His wife¡¯s concern for that place worried him. ¡°For sure, love. I promise.¡±

    Aine would not talk any longer, but she looked into his eyes and found the need to explain herself better. ¡°There is an ancient power there. It¡¯s not evil, but any doing with it will disturb the entire Val. These days Arun is already unbalanced enough. Understand?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± answered him confidently. ¡°Are the wolves part of this unbalance?¡± asked him two steps later.

    ¡°A consequence,¡± answered her sharply. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Uhaiz looking at the ground with a worried stare. ¡°What is it? Does this disturb you?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m just worried all this magic balancing may affect you. Us.¡±

    Aine let out a sigh and beamed. ¡°I will be fine, love. Unless you break my heart, Uhaiz son of-¡®¡¯ Aine stopped before he had the time to interrupt her. She knew how much he hated to be reminded of his father. ¡°Uhaiz, son of Amane.¡±

    He put his arm around her shoulder, and the two of them entered the inn.

    The night of that same day, he went to sleep first. Aine and Amane were preparing their things for the journey to Isil. He fell asleep soon, but his rest didn¡¯t last. He didn¡¯t have a bad dream, but his sleep was full of fear and anxious feelings.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    When he opened his eyes, he was at the chicken downstairs with a glass of water in his hand. He scuffed to his room and entered the bed carefully, trying not to awake Aine. ¡°Where did you go?¡± mumbled her.

    ¡°I went to drink water,¡± answered him.

    ¡°We have water there,¡± said Aine, pointing to the jar on the side table. Uhaiz cleaned the sweat off his face. He lay on the bed with his arm over his eyes.

    Even with the eyes closed, he could feel her eyes staring at him. ¡°I¡¯ve had an uncomfortable sleep, but no nightmares. That¡¯s all, promise.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to stay tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°No, no. I¡¯m fine, do not worry at all.¡± His wife kissed his forehead and her lips were like an enchantment of peace. He closed his eyes, and this time his sleep was placid and calm.

    The next morning the two women departed early, and Uhaiz had a normal busy day. He spent all day in the inn. When all the supper was served and all guests were asleep, he took the sewing cop from his pocket.

    "I thought my nightwalking was gone when you came.¡±

    ¡°I had nothing to do with that,¡± replied the house folk. ¡°Just a coincidence that it ended when I came, yes, a coincidence.¡±

    Uhaiz dropped his body on the bed and stared at the ceiling. The cop shaked inside his hand. He put it next to his ear reluctantly. He didn¡¯t want to hear anything else. He was tired and confused.

    ¡°The Primordial can help you. It can stop the night walking.¡± said Mr. Strings.

    Uhaiz didn¡¯t answer. He put the cop on the side table and crawled to the side. He didn¡¯t want to sleep. Didn¡¯t want to dream., but he had a tiring day and his eyelids were heavy.

    He tied his feet with the sack rope he brought from downstairs and closed his eyes, wishing to not night-walk.

    He fell asleep soon after, but his rest didn¡¯t last. His dream was as real and intense as the ones he used to have years back. It was dark and freezing cold, as it always was. The deep and echoing voice that used to hunt him came back. It laughed and laughed. Uhaiz looked around him and walked in complete darkness. His feed felt stuck. The ground, hard as rock two steps back, was now a quicksand and as he tried to move forward, the more he sank.

    Amane and Aine appeared in front of him. Like him, they were also sinking in the dark mud. Soon their faces touched the surface of the muddy trap. They screamed for help, but as much as he tried, reaching to them felt impossible.

    A shore of black grass appeared from nowhere at his side. In there, shouting at him, there were two more women. Although their faces were blurred, he knew who they were. Years passed since the last time he met his aunt Loredi and cousin Argia but in his dream, he was sure it was them. Nim always made sure all the family members were in his nightmares, and all suffering equally.

    ¡°Nim! Forgive me, Nim!¡± He received no answer, but more laughs. ¡°Nim!¡±

    Aunt and cousin didn¡¯t need to wait long to be punished. Shadow beasts attacked them. Their blood chilling screams sounded even after they were both torn to pieces.

    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault,¡± said the voice.

    Mother and Aine sank completely, and the bubbles of their last breaths surfaced right after. Uhaiz screamed, desperate. The voice, amused by his suffering, laughed even harder.

    He fought the mud, screamed and cursed. When his face reached the black surface, and his mouth filled with mud, he choked and awoke.

    Outside was freezing and dark as the dream. His feet were naked over cold grass, free from the ropes. He looked around him. The village was far behind him, and he was standing in front of the forest south lake. Freva¡¯s. The same Pigeon entered a day prior.

    The pocket in his pajamas shook. It was Mr. Strings¡¯ cop. He didn¡¯t remember taking the little folk with him, but he didn¡¯t remember how he got there, either.

    ¡°Do not follow the light, Uhaiz, just stay here still.¡± said Mr. Strings.

    ¡°What light?¡± asked the young man.

    From the edge of the woods, a little floating flame appeared. It was small and shining unsteadily. Its light was at some moments white, and at others green.

    ¡°Come, come,¡± said a voice in his head. This one was warm and as friendly as Mr. Strings¡¯. It was also charming and so convincing that he had a terrible desire to walk to the light.

    ¡°Do not follow Uhaiz. Remain still,¡± repeated Mr. Strings with a tone of concern.

    The floating flame floated into the woods, calling his name again and again until it disappeared through the bushes. He remained in his place, petrified by terror and committed to do as his friend said.

    ¡°It¡¯ll come back but don¡¯t follow it.¡± Said the little folk. ¡°When he asks you what you want, you say: The Tear of Sugahar.¡±

    ¡°Why? What¡¯s that?¡± asked him.

    ¡°The Primordial. He will release it. With that your nightmares will be gone.¡±

    Uhaiz saw the glow returning from the forest. Scared, he turned and ran away. The cop in his hand trembled, but he didn¡¯t want to listen about the light, either the Primordial or anything else. The sewing cop, now inside his pocket, didn¡¯t stop shaking until he reached the inn.

    He cleaned the dirt of his feet but the water gladdened take away the feeling of needles pricking his toes. He tried to clean his sweat and changed his clothes, but nothing eased the cold that penetrated his bones.

    The first person he saw the next morning was Titu, who, like usual, arrived early. Uhaiz put a glass of beer in front of him and sat down.

    ¡°What do you know about green flames in the woods?¡±

    ¡°Uhm, it¡¯s early for a beer,¡± answered the old man. Uhaiz reached for the glass, but the old man stopped him with a quick movement of his arm. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I don¡¯t want it.¡±

    Titu took his prize and drank a long gulp of the ale. ¡°Will-o¡¯-wisp uh¡­ Well, that can scare little girls, yes.¡± He stared at nothing, lost in his memories for a moment, and when he came back, he finished the beer as fast as he started it. ¡°Foc-fol are called here. I¡¯ve seen some myself, long ago. As far as you don¡¯t follow them, you are safe.¡±

    ¡°What if I do?¡±

    ¡°Then you may get into a trap. Fall from a cliff, get lost in the forest. Possibly die.¡±

    ¡°What happens if I stay still, does it grant wishes?¡±

    ¡°Wishes? What wishes? I don¡¯t know about that. It¡¯s a Jack-o¡¯-lantern boy, not a genie. Damn, not even genies really grant wishes. Listen-¡± Titu¡¯s speech stopped with the cracking of the wooden stairs. The earliest guests were already coming down for breakfast. Without waiting for the old man to finish, he stood and rushed to prepare everything.

    The day passed as busy as others, and knowing the night would be as the one before, he got ready for it. This time, he prepared well. He tied his legs with rope from the kitchen and did not change his clothes. When he fell asleep, he did it with his shoes on.

    The mad dream came again. With the same intensity as before. All the horrors happened the same way as the night before. This time, Uhaiz didn¡¯t shout, didn¡¯t scream. He just repeated the same words again and again. ¡°Nim, forgive me for being a terrible brother. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    That didn¡¯t change the reaction of the spirit¡¯s voice. It laughed and laughed until, once more, he awoke at the edge of the forest. There was no trace of the rope. The pocket shook, and he took Mr. Strings to his ear.

    ¡§Remember, just wait and as for the Tear of-¡§ With a loud blow through his nose, the innkeeper squeezed the thread as hard as he could and returned it to his pocket.

    For a long time, he remains standing, impassive, regardless of the cold or the dangers of the night. When the will-o¡¯-wisp appeared, it invited him to follow. With sweet whispers in his head, promised him riches, glory, fame. He didn¡¯t care for all that. He remained immovable and silent every time the fire spirit returned. And it did it many times.

    At last, the expected question arrived. ¡°What do you want, Uhaiz, son of Oren? I can give you anything you want.¡±

    Uhaiz didn¡¯t answer straight away. He wanted to end his curse, but the Primordial was something he didn¡¯t dare to touch. It was something Aine told him to leave alone. The balance of Arun depended on it.

    The question repeated. ¡°What do you wish, Uhaiz son-¡±

    ¡°I want my brother back!¡± screamed him with all his heart. ¡°Bring back my brother!¡±

    There was a brief silence, and then a burst of laughter. It didn¡¯t come from the flame. It was a bray that came from the forest, laughter that Uhaiz could clearly hear.

    ¡°You said you can give me anything I want!¡±

    The flame banished like candlelights do.

    ¡°Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!¡± shouted Mr. Strings. His words were no longer whispers in his head, but loud screams that echoed out from somewhere around, although Uhaiz couldn¡¯t see anyone. ¡°Stupid humans!¡± repeated the small folk.

    Uhaiz reached into his pocket. But the cop and the house spirit banished. He looked around his feet, hoping the sewing thread just felt. Nothing.

    ¡°Thanks to me you met the woman of water. To me! She gave you love, she brought you fortune. You have that thanks to me! Yes!¡±

    ¡°Mr. Strings, where are you?¡± shouted him, looking around.

    ¡°You don¡¯t deserve any of it, no, no, no. any.¡±

    He called for the little folk again and again, but there was no answer. Only the sounds of the night¡äs critters. Exhausted and with the frustrating feeling he was the victim of a wicked joke, he went back to the village. Back to his room.

    He had an energizing sleep that night, free from nightmares. He was exhausted, and the placid rest felt like a blessing.  When he awoke the sun was at its highest point. He rushed  downstairs. Mother was there, next to Titu. At the tables, a few hunters were eating breakfast. Food that he didn¡¯t prepare.

    ¡°Mother, I¡¯m so sorry! I fell asleep, I have no excuse,¡± he apologized. Mother¡¯s eyes were red from a recent cry. She didn¡¯t reply. Her eyes were staring at the tables.

    ¡°Who was it?¡± said her to the Hunters. She sobbed deeply. ¡°Who¡­ was...it?¡± repeated Amane with fury. Some of the hunters were checking each other for an answer, others didn¡¯t dare to raise their faces from the plates.

    ¡°Mother? What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Uhaiz.

    Tears ran down her face. ¡°Whatever stupid story you told this old idiot, he told everyone else. Because he cannot keep his mouth shut!¡± The old man avoided her stare, looking at Uhaiz for help.

    ¡°What story? Titu, what story?¡±

    Titu gasped. ¡°You said it was not a secret.¡±

    ¡°What secret?¡± Uhaiz grabbed him from the shirt and his jaw trembled.

    ¡°About Aine. You told me¡­ you said it was not a secret,¡± mumbled the old man with teary eyes

    ¡°No, no, no. I never talked to you about that! When, when?¡±

    ¡°This morning, Uhaiz, before opening.¡± answered Titu, confused.

    "I was asleep this morning! Don¡¯t lie!¡± He released the old man who fell on the chair. ¡°Where is Aine, mother?¡±

    ¡°She just left. I don¡¯t know. She was there, and suddenly she was gone.¡± She sat next to him and covered her face to hide her cries, unsuccessfully. ¡°Is it true?¡± she said from behind her hands. Uhaiz didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°Is it true?¡± repeated Mother, this time glazing him in the eye. Uhaiz, looked down, speechless. His silence gave Amane the answer she didn¡¯t want to know. Her loud cry surprised some of the diners . ¡°I was going to be a iaia,¡± she said disconsolate.

    The words struck Uhaiz so deeply that he crumbled and dropped his weight on the floor. ¡°What?¡± he babbled.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we went to Isil. She wanted to tell me first, she wanted to-¡± Amane¡¯s sobs didn¡¯t let her continue.

    Uhaiz remained on the floor, staring at her mother. The immense joy of being a future father soon dissipated with the punch of reality. Her child¡¯s mother was a water spirit. And her secret was no more. Aine was gone. And with her, all what made his life wonderful and all that was going to make it even better.

 The golden pinecone (Part one)

    Ohaine was excited to see how much Arun had changed over the years. When the car passed Betren, she could barely recognize it. The last time she was in that town, it was in chains, and now she was traveling inside the automobile of the most famous mage of the country.

    With the clatter and noise that had accompanied the long journey from the plains, the car passed the mill farms and stopped just before crossing the river bridge.

    ¡°What now?¡± said Sheresade, one of the mage¡¯s students.

    ¡°We need to refill the car.¡± Answered the chauffeur.

    They all went down to stretch their muscles, including Master Azahara, who walked away searching for the supervisor of the road workers.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind having a break,¡± said Jair, the other apprentice. Master Azahara always surrounded herself with the most promising students or influential people. On that trip to Arun, the two lucky ones were her best. A terrible student with incredible raw power and a terrible mage with an incredible brain. Both from influential and well-connected families.

    Sheresade, leaning on the hood of the car, snapped her fingers and a ball of fire bursted in front of her face. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t do that, miss.¡± said the driver.

    ¡°I won¡¯t get burned. Thanks for your concern,¡± replied the girl. Glaring at the driver, Sheresade snapped her fingers again. The man, who had already experienced the tantrums of the apprentice during the long journey, looked down quietly. Ohaine took over.

    ¡°In the trunk, there are gallons of combustion fluid. you will make us all fly if you continue doing that.¡±

    Sheresade stood and snapped her teeth. ¡°At least you could do some flying, assistant.¡± The girl liked to remind Ohaine of her position all the time.

    Once, she was meant to be a great mage. Nobody in Arun had been born with the mark in centuries, and when they found the mark under her hair, the people of the valley placed high expectations on her. She was going to be the best wizard ever, some said. The chosen one, said others.

    They sent her to the Mage¡¯s academy, but she never succeeded in being even a decent one. She was just a fraud, and she knew why. When her step sister talked about her witchcraft, the town got crazy. They took her to Isil, and she waited for days in a cell. There, alone and scared, a day before trial, a genie came to her aid. ¡®It¡¯s the only way to save you,¡¯ it said.

    She agreed. Of course she did. Having the mark was what she wanted the most since a kid. But that sigil in her head was nothing but ink. The most she ever accomplished was to move a feather a few centimeters. She tried with trinkets and magical items from the four elements,

    but none of them ever worked. With time, all the hopes towards her vanished and after years of embarrassment, she ended up assisting the old keeper of the Library.

    ¡°The road ends on the other side of the pass. There is no way the car can reach the village.¡± complained Master Azahara, scowling at Ohaine. ¡°If my assistant had made her job, we would have known earlier and dress accordingly for the walk.¡±

    Sheresade¡¯s upper lip curled when Ohaine entered the car. The girl enjoyed every single time Master Azahara complained about her failures. Ohaine didn¡¯t mind. After all, she was not really good at her job, and it was the way Master Azahara pushed her to be a better assistant. Someone at the level of such an important mage as her.

    They soon reached the pass. All the way up, there were workers cleaning and flattening the ground, but the road was not as good as the one from the planes to Isil. The earth under the wheels was full of bumps and gravel that made the car shake uncontrollably. The two students, especially Sheresade, spent the entire winding path to the top, grumbling and protesting. Master, lost in her thoughts, was looking through the window, taking the punishment stoically.

    Although the trip was not as pleasant as they wished, it felt short. It amazed Ohaine how fast the car climbed the Giant¡¯s seat. The mountain pass was no longer an obstacle to reach the once isolated Arun. The Eskun mountains, was an elongated mountainous range that reached the sea of Atiak at the west and the sea of Medis at the east and at each coast there was an easy way to cross south or north, so Ohaine, in all her travels following Master Azahara¡¯s adventures, never had the chance to visit her home.

    As they got closer to the top, her excitement grew. She wondered if the few people she knew well would be around, and how much they¡¯d changed.

    When they reached the valley, the car stopped at the end of the road. The construction was on hold at that point, and the workers were resting under the shade of a large tree. Master Azahara asked Ohaine to look for the person in charge and throw the others out of the vehicle. The two students had to change their city clothes in the bushes reluctantly and as they passed by Ohaine¡¯s side, both leer at her with fiery eyes.

    Ohaine was already dressed conveniently for a trek and didn¡¯t waste a minute to look for the supervisor, a short and round man with a wrinkled face due years under the sun, who reluctantly followed her with his head bowed and a beret in his hands.

    ¡°It¡¯s the church, ma¡¯lady. The workers don¡¯t dare to go close,¡± the chief said, with shame in his voice and fear in his eyes. Master Azahara¡¯s gaze had that effect on others. Especially when she was irritated or furious.

    The man excused his men a second time, but the mage didn¡¯t bother. She took a staff and a bag from the backseat. ¡°Tell these men to bring all our things to the village, promptly,¡± ordered her to the chauffeur. The supervisor bowed as if she was royalty and hastened to follow the car driver.

    Ohaine looked at the outfit of her boss, with a feeling of pride. The mage, who always wore red silks, was now dressed in beige corduroy pants and a brown leather jacket, an almost identical outfit than hers except for the footwear.

    Sheresade passed next to her and sneered. ¡°You can¡¯t stop being a bumpkin, huh?¡± Ohaine looked at her espadrilles. They were not as fancy as Master¡¯s high boots, but they were comfortable and fit for the trek ahead. Wishing that Sheresade¡¯s shoes would make a good sore in her feet, Ohaine hastened to catch Master Azahara.

    The mage was mumbling words in a forbidden language, and the staff was slightly glowing. Ohaine remained silent. Master didn¡¯t like to be interrupted when preparing spells. When Master Azahara was the perfect picture of power when working on her magic. Ohaine couldn''t help but look at her in admiration.

    the church was on top of a small hill not too far from where they left the car. The building was just a weed-engulfed ruin but it had a strange and somehow wicked aura that caused Ohaine some discomfort.

    ¡°I need to do some work here,¡± something that requires magic none of you are ready to see.¡± the mage said, barring their way with the staff. as if something told her that it was not wise for the rest to get closer.

    ¡°I thought we came to hunt some witches,¡± said Sheresade.

    ¡°One day, when you become a Grandmaster, you¡¯ll understand that with the position, come many headaches you need to deal with. Sometimes many at the same time. This place is a headache I need to fix now. ¡±

    None of the three moved. They all stared at the ancient walls, as if a mysterious power that still inhabited those ruins would not let them escape .¡°What I mean is that you go ahead, and I will follow you later,¡± Master Azahara''s words felt like a spell that freed them from lethargy, and they all left the place with ease.

    The way to the village was easy, and the weather was fantastic. The green of firs and pines intermingled with the yellows, oranges, and reds of deciduous trees. She took a deep breath of the aromas of wet forest and looked at the sun¡¯s light reflected on the lake¡¯s surface. Next to the shore, trying to stay as far as possible from the church, there were the driver and the road workers carrying the luggage at full speed.

    ¡°I wonder if these rumors are true or was just a ruse of her to come visit her hickish friends.¡± The two students talked softly, but even a few steps ahead, she heard them.

    Jair''s comment annoyed Ohaine. There were no rumors. The witches¡¯ gathering was going to happen at the night of the next day. That would unleash evil forces that put Arun in danger. It happened before. The wolves were proof of it and, this time, it was the final blow to the Valley. The same genie that came once to help her needed help this time. If the valley magic felt, he¡¯d fall with it.

    Of course, Ohaine never told Master Azahara where the story came from. She said it was her village friends who denounced the witch meetings in the mountains. Master Azahara believed all without questioning. Soon after, she asked for permission to travel from the High Council.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know why Master Azahara chose her. She is useless,¡± whispered Sheresade.

    ¡°Oh, you know why,¡± Jair said with a childish giggle.

    ¡°Oh, come on. Master could have any woman she wants. Beautiful and glamorous like her. Why would she ever want someone like her?¡±

    Tired of listening, she left the two behind. She was used to mocherying, but she was home, and no one was going to spoil that moment. She fantasized of the welcome they¡¯d receive in Endara. The town¡¯s neighbours would not care about any foreigner, and Ohaine was not a popular girl in the valley. Since her parents died, she grew up with Loredi, a friend of her mother¡¯s. Their home was in Goian and they used to spend all their time wandering in the wilds, looking for ingredients for ointments and medicines.

    Her doubts didn¡¯t stop her daydreams about the decorations all over the town square, people cheering and a band of music. After all, she was Arun¡¯s blessed kid, and she was coming with one of the greatest mages of all time.

    Her memories drifted to Loredi¡¯s daughter, Argia. She was like a sister to her, and she was the one who told everyone about the witch-crafting. For many years, she received letters apologizing from her, but Ohaine never answered back. She was angry at first, but not anymore. She pictured in her mind the moment they would meet. The moment she¡¯d meet Ipar as well. As she had done so many times, she imagined the conversations, each question, and its corresponding answer. Every word was planned.

    The first person she saw after they left the church was one farmer, an unfamiliar old man carrying some vegetables. He didn¡¯t find Ohaine¡¯s face familiar either and he moved along minding his business without paying much attention to the trio.

    Two houses later, almost reaching the village, they came across a couple of girls who were pushing each other and giggling. As soon as the girls noticed them, the smiles disappeared, and they walked away muttering with furrowed brows. Ohaine smirked. She felt that was more like Arun¡äs way to greet foreigners.

    At the main square, there was no welcome, no music, no crowd. Just a few villagers walking up and down. Noone seemed familiar. Ohaine waved her hand and nodded to everyone who crossed their path, but no one greeted her back. She got a couple of contemptuous gaze and a couple more cheeky looks from head to toe. Disappointed, she leaned on the well.

    Another fisherman checked on her from top to bottom and made her wonder. she had never considered herself pretty. In the city, who always raised the attention of any man was Master Azahara.

    ¡°You have grown a woman!¡± Ohaine turned, spooked by the shout. She waived timidly and received a strong cuddle as a response. Amane put her hands on her chicks. Ohaine tried to smile, although she only lifted her lips a little ¡°You look great, aunty,¡± she lied. If Ohaine¡¯s memory didn¡¯t fail her, Amane hadn¡¯t reached fifty. She still had that special beauty the young woman remembered, but the years didn¡¯t treat her well. Her hair was gray and brittle, and big circles surrounded her eyes.

    Amane waved her hand and shook her head. ¡±Don¡¯t be silly,¡± said her, with half a chuckle.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time,¡± continued Ohaine. Amane nodded and looked at her with a sense of pride in her eyes. She took a deep breath and gave her a kiss that took the girl by surprise.

    ¡°Too long, dear, too long. Come, let¡¯s have tea inside.¡±

    ¡°We need to wait for my Master and the s-¡°

    ¡°Oh, yes, yes. About that. I tried to call, but the lines always get cut by who knows what.¡±

    ¡°Call me?¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t have the inn anymore. Well, it¡¯s not an inn. So I book you rooms somewhere else,¡± said Amane.

    Sheresade snorted. Ohaine didn¡¯t notice she was standing next to her. Soon after she introduced the two students, Master Azahara arrived, followed by the driver and the road workers. She received a couple of leering looks that she completely ignored, and as she was used to.

    ¡°That church won¡¯t be a problem anymore¡±. The mage said with confidence.

    Ohaine saw a slight tremor in her hand. Little shake that went unnoticed by others, but not by her. Master Azahara looked at her askance and immediately put her hand inside the pocket.

    ¡°Your assistant was telling us that the inn we were supposed to sleep in is no more,¡± Sheresade said.

    ¡°I¡¯m exhausted, Ohaine. I cannot deal with more of your incompetence right now.¡± complained the Master mage.

    Amane frowned. ¡°Miss, it¡¯s my fault, not hers. I didn¡¯t notify her. But I¡¯m pretty sure you will find your room in the lake¡¯s inn more than-¡°

    ¡°Very well, very well. Make sure the workers bring our things there Ohaine, can you do that without messing it up?¡±

    Ohaine nodded her head while Amane pointed the way to the mages. ¡°Is she always like that?¡± whispered Amane when Master Azahara and the two students were far enough.

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°That¡­ uh, piky,¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just that I used to mess up pretty often. It¡¯s my fault,¡± said Ohaine with a smirk of sadness.

    ¡°Dear, no matter how much you mess up, don¡¯t let anyone talk to you like that. If she doesn¡¯t like how you work, she can fire you. She is your boss, not your owner.¡± Amane was right, Ohaine knew. But she also knew that if one day Azahara got rid of her, someone as inept as her would not find a better job.

    ¡°How is Uhaiz? Is he doing well?¡± asked Ohaine to move the conversation in another direction.

    Amane tightened her lips. ¡°I don¡¯t really know, he spends all his time in the mountains.¡±

    ¡°How come? Is he a hunter now? What happened to the inn? I thought you were doing well, with all the wolves and huntsmen thing,¡±

    ¡°Long story. Well, the inn did well at first, but there are two more inns now. Nicer and cheaper.¡±

    ¡°I see. How are Loredi and Argia? Do they know I¡¯m here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know? I thought Argia wrote to you,¡± Amane saw the confusion on Ohaine¡¯s stare and blew from her nose. ¡°My sister disappeared not long after you went to the big city. She went to the woods like any other day and never came back.¡±

    Ohaine froze, and Amane took her by the hand. ¡°Oh, dear. You know my sister. She is somewhere fine. She knows the forest, and its beasts better than anyone else. And she knows a couple of tricks. You know,¡± Amane¡äs smirk gave the young woman a breath of hope.

    ¡°My sister left me a note and money to take care of Argia. She stayed with me until she was old enough to go study in the city. She writes sometimes.¡±

    Ohaine started to drag her feet. Amane¡¯s sadness rubbed off on her. The energy and positivity that cheered her every day suddenly vanished. Intrusive thoughts began to haunt her mind. Thoughts about how little he had accomplished as a mage or how mediocre she was as an assistant.. Suddenly, she was glad that her arrival passed unnoticed.

    Her thoughts drifted towards Ipar. All the way to the valley, she was convinced to be ready to meet him, and now she was unsure she could face the man she left for a dream that wrecked.

    ¡°Is Ipar still around?¡± asked her timidly.

    ¡°Oh, well. He has been living in seclusion at home for, oh¡­ how long? Two years, I think.¡±

    That answer struck her. The Ipar she knew was a boy that loved the mountains, the river and the valley. A person who would never spend his time inside a hut.

    ¡°Ipar!¡± shouted Master before Ohaine asked further about him. ¡°I forgot about the shepherd. I want to meet him tomorrow!¡±

    Ohaine stopped again and Master had to turn to continue talking, ¡°You know where he lives, right?¡±

    ¡°I...do,¡± mumbled her. ¡°I don¡¯t think is a good idea to-¡±

    ¡°Whatever provincial problems you may have with that shepherd, get over them. We are going to meet him, whether you like it, or not.¡± Without waiting for a complaint, the mage walked away. ¡°Tomorrow early morning. No more failures from now on, Ohaine.¡±

    The young woman nodded in silence. Amane put her hand over her shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s meet when you are less busy, yes?¡± she said with warmth in her voice. Ohaine nodded again. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you girl,¡± Amane hugged her. Ohaine didn¡¯t know how she could be proud of her. She was no one. But the hug and the words filled her heart.

    When Amane left, she rushed to catch the rest. It didn¡¯t take her a minute. They were all stopped in front of the lake¡¯s wooden peer. There, many carcases and furs of animals were hanging all over the place. Two young hunters, both tall and blonde, were talking to Master Azahara ,excitedly.

    ¡°Very well, show me this dragon you have,¡± said the mage with a tone of disbelief.

    In between piles of wolf skins and other animals , there was the corpse of the dragon. The body wasn¡¯t as big as the old stories used to say. The size of a cow, but with the shape and skin of a lizard, with a long tail and a long neck. It only had two legs, connected to the thorax with membraned sort of wings. The head was exactly like that of a snake, although it had a mouth full of teeth .

    The dragon was dead for days. Its eyes were white, and the smell was unbearable. Ohaine covered her nose.

    Master Azahara grimaced. Not from disgust, but from disappointment. ¡°Is this supposed to be my dragon?¡± The hunters stared at each other.

    ¡°I told you it was a wyvern, idiot.¡± whispered one of them.

    ¡°It¡­ is¡­ not¡­ a¡­.wyvern!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what we call dragons in this land.¡± said an old man who was standing on his baton behind all of them. She recognized the geezer. One of the old time clients of the tavern, a retired lumberjack who was already old when she was a little girl. Although the old man glanced at her a couple of times, he did not recognize her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we can get any magic from it. Shere, try to get anything useful. It¡¯s a fire beast, your element.¡±

    ¡°Why do I have to dirt my hands?¡± complained the student. ¡°Let your assistant do it!¡±

    ¡°If this thing has any magic left and you plan to use it, it¡¯s your duty to find it! No one else,¡± snapped the Master mage out of patience.

    ¡°If you want a breathing big monster, you can look for the vibria.¡± Interrupted the old man.¡± I heard from other veneers there is a dangerous one around the Tartalo¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a vibria?¡± asked one of the hunters.

    ¡°Is like a dragon, but it has a bird¡¯s beak and bat¡¯s wings.¡±

    ¡°He means a cockatrice,¡± pointed the other blonde man.

    Master Azahara, visibly exhausted, left for the inn, leaving her students with the three men bragging about their beast¡¯s knowledge.

    Ohaine spent the rest of the day arranging luggage and supplies for the next morning. Before dinner, the students came inside the inn. Jair was covered in dragon¡¯s blood but not Sheresade, who couldn¡¯t hide the joy of having obtained a pair of fire glands, without even getting her hands a little dirty.

    The next day, they were all ready as soon as the first lights filled the sky. Ohanie was the first to walk outside and had a little time to chat to Amane, who came to wish her luck, and bring some of her food for the trip. The two shared a big hug and as soon as everyone was ready, they departed.

    Ohaine started the trip river up, leading the party, followed by the mage and the two students. The chauffeur followed, pulling a small donkey who did not seem to care the least about the large amount of packages it was carrying. Behind, closing the line, were two of the road workers, who agreed to join for a few coins and the two blonde hunters,who decided it was a good idea to follow them, in case they found a beast worth killing.

    Among all, Ohaine counted a blunderbuss, two shotguns, a pistol, two spears, and possibly much more in the sacks and bags. They were well armed, but the most powerful weapon was undoubtedly Master¡¯s staff. An old crafted wooden tool that enhanced Master¡¯s powers extensively.

    Master Azahara looked as strong as ever and her hand shake disappeared. ¡°Master, can I ask you a question?¡± Asked Ohaine.

    ¡°I met your friend in Betren on my way to the Plains.¡± answered the mage. ¡°That¡¯s before I joined the council, and before I took you as my assistant.¡±

    Ohaine found her boss''s words surprising, but although he spent a while thinking how a simple shepherd could have gotten to know one of the greatest mages in the world, her thoughts soon turned exclusively to Ipar.

    She had always known about his feelings for her. But there were feelings that she could not return the same way. Ipar was like a brother to her. Ohaine spent the entire journey wishing the shepherd had forgiven her for leaving without saying anything. She knew it was too much to ask. Even at the very moment that she did it, she knew it was wrong, but then she was nothing more than a scared and cowardly girl.

    Past the Mill, Ohaine was struck by the sight of her old home. Loredi¡äs house, now a ruin devoured by the growth of vegetation, moistened her eyes. With a lump in her throat, she continued until reaching Ipar¡¯s hut. The shepherd¡¯s home seemed to be on its way to resemble the neighbouring house.

    ¡°Why does it smell like urine? You don¡¯t have toilets here?¡± snapped Sheresade. Ohaine stared at her in such a way that spooked the girl. At first she thought of answering in a bad way, but she realized it was not worth giving any kind of credit to her comments. The longer she had been in the valley, the less willing she had to endure the abuse of the others. As if Arun¡¯s ground filled her with a courage that she never had before.

    Ohaine shouted the shepherd¡¯s name many times with no answer. When she knocked at the door, the hinges squeaked. ¡°It¡¯s open!¡± said a muffled voice from within.

    She entered, only followed by Master Azahara. The interior was not in better condition than the outside; it was even worse. The room was filled with junk in every corner and all of it was either covered in dust or filth. Ipar was sitting at the big wooden table they used to prepare cakes together long ago. With his eyes fixed on her, he took a bite of dry bread and drank a whole glass of beer.

    The pass of time over him was shocking. Ipar was the same age as Ohaine, but now he looked much older. His beard and hair, both unkempt and long, were grey and in some parts already white, and his eyes were surrounded by wrinkles and large dark circles.

    With little success, Ipar wiped the spilled beer on his beard with his sleeve. He changed the direction of his gaze towards the Master and smirked.

    ¡°My Lady, this is Ipar, the Shepherd. an old friend.¡±

    ¡°Not a shepherd anymore, not your friend either.¡± Snapped him.

    Master seated in front of him, brushing lumps of food with her fingers. ¡°Do you remember me, Ipar the Shepherd?¡±

    ¡°Again, not a shepherd. What do you want?¡±

    Master¡¯s lips raised slightly. Her eyes were fixed on him. ¡°Is your familiar around?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m no mage, miss. I told you then, I told you now.¡±

    Ohaine turned to the Master, eyes wide. ¡°My friend is right, Master Azahara. He has no mark, never has.¡±

    The mage did not flinch. Ipar put more beer on his glass and drank, staring back at Master Azahara. Surprisingly he was not amused by the power of her gaze. He hit the table with the empty glass and looked at Ohaine with fury eyes ¡°Again, not your friend.¡±

    ¡°Look, my familiar is not here. It left for good long ago,¡± continued Ipar after an uncomfortable silence. ¡°Now get out of my home¡­ please.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s disappointing,¡± Master Azahara hissed.

    ¡°Tell yours to look for him and let me know if you find it,¡± said Ipar with a mockery tone. Oihane shook her head in denial, closing her eyes tightly. When she opened them again, they were as big as plates. Master Azahara raised her hand, interrupting the words that were to come out of her assistant¡¯s mouth. Ohaine was stunned, looking at those two as if she had never met them before.

    ¡°We will talk about this later, not now. Shepherd, I need you to guide me to a place called Basajun¡¯s Plateau.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Ipar bit another piece of bread and a small crumb hit Azahara in the face. The mage scowl. Ohaine realized her master was getting out of patience with Ipar¡¯s crotchety attitude. The silence became unbearable.

    ¡°Master I know that place, definitely I don¡¯t know the ways as good as him, but I can still-¡±

    Azahara raised her hand again. ¡°There¡¯s going to be soon an akelarre in that place, The Valley¡¯s future depends of-¡±

    ¡°I said no. Get out of my house. You both.¡±

    Ohaine watched as the vein on her Master¡¯s forehead swelled. Azahara was the one who used to interrupt others, not the other way around.

    Master took a breath and, with a smile that couldn''t hide her real mood, insisted again. Ipar refused once more. The shepherd was already stubborn as a child, and now as a man, he was not giving any sign that he had changed a bit. Quite the opposite.

    ¡°Ohaine, go tell the others we are leaving,¡± the mage said. Ohaine hesitated. She wanted to stay and talk a bit more to his friend. Although he didn¡¯t really want to see her, she had a lot to talk about. An entire conversation planned in her mind she had prepared for years.

    She left the hut in silence, disappointed at how all that situation went. To make it harder, once outside, she realized she left without saying goodbye. Again.

    With a knot in her stomach, she approached the group little by little. She still had said nothing to the others when the hut¡¯s door slammed opened. Master strode out, followed by Ipar. He was wearing his shepherd''s crook and a mountain¡¯s jacket.

    ¡°The shepherd has agreed to guide us,¡± Said Azahara with a proud smile.

    Oihane scrutinized Ipar, trying to decipher that change of mind. Trying to glimpse some magic, a spell perhaps, with which Azahara could have convinced him. There was nothing.

    He glanced at her briefly and made a sigh. Then, he kicked a little stone and walked uphill without waiting for the rest.

 The golden pinecone (Part two)

    From the moment Ipar became the guide, the journey was no longer easy. Ohaine barely remembered the roads to the high mountains, and although she thought Ipar took them through familiar places, the girl had long wondered if he was not making them go on more complicated routes on purpose. He seemed angry all the time. But the rest of the party didn¡¯t seem to enjoy the beauty of Arun much, either.

    Master Azahara, who was not used to showing signs of weakness, was already puffing. The two students had already lagged and were only followed by the two hunters, who were the last ones on purpose .

    Ohaine took a few quick steps to get next to Ipar. ¡°There is no Guaxa in your woods anymore,¡± she said, trying to sound friendly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to keep peeing on your walls,¡±

    ¡°I do what dad taught me ,¡± he replied, sharply. Ohaine hesitated to talk further. She had been waiting for a long time to have the moment to talk to him, but as she feared, he was still hurt and didn¡¯t seem to enjoy her company.

    ¡§How is your old man? Is shepherding close by?¡±

    Ipar glanced at her. ¡°My dad passed away. Soon after, you left to be a great mage.¡±

    Her heart squeezed. She was not sure if because the demise of the old shepherd, who was a kind man she remembered dearly, or because the cold and bitterness in Ipar¡¯s voice.¡±I am so sorry to hear that Ipar, I really am,¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± mumbled him, almost as if he was too shy to say that word. She Felt silent, trying to focus on getting her feet on safe ground.

    ¡°Can we have a short break?¡± shouted Master Azahara from behind. Ipar looked at the sky and pointed to the trunk of a large pine tree that had recently fallen. ¡°We can rest there. Half an hour.¡±

    The pine was big enough to provide nice shade with its branches. Everyone sat in a big clear spot except Ipar, who decided to eat on the top of the log. When he was a boy, every time he was mad, he used to do the same, hoping no one would follow him over to the place he climbed. For a moment, the thought of old times filled Ohaine with happiness.

    As she had always done before, she followed him. The shepherd didn¡¯t need to look to know that she was climbing. It was the noise, or perhaps the old memories, but as soon as she was behind, he let out a huff of frustration.

    ¡°What¡¯s that talking about a familiar?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Pigeon was not only a dog. Sometimes it was just a voice in my head. It helped me with the sheep. I¡¯m not crazy if it¡¯s what you are wondering,¡±

    ¡°No. I believe you. But.. Ipar¡­¡± Ohaine looked down to make sure everyone was still under the branch before continuing. ¡°You said it left. That¡¯s not possible.¡±

    ¡°Mine did.¡±

    Ohaine crawled closer. ¡°familiars are fairies who have been in animal form for so long that they cannot revert to their other form.¡±

    ¡°Mine did.¡±

    ¡°Listen.¡± whispered Ohaine. Looking at the group again. Although no one seemed to mind them, she could not shake off the feeling that someone was watching them. ¡°When they are animals, they need to form a deal with a human to be able to do magic again. It¡¯s a bond for life, Ipar. They only leave until. one of the both dies.¡±

    ¡°Well, whatever it was, now is gone for good. Do not worry about it.¡± answered him with a strange friendliness that was out of place. ¡°Remember that saying in the old language? The one about the river and the rock?¡±

    Ohaine didn¡¯t remember.

    ¡°This feeling in the back of your head. Is your master¡¯s minion spying on us. When you feel it, be careful,¡± he said in the old tongue, with an utterly convincing smile.

    Ohaine stared at him, not knowing how to react. Ipar did not return her gaze, but fixed his eyes on the far mountains.

    ¡°We need to keep going!¡± said Master Azahara suddenly from right under them.

    Ipar slid from the truck and fell to the side of the mage with the agility of a cat. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who asked us to stop for a while.¡±

    Ohaine suppressed her snigger, but her lips raised slightly. Azahara had her eyes fixed on her.

    She took her time getting down, carefully placing her feet in the safest gaps. Once down, the Master mage was still looking at her,with her brows furrowed. ¡°What were you talking up there?¡±

    Master was used to asking anything she wanted, and Ohaine was used to answering every time, no matter the question. In that moment, she felt freedom in her heart. It was maybe the air of Arun or the words of Ipar, but she didn¡¯t feel the need to please her boss as she used to.

    ¡°We were getting over some old provincial problems we had. Nothing important that may interest you, Master.¡± answered her, walking away. SHe felt like her heart was going to explode with excitement. It felt great.

    Ipar was already on the way up and Ohaine lightened the steps to catch him. When she almost reached next to him, Azahara overtook her flouncing. ¡°How long until the place, shepherd?¡± she said, visibly annoyed.

    ¡°The Basajun waterfall is less than half an hour away. There is a small way to climb the place-¡±

    ¡°What time do we reach the woods?¡± she interrupted.

    Ipar snorted and glared at her. He didn¡¯t hide at all how much he disliked her. ¡°Tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Master Azahara gasped. ¡°What time?¡±

    ¡°Afternoon.¡±

    The mage stopped, took a deep breath and turned her head slightly as she used to do when she was thinking about something important.

    ¡°What is your Djinn saying, master mage?¡± asked Ipar. The astonished face of Azahara raised a smirk on Ipar¡¯s face.

    He did not wait for an answer. Ohaine followed, looking at her boss for an instant. She was standing at the same place with her brow furrowed and her arms folded. Words that made her teacher react in this way were not common. To tell the truth, Ohaine had never seen Azahara become speechless.

    Soon after, they reached the Basajun waterfall and Ipar guided them through the climb on its left. It was a steep and difficult path full of areas that had to be climbed. Impossible for the donkey. Although Ipar promised her several times that the animal would return with her things to the town without problems, the mage Azahara did not stop protesting furiously at having to leave behind some of her values. Especially some chests full of magic items to fight the witches. Azahara distributed everything she could amongst the workers and hunters, but that was not enough.

    Reluctantly and frightened by the anger and frustration their mentor was showing, the two disciples took as much as they could carry as well. Even Ipar helped, but in the end, to Azahara¡¯s disappointment, they had to leave some of the group¡¯s things behind.

    The climb to the top took them a long time. The sun was already behind the mountains and the wind was freezing. Ohaine left the big bag on the ground, exhausted. Everyone was on the floor, gasping for air. Everyone but Ipar. He didn¡¯t seem tired at all.

    Ohaine wanted to ask him about the Master¡¯s genie. Remembering the words he said in the old language, she took care there was not that same feeling as on top of the tree.

    There was nothing. She was not being spied on.

    ¡°Ipar,¡± she whispered. ¡°What you said about my Master. The genie¡­ Are you sure? I mean, a genie..., I doubt¡­¡° Oihane stopped. Ipar wasn¡¯t listening. He was staring blankly. With his thoughts somewhere in the valley. ¡°Ipar?¡±

    The sudden howling of wolves scared her. She had completely forgotten how dangerous the valley was in those days.

    Ipar, still staring at the mountains, closed his eyes and smiled. ¡°Ipar!¡± repeated Ohaine louder than she intended.

    ¡°Is fine,¡± said the shepherd, coming back from wherever his mind was. His words were calm and warm. ¡°They won¡¯t hurt you,¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡± She asked. To her, the howling of a wolf was the howling of a wolf. But perhaps for someone like Ipar, who knew the mountains and their creatures better than anyone, there was some difference. Some subtlety that would give him clues about the beasts. ¡°Are they far away?¡±

    ¡°I know now. I understand,¡± he said cryptically.

    ¡°Shepherd!¡± Master Azahara was on her feet again, cheeks red and hair messed up by the climb. Ipar turned his head towards her, slowly.

    ¡°You want me to call my little friend. But I cannot make him come. I tried many times.¡± he said. His voice sounded strange.

    ¡°I can see through you shepherd, I can see what¡¯s going on and I need to talk to-¡±

    ¡°You cannot see through me. Your djinn does,¡±

    ¡°Enough with that!¡± Master Azahara¡¯s shout surprised the entire party, who was now all staring at them. ¡°In that case, I will summon him myself. Give me the name of that damn thing,¡±

    ¡°Pigeon. You know it,¡± said Ipar, who picked up his bags and walked away. ¡°We should go or night will fall before we have shelter.¡±

    ¡°Yes Ma¡¯Lady.¡± interrupted one hunter. ¡°These wolves are no joke and night is when they are more dangerous,¡±

    Azahara waved her hand in disdain, and everyone followed Ipar without a word. The howls were louder, and each member of the group was visibly concerned.

    Ohaine didn¡¯t leave Ipar¡¯s side. She needed to talk to him alone once again, but Azahara didn¡¯t leave his side either.

    ¡°Pigeon is the name of the dog,¡± said the mage, who was dragging her feet behind them. I¡¯m sure that thing gave you another one. One name to be called when in its real form.¡±

    ¡°He did,¡± said Ipar without paying much attention to the woman.

    ¡°Would you mind telling me?¡±

    ¡°Would you keep your word if I do?¡±

    ¡°I will consider,¡± said her with a smirk. Ipar stride away to leave the mage behind. Ohaine, being an experienced hiker, had a hard time following him.

    ¡°So?¡± shouted Azahara.

    ¡°I will consider!¡±

    Ipar sped up, and soon after, he disappeared among the trees. Ohain didn¡¯t want to leave the rest behind and lost sight of him. Luckily, the path was well defined.

    As darkness took over the landscape, the chauffeur lit a pair of lanterns with a flintstone and held one out to Ohaine. He closed the group with the others.

    Additional light didn¡¯t seem to help the two students who stumbled now and then. The moans of Sherezade amused Ohaine.

    When the trees cleared, the group could see the hunter¡¯s shelter in the distance. Ipar had already lit the bonfire and was already back with a couple more lanterns.

    The howls, although far away, were beginning to scare everyone, and no one wasted a minute seeking the protection of the wide rock walls. Not Ipar, though, who stood a few steps from the door, eyes fixed on the mountains.

    Wind was whistling hard, and pitch darkness was due. ¡°You left us alone, Ipar. with the wolves around I-¡±

    ¡°The wolves are not a problem anymore, Ohaine.¡± Ipar¡¯s words gave her a chill. It was not an uncomfortable feeling, but strange.

    ¡°Ipar-¡°

    He raised his hand. ¡°Not now.¡± He turned his head slowly, staring at the air, as if he was following something Ohaine couldn¡¯t see. She felt an icy feeling behind her neck. Quickly, she realized what his friend was looking at.

    ¡°Hurry, Ipar, it¡¯s getting cold.¡± she whispered, yanking his sleeve. He followed.

    The inside was warm, and everyone had already chosen a corner to rest. Azahara had the only bed, and everyone else used sleeping bags and blankets.

    ¡°I need to go,¡± Ipar said suddenly. His voice rang out loud and deep. Ohaine¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°I know,¡± replied Azahara. ¡°I have a proposal for you,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the name,¡± cut Ipar. ¡°but you swear to keep your word.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s about it,¡± said Azahara with a grin Ohaine didn¡¯t like.

    Ipar turned to the door, leaving his bag, his staff behind. Ohaine tried to stop him, but no words could come out of her mouth. He opened the heavy wooden door with a cracking sound. ¡°Pik, the name is Pik.¡±

    ¡°Shepherd!¡± Azahara said. ¡°Will the wolves interfere with my business here?¡±

    He stood in the doorway. He took a deep breath and let out the air slowly. ¡°As long as you keep your word, they won¡¯t. You have my word,¡±

    Azahara grinned. Her eyes filled with an unsettling intensity. ¡°But listen to me...¡± Ipar added. He fixed his eyes on Azahara. His stare made her smile fade. ¡°My word stands as long as yours does. Do you understand?¡±

    Ohaine didn¡¯t see her Master nodding. She rushed outside to follow him. She found him standing a few steps further from the door. Immobile, his mind lost again, far in the mountain peaks.

    ¡°Where are you going, Ipar? The wolves.. its¡­ its dangerous,¡±

    ¡°I better prefer the wolves than her,¡±

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    ¡°She is not a good person, Ohaine. Wake up and see for yourself. None of them are. Don¡¯t you see how they treat you? You are better than that, better than them,¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just an assistant, Ipar. The mark I had¡­ I¡¯ve never been a real mage.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You are better than any of them,¡±

    Ohaine remained silent. Staring at the mountains like him. ¡°Is not that easy, I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Don¡¯t leave now Ipar. I have a bad feeling.¡±

    ¡°I have to go,¡± whispered Ipar.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°You will be safe. She won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    ¡°She won¡¯t¡­ what? Why do you say-¡± suddenly her lips tighten and her eyes widen. With a blink of an eye, he moved in front of her., his face at one hand of hers. He moved forward in slow motion. Her entire body froze, her sight fixed on the man¡¯s lips, her mind blurred with doubts. Ipar was a brother, but as much as she loved him, she couldn¡¯t find the same type of love he professed towards her. She wanted to stop him, say a word, push him back.

    Instead, she closed her eyelids tightly and clenched her teeth. The kiss never arrived. His beard tickled her cheek and his mouth, next to her ear, whispered in the old language of Arun.

    ¡°Your Master said to me if I didn''t follow her, you wouldn¡¯t make it back alive.¡°

    Ohaine felt like a bucket of freeing water fell over her. She could not believe it, but somehow, she knew he was right.

    He poked her forehead and walked away. ¡°Take care of yourself,¡±

    ¡°You too¡­ Good bye, Ipar,¡± she said, her voice growing small.

    Ipar was soon a little shadow walking uphill. Confused and shocked, she went back inside.

    When she crossed the door, she felt a chill. Azahara was sitting in her meditation stance. Palms up, legs crossed and eyes closed.. Everyone else was already sleeping tightly. It had been an exhausting day; she thought.

    ¡°What did Ipar say to you?¡±

    Ohaine moved to her corner. ¡°Nothing¡±.

    The mage raised an eyebrow. The lie was obvious, but Ohaine didn¡¯t care. She tried to challenge her gaze, but Azahara closed her eyes and mumbled a song instead.

    Ohaine felt suddenly exhausted. His eyelids were falling. The mage¡¯s song was a lovely tune. She curled to the wall, wrapped in a blanket, and closed her eyes. She was sinking into a dark void of darkness when a sharp pain on her forehead lifted her up. It was in the same spot Ipar touched her.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    The burn awakened her. But not her body. She was still sleeping under the blanket. It was her consciousness that was free.

    ¡°She has fallen, Master,¡± said a lugubrious voice from the other side of the stance. Ohaine looked without eyes. Azahara was glowing with an aura of reds and yellows. Surrounding the lights, there was a shadow of purples and blacks.

    She spoke without using her lips.

    ¡°Time to call that annoying fade,¡±

    ¡°I will cost you a year,¡± said the minion¡¯s voice, matching his words with a subtle glow from the mist.

    ¡°I have no other option now. When I get the golden pinecone, it won¡¯t matter anymore.¡±

    Those were familiar words. The genie talked about that when he explained about the witches. ¡®they will drain the pinecone¡¯ it said.

    Azahara stopped her song and recited a strange mantra. Words she repeated again and again. Ohaine didn¡¯t know what she was saying. It was one of the old forbidden languages. That she was sure.

    ¡°I summon you, Pik.¡± said the mage after the conjuring.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Oihane recognized the voice that answered the call immediately. It was unmistakable. The same one that granted her the mark of magic and the same one that warned them about the witches.

    The other times this Pik talked to her, he never showed himself.Now, beside the fireplace, Ohaine saw a small humanoid figure facing the flames. His head, covered in hair that was more like green moss, was too big for his scrawny body. His hands, with the palms facing the fire, were black, as were all the clothes it wore.

    ¡°You are a sneaky little one, aren¡¯t you?¡± asked Azahara.

    Staring at the fireplace, the little folk talked again. ¡°You humans have very little appreciation for your brief life.¡±

    ¡°I bonded. Answer my questions or face the consequences..¡±

    ¡°All right, all right,¡± the creature turned. His face was as dark as his hands. With big black eyes and a long, disturbing mouth that crossed the face from ear to ear. ¡°Want to know if I¡¯m sneaky? Yes, I am. What else do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°You were the one who told my assistant about the witches, weren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Mmm¡± Pik scratched his hair.

    ¡°Answer me the truth, we are-¡°

    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Bonded...you just said¡­¡± The little folk turned again to face the fire. ¡°Yes, it was me. Did the Djinn see me?¡±

    ¡°You gave too many details. No other human in this place knows about the primordial. If they knew about the golden pinecone, they¡¯d take it.¡±

    Pik chuckled. ¡°You have little faith in your own species. I like you, yes, yes, I like you.¡± The little monster froze, his black eyes fixed on Ohaine. His grin was disturbing. She felt an instant of fear at the thought that the creature could see her.

    ¡°Do you really think you could bait me with such power and expect me to give it to you after I get rid of the witches? Serious mistake in believing that I am as stupid as the villagers of your valley.¡±

    Pik¡¯s attention drifted towards the mage, and Ohaine felt tremendous relief.

    ¡°You can keep the cone. I don¡¯t want it.¡±

    Azahara frowned. ¡°Where is the trick? It¡¯s about the witches, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°No tricks, no¡­ no¡­ no, and¡­ no. I just want you to take that away from here. You don¡¯t believe me. I don¡¯t care. I know I say the truth, yes¡­ I¡­ do!¡±

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a trap,¡± said the purple mist.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a trap!¡± shouted Pik menacingly. The challenge of the little folk raised a storm inside the mist. The room darkened and thunder stormed inside the purple cloud. Pik immediately backed away with quick little steps. His eyes locked on the ground, his hands gripping his shirt, right in front of his heart.

    Azahara loved the little monster¡¯s reaction. ¡°Pik is going to help us, not trick us, right little one?¡± she said with a mocking tone and a broad smile on her face.

    ¡°I will help, yes, I will. I swear.¡±

    ¡°Good. First, tell me about the witches. Do you know what faction they belong to?¡±

    ¡°They are followers of the Drun¡¯kal texts,¡±

    ¡°Which path?¡±

    ¡°The truth in nature. There haven¡¯t been dark followers in the Val since centuries,¡±

    Azahara bursted in a loud laugh. ¡°I cannot believe it! Cannot be that easy. Tomorrow we are facing little sheep in the slaughterhouse. Are there any other things there to be concerned about? Apart from the wolves.¡±

    ¡°Apart from the wolves, no. That I¡¯m aware. No, no, no. I can help you avoid dangers, I-¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± cut Azahara. ¡°I don¡¯t want you closer to the cone. I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t trust you enough, little one. Instead, I will need you to help me with a really important task.¡±

    Pik gave little jumps of excitement. As if the terror that had surrounded him minutes ago had vanished. ¡°A task? For me?¡± he said.

    ¡°I will need to do an extremely ancient and difficult spell that requires me to summon every tree spirit. Is a protection spell.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± His excitement grew at each word from the mage.

    ¡°To do so, I need to know how many trees are out there. All of them. Not only the ones in the valley. Need to be the ones in all the world. It¡¯s an almost impossible task,¡±

    ¡°Not to me! Not to me! Wait!¡± the small folk froze. ¡°Why isn¡¯t your djinn doing it?¡±

    ¡°He cannot leave my side. We are bonded for life. You know how that works, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I know. Of course.¡±

    ¡°So, do you think you can do that? I think it is almost impossible.¡±

    ¡°I will! Of course, I always do. Yes, yes. I should go, right? Right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, as soon as possible,¡±

    As soon as Azahara said her last word, the little folk puffed away.

    ¡°It amazes me how stupid they can be. Was that necessary?¡± said the mist.

    ¡°Those little fools have sparks of genius sometimes. We cannot be careful enough. I don¡¯t want him around tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°He may come back when he realizes he cannot count all the trees before your supposed spell is cast.¡±

    ¡°He will eventually realize, but he won¡¯t come back until the task is done. That¡¯s how their little brains work. When that happens, we will be far gone, with the Primordial.¡±

    Right after, Ohaine got dragged to darkness. A sleep without dreams. Night passed in an instant and next morning everyone woke up, with renewed energy. Azahara, on the other hand, seemed exhausted.

    Without the shepherd, Ohaine was asked to lead the party. The way to the Basajun forest was an easy trek following the creek, so she had little trouble guiding them uphill.

    From the refuge you could see the forest, and in a few hours they reached the edge where Azahara ordered them to stop. No one knew why they had to wait until late in the afternoon to enter the forest, although Ohaine was sure that during the long wait, the genie had investigated the surroundings.

    Ohaine couldn¡¯t stop thinking of Ipar¡¯s words. Her entire world was crumbling. The woman she admired the most could not have said that. But she believed Ipar. His words had a strange power. They had truth in them. Memories rushed in front of her eyes. The mistreatment, the teasing, the bullying. All those moments now seemed to be completely different. How could she have been so blind?

    As hours passed, she realized all her life was just a joke. She was just a puppet. And her heart broke.

    When the mage showed knowledge about the place, which in no way could she know by herself, it became clear that her minion had been informing her. They all followed Azahara, who was now leading, into the woods, and soon they reached their destination.

    ¡°This is the place for tonight¡¯s gathering,¡± explained Azahara. Ohaine was amazed at the beauty of the place. The small clearing, surrounded by tall pine trees, stood out for having the ground clean of weeds and dry leaves, which filled the undergrowth of all the surroundings. In the middle of it, bathed by curtains of light that trickled between the trunks, there were human sized menhirs of curved shapes, with ancient engravings all over their surface. If they were glyphs or drawings, Ohaine didn¡¯t know. Next to the circle there was a short pine with a rounded crown, different from the black pines that make up most of the highland forest.

    She surveyed it from a distance, while Azahara was busy spreading the oils on the ground. None of its pinecones seemed to glow.

    ¡°This circle will protect you tonight. Follow me and stand wherever I command you to stay,¡± Azahara said to the two students, who were looking around, visibly concerned. ¡°We will let the akelarre begin, then sneak from over there up to here and surprise them red-handed. Me and the armed men will handle them.¡±

    The chauffeur grouted while checking the shotgun shells. The other men nodded.

    ¡°Are you going to cold murder them all?¡± Ohaine asked.

    Azahara clenched her jaw. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°They are witches. As an inquisitor, I have the authority to handle them as I see fit. You will be my legal witness.¡± Azahara grimaced as soon as she noticed hesitation and fear on the two students¡¯ faces. ¡°Look. If any of them surrenders peacefully. I will block their will with the Funishi seal and we will take them to the town, all right?¡±

    ¡°And if any is too powerful? I heard some have dealt with Hell¡¯s worst demons.¡± said one hunter, almost whispering.

    ¡°No one is more powerful than Master Azahara.¡± Intervened Jair, who seemed to have regained some courage. Although Sheresade tried to emulate the bravery of her teacher, she could not hide her discomfort and Ohaine enjoyed for once not having to hear her complaints.

    Azahara spent the rest of the day spilling oils and carving spells around trees and under the rocks. Any sort of enchantment that, apart from giving her some advantage, would limit the powers of the witches and lock them in the clearing at her mercy.

    Faster than they expected, dusk arrived, and the group moved away from the clearing. They hid in an undercut between an old log and a large rock. Around, a small, very dim light illuminated the ground. A spell so they don¡¯t see us, Ohaine thought.

    The Master Mage waited with her eyes closed. Meditating. At times, she tilted the head to the side, and Ohaine knew she was listening to his invisible servant. She could still feel the cold. Almost impossible to notice if it wasn¡¯t because Ipar had told her.

    The others shared some food in absolute silence. She had a knot in her stomach and the smell was making her feel nauseated.

    Hearing the first voices in the distance, the party suddenly froze. Nobody moved a single muscle while the clearing was filling with more and more newcomers. Ohaine had only seen a witch once. on a journey with Azahara to the west of Muwallad. At that time, the sorceress they had to face was an old woman who could barely move, with all the attributes that were used to be given to that type of woman in the old tales. That included a sharp, raspy voice. Chilling. It was not the case with any of the voices that hung in that clearing. They all felt young. Sweet and jovial. Their conversations were full of laughter and happy songs.

    Pik said they were all from the Path of nature. Ohaine remembered. That was not a dangerous group.

    Azahara stood suddenly, and everyone followed. She strode to the clearing and ordered them to stay inside the first circle she made during the afternoon. As soon as Ohaine and the rest stood inside, purple light glowed around them. Only Her, the two hunters and the chauffeur remained outside. With her staff and surrounded by armed men, she moved forward.

    ¡®Little sheep in the slaughterhouse,¡¯ the words Azahara said the night before echoed in her head. She felt an electrifying chill up his spine. Azahara would not do any Funishi seal.

    Ohaine sneakily left the circle. ¡°What are you doing?¡± whispered Jair in shock. She didn¡¯t reply. Silently, she moved forwards from bush to bush.

    ¡°Because what you are doing here is forbidden!¡± shouted Azahara. The mage was facing a group of girls who had gathered at the base of the small round pine. They looked scared and defenseless, all except one who was a few steps In front, with her arms extended and her chin up, challenging the inquisitor.

    ¡°Forbidden by your laws. Not ours. Get out of here, mage!¡± said the woman who was protecting the others. The voice reminded her of Loredi, her foster mother. She somehow looked like her. But that was impossible. The woman facing Azahara was no older than thirty. The witch glimpsed at her, enough to realize that the young woman was undoubtedly Loredi. Ohaine stood from her hidden post and stepped forward. Her shock made her forget the fear being discovered.

    Azahara snapped her teeth. ¡°What are you doing, stupid? Go back to the circle!¡± Ohaine challenged her with her eyes. That woman was no longer her Master, her boss. At some point, she had even thought they were friends. How stupid and na?ve.

    ¡°You all go back. This place is sacred. You are not welcome!¡± shouted Loredi.

    Azahara hit the ground with her staff, and the earth trembled.

    ¡°If you hurt any of my girls, you won¡¯t have what you are looking for, sorceress,¡± added the witch. Azahara laughed.

    ¡°You¡¯ll give me the pinecone or I will make sure each one of you die the most terrible death imaginable.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± shouted Ohaine. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them!¡± with a head movement, the mage ordered one hunter to take her back. He clutched her arm and pulled. The man was thin but strong and he squeezed her arm painfully. She tried to get away, but he staggered her like she was a puppet.

    ¡°Be still or I¡¯ll hurt you,¡± he threatened her, pointing his finger to her face.

    ¡°What were you doing? Are you crazy?¡± whispered Sherezade. Ohaine huffed. Tears of anger felt down her cheeks. The group of witches screamed in unison, terrified. They were all very young. Teenagers dressed in transparent silks that made them look even more defenseless. They were crying and sobbing. Hugging, trying to give courage to each other.

    The wind began to blow hard, and howls followed. These were closer. The hunter turned and Ohaine took the chance to kick him between the legs as hard as she could. He felt on the floor screaming.

    When she reached the clearing again, the chauffeur raised his shotgun to the group of girls and they screamed.

    ¡°No!¡± shouted Loredi, putting herself in between. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the cone, there!¡±

    From the tree, a golden light glowed, showing a little pinecone between the branches. It was not bigger than a fist, but its light was as bright as the sun, and gave off a heat like it was midsummer in the plains.

    ¡°Get out from here, Ohaine! Run!¡± Said Loredi¡¯s voice in her head. ¡°This won¡¯t be a safe place anymore. Run dear, run!¡± Loredi smiled at her and then bent to touch the ground with both hands. The earth Shaked again, but this time it trembled without pause, as if the roots of the trees were moving like worms under the ground.

    The old chaufer shot Loredi without warning, and the woman fell to the ground. Ohaine screamed as loud as the other girls. She rushed towards the killer and slapped him. He grouted. She hit him again, this time with the fist. The old man, a person who had been nice to her for years, smacked her face so hard that she fell to the ground, hitting her head on a stone. Her lip exploded, filling her mouth with blood.

    She lost sense of reality for an instant. When her eyes opened, the driver was gasping for air, completely engulfed by roots that had him trapped, as if it were a constricting snake. Azahara was pushing away other roots that were trying to catch her feet. A root took Ohaine from the leg and squeezed. The pain was terrible. The magic that moved those roots did not make distinctions. Azahara stroked the ground a third time and the sea of wooden snakes froze. With a loud crack, a human-like being came out from the ground. It was all made of branches and mud, leaves, and wood. It was four times taller than any man. Maybe even more.

    The being faced Azahara and growled. In front of the mage, the blue mist was taking shape. Ohaine turned to the circle of protection. Noone was there. The earth was broken around, and with it, the spell.

    ¡°Ohaine, here!¡± shouted Jair from behind an old trunk.

    ¡°Run, run away!¡± Shouted Ohaine, staggering towards them.

    ¡°And go where? We don¡¯t know how to go back to the hut, stupid!¡± complained Sheresade. Ohaine put her fist in front of her face. ¡°Call me stupid one more time and you will end up as the hunter. Shere looked at the floor with terror in her eyes. Ohaine didn¡¯t notice the hunter she kicked was laying dead next to her feet. His body broken and twisted.

    ¡°Wait for me, and we will go together.¡± She rushed, her head spinning, to the side of the clearance where the group of your witches were standing. She yelled, hoping they¡¯d follow her, but the girls were petrified with terror. In front of them, joining the tree-like giant, was another beast, a monster of the underworld Ohaine had seen in the books.

    Ohaine would never be a good mage. No one could ever reproach her for not having studied hard to achieve it. There was not a single book she had not read, and thanks to that, she could now identify the spirit of the forest. He was a being with many names around the world, although the Arun was known by ginebreda. The other beast, a monstrous humanoid with long limbs and dry gray skin, was a Ghoul. An undead related to the genies from the south.

    The sight of the new creature took her breath away. ¡°You need to run, now!¡± The new scream got the expected effect she wanted and the group of girls rushed towards her. Together, they reached the hiding place where the students and the road workers waited.

    Creaks and snaps, along with roars and grunts, filled the place. They didn¡¯t even move when a tree snapped in a half and leaves flew all around. The ginebreda screamed in agony and the ghoul flew over their heads smashing its muscular body against an enormous boulder.

    Ohaine turned. ¡°Follow me, I- ¡°the terror in the other¡¯s faces froze her. She turned slowly, knowing what was behind her. She¡¯d smell the stench of death.

    She looked up, as the ghoul was tall as two men. The monster was exactly as described in the books. A scrawny humanoid with long limbs and dry gray skin. The eyes glowed red, and the mouth was no longer human. But an enormous jaw filled with sharp teeth.

    The ghoul took her with a claw so big that I grabbed her around the waist. The monster pressed and her claws ripped into her flesh like daggers. Ohaine screamed, half terror, half pain. But even though she did it with all her might, she only gasped.

    The Ghoul released her as if he no longer had any interest in her and turned to the others. Each of her breaths hurt like it split her body in two. Laying over the ground, she could hear screams of terror and pain around her. Bit by bit, the shouting fade and the monster moved towards her again. She could hear the steps.

    Suddenly Azahara screamed, and the beast turned towards her master. Ohaine didn¡¯t move. She was in shock. She stared at the sky, with teary eyes that couldn¡¯t distinguish the moon from the glowing clouds that surrounded it.

    Grunts and growls of the two beasts. And soon the howls joined them. This time, the wolves were close, really close.

    Ohaine gathered all her strength to stand. The places where the ghoul clawed her were burning. They were not deep. But she knew they¡¯d never heal. Injuries made by that kind of creature would rot the flesh and eventually kill her. She was doomed.

    She searched for the rest. One of the young witches lay close by, bloodied. Dead. Same as the road workers. Not far there was the body of Sherezade, ripped in half. The sight made her turn. Another scream of Azahara. The ginebreda, while the ghoul was busy killing everyone, had grabbed the woman with its huge hands. Only the mage¡¯s magic was preventing the wooden creature from squeezing her like a bug.

    Ohaine was walking with difficulty. Her head was spinning. While trying to leave the place, she stumbled upon something that looked like Jair, although little was left of the boy. She gagged and fell to her knees.

    Azahara¡¯s screams were now filled with agony. The Ghoul, completely out of control, was trying to free her master, ripping the ginebreda¡¯s hands with its claws, but in doing so it was ripping her master¡¯s flesh apart.

    Azahara, with her face bloodied and her eyes wide, gave one last breath that drove the Ghoul mad. The monster roared and attacked the tree spirit with all its fury. Ohaine sat up delicately. The pain was intense throughout her body.

    The forest giant lost its hands to the ghoul¡¯s claws. The undead beast then turned towards Ohaine and rushed to shred her as well.

    She was not scared anymore. Her eyes filled with tears again. Tears of rage, for having been responsible for all this chaos. It was all her fault. Loredi¡¯s death and everyone else¡¯s.

    The ghoul stopped the charge halfway. Suddenly, he felt around the trotting steps of the wolves. Their gasps and grunts. In an instant, the undead beast was surrounded by a dozen wolves. All grey and one white. The monster was tired and injured. It hesitated to fight the wolves, which in turn cornered the beast without attacking it directly. Playing with it. Wolves were intelligent animals. They knew that a simple scratch from the ghoul could kill them, and what they did was wait for the ginebreda to rebuild its arms.

    ¡°Ohaine,¡± the voice of Pik spooked her. ¡°Take the pinecone. It will heal you.¡±

    She looked around, but there was no sight of the small folk."Just do it. If not, you will die"

    She stood and dragged her feet towards Loredi¡¯s body. She was dead with a big gunshot to her chest. Ohaine closed her eyes and sobbed. Her strength faded, and she felt once again to her knees. Crawling, she reached where the golden pinecone had fallen. It was not glowing as intensely as before. I seemed to be made of gold. Shiny and warm gold.

    As soon as she took it, the pine cone turned to ash. She didn¡¯t feel better at all.

    The fight was coming to an end. The tree spirit had recovered its limbs and, catching the ghoul by surprise, had grabbed it by the neck. The snap echoed through the trees. Next, it squeezed the undead corpse. The spirit knew, as Ohaine did, that the ghoul was not done yet. It would come back if not destroyed properly. The wooden giant ripped the flesh and broke every bone. The ghoul released purple smoke that reeked of corpses and the wolves intoned sounds of victory.

    The victorious giant stumbled towards her, raising its hand threateningly.

    She closed her eyes and lay on the ground, accepting her faith when a thundering voice made it stop.

    She didn¡¯t know the words of that language, but she recognized the voice. Although it sounded different, ethereal, Ipar¡¯s voice was unmistakable to her. Not able to even raise her head, she turned to see him. He didn¡¯t look like him. The figure that strode closer was a giant at the height of two men. Dressed in wolf skins and with long gray hair and beard. Old, old as the world. Only the eyes gave away the person who he really was.

    He took her from the ground with gentle arms. Her hand, the one she took the pinecone, felt rough to the touch. She checked to see if her skin was turning to tree bark.

    ¡°Am I dying?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he answered firmly.

    The tree spirit groaned, and he replied with the ancient language he used before. The spirit of the forest nodded and slowly disappeared between the trees.

    ¡°What did you say?¡± She whispered.

    ¡°I begged her not to hurt my friend,¡± he answered. Small smirk showed under all his bushy beard. Ohaine smiled back and closed her eyes for a while.

    Time seemed to slow. Ipar lumbered through the woods and the mountains for what seemed an eternity. She couldn¡¯t tell how much time had passed. Hours? Days? She didn¡¯t know. She didn¡¯t care.

    When Ipar finally put her to the ground, the soil was soft and warm, like a woolen blanket during a winter night. He put his hand over her forehead. She sank to the ground and let the leaves and roots embrace her. The glowing light came, and her heart felt warm as summer.

 Rose of fire (Part one)

    ¡°It was then when the Holy Knight trusted his magical spear and struck the dragon. The beast roared, and fearing death at the hands of the Holy, retreated. Then, defeated and humiliated by men, he flew away crying tears of fire that felt around the world. There, where the monster bled, roses grew, and around them plants and trees of astonishing beauty.¡±

    Argia looked at the clock and closed her book. Little Mala sighted. ¡°Did the knight marry the princess?¡±

    ¡°Of course he did. And they lived happily all their lives.¡± answered Argia. ¡°Have a good holiday kids.¡±

    One by one, her little students left the class with ease, happy to start the winter break.

    Argia snorted slowly and walked towards the window. He was down there, in the corner of Jackson¡¯s alley with ribbon¡¯s street. He was staring straight towards her window with his dead eyes. She knew he was just stalking, waiting for the darkness to come.

    The sky was filled with the reds of a sun that had passed the horizon. Argia had still some time, but not much. That night was going to be a new moon, and it was during the darkest nights that the Papu was most dangerous. She took her jacket and bag and strode to the exit, ignoring the few colleagues who still spoke to her.

    The kids adored her, but when it came to adults, she wasn¡¯t the most popular person. ¡®An excellent teacher, but a weird woman,¡¯ was how the principal used to describe her. She didn¡¯t mind. Since she came to the city years ago, she had behaved like a lunatic, so that people would treat her as one was the logical outcome. At first she used to think that it was all Papu¡¯s fault, but the truth is that everything that happened to her was her fault, no one else¡¯s. the result of her jealousy and her betrayal.

    The evening was cold, but not as remotely close to the winters of Arun. The streets were packed with people shopping for the upcoming winter festival.

    With a subtle movement of her head, she glimpsed his figure limping behind her. A big bulky man, with small eyes and a gigantic nose. Dressed in rags and dragging that empty sack. The creature would not lose sight of her for a minute.

    The form of that monster, dressed with rags and dragging an empty sack, was how Argia would see him under the light, but in the dark corners he had another form. One more terrifying and dangerous: a shadow darker than any place it was hiding. A shapeless figure with eyes of white light and a mouth full of hundreds of needle-sharp teeth

    The thought of Papu¡¯s mouth gave Argia a chill through her spine. She accelerated her steps to the limit.

    She turned the key with a nervous hand and closed the door delicately. Ms. Otter was going to be on her couch, and she always complained of any noise. The old landlady was annoying, but she didn¡¯t care about Argia¡¯s eccentricities.

    The wooden steps cracked under her feed. Ms. Otter shouted from the living room, but Argia reached her room before the woman could say any further complaint.

    She closed the door and huffed. Head resting on the door. A thought spooked her. The lamp was not on yet.

    As she turned, a little oil lamp on her side table turned on by itself. Argia smiled in contempt and walked slowly towards it, dropping her jacket and bag on the floor. From the window, she could see the darkness taking over the sky. There were much fewer people in the streets.

    She searched for him. She was sure he was there, lingering in some corner. Soon, when the darkness reached its peak, He¡¯d come for her. Nights like this the bogeyman had not enough with the stalking. The darker, the more violent and dangerous he would be. It didn¡¯t matter there were lights outside. It would find the smallest dark corners to crawl around and As a twisting dark shape, he¡¯d sneak everywhere.

    Argia sat on her bed and looked at the door. The first new moon he came, He almost entered through the keyhole. That night, conveniently for him, the house was left without light. Luckily, she had a candle. With light inside the room, Papu could not squeeze through the gaps, and for some reason she didn¡¯t know he¡¯d break nothing.

    For months Argia lived in a room filled with candles, feeding the anger of Ms Otter, who continuously reminded her of the dangers of fire. Strangely, the old landlord never kicked out.

    Argia changed her clothes and got into bed. She had no dinner but a couple of small cookies eaten on the way home.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered, turning to the side.the candle quivered in response. It did not tremble because of any wind. It was an actual answer. The flame would never blow off, and the oil would never finish. That was a magical lantern. A magic item that came to her aid at the best moment.

    Years passed and she didn¡¯t need to use anything else but the lantern for protection. She was no longer the crazy nut of the candles, although many still thought of her as a freak.

    She considered her plan for the winter break. She had for years that idea to go back home for a visit. Back to Arun. But she didn¡¯t know how people would react. Not after what she did to Ohaine.

    The wood of the stairs squeezed, and she pulled her blanket up to her neck. Curled up in bed, she stared towards the door again. Holding her breath. The wood squeezed once again. It was a sound only she could hear. The shadow under the door gave her chills. Her magical oil lamp became brighter, somehow knowing it would calm her nerves. That didn¡¯t scare the Papu though, who remained behind the door. The sound of your rattle breathing interrupted time to time by the squeaking of the doorknob.

    The door was obviously closed, and he¡¯d never opened while the oil lamp was on. But he¡¯d do it as any other night. And as any other night, he used his own magic to cut the house lights. Ms. Otter cursed from downstairs and Argia knew that, in other circumstances, Papu would have tried to use his shadow form to slip under the door, or through the keyhole. But like every night he tried, his assault failed.

    Surely frustrated, the monster let out a slight growl and backed away from the door as the light shone again in the hallway. He¡¯d come back, if lucky, maybe just a few more times, but even if he did all night long, Argia knew the magical light would not faint.

    Knowing she was safe, she fell asleep. As expected, El Papu returned, and every time he did, she woke up. It was a tiring way to spend the night, but she was used to it by now. That was her punishment and she had already assumed it, although she was not going to let it last forever. She made up her mind. Maybe finding Ohaine and making peace. Maybe in some of her mother¡¯s old books. Whatever it was, if there was a way to get rid of that curse in Arun, she¡¯d find it.

    Few days later she arranged everything for a trip to the valley. The speed of the automobile and the distance to the mountains would give her a couple of nights without having to worry about Papu. Maybe even more. But she¡¯d never escape. Argia spent hours of research in old books, looking for a way to get rid of her pursuer. She learned a lot about magical creatures. She knew bogeymen were a kind of spirit that in most cases hunted and kidnaped were naughty kids. But some, like Papu, an ancient evil from the Eskun Mountains, didn¡¯t make distinctions of age. When he found someone that smelled of guilt, they chased them mercilessly.

    .

    Did she feel the guilt of her betrayal to Ohaine before the bogeyman came or was her guilt a consequence of her curse? She thought. It was difficult to remember. What was sure is that she still regretted her jealousy. She was just a kid wishing for more attention from her mother. Nevertheless, she almost got a person who considered her as a sister, executed.

    Through the window, Argia saw the changes of time. The country had embraced technology and she could see it everywhere. Cables of electricity and telephone, machines to harvest the fields. When she first went to the Plains, most of the roads were transited by horses and wagons, a few were those who had a car. She wondered how much of that new world would have reached Arun. She was in touch with her family there, and they always told her the valley resisted stoically in the tides of change.

    The ride to the mountains lasted little more than a couple of hours. The improvement of the road network was a blessing. Luckily, Argia would have more time in her hometown without having to worry about Papu.

    They even reached the valley of Isil that she closed her eyes for a moment, snoozed by the comfort of the seat and the warmth of the car.

    ¡°Miss, wake up,¡± said the driver gently.

    Argia jumped in her seat. ¡°Where are we? Is this Isil?¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°No, miss, this is the end of the journey: Endara.¡±

    Argia looked through the window with wide eyes. The center of Endara, once a mud-floored esplanade surrounded by few houses, was now a cobblestone-paved square, and where there had been a water well, now there was a water fountain.

    Argia walked slowly. The cold in Arun was intense even during midday, a cold she was no longer used to.

    Amane, Argia¡¯s aunt, had an inn in the square. A building that looked as she remembered, only a bit neglected, and now with buildings on both sides.

    The door was closed. The last letter they sent they told her they were not having luck lately. That was more than a year ago. She replied, but never received an answer.

    After pounding on the door for a full minute, someone inside walked slowly towards the entrance. The door squeaked and the pale and sucked face of her cousin Uhaiz appeared from the shadows. He looked decrepit and tired. The man gazed at her for a while. When he finally recognized her, his eyes widened broadly. ¡°Argia? What¡­ What a surprise!¡±

    Argia answered with a timid smile and a squeeze of her wooden hat, not in front of her chest.

    ¡°I should have told you, but it was a kind of last-minute decision, and the telephone line never reaches here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, well... We have no phone anyway. But come inside, come!¡±

    The inn was dusty and dark. No one cleaned for a long time and not even opened the windows to air out a bit. The smell was intense. A mix of the wet wood from the tables and the burned one from the fireplace.

    Argia noticed her cousin had walked with difficulty, limping on one leg. ¡°What happen?¡±

    Uhaiz sat down and rubbed his knee. The table was filled with cold cuts and jugs of wine, most of them empty. ¡°I fell a few months ago. Stupid accident. Come have a seat. I was just having some lunch. I will prepare you one room afterwards.¡±

    Argia seated and took the glass of wine Uhaiz served. She looked around.

    ¡°Where is Amane?¡± Her own question made her stomach clench. The atmosphere of the place and the image that her cousin gave off gave her a bad feeling.

    ¡°Mother is upstairs resting. She is not feeling well lately. Later we can go see her.¡± Uhaiz¡¯s words, although that wasn''t good news, relieved her a bit.

    Uhaiz drank two glasses of wine before putting any food inside his mouth. He chewed the salted ham in silence. His eyes were staring at the wall, lost. Something about him disturbed Argia. She didn¡¯t touch the food. She just remained there, zipping her drink from time to time.

    ¡°Ohaine came last year,¡± Uhaiz said suddenly. Argia felt a chill. She was going to ask about her, but she never found the courage to do so. ¡°Argia¡­ I don¡¯t know how to say this,¡± Uhaiz snorted, rubbing his face with his hand. ¡°There was a mage¡¯s party that came to hunt witches. Ohaine was a member, and Ipar guided the group. No one made it back from the mountains.

    Argia froze. She heard about the problems the valley had with the wolves years back and how dangerous the wilds had become.

    ¡°Did they¡­ I mean. Did anyone find, well¡­ You know,¡± mumbled her. Uhaiz moved his head from side to side. Argia stared at the same wall Uhaiz had put his gaze on during the meal.

    A weak voice from upstairs broke the silence. ¡°It¡¯s Mother,¡± the man said, almost whispering. ¡°Give me a moment.¡± he strode upstairs, leaving Argia with her thoughts.

    The news about Ohaine hit her hard. Although they never talked again since she sold her out to the Inquisitors, Argia still considered her as a sister. Guilt and regret overwhelmed her. She repented long ago and tried to reach her sister, but Ohaine answered none of her letters asking for forgiveness.

    ¡°Mother wants to see you, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± said Uhaiz from the top of the stairs.¡±

    Argia stood up quickly and rushed to the first floor. When she entered the room, she felt like a sack of doorknobs. Amane was leaning on the headboard, covered in blankets and bed sheets. She didn¡¯t look good. Her skin was pale and had lost a lot of weight.

    Argia smiled but felt tired. It was a tiredness she already had for a long time. Years hiding and running weighed too much on her soul and now, seeing Uhaiz and Amane that way ripped her heart.

    ¡°Oh, dear!¡± said Amane in a hoarse voice. ¡°It¡¯s so nice to see you! Look at you!¡± the woman sobbed and soon after started to cry. Argia hugged her and gave her a long kiss. She¡®d couldn¡¯t hold a tear herself. Amanes¡¯ grip tightened. It took a while for her Aunt release her, but she didn¡¯t mind. The embrace felt good.

    ¡°I¡¯m so silly. But look at you! A beautiful woman now¡­ I wish I feel better to prepare one of your favourite meals, but well¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it, aunty? Can I help?¡±

    ¡°This?¡± Amane raised her hands and looked at her own body laying on the bed. ¡°This is just life, dear. Nothing that can be stopped. Do not worry.¡± Amane turned her head to the side, with a nice but weak smile that quickly faded. ¡°Uhaiz told you about Ohaine, didn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he did.¡± Argia turned, looking for his cousin, but the man had left the room.

    ¡°Did you see his leg?¡±

    ¡°He told me he felt,¡±

    ¡°Yes. In the mountains. Looking for Aine. He still does sometimes, although he needs to take care of me now.¡±

    Argia knew about Uhaiz''s wife. She left him suddenly and hide in the wilds. Like her mother did once to her.

    Amane coughed. It was a nasty coughing that turned her teeth red. Argia helped her with a napkin and some water. ¡°We have no news of my sister, I know you don¡¯t want to hear, but,¡± Amane put her hand on her chest and narrowed her eyes in pain.

    ¡°Is all right. We can talk about her another moment.¡± Argia never wanted to ask for her mother. Loredi left her after what she had done to Ohaine, and although she could not forgive herself for what she did, she could not forgive that woman either. But she now she was in Arun to get rid of the Papu, and if to achieve it she had to engage in the whereabouts of her mother once more, she¡¯d not hesitate to do so.

    Seeing that her aunt needed some rest, Argia helped her to lie down. Uhaiz returned soon after. ¡°I prepared your room,¡± he whispered while adjusting one of her mother¡¯s pillows with ease. ¡°Later I will make some dinner if you want to join.¡±

    Argia nodded. ¡°See you later Aunty.¡± Amane answered with a faint smile.

    The room was small but cozy. With clean sheets and not a single bit of dust. She opened her luggage and put her lantern on the side table. It didn¡¯t light on and that was a great sign. It was not dark yet, but if the Papu was close, the magic light would always turn on its flame. Still, she closed the latch on the window and turned the key to the door. She lay on the bed with her street clothes on and closed her eyes.

    She didn¡¯t seem to have slept for five minutes when Uhaiz knocked on the door. Outside was getting dark, but the lantern was still off.

    Uhaiz had prepared a stew of lentils with paprika sausage, one of Amane¡¯s inn famous dishes. In the center of the table a pitcher of red wine and a pitcher of beer surrounded by sausage dishes, cheeses and bread smeared with tomato, a tradition of the valley. Quite a feast for just two people. ¡°We don¡¯t have many visitors. Let¡¯s celebrate your return, even if it¡¯s for few days,¡± said Uhaiz, anticipating any comment from Argia.

    Was she coming for a few days? Was she going to stay for good? She didn¡¯t know. Coming back to Arun, a place she swore to never return, was her last resource. But how to start? Talking about the demon that was chasing her, a monster that only she could see, was something that had labeled her crazy for years.

    ¡°My wife was a Lamnia,¡± said Uhaiz suddenly. His glass of wine is still touching his lips. Argia frowned. Silent, waiting for more. ¡°I mean a type of fairy. The ones that live in the lake.¡± Uhaiz filled his mouth with ham, almost as if he tried to stop himself from talking further.

    ¡°I know it sounds insane. But it¡¯s true. She left us because someone that looked like me made her think I betray her secret. And now we are cursed.¡± Uhaiz huffed slowly, supporting his weight over the chair¡¯s back. ¡°Forget it. It sounds even crazier when I say it out loud.¡±

    I¡¯d sound crazy to anyone else, but not to Argia. She already had a good portion of madness for herself. ¡°I believe you,¡± her cousin was looking at the wall, eyes lost like usual. ¡°Uhaiz, I believe you,¡± she repeated, this time with confidence. Their eyes met and she could see a sparkle of hope on him. That gave her hope as well.

    ¡°Arun is a place where magic still exists. My mother knew that and I do as well.¡± The words encouraged Uhaiz, who began to talk about what had happened to them in the previous years. His spirit had grown and his words had more energy and excitement than before.

    He told her about the little elf inside the thread roller, about the water women in the lake. How he met Aine and how, after an encounter with a jack-o''-lantern, his wife disappeared while pregnant.

    ¡°It was the minairo all along. I¡¯m sure of it,¡± He said, hitting the table with his palm. ¡°It tried to trick me into getting something from that wildfire¡­ When I didn¡¯t do as he asked, he punished me. He pretended to be me to deceive Aine.¡± His words were full of resentment and fury. ¡°Now I pay for it. Mother,¡± he squinted his eyes tightly, as if the words hurt. ¡°Mother pays for it.¡±

    Argia put a hand over his shoulder and squeezed gently. ¡°You said that green light can give you a wish.¡±

    ¡°I tried, I tried. Every Time I get there and it shows it just laughs at my requests. Then it goes even deeper inside the forest. Last time I had to search pretty far into the Freba¡¯s woods.¡±

    ¡°It may not listen to you anymore, but it can listen to me.¡±

    Uhaiz sat up in the chair. His eyes fixed on her. ¡°Would you do that? I mean, it can be dangerous.¡±

    She was definitely going to do it. It was the opportunity she was hoping to find in Arun. A magic light that could grant wishes was what could solve her own curse. She could not believe how lucky she was. A subtle smirk showed on her face. ¡°Yes, I will do it.¡±

 Rose of fire (Part two)

    They spent the next day inside the inn, to Argia¡¯s disappointment. Searching for the will-o''-the-wisp during the day was a waste of time. She knew that, but each minute the bogeyman was closer, and the thought of it was raising her anxiety.

    Uhaiz used his time to prepare for the night. He had prepared suitable clothes for the cold, tools and equipment Argia never considered they¡¯d need.. Meanwhile, she kept her aunt company, who shared beautiful stories from the past. Amane talked about her sister, but the person in her memories was nothing like the woman Argia remembered.

    As the sunset approached, more and more Argia thought about the will-o''-the-wisp. In none of the books she searched for ways to kill the bogeyman, she found no creature that granted wishes. She was holding on to one last hope: Arun was special and everything could be possible in those mountains.

    The night before, she was determined to use it against but it didn¡¯t take long for her to realize how selfish her idea was. When the dawn arrived and Uhaiz told her to get ready, she couldn¡¯t even look at him straight. Her egotism gnawed away from her mind.

    She said good night to Amane and took a backpack prepared for her. From her things, she only brought the magic lantern.

    ¡°I have lights, you don¡¯t...¡±

    ¡°I need this one,¡± she said sharply. Uhaiz shrugged but didn¡¯t insist.

    By the time they left the house, Argia had decided that any wish the will-o¡¯-the-wisp grant them, if there was any, would be for her cousin. Still, he would not waste an opportunity like that. If Uhaiz recovered her wife, being a magic spirit herself, she surely could help her get rid of the boogeyman.

    ¡°I¡¯m chased by an evil spirit. That¡¯s why I came to Arun. To find some help,¡± she suddenly said to him, who didn¡¯t seem bothered by the revelation.

    His passivity shocked her. She tried to explained herself better, but Uhaiz talked first. ¡°I was once hunted by one. In my dreams. I believe you. Does it have to do with what happened with Ohaine?¡±

    ¡°It does,¡± she answered, surprised.

    ¡°Does that lamp you hold so tight have something to do with it? ¡°

    Argia stopped and looked at her light. It was off. ¡°Uhaiz,¡± she whispered. ¡°We should go back, I shouldn¡¯t put you in this-¡±

    ¡°No!¡± cut him. ¡°Do not say those words. Anything that we may face tonight. If I have a little chance of getting my Aine back, I face it without regrets. No matter what. understand?¡±

    She nodded shyly and followed him up the hills. From the top, Endara felt even smaller that it was. The lights of each house were already on and the night, even though it was a crescent moon, was clear. Argia looked to the east but no lights from where she used to live as a child.

    ¡°There¡¯s only old iaia Sancho living there now,¡± Uhaiz said, as if he read her mind.

    She felt strangely sad about that. It had been plenty of years since she left and although that was the only place she ever considered a home, she never felt a hint of melancholy towards the place.

    Trying to get any thought about her old home out of her head, Argia  explain to Uhaiz all details about the curse. It took her a good time to do it and without realizing, they were in front of the woods.

    The Freba¡¯s forest was close to the village, but Argia, a city woman, was not used to physical exercise and she was already puffing steam from her mouth. The night was freezing and patches of snowfall from previous days did not even melt. Uhaiz, of course, was more used to the treks, but her leg was a challenge and Argia could see him struggling at each step.

    With a gentle movement of his arm, he commanded a stop. They were in the same place he saw the o¡¯wisp for the first time, and if it worked like then, they only had to wait.

    And they did. In silence and for a long time, but no spook light came. Instead, the worst Argia could expect happened. The lamp ignited, and with its light, panic took over her heart. Argia looked around. No signs of the Papu yet, but that didn¡¯t comfort her. He was there; she was sure of it. Uhaiz put a hand over her shoulder. ¡°Is your monster around? I cannot see it.¡±

    ¡°I told you, no one can. Only me. But the light is never wrong,¡± answered Argia with a trembling voice. ¡°There!¡±

    The little silhouette of the Papu was passing the last of the treck farms. He was still far, his shape not bigger than a grape, but it would not stop: The Papu never got tired.

    Argia gripped the lantern tightly. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    Uhaiz took a turn and limped downhill, right to where the bogeyman was coming.. ¡°With the light we are safe, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but we are not going back!. Not without your wish.¡±

    The night darkened. A cloud covered the moon and Argia held her breath. The human corpse of the Papu was gone, and instead two glowing white eyes were rushing towards them at an unnatural speed. Argia had only the time to pull Uhaiz¡¯s sleeve when the monster¡¯s shadow was already over them. Stopped by the glow of her lantern. Several feet away, Papu stood. For the first time, she could see his true form clearly: More than a shadow, the Papu looked like a coal-black flame, with a shape that kept twisting in all directions. Only two white flames that he used as eyes and an enormous mouth full of hundreds of needle-like teeth seemed to hold the position, floating in the middle of that undulating body.

    ¡°Is it here?¡± whispered Uhaiz.

    Argia raised the lantern, and its light grew stronger. ¡°There.¡± The flame of darkness backed away with a groan. When the moonlight reappeared, the shadow gave way to the human body and Argia started running towards the forest. ¡°Let¡¯s go Uhaiz!¡±

    ¡°We should go back, maybe ...¡±

    ¡°No! This is our chance, let¡¯s go!¡± She cut him off. Fear and adrenaline gave her wings, and in a sigh, Argia was inside the forest. Uhaiz followed her with difficulty and Papu, dragging his feet, was almost in the same place where she had left him.

    The path into the forest was narrow and dark. As soon as they entered, Argia realized that inside there, the Papu had enough darkness to hunt them down from anywhere. The fear and frustration of having put herself in that situation did not make her lose heart. She still had the flashlight. They were protected.

    ¡°Will this slow it down?¡± said Uhaiz, looking up. The moonlight trickled through the branches in small columns of light. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± she answered, panting. ¡°We have my light shield, do not worry!¡±

    Deep inside the forest, surrounded by the sounds of night critters, they hold hands. It was a scary place, but nothing compared to what was chasing them. It didn¡¯t take long to hear the sounds of the evil closing by. Cracks of dry leaves and branches announced the terror. Argia looked back and saw the shadow, zigzagging through the moonbeams, fast, but hesitating on each movement, as it was scared to be touched by the light.

    ¡°We have to go faster, Uhaiz,¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know where we are going! Not even if the will-o¡¯-the-wisp is here, Argia!¡± He exclaimed, visibly exhausted.

    ¡°Oh, it is here,¡± said a voice from inside the woods. ¡°But it will not appear while the light of my lamp is on,¡±

    ¡°Where are you, traitor?¡± screamed Uhaiz. Argia pulled her cousin, who had stopped, facing the darkness of the forest.

    ¡°Uhaiz, we need to keep going!¡±

    ¡°That was the minairo, I know that voice.¡±

    Out of the undergrowth, a small black figure appeared. a pixie with green hair and black skin. The little creature jumped up and clapped his hands with a giggle. ¡°It was you, wasn¡¯t it? You told old Pitu about my wife?¡± shouted Uhaiz, tears of anger filling his eyes. The little folk answered with more giggles.

    Argia couldn¡¯t stop scanning her surroundings, scared that Papu wouldn¡¯t show up at one point or another. ¡°What do you want?¡± she snapped. Her patience was finished.

    ¡°I want the tear of Sugahar. You follow the trek and ask Erulet for it. You do that, yes? Or I will let The Papu eat you both.¡±

    Argia raised her light instinctively.

    ¡°Ha! Stupid humans,¡± the small folk snapped its fingers and banished, taking the light of the lantern with it. Argia gasped. ¡°You get me the tear, I give you back the light,¡± said the pixie from somewhere inside the forest.

    Argia ran but Uhaiz remained behind. ¡°You go Argia, I¡¯ll buy you some time!¡±

    She took his cousin by the arm and pulled. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid! Come, come!¡±

    Uhaiz, exhausted and with a bad leg, was a drag. Argia had to wait for him. Luckily, the monster, whenever he could not sneak into the shadows, walked slower than them. But it was a matter of time before he would catch them.

    They reached a small clearing completely bathed in moonlight. The Papu reached soon after not giving them timento catch their breath for long. The dark shadow shifted once again, this time close enough that Argia heard a faint moan as his body changed. ¡°I hope it hurts,¡± she whispered. Argia put her body in front of Uhaiz with her arms open. ¡°We are not afraid of you!¡¯¡¯

    Papu stood in front of her and crouched down, his face right in front of hers. So close that she could see his veins under the skin. It was the flesh of a corpse. A corpse that smell of nothing.

    ¡°We are trapped,¡± said Uhaiz.

    Argia tried to contain a sob but didn¡¯t succeed. Terror took over, and the monster noticed. Its broad smile was filled with putrid teeth. He snorted slowly and smiled, licking his lips as if he was enjoying the taste of her fear.

    ¡°They are not afraid of you! But I am, yes, I am! Oh it¡¯s a bogey, so scary!¡± said the pixie¡¯s voice from the woods. His little body, not bigger than a rabbit, was jumping on a log. Papu sniffed again. His nose grew big, and at every sniff it grew larger and larger until its face was a gigantic nose. The Papu took a few steps towards the pixie¡¯s and the small folk shouted again.

    ¡°Go! Go! I¡¯ll keep him busy! Go. ask Erulet for the tear of Sugaar!¡±

    They ran into the dark path without looking back for what seemed an eternity, not knowing if they were followed or where they were going. ¡°We cannot trust that thing!¡± Uhaiz kept repeating.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have any other option, we need to keep going!¡± was her only answer. The air was freezing, and it was hurting her lungs. She could barely feel the fingers under her gloves. She stopped for a moment, her breath smoking out of her mouth. Uhaiz, who had fallen behind a few steps, was breathing with difficulty. When she turned to encourage her cousin to keep going, what she saw paralyzed her. She tried to scream, but only a gasp came out. The dark flame of Papu was right behind him.

    He didn¡¯t need to see the monster to understand. Argia¡¯s face was enough. He didn¡¯t see the misty fist coming.The hit made him fly past Argia and hit an enormous tree. When Uhaiz¡¯s body hit the snow, the shadow was already next to her. She fell to her knees, defeated. Papu¡¯s flaming eyes widened and his big mouth opened, with a serpent-like tongue twisting towards her.

    He was going to shallow her entirely when the light of the moon hit him straight. Papu stepped back with a cry. His man¡¯s face frowned in discontent. It looked up and so did Argia. The branches and leaves were magically moving, letting in more moonlight. The little trek became all lighted and a distant whisper reached with a soft breeze of air.

    ¡°Go Argia, go!¡± said an ethereal voice. She stood and walked backwards, eyes fixed on Papu, who was glaring at her. She helped Uhaiz to stand with all the strength she could master and with his arm over her shoulder they moved away. Papu followed, keeping a close distance, searching for a dark corner around the trek, a darkness that was taken from him. Determined to catch her, the monster turned to the side and reaching the woods of road, shaped to darkness and disappeared.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    Argia knew it was looking for other ways to catch her, but the night was bright as a full moon. Branches let pass curtains of protecting lights over them, creating a curtain of protection all over the trek.

    It took them a long and desperate time to reach another clearing. This one was even bigger than the previous one. The sky, which could be seen clearly from there, was clear, and if they were lucky and no clouds darkened the night, it was the ideal place to protect themselves from the boogeyman.

    ¡°Come, come,¡± whispered the will-o¡¯-the-wisp in her head. ¡°Tell me what you want. I will grant you any wish,¡±

    Spooked, Argia put her cousin gently against a tree and searched around. From inside the dark forest, a greenish flame was hovering towards them.

    Uhaiz grabbed her arm. ¡°I¡¯m done. Use the wish for you.¡± He twisted his face with a flinch.

    ¡°Dont be stupid, your wife can heal you, she¡­¡±

    ¡°No!¡± The effort made him cough. His mouth filled with blood. ¡°What was I thinking?¡± he whispered, almost unconscious. ¡°I¡¯m so stupid,¡±

    ¡°The wish is for the tear,¡± said the pixie, who was standing next to them. On the other side, Papu was silently waiting for another moment of darkness to jump over them again. ¡°Ask for the tear or he will eat you,¡±

    ¡°He won¡¯t! The light of the moon protects me. Go get the tear yourself!¡± Snapped Argia. The pixie looked at the sky and clicked its tongue.

    The voice of the floating flame spoke again. ¡°What do you want the most?¡±

    Argia took a deep breath. ¡°Can you hear it, Papu?¡± she said, staring at the bogeyman straight to the eye. ¡°Erulet is not talking to me, is asking you: What do you want?¡±

    Papu raised his eyebrows and stared at the flame. He limped towards it and growled. A cry of terror preceded. Next to the will-o¡¯-the-wisp appeared another little folk. This one, unlike the other, had fair skin, white hair and was bigger, almost like a human toddler.

    The creature screamed again and, flying with no wings; it bolted towards the trees. Papu grunted and followed it, disappearing into the depths of the forest.

    The pixie that remained was clapping and laughing exulting from it had just seen.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fall asleep, Uhaiz, don¡¯t!¡± Uhaiz had his eyes closed and his skin was pale. The night was freezing and she could not feel her Hands and feet anymore.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, leave me here.¡± he whispered, his eyes closed. Argia took his hand and crawled to his side. She would not leave him to die alone in the woods.

    ¡°Take the light. It will warm you up. You can use it to go back,¡± said the minairo. Argia did not answer, and the pixie continued pressing, this time with a more impatient tone in the voice.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t deserve your kindness. Take the rose, it can warm you. At least you can return alive.¡±

    In the black eyes of the little pixie, Argia saw the reflection of what the other folk had left behind. A flower surrounded by flames of white and green.

    She taught for an instant to take it. And as soon as that thought crossed her mind, the flame banished, and the rose gently levitated to the ground, leaving a trail of floating embers dancing around a glowing red aura.

    Its beauty was fascinating. Charming. Like a spell that pushed her desires to take it for herself. It tempted her, but she remained next to Uhaiz. ¡°If you want that thing, take it yourself!¡±

    The pixie huffed and kicked a pebble. ¡°I cannot, no, I can¡¯t.¡±

    The cold of the winter night surrounded them. Uhaiz didn¡¯t open his eyes anymore, no matter how hard Argia tried to wake him up. Sitting on the snowy floor and not moving for a while made her body went numb. She could barely feel her fingers or toes and all around her felt like a bad dream. She didn¡¯t mind ending up frozen in the middle of the forest, but having been the culprit of such a cruel fate for her cousin, and also for her poor aunt, was breaking her heart.

    Completely overwhelmed by sadness and guilt, she gave up.

    She closed her eyes, ready to die, when a warm feeling started to fill her heart. First it was like a tiny stream and slowly growing powerful and fulfilling. Not only her felt warm. But the entire forest changed. The snow melted, and the night felt like if summer came months earlier.

    The little folk snapped his teeth and hit the log with his fist. its eyes fixed to the depths of the forest were, surrounded by a glowing light, there was a little girl approaching. With small but determined steps, the little girl stood in front of Argia, the breeze blowing her fire-colored hair.Without saying a word, the little girl stared, with a pretty smile on her freckled face.

    Over a log, minairo crossed its legs, and she looked at it askance. Her expression hardened. ¡°Your mischief didn¡¯t work, Pik.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try again,¡± replied the pixie.

    The little girl raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why would you do that?¡± She did not appear to be over five years old, but the way she spoke and behaved was as if she were an adult.

    ¡°Because it is better to disappear than end up as magic trinkets for the humans.¡±

    ¡°We won¡¯t disappear. We can move far from them.¡±

    ¡°They will find us. They always do. Soon or later.¡±

    ¡°Then we will decide what to do next. It¡¯s not your right to choose for all of us.¡±

    Pik grouted. The darkness of the night started to fade, and the night became day. Another glowing spirit appeared next to them. The woman was glowing as well and next to her, a darker and bigger figure of an old man was following.

    With her eyes blinded by the sudden light, Argia couldn¡¯t see them properly, but she¡¯d found the echoing voice of the spirit somehow familiar.

    ¡°Your doing doesn¡¯t bring any good, Pik. Look at what you did to your friend. If he ever was your friend.¡± said the woman, putting her hand over the young girl¡¯s head, who answered to her kind gesture with a warm smile.

    ¡°He was! He was! My only friend. Yes. that was not me. That was the Gizotso! I just did what I did after all that.¡± said Pik, looking at the old giant. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯d never want harm on you,¡±

    ¡°And what did you do to Uhaiz? And Agia?¡± said the old spirit. His voice, heavy and deep, was the complete opposite to the sweetness of the others. All but, were powerful in their own ways.

    ¡°These two are bad people!¡± Replied Pik. ¡°They deserve it. A terrible brother to a poor kid. And a terrible sister to an innocent girl. They deserve it, yes!¡±

    ¡°Did I deserve it as well?¡± asked the woman.

    ¡°You put yourself in danger! The stupid mage was supposed to take the Pinecone.¡±

    ¡°And when she failed. Who asked me to take it for myself?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ I don¡¯t remember.¡±

    ¡°You cannot lie to me, Pik. you know that.¡±

    ¡°I liked you. You were perfect for him and they took you away. If it was not for me, you would have ended up hanged.¡±

    ¡°Do you realize you bring sadness with your doing?¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll try again. I have a task to do and I always finish my tasks. Yes¡­ I¡­ do. Yes!¡± with a puff, Pik disappeared.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t my master give you one you never finished?¡± asked the woman, knowing the pixie was still there.

    ¡°Oh, yes, I finished that one!¡±. Pik answered with pride. ¡°It took me one year only.¡± The pixie appeared next to Argia with a broad smile that reached from side to side of his round head. ¡°Do you want to know how many trees are in the world?¡± Asked him, proudly. ¡°I know the number and you don¡¯t. But I know.¡±

    ¡°And the sadness you brought to Amane?¡± asked the little girl, annoyed by Pik¡¯s carefree attitude.

    ¡°Sadness? I got rid of that terrible man of hers! That was a favour, I¡­¡±

    ¡°No, Pik!¡± Cut the little girl, visibly upset. ¡°You brought her sadness all her life. And she was the last person who deserved it.¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. No! No, no, no!¡± The pixie put his little hand over his head and pulled his green hair.

    ¡°Help him¡­¡± whispered Argia, finally brave enough to talk among such creatures. The little girl turned and smiled again. She leaned forward and kissed Uhaiz¡¯s forehead. With the warmth of her lips, color came back to his face, and his eyes opened. He got up little by little and when he saw the little girl, he started to cry. The two merged into an embrace.

    ¡°I told you he would recognize her without a word,¡± said the old spirit with a smile showing through his beard.

    ¡°Lets go Father, Mother and iaia are waiting.¡± The little girl said, holding Uhaiz hand, who stood unharmed and infused with new vigor.

    ¡°Thank you Argia.¡± He said. Argia remained quiet, not knowing what to say or think. Everything that was happening around her was hard to understand.

    ¡°Mother is sorry for everything,¡± Uhaiz¡¯s daughter said, her voice getting softer as they walked away. ¡°Pik actions could not be seen until now,¡±

    The old giant strode behind them, followed by a pack of wolves Argia didn¡¯t notice until then. ¡°You can come Pik, If you want..¡± said the old spirit.

    ¡°Don¡¯t want!¡± spitted the little folk. He looked around, scratched his face and kicked a tree root.. ¡°Maybe. Maybe I will come to visit. Maybe not.¡± The pixie dropped his weight on the floor. ¡°Humans, I hate you all,¡±

    The woman spirit kneeled next to Argia, took her hand and her glow faded, allowing Argia to look at her face. ¡°What you did for your family today was brave,¡±

    Argia raised her eyes and met Ohaine¡¯s. She tried to talk, but her sister stopped her with hands over her chicks and a kiss on the forehead. ¡°I forgave you long ago,¡± Ohaine whispered, knowing exactly what Argia was going to say.

    ¡°Family¡­¡± said Pik, with a mocking tone. ¡°Fathers leaving sons to be eaten by wolves! That¡¯s what human families do!¡±

    ¡°Same family as a mother that raised her kids, no matter how challenged, even when everyone else tells them not to do so?¡± Replied Oahine. ¡°Same as the husband that does everything on his hand to find a daughter and a wife he has lost? Same as a woman who¡¯d die to protect her cousin?¡±

    Pik didn¡¯t dare to answer. His eyes fixed on the ground.

    ¡°Humans are complicated, and it¡¯s not in your hands to judge each one equally.¡±

    Pik answered with a growl. His eyes, still looking down.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I finished my task. I won.¡±

    ¡°The primordials cannot be destroyed.¡±

    Pik hissed.

    ¡°And all the humans you decided to punish will find peace and happiness, I have foreseen it.¡±

    ¡°You are annoying, yes. You are,¡± whispered the pixie.

    ¡°Pik,¡± said the old giant, ¡°The wolves never ate little Nim. They would have told me.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± replied Pik. He then looked at Argia and opened his mouth. But no words came out. He snorted slowly and with a snap of his fingers, disappeared.

    The bearded giant nodded his head to Argia and followed Uhaiz and his daughter, who were already two small silhouettes shining between the trees.

    Ohaine caressed Argias¡¯ hair. ¡°You will be fine. No cold or beast will harm you until the town.¡± The spirit of the forest stood, shining like a goddess. ¡°We will meet again, sister, but not yet. Until then, take care of yourself.¡± Speechless, Argia just raised a hand to say goodbye to Ohaine, who disappeared, taking the daylight but leaving the warmth.

    On the way back, she tried to process what just happened. It felt like a vivid dream. Shocked, she could look over her shoulder from time to time, still scared that Papu would be following.

    When she entered the old inn, the words of Uhaiz¡¯s daughter echoed in her head. As she feared, Amane¡¯s room was empty and there was no trace of her aunt.

    Of what happened that night, she only told old Titu. No one else but him would have believed it. She spent the rest of the winter sitting with him in the lake¡¯s inn, sharing beers and talking about the mysteries and fables of the mountain. Spring passed, and with it, summer and fall. She never went back to the plains. Instead, she got a job in the local school and rented a little flat next to where old Amane¡¯s inn used to be.

    Years passed, and Arun changed. The giant¡¯s seat became a tunnel, and many people from the city rode to the valley to enjoy its natural beauty. Endara grew. The village was now a town, filled with shops, restaurants and hotels to welcome all the visitors they received.

    Every day, Argia would leave the school and walk the fields around the town. Every evening, she would share a beer with the old man and listen to the stories of magic he used to tell the tourists.

    When Titu passed, at the oldest age you could ever imagine, she continued sitting in the same spot, every day, telling the travelers the same tales the old geezer used to exchange for free ales. Tales of a Valley that was no longer magical.

    One night, when she was as old as Titu was once before, she had a dream. A dream she waited for a long time to come.

    She was in the woods, surrounded by the most beautiful flowers. Ohaine was there, beautiful like the last time she saw her.

    ¡°Once you told me you forgave me,¡± said old Argia. ¡°But I still need to say ¡¯I am sorry¡¯.¡±

    Ohaine answered with a smile and took her hand. They both walk to a clearing, similar to the one she had the encounter with the spirits of the forest. This one, though, was filled with magical creatures, flying around in all shapes and colors. It was night, but the stars and fireflies around created a glowing aura that lighted the place.

    At one side, Argia recognized Ipar, the shepherd. He was big . She realized he was that giant that followed Ohaine years ago. But he was no longer bearded and dressed with furs and drags. Around him, there was a pack of wolves, with one white as snow, licking his hand.

    Amane was there as well, and Uhaiz, Aine and their daughter, now a young, beautiful woman. They all waved, inviting her to join.

    ¡°We were waiting for you. Come with us, cousin,¡± said Uhaiz. She walked towards them, realizing her old legs didn¡¯t hurt anymore. Her hands had no wrinkles or skin stains.

    Amane hugged her and then Uhaiz and the others. There, in the last place where magic existed, surrounded by family and friends, for the first time in her entire life; she felt at home.