Chapter Eight
The Unmarked, Book One
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The Sun, Moon and Stars were servants of Essence, and they were tasked with shining Essence’s Light on the Physical Realm. These servants were called Brightkeepers. But one day, one of the Brightkeepers became jealous and resentful towards Essence, for crowning Humans as rulers over the Physical Realm, and not the Brightkeepers. This Brightkeeper, along with a host of other stars, tried to overthrow Essence’s rule. But, in their failure, their Light became extinguished and their consciousness was cast into the Shadow Realm. The once Brightkeepers discovered that they could shape the shadows to their will, so they took on new forms for themselves and called themselves Darkkeepers. The once Brightkeeper who had led the rebellion against Essence named himself Umbra. Umbra began to build a world within the Shadow Realm, and he conquered all other Darkkeepers, for his will was very strong. Umbra molded the shadows into servants which he called Shades. Shades are lesser beings, can be fashioned into any form, and are subject to the will and command of Darkkeepers. They are, in other terms, mindless extensions of the Darkkeepers themselves. In his exile, Umbra’s hatred of Essence and his jealousy of Humanity kept growing. Because Umbra could not defeat Essence, he and his Darkkeepers decided conquer and destroy the thing Essence loved most: Humans
From the shadows, Umbra began to whisper to the humans in the valley; for whispering was all that he could do since he was bound to the Shadow Realm. Through the whispers, Umbra began to tell the humans of a great power that would make them equal to Essence and free them from the confines of the Physical Realm. Most people ignored the whispers, but a few listened intently. Those who listened were led to step into the Shadow Realm, as was contrary to Essence’s will.
- Excerpt from the Book of Books, Part Two: Rebellion
Dawn
They galloped throughout the night and most of the day. They stopped twice, for a drink of water and some food to eat. Well, more like Dawn stopped for those things. Not once did she see Wolfe eat or drink. Every time she offered him something, he refused and said, “you need it more than I do”.
During their second stop, Dawn went to rest by a nearby tree. She sipped at water and nibbled on a piece of dried fruit.
“How are you feeling?” Wolfe asked as he stroked his horse’s neck.
Dawn had never felt worse. Her head hurt, her muscles were stiff and aching, she was exhausted and lightheaded, and she could barely keep any food down. She gave him a huge smile. “Great”.
Wolfe smirked. “Your eye looks much better”.
Dawn absently brushed her finger across her bruised eye. Amid her migraine, her nausea, and all the adrenaline, she had forgotten about it.
Dawn peeked into her satchel to make sure that her box hadn’t somehow disappeared. Those documents were her lifeline. If she were to lose them… Dawn didn’t even want to think about it. She looked at Wolfe as he tended to his horse. How had he gotten the box from the Governor? She did not know if she was to trust him because of his act or suspect him of conspiring against her even more.
She had considered leaving him behind. She still didn’t understand why he was helping her, and he was not giving her any decent answers when asked. She had figured it would be safer to travel on her own than with someone who’s intentions were very foggy. Eventually they would have to stop to make camp. She would offer to keep watch, and while he slept, she would take the horse and make a run for it. But now, as she watched Wolfe pack up their supplies, she began to doubt her earlier resolve. Not only was Dawn weaker than she cared to admit, she also had no experience travelling on her own. She couldn’t imagine setting up camp by herself, especially in her current state. Also, if she were being completely honest, she did not want to be alone. The more she thought about it, the more she dreaded leaving Wolfe. Dawn had never been on her own. She always had…someone. The thought of travelling by herself was dreadful.
No, until she regained her strength, she would stick with Wolfe.
Just for a little while.
But Dawn decided that it was time to get some answers.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
Wolfe looked at her quizzically and then laughed. “Honestly, I have no idea.”
Dawn frowned at him. “My rescuer doesn’t have a plan?” she answered sarcastically.
He grinned. “Listen, I’m just trying to get as much distance from you and your city as possible”.
Dawn considered this for a moment. She had been planning her next move ever since Wolfe had given her the documents. “Then take me to Ardus.”
Wolfe’s eyes lit up. “Ardus. The city of Artisans! What draws you there?” He chuckled at his own joke.
Dawn rolled her eyes. “My sister”
“Your sister? Uh-oh”.
“Yeah. Uh-oh. I want to see her. She’s in danger because of me”.
Wolfe nodded. “Then to Ardus I shall take you”.
***
A heavy feeling of unease caused Dawn to wake with a start. She lifted her head from where it was resting against Wolfe’s back. She looked around. Large trees loomed over them. It was dark now, but an eerie glow made it easy to see their path. The foliage was so thick overhead that Dawn couldn’t see the sky. The ground was roiling with fog.
“Wolfe… why did you take us off the Member’s Highway…?”
She heard a faint chuckle. “This is the Member’s Highway”.
“It can’t be… I don’t recognize this forest”.
“That’s because it wasn’t here before… It’s spreading”. Wolfe whispered.
Dawn’s breath caught in her throat. The Rayless Woods.
Alarm shot through her. “Forests don’t just grow out of nowhere!”
Or at least they weren’t supposed to.
Not since the Shadow Ages.
Wolfe laughed. “There’s a lot you don’t know about this world, Dawn”.
“Then why didn’t you take us around?” She demanded, fear rising inside of her.
“It would have taken twice as long and that’s what your pursuers expect a young city girl who has spent her life learning that the Rayless Woods are forbidden. They’ll either take the long way around or try to cut through here and die”.
His casual tone repulsed her so much that she removed her hands from around him with a jerk, which caused her to lose balance and fall off the horse. She fell on her side, pain shooting up her arm. She had fallen on cobble stone. For a moment she looked at it. Then her eyes widened in shock when she saw a name engraved into the brick beneath her. This was the Member’s Highway.
The thud of Wolfe climbing off the horse resonated through her. His feet appeared in her field of vision. He began to kneel to help her up, but she stood, ignoring his attempt. She held her wounded arm close to her side and felt blood trickling through her fingers.
“And what makes you think we won’t die?” Dawn growled.
“Because we won’t”.
His answer angered her even more. “I want out of here Wolfe!”
Wolfe smiled. “I think it’s time to make camp.” He turned around and left.
She realized that Wolfe was picking up branches.
“You’re not thinking of making a fire? Are you?”
Wolfe stared at her blankly, large branches sticking from between his arms. “Why not?” he asked, stupidly.
“Because someone or something will see us” she hissed.
Wolfe smiled his stupid charming smile. “Dawn, whatever you’re afraid of, already knows we’re here. There’s no point in trying to hide from it” he continued making the fire.
Dawn shuddered. Wolfe seemed to know what this thing was.
Dawn contemplated taking the horse and bolting out of this horrid place. But she didn’t know what was worse: camping in the Rayless Woods with Wolfe or travelling in it alone. She decided it was the latter. Besides, his comments about her being stubborn and impulsive still clung to her the wrong way. If she left, it would confirm everything he thought about her. She grunted to herself and began to help Wolfe. The pain and labor caused her arm to throb, but she ignored it.
“You’re bleeding” Wolfe said.
“Yeah, no kidding” She replied.
Wolfe regarded her for a moment. “I have bandages, if you want”.
Dawn pressed her arm closer to herself. Her first instinct was to say that she didn’t need any. But that wouldn’t help in her attempt at being less stubborn.
“Okay.”
Wolfe raised his brows and smiled. “So, do you want the bandages?”
Dawn rolled her eyes. “Yes Wolfe, I want the damned bandages.”
Wolfe walked over to his satchel and pulled out a white gauze, along with a handkerchief and his waterskin. Dawn frowned. He had quite the medical supplies in there.
“Hold still” he said. He placed the gauze between his knees so that he could wet the handkerchief.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s better if I clean the wound so that we won’t have to cut your arm off if ever you get an infection”.
“You’re not funny” Dawn said, but Wolfe still laughed to himself.
He’s so weird.
Wolfe took her arm and she flinched as he pressed the wet kerchief on her wound. “Tell me if I’m hurting you” he said gently as he cleaned her wound.
“You’re hurting me” Dawn said flatly.
Wolfe continued doing what he was doing. A small smile spread across his lips. “Too bad”.
“You’re an idiot” she responded under her breath.
Wolfe slowly wrapped her arm with a bandage. Then, without asking, he took her wounded hand. She looked down at it and cringed. The bandage was bloody and soiled.
“What happened” he asked as he undressed the wound.
“I… I accidentally cut myself with a piece of glass” she lied.
Like with her arm, he rinsed the wound and wrapped it with clean bandages. Gently. Carefully. He was so intent and focused on what he was doing. It was kind of sweet. For a moment, as she watched him, Dawn forgot where they were. She just knew that she was with Wolfe, and he was taking care of her.
Then he stepped away and she remembered that they were amid a deadly forest.
“Thanks.”
Wolfe blinked and gave her smile. “My pleasure”.
They eventually made the fire. They sat on opposite sides of the flames. Dawn was wrapped in a blanket and nibbled on dried meat and sipped at water. Wolfe sat crossed-legged, using his knife to fashion a piece of wood. Shadows danced on his face. His skin glowed orange. The fire’s touch made him look fiercer.
His eyes darted up, and she met his gaze. He smiled. “What?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m observing.”
“Well, I’m flattered.”
“Why won’t you eat?”
He put down his tools and leaned back on his hands. “Because I’m not hungry.”
“And why aren’t you hungry?”
“Because my stomach doesn’t feel empty?”
“And why doesn’t your stomach feel empty?”
“Because it feels full. You know, we can play this game all night Dawn. But I think you need to sleep.”
“I wasn’t playing a game, and I’m definitely not going to sleep. Not here”.
Wolfe perked up. “Then let’s tell each other stories instead!”
Dawn furrowed her brows. “Stories? Like, legends and stuff? Those are forbidden.”
Wolfe’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Well, it’s a good thing that we’re in a forbidden forest, isn’t it?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I have any stories to tell, anyways.”
Wolfe’s face turned into an overly-exaggerated pained expression. He even placed a hand to his heart. “Oh, you poor sheltered child. You don’t know any stories?”
Dawn raised her brow. False stories were forbidden and pointless. Why would you imagine a fake reality? “You’re saying you know stories?”
He laughed. “Of course, I know stories Dawn!”
“Where did you hear your fake realities?”
“Fake realities...” he smirked. Wolfe grabbed a branch and poked at the flames. “You always hear’em when you travel through the villages.”
Dawn’s eyes widened. She was surprised that unworthy told stories. It was forbidden to tell tales that were outside of past and present. Stories were what corrupted people’s minds. Confused people about what they should and should not believe in. Caused people to lie. If unworthy told stories, were they imagining themselves as something other than what they really were?
Dawn bit her lip. She couldn’t deny herself though, she was curious to hear a story. “Fine, tell me a story. But only because we’re in a forbidden forest.”
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