Page 11 of One Last Promise
Dread Shifters:These beings trick you by becoming who you desire or need.Beware of an icy cold feeling.It means they are near.If you get lured into their spell, there is no hope.They are rare.Most are found on Spector Isle.
You must have a protection spell against this beast.There is no other way to escape it.
Hell Dryads:These are similar to night howlers, but much larger.These beasts will only attack if provoked.They are mostly a peaceful breed unless they are defending young.They can be tamed if caught young enough.The beasts have very large claws and a jaw with two sets of razor sharp teeth.
Food can be used to distract them.If it looks as if it might attack, kneel in front of it to show you’re not a threat.
Noc Beast:This is the most deadly creature in The Barren Lands.It hunts for sport and enjoys slowly killing its prey.The scales are impenetrable, like armour, except for under its arms or its underbelly.These beasts have over forty teeth and a strong, long jaw, and walk on two legs.They have three sharp claws on each hand and are exceptionally fast.They have a strong sense of smell.These creatures are the largest beasts in Dreonarus.Their only weakness is their poor sight.
If you face a battle with this beast, a sword fully impaled under the arm or in the underbelly will kill it.Be aware: they are very clever and can act dead if harmed.Keep your wits about you.Fire does them no harm, and they aren’t affected by light.A sword is the only way to kill them.Pray to Holy Ether that you never face one.
Wisp:These beings are harmless.They appear as tiny specks of light that will make a figure or face.They usually appear to warn you of something dangerous coming or they have a message from Holy Ether.It’s an honour and privilege to be blessed by them.
These beings aren’t dangerous.
Shuddering as I thought about all the beasts that could kill me, I prayed to Holy Ether that I didn’t come face to face with a Noc Beast.I finally understood Luz’s need to prepare for me and ask Nell for protection spells.The only beasts I didn’t mind meeting were the wisps.
As I continued to read through the books Noor had put on the desk, I got lost in all the details I needed to know, like which plants were edible and poisonous, and how to make traps to snare small animals.I didn’t even know how to make a fire.Taking comfort in knowing the warrior picked to accompany me would, I went back to my books.I had five days to cram as much as I could into my mind.
****
“HAVE YOU COMPLETELYlost your mind, Alora!”Xavier broke me from my reading.Looking up at him, I gave him an uninterested expression.“Fivedays to prepare for your pilgrimage isnotenough time!Have you and your father gone completely mad?”
“What I do doesn’t concern you.”
“Like hell it doesn’t,” he snarled, pushing the books off my desk.“You arenotgoing!”
“You have no say over this.Zohar has already declared it.You might think you have a hold over me, but I will make my own choices.I do not have to bond with you, Xavier.Even if Zohar demands it, I can say no!I have told you before.I.Am.Not.Your.PROPERTY!”Holding my head high, I stared him down until his anger faded.
“Am I not allowed to worry about you?I have made my attraction towards you very clear these last few hundred years.”
“All I ever asked for wasfriendship.Why are you finding that so difficult to understand?”Realisation spreads across his face.
“I have assigned Raiden to be your escort.He’s the best warrior I have that isn’t out on duty at the moment.Doeverythinghe says!”With that, Xavier gave me one last glance and left.Something in my eyes must have made him realise that I wasn’t going to back down.It was the first argument I had ever won against him.
****
ONCE I HAD DEVOUREDall the books Noor placed in front of me, I stretched my arms behind my back.
“Are you finished with all of those?”she asked, placing some food and a goblet full of water in front of me.“You know Luz and Nell will question you on them later.”
“What was the scariest thing you faced on your pilgrimage?”
“Night Howlers.Watching Jomei fight them with his light sword was an experience I’ll never forget.Twelve of the small but ferocious beasts surrounded him.When one jumped on his back and bit into his shoulder, I thought we were both as good as dead.Then he summoned the light into his sword and the beasts took a step back.He managed to kill at least four of them before the pack made their escape.”Noor shuddered at the thought.“There was so much blood, but we were lucky because I managed to fix Jomei’s shoulder.It was still another ten days’ walk.I worried the blood might have attracted other creatures.When we touched home soil, I’d never been so happy to see Dallethas in the distance.Holy Ether and Nantu had truly blessed me.My powers took their full form a few weeks after I returned.”I remembered that day.Noor made the sky rage with winds and tornadoes on the fields outside Dallethas; it was a physical manifestation of the pain of losing her family, the isolation she endured before my mother found her, the pain of losing my mother and being brought up by a cruel, selfish king.It had affected us both.Noorwasthe storm.Even my father and Xavier saw the amount of power she held in her hands.They acted differently towards her after that day.My father noticed her more, knowing what power his army would have with her in it.Xavier, however, saw her as a threat: a female Dylin that might one day be more powerful than him.“I wish I could go with you.”Giving her a small smile, Noor hugged me tightly.“I pray Holy Ether is looking down on you.Nantu and Lustre, too, if it will keep you safe.”
“It’s all going to be fine,” I soothed, hugging her back tightly.
I hadn’t felt this sheepish since my mother had caught Noor and me escaping out of the palace in the early hours of the morning when we were younger.I couldn’t even recall the reason we had tried to sneak out.
Luz and Nell stood in the high temple, both with their arms folded, both glaring at me.At least Noor was giving me a reassuring smile.
“Have you studied all the books?”Nell questioned.Her snow-white hair was up in a band, but a few strands had fallen out.She wasn’t in her priestess robes today, but a more comfortable, fitted, cream-coloured dress.
“Yes.”My voice was just a whisper.I had never known Nell to be so intimidating.
“Uri has looked into your future.You’ll be glad to know that he didn’t see your death.He has informed Zohar.”Of course my father would be told first.“I have to say that I think you are being very careless.Paying your respects to Nantu might be a right of passage for female Dylin, but it shouldn’t be used to gain something.”
“With all due respect, Nell, I’m merely going a few months earlier than planned.I might not be as prepared as you’d all like, but I am taking this seriously.”
