CHAPTER ONE
"What's going on, mister?" the little girl asked, tugging on Malikai Darkhill's sleeve. The blond-haired young man glared at the child and looked up as the three cloaked women made their way through the tavern. He snorted and got up to leave.
"Wait, young man," the last of them croaked to him.
"Hmph!" Malikai walked onward, casting a dark look at her.
"Come, young man. I can tell you your future," she offered kindly.
"I don't need an old crone to tell me that I'm going to die someday. I know that already," he snarled.
The crowds in the tavern stared at him, awestruck.
"Fool! Don't you realize that she is the Norn of the Future? It's an honor to have your fate told to you as such!" the barmaid scolded.
"I don't care." The young man pushed two old men aside and walked out into the practically deserted village. The old hag followed him.
"Be it known, Malikai Darkhill, that my sisters and I descend to tell of heroes that will bring the world out of the darkness. I am Skuld, who will control your life!"
Malikai ignored her and sat on the edge of the town fountain, indifferent to her pleas for his attention. There was a rather long pause before she spoke again.
"Mr. Darkhill, are you implying that what I speak of is false?" "Good job," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I shall tell you what I see in your future, whether you like it or not, my son. I see you becoming a glorified hero, one nearing Odin in greatness." He smirked.
"I bet you say that to every fool who listens to your lies long enough, old crone. Begone! I don't want to hear your babbling anymore," he growled, laying a hand on the hilt of the sword on the belt around his waist.
"Intending to murder me?" Skuld asked calmly.
"I won't kill you, if you'll just leave me be, old hag," he spat.
"Very well." The Norn of the future turned to leave, walking back into the overcrowded tavern to an enthusiastic greeting. Malikai scoffed and rose to his tired feet. He had been wandering alone for the whole of two years, mostly on foot. Sometimes he would steal a horse from whoever wasn't watching. He pondered the merit of doing so today and decided against it. It seemed like it was going to storm; the horse might become afraid and buck him off into the river outside the town.
Upon reaching the gate, he waited for it to open. He silently fumed, remembering that the gatekeeper had been one of the men he had pushed aside in the tavern. It would probably take forever for him to get back. Malikai combed his fingers through his short, unkempt hair and sighed. He thought for a few more moments and started climbing up the rope to the top of the wall. The boy figured he would open it himself; or throw himself over the wall, whichever came first.
After jerking the rope to pull the gate up for about half an hour, he sighed and sat against the back of the battlement, exasperated. He panted there for a quarter of an hour, resting. After he was done with that, he glanced over the side. The young man decided it would be okay to climb and so, making sure his sword was secure, leapt over and started climbing down very, very carefully, digging his fingernails into the rain-softened wood and sliding occasionally.
Malikai fell to the ground with a thud, rubbing his rear end.
"Ow! Dammit," he cursed. Ignoring the pain, he got back up and started walking northward without a backward glance or second thought.
"Hello!" a shrill female voice chirped. Malikai didn't even really hear it, as it was almost at the pitch that only dogs can hear.
"Hey! I wouldn't go into that forest if I were you!"
"But you're not. So keep to yourself," he said, glowering at the direction the voice was coming from. The owner of it fluttered out of a bush. It was a creature about a foot tall, feminine, dressed in green, and had translucent pale brown wings--a forest sprite. He stared at it; the young man had never believed in them or any other supernatural creature.
"You'll get yourself killed! Come on, I live here and I'll help you! Please?" the faerie twittered.
"Get the hell away from me," he snapped, swatting at her.
"I can help you get through faster."
He thought for a moment and sighed.
"Fine. Whatever."
The sprite smiled and tapped his shoulder a little. The two started moving through the forest; Malikai was taking his time and enjoying the current silence. But then the sprite spoke again.
"Why are you going through the forest, mister?"
"That is no business of yours," he said coldly.
"Oh. Then what's your name?" Malikai rolled his eyes.
"You never shut up, do you? It's Malikai Darkhill."
"What a nice name! Mine's Irisia!" She perched on his shoulder, but was promptly flicked off of it.
"Great. Now shut up and let's keep going."
And so they continued in silence for about four hours in the vast, seemingly endless forest. Little red eyes glared out at them from the darkness of the bushes and trees, accompanied by growls and snarls. None of it even bothered the boy. No; the only thing bothering him was the fact that his throat was as dry as paper. He had been looking around for a spring or a pond this entire time, but found nothing.
"Irisia, is there any source of water in this forest?" he asked.
"Well... There's a spring somewhere near here, but it's sacred to Ran! If you used it, you'd be killed by her servants!" Irisia said, nevertheless maintaining her cheery manner.
"Oh well. I'll die a happy man, then." He turned to step off of the path through the wood.
"Surely you're not serious!" The forest faerie tugged on his ragged gray sleeve.
"You're damn right I am. I'm thirsty and that water's close." He swatted his little companion away and wandered off, pushing the bushes aside and looking for the sparkling, sacred water. He doubted that the faeries were there, anyway.
About twenty minutes later, he pushed through a bush with thorns the size of daggers and came upon the glorious, twinkling white water. A small sign was driven into the ground beside it, warning travelers not to drink or bathe in it. It went unheeded as he knelt and dipped a hand in, sipping the delicious water. It was unlike any other water in Midgard. He took several long draughts from it and almost smiled in satisfaction, laying back on the bank and closing his dark blue eyes.
He had almost drifted off to sleep when he felt an unpleasant jabbing in his side.
"What the hell...?" Malikai opened one eye and glared at Irisia, who was frantically pointing at a tall person robed in sky blue and white and squeaking fearfully.
"You... Mortal... How dare you trespass on our land?" He snorted. "What, pray, is so funny?"
"It's just water. It's not going to hurt anyone." The young man got to his feet and dusted his brown pants off. "Everyone has the right to drink it. Idiot."
"That as it may be... You're still trespassing. We don't take kindly to that, young man," the water faerie reprimanded. He snorted again.
"Look here, lady. You can't prove that I drank your water. So I'll be off." He stretched and strode off, mumbling about his interrupted nap. Irisia darted in front of him. "What do you want?"
"Malikai, please, please apologize! You don't know what they can do!" she begged.
"They can't do anything," he said venomously.
"I watched one boy who drank from this pond without remorse... He became breeding stock!"
The young man blatantly ignored her and continued walking.
"I guess I don't have a choice." Irisia whispered a spell and cupped her hands in a circle, pointing it at the ground.
Vines rose up and wrapped around his ankles and torso, trapping him in mid-stride. The young man struggled, cursing the sprite and tugging at the tight restraints.
"Thank you very much, little one. I will see that you are rewarded." The water faerie whistled into the wind.
The three were suddenly whisked into a golden mist, Malikai struggling to try to get away from them both.
When the mist cleared, it was the throne room of a large castle, decorated with gold and silver and filled with ornately-robed women. The vines dropped from around him. He moved to dart out of the room, but two of the women (dressed in silver) grabbed him by the arms.
"Hey, bitch! Let me go!" Malikai snarled. Most of the women gasped, but one applauded; she was quickly quieted. He jerked free and placed his hand on his sword. Someone at the head of the room cleared her voice. The young man turned around and glowered at her. It was an amazon in a gown so bright it was almost blinding. He shielded his eyes.
"Who the hell are you? Get me out of here now, before I kill you all," he ordered. The faerie lady smiled.
"My son... What brings you here?" she asked cheerily.
"Those people over there. Let me go. Now," he said, his voice dangerous.
"Oh?" She glanced over at the water faerie and the forest sprite. "What did he do?" The water faerie whispered to her. A grin grew on her face. Malikai began disliking her more every minute. The faeries giggled as she drew straight up and pointed down a darkened corridor. "Take him to the cell, and I shall decide what to do with him." The young man turned and sprinted away down another corridor, outrunning most of the faeries, except for two who expressed no interest in catching him.
He continued down the hall, dodging various statues of the faerie- woman in the blinding gown. Malikai had the full intent of getting out of this madhouse and back to his wanderings in Midgard. It was hellish in this place, and he didn't like being around people. The young man caught side of a huge wooden door as he slid down another hall. He figured that it was the exit, so he darted out and tried to shove the door open.
"Looking for something, sir?" an quiet voice inquired.
Malikai whipped around to see a brown-haired young woman dressed in green standing next to the door, whirling a key on a chain around her finger.
"Who the hell are you?" the young man demanded, "and give me that key!"
She said nothing and held it out to him.
"What, you're letting me go that easy?" He looked over his shoulder and smirked. "Good girl." He shoved the key into the keyhole and opened the door, dashing back into the cursed forest.
"What's going on, mister?" the little girl asked, tugging on Malikai Darkhill's sleeve. The blond-haired young man glared at the child and looked up as the three cloaked women made their way through the tavern. He snorted and got up to leave.
"Wait, young man," the last of them croaked to him.
"Hmph!" Malikai walked onward, casting a dark look at her.
"Come, young man. I can tell you your future," she offered kindly.
"I don't need an old crone to tell me that I'm going to die someday. I know that already," he snarled.
The crowds in the tavern stared at him, awestruck.
"Fool! Don't you realize that she is the Norn of the Future? It's an honor to have your fate told to you as such!" the barmaid scolded.
"I don't care." The young man pushed two old men aside and walked out into the practically deserted village. The old hag followed him.
"Be it known, Malikai Darkhill, that my sisters and I descend to tell of heroes that will bring the world out of the darkness. I am Skuld, who will control your life!"
Malikai ignored her and sat on the edge of the town fountain, indifferent to her pleas for his attention. There was a rather long pause before she spoke again.
"Mr. Darkhill, are you implying that what I speak of is false?" "Good job," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I shall tell you what I see in your future, whether you like it or not, my son. I see you becoming a glorified hero, one nearing Odin in greatness." He smirked.
"I bet you say that to every fool who listens to your lies long enough, old crone. Begone! I don't want to hear your babbling anymore," he growled, laying a hand on the hilt of the sword on the belt around his waist.
"Intending to murder me?" Skuld asked calmly.
"I won't kill you, if you'll just leave me be, old hag," he spat.
"Very well." The Norn of the future turned to leave, walking back into the overcrowded tavern to an enthusiastic greeting. Malikai scoffed and rose to his tired feet. He had been wandering alone for the whole of two years, mostly on foot. Sometimes he would steal a horse from whoever wasn't watching. He pondered the merit of doing so today and decided against it. It seemed like it was going to storm; the horse might become afraid and buck him off into the river outside the town.
Upon reaching the gate, he waited for it to open. He silently fumed, remembering that the gatekeeper had been one of the men he had pushed aside in the tavern. It would probably take forever for him to get back. Malikai combed his fingers through his short, unkempt hair and sighed. He thought for a few more moments and started climbing up the rope to the top of the wall. The boy figured he would open it himself; or throw himself over the wall, whichever came first.
After jerking the rope to pull the gate up for about half an hour, he sighed and sat against the back of the battlement, exasperated. He panted there for a quarter of an hour, resting. After he was done with that, he glanced over the side. The young man decided it would be okay to climb and so, making sure his sword was secure, leapt over and started climbing down very, very carefully, digging his fingernails into the rain-softened wood and sliding occasionally.
Malikai fell to the ground with a thud, rubbing his rear end.
"Ow! Dammit," he cursed. Ignoring the pain, he got back up and started walking northward without a backward glance or second thought.
"Hello!" a shrill female voice chirped. Malikai didn't even really hear it, as it was almost at the pitch that only dogs can hear.
"Hey! I wouldn't go into that forest if I were you!"
"But you're not. So keep to yourself," he said, glowering at the direction the voice was coming from. The owner of it fluttered out of a bush. It was a creature about a foot tall, feminine, dressed in green, and had translucent pale brown wings--a forest sprite. He stared at it; the young man had never believed in them or any other supernatural creature.
"You'll get yourself killed! Come on, I live here and I'll help you! Please?" the faerie twittered.
"Get the hell away from me," he snapped, swatting at her.
"I can help you get through faster."
He thought for a moment and sighed.
"Fine. Whatever."
The sprite smiled and tapped his shoulder a little. The two started moving through the forest; Malikai was taking his time and enjoying the current silence. But then the sprite spoke again.
"Why are you going through the forest, mister?"
"That is no business of yours," he said coldly.
"Oh. Then what's your name?" Malikai rolled his eyes.
"You never shut up, do you? It's Malikai Darkhill."
"What a nice name! Mine's Irisia!" She perched on his shoulder, but was promptly flicked off of it.
"Great. Now shut up and let's keep going."
And so they continued in silence for about four hours in the vast, seemingly endless forest. Little red eyes glared out at them from the darkness of the bushes and trees, accompanied by growls and snarls. None of it even bothered the boy. No; the only thing bothering him was the fact that his throat was as dry as paper. He had been looking around for a spring or a pond this entire time, but found nothing.
"Irisia, is there any source of water in this forest?" he asked.
"Well... There's a spring somewhere near here, but it's sacred to Ran! If you used it, you'd be killed by her servants!" Irisia said, nevertheless maintaining her cheery manner.
"Oh well. I'll die a happy man, then." He turned to step off of the path through the wood.
"Surely you're not serious!" The forest faerie tugged on his ragged gray sleeve.
"You're damn right I am. I'm thirsty and that water's close." He swatted his little companion away and wandered off, pushing the bushes aside and looking for the sparkling, sacred water. He doubted that the faeries were there, anyway.
About twenty minutes later, he pushed through a bush with thorns the size of daggers and came upon the glorious, twinkling white water. A small sign was driven into the ground beside it, warning travelers not to drink or bathe in it. It went unheeded as he knelt and dipped a hand in, sipping the delicious water. It was unlike any other water in Midgard. He took several long draughts from it and almost smiled in satisfaction, laying back on the bank and closing his dark blue eyes.
He had almost drifted off to sleep when he felt an unpleasant jabbing in his side.
"What the hell...?" Malikai opened one eye and glared at Irisia, who was frantically pointing at a tall person robed in sky blue and white and squeaking fearfully.
"You... Mortal... How dare you trespass on our land?" He snorted. "What, pray, is so funny?"
"It's just water. It's not going to hurt anyone." The young man got to his feet and dusted his brown pants off. "Everyone has the right to drink it. Idiot."
"That as it may be... You're still trespassing. We don't take kindly to that, young man," the water faerie reprimanded. He snorted again.
"Look here, lady. You can't prove that I drank your water. So I'll be off." He stretched and strode off, mumbling about his interrupted nap. Irisia darted in front of him. "What do you want?"
"Malikai, please, please apologize! You don't know what they can do!" she begged.
"They can't do anything," he said venomously.
"I watched one boy who drank from this pond without remorse... He became breeding stock!"
The young man blatantly ignored her and continued walking.
"I guess I don't have a choice." Irisia whispered a spell and cupped her hands in a circle, pointing it at the ground.
Vines rose up and wrapped around his ankles and torso, trapping him in mid-stride. The young man struggled, cursing the sprite and tugging at the tight restraints.
"Thank you very much, little one. I will see that you are rewarded." The water faerie whistled into the wind.
The three were suddenly whisked into a golden mist, Malikai struggling to try to get away from them both.
When the mist cleared, it was the throne room of a large castle, decorated with gold and silver and filled with ornately-robed women. The vines dropped from around him. He moved to dart out of the room, but two of the women (dressed in silver) grabbed him by the arms.
"Hey, bitch! Let me go!" Malikai snarled. Most of the women gasped, but one applauded; she was quickly quieted. He jerked free and placed his hand on his sword. Someone at the head of the room cleared her voice. The young man turned around and glowered at her. It was an amazon in a gown so bright it was almost blinding. He shielded his eyes.
"Who the hell are you? Get me out of here now, before I kill you all," he ordered. The faerie lady smiled.
"My son... What brings you here?" she asked cheerily.
"Those people over there. Let me go. Now," he said, his voice dangerous.
"Oh?" She glanced over at the water faerie and the forest sprite. "What did he do?" The water faerie whispered to her. A grin grew on her face. Malikai began disliking her more every minute. The faeries giggled as she drew straight up and pointed down a darkened corridor. "Take him to the cell, and I shall decide what to do with him." The young man turned and sprinted away down another corridor, outrunning most of the faeries, except for two who expressed no interest in catching him.
He continued down the hall, dodging various statues of the faerie- woman in the blinding gown. Malikai had the full intent of getting out of this madhouse and back to his wanderings in Midgard. It was hellish in this place, and he didn't like being around people. The young man caught side of a huge wooden door as he slid down another hall. He figured that it was the exit, so he darted out and tried to shove the door open.
"Looking for something, sir?" an quiet voice inquired.
Malikai whipped around to see a brown-haired young woman dressed in green standing next to the door, whirling a key on a chain around her finger.
"Who the hell are you?" the young man demanded, "and give me that key!"
She said nothing and held it out to him.
"What, you're letting me go that easy?" He looked over his shoulder and smirked. "Good girl." He shoved the key into the keyhole and opened the door, dashing back into the cursed forest.