Legends Lost: Amborese

Chapter VI -- Hemíl

"Where are we?" Sposa asked Kylanisha as they wandered through the dense forest. Oddly, much of it was still green, yet some had changed color with the onset of winter. When Kylanisha did not respond to her question, Sposa started again. "I told you we were not supposed to crash into that tree. I am still plucking pine needles out of my fur."

"I meant to. And we didn't crash, it was just a rough landing," Kylanisha replied. Sposa's constant griping annoyed her greatly. She missed having Amborese around to calm the cat. "You were the one screaming the entire way down."

"I was not," said Sposa. "I was just voicing my displeasure at flying. Besides what do I look like, a mouse?"

"I could conjure up some cheese if you'd like."

The fairy's last remark hit a chord. Sposa snapped her mouth shut and whipped her tail from side to side. The feline continued mumbling under her breath about being stuck in the woods with a fairy that couldn't navigate.

Suddenly a wailing noise rushed through the trees. "What was that?" asked Sposa, hunkering low to the ground.

"The forest is speaking," replied Kylanisha. "Hush! Listen!"

"Trees do not talk," said Sposa.

"To the fairies, every living thing speaks: the wind, the grass, and the trees. They tell us the story of the earth," Kylanisha responded. She ceased speaking to listen to the voices of the trees. "This forest is ancient. The trees have not spoken for many years. But then, there has been no one here to listen. They are afraid. They speak of a terrible menace and a loyal servant returned from the dead. I don't know what they mean.

"That gust of wind we ran into blew us off course, away from the Lil' Montes. We must be near-."

"Hemíl," said a stern voice from behind, "Sometimes a little gust of wind can change one's course." The fairy and cat turned abruptly to discover the sorceress standing behind them. Quesha du'Adieu moved out from amongst the cover of the trees and approached the two travelers. Her gown swiveled with each graceful step she took. Sposa arched her back and spat at the sorceress. "Do not be frightened, Sposa, you needn't fear me," Quesha said.

"Quesha, what are you doing here?" asked Kylanisha. She possessed no love for the sorceress, but knew that her presence meant only one thing. Life was about to get more interesting.

Quesha ignored the fairy's question. "Hemíl is through those trees. That is your road."

Kylanisha opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off. Quesha waved her hand in a circle. Black smoke filled the air, swirling in the same direction her hand moved. The smoke transformed into a watery, glassy surface and appeared to be a window into another world. In it, a picture of Philip and Amborese treading through the woods of the Lil' Montes appeared. "There are your friends. Or at least there they were a few days ago," said Quesha. It then changed to that of an army of Iorks marching through a field, burning it as they went. Their breaths appeared in the frosty air as they moved. Another picture appeared of people being slaughtered by the Iorks. They panicked and tried desperately to escape. Farms burned. Kylanisha recognized the village being destroyed. It was near her home. Next, a scene of people in chains toiling in the mines flinched as their backs were ripped by the harsh lash of a whip. Lastly, the fairy and Sposa saw Amborese being tossed onto a pile of dead bodies, the necklace gone from around her neck. The pile of bodies burst into flames. The portal turned into swirling black smoke again and disappeared. "Amborese and Philip are nearing Castille as we speak, but you will not be there when they arrive. The Iorks are heading south after desecrating the north. Many are already here. The event you saw will happen if you all fail. You must go to Hemíl-."