Blood Promises

Chapter-5-

♦Four years later, In the remote ancient forest ♦

In the heart of the colony of Icy mountains In Xascon

♦...............................................................................................................♦

A Distant cicada whispered in the evening heat, the creaking sound growing until it broke, leaving behind only a dull whiff, of breeze.  Eva, the first daughter of the house of Windweaver, lay on a carpet of light, soft green, staring up at the trees above.

As far as anyone could tell, Xascon was by far larger than Xuclistan as it's  expanded to the north and unexplored. Savage. Anonymous. The small colony of Icy mountain clasped to its corner.

Windweaver lay at the very end of that land, as it wasn't safe, and not civilized as well.

The day's radiance and warmth called for a nap. Everything looked the same yet; there were some tiny sparks of faerie dust moving more than usual as Eva rushed from rock to another.

"There is a secret that I know."

Eva turned her head slowly and gazed back at her friend.  He's her brother and friend. Chester Bernard, lean and well built and he is three years her senior. Eva could never forget what he did four years ago. Chester is the only reason she survived in Astax four years ago.  Eva would always remember what he did for her, and that's why she pulled him out of the deadly swamp of Astax's when she became the warden's advisor.

Eva was aware that all her dreams were crushed. What happened four years ago forced her to return home not as the first general, but as an advisor. As if it wasn't enough how humiliated she felt, but her mother made sure to rub it in her face.

"Of course you know one. Today is my twenty-seventh birthday, and my dear mother tasked you to keep me away from home. Not to surprise me or anything, but to lick her wounds for all she knows that her first daughter of this house is corrupting her image. I'm still unmarried..." Eva spoked her words bitterly.

"Eva, life is not that bad, and besides, I heard that your mother got a gift for you this time."

"What?"

He didn't answer.

Eva sat up. "Tell me! You can not say such a thing then decide to remain silent, Chester."

"I'm not sure I should say anything, and besides I like tormenting you."

"Chester!" She said as she pounced on him.

"I heard your mother saying that you're getting a visitors on your birthday. He brings you a surprise."

"Who? Who are you talking about?" Eva whispered, demanding an answer. There was a bad feeling dancing in the bit of her stomach.

Chester sat up abruptly, staring carefully at Eva.

"Spill, who is this stranger?"

"I don't know."

"Where is he from? Who sent him?"

Chester's voice became so low as of he was telling Eva something forbidden, "The Ivory Crevice."

The Ivory Crevice.

The name muttered in her spirit like a sinister incarnation, thick with a threat. The sun sneaked behind a cloud, and just then a shiver ran through her body. Or was it the name of that forsaken cliff? That cliff was wrapped with mystery and death.