The Sequel to Falconidae

Coming soon...

Chaise stood upon the rocky barren land that stretched down to the sea, where the waves crashed against the exposed cliffs and gulls whirled and cried in the wind.

The wind whipped around him, lifting his cloak, making it dance around his still body as he stood. His dark hair blew around his weatherworn face as his grey eyes gazed outwards. Slowly, as he stood still as stone, blending into the harsh landscape surrounding him, he closed his eyes and let his mind wander, hearing all the sounds around him, before cutting each one out individually, the howling of the wind, the fury of the crashing waves, the cry of the gull, his own breathing, until he was just left with the splashing of water. The roar of the waves lessened and turned into the slow hypnotic rhythm of a dripping; drip, drip, drip upon stone.

Pain and cold engulfed his senses but not physically, and he had the sensation of the heavy coolness of metal upon his raw wrists. And still the dripping. Laughing and screaming was all about him, the cracking of a whip, the twang of a bowstring. Two blood red eyes opened suddenly in his mind, causing his body to shudder, and he saw again the vision that had haunted him for so long.

Alina, his wife, falling as the life left her, the possession of those eyes disappearing like a nightmare evaporating when the first rays of the sunrise touch it, until there was just the still body of is love in his arms. And the dripping was forever there, upon the stone, tears and rain.

Where he stood, his cloak billowing about him like a great pair of wings, the sea before him and behind, a great cliff face, rugged and grey. And deep into that mountain there lay many halls and passages, where the water dripped and where Chaise had almost lost himself, only to escape and to loose what was most precious to him.

The monotonous dripping suddenly stopped and Chaise’s eyes snapped open. The wind had died and the sun was sinking into the sea, it’s golden hue melting into the ocean’s water. And high upon the rugged rocks between him and the water’s edge there stood silhouetted a figure.

They stood confidently on the sharp stone, a cloak hanging from their shoulders and a long thin sword stood on the rocks held by a gloved hand. The face was shadowed by the setting sun behind them, but long dark hair flowed freely about the shoulder and Chaise found his memories turning to a time that seemed long ago, in the peaceful elven valley where he had crossed swords with his love, watched her elegant moves and the glint in her emerald eyes.

Slowly a single tear meandered down his cheek.

“Father?” Chaise started and turned to see his young daughter calling to him from where she was clambering across the rocks. A smile creased across his face. No, all was not lost. He had begun to make his way over to her, when he paused and turned back to face the sea. The figure had disappeared and now the sky had turned a grey-purple as the sun set fully dying the entire sky.

Slowly, he turned back to his teenage daughter and shook his head. He caught her in his arms as she slipped on a rock. Giggling she gently wrapped her arms around his scarred neck before sleepily snuggling into his shoulder. Chaise smiled down at her as he wrapped his cloak around his precious bundle and made his way over the rocks back to camp.

Behind him, as the colours faded from the sky, a great ship cut through the indigo sea leaving a large wake behind it, it’s white sails billowing in the evening breeze, and a person stood at the helm staring back to where a figure disappeared over the brink of the hill.

“What was that?” Rob turned to the huge double doors at the end of the hall and saw them slightly ajar. Confusion creased his brow as his mind wondered from the previous conversation. Just as he turned to where his King and friend stood, the doors opened fully and Kaede pushed through, a perplexed look upon her face.

“What is wrong with Lia?” with her words, the situation dawned upon Rob and Chaise. Lia had been listening.

“Better she hear now than later.” The smarmy voice broke through the silence.

Chaise spun on his heel towards Marcus, rage burning fiercely in his eyes. But before he had begun to retort Rob interrupted him placing a hand upon his arm.

“Chaise, the bandits.” With these simple words, the look on Chaise’s face turned from rage to concern. Muttering a single word he moved quickly to the door and pushed passed his sister.

“Lia.”

With a tut Marcus turned on his heel and made to move to the back of the hall but was halted when Rob and Nevon stepped before him.

“I believe you should stay here, the King will want to talk to you upon his return I am sure.” Rob smiled menacingly before nodding to the elder and following his friend out of the door.