Warriors of the Light Book Two: The Resurgent: Chapter 1: Homecoming. By: Equinoxx
A cold chill and fog embrace Equinoxx as he begins to ride back to his
native land of Edenia, a neighboring realm of the Lost Lands. Ever since the
Awakening, he has begun to notice many changes ocurring around him. As he
rides past the river Kyln, he notices flowers blooming where at previous, there
were none. Upon seeing this, he smiles and says to himself "Aye, I think the
days are surely blessed now, since the Horsemen are now underfoot." He has
good reason to think thus: Wyrmleagh was saved from certain destruction, his
soulsister Guinevere was found and returned safely to the Lost Lands, his
once-thought destroyed Castle Morae was unscathed, and his family were not
destroyed, but something still lay amiss in his mind. Whatever happened to the
fellow band of mystic knights and valkyries that faught valiantly with him in the
fight for Wyrmleagh?
The more he pondered this, the more his thoughts wondered, and he
became unsure. But his thoughts were quickly subdued when he begins to see
the familiar borders of his castle. The young warrior hails the bridgeman, and
says, "you there within, Equinoxx appproacheth....Open from within!" the
drawbridge slowly swings downward and the porticullis slowly raised. As soon
as he and his horse Boanerges trot into the center of the village within the castle,
he begins to notice a change in his people. They seem not to notice him, or
even take a glance at him. "By God, this is strange indeed." Equinoxx says to
himself. Boanerges his horse nods his head in agreement as they approach the
knights' stable.
"EQUINOXX!!!! WELCOME HOME, BROTHER!!!!!" shouts a voice
familiar to him....It is the voice of his older sister, Lady Cobra-Demeter. Equinoxx
dismounts his horse, brushes back his bobbed brown hair, and greets his sister
cheerfully. "Oh, sis, I've missed you so much....How's mother and father?"
asked Equinoxx. Lady Cobra-Demeter shakes her head slowly and says, "Not
good, little brother. They fell into a funk some hours after the Awakening. Some
evil mage named Enigma came some weeks ago looking for you. he had in his
hands two blood warrants. One for you and one for--" "Guinevere." Equinoxx
finished his sister's sentence. "Why, yes....Brother, who is this Guinevere and
why does this Enigma want both of you?" Equinoxx puts his arm around his
sister's shoulders and leads her into the Castle.
"Sister", Equinoxx begins, "Enigma was an apprentice of the 4th
Horseman of the Apocalypse. When the Awakening was over, all of the
Horsemen were destroyed, or so we thought. Before the Awakening ever
happened, Death began training an apprentice, Enigma. Death had trained
Enigma in every single black art he knew, and he grafted all of his enemies into
Enigma, and he forced Enigma to vow his enemies destruction after Death's
destruction by the horseladies and I. Enigma somehow slipped out our hands,
and he, the loyal vassal he is to his lord, is going to carry out his mission.....even
if it kills him. Lady Cobra-Demeter, not thinking twice about it, grabs her bow,
arrows, broadsword and flank shield, and proceeds to mount her horse, Sigurd,
when she notices something. "Brother, you haven't your bow and arrows." she
said. Equinoxx runs into the castle armoury and finds his bow and arrows.
"Here we are....It looks like I have a lot of explaining to do, and you, my older
and most venerable sister, have yet a few things to learn." Equinoxx says as he
begins to mount his horse.
"Where are we going to go first?", began Lady Cobra. "Vanhalgothia or
Aalborg?"
"We are first going to Syllasstrang...I need some practice." said Equinoxx. "I
would be happy to pick up where I left off before the Awakening, little brother."
Lady Cobra offers. "I would be delighted!." Equinoxx says, with a smirk on his
face. Both brother and sister let out a Germanic battle cry as they set out for
Syllasstrang. "Equi," Lady Cobra begins, "Tell me more about Guinevere.
You've always talked about her before the Awakening, and also during, by way
of your thoughts you would send to me and mother. When father found out that
his little boy finally has found someone that made him smile, he was surprised
and ecstatic. In truth, I would like to meet her myself. Now smiling, Equinoxx
looks at his sister; "I'ld be happy to, sis. There are a great many things she can
learn from you, and likewise you from her....For Guinevere and I are beyond
physical attraction....we are soul-brother and sister, now."
Lady Cobra-Demeter's response to her brother's statement was that of a
sneer. "How could you be so close to someone whom you have only seen twice
during the Awakening?", she asked. Equinoxx calmly responds, "You will
see....when the time is right." Both horses and riders were blowing away time
and space, when all of a sudden, both Boanerges and Sigurd come to a
complete stop. "What is it, Sigurd?" Lady Cobra softly asks her horse. Equinoxx
taps his sister's shoulder and points in the direction in front of them. The sky in
front of them begins to turn black, a familiar sight to Equinoxx as he immediately
unbuckles his quiver and laces an arrow. Equinoxx begins shouting to the portal
in the Old language; "Who are you, and from whence did you come?" "I HAVE
COME FROM BEACHES TAINTED WITH RIGHTEOUS BLOOD, FROM
FJORDS STAINED IN DECADENCE.....WHO ARE YOU TO ASK OF ME FROM
WHENCE COME I?", asked the voice. Equinoxx answers back, "I am Knight
Equinoxx Dochas Cunnartach Sieaghdear, 2nd Light Warrior, Defender of the
Faith, and Knight-Defender of the Cunnartach Banrigh castle of the Lost Lands,
and I implore you, in the name of Queen Guinevere, to tell me your name."
Equinoxx' eyes are glowing blue now. After a moment of silence, the sky returns
to normal, and both Sigurd and Boanerges look towards each other as if talking
to themselves for a fast second, then they resume a slow trot.
"Of all the strangest things, dear brother, THAT was the epitome of
strange." Lady Cobra interjects. "It will get stranger as we approach
Syllasstrang." Equinoxx begins. "The boundaries of what we consider to be real
and surreal will be blurred, and the only things we will be able to trust are those
things that we know to be true in our hearts, minds and, of course, to our eyes,
but do not allow mistrust or doubt to corrupt you. Sound familiar, sis?" Lady
Cobra playfully slaps Equinoxx' right cheek, and both have a good laugh. The
huge, wooden forest of Syllasstrang becomes visible, and both riders nudge their
horse to a walk. Lady Cobra-Demeter takes the lead, with Equinoxx bringing up
the rear. As their horses are nearing the forest, Lady Cobra closes her eyes,
and begins to chant softly in the Old language. She says, "Oh, God of Life, and
of long-forgotten Wisdom, grant my brother and I the peace to carry out a task,
far greater than what we can imagine..." She begins to walk around their
encampment, asking her God to cast a circle of protection around them. And
Equinoxx, though at a distance, is silently praying and agreeing with her as he
sets up camp. As Equinoxx sets up his camp, he hears a strange but yet familiar
music. "By the goddess....SIS!!! Come quickly!!!", he yells. Both Equinoxx and
Lady Cobra Demeter are surprised and amazed at who they see, dancing
around a fire; It is both Lady Eclipse and her Gypsy sister Esmerelda.
"CLIPSEY!!!!! ESSIE!!!! It's so good to see you!" both shout in unison.
"EQUINOXX!!!!" Both Eclipse and Esmerelda exclaim. "Is this your blood-sister,
Lady Cobra-Demeter?" asked Esmerelda. Lady Cobra replies, "Yes, I am. My
brother has told me so much about you two, it is like I already know you. I want
to thank both of you for protecting my little brother during the Awakening. I am
forever in your debt." Eclipse, noticing Lady Cobra-Demeter's humility, gently
puts her hand on her shoulder and says, "No need for that, fellow sister. Your
brother has a heart of a gentle soul and the fighting spirit of a warrior, and I see
that in your eyes, young valkyrie. Your kindness is payment enough, for we are
humble valkyries on our way to our castle--" Lady Cobra-Demeter interjects, "In
the Lost Lands...right? You are Cunnartach Banrigh, close kin of my brother,
true? Equinoxx nods gently as he continues, "I would be grateful if you would
assist my sister in training me on how to use the bow and arrow, Eclipse."
"I couldn't be honoured more," Eclipse said, and with that, she flings off
her cloak, and reveals her skin-tight, leather battlesuit, with broadaxe on the left
side, bow on the right side, and shield and quivers on her back. She looks at her
brother with those flirtatious green eyes, then turns to both Equinoxx and Lady
Cobra-Demeter and asks, "Are you both ready to begin?" Both nod in
agreement. Then Eclipse says, "You already know that concentration is the key,
but sometimes you will be on the run, and you will not have time to think, so you
will have to take a quick glance, then fire....like this:" Eclipse starts runing,
dodging and weaving trees as she goes, then she shoots....and hits the tree only
three inches away from Equinoxx' head. "See what I mean, Bro?" She tauntingly
asks. Equinoxx looks at her, gazing into her eyes, with the honest vulnerable
expression of bewilderment, but through her eye contact, he is reassured. "Yes,
I'm ready...."he says. "GO!" yells Eclipse, and Equinoxx begins his run, dodging
and weaving through the trees....."Fire, NOW!" Eclipse shouts. Equinoxx fires
and hits the branch only an inch away from Eclipse, splitting it. He begins to run
back to the starting point when Esmerelda suddenly appears in front of him, with
a broadsword at his throat. "Always be ready to switch concentrations, Equi.
When we fought the four horsemen, it was different. We already knew what their
strategy would be, because you, Guin, Clipsey and I have faught them many
times before....But this is different....We will be going up against one mage, but
he has the power of all four, and if we are not careful, one wrong thought, or
move can be your undoing." Lady Cobra-Demeter, puts a reassuring hand on
her brother's shoulders, "Don't worry, little bro....you'll get it..Just watch me." she
says. "GO" Eclipse shouts, and Lady Cobra-Demeter does the same routine
Equinoxx has just finished, and makes the exact same mistake as he did. Lady
Cobra-Demeter, furious now, says, "How can you expect us to just "be
ready"....SHE CAME OUTTA NOWHERE!!!!" Equinoxx turns to her and says,
"There IS NO way to just "be ready", only be "on guard", which, in truth, we
weren't." Esmerelda agrees, "Both of you are skilled with the bow, and both of
you have excellent swordsmanship, but remember this.....guard your mind. If
you are weak in the mind, there is no battle you will win. It has been a trying day
for both of you....I suggest we all get our sleep....Eclipse will take the first watch,
Equi, you take the last." Lady Cobra-Demeter asks, "Essie, why is our brother
taking the last watch?" Equinoxx replies, "It's always the darkest time, just
before daybreak." With that, Essie, and Lady Cobra-Demeter fall asleep.
Equinoxx, still awake, sings the battle chant that has also brought him close to
Guinevere....."Many battles these wounds can tell
I've seen heaven and I've seen hell
But you've been my shield and buckler
My help in time of need
Faithful are the wounds and the kisses
Of a friend beside me true
No words in this song can express
My undying love for you...."
The morning greets Eclipse, Essie and Lady Cobra as they awaken from
their sleep and arise from their tents. "Good morrow, sisters!!!! I have some fish,
and a guest!!!!!" All three warrior-women are shocked at who they see with
Equinoxx. Indeed, it is the WONDERER. "Good morrow, fellow warriors!,"
Wonderer begins. "By, God....I knew someday that our paths would cross again,
but I knew not that it would be so soon..." Equinoxx, goes to Wonderer, and sits.
"I'm so happy to know that you have made it, dear friend...We thought that after
the explosion, we'd lost you. Did everyone else make it out of the forest?"
Equinoxx asks, with an air of concern, and hope. "Yes, fellow warrior," Eclipse
asks, "Are there any other survivors?" The Wonderer, with a look of sadness
and melancholy begins to narrate his answer, "Aside from Guinevere and the
four of us, there are only three other survivors....Kaige, Lady Victoria, and
Serena Solas. Lord Togaire, your blood brother, Equinoxx, was tortured by
Famine. That bastard hung Togaire on a steep cliff, then flashed visions of food
and sustenance into his mind(for Togaire was mad with thirst and hunger when
he was found), and then he would inject visions of disease into his psyche. The
trauma was too much for the young lad, for shortly after, he went insane then
died. Lady Lauranathalasis was captured by Pestilence, and was forced to
watch all those that she loved, be systematically killed right before her
eyes.....FireFlare, her young mage, also the one whom you converted Equinoxx,
I neglected to tell you, is right outside this forest's boundaries.....He stands an
eternal vigil, waiting for Lauranathalasis to appear....I shudder to think of what
will happen to him when he finds out the truth." Equinoxx and Eclipse slowly
rise, and ask, "Where is he, Wonderer?" Wonderer points to the shadowy glen.
"Over there, but please, do be careful. He isn't the same person you knew
then.....You can slowly bring him back, but it will take time." With that having
been said, Equinoxx and Eclipse head in the direction of the shadows, with their
persons, as well as their minds, armed and guarded. The shadowglen, with its
foggy glimmer, began to stir Eclipse's older memories of when she, Essie and
Guin were first attacked by the Horsemen. Equinoxx senses this and starts
sending words of hope and peace to Eclipse. Equinoxx sees a small, but yet
well-armed mage standing in front of him, with his back to Equinoxx, facing the
west, in general direction of Wyrmleagh. Equinoxx slowly approaches FireFlare,
but is turned aback when FireFlare swiftly turns around, and attacks both he and
Eclipse. "WHERE IS SHE, YOU BASTARD!!!!" screams FireFlare, "I WISH TO
SEE HER!!!" Equinoxx gently shoves FireFlare away, then calmly says,
"FireFlare....I don't quite know how to say this, but....she....never made it out of
Wyrmleagh forest alive...Pestilence tortured and killed her." FireFlare, upon
hearing the sad news, breaks down and starts to weep, bitterly. "I...loved her,
friend. She was the only one that ever did....I keep on having visions as to
where her body rests. I always see this odd-looking castle, with pointed turrets
and smaller frame than a normal castle built for war....but, then my mind goes
blank, and I cry, wishing I could see more." Equinoxx, knowing how it feels to be
unsure about a loved one's fate, warmly hugs FireFlare and says, "I know, and
share your pain. Before i knew that Guinevere was still alive, I would dream
nightmares and break out in cold sweats in an already cold tundra, just hoping
for a sign or dream that would lead me to her......." Equinoxx remembers
FireFlare mentioning the odd shape of the castle, and it occurs to him: "Flare, I
know that place......The Chateau deMarigny.....Etienne, my older brother.....HE
has Laurana's body? Eclipse, we must go back and tell the others about this.
Then, we make haste back to the Lost Lands and inform Guinevere." Equinoxx
remembers that Lady Cobra-Demeter has not yet seen Guinevere and he begins
to wonder aloud, "But how will my sister Demeter be able to enter the Lost
Lands? She isn't Cunnartach Banrigh...." He remembers now. "Wait, I still have
those mystic prongs Guinevere gave me. as long as we are with her, she can
enter." Equinoxx, Eclipse and FireFlare, now fully reverted to his newly
rejuvenated self, makes haste back to the encampment where Essie, Wonderer,
and Lady Cobra-Demeter reside. Eclipse, Equinoxx and FireFlare, now
breathless, reach the camp and try to tell the three what has just happened.
FireFlare begins, "We...have...good news. Laurana's body.....has been found."
Eclipse continues, "FireFlare has told us that since the Awakening, he has been
having visions as to where Laurana's body may be." Equinoxx finishes the
narrative, "And Etienne de Marigny holds the key. My older brother has her body
somewhere in his chateau. So, all of us must ride to the Lost Lands and tell
Guinevere this great news. I for one would like to ride there just to see her
beautiful face again." Lady Cobra-Demeter sees her brother's face as he says
this, and softly giggles, but she understands now. "Yes brother," she begins, "I
can tell how much you miss her." Wonderer adds, "Also, a return to the Lost
Lands is necessary for you, Equinoxx, because you need to regain your strength
and composure back.....I've sensed a presence of rage within you. It mustn't be
allowed to fester inside you, otherwise you will be of no use to us." Equinoxx
calmly sits down and begins to reveal his soul to his friends. "Ever since the
Battle, so many things have happened to me, I don't know where I should
start...." He takes a deep breath and continues, "Sister Demeter, the reason for
my prolonged absence from home was that after the Battle, I was sent to the
Dark Realms as a penance and final cleansing of my previous dark deeds.
During my purging, everything I knew and loved had changed.....as I had always
sended, Guinevere and I used to be married, but, when she saw that I never
came home, she assumed I was dead, and she remarried...To whom, you ask?
Why, to my second eldest brother, Sir Huma Dragonbane. The Dark Lord would
constantly torment me with these thoughts and visions, and I could do nothing to
stop the feelings of shame, guilt and violent rage pent up inside me, so after my
release, I journeyed to the High Mountain, and there I stayed for a few months--"
FireFlare interrupts, "How long were you in the Realms, friend?” Equinoxx
replies, “Only two weeks, but it felt like centuries......at any rate, I need to get
back to the Lost Lands.....it’s my home and I shall never leave it again.”
With that having been said, the gallant group mount their horses and
proceed to the Lost Lands to regroup themselves and to make known Equinoxx’
intent and mortal(or shall we say now, immortal) attendance to
Guinevere......And all shall be revealed to her concerning him.....in due time.......
