Legends of Marithia: Book 2 - Darkness Rising by Peter Koevari Page B

it
to Anakari. She whispered, “This is one of the greatest weapons
that I wield. It will glow in the presence of a demon. A regular
shadow demon glows green. An elder demon, like Wumvarn, will glow
blue.”
    Anakari took a moment to look into the
orb, noticing a faint blue glow from within.
    “ Yuski, should we be
concerned that your orb is glowing blue?”
    Yuski laughed, putting her orb back
into her coat pocket.
    “ The orb can find demons
over lands far away; the faint blue glow is exactly why I was
waiting in the woods. I know that Wumvarn is somewhere nearby. Why
do you think I checked my pocket before accepting your invitation?
I certainly wouldn’t want to ride a horse with Wumvarn anytime
soon, it would be a heart wrenching experience,” she joked, “So,
and now it’s your turn… what do you want to go to Crondor for
anyway?”
    “ Actually, I’m not sure. I
heard that it is a safe town and I want to ask some of the locals
if the name ‘Daessar’ means anything to them.”
    “ Daessar? I am sorry Kari,
the name means nothing to me… but I might know someone who can help
you. He lives near Crondor and is more knowledgeable in Marithian
history than anyone I have ever met. If there is meaning to the
name… he will likely know what it is,” she answered.
    Anakari looked up as the
forest thinned and she found comfort as her familiar stars returned
to her view. She smiled as she said cheerfully, “You were right,
Crondor is this
way, but I suspect it will take some time to reach
there.”
    “ Yes, continue on until you
reach a well beaten path and we will arrive at Crondor when the
moon is at its highest. I am completely exhausted, so I hope you
don’t mind if I rest on your back? I’ve been waiting for that cruel
demon for days in those woods and my muscles ache from the earlier
battle.”
    Anakari could really use her help, and
she seemed a valuable ally for her journey. She also had the chance
to kill her and didn’t.
    If she trusts me enough to
ride with me then perhaps I should trust her as well, she thought.
    “ Sure, make yourself
comfortable and I will rouse you once we arrive at Crondor,”
replied Anakari.
    Yuski wrapped her arms around
Anakari’s slender waist, snuggling up to her back. At first, the
young elf froze in shock when Yuski put one of her hands inside her
coat, but she relaxed when she realised that Yuski was just looking
for a way to secure herself on the horse.
    Yuski took a deep breath and casually
said, “If the orb glows bright blue in my pocket on our journey and
I fail to notice, let me know before Wumvarn gets to your elven
heart.”
    Anakari almost jumped out of her skin
and yelled, “What!?”
    “ Just kidding,” giggled
Yuski, “You are so jumpy! Neither of us are likely prey for Wumvarn. She prefers
men who she can easily seduce.”
    Anakari sighed deeply, forcing herself
to relax.
    “ I’m sorry Yuski, something
has been bothering me today.”
    “ What has been bothering
you?” asked Yuski.
    “ Earlier today, the sun was
blotted out by the moon. I studied the stars for most of my life,
and my master Aldorus taught me how to predict when these events
would happen, and it wasn’t time for an event such as
this.”
    “ Plenty has happened in
Marithia lately that is strange, why is this any different? We have
a red moon, does that not worry you?”
    Anakari’s voice broke and her eyes
watered as she said, “I know, but that’s not all. When the sky
darkened, I looked to the stars and I saw a singular star shoot
across the sky, but I swear that I saw it fall to Marithia, far out
to sea. It would not be so bad if I didn’t feel as if I somehow was
connected to that star. I, I can’t explain it, but I suddenly felt
saddened… as if I had lost something or someone close to
me.”
    Yuski held her tighter and tenderly
rubbed Anakari’s stomach.
    “ Hey, I’m sure everything
is alright. Shooting stars have been a common sighting over many
ages. Maybe you