World Without Song

Chapter 4: Book of Swords

Yhidawach and Mary had returned to Zimrest triumphantly.

The Slash Emperor gave his honest praises and took Yhidawach's sword to forge it in the same steel his great-sword was made of.

It gleamed in dull red colors, as if it was bathed in blood and fire both.

The Slash Emperor confirmed this, saying it was forged with dragon's blood.

Dragons died some three thousand years ago, but the Empire had kept large stores of it under the castle.

The Slash Emperor had then announced that Yhidawach will officially name his weapon and be written into the Book of Swords.

The Book of Swords is a record of esteemed soldiers that have served the Empire since its beginning. With the addition of Knights it has now become exclusively for them, with distinguished soldiers falling by the wayside.

Their names, titles and the names they gave their weapons were recorded in the Book of Swords. It also meant that Yhidawach would soon be impregnating a woman. As the celebration that followed a knight's name being written in the book always ended with the greatest gift. A soon to be knight to serve the Empire just like his father.

Mary was seething with rage at the thought of having Yhidawach stolen from her by another woman. But she had no right to speak of anything.

....

The ceremony came and went. Yhidawach had named his blade "Omen", apparently that was the first time a sword had been given an evil name, but the Slash Emperor laughed it off and called it a fine moniker for the Knightslayer.

Three women were brought to him, dressed in fine silks with seductive gazes; Mary swore she saw reluctance in his eyes as they led him to his chambers.

They would spend the next four months in Zimrest, with Yhidawach helping formulate war strategies for the Slash Emperor and hunting kite beasts with him for his ever growing lust for feasts.

In that time Yhidawach's children were born, two boys and one girl, by tradition, the women named the kids and the boys were taken by the Empire to potentially become knights.

Mary had comforted him all that time. Listening to his worries, taking his pain away even if he had no sin to expel.

And she did it all in silence.

She began having dreams, more like nightmares.

Of a crazed woman's voice, whispering:

"Blood, poison, fire, hate, love, me, prayer, fear... BURN"

Over and over again. And every time she woke up, Yhidawach would be there watching her, calming her.

"Don't look at me. Revenge. Only look at me. Eternity. Two. Sacrifice. Adore. ME."

The words bounced between her left and right side, a shade following with them, sometimes speaking in reverse.

It was maddening.

...

It was at the end of the fourth month, winter had just reared its head.

The Slash Emperor had called Yhidawach into his hall and given him an order.

He was to slay the last Land-dragon. Belderion.

She was not allowed to follow him for a journey that would certainly last a month or more. She would be away from his warmth, and his calm voice that restored her sanity.

They spent one last night together before he set off to the mountain where Belderion was chained... or as the Slash Emperor said... broke free.

The mountain was far to the north, past Gesten Keep, past the Ivy Kingdom which apparently agreed to grant Yhidawach safe passage, and finally past the Silent Cathedral.

That mountain was aptly named... Ephrastill. Meaning "Place Where Time Stands Still".

The Ivy Kingdom didn't worry Mary. The Silent Cathedral did.

Whatever goes there never comes back, whether it's man or beast, all equally fall silent when they go near.

No one alive today knows what the cathedral was for, whose side it belonged to and what was kept there.

All that is known about it is that large, hollow metal pipes seem to make up its grand structure. And even despite this, the wind does not make a sound when passing through them.

Fell magics, they say, blanket the entire area. But once again, no one truly knows.

And her Knight was about to go to that place.

The thought of it brought up her nightmares once more, that voice has begun to bleed into the world of the awake.