Legend of Roshnak

CHAPTER 7

Gogron rushed in his hut, followed closely by Roshnak, hastily climbing the stairs to the second floor. There, in a quite large, spacious room, among the tall shelves filled with scrolls, books, glass-bottles full of various potions and powders and lots of bags packed with different herbs, weeds and minerals, stood a small, wooden altar. It was somewhat weathered, with a slightly damaged surface, but sturdy. On top of it was stone mortar and pestle and a couple of wooden bowls, containing the remains of herbs, that the shaman mixed, making some strange concoctions and potions.

Gogron firstly, and very carefully, moved the altar to the side, lifting a couple of roughly woven rugs, revealing quite strange, but very interesting carving, that stretched almost across the entire floor. It was of two concentric circles, about ten feet in diameter, in between which were written strange looking symbols. Over fifty different ones. Roshnak recognized some of the runes. But, most of them, he saw for the very first time.

"What are we doing here? What is this?" Roshnak asked.

"Your final lesson." Gogron retorted "Although much sooner than I previously planned, this is a perfect opportunity for you to learn the secrets of the magical doors."

"Doors? Leading to where?"

"Towards the other doors." shaman laughed, "In this case, those who are leading towards the ice maiden."

"But how?" Roshnak was confused.

"With the help of this ancient, very powerful magic." Gogron answered, pointing at the symbols carved on the floor.

"It will take days before I learn them all." his young pupil said, somewhat deflated "Shall we begin with it then?"

"No my boy." the shaman shook his head "You'll learn the language of the stars from Ch'ybal, just like I did."

"You've met her?"

"Yes, a long time ago." Gogron nodded "I was a bit older than you are now. I just became a shaman."

"Did you have to go through these doors, too?" Roshnak asked.

"Similar to these ones, but those that belonged to my teacher." shaman said "Now, look carefully."

Out of a quite large, leather bag, Gogron grabbed a handful of fine, red powder, which he spread over one of the symbols.

"This mark represents my door." shaman said.

He proceeded to recite the apparent spell, Roshnak could not understand. The symbol suddenly flashed, as the powder burned in a puff of smoke, vanishing from the floor altogether. A couple of moments later, the entire ring was shining in bright, white light. Inside of it, instead of the wooden floor, appeared a smooth, black surface. Despite being radiant and very still, resembling some kind of a mirror, it did not give any reflection.

"Doors are opened." Gogron exclaimed.

"What now?" Roshnak asked.

"As soon as you step through the portal, you'll find yourself in the interspace." shaman said in all seriousness "Journey will last only a couple of seconds, but don't let that fool you. You have to be extremely careful, not to veer off of it."

"Why?"

"Those who get lost, stay in there. Forever." Gogron said "They became phantoms, the soul devourers."

"It isn't possible to return the same way?" Roshnak asked.

"Return to what? The body is shifted outside of reality, it no longer belongs anywhere."

"How am I going to be sure I'll reach the other door?"

"Magic will guide you there." Gogron answered "All you need to do is stay focused on the exit."

"Is that all?" Roshnak asked.

"Show Ch'ybal the respect, boy." shaman said "Do anything she asks of you."

"Of course."

"And always, and I mean always, look straight in her eyes." Gogron smiled.

Roshnak nodded, stepping on the exact center of the magical portal. Something suddenly grabbed and pulled him inside. Moments later, he was rushing through the passageway, just about wider than him. He took quite seriously on Gogron's warning, determined to keep his concentration and stay focused on the exit. Just a couple of seconds later, he spotted a glittering, white ring of the gate, leading into Tyrsh. Roshnak closed his eyes, as he was blinded by the light. But this soon passed, and once he opened his eyes, he was standing in the middle of an oval hall made out of ice. Polished, over two hundred feet tall walls, narrowed towards the top in the shape of a cone. In contrast with the snow covered, white floor, they looked marvelous in their bright, light-blue tones.

"Welcome, Roshnak Baanar of Vur-Pan." a mild, very sensual voice came from behind the orc's back. "My name is Ch'ybal."

Over fifteen feet tall, female figure glided silently into the room, through the high, wide-opened double doors. She was pronouncedly pale, which even more accentuated her smooth skin covered in the translucent flakes of ice. Roshnak immediately understood why Gogron told him to maintain the constant eye contact. Ch'ybal was completely naked. But those gorgeous, big, dark blue eyes, were capable of drawing the look, from her sensual, lush body.

"Please follow me, Roshnak Baanar of Vur-Pan." the ice maiden said gently, "We are almost out of time, and the danger is ever so closer."