Darkness carved in bone

Chapter 4

Tenebrarum

Tenebrarum had traveled south for months now. He was tying up his horse against a tree in the forest. He hoped that he perhaps could trade some goods from the fair that the Vandrars had set up in the glen beyond, as he was beginning to become short of some necessities that his travels required. But they didn't need to see his horse or his fine saddle, then they were sure to demand more money from him when he purchased their goods, so he wanted to hide his horse from them. He put on his bear fur-cloak over his plain black winter clothes. The uniform he had preferred to wear on his travels were changed for clothes that would help him blend in with the Vandrars and the Sòlung. He couldn't wear his usual uniform as it revealed to much of his status, and he did not want the Vandrars to spread rumors of a dark soldier patrolling the south. That would cause to much commotion, and that was the last thing he wanted.

He was beginning to tire of the brightness these parts of the land seemed to bathe in. Not even true night was as dark as it was at home. He had even started to miss the palace, which he had been sure he never would miss. But that was perhaps more a testimony to how much he loathed the sun and her heirs. They were nothing like him, so foul and easy minded. His people were certainly elevated over these peasants, and his resolve to bring eternal darkness over their land had grown that much stronger during his travels. Just the thought about them and the sun's domination over them made him burst with anger. But he took a deep breath and calmed himself immediately. It was just a waste of energy, and they would soon feel all his wrath anyways. It was no use using up all his energy now, on things that would not result in anything.

The only thing he found positive about these parts of the land was that their winter was far milder than the winter in the north. It was still cold, but not the heart-wrenching coldness that seemed to freeze your lungs every time you took a breath, that he was used to. This winter night felt more like tiny knives were stabbing your lungs. So, not completely pleasant either. He had almost lost the feeling in his thigs as he had ridden, but the shift from sitting on the horses back to moving around made them heat up again.

Tenebrarum turned from his horse as he put his glows back on and meant to leave for the fair, but a flicker of something in the corner of his eye made him stop and turn towards the movement.

For a short moment his brain couldn't comprehend what he saw, but as the person came closer there was no mistaking it. A light one was skiing through the forest in the middle of the night. Tenebrarum was so shocked that his body froze where it stood. He had never seen an heir of the sun in darkness before, and this surely was a sight to behold. The woman was glowing brightly through the darkness, illuminating the dark trees that she blew past. The sun's residue on her skin made everything about her glow, she was almost like a tiny sun in her own. It almost felt like he could smell the sun and her power radiating from this woman, and it was strangely alluring to him. He leaned towards her, taking a tentative step forward.

Tenebrarum's usual dislike for the people of the sun seemed to vanish as he watched the woman. Her golden hair reminded him of that short and bittersweet moment when the sun breached the horizon again, setting the horizon on fire with molten gold, the definitive end to the night once more. The contrast between the glow on her skin and her ice-blue eyes made her even more beautiful. Her nose was straight, as was the rest of her face, except for a small but full lip. But there was nothing on her that could be said to be ugly. Her cheeks were red from the cold which made her seem alive and vibrant. Her body looked strong and able as she navigated the forest on her skies, using her thighs and arms to push herself forward.

He followed her through the forest, still mesmerized by this golden creature. He made sure he was invisible in the dark forest as he trotted through the deep snow. He hadn't intended on moving so fast through the snow, and his boots filled with snow as he lunged across the snow-covered forest. But he did not care, ignoring the tendrils of icy coldness that crept into his skin and towards his feet, he had to keep up with her. He had to know why she was outside in the darkness. There was almost as if something outside himself drew him towards her.