The House Of Blood and Dust, Book One: Darkness Rising

Silver Tongued Pariah

As I wake I know nothing but the sweet, sharp pain that enters my head as I try to think about happiness. The darkness is happiness and I try to find comfort in that. My mother has gone with her priestess’ to the altar in the woods. I am not allowed to go for the ladies didn’t wish for me to see them naked, prancing around doing rituals, being the only male here is an odd experience. Some of these rituals include the gaining of tattoos, the more experienced in the ways of faith, the more ink you’ll have placed into your skin. I sit up and stare at the statue, the statue of the woman who founded this way of life. The elven way of life, called clan elves by many and forest dwellers by fools, I rather like forest dwellers makes us sound oddly magical. I stand and go outside, the rain is crashing down. I can see Elizabeth in the distance weeping alone. I do not know what is wrong with her for I cannot converse with humans or I am violating something that my clan leader said. Zachary and an unknown female dounas have come to the camp. What the hell do I care if my father knows if I’ve spoken to my girlfriend and one of my best friends. I walk out of the tent and walk over to Elizabeth, dressed in the robes of Faeron and tattoos covering my arms but they cannot be seen. I stand behind her

            “Are you lost?” She turns and smiles, she stands and she holds me.

            “Not anymore… they said you’d left and that you couldn’t leave with us.” We release each other and I smile into her eyes.

            “They’re dead… Florence and Mira… they were killed by a group who were chasing Zachary and Triss.” Triss I assume is the dounas woman.

            “You are not, so do not waste time mourning, savour the memories you have with them.” She doesn’t smile, I don’t think she understands. Elizabeth Williams the idiot of the Williams girls, beautiful but stupid and empty vessel for fucking, I don’t love her and I never have she came to me after the mage broke up with here and she just wanted to get back at him, she didn’t for he didn’t care and now I’ve been drowning my sorrows with her ever since.

            “So are you just going to stand there and tell me to just move on, my fucking sisters died, they were murdered by a bunch of assholes who were led to our safe house by that dick head oaf and his slut.” I stand in shock, she loves me and she loathes me but I cannot leave her yet. “Do you want to know what the last thing that Zachary said?”

            “Pray tell.” She slaps me,

            “Don’t get cocky with me you pretentious elven twat. That oaf told her that he had never loved her and those where the last words she would hear.” Her voice has always annoyed me, I have put up with her for too long and yet I cannot for the life of me leave her.

            “I am sorry… but that is all I am saying on the matter.” She smiles that fake smile that shows more about this frail vapid shell of a human being.

            “Fine, just know you’re so called best friend is a murderous swine.”

            “Nice to see you’ve forgiven me, but next time don’t call me something that I already know that I am.” Zachary laughs as Elizabeth storms off and I look at the woman next to him. White hair and purple eyes, her beauty is as an elf.

            “Well this is a funny he has left to pursue priesthood… I didn’t know your father was so full of shit.” I laugh, as does the warrior as he grabs me and hugs me. “Damn it’s been too long.”

            “Where is Avenji?”

            “I do not know… I can only say that he must be dead.”