CIRCLE OF SHADOWS Part 1: Shadow Chaser
† 2 - questions †

Colours swirl through the darkness, streaking vividly across the black void as trails of light sear in white arcs, leaving behind arrays of rainbows as the colours fade into the emptiness around it. Whispering voices float through the darkness, teasing and tempting as they claw through his mind, brushing lightly against his skin as alien fingers flutter past. Screaming... screaming silently, mouth wide, the darkness fills his throat, choking as the void fills him. Flashes of red spear through clenched lidless eyes, faces whirling hypnotically against a bright yellow background; mocking, laughing, whispering... Fading away the space between the darkness shatters, a piercing light breaks the void apart – pain spearing through his mind the whispers fade away...

Opening eyes sticky and crusty - nightmares fading away as his eyes grow accustomed to the morning light breaking through canopy overhead - a last snatch of a whisper echoes through his mind. ‘...fail Galen!’ A bruise throbs in the back of his head, his skull feeling as if it was cracked open. Groaning softly, he lifts his head up and peers through cracked eyes as he surveys the area around him, wincing at the sharp light slanting across his face and the pain lancing across his shoulders as he tries to move a hand to his head. A small cooking fire blazes cheerfully a few yards ahead of him, the scant heat from the flames barely enough to warm his chilled body. To the left of the fire a small pot stands recently removed from the fire, steam rises languidly from the heated contents inside, his mouth watering as the flavours reach him through the fog clouding his mind.

Pulling his eyes from the pot he looks past the fire to the bedroll spread out on the other side, eyes widening as he sees a thin faced woman lying propped on one elbow, her lower body covered with a greyish blanket staring intently at him. Long jet-black hair frames her solemn face, the dark locks falling to below her shoulders covering a crumpled green blouse. Tilting her head slightly, the light cast by the dancing flames glint fiery on the smooth sheen of her silky black hair her green eyes flash coolly as she regards him. The blouse hangs loosely at the neck, exposing a smooth throat of creamy ivory nestled amongst the cascade of black spilling down her shoulders, flowing into the slight curve of a lighter coloured breast. Hesitantly he drags his eyes away focussing on her face as he swallows deeply, a light flush creeping up his neck as he feels her eyes, narrowing slightly above high set cheekbones. His gaze follows the soft contours down pausing on a pair of soft pink lips set in a slight pout under a small, slightly pointed, nose.

Grey-green eyes stare intently from underneath thin eyebrows, watching for any movement that would indicate awareness returning.

‘Ah... I see you are finally waking up,’ Her voice drifts into the still air between them, a husky sounding quality in her voice. A light, throaty chuckle flows from the voluptuous mouth, two narrow rows glinting white between the lips. ‘I was starting to get worried that I might have hit you too many times over the head! Glad to see that is not the case.’

Grunting he tries to move closer to the fire, his movement stopped short as pain lances across his back, numb arms throbbing behind him. Bending his neck slightly he glances behind him only to find that himself trussed up against the tree behind him, hands and legs lashed together by a rope wound around the thick trunk of an old pine tree. Sharp pains run up his back as his muscles protest the movement, limbs locked in rigor after a night spent in such an unnatural contortion. Panicking he thrashes against the ropes with his arms and legs, the knots pulling tighter around his wrists and ankles as he shakes, cutting off the little blood flowing through the already tight constraints. Sagging exhausted against the ropes holding him upright against the tree he glares daggers across the fire towards the woman, anger welling up inside him as he sees a twinkle of amusement shining brightly in her eyes, thin hand lifting casually tto suppress another chuckle.

‘Who are you?’ he spits vehemently, eyes burning hotly.

Holding his glare with her own she nods disapprovingly her eyes narrowing as her lips purses together thinly.

‘I am Virian, daughter of Siril Greylark. We are part of the protectors of the forest Reish and this is our forest.’ Staring blankly at her his voice cracks thickly as he mouths the strange words aloud.

‘Reish? Where is this place? How did I get here?’ Shaking his head in confusion. ‘...and why did you tie me up?’

Slumping glumly as he stares into the fire burning hotly in front of him he sways purposelessly in the ropes binding him to the tree. Confusion wars across his face darkening his features as he lifts his head up slowly to look at Virian. Mouth clamped tightly lips stark white against his coppery skin he breathes. ‘What or... or... who are the protectors? Why... why did you hit me?’ words roll almost incoherently from his dry cracked lips.

Frowning slightly Virian shakes her head answering in a soft voice. ‘That is not for me to tell too freely or too hastily. You shall have to wait a while longer before you can get the answers you seek. Tell me your name.’ The words flow fluidly from her mouth, the sharpness from a few moments before completely gone as the husky quality returns stronger than before.

Frowning as he stares at her, the smell of the food distracting him, his belly grumbles. Dropping his head he lowers his eyes to the fire, avoiding the look watching him intently. Mumbling under his breath, he rolls words around in his mouth.

‘Garen. Daren... no, no... Gavin...,’ feeling helplessness pushing up, he shakes his head. ‘What is it? Why can’t I remember?’ His eyes jump across the ground from item to item lying on the ground in front of him, eagerly seeking some sign of what his name might be. Light from the fire dancing in the side of his vision triggers a memory, the last forgotten whispers of a dream as it drifts away bubbling up into his mind. ‘Galen? Galen. Yes... That sounds right. Galen,’ rolling the unfamiliar word around in his mouth he straightens, the feeling of it settling familiarly on his lips. With a smile, he lifts his head, dark eyes meeting a concerned look from Virian on the opposite side of the fire.

‘Galen! My name is Galen. At last I remembered something.’ Beaming at her, slightly disappointed that no flicker of recognition or his feeling of joy is reciprocated he sags against the ropes a soft sob escaping his lips.

Virian lifts a slender, creamy skinned arm from beneath the blanket. ‘Galen. The time is not yet right for the answers to come.’ Galen’s eyes follow the thin wrist flowing into the arm, eyes following the gentle curves of supple muscles tightening as Virian shifts her weight slightly. Lifting his head slightly he looks into her face, noticing the smile tugging at the corner of her lips held slightly apart, a musical sound flowing sinuously from her mouth in an exhaled breath.

’SSSSSSLLLLLEEEEEPPP!’

As she utters the word, a strange ripple of energy undulates through the air, reaching across the fire and flowing deep into Galen’s mind, easing the strain and clearing the thoughts crowding him.

Pop!

A build up of pressure inside Galen’s ears releases loudly as a cocoon of peace and restfulness flowing gently over his tight muscles, the tension throughout his body easing. Head drooping lower and lower towards his chest, his ragged breath deepens slowly as his arms and legs sag tightly against the ropes, he succumbs to a deep dreamless sleep.

Looking intently at Galen, Virian ponders, eyes gliding across the dark brown hair hanging limply over his broad shoulder, strands shading the blue tinted bruise spreading across his temple. Faint firelight dances enticingly across his stubbly copper face highlighting dark shadows hidden beneath the pale skin of his cheekbones and strong jaw. Even tied up, hanging against a big pine tree like a hunted animal, he was ravishing to look on. Rolling her eyes, she falls back with an explosive sigh sinking into her bedroll as she pulls her blanket tightly around her. For a long time she lies there sullenly looking up through the dense canopy.

‘Now is not the time, Vi.’

The whisper sounds hoarse in the silence and blinking her eyes rapidly she rolls onto her side, curling her legs up to her middle as she stares longingly into the fire, chest rising steadily as she follows the flames curling into the air her eyes drawn inexplicably to the figure bound to the tree in front of her. The outline of Galen’s body shimmers as she stares through the flames. With a groan, she pushes her blanket off and sits up muttering under her breath as she get to her feet. ‘I cannot let you hang there like that!’

Drawing her dagger from the belt lying at her feet, she creeps quietly towards Galen, hands held in front of her as if to ward against attack. Stepping gingerly around the fire she moves closer to the limp body, reaching for the rope wound around the tree and severing the tightly tied knots. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

‘If you had not thrashed around so madly, the rope would not have pulled so tight!’ she mutters angrily through her clenched teeth as she yanks at the tight knots rope around his wrists, skin purple and bloody where the rope had been chafing through skin. Blood well up from broken skin, slick red liquid spreading quickly over her hands as she pulls the ropes away and throws them to the side. Looking at the raw wounds, she gasps. ‘Idiot of a man!’

With a grunt, she hoists Galen up arm wrapped tightly around his waist as she props her shoulder under his arm, groaning with every step she drags the dead weight closer to the fire lying him down gently on his side next to the fire. Breathing heavily, she looks down at him her hands resting on her hips as she surveys the comatose man, his chest rising and falling evenly underneath his blue shirt, smooth coppery skin peeking out from the unbuttoned top. Unnoticed until now, a thin leather thong hangs loosely, dangling out from the shirt collar, a small black stone tied to it shining dully in the firelight. Surprised Virian leans closer, bending over him as her deft fingers lift the thong up, intently examining the plain stone as it twists round and round. Captivated by the reflection of the flames cast from the stone, she reaches towards it with her other hand, fingertips brushing lightly across the smooth surface.

Blackness flash across her vision as pain slashes up her arm, her fingertips going numb as the pain speeds past her wrist. ‘Aii-iee!’ she cries shrilly as she the thong drops from limp fingers, heart beating wildly as she throws herself backwards, landing a few feet away. Her dark green skirt rides up, exposing her long creamy legs, as she scrabbles backward. Air wheezing from her throat, breasts heaving up and down against her blouse she crawls to her bedroll, arm muscles cramping agonizingly as she collapses and fumbles the blanket over her. A strange chill spreads all over, her body shaking uncontrollably as creamy skin prickles into tiny goose bumps, as Virian shivers underneath the blanket. Forcing her heartbeat to slow down, calming her breathing she focuses on stopping her shaking limbs from moving, willing her cold muscles to relax. Her mind turns over and over; fear creeping up on her as she lies immobile on the bedroll, the fire slowly burning to ashes.

Time passes slowly and after lying in agony for what seems to have been hours she pushes herself up and looks towards Galen still lying in the same spot, her eyes drawn inexorably to the dangling stone that appears to be rotating whilst lying still, a strange light glinting hypnotising from the polished surface. Fighting against the urge to leap up and grab the dangling talisman she wrenches her eyes away, lurching unsteadily to her feet and standing with her back to the fire. Eyes clenched closed Virian moves around the fire, inching slowly towards Galen. Her bare foot touches his leg and she kneels down, feeling along his leg as she moves in behind him. Eyes still closed she gropes around on the ground around her, feeling with her hands over the rocky soil until she finds the severed rope. Pulling the pieces of rope closer she binds his hands and feet tightly together, using more force than necessary as she ties the knots, pausing only to double check the strength of the knots before pushing herself weakly up. Opening one eye slightly she breathes deeply as she gently lifts the necklace up from his chest, the leather thing held lightly between fingertips keeping the stone as far away as possible from her skin as she slips the stone back under his shirt, hiding the talisman tantalising glamour from her sight. A pent up breath rips from her throat and she swallows back the sob that was building, shaking her head she bites her lip as she moves towards her bedroll, sitting down hard before folding her long legs underneath her. Thousand of questions flood through her mind as she looks across to Galen’s peace filled face.

‘Who are you really Galen?’ she asks softly, with a start realising the sun was setting. A whole day lost she gathers firewood and builds a new fire. Flames quickly flaring up from the dried wood she settles the blanket across her shoulders, thoughts and eyes lost in the depths of the fire blazing in front of her. A deep frown furrows across her forehead as she contemplates, her eyes straying across the fire to the still figure. Lying down, she turns sideways rubbing her tightened leg muscles vigorously before spreading the blanket over her body. Staring into the darkened canopy she drifts to sleep, the crackling of the small fire lulling her confused mind. Ghostly silhouettes dance against the tree trunks around their small campsite as faint stars shine dully through the dense leaf canopy, faint pinpricks against a depthless tapestry of black, the beauty of the full moon hanging in the sky obscured by trees unseen by those within the forest.

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