The Queen's Curse by Hellenthal Natasja

Author:Hellenthal, Natasja [Hellenthal, Natasja]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Natasja Hellenthal
Published: 2013-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

WINDBORNE

Even as I breathe comes an angel to their keep

Enya

Thin slanting rays of the spring sun glistened on the icy snow which cracked beneath their feet. Still heading west, they made their way through the roaring wind, searching for any new wards or signs of the sorceress.

But soon a pale white mist emerged out of the deep and enclosed the two women; however, it still enabled them to see enough to continue. Rocks and wet moss were another hindrance now that the snow seemed to lessen.

They had only walked a few miles through the clearing mist, before the ground seemed to open in front of them. Carved through the hills was a long wide, but mostly deep, ravine. It looked as if a giant meteor had hit the earth with such force it had left an enormous hole; and not even the sun would be able to reach the bottom it seemed. It was about five miles in length and perhaps two miles across. It was gigantic and overhung by the steep slopes on every side. Stocky trees leaned wearily over it, mostly pines and birch. But nothing grew in the bowl, which might as well have been a bottomless abyss, for it was hard to see from the gloom in there. Darkness and cold lived there and sand and … wind. Gusts of wind blew and circled through the ravine, bringing up sand and even small rocks, spitting it all out on the almost barren slopes. Behind and around the ravine a new snow-capped mountain range begun; almost no different from the one they were about to leave behind. That was if they could cross the ravine, which seemed nearly impossible. It was clear that doing so would cost them many days. Precious days.

Artride and Tirsa exchanged a discouraged glance, with the wind tugging at their clothes and hair, blowing the mist away. There was no downward track and the sides so steep and crumbly, it would be very treacherous. Artride flopped down on a rock out of breath, holding her head in her hands to protect her eyes.

Tirsa looked up at the sky and whispered, ‘Sempervirens … where are you?’ and waited for an answer. The wind carried her words.

Nothing. She turned and repeated the same line over and over, and with every time louder. Artride looked up, somewhat distressed at seeing her partner like this, like she was about to lose her mind; but she reasoned it wasn’t such a bad idea, since Roalda had mentioned it was possible the sorceress might be able to hear them when calling her name, even if it was through this roaring wind. And that was all they wanted, right now, be it good or bad. After all they came for her aid, and for that they had to have her near.

Artride got up and walked over to her; together shouting the name of the so called Queen of Dochas.

‘Sempervirens, show yourself!’

‘Sempervirens!’

Then from the ice mountains ahead of them came

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