Blacksmiths daughter

History

Liana was cooking in the house, and smiled as she heard her six years old daughter play in the backyard. Liana was a tall woman, with auburn hair and bright green eyes. She was in her thirties, but could look younger. She was strong and beautiful.
Suddenly a noise made her look up. The door opened. Slightly puzzled, Liana came closer. Was it her husband, coming home so early? She hadn't finished cooking lunch yet.
But the man that entered the house had nothing in common with her husband. The man was tall, with stick thin arms. His face was hidden under a dark cowl, and the same clothing fell in a cape behind him. At his side was the sheath of a sword, and it's blade was naked in the man's hand.
"who are you?" Liana asked, sounding braver than she felt. 'oh, Gwendolyn, please keep quiet.' she silently pleaded. The man could not know about her young daughter. Not if he was as dangerous as he looked. But the little girl chose that moment to laugh in delight, and Liana detected a smile beneath the shadow of the man's face. A cold, cruel smile.
"my name is of no matter. But what I am interested in is you..." he said. His voice was quiet, like a raspy whisper. "and keep quiet. You wouldn't want an accident to happen to that little girl of yours, would you?" Liana paled visibly. The stranger smiled again, white teeth flashing. "no, I didn't think so." His voice sounded as if he wasn't used to talking; or rather as if he hadn't talked in years.
He was now intent on her, knowing she would do what he wanted. "your husband, he is working?" he asked. As she didn't respond, standing still and pale, a grimace of anger distorted his shadowed face. "answer!" he growled in a sudden burst of rage.
Liana was now pale as a ghost. She nodded. "yes, he is gone working." her voice was barely more than a terrified whisper. Oh, how much she longed to be next to him, safely in his arms! He was strong, he would protect her. But he wasn't there, and she was left shivering by herself.
The man nodded slowly. "and he will come home for lunch soon?" Liana nodded once more. It seemed like the only thing the poor woman could do.
The man nodded again, coming to a decision. "then, we shall go. We wouldn't want him to disturb us." he said, and as another happy cry came from the backyard, he added: "and we absolutely wouldn't want to disturb the little angel playing so nicely in the backyard." His voice was dangerously low. It was a warning. Liana shook her head violently. "no, leave her alone." she whispered.
The stranger nodded. "let's go then." he commanded. Liana complied and followed him out the door, which she closed silently, and into the streets.
Many times as they walked, Liana was tempted to call for help. But the simple thought of her little Gwendolyn, dead, lying in a pool of blood made her reject any idea of escape. Somehow, no-one looked at her, no-one asked what she was doing, pale and shaking like a leaf, mindlessly following the dark stranger. No-one saw them.
As they passed the forge, where Liana's husband was working, she heard the comforting sound of him working, of the hammer striking against the anvil, the noise the loved the most. Those many days, when she would help him there, until they found out she had been pregnant!... Then, he had insisted she stayed at home, saying a forge was way too dangerous for her and the baby.
He had wanted a boy, she knew, to become apprentice at the forge and help him. But he hadn't looked disappointed at all when he had first seen his little daughter, and Liana had known he loved her, regardless of her gender. Liana felt ready to burst into tears, or run to the door and call for her husband, her strong, protective husband, or even both at once. But she kept her head high and continued walking.
Soon, they were out of the village. The man kept quiet, and Liana wasn't talking either.
They had been walking for about fifteen minutes when the stranger finally stopped. They were far from the village, in a small grove of trees and bushes. The tall, spindly man turned to face Liana. Somehow, his sword had regained its sheath and he was empty-handed. Perhaps it was that that gave Liana the courage to speak up. Either way, as soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it was a mistake.
"Why did you bring me here?"
such a simple question, perfectly understandable, but it brought a grimace of rage to the man.
He lifted his hands, his fingers clawed, and Liana felt a crushing force grip her, and squeeze until she could barely breathe.
"This is what I brought you here for!" he exclaimed, and his cowl fell back. His face, already scary in the shadows, looked terrifying in the sunlight. He almost didn't look human, with his yellow skin, and dark, cracked lips. His face was gaunt, with sunken cheeks. He looked like he hadn't eaten in weeks. His nose was long and crooked, like that of a witch. But the worst were his eyes. Bloodshot, with the white completely red. His pupils and iris were one, black. A soulless, chilling black. But inside there burned a steady fire, a fire of hatred, of anger.
Liana would have cried out, if she could. But the invisible force was too strong, crushing.
"I know you have heard of this. Everyone knows. But I also know you can use it." he growled, and his grip released slightly do she could speak. But she didn't, taking in big gulps of air.
Of course she had heard about this, the Sykia. It was a strange power, usually acquired by heredity. Exceptions did happen, and sometimes a young child from a normal family would be able to use it. But it was rare, and those children were called 'blessed children'. And she had never been one.
"I-I don't..." she stuttered, her voice quiet. The man's fingers twitched in anger and Liana felt pain blind her. "I know you do! You are the Imlaka!" he exclaimed, and despite her pain, Liana was even more confused than before. What was the Imlaka? Why should she be it?
The stranger seemed to calm down suddenly and he dropped Liana, who fell on the ground in a heap. She curled up, taking in air slowly and deeply.
The stranger searched through his coat pockets, then took out a white tissue. He seemed to hesitate, then he opened it by the corners. Inside laid a stone, about the size of a small birds egg. It was black, but where the light was reflected on it, it reflected red. Liana shivered. Something dark seemed to emanate from the stone, but she couldn't place it.
The man took the stone between his fingers, but made sure to always keep the tissue between his fingers and the stone.
"This is the Wyal stone." he explained, and his voice was respectful, almost fearful. "it holds great power... But only the Imlaka can use it, and touch it." he stopped, then advanced on Liana.
Liana opened her eyes wide in fear. He was going to make her touch it. He was going to kill her, since she knew she wasn't the Imlaka. She tried to shuffle back, but he was too fast. Now, he was by her. He crouched, and his hand descended towards her. She lifted her hand to protect her face, until she felt the cold stone on her palm. Liana froze.
"Is this her?"
Liana closed her eyes tightly, feeling horrible pain between her eyes.
"she is not. She feels the pain."
Liana tried to scream, but no sound came out. She could only see red. The pain filled her.
"maybe the chosen one will feel the pain too, but be able to fight against it."
Liaba opened her eyes, and she wasn't in the grove of trees anymore. A dark place, with figures bent over her. She became aware the pain was gone, completely gone. She didn't feel anything anymore.
"welcome."