The Mad Queen

Chapter Twenty-Four

As our world began to grow and develop, new gods were born. Beings to help guide us from their world. They had full power over our lands. They made everything upon it. We were to worship them. To be their obedient, unquestioning followers. We would cement their power through prayers and ceremonies. Those were simple times. However, there was one thing the gods could not control.

Balance.

No matter what power they had, the universe always balanced itself out. For every God born of the good in our world, a Goddess was born for the bad.

Where there was a God of water, there was a Goddess of fire.

Where there was a God of the earth and the land, there was a Goddess of the skies and the winds.

Where there was a God of the creatures there was a Goddess of beasts.

Where there was a God of the day there was a Goddess of the night.

Where there was a God of life there was a Goddess of death.

Balance. When the High gods made our world, the use of their powers created a disturbance. For the power to balance itself, the goddesses were made. Complete opposites of their male counterparts and almost enemies. Yet, neither could live without the other. The world would not be able to survive without both parts.

As our world developed and more gods were born, so were the goddesses.

The god of peace was one of the first gods to be born from our world. It was an easy time all those years ago. No one fought each other. No one killed or hurt others. The world was full of acceptance and tolerance. However, where there is peace there is also war.

Together, the goddess of war and the goddess of death wove their magic deep into our world, not wanting to outdone by the gods. From then on, the creatures of the world began to fight not only with themselves but with each other. The era of bloodshed began.

~The History of the Gods

Night draws in quickly. I've been travelling in the wilderness for three days now. I have no idea if there is anyone on my trail or how far my pursuers are behind me. I have no idea where to go at the moment. I've just been trying to get as far away from the city as possible. I've been keeping off the main roads and paths. I left the forests a while ago. The area around me is now rolling green hills and mountains. I walk through a valley. Mountains rise up on either side of me, tall and intimidating. They are spectacular though. However, as the sky turns dark blue, the mountains transform into dark shadows. I sigh, deciding it is best to stop for the night. I jump of Trouble and remove his gear. I decide not to start a fire. That would make it easier for me to be seen. I'd rather not draw much attention to myself.

With a sigh, I lie the saddle down on the ground and rummage through the bags for some food and a blanket. I just hope that it doesn't rain. One I've set up a small bed, I reach for some more of the dry crackers. Trouble munches at the grass behind me whilst I eat. I take a slow deep breath and listen. There is nothing but the occasional whisper of the wind as it is forced down the valley. Thankfully, it is cool but not too cold. After eating, I lie down and rest my head against the saddle. My hand I keep on the blade next to me, just in case. I won't sleep properly. I already know that. Even though I am exhausted. I look up at the sky. It is clear and full of thousands of tiny stars. Apparently, thousands of years ago, people thought that the stars were the lights of the gods. When there was a shooting star, it was believed it was a god travelling to our lands to gift us with their presence or just to observe. Of course, now we know the stars can't be the gods because they abandoned us a long time ago.

I drift in and out of sleep throughout the night. It gets cold, but thankfully my warm clothes and blanket are enough. I am alert though. I worry about being stumbled on by the wrong people. Bandits, lawbreakers or worse still, the Red Guard. I stretch as I sit up. The sky has just started to turn a light blue. I take a swig from the water canteen and pack up my little sleeping area then re-kit Trouble. Before I get on his back, I take out the map book. I rush through the pages. I sigh annoyed. I have no idea how to start this quest.

My eyes fall on a particular page. I stop dead, my heart racing as my fingers graze the rough parchment. I gulp. My eyes scan over the map illustrations that span over two pages. A huge bowl of sheer rocky cliff faces. Inside this bowl, surrounded by the cliffs is a forest. Though it isn't drawn like all the forests in the map books. The trees are in thick black ink and consist of jagged lines and spiked branches. Even the illustrations look dark and evil.

The Lost Wood.

I gulp again, thinking back to my vision. The vision of the present I had during the ceremony in which I retrieved my mark. Standing in the Lost Wood alone whilst in the presence of a beast. A beast with glowing blue eyes. I frown.

Why was I shown that? I've never thought of it until now. With all the madness that happened straight after, I completely forgot about the visions. Whispers echo in my mind.

"I can sense you, princess,"

"How?" I had asked.

"Do you think I wouldn't sense the person descended from the woman who banished me to this awful place? A person of the same blood and the only one who could set me free?"

My throat dries just thinking about it and I shiver uncontrollably as the growled words swirl in my mind over and over again. I shake my head, still confused. I was shown that vision for a reason. I jump onto Trouble's back and go back through the map, trying to find my path. Once I have a rough idea, I put the map away. Before I leave, I check to make sure I've left nothing behind. Happy, I urge trouble on. This time, as I leave, an odd feeling settles in my stomach. Some of the answers I am looking for are going to be in The Lost Forest. I can sense it. Except, those who enter that forest do not return. I shake my head and close my eyes.

It's a stupid idea. I shouldn't be heading toward it. Except, we are but four days journey away. Somehow, I've been coming in this direction the whole time. I'm already on the right track. I grip my sword a little tighter and urge Trouble into a trot.

"Looks like we're heading to the Lost Wood," I sigh to him. He doesn't react. He just carries on trotting without a care in the world. Meanwhile, my head is swirling with all the horrors I've been told about that woodland. That the fog that surrounds it causes the mind to madden and fall into delusion. That there are beasts trapped there. Hunting and killing each other. Mutated beyond any recognisable animal that lives in the rest of Vivelle. It is supposed that the Lost Wood is where the Goddess of beasts created and experimented on her monsters. The woods where monsters were born. I try to reason with myself. The gods are gone. None of the Monster Goddess' magic exists there any longer. Though I can't help it as my mind drifts back to the creature that spoke to me. How he changed from bear to man to wolf. How is such a thing real? I shake my head again, trying to get the thoughts out of my head before I bottle it.

I need to venture there. I don't know why but I feel it in the pits of my stomach. As soon as I saw its picture on the map. I just have to remember my training is all. I can kill a few beasts if I have too. Even in my own thoughts, I don't sound confident.