Her eyes were closing under the pressure of the tears and of the pain from her soul. At that moment, she could see only the darkness from her heart and the emptiness of her own mind. Then, when she opened them again, Samaya saw flames, those that were shading the view of the blue horizon, the one that was powerfully shining, illuminated by sparkling ashes and alive flames because „The forest really burns in hungry flames. It burns, just as Mortor Forest burnt thousands of years ago, without anyone being able to stop the havoc at the Gates of Immortality. They were blaming this world this way for all the pain and the deaths it was guilty of when it had been more than capable to save this world from destruction by forcing humankind and nature to turn to Light and Life again.

Yet, these ones were simply thoughts in Samaya’s mind. Thoughts that foresaw the world’s destruction and pain. At the same time, her soul was empty, listening so clearly to nature’s cry, which wept its pain only this way, unable to stop the havoc by using only its own force… nature could only cry.

Along with nature, Samaya was crying. She wept her pain with mute tears that were wetting her cheeks. It was all that she could do. At least this was what she thought. She remembered so well that because of her Rophion Forest was in danger and this happened the moment she allowed the fox to deceive her, the one that wore only death in her heart and nothing more. That’s why, because she was aware of her recklessness and nothingness, Samaya wanted to die, right there, in the lap of nature, tightly hugged by flames, in that „sweet” melody of the trees’lament, those that were bending to the ground while trying to extinguish the fire of their crowns, begging for mercy and tears from above. Tears that were late in coming because even Sky seemed to be against the world at that moment, considering it a sinner and that it was worth the sufferance, the one caused by the recklessness of mankind and of nature, which turned, slowly but surely, to ashes.

Actually, it couldn’t be different when those who should have protected nature had given in to despair… Samaya. She was lying on her father’s back at that moment, staring at the black sky where drops of sparkling flames were seen. Then, suddenly, she felt, on her cheeks, sweet-salty drops of pain… tears that got to her dried lips, wetting them too, just as those drops wetted her eyes, those that were seeing the apocalyptic view of human destruction. Yet…

…she rolled on the ground eventually when the wolf Dike, who tried to avoid a tree that fell prey to the flames and crashed, suddenly turned to the left, throwing Samaya off his back too. Thus, rolling on the ground, Samaya felt the blow at first, deep in her bones she felt it. Then, she felt the heat of the flames around, just as she heard the lament of the trees, a cry heard above her, a pain spoken into an ancient language, which Samaya could understand in the end, like „Kāppu! Nāṅkaḷ virumpuvatu itutāṉ: Kāppu! Iruntapōtilum… iruntum namakku kiṭaikkātu pōl terikiṟatu.” (Salvation! This is all that we want: Salvation! Even if… it seems that we won’t have it eventually.”

„Or maybe…,” Samaya told herself while looking at the ground. She was standing on all four at that moment, still having her human body, looking at the leaves that fell from above, at the broken branches that also fell on the ground and which, once on the soil, turned to hot ashes, the one touched by her palms at that moment, which injured her skin, but still bearable. That ash also warmed her soul, making her feel the warmth of the ground, even if so hot. Then, when she felt that powerful impulse of Life in her chest, the young she-wolf stood on her four paws, in the skin of the beast this time, carefully looking around at the scorch that was threateningly approaching them. And, staring at those destructive flames that were so quickly approaching the place where she was, the she-wolf harshened her glance and her voice when she said, hissing the words through her teeth, „It’s not everything over! Not yet! Not until you pass by us, you, beasts with a black heart! Not until Samaya dies, the white she-wolf of Rophion Forest!” After that, letting a deafening howl come out of her throat, the she-wolf sent a message to the entire world, „Resist! You can’t give up! Not yet!”

***

„In position!” Yamu shouted to the Rophions the moment they heard the howl of the she-wolf in the distance. „It’s time! Everybody in position! Now!” He yelled again, understanding that what everybody feared for so long was started… the war.

They were all in front of the Gates of Ārakkiḷ at that moment, divided into two camps: one led by him, which gathered all those who should stay and defend their lands, and the second one led by Mai, who would have led the rest in the depths of the Tunnels of Ārakkiḷ. This way they tried to protect them all and be sure that their people would survive that war. Thus, face to face, the two camps worshiped one in front of the other. Then, with teary eyes, they turned their backs to the dear ones, heading each of them on their way: Yamu and his group toward the borders while Mai toward the Gates of Ārakkiḷ, which were open at that moment.

Before passing through the Gates, however, she’d been left behind, even if it was supposed that the leader should be in front of everyone. Yet, Mai was an exception because she preferred to be the last one, just to see Yamu leaving. Not only she had looked behind. It also happened to Yamu, who looked toward the Gates where part of his family remained. There were Mai, Akita, and Kkuṟai there while he and Ilēcāṉa decided to stay and protect their village. And, looking with longing at each other, the five members of Yamu’s family felt tears in their eyes when they understood that it was maybe the last time when they saw each other: safe and alive.

Then, suddenly, Yamu winced the moment he saw Kkuṟai showing up from the crowd that kept advancing to the tunnels and running toward him while shouting, „Father, wait! Wait!” After that, although Akita and others tried to stop him, the boy managed to pass by them and, getting next to his father, he gave him his dagger, telling him, „Never forget that we’re waiting for you home! You should never forget this, ok?”

„I got it, my boy,” responded Yamu in a shaking voice, looking at the boy’s teary eyes. „I won’t ever forget it because this is what I’ve always taught you: to be strong and always think about home.”

„Yet… you never taught us how to accept a defeat,” said Kkuṟai through tears, hugging his father, who held the boy to his chest. „You never taught us to live without you. That’s why… you don’t have the right to leave us, Father! Actually, none of you has the right to leave us, did you understand me?”

„Mmm,” murmured Yamu, allowing his tears to flow down his cheeks while his hand was caressing the boy’s hair, over and over again. „We’ll do it this way, Kkuṟai! We’ll do it so for sure! Now, go! It’s time to turn back to the others and protect them because, from today until I and your brother will return home, you are the man in Yamu’s house. The only one who can decide what should be done. So, son, keep this in mind: no matter what will happen to any of us, you should resist and take care of our family. And, if it’s written for us not to return home, then… keep us in your heart and honor our name, praying for us to be ok wherever we will go after that.”

„But, Father, how can you ask me this?” Kkuṟai shouted, rebellious. „How can you ask me to give up on you? You are my all! My all! That’s why…”

Feeling fear sneaking inside him, the boy hugged Yamu with both arms. He feared for his father, thinking that maybe he wouldn’t ever see him again, forced to hate himself for an entire life because he’d been unable to be with them when they needed him the most. Yes, Kkuṟai was sure that his father and his brother needed him there, with them, at the borders of their village. Yet, weak, after he’d been sick, they’d been afraid to expose him and sent him with the others into the tunnels, with the weak ones, as Kkuṟai started to call that group, only in his head. Nevertheless, they all were wrong. He was more than able to fight. He wasn’t weak. That’s why if he had been stubborn if he had cried a little bit more in front of his father, this one would have allowed him to go with them.

It hadn’t been that way eventually because, when he thought that Yamu was ready to take him with them, the boy felt the strong arms of Ilēcāṉa wrapping around his body. After that, even if Kkuṟai asked his brother in a shout to let him go because he was coming with them, Ilēcāṉa didn’t listen to his request. The boy dragged his brother to the tunnels, far away from their father, aware that Yamu’s decision not to take one of his boys with him was the wisest one: at least one boy should survive that war and carry on his name, with pride, over the centuries. A boy that wasn’t him.

Yet, even if he knew all this, Ilēcāṉa didn’t feel upset or scared. At the same time, he didn’t feel that he’d been wronged by his father because he was the elder brother and he was healthier than Kkuṟai. It was normal for him to stay by his father’s side in those difficult moments. Yet, this didn’t mean that his heart didn’t hurt when he thought about the fact that maybe he wouldn’t be able to see his mother, Akita, or Kkuṟai again. Even so, he had to be tough at that moment while fighting with his mindless brother, trying to make him understand that going to tunnels was the right thing for all of them at that moment. A thought that made Ilēcāṉa suddenly yell at his brother when this one pushed him away from him, then pounced on him, fighting with Ilēcāṉa while trying to approach their father again, „Stop it, Kkuṟai! It’s not the right moment and you know this!”

„Yes, I know it!” Shouted Kkuṟai. „But I can’t accept it! I can’t because I have to be with you, there! I have to be with my father and with you!”

„Then, if you go with us, who stays with Akita and our mother?”

Kkuṟai kept silent. He felt how the words stopped half through his throat when he understood that his brother was right: if he had gone too, Akita and Mai would have remained alone, unprotected. Nevertheless, he couldn’t accept that decision because… „What about me?” He sadly murmured in the end, drowning in tears. „What about my heart that’s longing already for you?”

„It’s only a foolish ego,” Ilēcāṉa suddenly told him in a severe tone even if those words burnt him inside too. „That’s why, Kkuṟai: stop being a boy and behave as an adult! Prove us that you’re able to protect our family instead of us! Prove us that we can count on you and that we shouldn’t worry for you while we’re there, on the battlefield. Only this way, we can win!”

„We can win if we are all together! This is what you always taught me: you and our father. Then… why should we split up? Why can’t we fight side by side?”

„Because this can’t be,” the boys suddenly heard their mother’s voice behind them. Yet, even if they heard her, only Ilēcāṉa looked at Mai, not the same did Kkuṟai. This one, only bent his head, shedding bitter but mute tears. Mai, however, aware of everything that was happening inside of her son at that moment, stuck her forehead to the top of his head and, while hugging him from behind, she told him in a sweet voice, „Better times will come someday, Kkuṟai! Times when we’re together again, for sure! Then… when we are together again, we’ll be happy, my boy! Yet, if we don’t win this war, if we don’t accept our Fate and split up now, then… we won’t ever be able to be together again, holding hands, and whispering that we love each other and that everything will be just fine.”

„But, Mother, they are leaving today!” Said Kkuṟai, crying, „They are leaving and it’s possible for them to never turn back. That’s why… that’s why…” stuttered the boy, sobbing.

„That’s why we should be strong, Kkuṟai. If we’re strong, then they’ll be fine too. Do you know why? Because a family, even if its members are far from each other, they still share power between them. Knowing this, allow your brother to go with your father and you follow us into the tunnels. There… you’ll be of greater help than on the battlefield, next to them.”

„But there… I won’t be with them. I won’t be with Ilēcāṉa, with my father.”

„You’ll be with us… with me, with Akita, and with Yellen. You should be there, with us, my boy, just as Bodhi said before you woke up: that you have a big future, a Fate to fulfill. So, let’s turn to the tunnels, son! Let’s go back now!”

With slow movements, Mai helped her youngest son to turn to her. Then, she tightly held him to her chest while Kkuṟai hid his face in the material of her dress. Meanwhile, still supporting her chin on the top of Kkuṟai’s head, she looked into Ilēcāṉa’s eyes because he was her son too, and he, going to war, hurt her heart so much. How couldn't it be this way when it was so dangerous on the battlefield when he was so far away from her? Yet, this had to be this way. It was fair this way at that moment… for the entire world and for their people. That’s why, even if her heart broke into pieces at that moment, she told her son in a sure voice, „Go now, Ilēcāṉa! We’ll be just fine!”

Ilēcāṉa said nothing: he only slowly bent in front of his mother. After that, turning his back to her, he headed toward his father and Fenrir, who were waiting for him. Thus, because he turned his back to his mother so suddenly, Ilēcāṉa didn’t see the sign of benediction made by his mother behind him. A sign that Fenrir and Yamu saw, just as they saw tears in her eyes while she was tightly holding her youngest son to her chest, heading at a slow step toward the huge stone Gates of Ārakkiḷ.

Arrived next to his father, Ilēcāṉa closed his eyes for a few moments, feeling a weird sensation in his chest when he realized that his mother didn’t say Goodbye to him or hugged him in parting. Yes, she didn’t do that, just as she didn’t tell him to take care of him. Yet, even if he didn’t hear this from his mother, the boy knew she loved him so much and that she trusted him. Even so, being treated differently from his youngest brother, hurt him so much because… he would have liked to be hugged by Mai too in partition… even if it had been for the last time.

This thought brought tears to the boy’s eyes and he decided to walk away as fast as he could. Yet, only after two steps, he stopped when he heard Yāṉutā’s voice, „Take care of you, Ilēcāṉa! Be brave and turned back because… I’ll wait for you.” Turning back, Ilēcāṉa saw the seventeen years old girl next to the stone gates, looking at him. She wore a white long robe and the hood was on, as the thirteen Priestesses of the Oracle were generally wearing when they entered those tunnels. Yet, even if she was ready to enter, she kept looking at the boy that stole her heart. She had a sad glance because, seeing him leaving, she felt the world collapsing over her. However, even if she felt all this, there was nothing she could do to prevent him from leaving. She could only send him the thought… „Because I love you” to always be with him.

The boy said nothing even if he heard that message sent to him. He felt the same but still said nothing. He only bent in front of her, letting her know that he heard the message. After that, he turned his back to her and, along with Fenrir, he headed toward the rest of their army that was waiting for them.

Yamu didn’t follow them right away. He stood there for a few more moments until the Priestesses had closed the Gate behind Yāṉutā and Mai. And, even if he didn’t hear what the girl told his son telepathically, he still understood the message of those words. Yet, he didn’t say anything, even if he felt that he had to scold his son for his indifference. Yamu said nothing to Ilēcāṉa eventually because he understood that his boy’s silence wasn’t because of indifference, yet.

And he did well because, what he thought, was right. Ilēcāṉa kept silent not because of his pride, but because he cared about the girl. The boy said nothing because he knew that if he had asked the girl to wait for him and he hadn’t been able to turn back from war, she would have kept that promise forever because this was a Rophion’s heart… if it promised something, that heart kept its promise even after death.

***

Standing next to Kkāṟṟu and looking in the distance, at the grubbed gray houses of Paṉi Makkaḷ, Inlan Diar sighed. Thus, she managed to make the wind attentive, who right away looked at her. Yet, he said nothing. He looked at her in silence, aware that the queen needed some time to clear up her mind. Then, when he decided that he gave her enough time to think, but she said nothing, Kkāṟṟu asked, „Something happens, My Queen?”

„Mmm,” responded Inlan Diar barely heard. „Rophion Forest is in flames!”

Kkāṟṟu winced. „What do you mean by Rophion Forest is in flames?” He asked. „This… This can’t be! It definitely can’t be because we all know how strong the Rophions are. They won’t allow their beloved home to turn to ashes as it has happened to Mortor Forest.”

„Yet, that forest burns!” The queen whispered in a shaking voice. Then, with sadness in her glance, she looked into the wind’s eyes, saying, „It burns because of the evil of the flames thrown through his nostrils by the same enemy that knocked down and destroyed the Noears seven thousand years ago.”

„Tarther!”

„That’s right! That bird has awakened thanks to the power of the twins-shape! Thus, what we all tried to avoid fourteen years ago, has happened now: Darkness and Light have met in the Glade of Shadows, allowing evil to stand up again!”

„Yet… I feel that’s not everything lost,” said Kkāṟṟu, looking in the distance, at the houses in the valley while they were on the northern hill of Paṉi Makkaḷ.

„Not yet, Kkāṟṟu! Not yet! However, we are so close to our defeat, for you have also seen that our enemy is tightening the circles around my kingdom, and this means only one thing: we are alone in this battle! Yes, we are completely alone because our allies, those I summoned to help us in this war, are still far from here. And, even if they get here on time, they won’t be able to help us because they’ll be outside of this kingdom while we are inside.”

„Maybe it’s better this way, My Queen: that they are outside and we are here!”

„What do you mean?” Inlan Diar asked, confused.

The wind didn’t look at her even if she looked straight at him. Yet, even if he didn’t look into her eyes, the wind felt her glance focused on him so well. That’s why he answered that question soon after this, „Because, being outside, they can attack and surround the enemy. Thus, they can force the enemy to split up his forces and give us a chance to regroup, to be stronger this way, and cruelly attack after this.”

„Maybe you’re right, Kkāṟṟu, but you forget one thing: that those who are outside the Barrier are simple humans. None of them has magic power when the enemy is even stronger than we can imagine. Thus… the enemy is invincible because Maranam and Tikil, joining their power, are an imminent threat to the entire world.” Kkāṟṟu smiled. „Don’t you believe me?”

„Of course, I believe you, My Queen. I’m sure you’re right in saying this. Just I’m sure that humans are hidden creatures, weird I can even say.”

„Like?”

„Like the infinite, the one nobody ever saw, but everybody knows that exists. Why do I think so? Because, just like the infinite, humans can knock down nothingness and perfection. Thus, thanks to the fact that nobody knows what to expect from humans, just as nobody knows how strong a human heart can be, we can wait for mighty deeds from them.”

„Maybe you’re right, Kkāṟṟu! Yet, I’m still worried.”

Kkāṟṟu looked at her, confused. „Don’t you trust humans?”

„It’s not that. I don’t trust Time and the Power of the World, and not humans. I don’t trust Balance, to be more precise. A Balance that I’ve actually seen… Reflected in the red water of Caktiyiṉ Ātāram - Themis!”

The queen’s words made Kkāṟṟu shudder. Then, slowly shaking his head to clear up his mind, Kkāṟṟu asked, „How is this possible? How can it be for Themis to show up in the water of the Holy Stream? As far as I know, their powers are opposite because Themis is influenced by Cosmos while Caktiyiṉ Ātāram by the Power of Earth!”

„I also don’t know how it can be, but it’s as I say. Actually… the water of the Holy Stream, just as the water of Pārvai, is still red. For days already and this means only one thing…”

„…that we’ll lose a lot in the battle that’s approaching us.”

„And you’re right. It’s a battle that’s already knocking on our door, Kkāṟṟu. It’s better to say that it has started already, the moment Tikil has brought his army to the borders of Paṉi Makkaḷ.”

Kkāṟṟu cooked his nose. „A known thing already,” he mumbled. „Yet, I don’t understand what he’s waiting for. He stays for days already in the same place without attacking us. Or… do you think he’s waiting for Rophion Forest to fall and only after that he’ll attack the Realms of Ice?”

„Most likely yes. Or… maybe he’s waiting for Maranam because, as far as I know, he’ll be also at the borders of this kingdom soon, to see us on our knees, with his own eyes.”

Then, the queen kept silent. Both Inlan Diar and Kkāṟṟu kept silent, each of them thinking of something in particular. Thoughts they didn’t talk to each other about, afraid that it could bring misfortune to the door of their house. Yet, understanding that it was useless to keep silent about their concern, Inlan Diar said eventually, „I still think that’s not fair to give up without a fight.”

„I also think so. That’s why I say to attack them first.”

„Are you crazy?” Inlan Diar hissed through her teeth. „Now it’s not the right moment for an attack, but to find the perfect way to defend these lands. Only this way, we can resist, Kkāṟṟu! At least we can survive until our allies get closer because you are who said this: nobody knows how big the human power is. Thus, waiting for them to be ready for the fight…”

„…we risk more,” said Kkāṟṟu confidently. „Trust me, I know what I say because the one who knows Maranam better than you is me. Thus, if we attack when they least expect this because I’m sure they don’t wait for a movement from our part but think that we are hiding, we can weaken their army and force them to withdraw. At least we can let them know that we aren’t afraid of them.”

„Or we can let them know that we are afraid of them as of hell and, this way, we allow them to make fun of us.”

„As though being someone’s source of fun is something that weakens him,” said the wind, hissing the words through his teeth. „Actually… he has free to dream about this: that he can knock us down and have this kingdom or this people. We won’t ever let him have this.”

„Then? What do you suggest we should do?”

„To attack them!” Both heard Zeal’s voice not that far from them. Turning and looking at her, they saw that she wasn’t alone, but along with Kirivas and Karayel.

Seeing Kirivas and his son, Kkāṟṟu cooked his nose. „Now I understand why I’ve been unable to find you two: it was because you were planning something to diminish my authority.”

Karayel burst into laughter. „Why diminish your authority when we have ours?” He said. „Actually, Father, I think you grow too old if you see a reason for concern in allies.”

„What I think is that you are too confident in yourself if you don’t think about consequences. Yet… I must accept that you are also right: an attack can let others know that we are still strong.”

„It's decided, then,” said Zeal, self-assured. „We attack them as soon as night falls. Thus, we make sure that we can win this battle because, as Kkāṟṟu said, they don’t expect us to do something against them. By doing this, with a little bit of luck, we can catch them off-guard.”

„Or they can catch us,” said Inlan Diar in an alarming manner. Then, upset because her granddaughter made such a decision without asking for her opinion, she passed by Zeal, heading toward the palace, where she already asked Eṉōl to gather the Council of Elders because she was sure that she’d need their wise advice. Yet, even if she wanted to seem upset with Zeal and let her know that she wasn’t ready to make decisions on her own when she passed by her granddaughter, Inlan Diar demanded her, „Follow me! And you, Kirivas! We need to talk!” After that, at a quick pace, the three of them headed toward the Palace while Kkāṟṟu and Karayel went North, where the „Camp of Beasts” was, as the strange army of Inlan Diar was known already among locals. They headed toward there convinced that it was necessary to have a council too and decide what was better to do for all of them to survive that war.

***

A Shadow stopped at the massive wooden gates of the Kingdom of Alshamal before twilight. The Shadow wore a black vestment, had the hood of the long robe on her head, and stood with her back to the horizon of the sunset on which only a few weak rays of light could be seen. Then, when it was almost dark, a small white hand had been seen getting out of the large sleeve of the robe and knocked three times on the gate from the right.

Nobody answered. For minutes in a row actually. Just as no noise had been heard behind the big gates or behind the Shadow. It was total silence there, a peace that many living creatures generally dream about, but which was so terrifying at that moment because of the big city, the Capital City of the Kingdom of Alshamal or of the Northern Kingdom as they were still known by other people. A city that should have been crowded at that hour of the evening because many merchants were generally turning home at that hour or were leaving the town in search of new buyers or places to sell their goods. Yet, there seemed to be nobody living in that big city at that moment.

Nevertheless, it was only an illusion. A skillful strategy of the king of the Alshamals, the one known and feared by many, King Jrijuru (vigilant) of Alshamal. He, along with his good friend and councilor, the supreme commander of his army, Samit, decided to live silently in the evening, every single day of the week in fact, just to protect their people from havoc. They decided this after they found out that in the Western part of the world, the one known as the World of the Magos, people were preparing for the big war against the fearsome beast known as Maranam. What they didn’t know or at least seemed to ignore deliberately was that Maranam could also get to the Gates of their Kingdom and ask for their lands too. A possibility they decided not to think about yet, but left it for later. For the moment, they only decided to close the gates while was still light outside and to let nobody ever enter the city after the sunset. Nobody except for the Rasuls or the Messengers as the Alshamals knew them. A messenger like the Shadow seemed to be because, for her, a small gate had been finally opened in the big ones, and she'd been invited to walk through it later.

Right after the Shadow crossed the wooden threshold and took a few steps in the distance of the gray and empty streets, the gate had been closed behind her with a bang. She even heard a delayed squeak behind her when the guard that let her in closed that gate. A squeak that sent a clear message to the entire world, „This place has been empty for a long time and only a few Messengers have crossed this threshold.” Yet, even if the Shadow understood the message very well, she said nothing. She only stopped for a few moments and looked at the soldier that was closing the gate. Thus, in those few seconds while the gate had been closed behind her, the Shadow, only whose eyes could be seen behind the black veil she wore on her face like the Arab women, saw the red horizon. A horizon pierced by thick thunders and flames, a hint that somewhere at the horizon, in a world she left behind her, a big battle was about to start. Yes, a fight for Life and Death was going on in the depths of Rophion Forest, a fight that made the Shadow slowly sigh. Yet, not even this time she said something.

Only when the soldier told her, „Daena Nadhhab!” (Let’s go!) The Shadow slowly bowed her head, hinting that she understood what he said. After that, at a slow but sure step, she followed him. She, to make sure that nobody would see her face, pulled the edge of the hood over her face, covering it more than half. Because of this and of the black veil she had on her face, that woman, who chose to be Rasul in a fearsome world of men, seemed so small and insignificant.

Yet, she didn’t care too much about this. All that she cared about was to fulfill the mission for which she came there and see the king. Yes, she had to see Jrijuru at any cost and send him the message others told her to send him. After that, being free again, she could return home, there, where the sky was cracking, but where she left her heart.

At that moment, her desire to return home as soon as possible was in second place. Just as the amazement to see those empty streets remained hidden because… it was definitely strange for her to see so few lit lights on the wall and so few soldiers patrolling those streets. Yet, even if she’d been so amazed by the weirdness of that city, the Shadow said nothing not even that time. She just followed the soldier in a slow step, heading straight in most cases or taking left and right on different narrow streets, those completely sunken in darkness, where one feared to walk alone during the night because there was the Paradise of thieves and killers that were lurking on the victims from each corner of the streets. Streets that were swarmed by rats only at that moment, which were so many lately especially after dark when those places weren’t crowded and they were free to act up at will.

Namely, the squeak of a rat made the Shadow wince eventually. Then she stopped and looked to her left, from where she heard the squeak. Yet… she couldn’t realize which rat squeaked because there were so many around her at that moment and many more were climbing on the walls… a terrifying view, but still one that worked for the locals, who didn’t kill the rats only to protect the city in case of an eventual attack because…

„…iinahum mujarad jawasis!” The soldier suddenly said, smiling, which in their language meant „…because they are spies.”

„Spies?” The Shadow asked, confused. „Whose spies?”

„Ours,” he replied in a whisper, „because they tell us if a danger is approaching us from the Tunnels of the Underworld, those that are known here as Aradi Almawtaa!”

„The Lands of Death!” The Shadow translated, in her head, that „Aradi Almawtaa!” After that, shaking a little, she also asked in a whisper, „Yet… how can they…?” A question she didn’t finish, but winced when she felt a movement to her back. Yet, she didn’t look over there but at the soldier that accompanied her, who also winced.

Eventually, she quickened her pace, just as the soldier did, a hint that he was afraid. Of whom he was afraid, the Shadow didn’t know. Yet, even if it seemed weird to her, she followed the soldier in silence. She didn’t even look behind to see if someone followed them. She should have done this, however. Thus, she would have seen another Shadow, so similar to her, lurking on them from the corner of a street, completely surrounded by darkness. A Shadow that seemed not to fear anything: either the darkness or the rats. She even caressed one’s fur when the rat climbed on her foot, as though he was her pet. Then, after she left the animal fall at her feet, lifeless, the second Shadow turned her back to that place and moved in the distance, a hint that… Mawt (death) was lurking on everybody in that city… from everywhere…

***

„A Rasul at this late hour?” Jrijuru asked, extremely amazed, standing up off the big bear fur on which he was standing at that moment in front of the fireplace. He wasn’t alone there but surrounded by girls because the king never loved to be alone, especially after dark. Actually, he hated to be alone also during the day. That’s why, if had nothing important to do, he was always accompanied by someone.

„Yes, my king,” responded Samit, slowly bending in front of Jrijuru. „She came after sunset.”

„After sunset?” The king shouted. „How is this possible to let someone in after sunset? You know very well that…”

„I know, my king, but it has been necessary. She, before being let in, told the soldier, „Birakuh min alhijarat alsawda!”

Jrijuru winced, upon hearing that sentence. He even seemed painted white because it had been a long while since he didn’t hear that sentence „Birakuh min alhijarat alsawda,” something that in the language of Alshamals meant, „The Mago of the Black Stones.” Eventually, he made a sign to the girls, without watching them, and they rushed to leave the room. Yet, before getting out of the room, they looked terrified at the Shadow that entered, accompanied by the soldier. She wasn’t alone because, a few steps behind the soldier, another Shadow appeared. This second Shadow scared the ten girls a lot, who ran as though chased by the devil when they had the permission of the second Shadow to go away.

„Aismi Mwrina!” The first Shadow said, worshiping in front of the king. Then, she added, „Ana huna min 'ajl…,” (I’m here to…) She kept silent eventually when she heard the second Shadow saying:

„Amra'at wulid thaelab min rahimaha,” (A woman who gave birth to a fox.)Then, in a cunning voice, she added, „A woman that gave her body to a Mago, without being aware whose bed she entered eventually. No one else’s bed than of the Mago of the Black Stones, the one who had her in his arms after deceiving her heart, feeling for her only desire and nothing more.”

Morena frowned when she heard that woman saying such words, a woman that wore the same vestment as she was wearing, and whose eyes were the only ones seen behind the veil, just like Morena was wearing one on her face. A woman she was sure she never saw before, but who seemed to know her very well. Yet, even if she wanted to ask that woman where she knew her from, Morena looked at the king when this one yelled at the second Shadow, „Shelba, abiq samitan!”

The one named Shelba didn’t keep silent, but said, „Why keep my mouth shut when words are necessary to say the truth?” Then, pulling the veil off her face and taking the hood off, she let others see her beautiful face, with dark olive skin, and her big black eyes, shadowed by long black eyelashes. She also had dark hair, which was falling in soft waves over her naked back because when she pulled the robe off, she remained only in a light dress, the color of the desert sand. „Actually, it’s necessary to say what I have to say when the beauty of a woman can darken the mind of a man. Or… am I wrong?” She asked Morena, staring at her.

Morena, without losing her temper, told Shelba, „No, you aren’t wrong. I’m definitely the one you’re talking about.” Then, taking the veil off her face and the hood off her head, with sensual movements, which weren’t meant to seduce someone, she left her beautiful face to be admired by the men present there. Seeing her, Jrijuru frowned because Morena seemed familiar to him, but he didn’t know where he saw her before. Yet, even if he wanted to know more about her, he kept silent and looked at Shelba when this one said:

„You at least have the courage to speak with the truth and not lie to us.” After that, with sensual movements, she approached Morena, whose hair she touched by moving it to the side and deeply inhaling its pleasant scent. A movement that made Morena confused because she definitely couldn’t understand what was in the mind of the woman next to her. She even felt dizzy at one moment as Shelba had impressive control over her.

Actually, Morena wasn’t wrong in thinking so because Shelba had magic power. She was one of the most powerful Priestesses of the Kingdom of Alshamal, the ones that assured the security of the kingdom and were guiding the king. Yet, unlike the other Priestesses, who were faithful to the king, Shelba had her own reasons to do this. She had hidden reasons, actually, those she never confessed to anyone. She only decided to reach her aims at any cost, and one of these was to keep the other women away from the king, into whose bed she often entered. Because of this, the other women were so afraid of Shelba. They suffered a lot because of her jealousy while many women didn’t even survive. Many of them simply vanished off the earth’s surface. Others… have been found dead, floating on the silent water of Alnahr Alaswd or the Black River, the one that was crossing the Western part of the kingdom, toward that red horizon, of which everybody was so afraid.

Yet, even if she hoped to get rid of Morena this way, whom she saw as her rival, even if she couldn’t read the woman’s thoughts, Shelba miscalculated everything. Why? Because, the moment she tried to stub one of her poisonous thorns into Morena's throat, thorns she wore in the sleeve, Samit grabbed her by the arm and forced her to move away from the „rival.” A turnabout Shelba didn’t expect. That’s why, furious, she suddenly hissed through her teeth, „Kalb!”

Samit smiled, „Min al'afdal 'an takun klban min 'an takun whshan,” he told her. A hidden message, but still a true one, because he told Shelba in fact, „Better to be a dog, than a beast.”

It has been Shelba’s turn to smile. Yet, she did that in a cunning way, somehow poisonously. After that, she told him, „The dogs can be beasts if they have the chance. Actually, anyone can be a beast if he feels the smell of blood. Even you are a beast on the battlefield, Samit. Or… will you deny now that you also lose your mind when you hold the sword in your hand or the blade of the dagger to your enemy’s throat?”

„No, I won’t deny it,” said Samit harshly. „Yet, I kill enemies, not innocent people like you.”

„I?” Shelba hissed through her teeth. „You are accusing me now without evidence, commander, and this is betrayal because I never…”

„Enough,” Jrijuru suddenly shouted. „That’s been enough. I’m tired of your eternal fights and arguments. Just as I’m tired to see that you have no respect in front of me if you afford yourself the shamelessness to discredit me in front of strangers, undermining me.”

The king’s shout made Samit gnash his teeth because he considered that Jrijuru wronged him. At the same time, Samit knew the king was right because he and Shelba definitely often argued over something, especially in front of Jrijuru because Shelba had the bad habit of provoking him in front of the king, looking for splitting them up and turning them into enemies. The reason? Well, Samit didn’t know it yet. Even so, he was sure that Shelba wasn’t faithful to the king, just as she wasn’t faithful to anyone else, except herself. Nevertheless, even if he knew this, he couldn’t do anything for the moment. He only released the woman’s hand and worshiped in front of the king. Then, still worshiping, he took a few steps behind him. Yet, even if he seemed not to see anything at that moment, Samit still saw the cunning grin on Shelba’s face, a grin that made him say in his head, „Your head will fall eventually off your shoulders because of my sword, I swear.”

Morena, looking at the man’s face, even if she didn’t hear what he said in his head, seemed to know that message. She felt sorrow for the forty years old commander because she was aware that he’d been wronged in that quarrel. Yet, just like Samit, she couldn’t say those words loudly. She said nothing eventually not because she was afraid, but because something else was important at that moment. That’s why, when Jrijuru asked her, „What’s the message you have for us, woman, if you’ve been able to cross the desert to get here?” Morena looked into his eyes and told him confidently:

„To remind the great king of Alshamals about his old debt. Once you promised to pay it with blood if necessary. An honor debt.”

Jrijuru gnashed his teeth. Then, taking a few steps toward Morena, he told her in a harsh tone, „Debt? Honor? I? I think you are wrong now because Jrijuru hasn’t ever been in debt in front of anyone and he won’t ever be.”

Morena smiled. Then, without losing her temper, she took a mammoth tooth from her sleeve and gave it to the king, whom she told, „Humans never accept the truth without evidence.” A tooth she put into the wide-open palm of the king when he asked her through signs to prove the truth.

Glancing for a few moments at the evidence he had in his palm, Jrijuru seemed thoughtful. He also seemed nervous because that white tooth, weathered, kept a lot of memories inside it, those that portrayed the great king of Alshamals knelt in front of his fearsome enemy, who kept the sharp blade of his sword to the king’s throat, ready to decapitate him. Memories that made Jrijuru close his eyes eventually, squeezing the tooth in his hand while he saw, with his eyes closed, the head of his enemy falling off his shoulders eventually, a head cut by the sword of the Mago of the Black Stone, the one known as Mirakuh min alhijarat alsawda.