Dark Earth Anthology

Prologue

To all true believers: Ashallalah's face shines upon you and your kin

2192 B.C. European continent

Called by light and served with faith.

Deep in the woods of what would eventually become Denmark a young woman, no older than 12, was out gathering berries for communal dinner as was custom for all girls in the village. Astrid Dyrke was her name and was considered to be one of the kindest souls in the tight knit community of farmers. Deep in her heart she harbored a deep discontent like she was a person born in the wrong time and so she escaped her given reality by travelling through the woods outside of town. Officially she was one of the chief gatherers but the nuts and berries which she happened upon were only a side effect of her escapism. On one such trip she beheld the most splendiferous twist of fate and change in her life. It was the day she had ventured farther into the wood than her eyes and feet had seen. Her hand gently gripped the last fruit of the schnapps when her eyes wandered to the eternal sky. The sun became wary in the sky as it was overtaken by the horizon. For a moment she realized she should go back but the patch of strawberries just ahead appeared to have bloomed well, bearing many fruits. Against her better judgment she continued further into the green. When she had picked yet another bush bare, stars speckled the sky. Every direction looked like the direction she had come from. Not wishing to be too late home she took off in one of the many directions that seemed to be beckoning her to get lost. Lines became circles and circles lines. She had become lost. Frantic, she ran even faster before her foot snagged on a hidden rock causing her face to become acquainted with the wet dirt. Head pounding she stood brushing off her simple dress. In the distance just beyond a small hill she saw a light, faint and unnatural yet calm. Curious, she clamored up the hill and saw a small clearing with a pin point of bright light in the center of a field of poppies. When she came upon it the light faded away and she saw it was a small silver bracelet. It was intricately crafted, centuries ahead of its time. Cautious and confused she slowly bent down to pick it up. It fit her small wrist perfectly, not too tight and not too loose. My child, a voice as smooth as silk and as soft as wool whispered to her, bypassing her ear and straight into her brain. I am Ashallalah and you are my new vessel. I am the lord of all life and of all creation. Heed my word and herald my name that all may one day be reborn through me. Shock and awe ran thick through her veins as she felt her head become light and her vision dim. When she opened her eyes once again she was in her bed, her parents looking upon her. "We thought you were dead!" She reached up and embraced them while thoughts of the bracelet and visions of future generations under Ashallah's banner danced in her mind. That coming week she became something of a celebrity in the village. Everyone knew about the girl who knew a god and within the year the whole village and the surrounding villages all worshiped the god that they called the bringer of life. All was good. Until the day of reckoning. It was harvest season when he showed his face. His absurd clothing made the entire village stare. Initially this strange man in a white tunic spoke nothing but just stood in front of the shrine to The Bringer of Life, deliberately facing away. Then, with a tone like fine cotton and the strength of 1000 trees, he spoke. But the words which he said made little sense to these god loving villagers. He spoke of another, more powerful god, that had the power over the very depths of death itself. When no one believed this wicked man he did the unspeakable. It was true dark when he walked to the mass grave outside of the village followed by all of the residents including Astrid and her little daughter, Elena who was no older than 8. With a single wave of his hand the ground started to shift beneath their feet and was upheaved by the immense force of hundreds of bodies coming to life beneath the cold soil. Astrid left her daughter's side with a mighty charge and heaved a massive bolt of fire at the man but he appeared unfazed. With another wave of his hand he commanded the undead to devour the innocents for their lack of devotion. Astrid tried her hardest to stave off the attacks but was eventually overwhelmed. With her last bit of strength the bracelet which she had been gifted so many years ago, sailed over the heads of the hoards and landed at the feet of Elena. "Elena...run...run away from this place." She followed her mother's wishes and, as fast as her young legs could take her, she fled seeking shelter from this place, not daring to look back.