Of Light and Shadow
It is a warm summer's night in the island kingdom of Jureal. The shrill cries of a newborn rent the peaceful silence.
He will be know as Mirial, the youngest son of the Lord of Nightshadow , Ragghyr (the king's male- bride) of Jureal. Cursed, because of a rash promise made a thousand years before his birth by his ancestor.
Heir to a tragic legacy. . .
..................... ....................... ............................. ......................... ..........................
His horse was restless. Far bellow, countless corpses littered the plane. His army had won, but the cost had been heavy. The enemy , the sarenese tribes, had been nearly eradicated.
He smiled, thepeople of Saren had been the last obstacle to the total unification of Jureal under his crown. Without further interference from within he could finally concentrate on strengthening the kingdom against the few countries that could pose a threat to his rule.
The sound of approaching horses drew his attention. Two men on horseback were heading his way. He recognized them as his son's: Ileanos and Fois. The two were as different as day and night. He could not help a wistful smile as he wondered if the birth of his second son, Fois , from a sarenese slave had not been a mistake.
They stopped near him .Ileanos dismounted first and immediately went to his brother's side. He held him by the waist as he dismounted. Magus felt some disgust when he noticed the way the two held each other sharing a loving glance at one another.
" So, the rumors about them being lovers are true. That is why Ileanos refuses every girl he is presented with. -Sighing , he looked away from the couple. He found himself pondering the dilemma that had plagued him for years. The continuation of his dynasty.
" If Fois had been a daughter everything would be perfect. Ileanos would marry his sister and continue the bloodline. Regretfully it was not so and he would have to wed an outsider. "
Magus was startled as a voice spoke to him seemingly from nowhere, and yet, it was everywhere.
" What if we could give you a daughter ? " It said.
Quickly he searched around him for the source of the sound all he could see was a gray shapeless background. His sons were gone as well as the plane he had been surveying.
Magic! There had to be magic at work here.
He steadied his frightened horse, calling out to the entity.
" What or who are you? "
" We are! " Was it's lone cryptic answer.
" What do you want? " He hoped they would give a better answer this time.
" It is what you want that matters, Magus ,O-mighty King of Jureal!" A chill ran down his spine. It praised him, yet he felt as though it mocked him. He was at a loss for words.
It spoke again, terrifying him even more. " You wished for a daughter ...."
" A daughter now would be useless. Ileanos is a grown man . They could not mate for at least twelve years. "
"...Consecrate your son to us... he will be the girl-child you crave..."
" My son! Never! Ileanos...." A chorus of voices interrupted him.
" Fois. Fois. Fois..." They clamored. " Worship us ... Make Fois ours... Ileanos serves the "Bright- One"... give Fois to us... he will be the daughter you seek..."
" Can you do this?" His mind buzzed with conflicting thoughts. Fois was his child he could not surrender him to this being, and yet , if it could do what it claimed... What power could this creature be concealing?
" You only ask for his worship , nothing else ? " His face was strained in deep concentration. There had to be some ulterior motive to it's offer.
" Worship us! We shall grant your wish and more! Power! Power unrivaled by other mortals if you worship us!"
" All this in exchange for Fois..."
.................... ......................... ...................... ........................... ..........................
Fois followed his father in silence through the trees. They were heading towards the hill. Even from this far the stench was unbearable . Scavengers prowled the battleground atracted by the corpses.
What were they doing here, this late at night, without their bodyguards?
In the clearing he could see a few members of his family. They all shared one single characteristic in Fois mind: they were power-hungry son's of bitches. These were the last people he wanted to be related with.
Something strange was taking place. His family, dressed in dark hooded cloaks , formed a rough circle in the center of the clearing a large rectangular rock placed amid them . It had not been there earlier. He was certain of that. All around it torches were placed .
He noticed with some concern that although he was dressed in black too, his robe was different; and so was the fact that he was wearing jewelry when no one else was.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when his father touched his arm. For the first time in his life he was frightened of his father . Fois wanted to run, to scream, but he was paralyzed. It was more than fear. He could not move his body.
Terrified, he stared at his father as he was laid upon the altar. He could feel them opening his robe, exposing his body .
The king just looked on . His expression was one of pride . He would have no pity from his father.
............... .................... .......................... ............................ ...........................
Ileanos had been strangely uneasy all evening long. Deep in his heart he had a sense of dread. His brother , his beloved Fois was in danger.
Unable to resist the precognition he hurried in search of his brother, but he was gone. Their father had taken him. The servants did not know where. The feeling was turning to terror. Where was Fois?
............... ...................... ............................ .......................... ........................
An arcane chant filled the night.. The air above the altar was heavy with raw power. It was almost palpable . The energies swirled and contracted in rhythm with the incantation being uttered . Then the song increased in pitch and speed, until it was a single frantic call; Quiax'n. This they repeated over and over. An undulating vortex formed above Fois body. It pulsated as if it had a life of it's own.
The boy's body spasm as the intense energy penetrated him, spreading to every organ, reshaping him from within.
................... ............................... ........................ ......................... ........................ Ileanos screamed . His whole body ached. He felt violated , corrupted.
The prince made a silent plea to Shariar for his brother.
A bright light enfolded him. It was warm and welcoming. At once the pain dissipated. He dared not stand . The awe he felt told him he had been graced with a vision of Shariar.
" Ileanos... " The voice was sweet , strong and light all at once. " Weep not for your brother for he is beyond your pity."
Terrified he looked up. The creature before him was sexless, ageless and utterly beautiful. He was confused, his thoughts wandering. This being overpowered his senses.
" Listen to Me young one. You who are so loyal merit our mercy. Know that your father has made a pact with Quiax'n, The Dark One, Master of the Demons... "
" Why! Why would he do such a horrible thing?"
" As mortals are wont to do he sought to change nature... fate if you will... he was offered great power and many descendants... the first he will have readily enough... the second is a lie... " Shariar uttered a single weary sigh that reverberated in Ileanos soul.
" The offer is meant to temp you... " It's voice faded as the room darkened .
A dark mist permeated the chamber. It brought with it a preternatural chill. Someone emerged from the shadows. Fois; it was as if he were part of them.
He came near his brother. The change in him was immediately palpable. An intense heat emanated from his body enveloping Ileanos in a wave of lust so powerful it was almost primeval. Every fiber of his being was being manipulated by Fois to force his desire.
He knew he was crying . This was not the innocent child he had loved so dearly! Fois would never have groped him this way. He was too shy, even with his brother.
Behind them he could hear his father spurring them on. In that instant he hated him, wished him dead for doing this to Fois. Subduing the younger boy he turned on his father.
Waves of energy, warm and pure, erupted from his body bathing the whole room. When he spoke his voice was removed and not his own.
" Know this Magus of Jureal ,for your betrayal your house shall ever be divided into two houses , light and shadow, Illuminaous and Nightshadow. The last shall ever be below the first and never will it raise above it. "
Entranced he walked closer to the King who cowered before him.
" Never shall a son of Illuminaous know the flesh of a son of Nightshadow for their union shall bring plague and torment upon the world !" He screamed with such a powerful force that the walls trembled around them. " For in their flesh lays the seed of a demon awaiting to be awakened upon the world. HE will steal the light of Illuminaous, light of Shariar. HE will shed the tainted blood of Nightshadow upon My altar and bring forth his deadly brethren from their hell to your world, in defiance of Us! Then shall your world suffer for We shall forsake it! The trance broke leaving him so depleted he fainted.
Fois's heartbroken sobs filled the chamber. In one night he had fallen from Shariar's grace and lost Ileanos love. All the love and the light that had once filled him was gone , replaced by a dark, slow creeping , numbness over his soul. In that instant he knew , this despair, this loneliness, this need for his other half, for the forbidden Illuminaous , the one he could never have; that was his legacy to the future, for all Nightshadow's yet to come.
To be continued...