The Warrior Falcon

Chapter One

The woman approaches at a rapid pace, glancing over her shoulder repeatedly. Nothing can be seen in the thick shadow that surrounds her, yet her eyes dart around as if trying to spot invisible horrors. Reaching the door, she grasps the handle and wrenches it open.

A floor lamp casts a soft glow over the room. The woman pulls up a few floorboards, revealing the rusty frame of a trapdoor hidden underneath. She reaches down and pulls hard. It swings back with a resounding clank, revealing a winding staircase that curves out of sight.

Following it, she finds herself in a wide hallway lit by small fires burning from stone plinths lining the walls. She proceeds forward and comes upon a glass door, impeccably transparent and secured by a copper frame. It swings back silently and with minimal effort, and she continues down another winding staircase.

This one leads into a labyrinth. She does not know exactly where she is going, but she nevertheless feels an inexplicable urge to follow a certain path. She does not know why, but she is quite certain that she is going the right way: she is sure that she is walking directly to her destination.

She does not encounter any obstacles. Reaching the end of the maze, she passes an archway and enters a massive room. In stark contrast to the rest of this place, it is well-lit and spotlessly clean. The walls, floor and ceiling are all milky white, and a crystal chandelier hangs overhead.

The woman gazes around thoughtfully, drinking in the images, and then turns around to leave. But the entrance has disappeared.

A wave of frustration consumes her, and she drops to her knees. Holding her head in her hands, she screams silently. What's happening to me?! Why can't I find any answers?!

Dimly, in a subconscious part of her mind, she realizes that she is unable to remember the questions she is seeking answers for. Looking around desperately, she stares at the suddenly grim-looking room, hoping to find any hints or clues.

What's wrong with me?!

But before she can reach a new level of agony, a strange voice ripples through the silence and seems to touch her very heart. It does not seem to come from any particular direction, but rather from all directions at once. It is captivating.

"You will never find your answers until you find your questions." The woman feels a prickle of relief, along with confusion, sadness, and a little anger. "An undefined question has no defined answer."

"But the questions I have are crystal-clear!" the words escape her lips without her rendition. She suddenly remembers what her questions are. "I just want to know why my family betrayed me! Why did Mathel abandon me? Why can't I find a trace of them anywhere?"

"You will not find the answers to meaningless questions, Amulet," the voice replies. "You must look more closely, see more deeply. The answers you seek are all around you. Reality is self-evident."

"Don't speak in riddles!" she shouts in irritation. "I haven't been able to get clear answers for five months now! Tell me the truth!"

"Reality is self-evident," the voice repeats. "You will not find your answers until you see more deeply. Look down."

She looks down. Between her knees is a crumpled scrap of paper. Picking it up and smoothing it on the palm of her hand, she sees that it says only two words.

Elsinore Woods.

"Elsinore Woods?" she asks. The voice fails to reply.

I wake up.