| The forests of Dacia were sweet and fragrant with Spring just as he remembered. He had not seen his homeland in many years. He felt tears forming as he gazed at the lush beauty around him. So long away from his eyes, but not his heart. It was a breathtaking afternoon as rays of golden sunlight filtered through the treetops and thick vegetation, giving the woods a surreal and glamorous beauty. He heard voices talking quietly in the distance. Two voices that were extremely familiar. As they became louder he realized that one was himself speaking. The other . . . He found himself walking beside the form of Mary Volknor. Impossible. Lady Knight Mary was dead. Had been for over a hundred years. Nothing could change that. Yet, here she was, just as beautiful as he remembered . Her voice became clear, and he heard her ask, �The woods are beautiful, aren�t they, Stytentos?� �Aye,� he replied, �but not as beautiful as you.� She smiled sweetly, saying, �Thank you.� Wrapping his arms around her in a tight, caring embrace, he told her, �It�s been so difficult without any friends. I miss you both.� Tears stung his eyes as he hugged her, relishing the feel of her in his arms. It had been so long since he had held not only one of his people, but Mary especially. �We miss you too,� she replied, holding him close. Suddenly, she spoke. Her voice was quiet, but her words hit him like thunder. �The world needs you Stytentos.� He snorted with contempt. �I don�t need the world.� �Your people need you. This is your destiny.. You must rid the world from the tyranny of vampires.� He sighed, releasing her from his embrace and asked bitterly, �Why? So the humans can kill me, too? You do know what they did to our people, don�t you?� She looked away, whispering softly, �Aye.� �Mary, I can�t. . . I�m sorry. . .that was a different life.� She looked at him silently for a moment, then said, �Then everything that we have fought for, that we had accomplished, was in vain. Their numbers are growing at an alarming rate, and if they aren�t stopped, they will eventually overrun the world, ruling it with an iron fist and enslaving everyone. They will breed the humans as their cattle, and not just them, but our people too.� He took her small hands in his, and told her, �I already failed you and our people once, Mary. I couldn�t stop the burnings. So many have suffered and died because of my cowardice.� �The Stytentos I know is not a coward. Please do this in memory of me and Walter. You must rebuild our numbers. Several of them have lost their way just as you have. Make our people remember what it�s like to be a warrior again.� �I can�t . . .� he repeated , �I�m sorry. . . I can�t.� �You must.� �I don�t know. . . .� �It is your destiny.� �No!� he shouted. Mary never flinched. She added, �Besides, it�s not just me who is asking.� He was silent for a moment, then said, �You mean. . . ?� She nodded, saying , �Aye, He is asking you to do this at His request.� He sighed heavily, his soul in turmoil. Stytentos could not bear it should he let down The Creator Himself. Especially after all that had happened. But when God asked you to do something, you couldn�t very well say no. At least he couldn�t. �Alright,� he said hesitantly, �I�ll do it.� She smiled. �What must I do?� he asked. �Start by leaving this place.� �I still think this is a bad idea,� he said flatly. She gazed at him somberly, saying, �This is not an easy task that is laid out before you . It will take some time to fulfill. Along the way, you�ll find treachery where you thought a trusted friend was, and allies in the most unexpected places.� |
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