Page 33 of To Love A Monster
“I hope you are right, Halla. I am risking so much on a small hope.”
***
Walking through the dense forest was easier than I had anticipated; however, once the trees and the ground around began to look rotten and dying, I knew we were close. “Is there no life here?”
“The necromancer is the bringer of death and the giver of life, but no—life refuses to grow in their presence.” My eyes looked up at the trees and how the branches seemed to twist and turn toward the sky as if they were seeking a new life.
“The air feels like poison. It is so thick and cold.” Halla took my hand in hers as we continued to walk through the forest, the snow turning to ash around us. I felt as if a million eyes were upon us.
“They are watching us; they know we are here. If we are lucky, they will quickly appear; if not, we will have to wait until they are ready.” She said as we finally reached a large clearing. Remnants of old fires sat all around, along with long decaying armor left by those who did not return home.
“I will build us a pit and fix the tents, see if you can find some burnable wood.” I set my pack down and walked a little back into the tree line, my eyes searching for any sign of life and finding nothing. Everything was dead or rotting, the ground turning ash with each step I took.
My body tensed as I felt a strong presence behind me, the air around me growing thick and blisteringly cold.Face me, Aylin, daughter of Paeris.A dark whispery voice said in my head, my entire body shaking as I turned and took my first look at the Necromancer. The figure was taller than Daegon and almost floated from the ground. A long tattered black cloak covered his face and body. I watched in fear as slender black fingers pushed back the head other their cloak revealing a hauntingly beautiful creature. The Necromancer had large black horns that seemed to spiral like that of a large ram by his head, and I could see their face and body were marked by ancient ruins, symbols I had never seen. They were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, their gaze not one of hate but of sadness.
“Do not be afraid, my child. I see your intentions are pure, and you have a kind, gentle heart.” His voice was almost like a whisper, and each word he spoke sent a shiver down my spine. “Lower your weapon. Halla is the last of the dwarves of the Ice Kingdom of Oryndaas. Your presence is welcomed here.”
The Necromancer stepped aside, revealing Halla, her face calm as she sheathed her sword and bowed before the dark entity. “Rise to your feet. Formalities are not needed. I can sense that you have come to ask for a life to be restored, yet you have brought nothing in return?”
“What do you mean?”
“There can be no life without death, and where there is life, death will surely follow. You carry a burden of sadness in your heart, the one you have lost, a sadness that you feel I can heal.”
“I do not understand, have you not given and taken a life before?” I held my breath as she returned her gaze to me, my heart racing as I rested my hands on my growing belly.
“You have two souls growing inside you, and yet you ask of me to return a soul who has reached its end.”
“Two?” My mind raced as a smile crept over my lips, for I did not know if his words were true. Was I truly carrying two babies?
“When I came to you and asked for my mate to be returned to me, you gave me his soul in the seeds, for I did not have another soul to offer in his place.”
“Life is a balance. I cannot give life if I do not have it to give. I cannot take a life if there is none to take. The only life I could take is the ones growing in your belly.” I gasped and stepped back, tears filling my eyes as I shook my head no, too consumed by fear to even utter a word.
“What if I give you the seeds that you created from my mate—then will you bring back Daerla.?”
“Halla! You cannot give up those. You said so yourself. It is all you have left of your mate.” Her smile was not one of sadness or desperation but one of warmth and comfort. “I cannot ask you to do this.”
“I love my life with my mate and my people, but my life is with you and the Orcs of Ironshield clan. If I want a chance at true love and a family once again—I must let go of my old life.” Halla took the last remaining seeds from her pouch and handed them to the Necromancer, my leg shaking as we followed him into the clearing.
“Once I have given life, I cannot give again. If they were to die, their soul with never return.”
“I understand. Thank you, I will forever be in your debt.”
“I have no debts, and you owe me no such allegiance.” Halla and I watched as the Necromancer poured the berries out on the ground, his lips moving gently as he recited a spell in a language I did not recognize. The ground around us began to shake as the seeds started to glow, a dark blue light emanating from them as the Necromancer began to shout his incantation into the sky.
I gasped and stumbled back as if a great force was shoving me, the air around us freezing as we watched in pure fascination as a small glowing blue light hovered above the ground. In an instant, the light was gone, and the air around us silent and unmoving.
“It is done. Daerla, daughter of Torgun and mate to Rogon, lives.”
“Thank you. How can I ever repay you?”
“I require no gold or silver, or allegiance. You asked for my help, and I have given it. Please leave these woods and return to your people.”
“WAIT!” I gasped as they lifted their hood and turned to leave, my heart racing as I needed answers, but I feared asking the question. “You said, I have two souls growing inside me. How is it that you know this.”
“Do you wish to know the futures of these souls?” Their question took me off guard, my eyes looking away from theirs as I felt they could read my thoughts. “You will have a son and a daughter; your daughter will have a forbidden love with an orc from a rival clan, but their love will unite the orc clans in a way that has never been seen. Your son will lead this army and take over as Chief when your mate grows weary and tired of his duties. He will frustrate you and your mate as he takes many maidens to his bed but refuses an actual mate.”
